Taekook together;

Taekook happier 🥺

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Growing up, Jeon Jungkook realised he had never wanted to ask much. Schooled within the walls of his chambers and trained within the walls of the palace, he had learnt how to settle for what was given. After all, he was merely a prophecy to happen and legacy to mark.

At 10, a mirror envisioned his fate, and the first he learnt was to hate himself, not love. His father apologized and his birth felt like a fault. Hoseok hesitated and prophecy felt like a curse. Things changed inside and out, and he settled for little. To make little memories. For little grief when things go down.

But on all the nights he sat and cried, he just wanted someone with no pity or fear in their eyes when he'd confess his truth.

A protector for the protector to protect him from all that he loathed. Even if it included himself.

On the other nights, tired and exhausted from hours of mental and physical training, he just wanted a lap, of someone who wouldn't apologize or hesitate to gather his weary body and whisper a sweet lullaby.

But again, he wasn't strong enough to see that someone be ended by a fate that was his after all. And so he learnt how to live without asking much, because choice wasn't a choice to the chosen, no matter how much he begged or how far he loathed.

And all this while, he trained himself to make the most of all the little he asked, teaching his heart every day to stay on guard.

But one day his father summons him to his chamber, warns of an uprising between clans, surprisingly allows him to leave the palace for once and gets him to meet the valiant omega king of kaatru Kim Taehyung- he suddenly wants to ask so much more. Ask for another civil talk, another taste of the king's lips, another day of getting drunk on makgeoli with him, another glance at his messed up hair, another chance to make him smile, another moment to capture his lips when he does!

Kim Taehyung was all that he guarded his heart from. And he broke in like he had never secured it at all.

He could look into his purple eyes, and see a parallel world. Where Taehyung wasn't a king, he wasn't the protector, this wasn't kaatru, and they were just theirs. With just their choices. Their wants. And their civil talks.

He was asking so much, but it all felt so little now.

Because even after all of his lies, he just wanted to fearlessly choose Taehyung and all of his one hundred different smiles, dark brown eyes, three sculpted moles, and whatever he calls himself abnormal for. Because every incomplete heartbeat, pointed at him. Every tingle in their touch called for him. And every breath they shared, longed for him.

Jungkook should have known. Known when his fingers itched to rearrange Taehyung's hanging locks, should've known when his eyes refused to leave every blink of the king's unattended, should've known when he felt feather light in his arms and weighed priceless in his heart, that Jeon jungkook had never guarded his heart from Taehyung at all.

But he was too late.

Too late to realise that when his arm was wound tight around Taehyung, lips were tasting all of Taehyung and his mind was filled with nothing but Taehyung, that he was all that he wants.

Because it was then when it dawned upon him - he wasn't ready to lose Taehyung. Fate or not.

From their quiet civil talks to his childish demands to the king. From their heavenly kisses to silent fingertips brushing, jungkook wanted it all. But he wasn't ready to pay the price. No, he just found Taehyung, he is yet to discover another one of his (probably) thousand smiles. But he was too late, and time was falling short.

Falling short as they quietly walk back home and his lips yearn to tell Taehyung. Tell the dejected king how much he is afraid, but wishes he were not. How much he wishes to risk all of it for him, but not him. But his lips seal shut and stay put, because his heart demands to keep things the way they were. So even if time were to slip off his fingers and he were to fall victim to fate, then atleast he would have shared a few more drinks with Taehyung, discovered another one of his smiles, gone for a few more civil talks with him and captured his lips maybe two more times.

"Jung hyuk? "

And amidst this war of time and fate, were regrets, like lying about who he was. Because, maybe not just him but his heart had too achieved the hundred and first level stupidity of to demand his name from Taehyung's lips. Not as the crown prince of gandhara or a mere liar, but as his hostage with special privileges for sneaky kisses over late night talks.

"Yes, my king, " But Taehyung was irresistible, as he was. And so he took a sly peek at his eyes, nestled within the shawl. A dejected brown.

"Why didn't you stop me? "

Kim Taehyung wasn't just smart, he was fucking wise. Because he asked the rightest questions to the only person who can rightly answer them.

"Because I didn't want to," Truths had this taste of satisfaction on his lips, but no match to that of the King's on his.

Taehyung fell quiet. Almost like he was satisfied with his reply. The thought had a small smile to lips and his eyes travelling back to the king's. The joy floating in his brown eyes had his heart skipping a beat or two and he let it. Not like he had a choice, but for once, he wished he didn't.

"Why did you start, Taehyung? "

Jungkook refused to meet eyes with the king whose eyes widened in his peripheral vision at the loss of title before going back to their muddy shoes. He smiled broader, liking how his name rolled off his lips.

"Because I wanted to, " Taehyung quietly replied, sticking to trace their muddy shoes' footsteps.

Taehyung wasn't just wise because he asked the rightest questions, but also because he had the rightest solution to all that jungkook wished to ask him of.

"Why? " And then there are reasons. A thousand. All pointing at the 'don't' except that one finger of his heart aimed right at Taehyung.

"I don't know, " Taehyung shrugged, almost like he had given up on reasons. And that felt good too, to desert reasons even if it was just for the night. "Why didn't you? "

"I don't know either, " He shrugged back, but he knew why. Because he was afraid, that if he were to taste his lips once more then as irresistible as the king was, Jungkook might get addicted too. Knowing for none of these he had time enough to promise, but his lips wouldn't know how to forget Taehyung's. Just like wanting to hear a few more words from his sharp tongue, and crave to discover another smile from his treasure of thousands, he would then want to capture his lips all over again and again until he couldn't.

And as much as Taehyung's lips claiming his, poured in all the want he never spoke about; he wanted Taehyung's pride to fall, his guards to retreat and his lips to agree to it all. That he too, wanted him like Jungkook did.

"You should be scared, " The king spoke, breaking his thousand a minute thoughts, "Nothing about me is normal, or..... good? I suppose"

Taehyung, as wise as he was, loathed himself. Jungkook wanted to change that. Because with all of these hundred wonders that Jungkook wants to discover and rediscover of him again and again, the last thing Taehyung should be afraid of was, himself. His arms itched to gather the omega king in his arms, and lips ached to whisper him of sweet nothings all night long. But he left them all aching, begging and itching, to watch the king fuel his self hatred. Just like him.

"So should you be afraid of me, " He replied, instead. "If normality is the standard "

When Taehyung locked his eyes at his reply, he wanted to ask a little more time now. A little more to spend in his brown pools, to see himself in them and wonder of all the things they could've been if they weren't what they were now. But time was too slippery on fingers while Taehyung was stuck in his eyes. The two never met midway and he was always the victim of their lost war.

"We should stop this, shouldn't we? " Taehyung asked after a short pause of resuming their walk back home. He sounded sad, and peeking over the shawl he looked indeed sad. And sadness as beautiful as it was on Taehyung like anything else, was the last he wished to hear from him or read on him.

But reality struggled through his thoughts and hit him right there, as he walked by the King's side. Told him of all the things he wished to escape. Of all the things his fate could've been written as. So he resorted to truth, one that he wished to protect the most, "We should"

His lips weighed pounds when they managed to drag the two words out of his tongue from between his teeth. He soothed his sinking heart, weak knees and suddenly silent thoughts that all of this was to protect Taehyung. From himself, his fucked up fate and aching heart.

Taehyung's eyes spoke so much for his lips, that he could almost trace their rising moist. But Taehyung being Taehyung, held it back with poise. His heart even as it sank, skipped a few beats at the discovery, almost as if it were a ritual now.

From when they met with a violent battle, Taehyung had never once missed an opportunity to prove that he was a living wonderland. Now having plundered his heart, he was a wonder beyond imagination to Jungkook. But he refused to not imagine, for even if it were for mere moments or hours, they were just theirs there. Nothing to protect him from. Nothing to be protected from.

"We should, " Taehyung mumbled back, walking faster. But Jungkook held his wrist before he could, just a few feet away from the palace gates, and asked when the king turned to meet his eyes, "But I don't want us to," It was really hard speaking to the king, meeting his eyes with alcohol in his system. But he did, because he was Jeon Jungkook, and he would.

"Would you like recruitment? " Taehyung asked, after flitting long glances between his held wrist and Jungkook's eyes. "Here in Kaatru? "

"Recruitment?" See? Taehyung never failed to awe him.

"Hmm, " Taehyung hummed in affirmation making no attempt to remove his wrist. So neither did he make any to leave his hold. "You have the potential, I won't waste that"

"I- me I-what? " But as strong as Jeon Jungkook was, his heart wasn't for Taehyung. And somehow when his heart refused to co-operate, the last that would function right would be his mouth. And it didn't, rightfully.

Taehyung smiled, almost satisfied with his struggle and Jungkook had yet to train his heart to not miss a few necessary beats at that. "I'll be making a special task force against rogue attacks and am offering you the choice of leadership to it. You can deny it, I won't ask you of valid grounds"

Choice wasn't a choice to the chosen, but here in Kaatru from when he met Taehyung, saw only acceptance in his eyes to his truth and finally got promoted to the king's special hostage, he was never a chosen. He was just Jungkook. And just Jungkook had choices. From choosing lies over truths to the king, to staying as his special hostage after the discovery of a purple eyed Taehyung. So now when offered once more, he chose Taehyung again, because that's something he would do regardless of time, fate, regrets and guilt.

"Whatever my king wishes, " He murmured, eyes caged in taehyung's. Because they never seemed to leave his when around the king.

"My wishes are vast, " Taehyung glanced at his lips and he instinctively licked them, "be specific"

"I accept it, my king, " He replied, unwavered of the blue swirls in the king's eyes. He enjoyed it when Taehyung lost control over his wolf around him- no, because of him.

"Report the courtroom tomorrow at dawn," Taehyung smiled, reluctantly drawing back his wrist, "General"

♛┈⛧┈♛

"The fuck for would you appoint that prick out of all the people! Have you officially lost your mind, Taehyung?!" Ryejin yelled at his face soon as they reached his chambers from the courtroom, "Kim fucking Taehyung am talking to you! You better stop right there and gimme an explanation-"

"Ryejin," He sighed, turning around to his infuriated sister, "It's uvagai. Dont-"

"So? That doesn't give me a proper justification to why a random intruder would get his position to be general in command for a taskforce just to fight against rogues!?" She heaved, eyes not leaving Taehyung's who looked as if he were waiting for her to continue, "You're either drunk or completely insane because this is the last time I am saying, Jung hyuk is lying through his teeth! The fuck do you not understand by-"

"I know," Taehyung shrugged before removing his robe and reaching for the scrolls he left unfinished, "your point? "

"My point!? Stop fucking involving a liar in our kingdom shit! " Ryejin bellowed, "I don't know whatever the fuck is going on! He kills random rogues, and you say he has potential like no one else has ever done that before and what the fuck was all of that adding fine arts to uvagai, Taehyung? You don't inform me of shit like before and suddenly exercise that 'I'm the king and I can do whatever the fuck I wish' power after 7 years of kingship!? You've gotta be fucking kidding me, Kim Taehyung!"

"Rye, lemme remind you one more time, if I really did exercise such a power then the senior ministers must be the last people to stay in my courtroom, which they still do, " He gritted, palm tightening around the scroll in hand, " The addition of fine arts was to expand uvagai from being a mere festivity to an occasion that also celebrates talent. I didn't discuss, since I assumed you might also be pleased at the surprise announcement"

"You're still avoiding talking about Jung hyuk, and I suspect you hiding something from me from since when you fell ill," She pointed out, crossing arms, "besides, Jung hyuk has been a free bird for a hostage. I assume it's your doing too or should I -"

"Ryejin, what's your problem? " Taehyung cut her off, running a hand through his falling locks, " Jung hyuk? Or the task force general title!? "

"You mean, I'm running after position, Tae?" She shook her head, backing away from him, " I basically grew up here! How the hell can you think whatever I want is just position and not your well being? Am trynna patch up for our deterring bond but I don't know, Tae, it feels like you have given up! On me, on mom, on this throne... Maybe on kaatru too" She chuckled, far from delightful.

"You think, I have given up, Rye? " Taehyung asked, disbelief washing over his features and tainting his tone.

"With Jung Hyuk around, " Ryejin calmly replied, not meeting his eyes as she wiped a tear down her cheek, " It feels like you're fading away from me, Tae. I don't get to see you around, and no matter how much I try, all I get is 'don't accuse Jung hyuk, he's innocent' from everyone starting with you to min hyung! And now? Now am just tired, tae... Proving things to people who have given up on listening"

"He isn't innocent, Rye, " Taehyung reassured deserting the scroll, "I know. But he isn't anything you need to be afraid of, I promise "

"Why do you want me to buy that promise so hard?" Ryejin narrowed her eyes.

"Because I wanna know you trust me, Rye, " He replied, slumping down on his bed. "Just your trust "

"Hate to break it to you big brother, " Ryejin sighed, walking towards the bed, "but you already have all of mine "

"Well, then do you remember what mother says about the true art of warfare? " Taehyung enquired shifting aside for her to take a seat beside him, "When it is war, all is fair and no matter how twisted it is to read between lines, no warfare-"

"Is fair enough to trust enemies and friends alike," Ryejin completed, ogling at Taehyung. "But this isn't warfare, Tae"

"Not all wars begin with a blow of conch, ryejin," He gravely informed, "some might just begin with mouthwatering desserts"

"So what has appointing him, " She pointed at the empty couch in the living quarters of Taehyung's chambers, " Gotta do with all of this warfare shit? "

"Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer, " Taehyung shrugged, getting back at the scroll, "And rogues unlike us don't have a wolf form as you know, which makes it harder for us to fight since we are stronger in our wolf forms"

Ryejin nodded, "So? "

"What I mean is, if we are to find out whatever Jung hyuk is hiding," He whispered, not sure of his walls keeping secrets, "then it's wiser if we get the most out of him before we do"

"And what happens when we do? "

"That depends on the depth of the truth," Taehyung murmured, staring at the empty couch," If he knows to hide, then I'll learn how to seek.... Not just the truth"

♛┈⛧┈♛

Kaatru was an epitome of nature's beauty at it's rawest. From the trees shying away to the raging winds and mellow howls of winds as they kissed the stars, every moment was picturesque in here. Moon had been hiding behind the clouds. Just a few flames of treacherous white giving away it's hide out. And now a soft crescent peeked out, nestled amongst the poorly lit dark clouds.

The roads were lit with twice as much as lamps as before, and the crowd was no lesser than it was at dawn or noon. Strolling around the markets, exercising his official freedom as a citizen of Kaatru than a sneak-away hostage (privileged), he overheard a conversation between two older omegas with big wide smiles, leading him to his current location of the Kaatru temple.

Corridors of stone stood up high and tall, scriptures and figurines marking them. A labyrinth of hallways leading to no where later, he found a series of blind arcades diminishing down to somewhere, where water shone under the shy moonlight. From the floor, to the pillars, everything was stone and the embedded scriptures tingled his feet as he moved past the bustling crowd to what he assumed was the temple backyard.

Contraire to his expectations for solitude, here people - a huger crowd of them-stood with loud chatters, giggles and smiles, a lamp in hand each including children who babbled over whose was bigger. The night felt younger, so did the air. The moon was almost out of it's hide out, like a princess readied up for her suitor, fiddling with her fingers refusing to meet his intense eyes.

He was probably half way into counting stars, when a loud lisp-ful voice broke his reverie. After a quick survey, he found out the owner to be a (probably) 5 year old glaring at the lamp she had set on the ground. Her twin sister wore a big pout and almost looked on the verge of tears.

The one who broke his little countdown to whatever the crowd were waiting for, then spoke up. "One.. . Thoo.. .. Thwe- ahh! No! " She stomped on her feet, crying out, drawing a few eyes including her parents who rushed down to kneel beside her and draw the incense stick away from her tiny palm. Her sister watched all of this and almost shed a tear or two when her mother snatched the stick from her palm too.

"Aera, you can't li-"

"Amma, you know how to sthop wind wight? " Aera, as he recognised her, cut her mother off.

"Of course baby, " She smiled, pushing back a lock behind her daughter's ear. He noticed the other twin, with moist eyes, now slowly inching towards where her mother placed the incense sticks on the ground. It had lost it's flame, but blissed with ignorance she almost made a victory dance when she managed to get her hand on one of them, trying to bring the already put out stick towards her lamp. Frowning after three tries she threw the stick up the ground, catching her mother's attention with a startle, who quickly drew towards her side.

"Ae ri, " She looked at the girl she just drew to her side and then exchanging looks with the other, she continued, "ae ra, behave!" She gave a glare, barely threatening to which ae ra replied, "amma, hold air pwease~ " She whined, clinging to her attire, "pwease hold air~"

"Ae ra," She sighed, "You must wait until the king comes darling "

King? Taehyung?

"Why~" Ae ra prodded, frustrated.

"Because he is a good person, " She smiled, not hesitating to reply. " When good people start good things, it ends up good"

"Why is he a good pwerson?" Ae ri asked, completely focused on her mother's words.

"Because he does good things, love, " She patted both of their hair.

"But I wanth thoo lighth ith up! " Ae ra announced, stomping her feet to prove her point.

"Ae ra, " Her mother warned, "your appa is on his way back after sales, if you don't be a good girl, I will ask him to not buy anything for you anymore"

"No! " The girl shouted drawing a few heads again. " I wanth gifths! " She cried out.

"Can I be a good pwerson like the king thoo? " Ae ri interrupted, glancing between her mother and sister.

"Yes of course, baby!" She smiled, pride beaming in her eyes. "But you must do good things for that too! "

"Buth I love rae rae morr, " Ae ra announced, fiddling with her fingers.

Rae rae?

"She's a good person too," Her mother argued, "she listens to what elders say"

"Buth-" Ae ra tried defending before a voice interrupted them and the kids crowded around their father deserting both the lamps and their mother.

"Appa! " They yelled in unison, this time drawing no eyes, but smiles from their mother. The father looked up to his wife and announced in a low whisper that jungkook would've missed if he didn't focus enough, "We can go to the fair tonight " to which the wife smiled in return, nodding in joy.

Then pulling out two flower crowns from behind his basket that seemed other wise empty, he waved them before his daughters out of whom Ae ri clapped in delight, grinning in absolute joy. Ae ra on the other hand reluctantly grabbed the flower crown, fiddling the soil with her shoes. Her father kneeled down before her, sending ae ri to her mother, and gently brushing back her locks to ask, "you don't like it? "

"I wanthed a swordh, " She mumbled, examining the flower crown. Even Jungkook couldn't help but smile at the little one's wish.

Her father smiled before pulling out an air sword out of his waist, and flailing his hands about making sounds and expressions of attacking his daughter, who giggled in return. Soon she was brought into a sea of tickles leaving her but a laughing mess, drawing her mother's attention.

"Now what does the princess want? " She enquired flitting glances between her husband and daughter, smiling to her giggles.

"Oh she wants swords and shields," He replied, grabbing her in his arms. "Don't you, your majesty? "

She nodded her head, proceeding to explain her request, "rae rae pwomised to theach me if I bwing a swordh-"

"You met princess ryejin? When? " Her father enquired, smile vanishing.

Rae rae? Ryejin?

"Amma asked me thoo buy thomathoes and I got losth on my way, " She explained, flailing her hands about and eyes wide, "and I reached the palace where rae rae was theaching sword-ahh~"

"So you went to the palace, " Her mother interrupted, holding ae ri in one palm and ae ra's ear in the other. " When I was waiting till dusk for you bring tomatoes?"

"I goth losth-" She argued, tears collecting as she rubbed her red ear. Her father pressed a few kisses on her ear, soothing a palm over it with a soft smile.

"Lost? You know the roads of Kaatru better than me, " Her mother raised a brow.

"I wanthed to meeth rae rae, " She mumbled, getting back to fiddling with her fingers. A habit Jungkook assumed when she was nervous.

"Look darling, if you want to go somewhere you should tell Amma," Her father chastised, lifting her chin up, "and you can't disturb the princess when she's on the training grounds"

"Am sowwy, " She mumbled, still fiddling with her fingers and head hung low.

"Promise me you won't do it again," Her father held a pinky out, which she quickly intertwined nodding in affirmation.

"After all that the princess has done to us," Her mother mumbled, looking at her husband, "The last we should do is trouble her more"

"You're ri-" Before her husband could complete his sentence, a musical cue shushed the chatters to silence making ae ra leap from her father's arms to collect the lamp from where it was on the ground. Ae ri joining her with a smile.

The musical cue, he knew, was one to invite the king, but what had Taehyung got to do with people collecting here at a the backyard of the temple was still a mystery. But right before his thoughts could wander any longer, the reflection in the moonlit water caught his eyes. Just as did the overwhelming jasmine in the air.

Bespangled in a white gown tied at the middle and soft white flowers hanging off his locks, there stood Taehyung with a soft smile and an unlit lamp in hand, reflecting off on the river water.

Another day and another smile. His lips were curled up, Cupid's bow accentuated under the moonlight now no more hiding behind the clouds. His locks were secured behind his ears and flowed down till his waist, like black silk splayed across his white wardrobe.

The jasmines in his hair clouded the air, as did his presence cloud Jungkook's thoughts. The alpha was breath stolen, trying to capture all of the wonders that Taehyung stood as now. A mere reflection and his heart was almost stumbling off his chest mapping it's way to Taehyung's palm. When Jungkook was halfway into consoling his heart, Taehyung's deep baritone interwove with the soft winds to kiss his cheeks stealing away the rest of his breath that he tried to restore his lungs.

"I convey my deep gratitude to all who who took their time to attend the light ceremony of uvagai, " He smiled, " With all the blessings of my people proffered in my hands, I adjure the goddess of moon to bring light to their lives just as much as prosperity, health and joy"

He then proceeded to close his eyes like he did when they were on the giant wheel, and in mere moments the soft hums of wind paused. Just as Taehyung was about to light his lamp, as people eagerly anticipated, a familiar giggle drew the king and his folk's attention to the ae ri- ae ra twins clapping in delight to lamp they lit before the king. Their parents seemed embarrassed and bowed to the king, whose reflection on the water showed a soft smile nestled on his lips.

"Am so sorry your high-" The husband and wife bowed in unison.

"Don't apologize, " He smiled, glancing at the girls who seemed ignorant of all their surroundings except the dancing flame on their lamps. " After all, uvagai is all about joy"

"But, my king," The father spoke, worriedly shifting glances to the crowd who watched it all happen in silence. "It was you who should've started the ceremony, but they-"

"Did it in my place, " He finished, a smile on his lips as he shifted glances to the girls who were still fascinated with the trembling flame. The air hadn't yet moved, which proved Taehyung still had it under his control, quite effortlessly. "They're more certainly apt for this than I am, I commence the light ceremony to begin, " He declared with a smile, sending his own lit lamp to float over the waters of Kaatru. The crowd following suit.

But Jungkook's eyes never left Taehyung, who pushed back a lock out of his eyes before turning to Ryejin beside and murmuring something that he couldn't focus. Soon Taehyung was out of sight and he chose to wander around the bank before returning to the palace.

"Tell him...tell him not...tell him, " He found a flower by the river bank, proudly inviting eyes under the moon light and he plucked it off. Currently picking petals off of it in a battle to whether or not confess the truth to Taehyung tonight, and was currently on his fifth petal. "Tell him not.... Tell him-"

"Tell whom? " He froze soon as the king's voice interrupted. He threw the flower before turning to the king, adorned in white and embellished in jasmines.

"Who else? " He played along, hoping his mouth won't give up on him considering his heart was currently out of control and lungs were... well, out of shape. "You, my king"

"Me? Does it concern rogue activity at the borders ?" Does Taehyung forget he has a life past being the king of Kaatru?

"I'm afraid not, my king, " He morphed his features to one of worry. " It's about you "

"Me? "

"You indeed, Taehyung," He assured, capturing all of the soft red of the king's cheeks, tiny curl of his lush lips and almost unnoticed widening of his eyes. His moles, brought out by the moonlight and his wardrobe, almost had Jungkook leaning forward for a chaste peck on each. But he resisted. "White suits you"

Taehyung didn't seem to have foreseen his reply. Eye going wider and cheeks turning a red darker, Jungkook smiled. But taehyung being himself, composing himself in a trice, replied, "It's ritualistic, not my everyday wardrobe"

"Need not be," He spoke, now used to the loss of leash on his lips around the other, "The rarer, the worthier"

"Am not rare," Taehyung laughed, like his smile wasn't worthy to discover and moles weren't worthy to capture in his heart. "Let alone is the white of this attire"

"Why not? "

"This has been a tradition since I turned eighteen and the king of Kaatru, " He shrugged, their distance begged to be closed. But he didn't.

"You don't like it?" He asked, always curious for Taehyung.

"The tradition or white? " Taehyung questioned back.

"Both, " He settled after a moment or two of contemplation. The more the better.

"I respect the tradition," He replied, eyes finally meeting his, and then fixing his attire he added, "I adore this white"

"Then why is it just ritualistic? " He asked, a smirk painting his lips, "After all, attires don't decide designations, do they? "

"You rarely dress like a Royal "

"A Royal is a citizen too, " Taehyung replied, turning around to look at him. "Attires don't decide designations"

"Because the rarer," Taehyung smoothed a lopsided smile of his own, " It is worthier "

"Taehyung," He retreated, letting the syllables melt on his tongue, "You're rare, am afraid, rarer than this white of your attire "

Taehyung didn't reply, just stared. His eyes traced from Jungkook's jaw, to lips, to his nose followed by his eyes. And adhered there, holding both of them hostage to the slow blue tides conquering the brown of his eyes. The deeper he delved, the lesser he found. The more lost he was, the less he wished to be found. The blue slowly faded, but not to brown, but a blazing yellow.

Almost like a fire that licked up all of his ocean, and yet was left with an insatiable hunger. But the ocean battled against, returning with a droplet of tear trickling down the other's cheek.

He held a finger below it, and the tear landed there, wet and warm. He smiled, when Taehyung finally spoke. Fire in his eyes dying down to their ocean blue, his alluring almonds following suite.

"Should I trust a liar, now?" The smile on his lips-second newest for the day- betraying his words, he asked.

"If I am not trust worthy," He asked back instead, "then, my king, you should think twice about whom you kiss hereafter "

"I'm afraid," Taehyung shrugged, playful, "There's a possibility of hereafter, general"

"Your wishes are vast, " Jungkook chose to remark, smirk retreating, "But I don't need your trust to provide to all of them, my king " The King's lips, glossy under the moon light, made his stomach clench in hunger.

"Then I would foremost wish for you to secure the borders of kaatru," Taehyung replied, turning away from his eyes. "I trust you enough to protect my people, hyuk"

It wasn't his name, a mask he created. But the nickname, even to his mask, made a few butterflies victory dance in his stomach. Taehyung was deliberately pushing away his offers, but Jungkook, even as he fell short with time, will wait until the king comes around. After all, choice is a temptress.

"Your wish, my command, your highness," He nodded, taking the cue to inform of his leave. But Taehyung's voice held him back.

"Jung hyuk? "

"Yes, my king, " His eyes travelled, marked and burnt all of the details from the king's uncooperative locks, moon kissed gold of skin, crafted moles he craved to kiss, pair of wide almond eyes and tantalizing pink lips, in his mind.

"You shall address me by my name, " He answered, eyes strolling over his features, just as his own did over the King's, "As long as it's around only my ears to hear "

"As you wish for, my king, " He smiled, holding back himself from pecking his red cheeks. They stared a while longer, but it felt short until Taehyung spoke, "I should take my leave"

"Shall I escort you back to the palace, my king?" He was yet to find his way back, but that left his lips before he could think thrice.

"I know my way back, " Taehyung smiled, and he suddenly didn't regret letting that slip off his tongue, "I'm afraid it's the other way round, general hyuk "

His cheeks felt warm when he scratched his neck and gave him a sheepish smile before-

"You can teach me, won't you, Taehyung?"

"And what would my reward in return be? "

"Whatever you wish, " Again a bold reply, without a thought or two.

"I'm afraid we don't have all the time in world to stand there, hyuk, " Taehyung called out, already on his way to the temple.

"I'm on my way, my king, " He replied, quickly jogging his way after Taehyung, barely catching up with his long strides.

"You shall now follow me wherever I go, and learn your way back, " Taehyung instructed once they were side by side. "So you shall escort me back to the palace hereafter. This will be my reward," Taehyung glanced at him, and they met eyes when he replied-

"However my king pleases"

The promotion of designation, after all, doesn't just end with safety from rogue attacks.

♛┈⛧┈♛

A/n:
Guess, Jungkook is a self aware alpha.

And for all the questions this book has left u with, all I can say is, you will fall harder for koo 🥺

Either Taehyung knew of his originality and asked, or Jungkook wanted to impress his love-
But either the way the last column makes no straight sense.

Yoongi said this himself and you know he gets what he wants so:

✨BETTER STREAM 🧈✨

*sobs* ever-everythingoes * sobs harder* and bicycle s-sit on the same table for l-lunch. *whispers my love for joon*