A/N: Hello. 

I'm sorry if updates start getting slow, I have work and school starting soon :(

But alas, what can you do? Maybe between classes I can write this story :)

QOTD: If you had to be one of the characters in this story...who would you be? 

Just wondering...:)

~ i z z y ~

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"You look better with your eyes closed."

A piercingly crisp voice alerted Jungkook of another presence near him. His eyes shot open; a few blinks later they were clear enough to see the person standing in front of him with perfect horror.

The blood drained from his face as he chose his next words carefully.

"Why...did you come back?"

The figure, amidst the small strand of pine trees the two were located in, turned away from him. Jungkook realized for the first time that he himself was seated in a simple wooden chair, propped against one of the trees. The sky was losing light quickly although the ravenette was sure of the time of day, he was unsure about so many other aspects of the situation. 

How did Jungkook get here? How did Jimin find him? Where was Flor-

"It's...complicated..." Jimin answered in a small voice, foot sliding over a patch of brown pine needles. "I couldn't stop thinking about you, Jungkook."

A flush ran up the ravenette's neck as the white-haired male turned his sad red eyes on the other. Jimin appeared hesitant to approach, his shaky black-inked arms caught up between moving or staying. After a few seconds, the ravenette broke eye contact. It was too painful.

"I-" he started, edging on his seat. He felt a hundred different things at once. What was he to say? He started with something simple.

"Why did you say I look better with my eyes closed?"

Jimin's cheeks twitched as if he'd been caught off guard before smiling. The warm lights of the day closing gave his bright teeth an ethereal sparkle, his white hair matching closely. The ravenette gaped at how exotically gorgeous the half-blood seemed in that moment. He couldn't help himself from thinking that--it had been years of loss and grief wasted over the very person that was standing in front of him.

He cannot be trusted. Taehyung warned him in his thoughts. The ravenette nodded to himself, forcing an invisible wall between his longing heart and the man standing a few meters from him.

"Well," Jimin's voice was quiet, laced with strings of sorrow, "With your eyes closed, you don't see me like...this. And then I don't have to see the pain in your eyes...the look on your face when you see a dead man walking."

Jimin sighed, pushing a strand of ghostly white hair behind his ear. The motion was so innocent, so endearing that for a moment Jungkook forgot the circumstances he was in. Sitting in a chair, someplace far away. Sparse trees, his old lover-

"I wanted to talk to you." Jimin placed his hands at his sides while he was speaking. His attention turned to the prince seated in the chair in front of him. "About myself, I-"

Jimin was cut off mid-sentence. Another figure burst through the trees, bearing a weapon. The Oak Prince stood up, his legs pumping with adrenaline at the sight of a specific golden dagger.

"Tae-Taehyung?"The ravenette briefly made eye contact with his husband before the blonde lunged towards Jimin. "Stop Tae! It won't work anyway!"

Taehyung stopped mid-slash, eyes bolting to his husband. A ferocious, animalistic malice sliced through his husband's stare, rendering Jungkook speechless. Jimin's disapproval at the weapon wavering in Taehyung's tan hand was painted all over his face. Jungkook noted, however, that there was no fear in his expression, no inkling that he was afraid of being stabbed.

"Jungkook." A harsh, curt word from Taehyung's lips. "JUNGKOOK!"

His husband turned towards him wildly, the dagger now pointed at Jungkook black tunic. "JUNGKOOK!"

"WHAT!? WHAT TAE-"

A hand seized his arm. Someone was pulling him up-

Up-

Onto the bench.

"Shit, Jungkook. I thought you wouldn't come to! You were out for a good minute."

Florian stood in front of him, hand wrapped tightly around his arm. "I almost called for a medic, but you decided to return to me, thank god."

"Wh-oh. I passed...out?" the ravenette rubbed at his eyes. He glanced around in paranoia, expecting to catch a glimpse of white hair behind the rose bushes or a flash of Taehyung bearing a dagger behind the statue of-

"Yes, right after I told you about your father in the...crypt. Sorry about that, I didn't know you would have such a reaction."

"No, Florian--it isn't your fault. I didn't know I'd react like that. I've just had a lot on my mind..." the Oak Prince took a deep breath. He still felt a little dizzy, especially after hearing about the news of his and Taehyung's fathers in the crypt. Florian watched him with worry, only releasing his grip from the elder's arm when Jungkook gave him a reassuring nod.

"I'm okay now Florian...but could we continue this conversation after dinner? I think a little nourishment and rest might bring me back to full strength."

Florian vigorously agreed. "I'll have Charles lead you to your room. You can rest until dinner and then we can finish this...discussion."

With a clap of the hands and a twenty second wait, Charles was back at the prince's side, peppy as ever. Florian explained the situation before leaving, giving Jungkook a firm shoulder squeeze before exiting his garden quickly. The ravenette was still battling off the lingering effects of his daze. Charles called his name twice before he reacted.

"Yes, sorry--what Charles?"

Charles gave him an understanding grin. "I just said, Prince Jeon, that I'll kindly show you to your room--although I'm guessing you already know which one Florian has placed you in. The roses--clear view of the garden-"

"Is it possible for me to change rooms?" Jungkook hoped the quiver wasn't pronounced enough in his voice to be heard. Luckily, Charles didn't seem to take notice of his anxiety; one apologetic smile and an "of course, sir" later, the Oak Prince was being shown up to a different room.

"Don't mind me asking, sir," Charles started politely as they were ascending a set of stone stairs, "But is something the matter? In the garden you looked as if...as if you'd seen a ghost!" And, after sensing the Oak Prince tense up, "Only because you were so pale...I didn't mean to sound so-"

"It's alright." Jungkook forced himself to laugh, although it came out rather skittish-sounding. "I fancy I simply saw a ghost of my past earlier...it's quite alright now though. Thank you for worrying about me."

Charles said no more, only bowed as the pair reached the Oak Prince's new room. It was smaller than the room he usually had but boasted a large window overlooking the front of the castle. The bed sheets were a deep evergreen and a light waft of honey met his nose when he entered. Jungkook felt more secure all at once--even more so when the door was closed and locked behind him. 

Jimin...his father...

He had to keep the ghosts of his past out, if only for a little longer.

*  *  *  *  *

Jungkook was tossing and turning in bed, unable to get comfortable with the images of the half-blood in his mind, when a knock came at the door.

The ravenette glanced at the pocket watch lying on his bedside table briefly before getting up. The time read 4:37...dinner wasn't that early in the Stone Castle...

"Who is it?" his rough, lightly-irritated voice.

"A letter for you, sir." The unmistakable voice of Charles rang cordially through the wood of the door. "I'll slide it under the door for you if you'd like."

"I appreciate it Charles." Jungkook was already crouched, curiously watching the threshold as the letter popped into sight. He snatched it up and padded to the window seat of his room. Only a few people knew that the Oak Prince would be at the Stone Castle at this time...or maybe it was a non-urgent letter dropped off casually whenever the ravenette happened to stop by.

Whatever the rhyme or reason, Jungkook's nibble fingers tore at the cream envelope, nearly tearing the letter inside. Relief swept over him instantly as he recognized the familiar handwriting on the paper. 

Babe,

I know I should have just told you this last night or even handed you this letter myself, but I found I couldn't. You seemed really upset with me regarding that man in the--Jimin. Yes, I guess I'll use his name. I can't get the image of him out of my mind since that night...I kind of regret acting so suddenly, but sometimes it's impulse that saves us in the end, yeah? I should have listened to you, I know. We probably should give Jimin a chance...at least to tell us what he wants to say. But one thing is certain and that is we cannot treat him as if nothing has changed, because it has. We are different, as a married couple--he is different as a demon or half-demon or whatever you were trying to tell me the other night. We should definitely use caution when seeing that guy again--who knows what he's after? My biggest worry is that he's after us...well, our old relationship--and I don't know how that would...I mean, he's a demon and we have a daughter...ah, you understand what I'm getting at, Kook. When you have time, focus on learning more with your demon book for me okay? I find that book so dry...sorry for rambling, Jeon. I love you and hope you and Florian are handling the issue at hand well. Stay safe!

Love, Tae

P.S. Rose and I are going fishing today!

The Oak Prince set the letter down on the desk next to his bed. The exasperation that kept his heart rate up the entire day melted away to a dull worry after reading the words of his beloved. Taehyung was always good at calming him down.

He rolled his neck and went to the mirror in his small room, looking for the signs of his dismay in his features. Apparently, he was not so good at covering up his anxiety, as Charles had commented earlier. 

You looked as if you'd seen a ghost!

But Jimin wasn't the only ghost that had been on his mind. Florian's mention of the two prince's fathers buried in the mysterious crypt gave the ravenette a chill. He didn't know whether to believe it or not. 

After all, wasn't his father buried behind the Oak Castle, not too far from his very own statue? Wasn't Taehyung's father...?

The Oak Prince's thoughts halted for a moment. What did he know about Taehyung's father's death? Little, actually. He thought that Taehyung's father killed the Stone Prince's father in a fight...after he found out about the abuse. That Jimin's dad saved Eonjin from living that life of shame when she was really young. 

Or...at least that's what the Oak Prince pieced together years ago when the war was happening. Perhaps his father's body had been stolen--maybe he really wasn't buried under the headstone at home...

The whole idea was insane--madness! to conceive of. If anything about it was true, then it seemed as if someone had a personal grudge against the Jeon family.

"But Jihoon is dead!" Jungkook voiced his thought aloud. He met his own fiery gaze in the mirror and flinched. He needed to talk to someone.

Throwing on the coat that he had arrived in, he made his way to the door, casting one last contented glance at the letter sitting open on the desk. Hoping with all his heart that Florian would rid him of some of his confusion, Jungkook pushed the door open and stepped out into one of the hallways of the Stone Castle. 

*  *  *  *  * 

GONG. GONG. GONG.

"Jungkook?"

GONG.

"We need to talk."

GONG. 

"But it's only five--I thought you wanted to rest until after dinner." Florian motioned to the grandfather clock in the corner of his study that had just finished chiming. The ravenette cast it a quick glance before ambling to sit down in a velvet chair. 

"Sorry-I...I can't rest now...too much on my mind." Jungkook watched as Florian set the pen and compass in his hands down lightly on the desk. At a second glance it appeared as if Florian was mapping something out.

"I understand. I actually couldn't stop thinking myself after that stunt in the garden...are you feeling any better?" Florian's lips pressed together in a worry when Jungkook shook his head.

"Not really. Still a bit dizzy--and there's a few things I want cleared up." He didn't wait for Florian to respond. "Are you completely, entirely, without a doubt sure that the aforementioned people in the crypt are our parents?

A sigh escaped the younger's lips. "Jungkook..."

"I just don't see why or how they would both be down there. They died years ago Florian, years. How would your men be able to recognize a skeleton?"

"Like I said before," Florian scratched at his fingers while he spoke, "The people...no, the bodies down there are mummified--enough so that we could make out the face, the clothes-"

"It could just be a coincid-"

"And the Oak Family ring upon his finger." Florian stared him dead in the eyes. Jungkook fell silent, waiting for the Stone Prince to continue. "The same goes with Taehyung's father. Although he wasn't wearing a family ring, he was buried with an unmistakable Laurel cane that he was notorious for bringing everywhere with him."

The ravenette's eyes widened, remembering Taehyung's words to him about his father: That asshole could never go anywhere without his cane...he never needed it to walk. He used it as a symbol of his power--a symbol of his cruel, meaningless weath...

"-and those affirmed it for me." Florian cleared his throat, reaching for the glass of water on his desk.

"Sorry, what was that?" the ravenette missed what the other had said, memories of Taehyung blocking out the rest of his world.

"Ah," Florian set the glass of water down after draining it, "Doesn't really matter. What matters is how we approach this. I say that tomorrow, in daytime of course, we assemble a group of at least 50 Stone Soldiers to send to the crypt to map out the interior of the place. Bring lots of torches, set a time limit, come fully prepared-"

"I want to lead the expedition." Jungkook cut in. Florian stood up from the desk immediately, his eyes telling the ravenette his thoughts on the situation.

"No. No--that's not an option, Jungkook. It's too dangerous--far too dangerous for you to just venture down there...especially with such little military training in case something does happen-"

"I can handle myself."

Florian shook his head more aggressively. "No, Jeon. You don't understand. The people living down there are fighters--more deadly than you would think. Whoever they were, they weren't looking to talk or even warn my men away. No, they jumped right to killing as if it was their nature...as if they were defending a well-kept secret to them that meant more than life. You can't go along for another reason well--two reasons...that you should do well to consider-"

"Taehyung doesn't have to know. I'm going Florian, and that's that. I have to see for myself. If it's really my dad down there..." Jungkook didn't remember when he had gotten up from the chair, but there he was, pacing feverishly along the carpet that ran down the center of the room.

Florian let out a groan that meant he was beyond himself. "Did you not hear what I said?! Jungkook, the risks are too high and you're untrained-"

"You come along then." the ravenette turned suddenly to face the boy that had once saved Jimin's life. "You're one of the best trained fighters around and I know you could handle whatever's down there."

Florian opened his mouth and closed it, caught off guard. The Oak Prince took a step closer to Florian's desk and leaned his weight upon it. The wood of the desk was smooth and cool under his palms.

"Come with me, Florian. I know you're curious about what's down there too. And with extra soldiers and a solid plan-"

Florian appeared caught between two choices. To go or not to go?

"I-" Florian started, aware of the intense look he was receiving from his counterpart. "Y'know, Jungkook...You're not the only one who has something to lose..."

Jungkook blinked. Florian must've been speaking about-

"Eonjin and I are to be married soon...you know this Jeon." Florian tapped his thumbs against the desk as he pondered what to do.

"Florian, you'll be fine. We'll only be down there an hour--not a second longer! Let's get it over with tomorrow morning--and then we never have to step foot down there again."

Florian's shoulders slumped forward as he answered. "Okay Jungkook, I'll go with you tomorrow. I only need to construct a rough mapping of the interior along with an approximation of the body count...so that I can understand better how to deal with all of this."

The Oak Prince felt a subtle joy pricking at the corners of his heart. Hearing Florian, sounding so mature as the Stone Prince years after they had first met...it welled up in him undeniable pride. Florian was like a little brother to him. In that moment, Jungkook felt so reassured by the way Florian's calm eyes regarded him and the way that Florian reached his hand out for Jungkook to take that the Oak Prince almost spilled everything about Jimin. 

The urge passed as quickly as it had come. Jungkook gave Florian a small smile before grasping the younger's hand and giving it a strong shake.

"Thank you, Flor. We're in this together now, yeah?"

The reference to Taehyung made both of them chuckle in fondness. Florian released the other's hand and made his way to the door. Jungkook followed.

"Now then, before we plan all this, we need something to eat. I had the chefs prepare your favorite pasta dishes..."

As Florian happily chatted to him about the ingredients of the magnificent dishes that had been prepared for him, the ravenette's mind wandered to his husband. To the letter sitting upon his desk curled by the natural pressure of Taehyung's handwriting.

Stay safe!

If only Taehyung knew.

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