Chapter Text
Part 0. ???
Jeongguk wakes up to a scene of destruction.
Disoriented, he opens his eyes blearily, head pounding a constant, deadly thrum that worsens when he tries to move his limbs. He registers the smell of smoke, gasoline, cool air, and different scents he can’t quiet place—a mix between strawberry, vanilla, and something he can’t name but is familiar.
He doesn’t remember how he got here. Wasn’t he supposed to be at the cafe? He swears he slept in his dorm last night.
The floor is cold to the touch, icy almost. Once his vision clears, light sparkles into his vision from the glass scattered on the marble floor. Some of it is charred, some of it is ice. Rubble falls from his right (the ceiling?), some being thrown by some other force. The place is grand, even in the face of destruction. A palace, Jeongguk thinks. Flashes of ice, fire, stone, air, beams of colorful light fly past his eyes.
He thinks he sees a few cards flying.
He manages to move his head, and slowly, painfully, tilting it to the right and upwards to see a tall ceiling, golden chandeliers destroyed, pillars crumbling.
Then, a flash of red hair, tanned skin, ruined clothes, a body.
It’s a young man, a stranger but not. There’s something too familiar in him that Jeongguk can’t explain. Not when he’s still wondering if this is a dream, why he’s not in his dorm room, why he isn’t being woken up by his alarm clock, why it feels so real.
The young man is standing over Jeongguk, golden skin slick with sweat, red hair matted with a dull blue glow radiating around him, but he still manages to look beautiful, Jeongguk thinks, with dirt, charred clothes, horrible angle, and a grimy, beaten, tired appearance. It’s a thought made in passing, as suddenly something hits his abdomen and he closes his eyes again in pain. Pain that is loud, raucous, excruciating. A volcano erupting inside of him. He feels himself scream but doesn’t hear anything.
He hadn’t been hearing anything at all since he’d first awoken.
He opens his eyes, it feels like prying sealed steel doors in front of him with his bare hands, and sees the young man again.
He’s being pushed up by hands, getting him to stand on legs that feel like jello. His body thrums with aching pain in protest. But he’s standing now, more like bent over but he’s on his own two feet. That seems to be good enough.
There are cards all around them he hadn't noticed before, moving on their own, deflecting attack after attack but they seem to be crumbling, stray hits coming in from their makeshift barricade. Hands are cupping his face and he leans into the touch. Flashes of red again, his hair, and a mouth speaking to him. His entire view is the man’s face, his wide eyes, his chapped pink lips, the red gash on the side of his head, bleeding into the red of his hair. The sight makes Jeongguk’s heart clench in worry. He’s saying something. He can’t hear him.
It’s frantic, the movement of his mouth, so fast Jeongguk barely keeps up. His eyes are open wide, determined, but there’s fear in them, trepidation, and Jeongguk’s brain finally cooperates with him, and he realizes he’s telling him something.
He’s mouthing the word, “Run.”
His feet stay glued to the ground, brain unable to process anymore than that. There’s something more he’s saying, something important judging by the sincerness in his eyes, something he doesn’t catch. But he does catch the smile he gives and holds onto it with both hands as to not lose it, because Jeongguk blinks and suddenly the vibrant smile is nothing more than a temporary image when he closes his eyes. The man is flung backwards by a ball of energy, a spell of sorts, and is sent flying into the nearest wall hundreds of feet away from him. The cards fall simultaneously on the floor. Tears stream down Jeongguk’s face, and he instinctively yells. It’s a name.
Sounds rush into his ears, deafening and loud, filled with shouts, and cackles, and crumbling pillars. With it comes the memories flooding into him like a broken dam.
He chokes up remembering, moves his foot to steady himself from the wall of memories of the last few months hitting him.
This isn’t a dream.
This is real.
And yet, with the red-haired man blown away it feels wrong. So, so horribly wrong.
When he sees the man, the smoke and haze finally dissipating, his knees go weak again, he feels despair and worry cloud his emotions seeing red blood soak his clothes, all over his chest, his face.
His legs finally start moving.
Darkness swallows up the space in front of the red-haired man, blocking him from Jeongguk’s view. He knows who it is. It makes him run faster.
The darkness disperses into a man.
Bright light, almost blinding, emits from him and he feels himself grow lighter with the energy coming into him. He raises his hand as if routine, whispering words, feeling something build inside him. Symbols materialize into the air floating around him in a haze.
He sees the dark blue, almost black, energy in the darkness’s hands approaching closer and closer and closer and—
“Taehy—”
He chokes. His mind goes blank as he crumbles to the floor. It feels like a thousand needles are piercing his body, from the inside out. The light is gone, dimming faintly around him. He’s eating glass, he’s combusting into flames, he’s breaking, scattering into a million pieces, spikes are piercing his skin, the darkness stands in front of him, the red haired man is dead, the red haired man is dead, the red haired man is dead—
And the world turns black.
❀❀❀❀❀
part 1: suadede
saudade
noun.
- why do i feel like something is missing? why do i never feel at home?
i miss a place that i don’t remember
i miss a place i only see in dreams
i miss someone i don’t know - a deep profound emotional state of nostalgia or melancholy for an absent something or someone; missingness
—in which Jeongguk’s a missing puzzle piece, and Taehyung finds him.
❀❀
Taehyung sees nothing but black. He blinks a few times, until a scene materializes in front of him. He sees a man on the floor, a fallen crown a few meters away from him — the king. His breathing is harsh, hand clutched at his chest at the gushing red wound. There was a split in reality, a portal, a gate open behind his fallen body.
Taehyung rushes forward, not processing what he’s seeing but on his knees in an instant for his king. A swirl of black cloud swirls around their two bodies, but Taehyung pays it little mind. Cards shoot out of his cape, the knights of the four suites place themselves around them protectively, emitting a shield of rippling green energy around the two.
“Taehyung,” the king says shakily.
“Your highness?” Taehyung replies. He refuses to admit his hands are shaking as he takes in blood stains and bruises. He wills his hands to steady as he casts a quick spell to try to help the damage, but the wounds are too deep.
“You have to find him Taehyung,” the king says slowly. “Go through the portal. You know where he is. You’re the only one who can find him. You have to… Before he...”
“The prince, your highness? But, how will we — ” Taehyung asks, but the king’s eyes are quickly fluttering to a close. “C’mon, stay with me. I’ll-I’ll find help your highness, you just have to wait until the healers are here — ”
He doesn’t get to finish his sentence.
A clear blade pierces through his cards, throwing him back in agony at the loss. It pierces straight into the king, a guttural noise coming from him as blood drips from his mouth.
“Th-the prince,” he says through gritted teeth, eyes filled with fear, anger, and resignation as he stares at the wielder of the blade.
Suddenly, piercing red eyes are all Taehyung can see. He can’t move. He swipes a hand attempting to get his cards, he can’t feel them. Pained tortured screams, ring in the air, so agonized that Taehyung feels as if he’s the one being stabbed. He may be. He hears snickers grow into vicious cackles, louder and louder, leaving a song of screaming and laughter in it’s wake, the cackles the harmony to the screamings melody.
The last thing he hears is a dark, raspy voice right next to his ear, red eyes disappearing and reappearing next to him. It laughs.
“Long live the king.”
❀❀
Sweat clings to his body as Taehyung sits up, abruptly. His cards are automatically up and ready to shield him. His heartbeat goes down as he realizes it was just a dream, no danger imminent as of now. His cards lower and start shooting off into a direction of a table. He scrunches his eyebrows at the unfamiliar surroundings as his eyes adjust to the dark. Looking around he spots a digital clock with red numbers, 5:03 AM , glaring back at him. He’s on, what he surmises, is a couch.
What was he doing here?
He reaches for a handheld device in his pocket, to anyone else they would’ve thought it was a phone. He presses his fingers on the bottom edge. It glows a reddish hue then opens. Notifications start flying out of the small device and place themselves in front of him, somewhat transparent but solid if touched, apparitions of his own magic. The recent messages were all from Namjoon, his brother and the most skilled witch he knew. He flicked his hand to scroll through them. Each message was more confusing than the last. Something about him being okay. Why wouldn’t he be? About where he was. The latest one in particular asking him about the prince.
The prince.
“Are you okay?”
Startled by the sudden voice, Taehyung falls off the couch, device in hand clattering to the floor, notifications disappearing. A light flicks on and lights the room. A shadow of a man looms over him, blocking the obnoxious light from his eyes.
“Taehyung? If I remember correctly.”
“Uh, yes?” His eyes adjusted. The shadow became clearer in the lighting, and he is faced with chestnut hair, broad shoulders, plump lips. The gears in Taehyung’s head churn, trying to gather who this handsome stranger is. “Do I—”
“Ah, right. My name is Seokjin. Kim Seokjin. You can call me Jin.” He holds out a hand to help him up. Taehyung takes it as a handshake. “Uh…”
“Kim Taehyung,” he greeted, and after a few shakes, he tries to let go of the hand clasped around his own. “I think you already knew that—do I know you? You know, most people usually don’t hold on this long when shaking hands.” Immediately, Seokjin lets his hand go. Taehyung gets up on his own meeting Seokjin at eye-level. “Um, do you know where I am? I need to—to find the prince! Right. It’s strange, I haven’t felt him in my vicinity since we were children, but he feels nearby. I have to find him, soon, before... But it seems I’ve forgotten…”
“Wait, slow down. Do you remember last night?” Seokjin asks, a bit flustered at Taehyung’s pace.
“Vaguely.” Taehyung admits. He looks around the now lit room. He spots his armour on a dining table across the room. A few of his things are strewn about the area. His cloak near it, as well as his cards which have neatly stacked themselves next to his cloak after coming to shield him just a few minutes earlier. He swipes a hand and the Aces and Knights of the deck fly to him. He grimaces at the missing Knight of Spades and Ace of Clubs. What happened? He asks, and he instantly regrets it when they all start speaking in his head at once. “I remember what happened before I got in the portal. And then everything after is a bit fuzzy.”
“Ah, I was hoping you could tell me what happened... But what do you remember?” Seokjin gestures for Taehyung to sit down on the couch. He sits opposite to him on a loveseat across from a coffee table. He eyes the cards wearily, hands on the coffee table. Tap. Tap. Tap. Taehyung pays it no mind. Not many people use cards as mediums so he’s used to the stares.
“I found you outside of an open portal behind my bakery last night.” Seokjin pauses, waiting for Taehyung to respond. He gets a blank stare, though he seems to be fidgeting. ”You tumbled into a wall, and started speaking in some foreign language I couldn’t recognized. Then you touched my forehead and started speaking in Korean, something about some prince, about Vescaria, then you told me your name, took two steps and passed out?” He pauses again, but it doesn’t seem to be ringing any bells. “Your cards were in a fuss. I was surprised myself, you should keep your magic under control in public like that. You don’t know who could’ve been watching.”
That has him at least furrowing his brows. “What do you mean? Everyone uses magic.”
“Maybe where you’re from, but not here.” Seokjin says with a chuckle. Everyone using magic? Absurd. “Not here.” Taehyung opens his mouth to speak, but decides against it. But you use magic . Taehyung wanted to say. He’s quiet for a few moments before he continues.
“I remember the palace being attacked. It was chaos. The king… He opened a portal for me before a… Before he...” Taehyung looks down, suddenly somber at his recollection. He twiddles his thumbs. His cards are whispering memories into his ears.
Flashes of the scenes come before him. Some from his nightmare, some actual memories. He doesn’t know if he can tell the difference. He recalls the distant yells, thunderous laughter, blue and yellow light, blades of the dark world and light world emerging from skilled hands. Roses and cherry blossom flowers, pink and white petals falling around them. The queen. He winces at the memory of his cards destroyed in front of him. There’s a flash of a familiar face, from long, long ago, in a crumpled heap, dead before he could even reach him. Namjoon telling him he had to go, holding onto his hat for dear life, shoving papers, spells, stones into his arms. The king has fallen . He had said.
“He was stabbed. And I went into the portal. I remember I was exhausted as soon as I set foot here. I remember there were cold hands, an awful stench, and the dark. I don’t remember the tumbling into the wall. Or talking to you.The next thing I remember is waking up here.” He gestures around him. He waits. Seokjin’s hands lay on the table. Tap. Tap. Tap. When he doesn’t say anything, Taehyung adds, “Where even are we? Is this Earth? Am I in a fairy tale? Still dreaming?”
He already knows the answer, he can feel it in the air, but it doesn’t hurt to ask. When Taehyung stepped into that portal, he could’ve guessed a handful of places he could’ve ended up in, all on Vescaria. Maybe it would’ve been the Mountains of Khisha up north, or the Servenia Desert down south, perhaps the Evela people of the East. Taehyung knew that the king had hidden the prince somewhere, but never would he have guessed that it would’ve been Earth.
Seokjin looks at him contemplating what to say. His hands are interlocked together on his lap as he stares, leaning forward. Taehyung meets his gaze head on, face blank again even if his eyes hold so much that Seokjin can’t quite decipher. All the while, his cards spin around him. It makes for an interesting sight.
“You said palace. Are you—are you really from there? From Vescaria?”
Taehyung nods. “It’s all I’ve known for the last 20 years of my life.”
“What are you then? A royal? A prince?” He asks.
“A knight.” Taehyung answers, not skipping a beat. Seokjin expects him to be more proud when saying this, but Taehyung seems to trail off, growing quieter.
Seokjin sits back, heaving out a puff of air. “A knight...” He almost scoffs. “Wow.”
“What’s the matter?” Taehyung asks, curiously.
“You say that Earth is a fairy tale?” Seokjin asks instead of answering. Taehyung merely nods again. “Your entire world is a fairy tale here, Taehyung. Earth. You are on Earth. I thought my parents were lying about us being from another world. I thought…” Seokjin stops for a moment frowning deeply.
He leans forward again, but doesn’t look at Taehyung. Taehyung tries to ask something, but he continues, gesturing all the while. “My parents had always told me we had come from some faraway place, another dimension. They told me someone like you would come, and we would have to help you. I never believed them, isn’t it ironic?”
He pulls up his sleeve and reveals a series of runes Taehyung vaguely recognizes from his grade school days. He picks up a mug from the table and the runes glow blue. It levitates in the air.
“I use magic everyday of my life, which is actually fucking insane here on Earth, and yet I could never believe them about being from another dimension entirely. I never believed that you would actually come. I always thought we were just different, y’know? Like superheroes in comic books. Not from an entirely different world.” The mug circles around in the air while Seokjin looks at it with a wistful expression. Taehyung’s hand twitches. He raises it a bit. “Until you show up and—”
The mug suddenly starts to fall and before it can hit the table and break, Taehyung’s hand is already outstretched to catch it. Seokjin finally looks at Taehyung, surprised. “Sorry, I lost my concentration. Th-hank you. I just…”
He rubs at his temples for a few more minutes, and Taehyung sits by idly thinking over his words. He puts the mug down, and uses this opportunity to ask another question.
“So if I’m processing this information correctly you’re from Vescaria?”
Seokjin nods, “According to my family, yes.”
“But you, yourself, aren’t so sure? Even when you use magic?” Taehyung asks. He hums in affirmation. “Can you hold out your arm for me?”
Seokjin is a bit skeptical but does as he’s asked. Taehyung grips his arm with his left hand and presses down on the inside of his wrist. Taehyung whispers something under his breath, eyes glowing blue. “What are you—”
In the next instance, blue symbols illuminate all over his body, starting from his right arm. Seokjin feels a thrum of energy pass through him as he watches the symbols light up, shocked.
“I thought so.” Taehyung smiles at the sight, pleased to confirm his suspicions.
“What? I never...?”
“They’re your family symbols. Every Vescarian has them,” Taehyung explains. Letting go of Seokjin’s arm. The symbols slowly start to fade. Taehyung points out one in particular on the back of his right hand. It was an intricate pattern of swirls and circles and dots. “This is the mark every Vescarian has, family aside. And this,” Taehyung traces the fading symbol just above it, “means your family is from the Capital city.”
Seokjin stares at the fading symbols until they’re gone, in awe. When he looks up at Taehyung again, his body is alight with its own symbols, this time glowing red, more than Seokjin had on his own body.
“These are mine.” Taehyung says, tracing a few on his left arm. Seokjin takes everything with wide eyes and an open mouth.
“Can every Vescarian do that?” Seokjin asks.
“Yes and no,” Taehyung says. “With time and practice you can bring up your own family symbols, but not many people can make other’s symbols show up.”
“Can every knight, or royal, then?”
“Uh, well, no.” Taehyung admits, eyes not meeting Seokjin’s.
He doesn't ask anymore and Taehyung is grateful. Regardless, he is left speechless, staring at his arms.
“Wow?” Taehyung offers to break the silence enveloping the room.
“Yeah,” Seokjin says. He laughs to himself. “Wow.”
When Seokjin looks up again his demeanor is more relaxed, much more amiable though still cautious, and a bit amazed.
“To tell you the truth, my family and I are a bit estranged.” He says this with a slight frown, but he seems to be past the problem. “But I guess it's my family’s job to help you, and while I don’t talk to them anymore, I am always more than ready to help someone in need. I don’t know who your prince is, but I’ll help and try to show you around. And you, tell me more about Vescaria and how the hell you ended up on Earth. You can stay here if you need a place to stay. I don’t think you have anywhere to go, do you?”
Taehyung’s stomach growls. He smiles sheepishly as Seokjin stands up from the couch and makes his way towards the kitchen.
“So, want some breakfast?”
❀❀
“How are you doing?”
“Well, I haven’t found him, yet.”
“Hey, don’t beat yourself up about it, okay? He chose you for a reason. Things have been quiet these past few days. We’re safe.”
“I know, hyung, but — ”
“Stop. You can’t find him if you’re wasting energy worrying about us.”
“I know.”
“Good. Now how are you actually doing?”
“‘m fine, hyung. This world is just… different.”
“Don’t get lost in it.”
“I think I already have.”
Seeing Namjoon alive and well gave Taehyung the biggest relief, even if it was through a holographic, grainy view. He didn’t know exactly how it worked, but Namjoon had somehow gotten communication between Vescaria and Earth up and running. It was spotty so they could only communicate for a limited time, but it was better than nothing. Knowing that he didn’t have to worry if his family was still alive or not let him breathe easier as he strove to find the prince.
For the first week, waking up every day had been disorienting. After the first day, Seokjin had been showing him around the city. Seokjin says he’s in a country called South Korea, in a city called Seoul. The name is foreign but refreshing on his tongue.
Seokjin found Taehyung’s curiosity cute. Taehyung was eccentric, to say the least, but he found it particularly odd how he seemed like he knew what would happen before it would and yet seem so distracted and clueless and naive at the same time. Despite being in a new setting, there was an omnipotent presence about him that Seokjin couldn’t quite place. He would dodge random runners, energized dogs, frisbees, cars, everything on the streets like it was nothing, like it was expected. It didn’t look like he dodged with magic either, though he did stop a bucket of white paint to fall on both of them with a call of his card, and it was frozen in time. They had to quickly leave and let it fall before the painter could stop them to confirm what he just saw. He couldn’t count with two hands how many times he’d had to remind Taehyung not to use magic so liberally in public, but his warnings fell on deaf ears.
When he had asked about this weird omniscience, Taehyung merely shrugged.
By the third day, Taehyung was given some spare cash with new knowledge on how to use the public transportation system. (“Are you sure you know the way back? Please call me if you need anything, okay?”) He was given a phone, but still insisted on using his own device, which was what he was using when Seokjin walked in on him the first day. He had called it the Nav. And after borrowing Seokjin’s oversized clothes, he finally found the money to go shopping with him. He wouldn’t let go of his cloak, even with the warmer weather.
(“These are so different from the fashion at Vescaria! What are these?”
“That’s a croc, Taehyung. And I refuse to buy you any, they’re atrocious.”
“But—”
“Hey it’s not your money you’re spending.”)
Seokjin couldn’t get off work forever, and Taehyung woke up everyday to travel closer to where he felt the prince was, all the while learning more about the world everyday. They hadn’t yet discussed how Seokjin’s family could’ve moved to Earth when it is extremely difficult without a portal opened such as what the king could do, but Taehyung had been too caught up in finding his prince. Besides, he had had his suspicions and he figured they would have plenty of time to talk, later.
Seokjin had gone with him on a particular day later that week, where he didn’t show Taehyung around or have any work obligations, but merely followed him to see where Taehyung’s gut was taking him.
“So how do you know he’s this way?” Seokjin asks, trailing behind him.
“I… it's hard to explain. I told you I was a knight, yes?” Taehyung slows his pace down to converse easier. He almost walks them straight into a highway, but Seokjin stops him before he could jump into traffic. (He wasn’t, he was just going to use magic, but alas.) “When I was young, a special bond was formed between myself and the prince. I was to be his sole protector when we reached the proper age, his sworn knight. Through this bond, I can feel his presence. I would normally be able pinpoint an exact location, but I’m still unfamiliar with the place and something seems to be wrong with my tracking magic. Like something doesn't want him to be found.”
Taehyung hums to himself, rubbing his empty stomach. “Do you want to grab a bite to eat? I’m starving.”
Seokjin agrees, and they’re soon en route to a local cafe nearby.
“Do you know how he looks like?”
“Only from what I remember as a child. He was quite cute, wide eyes and teeth like a bunny’s.” Taehyung recalls fondly.
“Did you know him?”
“We… We used to be friends when we were children. I don’t think he would remember, we were so young. I barely remember myself.”
“Why is he on Earth anyway? Did he run away? Did something happen? Why go out to find him now?”
“That's a long story. But I'll tell you this: Everyone thought he was dead just a few hours before I had come here, including me.” Taehyung had planned on telling him some more just then, but as they neared the cafe, Taehyung felt it. Something familiar. Stronger this time. Clearer. Before Seokjin knew it, Taehyung was walking quickly ahead of him, towards the cafe.
As Taehyung grew closer, his senses started to hone in closely to his surroundings, trying to find him. A passing stranger with a cup of coffee caught his eye. The man had looked impatient, grumpy, and irritated. Taehyung watches as the man drinks the coffee and immediately his facade becomes relaxed and pleasant.
It was worked like a charm, like someone had imbued magic into it.
He passes a few more people who were sipping at their coffee and senses the magic in each drink. It was faint, probably done subconsciously, but still enough to do its’ job. He spots the cafe they were all coming from, and walks his way over. His footsteps come to a stop near the entrance, looking through the glass at a particular barista.
“Taehyung! Jesus, slow down,” Seokjin says, finally catching up to him. “What happened?” Taehyung doesn’t answer. He sees that Taehyung is staring into the shop, but he can’t see at what exactly. “Well, you got the right place, at least. Come on, let’s go in.”
“I found him,” Taehyung whispers, still staring into the shop. Seokjin halts mid-step.
“What? Where?”
Instead of answering, he walks inside, leaving a confused Seokjin to follow. As soon as he enters, the barista looks up and meets Taehyung’s intense gaze. He looks so much like his younger self, Taehyung thinks, but so different, so much older.
His hair is a dark brown, looking lighter with the sun hitting it from the windows, styled slightly to the side, falling over his forehead. His eyes are big and wide, a deep hazel that reflects the sun. His face is round, nose big, mouth small, in a pout that Taehyung finds adorable. He’s wearing an apron over a dark short-sleeved shirt that looks like he’d hastily put it on, wrinkled. His gaze is one of surprise, then of shyness, and he turns away, blushing slightly when Taehyung supposes he’s stared long enough. He greets his next customer with a smile that makes his eyes crinkle, and Taehyung can feel the blood rush to his own cheeks.
Most importantly, there is that scar, on his cheek, right below his eye. A scar he’d gotten when he was five, in a scuffle with the fairies in the forest.
He lets Seokjin move him, something about blocking the way in, but Taehyung doesn’t look away, not for a second. He spots the name tag on his shirt and smiles. He whispers to himself.
“I found you, Jeon Jeongguk.”
❀❀
three weeks later
In exactly two minutes a young, admittedly cute, man with soft red hair will come into the cafe. In one minute, Jeongguk predicts he’ll have a breakdown, and try to but fail to write his number on a napkin in hopes of giving it to him. In the next, he’ll have the man’s coffee ready and maybe, if he’s lucky, their fingers will touch for a second when he hands it to him. And maybe, just maybe, he won’t die when he does it. Because he needs to be alive to die when the man says “thank you” in that deep voice of his. Maybe he’ll even get a name this time.
He knows this because at exactly nine in the morning, every morning, the man walks in to order his coffee. And today was the day he had finally worked up the nerve to ask him out.
“Cutie at ten o’clock,” Jimin says, bumping into him and breaking him out of his reverie.
“You almost made me spill the drink,” he hisses, nursing the cup in his hands.
“Oh come on, it wouldn’t have spilled anyway. You’re the luckiest fucker I know,” he chides, handing him a lid. “Anyway, here comes your prince charming. Stop it with the googly eyes and try to at least ask his name this time, okay? Isn’t today the day you’re going to ask him to lunch?” Just before the red-haired man comes to the register, Jimin leans to whisper to his ear, “It’s been three weeks, if you don’t make a move soon, I’ll have to. His ass is hot.”
He internally groans. Count on Jimin to tease him endlessly. It wasn’t his fault that he had a massive crush on this regular. It certainly hadn’t helped that he was literally the man of his dreams—ones he’d been having even before they had first met three weeks ago.
“Hello, Jeonggukie,” the man greets, smile almost blinding. Jeongguk swallows, surprised. It was the first time he’d said his name out loud. Any other time, he would greet him with a smile, or called him by his job description. He could have melted into a puddle of goo right then and there. He is wearing a nice button up today, with fitting jeans and sunglasses placed on the back of his head. His long cloak he always wore was flung over his arms, and his cards held in his left hand. “Nice to see you again.”
“How did you—”
“Name tag,” the man says simply with a grin, pointing at it. Jeongguk stares at it, a blush creeping onto his face. Of course.
“Here’s your order, Vanilla Chai Latte and a chocolate chip cookie, um...” Jeongguk hands him the drink and cookie and takes the won he holds out to him.
“Kim Taehyung,” the man says.
Something about the name was familiar, similar to how he’d felt when he first saw him enter the cafe. He still remembers the blazing look and fierce eyes. It had made him slightly uncomfortabl,e but the man later on proved to be quite endearing. It was a strange day, one minute he was behind the counter and the next he was in the bathroom, the man asking him in a deep voice and slight accent if he was alright. He couldn't remember what had happened in between, but he brushed it off. The next day he had come back, this time for a drink. And not because he wanted to check up on Jeongguk, no not at all. It was the first time he’d ordered coffee and kept asking Jeongguk for suggestions. The first few days he’d ordered almost every item on the menu, before falling in love with the Vanilla Chai. They’d once talked passingly about how much he liked dogs, so it was hard to believe that he’d never learned his name until now. It was weird how familiar he was, and Jeongguk couldn’t help but feel flustered around him. He had to admit that the man was attractive, and Jeongguk was whipped. At least that’s what Jimin says he is.
“Here’s your change, Taehyung,” Jeongguk says with a grin. He thought it rolled off of his tongue nicely. “Hope to see you again.”
“Of course,” Taehyung says, taking the change and receipt from his hands. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Jeongguk.”
Jeongguk nods and smiles, almost letting him turn around and go to his table before he could say anything, but remembers what he was going to do. “Taehyung, wait.” He reaches out and grabs his wrist. Realizing what he’d just done, he lets go. Taehyung gives him a curious glance.
“Um… I get off in half an hour, would you mind waiting, to uh... have lunch with me?” He asks, willing himself to look at Taehyung directly. He sees Taehyung’s expression soften, a blush prominent on his tan skin.
“Of course, Jeongguk-ah. I thought you’d never ask.” Taehyung smiles brightly. Jeongguk has to stop himself from screaming right then and there because he said yes. Kim Taehyung said yes. He motions to a table in the corner. “I’ll be right over there. I’ll talk to you then.”
Jeongguk nods, smiling as he watches Taehyung take a seat at his normal table. Jimin throws him a wink as he passes him, but Jeongguk didn’t pay him any mind. He’s knocked out of the Taehyung-vision—he really likes that name—when a girl customer comes to the register ready to order.
“Excuse me,” the girl says, a tad irritated. Jeongguk quickly apologizes and continues to work the register, a newfound excitement in him now that he knew he scored a lunch date.
Taehyung watches him from his table, smiling to himself. Of course, this was not how he had planned on finally talking to the prince, but after their first encounter he thought it’d be better for Jeongguk to approach him.
(“Did you really have to scare him like that, I mean, going up to someone and telling them that they’re a prince and that they should go with you immediately is not at all subtle.”
“I wasn’t trying to be subtle.”
“Well you should if you want him to actually go with you.”
“What do you suggest?”
“Well, first of all, do you have to make yourself known to him yet, or do you just have to protect him? I mean, nothing has happened yet right? Let him come to you.”
“Well, I guess not. I'd rather it sooner then later though. Namjoon-hyung told me that I should just focus on protecting him. I’ll just stop by here for a drink everyday then. To keep an eye on him.”
“At the very least, please don’t forcibly drag him from his job into the bathroom to tell him he’s a prince again.”
“I already erased his memory, okay?”)
He had watched over Jeongguk carefully over the past three weeks, but was increasingly growing antsy. If Jeongguk hadn’t asked him out just then, he was sure he would’ve done it that day as well. The three weeks was more than enough to confirm that Jeongguk was indeed a magic user. And it was odd, he felt some sort of protection around him, something to make him cloaked, in a sense, to others around him. He was lucky to find him the way he did, only a closer proximity would've gotten him there, otherwise he thinks he would've walking around the area, but not close enough. It was like a two-meter wall that sent his tracking magic into a frenzy until he walked passed it. It was definitely some strong magic, and he wants to find out who exactly is behind it. And while Taehyung was sure it was him, he had to check the symbols on his body before he told him anything further. And he was afraid that creatures would be sent to attack Jeongguk. Now that He knew where Jeongguk was, there was no stopping him from trying to find and kill him.
He still isn’t quite sure if Jeongguk even knows what he’s capable of. He watches as the previously irritated customer becomes relaxed as soon as she drinks her coffee. It was definitely magic, he can tell even from his own drink that he got from him. But he doesn’t think Jeongguk knows what he’s doing. It’s rather cute, he admits, that Jeongguk is thoughtful enough of his customer’s emotions to try and help them even if it is subconscious.
Lost in thought, he almost doesn’t notice the sinister presence in front of Jeongguk. A new customer, another woman, but something about her doesn’t feel right. Silently, he calls he waves a hand and casts a spell, waking a few of his cards alert as well. He curses as he sees the glamour off of the woman wear off, feathers along her arms growing more visible by the second. He scans the area for more of her flock, and surely enough they take up half of the occupied seats in the cafe. He stands.
“Your name is Jeon Jeongguk, yes?” The woman asks Jeongguk. Jeongguk merely nodded, not looking away from the drink he was making. He had felt uncomfortable chills when the woman was ordering, but he knew it was best to just get the drink over with so that she would leave.
“We’ve been looking for you. You’re quite hard to find.”
At this he looks up, surprised. Looking for me? Why? He almost drops his drink when he finds himself eye to eye with some sort of bird hybrid. He blinks. Just a second ago she looked like a normal woman. Now feathers lined her previously bare arms and throughout her long brown hairy. Her nose looked increasingly beakish, and eyes narrow, and smile wide, borderline creepy. She brings her hands up to rest them on the counter, long black claws scratching the counter top. Jeongguk backs away, slowly, but the woman grabs onto his collar first.
“You can’t get away that easily.” She hisses.
“Let go of me!” He yells, but the woman’s grip was strong and soon she had a hand around his head, yanking at his hair. He struggles in her hold, moving from side to side trying to get her off. He knocks her into the counter, successfully loosening her grip around his head, but the hand around his neck tighten. He falls to the floor, the woman on top of him now. He feels her claws sink into his skin, blood staining his shirt as he yelps in pain. He feels them go deeper, and then they’re gone. He looks up and sees Jimin holding out a dented frying pan, looking frazzled.
“Oh my god, Jeongguk! Are you okay?” Jimin’s by his side the next instant.
“Do I look okay to you?” Jeongguk groans, rising to his feet, but quickly loses balance, tumbling into Jimin.
“Okay, bad question, what the fuck just happened?” Jimin asks eyeing the unconscious woman. A screech sounds behind them. Five similar looking bird-women approach them, each with a murderous gaze. This time they all had sharp thin steel swords ready to use.
“Jimin, we—we gotta get out of here.” Jeongguk says, regaining his balance and grabbing Jimin’s hand, breaking out into a run towards the exit.
One of them grab Jimin’s ankle, yanking both of them backwards, another grabbing at Jeongguk again. He groans as one of them presses their claws into his arms and holds him by the neck. His heart almost stops when he sees Jimin. His eyes are closed, arms above his head. A sword swinging just above him, about to hit—Jeongguk struggles out of the other woman’s grip, biting into the feathers and hitting her face. He just about throws himself in front of Jimin when a familiar figure steps in front of him, taking them by surprise.
He sees the back of a slender red-haired figure, cloaked in black and red, arms out, cards spinning around him. The woman’s sword hits a blue transparent shield in front of him, disarming her in the process.
“Kim Taehyung the card wielder? Here?” She exclaims, steadying herself and getting back into a fighting stance. “You were never a part of the deal.”
“I wasn’t aware there was a deal.” He says simply, tone sharp, eyes fierce.
“Whatever. We just need the boy,” she says, helping her other bird friends up. “He won’t pay us empty-handed.”
“Taehyung?” Jeongguk murmurs behind him. Taehyung turns his head to face them for a moment, smiling at him apologetically before turning back to the woman.
“What?” He says, in a voice Jeongguk didn’t know he had in him. It was cold, furious. “Do you expect me to hand him over? Especially after you hurt him? Not on my watch, you filthy fury.” Taehyung says, and they lunge at him at once. With a flick of a hand the number cards of the deck shoot out of the shield, attacking the women all at once. The Joker card disarmed them, each sword neatly lined up beside them. Some other cards created portals underneath where they stood, sinking them into the ground, others spew out fire, rocks, water, vines.
He murmurs a few words while red symbols are carved into thin air. The women—furies(?)—end up tied together with a thick piece of vine, struggling and squawking for him to let them go. All Jimin and Jeongguk could do was watch in awe and disbelief. Taehyung stops muttering under his breath, and the symbols attach themselves onto the furies bodies.
They all seem to recognize what’s about to happen to them before it does. The one that confronted him, who seems to be the leader, yells at him to stop. “You can’t do this! We won’t go back there, we were already promised freedom!”
“You should have thought about that before you decide to attack the prince.” Taehyung says. His eyes glow red, as he says something that foreign tongue that Jeongguk doesn’t recognize. Jeongguk blinks and in the next instant they are gone. Okay, what the fuck just happened? What the fuck? What? He scans the area around them, it was deserted now and wrecked. The table in the far corner was still on fire, and vines covered the countertops. Napkin dispensers, utensils, plates were all knocked over or shattered on the floor. How was he going to explain this to their supervisor.
It stays like that for a few moments, Taehyung's cards flying through the air, and the red glow about him starting to fade.
"I didn't think they would come so soon," he whispers to himself. He closes his eyes and focuses on the magical presences near them. When he feels and sees nothing, he opens his eyes with a sigh of relief and lets himself relax.
Taehyung finally turns to face the two of them, who are gaping at him with open mouths, like a fish. He seems deflated, shoulders hunched, face tired, yet he still smiles at them in amusement.
“You know, flies will get in your mouths if you leave them open like that.” They close their mouths immediately. He frowns, soon after assessing the damage done to both of them. He kneels down, next to Jeongguk, and looks his body over for wounds. Jeongguk hisses when Taehyung presses onto the claw marks around his neck and arms. “We need to get you to the hospital, as soon as possible. I don't know if they had anything laced in their claws.”
“Wait, can’t you just, I don’t know. Do whatever the hell that was—magic?” Jimin asks beside him.
“I would, but frankly, I’m tired. If I do, I’m not sure if I’ll pass out before I can clean this up and get you guys somewhere safe,” Taehyung admits. “But here—” He waves a hand over Jeongguk’s and Jimin’s wounds. “This should alleviate the pain for a little while before we can get you guys medical attention.
“I’m going crazy,” Jeongguk says facing Taehyung, as Taehyung helps him up. He grips Taehyung’s hand tightly, failing to stand straight without help due to the wounds on his legs. “This is all in my head. I just wanted to go on a date, with a cute red-haired guy, who’s like ten times hotter now and is holding my hand right, but this is all a fantasy. All a fantasy. Fuck, Jimin pinch me so I can wake up.”
Jimin pinches him. He closes his eyes and opens them. Taehyung is still in front of him, eyes soft and gaze fond. And fuck, if that isn’t cute. “I’m sorry, Jeongguk-ah, but this isn’t a dream. I would still love to go on a date with you, though.”
“What the fuck just happened? Who are you?” Jeongguk asks, the question meant to sound more frustrated, but ends up sounding more confused and tired.
“I’m Kim Taehyung, Jeongguk-ah, I’ve already told you.” Taehyung starts to lead them out of the wrecked cafe, the number cards slipping into his coat while the jack cards do work in the cafe.
“That’s not all.” Jeongguk tries again. “Those women, whatever they were—furies? called you the card wielder. And me? They called me a prince? That’s not all.”
Taehyung sighs, and stops them both just in front of the entrance. Jeongguk glances behind them and stifles a gasp at the cleanliness of the place. It was as if they were never there. The jack cards zip quietly into Taehyung’s cloak. And Taehyung—he fidgets a bit. Hands pulling at his cloak, eyes flitting to and from the empty cafe, drifting anywhere but on Jeongguk. And it's like that, for a few moments. Jeongguk staring at Taehyung, round eyes even wider, waiting for an answer. Jeongguk may take the pause for suspense, and Taehyung may agree but it's really because he's nervous. He may be able to predict some things that may happen, but he never thinks too far himself. But then, after this pregnant pause, his eyes settle, almost resigned, facing Jeongguk's own gaze, so unexpected that Jeongguk's heart skips a beat.
“I've been meaning to talk to you, actually. For a few weeks. But, I'm not sure how you would process the information." He pauses, and really looks at him, eyes sincere. "Jeongguk, are you sure you want to know?”
He looks around behind him, at the mess that vanished before his eyes, at Jimin, looking just as bewildered as he feels, then at Taehyung. His gaze is as intense as the first day they met, gaze almost blank, but his eyes hold so much more that Jeongguk wants to uncover. “Of course... Please.”
“I am Kim Taehyung,” he starts and Jeongguk almost starts to complain until he continues, “your sworn knight from your homeland, Vescaria. And you, Jeon Jeongguk, are our long lost prince. I am here to protect you with my life. I am here to take you home.”
Nothing but silence follows his announcement. And then—
Laughter.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Jeongguk and Jimin attempt to laugh at the proposal, but Taehyung looks at them so sincerely that Jeongguk starts to grow pale. It suddenly all starts to make more sense. Why the fury had said she was looking for him. Why he had these strange, inexplainable powers. But—
“I’m sorry, your highness. But I’m afraid I’m not.” Taehyung says. He sighs, knowing what’s going to happen next. Jeongguk and Jimin exchange furtive glances at each other before promptly passing out.