"To my dearest?" The protector hangs his head low, looks at his bloodied armor. A mirthless chuckle slips past him. He turns to the goddess, betrayed.

"Mother oh mother, you have made me a monster! How can I look her in the eye and beg for her love like this? How do I-"

"She will love you however you are," The goddess smiles, reaches for his shoulder, "Man, monster, you name it. All these mortal laws of love lose relevance in the other world. There, one's true heart only wins, her's was after all made for you"

"She must accept me as I come then, shouldn't she?" The protector spits, moon retreats her hand.

"Everyone deserves to be loved as they come," Her smile reforms against his cynicism, "It is fated that way"

The protector scoffs, "Deserves?"

The goddess waits, her patience ticking. Moon is renowned for her lack of patience. Despite her calm, and even calmer appearance, the old myths have umpty evidences of the moon's profound impatience to mortal beings.

"I am this monster because of this fate you speak, mother! Hadn't my dearest been written to die.." A sniffle, he holds his tears back as he speaks next, "Mother, tell me the truth....did she witness this-" he points to the corpses around them. The goddess keeps her silence, the protector falls to his knees and his frame shakes with every whimper.

"She wanted to see you," The goddess reaches for the protector and holds him warm, "Man or monster, she loves you. Written or not, you must believe it as true. Now get up, she has waited enough"

The protector sobs, frame shaking. "But how? How can I-I am a monster-like everyone before me! I tried so hard but what was all the fighting for! She asked me for a daisy-she wanted me to give one last flower for her hair-" he doesn't complete what he started, the goddess nods like she understands.

"Form is fleeting," She says, voice gentle, less impatient. "It is the soul that stays. The first bercahaya knotted her soul to her protector's. The bond is only bound to get stronger, it doesn't matter if you're the fifth or ninth protector-you love her and she will love you back"

The protector looks up, tears drying on his cheeks. "Mother moon, is there no mercy for the fated ones? No room for her to leave this beast behind?" He smiles, a kind that doesn't deliberately reach his eyes, "Who would want to love a monster, unless fated?"

Taehyung's next breath halts, "Who would want to love a monster, unless fated?" The play continued and lingered at the back of his head like courtroom chatter. The actor playing the protector was talented, he performs like he is the protector.

Taehyung wanted to watch further, he awaits the much awaited reunion among the mates too. But it keeps ringing his head, who would want to love a monster who would want to love a monster who would want to-

He turned to hyuk hoping the younger, as wise as ever, will hold an answer. But the alpha was busy wiping tears off his cheeks, now a tad shade rosier.

Taehyung smiled, reaching a hand to his knee, "Cry baby" The younger turned to him, offended, "am not, it's-the play! the play's touching!"

The play continued, keeping its audience (read hyuk) falling off their seats with heart wrenching scenes. The last day of uvagai is characterized by such plays retelling the stories of love between the last 9 protectors and their bercahayas.

He remembers the first year he was crowned the king and took this centre seat, thrilled to enjoy the plays the closest anyone can. The excitement has never once worn off, his people always pulled off the best plays, usually from books or from witnesses like this grandma onstage recounting the protector's exchange with the moon.

"The goddess kept herself veiled," Her eyes softened, devotion flooded them. "Her beauty of course isn't for commoners like me but I am honoured to even see the light of her frame, it shone through her veil, bright and blue around the edges"

"The protector..." her smile vanished, "he had killed half the town, berserk. He used to be a young handsome chap, but that....," She shivered, "that was a monster" Taehyung reached for hyuk's palm and gave it a squeeze. "But the goddess was merciful, as our moon always is" He squeezed hyuk's palm tighter, they don't know anything.

"Half my town had collapsed, he killed them all. My aunt....she lived near the borders, she didn't know a thing-she was blind. He-he-" Hyuk's palm squeezed his this time, taehyung ran his thumb across his knuckles. He tried linking the younger but he seemed too distant. Taehyung couldn't phrase anything coherent, the lady spoke again before he could.

"Thanks to my son," She pointed at the actor who played the protector. "I could show his highness what I had seen that day. It is true that the ninth protector," She wouldn't utter his name. She kept it away from her tongue like a curse, "was a citizen of neer, but the Kaatru borders had also suffered his wrath. Thanks to our king," She looked at him. Taehyung didn't care if it hurt, he squeezed hyuk's palm as tight as he could, "We could sail through those tough times"

The grandma cooped her hands into a prayer as if he were a god, "Thank you, your highness" Taehyung lifted his lips up and hoped it passed off as a smile.

"This play is largely exactly what I heard between them," She turned to the audience behind him, "A few lines may not be the same, blame it on my rusty memory," She smiled, taehyung couldn't even be mad at her. She knew nothing more than what she saw and heard. "But I would never forget how she sounded, our goddess," Her tone switched to molten devotion, "she sounded like how silk feels under our fingers, like roses with morning dew. She sounded...she sounded like a lullaby"

Taehyung held back a scoff. He had just bargained with the said moon, she sounded like doomsday's call. She asked him to leave before he harmed any of her children. Taehyung misses his mother, he wants to believe he could also be a child someone wanted to protect. Who would want to love a monster?

He kept their palms collected, hold loosening but never leaving. From the corner of his eyes, he could see Hyuk's eyes trailing after the grandma getting off the stage. He looked like if taehyung pulled away his palm, he would be running after her with only a hundred apologies to speak.

It's not your fault, he linked hyuk.

In the silence he received, another play had began. A beautiful young woman climbed the stage, seemingly playing the role of the bercahaya.

It is.

Taehyung's head had already wandered off the topic, dull ache at his joints distracting him. He shot hyuk a look, confused. It is my fault. The reply sounded too guilty even in his head. He squeezed their palms and shook his head despite keeping his eyes to the play.

They were under the limelight, Hyuk was under probation, even the hand holding was risky. It's not your fault. You can't be responsible for all the protectors before you.

Who else can be? He sounded urgent, like he needed someone to blame if not him.

Irul, the moon, the goddesses of fate, atleast any one of 'em?

Jung hyuk wound their palms tighter and stroked his knuckles. He had long given up on the next play to focus on thier palms, Taehyung waited for him to speak. The younger didn't.

What are you thinking? Let me in.

Hyuk looked up, their eyes met for a fleeting second before he turned to the play. You can already hear it.
Taehyung can, it is faint but he can. He could probe in a little more and it would be as clear as night. But-I want you to tell me. So tell, what is it?

I want to go apologize to the grandma

Before he knew it, there were chantings of NOs in his head. He was sure hyuk had heard them because he kept his eyes to their palms and continued rubbing his knuckles.

Up this close, the younger could've passed off as any 10 year old. A small pout decorated his lips, he looked exactly like how kids do when their parents refuse them things. But Taehyung also saw helplessness, a 100 year soul trapped in a mortal body and it's morals. This was those 100 years of worth guilt speaking through him and Taehyung had no say in it.

He loosened their palms, gave the younger a short nod. Hyuk's eyes glittered, he almost knocked the chair off the ground jumping out of it. Taehyung couldn't keep his eyes off the younger as he skipped his way to the grandma, bowed before her and narrated a string of apologies.

She tried her best but he would not stop-both bowing and apologizing. Finally when he had and looked her in the eye, he was sobbing and the grandma held his palm. Soon she joined him and they were both crying.

The younger explained her how sorry he was that the protector's revenge had caused her so much pain. Her son rushed to her side, hyuk bowed and apologized to him too. She kept asking why was he apologizing and he kept repeating that because he felt like someone had to.

Finally when they were both done sobbing, apologizing and thanking each other, the grandma invited him to her house later. The younger promised he would sure pay her visit sometime after the uvagai air had settled. When he returned to the seat, Taehyung decided he would never say 'no' to the younger.

"She accepted my apolo-" Taehyung shook his head, brought a finger to his own lips, and looked around. Hyuk nodded. She accepted my apology!

ofcourse she did, his lips curved against him.

The younger looked extremely proud of himself and the play continued. Taehyung had lost the plot, his head kept wandering. He kept looking at hyuk from the corner of his eyes and the younger looked weightless. He wanted to ask him how it felt and whom would he have to apologize to feel so.

The question from the previous play repeated, who would want to love a monster unless fated? Maybe he should've asked the moon this, maybe he should ask mother, maybe either of them won't know what to answer. Taehyung doesn't know either. Who would want to love a monster unless fated? He stole a glance at his mate (his mate), Hyuk would tell him that he would.

Taehyung smiled to himself, he wanted to know. hyuk-ah?

hmm?

Who would want to love a monster unless fated?

The younger turned to him, Taehyung couldn't turn away against himself. He scanned his features, dug galactic holes into him, I would.

His neck grew warm, he turned away, pretended he was focusing on the play. Is that what has been bothering you all along?

He had noticed.

Taehyung kept mum, the silence replied better.

Do you want to leave?

Taehyung shook his head, this was hyuk's first (and possibly last) uvagai. He seemed to like the plays, Taehyung wanted him to experience it to the end. No, not now.

Taehyung, I have seen plays before.

I am okay, and as your king, I order you to stay and enjoy till the end.

As your majesty wishes, he gave him a grin, one so lovesick Taehyung could've caught the fever.

The plays continued and the next one was already the last. The night, however, was longer than that.

Following the show, a large chunk of the population would go check out the stalls while the rest take a food or alcohol break. Taehyung in the meanwhile is supposed to greet his guests, neighbour clan ambassadors and attends to his ministers. Following this, there will be an announcement for fire dance, preparations for which will begin and require the people to take their positions.

As the name suggests, the dance form requires it's dancers to move around fire in a specific pattern. Taehyung loved joining these, everyone in the dance carried a smile brighter than the fire pit lit before them.

Last year mother had joined him too, they hadn't had smiled so wide in a while. He could already imagine hyuk's smile there, trying his best to match their moves and failing.

For all that it is fun, the dance is also complicated. It requires distinguished footwork which taehyung himself had only managed to capture right 3 years into his crowning. Until then he was stuck at border control, only being able to see the fire pit from afar.

"you make it seem like a huge deal," Hyuk walked beside him, their footsteps matching. Taehyung smiled.

"it is, let me see how you dance for all that talk"

"challenge accepted, your highness" he made a dramatic bow, almost slapping a passerby. The guy gave hyuk a sharp look as he walked around the corner.

Taehyung however left Hyuk shortly after declaring the challenge, Minister Han called after him. The old man had caught one of neer's ambassadors and was 'entertaining' them. The guy looked like he would rather be anywhere but here. "My king, I thought it would be nice to entertain our guests for the night"

"Why, yes minister han, of course that is a wise decision!" He shook hands with the ambassador, he narrowed his eyes in a plea. Taehyung gave a reassuring small nod, "I am the king of kaatru, Kim taehyung,"

He turned to minister han who seemed pleased with himself, "What have you told him about our kingdom, minister? Have you told him about the fire dance yet?"

The ambassador shook his head, unwilling to do anything- including introducing himself to the king- but leave the minister's vicinity. "How could you forget the highlight of the night, minister!?" He pulled the guy aside, "Let me help you make the best of the night"

Minister Han's frown wasn't acknowledged before they turned around, walking opposite to him. As they did, he introduced himself, talked about how uvagai in neer differed from that in Kaatru, and on that note, Jimin has invited him to visit the kingdom sometime after uvagai.

"Oh, that's new, " he walked slower, eyes roaming the ground for a certain ravenette. "its a been while since I had a drink with him though"

"He said it's better to meet before old friends turned new," Taehyung swallowed, the guy continued, "I asked him how does that work and he said you'd know"

Here's a thing about Jimin, he forecasts doom. The king has ears everywhere and nose in the lives of everyone, this was even before he claimed the throne. It could possibly justify why him and Jimin are closer than the other clan kings.

Back when they were younger and he would always tag along with his father to the kindgom, Jimin swore to never leave him alone. Ryejin and him would even be best buddies for their two day stay, after which she'd cry for two another. But Jimin wanted to know everything, how he moved his sword, why would him and his mother not talk as much as his did, who was ryejin, where is his father.

Even after he became king, his curiosity remained. Maybe that's why Jimin became the gossip monger of all the five clans. He knows everything before it is spoken out loud. "Tell him old habits die hard and not to worry," he decided against inviting the king here, the clock's ticking, it was already too late. "I'll definitely come around, it's been quite a while"

He needs to have a chat with the elder anyways. Ryejin would need a guide on throne. Mother won't be accepting of this, and it is better to keep her in dark until...until he can.

The ambassador left to try out food stalls, said he has been starving or something. Taehyung half heard Minister Han who followed after them. A visit to Neer? Why now? Let the kingdom get back on its feet after uvagai.

"I know what's the best for my people, minister" He walked across the ground, a few more ambassadors, but no more invites. The kings were all worried about the end of 100th uvagai, Irul can strike anytime now.

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

Taehyung closed his fists, smiled against the muscle twitching under his eye, "We'll strike back together," he pretended he wouldn't have fled with the protector then. They all smiled, told him they'd convey the message well. Only Taehyung didn't want them to. He wanted them to read between the lines, go tell their kings, "king taehyung has lost his mind, he won't be fighting this time-he's fleeing"

A finger nuzzled its way into his palm, he looked up at hyuk, "I asked you this once, I can ask again, do you want to stay and fight, Taehyung?"

He shook his head. He doesn't want to fight. But neither does he want Ryejin, Min hyung or his mother to. He doesn't want anyone to fight anymore wars. He just wants to... wants to....maybe rest awhile?

The finger turned to a palm, Hyuk's circled his. "Then let's just rest," with that he pulled at their entwined palms, and they were walking hand in hand in the crowd, towards nowhere. Taehyung could see Hyuk's rise of cheeks and attire as black as his hair camouflaging him into the night. They pulled to stop near a makgeolli store. He looked at Hyuk, his face fell, "Don't tell me you're not drinking tonight"

Well, he isn't supposed to. Mother wouldn't like it. He looked at the alpha long enough that he could gauge his reply. His shoulders drooped, lips fell into a pout. "Hyung said the alcohol tasted good today, I wanted to try some with you"

"Mother won't like it if I drink on duty," he took a look at the store, "Besides, it's risky"

He couldn't take his eyes off the younger, especially now when he was blowing his eyes out to the size of marbles. "Please? Just one bottle with me?"

"One bottle!?" People turned their way, he lowered his voice,"You drink, I'll just be with you. Okay?"

Hyuk's eyes fell, he mumbled a begrudging "okay" under his breath before buying a bottle of makgeolli for himself. When he came back, the pout remained intact. "Let's go to the woods"

"But-" he looked around, no minister or ambassador in sight. But it was still too risky, afterall today was the last day of uvagai. He sighed, "hyuk, I don't thin-"

The younger turned away, walking aggressively towards the woods by himself. He was mad. "He's definitely mad" Before he could turn to the source of the voice, Min hyung threw a hand around his shoulder. "You're doing it again, tae tae"

"doing what?" He watched Hyuk's retreating back fade into the woods.

"being obsessed with work and missing on things that matter around you"

"I have done that before?"

Min hyung glared at him, then flicked his forehead hard enough he knew what would follow, "Yes, you asshole!"

Taehyung looked around, Minister Lee stood far, but definitely not away from his field of vision. Min hyung spoke before him "That guy's not worth it, next"

"Rae-"

"What else do you think I'm here for? Next"

"What if people see me and think I'm not responsible enough-I mean what if the ambassadors want to see me again? What if minister Han catches us and says something stupid and hurts him? What if he sends him to exile because-cause he's—"

Min hyung replaced the arm around his shoulders to place it on them, and shook him hard. "Taehyung-ah!" He looked at the elder, his heart raced at the thought of Hyuk being forced to exile, all alone. "Min, I can't let anything happen to him"

"You're thinking too far too fast," Min hyung sighed, hands sliding down his forearm to elbow. "Just let yourself love him as much you worry for him"

"But this is too risky-all of this is too risk-"

"People do stupid things in love, you have both hid it well 'til now," he shrugged, "you can do it again, whatever it was"

"But you caught us"

"Taehyung, just go. Fuck all this, and just go love him," he removed his hands, "that idiot suffers from a condition of lack of enough of you and whines my ears off at night. I'll be right here if you want—"

Taehyung ran. "lack of enough of him"
Taehyung cannot repeat his mistakes, hyuk got so sulky on the day of colours exactly because of this. Besides, he can't let the alpha suffer from a lack of enough of him. He should rather know Taehyung would trade the world to give him all of himself. What measure is Minister Han or Lee in that? Ha.

Jung Hyuk sat exactly at the same spot they did the second time they kissed. Or was it third? He had his pants rolled up to his knee, leg underwater and a drop of makgeolli dripping down his chin. Taehyung ran so fast, he couldn't help the loud exhales and Hyuk turned to him.

"Are you mad at me?"

He paused, the wind howled before he scoffed, more to himself than Taehyung. "I wish I could be"

Taehyung tread over and fixed his attire before sitting beside him. Hyuk looked at him the same he did back then. Taehyung leaned in and whispered, "sorry" any louder, he knew the wind would hear them. "I'm so sorry," hyuk kept his eyes on him, makgeolli bottle limp in his lap.

Taehyung held his breath, Hyuk didn't look mad. He never has, his anger looks as patient as the way he calls his name."Taehyung" They were inches away, noses moments from colliding.

Then Hyuk leaned in first, lips knotting into his. Taehyung closed his eyes, the alpha tasted like makgeolli and smelled like sandalwood instead of after rain. He replied into his mouth, "I used yours" The sandalwood perfume. Yes. Oh lord.

Taehyung chased after his tongue, as did the younger. They kept the pace slow, no rush no battle for nothing. Just hyuk and the taste of makgeolli always better on his tongue.

Neither leaned back, neither ready to break from the kiss. It is always a bliss to kiss Jung hyuk, and it is easy to get lost. They kissed until Taehyung inhaled what hyuk exhaled and they both eventually ran out of breath.

"I want you to do what you want, tae," hyuk whispered, half because he was breathless, other half because it was Taehyung and he could hear him loud and clear before he opened his mouth next.

"Rest, I'm right here"

Taehyung exhaled, almost melted against hyuk's forehead. He could hear both of their hearts racing. "I love you"

It left him like habit, like he had already said it a 100 times over and over and-Taehyung opened his eyes-and he did. Taehyung did repeat a hundred 'I love yous' over in his head as he took the younger in like this: tipsy, a drunken blush up his cheeks and an even drunken smile.

Taehyung kissed him again, partially because he loved kissing Hyuk and other half because words can poorly translate how full his chest feels. But Jung hyuk needs to know, he needs to know Taehyung started speaking earlier than other kids but suddenly doesn't know how before him.

Hyuk held him by his jaw, both sides, cradled the flesh. Taehyung's hands drew to his hair, tugging at the thick raven strands. They kissed until he couldn't taste anymore makgeolli on his lips.

After that, Hyuk still looked too pink and kissable so he grabbed the bottle from his lap and tipped it down his throat. There wasn't much left but it was enough for him to yank the younger close by his shirt and share him some when their lips met. Hyuk moaned into the kiss, pride clouded him like even the alcohol couldn't.

They kissed and kissed, on and off, on and off. Whenever they weren't, they took a pause to watch the lake. One such break Hyuk placed the makgeolli bottle against the nearest rock between them, "here stands proof of THE Kim taehyung kissing Jeon Jungkook"

Taehyung isn't a lightweight but he thinks he might already be tipsy. He was hearing things like the crown prince's name in hyuk's drunken blabbers. Probabaly because they sound too similar. "nothing to add the THE behind my name"

"Why not?" hyuk raised a brow, either drunk or deliberately dramatic or both. "My lover, my rules" Taehyung laughed.

Moonlight fell on the left side of his face everytime hyuk faced him and Taehyung couldn't help but lean in for another kiss. This time the younger shifted so he'd face him and Taehyung shifted so their thighs overlapped. A hand went under his shirt and waited until he nodded into the kiss. When they parted, Hyuk went lower. Chin, nape, clavicle. Always a ritual.

He heard the wind howl into his ear, maybe it carried a part of the moon's warning to him. 'Don't be selfish, choose wise' He pressed a palm to hyuk's bicep when the younger bit one particular place between his neck and shoulder too hard and kissed it after as soft. Taehyung climbed up the alpha's lap, they were already a mess of limbs. He almost tore the buttons down hyuk's shirt, they shimmered under the moonlight before falling lifeless over huge stones.

Hyuk kept his hands moving, waist, ass, now nipples. Wherever they were, they drove him insane. He could hear them both turn breathless by the minute, the wind howled lesser and lesser. Taehyung chose wise-oh so wise. Afterall he chose—"ah, hyuk~ ngh"—Jung hyuk, the wisest of them all.

"Sorry did I go-" The hand stopped halfway beneath his waistband and tickled everywhere it touched.

"Just do it!"

Hyuk kept the hand beneath his waistband moving while he untied his pants with the other. Cold hair hit everywhere the younger wasn't touching and once he undressed himself, there was no such place. They were kissing, biting, and stroking each other out of their highs.

He didn't know when he started moving his hips along but once the rhythm settled, Hyuk kept catching his lips. One such kiss, he came with all the shivers and trembles and Hyuk held him until Taehyung reached for his member, still hard and dripping with his cum.

"Taehyu-ngh," he moved his hand the way Hyuk did. "You don't hav-ah!-have to do-mmph" Taehyung ordered into the kiss, but in his head, "shut up, and kiss me"

They both settled into an easy rhythm, Taehyung kneeled lower, bit him right above his nipple and kissed right over. Maybe because they were too much all over each other to recognise who ended where and the other began, Taehyung didn't realise when he started moving his hips again and got hard. 

No, it was because Hyuk had both his hands on his ass and kept squeezing the flesh whenever Taehyung bit too hard. And Taehyung always bit hard and kissed harder. Hadn't it been for his hand between them, their members were too close and kept rubbing against each other.

So Taehyung took them both in one hand and held hyuk's shoulder for support witht he other. They both groaned at the same time when they moved their hips next and Hyuk caught him in a kiss. This was rough, almost starved.

Taehyung complied, no battles for domination—this was him giving in. Hyuk kissed so hard he drew blood and Taehyung let him because they both came after that, one following the other.

When they stopped shaking, Hyuk had his back on the grassland,  Taehyung had half of himself on him, and the soil was slightly wet wherever his body had contact with it. The air around was too cool for the buckets they had sweated. Hyuk opened his eyes and smiled at him.

It wasn't a moment so beautiful to smile that beautifully. Moon lit his cheeks where they rose and Taehyung would've mistaken them for pearls hadn't he known how pink they can get. "What are you smiling about?"

"I was supposed to stay mad at you," Hyuk gave a sheepish smile even as he said it. Taehyung couldn't help his own lips, they curved up without a warning. "Idiot"

"Yes, your idiot," hyuk looked down and smiled at him. He realised they were both naked save for their half torn shirts. His head lay above the younger's chest, thumping earthquakes beneath. "Your heart's beating fast," he looked at hyuk, then back at the rise and fall of his chest not matching the rhythm below. "fast like a horse"

Hyuk remained quiet, then whispered, "do you hear that?" He gave the question an ominous pause," that's yours. As fast as a cheetah's"

Taehyung glared at him, possibly pouting. Hyuk leaned lower to catch his lips for a peck. It was short lived, they weren't in a comfortable position to kiss as long as they wished. But however long they did, Taehyung wished for more.

"when do you have to go back?"

Taehyung traced patterns on the alpha's chest, pretended he didn't hear the question until he couldn't. "Whenever"

"do you have to go back?"

"We'll get caught if I don't"

"I won't tell anyon—"

"I'll scream it out loud to the world myself," taehyung swallowed, "if they won't send you on an exile"

A pause and then, "You're still thinking about that?" Not an accusation, just a gentle query that sounded more like a mother's whine about her baby breaking her favourite vase.

Taehyung looked up at Hyuk, the alpha had his eyes on the sky. "What else am I supposed to think of?"

"Taehyung, nothing will happen to me until fate decides so," hyuk ran a hand through his locks, taehyung would've melted only if they weren't taking about fate.

"I'm supposed to be happy with that, aren't I?" He knew the younger was looking at him, but kept his head down.

"yes, for now"

"for after?"

"don't ask me for time, taehyung," Hyuk exhaled, his chest fell lower than it rose. His voice quivered wherever he couldnt fake a warning. "I only have my love"

"I'm sorry"

They both remained silent after. Whenever he'd look up hyuk either had his eyes closed or wide open with all stars in the cosmos in them. Taehyung shifted so he lay more on the younger than the soil. Neither willed to move a muscle past Hyuk dragging fingers in his locks and Taehyung drawing mindless patterns on his chest.

This went on until he remembered the fire dance. "Oh fuck—" he got off the younger, too quick that it had hyuk getting up and worried eyes  trailing after him. "The fire dance! I forgot about the fire dance!"

Hyuk blinked a second before his eyes grew to the size of marbles. "Oh shit—" and he fumbled around, searching for his pants. Fortunately taehyung's shirt wasn't torn, so he lent his thick coat to the younger. It wasn't unusual of alpha's to stay shirtless but Taehyung preferred this better.

"Someone's jealous," Hyuk smirked, Taehyung hurried with the buttons and messed them up in the process. "shut up"

When they ran back to the clearing, Taehyung was first and Min hyung scanned him up and down. "Took you long enough"

Hyuk came running after, landing right beside him. Noticing how the coat had given it's way out to expose his chest, Min hyung turned to him smirking, "Taking it fast I see, taehyungie"

Taehyung's neck grew warm, he hid it under the pretense of patting his hair down. "Has it started?"

"Never without you"

Taehyung glanced at hyuk, linked him. "Don't go too far, be within my sight"

Hyuk smiled, nodding.

Min hyung cleared his throat. "I'm trying not to judge here but it's getting difficult" Taehyung rolled his eyes, walking off with one last glance to the alpha.

The thing with uvagai festives are that they are crowded to the brim and Taehyung had no issues with them until now. Now, having the younger out of sight AND in a crowd, kept him from following the moves right.

The ceremony started soon as he jogged in, apologies before speech, and a glare from Ryejin after. She must have known then. Min hyung isn't the best liar, especially around her.

He linked the younger, he replied with a brush of his finger. Hyuk was right behind him. Taehyung grinned wide until he saw the younger catching up with the moves right away.

"told ya, it's not a big deal"

"you just got lucky"

"and how would that be?"

"by being my beloved" Jung hyuk grew pink and missed the moves. Taehyung laughed and showed off his impeccable multitasking abilities of flirting and dancing.

This continued until the crowd ran out of breath and slowly started trickling out. It reduced down from half the ground to almost a handful of them.

In the last few left, he spotted both Ryejin and Min hyung. She was as pink as him and Taehyung couldn't help his swelling heart. He tried painting this scene like a picture in his head but Ryejin caught him staring and linked.

"I'm sorry, I don't hate hyuk. I just don't like him"

Taehyung waited. "You're late because him, right?" An accusation right after an apology was signature Ryejin.

But well, they were both the reason. "No, I kept him"

"So you'll answer to defend him"

Thankfully Taehyung knew the moves by heart, otherwise his emotions might've gotten the best out of him. "Why are you so against him?"

"Many reasons, you won't listen anyways"

Taehyung kept silent. It doesn't matter if he was supporting Ryejin's accusation. He wants to defend hyuk and that's what he'll do.

"Something about him is off. He is hiding behind a bunch of lies that I can see through them al—"

"Do you have any proof to keep believing that, Rae?" She went quiet, looking anywhere but him while all  she did until now was quite the opposite.

Hyuk's hand brushed against his shoulder. Once. Then twice. It was no more coincidental. As if on cue, his voice rang at the back of his head. "are you tired? you look sad—or mad, i don't kno—"

"I'm clearing things up with Rae"

He tried linking Ryejin again. She sounded sad this time. "Why do you trust him more than me? Do you have any proof that he isn't lying?"

A man who confessed his love is no coward to hide his identity. He linked Ryejin back, "I do, but none that you'd accept"

"...be honest with me, tae" Taehyung sucked a breath, he knew what was coming. "Do you like him?"

No point in lying. Ryejin would get to know anyways. He'd leave a letter when he flees, it would definitely justify him better than now. Or maybe she'd join the dots herself, quite smart his rae rae is. "Yes, we both do"

Ryejin went silent in his head, stopped dancing in the ground and walked away. Min hyung looked between them and ran after her.

Taehyung sighed. He had seen this coming from so far, only expected it to be later, much later in fact. Everything was happening too fast, and he was losing himself as fast in all of them. The taehyung he is now is not a half of what he used to be. It scares him to his bones, he doesn't know what he wants anymore.

"tae—"

He used to want to be the best king. Now he is scared he is what one should protect the people from. He  thought falling in love was something that can happen to anyone but him. He had infact predicted Min and Rae's happy ever after long back. But now he has Jung hyuk, they are both neck deep in his mess and he apologizes in kisses.

"taehyung, can you hear me?"

Maybe Ryejin is right. Love has blinded him and he doesn't want to see anymore. But he wants to trust hyuk blinded, how is supposed to not!? The alpha fell on his knees and apologized because he barely acted on his urges when Taehyung wasn't in his right mind. Hell, he confessed first and accepted if Taehyung couldn't love him back the same.

Hyuk has kissed him so many times and each once he has tasted nothing but raw love. How is Taehyung not supposed to give it back blindly when Jung hyuk is the one loving him?

"Taehyung, my love,"

Taehyung looked at hyuk, "I love you"

Hyuk sighed, it was so full of worry he heard it first in his head. The alpha had brought them under the tree in the ground. The infamous tree.

"You just stopped dancing and stood there looking so disorien—tae!" He shook his shoulders. "Are you even listening to me?"

"Yes, I love you"

The younger paused, looked at him, then leaned in and landed a peck on his forehead. "I love you too, tell me what happened"

"Rae is mad at me"

"Is this about me?"

"She got to know," hyuk inhaled loudly. "About us"

"The protector thing too?"

"No, not that," hyuk nodded his head like he was trying to understand. "She didn't take this well, she wouldn't have taken that any better" Protectors are feared more than celebrated.

When he first got to know this, he was 9 years old and swearing to become the one. It was all games back then, mother didn't tell him moon chose them. It was after that, taehyung decided he wanted to be the bercahaya more. The protector also needs to be protected. Now he is the bercahaya but definitely not capable of protecting anyone he wouldn't be endangering life of.

"It could've been worse," hyuk hung his head low, guilty for all the 9 in his place before him. "I understand"

"I'm sorry," Taehyung pressed a palm to the younger's jaw, the warmth of his skin distracted him momentarily. Hyuk added a palm of his own over it.

"Are you afraid of me, Tae?" The question didn't come out of the blue but it did after a prolonged pause. A gap in which Taehyung wondered why the fated ones were always this tragic.

"no, are you?"

"no"

They remained in the position, the answer changed nothing. Afraid or not they were supposed to fall in love and they did. In the silence that nothing changed, he admitted that to himself.

"Will Rae be okay?" Hyuk spoke first, removing their palms off his cheek but keeping them knotted into each other's.

"She should be," Taehyung sighed, "The kingdom will soon depend on her. All of this"

Jung hyuk sucked a breath in, this time Taehyung wanted to hear it once more. Someone to ask him if he wanted anything, and a few countable passing seconds where he could choose. "Do you really want to leave all this, tae?"

The nickname again. The pleading undertone. The same old patience. The same old annoying calm.

"No," hyuk waited, hand in his, ever so patient he could kill him with it. "I don't. Ever since I can remember, I have only been the king. Even before I became one, actually. Mother—do you know mother had a dream after I was born that I was the king of a burning city—ever since she always said 'you were born to be a king, but you need to know when your kingdom's burning'"

Hyuk ran his free hand through the stray locks falling on his face. He pushed them away, tucked them behind his ears and occasionally just spun them so they would fall in curls beside his ear. But he was listening, eyes nowhere else but him.

"I think she always knew, you know, she does, hyuk" Taehyung swallowed the sob that rose up his throat. "she tried her best hiding it until she could. Do you know what the moon just said? She asked me to leave, hyuk, before I cause anyone any harm. She has already taken the decision. This has got nothing to do with me, none of this is mine to leave, nothing no one–no one will believe me—"

"hey hey hey," hyuk unknotted their palms, held him by his cheeks. Taehyung remembered that night in the library when he told him about the nightmares and he held him just the same. "Taehyung, listen to me, fuck all that, do you want to leave all this?"

"I just told y—"

"Do you want to?" Once, twice, thrice. Taehyung got someone to ask him a fourth time too, if he wanted something and let him choose.

He paused, looked around. A few people had stayed back near the fire, they were laughing or atleast mostly happy. A couple chatted each other up, turning pink by the minute. He wondered if him and Hyuk could ever be as normal as them.

"No"

Hyuk looked so proud. "Then don't"

"But it is not my decision to make, hyuk-ah! Did you not hear me?" He pulled Hyuk's hands off his cheeks, moved his around, pointed to the crowd near the fire pit. "It's theirs and the moon makes the decision for them!"

"But Taehyung this is your kingdom. You are their king," he held him by his forearms, gentle, so gentle everywhere. "They obviously know you more than they do the moon"

"She is their goddess"

"When you were tested by her there, Taehyung, they all prayed for you," he leaned closer everytime to make a point, emphasizing on the 'yous'. "You're their God's equivalent"

"When I become a monster, I won't be"

"Why do you keep saying you're a monster? You're just—just experiencing some changes!"

"Of what kind? You raided the whole library hyuk, don't lie to me"

"That doesn't matter! These are rare changes, they occur in some people"

"Name one. Tell me where they are. I'll go beg at their feet," The most physical distance between them since the evening grew to what is now, less than an arm's length but more than chest to chest. "Hyuk, I'll do anything to protect these people. If that can only happen in my absence, I may crib but do that too. I'm their king, I should be the one saving them, not the one they should be saved from"

"What if I do find a solution for this-for you? What then?"

"Hyuk—" Taehyung needed all the resolve in him to not cave in and let him speak. But he didn't have as much, so he did cave in and let him speak.

"Atleast promise me you'll wait until we run out of means for a solution"

"We already have"

"Not all"

"What more—"

"Taehyung, just swear by me"

"don't ask me for time, I only have my love" he quoted the younger.

"That's on me, leave the time, the means, and all that—just promise me you won't go down without a fight"

Taehyung looked at Hyuk. This is the most he has seen the younger look mad, but mostly resolved. His resolution is built on blocks of anger but in their cracks, love.

"Why?"

"Because you're the king and you can't just—"

"Why would you go that far? Time? Means? All of that—Why?"

Hyuk smiled like the answer were just lying down and Taehyung didn't even look around. "Because it's you, and what my taehyung wants is what I do" 

Taehyung couldn't speak, the first tear sprang free and felt hot on his cheek.

The moment it did he caught Hyuk in a kiss, thank you, I love you. I wish I could talk better than kiss, but I do think I kiss it better. This kiss means I love you. Do you taste how it feels when you say such things? Does it tingle under your skin too? I love you. Hold me tighter, I don't care if hope kills, let it do so now. I love you. If we run out time or means or both, don't be sad, you came farther for me than I have. I love you.

_______________

A/n: BEFORE I SAY ANYTHING, this whole chapter is dedication to nirzaara

All the credits for the picture above go to the rightful artist and my dear reader, nirzaara for finding these gems. The Pinterest account having more such amazing art is on my announcements, under one of their messages to me, so do check it out. IT IS SO TMA CODED!!

And back to nirzaara and all the other people who read tma and commented on them, thank you so so much for giving me the motivation 🥺🥺

It's been a while since i touched tma cuz I was busy working on another project and my daily heap of assignments  ut it was these comments, pins and absolute love that made me wanna work on this as quick as I could despite my co author having her exams rn (wish her luckkk)

ONCE AGAIN BIG SHOUT OUT TO MY READERS cuz none of this is without u guys so thank u so so much for 25K+ reads on TMA. It means the world to em and I hope you'll keep giving same amount of love if not more for the upcoming project(s?) 👀👀

anyways, I hope u guys liked the read. As always tell me where I should work on guys, I swear I will do my best 🥺🥺

enuf of me ranting byieee