Laurel Prince

For the first time in a while, Taehyung was feeling comfortable. His long back was getting a scrubbing by a trusted colleague. Everything was going well...until the Oak Prince suddenly brought up the scar on his chest. 

That his father cursed him with.

On that night.

The night of Taehyung's 18th birthday--when the castle decided to throw a huge party for the next-in-line's passage into adulthood. The night that Taehyung would finally be given a crown of his own to celebrate his official status as a prince. An official member of royalty, given authority to command the Laurel Court when his father was away.

That night, Taehyung was ecstatic, bubbling with joy. His father had already been out of the castle for days on a hunting trip, and it didn't seem like he was returning any time soon. It wasn't uncommon for his father to disappear days at a time. This time was just like the rest, he thought. He's gone...and I'm finally free to do what I want without the burden of hiding. 

Taehyung didn't to worry about avoiding his father, who always wanted to introduce him to guests. He would be free on that night, let himself go, drink more wine, finally dance for once...it felt amazing. 

Taehyung dressed in a simple white shirt and black pants with his favorite leather shoes. He put on earrings, which he rarely wore because it would draw more attention to him, and smiled brightly at himself in the round foyer mirror. For once, he felt confident about having a party and would try to make friends--something he was never capable of doing under his father's watchful gaze. 

Right as Taehyung was touching up his hair and straightening out the collar of his dress shirt, the bell on top of the castle gonged. The vibrations of the bell excited his attention. He stood by the large doors of his castle in anticipation of the many guests that were sure to arrive. 

Eventually, the doors opened and people poured into the magnificent Laurel Castle. Taehyung's eyes excitedly scanned the moving crowd. He inhaled the sweet scents of perfume, cologne, exotic foods, and foreign musk that was attached to guests waltzing in. The guests chattered as they flocked inside, their high-pitched voices eager and curious. Taehyung frowned when he heard certain words floating around.

"Where is Prince Kim Senior?"

"I want to see the REAL Prince."

"Where is the Prince's son? Isn't it that imbecile's birthday or something?"

The guests were there for Taehyung's father, not for Taehyung. Only about half of the guests recognized him. The rest just looked over him as if he were a young servant in the building, working with the symbol of the Laurel stitched on his shirt.  It made him angry, fueled his irritation.

But Taehyung wasn't one to act out--he grew up getting tutored in princely manners. Royal etiquette was extremely important for image. No, he couldn't act out...especially since his father would hear about it when he returned from his trip. And Taehyung didn't want the punishment that was sure to follow his poor behavior at his father's beloved party. 

That his father wasn't even there for. Stupid...stupid! I can never escape him!

Taehyung sighed and grabbed several wine glasses off of the side table. Surrounded by a cloud of anger, he walked over to a small, quiet area in the hall right by the entrance. He sipped at his wine, a bit downcast because of the way the guests spoke down to him, but not as anxious as he would be if his father were there. Young Taehyung stood there for an hour, not speaking to anyone. He gulped down wine glasses, the warming alcohol doing little to control his inner rage. 

 A strange noise behind him drew him out of his sullen reverie.

"Hey, it's the birthday boy." A voice called out. A male.

Taehyung didn't recognize the voice but turned around anyway, surprised to see a gray-haired, man walk up to him. Before he could respond, the man took a seat in the empty chair next to him. The stranger glanced at him curiously, as if he were some new specimen he had seen for the first time. Taehyung stared shyly at the empty wine glasses on the small table between the two chairs and waited. Finally, the man spoke. 

"It is you...right? Prince Kim's son? The next in line?" The man's tone wasn't disrespectful, but it definitely wasn't filled with admiration. Taehyung simply nodded. 

"Well...turning 18 then? Finally an adult..." The man cracked his knuckles, obviously eager to get past the small talk and mention the purpose he was there. "Listen...I'm looking for some young recruits for my son's army in the north...and with a little training, I think you'd make a good soldier, Mr. Kim."

The man left the words hanging in the air. Slowly, he turned, his eyes scanning the crowd as he waited for Taehyung to answer. Taehyung eyed the man with disbelief and curiosity.

Who is this man? If he knows I'm a prince and can't leave the castle...why did he just ask me if I want to leave?

"Um..." Taehyung didn't know how to respond. He felt oddly taken aback by this stranger's suggestion. It just didn't make sense. "I'm...I'm the next in line, I can't just leave the castle for an army-"

"I've heard you're good with a sword, Mr. Kim." The man leaned closer to Taehyung and opened his eyes wide as if trying to communicate something surreptitious to the young blonde in front of him. His emotionless voice dropped to a whisper. "And I know there are bad things happening in this castle...I'll help you get out."

What? A wave of fear and excitement jolted through Taehyung. He didn't know who this stranger was or how he knew what he did...but felt an overwhelming surge of gratefulness for the kind offer. Taehyung's mouth hung open like a fish. He wrung out his sweaty hands before speaking. 

"Wh--but my f-father will find out..." Taehyung was shaking then, hoping with every ounce of his body that this man would help him out. He would do anything. He would even drop his status as a prince to become a soldier of the north...anything to escape his father.

"Don't worry about him. I know him very well and I can cover for you...even make up a story about your death if it comes to that..." The man paused, drumming his fingers rapidly on his knee. "We can leave tonight, Mr. Kim. I can get you out of here." The man's deep voice was all business, not even the hint of a smile on his lips. But Taehyung didn't care. 

"Yes! I'll go. Please help me." Taehyung didn't hide the desperation in his voice. His eyes began to tear up. The man looked at him and nodded. 

"Alright. When the party is over, find me at the front gates. You can ride with me back up north; you don't need to pack or bring anything, I'll take care of it for you." Then suddenly the gray-haired male stood up, gave him a brief look, and walked away. 

"WAIT!" Taehyung yelled out to the man, drawing a bit of attention to himself. "Who...who are you?"

The man turned around fast. He met sharp eye contact with Taehyung. His steady gaze seemed to cut through Taehyung who just stood there, feeling confused and happy that someone was finally going to help him. To save him.

"I'm a close colleague of your father, and I don't condone his behavior." The man replied. "You don't need to know anything else." 

And then the man was gone. 

Taehyung, with his tear streaked face and shaking hands, sat back down on the chair and crossed his legs. He tried to calm down the nervous twitches descending upon his body. He was finally going to leave. 

This is the best birthday gift ever! 

After the meeting with the man, the party seemed to last forever. All Taehyung could think about were the words he exchanged with the stranger...the man who had blessed him with freedom. Taehyung thought about his future as a soldier and grinned stupidly, thinking about all the fun he would have in the battle field with boys of his own age. It made him want to sprint around every single guest in the building. He had to restrain the excitement that was brewing within him, else he'd embarrass himself.

Ages passed before the closing bells of the party sounded out in the air, waking Taehyung up from his endorphin-induced stupor. He sprung to his feet, joining the bands of people exiting the building. In his urgency, he practically pushed people over while rushing out the door. Numerous people gave the blonde irritated looks. He didn't even stop to apologize when he knocked over a girl who couldn't be over ten. She glared at him, but he did not see it. He could only see his freedom.

When Taehyung made it to the fresh night air, he scoured the large steps leading into the courtyard for any sign of the stranger. People milled around like ants in front of the castle, laughing, dancing, and hollering profanities inspired by their merciless alcohol consumption. Taehyung began to worry as jogged down the steps. With haste, he ran about the courtyard, turning his head left and right and left again. Searching. 

He needed to find that man from the north. 

But he saw no one who looked anything close to the man. He was beginning to think that it was all a joke, that he hallucinated the man in his head--until he caught a glimpse of silver glinting from the moonlight. The northern man stood under a tree near the front gate, leaning with his arms crossed and his hip jutted out while scanning the crowd.

He's looking for me!

Taehyung released a small yelp of joy.  He started sprinting towards the man, not caring about the stares he received. He was going to escape hell tonight. 

The man watched as Taehyung arrived at his side, panting and smiling like crazy. The man said nothing but nodded, motioning with his head for Taehyung to follow him. The man turned on his heel and walked away fast towards the carriages. Taehyung stumbled to catch up. 

"Thank you so much you don't even know how thankful I am that you are helping me I really didn't expect this from a kind stranger and I'm so very happy that you're-"

"Quiet." The man cut off Taehyung's excited babbles with a sudden whisper. He stopped in his tracks. Taehyung was too jittery and unfocused to spot the approaching object that the man watched carefully in the distance. 

"We have to move fast. Hurry." The man suddenly grabbed Taehyung's arm and began running down the drive. Fear gripped Taehyung's heart. Why is the man acting like this?

And then he saw it. His father's carriage pulling into the drive.

Coming right towards them.

"Fuck!" Taehyung picked up his pace while death-gripping the stranger's hand. Fear bubbled up in him as they raced against the carriage coming head on for them. 

"We aren't going to make it--we need to hide." The stranger spoke in a deep voice, pulling Taehyung into the brush hugging the roadside.

"I hope he didn't see us." Taehyung whispered between breaths as he and the stranger crouched low in the dark. 

The stranger said nothing. The two panting men waited for the Kim carriage to pass them by. After a couple of seconds, a rumbling could be heard along with the soft clopping of horses. Taehyung peeked out from behind the bush to see his father's black carriage shining brightly in the moonlight, passing by them. It didn't seem like it was slowing down. 

"This is great! He didn't see us!" Taehyung whispered in relief to the man sitting next to him. He looked over at the stranger's face but didn't see joy, only...a frown. 

Taehyung's heart squeezed as he realized why. The sound of horse clops faded, almost as if the carriage was stopping. 

Stopping right in front of their hiding spot. 

Taehyung nervously peered at the man next to him, grabbing onto his arm. "What are we going to do?" He pleaded in a hushed voice. 

Before the man could answer, Taehyung heard the worst sound in his life. The sound that made him want to disappear on the spot. The sound that made him want to bury himself alive, right there, right then. 

"Where's my Tae Tae?! You didn't think I saw you cowardly running off with..." His father stopped, considering whether he should reveal the man's identity. "With that man that I so despise? You didn't think I saw you two run into the bushes to hide, huh? Well, I know your plan, and it won't work. You failed. Now come out." Taehyung's father's voice was laced with a deadly poison wrapped up in a happy singsong notes. Taehyung felt like he was going to throw up at the noise...he knew what punishment laid in store for him.

"I c-c-can't..." Taehyung whispered to the man next to him, tears starting to form at the corners of his eyes. "I can't go back-"

"There's no use. We've been caught...I'm sorry." The man's face contorted in pain and he pinched the bridge of his nose which didn't make Taehyung feel any better about the situation. It wasn't long before the man pulled a deflated Taehyung out of the bush, forcing him to stand, head hung, in front of his despicable father. 

"Ah...thank you for making the right choice, Mr...hmm." Taehyung's father cleared his throat and glanced up at the man standing next to Taehyung with hatred in his eyes. "You can hand over my son now. He won't be going anywhere with you."

Taehyung felt an anger surge in him from all of the years that his father abused him, took advantage of him, used him. His hands turned into fists and his breathing got heavier, chest rising and falling in rage. He worked up enough courage to lift his head up, meeting his father's gaze. 

"I would rather die than go back to the castle with you." Taehyung spat, hatred heavy in each word. 

His father cracked his neck harshly. When he beheld his son, it wasn't with anger, but with amusement. 

"Oh, I see little Tae Tae has a mouth on him..." Taehyung's father began to take steps towards his son. Taehyung refused to back away. "Ah, such bravery...maybe I should just grant you the wish you wanted then...what was it? You'd rather die than come with me?"

Before Taehyung could react to that statement, his father unsheathed his sword and slashed Taehyung across the chest. Blood spurted out of the long incision that tore open his shirt. He dropped to his knees in shock, screaming out as the blinding pain ripped through his body. The man next to him acted quickly, pulling out his sword and running toward Taehyung's father. He clutched at his chest, whimpering softly as the two men approached each other.

His father's eyes grew large at the gray-haired male approaching him. Is that...fear in his eyes?

When their swords were about to meet, Taehyung's father rushed over to where Taehyung kneeled in shock, bleeding out. In seconds, Taehyung's father brought his sword up to Taehyung's neck. The man's shoulders dropped in defeat at the sight.

"Move any closer and I kill him." Taehyung's father pushed the sword a little deeper into Taehyung's neck, drawing a little blood. Taehyung sat there whimpering while warm blood rushed out of his mid section. He began to feel dizzy. I'm going to die...I'm going to die.

The gray-haired male sheathed his sword. He frowned. "This isn't over yet, Kim."

The mysterious man stormed away towards his carriage. Taehyung reached out for him with one shaky hand. Taehyung's voice was weak and struggled to exit his throat. "Pl-please..." 

But the man didn't stop. It made Taehyung's heart drop in hopelessness.

I'm was so close to leaving...to escaping...

The last thing Taehyung remembered was his father dragged his body roughly by the arm towards the carriage. His blood-covered body was hoisted inside. Taehyung's chest burned, and a white agony began to sink its way into his mind as the carriage bumped along towards the castle. Back towards his hell. 

Before he could begin to cry, he lost consciousness. 

Oak Prince

Tears fell down Jungkook's face as he listened to Taehyung's story. He had given up on scrubbing the blonde's back. He just sat there numbly next to the bathtub, watching as the light left Taehyung's eyes when he spoke of his father. 

"When I came to, it was the next day...my entire chest was stitched up and I was bedridden with a fever for weeks." Taehyung's voice was low, filled with sadness. "My father never came to visit me during those weeks, which I was thankful for...but..." Taehyung's voice drifted off. 

By then, the bath water was cold. Goosebumps broke out on Taehyung's arms and chest. Jungkook noticed this, quickly locating the towel next to the tub. "I...I'm sorry Taehyung." He paused to hold the towel up. "Hey, you're shivering, let's get you out of there." 

Jungkook didn't bother with the blindfold as Taehyung stood up on shaky legs to get out of the bathtub. He simply looked at the ceiling as he supported Taehyung's weight with one arm and held the towel up with the other. Blindly, he wrapped the towel around Taehyung's waist. He tied it tight so he wouldn't have to worry about it falling off. 

When Jungkook lowered his gaze to look at Taehyung, the blonde blinked at him in defeat. A haunting remnant of the story he had just told remained in his sorrowful features. The two walked quietly out of the bathroom, Jungkook mulling over several things in his mind. When they entered the bedroom, Taehyung walked over to the open wardrobe to pick out his outfit. Jungkook watched him with a new feeling in his heart.

Taehyung trusts me enough to tell another story about his father. Taehyung trusts me enough to be naked in front of me. Taehyung trusts me enough-

"Okay, I think I want to wear this white shirt and these pants." Taehyung motioned to the clothes he wanted to wear with his white bandages, snapping Jungkook out of his reflection. 

Jungkook nodded. He walked over to the wardrobe, pulling the specified pieces out of their spots. He laid them neatly on the bed. With a sudden thought, he  turned to Taehyung, wanting to get it off his chest.

"Taehyung, I'm so glad you didn't die that night." 

Taehyung blinked at the ravenette and half-smiled. The Laurel Prince walked over to the bed, sitting down on the white sheets with a thump. The towel rode a little further up his tan legs. 

"Jungkook, I'm so glad that you're here with me right now."

Jungkook blushed, smoothing out the clothes with his hands as he waited for the heat of his face to cool down. "I'm, uh, glad too."

Taehyung licked his lips, suddenly seeming anxious to say something to Jungkook. He opened his mouth and inhaled, but looked away quickly. 

Jungkook noticed this. "What were you going to say to me?" Jungkook stopped his smoothing of the clothes to wait for the Laurel Prince's response. 

"Oh...I uh, just have one more thing I need you to do..."

"Help you get dressed? Yes Taehyung, I was already going to help-"

"Kiss me." Taehyung turned his sad face towards the younger, nothing but melancholy and curiosity edging his irises. "Please." He added.

Jungkook gaped in shock. Something told him to decline, since he didn't want to mess it up for Taehyung again...didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable. However, his body was happy to oblige. 

Jungkook walked around the bed ever so slowly. With gentle care, he seated himself next to a shirtless Taehyung. He looked even more handsome after he was all cleaned up...and the scar that ran along his abdomen didn't scare Jungkook away. He's beautiful.

Taehyung's pink lips drew his attention, made him excited. Jungkook lifted his hands to cup the blonde's chin. Taehyung smiled at his action and watched as Jungkook's bitten lips descended upon his. 

This kiss was passionate yet quick; Jungkook didn't miss the warmth that filled him up as he pulled away from the older male and gazed into his eyes. Instead of the sadness that was there a second ago, there was a new glow that took its place. Taehyung smiled brightly at Jungkook and leaned in for another peck on the lips which took Jungkook back by surprise. O-oh...

Jungkook's hand made its way to Taehyung's chest, finger tracing along the scar that was the result of a failed getaway. Jungkook frowned a little, but felt glad after realizing that Taehyung hadn't flinched under his touch. 

Maybe he's making progress?

"You know, you're perfect, even with this scar." A shy Jungkook blurted out, the shirtless male in front of him making him giddy with nerves.

Taehyung laughed then, a beautiful sound that Jungkook wished he could wake up to every morning. Taehyung stood up and walked over to the clothes on the bed. 

"Thank you for that, Jungkook." A few giggles escaped Taehyung's smiling mouth. "Now, help me get dressed, yeah?"

Gazing up at the beautiful blonde standing there in nothing but a towel, who had just asked him of all people for a kiss, Jungkook thought that he was lucky they broke the pact. Otherwise they wouldn't get to meet. He was delighted that Jihoon was pissed off at the couple. 

Wait, couple? I mean...I...we...Jimin? God, what am I thinking?

Jungkook shook his head and blushed at the thought, walking over to the Laurel Prince with a warm feeling in his heart. 

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AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hi <3

My heart goes out to the Laurel Prince and everything he's been through...that must've been so suffocating having to worry about hiding and avoiding and...yeah...:(

Anyway, I hope you're enjoying the story! Make sure to drink plenty of fluids today and be forgiving to yourself! Nobody's perfect, alright?

LOVE U,

izzy