Jungkook had grown fond of Taehyung. Impatiently. Ruthlessly even.

It was rushed, heated almost, the way he had turned powerless against the omega king. The good kind of powerless, albeit, like the ones where you feel like you can give the person a knife knowing they'll choose to kiss you instead.

Only, Jungkook hid the knife. Hid all the truths. So, naturally the kissing happened way easier.

But it was all for the good. The hiding, he meant. Jungkook had to do it all at his own best interest-to stay undercover. Or at least that's what he could convince himself until Min hyung walked into Taehyung's chambers early this dawn and informed as a matter of fact-

"Jung hyuk, you're moving out"

He turned to look at taehyung, the elder was still asleep.

"Taehyung hasn't woken up yet?" Min hyung enquired, brows drawing down his forehead in worry. The alpha shook his head, walking towards the balcony, just in case he doesn't wake the resting king. Min hyung followed suite after him, mumbling something along the lines of taehyung being an early riser and that something had gotten into him lately. If only they knew.

"Am moving out?" It sounded more stupid than it did in his head.

"Yes," Min hyung smiled, a ready-to-face-life kind of morning smile and nodded, long black locks bouncing. "you're moving in with me! Now!" He whisper yelled the last part of the sentence, cupping his mouth.

"Now?" He had heard him the first time, but still felt the need to ask the question. Need to stall.

"When else!? "

"But why?" God that sounded stupider.

Min hyung's smile fell.

"Because you are the special commander in general now, " The older pushed a finger to his chest, "and militants have separate quarters-really pretty ones, I must say, right behind the palace"

"Well," He scratched his neck, hoping he looked like he was contemplating the idea. "Moving in and out.... that's hectic, hyung, do we really have to do it now? "

A smack to his arm, a really stingy one. "Ouch! What was that for? "

Jungkook was still getting used to this friendship beyond Hoseok, and it most certainly included Min hyung's sudden violent spurts where he just flicks his brains out or smacks the alpha back to his senses. 

"Dramatic," Min hyung gave him a look that came halfway between disappointed and disgusted. "Can't believe how Taehyung puts up with you everyday"

"Hey-"

"Nothing's as hectic as dealing with you, besides am helping you move out, aren't I?" Min hyung argued, folding his arms, "and for Moon's sake is that the couch you sleep? God you're so unorganised-" The older lamented walking off in the direction of the said couch and beginning to fold the blankets.

Now back to what was wrong with Jungkook, wasn't he a born royal? No matter however simple he preferred things to be, he had only ever seen golden spoons, silverware, soft mattresses and silken blankets. Yes, as long as his memory hasn't went for a morning walk, that's true. Then why is he on one fine morning, trading all of that for this single stupid couch made of God knows what, one normal blanket (since Taehyung preferred them over silk ones) and a single shelf room for all his belongings?

Yes, most part of staying undercover did necessarily make him a tad bit humble but not enough to justify why didn't an offer of leaving this godforsaken couch sound as good as it should.

"Hello?" He blinked, hand drawing towards his forehead to rub off the sting. Judging Min hyung's composure he was flicked this time. "Earth to hyuk~"

"Huh? "

"I was asking if you would lend me a hand with those books," He pointed at his shelf room, messily stuffed with a dozen books from the library and his four sets of attire. "You seem to have raided the library"

He chuckled. "Let them be here, we can collect them sometime later," He shrugged and Min hyung gave him the previous disappointed-disgusted look. They stood there like that for a solid minute or two, with him sharing one sided awkward smiles to the elder, as the latter glared.

"Those are your things not mi- come lend me a hand, we're gonna move your lazy bum to the quarters now," The elder pulled him by his forearm, pushing him to the couch. Jungkook blinked at him, knowing not what the fuck to do.

"You wanna move out or not? " Min hyung had his arms crossed and feet tapping the floor, which meant business.

Did jungkook want to move out or not?

"I don't know," He shrugged, "I'm pretty much used to being here" He tapped the couch, fondly reviving memories of last night.

"So you're gonna stay here forever?"

Well, that sounded nice too. But he didn't nod this time, just blinked at the other.

"Honestly what's wrong with you jung hyuk?" He sounded tired, and even jungkook couldn't blame him for that, "You're giving up a huge ass room with a king sized bed and a ginormous closet full of clothes for this?" He pointed at the tiny couch he was seated on.

Well, if you put it that way.

He nodded, slowly, like he was unsure with himself. Which most often than not the alpha was.

"But why?"

Why jungkook? think think think what kept him here? What stuck him to this couch that gave him more backaches than sleep? What made him like this little space more, to the mansion he lived in? What-what was he afraid of losing here that he badly wanted to stay?

He trailed his eyes to the couch. To the window. To the vase full of dried flowers. To his single shelf room. To the red red curtains. To the heap of blankets across the room. To Taehyung, cuddled within them. To the little stock of peanuts above the cupboard. To Min hyung's boots. To-

Oh.

Oh.

O-fucking-h.

Taehyung was still asleep, almost invisible among the mass of white blankets and pillows. His cheeks squished over a pillow, jutting his lips out in a kissable pout.

adorable

And then it dawned, it fucking dawned upon jungkook, that he was afraid of losing this. Losing the intimacy that this place held. Afraid of losing them to distance. Jeon jungkook was afraid of losing Kim Taehyung.

"Yah!" A shake to his shoulder. He shook his head like it was capable of shaking off the thoughts within. "Were you even listening? "

He shook his head again, this time a tentative no.

The other sighed, quite resigned. "So you're not coming? "

Min hyung looked sad, and he knew waking up Taehyung now to ask of a solution would be rather stupid. What would he tell the king anyway, that he wanted to be made an exception to dorming at the quarters? And? Put poor Taehyung in a predicament like that? No thanks, Jungkook will pass.

He jabbed min hyung's side, drawing his attention, "you're gonna regret wanting this so bad"

The elder's face lit up, "is that supposed to be a challenge?"

"Haven't we fought enough to our content before?" He grunted, stuffing his attires and books in a huge cloth bag that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere. Probably Min hyung's.

The other alpha just chuckled, lending him a hand with the books.

They carried his belongings to the militant quaraters, as min hyung had mentioned earlier, which stood tall behind the palace. The walls were coloured beige in contrast to the pale blue sky, and a pond full of lazy fishes occupied the front. By the time the two of them had reached min hyung's quarters, the atmosphere didn't seem halfway foreign to Jungkook than from that of the palace. Maybe because the two structures barely differed from the other on the inside.

"Home sweet home," Min hyung sighed, plopping the books in his hand right into a closet. Pointing at the same he added, "you can keep your things here, and use the bookshelf for your books," He pointed at a wooden shelf with a shelf room of three huge racks, "I don't read, so you don't have to worry about shelf room and all that"

He looked around and realised, the entire room with two king sized beds, a pair of closets, one bookshelf and a bath reminded him of his chambers back in Gandhara. Only things weren't arranged in pairs there, but the room was huge enough to fit them all the same.

"Also laundry's done thrice a week, and bedspreads are changed every six months once," Min hyung loitered around the room as he spoke. "And this is my bed so that's yours, if you haven't already guessed, just make yourself comfortable however you like, and feel free to ask me anything"

"I...i guess I missed something important," Min hyung hadn't yet replied when he was out of the quarters, sprinting down it's creaky stairs. Feet faster than usual.

Soon, he was out of the building, then out of the quarters gate, then shortly after, he was out of the dorms' near vicinity. In the next 7 blinks, he was halfway from Kaatru palace, then three minutes into it's main gates, few seconds from it's courtroom and finally two fucking steps away his former residence-Taehyung's chambers.

He barged in, no knocking nothing. The guards let him in anyway, having stopped being wary of him since the day taehyung declared him "not a threat". He wondered if he would be able to build a similar kind of trust in his people if at all he becomes the king. Maybe not.

Last night they slept quite late, sitting in silence, which they could've kissed away. Neither talked, and even if they did, Jungkook hardly remembered anything from after a single fateful whiff of Taehyung's scent. His real real scent. No, not the sandalwood he reeked of after bath. Neither the after rain he smelt like after they'd kiss.

No, he smelt like all the places Jungkook had yearned to belong. Like all the places that he wished he had ran off to, from his fate. Like all the places he wanted to call home. Maybe because each home has this untypical aroma to itself-this signature scent of belongingness and Taehyung smelled like a mixture of all of it in the mortal world.

Jungkook looked for a scroll, feather and ink ready in hand. A spare scroll, not much written on it materialized from Taehyung's drawer, and soon he was tapping his chin with the feather pen, it's touch as tingling as Taehyung's.

̶D̶e̶a̶r ̶t̶a̶e̶h̶y̶u̶n̶g Taehyung,

Good morning (I assume you have woken up since you might be reading this when am not here) I hope you slept well. ̶̶̶i ̶p̶r̶a̶y ̶̶y̶o̶u ̶d̶i̶d̶n'̶t ̶h̶a̶v̶e ̶a̶n̶y ̶n̶i̶g̶h̶t̶m̶a̶r̶e̶s ̶t̶h̶i̶s ̶t̶i̶m̶e

Jeon Jungkook, pull yourself together.

̶I'̶m ̶a̶f̶r̶a̶i̶d ̶I ̶m̶u̶s̶t I am writing this message to keep you informed of the reason of my absence and assure you that it's nothing out of my own will. ̶I ̶w̶a̶n̶t̶e̶d ̶t̶o ̶s̶t̶a̶y While you were asleep this morning, min hyung informed me of my shift to the militant quarters. ̶I ̶w̶o̶n̶d̶e̶r̶e̶d ̶i̶f ̶I ̶s̶h̶o̶u̶l̶d ̶w̶a̶k̶e ̶y̶o̶u ̶u̶p ̶a̶n̶d Again, I reassure you, I had to move out not out of my will but out of duty. ̶I ̶d̶i̶d̶n'̶t ̶w̶a̶n̶t ̶t̶o ̶p̶u̶t ̶y̶o̶u ̶i̶n ̶a ̶p̶o̶s̶i̶t̶i̶o̶n ̶o̶f ̶c̶h̶o̶o̶s̶i̶n̶g ̶m̶y ̶s̶t̶a̶y ̶o̶v̶e̶r ̶y̶o̶u̶r ̶d̶u̶t̶i̶e̶̶s

Jungkook chewed at his lips, eyes scouring through the limited space left in the scroll. Just as he did, he observed the page from an arm's distance and cringed at the mess he had made out of the scroll in the name of writing a message. He hoped Taehyung would understand, though, he couldn't be sure he himself could, any better.

I am deeply sorry for this messily written message, albeit, am not certain if I have left anything important. ̶T̶h̶i̶s ̶i̶s ̶m̶y ̶f̶i̶r̶s̶t ̶t̶̶i̶m̶e ̶w̶r̶i̶t̶i̶n̶g ̶s̶o̶m̶e̶o̶n̶e ̶a ̶m̶e̶s̶s̶a̶g I must tell you the militant quarters are pretty impressing and I hope to enjoy my stay there, though I am afraid I might miss my couch dearly. ̶I ̶a̶m ̶c̶e̶r̶t̶a̶i̶n ̶a̶m ̶a̶l̶r̶e̶a̶d̶y ̶m̶i̶s̶s̶i̶n̶g ̶t̶h̶i̶s ̶p̶l̶a̶c̶e ̶̶b̶a̶d̶l

The page was running out quicker than he was running out of words.

̶C̶a̶n ̶y̶o̶u ̶c̶o̶m̶e ̶t̶o ̶t̶h̶e ̶l̶i̶b̶r̶a̶r̶y ̶l̶a̶t̶e̶r ̶t̶h̶i̶s ̶e̶v̶e̶n̶i̶n If you aren't too busy, can we take a stroll across the market downtown? I haven't been there yet and I doubt if I can find a company any better than yours.

̶J̶u̶n̶g̶k Jung hyuk

______________

When Taehyung woke up, shirt soaked in sweat and body warm, uncomfortably warmer than usual, the first thing that caught his eye was a scroll. An outdated one, considering it's torn edges.

Hadn't he cleaned his drawer off of them last week?

He pushed off the pile of blankets that pooled at his legs and reached over to the scroll. The ink was relatively wet when it smudged his fingers and eroded a few letters at one end. Not written too long ago.

The penship was.... immaculate. A mixture of power and dedication. Two things that rather opposed the other in possession of a king. King, yes, that's what the penmanship looked like. Like that of a king.

But there were too many mistakes, striked through, but visible. Like the writer was afraid of messing it up by covering them altogether. Or had deliberately left it so to make the reader curious. Taehyung definitely was.

D̶e̶a̶r ̶t̶a̶e̶h̶y̶u̶n̶g Taehyung,

Dear Taehyung?? Must be an informal letter. Probably mother.

Good morning (I assume you have woken up since you might be reading this when am not here) I hope you slept well. ̶̶̶i ̶p̶r̶a̶y ̶̶y̶o̶u ̶d̶i̶d̶n'̶t ̶h̶a̶v̶e ̶a̶n̶y ̶n̶i̶g̶h̶t̶m̶a̶r̶e̶s ̶t̶h̶i̶s ̶t̶i̶m̶e

But mother wasn't aware of the nightmares—h-he had made sure to not let her know, hadn't he? Then who the hell was this?

He scanned the page, and found a little"jung hyuk" written smaller than the rest of the letter at it's end. Probably to accommodate within the page.

He smiled, reading all over from the beginning.

I'̶m ̶a̶f̶r̶a̶i̶d ̶I ̶m̶u̶s̶t I am writing this message to keep you informed of-

Message? This sounded more like a letter, and unlike Jung hyuk. He continued, regardless.

I'̶m ̶a̶f̶r̶a̶i̶d ̶I ̶m̶u̶s̶t I am writing this message to keep you informed of the reason of my absence and assure you that it's nothing out of my own will. ̶I ̶w̶a̶n̶t̶e̶d ̶t̶o ̶s̶t̶a̶y While you were asleep this morning, min hyung informed me of my shift to the militant quarters. ̶I ̶w̶o̶n̶d̶e̶r̶e̶d ̶i̶f ̶I ̶s̶h̶o̶u̶l̶d ̶w̶a̶k̶e ̶y̶o̶u ̶u̶p-

He squinted over to the window, the bright skies with last remnants of red suggested it was late into dawn. He had slept that long?

While you were asleep this morning, min hyung informed me of my shift to the militant quarters. I ̶w̶o̶n̶d̶e̶r̶e̶d ̶i̶f ̶I ̶s̶h̶o̶u̶l̶d ̶w̶a̶k̶e ̶y̶o̶u ̶u̶p ̶a̶n̶d Again, I reassure you, I had to move out-

Min hyung came? Jung hyuk moved out to the militant quarters? When? He looked over to the couch, it was empty, neatly folded blankets laid at one end with the pillow. And taehyung was asleep all this while? What was wrong with him?

Again, I reassure you, I had to move out not out of my will but out of duty. ̶I ̶d̶i̶d̶n'̶t ̶w̶a̶n̶t ̶t̶o ̶p̶u̶t ̶y̶o̶u ̶i̶n ̶a ̶p̶o̶s̶i̶t̶i̶o̶n ̶o̶f ̶c̶h̶o̶o̶s̶i̶n̶g ̶m̶y ̶s̶t̶a̶y ̶o̶v̶e̶r ̶y̶o̶u̶r ̶d̶u̶t̶i̶e̶̶s

Somehow the first line comforted him, assured him like it had been intended to when written. The phrase, after that, striked through twice unlike the rest of the mistakes stoked his curiosity and he squinted, trying to read.

Duties?

"My stay"? Jung hyuk's?

Choosin-

Oh.

O h.

Jung hyuk didn't want to put Taehyung in a position of choosing between him and his duties. Jung hyuk had thought of not wanting to put him in a position of choosing between him and his duties again. Jung hyuk had thought that far. Jung hyuk had thought of him, that far.

Taehyung could swear on his crown, he has been doted upon before, tended to, cared... loved. Mother ensured he was, Taehyung knew that Kim mun yeong too. At least until 9, he certainly did.

Then Taehyung changed, he heard so he did. No memory, nothing. He heard he would fight with mother all the time he wasn't on the training grounds. All until 14, and then he hardly remembers seeing mother around, hardly remembers being doted upon. Just remembers this singular dreadful feeling of something being forced to sleep in him, and nothing he does could wake it up. Four years juggled between training grounds, few battle fields and his chambers.

So at 18, nothing much changed with the crown. A few more battle fields, a little more training, back to his chambers and if not then the courtroom. Felt normal. Felt so unsettlingly normal that Jung hyuk had to come, unfetter that something chained in him and make 25 feel like what 18 should.

Without crowns.

Without responsibilities.

Without chains.

Jung hyuk was the hide out Taehyung couldn't find at 18.

I am deeply sorry for this messily written message, albeit, am not certain if I have left anything important. ̶T̶h̶i̶s ̶i̶s ̶m̶y ̶f̶i̶r̶s̶t ̶t̶̶i̶m̶e ̶w̶r̶i̶t̶i̶n̶g ̶s̶o̶m̶e̶o̶n̶e ̶a ̶m̶e̶s̶s̶a̶g I must tell you the militant quarters are pretty impressing and I hope to enjoy my stay there, though I am afraid I might miss my couch dearly. ̶I ̶a̶m ̶c̶e̶r̶t̶a̶i̶n ̶a̶m ̶a̶l̶r̶e̶a̶d̶y ̶m̶i̶s̶s̶i̶n̶g ̶t̶h̶i̶s ̶p̶l̶a̶c̶e ̶̶b̶a̶d̶l

It still sounded a lot more like a letter than a message, but Taehyung let it slide since a striked through phrase somewhere said it was the alpha's first time writing one.

"Miss my couch".

Oh, the couch.

He'll miss the couch.

Pretty understandable. Like it is compact and must have been... warm enough for the... weather.

A sharp wave of something inexplicably uncomfortable crashed on him. It started at his toes. Travelled it's way up, thighs, abdomen, stomach, chest, neck-everywhere. It burnt, for one solid span of a second, and vanished into thin air the next.

Wh-what was that? Was he sick again? What's wrong with him?

He leaned against the headboard, slightly dizzy and gravely uncomfortable. The letter still rested in his hand, crushed at one end of his tightened fists.

Something urged him to continue reading. Maybe curiosity. Maybe just plain relief-hunt.

n̶i̶n If you aren't too busy, can we take a stroll across the market downtown? I haven't been there yet and I doubt if I can find a company better than yours.

̶J̶u̶n̶g̶k Jung hyuk

Taehyung was already counting hours.

_____________

Jungkook wasn't exactly a..... physical person.

He usually preferred to be left in solitude since he tended to run his mouth when he was not.

Physical company, touch to be specific, wasn't a jeon jungkook (rebel) bucket list thing. Let alone scent.

But taehyung had to smell that holy, and put him through this torture of following the said male around within a distance of 2 or so feet (without scenting him Or getting a whiff his scent) for the uvagai art day preparations.

Why didn't training involve this in it's curriculum?

Initially it was all good. Taehyung's scent nicely wrapped in some artificial sandalwood. But then all hell broke loose the moment they begun taking patrols downtown. Under noon sun. And that stupid sandalwood couldn't bare a little sweat and Taehyung's scent broke loose too.

Now, normally, Jungkook wasn't a scenty person. He didn't... get attracted enough to scents that he had to take two minutes break every five feet they walked because somehow Jungkook ended up sticking way closer to taehyung than he intended in that every five feet or so.

And Jungkook didn't trust himself to not do something out of Taehyung's consent. Again.

Ryejin kept throwing him these weird looks and when he asked min hyung he just shrugged and informed as a matter of fact "that's her love language, cute right?"

Not exactly when jungkook was in a scent predicament, but he still smiled and nodded.

"So Jung hyuk, here's where the security should be tightened," Taehyung pointed at the market entrance, "I need min hyung and you to each take North and South and decide among yourself what and how to do it"

"Ryejin, you are going to take the east, " He turned to her, bold on his heels, heading forward, "west is surrounded by hills but each of you can send one trusted soldier from your troops, just in case"

"Also rye, how is the palace decoration going?" He abruptly pulled to a halt, making the rest follow suite.

"Mirrors," Ryejin smiled, a huge bright grin, almost child like but matured at it's dimples, "I ran a few options through mother, and she preferred mirrors this time"

"How much of the preparations are done? "

"The assembly Hall must be ready now to invite the public who arrive earlier," She explained, "but I should check up on the rest"

"Okay just ensure they aren't too sharp and warn the guards of keeping children away," Taehyung added, "keep me updated, rye and make sure it's done before dusk alright?" They resumed their tread ahead, shortly after which min hyung and ryejin excused themselves with each a bathroom break and work. He wondered if he should too since Taehyung's scent was shutting his senses down, but taehyung stopped
him—

"So you moved, " He waited, it felt like the sentence was hanging between a statement and question, "with min hyung"

"Had to," He corrected, and saw the other take a glance his way.

"You don't like it? "

"No, I do, " He wanted the right word, "just... missing the... Just..you know? homesick"

Taehyung hummed, and they continued walking around the relatively free market with busy shop keepers setting things up for the evening fair. It was quiet, all that hustle bustle droning out to a single soothing hum, probably the scent, but it was quiet. The musky kind of quiet.

He looked around, the palace a tiny minuscule structure from here. Fuck rationality, his curiosity won.

"You decorate the palace every year?"

"Yes, mostly with flowers but the art day is special," Taehyung replied, sounding halfway poignant and halfway nostalgic, and still smelling... so musk-ily gorgeous.

"Why? " He asked it with the least pressure on it's syllables. Like the question was free to be dodged.

"father loved art," Taehyung replied, after a few doubtful minutes, "so mother carried it on as a tradition, but i mostly do it out of will"

"He must have been a really good king"

"Yes, he was, " Taehyung nodded,  "everyone loved him"

"Everyone loves you too, " He added, a smile easily coating his lips. Taehyung's own following soon after.

"I know, " He said, after their chuckles died down. Almost after jungkook had thought the topic had died down. "I know they respect me, but love–love is a big word. But it just feels–it just....it won't last. I can't be my father... Like he was born to be a king and died as one. I doubt I am and will be... either"

Oh how much do fragrant people hate themselves.

Now Jungkook could've chosen to remain quiet, but it was probably his muddled senses or just this need to let Taehyung know that he will stay, so he didn't. "I can't be the king you are, neither can you be what your father was," He kicked a stone, footsteps unmatched, "there's no need to be, taehyung. Your people trust you, they'll continue to do so, you just need to trust them"

Taehyung didn't reply, and it made him wonder if he had slightly overstepped his boundaries as "jung hyuk"

"Am so sorry– it just kind of–I didn't mean to advice you or anything–I mean that's not what it was it wasn't meant to be an advi—"

"No, you're right, " He didn't realise but they weren't suddenly walking anymore. Just standing in the middle of the market. "I should.... I should trust them too"

Some distance later, they were still walking, Taehyung occasionally running into some shopkeepers and conversing with them. He was fluid in whatever he did, and probably this was the only thing that jungkook wouldn't agree with the elder, but taehyung was born to be a king.

It was almost dusk, they should probably return to the palace but taehyung looked like he didn't care.

"We aren't going to the palace? "

"Didn't you want to go downtown?" Taehyung asked, small smile and a teasing tone accompanied.

Oh he must have read that message—how embarrassing

"I mean, we don't have to but we can! If you're free, of course! Are you–are you free? If you're not—"

"I am, " Taehyung replied, still smiling at him. Less teasing. More fonder.

"We-we should go, " He rubbed at his neck, hoping it wouldn't be as red as warm as it was. "Let's go"

They walked further, just as quiet as they sat in Taehyung's Chambers last night. It felt comforting, like he didn't need to stifle the silence with words. Like it was already stifled with something much better. Much warmer.

"Thanks, " Taehyung broke it, and he realised what made it warmer, better.

He waited a few minutes, hoping the other would explain why but it didn't look like Taehyung was about to. "You're not gonna tell why? "

Taehyung took long to respond and it wasn't unusual. But the way he looked at him was. It was more than just fond. More than just honest. It was raw something. Jungkook couldn't define that something, he wasn't equipped with a vocabulary as raw for that.

"Just felt grateful, " Taehyung finally replied, and he didn't prod further. Partially because he knew taehyung didn't want to be but mostly because he knew Taehyung didn't have to be.

They moved farther, the crowd slowly trickling in. It wasn't easy to be not spotted when Taehyung was dressed like a king, but he was fine with watching the other being a fluid king too. It was, domestically nice.

"What is art day for? "

"To celebrate art, obviously, " Taehyung shrugged. They took a turn around an alley and it was much crowder here.

"How? How exactly, " He immediately followed, "I mean, do you celebrate art? "

"There, do you see that?" Taehyung pointed an arm at the brightest place in the market. Every cranny here was filled with shops. You name it, they had it. It reminded him of days he would sneak out of the palace with hoseok and go to the gandhara market, a place where he believed everyone had a chance to belong. "That's therukoothu, a kind of dance form"

The closer they turned up to the stage on the street as the name of the dance suggested, he recognised it from his hours at cultural lessons. It was an aranyan dance form though.

"It's—it's not ours though"

Taehyung chuckled, and he has named this kind of his laugh, it was the knowing smile. The one he gave when he knew something the other didn't.

"Art is no one's, " Jungkook waited. He wanted to hear more, it was taehyung. "It's a universal feeling, that's all"

He didn't reply, he felt it rather. They stood there, watched the show awhile. It was the story of bercahaya, and naturally it hurt to keep watching it. But something froze him, forced him to watch.

"What do you feel?" Taehyung asked, pointing at the protector in the play. Fortunately they stood in the shadows and drew no eyes. Hopefully, neither ears.

"Huh? "

"It's art, it makes you feel," Taehyung repeated, "what do you feel? "

It was probably the way taehyung said feel but it left his mouth sooner than he could regret. "Afraid"

Taehyung didn't reply, quietly turned back again to the play. He followed.

They watched the play a little longer, until taehyung tapped his forearm and said "it's getting late, there's a lot more to do"

They were soon beside a cotton candy shop. Taehyung giggled it off when he asked if the other was three. But honestly at the moment he felt ageless.

They quietly munched on their candies, often cracking a laugh or two when the pink thing poked out of their mouths. Soon they were out of that shop, and into the next. An accessorial.

"My king!" The shopkeeper was about rise from her seat but taehyung didn't let her, immediately asking her to sit and reminding her that now he was a customer too. "What would you like my king? "

Taehyung looked at the spread before him. Loads of bracelets, earrings, necklaces, pearls, rubies, lucky gems, and more he couldn't name. Taehyung scanned the boxes of accessories and finally settled with the necklaces. He grabbed a metal one, no dollar nothing, just an intricately designed chain.

The next thing jungkook knew he was pulled down by his wrist to the empty stool beside Taehyung and the other was placing the chain to his neck. Observing the match, while he processed his shock.

"Tae—my king, me-i I don't—you I why would? "

"You don't like it? " Taehyung turned away with the chain before he could reply, another one already on his neck. And taehyung up this close to his lips. Just a peck away. His musky scent was everywhere about now, and he could almost hear his wolf purr.

What the fuck

"No, " Taehyung turned away, "this isn't it, gimme that one, grandma"

Taehyung was one peck away once more. His scent felt magnified, if that made any sense.

And then he smiled. Taehyung fucking smiled, the audacity. He smiled, and jungkook could've almost passed out when he patted at his shoulder and asked, "like it? "

His eyes travelled to where Taehyung's were. The chain. Another metal one, much simpler, but with a ruby red dollar. He smiled, and looked at taehyung "love it"

He didn't know how long they were staring at each other but when the shopkeeper grandma cleared her throat, he was warm all over his face, neck, cheeks– everywhere enough to walk out of the little shed.

Taehyung came a few minutes later. He must've paid for that.

He looked at the chain again, then back again at taehyung. "Thank you"

"It suits you," Taehyung smiled, halfway happy and another half fond. They continued walking and the next stop was a game shop. The ring throw game was up, and he enrolled himself in. Maybe because it's been long since he went with hoseok the previous year or because taehyung was clapping with wide smiles when the person before him cleared it with a clean sweep all three times.

Jungkook couldn't. But he did twice, and that got them a kettle. Taehyung laughed, "I'll keep that, it's pretty, " Jungkook wasn't satisfied, "I'll get Mrs. Bong to make tea for me in that"

They were walking further, occasionally chatty and occasionally super silent, when Taehyung leaned suddenly against a wall, bag containing the kettle falling off his palm. He had his eyes shut tight, palms fisted and lips caught between his teeth.

Taehyung looked.... pained.

When he did open his eyes, it felt like he was in pain forever. It almost—no wholly hurt to see the taehyung he knew like that. Like in pain. Like in so much of it.

"Taehyung? " He drew his syllables out, when he asked, "are you- are you alright?"

It was a stupid question to ask. The elder clearly was not. But he still nodded, getting off the wall, a thin sheen of sweat coating his forehead. He looked tired.

"We should head back, " He offered, grabbing the bag with the kettle before taehyung could. "It's–it's getting late"

Taehyung being taehyung, he protested. "No am alright–I we—we still have a few more place– I still have a few more places to show y—"

"Hey, " Taehyung stopped, eyes training on him. "We can always go some other time okay? It's the market right? It's gonna be open tomorrow too, we can go whenever we want... It's getting late, come on, we still have the evening left at the palace"

Taehyung gave a resigned sigh, and jungkook knew he was convinced.

The walk back was much quieter, and jungkook couldn't help but notice taehyung's scent felt much stronger than before.

"Am sorry," Taehyung apologized when they were by the palace main gates and it slapped him on his face that he won't be going inside with taehyung anymore, like he used to.

"Why? "

"I shouldn't—it shouldn't have happened there—"

"It happens often? " Jungkook was certain it came off more hostile than genuinely worried.

Taehyung didn't reply, eyes scouring everywhere but meeting his.

"hey, taehyung?" When he looked at him, Taehyung looked much spent. Much more tired than before. "am sorry I-I didn't mean to come off rude, just-just tell me does it happen often? "

"No, it's—it doesn't," Taehyung shook his head, and it looked, sounded and even tasted like a lie in the air. "I- it's just the weather, it's nothing—I have it under control! See you at the assembly Hall later, hyuk" Taehyung waved a weak goodbye before walking away, steps quick.

The bag with the kettle dangled in his palm, suddenly heavier.

______________

"You were gone for long, " Ryejin commented, hands running over the mirror decorations. Chains of diamond-shaped mirrors dangled off the walls of the main palace hallway, and him and ryejin were currently reviewing the results. "Didn't see you all noon until late"

He ran his eyes along the walls, drinking in the splendor that the mirrors brought. Also probably searching for a convincible lie among them.

"Just patrolled downtown too this time, haven't seen therukoothu since long, " Taehyung was halfway convinced himself. "Miss going there with mother"

"I would've kept you company, " She looked guilty. "Why didn't you ask? "

"Rye, " He sighed, pinching his nose. "I- I can't give you work and also demand personal attention"

"You're my brother first, taehyung, " She patted his arm, and it was him feeling guilty this time. "Remember that"

He nodded. "I will"

"I should check the assembly Hall," Ryejin turned around, "and you should check yourself, you don't look good, taehyung" She took a much serious tone, "if this keeps going on, am calling the healers"

"Rye—ryejin! Ryejin listen—"

"duty calls, tae tae! " She waved him good bye, speed walking downstairs.

He sighed, continuing his inspection on the decorations. One of the red rubies bordering a mirror caught his eyes and his mind flew back to when he decided to gift the other the ruby pendant necklace. Since Jung hyuk was all tthe red taehyung loved.

The memory lingered a few minutes, until he decided to leave when his reflection in one of the mirrors caught his eyes.

He looked paler, much paler than the last time he had properly checked himself in a mirror. And the bags under the eyes were a cherry on the top. Sure, he wasn't sick but taehyung has definitely looked much better before.

He kept looking at the mirror and the minor most imperfections magnified. The unwanted pimples, the occasional discolourations, the moles, everything stood out. The crown looked mismatched over his make shift bun, and his attire from before when he went downtown, felt heavy.

The palace was a perfect commotion this evening. People downstairs in the assembly Hall enjoying live art shows, palace workers hot on their heels to their service, palace kitchen an audible mess (he swears he could hear Mrs. Bong shouting over all of it)

One moment all the sounds were a magnified chaos, and in the next they were just a singular blank ring. A deafening ring over a white sheet of silence. He could no longer hear any commotion, just this disturbingly plastic white ring.

the fuck was happening

He shut his ears, tried droning it out, but to no avail. His breathing felt battered, heavy. It was.... suffocating.

Right then his reflection in the mirror... that-that couldn't be his reflection. He-he wasn't he wasn't laughing. He was- he-he felt like the opposite he felt like on the verge of tears. Was he crying? He couldn't be laughing when he- he wasn't even alright. His reflection, no all his reflections in all mirrors on the wall said other wise. Said he had purple eyes. Said he was laughing. Said- all the mirrors said he was a monster.

He didn't want to be.

He shut his ears tighter, the white ringing magnified further if possible. He could feel the tide of heat, like the one this morning, like the one when he was with hyuk, like so many times before that, climb up his toes. This time much worse. Much painful. It hadn't reached his knees and he couldn't-couldn't stand that much-that much pain. A soft thud, probably his legs gave up. Fuck—

But whatever he did, he couldn't close his eyes. He couldn't stop seeing the other him in the mirror, laughing maniacally. He-he couldn't.

The heat rose up his thighs, abdomen, stomach—god, it was so painful-so painful—why? It was at the worst when it reached his chest and he couldn't breathe-he couldn't breathe. He felt trapped, sick, stabbed all at once and it burnt everywhere. God just-just make it stop please make it stop why-why won't it stop—

It stopped. The heat, the ringing, the false reflection—all of it, stopped. Halted at once.

He was on the ground, balled up. His crown lied somewhere near the wall, he crawled over, grabbing it and stood up. The palace commotion was back, Mrs. Bong scolding mirae Or someone else. Everything was back to normal. His reflection, his eye color—everything was normal.

Until; there always is an until. Until, his reflections turned back again to that creature with purple eyes, black rings and a manic smile. And it said, in a voice that sent thunders of heat waves rolling down his spine,

"You and I, aren't that different, Taehyung" A laugh, a manic laugh. "Irul is also otherwise the unknown"

Irul?

Another heat wave, as worse as before, sent him tumbling against the wall. It was almost scary to admit that he was used to them now. Almost six or so times since morning and Taehyung learns quick. He breathed through his mouth, leant his head against the wall, fisted his palms and let his fingernails dent them. He chewed at his lips, strayed the focus from the heat pooling at his abdomen and churning the organs within.

He opened his eyes, a much paler version of himself slumped against the wall reflected on the mirror. If it didn't hurt and burn as much as it did, he would've definitely broke it.

It hurt to even move a limb, let alone take the effort to stand up and get back to the safety of his chambers. Probably chat with jung hyuk and forget all of thi—right, he moved.

"You and I aren't that different"

He let out a dry chuckle, a really painful one since his thorat was parched. Was it? All that taehyung wanted was time. Time to keep all of this new found desire to live, but there's something always wrong with Taehyung. Always something wrong in him.

"Did you see that? He-he burnt the haystack! "

"Don't go near him, he'll-he'll bring the thunder on you! "

He bit his lips harder, drew blood. And it brought another forlorn memory in.

"Hey-hey taehyung is here, don't talk—"

"Don't take him in our team—we don't wanna burn anything this time"

He shook his head, his head hurting with every phrase each distinct voice spoke in his head. He remembers his failed adventures to belong, some ended up with burnt haystacks and the others with bruises. But mostly they did in fear.

Because God knew what the fuck was wrong with him to burn things in anger, bring rains in distress and hurt people way more than he intended. God knew what wasn't right in him that made him being accused wrong and apologize. God knew what should've been wrong with him, because taehyung himself certainly didn't.

He lifted himself up, leant against the wall. It fortunately didn't hurt as much, but he didn't think he had it in him now, to stand before his people in the assembly Hall and promise to protect them from everything he could be.

He'll apologize later. He had a lot to for, anyways.

His chambers weren't as far when he walked to the main palace hallways, but they suddenly were. So suddenly that he had to recheck every five steps that he was on his right path.

Another chuckle. What if someone saw him now? If it weren't for the crown in his palm, would anyone even know, who Kim Taehyung was?

Probably not.

He opened the chamber door, and the last he remembers is diving into the couch instead of the bed.

______________

A/n:

Therukoothu: literally translates to street dance, but is a form of theatrical performance and presentation in outdoor public spaces.
(cr. wikidata)

I had planned to update on new year but my exam tt was revealed, then I tried posting before exams but couldn't manage, then I tried on taekook day and me and my co-creator (my sis) had an idea clash and—long short story: I suck and am sorry

I hope the read was worth it 🥺

Oh to be the dog kissing joon—

Same bro, same

Am sensing a pattern there🤔🤔

Sorry, he's taken.

"I don't care where the location is, am happy as long am with v hyung"
😭😭

https://youtu.be/7D0xcQkbtuM

yes insomniacs, it's time to sleep.

No one speaks about artist made merchandise here. am honestly too disillusioned with mankind for that.

anyways.
bye.
see ya soon