If puzzles are people, then Taehyung was indeed one among them. Or maybe the only one in them.

Because, searching around the palace courtyard for the disappeared king and struck by an anonymous arrow right before his feet, Jungkook didn't expect to run all the way into the forest just to find a smirking Taehyung (conversing) with a rogue held at his sword's end.

Well, with a rogue moments ago held at his sword's end, now he just laid still before the Omega's feet. The rogues then charged at him, all at once, whom he at a breeze slit through in ease with his sword. Few beheaded, other stabbed, a few more just hurt and the others—well, he had lost count.

For now, all he knew was despite the blood splashed over his features, it just adorned him right. Adorned Taehyung right, like blood wasn't foreign on his skin. Neither was it on his sword.

His hair had again fell down from the messily tied bun he usually wore around. Somehow, he managed to look beautiful in both. With Taehyung like this, blood bathed, Jungkook doubted if a red moon would even stand a chance.

He should be going, fighting along side, helping the omega king. But as the other danced through the air, shifting swords between his hands, slitting throats like signing letters, Jungkook wasn't sure whether the king would want him to help and if he did, is he ready to do it at the cost of losing the sight of the omega's fierce blue stare.

It was now directed towards him. Fierce, cold and calm. Locked with his own, imprisoning him in their warmest cold. But, it shouldn't be this calm nor directed towards him now. Not when a rogue was furiously running towards him, ready to fly up into the air and pounce on him anytime.

The omega was still staring at him, like he was testing the waters. Waters of his skills? Patience? Care? Jungkook didn't know. All he knew was, the rogue mid-air about to pounce onto the king and the said king still staring into his soul, not lifting an arm, like he was challenging him to save him? Leave him? Jungkook's mind was too much of a mess to decipher.

Those blue orbs were eeriely calm, but again they shouldn't be. The king's sword dripping red, was wrapped loosely in his palm. Taehyung should be taking stance. But he wasn't. The rogue was just seconds away, a sword ready in his hands, aimed to thrust right into the omega's chest. But he refused to move, let alone bat a lash.

The next few moments were a blur, when he pushed the rogue seconds away from thrusting his sword into Taehyung's heart, and grabbed the weapon twisting his arm, thrusting it right back into the rogue's heart. Again the gray eyes and odd scent. Rightly deserved.

He turned around to find the omega juggling swords, defending three rogues on his own. So swift on his feet he grabbed one among them, before snapping his neck to the side and reveling in the joy of the limp body in his arms. He was sure his eyes were a flaming red now. They must have been for quite a while, he concluded.

He was just about to turn when a large, callous hand gripped him into an unyielding headlock. He tried to defend just for his arms to be twisted behind his back and locked by another callous palm. He was losing breath, probably gasping for air now. But it seemed, the more he thrashed around, the more tighter the hold was. He was losing air, possibly trying to save some. But it felt pointless to do so. He wasn't awaiting help, hell, he was an alpha- he didn't need one. But the loss of air was doing much little to even lift a finger lest a palm. He was just about to gulp a mouthful of air, ready for a generous kick to the coward, who couldn't face him head on, but-

Before he could, the hold around his neck vanished with a sharp thud. He knew Taehyung wouldn't let him die, but to witness it brought a reasonless smile to his now chapped lips. Rubbing his neck, wincing as it hurt, he turned around hearing loud thuds from behind. "Your hi-"

Writhing in anger, features drawn to a raging scowl, a strikingly terrific purple filling his once icy blue orbs, there stood Taehyung.

Thrashing a now limp rogue- the one who strangled him- with just a single arm, not batting a lash in the process. Blood littered across his features, his robe and pooled at the ground where the rogue's head recurrently hit the rock there, somewhere around. Still, blood wasn't foreign on the king's features, neither was it on his skin. But the fury was.

Jungkook knew not why the other was angry, nor did he know why was it only getting worse with each bang of the rogue to the ground.

But, he knew and wished he didn't, that the shivers that ran through his spine and tingled at his veins was fear. Like his father had once said, "You'd know you're afraid, when you realise you don't want to be" 23 years of training, but none about about fear. None, until Taehyung stood before him, eyes purple, red in rage and blood bathed.

There were a lot of things Jungkook did not know even after he knew of his fate at ten. Like fear. He read it first in his father's eyes when he was just ten and saw him glaring at an age old scroll trembling in his palms. He read it in Hoseok's eyes when his father returned home badly bruised after a hunt that went wrong. He read it in his care taker's eyes when his wolf went wild for the first time and she dropped the drink she had carried to his room. Hell, he just saw it in Taehyung's eyes when he asked him of a truth enough to sell his.

But Jungkook, he just felt fear. Fear, that he didn't want to; because it was still Taehyung. The one who stood before him, like he wasn't.

"Taehyung, stop, " He tried. It was a feeble, very feeble whisper. And went futile as expected.

Maybe this was what fear did. Snatched your voice, snatched away air, snatching away everything that Jungkook needed then. Like the almond eyed Taehyung he knew.

Because the Taehyung he knew was calm, collected and composed. Like if the wind were to ever compete with him, then it would indeed lose to his control.  But this Taehyung before him. . . It couldn't be Taehyung at all. He had no control, not poise, not even calm. . . But only fury. Wrath. And insatiable gore.

He stared and wondered if this was what he failed to see of Taehyung. The one who could slip truths from his lips, like a habit. The one who could tingle his bones with fear, like it were a habit. The one who didn't look like his Taehyung, the one he knew by habit.

But the longer he stared, the lesser he feared. And the lesser he feared, he saw fear itself. Fear from when that was what he could make of all the people around him. Afraid of him.

He remembers the rage burning him inside out, when he was ten. When he was ten, and shouldn't have seen such darkest shades of red. He remembers seeing himself in the mirror, red eyes black rimmed, flushed red to the point where even fury couldn't paint him in just red any longer. He remembers repelling away from the mirror, in pure horror. He vaguely remembers later that night asking his father, and see him hide his tears, muttering a am so sorry, son.

That night, he remembers crying and knowing not why. Maybe Taehyung before him, still bashing the rogue enough to hear bones cracking, didn't know too. Didn't know it with purple eyes, black rimmed and leaking.

Something hot and wet landed on his cheek, and he realised he wasn't afraid anymore. Couldn't afford to be, when it was still the same Taehyung.

Something akin to the apology his father asked bloomed in his chest and he tried again, "Taehyung, stop"

This time, it was more firm. More strong. Despite the tear driven waver at the end, it was strong. But, it went futile again.

The rogue was now nothing more than a mess of flesh and blood. Yet, taehyung's fury seemed unquenched. He could hear the other cry, almost scream, but do nothing but cry harder. He wanted to collect the omega in his arms, wipe away his tears, lull his fury to a dreamless slumber and stay awake all night shooing any nightmares. But he only stood there. watching. Weeping.

So he tried again, "Taehyung, I said stop!" It wasn't firm this time, but it was sure convicted. But this went futile too.

Taehyung felt far too gone. He knew not where, but he knew it was somewhere he shouldn't have ventured so far. He remembers his own destroyed chamber and split into two bed. He remembers the fear in his caretaker and father's eyes, just as he saw them in hoseok's when he held him at knife point the other day. He remembers his bloodied knuckles and the cracked wall in his chamber some other night or maybe day. He remembers everything and each ome warned him to stop Taehyung.

The latter shouldn't go any far, if he already was not.

"Taehyung, stop it! " He bellowed, but Taehyung seemed to have never heard him. Unbothered, bashing the unidentifiable corpse to the ground.

Still, blood wasn't foreign on him, neither was it on his skin. Nor was it on his robes. But the fury on Taehyung was.

The last he used his alpha voice, it was on his father in the same rage, as he remembers. He saw how his father went frigid, and his eyes held nothing but fright and dismay that he still resents. He swore never to use it again, but Taehyung like this, purple eyed and crying, felt like he was far. And jungkook didn't need to know why he wanted the omega to be closer to him. Even if it was just for silly arguments and senseless civil talks.

So he did, what he swore never to do again.

"TAEHYUNG! I SAID STOP! "

Taehyung did. And turned to him. Jungkook then decided that, not in the calm blues or in the vast almonds was the truest gaze of Kim Taehyung he searched for. It was in these hidden purples that they had always belonged, reserved for unfiltered fury and bottled wrath.

"Don't. You. Dare. Stop. Me. Again " And a lone tear followed, drenching the mole on his left cheek. Jungkook just wanted to reach out and swipe his thumb down it. Wipe it clear, and if lucky, feel the mole under his touch.

But all of a sudden, Taehyung who went back to bashing the body, threw it far into the forest and screamed. He wondered if anyone around would be alerted, but he couldn't see anyone who could be. Just lifeless corpses.

"Tae, it's okay, " He whispered unsure whether the king heard what he spoke but regardless, continued, "it's just me. And you. He's dead"

It seemed to work with the way Taehyung stood still staring into his eyes. And jungkook just hoped they had by now come back to their usual black. He didn't know why he wanted that, but he didn't know many things, he concluded.

"It's just us. They are all dead, " And the wind howled, as if convincing Taehyung. He let it, for at any cost, he just wanted Taehyung without tears down his cheeks or rage in his orbs.

"You're okay, " He lulled, knowing not what else to say anymore. He didn't feel like he was speaking the truth even now, but it still felt right. So he continued. "We're okay. Let's go home"

"J-jung hyuk? " It was below a whisper, like a soft wind's hum, only a lot more broken. But Jungkook heard it. And suddenly he just wanted to crawl over to him, beg forgiveness and confess all the truths just to hear Taehyung call him jungkook. Even once was enough, even if it was his last.

He wondered, if all truths combined, would even the privilege of being called by his name be given to him anymore. But then Taehyung took a slow, wobbly step towards him, and he let it all slide, taking a step forward of his own.

The other had taken just a couple more steps, when his feet staggered and eyes rolled back to his head. But Jungkook was there, right behind. Holding the other, right on time, like he did the first they met.

And he decided, he could never be afraid of Taehyung, and wiped the other's wet cheek. The mole felt surreal under his fingertips.

♛┈✦┈♛

Faint sounds of crunching leaves were the only sounds as he carried the collapsed king under the waking dawn. Faint hues of blue, full moon, and the feather light omega in his arms looking as gorgeous as ever.

Even with blood, injuries and dried lips.

Something in him perpetually warned of all wrongs in the way his heart fluttered, jumped, skipped or maybe even ran a few laps with every thing that involved the omega king in his arms. But somewhere, it all felt all the more wrongly right. Right, like the moment he met Taehyung and lied. Lied just to make the other stay, keep him by his side.

He had somehow managed through the palace gates, and even the King's chambers, silently apologizing to the sleeping guards. And when he finally tucked the king in his bed, bereft of the warmth in his hands (already missing it) he wondered aloud, "what are you, Kim Taehyung? "

No one replied. Not even wind. But a lone tear down the sleeping King's eyes sorrowfully did. Some thing tugged at his heart and he wished he read tears or atleast knew their cause.

He wiped the tear like he still craved to, and slowly dragged them across the King's cheek, aimlessly letting them wander wherever they wished to.

Taehyung, unguarded and asleep, looked peaceful. Even with all that blood, wounds and dried tears.

His finger traced the Omega's jaw, and he wondered of the petrifying purple of his orbs. There were, as far as he knew, only three ranks among werewolves. And their eye colours irrespective of their elemental capabilities were red for alphas, yellow for betas and blue for omegas. Any other colour apart from these was considered to be an anomaly, abnormal to be specific.

"Am an anomaly among omegas, abnormal to be specific"

His finger now danced across the King's blood splattered cheekbones. Long long ago, when ranks within werewolves were split, omegas were shunned from anything involving power. There after, the only omega to rise above the branding became Kim Taehyung's mother, and the previous queen of Kaatru, Kim Mun yeong. And now, the valiant Kim Taehyung.

"You're unbelievably strong for—"

"An omega?"

"No, a trained wolf"

His fingers had now found home as they walked over the king's brows. Werewolves were split into ranks, in  respect of their temperament. The most vehement among them being alphas were given power, to channelise their anger. Then, having relatively controlled temper, the betas came second. The most calm and serene among the three ranks, were the omegas who were handed over with the jobs of fulfilling the needs of the other two ranks.

Still, blood wasn't foreign on his features, neither on his skin. But the fury was.

The alpha's fingers came to an abrupt rest as they greeted the dark rings around Taehyung's eyes. He wondered if at all, using anger as a benchmark to allocate power was right from the start. The red of rage he knew, and couldn't stop.

"Don't. You. Dare. Stop. Me. Again "

A deep gash hidden beneath Taehyung's jaw caught his eye while staring at him, and immediately drawing his fingers from where they were tracing the king's dark circles he, dragged them over the wound he just discovered. A satisfied hum left his lips as a dim white light followed it's path leaving uninjured skin in it's wake.

Your highness, don't get hurt.

He should be leaving the King's room to stay within the limits of his special hostage privileges in the living quarters. But even as sun peeked through the mountains, and lit the room, the alpha refused a wink of sleep to shoo away any nightmares to the king. Just like he had promised a while ago.

But dawn came sooner than he wished, when he was busy tucking a tuft of hair behind the King's ears. Morning sun on him made him golden. Even with dried blood and chapped lips.

Since Taehyung was an early waker, he tip toed out of the room. Already missing the other's golden, three scrupulous moles, long strands of hair and the way Taehyung woke up the moment he stepped out.

♛┈✦┈♛

"Are you sure you're alright, Tae? "

"Why wouldn't I be when you are no more angry with me? " He replied, not lifting his head from his handwritten scroll, announcing uvagai preparations.

"Am still angry with you," Ryejin turned away, feigning anger with a dramatic pout.

"You're talking with me, Rae," He smiled, turning to her.

"Fine, am not angry, " She huffed in resignation, "not anymore, but you don't look alright, Tae"

"You know it's normal during uvagai, Rae," He replied, turning back to the scrolls in hand.

"Did you eat your breakfast? "

"No"

"The fuck can't you—"

"You know I woke up late today"

"Why's that? "

He tensed. Last night came in bits and parts.

"So you know sword play? "

"Because I promise a hundred lies to protect it with you"

"You're unbelievably strong—for a trained wolf"

"A truth enough to sell mine"

"You're indeed an anomaly among omegas, unrivaled to be specific"

"Owing to the five elements of life and the divine witness of moon, I vow loyalty to my promise in preserving your truth, protector"

"I won't, let it. I promise "

"A protector can't be my hostage "

"But, I can"

"Dont use them"

"Is that a punishment of a willing hostage?"

"No, my price to keep you as one"

The last he remembers is seeing red and feeling fire.

"Tae!"

"Huh? " He blinked.

"I have been calling you since long"

"Yeah," He affirmed before coming up with the most fluent of all his excuses, "was training till late last night"

"What for? "

"Am the king of Kaatru, Rae," He replied, as if it was obvious, "am sure you're aware of that"

"Tae, has this got something to do with that— "

"Jung hyuk? No," He quickly defended.

"Rest after courtroom," She asserted after moments of scrutinizing him in silence. "Fuck training"

"Hmm," He absently hummed, pulling together his heavy robes entering the courtroom.

"His Majesty, Kim Taehyung arrives the courtroom," And the perfunctory conch. Followed by the instrumental cue. He walked through the Hall, his robe flowing after, eyes unreasonably searching for the familiar galaxies. He was late.

"Courtroom 203, verification of preparations for the hundredth uvagai in Kaatru kingdom," Ryejin announced,  with a solemn nod to him. "Annual amendmen—"

Feverish footfalls and audible gasps for breath stopped her oration mid-way and a scowl replaced her features soon as they turned to the new visitor of courtroom 203. Red rimmed eyes roved his features before the alpha flashed her a toothy grin through the wheezes, finally joining the crowd.

"Your highness, he—"

"I have called upon his arrival, " He interrupted her, "you can proceed on, princess"

Ryejin's fisted hand trembled by her side and with a shaky sigh she continued, "Annual amendments for esteemed festive of uvagai: indirect taxes on daily rations cut down by 2% for this month and the upcoming week"

He awaited the benchmark tap of their seats to proceed with democratic agreement of the declared provision. A unanimous tap of a agreement clapped the hall, and he sighed in relief.

"Yearly allowances for uvagai raised from 15 gold coins to 20," Ryejin held forth and soon as their taps resonated the hall in acceptance, she continued. He felt a familiar pair of eyes on his frame and consciously pulled his robe together.

"A reported shortage of marine life in the river banks of Kaatru, following the development of Bercahaya bridge has called for trading with Neer clan. Targeted achievement of flourishing aqua-life to be guaranteed before the next uvagai in Kaatru," Ryejin breathed out turning to the ministers awaiting approval.

"The building of Bercahaya bridge was just a wastage of resources and if it didn't do enough back then, it is now posing an endangerment to the rich wildlife of Kaatru, " Senior minister Lee objected bitterly, turning to him.

"And now we have to go begging to the land of water to lend us fishes!? " Minister han added, mockingly.

"Minister Han, do you think all other kingdoms have been then begging for our rice, wheat and maize with surplus bonus of millet this year?" Min hyung interrupted, "I was educated enough to call it trading, but in comparison to your knowledge I must revise my memory, I am afraid"

"Trade has doubled up with the development of the bridge reducing travel to the headquarters and the kingdoms of neer and neruppu to just hours. I doubt, even you, our esteemed minister uses the forest to reach the headquarters anymore, " Ryejin piped, a smirk dancing on her lips at the livid minister.

"Minister lee," Taehyung spoke, "am sure losing lives to Rogue attacks in the forest is much worse than losing fishes you speak endangerment of. And to remind you minister han, even fisheries contribute to 10% of our treasury, am sure you wouldn't want to lose that, sticking to your dignity of begging for fisheries"

He swore he didn't turn to the other out of instinct but because he stood close to minister Han's seat. And the moment he did, his heart flapped a few beats and he quickly turned back to ryejin.

So much for control, Kim Taehyung.

"Opening of o-orphanages—" Ryejin turned to him, eyes glossed. He gave her warm smile, nodding at her to continue. Clearing her throat, she repeated, this time more firmer, "Opening of two orphanages and education centres in the kingdom"

Unmatched taps, some gratuitous, some proud and some begrudging but agreeing to it all the more rumbled the Hall.

"Patronage of fine arts and performing arts?" Ryejin froze, turning to him and giving him a foreign look of perplexion? bemusement? Dismay? before mouthing a quiet 'what' to him as she waited approval. In contrast, Min hyung was giving him a mini drama with an almost unnoticeable bow, silent claps mouthing a soft 'am so proud of you' to him.

He smiled to both. And again, because Min hyung stood close to minister Han's seat and so did jung hyuk, he also noticed the latter's eyes sparkle with a new found child like curiosity and lips quirk an easy smile. Familiar butterflies filled his stomach.

Familiar butterflies? No, become unfamiliar, butterflies.

"Arts!? Why would you involve a harlot's job—"

"Minister Han, I wouldn't allow such offensive language or humiliation of something as pure as arts in my courtroom," Taehyung interrupted darkly, "I request you to apologize else leave immediately for breaching the court decorum, right now!"

A few moments of thick silence. And a barely gritted out apology. And the minister walked out.

The moment it did, he took a glance at the empty seat and in the excuse a sly peek at the alpha. The proud smile on his lips, and warm gaze had him turning away again.

"The scheme of events for this uvagai begins with a joyous fair on the first day, followed by the day of lights and the day of games and culture consecutively, " Ryejin declared, an undeniable excitement in her tone, " While the fourth day is to celebrate art, the fifth would celebrate one of colours. To foster weaponry and bravery in young minds, the sixth day would be the day of weaponry and other duels and the seventh and final day would end with the ending ceremony at the shrine with our king"

"I hope the schedule is adequate, but any objections or altercations requested shall be immediately held forth," He declared, expectant of any amendments.

But none came, replaced by sounds of zealous taps of approval and wide smiles all across the courtroom. Smiling to this, he warmly added, "then a delightful uvagai to Kaatru begins with the dismissal of this courtroom"

Amongst them, a certain bunny-like grin caught his eyes, sending butterflies and a familiar warmth to slosh within his heart this time. The longer he stared, the more the warmth bloomed in his heart until he wanted to trace his fingers down the crinkles of the alpha's eyes.

Their eyes met, again. Somehow, they always did. And like always, it dragged for longer than necessary, though it felt short.

Jung Hyuk was lucky today for Taehyung felt oddly burnt out, since waking up late into dawn. But, he would make sure to demand him of all the happenings of previous night even if it involved breaching the King's special hostage privileges.

Walking up to blood smeared clothes and a paradoxically unwounded body wasn't something self explainable. And he wanted the alpha to explain when the last remembers of the previous night was fighting off a few rogues with the other.

Shaking his head to himself, he walked out of the courtroom back to his chambers, too tired to interrogate the boring-holes-into-his-back alpha or visit his mother as he had planned the previous evening.

Jung Jung hyuk, you have a lot to speak.

♛┈✦┈♛

A/n: addicted to film out rn.

Also, am so glad dynamite hit 1B! Becoming the first Korean act to do that in history!

Our perpetual queen (right after spring day tho)

Ig am annoying
And am sorry if the plot feels slow. It will pick up pace, I promise.

I hope u enjoyed the read for now tho.

Now this is something I am sure not ready but so excited for!!!! The 5th muster—P.S