A/N: hi everyone!

long time no see--

if you haven't already, check out another story i put up recently 

called 

the REMODELER (k.th + j.jk)

it has nothing to do with Noirwood lol

anygay, another day another nickel 

love u all,

izzy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Florian crossed his arms.

The weather was chilly in the late sun. He pulled his long coat tighter against his skin, but nothing could push the cold out of his body. He had just put Eonjin to sleep with a chaste kiss to the forehead. She had cried again for the hundredth time. He had told her it was alright...

Once again.

When it really wasn't.

The couple was childless. There were temporary leaders installed into each of their positions because they could not put up with appearances. They became isolated...and Eonjin was falling deeper into despair. Florian couldn't bear to see it all happen. He needed the fresh air. 

A bird cawed above head. Florian watched its wings will a dull ache burying itself at the bottom of his heart. 

Eonjin had cheated on him with Jimin. He had lied to her about his identity.

Who was at fault?

Jihoon's son sighed. He leaned more of his weight into the castle wall and blandly stared at the nighttime as its many creatures woke up around him. Bats flitted to fetch their food, mice ran rampant underground in the tunnels, snakes ducked around rocks to swallow those pesky mice whole.

Florian stood around. He listened. Even though he was no where near his wife, he felt he could still hear her crying ceaselessly into the pillow, hair tangled, eyes puffy-

"Stop! Just fucking stop!"

He winced at how loud his anger brought him to speak out. Glad to be alone in the secluded backside of the castle, he let out another large puff of air. A hand of his swam up to his head to rub circles at his temples. It was too much.

Pushing himself off the wall, he walked farther out into the dark. The light was all but out of the sky completely, only a drizzle of the sun's tired glow allowed him to see the path leading to the garden. He stumbled along, half drunk from fatigue and half uncoordinated from mental duress.

The animals parted for the prince. Although he didn't sense them shy away from him, he didn't miss how silent it got the farther away he walked from the castle.

Almost too silent...

The animals, however, sensed a different presence. Something dark...something that they would never wish to intercept. 

Something...demonic.

Florian's teeth chattered against a brush of wind on his forehead. His fingers were losing feeling in the brisk cold, but he didn't care. Numbness was better than the horrid feelings he was experiencing now.

His green eyes swept over the beds of roses in the royal gardens, dedicated to the late human Park Jimin.  Florian grew annoyed at every red flower that he passed, reminded of the damned demon and everything that he had done. Florian scoffed at the plaque dedicated in Jimin's name. 

"You must be angry with him."

Florian quickly whipped around. Eyes floating around his surroundings, all he saw was dim trees watching him. Was he imagining things?

No, no. There was definitely a voice. One he did not recognize.

"Who's there?"

For a moment, Florian thought he had gone mad when nobody answered. The stars in the sky twinkled at him in mocking flashes, their shiny bulbs pointing out nothing to him but his hysteria...

Then, to his left. Yes, there.

A face. One he hadn't seen before, yet he knew instantly who it was. The same slow, graceful walk, intense eyes. Sharp chin and protruded lips.

"You...Mr...Park? W-what are you doing here?"

Florian asked breathlessly. This man did not have red eyes or white hair like Jimin did. In fact, he looked quite normal, except that he exuded an air of power. Just in the way his footsteps lightly pounded on the path spoke different volumes about his presence. 

He was sneaky...cunning. 

Not to be trusted. 

In the deathly silence, a small chuckle escaped the man's lips. He gave Florian a bright smile that filled Florian's stomach with dread. This man looked exactly like Jimin, only older. He knew better than to think that this man was anything like the half-blood.

"I'm so sorry about the child, by the way. I heard through my son-"

Florian grit his teeth, the words spilling out of his mouth before he had a chance to stop himself. "Your son is the reason that child is dead."

Mr. Park's eyes lit up. A strange look glossed over his high cheeks as he stepped closer to the messy brunette standing there. He looked...curious, to say the least.

"What do you mean by that Florian? Jimin is a murderer but I definitely did not raise my son to kill without glory."

Florian looked away. A frown pulled at the corners of his mouth. Why was he saying this? Shouldn't he be afraid? Jimin's father could give a shit about him. He knew that this man was heartless from all the things Jimin had told him, yet-

"Jimin was the father of that child."

Surprisingly, Florian did not regret the words once they escaped his mouth. Instead, he felt...invigorated. The classic expression of shock spread like wildfire across the older man's face, and Florian absolutely devoured it. He was never one for revenge before. He was always one to stop a fight before it happened, prevent any unrest from carrying himself away. Florian made sure not to end up like his father, who drew his pleasure from suffering. And yet, here he was.

But for some reason, this felt right.

Mr. Park's aura changed dramatically. He furrowed his brow while nodding slightly. Amused would be the best way to describe his first impression of the situation. Florian held his breath. 

"So...it seems my son likes to mess with a few royals, hmm? First the Oak Prince and that dumb blonde, now your wife?" The demon's voice darkened. "Does he have you tied around his finger too?"

Florian coughed, suddenly angry. Mr. Park smirked at him, cold eyes reveling in the Stone Prince's inability to control his reaction. 

"No...that...he would never..."

The words sounded unsure, even to Florian. Was Jimin just messing with all of them? How did Mr. Park know that those other two were still alive? He thought Jimin had tricked his father with the corpses of the imposters...

"Haha! Oh, I can see why Jimin took a liking to you! Rather ignorant, hmm? My son uses people. I, on the other hand, make sure both parties benefit in any exchange..."

The demon walked around him slowly. Florian stared at the stone path, thoughts going haywire. His fists were clenching at his sides, mind spinning. His mouth was dry-- yet, he felt something bubbling rather intensely in his chest. It was foreign, this feeling.

It felt a little like...brewing revenge.

"What are you implying, sir?"

Sir. A sign of power. Florian called nobody sir, for he was a royal--the Stone Prince himself-

"Join me, Florian. I knew your father quite well. He would have wanted this for you."

Suddenly, reality kicked in. Florian shook his head, backing away.

"NO! No, no. I am not my f-father..." 

His legs wobbled as the demon approached him, a soft smile on his face. "No you are not. You are better than your father. Jihoon couldn't keep his priorities straight. He was too bent on killing one person instead of looking at the bigger picture...the grander picture. He let Noirwood slip through his hands just so he could kill Jeon's son. Pathetic."

Florian legs wobbled. Strangely enough, he felt empowered by someone openly ripping on his father in front of him. He licked his lips, nodding. Why, his father was very dumb. If Florian was in the same position, he could've achieved much greater things-

Wait, why was he thinking that?

"I am not joining you. Unlike you, I have a conscience. I don't kill for fun. I actually care about my family."

Mr. Park tilted his chin up to the rising moon. He didn't look surprised by Florian's words. Instead, he offered a plain look. One that wasn't disappointed. For the first time, Florian noticed how the man was moving. More of his weight leaned on one leg than the other.

"Eonjin. She can join us. You can help me in getting Noirwood, with your natural ability to lead. Once I get Noirwood, you can be its face. You'll be safe from outsiders, with an army at your will. Everyone will bow down to you, the natural born heir of the entire kingdom. All you need to do is join me."

Mr. Park licked his lips, awaiting an answer from the Stone Prince. With shaky breaths, Florian gazed back to the Laurel Castle. He pictured Eonjin crying inside, gripping at the bedsheets in loss. Sometimes she would wake up from a nightmare, calling out for her unborn child, reaching out for it feverishly. He thought of all the pain Jimin had caused both of them. 

He thought of Jungkook and Taehyung whom were probably being controlled by the half-blood against their will. It sent a sour feeling into his mouth.

After a moment of thinking, he brushed his hair back, mind made up.

"Okay. We'll join you."

Mr. Park's eyes widened. Clearly, he did not expect Florian to agree so readily. The demon stared at him, waiting for him to deny it, to change his mind.

But the Stone Prince did not. He did not go back on his words.

Mr. Park grinned.

"Wonderful. Noirwood will be ours soon, Florian. You'll see."

A nod. He tried not to show any emotion to the demon. If he was to do this right, he would have to be discreet about it. His intuition had never failed him before.

"We'll see."

Florian's voice was dull, yet a surging power rose within him. The demon turned around to walk away, satisfied with the decision. Florian's eyes flicked down, and yes, there it was--again.

The carefully hidden limp. 

"I'll see you tomorrow, Florian. At the crypt. Both of you."

Florian hummed in agreement. Inside, his heart was racing tenfold its normal speed. He clasped his hands together, forming a plan in his mind.

Revenge tasted so sweet.

*     *     *

"Rose. Do it again."

Jungkook held out his hand for his daughter to grasp. She tenderly held onto it and stared at him, bored. Her tiny lips pouted in defiance. 

"Why again! I wanna play-"

The Oak Prince gave her a serious look. "You have to do this, Rose. Just one more time, and then you can join Lucio for games."

Rose nodded, eyes closed as her fingers laced between his own. It was silent in room Jungkook was testing her in. He watched her carefully.

Her small head jerked to the side as a coldness expanded within her. Jungkook bit his lip as the same freezing sensation ran up his arm and into his body. She was lowering his body temperature by the second. Goosebumps spread along his arms.

"Good, Rose. Keep going."

The girl trembled slightly as the Oak Prince lost feeling in his fingers. His daughter's silver hair matched the feeling he was receiving inside. Jungkook's heart felt icy, limbs slowing down as the coldness attached to him. His heartbeat slowed, mind fading from the forefront of reality. Soon, he would be in a coma, if she kept it up. As soon as fatigue gripped him dangerously, he told her to stop.

Almost instantly, his body felt warmer when she let him go. 

"Daddy! Your lips are blue!"

Jungkook blinked a few times before he was able to speak. A slow heat ran through his body, trying to wake it up again. Rose had done much better the second round, almost incapacitating him completely. This would be an advantage for their family when they had to take down Mr. Park.

"Oh, r-rreally?" Jungkook's teeth chattered relentlessly. He bent down to press a kiss to her forehead. "Y-you d-did r-r-really well--h-hon-honey!"

She beamed at him, her rosy pallor a stark contrast to the coldness that she could delve out at any time. A smile touched her lips before she twiddled her fingers shyly.

"Can I go play with Lucio now?"

"Y-y-yes...y-you-"

He didn't get to finish the statement before Rose darted from the room, laughing with excitement. Once his fingers regained feeling, he got to work at detailing all of the results of her power, the effect it had on him, and the longevity of each sensation experienced throughout his body.

Boy, was she powerful. He didn't even think Jimin could do that much. But, as Jungkook was slowly finding out, not every demon held the same powers. Each demon was like a snowflake or a fingerprint. Uniquely blessed (or cursed) with different abilities and ailments. Unlucky for Rose, her power made her freezing at night, unable to sleep despite countless covers laid on top of her.

Jungkook was biting his lip in concentration, finishing up his notes for his daughter, when Jimin entered the room. The ravenette didn't even notice his presence at first, too drawn into what advantage this could mean for the mission in the future.

Until a hand wrapped around his lower back.

"S-sh-shit!"

 Jimin joined him on the bench he was seated on, laughing at the younger's reaction. 

"Gosh, am I that unattractive?"

Jungkook clutched at his chest and breathed a sigh out. The chattering of his teeth had stopped for the most part. 

"N-no...y-you just sc-sc-scared me."

Jimin raised an eyebrow in confusion at the stumbled words before he felt the cold radiating off of the ravenette. Worry captured his gentle features, hands immediately going up to Jungkook's cheeks.

"Damn, Kook. You're freezing! No wonder you can't speak....Oh! I know what will warm you up."

Without warning, Jimin leaned forward and connected their lips. 

Jungkook gasped as the pressure of the half-blood's plump lips pressed against his own. A blue heat rushed throughout his body, heart beating fast. A flush ran up his face as the white-haired male slipped his tongue in to the other's mouth.

By then, Jungkook was on fire.

Jimin pulled away much too soon, eyes glossy with mischief. Jungkook's now pinkish face was focused on nothing else but the beautiful lips that had just fixed his ailments. He wanted more, leaned in again-

"You seem much better now! My work is done!" 

Jimin quickly hopped off the bench, moist lips smacking together once. He held up a small hand to wave a teasing goodbye to the Oak Prince, whose mouth was parted in disappointment. 

This little shit.

"See you at dinner!"

Jimin rushed from the room as quickly as he had appeared. Jungkook touched his lips once before leaning back on the bench. He was definitely much warmer now.

The ravenette turned to the clipboard that he set down before when Jimin had paid him a visit. He gazed over his notes for a few minutes, thinking quietly to himself.  If Rose could freeze people to hold them in one place, and Lucio could hide himself from the naked eye-

"Something about me and you! Ssooommmeeetttthhiinngggg about me and yyyyooouuuuu..."

Someone's loud, obnoxious singing echoed down the hallway right outside the room. It was deep, tinged with an unpracticed vibrato, full of soul.

Jungkook set his clipboard down, standing up. His snickered as he rushed towards the door, holding his breath as he climbed behind it, obscured from sight. His target's voice grew louder, louder...

His guest turned into the room. Jungkook got ready to pounce. 

"I can hear you behind the door, Kook."

Taehyung called out before he entered the room.

Fuck.

Jungkook gave out a cry of despair.

He really couldn't beat these demons, could he?

A shit-eating grin plastered itself across the blonde's face as Jungkook revealed himself. Without saying anything to Taehyung, the Oak Prince hmphed and walked towards the bench. Deep laughter floated throughout the room as Taehyung followed closely behind his husband.

"Awww...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to ruin the surprise, babe."

Jungkook lifted his eyebrows, unimpressed. He was about to plop down on the bench before arms wrapped around his waist from behind. Taehyung's sweet, flowery oils filled his senses as the elder placed his chin on Jungkook's shoulder.

"Babbbyyy, don't be mad. I can't help hearing everything! I don't know how I'll sleep at night, hearing the servants going at it in bed-"

"Tae!"

Jungkook twirled around to face the blonde, horrified at the prospect. Taehyung gave him a knowing look and pressed his lips together in disappointment. The Oak Prince realized how hard being able to hear so much might make things for his husband. His heart ached in sympathy. He threw his arms over Taehyung's shoulders with a sigh. 

"Just...don't...ugh. I don't know what to say to you, Tae. That is fucking nasty."

Taehyung giggled as Jungkook's lips brushed against his cheek. 

"Yeah, but now I can finally hear us going at it-"

"Shut uuupp, Tae."

Jungkook rolled his eyes, trying hard not to smile. He scoffed as his husband pulled their bodies closer together, leaning down into the younger's ear.

"I can finally hear you again, Kook. That's all that matters to me."

The Oak Prince blushed a bit, hugging Taehyung close. They rocked around a little, both enjoying each other's company. Jungkook traced circles on the elder's lower back.

"By the way, your singing is lovely, babe. You should definitely sing for our banquets. Only problem is, every glass in the entire castle might shatter, and I don't want to clean up-"

Taehyung pushed Jungkook away, mouth open in defense. A smile touched his lips, fake disbelief crawling over his words. He lightly punched the ravenette's chest, crossing his arms afterward.

"BABE! That's so rude. I thought you believed in me."

Jungkook laughed as he took a seat, patting the spot next to him. "Yes, I do. But do you hear yourself?"

Taehyung didn't answer. He sighed out in reverie, sitting down right next to his husband. He casually threw a leg over Jungkook's lap, one arm propped on the bench's back, supporting his head. "Yeah, yeah. Okay. Let's get on with this now. I'm the last one to go, yeah?"

"Yep. I finished up on Jimin first. Rose and Lucio are done too...speaking of, you were just playing with them, right? What're they up to?"

The blonde hummed as he scooted more of his leg on top of his husband to get comfortable. "They're playing hide and go seek. Except, Lucio's cheating and using his ability to disappear from sight. Rose is getting pissed."

Jungkook reached over to push Taehyung's hair behind an ear. He casually examined the earrings the other was wearing as the blonde continued.

"One of these days Rose is going to flip out on him, I'm telling you...she'll teach him soon enough." He scratched his arm. "Jimin was playing hide and seek with us too, but then again I'm not really sure if he was...after the first round he hid for good and never came back."

"Oh." Jungkook started, shaking his head. "I just saw him! He just came in here about ten minutes ago. He's a little shit, that guy."

Taehyung snickered. "Yes, that he is. But I'm sure he's doing something important now. I mean, we do only have a few days before his father releases those fucking zombie things..."

Jungkook sighed, eyes rolling back to his clipboard. "Ugh, let's not talk about that now. Let's get this over with so we can eat. I'm hungry."

Taehyung pursed his lips. "I know. I can hear your stomach grumbling."

"Gross."

Clucking his tongue against the roof of his mouth, Jungkook drew out a diagram on a new page of his notes. Taehyung didn't bother to try to understand it; he knew that it would only confuse the hell out of him. 

"So...I need you to tell me what exactly you can hear...how far your hearing extends...if you can tune it out...all the details, babe."

Taehyung nodded, closing his eyes. "Well, right now I can hear probably half of the castle...if I focus in..."

The blonde tilted his head in different directions as Jungkook eyed him closely. One second his face would contort, the next he would be smiling. When he opened his eyes, they were blank, recollecting himself. 

"Hang on." Taehyung zoned out on Jungkook's face before blinking repeatedly. It was as if he was snapping out of a trance. "Yeah. Okay. So...I guess you could say I can control some portion of my ability, because I can choose to extend out my hearing to other rooms. Like right now I'm back to this room and the hallway right outside, but if I try-I can hear all the way out to the courtyard. Right now the servants are discussing about cutting down some trees near the border of the grounds before the winter comes."

Jungkook bit his lips, nodding. "I see...so right now you're only tuned in to a smaller area. Is it possible for you to zone in even more, like...on a specific person?"

Taehyung hummed. 

"Yes. I have to, almost, in order to shut out everything else. This entire day I've just been focusing on my own heart beat to quiet out the other noises. Otherwise I would've gone insane."

Jungkook rubbed Taehyung's leg in comfort. "Okay...so, you can hear inside of a person, correct? How far does that go? You can hear heartbeats..."

"Hold on."

The blonde leaned forward, staring Jungkook in the eyes. His face was blank, expressionless. Then, he quickly nodded a bit and jerked his head lightly to the side. 

"Ahhh...okay. Right now...you have blood rushing to the base of your left leg, behind the heel. It must be inflamed there. Also, I can hear whenever you swallow there is a lack of saliva--your mouth is dry. You're probably dehydrated, babe. Drink some water. Plus...your heartbeat is calm right now, but...hmmm...I'm sure that if I..."

Taehyung suddenly leaned forward, kissing Jungkook's surprised mouth with passion. The ravenette kissed back hard, without knowing what the other was doing. Finally, they pulled apart. The blonde smiled. 

"I was right! When we kiss your blood pressure gets higher, your heartrate flies up, the blood flow is pooling in your lower abdomen. Your lungs are expanding faster, if only slightly. All of these changes are very subtle...but I can hear all of them, Kook. Your body sounds beautiful."

"Woah."

Jungkook sat there, in awe of how specific Taehyung could detail every thing he heard. He proceeded to scribble down what his husband had told him. He was still writing stuff down, when the weight of Taehyung's leg lifted off his lap. Jungkook lifted his head as the blonde moved to sit up.

"Wait, we aren't done, Taehyung."

Jungkook reached out for the blonde's arm, but Taehyung shook his head. "Nope, Kook. I have something to take care of really quick. I'll be back."

The ravenette stood up with his husband, irritated at the blonde's behavior. "What is it?"

Taehyung turned around briefly, head tilting at the upper corner of the room. He nodded at it, as if the Jungkook could hear the same thing he could. Licking his lips, he gave Jungkook a very serious look.

"Rose and Lucio have been squabbling this whole time..." Taehyung scrunched his nose, unimpressed. "Rose just told Lucio, and I quote, 'fuck off.'"

Jungkook's mouth dropped. He nodded his head at his husband, beating him to the door of the room. Taehyung caught up, intertwining their hands.

"All right. Let's go yell at her."

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