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Amy 🪄

Amy 🪄
@Aamyungv

Oct 6, 2022
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Remord; a #yoonminau [a/b/o] Yoongi looks at the omega with furrowed brows, “you are not in your right mind-” “And I never will be,” the omega's eyes burn into his, “if you think you will get rid of me by running away, you are mistaking, my king. I am going nowhere.”

The Yoonmin Story of the Taekook au 'Replaced.' Tags – dark theme, emotionally bruised characters, enemies to lovers, morally ambiguous characters. More tags will be added along the story. No mcd/open ending.
It is up for commission. If you want, check out my price chart and dm me about it. amyungv999.carrd.co
Everyone in the quotes, don't be that happy. I left it up for commissions and it might not get commissioned. So, it's still not written. 😭😂
🌸 Commissioned 🌸 See you on 9th for the start
Thank you so much @/nsfw_kv for this gorgeous and seriously enticing poster for the au! It means a lot! x
A few things to remember before you start reading this au :
There are hands. Touching him all over. Something about the way one presses down over his lips to silence his cries has him gasping for air. The palm is too big, almost half of his face is covered underneath. He cannot breathe, he can only see. That face. So ugly. So, so ugly.
A candle burns in his hand, the monster trips it. A snide smirk crosses his lips when the boy cries out, the soft skin burning under the wax. Yoongi jumps up, gasping for air, clutches the bedsheet under his trembling hands. He thrashes, still feels that palm over his mouth.
Yoongi cries out, feels the burn on his skin. It is still burning. It is still hurting. He blindly rubs his hands all over his thighs, crying hysterically while he tries to ease the pain. “Yoonie!” Hoseok rushes to him, as always, “calm down. Bub, come down! I am here.”
Yoongi grasps Hoseok's arm, eyes wild, “it hurts!” he screams, “it hurts! It hurts!” Hoseok nods, urgent, “yes, yes! I know! Shhh, I know, I know!” Yoongi throws himself in Hoseok's waiting arms, buries his face against the man's chest, “let me go! Tell him to let me go!”
“He is dead,” Hoseok speaks against Yoongi's ear, “He is dead. He cannot reach you anymore! He is gone! He is not coming back!” Yoongi trembles violently in Hoseok's arms, eyes wide and yet he sees nothing but that face. So close to him, so ugly. “My king, he is dead.”
Yoongi sits, grip tight on Hoseok's shirt. Hoseok reaches for the water by the bedside table and holds it to Yoongi's lips. “Drink,” he nods when those eyes find him, “I am right here. Your hoba is right here.” Yoongi ducks his head to take a gulp, trying to ease his breathing.
“Get me the herbs,” Yoongi murmurs, “hoba-” “No!” Hoseok grits out, “you are not taking any herbs. You will not take anything!” Yoongi glares at the man, “I cannot sleep without the herbs!” “Then do not sleep!” Hoseok hisses, “let's stay awake the whole night!”
“You ate a jar full of that and slept for almost four days!” Hoseok's voice wavers, “I was so worried! I thought you would not wake up-” “I should not have,” Yoongi leans back against the bedrest, his head hammering, “I should not have.” Hoseok watches the man, “never say it!”
Yoongi looks outside, “go to bed, hoba. I will be fine.” Hoseok sits on the edge of the bed, “I am not going anywhere. Lie down. Try to sleep. I am right here.” Yoongi lies down, holds the pillow to his chest, and closes his eyes with Hoseok's hand in his grasp.
Yoongi knows he will not get an ounce of sleep but he pretends. For the sake of his friend who watches him like a hawk. It takes a few minutes of pretence for Hoseok to think he is asleep. Then the beta leaves, slowly closing the door behind himself. Yoongi blinks his eyes open.
Yoongi sits up on his bed, tilts his head to rest it over the headboard. Stares up at the ceiling. Just like every other night. He knows he will not be able to sleep and zone out the next day in the courtroom. He pulls the duvet up when the chilly air brushes against his skin.
There is a voice. Yoongi frowns, eyes still on the ceiling. Someone is singing. A soft hum of the voice reaches him. Yoongi tries to hear the words, understand what it is about. He holds his breath when the voice starts to register. The person is singing for his lost love.
Yoongi hears the words, the hitch in that voice. It is coming from the balcony right underneath his. Yoongi swings his legs off the bed and walks outside to his balcony. He looks down to see the prince. Jimin sits on the open balcony, hugging his knees to his chest as he sings.
Yoongi watches the prince. Jimin has his head leaning against the railing of the balcony. His arms tightly holding him in an embrace. His entire being his curled up in a ball while he rocks himself. Yoongi sits on his balcony, right over the omega's one, and watches the omega.
After a while, Yoongi lies down on the floor, eyes up at the sky. Jimin still croons to himself, the thick notes in his voice tugs something inside Yoongi. Yoongi's eyelids feel heavy. A feeling he gets after eating at least half a jar of that herb. He slowly closes his eyes.
The face emerges, right away. Yoongi holds his breath, that ugly face starts to get clear right behind his eyelids, and Yoongi knows he will have to open his eyes any moment now. Then he hears the voice. That soft melody carrying over to him, seeping in his ears...
The voice layers over that sinister echo in his head. The voice carries away the face that was trying to materialize in front of his eyes. The face of that monster breaks into pieces and that voice carries them away, as if fragments of dust, slowly floating away with the wind.
Yoongi is not sure when he fell asleep. He woke up to Hoseok calling his name. Telling him how he slept throughout the night. It was almost time for the court. Yoongi blinks, sits up, and looks down to see that balcony empty. He looks back at Hoseok and nods before getting up.
-----
There are two people Yoongi hates and loves simultaneously. One is Jeon Jungkook and the other- He rubs his temple, hears the hurried footsteps and the way the door bursts open. Seokjin stands by the door, eyes on him and arms crossed over his chest, “here you are!”
“Here I am,” Yoongi hums, “just about to jump off that balcony.” Jin glares, “how dare you send that clumsy general to pick me up?! I had to help him get things properly! He tripped over his own feet, ran right on me because his horse would not stop. Oh, my lord!”
Yoongi frowns, “which general?” “Kim Namjoon?!” Jin thunders, “I learned his name to come and tell you! Oh, my Lord, he fell on my feet. His horse was about to hit my carriage! I cannot believe you keep these people around you-” Yoongi chuckles, “you like people on your feet.”
Seokjin waves his hand, “anyway, he hurt himself. I had to nurse his wounds and then come to see you. I did all this, and you are still not ready!” Yoongi turns to face the omega, hands outstretched, “see! I am ready! This is the best you will get!” Seokjin rolls his eyes.
But he walks in anyway. Yoongi smiles when Seokjin hugs him, pulls him in for a tight embrace. “How are you?” the omega always manages to sound concerned, “how is everything?” “I am still fucked up,” Yoongi acknowledges, “and, everything else is still irksome.”
Seokjin pulls back, eyes roaming over Yoongi's face, “how is kookie?” Yoongi's smile dims, “how am I supposed to know?” “I heard you took his omega from him-” Seokjin stops when Yoongi glares at him, “people talk, Yoongi. The whispers reached me.” Yoongi snorts, “good.”
Seokjin chuckles, “I should meet the omega. What should I expect?” Yoongi's lips curve up, “he is the prettiest,” Yoongi rolls his eyes, “yes, as pretty as you. He is gentle. Soft-spoken. He is very intelligent. Picking up on different languages. Hates learning any fights.”
“I just saw an omega in the practice ground,” Seokjin frowns, “your description matches him. I thought... I thought that is the omega-” “No,” Yoongi shakes his head, “that is his brother. Jimin. He is learning sword fight. He is quite good already. Taehyung hates it.”
“Taehyung is more into learning different languages. He goes on and on about different types of music. I appointed a few musicians to teach him different instruments. He likes to take strolls to the river. He is interested in painting, Jin. You should see how good he is at it.”
Seokjin watches Yoongi, “it has been two months since you brought him here. Left my kookie alone.” Yoongi stills, looks at Seokjin, “your kookie wants to be alone.” “No, he does not,” Seokjin sighs, “that is the entire point, Yoongi. He does not want to be alone.”
Seokjin looks tired, “he may say a lot of things but he does not want to be alone. You left him alone. You know what he does when he is alone. He,” Seokjin pulls out a letter, holds it out for Yoongi, “he sabotages himself. Read it. It was sent to me, but it is for you.”
Yoongi goes still after reading the letter, “is he going crazy or what?!” Seokjin sighs, shakes his head, “what do you expect? What did you expect? I had to come to meet you right away.” “What happened?” Hoseok asks, walking inside the room, “you two look tensed.”
“Jungkook is marrying that concubine of his,” Yoongi rubs his temple, throws the letter on the floor, “this man has gone crazy! No one is stopping him?!” Seeokjin looks at Yoongi and back at Hoseok, “you really think someone can stop him if he really wants this?”
“Apparently it is a love match!” Seokjin throws his hands up, “he wrote he is in love with the concubine.” Hoseok blinks, “I knew you brothers are stupid, but this is beyond stupid!” Yoongi glares at the horizon through his window, “well, if he is in love, may God bless him.”
“I think he is going crazy,” Hoseok picks up the letter and reads it, “this makes no sense! How can a royal marry a concubine from a harem in the first place-” “That is not a problem,” Yoongi waves Hoseok off, “love should not be tied with any position. Right?”
Seokjin glares at Yoongi, “you know very well the companies he surrounds himself with are of no use! You know very well the people he trusts are so fragile in every sense! Yoongi, this is not the time to be petty!” Yoongi glares at Seokjin, “what can I possibly do in this?!”
“Talk him out of this!” Seokjin thunders, “I do not care what you do, get that boy out of this! You may act good like you do not care, but I still care! I still love him as my own brother!” Seokjin hisses, “I cannot see him ruin his life like this because he is too stubborn!”
“We have to talk him out of this!” Seokjin takes the letter from Hoseok to slam it on Yoongi's chest, “he is already married!” Yoongi laughs, “a king can have more than one omega! Seokjin, you, out of all of us, know that. Your father has three royal omegas!” Seokjin glares...
“I do know, and I also know how those omegas live their lives,” Seokjin's face twists, “how can you say in your letter that you care deeply for Taehyung and then see this happen to him-” “Their marriage was broken,” Yoongi points a finger at Seokjin, “they are not together.”
Seokjin watches Yoongi, “Yoongi, do not be stubborn!” “No, I am not!” Yoongi hisses, “I am not letting Taehyung face that hell ever again! Taehyung is happy here, Jin! He is leading a much better life. He is comfortable. Do not drag him into Jungkook's mess! For heaven's sake!”
“Let the omega decide,” Hoseok speaks up and nods when two pairs of eyes turn to him, “let the omega decide what he wants. You,” he points at Yoongi, “want him to lead his life the way he wants. Then ask him and no matter how good you think it is, do not decide for him.”
Yoongi looks at Hoseok, thinking, “sometimes the weight of duty and obligations make us decide the wrong things for ourselves, you know, Hoba? Taehyung is all for his duties, and it scares me how easily a person can manipulate him by making him think about his obligations.”
"What are you? Taehyung’s father?!" Seokjin curses. Yoongi laughs, shakes his head, "I am trying my everything to not be his father! I am trying my best to show him that he can choose himself over and over again without feeling guilty. Something I wish someone taught me!"
Seokjin watches Yoongi, “was Jungkook just that to you? An obligation?” The question drops between the three of them and explodes silently. Yoongi looks at Seokjin, Seokjin looks back at him, Hoseok looks between the two of them. They both wait for Yoongi to say something.
“Because if it is not that, how,” Seokjin urges almost, “how are you not seeing that young boy suffering? How are you not seeing how much he needs someone? You?!” Yoongi looks away, “I hate him. I hate what he represents. His blood. His father. His family.” Hoseok sighs...
“He reminds me of his father,” Yoongi grits out, “he reminds me how much I went through for him. He reminds me of my helplessness, the manipulation I faced, he reminds me of the teenager I failed to protect him!” Seokjin watches Yoongi, “that was not your obligation.”
“You stayed because you love him,” Seokjin reaches tentatively, places a hand on Yoongi's shoulder, “you stayed because you loved him so much.” “No, I hated him, I left him, remember?” Yoongi snorts, “I took the first chance to leave him behind. I hate him. I hate him so much!”
Hoseok chuckles, his eyes burning with unshed tears, “your lies are like ivy that grows on your walls. The walls you build around yourself to protect yourself. Hyung, we see right past it. You can say whatever you want, but both of us know you. We know you are lying.”
“I am not talking to him,” Yoongi shakes his head in denial, “he is free to do whatever he wants. I am sorry, but I do not see how you want me to help him-” “Hyung! Look! I made the melody-” Taehyung almost trips on the threshold in his hurry to walk inside the room, “ohh...”
A smile blooms on Yoongi's lips, “yes, Tae? What melody?” Taehyung fixes his hanbok self-consciously, looking at Seokjin curiously and then back at Yoongi, “t-the one I told you about.” Yoongi holds his hand out, “the one you wanted me to write the words for?”
Taehyung nods silently, pushing the hairs that fall all over his face away, “yes. I was,” he curls his toes on the carpet, looking at Seokjin and back at Yoongi, “I thought to tell you before you leave for the court.” Yoongi hums, “let's do this tonight, TaeTae.”
Taehyung bows, looks at Seokjin and bows to him too. Seokjin stands up, his eyes scrutinizing the omega from head to toe. “I am Kim Taehyung,” Taehyung offers a tentative smile, “greetings.” Seokjin nods, “Kim Seokjin. The mad king's unfortunate betrothed.” Yoongi snorts.
Taehyung's eyes widen, “oh!” he bows all over again, “I did not know! It is so nice to meet you, my Lord! I am-” Seokjin's lips twitch, “it is okay, Taehyung. Get up.” He nods when the omega straightens and still stands very rigid. Yoongi waves Jin off, “ignore him, Tae.”
Seokjin jerks his head towards Yoongi, “see? Unfortunate.” Taehyung looks at Yoongi, “hyung! Do not dismiss him like that!” Yoongi rolls his eyes, “Tae, do not fall for every pretty face and prettier lies. How many times do I have to teach you that? Ignore him. About the tune-”
“My king,” a maid knocks on the door, bowing, “the breakfast is ready.” Yoongi sighs, “fine. Let's have breakfast, and we can talk over it. Come on.” Seokjin walks up to Yoongi, following him, “so, you will not invite him here?” Yoongi shakes his head, “never. I refuse.”
They reach the dining hall and settle in. Seokjin stops when he sees the prince, who was practising sword fight, walk down the stairs. The prince silently takes the seat across from him, head bowed and lost in his own thoughts. Seokjin sits down, watches the prince serve food.
Seokjin groans, “you are surrounded with the prettiest omegas here, Yoongi!” Taehyung looks up, eyes wide, “huh?” Seokjin points at the omega, who stops serving himself and is now looking at Seokjin with a frown. “Look how pretty you both are!” Seokjin sighs.
“How is my alpha going to concentrate on me when there are such pretty omegas surrounding him?” Seokjin pouts. From the corner of his eyes, he sees Yoongi choking on his broth, and he feels the satisfaction.
“If you have to fight for your alpha's eyes to be always on you, it is not worth it.” Seokjin's smile dims, and he looks at the other prince. Jimin. Jimin is serving Taehyung the broth now. “Sorry?” Seokjin inquires. Jimin's eyes flicker to match his, “I spoke pretty loud.”
Seokjin arches a brow, “sometimes you have to fight to be the only one.” Jimin smiles, looks down at the bowl that he holds out for Taehyung, “it is a pity then.” “Some kings keep more than one omegas, you know?” Seokjin frowns, irked, “sometimes you have to be the best-”
Jimin sits down, elegantly digs into his rice with a nod, “if it is a race, then I would much rather lose it voluntarily. No alpha is worth it.” “Says an omega who ran away with his lover,” Yoongi smirks down at his broth, “funny how hypocrisy runs from father to the elder.”
“That was no race,” Jimin snorts, “we were in love and we wanted to settle down together. Until he was met with his fate,” Jimin's voice cracks, he looks down at his plate, “because of a monster like you.” Seokjin frowns, “what…?” Jimin looks at him, “your betrothed.”
Jimin grips the chopsticks, “he killed his own brother. I do not know how you are still so eager to marry such a monster-” Seokjin watches him, “Are you talking about Yoong?” Jimin's eyes pool with tears at the name, “yes. I am talking about my alpha.”
“So, you are a pure-blooded omega, I presume,” Seokjin rests his chopsticks on the plate, face going blank. Jimin stares, “yes...?” he looks at Taehyung and back at Seokjin, “why is that your concern?” Seokjin looks at Yoongi and back at Jimin, “I see. Who was it this time?”
Yoongi looks at his broth, sipping it slowly, “the old king of the Lees.” Jimin grips his chopsticks, “what are you talking about?! I am right here!” Seokjin gapes at Yoongi, “that man is eighty!” Yoongi snorts into his broth, “indeed. For him and his sons.”
“Tell me what is going on?!” Jimin slams his hands down on the table with a scream, his eyes wild and going from Seokjin to Yoongi. Yoongi closes his eyes, jaw ticking, “it is better if you do not know it.” Seokjin glares at Yoongi, “how is it better?! Let him know the truth!”
Yoongi looks over at Seokjin, “he loved him.” Seokjin's eyes waver, “so did I. But, he has no reason to live in oblivion and suffer a heartache that should not be there to begin with!” Yoongi's jaw tightens, “this heartbreak is better than knowing you loved a wrong person.”
Seokjin's eyes are red, he keeps his glare up but his voice wavers, “he needs to decide after knowing the truth. You cannot decide for him. Also, I refuse to let anyone mourn that sickhead's death. He had it coming.” Seokjin looks at Jimin, “I was in your place a few years ago.”
“I was in love with him, how playful he was,” Seokjin looks over Jimin's shoulder, at no one in particular, “how well-mannered. I fell for his charms for quite a long time. I was so in love with him, I forgot my boundaries and spent my first heat with him. Lost myself to him.”
“The next day,” Seokjin gulps, “he told me that my family would never accept me now. I knew that, too. So, he offered to marry me,” Seokjin grips the edge of the table, “I was so happy. I agreed right away. We decided to run away. He took me to the Gwang's kingdom.”
“He told me he will be back with a few things from the market,” Seokjin's eyes start to tear up, “I was left in that palace,” he snorts, “sorry, not the palace. The palace's harem. I waited. An hour. A day. A week. Then I realized he will never be back. I was left behind.”
“I was left to myself because my father was searching for me. The king did not want to rise suspicions. So he kept me in a room and did not let anyone meet me except for the harem head. She would come to feed me and bath me. She really was nice. A good person. She understood me.”
“I knew if my father came to know where I was, he would never take me back,” Seokjin's fingers start to tremble where he grips the table, knuckles turning white, “so, through her, I sent my letter to Yoongi. We were not really friends. God, I do not think Yoongi ever made one.”
“I had no hopes of him coming to save me. Why would he? For all I knew, he probably knew about Yoong's work and helped him. Even if he did not, why would he come to save me?” Seokjin looks at Yoongi who is just sitting there, eyes on the table. “But, he came. For me.”
“A stranger almost,” Seokjin sniffles, “he was young. A new king to their kingdom, and he picked fight with that strong of a Monarchy. People called him mad. Maybe the first time he got that name attached to him. I still remember the bloodbath. Just to save me.”
Seokjin sniffles, reaches to grasp Yoongi's hand in his, “took all the blame on himself. Told my father it was him I was with. Took the responsibility of an impure omega-” “Just stop with that already!” Yoongi sighs, rubs his hands down his face, “stop calling yourself that!”
Yoongi does not match anyone's eyes, “I hate when an omega is called impure for having intercourse before marriage, but alphas are almost encouraged to do so. It is quite shameful how we treat the sub-genders. Stop calling yourself impure because you trusted the one you loved.”
“You still saved me,” Seokjin wipes his eyes, “knowing we feel nothing for each other. Knowing we will never be anything but friends. Every day, I feel like telling my father what actually happened. Every day that urge grows because you do not deserve this.”
⌜ • ° ✿ ° • ⌝
Jimin looks at them. His mind reeling with all the information. With a choked sob, he gets up and almost rushes out of the dining room. He is not sure where he is going, but he takes the stairs and runs down the corridor. It leads him to the library at the end of it.
Jimin hides himself there, between those shelves. He climbs the ladder that is there to pick out books from the high racks and climbs over one to look out through the small window right over the rack. He hugs himself, distraught, and leans on the wall as tears pool in his eyes.
Jimin tries to match the Yoong he knew with the one Seokjin just described. He tries to think of those smiles and kind words with the cruelty Seokjin just narrated. He tries to think of everything Seokjin said and compare them with the sweets gestures of Yoong. He cannot.
He just sits there, hugging himself and trying to calm himself down while he takes in all this information. He is not sure how much he can trust Seokjin. Judging by he is Yoongi's fiancé. But the omega was in pain. His scent was sour, and he looked like he was being honest.
Jimin lies down on top of the wooden shelf, tears rolling out of his eyes while he tries to sort through whatever he was feeling. He feels stupid. He lets out a choked sob when he thinks he left his palace for a man who felt none of what he felt.
For Yoong, he sacrificed himself. His pride. His brother... Jimin cries harder. Hiding his face in his palms, he cries harder. He did not know Taehyung will have to take the blow. If he did, he would sacrifice his love and stay. He did not think that through. At all.
Now that he thinks, he destroyed so much. He destroyed his own chance to find anything remotely normal of a life anymore. He is a runaway omega in an unknown palace. His virtue will always be questioned. He will never be considered a royal anymore. No one would want him.
He ruined Taehyung’s life. Knowingly or unknowingly. He ruined his brother’s life. Jimin curls in on himself, sniffling and trying hard not to let those thoughts consume him. He is tired of staying up all night while his guilt eats him alive.
He is tired of running from Taehyung because looking at his own brother is getting harder and harder as days go by. After today, it will be the hardest.
Jimin stays there for hours. Glad no one comes searching for him. Also, there is a voice that reminds him, he is not needed. No one wants him in their lives anymore. No one cares where he went. That thought is unbearable. He knows he deserves it from Taehyung but it still hurts.
Seeing Taehyung so close to Yoongi, when it was always him the younger to attached to. Seeing Yoongi be the hyung he once was to Taehyung. It hurts. It breaks something in him. Jimin is happy Taehyung found someone when he was alone, too. But, it feels like he got no one now.
When Jimin gets back to his room, it is night. He missed dinner. He closes the door of his room and goes to sit by the bed. The thought of another night of twisting and turning until he ends up on that open balcony and lets the exhaustion pull him down makes his skin crawl.
The other nights, he would sing. He would sing for his lost love. Tonight, Jimin laughs, delirious, hurt, tonight he lost that love too. That love never loved him back. Tears pool in his eyes and Jimin thinks he should do what he always did good. Running away. He wants to leave.
He is not needed. His father told him if he gets back, he will be dumped in the harem for the generals to enjoy. His brother tries, but fails to get back to the normalcy they used to share between the two of them. He is sure his mother hates him too. He got no one, no where.
Jimin gets up, the thought gnaws his inside while he dresses himself. He wears a black hanbok, fitted to his curves and tied neatly around him, so he can blend in with the night. He takes his sword, straps it on his back and ties his long, blond hair in a bun.
Jimin picks up another piece of black scarf and wraps it over his face, neatly hiding himself except for his eyes. With one last look in the mirror, he leaves the changing room. A gasp escapes him when he steps inside the bedroom and sees the king. Sitting on the settee.
Beside him is a plate, covered with another. The king's eyes are on him. He does not move while Jimin slowly steps up to stand in the middle of the room. “I was-” Jimin is not sure why he needs to make excuses, so he does not, “I was leaving.” Yoongi nods, “I got that.”
The king leans back on the settee, legs outstretched and crossed near the ankles. His eyes are on Jimin while he hums. “Once I did this too,” Yoongi chuckles, “you planned it. I just did it on instinct. But, I did this too. Ran away. Thought who would care? Who would miss me?”
“I thought, it would be better if I leave,” Yoongi looks at Jimin, “thought, I will go back when I am strong enough to face the monsters. Strong and powerful enough to save the day. I left. But,” the king chuckles, “the day I was ready to go back, nothing was left to return to.”
“The home, my home,” Yoongi's throat bobs, “was a little boy who was a grown up by then, and he hated me. Rightfully so. I lost my home. Just because I ran away. I lost the only person who mattered,” Yoongi frowns, “now that I think, he was just angry. Upset. Hurt.”
“That time I thought, 'okay, if he does not want me in his life anymore, then I will let him be,' and I let him be,” Yoongi looks down at the carpet, frowning, “another mistake. He was just so deeply hurt. He felt I abandoned him. I should have tried harder. Did better.”
“Tonight, you are leaving and probably thinking why should not you? Your own brother hates you now,” Yoongi nods when Jimin flinches, his scent spiralling down to a tinge of sourness, “you think this is the best. You run away, and he lives his life on his own. I thought so, too.”
Yoongi gets up, “but, it is never the case, omega,” he nods when Jimin's eyes fill with tears, “Taehyung is angry with you. He is upset. You know why? Because he loves you. Still. He expects something from you and that is why he is hurt. Otherwise, he would be nonchalant. No?”
“He did not give up on you,” Yoongi walks up to Jimin, stands in front of him, “he is just upset. Hurt that you left him. Just as I did. I wish someone was there to tell me to try harder. But, you are lucky,” Yoongi smiles at Jimin, “I am telling you. Try to gain him back.”
“He is angry because he cares for you, if you leave tonight, he will feel abandoned,” Yoongi reaches to take Jimin's hands in his, rubs his thumbs over Jimin's knuckles, “do not. Do not do what I did. Do not lose your brother. You will forever carry that regret otherwise.”
“Why did you not try harder?” Jimin whispers, “why would you not try to gain him back?” Yoongi's face morphs into a blankness Jimin knows, this is the expression of the mad king. A mask of indifference. Jimin does not cower under that stare. He got nothing to lose.
“Because, unlike yours, my brother surrounds himself with people who would not let him see the effort. Who would not let me reach to him. I tried. I tried until I realized, there was no hope left for me. I could not. Also,” Yoongi lets Jimin's hands go, “we are different.”
“In our case, years passed before I reached out,” Yoongi sighs, turns on his feet, “in your case, the wound is still fresh. If you try, it will heal and leave no scar. Ours was open for too long. It got infected. It left an ugly scar. We are not the same. Do not be like us.”
Jimin's shoulders drop, his eyes moving to the plate on the settee. “I am not hungry,” Jimin murmurs, “I am not sure if I can stomach anything. I do not know how to stay here and look at him while feeling okay again. I feel so guilty. I feel so horrible for leaving him like-”
“Take your time,” Yoongi shrugs, “it is not like you are on time limit. Take your time. As long as you need.” Jimin watches the king's back, “I am not sure how I feel about staying here for as long as I need. I am not sure if I feel good to impose like that.”
“You are not imposing,” Yoongi does not turn to match Jimin's eyes, “you are paying for the stay here.” Jimin frowns, “I ... I am?” Yoongi hums, “you are doing way more than you give yourself credit for. You...” the king hesitates, pauses, then sighs, “you help me sleep.”
Jimin stares, “what...?” Yoongi's shoulders are tensed, he is not used to being vulnerable, so open, but he cannot help it. He keeps his eyes ahead and closes his hands in tight fists. “When you sing,” he lets the words out through his gritted teeth, it is hard, “I sleep.”
“You...” Yoongi feels cold, exposed, like a raw nerve, “your voice echoes over the voices in my head. The voices that keep me insane, the voices that make me mad, you quiet them for me.” Jimin holds his breath, the raw honesty is far from the sweet words Yoong used to say.
Yoongi looks over his shoulder, not really at Jimin but at his direction, “you take the 'mad' away from the mad king.” Jimin chokes on nothing, his heart tripping over a beat while Yoongi marches out of the room. The door slams closed behind the king and Jimin stumbles.
Jimin is not sure what he should feel. He is not sure if he ever faced something so raw before. The king's scent lingers in the room. As if the pure blood could not help himself and hide it. As if the scent wants to leave a mark. A territorial stake of something or someone.
He sits down on the settee, grasps the cushion while he tries to even out his breathing. The scent is too intense. His omega soaks it in, almost drenched in the alpha's pheromones. Jimin blinks, trying to not let that scent consume him. It will trigger his heat otherwise.
The pure-bloods are not supposed to let their pheromones run free. Yoongi is not supposed to. Jimin grips the cushion and thinks why the king was so restless. Why was the king so reckless, too. He breathes through his mouth, trying to will his legs to move and take him away.
The alpha smells of the autumn breeze. There is something very refreshing and yet melancholic about it. Jimin blinks, gets up from the settee and runs out on the balcony. The cold seeps through his skin, and he tries to ease out his breathing. Forget that particular scent.
He turns his back to the railing and looks up at the sky. Only to catch the balcony above his. The king stands there. His eyes ahead at the horizon. In the darkness of the night, the king's face is illuminated under the moon. Jimin stares at him, breathless.
The alpha looks down when he feels eyes on him. Their eyes meet and Jimin grips the railing behind him tightly. He is not sure what he is feeling. He is not sure what this intense churning is but it is right there. In his guts. It burns, somehow it burns to keep him on his toes.
Yoongi cannot take it. The omega's eyes are on him, and he wants. He wants so desperately. This feeling is new. He is not sure what triggered it. If it is because he understands Jimin and how he was where Jimin is right now once. Or, maybe it is something different. Entirely.
Jimin's scent is like no other Yoongi has ever experienced. The pure-blooded omega was always on suppressants and scent-blockers. The king is not sure why tonight Jimin's scent burst out of him like that. The omega smells unique. Not of one thing. As other omegas do normally.
Jimin's scent is a mix of Magnolia and lilly, with a tint of Tahitian vanilla. Just enough to mix perfectly into an intoxicating blend. Yoongi inhales and the flowers bloom around him. Even now. He stares at the omega and can see the valley of flowers the omega lies around him.
A laugh bubbles inside him. A little crazy thought that invades his mind. He knows, people told him, his bedmates told him, he smells of burning woods. He is always burning. It is apparently a suffocating smell. Yoongi thinks how easily he can burn the valley down under him.
The alpha turns away, the thought is gut-wrenching. He never brought something good in anyone's life, and he would much rather burn in himself than turn that valley into a blazing fire. Yoongi gets inside his room and eventually leaves the palace for a horse ride at night.
The omega sleeps on the bed, the alpha's scent still in the room. It lingers the next day too. The maids stop by the door, their faces startled and eyes wide. They hesitate, look at the omega, who sleeps peacefully on that king-sized bed. For the first time since he came here.
They stand by the door, not sure if they should walk in or not. They have never smelt their king like this before. The king's scent lingers in his clothes, in his room, but not so pungent. Their king knows to control himself and is good at it. He knows to mute his scent expertly.
“What is happening?” one maid whispers, “our king would not let his pheromones run like this. Would he?” An old maid stands among them, eyes on the sleeping omega, “sometimes, you do not control the wolf,” she murmurs, “sometimes, it is the wolf in us who choose to control you.”
The maids ring the bell by the door of the room and watch the omega squirm, looking down at them with bleary eyes. The sun rays reach his pale skin, make him glow. Those puffy lips jut out in a pout, but the omega nods for them to come in. They walk in to start the day.
--- ❤️‍🔥 ---
The king steers clear of him since then. After that night, the king does not bother him or try to talk to him in any way. Jimin wanders in the palace, his eyes skim over the rooms, paths, and hands touch and trace the walls while he goes. He finds the harem like that.
It is a vast place with numerous rooms lining a corridor. Jimin walks in, ignores his personal maid's warning, and explores the place. The harem is behind the palace. It is a medium-sized structure with the royal symbols on the walls. There are too many people in there.
Jimin's nose twitches with the scents. He watches the omegas rushing around, the prettiest ones he has ever seen. Some are sitting in circles, talking to each other and laughing. Some are busy making pearl necklaces, some are making flower crowns and garlands. They look happy.
“What are they doing?” Jimin asks his maid. She looks at the omegas and speaks softly, “they are making things to sell to the nearest market. The king pays for their everything, but they do these to earn something for themselves. Their lovers.” Jimin stills, “lovers?”
He frowns at the maid, “but... the omegas in harem are not allowed to have lovers. They have the king, right?” The maid watches him, for quite a few seconds, then she smiles, shakes her head, “our king never visits the harem, my lord. He kept them because they were always here.”
“These omegas are war-ruins, some are born here, some orphans, they had nowhere to go. So, our king kept them. They are free to have lovers. He got a few married, stood by them to let them go off to find a better life,” the maid looks proud, “he never came here. Not once.”
“Since he took the throne from his uncle,” the maid looks at a baby running up to her, she picks her up and smiles, “he never once set his foot here. Our king,” she frowns, “is kind.” That is something Jimin heard for the first time. That is not what people know of the man.
“He was not to be the king,” the maid gulps, “his uncle chose him because his own son, Yoong, was not a person worth of anything. We all are glad he chose our king for us. Our king was not accepted by many. For his unknown blood. A lot of kingdoms did not accept him as the king.”
“Rumours has it,” the maid walks with Jimin, lets an omega take the pup from her as they go, “our king is an illegitimate child of another king. He came here to look for shelter. To his uncle. We do not know much, but, yes, he had to struggle a lot to set his dominance here.”
“Those other kingdoms turn on him, he had to set out on war after war,” she shivers, “blood and death followed him everywhere. He was so young. Alone. No one wanted to side with him. Because, he was a pup. No one wanted to lose their kingdoms by supporting him. He was his own.”
“It continued. He would win those wars, but come back bloodied. Angry. Hurt. Lost so many in those wars. They would not win on the battlefield, so they would try to win with shrewd politics. They started calling him the mad king. Apparently, it was him who set out war after war.”
“How many mouths you can close that open behind your back?” The maid chuckles, “our king never paid any attention. Was too busy fixing this kingdom, and the wars continued. Until,” she sighs, “king Jeon rose to power. Jeon Jungkook. Another force. The strongest of them all.”
Jimin stills, “Jeon Jungkook?” The maid hums, by then they are at the end of the harem. There is a swing. Jimin sits, and the maid goes to sit on the floor, but Jimin tugs her down beside him, ignores her words of protest. “They hate each other, I heard,” Jimin says.
The maid frowns, thinking, “we know that too. But, it is complicated. They join forces every time someone comes for them. They always join forces when one needs the other. They cannot be in the same room without starting a war of their own, but no one else gets to do that.”
“Since King Jeon rose to power, they set out on wars together. The other kingdoms start to back away because our king knows mercy. He would let them go after dragging them to their last breath. But,” she shudders, “king Jeon does not know mercy. He is unforgiving in his fury.”
“He fights as if he was born for it,” she whispers, hugs herself, “his battle cry, if a kingdom hears, they would get ready to lose the king. Jeon Jungkook does not know forgiveness. He takes lives to settle matters. There are royal families, too many, he left in ruins.”
“He does not take kind to betrayals,” the maid sounds terrified, “he does not go easy like his brother. He is death personified for the ones who betray him. Dares to.” Jimin feels chills run down his spine. Taehyung's face dances in front of his eyes, and the guilt resurfaces.
•☆• ☆☆☆ •☆•
The king ignores him. After that day, Yoongi ignores him like plague and Jimin is, if he is being honest, glad for that. He would much rather not remember that night himself. They sort of find a way of communication that both of them are aware but never acknowledges.
Every night, Jimin sings something while he walks on the balcony. To himself, he tells himself that he sings for himself. His eyes risk glances at the upper balcony to see the soft glow of that one candle that breaks the darkness of the king's room as long as he stays awake.
Jimin stops when that candle is blown off. He knows the king is asleep. He goes to sleep himself. He is not sure why he does that, but he cannot help it. He cannot think of someone losing sleep and staying in his bed when he can help. Some way.
“What is it?” he asks, walking inside his room after a day's worth of sword practice to see two maids decorating his balcony with flowers, “what are you doing?” The maids stop, bow to him, one of them answers, “the king ordered for this, my lord.”
Jimin blinks, “ordered for what?” The maid hesitates, thinks Jimin is upset, then speaks, “the king said to decorate this balcony because he looks down at it, and it looks unadorned to him. He told us to make sure this place is well-decorated.” Jimin walks out on the balcony.
He walks on the balcony on bare feet. The cold marbles always make him squirm. He always curls his toes while walking. Now, Jimin looks down, the entire balcony is covered in carpets, lined with tubs that grow some flowers he cannot name. They smell divine.
He touches the petals, caresses them as he goes. He looks up to see the small bonfire that is sitting in the middle of the balcony, around it is a plush settee. Jimin hugs himself, blinking at all the people who are working to make the place. For him. He inhales deeply.
How was his room back in his father's palace? A place he was always reminded that he would leave some day. He was treated like a prince, but never like he was a person of his own. Jimin and Taehyung's rooms were not different. They were just the same.
Why? Because, it was never theirs. They just occupied those rooms until they were married off. They never got to alter things as they wanted. Everything was there as per the king wanted and no one was to ever go and change the setting, unless they wanted to upset the settling.
Jimin still remembers the stone-cold walls. Those paintings of people he never knew. Those eyes would bore into him while he tries to sleep. He got used to it. Got used to ignoring it, but it never felt like home. It always felt like a stoppage on his journey to find a home.
Jimin wipes his eyes, bites back those tears that threaten to fall. Because, now... he looks around to see the workers rush around him, making changes and... a teardrop rolls down his cheek when he thinks the person who is doing it has no idea how much he is changing.
“My lord,” a man comes to stand in front of him, bows, “the king said, you can choose the flowers you want. He said to add the ones you want and also, the colours of the carpets, we laid down, but you can change if you want.” Jimin reaches for the samples with trembling hands.
“Where is he?” he mumbles, “the king?” The man points at the top balcony, “in his room. He just got back from court.” Jimin nods, “I will see through this in a minute.” He turns to walk out of his room and take the stairs to reach the king's wing. He walks up to the door.
The guards announce him and then open the door for him after the king tells them to. Jimin walks in, the samples in his hands. He watches the king sit by his piano, tracing the keys. “Why are you doing all this?” Jimin holds out the samples, “you know, I will leave. Right?”
“Why are you changing everything for a guest?” Jimin hopes his desperation is not evident in his voice, “are you feeling guilty for killing him? Are you, possibly, thinking that all this will make me feel better? I know now what kind of man he was. I do not need you coaxing-”
The alpha's gaze flickers over to those samples and down at the piano keys. He smiles, a hint of it on his lips, shakes his head. “I do not feel guilty for finally doing what was long due,” he speaks, “also, I know you are not here to stay long. I know you want to leave.”
“But I hope,” the king starts playing the keys, “as long as you stay, this place,” he plays a tune, a soft melody, “feels like home.” Jimin holds the samples to his chest, to press down where it aches. To hold back the scream that tries to tear through him. He never had a home.
“You do this for all of your guests?” Jimin tries to snort, it comes off choked, “then this palace must go through too many changes.” Yoongi smiles down at the piano, “changes are the only constant, omega,” he sighs, “it is good to change when we have to. It keeps us going.”
Before Jimin can say anything, there is a knock. They look over to see Seokjin standing by the door. Jimin grips the samples and bows when Seokjin walks in. “Are you two busy?” Seokjin asks, “I can come later.” “No, of course, not,” Jimin shakes his head, “I will leave now.”
Jimin looks at the king, “the colours are... pink. All of it.” Yoongi nods, does not look at him, “it suits you.” Jimin blinks, looks at Seokjin and back at Yoongi. Seokjin smiles, warm and comforting, “he was saying how you remind you of cherry blossom. Pink and soft.”
Yoongi sputters, the tips of his ears red, “Jin, sit down! You,” he points at Jimin, “Get out!” Jimin blinks, watches Seokjin roll his eyes and plant himself beside Yoongi. Jimin watches the king place his hand on Jin's thigh, nails digging there. Jimin turns away, leaves.
“When did I ever call him cherry blossom?” Yoongi digs his fingers on Seokjin's thigh. Seokjin winces, swats at Yoongi's hand, “the other day? You were watching him water the plants in the garden and said, how he reminds you of the cherry tree by your mother's bedroom.”
They both stop. Yoongi looks at the piano, shakes his head. “Do not go around blurting the words I share with you,” he rubs his hands down his face, “I beg.” Seokjin nods, “fine. I am not here for what Jimin looks like. I am here to discuss something else.”
Yoongi nods, turns to face the omega. Seokjin squirms on his place, his hands joined together on his lap. “You remember our promise to each other?” Seokjin asks. Yoongi arches a brow, “be specific, Jin. You make me promise nonsense every other day.” Seokjin glares at him.
“How,” Seokjin looks away, discomfort clear on his face, “how, if,” his scent spikes, “if we find someone, fall in love-” Yoongi takes Seokjin's hands in his, rubs them assuringly, “if you find someone you fall in love with, and they are worth it, I will let you go.”
Seokjin's eyes are red-rimmed, he matches Yoongi's eyes, “and, if-” Yoongi smiles, “if your father goes against your choice, I will stand up beside you and help you get out of the situation. I remember.” Seokjin's tears roll out of his eyes, “I found someone, Yoongi.”
“I found someone,” Seokjin trembles with silent sobs, “I am not sure if he feels the same. Or, if he will ever feel the same, because he is already in love with someone else, but,” he looks at Yoongi, “I do not want to cheat on you by marrying you after knowing the truth.”
Yoongi wipes Seokjin's eyes, “who would not love you? Have you looked at yourself?” Seokjin snorts, “flattery does not suit you and flirting is not one of your strong points, my lord. Also, you do not love me. So, that is a lie.” Yoongi rolls his eyes, “I cannot love.”
“I do not have what it takes to love,” Yoongi looks back at his piano again, “I am not brave enough to love anyone. But,” he looks at Seokjin, squeezes his hands, “this person, they will love you, Seokjin. I know. Trust me.” Seokjin shakes his head, “that is not why I am here.”
“Then-” Yoongi frowns, “why are you here?” “I do not need for him to love me back,” Seokjin sighs, “judging by how my experiences are with love, I would say, I am just as you. I just wanted to be honest with you. I did not want to lose you in this chaos. Ever.”
“You are all I have,” Seokjin's voice waver, “a friend. A partner in crime. A person I trust with my everything. I do not want to lose you. Ever. That is why, I had to be honest with you. I do not want any outcome from this. I just-” Seokjin flails his arms, “do you get it?”
Seokjin cups the side of Yoongi's face, “oh, Min Yoongi, you are a treasure to have. I was blessed to have you and I would go lunatic if I lose you,” he rests his head on Yoongi's shoulder, “I would lose my loves than lose a friend like you. So, you get it, right?”
Yoongi hums, “friends before knots! Got it.” Seokjin laughs, his wild giggles fill the room, and Yoongi takes solace in the knowledge that he can still make someone smile. Make someone feel better. He smiles at his friend. “Want to go fishing tomorrow?” he asks, “with me?”
Seokjin wipes his eyes, calms down a little to give Yoongi a blinding smile, “yes,” he hums, “I would love to go fishing and watch you fall asleep while the fishes eat the bait and leave.” Yoongi rolls his eyes, blush high on his cheeks, embarrassed, “I do this for you. Shush!”
Seokjin watches Yoongi, his heart swells in his chest. He sends a prayer, the most honest and filled with love he can master. For the man who is his best friend, and for the alpha who is the best he has ever seen. He takes Yoongi's hand in his, squeezes and smiles at the alpha.
“The flowers will bloom again, Yoongi,” Seokjin squirms closer to rest his head back on Yoongi's shoulder, “that cherry tree you talked about, how it died in front of your eyes… how it all ended for you that winter? Spring will come again, the flowers will bloom all over again.”
“All you have to do is,” Seokjin looks at the alpha, “plant the seed. And, if the seed is already planted,” Seokjin looks at the flower petals on the carpet, where Jimin stood, were stuck under the omega's shoes, “then, you have to let it grow. Do not uproot it. Let it bloom.”
🌸
Jimin hates seeing Taehyung so distressed. Hates seeing the effect Jungkook has on the omega. He sees Jungkook when the alpha comes to visit them in the palace and the news he bears. Jimin watches the way it affects Taehyung. The way his brother tries hard to hide it.
Jimin notices how the alpha is no better. His eyes keep finding Taehyung and how he keeps looking. Jimin watches how the alpha is treated here. He notices how Jungkook tries hard to not show it but he is affected. By the way Yoongi treats him. By the way others cower around him.
Talking to the alpha proves him right. Jimin watches the alpha, but sees a child who is trying hard to not fall apart. Jimin sees the way the alpha clings to some soft words and assurances. Speaks a lot about how he probably never got enough of those. Jimin relates. It hurts.
“Do not treat him like that!” he finds himself in front of Yoongi while the king takes a midnight stroll in his garden, “he is young. He is just doing what he thinks is right. Tell him what is wrong and try to talk him out of it. Do not treat him so dismissively!” Yoongi blinks.
Then a smirk curls those lips, “feeling bad for the alpha you left at the altar, omega?” the king snorts, “want me to talk him into rethinking if he wants you back or not?” Jimin stares, tries to even out his breathing, “you think,” he lets out a laugh, “I am interested in him?”
Yoongi shrugs, “I am not thinking of anything.” “I am just trying to think of my brother!” Jimin grabs the alpha's elbow, turns him to face Jimin, “I am just thinking of his life. You cannot break his marriage like that!” Yoongi watches him, “is this your redemption?”
Jimin curses, “that is not what I am thinking of! Why cannot you see that they both want each other! Taehyung is upset because Jungkook did not serve him justice but also, he is upset that Jungkook chose that concubine over him. Jungkook on the other hand is upset that you...”
“took Taehyung's side and also, brought him here. They need to sit and talk. It can be solved over some communication!” Yoongi shakes his head, “Taehyung does not want to, and Jungkook is getting married. I do not see your point here. It is not like that!”
Jimin grasps the alpha's hanbok, trying to make him see the reason, “it is just this! They need to talk it out, and it will be sorted. Then-” “I do not know how to help you in this,” Yoongi turns away, “go and tell your brother. If he wants, he can talk to Jungkook.”
Jimin rounds the king, comes to stand in front of him, “please,” he begs, “he would not listen to me. He is still upset with me. Can you not just... talk to him? Can you not do this?” Yoongi shakes his head, “I am not sure how I can help when I do not see your point.”
“I cannot believe I came to you,” Jimin whispers, hugs himself, “I cannot believe I started to think that you are not like those people see you. I cannot believe I let myself believe that under this ruthless persona, there is an alpha who really, truly cares for others. No.”
“You do not care about Taehyung,” Jimin jabs his finger on Yoongi's chest, “you do not care about Jungkook. You just care about yourself,” he grits out, “you just want to break them apart to hurt Jungkook for your own twisted reasons. You do not care for anything else!”
“This is all your plan,” Jimin watches how those eyes bore into his, “you just want to hurt Jungkook and in that process, you are using Taehyung because he is naive. Your concern and support is nothing but a pretence because you do not actually care. Do you?”
“Out of everyone,” Yoongi grits out, “I do not owe you an answer,” his eyes trail over Jimin, slowly and leisurely, “an omega who did not think of anything or anyone before running away. I do not need to explain myself to an omega like you.” “An omega like me?” Jimin frowns.
“Yes, an omega like you,” Yoongi nods, “an omega like you. Stupid, blinded, impulsive-” Yoongi stops when he sees how Jimin's eyes glisten, those plush lips trembling. “I was in love!” Jimin steps up to him, voice thick, “I was in love with your brother!” Yoongi snorts, “yes.”
“So blinded by something as stupid as love to be selfish enough to run away,” Yoongi laughs, “you can lie all you want, omega, but deep down, you knew that Taehyung had to replace you. You knew your father. You knew how he is! You threw Taehyung into this mess knowingly!”
“Now you are desperately trying to mend things because your conscience is eating you alive,” Yoongi grits out, “your guilt is keeping you up. You want to fit them back together. No matter how. You do not care if, to fit the shoes, you have to cut off Taehyung's toes. You will!”
Yoongi chuckles, “you are desperate. I know. How far can you go for this? How far would you go to get them back together so you can sleep peacefully at night, omega? How far can you go to fix the problem you created? If not solve, to cover up the mess. How far?”
“I know people like you,” Yoongi's eyes shift colour, crimson bleeds into the brown irises, “I know, to cover up the guilt you feel, you will do anything. Desperately try to get back the trust you lost because, otherwise, the guilt does not let you sleep. People like you...”
“Are always thinking of themselves. Your world revolves around you. That is all you care about. Yourself. You and your stupid wishes to be-” Jimin lets out a short laugh, “I came here to seek you out because I thought you would understand. I thought you would get me.”
“If I am all that you said I am, then why did you keep me here?!” Jimin shouts, “if my value is so cheap to you, then why not send me to my father's and let him do whatever he wants-” “Believe me, I would,” Yoongi growls, “but, Taehyung wanted you here. He loves you.”
“If it was up to me, I would throw you at your father's face and watch him take you back,” Yoongi steps up to Jimin's face, “do not be in any delusion that I want to have you here. Do not ever think I care if you stay or leave. You are insignificant to me! You mean nothing!”
“Do not, for a second, think, just because I talk to you with respect, you deserve it,” Yoongi points a finger at Jimin's face, “you deserve to be in your father's harem, warming those generals' bed for what you did. Do not tempt me to take you back there! Do not test me!”
The slap rings in the surrounding air. The warm feeling of it burns on Yoongi's cheek. Jimin pants, tears rolling out of his eyes. He looks destroyed, his eyes oozing tears, while he holds the hand he used to slap Yoongi to his chest with his other hand. The omega cries hard.
Jimin struggles to breathe, his insecurities written all over his face. His tears washing away the blooming shade of pink of his cheeks to leave behind a sickening pale complex. The omega trembles, hugs himself, tears rolling out of his eyes the more they stand there.
Yoongi feels the ache. Not from the slap. In his chest. He feels the deeply rooted pain searing through his veins. The more he watches the omega, the more those roots tug at his heart, and it fucking hurts. “If,” Jimin's voice is hoarse, “if, that is all you think of me...”
“Then, you should not have done so much for me to,” he stops, “to make me feel-” “If this is all it takes to make you 'feel,' then it speaks more about how gullible you are,” Yoongi smirks, “and, now I get it why you fell for Yoong. You are used to having the bare minimum.”
“What went wrong, omega?” Yoongi takes a hold of Jimin's elbow, tugs him closer, “no one ever showed you love?” his lips press over Jimin's ear, “no one ever paid you attention or did the bare minimum? So, now you cling to whoever shows you a little sympathy and respect, hmm?”
“Yes, maybe I do that,” Jimin watches that face, “maybe I should not but when you are thirsty for years and someone shares a drop of water, you cling to it. I thought, you understood. I thought you, out of all, understood, but,” he breathes out a lifeless laugh, “apparently, no.”
Yoongi gives Jimin a slow smile, venomous, “I am sick and tired of omegas like you trying to use me for their own sake. I understand, trust me, I do. That is why,” he lets Jimin go with a jerk, “never, ever, ever try to come and coax me into your selfish schemes. Leave!”
“I was not!” Jimin screams, right on his face, “I was trying to make you understand that they need each other-” “No, you need your closure!” Yoongi thunders, “you want to come off as a saint. The likes of you do that! Fuck up and then try to paint over it to come out good!”
“And, I refuse! I refuse to be that stupid teenager again!” he glowers at the omega, “I refuse to be your tool! I refuse to be used like that again! You all are the same! I think,” Yoongi snorts, “I think I am cursed to find omegas like you around me. I must be!”
“Then I should not be around you,” Jimin whispers, “if that is all I am, then you should not keep me around you. Do you not think so?” he watches the moonlight shower over the king's face, how the alpha tries to calm himself, “maybe, I should just leave. If this is how you feel.”
Yoongi laughs, “did not you hear me? If you go, Taehyung would feel-” “Find someone to marry me off then,” Jimin shrugs, careless, “get the weight off your head. Trust me, Tae is not going to ask a single question more if I say I am happy. I will. I am getting good at lying!”
Yoongi lets out a soft laugh, “that is the dreamland you need to get out of, omega,” his searing eyes find Jimin to pin him right there, “who would marry you?” The words sting. They burn the already vulnerable and open wound in Jimin, and Jimin is speechless for a minute.
“My lord,” Hoseok speaks from where he is hovering behind them, “I think you should retire now. It is getting late.” Yoongi eyes Jimin and nods, “yes. I should. I feel like a headache coming anyway. Good night, omega,” he gives Jimin a curt nod before swiftly walking away.
“He does not mean it,” Hoseok tries, tentative, hesitant, “he, I have never seen him like this,” the alpha frowns, “I am sorry. He did not mean it. He was probably tired from all the court work, and you got him on a wrong time-” Jimin gives a small nod, “it is okay, hyung.”
“I should be able to hear the truth after what I did,” Jimin tries to smile at Hoseok, “I should have known better-” Hoseok lets out a breath, “no, my prince! You were not wrong is seeking help. You were not wrong-” Jimin looks at Yoongi's retreating back, “do me a favour?”
“Yes?” Hoseok asks eagerly. Jimin's eyes stay focused on Yoongi who unties his topknot to let his blond hair free, combing it back while he marches up those stairs to get inside the palace. Jimin hugs himself, trembles because of the chilly wind, watches the king disappear.
“Get me another room, a simple guest room,” Jimin whispers, “so, I do not start feeling special all over again.” Hoseok watches the omega turn towards the garden, going further down the narrow lanes that lead to the depths of the garden. Hoseok curses, follows Jimin instead.
*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*
Yoongi does not remember drinking so much. He does not remember falling asleep on the balcony, and he does not remember Hoseok dragging him back to his bed. When he wakes up, it is to the news of Jungkook leaving. He goes to stand by the premise, bidding the king off.
He picks up on that scent. The blooming flowers around him. He breathes through his mouth, tries to not crawl back to that dark hole that reminds him how they all smell of flowers. How she smelt of roses. So much, it felt like roses were growing around Yoongi's heart.
Until those thorns tore apart his heart, burst it into a mess he is yet to gather and heal. Yoongi blinks, the nausea hitting him all over again. He can feel the omega's stress, the scent is sour, a little. He ignores it, fixes his eyes on the retreating king until he is gone.
“Hyung,” Taehyung reaches out, holds his hand, “I was thinking of taking Jimin hyung to the market. He has no new clothes for the wedding, and I need some hanboks of my own.” Yoongi nods, “certainly. Take Hoseok and Namjoon with you-” “I do not wish to go,” Jimin mumbles.
Yoongi hears how thin the omega's voice sounds. Taehyung looks at Jimin, frowns. “Why not?” Taehyung has a whine in his voice, “you have no good clothes, hyung!” “I do not have the means to pay for new clothes,” Jimin sounds tired. Taehyung goes quiet, “but...”
“But, hyung,” Taehyung gestures at Yoongi, “is the king. He pays-” “Why would I take his money?” Jimin shakes his head, “I do not want to. It is okay, I will not attend the wedding.” Yoongi keeps his eyes ahead, “Taehyung, go and buy whatever you want. It will be paid off.”
“See!” Taehyung looks at Jimin, “it will be paid. Come on, hyung!” Jimin shakes his head, steps back, “no, Tae. I do not wish to take his money. Also,” he looks at Hoseok with a small smile, “can you get me some job here or nearby, hyung? I want to pay for my stay here.”
Yoongi inhales deeply, trying to even out the crippling anger. “Hyung,” Taehyung hesitates, steals glances at Yoongi, “what happened all of a sudden?” Jimin chuckles, “I was starting to forget my place, Tae, last night I got reminded of it. Thankfully.” Yoongi's eyes flicker.
“You are a prince,” Taehyung murmurs, “what work do you possibly know of daily lives-” “I was to be thrown in the harem back in my father's kingdom,” Jimin finally looks at the king, “if that is the only thing I am good at-” “If you are done passing time,” Yoongi starts, low...
“Then, go to work,” Yoongi looks at Taehyung, “get ready, Hoseok and Namjoon will meet you by the gate in an hour for the market. Go.” He growls the last word, and Taehyung takes a glance at Jimin before he scurries away. Hoseok follows, head bowed. Yoongi turns to Jimin.
“If you are looking for sympathy, I got none,” Yoongi watches Jimin, “I also do not run the harem anymore, so you cannot join it. But,” he points over the gate, “there is a colony of them outside the capital. For the people. If you are looking and think that is all you can do.”
“Or,” Yoongi points at the staircase, “the harem's pups need a teacher to give them basic education. Do that. You will earn your payment per week. If you want to.” Jimin watches him, nods, “I can do that.” Yoongi hums, “also,” his gaze intensifies, “stop being like this.”
“This?” Jimin cannot help but ask. “This!” Yoongi nods, “this person whose worth is settled by another. Your father did it. You did not protest, just ran away. Now you are letting me do it-” “You called me worthless,” Jimin murmurs. “People will call you a lot of things!”
“Get ready for that!” Yoongi steps close, points over the gate of the palace, “beyond that gate, behind these walls, people are calling you a lot of things. I am just another. All you have to do is not let that be your entire identity! No one knows you better than you, yourself!”
“It should not matter what I see you as,” Yoongi balls his hand, “it does not matter what others see you as. See yourself as better! When you slapped me last night,” he looks away, “I thought you knew that. Apparently not! Do not let me, or anyone else, decide your worth!”
“I am just another voice in the chaos that is calling you out for their own insecurities and need for gossip,” Yoongi looks at the omega in front of him, “treat me and them just the same. Do not let us shape you. Never let anyone shape you-” “But, you are not them.”
Jimin shakes his head, “you are not one of them. They do not dare to say it to my face. They are not the person who I am living with. They are not the person under whom I am taking shelter. What you say, matter to me, because I am kind of dependent on you. You... are important.”
Jimin hugs himself, “you can easily decide my fate for me. You can easily do anything you want, and my life will be just that because you are the king I am living under.” Yoongi watches the omega, his eyes moving across Jimin's face, “I knew you were stupid, but this beyond it.”
“No one owns your life, Jimin!” Yoongi steps forward, “no one owns you! You make it sound like you are helpless-” “I am,” Jimin nods, “do you not see? I am a runaway omega who is a ruined royal. Do you, yourself, not hear the surrounding whispers? People see me as your pet.”
“What you are saying is probably right in a right world, but this is not the right world,” Jimin shakes his head, “this is the world we live in where I am already marked as ruined good. I am to never be anything else, and what you said about me last night? That is my fate.”
“I will end up either in a harem,” Jimin's grip tightens around himself, “or, you will marry me off to someone for a treaty or as an investment. I would just be the same. A bed warmer. A pup bearing omega who is there just for that. Healthy pups and sex.” Yoongi flinches.
“You were not preparing me by saying those things,” Jimin gives Yoongi a hollow smile, “you cannot prepare someone for things they know already and accepted for themselves ages ago. I know my fate and have accepted it. I am just painfully passing each day until my fate shows up.”
“So, thank you for dragging me back to where I belong,” Jimin bows, “I was starting to drift.” Yoongi watches the omega, “you will not end up in a harem or in a bed you do not wish to be on.” Jimin looks at him, his face gives away nothing, “you want me to fall for that?”
“Yes,” Yoongi murmurs, “I want you to believe that.” Jimin gives him a tired smile, “so, you can snatch that promise away when you feel like it? Just like last night? No, thank you.” Yoongi watches Jimin leave, hurry back to a room Yoongi knows is not his.
“He changed his room,” Hoseok answers when Yoongi asks, busy fixing Yoongi's hanbok for him before the court, “after last night, I do not blame him.” Yoongi looks at Hoseok through the mirror, “you are angry.” Hoseok snorts, “you can pick up on it? On other's emotions?”
Yoongi sighs, “Hoba-” “No,” Hoseok stops him, “no, you do not get to 'hoba,' me. You broke his heart, hyung,” he frowns, “you left, and I stayed with him. He cried until there were no tears left. You do not get to break him just because he reminds you of Eun.” Yoongi growls.
“You do not get to push him away like this just because he makes you feel,” Hoseok begs, “he stayed up night after night so he can sing you to sleep. You know-” “I will take those sleepless nights over this nightmare, Hoba,” Yoongi fixes a necklace, “I do not need him.”
“Everyone will not be the same,” Hoseok reminds him, “everyone will not be her.” Yoongi hums, “maybe I do not have the guts to try and find it out. I do not have the strength to bet myself like that anymore. Also, he will find someone better. I will make sure of it.”
“Also,” Yoongi holds out a pouch, “give him this for the first week's salary. Take them both to the market for fitting.” Hoseok takes the pouch, frowns at the weight of it, “this is too much for the job you gave him.” Yoongi shrugs, “he does not know that. You forget too.”
🌸
Jimin watches the hanboks on his bed. Trying on one after another. He looks at himself and lifelessly drops it on the ground to go for another. Each one of them makes him look ugly. He watches himself in a yellow hanbok that Taehyung chose for him, stares at himself.
Yoong said he loved Jimin in yellow. Jimin remembers their first kiss. How naively he clung to the prince while Yoong kissed him breathless. The prince was so eagerly rutting against him, told him to strip and assured him that he was loved. Jimin did not go further than a kiss.
Jimin watches those tears pool in his eyes. Helplessly watches how they trip over the rim of his eyes and fall. He washed himself so many times. He bathed so many times, scrubbed his skin to a point where it started peeling, and yet... a sob escapes him. Yes, he still feels it.
Those warm hands all over him, those lips on his. He feels breathless. Now, for different reasons. He feels those touches when he tries to sleep. Hears those whispered things when those nightmares occur. They speak those vulgar things in his ears. Burns him from the inside.
Jimin drops on the ground, crying hysterically, while he thinks how stupid he was to think they were in love. He cries and curses himself as he thinks how naive he was to run away like that. He was so selfish to leave everything behind. Betraying Taehyung like that.
He tears the hanbok off of him. The feeling grows in him. He is worthless. He is not worth loving. He is not worth living. The future laughs at him through the mirror. He will always be worthless. He would be thrown into a harem or on a bed he did not want to be on.
He watches himself, in his undergarments, in the heap of the clothes. His eyes on himself and he thinks, this is exactly how he would be. Left between shiny things as another object after those people use him. Left to fend for himself after they use him like Yoong tried.
Jimin sobs harder. He will always be kissed and rutted against and fucked before those hands, those lips, those people leave him just like this. To wipe his own tears and to feel just like this. Worthless. He would never know how it feels to be loved by someone.
Jimin gets up from the floor, stumbles out of the room because the walls feel like they are closing in on him. He ignores how the guards startle, watch him with wide eyes. He is in his undergarments. He rushes down the hallway and down the stairs. Runs outside in the cold.
He runs until he is deep inside the garden. Until all he can hear is the owls and the soft tides of the river that floats by the palace. He drops on his knees there, trying to breathe. He is not sure how long he sits there, but then he hears it. Footsteps. Hurried steps.
“This way?” Yoongi shouts, “stay back!” Jimin pants, trying to blink back the haze that clouds his vision. He smells the alpha first. The scent engulfs him and then the king is right there, in front of him. “Omega,” Yoongi slowly rounds him, alert, “hey. Hey!”
tw// panic attack
Jimin jerks back when Yoongi touches his shoulder. “Do not touch me!” Jimin shouts, “do not touch me! Do not touch me! Do not ever touch me!” Yoongi freezes, hand outstretched. Jimin curls in on himself, “do not touch me. I do not want this! I do not want this!”
The ground underneath him is mud. It is cold and wet. It sticks to him. Jimin looks down and sees how the mud smears across his pale skin. He frowns, rubs his hand over the mud. It spreads. The cold mud spreads the more he tries to wipe it. Jimin cries, trying harder to wipe it.
“Do not do this!” Jimin screams, in his haze, it feels like the mud is Yoong's touches, leaving a trace no matter how hard Jimin tries to wipe it off, “do not touch me! I cannot wash myself anymore! I cannot,” he frantically tries to wipe it, it is all over his body, “please!”
He looks at the alpha, whose eyes are still on him. Jimin cries out, shaking his head. “I am not like this, I promise! I am not this dirty!” he wipes his eyes and feels the mud smear across his face, “I am trying! I am trying to clean myself. I do not like this,” he blabbers...
“You are not dirty,” Yoongi shakes his head, voice chokes, “you are not at all dirty. You are just in mud,” he keeps his hand outstretched, “you just need to get out of the mud. You will be fine. How about you get out of the mud?” “I cannot,” Jimin whimpers, “it is everywhere.”
Jimin grips his hair, bends to bury his face into his lap, rocking himself, “it is everywhere. All over me. People sees me in this mud and I cannot clean myself. Am I not trying enough?! Am I not doing this right?! I am not dirty! I just fell here, I am not dirty!”
“You are not dirty, it is not you, it is the mud,” Yoongi tries again, “it dirties us all. All we have to do is, get out of it. Step out of it. You cannot clean yourself as long as you are in the mud. Come on, take my hand and get out of the mud.”
Jimin shakes his head, curls in on himself, “I will dirty you too if I touch you.” Yoongi watches him, drops the sword on the ground and drops on his knees, “I do not fear that. Come here,” he urges, begs, “come to me. Let me help,” his voice cracks, “let me get you out.”
“I will get you out,” Yoongi promises, “no one will ever call you dirty. You are not. It is just mud and it will wash away. I will wash it all away,” he nods when Jimin stares at him, “you are not dirty. You are the purest person,” Yoongi gulps, “the mud got nothing on you!”
“I am dirty-” Jimin stops when the alpha shakes his head vehemently. “You are a blooming flower,” Yoongi murmurs, “purest. When you fall on the ground, you do not get dirty. Instead,” he tries to smile, “instead, we give you to our Gods. The purest form of devotion. Blossom.”
“You are my blossom,” Yoongi whispers, “your value does not lessen when you touch the ground. The world does not have enough dirt to ruin you. Come on,” he begs, “blossom, take my hand and get out of it. You can. You can do it. Just, trust me. Give me your hands.”
Jimin watches him, eyes wandering over Yoongi's face, “blossom?” Yoongi is not sure where it came from. He is not sure what he said. He is just trying to get the omega out of the headspace he has got into. He nods eagerly. “Yes, blossom. Please, take my hands and come to me.”
Jimin looks at those hands and back at the alpha. He reaches, hesitant, and as soon as his fingertips touch the king's the king grabs his hands and pulls him. Jimin gasps, falling right into the king's chest, smearing mud all over the alpha. Yoongi lets out a long breath.
“Leave,” Yoongi screams at the guards who stand far away from them, waiting for the king's orders, “tell the maids to run a warm bath!” Jimin trembles in Yoongi's clutch, face buried against the alpha's neck. The scent is warm, thick and soothing. Jimin clings to it.
“I am here,” Yoongi whispers, “I am here.” Jimin nods, silently letting the alpha wrap him into a hanbok that he realizes belongs to the alpha. Then Yoongi picks him up, carrying him back to the palace. Jimin clings to the alpha, face buried in his throat, trying to calm down.
🌸🌸🌸
Yoongi sits the omega down by the bathtub and waits for the omega to let him go. Jimin's arms are tight around him, face still buried against his chest. Yoongi waits, seconds pass before turning into minutes, and then the omega realizes they stopped moving. His arms tighten more.
Yoongi has never dealt with something like this, and he is not sure how to do it right. So, he follows his instinct. He does not force Jimin to let him go. Instead, he reaches to check the temperature of the water and hums to himself. “You have to take a bath,” he murmurs.
Jimin does not move an inch. He nuzzles closer to the alpha. Yoongi rubs the omega's back, breathing through his mouth when the scent of the omega drapes around him like a cloak. “I am right here,” he murmurs, “I am not leaving. But, you need to take a bath. Right?”
Jimin nods, jerky, reluctant. Yoongi hums, “then, how about you take a bath and I wait outsi-” he stops when the omega's grasp tightens around him, “you want me here?” Jimin says nothing, but buries his face back against Yoongi's scent gland. Yoongi goes rigid, “omega...”
Jimin says nothing when Yoongi pulls back a little to look at his face. His face is pale, paler than he already is. There is a haunted look in those eyes, Yoongi does not like. At all. His throat bobs. “Do you want me to get Tae?” Yoongi tries, “a maid?” Jimin watches him.
He watches Yoongi as if he does not understand what Yoongi is saying. As if nothing registers. “You want to leave,” Jimin mumbles, the words are low, Yoongi has to focus to hear it all, “do I repulse you too?” Yoongi stares, holding the omega upright, “no, you do not!”
Jimin does not look like he believes Yoongi. His eyes move onto himself again. That blank face twists. His eyes start to fill with tears again. Yoongi watches how that expression starts to change into a scared one. Jimin squirms, arms away from his body, “I am dirty!”
His eyes snap to Yoongi, caging the alpha in place, “you promised me I will not be dirty! You are leaving! You lied! You promised me I will not be dirty! Now you are leaving, and I am still dirty-” Yoongi hurries to shake his head, “no! No, I am not going anywhere! No!”
With a prayer, Yoongi reaches for the omega, pulls him down on his lap. He looks at the omega's eyes and shakes his head. “I am not going anywhere,” Yoongi promises, “but, you need to clean yourself up.” Jimin stares, his eyes are void, “you promised to clean me up.”
Yoongi lets out a curse. With a few seconds of hesitation, he reaches for the cotton shirt the omega wears. He looks at the omega and waits. Jimin waits too. Not looking away from the alpha's eyes. Yoongi takes a hold of the first button, watches Jimin look down and up again.
“May I?” Yoongi hates to know in his head that the omega's consent at this point means nothing because Jimin is not thinking and no matter what he says, he is not in his right mind to really mean it. But he still would ask. Jimin nods, "yes." That is all he will get.
If tomorrow morning Jimin wakes up and his right mind decides that Yoongi was wrong or somehow took advantage of his state of mind, Yoongi has to live with that burden. The alpha knows that. Yet, for now, he cannot just leave like that. He unbuttons the shirt slowly.
He makes sure to not touch the omega more than necessary. The discomfort is right there, in the pit of his guts. He tries not to think how the omega on his lap is not thinking straight. He tries not to think what would happen if some other alpha found him in this state.
Jimin's eyes are on his face, the more buttons Yoongi opens, the more Jimin watches him. Yoongi looks at the omega's eyes and whispers, “you are the prettiest omega I know.” The words register, those irises clear just a little. Yoongi nods, earnest, discarding the shirt slowly.
He gets up, slowly making the omega stand and grab him when Jimin's legs wobble. Yoongi holds Jimin to his chest and helps him out of his boxers. He slowly cups Jimin's face and makes sure Jimin is looking at him at least. “I will put you in the bathtub, okay?” Yoongi murmurs.
Jimin nods, absent, silent. Yoongi sighs, guides Jimin to the bathtub and helps him inside. He kneels by the bathtub when Jimin just sits inside, pulling his knees up to hug his legs. Yoongi watches the omega, “still so pretty,” he murmurs, taking the wash cloth.
Yoongi takes the cleaning ingredients and rubs them on the wash cloth before taking Jimin's hand in his. Jimin watches how Yoongi rubs the cloth on his arm, slowly wiping away the dirt and mud. He watches how the alpha repeats it on the other arm. His eyes find the alpha's face.
When the alpha looks up, their eyes match and Yoongi gives him a nod. “See?” he murmurs, “it gets better,” he leans to press his lips gently over Jimin's knuckles, “and, does not leave a stain. You are just as pretty as you were before.” Jimin's heart aches.
Yoongi's lips press on the inside of his wrist next. The alpha's eyes never waver from his. Jimin feels the pulse, it escalates. His scent pungent in the air. Yoongi breathes out, slowly rubs circles on Jimin's skin while he washes the mud off of him. It takes a long time.
When the water is all muddy and Jimin stares at it, Yoongi holds out his hand. Jimin looks at it and back at the water surrounding him. Yoongi sees the omega going back to that place the more he stares at the muddy water. He grasps Jimin's hand. “Get out of that,” he pulls.
He helps Jimin get out of the bathtub and stops when the omega almost falls on him. Yoongi holds Jimin at arm's length because there are stains on his clothes that he is yet to remove. He does not want to trigger the omega again.
He helps Jimin sit on the wooden stool while he takes some water and pours it down the omega. To wash away the remaining dirt. Jimin sits, shivers under the water and lets Yoongi do whatever he wants. Yoongi drops the mug in the water when he is done and reaches for the towel.
He dries the omega up. Talks in his slow voice to assure the omega who clings to his each and every word. By the time he is done, Jimin's skin looks a little rosy from the heat of the water and the towels. Yoongi watches the omega and hums. “Wait, let me get your clothes-”
The distress spikes in the omega's scent, and Yoongi pauses. He nods and takes slow steps towards the door. Jimin's face contorts, eyes following the alpha. Yoongi does not turn away, does not stop holding that eye contact as he backtracks.
“Get me some clothes!” He shouts by the door, “here.” He waits by the door, watching the omega watch him. Jimin sits on the stool. Naked. One leg crossed over the other. The dim lights of the candles glisten on his skin. Those locks of hair fall all around his face.
Pretty. Yoongi leans against the door of the bathroom and realizes that with a start. He has never seen a prettier omega in his life. A prettier person. Not in a sexual way. Not in an arousing way, but simply in its existence. Jimin is the prettiest person Yoongi ever saw.
Jimin's eyes are vulnerable. He sits like a stone. Too reluctant to move. Too frozen in his place. Yoongi's throat bobs. He would love to tell the omega how pretty he is. So, he does. “You are the prettiest person,” he murmurs, “and, you do not need anything to back that up.”
That is the truth. Jimin does not need those shiny clothes or those jewels or makeup to make him look pretty. He already is. In his existence. He is pretty. Yoongi takes the clothes the maid hands him through the gap in the door and closes the door behind himself.
He comes up to the omega and helps him into a white, cotton hanbok. He smiles when Jimin frowns at the size. “It is mine, sorry,” Yoongi ties the strings in the middle, “I did not specify whose clothes.” Jimin lets Yoongi fuss over him until he is properly dressed.
Yoongi boops Jimin's nose, smiles when those eyes flicker over to his face. “You are clean and ready for bed,” the alpha nods to himself, “now, let me ask the maids to take you back to your room because I need a bath too.” The distress spikes again. Yoongi stops, stares.
Jimin curls in on himself. He does not say anything. Does not utter a single word. Yoongi gets it anyway. He hums, nods to himself. “Okay, then,” he turns the stool, making the omega face the other way, “sit. Let me take a bath, and then I can take you back to your room.”
Yoongi holds his hand out, “promise you will not peek over your shoulder?” he arches a brow, “do not be naughty!” Jimin's eyes flicker from his hand to his face, and the omega places his hand in Yoongi's with a small nod. Yoongi squeezes the palm, nods back at the omega.
The more steps he takes away from the omega, the more anxious the scent gets. Yoongi sighs, discarding his clothes and humming. “You know, the palace had no bathtub when I first came here? I had to-” he talks, baths himself while talking to the omega non-stop, “... I am done!”
He rounds the omega and watches Jimin watch him. Yoongi ties his hair up properly and looks back at the omega. “Do you want me to carry you?” he asks, arms outstretched. Jimin shakes his head, silently slides off the stool and stumbles. Yoongi sighs, leans to pick him up.
The omega holds him by his neck, eyes fixed on him. Yoongi looks ahead, talking to Jimin. He carries the omega to the door, and then he stops. Jimin's own words ring in his ears. “𝐸𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑠𝑎𝑦𝑠 𝐼 𝑎𝑚 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑝𝑒𝑡!” If he goes outside, everyone will know. See.
Yoongi's jaw tightens. They saw the omega run out in distress. They saw him carry the omega back inside in that state. Yoongi looks at Jimin, how the omega watches him. He nods to himself. He nudges the door with his leg and waits for the guards to open it and stare at them.
He carries the omega out, ignores every eye that follows them while he carries the omega down the corridors. He will make sure everyone sees the omega is not a mess. He is taken care of. He is important. Not a pet. Not a damn pet! He is a prince. He is the king's blossom.
🌸
They both go back to not speaking. Yoongi leaves Jimin in his room after the omega falls asleep and the next day, much to Jimin's relief, Yoongi does not speak about his breakdown. They both dodge each other as if their lives depend on it. Make sure to never cross paths.
Jimin notices the shift around him. The maids, servants, guards, they all bow to him as he passes. They never treated him badly, but now they treat him royally. He gets his personal maid, who follows him to the harem to teach the pups. The concubines love him. Respect him.
He gets his first payment for the first week and when he goes to pay for his stay and food, Hoseok takes only one coin from it and no matter how much Jimin protest, he does not budge. “The king decides the price,” Hoseok shrugs, “he said, just one coin is enough.”
So, Jimin buys the pups of the harem their clothes. Spends some coins to buy the concubines their necessities. He buys Taehyung a few hanboks. Gets Hoseok and Seokjin one of their own. He gets a book for Namjoon.
“What is this?” Taehyung asks, coming to help Jimin pack for the journey to the Jeon Kingdom. Jimin looks at the box, sighs, “was just making something.” Taehyung caresses the woollen cloak, “since when you are into knitting?” Jimin does not answer. He cannot answer.
The black cloak is not fully done. He is knitting as fast as he can, but it is still taking longer than he thought. “What is this cloak for?” Taehyung wonders, “you can buy one.” He can. But... none of the ones Jimin tried on in the market gave him the same comfort. Warmth.
He wants to gift it to the king. A small token of gratitude. He hopes the cloak tells Yoongi how it felt to have the king around him that night. Jimin hopes, the cloak conveys the warmth he felt that night with the king. The safety. The comfort. "Sometimes, you have to make it."
Taehyung does not ask any more questions. He helps Jimin pack, and Jimin lets the omega go after they are done. He sits on his chair and knits, makes the patters with focus. He falls asleep on the rocking chair, the cloak wrapped around him. Unknowingly, leaving his scent in it.
Jimin leaves it in the king's room. Neatly folded and on top of his bed. He does not dare hand it over to the king. He cannot see the king in front of him and match those eyes. He leaves it there and hesitates. Shall he leave a note? Let the king know it is from him?
Eventually he decides not to. Jimin takes one last look at the cloak and leaves it there anonymously. He does not want to let the king know it is from him. He does not need to. Some gestures should be silent. He does not need to announce it. Jimin leaves the room silently.
Yoongi picks up the cloak from where it rests that night when he gets back from the dinner and is ready to sleep. He traces the patterns with his fingertips, sees the dragon, his symbol, at the back of the cloak. It is not roaring. Instead, it rests, flowers blooming around it.
Yoongi pulls the cloak to himself, buries his face into the intoxicating scent of it. Blossom. He holds the breath in, eyes fluttering close. With a sigh, he places it back on the bed and goes to sleep.
When was the last time someone made something for him? A snort escapes his lips when he thinks about it now. His mother. A sweater. An orange sweater because he loves oranges. He turns on his side, tears threatening to spill when he thinks, how stupid it all is.
His mother did not stay for him. Why did he ever let himself even entertain the idea that Eun would or… he looks at the cloak and kicks it off the bed. No one is here to stay with him. It is better if he stops hoping. Yoongi does not sleep, he never gets to anymore.
🌸
They all gather around the carriages and horses. They are ready to leave for the Jeon kingdom and they wait for the king. Jimin watches Hoseok instruct the servants as they load their luggage. Namjoon stand beside them, calling out names of the people who are going to sort them.
Taehyung's shocked inhale makes Jimin look over. Taehyung's eyes are large and on the king, who walks out of the palace. Jimin's heart stops in his chest when he sees the king wearing his cloak. The hood up, hiding his face under the sun, and the alpha is wrapped neatly in it.
The king winces when he steps out into the sun, and Hoseok smiles. “You drank too much, and now it is hurting your eyes?” he asks, tugs the hood down to hide more of the king's face. Yoongi hums, “and, my head. Stop talking. Get moving.” Others scurry, following the order.
Jimin stands where he was, and Yoongi looks up when he feels eyes on him. Jimin's heart lurches when the alpha's eyes finally zero in on him. They both stop, others rushing around them to find their carriages and rides, to load the luggage, while they stand still.
Yoongi looks away first, goes to his horse to pet it and ask the stable boy something. Jimin gets inside the carriage, trying to ease out his breathing. Taehyung gets in behind him, laughing at something Yoongi tells him. Jimin ignores, forces himself to catch some sleep.
“Is there something going on between you and hyung?” Taehyung asks, tentative. Jimin goes rigid, “no? Why?” Taehyung's eyes are large, he looks out of his depth, “the cloak-” “Is just a gift for him to let me stay here,” Jimin narrates what he told himself, “just that.”
They do not talk after that. When it is time for the night rest, Taehyung gets out of the carriage and follows his maids to see his tent. Jimin stops by the open door of the carriage. The king stands there, instructing a few generals about the routes and everything.
The king looks at him and Jimin fumbles, trying to look away as fast as he can. He stops, freezes, when the king walks over to the carriage. “Where is your maid?” he asks, frowns, “did she not come?” Jimin nods, “she,” he gulps, “she is with Tae. To see the arrangements.”
Yoongi nods, holds his hand out without a word. Jimin stares at it and back at the king. The king waits. Jimin lets out a deep breath and places his hand on top of the alpha's and takes the step on the foot of the carriage and then on the ground. Yoongi holds his hand still.
“There is the tent,” the king points, “you are to share it with Taehyung. If you,” he stops, corrects himself, “both of you need anything, my tent is across from yours. Do not hesitate to come in.” Jimin nods mutely, “thank you, my lord.” Yoongi lets go of him then.
Jimin turns to leave and stops when the king calls after him. Jimin looks over his shoulder to see the king stand by the carriage, joined with Hoseok and Namjoon as they come to stand by his sides to tell him something. Yoongi gives Jimin a curt nod, “thank you for the gift.”
Then he turns to face the generals, busying himself into whatever they were there to discuss. Jimin stands there, immobile. Breath caught in his chest. He watches the alpha and Yoongi does not look back. Once. Jimin leaves when Yoongi follows the generals to his tent.
🌸
Taehyung sleeps soundly on his side, hugging a pillow to his chest. Jimin twists and turns on his side of the bed until he cannot anymore. He wraps a cloak around himself and gets out of the tent. Except for the guards, no one else is out. The bonfires are burning around them.
Jimin hugs himself and starts to walk aimlessly. His head bowed, eyes on his feet. He stops by the king's tent when he sees the candles still burning. The soft glow illuminates the inside. He hesitates, reaches out for the curtains, and stops himself before turning to leave.
The sound of a sharp blade swishing through the air makes him stop. Jimin frowns and turns to look at the door. The guards stand alert. Does not try to stop him. Maybe told not to. Jimin parts the curtains and steps inside. He stops by the door. Eyes on the alpha.
Yoongi practices with his sword. His hair loosely falling over his back, his upper body bare, glistening with sweat. The king looks lost in his thoughts while he practices. The man turns and stops when he sees Jimin. Jimin chokes on nothing, caught off guard.
Yoongi stops, drops his hand beside him, and reaches for the shawl to drape it over himself. Jimin looks away, face heating up. “Could not sleep?” the alpha asks, breathing heavy, “is the bedding not comfortable?” Jimin shrugs, “n-no. I just... I could not sleep.”
“Neither could I,” Yoongi chuckles, “thinking of visiting that palace steals all my sleep.” Jimin watches the alpha wipe his face with the shawl. He watches the king drop the sword on the ground and round the table to pour himself some water. “Come in,” Yoongi says next.
“If both of us cannot sleep, we might as well entertain each other,” Yoongi points at the bed. Jimin's eyes widen, “w-what?” Yoongi drinks, frowns at Jimin and then choked promptly on his water. Jimin watches the alpha cough, wheeze and slap his chest to calm down. “Lord, no!”
“I did not!” Yoongi shakes his head vehemently, “that is not what I meant. I absolutely- I just-” he gestures wildly, “board games. I have a few board games if you are interested. You can of course say no! I am bad at them anyway. If you say yes, you might win. So, you see-”
Jimin cannot control the smile that twitches his lips upwards. He cannot hold back the burst of laugh that escapes his tightly pressed lips. The king stops, watches him, while Jimin spills laughter. He giggles, trying hard to hide it behind his palms, but it just keeps spilling.
Jimin stops midway when the alpha stalks over. The omega presses himself up against the pillar of the tent while he alpha crowds him against it. “Is my misery amusing to you, omega?” Yoongi whispers, “you know it is rude to laugh at your king, right?” Jimin's breath catches.
“You are not my king,” Jimin whispers, face tilted to match those eyes. Yoongi hums, “I am not?” Jimin shakes his head, “you are not.” “Why is that?” Yoongi steps closer, “you live in my kingdom.” Jimin shrugs, “I pay for that.” Yoongi quirks an eyebrow, “is that so?”
Jimin nods, “yes.” Yoongi hums, “do you think one coin covers everything?” Jimin's lips twitch, “you said it does.” “Maybe I want to change my mind,” Yoongi's eyes trail over Jimin's face, lingers on his lips, “collect some more.” Jimin's heart leaps to his throat.
Yoongi cups the side of his face, those eyes still roam over his face to set on his eyes. Jimin holds his breath. His arms behind him, grabbing the pillar with everything he has in him. Yoongi leans in, as if intoxicated, in a trance. His eyes on Jimin's lips.
Then the alpha stops, blinks. Jimin watches the alpha step back, hand pulling away from Jimin's cheek as he burnt. “I am sorry,” the king whispers, “I was not thinking. I,” he turns away, “I do not know what I was— sorry.” Jimin watches the king comb his hair back, frustrated.
Jimin grasps Yoongi's elbow and turns him. Their faces an inch away. The omega watches him for a second and then cups the king's face with both of his hands to pull him in. The alpha stills when their lips meet, tender, tentative. The omega freezes, not sure what is next.
Yoongi initiates it. He moves his lips, tongue probing the omega's lips and Jimin parts them for him. Yoongi holds back a growl, his arms resting on Jimin's waist while he deepens the kiss. Jimin whimpers into the kiss, eyes screwed shut. The alpha is no better.
When Jimin's palms grasp his bicep, slowly gliding up to his shoulder and push the shawl off of him, Yoongi lets him. When his hands fumble with the omega's hanbok's strings, Jimin lets him. They kiss, never letting go of each other while they discard their clothes.
CW - 🔞 [there won't be detailed description of it all but still, mature content]
Jimin feels the alpha push him down on the bed. He crawls up on his back, leaning up on his elbows. The alpha crawls on top of him. Their kisses are still so tender, it makes Jimin feel floaty. These kisses do not feel like someone is stealing his breath. It feels different.
Yoongi's kisses fill him up. To the brim. With so many emotions. Yoongi kisses as if he seals the wound in Jimin with his lips. The gaping wound in him sizzles with Yoongi's kisses. His hands roam over Jimin's body and it feels like Jimin is back in that bathtub, getting cleaned.
Those eyes watch him and Jimin feels... He feels pretty. Every time those eyes travel across his figure, Jimin feels that word. He is pretty. Yoongi's touches are tender, his kisses are more so. He asks Jimin how he feels and Jimin nods, matches those eyes. “Pretty.”
The alpha freezes for a second and then nods, earnest. “The prettiest,” Yoongi etches those words against Jimin's skin, kissing down his spine and up his front, “the prettiest of them all.” Jimin's lungs fill with air. He feels like he is finally breathing. Breathing easy.
The alpha prepares him while Jimin kisses down the alpha's shoulder, hears those pretty words Yoongi feeds him. He soaks those words up, breathes out whimpers and moans when the alpha finally penetrates him. Their foreheads joined together, breathing heavy between them.
Yoongi does not stop calling him pretty. He never stops reminding Jimin that he is worth everything and so much more. With each thrust, he reminds Jimin he is a treasure. Jimin makes sure to hold those eyes and seek the truth in them. Yoongi lets him. He lets the omega search.
Jimin cries when he finds nothing but honesty in those eyes. Yoongi kisses those teardrops, each one of them. He kisses Jimin's eyes, whispers over Jimin's lips how precious he is. Jimin holds the alpha desperately to himself when Yoongi knots him, not ready to let go yet.
The words are there. Right on the tip of Jimin's tongue. “You help me breathe,” Jimin whispers, not sure if the alpha will get it but he says anyway. The alpha stills for a second, still on top of Jimin, resting against him while his knot holds them in place. Yoongi kisses him.
End of 🔞
The alpha slowly detangles them, rolls over when his knot goes down. He wipes them both and throws the cloth away before he tugs the quilt over Jimin's frame. Jimin curls up in himself and Yoongi lies on his back, eyes up at the ceiling of the tent. Both of them breathing heavy.
The omega's eyes trail over the alpha and stops dead on the engagement ring on Yoongi's finger. Jimin goes rigid. Eyes stuck on that gold ring. Right. Seokjin. Yoongi is engaged. He is to marry Seokjin. He just cheated on Seokjin with Jimin. Jimin helped him cheat.
The omega scuffles, tries to move away and almost drops from the bed in his haste. Yoongi frowns, sits up and reaches for him. “Are you okay?” Yoongi sounds alert, “what happened?” Jimin shakes his head, he feels like vomiting, “this was a mistake. Oh, lord, this is not it!”
The alpha stops, “what?” Jimin glares, wraps the shawl around himself and steps away from the bed, “this. Whatever happened right now! This was a mistake! This should not have happened! You,” his face contorts, “you are disgusting! You are a liar! You always wanted this. No?!”
“You just wanted to bed me,” Jimin trembles, his heart tearing in him, piercing pain shoots through his chest, “you always saw me as an easy omega who would let you do whatever you want and like a fool, I fell for it! I fell for those pretty words! You are just like Yoong!”
“What did you say?” Yoongi asks, voice dangerously low, “what did you just call me?” Jimin laughs at the alpha's audacity to even look angry, “exactly what you heard! You are just like your brother! You just wanted to bed m-” Yoongi shrugs on the long robe, gets out of the bed.
“Oh, trust me, omega,” Yoongi seethes right on Jimin's face, “on a click of my fingers, I can get omegas lining up in front of my tent. I do not need to play games to bed someone. No matter how important they are to me, I do not need to play such mind games for sex!”
“Do not think so high of yourself!” Yoongi growls on Jimin's face, “Min Yoongi does not need to play games to get you in bed. You are not that important!” “That is it, no?” Jimin wraps the shawl tightly around himself, “I am not important. Easily fucked and set aside. Done.”
“You repulse me!” Jimin whispers, eyes finding that ring on Yoongi's finger, “I regret it. I cannot believe I let you touch me! I cannot believe I let my guards down like a fool for you! You are just like him! You are worse, actually!” Yoongi laughs, “is that so? I am worse?!”
“Yes,” Jimin wipes his eyes furiously, “you,” he steps up to the alpha, “you mend me, just to break me into pieces all over again!” “What the hell did I do?!” Yoongi throws his hands up, “what?! You did not like your first time?! What went wrong?! Are you okay?!”
Jimin hates how oblivious the alpha plays it. He hates how the truth is right there and Yoongi is pretending so well. He hates the thought that maybe the alpha thinks it is okay to have affairs. It is okay to enjoy other omegas' companies while having a betrothed. It is terrible.
“Your brother ruined my first kiss,” Jimin shudders, his entire body hurts, burns, “you,” he steps back, “you destroyed my first time. Thank you for that.” He rushes out of the tent and runs blindly to Taehyung's. He slams against Hoseok and Namjoon who stop to watch him go.
.•° ✿ °•.
The humiliation and the guilt sit heavy on his shoulder the next day when he sees Seokjin. The prince is talking to Yoongi and they both look at each other with a small smile. Seokjin rubs Yoongi's back, whispering something near his ear. Jimin burns with shame, hugging himself.
“Are you okay?” Taehyung asks, fresh after his sleep and ready for the journey ahead, “you look pale, and,” he frowns, “you are using scent blockers.” Jimin nods, he smells of the alpha. Pretty strongly. He thinks to himself that he would have to ask his maid to get more of it.
“I am fine,” Jimin shrugs, hates the thought that the alpha scented him so thoroughly, hates how it makes his eyes burn, “can I take get in the carriage? I need to sleep. I am not feeling well.” Taehyung nods, “of course, go ahead.” Jimin walks past Taehyung and gets inside.
The nausea starts by the evening. As soon as they reach the Jeon palace, and he is shown to his room, Jimin greets them and goes to lie down on his bed. The headache makes him wince, he feels something twist in him, gut clenching. The feeling grows as time passes by.
By the time morning rolls in, Jimin is withering on the bed. Nausea clouding him. He curls in on himself, trying to ease out the twists his insides go through. His maid, Aera, rubs his back. Holds scented clothes near his nose to make him feel better. Jimin does not feel good.
The maid asks when Jimin rejects the invitation of the ball. “My lord, do not think I am invading,” Aera rubs his back, worried eyes fixed on Jimin, “but, that night,” she hesitates, “you left the tent to go to the king's.” Jimin freezes, his eyes wide, “Aera, please-”
Aera smiles, shakes her head, “I would never spread that, my lord. That is not why I am asking. I am just,” she sighs, “the king is a pure blood. I need to know if something happened. If something happened,” she sounds worried, “he is a pure blood. The effect starts pretty soon.”
Jimin watches the maid with horrified eyes, “that,” he sits up, “he has concubines. He is barely naive to this! How come it is just me-” Aera blushes, “I am no one to discuss this, my lord, but that is why I am asking. Did he knot you?” Jimin wants the ground to swallow him.
Aera gets up from the bed when Jimin nods once. She looks worried, sad, mostly worried. “I will bring in our doctor,” she shakes her head, hurries to wipe Jimin's eyes when they tear up, “my prince! Nothing will happen to you. Let the doctor see you first. Do not worry.”
Jimin snorts, hugging himself, “judging by my luck, it must be what you think it is. I was born to bring shame to my family and on myself,” he hides his face against his knees, tears soaking up the quilt, “oh, lord, I will be thrown out of the palace now. I cannot believe this.”
Jimin cries into his hands. Aera sits down, pulling Jimin in a tight hug. She blinks back her own tears, trying to put herself in Jimin's position and think, and the situation scares her to her core. The king is betrothed. She puts on a smile nonetheless, “let's not cry now.”
“What if it is not what we think it is?” She cups Jimin's face, tries to smile at him, “maybe it is just nausea from the journey? Let's see. Yes?” Jimin nods lifelessly. He knows how unlucky he is. He knows what is coming. --- The doctor looks at him, sombre eyes fixed on him.
“Your scent changed,” the doctor hums, “you vomited. Your irises are golden. You are feeling the gut-wrenching pain. You are,” she nods, “you are with pup. Whoever the alpha father is, has to be a pure-blood. The scent is too pungent on you when the scent-blocker wears off.”
TW// talk of abortion
Jimin's eyes flutter closed, “I see,” he blinks back at the doctor, “is there a way we can,” he cannot voice it, he grasps the bedsheet and stares at the doctor. Hopes she understands. The doctor is old, experienced. She saw Jimin has no mating mark on him. She nods. “Yes.”
“If you want, there are herbs,” she looks at the omega with sympathy, “you have to take it every day morning. On empty stomach. Do it for a month and it will work.” Aera grips her hanbok, worried eyes on the prince, “but,” she hesitates, “he should know first.”
Jimin glares at her, “it is my body! I do not,” he touches his stomach and flinches before pulling his hand away, “I do not wish to. I do not want to.” Aera looks at the doctor and back at the prince, “he should know, my lord! He should know.” “He will agree,” Jimin whispers.
Aera shakes her head, “I am your maid, my lord. You teach my daughter, you did so much for her. I will always love and respect you but,” her face crumbles, “he is the one my loyalty lies with. He asked me to let him know everything about you. I cannot hide this from him.”
The doctor watches Jimin, her eyes wide. She has witnessed too many scandals to feel anything anymore. But, if this is true, then they are handling something very sensitive. She gets up from the bed, bows. “I will not let you have the herb until he knows,” she shakes her head.
Aera nods, “it is the king's firstborn,” she urges, “he needs to know.” Jimin laughs, glares at the two of them, “it is his bastard child, probably one of many. I do not see what you are trying to say! I am not mated to him! It is not the heir you think it will be!”
Aera steps back, turns on her heels. She rushes out of the door and the doctor waits. Aera comes back a few moments later. She stands by the door, breathing hard. “I told general Jung to get the king. He will be here any moment now,” she nods at the doctor, “you stay too.”
🌸
The king sits on the settee, his eyes on the doctor, “are you sure?” The doctor nods, “yes, my highness. I can swear my life on it. I am too experienced to not see the symptoms right.” Yoongi looks at her with furrowed brows, “nowadays, I am not trusting these pregnancy tests.”
The doctor smiles, nods, “I heard the rumour surrounding the other prince. Words spread, my lord. That is why I would say, believe me. I am not lying. He is pregnant, and the symptoms are right there.” Yoongi nods, waves his hand, “both of you, leave the room now.”
When Aera closes the door behind herself, Yoongi looks at Jimin's direction. He focuses his eyes on the bedpost, not directly on Jimin. “My work is done here,” Yoongi murmurs, “it is you who will go through everything from here on. So, whatever you decide, I will go along with.”
“If you want to pup, I can provide for it,” the alpha nods, “they will be my firstborn and treated as just that. They will be the crowned royal. I will make sure you are well off too. As the omega father of the child, you will be well respected-” “I want to abort it.”
“I am sorry?” Yoongi asks, finally his eyes moving onto focus on Jimin, “what did you say?” Jimin looks at him, matching his eyes, “I want to abort the pup. I want none of what you offered.” For a second, everything is quiet. Then Yoongi nods. “Fine,” he gets up, “okay, then.”
“The firstborn will not be respected because they would not come from a mated pair,” Jimin reasons, tells himself more than he tells the king, “they will have to hear so much from everyone. No one would give them the respect they deserve because of their birth.”
Jimin looks at Yoongi, “you are betrothed to Seokjin hyung,” his voice clogs in his throat, “he is to be your mate. I cannot take this away from him.” Yoongi goes to say something but stops himself. Seokjin made him promise Yoongi would not tell anyone. Not yet. He cannot.
He cannot ruin Seokjin's life like that. The omega went through so much already. He cannot betray Seokjin like that. Yoongi stays quiet. He watches Jimin sit on the bed, looking so defeated and lost. He watches the omega struggle to not cry in front of him and it... hurts.
“If you want,” Yoongi grips his hands behind his back, straightens himself, “if you want, I can arrange for your wedding.” Jimin stops, head snapping up to see the alpha with wide eyes. Yoongi nods, “with one of my loyal generals. No one would point a finger at you.”
“I know I am disposable,” Jimin chuckles, “but, why would you wish me on your loyal general?” Yoongi looks at the omega, “you will be safe. The pup will have a life. A better life.” Jimin watches him, “right,” he looks away, “who would even want me? With a pup? Who would?”
Yoongi thinks, his eyes move from the omega to the locked door. He hesitates before looking back at Jimin. “Hoseok would,” he mumbles, “he would do it.” “You would make your best friend go through this?” Jimin wonders, “why?” Yoongi stares, “it is a good offer for him.”
Yoongi nods, “your father is coming to the wedding. He said he has something to discuss, and I think I got a clue what he has in his mind. If he offers, we can put the idea in his mind. It will be a win for all of us,” he looks at Jimin, “if you want, that is.”
Jimin watches the alpha, “he would agree...?” Yoongi nods, “I trust him with my life. He will.” “What will he get?” Jimin wonders, “what will he get out of all this?” “You,” Yoongi breathes out, the ache intensifies in his chest, “he will have you.” Jimin laughs, “upsetting.”
Yoongi shakes his head, “no, it is not. It is the only plan we all come out well in.” Jimin looks at the king, “how?” “You will be settled,” Yoongi murmurs, “you will have a family. He is a good person,” his throat bobs, “he will be a good alpha to you. He will keep you safe.”
“I can write down my kingdom on his name, half of it,” Yoongi whispers, “as a wedding gift. The pup will have a family. A loving family,” he snorts, “trust me, Hoba will be a way better father than I can even think of. He will keep you two safe. Well protected.”
“But first, let me ask him,” Yoongi looks at Jimin, “I do not want to give you false hope.” Jimin giggles, shaking his head, “oh, trust me, I got no hope here. But, sure, ask if he can take up this burden for some power and promises. Let's see what he says.”
🌸
Hoseok blinks, “congratulations,” he murmurs after hearing the whole plan and the news, “first. I should say that, right?” Yoongi gives him a long stare. Jimin does not look at him. Hoseok nods, “right,” he coughs, “okay, that was out of the line. Now, about the plan...”
“Are you okay with this?” he asks Jimin, “I would not want this if you are not okay.” Jimin blinks down at his hands, “if the baby lives with dignity,” he shrugs. Hoseok nods, “they will. Surely. I assure you of that. But,” he looks at Yoongi, “I do not need your kingdom.”
“I would do this because,” Hoseok looks at Jimin with a tender expression, “he has suffered enough. If I can lessen the burden, even a little, I would do it.” Yoongi looks at his friend, “are you sure?” Hoseok nods, “of course. I got blessed out of nowhere. Trust me.”
“To have a pretty omega like him,” Hoseok chuckles, “the baby will be mine too,” he assures Jimin, “I got a family out of nowhere. For an orphan like me, this is a blessing in disguise. I always wanted a family.” Yoongi watches Jimin watch Hoseok with tears in his eyes.
Yoongi feels like he is intruding. He gets up, nods, and pats Hoseok's back. “You two should talk then,” he takes a step back, “I would plan it all and let you know what to do when the king comes over. We have to make him say it. As if we did not already plan this.”
Yoongi leaves. He gets out of there and walks back to his room. When midnight crawls up and Hoseok comes to bid him good night, Yoongi sits him down and asks if Hoseok is really okay with this or not. Hoseok smiles at him, “I am,” he hums, “it is not like I was still hoping.”
Hoseok looks down at his hands, “Jin would never see me, you know? He never saw me when Yoong left. He never saw me when you two got engaged. He never saw me when he fell in love with Namjoon. How long shall I run after an illusion? I think this is for the best. You know?”
“I will already have a pup to raise,” Hoseok chuckles, “a family. I would forget him gradually. You, out of everyone else, know how I feel.” Yoongi looks down at Hoseok's hands in his, “I thought so too. This way, you can move on and Jimin can find a home. Win both ways.”
“What about you?” Hoseok asks, eyes melancholic, “you are so driven to give us all a happy ending. What about you? You tear yourself piece by piece to fill into our puzzles. What happens to you? When Jin leaves, when I marry Jimin. When Tae goes to Kook. What happens to you?”
Yoongi chuckles, “I am too gone to love again. I am too ruined to raise a pup. I am too destroyed by my past to think about a future. I will just get by. If you all are happy around me, I will just get by. I cannot handle more than that. I do not need more than that.”
“You do want, you just know how to hide it well,” Hoseok murmurs, “you want Jimin. Otherwise, you are not like other alphas. You would not bed him otherwise. You love the pup. You knew he would abort it if it is just on him, so you found me as an option to keep the pup alive.”
“Jimin is carrying your pup, hyung!” Hoseok squeezes Yoongi's hands in his, “just think what you can have. Just see it. I know I will do my best to give them both a home, but you should-” “What?” Yoongi and Hoseok freeze. Their eyes move to find Taehyung by the door.
The omega's large eyes move from Hoseok to Yoongi. “What did you say?” Taehyung charges forward, “what pup?! Whose pup?!” Yoongi curses, “one day of peace is all I ask!” he gets up to hold Taehyung, “quiet! Do not shout!” Hoseok curses too, “the guards should announce you!”
Taehyung glares at Yoongi, “what do you mean he is carrying your pup, and you want to take no responsibility of it?!” Yoongi curses, “hey, I said I would take responsibility of it, but your brother did not want it!” “Did you offer to marry him?!” Taehyung demands.
Yoongi blinks, “I have a fiancé!” “Did not stop you from knotting him!” Taehyung thunders, “oh, my God, you both brothers are such idiots!” he glares at the alpha, “all you had to do was offer to marry him! Not find alternatives!” Hoseok hums, “he makes sense to me.”
Yoongi waves Hoseok off, “take one side or stay quiet!” he looks at Taehyung, “I cannot offer to marry him when I am already-” “We both know where Seokjin hyung's heart lies. I figured it out, you are no fool. I am sure you know who he loves!” Taehyung glares, “right?!”
“Listen, hyung,” Taehyung points a finger at Yoongi, “I love you, I love Seokjin hyung, I love Namjoon and I love Hoseok hyung too. But,” he steps up to Yoongi, “Jimin hyung is my brother, I will raise hell for him. If he wants to marry you, and you want an out, count your days!”
“I sacrificed myself to keep him happy,” Taehyung speaks, “I am angry at him, but that does not mean I do not love him. He is my brother, my first priority. If you hurt him, you will answer me. Let me talk to him and if I sense he wanted you to marry him, you better plan it!”
The prince storms out of the room and they both stare after him. “Phoenix,” Hoseok hums, “you named him right!” Yoongi glares at his friend, “not the time! Follow him! For heaven's sake, we do not need the entire palace knowing about this!” Hoseok leaves after Taehyung.
.•° ✿ °•.
“I did not think Jimin will ever find a family,” Kim Jeong, Jimin and Taehyung's father, speaks while they have dinner that night, “I am utterly grateful to you,” he smiles at Yoongi, “for whatever you did.” Yoongi reads the contract he is handed over by the king carefully.
“We will let your farmers open shops in our kingdom to sell their rice and wheats,” Yoongi hums, “also, the supply routes will be open for you to use when you want. In return, you will write down half of your kingdom on Hoseok's name. Right?” Jeong nods, “absolutely.”
Yoongi places the contract on the table and hums, “I am fine with these. You, on the other hand, have to sign my contract. Namjoon.” Namjoon hands over Yoongi's offers, written eloquently, to Jeong. Jeong reads it, “I have to arrange for the wedding and accept my son?”
Yoongi nods, “yes. You cannot disown him. He will be married off as a prince should be. With celebrations and his entire family's presence,” he chews his food, “we will go with the groom to the wedding. Just as a prince deserves. Am I clear?” Jeong hums, “of course. When?”
“As soon as it is possible,” Yoongi looks at Hoseok, “by the end of this week if I can speak for them.” Hoseok nods in agreement, “yes, of course. I do not see why we should delay this.” Taehyung looks at Jimin, “what do you think? Do you not want to have a say in this?”
Jimin blinks down at his food, untouched, “I am fine with whatever they said.” Taehyung's face contorts. He helplessly looks at Jimin and back at Yoongi. Yoongi looks at Jeong with a nod. “I think it is settled, then,” he points at the papers, “will sign this at the wedding.”
Seokjin looks at Hoseok, “I cannot believe you are getting married,” he smiles, wide, “our Hobi is getting married!” Hoseok smiles at the omega, shrugs, “it is about time.” Seokjin nods, “it is about time. Yes. You deserve to be happy, Hobi. I am so happy for you.”
Yoongi looks at Hoseok and back at Seokjin before he sighs. He gets up from the dining table and gives the king a nod. “Hoseok will go to marry Jimin to your kingdom. I will arrange for the march and everything. I expect you to prepare for this wedding just as perfectly. Yes?”
Jeong nods, “of course, my lord. Everything will be prepared. I will take Jimin with me for now and-” “I do not wish to go back there,” Jimin grips the edge of the table, eyes stuck on his untouched food, “I do not wish to set a foot in that kingdom ever again. I refuse.”
“I do not need to be acknowledged as the prince of that kingdom,” Jimin speaks clearly, his head ducked, “I do not wish to be connected to that kingdom. I will let you decide the trade and everything, but I will not set a foot back there. That will not happen. Never again.”
“I do not need to be called that kingdom's prince,” Jimin finally looks up to stare at Yoongi, “I do not want my dignity to be restored like that. I do not want to be known as that kingdom's prince. I fled because I was sick and tired of being that. I will not go back there.”
“He can get married from here,” Jungkook speaks up, ignores how Taehyung looks at him, “your men can come here for the wedding. I will prepare for it. But, before that, can I talk to you?” Yoongi blinks, “to me?” Jungkook nods, “to you. Yes. I want to talk to you.”
Yoongi crosses his arms over his chest, “talk. I am right here.” Jungkook chuckles, “oh, trust me, I will talk here, but you might not like it.” The two kings glare at each other. Taehyung rolls his eyes, “just go somewhere else and talk. We are in the middle of a dinner!”
Yoongi storms out and hears Jungkook follow him. Yoongi steps out of the palace, walking up to the garden. Jungkook comes to walk beside him, both of them slowing down. “Jimin is carrying your pup,” Jungkook starts, eyes ahead at the maze in his garden. Yoongi curses, loudly.
“How many more people know before the entire world does?!” he glares ahead, “stop spreading it!” Jungkook snorts, “well, rumours fly. Anyway, that is not why I am here. I do not care who Jimin marries or in which way you destroy your own life. You deserve it, in my opinion.”
“I am here to talk about the pup,” Jungkook stops in the middle of the maze, “do not abandon them like you abandoned me.” Yoongi freezes. He looks over his shoulder at Jungkook, and the alpha is looking right back at him. Jungkook steps up to him, “do not leave them like that.”
“You always think you are doing it for a reason and they are better off without you but it is not the truth,” Jungkook wraps his arms around himself, “you just leave them among people who are not theirs. I know Jimin is there and I know Hobi hyung will love them but as you? No.”
“One day Jimin and Hobi hyung will have more pups,” Jungkook nods when Yoongi looks away, “yes, they will. They will be a family. Someday your pup will come to know about this, truth always comes out, hyung. That day they will feel alone. Betrayed. Detached from everyone.”
“The pup will feel abandoned, unworthy,” Jungkook looks down at his feet, “no matter how much they might be loved, how much capable they become, there will be a part that will always remind them that they were not worth enough for you to stay. That part is terrifying.”
“They will always seek the answer that why they were not enough. They will always look at Jimin and Hobi hyung's family and think they do not belong. Or, at least, wonder how it would be if you stayed. Why would you wish that on your own pup? I do not understand.”
“What can I give them?” Yoongi snorts, “a family? Seokjin is betrothed to me.” “He loves Namjoon,” Jungkook nods, “Taehyung told me.” Yoongi combs his hair back, “loving someone is not enough, Jungkook. If it was, I would not have left you.” The silence engulfs them.
“Seokjin's father is one of the strongest kings in this world,” Yoongi frowns ahead, “even Seokjin knows that he will never be able to go against his father no matter how much he dreams of it. We will have to get married. Namjoon will just be his lover. Behind the doors.”
“By the treaty, I cannot take another omega officially,” Yoongi speaks, starting to walk again, “if anything, the treaty clearly states that Seokjin's pup will inherit the kingdom as the crowned prince. If he gets to know about this, the pup will not live or there will be a war.”
“We can go on war,” Jungkook comes to stand in front of Yoongi, “since when you are afraid of wars?” Yoongi gives him a gentle smile, “since when you got married. Now I need to think of Taehyung and your family too. The one you will have in the future. I cannot destroy that.”
“Now, if something happens to you, I will have to face Taehyung and I would rather die than put him through this. Why cannot you see, this is the best solution!” “Do you love Jimin?” Jungkook asks, watches the alpha freeze. Yoongi shakes his head, “no. I sympathize with him.”
“The pup will never know,” Yoongi assures Jungkook, “they will have a loving family. Jimin will have an alpha like Hoseok. A blessing, to be honest. So many lives will be saved because we will not have a war in hand. Everything falls right in its place. I do not see any problem.”
“As a king, I need to think of everyone before me,” Yoongi pats Jungkook's back, “I cannot declare a war for my personal vendetta and throw my people in that crisis. I cannot do that. Also, it is not like I will not see them. I will be here. I will be with them in some way. No?”
Jungkook shrugs, “I would rather go on a war than abandon my own pups. I do not care how many lives I sacrifice, I will not let my pups call anyone else their father or let them live in a lie like that! Also, you need to stop thinking you do not deserve anything. Stop that!”
“Better father than you?” Jungkook laughs, disbelieving, “you were a father to me than my own damn father! You raised me on your back and loved me so much at that age. You were so responsible, so caring, so,” his voice wavers, “loving. No one can be better than you in this.”
“Do you think I would still miss you if you were not worth it?” Jungkook hisses. They stand in the middle of the maze. The moonlight beaming on them. Jungkook's eyes glisten, Yoongi's are no better. “I think I will be fine because I know what losing a pup feels like already.”
Jungkook holds back a sob, glares at the alpha in front of him, “that is where you fuck up. You do not try. You give up because you think you deserve nothing more than that. Hurting. You think you deserve hurting. You think of yourself as an unworthy person. You always do!”
“You never try hard enough,” Jungkook wipes his eye furiously, “you take the first escape route! You do not want to see how others hurt because of you! That night you left me, and tonight you are leaving your unborn baby. Both because you could not stand up for them.”
“You were a teenager when it happened to me, I can still forgive you for that,” Jungkook points a finger at Yoongi, “but, now? What excuse do you have? If your pup one day stands in front of you, just like me, and asks why you abandoned them, what would you say?!”
“You are one of the most powerful kings in this world. You had my backup. Full support if a war happens, and you still let them go. For what?!” Jungkook thunders, “for what reason are you doing this?! Show me one reason other than the fact that your past fucked you up?!”
“Know this, I will go to Seokjin hyung next,” Jungkook hisses, “I will tell him everything, and then we will see how far you can run with this excuse. You do not know me. I will not let your pup suffer because you were a coward! You are being like your own father now!”
“He did not have the guts to take mother away from my father!” Jungkook cannot help the tears that roll out of his eyes, “but, he had the guts to get her pregnant! Leave her with you, just as you are leaving Jimin now! I will not let this happen. Not all over again!”
“You will not ruin so many lives all over again!” Jungkook pushes past Yoongi, “I will talk to Seokjin hyung. I will talk to Jimin and I will sort this out! You have done enough damage! I will not let you do further! You let me live my life in a lie this long. Your pup won't!”
“Jimin does not need to be married off,” Jungkook shakes his head, “if he does not wish to, he does not have to. He will live here and I will make sure no mouth opens against him or the pup. They will stay here, and your pup will be brought up under my care as your pup.”
“I know how you fucked me up, and I refuse to see another person suffer because of you. If you do not agree to this, then there will be a war, and it will be between you and me,” Jungkook stops to breathe, “so, choose, hyung. You have tonight to think this through.”
Yoongi curses, “why cannot you calm the fuck down and see this diplomatically. The pup-” “Your pup!” Jungkook screams, “say it! Acknowledge it! At least, acknowledge it is your pup! Say it once! You keep referring to it as if it is a burden! It is your pup! Your firstborn!”
“Be the mad king people know you as!” Jungkook shoves Yoongi on his chest, “be the curse every kingdom calls you as! Be the death bearer you are to the neighbour kingdoms. Protect your people, you say? This is your pup! Protect them! Do not abandon them! Do not do this!”
“I will not let you!” Jungkook steps back, “I will talk to Jimin and trust me, if he says he does not want this marriage, then it is over. You will have to bear the consequences. I will raise the pup as yours and everyone will know you left. Like a coward. Let's see now!”
Yoongi watches Jungkook leave. He stands in the darkness, trying to even out his breathing. He cannot think of anything for a few moments. Then Yoongi turns on his heels to get inside the palace too. “Where did the king go?” he asks a guard. The guard bows, “to prince Jimin.”
Yoongi follows the words. He takes the stairs and marches inside Jimin's room to see Jungkook and Taehyung there. Taehyung sits beside Jimin and Jungkook is standing beside the bed. Jimin sees him first, going rigid. Yoongi closes the door behind himself. “Jungkook-”
Jungkook does not spare him a glance, “do not fear him or do not think of him,” he begs Jimin, “just tell me,” Jungkook sits on the bed, takes Jimin's hand in his, “that night in his palace, you came to talk to me. You assured me and said we can be friends. So, tell your friend.”
“If I can assure your safety and the kid's upbringing,” Jungkook looks at Jimin with a tender, hopeful smile, “make sure no one dares to point a finger at them, would you still marry Hoseok hyung?” Jimin looks at Taehyung, who nods eagerly at him and back at Jungkook.
“Yes tell him,” Yoongi steps up to the bed too, “tell him if you would have a family or a be single father whose pup will be known as mine but never accepted by me? Tell him if it is worth it than finding an actual home. A new start. Tell him.” Jungkook glares at him, “stop it!”
Yoongi looks at Jimin instead, “tell him what would you choose. The pup probably never finding out it is mine and live peacefully or a pup who would know they are mine but was not enough to be accepted by me. Tell him what you would decide for your pup. Of course, tell him.”
“Tell him what is better,” Yoongi comes to stand right by Jimin's side, “a family of your own or a life in this palace where you will just be you and your pup. A single father without a mating bond. No matter how many mouths he closes for you, there will be too much backlash.”
Jimin looks at Jungkook, “I do not wish to marry Hobi hyung,” he speaks slowly, “I do not wish this on him. He is an angel. Doing this to save me. I do not wish this upon him. I also do not wish to stay here, let the pup live in this struggle. I think... I cannot kill it either.”
“I have a solution of my own, if you can help?” Jimin begs. Jungkook nods, “of course! Anything. Tell me.” Jimin grasps Jungkook's hand, “send me somewhere far from here. Where no one knows me. I can raise my kid and be alone. I can live peacefully. I do not need much.”
“Anywhere,” Jimin begs, “I am sick and tired of being a royal. I can live on my own. I can take care of the pup. I-” “You will have my protection,” Jungkook murmurs, “if that is what you want, I will let you.” Taehyung looks at Yoongi, his eyes filling with tears and hurt.
Taehyung's eyes fill with tears gradually, and then he is crying. Jungkook nods, “you can stay at one of my palaces. No one would invade. No one would know-” “No palace,” Jimin shakes his head, “get me a hut. Get me out of this royalty. I am done with all this. Seriously.”
“I am going with you if you are leaving,” Taehyung glares at Jungkook and Yoongi, “these two and their solutions can stay here! I cannot imagine your justice will be just as faulty, hyung,” he glares at Yoongi, “how can you not stand up for yourself?! I cannot believe this!”
“I hope you have a peaceful life ahead of yourself, both of you,” Taehyung squirms closer to Jimin, “but, I am not leaving my hyung in this mess! He-” “You are not going anywhere,” Jimin glares at Taehyung, “you will not ruin your life for me anymore! Do you get it?”
“What life?” Taehyung gives a disbelieving laugh, “what? You think my life is sorted here? You think he loves me?” he points at Jungkook, “you think he ever will? That is not what is happening here! Whatever he feels for me is purely physical. Was it not clear?”
Yoongi rubs his temple, “here we go again.” Jungkook blinks, “love? Do you love me? No! Why would I- do you love me?” Taehyung glares, “why would I? You do not deserve it!” Jimin blinks and looks up at Yoongi, begging with his eyes. “Both of you, be quiet!” Yoongi hisses.
Jimin nods, “whatever it is, you two can solve by talking-” “There is nothing to talk about!” Taehyung shakes his head, “he was all over me and now that I know how these brothers change colour afterwards, I will not let him anywhere near me!” Jungkook glares at Yoongi, “see!”
“I had no investment in this, and I am getting blamed!” Jungkook swats at Yoongi's stomach, “you are dragging me with you when I got nothing to do in this!” Yoongi blinks, “I-” he stares at the two and back at Jimin, “okay, you two, get out! I cannot handle you two right now!”
“But-” Taehyung stops when Yoongi holds up a hand. “No,” Yoongi shakes his head, “I need to talk to your brother and you two pups need to get out of here.” Jungkook and Taehyung sputter, protesting and saying how they are not kids. Jimin sighs, “you two are acting like that.”
Taehyung nods, “fine! As you want!” He crawls off the bed and storms out of the room, followed by Jungkook. Yoongi watches them go and goes to close the door. He leans against it, turns to face the omega, who is already watching him from the bed. “Why are you doing this?”
“Doing what?” Jimin frowns. Yoongi lets out a deep breath, “this. Refusing to see the reasoning-” “If I start to see the reasoning, I should start from the very start, no?” Jimin's jaw hardens, “you should not have bedded me when you knew you were engaged! You knew it!”
“You still went along with it,” Jimin looks down at his lap, “you could have not knotted me. You should not have. You knew about the consequences, right? Now you do not want to take responsibility-” “You said I am like Yoong!” Yoongi pushes off of the door, “you left!”
“Also, it is not like you did not know I was engaged,” Yoongi walks, “I did not hide it! We both knew! We were not thinking! Both of us! Do not make it sound like I manipulated you to sleep with me!” Jimin looks at the king, “I am not making anything. I just want to leave.”
“Where will you go?!” Yoongi gives a short laugh, “people everywhere think the same! The moment they see you are unmated, they will talk! You were fine with this idea, what happened all of a sudden?!” Jimin looks away, “I cannot do this to hobi hyung. I cannot impose like that.”
Yoongi curses, “you are not imposing! You are not a burden-” “If I am not a burden, then why are you treating me like one?” Jimin looks at the king, “why?” The room goes quiet. “If,” Jimin's throat bobs, his hands cover his flat stomach, “our pup is not a burden then... why?”
There it is. The acknowledgement Yoongi was running from. Yoongi fights the urge to look down at Jimin's stomach that the omega covers so protectively with his arms. He fights the urge to repeat those two words in his head. 'Our pup.' Right here, Yoongi watches, is his family.
“𝑂𝑛𝑒 𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝘩𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑎 𝑓𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑜𝑤𝑛, 𝑎 𝘩𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑦 𝑓𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑦. 𝑀𝑦 𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑝𝑟𝑎𝑦𝑒𝑟. 𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝘩𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑦, 𝑌𝑜𝑜𝑛𝑖𝑒.” Yoongi's voice dies in his throat. His mother's words ring in his head. His family.
“𝐻𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑚𝑒. 𝐼𝑓 𝘩𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤, 𝘩𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑚𝑒, 𝑌𝑜𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑖. 𝐻𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤. 𝐻𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤!” Seokjin's blabbers ring right after. His fearful eyes stare at him. Him, in that harem... Yoongi cannot do this.
His friend. A companion for years. A person who knows him and still loves him as their closest friend. Seokjin stayed through so much. He and Hoseok are Yoongi's family. He feels the pain shooting through him. “I should not have done that. You are right,” Yoongi murmurs.
He looks at Jimin, eyes fixed on Jimin's face, “and... would you be happy with a person like me?” Jimin watches him, “the pup will be safe.” Yoongi laughs, “no. They will not be safe. The moment Seokjin's father comes to know, they will not be safe-” “You will be there.”
The trust is unbearable. Suffocating. Terrifying. The omega does not even hesitate in saying Yoongi will be there. Yoongi snorts, “not a god, omega. I am not a god.” Jimin stays quiet. He does not back away from what he said. Yoongi rubs his hands down his face, frustrated.
“Is that going to be enough for you?” Yoongi asks again, “a loveless marriage of convenience? Just for the pup?” Jimin looks away, sighs, “it is not like I was in love with Hoseok hyung. With you,” he gulps, “the pup will be with the actual father.” Yoongi cannot argue with it.
“How can you trust me? I am a mess,” Yoongi tries again, “I am a mess-” “That night,” Jimin whispers, vulnerable eyes fixed on his hands, “when you stayed to put me back together… I,” his throat bobs, “I want my pup to be around a person like that. You will be a good father.”
“𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑎 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑓𝑎𝑡𝘩𝑒𝑟.” Yoongi's chest fills with thorns. They hurt, and they tear that blood pumping machine of a heart he has. Jimin finally gathers enough courage to look Yoongi in the eyes, “I trust you to be a good father. To our pup.”
“Say our pup one more time, I will burst into flames,” Yoongi bows to press his face against the mattress, groaning into it, “oh, lord. There will be mess. Oh, Jin will kill me. If not him, his father will kill me. Forget killing me, there will be a war. The pup will-”
Yoongi freezes when he feels Jimin's hand, carding through his hair and nails scraping against his scalp. “The pup's uncles will go on the war with you,” Jimin murmurs, “or, maybe, you can talk to Seokjin hyung, and he will actually find a better plan. Just ask him once?”
“But, do it if you think the pup is worth fighting for,” Jimin's voice goes thin, “otherwise,” he pulls his hand away, “you do not have to. I will take care of them. I will find a way.” Yoongi sits up, eyes on the omega, “I kept denying this because you said I am like Yoong.”
“I would not wish you to live even a minute with a person like Yoong. If you think of me like that, then I cannot tie you down to a marriage. You,” Yoongi curses, “you do not really think I am like him. Do you?” Jimin watches Yoongi, “that matters to you?” Yoongi nods, “yes.”
Jimin looks down at his hands, “I was angry. Hurt. I blamed you for sleeping with me when you were already engaged and-” “Seokjin loves Namjoon,” Yoongi stops Jimin, “we are nothing but two friends who agreed to marry each other to keep others at bay. That is all we are.”
Jimin blinks, “what?” Yoongi shrugs, “yes-” “And, you let me burn in this guilt for this long?!” Jimin shouts, “you let me drown in this self-doubt when you could have said it before?!” Yoongi blinks, “Well… technically, we are still engaged. So... your guilt is justified.”
“Oh, my god!” Jimin throws a pillow at Yoongi's face, “you could have still told me! You could have still made it clear to me! You,” he throws another pillow, “let me overthink. You let me cry over it. You let me think I was ruining his life when you do not even love each other!”
Yoongi dodges the last pillow, “okay! Okay! I am sorry! Is this the pregnancy pheromones?!” Jimin glares harder, “say another stupid sentence and watch me strangle you!” Yoongi snaps his mouth closed. Jimin points at the door, “go and talk to Seokjin hyung! Now!”
“Oh, he is going to kill me,” Yoongi whispers, “for one reason or another, I will not survive this.” “Good,” Jimin nods, crosses his arms over his chest, “I will have your entire kingdom to rule then. Go!” Yoongi stares at him, “come with me.” Jimin frowns, “why?”
“Well, we both did it,” Yoongi gets out of the bed, “it is not like you did not know I was engaged. If I have to hear his squeaks then you will suffer with me,” he holds his hand out, “also, you want to marry me. Get used to suffering with me, then.” Jimin stares, “really?”
They both jump when they hear the banging on the door. “Min Yoongi, open the damn door!” Seokjin screams, “open the door right now before I order your guards to break it!” Yoongi visibly pales, “oh, no. Oh, lord, do not tell me Jungkook told him!” Jimin gulps, “open the door!”
.•° ✿ °•.
Seokjin storms in when Yoongi opens the door. His eyes find Jimin on the bed first and then find Yoongi. “What were you thinking?” Seokjin asks, charges forward, “what were you thinking using me as a shield to run from your responsibilities like this?” Yoongi flinches.
“How could you say that because of me, you cannot do the right thing when we both promised each other to part ways if we find someone for ourselves?!” Seokjin jabs his finger on Yoongi's chest, “I told you I love someone else, and you knew that! Why are you still hesitant?!”
“You did not once come to me,” Seokjin points at Jimin, “you let him think he came between the two of us. You did not ask me how I feel about all this, but went ahead with what you thought is right! Why do you think I would agree with you in any situation?!”
“If I was, indeed, in love with you, you sleeping with someone would make me break the wedding too! In this case, we are not in love, and we were pretty clear since the start that if we find someone we love-” “That is not it,” Yoongi tries, “we are not,” he holds his hands up-
Seokjin waves Yoongi off, “I do not care! How dare you use me like this without even letting me know what is going on?!” Yoongi rubs his temple, “your father. You know how he is!” Seokjin snorts, “and? That is the only reason you were running from it, or it is your past?!”
Yoongi curses, “yes, fine! My past too! Love is a laughable notion to me and I do think he,” he points over his shoulder at Jimin, “deserve better. Also, Hoba would be a really great father-” “You cannot have the pleasure and leave the pain for him!” Seokjin glares at Yoongi.
“Huh?” Yoongi stares. Seokjin nods, “yes! You had your fun and now that the baby is coming, you are dropping it all on Hoseok and washing your hands off of it, that is not the Min Yoongi I know, and I will not be the reason you turn out to be like that! I want to play in it!”
Yoongi holds his hands up, “that is not the point! The point is, there are so many things to think about!” “They are more important than your pup?” Seokjin asks, smiles ruefully when Yoongi stops, “is that about how you swore you would never have a family? Is that it?”
“I think now that you have cleared your side, you should go,” Yoongi turns away, “I will talk to him and call for you all if I see fit.” Seokjin steps up to him, “give yourself a chance, remember what I said that day. Do not uproot the seed.” Yoongi waves him off, “heard you.”
Seokjin turns to Jimin, walks over to him and nods, “congratulations.” Jimin blinks. Yoongi looks over with a frown. “For,” Jimin hesitates, looks at Yoongi and back at Seokjin, “…what?” Seokjin gestures with his chin, “the baby. Congratulations on your baby.”
Jimin stills, looks over at Yoongi and the king is just as frozen. Seokjin sighs, looks at the both of them. “What? I know you two dodged around it for long, as I heard, but it is a good news and the baby deserves to be welcomed happily. So, congratulations.”
“Th-thank you,” Jimin ducks his head for a semi-bow and then looks at the prince, “also,” he hesitates, cheeks tinted pink, “I am sorry.” he gestures when Seokjin rises a brow, “even if you two were friends and knew, I should not have slept with him. I am sorry. It is not okay.”
Yoongi looks at Jimin and back at Seokjin. “Now, now,” Seokjin chuckles, “I broke it off with your king before any of this happened. He knew. He did not take the ring off because it was like a pretence. We were buying time,” Seokjin waves Jimin off, “it is fine. Trust me.”
He looks at Yoongi and back at Jimin, “I will give you two some privacy to talk this through. We need to discuss a lot of things. I know he is already thinking too much, but,” he takes a step back, “you two need to decide what you want. Then come and find us.” Seokjin leaves.
Yoongi sits on the bed, watches the guards close the door after the prince. He keeps his eyes on the floor, trying to think what to say next. “I do not hope for love.” Yoongi blinks, looks at the omega who is looking down at his hands, “what?” Jimin's throat bobs. He nods.
Jimin nods, “when you said to Eun, that you cannot love anymore,” Jimin shrugs, “I get it. I think, I cannot either. I think I might never be able to look at another alpha and think I am in love with them. Whatever drove me to you that night... it was surely not love. I think.”
“I have been in distress for so long,” Jimin frowns, “and, you are always getting me out of that. I somehow related my relief to you. That night, I was in distress and I sought you out. It was surely not love,” he chuckles, “I would like to think love takes more time to bloom.”
Jimin chuckles, “I am not going into this with any expectations for myself. Bare minimum that is,” he risks a glance at the alpha, “I will be respected, and my pup will be protected and loved. I do not want anything for myself anymore. I hope you know that. It is for the pup.”
Yoongi nods, “I get that. I meant the words I spoke there,” he looks away, turning his face away from the omega, “I do not think I am capable of that feeling anymore. If we are doing this, it is for the pup. If,” he gulps, “we do marry, it is only for this pup.”
Jimin chuckles, “if something happens to the pup, I will leave. I would not impose on you.” Yoongi's eyes flicker over to him, brows furrowed, “why? What would happen to the pup?” Jimin shrugs, hugging his stomach, “things do not look so easy to me, for now. No? It is a fear.”
TW — I am not sure yet, but I do not want to lead you all on. There might be miscarriage in the fic. I am not sure yet. I have not dwelled over both lanes of the story and which to take. But, I am still putting on the warning from here on.
Yoongi reaches to take Jimin's hand in his, “hey,” he holds it between his both hands, “even if I did not marry you, I will be damned before I let anything happen to the pup. Also,” he shakes his head, “you are not imposing. You never were. You need to stop thinking like that.”
“Unless you are pretending to be pregnant to rope me into marrying you,” Yoongi arches a playful brow, “then I will surely ship you off to somewhere.” Jimin's eyes widen, lips parting, “why...” he jerks his hand away from Yoongi, “why would anyone, ever do that?!”
“I am jesting,” Yoongi smiles, “I am jesting.” Jimin pulls away, lips jutting out in a small pout, “do not say that! I do not need to rope you in like that. What do you have that I would need so badly?” Yoongi hums, “true. You are right. I am sorry. I should not have said it.”
There is a knock. They both look over to see a maid walk in, bowing to the two of them. “Your medicine, my lord,” she smiles, “the doctor sent it. You have to take it every day from now on.” Jimin frowns, “where is Aera?” The maid hesitates, blushes, “she got her heat.”
Yoongi looks at the maid, “get the doctor first. I want to hear her say she sent this. Who are you?” The maid bows, “Mihee, my king, I am Aera's sister.” Yoongi nods, “get the doctor first and bring the card the maids get in my palace.” Mihee holds the card out, “here.”
Yoongi reads the card and nods, “bring the doctor. Also, bring the tester.” The maid goes away. Jimin blinks, “tester?” Yoongi nods, “from now on, you will be assigned a tester. His job is to test the food you have. The drink you have. Every medicine you have.”
Jimin blinks, “I cannot possibly put someone else's life at risk for myself!” Yoongi chuckles, “the testers at my palace are prisoners, omega,” he shrugs, “they were sentenced to death. Some are kept to serve this purpose. If there is poison, it will kill them. Do the job.”
“Or, they live. Dying every day with the fear of death,” Yoongi shrugs, “that, I think, is more painful. So, let them do their duty.” Jimin blinks, watches the king, “that is...” Yoongi smirks, “clever of me?” Jimin rolls his eyes, looking away. His cheeks tinted red.
The tester comes with two guards, kneels by the king's feet. Mihee brings in the doctor and she holds out the pot where she made the medicine. Yoongi takes the glass and pours it into the pot itself. “How much does the prince have to intake?” The doctor shows the amount.
Mihee holds out a spoonful for the prisoner, and Yoongi chuckles. “Make him drink the amount prince has to intake. Sometimes the poison works on the quantity,” he nods at the prisoner, “drink.” The prisoner does, and they all watch him for a few minutes. Nothing happens.
Yoongi looks at the doctor, “I do not trust you or the maids or anyone else here. So, every time you make the potion, bring in the entire pot. Make it double because the amount the prince takes, I will make the prisoner take too. Am I clear?” The doctor nods, “yes, my king.”
Yoongi hums, “also, from now on, you will live in the palace. A room will be allotted to you and whatever you do, my two guards will be with you. You are to send letters to your family, I will read those myself before you send them. See what you bring in. You are on my sight.”
Jimin lets out a breath, “I think this is enough.” Yoongi watches Jimin take the medicine and there is something that howls in him. Something like unease that fills him. He watches Jimin stir the liquid before putting it to his lips, and he grabs it. Jimin blinks, “what?”
Yoongi frowns at the glass, looks back at the doctor, “what is this medicine?” The doctor gives a small smile, “it is to keep the prince's health intact. It will give him energy and make the pup strong.” Yoongi watches the doctor, “he needs to take this for a month?”
Jimin sighs, “what is it?” Yoongi looks at the doctor, “your son, he is pregnant too, right?” The doctor's smile dims a little, “...yes?” Yoongi smiles at her, “bring him over. Let him stay with the prince. They can share the room.” The doctor hesitates, “why, my king?”
Yoongi shrugs, “I just want to see him take this too. From the same jug. There are some poisons that work on only pregnant people. On the pup. I need to know he is not at risk. Yes?” The doctor blinks, “my lord, this is insanity-” Yoongi laughs, “I am the mad king. I know.”
His smile vanishes just as quickly, “get him here. Make him drink this. Otherwise, I will drag him here and if I see you did something stupid, I will carve the baby out of him with my bare hands. Am I clear?” The doctor trembles, “ye-yes, my lord. I will get him right away.”
“You will not,” Yoongi claps his hands, “you will stand right here in front of my eyes and I will get someone else to do it.” “Wh-why?” Jimin squirms, “what...” Yoongi keeps the doctor fixed on her place, “oh, I do not know her son. She can bring in anyone. I cannot let her.”
Yoongi nods when Namjoon walks in, “Namjoon, find out who her son is and bring him here.” Namjoon bows, “yes, my king.” The doctor stands still, grip tight on the pot. Yoongi smiles, points at the settee, “sit down. You can rest yourself. Trust me. For now.”
Jimin squirms on his place, looking at the people in the room and at Yoongi. “All this for the baby?” he whispers, voice a little hoarse. Yoongi's eyes shift to him, he nods, “the pup, and,” he looks away, “you. As long as I am here, I will protect the both of you.”
“You agreed when I said, I want to get rid of it,” Jimin's throat tightens. Yoongi shrugs, “did my everything to offer another option. Made you keep it. No?” Jimin's heart swells in his chest, “I see.” Yoongi reaches to place his hand over Jimin's, “you are safe with me.”
“I know,” Jimin murmurs, hugging himself, “I know I am safe with you,” those eyelashes flutter when the omega looks up at him with a hint of a smile, “I trust you to keep us safe.” Yoongi's breath catches in his chest. He nods. He will keep them safe. No matter what.
🌸
The omega bows to Yoongi. His bump is visible. Just a little. He takes the drink his mother holds out for him and sips. After he is done, he looks at Yoongi with hopeful eyes. Yoongi's eyes are fixed on him, “how do you feel?” Jimin notices how softly the omega smiles, “good.”
Yoongi nods, “Namjoon, from tonight onwards, you will guard this room. Make sure whoever comes in, you check them. Help the omega settle here. Bring in a bed and whatever he needs to settle down. Your alpha-” “I do not have one,” the omega, Yushik, bows, “my king.”
Yoongi watches the omega, “you... do not have an alpha?” The omega agrees, “yes. I do not have one. He came here for the wedding celebration of the king and his first Luna. Then he left. He was a soldier. I do not have an alpha father.” Yoongi hums, “you kept the pup?”
Yushik nods, “I do not want to harm a baby. I do not need an alpha. It is my baby.” Yoongi watches the omega for a long time before he looks back at Namjoon, “bring in whatever he needs. Make him comfortable here.” Yushik bows to them and sits on the settee, waiting.
Yoongi looks at Jimin, “it will not be a problem, right? Sharing a room?” Jimin looks at the omega, back at Yoongi, “no. It is fine. The room is large enough for the both of us. If anything, I will get a friend.” Yoongi sighs, “do not get attached. People are mostly harmful.”
Jimin watches Yoongi, “how do you live being this sceptical?” Yoongi huffs out a breath, “well, if it was about me, I would not care. But,” he gives Jimin a look, “it is about our pup and you. I have to be careful. Also,” he frowns, “Eun is still alive. Still functioning.”
“I do not trust her,” Yoongi chews the inside of his cheek, “I do not trust her at all. She is still planning something, I am sure,” Yoongi looks ahead at where Namjoon brings in a few guards. They are fixing another bed for Yushik. “I will give her a visit soon.”
Jimin looks down at the king's hand, “what would you tell her? What is the reason? Just let her be. She is caged.” “A caged and cornered animal is more ferocious, desperate,” Yoongi watches Yushik laugh at something Namjoon says, talking to him animatedly, “only I know her.”
“She might be back in my kingdom, and we are here, in the Jeon kingdom, but she is cunning,” Yoongi grips the mattress, “she has so much to offer and so less to lose.” Yoongi gets up, “let's call the others and discuss our next plan. Namjoon, you stay here.” Namjoon bows.
🌸
Jimin feels drained after the discussion with everyone. His mind reels as he thinks how Seokjin wants to marry Hoseok to trap his own father. While he loves Namjoon. Namjoon, on the other hand, has no clue. He feels anxious when he comes back to his bed chamber after the meeting.
He watches Yushik sleep on his bed, already tucked in for the night. Jimin baths, changes, and stands by the balcony. He cannot sleep. Outside his room rests Namjoon with two more guards. Inside, are two omega guards, keeping their eyes on Jimin. He feels suffocated.
There are too many scents mixing together. There are too many emotions he is feeling that makes him restless. He looks at Yushik and wonders how the omega can sleep so peacefully when his own mind is racing. The scents make him nauseous, and he is pulling on a robe to get out.
“Where are you going, my prince?” Namjoon asks as soon as Jimin walks out of the room. Jimin knows Namjoon since they were kids. He smiles, points down the hallway. “Just for a walk,” he arches a teasing brow, “Am I not allowed, general Kim?” Namjoon sputters, “you are not.”
Jimin stares, “huh?” Namjoon nods, “you are not allowed to go out on your own. The king mentioned it specifically. I have to ask his permission-” “Before you let me go on a stroll?” Jimin lets out a disbelieving laugh, “I will be going to the garden. That is all.”
“Let me ask him first,” Namjoon bows, “please wait here.” Jimin curses, “how about you accompany me? We should not worry him. He is probably resting after a long day. Please.” Namjoon hesitates, looks at the prince and back at the hallway, “no, my prince. You wait here.”
Jimin watches the general rush down the hallway and sighs. He stands, ties the robe around himself tightly, and watches the guards keep their head hung low as he stands among them. Jimin looks over when he hears footsteps. He balks when he sees the king walking up to him.
Yoongi is wearing his night suit. A black hanbok with a long robe that he casually put on. The king looks awake, talking to the general who follows him. “You wanted to go for a walk?” Yoongi greets him. Jimin whines, “now I have to take someone with me wherever I go?”
Yoongi's lips twitch, just the corners, “I am afraid, yes. Where were you planning to go?” Jimin shrugs, “I do not know this palace. Wherever. The room is making me feel stuffed!” Yoongi hums, “the garden here has a maze. Do you wish to explore it?” Jimin considers, “sure.”
Yoongi gestures for the omega to follow, “come on then,” he looks at Namjoon, “how about you wait here, Namjoon?” Namjoon bows, “of course, my lord.” Jimin walks silently beside Yoongi, the king is quiet himself. Jimin is not sure if he should talk or the king prefers this.
“We have to cross the garden and go around the gazebo to reach the maze,” Yoongi clicks his tongue, “we are coming from the wrong side.” Jimin frowns, looks at the darkness, “the maze is at the east?” Yoongi nods, “near the king's wing. Come on. It is just a bit of a walk.”
“Careful,” Yoongi grasps Jimin's hand when the omega stumbles on the pebbles, “the night is so dark. We should have taken a lamp.” Jimin shrugs, “it is okay.” He does not mention how the king still holds his hand. Instead, he wraps his fingers around the king's as they walk.
Yoongi frowns at the gazebo, “I think someone is in there,” he points at the soft light that lightens the darkness of the garden just a little. “Must be the king?” Jimin wonders, “who else would be coming here this late?” Yoongi hums, “let's be quiet and pass it, then.”
Jimin follows Yoongi as they walk up to the gazebo, and both of them freeze. “Is,” Jimin stares, “is that Tae on his lap?!” Yoongi blinks, “I-” he coughs, “it is.” Jimin's jaw loosens, “what- why is he here and what are they doing?!” Yoongi winces, “I think we should go.”
Jimin gasps, “no! They are, oh, my lord!” he points at the two of them, “Tae is not married to him now! He cannot do this!” Yoongi makes a face, “I seriously think we two are not the ones who should say that.” Jimin turns to glare at him, “I will stop it! Watch me!”
Yoongi flinches, “this is like seeing your pups having an affair and letting them know that you know about it. More awkward by announcing your presence. We can just ignore and leave!” Jimin glares, “you are such a coward!” Yoongi shrugs, “and, not prone to drama. Please!”
TW — child abuse
Yoongi turns to leave, taking Jimin's hand in his to let the omega follow him. “I could not stop Yoongi from leaving. I remember him dragging me back to the palace, I remember the beating I took. I remember praying for hyung to come back and take me with him. Praying so hard.”
Yoongi freezes. His grip on Jimin tightens. “-stopped believing in gods that night. Held onto the hope that hyung will be back for longer though,” he frowns when his eyes start to pool with tears, “instead, I prayed to hyung. To come back. Take me away. For days. Weeks. Months.”
“He locked me up in a room that had no windows. So I never knew what time of the day it was. As if it was timeless loop. I felt so suffocated. I would sit by the door and beg the guards to tell me what time it is, so I do not go crazy in this timeless loop of wait.”
Yoongi drops Jimin's hand, turning to face the alpha, who is narrating the memories to Taehyung. Yoongi watches Jungkook tremble where he sits. He picks up on that waver in the alpha's voice. His heartbeat picks up while he watches Jungkook and listens to him.
“You know what hurt the most?” Jungkook murmurs, “the hope. Every time I would hear a footstep, I would cling to it, and then the door would open to reveal someone who was not hyung. The denial killed me. I could not believe hyung left. Just like that. I could not believe it.”
Yoongi feels Jimin squirm closer to him, the omega's warmth is like a grounding force while he feels like he is drowning. Jungkook's words are like heavy weights, attaching themselves on Yoongi and dragging him down, under the water. He cannot breathe.
He knows that Jungkook suffered. Of course, he did. But knowing he did and listening explicitly how much he did, are two different things, and Yoongi never wanted to hear. He never wanted to know this explicitly. He never wanted to stand and hear how much Jungkook suffered.
His own nightmares were enough. He does not need Jungkook's added in the mix. Yoongi wills himself to leave. The selfish instinct in every person forces him to leave. Urges him to turn and leave. He does not need to hear this. It is in the past. But, Jungkook is right there.
“I know I should see his point, but I was nine! I was so suffocated in there. Father would come every day to 'teach' me how strong I need to be. He would open the door and grab be by my ankle, tell me to free myself and run. Run. Run. Run. Then I would be free.”
Yoongi feels his eyes tearing up. That bastard's face right in front of his face. Vivid. He is laughing. He is always laughing at Yoongi and how alone he made Yoongi. The bastard is laughing and promising him a lonely life. All over again. Yoongi feels like vomiting.
“He would say hyung is waiting by the corner,” Jungkook's jaw hardens, “fuel me. Watch me thrash to free myself. He would say hyung got caught, and he is in the next room. All I have to do is free myself and run. The open door is right there. He would laugh at how weak I was.”
“𝑅𝑢𝑛, 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓. 𝐵𝑢𝑡, 𝑤𝘩𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑔𝑜? 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝘩𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑛𝑜 𝑜𝑛𝑒. 𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑓𝑎𝑡𝘩𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑖𝑟𝑡𝘩𝑒𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑡. 𝐿𝑒𝑓𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑒. 𝐼 𝑎𝑚 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝘩𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐼 𝑤𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑑𝑖𝑒 𝑤𝑖𝑡𝘩.”
The words echo in Yoongi's mind. The words Jungkook's father would tell him every day. The words that were drilled in his mind. How he cannot escape. How there were no one who could save him. How that monster was all he would ever know and have. How he was all Yoongi had.
“𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑐𝘩𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑠𝘩𝑒𝑑, 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 𝑠𝑜 𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑦. 𝐶𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑠𝑒𝑒? 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑔𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑡𝘩𝑒 𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑒𝑛. 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑠𝘩𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑏𝑒 𝑏𝑢𝑟𝑛𝑡 𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝐼 𝑎𝑚 𝑙𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒.”
Please read this. Please, be aware before you proceed.
Yoongi hates how memories flood his mind. The dam he built over the years break just like that. The dam he put his everything in to make breaks right at that moment and those memories come flooding. Yoongi wants to drop on his knees and curl into himself and scream in agony.
He stumbles, that voice resurfaces. It hums as if gearing up, and then it blasts inside his head. Laughing at him, screaming at him, telling him he is worthless. Telling him how blessed he is to have just this much. Telling him to beg for more. Telling him to be thankful.
“That is what your father wanted,” Taehyung's voice breaks Yoongi's trance, “I think that is what he wanted. For you to lose your hero. For you to start hating him and some day, kill him. Because, he hated hyung for his birth. What else can be the reason for him to do this?”
Jungkook shrugs, “I do not know. That is my biggest question, you know? Why? Why did he leave? He never answered. He always just ignored and left like I was not worth the answer.” Yoongi cannot take that. Not tonight. He cannot let Jungkook think like that anymore. Not anymore.
He rounds the gazebo and Jimin follows. Yoongi's footsteps are loud and Taehyung jumps out of Jungkook's lap and sits on the floor watching the king as he appears in front of the door. Jungkook watches him too, frowning. Yoongi takes those two steps inside the gazebo.
“I was not ignoring you,” Yoongi kneels and sits down on the floor in front of Jungkook, “I was just running from those memories. I could not speak and explain. Whenever you asked, I felt like I was not ready to look back at that darkness. I thought it would break me. Again.”
Yoongi cannot match those eyes, he looks at the floor. Where the phoenix pendant lies, he fixes his eyes on that. Jimin goes to sit by Taehyung, the brothers squirm away from Jungkook and Yoongi. Their eyes fixed on the alphas. Yoongi lets out a long breath, “he is sick.”
“Was,” Jungkook murmurs, “he is dead. I took care of it.” Yoongi laughs, shakes his head, “to me? He is still alive. In my nightmares. Beside me. All over me. He is everywhere, and he is very much alive to me.” Jungkook frowns, “…what?”
“Your father used to think he is the best. He used to think of himself as invincible. Sufficient, a blessing,” he snorts, “he could not think our mother had him, and he was not enough to 'satisfy,' her that she needed someone else for herself.” Yoongi's face twisted in disgust.
“I was the proof of his failure to keep his own omega happy,” Yoongi looks at Jungkook, “his words. I am narrating. I was the eyesore and living proof that he was not enough. That he was lacking. Even if the general public did not know, the rumour spread, and he hated it.”
“He hated that others are gossiping and laughing behind his back. That he could not control his own omega. That he was probably lacking in bed for the Luna to find someone else. In his twisted mind, he never thought emotional support played a huge role in any relationship.”
“Anyway,” Yoongi waves his hand, “I took the burn of it all. It started slow. At first, it was just controlling what I eat and when I am fed. He would make sure I eat with him. He gave me a plate and sit me down on the floor by his feet and throw pieces and bits for me.”
“Tell me to say thank you after each piece I was given,” Yoongi pauses, to breathe, “I used to thank him for each piece of food that was thrown to me. He would say, drill the words in my head, that my father would not even give me this much. He is a blessing to have in my life.”
“I still cannot eat my food to my heart's content because I keep thinking I do not deserve it,” Yoongi laughs, “you know? I would still jump and look over my shoulder and search for him to appear and snatch the plate from me. In my own damn palace!” Taehyung bites back a sob.
“Water was another point,” Yoongi snorts, “I was granted a pitcher. Per day. One pitcher. He would play with it, laugh and watch my horrified face as he dangles it from his hand and most of the days, he would drop and break it. The water would spill and go to waste.”
“He would tell me to open my mouth and fill it with water and then watch me drink and one gulp was granted before I have to beg for more. I never begged. So, one mouthful per sitting. That was all,” Yoongi blinks, his eyes burning, “no one ever dared to feed me. Not even mother.”
“I made a friend then,” Yoongi smiles, “she would get me grapes. Sneak me juice and some food. She would wait until your father leave after dinner to share hers with me. Eun,” Yoongi breathes out, “god, to me, she was an angel. She was a support system I started leaning onto.”
“Your father continued his abuse, long enough for me to get used to it. I would monotonously go through his whims and wishes. I would do whatever he asks of me and let him do whatever he wanted. It was all bearable by then. Mother left, you were with me. I was coping. Somehow.”
“I let him make me believe that I deserved all that and,” Yoongi giggles, “Eun would tell me how much of a great father I have because, apparently, others were worse. I, apparently, knew nothing. I had no one to compare him with. I never went beyond the palace's walls. Ever.”
“I clung to her because, why would she lie?” Yoongi wipes his eyes, smile still on his lips, “why would the angel ever lie? I thought this is how pups grow up. I saw how he was no better with you. I thought, well, this is how it is. I am, at least, having a roof over my head.”
“Then I turned thirteen,” Yoongi whispers, his face pale, “presented as an alpha. All hell broke loose,” Yoongi looks at Jungkook, “I was the first pure-blood alpha. Your father lost his calm. You were an alpha, people thought so, but I presented. I was to inherit the throne.”
“They knew I was his pup too. He had to announce me as the crowned prince. I still remember the horror on his face,” Yoongi laughs, “to think that I was born to remind him he was not enough, and I was to inherit the throne? Oh, god, no! So, he was desperate in his hate for me.”
Yoongi curls up in himself, hugging himself. For that moment, he forgets about Jungkook, Taehyung or Jimin. He forgets where he is. He feels like he is back in that room. Seeing the horror play out in front of him. He is back in the king's prison. Sitting, watching his teen self.
- I need to take some time off. I have to clear my own head and breathe a little before I go on. Thank you for reading. Be back tonight. 23:00 IST.
🌸
“There was your father, as usual, sitting on a stool and watching me walk in,” Yoongi's throat bobs, “there were two more. Eun's father and another general. Your father smiled at me and patted my back and said,” Yoongi's face contorts, “congratulations on presenting as an omega.”
“I was confused, I presented as an alpha,” he digs his nails into his arms, frowning at the Phoenix pendant, “I stared at him, trying to understand what he meant. Now, you see, he used to believe if you say something, plant a seed of belief in a young mind, they will believe it.”
“He wanted me to believe, he wanted to drill the thought in my mind that I was an omega,” Yoongi gulps, “he wanted my mind to soak up that knowledge and break my mind in a way that I start to believe it. That I am an omega.” Jungkook holds his breath, his ears ringing.
“I was thirteen when he taught me how omegas are treated in his kingdom and how I will be treated from that night.” Yoongi hugs himself, gathers himself in his own arms, trembling where he sits. Jungkook watches this Min Yoongi for the first time. So terrified, so fragile.
“I still remember him sitting by the head of the bed, telling me over and over how good of an omega I was being to Eun's father and that unknown general. While they were all over me,” Yoongi draws blood where his nails dig, “tearing my clothes apart, using me for their pleasure.”
“I can still hear my screams and smell his arousal as he watched it all play out,” Yoongi screws his eyes shut, tears clinging to his lashes, “he let me scream. He enjoyed it. I still remember begging for them to leave me. Told them to kill me. Begged them to kill me.”
“They left me there after they were done,” Yoongi stutters, rocking himself, as if trying to force himself into calming down, “their release all over me. Your father stayed, watched me while I lie there, watch the ceiling and think why I was still alive. He stayed with me.”
“Then he clapped his hands and Eun came in with water and other necessities. I was not even in the state to feel anything but she sat and wiped me clean. Congratulated me for presenting as an omega.” Yoongi glares at the Phoenix, “I remember how the first flicker of doubt felt.”
“I looked at her, and she cleaned me so gently, speaking how sweet I smelt and how omega like I looked at that moment. I was so confused. I told her that the doctor said I presented as an alpha. I remember asking her why she is calling me an omega. I am not one. I was not one.”
“Your father lurked there, sitting on that stool and watching how Eun cupped my face and smiled at me. How she told me that I was wrong, and the doctor was just jesting. How would I be an alpha, look at me,” Yoongi snorts, “in my mind, I thought... why would Eun lie to me?”
“She was my age, just another kid,” Yoongi hugs himself tighter, “my friend. Only friend. She was always there. Supporting me, helping me. I,” he laughs, “I loved her. I thought, she must be right. Why would she lie? Right?” Jungkook feels the way his blood boils.
“So, I let her feed me the medicines that would help with the aches her father and that general left. Let her use some herbs to soothe the pain that would make me sleep for hours,” Yoongi frowns, “keep me numb enough to use me whenever they want. I was just a doll.”
“I would only feel something whenever you were around,” Yoongi does not match Jungkook's eyes, “I would get up from those sleeps because there would be a voice in my head, urging me to get up and find you and see if you are okay. Otherwise, I would have given up. Ages ago.”
Jungkook feels tears brim his eyes. He is too motionless to wipe them as they spill over the rim of his eyes. Yoongi chuckles, “the scars, the bruises, you would ask about? I got them from your father's men. They were there. Every night. I was their prize for doing good.”
“They would all call me omega,” Yoongi smiles, a blank and void smile that looks so broken it physically hurts Jungkook, “so, on the day of announcement, I stood on that podium, looked at our people and announced I was an omega. I believed it by then. I accepted it as the truth.”
“There was a celebration,” Yoongi giggles, “for me,” he slaps his chest, “for the first prince of that man. For presenting and being an honourable omega,” he laughs, tears rolling down his eyes, “I was getting dressed in my room when I first met Yoong. He came to the gathering.”
“He introduced himself and by then I knew who he was. I was already angry at him and my real father for leaving me like that. For being such a coward to never ask about me. But, he said, why I was presenting myself as an omega when I was not. He questioned me for the first time.”
“Of course, I kicked him out of my room and did not believe a single word he spoke,” Yoongi snorts, “he said, how he can take me away from here. He said, if I want to leave, he can take me. I think,” Yoongi gulps, “he was not a bad person growing up. He really was worried.”
“I did not believe him,” Yoongi shakes his head, “he kept insisting for me to go with him. He wanted to say that his father would take care of me if he knew I was suffering here,” Yoongi snorts, “I knew that my own father abandoned me. Why would I believe him over your father?”
“The celebration went on for three days,” Yoongi chuckles, “you were so happy. Going from one stall to another. Eating everything you can put your hands on. I would run after you, make sure you are fine, and your father would point and say how good of an omega I was being.”
“Because,” his jaw hardens, “no one in this kingdom could even imagine that love and affection does not depend on a damn sub-gender or gender. That, an alpha can be equally loving and doting. To them, strong alpha meant being a monster as they were. No one questioned anything!”
“On the last night, your father came in, watched me get dressed for the night and told me to come with him. I followed him, he held my hand, grabbed it more likely, and dragged me to his courtroom. He pointed at a few generals. There were more than ten,” Yoongi's voice breaks.
“He said, that was my present,” Jungkook watches the horror in Yoongi's eyes, as if he is back in that courtroom, “that, they were there for me. That, that night they were going to be mine,” Yoongi laughs, “as if it was me who was enjoying all that. He made it sound like that.”
“I watched them and your father kissed my temple, left me by saying to meet him there that night,” Yoongi's nails dig deeper in his arm, “I fled,” Yoongi shakes his head, “I ran from there. I ran to Eun, I burst into her room and blabbered to her about how I will not survive it.”
“I told her to get you,” Yoongi shakes like a leaf, “I told her to meet me by the royal gate and how I will leave with you and her,” Yoongi chuckles, “I told her the plan. That Yoong was leaving that night for his kingdom. His father already left. We would just go with him.”
“I told her that anything would be better than this,” Yoongi wipes his eyes, “I told her to get you and wait by the gate. I will come and get you two in the carriage and leave.” Yoongi grits his teeth, “by the plan, Yoong agreed. He agreed to help me out of there.”
“He wanted to leave with just me,” Yoongi wipes his eyes, “take the short route by the back of the palace. I begged him to take the detour. I could not have left you,” Yoongi's voice turns hoarse as words spill from his mouth, “I get out of the carriage, it waited, to get you.”
“By the gate, you were,” Yoongi's lips tremble, “standing alone in your nightwear. Waiting for me. You did not see me. You were playing with the small sword you always carried. I rushed towards you when I saw her by the gate,” Yoongi's face twists, “with her father and yours.”
“They were right behind you,” Yoongi chokes on his words, “I stopped, froze. Behind your father and hers, were those generals. They all looked murderous. Angry. Furious,” Yoongi hugs himself tightly, “believe me, I could not move. I felt the fear cloud my judgement.”
“By then, you saw me, you were waving and walking up to me,” Yoongi shakes his head, “you were still far away from me, and they were charging forward. I just saw them leaping forward. All of their eyes on me. I knew if they get me, I will die that night. I ran. I just ran.”
“You promised you would come back,” Jungkook whispers, “you still,” his breath catches in his throat, “you still promised to come back. I would have forgotten to do even that.” Yoongi shakes his head, “I never forgot you. I could not just leave without that promise.”
Yoongi shrugs, “it was an oath, more to myself. That one day I will be back. I broke that night, Jungkook,” he closes his eyes, “first, I left you. Second, Eun betrayed me. I could not believe she betrayed me. The entire ride I cried thinking how I left you. I tried to get back.”
“Yoong had to hold me down on the floor of the carriage. I still remember him shouting in my face that going back would solve nothing. That I was too weak to face them. I remember him pressing down a point around my neck to make me lose consciousness for the time being.”
- End of the TW - [I personally need to stop crying ffs]
“I am sorry,” Yoongi whispers, “for leaving,” his eyes finally matches Jungkook's, “for not coming back sooner. For not getting you out of here.” Jungkook's lips wobble, “no, it is,” his voice cracks, he sniffles, “I do not know what to say. I do not know how to say it.”
“You can call me hyung again,” Yoongi breathes out a chuckle that sounds like a sob, “I died every day to hear you call me hyung again.” Jungkook's vision blurs, he surges forward to hug Yoongi, “I am sorry,” he buries his face against Yoongi's neck, “hyung. For doubting you!”
Jimin feels Taehyung squirm up to him, he wraps his arms around his brother. Taehyung buries himself against Jimin. Both of their eyes on the two alphas who cry in each other's arms. The omegas cry too, holding each other tightly as they watch the two of them.
“I know it is not worth anything, but,” Jungkook pulls back, wiping Yoongi's eyes, “I am sorry,” he whispers, “for what he did. You did not deserve it. Not an ounce of it. No one does. I am so, so, so sorry.” Yoongi feels the dam building back, those memories drying out slowly.
“I cannot go back and kill him again, because trust me, I will,” Jungkook watches Yoongi, “but, I will make sure Eun suffers. I will make sure-” “No,” Yoongi shakes his head, “you are not going to get into this. This is my battle. I will fight it my way. I need to do that.”
“I am still learning to accept myself,” Yoongi whispers, “I am still learning to look back at that teenage me and not scream at him for being so stupid. I am still learning to forgive myself for putting up with that. I am still learning to accept that I let you go like that.”
“I need to kill my own demons before I turn to hers,” Yoongi watches Jungkook, “I took so long to get back to you. I got so lost in my training, my life here, how Yoong turned out to be,” he frowns, “it all got so out of hand, I could not get back to you sooner. I wish I did.”
“By the time I did, the news had it that you were the crowned prince, and I was gone because apparently, I was not your brother,” Yoongi laughs, “your father spread the news that I was Eun's father's son. That, there was a conspiracy and Eun's father wanted me to be the king.”
“But, then I presented as an omega and Eun's father sold me to this kingdom. To the young prince, Yoong. My real father was a drunkard. He never got the guts to stand up against your father. Your father did not come for me because I was not worth the hassle. According to him.”
“He turned his attention to Yoong, instead,” Yoongi grimaces, “judging by how he knew that Yoong would be the crowned prince. He was indeed older than me. So, he roped Yoong in and started warming up to him. He wanted to have the Min kingdom for himself. For you afterwards.”
Yoongi gives Jungkook a chuckle, “Yoong would visit this kingdom. Take back so many omegas to the Min kingdom. I tried warning him, I tried telling him to be aware, but by then he was starting to see me as an opponent because our father would prefer me over him. He hated that.”
“Also, your father supplied herbs to smoke, got him addicted,” Yoongi grits his teeth, “he wanted Yoong to be just as corrupted as our father was. That way, they would be under your father's feet. He wanted to make sure Yoong turns out exactly like our father in the future.”
“Eun showed up once,” Yoongi whispers, his eyes over Jungkook's shoulders, fixed on something far away, “with him. Yoong had this habit of showing off how capable he was in sex because in sword fights or anything else, he would not win against me. He chose to show off in sex.”
“I stayed away from physical intimacy as much as I could,” Yoongi gulps, “it took me ages to take off my clothes in front of a mirror and see myself. Forget others seeing me. So, he would laugh at my face about that. I came back one evening after practice to them on my bed.”
“It was a vision,” Yoongi snorts, “them doing it on my bed. Clothes everywhere. Their scents in the room, on the bed. I wanted to vomit. Yoong saw me but did not stop. I was by then learning to put myself first,” Yoongi chuckles, “tilted the candle and watched the bed burn.”
Yoongi laughs, “it was funny. Watching them, still knotted, try to get out of there.” Jungkook winces, “that is,” Yoongi hums, “he called me mad. Shouted and screamed that I was a psychopath. That I am jealous of his capabilities. I got the title from him. The mad prince.”
Yoongi shrugs, smiling with his gums out, “I did not know a title like that could set you free. I stood and laughed. Laughed until I was doubling over and could not breathe. The guards who came in saw it. The servants, maids, all saw it. The title stuck to me. The mad prince.”
“In my madness I was left alone,” Yoongi snickers, “I liked it. I liked how people started staying away from me. I was impulsive. Angry. I was fierce in battle and out of it too. They started being cautious around me. Damn, I liked that. Being on my own. Left on my own.”
“Eun told me how you were with her. She told me how you are turning out exactly like your father and told me she will make sure you are fine. She thought being like your father was fine,” Yoongi grimaces, “I was helpless. I could not do anything. I was still not strong enough.”
Yoongi looks at Jungkook, “you know how everything went afterwards. You know how we both were when we met after that. Right?” Jungkook snorts, “on a battleground. Against each other. When you took the throne and I was sent to fight with Yoong to get him his rightful place.”
Yoongi hums, “Lord, I saw you fight, and I could see him in you,” he closes his eyes, “I could see him all over again, and I was so terrified to face you. Because, I would rather die than see for myself that you were like him by then. I feared that. I hated that thought.”
“I went on that war to face you,” Jungkook looks down at his lap, “to ruin you. I went there to get Yoong his throne back and get you your death.” Yoongi nods, “I know. I saw that in your skill. You were desperate to get up against me. You were fierce enough.”
“Who won?” Taehyung asks from behind. Yoongi smirks over his shoulder, “I am still the king. Am I not?” Jungkook rolls his eyes, “I got fever. I had to leave the war.” “I know, sorry,” Yoongi holds his hands up, “had to do that to get you out of the battlefield.”
Jungkook blinks, “what?!” Yoongi winces, “I could not face you in the war? I would have had to fight against you, and I could not! I had to get you out of there. I could not fight you, Jungkook!” Jungkook stares, “you did that?! How?! Wha-”
“What did you do?!” Jungkook glares. Yoongi shrugs, “there is this herb that gives you a false rut. The symptoms are the same of rut or fever. It does not harm otherwise. I just paid someone to mix it in your food. Someone from your people who were cooking for the troops.”
“My cook died!” Jungkook sputters, “he died after I got fever. I was told that it might turn into a rut, so I had to rush back to the palace. It wore off after a few days.” “The cook died, I know,” Yoongi hums, “I killed him.” “What?!” Jimin blinks, “why?! He helped you!”
Yoongi nods, “exactly. He helped me. Instead of the crowed prince, he helped me. The enemy. He got sold for money. I had to kill him. His family got the money but no man with a loyalty like that should be alive. I refuse to let anyone like that near Jungkook. He failed the test.”
Jungkook grumbles, “if I had the fair chance, you will not be here right now.” Yoongi ruffles his hair, “that is the thing, pup, life is not fair. Love is not either. Sometimes, we have to be unfair and selfish to keep the loved ones protected. I could not fight you.”
Jungkook juts his chin out, “I would win. You stood no chance!” Taehyung rolls his eyes, “I doubt that.” “Hey!” Jungkook points a finger at Taehyung, “you think hyung would win over me?! Me?! The eagle of Frostland?!” Taehyung shrugs, “he won. Did he not? By hook or by crook.”
“Yes, but it was not fair play,” Jimin shakes his head, “I think Jungkook would win if it was a fair play!” “Tell him! Yes!” Jungkook nods vehemently, “he stood no chance if he faced me in the war!” Jimin nods too, “I agree. I am sure he would not stand a chance if he did.”
Yoongi watches them. The three of them shouting at each other who would win. The three's voices getting louder around him. The chaos and the way Taehyung so fiercely draws on the floor two dots and starts to explain why Yoongi would win. How Jimin dives in to support Jungkook.
He sits, hugging his knees. A smile plays on his lips. He can spend the rest of his life like this. Sitting and watching these three go off about stupid things that do not matter anymore. He can do this. If these three are here, he can go through this. “Idiots.”
The voices in his head shifts. The loud cries and screams start to change to loud arguments and giggles. Those men, those eyes, those glares, they start to change into these three. Right here. Pushing each other, taking that damn charcoal to draw patterns on the floor.
“None of us had a childhood like this, did we?” Yoongi wonders aloud, stopping them all, “where we could be stupid like you are being right now?” They all stop, looking at each other. Yoongi leans back on his arms, legs outstretched, “we lost our childhood to get here, huh?”
“Do not ask questions that open too many wounds,” Taehyung reaches to swat Yoongi's chest, “instead, join me and tell your brother that he stood no chance against you.” Yoongi lies down, “you three do that. I will be here.” Jungkook snorts, “just say, you know I am right.”
Yoongi smiles, waves at Jungkook, “get us some drink. Let's celebrate.” Jungkook pauses, “celebrate what?” Yoongi rolls his eyes, “just go and bring in some liquor!” “I cannot drink,” Jimin sighs, “sorry.” “Get him some juice,” Yoongi waves Jungkook off.
“What are we celebrating again?” Jungkook asks, holding his drink up after he comes back with it, “just so I know.” Yoongi holds his glass up, “to our youth. To the future,” he smiles at the three of them, “to this family.” They all pause for a second. This family.
Taehyung clinks their glasses together, puts them back in motion. “To us, to this family,” Taehyung smiles. Jungkook nods, “to us.” Yoongi looks across from him, at Jimin, the omega is smiling at the other two. “To our pup,” Yoongi tilts his glass at Jimin, “that family too.”
a/n - The pup is staying. I wrote this entire chapter and the mere thought of taking that away from yoonmin is killing me. So, CHEERS TO THE PUP!
“What are we going to name the baby?” Jungkook wonders, “did you think about that?” “Is that not too early?” Taehyung frowns, “they do not even know if it will be a boy or a girl. Let them be born first. See, this is why you are stupid.” Jungkook blinks, “wha- they can decide!”
Yoongi curses, “listen, I am too old for this, okay? Just get done with it,” he sips his drink, “you two need to sleep together to let this frustration go!” Jimin chokes on his drink, “not before marriage! Do not put that idea in their heads. Oh, my Lord! This is why we came!”
“You,” Jimin points at Taehyung, “you were sitting on his lap!” Yoongi curses, drops down on his back, “here he goes making it awkward again!” Jimin glares at Jungkook and Taehyung, “you two are not going to do anything before marrying again! Do you hear me?! Am I clear?”
“Kind of hypocritical, coming from you,” Jungkook gestures at Jimin's stomach with his eyes, “do you not think?” Jimin sputters. Yoongi laughs. “Told you,” Yoongi turns on his side, holding his head up with one hand, sipping his drink with the other, “you are a hypocrite.”
“Hey, it is okay,” Taehyung waves his hand, “with hyung, I understand. He had you,” he points at Yoongi, “I get him. But, with him?” he points at Jungkook, “you all got no fear. I am not letting him anywhere near me.” Jungkook glares at Yoongi, “what did you do to deserve this?”
Yoongi shrugs, “look at me,” his lips twitch, “you kept focusing on Namjoon. If you focused that time on Taehyung instead, you would be somewhere.” Jungkook rolls his eyes, “all I wanted was for him to have a family. I was trying to settle him down. I was trying to help!”
Jimin rubs Jungkook's back, “no one believed that here. None of us.” Jungkook looks at Taehyung and back at Jimin and then at Yoongi, “you know what? Fine! I give up!” He lies down on the floor, looking at the glass ceiling of the gazebo. Yoongi lies down too.
Yoongi watches the sky, hears how Taehyung blows out the candle. The darkness engulfs the four of them. He sees the shadows of the omegas lying down too. A small smile quirks his lips when he sees Taehyung lie down beside Jungkook, squirming closer to the alpha slowly.
Yoongi breaks out into a smile when Jungkook puts his arm around Taehyung, pulling the omega up against his chest. Taehyung buries his face there, against Jungkook's neck. Both of them whispering something to each other that sounds like more bickering. He looks away.
Then he feels it. Jimin. The omega is right beside him. Their sides touch. Jimin does not initiate anything. He just lies there, on his back, eyes up on the ceiling. Yoongi keeps his eyes on the ceiling too. Their hands rest between them. Touching time to time.
Yoongi lets out a deep breath, his pinkie wrapping around Jimin's with utmost hesitant. Jimin goes still and Yoongi curses mentally, about to pull away. The omega's pinkie curls slowly, holding him down. Yoongi lets out a breath, he did not know he was holding it in.
He pulls Jimin closer, entwining their fingers together. Jimin comes, squirms closer until their sides are pressed together. Yoongi does not breathe. He is not sure what to do next. He had sex, on his terms, left the partners afterwards. Just a release. He is not used to this.
“Just so you know,” Yoongi murmurs, “you will get neck pain if you sleep on the floor like that.” Jimin sighs, “is that so? What do I do then?” Yoongi hates how he has to let Jimin's hand go to spread it over his head, “I mean...” Jimin breathes out a small chuckle, “I see.”
Jimin squirms up to rest his head on Yoongi's shoulder, and Yoongi wraps his arm around the omega. Jimin shuffles closer, hand coming to rest on Yoongi's chest, where his heart beats a little faster, “it will get better.” Yoongi closes his eyes. He is starting to believe Jimin.
— Tonight I wrote something so draining, the last bit of fluff or whatever it was, it was for me to get out of that headspace. I hope I did justice to that certain part before moving forward. — If you want to support me, my writing, Here's my kofi : ko-fi.com/amyungv
🌟🌟🌟
Yoongi knocks on Jimin's door and Yushik opens it. The omega bows to him, looking at the omega on the bed. “The prince is still sleeping, your highness,” Yushik gives Yoongi an apologetic smile, “I will wake him for you-” “No need,” Yoongi waves his hand, “let him rest.”
Yoongi walks inside the room, “how are you doing?” Yushik smiles at him, “well, except for the food testing part, my king treats me pretty well. So, I am doing much better. Thank you.” Yoongi feel his ears heating up, “sorry. About that. It is just the protocol.”
Yushik laughs, “I understand, my king,” he gives Yoongi a pointed stare, “otherwise, you would never do that.” Yoongi hums, looking at the omega and his bed, “you can rest too. I was just dropping by to see if the prince is up.” Yushik shakes his head, “I am unable to sleep.”
“Is everything alright?” Yoongi frowns, a little worried, “do you need something?” Yushik sighs, “usually, I would take a walk after I wake up. Here, the guards will not let me out of my room. I am, apparently, not allowed to leave.” Yoongi sighs, “I told them not to let you.”
Yushik arches a brow, a teasing smile on his lips, “but, my pup's health depends on my health, my king. If I do not take a walk and just laze around all day, I will fall ill. I guess, now, it is your duty to take me on walks.” Yoongi looks at the omega, “is that so?”
Yushik gestures towards the sleeping prince, “he would not know. If that is bothering you.” Yoongi looks at Jimin, shakes his head, “why would him knowing change anything?” he looks back at the omega. “You know,” Yushik gives a confused smile, “he is carrying your pup.”
Yoongi waves his hand, “he would not mind because, I am not going on a walk with you,” the alpha claps his hands, looks over his shoulder when a guard comes inside to bow to him, “take the omega on a walk and keep an eye on him. Do not let anyone talk to him. Go now.”
Yushik sighs, “fine, my king, I will see you for breakfast.” Yoongi watches the omega go and then turn back to see Jimin. Jimin sleeps in the middle of the bed, pillows all around him, quilt pulled till his chin. Yoongi goes to sit at the edge of the bed, looking at Jimin.
Yoongi reaches for Jimin when the omega squirms in his sleep, but stops. He stands up and leaves the room. “When the prince wakes up,” Yoongi talks to Namjoon, “bring him to the dining room.” Namjoon bows, “sure, my king.” Yoongi leaves.
✨
Yoongi watches Jimin walk inside the living room. The king holds his breath as Jimin looks around before looking at him. The omega is wearing a white hanbok, and he has no makeup or jewellery on him. Jimin comes to sit beside Taehyung, Yushik right beside him.
Yoongi cannot help but inhale the pungent scent of the pregnant omega. Jimin looks paler, his eyes blinking lazily. Those puffy lips jut out while he tells Taehyung something that makes Taehyung give him a sympathetic smile. “Is everything alright?” Yoongi asks, confused.
Jimin's eyes snap to him, and the omega fixes a glare on him. Yoongi frowns, confused. Then Jimin is looking away, eyes fixed on the plate in front of him. “He is alright,” Yushik smiles, sitting beside Jimin and closer to Yoongi, “he is just feeling a little nauseous.”
“And, why am I getting subjected to his glare?” Yoongi arches a brow, watching the omega. “Because, my king,” Yushik laughs, “you are the reason he is pregnant and has to run to empty his stomach first thing in the morning?” Jungkook hides a laugh behind his hand, “deserved.”
“I do not understand why I have to join the breakfast when I am not feeling like eating,” Jimin grasps the chopsticks, “just, it would be lovely if the king lets me be.” Yoongi watches the omega, “you cannot starve yourself. Think about the pup. You need to eat for them too.”
“I told him to have some raw eggs,” Yushink sighs, “it is good for the baby, and he does not have to keep chewing or bear it for long. Just chug it down.” “I cannot bear the smell,” Jimin mumbles. Yoongi looks at Yushik and back at Jimin, Yushik rubs Jimin's back with a sigh.
“Just breathe through your mouth and drink it,” Yushik gives Jimin a sympathetic smile, “even mother said, it is good for the baby.” Yoongi watches Jimin struggle, the omega's scent flaring up. He smells of distress. Yoongi reaches to place his hand over Jimin's on the table.
“If you do not want to, you do not have to,” Yoongi squeezes Jimin's hand in his, “just, what do you want to eat? You have to eat something?” Jimin shrugs, “I just feel nauseous. I am not sure. Can I skip breakfast?” Yoongi sighs, “you cannot skip a meal. That is not okay.”
“You go, rest for now,” Yushik rubs his back, “I will bring you something then. How about some salad?” Jimin hums, “okay.” Yoongi watches the omega leave and jumps when Yushik places his hand on top of his. “He will be fine,” Yushik rubs Yoongi's hand, “do not worry, my king.”
“I know he will be fine,” Taehyung places a hand on Yushik's back, “also, you are here to follow him like a shadow. I do not think the shadow should fall this far behind, no?” he smiles at the omega, “go after him and leave hyung alone. I am sure, he will be fine.”
Yushik blinks, taking his hand away and giving Taehyung a short, embarrassed laugh. “Oh, I was just concerned for the king-” “No need,” Taehyung gives him another smile, “there is nothing to be concerned about. The king is not that worried. Go after the prince.”
When Yushik leaves, Taehyung glares after him and glares at Yoongi next. “If you did not pick up on it, he was flirting with you!” Yoongi blinks, “wha… why would he do that?” Jungkook frowns too, “I thought he was just being friendly. What is wrong in that?”
Taehyung gives Jungkook a long look and looks back at Yoongi, “we both know his capacity on picking up people's intention,” Taehyung points a chopstick at Yoongi, “I expect you to be less of an idiot. Do not disappoint me.” The omega goes back to eating his food.
While Jungkook and Taehyung start a discussion on why Jungkook is an absolute fool, Yoongi looks at the door where Jimin disappears. “I will see you later,” Yoongi gets up from the chair and walks out of the room to follow Jimin to his chamber.
Yushik is sitting by Jimin's side when Yoongi walks inside the room. “My king,” Yushik stands up, bows, “do you need anything?” “I would like to talk to him,” Yoongi murmurs, “alone.” Yushik gives them a glance, nods, “of course.” He walks out of the room, closing the door.
“What do you want now?” Jimin asks, glancing at the closed door and back at Yoongi, “leave me alone!” Yoongi sighs, sitting on the bed, “omega, you have to tell me what is going on-” “Nothing is going on,” Jimin looks away, “I just feel unwell and your scent,” he stops...
“My scent?” Yoongi waits. Jimin closes his eyes, as if trying to will himself to speak, “your scent makes me even more nauseous. I do not know, Yushik is saying it is because we are not mated or something like that. I am not sure.” Yoongi looks down at his hands. Thinking.
“That is something we need to talk about too,” Yoongi murmurs, “we have to decide on something before you start to show.” Jimin is quiet. Yoongi sighs, “do you want to get married to me? Are you sure?” he looks at the omega, “you are free to say no.” Jimin scoffs, “right.”
“Just voice it,” Jimin holds his stomach, “that you do not wish to marry me. Just voice it and I will not ask you to. I will never ask you to.” Yoongi looks away, “I just think you should give it your thoughts. I mean,” he laughs, “you and Yushik look like a better fit than us.”
Jimin gives a short laugh, “can say the exact thing about you.” Yoongi frowns, “what?” “Nothing,” Jimin sighs, “you know what? You do not have to marry me. Just,” Jimin lies down, “go away. I do not wish to see your face for now.” Yoongi does not understand what went wrong.
He does not get a chance to ask, either. Jimin lies down, pulls the duvet up till his face and buries under it. He turns his back to Yoongi, effectively ending the conversation. Yoongi sighs, getting up and leaving. Jimin looks out through the window, thinking.
He thinks about the long coat Yushik is wearing. It smells of the alpha. He thinks about the way Yushik blushed when Jimin asked why Yoongi was here in the morning but did not wake him up. 'He was not here for you, my prince.' That is all Yushik had said, giggling afterwards.
The humiliation burns in Jimin's veins. Yushik talking to his mother, telling her to give him some medicines for his sore muscles. 'The king is so intelligent, I tell you,' Yushik's words ring in his head, 'he found a perfect excuse to keep me here. To make sure I am fine.'
'To keep us close to him,' Yushik's giggles ringing in the room, 'god, as if he does not know whose child I am carrying.' Jimin buries his face into the pillow, tears springing in his eyes when he thinks of the doctor and Yushik talking among themselves.
'Make sure he is not very rough with you,' the doctor's voice, whispered and alert, rings in Jimin's ear, 'tell him to be gentle! You are carrying his pup! God, why cannot he just take that prince instead of you to his bed.' Jimin knows they think he is asleep.
Jimin notices how Yushik leaves every night. Comes back around the dawn. Jimin notices because when the omega comes back, he smells of Yoongi. The alpha's scent wrapped around him. Jimin fights himself to not vomit all over the place as he tries to sleep. Tries and fails.
🌟
“Sorry, I got called back,” Yushik steps inside the carriage as they leave for the Min kingdom. Jimin's nose twitches when he smells the alpha's pheromones on the omega. He looks out through the window, pretending to not hear Yushik's words.
Taehyung has his own carriage, he goes into that one and the journey begins. Jimin finds himself curled up on the seat, looking outside through the window. He does not realize when he falls asleep. When he wakes up, they are stopping for the night.
Jimin yawns, fixing his attire when the door of the carriage opens. He blinks when he sees the king. “My king,” Yushik whines, “you do not have to attend to us like this. We can take care of ourselves.” Yoongi gives him a small smile, “I am just making sure you are fine.”
Jimin presses his teeth together, watching Yushik take the king's hand to get out of the carriage. In his hurry, he stumbles, falling right on Yoongi. Yoongi grabs him easily around the waist, steadying him, “are you okay?” Yoongi sounds worried, Yushik blushes, “yes, my king.”
Jimin gets to the door and stops when Yoongi holds his hand out. Jimin's eyes flicker from the offered hand to the alpha's face. Jimin holds his breath when the alpha's scent invades his thoughts. He grips the door of the carriage and steps down on his own, walking past them.
“I am sharing a tent with Taehyung,” Jimin tells the king, “for the night.” “No, but Yushik needs to be with you,” Yoongi points out, “the bedding is not large enough for three-” Jimin snorts, “do not worry, your highness,” he glares ahead, “it is not like he will sleep here.”
Yoongi stops, “where will he go?” Jimin closes his eyes, trying to contain himself, “I do not need to play this game right now. You do not need to play this game with me, either. Drop it.” Yoongi grabs his elbow, stopping him from leaving, “what riddle are you making now?”
Jimin frees his arm, “do not ever touch me!” Yoongi blinks, startled, “omega-” “Do not call me that!” Jimin hisses, “Jimin! I have a name!” his face twists, “better, do not address me at all! Do not take my name from your filthy mouth!” Jimin rushes away from there.
Yoongi watches the omega go, “what the hell did I do now?!” He looks at the others, trying to compose himself. He goes after Jungkook when Jungkook calls him about the tent arrangements. By the time everything is settled, Taehyung and Jimin are already in their tent. Asleep.
🌸
Yushik smells of sex. Jimin holds his breath in the carriage, the omega's scent mixes with the alpha's pheromones and the entire carriage smells of them. Jimin feels breathless, wishing for the journey to end as soon as it can. They reach the Min palace by the afternoon.
Jimin gets out of the carriage as fast as he can, running inside to empty his stomach in the bathroom. He thanks his maids when they help him clean up, and when he goes to his room, Jimin stills by the threshold. Yoongi and Yushik stand in the middle of the room, talking.
“You can sleep by the window,” Yoongi points, “the room is vast-” “No.” They both startle, looking over at him. Jimin walks inside the room, barely holding back on his anger. “He is not sharing this room with me,” Jimin seethes, “this is my room. Only mine.”
Yoongi gives him a confused look, “did you forget that I ordered for him to be with you? For your safety?” Jimin shakes his head, “I refuse to share a room with him. Not here. I refuse!” Yoongi's jaw hardens, “are you defying my orders now?” “What if I am?” Jimin hisses.
Yoongi's eyes burn, “I do not need to listen to you, then,” he looks at the guards, “bring in Yushik's belongings here. He is living here. Get him a bed and anything he needs to get comfortable.” Yushik plants a hand on Yoongi's chest, “alpha, I think you should think about-”
“If he stays here, I am leaving,” Jimin crosses his arms over his chest, “it is either him or me!” Yoongi frowns, disbelief clear on his face, “are you seriously doing this?! For what?! I am here trying to keep you safe, and you are just being an absolute brat for no reason!”
“I am being a brat?!” Jimin gives a disbelieving laugh, “are you calling me a brat to hide-” Yushik whines, swaying on his feet. Yoongi turns to him swiftly, worry clear on his face. “Yushik?” Yoongi holds the omega by his back when Yushik stumbles, “lord! Are you okay?”
Jimin watches, immobile, how Yoongi drags Yushik to his bed, sitting him down there. The king forces Yushik to lie down, telling the guards to get the doctor. “Is everything okay?” Yoongi asks, feeling up Yushik for fever, “Yushik?” Jimin bites his tongue.
He watches the omega on his bed. Watches the doctor rush in to treat him. He watches the king sit at the edge, worry clear on his face as he looks at the omega. Jimin feels nauseous all over again. His head swirls and feels heavy. He grips the bedpost, trying to calm himself.
“I think it is the emotional torment, my lord,” the doctor sniffles, “my son is going through a lot.” She looks at Yushik and back at the king, “he is here because you asked him to be. He is here to shield the prince, and the prince is not kind to him. You saw it yourself.”
“I do not blame the prince,” the doctor watches the open door through which Jimin disappeared, “he is not used to sharing. He is a little selfish. Of course, he is. He did not think about his family before he ran away to seek his own happiness. He is self-centred...”
Yoongi watches Yushik. There is a part of him that already feels guilty for using Yushik to make sure his pup and omega is fine. There is already a part of him that feels heavy and sad every time he thinks that he is putting another innocent pup in danger for his own.
Then he sees how Jimin is so cold with Yushik. How the prince reacts to the omega and the doctor's words dig deep in him. No matter how much he tries to shake it off, the thought lingers that indeed Jimin does not like Yushik. It makes no sense to him. Yushik is kind. So kind.
“Take care of him,” Yoongi murmurs, “I will talk to the prince. Do not worry.” The doctor sniffles, nodding, “of course, my king,” she stops him when Yoongi gets up, “do not tell him I said this, please. He might get more angry and do something to Yushik.” Yoongi nods silently.
🌸 Remord 🌸
Yoongi finds Jimin down the corridor to the secluded part where the balcony of the palace branches out to the open terrace. A swing installed there. Jimin sits on the swing, looking ahead at the horizon. Yoongi stops behind him, “why did you have to create a scene like that?”
Jimin does not answer him. His eyes stay focused ahead of him. Yoongi rounds the swing to come and stand by the omega's side. “I am talking to you,” Yoongi growls, “answer me. Why did you have to make a scene like that? It does not suit you! He is here to help you! You know!”
Jimin stays as he was, sitting, ignoring Yoongi. Yoongi curses, “omega! Give me a reason why you had to be so rude to someone who is just here for you and putting his pup in line-” “If he stays in that room,” Jimin whispers, “I will not. That is my decision. That is all!”
Yoongi's jaw hardens, “this is my palace,” Yoongi seethes, anger and frustration thrumming in his veins, “you need to give me a reason! Otherwise, you do not get to act like this! Why?!” Jimin looks at him then, disgust clear in his gaze, “because, I refuse to stay near him.”
Jimin cannot bring himself to say why. He knows Yoongi knows why, and it pains him to see the king act like he has no idea. He hates how the alpha is acting and demanding answers from him. He refuses to fall for this act. He looks back at the horizon.
Yoongi is downright angry. He has never been treated like this before. Also, the doctor's words swirl in his head and he cannot fully brush it off. He has seen Jimin's father, and he is watching Jimin, and he is not sure what to believe. He hates feeling so clueless.
He hates not being in control of a situation. Since childhood, he was treated like a doll. Someone else's doll to play with. Now he hates to obey any and every order, and it feels like Jimin is ordering him indirectly to kick Yushik out because he feels like it.
“He is not going anywhere,” Yoongi crosses his arms over his chest, “that is my order.” Jimin looks at him, lips curling up, “I refuse to be in the same room as him!” Yoongi shrugs, “sorry, then. Find a way to compromise.” Jimin looks at him for a long moment, “right.”
“I would tell you that I am carrying your pup, but, then,” Jimin snorts, looking back ahead, frustration, anger, hurt, humiliation curling in the pit of his stomach, “but, then,” 𝑠𝑜 𝑖𝑠 𝘩𝑒. Yoongi watches him, “you are carrying my pup. Yes. I know it.”
“But, that does not mean you will do whatever you feel like!” Yoongi throws his hands up in frustration, “that does not give you the right to abuse the weak ones. That is not how it works, omega-” “Do not call me that,” Jimin closes his eyes, “also, get out of my face. Now.”
Yoongi stops, “what is wrong with you?” he curses, “oh, lord, why are you acting like this?! What is wrong with you?!” Yoongi combs his hair back, frustrated, “is this what you wanted?! Really? Lord, now it feels like you just wanted to have a reign on me to control me!”
“By showing the pup, you are trying to do whatever you feel like! Act however you feel like! You are making it look like you just wanted to rope me in, to make sure you have a place to stay. Permanently. Then you are acting up! Showing your true colours. Is that it?!”
Jimin glares at Yoongi, “how far will you take this before you realize that I know?!” he stands up, points at the corridor, “I know that he is carrying your pup too, and you just want to cover it by blaming it all on me! Do not even try that! I know about you two!”
For a second, they both are glaring at each other and then Yoongi laughs. He throws his head back and laugh. “Oh, my lord,” he laughs, looking at Jimin, “now you are trying to blame me and that innocent omega to justify your actions! Just like your father, you are manipulative!”
That hits like a slap. A hard slap. Comparing him to the person who caused him every misery. Jimin feels the blow physically, taking a slow step back. His eyes roam over the alpha's face. He cannot believe, he thought Yoongi would at least try to be polite about it.
“I will take your leave, then,” Jimin whispers, “if I am so cunning, manipulative, who knows? My pup might be born with the same qualities. I should not be here if that is how you see me,” he gives Yoongi a smile, “thank you for, at least, clearing out your priority.”
It makes sense. Yushik is carrying his firstborn and Yoongi is more concerned about that pup. Jimin clutches his hanbok, trying hard not to break down. He does not want to waste a single teardrop on this alpha. He does not want to show any crack on his pride to this man.
Yoongi's jaw snaps, “you will leave over a room? Do you hear yourself?” Jimin shakes his head, “I will leave over my pride. I do not need to be in a place where I am not respected or treated like the prince I am. I refuse to set an example of a weak omega for my pup. No.”
“I might bear it if I was just me, now,” he holds his stomach, “I need to think of my pup too. I refuse to let them be near anyone who treats their omega parent like this. I do not need your damn palace. Thank you.” Jimin rounds Yoongi to leave, only to be stopped by the alpha.
“Where will you go?” Yoongi seethes, “do you think, a pregnant omega, defenseless, honorless, without any name on you, will be respected out there?” he points at the horizon, beyond the palace ground, “you will be captured and thrown somewhere! A harem, most probably!”
Jimin chuckles, “never understood why the concubines are seen as losing their dignity when the royals go there to satisfy their needs. I will survive,” he looks over his shoulder at the king, “at least, I will know I did not settle for anything. I will not let you control me.”
“Also, do not try to tell me you care about the pup when you were ready to marry me off to someone else,” Jimin laughs, it all makes sense now, “you already have your firstborn from him-” “Will you stop with that?!” Yoongi curses, “seriously, stop with that lie!”
“I am stopping,” Jimin turns on his heels, “I will leave.” “Fine,” Yoongi grits the word out, “go. If your pride comes first. If you are so spoilt to not break when you know you are wrong, then go! I do not need this either!” Jimin watches him for a moment before leaving.
🌸
“Are you out of your mind?!” Taehyung comes storming in Jimin's room, “where do you think you are going?! Will you tell me what is going on?!” Jimin winces, he knows Yushik is right behind him, sitting on his newly fixed bed, watching them. “I am leaving,” Jimin whispers.
“Why?!” Taehyung hisses, “tell me! Why! I will talk to hyung-” “No!” Jimin grips the bag in his hand, humiliated, “no. Drop this! Tae, please!” he hates how Yushik is probably enjoying the show, and Jimin does not want the omega to have the satisfaction of knowing everything.
He does not want to be here for the humiliation when Yushik finds out Yoongi chose him over Jimin. Jimin looks at Taehyung, “I do not want to stay here.” “Where will you go?!” Taehyung curses, “I am coming with you!” “No,” Jimin glares, “do not even think about that!”
“Where will you go?!” Taehyung asks, frantic, “you are carrying! You are unmated! You are alone-” “I will find something,” Jimin's voice tremble, “do not make me stay here,” he begs, tears brimming in his eyes, “it suffocates me. This place. I beg, let me go.”
Taehyung shakes his head, “no way, I will just let you go! I will come with you-” “If you force, I will elope again,” Jimin hisses, “trust me!” “You can stay at my winter palace.” They both look over to see Jungkook by the doorframe, walking inside.
“I will go with you!” Taehyung nods. “No!” Jimin glares, “I want to be alone,” he looks at the bag, filled with things he needs to pack from this room, “for some time, I want to be completely alone.” Jungkook comes to hold Taehyung around the waist, “I understand.”
When Taehyung goes to protest, Jungkook squeezes the omega's hip, “let him rest,” he sighs, “he wants to be alone and for his mental peace, we can do this much. You can visit him when he wants you to. Right?” Jimin nods, “yes. That works. I will send you letter soon.”
Jungkook reaches to take Jimin's hands in his, “my best generals and troop will go with you. My protection is with you. Nothing will touch you. Okay? Do not worry,” he gives Jimin a small smile, “my nephew or niece will be absolutely protected with their parent. I promise.”
Taehyung turns to Yushik then, “Well, now that he is leaving, you are worthless,” he wipes his eyes, “let's pack your bags to get you out of here!” “No,” one of the guards says, hesitating, “the king said, he will stay here.” Taehyung blinks, “has he gone actually mad?! Huh?!”
Jimin sighs, “can you arrange the journey? I will leave tonight itself.” Jungkook hesitates, “how about you do it tomorrow morning? The hills are steep. I do not think it is safe to leave at night.” “I cannot stay in this room,” Jimin shrugs. “Stay in mine,” Taehyung says.
Jungkook nods, “I will go and talk to hyung about something,” he rubs Taehyung's back, “you take care, here?” Taehyung nods, “yes. I will.” ---- Jungkook walks inside Yoongi's bed chamber to see the king by the window, looking outside. “So, he is leaving tomorrow morning.”
“Can you tell me since when you are this stupid?” Jungkook sighs, “since when you are not understanding-” “Eun bought the doctor and Yushik,” Yoongi murmurs, “the people in this palace,” he sighs, “I do not trust them. Like, a fool, we kept her here. Our fault, really.”
Jungkook blinks, “what?” Yoongi breathes out, “yes,” he watches outside, “the omega goes out every night to spend time with his lover. His lover is the general whose guards protect Eun's cell here. Eun shares her letters through them. I came to know after coming back. Today.”
Yoongi curses, “I do not know who else is involved. Jimin is surrounded with so many people. I did not even get to tell him. I am not even sure who is working with her and who is not. It is better if Jimin leaves this palace for now.” Jungkook frowns, “is this a good plan?”
“No,” Yoongi turns to look at Jungkook, “the good plan is killing Eun,” his eyes burn, “I would take her ruining my life,” his lips curl, “I will not let her touch my pup or Jimin,” his hands ball in fists, “tonight the assassin will kill her. Fuck justice and rules and system!”
“Okay, are you thinking clearly?” Jungkook curses, “you will kill her, but what if she has others involved in this?! What if her web is spreading under our feet as we talk?” Yoongi shrugs, “then we burn the head and let the fire spread wherever the web went. I will see to it.”
“Who is this assassin?” Jungkook demands, “do we trust him?” Yoongi looks at Jungkook, “yes,” he looks out of the window again, “I trust him to finally do it.” Jungkook frowns, “who is it?” Yoongi shrugs, “leave it on me. The work will be done. No worries.”
“Just...” Yoongi rubs his forehead, “I need to tell him,” he closes his eyes, “before he leaves. I need to let him know that I did not touch that omega or there is no one,” he stops himself, “but, there are too many guards. So many ears. I just do not know how to.”
“I cannot let him go with that look on his face,” Yoongi curses, “it is weirdly hurtful to think he is hurting,” Yoongi looks over at Jungkook, “how can I find him alone?” Jungkook watches him, “how about your assassin let my assassin do the job, and you go with him?”
“If the work is done, I need to be here to handle the chaos,” Yoongi shakes his head, “if the head is on fire, the web will burn, and we need to be here to control it. If anything, I just want Jimin and also, if possible, Taehyung away from here.”
“Talk to him tonight,” Jungkook shrugs, “I will bring him here.” Yoongi curses, “I miss hoba! He was my guard and now, I do not know whom to trust. If someone eavesdrop-” Jungkook watches the king, “then, what?” Yoongi thinks, “I guess, we have to take that risk.”
“He is going to kill you when he comes to know,” Jungkook smirks, “trust me. He is hurt.” Yoongi gives him a deadpan look, “trust me, I saw it myself. I know. I hate myself for doing that to him. God, over a stupid room! I just wanted him to drop it for today.”
“Kind of planning to kill someone by tonight, a room is barely on my mind,” Yoongi rubs his temple, “and, also, I do not want them to be alert. At all. God, he looked so hurt.” Jungkook snorts, “all the best with that. I will get to work.” Yoongi watches Jungkook leave.
🌸
Jimin walks in quietly, his hands grasped in front of him and eyes cast down. Jungkook nods at Yoongi before closing the door. He will be standing guard outside himself. Yoongi sighs, rubbing his face, “okay, I do not know how to do this right except for telling you how it is.”
Yoongi points at the bed, “sit, please.” Jimin eyes the bed and stays where he was. By the door. Yoongi rubs his temple. “Omega, I-” “Jimin,” Jimin murmurs, voice hard, “call me by my name. You have no rights to use my sub-gender.” Yoongi nods, “right. Well, okay, then.”
“I will tell you how it is,” Yoongi sighs, “I did not touch Yushik. Not at all,” he hopes Jimin trusts him, “I would not do that to you-” “Who am I for you to think like that?” Jimin chuckles, rolls his eyes, “I am just another omega you got pregnant.” Yoongi tongues his cheek.
“Well, whatever you want to believe, I guess,” Yoongi shrugs, “but, you are the only omega who I got pregnant and who is carrying my child. I do not need to lie.” Jimin laughs under his breath, “he smells like you. He comes back drenched in your pheromones. Do not lie.”
“I am the king,” Yoongi grits out, “my scent is well known. Do you really think someone cannot recreate it?!” He marches over to Jimin, “his mother is the damn royal medic! Our scent is a mixture of things that are available in this world. She can easily make a perfume of it!”
“He smelt like sex!” Jimin glares, “he smelt like-” “Did I ever smell like him?!” Yoongi roars, “tell me! Did you even smell him on me?!” he pulls Jimin closer with a grip on his elbow, “fucking sniff and tell me! Do I smell like him? He has a lover! He smells like sex! I know!”
Jimin shrugs, “how would I know what you smell like, you are never around.” The room is quiet. Yoongi hears the way Jimin's voice cracks at the end. He notices how the omega recoils as soon as he says it. “I-” Yoongi pauses, fumbles, “you acted like you do not want me around.”
Jimin waves his hand, “yes. Yushik smells like you. I still do not know whom to believe. Of course, I was not thinking of being around you.” Yoongi sighs, nodding, “well, you should believe me. I am the king. If I had an affair, I would not have to hide it. At all.”
Jimin watches him, “then, what are you calling me here to tell me? When you took his side-” “You are going to leave with Jungkook's troop tomorrow. For your and the baby's safety. Eun,” Yoongi curses, “Eun is trying to trap us. Yushik and his mother are involved.”
Jimin blinks, “what?” Yoongi nods, “yes, the baby needs protection. I could not tell you that since morning. There are too many eyes. Ears. I,” he steps ahead in his urgency, “you have to leave. I just… I just had to tell you this.” Jimin goes pale, eyes wide, “ohh.”
“So,” Jimin hugs himself, “there is a chance that Eun might know someone in that troop too?” Yoongi shakes his head, “no! They are Jungkook's trusted people.” Jimin eyes him, “she used to kind of rule his entire kingdom.” Yoongi watches Jimin, “you will be safe.”
Jimin grips Yoongi's hanbok, “so, if something does get messed up, if someone do attack me or the pup,” Jimin's grip tightens, “I will just die there, and you will know when you get the letter?” “You are not dying!” Yoongi grits out, “I got it, okay? Staying here is not safe!”
“So,” Jimin's eyes tear up, “if the pup or me, we...” he sniffles, “if something happens, I will never see any of you?” Yoongi grips his arms, “listen, carefully. Okay?! Nothing will happen to you! Our baby will be fine too!” “Are you sure?” Jimin whispers, “fully?”
Yoongi is not. He opens his mouth and nothing comes out. Jimin reaches with trembling hands and grasps Yoongi's wrists. He pulls the king closer to press those hands against his stomach. “Promise me the pup's full security, can you promise me that, alpha?” Jimin mumbles.
“Tell me when I leave, I will be fine,” Jimin murmurs, “tell me.” “You were leaving me anyway,” Yoongi watches the omega, “you were going away on your own. Alone. Now I am sending my troop with you. You will be fine. I assure you.” Jimin nods, stepping back, “okay.”
Yoongi blinks, “that is all?” Jimin shrugs, his heart feeling heavy in his chest, “yes,” he tries not to look at the king's face, “yes. That is all.” There is a heavy weight that settles in his chest. As if he is saying goodbye. Jimin bites back his tears, “that is all.”
Yoongi watches the omega turn to leave, and Jimin goes up to the door. He grips the door knob and pauses. “Why did it have to be you?” Jimin whispers, the words echoing in the room, “I wanted a peaceful life. I just... I wanted a family. Not a king and his kingdom and this.”
“I wanted my pup to know their alpha father closely,” Jimin looks down at his stomach, “I wanted them to have a peaceful family. I wish… I just,” he wipes his eyes, “sorry. I will go.” Jimin opens the door and storms out. Yoongi watches the empty doorway, Jungkook looking back.
Yoongi's eyes move from Jungkook to Taehyung who is also there. “Oh, yo-” Yoongi flinches when Taehyung storms in, “what…” “Do you even hear yourself when you speak?!” Taehyung grits out, “you sound like you are abandoning him! Asking him to leave to take the load off of you!”
“He is carrying your pup! As an omega, we are not seeking much more! We are seeking emotional support and an alpha who understands just how important that emotional support is to us! Do you even know how long he will have to stay there?! His entire pregnancy?! After that?!”
“You will miss watching the pup grow in him,” Taehyung curses, “miss the first time they move. Well, I guess, you do not care. As you alphas are made of no emotions, but we care!” Taehyung points at finger at Yoongi, “he would want to make nests. Feel loved! Have an alpha!”
“You are not marrying him,” Taehyung murmurs, “you gave him no assurance that he matters. Now you are kicking him so far away. I do not care how you see it, it feels like you are kicking him away. I know for a fact, that he is not happy, and he will never be in that damn palace!”
“If I am ever pregnant and your brother thinks letting me roll off to some other palace might be good for me, I do not care about my safety, I am going to make sure he is dead,” Taehyung shrugs, pointing at Jungkook, “I would much rather be near my alpha than miles away!”
Jungkook comes to stand beside Taehyung, “as much thrilled I am about his pregnancy, whenever that comes, I think he is right. Hyung, you will be able to protect Jimin here. If not-” “If he dies,” Taehyung shrugs, eyes vulnerable, “let him die among the known faces. Please.”
“He is not dying!” Yoongi growls, “do you hear me?! I will not let anything happen to him.” “He is carrying this kingdom's crown royal,” Taehyung shrugs, “his life will always be in danger. Be it Eun or anyone else. We are raised with that knowledge and we can bear it.”
“But,” Taehyung takes Yoongi's hands in his, “if you let him go, you think anyone else will protect him as much as you will?” he begs almost, “do you really think anyone will care as much as you will?” Jungkook nods, “that is your family,” he whispers, “do not do this.”
Taehyung wipes his eyes, “it is okay if you do not care about hyung. But I think if we stay here, united, we can handle anyone. I think we can do this together. I do not want your mind to be divided. It will be. If he leaves, you will be losing focus too. Keep him here.”
“I care,” Yoongi sounds hollow, “in my way, I care too much. I fear that I care so much,” he looks at Taehyung, “not just about the pup. I care about him,” he points at the door, “the thought of something happening to him… Eun's dirty hands touching or reaching him... kills me.”
“I feel like I have robbed him of things he deserved. He said so himself. He wanted a peaceful life and I took that from him. I do not know how to not be a king. I do not know what can I do so my cursed past would not reach him. I do not know how to get out of this.”
“We cannot get out of this,” Taehyung shrugs, “but,” he squeezes Yoongi's hands in his, “we will get through this. We four will get through this, and you are going to give him a normal life. As normal as it can be. Yes? He is a prince himself. His normal is pretty f'cked up too.”
Taehyung breathes out a laugh, “just... tell him. Assure him. He is the older one. Since childhood, he is always the one who would assure me that things are fine. That life is okay. Now I know that no one told him or assured him that things are fine. He had no one to lean onto.”
“He had to grow up fast because I came right after,” Taehyung shrugs, “he had to take care of me and hold his own emotions at bay because I was the baby. Now he is having a baby and his alpha is telling him to suck it up and go to live somewhere else. He is tired. Please.”
“You do not have to be his alpha,” Taehyung sighs, “just be the pup's father. Share that load with him. He is crushing, and would not utter a single word of protest because he grew up like that. Proud and self-sufficient. But, he needs a shoulder too. Now I know. Be that?”
Yoongi's throat bobs, “I...” Jungkook sighs, “hyung, it is your decision at the end of the day. If you want him to leave, I will arrange.” Yoongi looks at Taehyung, Taehyung pleads him silently. “He can move into my room,” Yoongi watches Taehyung's eyes widen, “for now.”
“What?” Jungkook blinks. “What?!” Taehyung gapes. Yoongi nods, “yes. I mean, he can move into my room. I can sleep on the couch. I can personally take care of him. If something happens, Tae is right. We can fight it together. From here.” Taehyung hugs Yoongi, “yes! We can!”
There is a knock on the door, and they turn to see Jin standing at the doorway. He looks frantic. “Eun eloped,” Jin thunders, “Yushik is gone. Jimin's room is scattered and there is blood all over the floor. The guards are gone too!” Yoongi blinks, “I am sorry?!”
✨ Remord ✨
Yoongi runs out of the room, ignoring how he pushes Jungkook out of his way or how his shoulder slams against Seokjin's to make the omega stumble. The only thought in his mind is Jimin. Where the omega is. He rushes inside the room to see the mess inside.
There is a blinding feeling of hollowness in his guts, as if he is falling, and Yoongi hates how an unknown fear consumes him. He looks around frantically, rushing inside the bathroom and the closet. The omega is nowhere to be found. It feels like he was never there.
“Call the guards,” Yoongi screams, his own voice sounding foreign in his ears, “search the prince!” Jungkook nods, “I already did. Also, Eun and Yushik, we need to find them-” “Find Jimin first!” Yoongi thunders, “see if the doctor is there or not! Now!” Everyone scatters.
Yoongi walks out of the room to search every room. One by one he goes to each room and searches until he is standing at the corridor's end where the corridor opens up to the vast balcony and the swing. Yoongi freezes when he sees the figure standing there, at the furthest corner.
He storms out on the balcony and to the omega, who looks like he is lost in his own thoughts. “Are you out of your mind?!” Yoongi screams, grabbing Jimin by his elbow and turning the omega forcefully, “we were searching for you!” Jimin blinks, as if coming back to reality.
Yoongi pulls the omega in his arms, breathing in Jimin's scent to calm his racing heart. “What-” Jimin fumbles, “what happened?” Yoongi curses, “Eun eloped, along with Yushik! I thought,” he gulps, throat feeling dry, “I thought they took you with them.”
Jimin tries to free himself, “why do you care? You are sending me away anyway.” “Do not!” Yoongi growls, “do not even start with that right now, omega, I was losing my nerves there!” Jimin looks at him, a petulant glare fixed on Yoongi, “why? You should be happy.”
Yoongi grips Jimin's chin between his fingers, pulling him closer, “do not anger me right now, omega. You do not want that.” Jimin grips Yoongi's wrist, “or, what? You will do something like throw me out of your palace?” Yoongi's eyes burn, “you want to be with me this badly?”
“You want to ruin yourself like that?” Yoongi growls against Jimin's lips, eyes moving from Jimin's lips to his eyes, “want to be mine? Is that it? Want to destroy your future and the last chance to escape the mad king?” Jimin steps forward, “you do not scare me.”
Yoongi gives Jimin a breathy chuckle, “or, maybe you are just as mad as me. Huh?” Jimin shrugs, eyes challenging, “maybe. You,” his hands come up to grasp Yoongi's hanbok, “you drive me mad.” Yoongi is quiet for a few seconds, intense eyes fixed on Jimin's face, “is that so?”
Yoongi stands still while Jimin's hands slide up his chest to grasp him by the collars. Jimin pulls him in for a kiss and Yoongi goes, eyes screwing shut while he tastes the omega's lips with his own. It feels like he can finally breathe as the kiss deepens.
Yoongi grips Jimin's hips, pressing the omega up against the railing of the balcony. Yoongi pours his fear and anger and frustration in that kiss, he kisses Jimin until the omega is almost leaning away to avoid his lips because he cannot breathe anymore.
Jimin turns his face away, panting. Yoongi's lips find Jimin's earlobe, sucking on it, teeth slowly sinking in it. “Could have saved us both the time if you told me you thought I was bedding that omega,” Yoongi hisses against Jimin's ear, “how could you even think I would?”
“How could I even look at another omega when you are right here,” Yoongi trails kisses down Jimin's neck, “pregnant with my firstborn,” his large palm presses over Jimin's stomach, almost covering the stomach entirely, “looking so graceful and elegant all the time. I,” he stops…
Jimin watches Yoongi, soaking up the words he wanted to hear for so long. Basking in those words and thinking how he wanted this for so long without even realizing it. Yoongi gives him a small smile, “you are the only one I have my eyes on. I barely notice anyone else.”
Jimin looks away, “was ready to send me away, though.” “For your safety,” Yoongi begs almost, “please, understand, omega, for your safety. I just want you safe.” “Am I going to be?” Jimin looks at Yoongi, “safe? There?” Yoongi shakes his head, “not now. Of course, not now.”
“There you are!” Taehyung's shout makes them jump and separate. Taehyung and Jungkook come running to them. While Jungkook stands beside Yoongi, Taehyung wraps Jimin up in his arms, crying and telling Jimin how he thought something happened to the omega.
“They are nowhere to be found,” Jungkook looks at Yoongi, “we are sending out search teams. We will find them.” Yoongi nods, thoughtful, “send two teams to Seokjin's father's kingdom. I want to know what he is doing.” Jungkook chuckles, “did already. I am thinking the same.”
Yoongi looks at the two omegas who are looking at them now. “I think Seokjin's father got a whiff of us,” Yoongi gestures at Jimin's stomach, “in that case,” he looks at Jungkook, “we need to get Namjoon and Hoba here too. I do not trust that man.”
“I will send them letters right away,” Jungkook waves his hand. “If they all come back here, what will happen to your kingdom?” Taehyung wonders. Jungkook looks thoughtful, “I think,” he looks at Yoongi and back at Taehyung, “until all this is resolved, I should stay there.”
“No!” Yoongi glares at Jungkook, “you are not going anywhere.” “Right,” Taehyung looks tensed, “you are not going anywhere!” “I will get my best generals to guard your kingdom,” Yoongi hums, “your own generals are loyal to you too. It will be fine. You are not going anywhere.”
“What we need to do right now is,” Yoongi looks at Jimin, “announce this,” his eyes do not waver from Jimin's, “us. We,” Yoongi's throat bobs, “we should announce you as the Luna of the Min kingdom.” Jimin looks pale, “Lu-luna?” Yoongi nods, “yes. If you agree, that is.”
“That is the most unromantic proposal I have heard in my life,” Taehyung crosses his arms over his chest. Jungkook rubs his temple, “I think, right now is not the time to be romantic. He is being realistic and that is what we need right now.” Taehyung rolls his eyes, “right.”
Yoongi takes Jimin's hand in his, “you want a grand gesture or something?” Jimin snorts, “I highly doubt you even know what a 'grand gesture' means, alpha.” Yoongi arches a brow, “if you want, I can show you.” Jimin shrugs, “no. This is for the baby, not us.”
With his eyes fixed on Jimin, Yoongi nods, “announce our wedding,” he looks at Jungkook, “there is no time for celebration. Let our people know that I am getting married in a week,” he looks back at Jimin, “let's do it after Hoba and Namjoon join us here.”
Jungkook nods, “great. Are we inviting anyone?” “No,” Yoongi shakes his head, “we are not inviting anyone. No royal family, now, do you want to invite your family?” Jimin shakes his head, “no. I do not want them here. I do not wish to see any of their faces around me.”
“Very well, then,” Yoongi looks at the three faces, “let's get this over with.” Taehyung sighs, “you are a king. Do you not think people would want to attend your-” “I am the mad king,” Yoongi smirks playfully, “if anything, they expect me to get married on a whim. Trust me.”
Jimin looks out at the dark night, his eyes moving aimlessly over the shadows. He is getting married. In a week. He grasps the railing, closing his eyes to inhale a shaky breath. He is getting married in a week. Yoongi and Jungkook walks back inside, talking in hushed voices.
“How are you feeling?” Taehyung asks, rubbing Jimin's back, “you are staying with me tonight.” Jimin tries to smile, “okay, I,” he thinks to himself, “I feel okay.” Taehyung looks like he does not believe him, but he offers a smile nonetheless. Pulling Jimin in a tight hug.
“At least the groom is someone I can put all my trust in,” Taehyung whispers, “at least, he is the best person I have ever met.” Jimin's eyes burn, “the least, huh? The least.” Taehyung wipes his eyes, “at least, he loves the pup and wants you. He really does.”
Jimin frowns, pulling back to look at Taehyung, “why are you speaking like this?” Taehyung does not match those eyes, shrugs, “well, how many of us get that, hmm?” “You love Jungkook,” Jimin murmurs, a breath caught in his chest, “you are in love with Jungkook.”
Taehyung's eyes are brimming with tears when he looks up at Jimin with a small, wobbly smile. “I am so stupid, no?” he asks, voice cracking, “I am so stupid.” Jimin hugs Taehyung, pressing his lips over his hair, “Taetae, he,” Jimin cannot bring himself to finish that sentence.
“I want to tell myself that I feel obligated to love him,” Taehyung sniffles, “I want to tell myself that this is my upbringing making me believe I have to love the one I was married to, but,” he shakes his head, “we are not married anymore. I am not obligated. I do not know-”
“You do not need to worry, Tae,” Jimin rubs Taehyung's hands in his, “love does not need a reason. You do not need to beat yourself up like that. He,” Jimin looks over Taehyung's shoulder at where Jungkook and Yoongi disappeared, “I think he likes you too. I really think so.”
Taehyung smiles, waving his hand dismissively, “forget it, okay? I do not care anymore. He,” the omega sighs, “I think the only person he ever liked remotely like that is Yoona. I just,” Taehyung's voice sounds hoarse, “want to forget about it. Just, let it go.”
“Come on,” Taehyung forces a smile on his lips, looking at Jimin with as much excitement as he can muster, “it is your wedding in a few days. I need to prepare so much! Come on. Let's go inside for now. You will catch a cold.” Jimin lets the omega drag him inside to his room.
🫧🫧
Jimin wakes up to a knock on the door. Taehyung opens the door while Jimin sits on the bed, rubbing his sleepy eyes. He stills when he sees Yoongi standing by the door. The king nods at Taehyung and looks over at Jimin, “the merchants are here. Waiting for your presence.”
Jimin blinks, sharing a look with Taehyung and then looking back at the king. “What do they need my presence for?” Yoongi shrugs, “silk. Jewellery. Flowers. Basically everything.” Jimin's jaw feels a little loose, “what am I supposed to do with all that? This is your palace.”
Yoongi looks equally confused, “well, this is your wedding.” Jimin lets out a disbelieving laugh, “well, with you?! I do not see the point?” Yoongi blinks, “well, I do not know what your undergarments are made of-” Jimin feels his face heating up, “why do I need those?!”
“For the wedding!” Yoongi curses, “are you awake yet?” Taehyung steps in, “okay, okay, hyung, you go. I will take him there.” Yoongi breathes out a sigh of relief, “hurry up, please. If another merchant asks me if I want lilies or roses, I am beheading them.”
Jimin sits there, gaping at the door, “well, I do not care about roses or lilies either! Why do we need those?” he looks at Taehyung, “I hate both the flowers?” Taehyung winces, “just... let's go and see what is going on?” Jimin curses, “fine! My goodness!”
--- Taehyung and Jimin walk inside the courtroom to see the merchants lining up the room. Their eyes first go to the king who is sitting on his throne and looking at those merchants with bored eyes. Then they look at Jungkook, who is sitting in front of a merchant with Seokjin.
“What are you doing?” Taehyung asks, eyeing all the silk materials wrapped around Jungkook. The alpha looks up at him with lost eyes, “I thought, if I say my favourite colour is black, they will not have many options to show me.” Taehyung cannot help how his lips twitch.
Taehyung sits down beside Jungkook, eyeing those materials. “How about, for once,” he picks up a white silk, “you wear something different?” Jungkook eyes the white silk, looks at Taehyung, “I am not sure if I ever wore something that is not a shade of black in my life.”
Taehyung's eyes never waver from that material, “well, I think white will suit you, and-” he stops when Jungkook's hand covers his. “You think?” Jungkook whispers, “or, you wish to see me in this?” Taehyung shrugs, “maybe I do.” “Why white?” Jungkook wonders.
Taehyung shrugs, “it is the colour of peace,” he looks at the silk, “and, I want you to know peace. For once in your life.” The silence in deafening. Jungkook watches the omega while Taehyung watches him back. Then Taehyung gives him a small smile and gets up to leave.
Jungkook watches the omega go to sit by Jimin's side and looks back at the merchant. “This one,” Jungkook holds out the white silk, “make my hanbok with this one.” As the merchant and Seokjin get into the discussion of his silk, Jungkook's eyes stay glued on Taehyung.
🌸🌸🌸
Jimin twists and turns on the bed, everything that can go wrong is flashing across his eyes, and he just cannot sleep. The lamp has long gone cold, the fireplace slowly losing the fire. Jimin gets out of the bed, going to the closet and pulling out a drawer to stare at it.
He grabs the undergarments and throws them all on the floor to see the wooden surface of the drawer. With a long breath, he pulls up the surface to reveal a few envelopes. Opened and stored there clumsily. Letters from Eun. Jimin picks them up and starts to read them again.
Jimin's eyes burn the more he reads. 'There will be no baby,' she wrote, 'but, make him believe there is. The pain will be more. Also, do not try to back out, prince. Your father takes me as a friend, but I am no one's friend. Know that. I also befriended your mother. Hence…'
Jimin has not told Yoongi about this particular threat. He has not told Yoongi that Eun is blackmailing him with his family. Jimin hates his parents but at the same time, he does not want to be the reason they are in trouble. He leans against the closet, swallowing his tears.
He wipes his eyes when there is a knock on his door. With a tired sigh, he stores every letter in the drawer and puts the wooden surface back before throwing in his undergarments and walking out of the closet. He goes to open the door, breath caught in his chest.
Hoseok looks equally tired, in his black cloak, with a lantern in his hand. The guards are alert, posture straight. Jimin eyes them nervously before looking at the man. Hoseok nods, “may I come in?” They both notice the guards risking a glance at each other without moving.
“You may,” Jimin steps back to let Hoseok in before he locks the door. He grasps Hoseok's hand and drags him inside the closet to make him sit on a stool. Jimin sits beside him. “They are thinking we are having an affair,” Hoseok rubs his hands down his face, “I am sure!”
“I do not care,” Jimin shakes his head, his eyes on his hands, they tremble, “hyung, there is something I need to tell you. Something,” he swallows, “something you have to promise to keep between the two of us.” Hoseok nods, concerned, “what is it, mini?” Jimin gets up.
He pulls out that particular letter and holds it out for Hoseok. As Hoseok reads, Jimin sits down on the floor, head resting on Hoseok's knees. Hoseok blinks, “mini?” he looks at the omega who looks up at him, “mini, you did not talk to us about this! Does Yoongi know-”
Jimin shakes his head, “he thinks I joined in because I was concerned about Tae at first and wanted to be in it, then the baby came, and I wanted to protect the baby. But, he does not know about this-” “Blackmailing,” Hoseok curses, “we should tell him. Right now. We should-”
“I do not want to worry him more,” Jimin grasps Hoseok's hand in his, tearful eyes looking up at the beta, “hyung, I have already caused so much trouble for him. He is already so stressed about the plans and the baby's safety, along with us all. I do not want to put more on him.”
Hoseok looks at the letter, “but, mini, this is stressing you out.” Jimin gives Hoseok a tentative smile, “I told you. You are like,” he shrugs, “you are the closest to a best friend I will get.” Hoseok looks down at Jimin, his eyes are a little glossy, “I am?” Jimin nods.
Hoseok ruffles Jimin's hair, “I will take care of it, then,” he holds his hand out, “no matter what happens, I will try to protect you, your baby and your family.” Jimin holds Hoseok's hand, his smile dimming, “killing Eun will not solve everything, you know that. Right?”
Hoseok lets out a long breath, his eyes on their joined hands, “I know, mini. It will cause more trouble. Killing her will get us nowhere. She has a web spread under her feet. The web connects the Jeon and the Min kingdoms. There are too many people involved in this scheme.”
“Yoongi is not even trusting his own bodyguards,” Hoseok wipes his mouth, forehead creasing with lines, “neither is Jungkook. I am sceptical about the generals I am working with. Namjoon is reporting some unusual behaviours from the ministers of the two kingdoms. I know.”
“If we kill her, it will alert the web,” Hoseok looks at Jimin, “it is like killing the head. Yoongi is not sure which way it will go. It can either dry out the web or make them thrash and create a chaos.” Jimin shivers, “that woman knows too much about all of us.”
“She practically ran the Jeon kingdom for years when Jungkook was busy with wars and travels,” Hoseok nods, “she ruled the kingdom on his behalf. She knows everything about Jeon kingdom and the court there trust her more,” he looks at Jimin, “it is all so tangled.”
Jimin leans his forehead against Hoseok's knee, tears soaking the general's pyjama. “It will be fine, right?” he whispers, voice tight, “we all will be fine. Yes?” Hoseok looks at the omega, his heart squeezing in his chest when he sees how small Jimin looks. How frail.
“It will be fine.” They both jump. Hoseok looks at the door of the closet, and Jimin whips around from where he is on the floor. Yoongi stands by the door of the closet, his eyes going from Jimin to Hoseok. His expression is blank, but those eyes look calculative.
Hoseok gets up, “the guards did not announce-” Yoongi arches his brow, “I am the king of this palace. I do not need announcements or permission to get anywhere I want.” Hoseok tilts his head, “but, you never abused that power. What is going on?” Yoongi gives him a long stare.
“You know, when we held that meeting between me, you, kook and Namjoon,” Yoongi steps inside the closet, “I strictly and very explicitly told you all that I do not trust any of you either. Did I not?” Hoseok rolls his eyes, “I gave you your morning tea. You drank it blindly!”
Yoongi curses, “I do not trust any one of you around him!” he points at Jimin, “stay away from him.” Hoseok holds his hands up, “sorry, okay? He asked me to meet him here, and I know he is stressed. So, I had to.” Yoongi looks at Jimin, “you asked him to meet you here?”
Jimin blinks, looking between the two men, “well,” he waves his hand, “yes. I was a little stressed about everything and hobi hyung is like my best friend. So...” “It is midnight,” Yoongi's voice comes out tight, “you two are huddled in your damn closet to comfort each other?”
Hoseok steps in front of Yoongi to hide Jimin from his view, “hey,” he matches Yoongi's eyes, “he is stressed. Can you hold onto your jealousy and be there for him right now?” Yoongi blinks, lips parting, “I... I am not jealous!” Hoseok gives him a pointed glare, “come on!”
Hoseok pats Yoongi's shoulder and looks over at Jimin, “I will go now, mini. I have to rest.” Jimin nods. “Mini?” Yoongi makes a face. Hoseok snorts, “you call him omega. Also, grow up.” Yoongi grumbles while Hoseok walks away, and then he looks at Jimin on the floor still.
Yoongi goes up to the omega, who tries to gather himself. Jimin wraps the robe tightly around himself, pulling it over his legs and sitting up straighter. Yoongi looks down at the omega, “that is a horrible nickname.” Jimin gives him a roll of his eyes, “well, I like it.”
Yoongi sits on the floor in front of Jimin, ignoring the stool. Jimin eyes the stool and looks back at the king. Yoongi looks out of place in the closet. The king looks around, as if not sure what to do or say. Jimin can feel the awkwardness between them. He hates it.
“She will not be able to harm you, okay?” Yoongi starts, looking at his hands, “I promised you that.” “I am not scared about me,” Jimin looks at the king's hands too, “I am worried about the others and,” he gulps, “our pup.” Those two words still manage to rock them both.
Yoongi bites his lower lip, “there was not supposed to be a baby. It was not the plan.” Jimin feels his cheeks heating up. He does not like talking to the king because it feels too much. He blurts out stupid words and feels like a fool. “I know,” he nods, “it was not.”
Jimin pulls his knees up to hug them, resting his chin on them, “I would not sleep with you for a plan. No matter what.” Yoongi thinks back about that night, brows furrowing, “the plan was for you to come to my tent and for us to spend enough time for them to think we did it.”
“I cannot believe we actually did it,” Yoongi stares at the floor in disbelief, “also, I cannot believe you got pregnant in one try, I-” Jimin whines, face buried against his knees, “you really need to learn to read the room. I am kind of not in the mood to discuss that night.”
Yoongi looks at Jimin, all serious, “I have always wanted you ask you this and never got the courage to,” he waits until Jimin looks at him through his knees, “that night…” Yoongi holds his breath, “you did not feel obligated to go with the plan, right?” Jimin frowns, confused.
Yoongi waves his hand, “you know... Eun wanted you to lure me in-” “I would not sleep with someone for the first time in my life to lure them in,” Jimin glares, “you have to know that.” Yoongi winces, “I am sorry. I am just,” he shrugs, “I think about it and do not get it.”
A/N - You have to read both the stories if you want to know the clear picture. So much will be revealed in Replaced and some will be here too. The stories are intertwined. So, yeah.
“You do not get what?” Jimin frowns. Yoongi breathes out a small chuckle, “that... why would an omega like you, sleep with me?” Jimin tilts his head, “you have to be very specific there. Omega like me? You...? What?” Yoongi shrugs, “you are... I mean... you are unbearable.”
“Unbearable?” Jimin stares. Yoongi nods, flails his hands, “yes. God, you are so unbearable. You make me feel suffocated and scared and worried,” he looks at the omega's frowning face, “you are this… this presence that I cannot ignore and it gets unbearable sometimes.”
Jimin's shoulders hunch, he looks away, “I told you I can go-” “No!” Yoongi curses, looking at his clenched hands and back at the omega, “you are unbearable because you...” he swallows, “you make me feel. Too much,” Yoongi whispers, “I feel breathless when you smile. When...”
Yoongi feels the tips of his ears heating up, “when you agreed to marry me,” he presses a hand against his chest, “believe me, I never imagined my future. I never had a slight wish to get married but when you agreed I was happy.” Jimin sucks on his lower lip, “you are frowning.”
“This is very cringe and too much for me,” Yoongi fixes a pointed glare at Jimin, “give me some credit.” Jimin's lips twitch, “well, I am carrying our pups. Agreed to marry you with no proposal at all. If I want to hear a few compliments, you should give them with a smile.”
Yoongi takes a deep breath, eyes finding Jimin again, “I promised myself, I will keep my distance from you. You were my brother's lover,” he watches how Jimin's smile dims, “you were also this beautiful presence that made me feel like I will do no good by getting closer to you.”
“But, I ended up ruining everything anyway-” “I have feelings for you.” The closet is quiet. The silence heavy. Yoongi stares at the man in front of him, and Jimiin is staring at his hands. “What?” Yoongi wonders. Jimin nods, “I have feelings for you. For some time now.”
“Feelings, as in...” Yoongi waves his hand, “as in… the father of your pups-” Jimin hides his face in his hands, “like, I want to marry you because I want to be with you.” Yoongi feels winded, “like…” Jimin stares at the floor, “you know what love feels like. You loved Eun.”
Yoongi's eyes stay locked on Jimin's face, “that is what I thought too,” he nods when Jimin looks up, “that, I loved her and I should know what love feels like. But,” he shakes his head, “you feel different, prince Jimin. You make me feel so different.” “How?” Jimin's wonders.
Yoongi squirms where he sits, eyes focused on his hands, “you make me mad when you do not obey my orders. You make me worry when I do not see you for some time,” he closes his eyes, “how do people do this?” Jimin swallows, his eyes burning, “just be honest.” Yoongi breathes in.
“I do not care about my reputation,” Yoongi waves his hand, “I do not care about anyone else's reputation either. If I wanted, I could have let you get married to someone else and be done with it. The truth is,” he looks at Jimin, “I cannot. I selfishly want you. To be mine.”
Jimin grips his robe, “what?” Yoongi nods, reaching out to take Jimin's hand in his, “I wanted you for myself. To,” he gives Jimin's hand a small tug, a suggestion, “have you by my side. To call you,” Yoongi's breath hitches when Jimin crawls up to him in answer, “mine...”
Yoongi's chest fills with air, too much air, when Jimin crawls up to his lap. The omega sits there, side pressing against Yoongi's chest. Yoongi holds Jimin in the circle of his arms, lips pressing on Jimin's hair. He stills when he realizes his arms are around Jimin's stomach.
Jimin goes still too. Yoongi lets himself do what his inner-self asks, begs him to do. He spreads his hand over Jimin's stomach, feeling how Jimin turns to bury his face completely against the crook of his neck. Jimin sniffles, “my king-” Yoongi hums, “our pup.”
“Maybe this is too hasty,” Yoongi whispers, “but, I do not know the future, you know?” he puts his index finger under Jimin's chin to make the omega look up at him, “I do not know what awaits us. Also, I am impatient. I am selfish. I am sorry.” Jimin frowns, “for what?”
Yoongi takes off the ring on his pinkie finger, holding it up, “will you marry me, prince Jimin?” Jimin blinks, “what?” Yoongi nods, “here, between the two of us, in this closed closet, with no one to pry or judge or stare, will you marry me?” Jimin burst out crying, “yes.”
“I know it is not official,” Yoongi swallows, “it is nothing grand, it is not how you wanted-” “It is intimate,” Jimin looks at the alpha, smiles because his heart skips so many beats, “I am realizing, if you are with the right person, you do not need those grand gestures.”
“It is the feeling,” Jimin lets out a soft chuckle, “it is the stupid, giddy feeling.” Yoongi nods, his own eyes glistening, “I do not know what awaits us outside this room. But, I want to know that you are mine. For as long as I can. Please.” Jimin holds his hand out, “yes.”
So, Yoongi does it. He holds Jimin's hand and pushes the ring up his finger. They both look at Jimin's hand. Both of their breaths caught in their chest. It fits perfectly. Yoongi pulls Jimin's hand up to press a soft kiss against the ring, “I take you as my mate. My omega.”
Jimin nods, “and, I take you as my alpha. My mate.” Yoongi smiles, in the dim light of the lantern, his face looks a little red, “this is the most comfortable and intimate wedding I have ever seen.” Jimin laughs, “well, I cannot disagree.” They both share a smile.
💗💗💗
“So, there is something I need to tell you all.” Yoongi looks around the room, eyes moving from one face to another. “If the words leak, I will find you, and you will not see the next sunrise, am I clear?” he demands. Everyone around the round table nods, confused.
“Eun reached out to Jimin during Jungkook's visit to our palace,” Yoongi looks at Taehyung and Seokjin mainly, “he was given a letter, asking him to join Eun. Otherwise, there would be some consequences.” Taehyung and Seokjin stare, their eyes going from Yoongi to Jimin.
“She thinks there is no baby and Jimin is lying about it all,” Yoongi leans his hands over the table, looking between the seven of them, “and, we have no idea who is with her. We have to put up an act.” “Act?” Taehyung frowns, “what are you planning?” Yoongi looks at Jimin.
As Yoongi explains the plan, they all nod along. “We have to put up the act, even among ourselves,” Jungkook leans in, looking at everyone, “we do not know who is involved or who is keeping an eye on us. Who is listening to us. We cannot slip. At all. Remember to keep acting.”
“According to the plan,” Hoseok points at Jimin, “I will make a scene when Jimin goes missing. I will blame him for everything. It will be you two's chance to slip out of this palace and go to Jeon kingdom, where Eun will wait for you.” “She will think we are in her trap.”
“Also, I will lose it because Seokjin will be caught too,” Hoseok looks at Seokjin apologetically, “sorry. We had to include you.” Seokjin waves his hand, “it is okay.” Namjoon nods, “as soon as you all leave, I will take Taehyung with me and sneak out of here.”
“We all will be there,” Yoongi sits down, “just make sure, we will leave this room and get into characters,” he arches a brow, “no matter what, even if you are alone in your room, keep acting. We do not trust the walls here either. We cannot slip this time. It's too risky.”
They all nod. Getting up. Jimin watches them leave. He looks at Yoongi who is looking back at him. “You look worried,” Yoongi reaches and takes Jimin's hand in his, “it will be fine. Put a little faith in me.” Jimin swallows, nodding, “I am. I am trusting you to do it right.”
Yoongi rubs his thumb over Jimin's knuckles, “I will not let anything happen to you or the pup. I promise.” Jimin breathes out, looking down at where their hands are joined, “thank you.” Yoongi does not utter a word. Jimin gets up, bowing. “I will see you later, my king.”
🍀
They see each other again after Eun is caught. Yoongi walks up to the omega, who is watching the guards drag Eun and Yoona away from the courtroom. Jimin trembles where he stands, arms hugging himself. “Are you okay?” Yoongi asks, hesitant to reach out and take a hold of him.
Jimin startles, eyes finding Yoongi, and he is nodding. The omega's face is pale. Eyes wide. Yoongi drops the sword, both arms pulling Jimin to his chest. “She is gone,” he noses Jimin's hair, lips pressing against the omega's temple, “she will not hurt you or our pup again.”
Jimin lets out a breath, arms grasping at Yoongi's hanbok. His face buried in Yoongi's chest. Yoongi feels the air knock out of him. The omega's scent slowly filling his nostrils. He holds Jimin close. Lets the omega settle. “Yes,” Jimin murmurs, “she will not hurt you either.”
Yoongi's eyes snap closed, and he feels Jimin's lips press against his chest. He swallows, nodding, “yes. She is gone. Gone for good.” Jimin pulls away a little to look at Yoongi, eyes searching his face. “Are you okay?” Yoongi gives him a small smile, “I think I am.”
Yoongi looks over at Jungkook when Jungkook calls him. They have to go for the execution. “I will be back,” Yoongi promises to Jimin, “take care, okay?” Jimin nods, watching Taehyung run up to him. The omega a blushing mess. Yoongi leaves Jimin to Taehyung.
“Are you okay?” Taehyung asks Jimin, “hyung...?” Jimin nods, eyes following after the king, “I am fine,” he smiles at Taehyung, pulling the omega in his arms for a hug, “are you fine?” Taehyung hums, arms tightening around Jimin, “yes. Yes, I am.”
Taehyung pulls back to take Jimin's hands in his, “can you be-” he paues, eyes on the omega's ring finger. Jimin curses mentally when he sees the ring and Taehyung is gaping at it and looking back at Jimin. Jimin can feel his cheeks heating up. “What is this?” Taehyung demands.
Jimin winces, “a ring...?” Taehyung glares, “hyung, this is on your ring finger! What is this?!” Jimin swats him, looking around, “it is,” he swallows, “we,” he watches the others in the room, “we got married.” For a second, Taehyung just stares at him. Jimin waits.
“You got married?!” Taehyung screams, eyes widening, “oh, my god! You got married to hyung?! How?! When?!” Jimin cannot answer. He looks anywhere but at Taehyung. His cheeks heating up. Taehyung is persistent in his questions. He keeps asking. “Please, hyung! When?!”
It takes Jimin some time to fully explain it all to Taehyung and by the time he is almost done, Yoongi and Jungkook are coming back to the courtroom. As Taehyung and Jungkook lurch on Yoongi with all their questions, Jimin lets out a sigh of relief. Finally resting himself.
==== “You stay here,” Taehyung leads Jimin to a room, “hyung will be back when he is done.” Jimin startles, eyes wide, “why would he be back in my room?” Taehyung stares at him, “you are married?” Jimin shakes his head, face heating up, “give him another room. I am not sure-”
Taehyung arches a brow, “you are not sure of what? If he snores or not?” Jimin glares, “you know what! I cannot possibly share a room with him!” Taehyung crosses his arms over his chest, “and, why not?” “Because it is impolite!” Jimin gapes, “come on, Tae. You know it!”
“Even in our kingdom, the bedrooms are separate,” Jimin tries to make Taehyung understand, “the alpha has his own bedroom-” “Because, most of the night, those alphas spend in their harem. Are you implying that about hyung?” Taehyung tilts his head.
“No!” Jimin flushes, “I am just saying, the luna gets his own room. It is mandatory. You know very well how our parents do not share a room. If needed, an alpha can come over to the luna's chamber, but they do not share a room!” Taehyung stares, “my god, you are such a prude!”
“I have slept with Jungkook, and I am not going to have a separate bedchamber because some rules say so,” Taehyung shrugs, “you can do the same.” “No,” Jimin winces, “I would like my privacy. I am not sure if I want to share a room with him or not. I have never!”
“Tell him yourself,” Taehyung smirks over Jimin's shoulder, “I will go and find my alpha.” “You are not married!” Jimin turns, ignores Yoongi who is standing by the doorstep, “do not sleep with him!” Taehyung waves over his hand and disappears around the corner. Jimin curses.
Yoongi slowly closes the door and turns to face Jimin, “is there something you want to say?” Jimin feels the awkwardness, looking anywhere but at the alpha, he tries to convey his point. “Even if we are married,” he shrugs, “the luna gets his or her own room. You know, right?”
Yoongi's voice is mirthful, “never really paid enough attention to room arrangements before. But, if you say, sure.” Jimin finally looks at the alpha, “do you want to share a room?” Yoongi chuckles, “well, I prefer to sleep alone too. I am not a peaceful sleeper.”
Jimin cannot fathom the idea of sharing a room with the alpha. He rolls the hem of his sleeve around his finger, anxious. “I will get a guest bedroom,” Yoongi offers, “do not worry.” Jimin watches the alpha. Yoongi looks exhausted, his face paler than usual. Shoulders slumped.
“I nest,” Jimin murmurs, turning away from the alpha's inquisitive eyes, “because of the pregnancy,” his voice thins out, “I am nesting. Anyone in the nest, or near it, disturbs me.” Yoongi is quiet. Jimin looks at the bed, “I also... move around a lot. To fix the nest. So...”
Yoongi's voice is soft, “if you are scared that I will judge you for your nest or be upset about you moving around, you should not. I will not open my mouth, no matter how long you take. Also, I barely sleep at night, so, it is okay. You will not disturb me.”
Jimin lets out a deep breath, nodding, “very well, then.” Yoongi smiles, “I will go and have a bath. You do not have to wait up for me.” Jimin watches the alpha walk out of the room for the guest bathroom. He goes to the private one, having a bath himself.
Yoongi comes back to the omega by the dressing table. In his nightwear. Yoongi watches how Jimin applies some oil on his face. The omega's face glowing in the candlelight. Yoongi closes the door, slowly padding over to the omega. Jimin looks at him through the mirror, startled.
Yoongi is not sure what he is doing. He rests his one hand on Jimin's shoulder and reaches to take a hold of Jimin's chin with the other. The alpha turns the omega's face towards him and leans in to capture those lips in a silent kiss. Jimin clutches the comb in his hand...
Yoongi hums, when he inhales the omega's scent. The maddening scent of those flowers blooming around him. He deepens the kiss, desperate in a sense. Jimin clutches onto his shirt, the kiss leaving him breathless. “I was worried sick,” Yoongi whispers against Jimin's lips.
“For what?” Jimin wonders. “The thought kept me on my toes that she will do something to you and I will not be here to protect you.” Yoongi peppers kisses all over Jimin's face, pulling the omega up to capture those lips again. “I can take care of myself,” Jimin murmurs.
“I know,” Yoongi hums, tasting the omega's mouth, pulling Jimin close, “but, I will always worry.” Jimin pulls back, lips shiny and plump from the kisses. His eyes search Yoongi's face before he is giving Yoongi a small smile. Yoongi gestures to the bed, “sleep?”
Jimin nods, following the alpha to the bed. They climb in silently. Yoongi lets the omega fuss over the pillows. He does not ask why there are so many pillows and blankets. “I get cold easily nowadays,” Jimin supplies anyway, “also, the pillows help me cuddle.” Yoongi nods.
Jimin lies down. Yoongi's lips twitch when he sees the omega bury his face in one pillow and throw his leg over the other two. Three more are lined behind his back. Creating a partition between him and Yoongi. Yoongi pulls the blanket over them both before dimming the lamp.
“Good night,” Jimin calls over his shoulder. Yoongi hums, “good night.” As Jimin falls asleep, Yoongi stays awake. The thought of the upcoming events crowding his mind. He looks at the sleeping omega and back at the ceiling. He falls asleep to the sound of Jimin's breaths.
- replaced/remord will end in a few updates. See you on Replaced soon. x ko-fi.com/aamyungv
Amy 🪄

Amy 🪄

@Aamyungv
FAN ACCOUNT ♤ Taekook and Yoonmin writer ♤ Do not translate/repost my works on any platform ♤ Very slow in DMS ♤ I run chainblock ♤ BU- @aamyungverse
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