It's been two days since the amulet was taken and Jungkook hasn't left his bed. Namjoon tried, once, to pull the him from it but the boy had clung to the head, screaming, and kicked up such a fuss the older male eventually gave up. Since then, the boy has been given his own way and allowed to stay in bed; food and anything else he might want is brought to him. The only time Yoongi has seen him leave is for the bathroom.

Jungkook is certain he's going to die. With the amulet gone, death is inevitable. His defences are down—it would only take one more attack to kill him now. He's not even sure Yoongi, who sits dutifully beside his bed (sometimes wandering around the large room, other times running, when he needs to stretch), will be able to protect him. If anyone gets past the knight, his only defence, he'll die. The king hadn't realised he was so dependent on his amulet—he'd believed some of the strength was his own. But now, he doubts that. He can barely get out of bed without fearing for his life, can barely stay in bed without anticipating the attack; might as well enjoy those final days in bed then.

When Yoongi isn't running around or doing exercise, he usually sits in the chair not far from the bed. He's spent a lot of the time reading, making his way through book after book. Every so often, he'll ask the raven what a particular word is or what a phrase means and, for a brief moment, the younger male will be distracted. But the distractions never last long. Soon the crow will be back to reading and the silence will fall over the room. In that silence, all Jungkook can do is ruminate, dwelling on death.

"How are you so calm?" Jungkook asks, when the anticipation feels like it's consuming him and he's not sure he can breath in all this panic. Underneath, in his tone, is an almost accusation: how can you be so calm when I could die at any moment? The king hadn't intended it, but it still slips out. This is lost on Yoongi, who shrugs carelessly. He places his book down on the side table, joining his many other books, and takes a moment before responding.

"I don't see why I'd be anything else." The dark haired male responds, stretching his neck. There's an audible pop, followed by a content sigh. "I'm doing the same job as always—which I know I'm good at—and all you're doing is lying around, so it's pretty easy."

"But the amulet!"

Yoongi stares blankly, soft frown furrowing across his brow, "It's missing, I know. But you said that was only a contract, or a sign of it. I've lost plenty of contracts and I–" The crow stops abruptly, causing panic to blossom in the younger's rib cage. Why has he stopped? Why has his eyes grown distance? Is something behind him—is now the time? But Yoongi only shakes his head, "I still did the jobs, protected the people, saved the day. Y'know, that sort of... knight stuff."

There's a moment of silence; Yoongi continues to stare off into the distance, a confused sort of expression resting on his face, while Jungkook watches him, also feeling rather confused. Then, slowly, he remembers: he'd lied to Yoongi. Of course the male thinks it's a contract—that's what he was told!

The young king is an idiot.

"Yoongi," Jungkook begins, bringing the other's attention back to the present, "I lied. The amulet isn't a contract."

"Oh."

"It's more important. It's... That's where all my powers come from. Without that, I'm completely defenceless—I'm nothing." Yoongi continues to stare blankly at the younger male, no new concern suddenly blossoming across his expression as the gravity of the situation dawns on him. He just stares, almost uncaring. "I could die. Properly, this time." The crow blinks, nods. It's almost infuriating. "Why are you still so calm?"

"I still don't see how it's any different from usual."

"I'm going to die!" Jungkook yells at the older male. "I'm defenceless now. Someone has stolen the amulet and they're going to use it to kill me. I'm–"

Yoongi springs, suddenly—he launches himself at the younger boy, arms reached out as though to grab him. There's a look in his eye, in the way he holds himself, that suggests he's going to attack. As the fear returns, reacting instinctively, the king defends himself by grasping the knight's wrists and pulling him down. He can feel the dark magic moving, preparing to hold Yoongi back if need be. But he doesn't want to hurt the person he likes, so he holds it back. Instead, the older male is pushed down onto the bed.

A soft grin curls across his lips, almost a laugh, "Defenceless, huh?" Now a snort does leave him. "Your Highness, I don't think you're nothing without the amulet. At the very least, you have me to protect you. I saved you from an assassin once, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat."

Oh, Jungkook could hit him. Or kiss him. He's undecided on which he'd prefer right now.

"I thought you were going to kill me!" Yoongi shakes his head, rolling out of the boy's grip casually.

"Just testing your reflexes, proving you wrong. I wouldn't kill you." Not anymore. Gently, Yoongi reaches out and pats the younger boy's hand. "That amulet didn't contain all your powers, Jungkook. You've still got some."

Jungkook feels a little better. He's not convinced, not entirely, but he has a little more confidence now. At the very least, he does have Yoongi here—his dedicated knight, who hasn't left his side this entire time. He might be alright... if they can catch the robber.

Suddenly feeling incredibly grateful, it's the king's turn to lunge, as he jumps on top of Yoongi. This takes the older by surprise; he remains frozen for a second, as Jungkook wraps his arms around him and forms a kind of awkward hug. Slowly, as the younger nuzzles his head into Yoongi's neck, the crow relaxes and returns the hug.

It's nice, hugging the king like this. But all Yoongi can think about is how easy it would have been to kill him only a few seconds earlier. He won't, he's made a promise to himself now, but old habits do die hard—harder than this king in his arms.

*  *  *

"So, how does this amulet work then? For real, this time." Yoongi asks as he shuffles over, moving a little bit away from Jungkook. The younger boy had forced him to stay in the bed, refusing to break contact with him. But it all feels wrong to the guard—he doesn't deserve this sort of experience, this sort of luxury, this sort of relationship with the king. This should be going to Seokjin, or Taehyung, or one of the other suitors, not the assassin. No magpie deserves this luxury.

But Jungkook, ever the loving pain, just closes that gap between them as he sighs, "Not sure. I've had it since I was little." The younger forcibly pulls Yoongi's arm over him. "I know it brings me back to life if I get killed or do something that kills me. But that makes the dark magic in me stronger—it fills my veins—and a doctor has to remove it. It's unpleasant for everyone involved."

"Dark magic?"

Jungkook nods, "The raven magic. Y'know, opposite of life—death and stuff. Or just, bad life. I don't know, I've never really bothered to use it."

"You have... 'death and stuff' magic, with your life constantly at threat, and you've never bothered to use it?" Yoongi repeats, incredulously. The thought that someone could be so powerful but never use that power... it astounds him. It's inconceivable!

"I was told not to. Better to leave people underestimating." Jungkook shrugs, adjusting Yoongi's arm so, presumably, he's more comfortable. The magpie, on the other hand, isn't. The king feels very nice beside him and he doesn't want to get used to this sort of feeling. "So, really, I don't have that many powers. I rely mostly on the amulet to protect me... which it can't anymore."

"Did you really sell your soul to the devil?"

"No! That was a joke, Yoongi." Jungkook snickers, shaking his head, "My parents also didn't—but they did sacrifice their entire lives to protect me." A small, confused frown takes its place on the guard's brow. "My parents knew they were going to be killed, somehow they knew it would be soon, so rather than die and leave me defenceless as well, they put all their magic into the amulet. I don't know what was involved, exactly—Namjoon refuses to talk about it. But, that amulet was the last thing they gave me."

Yoongi watches Jungkook. He watches as the sad, confused, and angry emotions pass across his face—he's a lot easier to read than the books the magpie had been struggling through to pass the time. Potentially without even realising it, the younger begins to fidget with Yoongi's shirt, bunching it up within his fingers and releasing, only to scrunch the fabric again.

Yoongi almost wants to sigh. He doesn't want more jobs—he just wants to be done, so he can go home and relax before taking an easier job. He just wants to begin the detachment process, both physical and emotional, from Jungkook so it won't hurt as much when he has to go. But he can't. Not when his greatest weakness seems to be the pout on the younger's lips.

"I'll find who stole your amulet." He says, hoping the reluctance doesn't show in his voice. He doesn't want to, but he can understand the importance of the amulet—even he still has small trinkets, memories of a father he'd rather forget. "I'll hunt them down and get it back to you."

"You will?"

Yoongi nods, smile curling across his lips at the grateful expression passing over the other's face, "Promise. And I'll do it in half the time it's taking whoever's currently on the job."

NOTE: it's been a long time since I've written these names. It's so weird. I've forgotten what voice I wrote this in / how to write it. Basically, ahhhhh

I was gonna save this chapter & give you a double update but I realised these 3/4 chapters might take a little bit so

bye