"This is stupid," Jennifer complained, throwing her hands in the air. Taehyung paused mid-sip and Jin and Iris stopped giggling about something.

"Pardon me?" Taehyung asked and set down his cup.

"Do they think we're still kids to be having a tea party?" Jennifer whined.

"They only want us to get to know one another, sister," Iris said quietly, placing a hand of Jennifer's arm.

"No, they–" Jennifer began but cut herself off as her attention caught something else. She was immediately up from her seat and everyone followed her line of vision. The rest of Leonava made their way in along with Namjoon and everyone understood why there was extra seats and plates.

"I hope we're not too late," Hoseok said, flashing a smile.

"Not at all, take a seat. Gguk, sit here," Jennifer said walking up to Jeongguk. The elf smiled and let her hook her arm in Jeongguk's arm and lead him to the seat beside hers.

"Thank you, Princess Jennie," Jeongguk said and took his seat. Jennifer beamed a no problem and sat down. Taehyung keenly watched their interaction, scoffing at the wha Jennifer batted her eyes at Jeongguk. As they were on nickname basis, they must be closer than Taehyung thought.

"We're happy you could join us," Iris welcomed them all politely.

"We're grateful for the warm invitation," Namjoon replied.

"Jeongguk, you have to try these. They're to die for," Jennifer said and used the tong to pick up a piece of biscuit and placed it on his plate. Jeongguk showed his gratitude by pouring the lady-elf some tea into her cup.

Taehyung was beginning to get annoyed. He didn't mind that Jennifer liked Jeongguk, if Jeongguk liked her as well he'd completely respect that, but he still couldn't help but feel jealous. Taehyung knew he shouldn't think of Jeongguk as some kind of object, but he wanted Jeongguk to only look at him like that. Only smile like that at him, only take care of him.

As he was burning holes through the two with his stares, Jeongguk seemed to have felt the pair of eyes on him as he looked up to meet Taehyung right across. Taehyung realized he was pouting and quickly straightened himself out, unfolding the arms that he didn't know were crossed so tightly. What pissed him off more was how Jeongguk just smiled. He smiled! It was almost a smirk, as if he knew how Taehyung was feeling.

See, Taehyung was not about to let Jeongguk have the upper hand. Hs began to extend his leg out as much as he could under the table. He was careful to go around Jennifer's dress and soon enough, he reached Jeongguk's foot. Jeongguk stopped whatever conversation he was having with Jennifer and looked at Taehyung, alarmed. Taehyung just stared back at him, pretending as if he was doing nothing.

Jeongguk gave a light kick to Taehyung foot, getting it off of his own and resumed talking to Jennifer. Then he felt it again, except this time Taehyung's foot was dragging up and down his shin, from his ankle and just barely to the knee. He even managed to hook onto the bottom on Jeongguk's pants, gathering it up and Taehyung's shoe made contact with his bare skin. Jeongguk didn't realize how hot his body had become until he felt how cold the tip of his shoe was.

The younger elf stood up abruptly, startling Jennifer but Taehyung smiled as he received just the reaction he wanted. "I'll be right back," he said to Jennifer then eyed Taehyung, tilting his head motioning him to follow. Before Jennifer could inquire, Jeongguk left the room. She would've followed after him if Namjoon hadn't began to ask her about some flower he saw in their garden. Taehyung managed to slip out of the room without any one questioning him.

He was pleased to see Jeongguk standing against a wall waiting for him. As Taehyung opened his mouth to tease the younger, Jeongguk grabbed his wrist and lead him to a more secluded area with no guards around.

"What do you think you're doing?" Jeongguk asked first, not sounding exactly angry but neither too happy.

Taehyung crossed his arms with a cheeky smile and leaned against the wall on his side. "Whatever do you mean?"

"Oh you know exactly what I'm talking about. Taehyung, you can't just do that in a public place! What if someone saw?" Jeongguk scolded, his hands flying all over the place which Taehyung found absolutely adorable.

"Really?" he retorted, amused. He pushed himself off the wall and stepped up close to Jeongguk so that there was barely any distance between them. "We're alone right now," Taehyung said suggestively.

"Tae!" Jeongguk yelled and stepped back. Taehyung threw his head back and laughed, happy that his little trick worked yet again. Jeongguk continued, "I  meant you should always try to behave in a decent manner, especially around others."

"Oh you're one to talk. Flirting so shamelessly with Princess Jennie," Taehyung said her name in a mocking tone.

Jeongguk scoffed and crossed his arms. "We were talking. She was a close friend to us both you know?"

"Yes, I know," Taehyung said bitterly.

"Wait a minute," Jeongguk trailed as he came to a sudden realization. "Were you jealous, your highness?"

"What? Jealous? Me? Pft, no way. I was just pointing it out," Taehyung lied and what a terrible liar he was.

Jeongguk nodded along to his words, not believing a single one of it. "You were jealous."

"No I wasn't."

"Yeah you were."

"No, shut up."

"See, you're getting riled up. You were."

"I wasn't."

"You were totally jealous."

"Okay fine, maybe I was! I'll share anything but I just can't come to terms with sharing someone I love!" Taehyung quickly said in the heat of the moment. They both didn't say a word, just blinked at each other with a blank expression on their first. Taehyung didn't mean to drop the 'l' word so soon, nor did he know if that's what this was so early on in this nonexistent relationship.

"I don't like overly possessive or protective guys," Jeongguk blurted out, breaking the silence. Jeongguk nodded once and turned to make his way back to the rest but stopped for a moment and cleared his throat. "Overly," Jeongguk emphasized and continued walking.

Taehyung stood there, confused as ever.

•—•—•

As expected, Namjoon came to Taehyung's chamber on the final day with the marriage proposal. He gave him advice objectively on the matter as an advisor should, that it would be beneficial for their people in times of needs but since they were well off, it wasn't a do or die situation. To follow his heart. To do so, Taehyung would have to follow Jeongguk around as he had given it to him long ago.

Taehyung was glad that it came through Namjoon though, avoided making things awkward between them. Taehyung suggested the binding of Jin and Iris and Namjoon told him he'd see what he could do about it.

They went around the village that day, greeting people and talking personally to a few of them. Taehyung met this one man that stuck to his memory in particular. He was a fire elf and worked as blacksmith. He told him his life story of how he was an orphan boy, doing small trades here and there to get to where he is. It was such an ordinary job and might not seem to relate so much to Taehyung's role as a King but he still admired the man's hard work and perseverance.

A small purple tent/booth set up caught Taehyung's attention. Like a little school boy, he asked Namjoon for his permission eagerly and Namjoon chuckled and let him go as long as Jeongguk accompanied inside while everyone waited outside – Taehyung had no problems with that of course. 

"You really believe in this?" Jeongguk asked quietly as he opened the entrance for the booth.

"I believed all the elven Prince stuff, didn't I?" Taehyung replied, ducking low and stepping in.

"Your highness, I have been waiting for you," the elf sitting behind a low table said, bowing from her seated position.

"You've been waiting?" Taehyung asked, already sucked into it. He took a seat on one of the pillow cushions in front of her. Jeongguk crossed his arms and looked around the place illuminated by string lights and random bottles of potions and spell books laid around everywhere.

"Of course, King Taehyung. I am Burtha," she said with a smile and then looked at Jeongguk. "You sit down too, dear."

Jeongguk looked at Burtha for a moment before taking a seat beside Taehyung. He watched her carefully as she pulled out a crystal ball. Jeongguk didn't know why but he was feeling rather jumpy and defensive that day.

"What would you like to know?" Burtha asked, swiped a hand over the ball and getting it to glow.

"Wouldn't you already know?" Taehyung asked with a smile. Burtha looked at him and chuckled. She took in a deep breath and nodded.

"Let's see," she whispered, hovering her hands around the ball. Her smile quickly drops as she begins to stare deeper into the ball. Taehyung watched her worried and she finally looked up at him.

"You will live a long and happy, life," Burtha said with a forced smile. "That'll be all, thank you for visiting. Hope you enjoy the rest of your stay."

"Woah woah what? You saw something. Tell me what you saw, please," Taehyung asked, not planning on going anywhere until he heard everything. Jeongguk looked at her suspiciously, wondering if it's all just an act to get Taehyung more hooked.

Burtha sighed. "I said no lie, you will have a happy life, but the journey to that is what might seem scary. You will soon face a grave danger that you overcome. You will be hated by your people and will need to prove yourself. Someone who you may think is on your side will turn on you. The one you love, they will have to face many grave dangers to be with you, you yourself being one. Please, whatever you do, do not lose hope. Once you do, all is lost."

Taehyung lips slightly parted as he took it all in. He knew what she was talking about and he knew that this didn't sound like an impossible future. There was no way she'd know about the truth of the curse — well, if she was faking it that is.

"Thank you," Taehyung said quietly, getting up. "Sorry, what do I owe you?"

"Nothing, your highness. It was an honour," Burtha said with a sad smile. Taehyung nodded and left the tent. Jeongguk followed right after him, but he turned back to look at Burtha.

"Jeongguk, is it? I know you may not believe me but I still want to let you know, you will one day receive a second chance in life, use it well," Burtha said, the words just left hanging in the air. Jeongguk held contact with her for another second before nodding out of respect and leaving.

"Are you okay?" Jeongguk asked going up to Taehyung. "It's a hoax, no one can see the future."

"Yeah, yeah," Taehyung said nodding, but his mind was elsewhere. Jeongguk sighed and bit his lip, hoping Burtha's words wouldn't get to Taehyung.

The rest of day Taehyung was still out of. The excitement from before had completely left him. Everyone noticed and asked him what was wrong at least once, but Taehyung always faked a smile and answered nothing, that he was just having a light headache.

"Saw you went to Burtha, huh?" Jennifer asked, now walking alongside him as they were leading them back their ship. "She's powerful, but she'll only tell you your future if she believes it'll do you good in the end. So whatever it was, don't worry about it. Have a safe trip," she said, stopping to look at him and offering a genuine smile. Taehyung returned the smile and thanked her. He grabbed her hand to place a kiss on the back and for once, she didn't look disgusted.

Everyone said their final goodbyes and boarded the vehicle. Taehyung immediately laid down on one of the couches. No one disturbed him except for Yoongi going to him to give him some medicine for his headache and getting a doctor on board to cast a spell that'll help.

By their visit to the fourth kingdom, Taehyung was still thinking about his fortune. Zorock said the same thing and it bothered him that his uncle would be right. Not to mention that there was someone he shouldn't be trusting around him right now, putting him on the edge. Then the whole part about the one he loves, it had to be Jeongguk. The last thing Taehyung wanted was putting Jeongguk in danger, and if he needed to keep his distance to assure that, then so be it.

Jeongguk, on the other hand, was beginning to get annoyed at the older's behaviour. He wasn't used to seeing such a depressed and serious looking Taehyung, he'd never seen him like this. That's why Jeongguk decided to take matters into his own hands.

It was late at night and Taehyung was walking back and forth in the hallway in front of his room, something he'd been doing since his visit with Burtha. He didn't even notice Jeongguk in his presence as he was so immersed in his thoughts until the elf stood right in front of him.

"Jeongguk, what're you doing up?" Taehyung asked, and Jeongguk raised a brow knowing Taehyung understood that the question would be thrown right back at him.

"Tae, you need to stop thinking about the fortune teller's words. You don't even know it's true, and even so, the future's not set in stone. It's all up to you," Jeongguk said. Taehyung took in a deep breath, not saying anything back or meeting Jeongguk's eyes.

"And we need to stop having these late night conversations," Taehyung muttered and turned around, heading for the doors.

"Taehyung, what?" Jeongguk stopped him, quickly walking over and blocking the door. "I don't get it. The fortune doesn't even make sense. Why would the people hate you? What could you possibly do?"

Taehyung silence got Jeongguk more riled up. He continued. "Remember when I promised not to keep anything I deem to be important from you? I thought it'd work the other way around as well."

"It's nothing, go back to your room," Taehyung said and pushed past him to open the door. He entered his chamber but Jeongguk followed right after him.

"Are you kidding me?" Jeongguk started, now sounding actually mad.

"Jeongguk, leave it," Taehyung forced, looking back at him.

"No, I won't leave it. What is up with you? You're hiding something from me and I'm not leaving until I know what it is," Jeongguk said sternly, his hand raising to shut the doors and then freezing them so that Taehyung couldn't even push him out.

"Jeongguk," Taehyung pleaded but Jeongguk shook his head and crossed his arms.

Taehyung pushed his hair back and sighed. "There's a curse," Taehyung finally admitted.

"A curse?" Jeongguk repeated. Taehyung nodded and told him everything he knew about it, except he replaced informant for Namjoon. He didn't want Jeongguk to know about his visits with Zorock, knowing the younger will not take well that he's talking to the elf that ruined everything for him.

"Taehyung," Jeongguk said softly, after hearing it all. Taehyung had taken a seat at the edge of his bed at one point. Jeongguk walked over to him and crouched down to look at him. "That doesn't mean you'll become like him. You're the only one that controls your gift."

"Gift?" Taehyung said, with a dry chuckle. He shook his head. "I've lost control, Jeongguk. Remember the two elves who tried to take Tallulah?"

Jeongguk clearly remembered that day, he even noticed how Taehyung wasn't himself at that moment. He was too happy that Taehyung could use his gift to have inquired on it more.

"You only meant well, you'd never hurt the innocent, you'd never become Zorock," Jeongguk said.

"How do you know that?"

"I know. I know you."

Taehyung's eyes met Jeongguk's, and they both just remained like that for some time. Taehyung snapped out of it first and he stood up and Jeongguk did too.

"Either way, I'd rather be safe than sorry. You heard what she said, the one I l– that I'd be a danger to you. Just, stay away from me for the time being," Taehyung said and walked over to the door to see if there's anything he could do about the ice.

"No," Jeongguk said simply.

Taehyung turned around to face him. "No?"

"No," Jeongguk repeated more confidently and shook his head. "I have no reason to keep my distance."

"You know what I don't get?" Taehyung suddenly snapped. He was so calm the entire time but it's as if someone just flicked a switch inside of him.

"What?" Jeongguk asked daringly.

"Why you want to be around me all of a sudden. Remember when you showed no interest in me other than training me? When you thought of my feelings as a joke? When that kiss meant nothing to you?"

Jeongguk scoffed. "Oh don't start with me Taehyung, that's not fair."

"It's not is it? You never wanted me and now all of a sudden, when I'm asking for you to stay away, you want to do the exact opposite?" Taehyung continued.

"Are you serious right now? Nothing's going to happen to me. I'm not afraid. Taehyung, you're letting–"

"I don't want to hear it, Jeongguk. I knew this was never going to work. I'm sorry. I'll leave you alone from now on, so leave me alone too."

"Shut up. Shut up the fuck up. Why the fuck do you think I'm trying to be around you? No– No. You can't pull up here, out of no where, say you like me, do all this cheesy ass shit to me, and then expect me not to fall in love?" Jeongguk bursted, stepping up closer to Taehyung with each word.

"What?" Taehyung sounded breathless.

"Because you got me Tae, you did it," Jeongguk said. "I don't know when or how, but you know what, fine. If you're so scared, I'll leave you alone. Let me tell you this, if you didn't believe in yourself more than the curse you wouldn't have been fine up until you talked to Burtha. Now I don't see why that had to leave. You're doing the one thing she told you not to, losing hope."

"What're you saying, Jeongguk?" Taehyung asked, still not feeling caught up on everything.

"I'm saying fuck you, Taehyung. Listen to yourself for a second," Jeongguk said and touched the door behind him. The ice instantly disappeared and Jeongguk opened the doors, walking out past Taehyung.

"God fucking Elvis door," Taehyung groaned and brought a hand up to slap over his forehead.

—•
Crystal Ball by PurpleBeck has been stuck in my head it's so good

It's like 6 in the morning please excuse any grammar mistakes I'll correct them later snndnfn

Bye<3