Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Okay, talk me through the plan again, I want to be sure you have it all right.” Hoseok had himself draped leisurely across one of the many plush couches that dotted Taehyung’s room.

“When we get to the party, we go through the normal formalities, then after exactly one hour we meet in the bathroom to change our clothes and sneak out the window.” Taehyung recited back.

Hoseok sat up and smiled at Taehyung, “Perfect!”

Hoseok had snuck out of state affairs numerous times, but this would be Taehyung’s first time. His stomach writhed with nervousness at the idea of it, but couldn’t hold back his excitement. He had been asking his father, King Jiwoon, for a single night out since he was a teenager, but was always denied.

“I have street clothes in my bag. I have a hat and glasses for you. You’ll need a bit more disguise than me, with you being the crown prince and all.” Hoseok tried to joke, but nervousness nipped at Taehyung’s thoughts.

“Maybe I shouldn’t do this.”

“Oh come one Tae, you can’t back out now! No one will recognize you, I promise. We’re going to go to a bar where no one even cares about the royal family, it’ll be great for you.”

Taehyung wrung his hands together.

“It’ll all be okay Tae, just try to have fun.” Hoseok stood to put a comforting hand on his back, “Even princes need a night out.”

Taehyung breathed an anxious sigh. “Let’s go before I change my mind.” Taehyung walked to a button on a nearby table and pressed it. Within moments a palace servant entered the room.

“Your royal highness.” He bowed.

“Let Namjoon know Hoseok and I are ready to depart.”

“Of course,” the servant bowed again, leaving with determined steps.

“Ah, it must be so nice to have so many people working for you, your royal highness.” Hoseok sighed with envy.

“You’re a your royal highness too Hoseok.” Taehyung rolled his eyes. “You get to live here too.”

“But I’’ll only ever be a duke, you’re the future king.” Hoseok emphasized the last word with added wonder, stretching himself back down on a couch.

“Whatever,” Taehyung laughed.

Taehyung walked over to a nearby mirror to inspect himself. His stylist had him dressed in a slim deep navy suit with a simple bow tie, his messy brown hair sleeked up and out of his face. Tonight was a simple formal dinner with celebrities and influential families, nothing important — in fact he was certain his father kept throwing these so he’d meet a woman to marry.

“You look handsome, as usual, your royal highness.” A voice from the door rang out, Taehyung turned to see Namjoon smiling from the doorway.

“You’re not supposed to enter without the prince’s permission,” Taehyung teased his advisor.

“I’d like to think he’d make an exception for a friend. We’re ready to take you over.”

Taehyung could see the photographers and reporters before the car even pulled in front of the venue. It was always him they were on the edge of their seats waiting for — for a photo of the young bachelor prince to print in their tabloids and magazines. He huffed, frustrated.

“Don’t let them bother you, what do you care what they print in their shitty magazines.” Hoseok encouraged, trying to brighten Taehyung.

“Easy for you to say, I’m not even sure they know who you are.” Taehyung kept his eyes forward, not looking towards the photographers. “And don’t swear like that, it isn’t becoming.”

“You’re starting to sound like Seokjin,” Hoseok teased. “And all they need to know is I’m handsome and a good friend of the prince, they can figure out which random duke I am later,” Hoseok opened his side of the car and emerged into the paparazzi frenzy before Taehyung could come back with a response. From the window he watched his friend pose for the cameras for a moment before walking through the open double doors. He took a deep breath before stepping into the flashing lights himself.

Taehyung has been attending these sorts of events as long as he’s known how to shake someone’s hand. His entrance into the expansive, vaulted room is announced first, followed by his father and step mother. As the room calms down they divide and conquer, shaking hands with guests and making the perfect amount of conversation.

It was both impossible and unfit for Taehyung to be alone at events like this, so when he needed a moment of social refuge he stood next to Namjoon cradling a small glass of red wine.

“It seems Seokjin is doing quite well with the ladies tonight.” Namjoon smiled and nodded his head to group of women surrounding Taehyung’s step brother. Seokjin’s tall and broad frame was dressed in a dark suit, his deep brown hair rolled upwards across his forehead. It was difficult to not notice his handsome features in a crowd.

Taehyung laughed to himself, “With him they get the fame. With me they get the burden.”

“Try not to see the crown that way, Taehyung.” Namjoon looked at him with his eyebrows knit together.

“Hard not to.” Taehyung avoided Namjoon’s eyes by scanning the room. “No Jungkook?”

“It seems that he hasn’t arrived yet.”

“Figures.” Taehyung sighed, frustration at his younger step brother pricked at his thoughts.

“He might still come.” Taehyung could hear in his voice Namjoon knew that was a lie.

Taehyung’s eyes found Hoseok, his slender figure dressed in a dark green suit that accented his bright red hair. Taehyung was sure that Hoseok could use his charm on any living human. Being royalty came to him with tremendous ease. It was a shame he wasn’t born into Taehyung’s shoes, he would have been perfect for the role.

Hoseok glanced up at Taehyung, catching his eyes, and ever so slightly nodded his head towards the clock before returning to his conversation. Taehyung glanced at the clock — almost time. “You’ll have to excuse me, Namjoon,” Taehyung kept his voice steady, fighting the anxiety racing through his chest, “but I should walk around a bit more.”

Taehyung worked his way through the crowd slowly, stopping to chat every few steps as he finished the remainder of his wine. He eventually slipped into the bathroom just behind Hoseok.

“I don’t know about this anymore.” Taehyung blurted out as Hoseok locked the door behind him.

“Taehyung, it’s just for an hour or two, no one is going to notice we’re gone.” Hoseok set an embellished briefcase on the floor and began pulling clothes from it. “These are for you, when is the last time you even wore jeans?”

“Not for awhile,” Taehyung said as he dissected the bundle of clothes: jeans, a t-shirt, a thick jacket, tennis shoes, a baseball hat, and a pair of thick glasses.

“I can’t wear these!” He protested.

“Your royal highness, try not to be your royal highness for five seconds.” Hoseok was already pulling off the pieces of his suit and replacing them with his casual disguise.

“This is a bad idea,” Taehyung whined as he began to undress.

Hoseok stood before Taehyung taking him in. “I’d have absolutely no idea you were prince Kim Taehyung if I saw you on the streets,” he said pleased with himself.

Taehyung looked at himself in the mirror. He did look different, in fact he was certain no one would recognize him, but that didn’t ease his churning stomach.

“Remember, your name is Tae, not Taehyung. And don’t act so uptight, relax a little, try to blend in.”

“How am I supposed to act?” Taehyung uncomfortably pushing at the fake glasses on his face.

“Like how you’ve seen people in the movies, I don’t know. Just be yourself but less princely.”

Hoseok hid his briefcase, now filled with his and Taehyung’s neatly folded suits, carefully behind the trashcan so it was completely out of sight. He then pulled open the frosted window and turned towards Taehyung.

“After you, your majesty.” Hoseok smiled, knowing Taehyung especially hated being called that.

“Two hours max.” Taehyung emphasized before pulling himself through the open window despite the protests of his racing heart.

The moment Taehyung’s feet hit the ground on the other side, an overwhelming wave of freedom crash over him. The beating of his terrified heart calmed as Hoseok clambered down next to him, pulling the window shut behind him.

“Ready to go?” Hoseok asked, pulling a black beanie down around his shocking red hair.

“Let’s go.” Taehyung said, smiling wide and excited.

Hoseok responded with his own mischievous smile before leading Taehyung through the streets. Taehyung tried to not stop and investigate everything he came across, but couldn’t resist peering into the windows of stores and restaurants. Hoseok slowed enough to let him investigate each time.

“Interesting to see how the other side lives, isn’t it?” Hoseok stopped by Taehyung’s side as he stopped to look wide eyed into a particularly packed pub. “Come on, we’re almost there and we don’t have a lot of time to spare.”

Taehyung nodded and trotted along closely behind Hoseok. A part of Taehyung felt defenseless without his usual small mob following close behind him, but the other felt so wonderfully free.
Hoseok turned at the end of the block and stopped in front of a bar packed with people. He turned to Taehyung smiling wide.

“We’re here!”

Taehyung took in his surroundings. The bar was unimpressive and seemed in desperate need of repair, but Taehyung saw the draw of it. It’s brick exterior was offset by wide windows pouring out soft yellow light into the sidewalk outside. A live band playing a jazzy tune drifted from inside, pulling at Taehyung’s curiousity.

“I found this place pretty recently,” Hoseok’s chest filled with pride, “It’s become one of my favorites. It’s out of the way and the people here couldn’t care less about us.”

“I love it,” Taehyung was growing desperate to see the inside, his nerves from earlier a distant memory.

Normally, when Taehyung entered a room, all eyes turned to welcome to him. But for the first time in his life, he entered a room and no one noticed. A wide smile spread across his lips at the deep satisfaction he felt at being a complete nobody for a night.

The interior of the bar was an ordered chaos dressed in warm light. People sat at the bar and at tables drinking and laughing. A band was tucked in the corner of the long room, pounding away at their instruments. A nearby group swayed and danced, lost to the rhythm of the music. Although Taehyung had never been here before, the atmosphere felt like he knew everyone in the room.

Taehyung kept close to Hoseok. Hoseok had a natural warmth that drew any stranger in. Taehyung, on the other hand, drew people in by his title and wasn’t quite sure how to manage when stripped of it. He felt like an uncomfortable ghost hovering by Hoseok’s shoulder. Eventually, the discomfort at nodding along to conversations he wasn’t a part of grew too much, and he peeled away from Hoseok’s side. Unsure of himself, he sought refuge in an empty seat at the bar.

“Have you been here before?” A voice next to Taehyung asked.

Taehyung’s eyes darted up to the stranger. He looked about his age, but worn. His untrimmed dark brown hair curled into his tired brown eyes, but his tan face was unbelievably friendly. His lips were drawn into a polite smile.

“No, this is my first time here.” Taehyung smiled back.

“Huh. . . I feel like I’ve seen you before.”

Taehyung’s heart began to race with renewed anxiety. “I just have one of those faces, I guess.”

“Must be. I’m Jimin, by the way.” Jimin extended a rough hand towards Taehyung.

“Tae.” He replied, shaking Jimin’s hand, “Nice to meet you.”

A moment passed between them before the bartender made their way to them.

“What are you two drinking?”

“A beer for me,” Jimin said, leaning forward. Taehyung forced himself to look away from the swell of Jimin’s bicep under his shirt.

The bartender shifted his gaze towards Taehyung expectantly.

“The same.”

Taehyung immediately mentally kicked himself. In all his time, he had never even tried a sip of beer. Nervousness began to creep in towards Taehyung’s thoughts again.

“So Tae, what do you do for a living?” Jimin asked as the bartender handed them their tall glasses of beer. Taehyung sipped at it carefully, trying to force himself to enjoy the bitter taste.

“I’m a mechanic.” Taehyung said the first thing that came to his mind.

Jimin looked Taehyung up and down, surprised. “Pretty face for a mechanic.”

Taehyung fought at the blush threatening on his cheeks. “What about you Jimin?”

“I work in construction. . . For now.” Jimin added, looking deeply into his beer.

“Oh?”

“I was in art school, but my mom got sick so I had to put everything on hold to help pay for her medical bills. I’ll get back eventually though.” Jimin kept his eyes on his beer.

“I’m sorry.” Taehyung felt small next to Jimin.

“Not a whole lot you can do.” Jimin looked back up at Taehyung, smiling sweetly, “Unless you can pay off those bills.” He laughed.

Guilt ate at Taehyung, because he could. He could reveal himself to Jimin, this kind stranger he just met, and single handedly end all his problems. It was his turn to stare solemnly down at his beer.

Taehyung passed the time listening to Jimin talk, slowly sipping away at his beer. Taehyung liked the sound of Jimin’s voice. It was sweet and soft, like he was singing a song only he knew the lyrics to. He found himself sometimes leaning in to him, enthralled by his words and his own desire to inch a little closer. Hoseok’s hand on his shoulder as he passed reminded him he had a limit, and his time was about to expire.

“Um, I actually have to go.” Taehyung said, his heart sinking at the thought of leaving Jimin.

“So soon?” Taehyung could tell Jimin was trying to hide his disappointment. The slight whine in his voice made Taehyung’s stomach twist with affection.

“Yeah. . . I actually have to, um. . . Be somewhere right now.” Jimin’s dark brown eyes staring into his mixed with the heaviness of the beer made him stumble nervously on his words.

“Oh.” Jimin looked uncertain. “It’s been nice talking to you, Tae.”

“You too, Jimin.” Taehyung felt glued to his seat, unable to leave Jimin’s warmth.

“Could I maybe have your phone number?” Jimin’s shy voice didn’t help to hide the blush creeping across his face.

Taehyung’s blood went cold. “Oh.”

“I mean. . . You don’t have to. . . If you don’t want to. . . I just thought that maybe. . . I mean. . . I just think I’d like to see you again Tae.” Jimin was stammering, Taehyung felt like his heart would explode.

“No. . . It’s just, um, I don’t have a phone.” Taehyung looked down at his feet, embarrassed at the truth. Calls coming in to him were always screened by Namjoon so he had no need for a personal phone. When he finally brought his eyes back up to Jimin his mouth was hanging open. “Don’t look at me like that,” Taehyung laughed, feeling his ears turn red.

“Sorry. I just didn’t know it was possible to live in the twenty first century without one.” Jimin laughed along with Taehyung.

“I don’t think I’ve ever needed one. . . Until now.” Taehyung sheepishly added.

Taehyung and Jimin exchanged shy smiles, leaned a bit too close together.

“Hey, I know.” Taehyung said suddenly, capitalizing on his overwhelming desire to see the way Jimin’s eyes closed when he smiled again, “Why don’t you give me yours, and I’ll find a way to call you.”

“Okay.” Jimin said, his face pulled into an excited smile. He borrowed a pen from the bartender to scribble his phone number onto a napkin before sliding it to Taehyung.

“Thanks.” Taehyung smiled, but caught a glimpse of Hoseok over Jimin’s shoulder pointing to his watch. “I really have to go Jimin. Thank you so much for all this.”

Taehyung staggered to his feet, pushing Jimin’s phone number into his pants pocket and started towards Hoseok, fighting whatever spell Jimin had him under.

“Hey!” Jimin called after him. Taehyung turned, looking back at Jimin’s smirking face. He pointed to Taehyung’s empty glass, “You buy next time.”

Taehyung’s face erupted into a deep blush. “Okay,” he responded, turning away from Jimin again before his heart escaped out of his chest.

Hoseok was smiling at Taehyung as he approached the door where he was standing. “He was cute,” Hoseok teased at Taehyung’s blushing face.

“Shut up, Hobi.” Taehyung blushed harder as they headed out the door together.

“Now that is language unbecoming of a prince. The outside world is already getting the best of you.” Hoseok laughed, wrapping an affectionate arm around Taehyung’s shoulders as they made their way down the street and back to their life of royalty.

Chapter Text

“So tell me about him, what was he like?” Taehyung had barely opened his eyes before Hoseok jumped on him with questions.

Hoseok had a habit of spending the night in Taehyung’s room on one of his couches and last night had been no exception. Taehyung didn’t usually mind — his room was more of an apartment than a bedroom so he had more than enough space for the two of them. The last thing that Taehyung wanted to talk about was Jimin, though. The mere thought of the previous night had his stomach filling with unfamiliar warmth and tangles.

“Do I have to talk about it right now?” Taehyung groaned and rolled away from where Hoseok was standing so he couldn’t see the fresh blush blooming on his cheeks.

“We didn’t have time last night, so yes I want to talk about it right now.” Hoseok was right. They had rushed back to the venue, climbed through the window, changed, and returned to the party like they hadn’t been missing for two hours. Taehyung was certain at the very least Namjoon would have noticed his absence, but if he had he didn’t say. Taehyung wondered why he hadn’t snuck out sooner. It would’ve saved him from many unbearably boring evenings.

“Okay,” Taehyung sat up and wiped at the sleep in his eyes, “What do you want to know?”

Hoseok sat cross-legged on the edge of Taehyung’s bed. He was wearing a pair of Taehyung’s navy blue pajamas that were a few sizes too big. “What did you talk about?”

“I don’t know, normal stuff, I guess,” Taehyung sighed.

“Normal stuff like you’re the crown prince? TaeTae tell me about last night, I want to know.”

“If I tell you, will you do me a favor?” Taehyung raised his eyebrows at Hoseok.

“Anything.” Hoseok smiled mischievously.

Taehyung recounted his experience with Jimin and Hoseok listened with his lengthy body draped across the end of Taehyung’s bed. Taehyung refrained from telling him that when Jimin laughed he could feel happiness pulse through his body all the way to his toes, or that he smelled like a combination of saw dust and cheap cologne.

“Wow! So you even got his phone number?” Hoseok’s loud voice filled with wonder as he sat up to look at Taehyung.

Taehyung pulled the carefully folded napkin from his night stand. He had stored it there the night before so he wouldn’t loose it.

“That’s actually where the favor comes in.” Taehyung looked back up to Hoseok. “I need you to get me a cell phone.”

“Oh,” Hoseok computed for a second, “I don’t know if I can.”

“Hobi, I can’t ask anyone else,” Taehyung’s voice pleaded, “And there’s no way I could get one myself. If I can’t get a phone I’ll never see him again.”

Taehyung could see the gears in Hoseok’s brain turning.

“For Kim Taehyung, I guess I’ll find a way to make it happen.” Hoseok smiled. “And I’d like the company for when I sneak out.”

Taehyung and Hoseok spent the rest of their time arranged on one of Taehyung’s couches, plotting out when they might get a chance to escape from their responsibilities next. A polite knock at the door interrupted their scheming.

“Enter.” Taehyung said in his loud prince voice.

Namjoon’s face peered around the door, “Your highness, your brothers asked me to remind you that you said you would accompany them for breakfast.”

“They’re not my brothers.” Taehyung enforced, keeping his eyes locked on Namjoon’s.

“Taehyung — “ Namjoon tried to protest.

“Tell them I’ll be there soon.”

Namjoon stood awkwardly in the doorway for a moment before bowing and closing the door behind him.

“Hey Tae —“

“Hobi, don’t,” Taehyung raised a hand to stop Hoseok’s words, “They’re not my brothers.”

Hoseok nodded and didn’t press the matter further.

“I should go join them, I get the feeling if they sent Namjoon that I’m probably late.” Taehyung rose to his feet and made to the door, “I don’t care if you stay here or not, it’s up to you.”

Taehyung hadn’t bothered to change from his pajamas before coming to breakfast. Seokjin made his displeasure known the moment he entered the small, yet intricately decorated dining room.

“You could’ve worn something a little nicer Taehyung, I swear.” Seokjin and Jungkook sat dressed in button down shirts and dress pants — a standard for royal daily wear.

Taehyung teased a smirk at Seokjin as he sat opposite of him and Jungkook, who looked especially grumpy this morning. “Good morning, Jungkook.”

Jungkook sat forward and leaned on the table at his name. “Nice of you to join us, your majesty. You know we can’t eat until you arrive, right?”

“Really, I had had no idea,” Taehyung snarked. Jungkook rolled his eyes dramatically.

“Can you just let them know you’re here?”

Taehyung pressed a button at the edge of the table to alert the palace staff that they were ready to be served.

“Taehyung, can you pass the butter?” Seokjin asked politely.

“Yeah, sorry.” Taehyung mumbled, handing the dish of butter to Seokjin.

“So, Jungkook,” Seokjin shifted, buttering his toast, “I couldn’t help but notice you weren’t at the event last night.”

Jungkook took a moment to swallow the food he had been shoveling into his mouth, “Didn’t want to go.”

Seokjin slowly set his butter knife down on his plate before turning to face Jungkook. “No one wants to go, Jungkook. You have to go, it’s your job now.”

“No,” Jungkook set his fork down, “It’s Taehyung’s job,”

Frustration pulsed through Taehyung’s body, he hated Jungkook’s attitude towards his responsibilities.

“Jungkook, the country wants to see you, you have to attend these things.” Seokjin never let useless arguments with Jungkook drop. Taehyung tuned Seokjin’s voice out and watched as Jungkook picked his fork back up and continued his assault on his plate. A knock at the dining room’s door brought them back to quietness.

“Come in, “ Taehyung said, not bothering to check with Seokjin or Jungkook were okay with the intrusion.

Taehyung had expected Namjoon, but was pleasantly surprised when the door opened to reveal the slim blond frame of his chief bodyguard, Min Yoongi, dressed in his usual trimmed black suit.

“Ah!” Jungkook sat up too quickly as Yoongi entered, spilling a bit of the hot coffee in transit to his mouth onto his lap. He wiped his napkin at his lap, easing the pain. Taehyung tried to ignore the pink blush forming on his younger step-brother’s cheeks. He returned his eyes to Yoongi’s, who failed to hide a fond smile behind his lips.

“Good morning, Yoongi,” Taehyung smiled, “I didn’t know you were back. How was your vacation?”

“Lots of rest,” Yoongi sighed. Taehyung could tell the dark circles that normally encompassed Yoongi’s eyes had faded ever so slightly.

“Glad to have you back.”

“Glad to be back,” Yoongi’s smile was weak, but Taehyung knew he meant it, “Your royal highness, Namjoon asked me to brief you on today’s activities since I will be accompanying you today if you’re ready?”

“Whenever you are.”

“We have a fitting with your tailor this afternoon for some new formal suits followed by a meeting with your stylist for your winter weather looks. Then this evening, Namjoon will go over a long term schedule with you.”

“Sounds routine.”

“Can I come?” Taehyung’s eyes shot up to Jungkook.

“Why?”

“It’d be nice to get out.” Jungkook tried his best to conceal his quick glance towards Yoongi.

Taehyung turned back to Yoongi, who seemed unfazed by Jungkook’s shy eyes. “Is that okay, Yoongi?”

“I don’t see why not. The car will be ready to pick you up in an hour, so please be changed and ready, Taehyung.” With that, Yoongi bowed slightly before leaving with a gentle closing of the door.

The three boys sat in silence for a moment with Taehyung and Seokjin’s eyes focused on Jungkook.

“Jungkook —“ Taehyung started.

“Jungkook can you get any more obvious?” Seokjin finished, laughing. Taehyung laughed along, watching a fresh, deep blush cover Jungkook’s cheeks.

“Shut up, Jin.” Jungkook grumbled.

“Princes don’t talk that way, Kookie,” Taehyung said, taking the words from Seokjin’s open mouth.

“There are cameras outside the tailor’s,” Yoongi, had rolled down the partition in their small car to warn Jungkook and Taehyung, “We were careful to not reveal the location, but you know how paparazzi can be.”

Jungkook and Taehyung nodded silently to Yoongi. After Taehyung had graduated from university the country and media grew desperate for news of when they might expect a royal wedding. The amount of paparazzi that followed him had almost doubled in recent months, trying to catch him with any sign he might be dating someone. It wore on Taehyung to be under the fire of the camera so much. A part of him was thankful for Jungkook’s presence. Teenage girls loved Jungkook, and a photo of him was just as valuable as a photo of Taehyung.

Cameras flashed as they entered their tailor’s building. Somehow knowing that Taehyung didn’t want to be bothered, Jungkook smiled to the cameras, letting them drink in his face instead of Taehyung’s.

“Thanks for that, Jungkook,” Taehyung said once they were out of sight inside.

“Yeah.” Jungkook responded, eyes down. It wasn’t a lot but he got his point across.

“Hey Jungkook,” Taehyung suddenly felt serious. Jungkook’s eyes drifted up to his. “I think you should tell Yoongi, I don’t mind.”

Jungkook laughed. “You know I can’t do that, Tae.”

Taehyung knew Jungkook was right. Yoongi’s family has been protecting the crown for generations, almost as long as Taehyung’s family has been on the throne. Yoongi was born to protect Taehyung, and Jungkook would only serve as a distraction from Yoongi’s one job.

Taehyung looked to the ground. Jungkook had had a crush on Yoongi since he first came to the palace four years ago. At times, Yoongi was the only person Jungkook would talk to aside from Seokjin. That was before Yoongi had taken over as Taehyung’s full time chief bodyguard, when he had time to spare to talk. Jungkook had spent so long the victim of Taehyung’s and Seokjin’s teasing for his crush, but the way he felt never dissipated as he grew older.

“Don’t feel bad, Tae,” Jungkook was smiling again, “It’s just the way it is.”

As Jungkook walked away to stand with Yoongi, Taehyung’s thoughts slipped back to Jimin, the man he had met the night before. He hadn’t considered the impossibility of his plans to reconnect with this stranger whose life orbits outside the palace. He hadn’t considered the consequences of allowing himself to feel so deeply so suddenly. He’s seen Jungkook’s pained faces as Yoongi is forced to ignore him to focus on Taehyung, but now Taehyung has spun himself into a similar web.

“Your royal highness,” the gentle voice of his tailor interrupted his thoughts, “We’re ready for you.”

“Mm,” Taehyung hummed, as he followed the tailor’s lively steps to the fitting rooms.

After returning home, Namjoon gathered Taehyung, Jungkook, and Seokjin into one of the small meeting rooms in the main palace. Jungkook slouched in one of the padded chairs despite Seokjin’s pleading to have him sit up straight. Taehyung sat quietly next to them, listening to them bicker.

“If you’re wondering why the three of you are here to hear about Taehyung’s schedule that is a great question,” Namjoon began, interrupting Seokjin and Jungkook’s argument. “As you know your parents had a tour through the country planned,” Namjoon paused as the three of them nodded their heads, “Well, after much discussion and planning, your parents have agreed that it would be best if the three of you went in their place.”

The three princes sat in silence, Taehyung’s mouth hung open slightly.

“Wait. . .” Jungkook began, finally sitting up in response.

“The three of us?” Taehyung asked.

“Yes, all three.” Namjoon repeated. “I’ve been involved quite heavily in the planning, I think you all will find the itinerary to be quite appealing.”

Namjoon slid them each a schedule across the table separating the princes from Taehyung’s advisor. Taehyung looked it over, uneasiness settling in his stomach. He had seen his father and mother go on tours in the past, and they were always pushed past exhaustion when they returned. They never factored Taehyung into the mix, and Taehyung was always grateful he never had to worry about the stress of the tours.

“Wait. . . We leave next week?” Jungkook whined.

Taehyung’s face paled. Jimin.

“That’s correct. We wanted to finalize the plans before we announced that you three would be going in your parents’ place.”

Taehyung tuned out whatever it was that Jungkook started complaining about next. Taehyung wanted to see Hoseok, to talk to him. The room was beginning to be too small, too stifling with all four people. He looked back down at Namjoon’s schedule — he’d be gone for almost a month and a half. His heart pounded at the thought of Jimin, waiting by his phone for a call that might never come now.

“This isn’t fair, I don’t see why Seokjin and I have to go!” Jungkook’s voice butted back into Taehyung’s thoughts.

“Jungkook, will you grow up? This is part of what we have to do now.” Seokjin argued back.

“Then go without me, Jin!”

When Jungkook argued like this he looked like the same brooding sixteen year old who first arrived at the palace. It took a long time for Jungkook and Taehyung to warm up to each other. Taehyung couldn’t stand that Jungkook never did as he was told — a part of him still can’t, but has learned that Jungkook will always do as he pleases. He had renewed anger at Jungkook in this moment, he couldn’t let Jungkook whine until he got out of his duties this time.

“Jungkook you’re not the only one giving up things to go.” Taehyung cut in, rising to his feet. Seokjin and Jungkook both closed their mouths. “You owe it to your parents, your country, but most of all your brothers to suck it up and go.”

Both Jungkook and Seokjin’s faces were illegible. Taehyung never referred to them as his brothers — he was always very deliberate in calling them step brothers. He turned to Namjoon, whose face was trying to conceal its shock.

“Namjoon when you finish here will you find Hoseok and send him to my room.”

After a small nod from Namjoon, Taehyung left the room with a slight slam of the door.

Taehyung stood in the elaborately decorated hallway for a moment, staring down at his loafers. None of this was fair, nothing Taehyung has ever done had been fair. As he began to walk down the hallway, Taehyung let anger flush over him. He felt mad at everything. Anger bubbled at Jungkook for always resisting. Hot tears pooled at his eyes. The anger began giving way to a much older, long buried emotion — a longing to see his mother.

Recognizing the feeling, Taehyung detoured into a part of the palace he rarely ventured: a hallway lined with portraits of previous kings and queens from his family. He found the face he was seeking, a portrait of Taehyung’s father and mother on their wedding day. He slid to sit on the floor in front of the large photo on the wall.

Taehyung had his mother’s face. Everyone had always told him that when she was alive, but looking at her now it was like he saw it for the first time. The delicate slope of his nose, wide ears, and deep brown eyes stared back at him like a mirror.

He missed her more than words could begin. When she died, Taehyung had locked himself in his room until her funeral — he wouldn’t even open the door for Hoseok. When he did emerge for the funeral, every camera in the country was aimed at him. The face of the young prince mourning the queen plastered the front page of every newspaper and magazine for weeks following her burial. Taehyung didn’t venture into the public eye again for months.

Taehyung sighed and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He could hear footsteps approaching, but didn’t bother to stand or look up. The footsteps stopped next to him and Jungkook slipped his body onto the floor next to Taehyung. They sat together in silence, staring up at Taehyung’s mother.

“Taehyung.” Jungkook broke the silence.

“Hm?”

“I’m sorry.”

Taehyung chuckled a bit, “Did Seokjin make you come say that to me?”

“No,” Jungkook defended, “I know when I cross lines. It’s just. . . You’re so good at handling all of this stuff that I forget it affects you too.” Jungkook looked down at his feet.

“I’m not very good at being a prince either, Jungkook.” Taehyung kept his eyes on his mother. “I wish I could whine like you do about it.”

Jungkook laughed weakly, “You are second in line to the throne, Tae, I think you could get away with whining.”

“Don’t remind me,” Taehyung playfully pushed Jungkook’s shoulder, finally breaking his gaze from his mother. “How did you know I was here?”

“I don’t know, I guess I had a feeling. She was beautiful.” Jungkook nodded his head back up to the queen.

“Yeah.”

“You look like her.”

“I know.”

“My grandmother hated her," Taehyung said after a brief moment.

“Why?” Shock flared in Jungkook’s voice.

“She couldn’t really have kids,” Taehyung returned his gaze to his mother, “I was a bit of a miracle. No one outside the palace knows that though.”

“I had no idea.”

Jungkook and Taehyung returned to their silence.

“Tae,” Jungkook’s voice was small, “You called me and Jin your brothers back there.”

“I guess so.”

“Did you mean it?”

“I guess.” Taehyung was bad at these types of conversations, he wrung his hands to keep himself occupied.

“Jin and I thought you never would.”

“Looks like you two are growing on me.” Taehyung smiled ever so slightly as the familiar silence overtook their conversation again.

“It won’t be so bad, Jungkook,” Taehyung turned his head after a moment so he could look at Jungkook, “the tour.”

“I know.”

“Yoongi will be there with us.” Taehyung watched a small smile spread across Jungkook’s lips.

“Shut up.” Jungkook and Taehyung laughed together.

“I should head back,” Taehyung said, coming down from their laughter, “Hoseok is probably waiting for me.”

Taehyung rose and left Jungkook behind. As he walked towards his room his mind returned to Jimin. The tour made the situation urgent, Taehyung had to see him before leaving. His pace quickened as desperation set in, he needed to talk to Hoseok.

Chapter Text

Hoseok greeted Taehyung the moment he walked through the door. As long as Taehyung has known him, Hoseok has never run out of energy — especially positive energy. He rarely stopped moving, even when he was idle there was a slight bounce to him.

“Is everything okay? Namjoon seemed worried.” Taehyung had barely gotten the door closed before Hoseok started asking questions. If it had been anyone else, Taehyung would’ve minded, but he could be honest with Hoseok.

“You might want to sit down, Hobi,” Taehyung said, leading him to the nearest available seat. Hoseok folded his long body onto a chair and Taehyung sat across from him. “We need to sneak out again this week.”

“So soon?” Hoseok’s face was drawn into a mixture of shock and excitement.

“Namjoon just told us that we are going on the tour in our parent’s place.”

“Us?”

“Me, Jungkook, and Seokjin.”

“And how do you feel about that?”

“I don’t know, it’s whatever,” Taehyung shook his head wanted to get back on topic, “I have to see Jimin again before I leave.”

“Oh, right,” Hoseok quickly stood up and retrieved a bag he had brought with him. Sitting back down he dug through it until he pulled out a small flip phone, “This might help” Hoseok was glowing with pride.

“Hobi, you’re a saint!” Taehyung’s eyes were wide with excitement as he leaned forward to take the cell phone from Hoseok’s hands.

“I try, I try.” Hoseok smiled, waving a hand as he spoke.

“I have to call him,” Taehyung said mostly as a statement to himself as he felt a familiar nervousness suddenly creep into his stomach.

“Wait, we don’t have a plan.” Hoseok reminded him.

“Right, we need a day.” Taehyung had been getting ahead of himself.

“What day works for you, your majesty?” Hoseok sat back and crossed his legs.

Taehyung thought for a moment, “Yoongi and Namjoon both would have meetings almost all day Tuesday getting ready for the tour. They’re the only ones who would come looking for me.”

“Sounds perfect!”

“What about getting away though, we won’t already be in the city.”

Hoseok pondered for a moment. “It might be easier to leave from my family’s home rather than the palace itself.”

“I can have Namjoon drive me over in between meetings. He wouldn’t suspect anything if I told him I was just going to spend some time with you before I left. . . This might work, Hobi.” Taehyung’s voice rose in excitement as he spoke.

“Sounds like we have a day and a plan, Tae Tae, now you just need to call him.”

“I guess you’re right.” Taehyung looked down at the phone in his hands, feeling nauseous and light-headed at the thought of calling Jimin. He couldn’t convince his body to move. He thought of the sound of Jimin’s voice and felt jitters emanate from the pit of his stomach.

“Do you need me to dial for you?” Hoseok laughed a bit at the sight of Taehyung’s paling face, “You must really like this guy.”

“I can do it.” Taehyung rose and fished the napkin with Jimin’s phone number on it from his bedside table. Hoseok remained where he was seated, but watched Taehyung with curious eyes. Taehyung sat on the edge of his bed and flipped the phone open, looking down at the buttons. His fingers felt like lead as he dialed, and he was certain the harsh pounding of his heart would eventually break his ribs as he listened to the line ring, waiting for Jimin to answer.

“Hello?” Jimin’s soft voice finally answered.

Taehyung’s entire brain stopped working at the sound of Jimin’s voice. His mouth opened but couldn’t summon any words forth. He looked at Hoseok with wide pleading eyes. Hoseok stood to his feet, frantically pantomiming with his hands for Taehyung to say something. The seconds passed like years, the silence on the line pressing on Taehyung like a weight.

“Hello?” Jimin’s voice asked again.

“Say anything!” Hoseok whispered sharply at Taehyung.

“Ah — Jimin?” Taehyung finally managed. Hoseok silently clapped his hands in encouragement, smiling wide. “Jimin, it’s Tae. . . If you remember. . . From the other day. . .”

“Oh!” Jimin sounded surprised, “Hey Tae. I thought you were a telemarketer for a second there.” His voice warmed as he spoke. Taehyung felt like melting into the floor.

“Sorry — new phone.” Taehyung laughed.

“You got one? All because of me?”

“I guess so.”

“I’m so flattered.”

“Ask him out!” Hoseok whispered.

“Um — Jimin?” Taehyung’s hands were cold and sweating.

“Yeah?” Jimin’s voice sounded expectant.

“Well. . . I guess. . . I was wondering if — “ Taehyung was struggling with his words again.

“Just say it!” Hoseok whispered harshly. Taehyung tried to shoo him away with his hand.

“I was wondering if you might maybe want to um — get together again? Maybe on Tuesday?” Taehyung scrunched his face at his awkward words. The silence on the other side of the phone pressed on him, the heavy pounding of his heart returning.

“Yeah, I’d really like that.” Jimin responded.

Taehyung released a breath he didn’t know he was holding. “Yeah? Me too.”

Both Jimin and Taehyung laughed nervously together, giggling almost.

“Where should I meet you? Should I pick you up?”

“No, that’s not necessary —“ Taehyung’s mind reeled, trying to quickly think of a place to meet Jimin, “Why don’t we just meet at the bar from last time?” Taehyung looked at Hoseok for approval, he shrugged his shoulders and nodded his head in response.

“I think I could manage that.”

“Yeah? Okay.”

“What time, Tae?”

“Oh, uh, how’s 6:30?” Taehyung looked at Hoseok again, who nodded once more.

“Sounds like a date.”

Taehyung’s face turned bright red and started stuttering on his words, blubbering nonsense into the phone.

Jimin laughed — the sweet singsong sound filled Taehyung. “You’re cute, Tae.”

Taehyung had to lay down on his bed at that, “You’re pretty cute too, Jimin.”

“I actually have to get going, but I’m really looking forward to Tuesday, Tae.”

“Me too.”

“I’ll see you then!”

“Yeah, I can’t wait. Bye Jimin.”

“Bye Tae!”

Jimin hung up the phone first. Taehyung stared at it, wishing he could summon Jimin’s delicate laugh again. He reached above him to grab a pillow to cover his blushing face with. He had just asked someone out and they had said yes.

Hoseok’s face was waiting directly over him when Taehyung removed the pillow from his face.

“You survived.” Hoseok smiled his wide smile that makes his eyes look small.

“Looks like I did.” Taehyung smiled back.

“You have a date, your majesty.”

“I guess I do.” Taehyung’s smile couldn’t be contained on his face. He replaced the pillow back onto his face so he was less at risk of his excitement escaping.

Taehyung had to wait two agonizing days for Tuesday to arrive. He felt increasingly restless each day he had to wait. His thoughts exclusively revolved around Jimin — in meetings, discussions, and briefings, Taehyung was always picturing Jimin’s face.

“What’s wrong with you, Taehyung, you don’t normally smile this much.” Jungkook asked over lunch. They’ve been spending their days learning the etiquette of being on the tour, refreshers on how to wave when they enter their airplane

“You must be looking forward to the tour?” Seokjin asked. “You haven’t seen the country since you were little, right?”

“The last time I went out on a tour I was a toddler. My parents wanted to show off the heir. I don’t really remember it though.” One of the most famous photos taken of Taehyung was from that tour. His mother was carrying him in her arms as she stepped off the plane and Taehyung had imitated the wave he had seen his mother and father do. His small face was bunched into a tooth-less smile, his eyes closed in momentary happiness. The country devoured that photo of him, it was probably one of the most published photos of his family before his mother’s death. The photo still surfaces when his birthday rolls around.

“So this will be your first real tour?” Seokjin asked.

“We’ll be experiencing it for the first time together.” Taehyung smiled at Jungkook’s inquisitive face.

Taehyung was waiting by his door when Namjoon came by to take him to Hoseok’s as scheduled.

“Oh, are you ready already, your highness?” Namjoon was surprised. Normally he had to standby as Taehyung pulled his shoes on or experienced some form of minor delay. Little did Namjoon know that Taehyung had been ready for almost an hour, pacing his room in nervous anticipation.

“I want to spend as much time as I can with Hoseok.”

“Okay, well, let’s get you over there. His staff can take you back when you’re ready. I have a lot of planning I need to do before we leave Friday.”

“Of course.”

Hoseok’s family lived in one of the large houses that dotted the palace grounds. It was far enough away that Taehyung and Hoseok had to drive to each other when they wanted to visit. Hoseok was only one year older than Taehyung and they had grown up together. Since both Hoseok and Taehyung didn’t have any siblings, they clung to the other throughout their childhood as though they were brothers, spending holidays, birthdays, and milestones between each other.

Taehyung wasn’t entirely certain how Hoseok was actually related to the royal family. He had a title, but often went forgotten amongst the members of the family. There have been plenty of family portraits at weddings where Hoseok and his family didn’t make it to the photo in time. Taehyung was jealous, Hoseok got the life of royalty without the notoriety that followed Taehyung and his step-brothers around.

Hoseok was waiting for Taehyung in his room. Hoseok’s staff saw Taehyung up and bowed a goodbye as he convened with Hoseok. Hoseok’s room was significantly smaller than Taehyung’s, but still elaborately decorated.

“Good evening, your majesty!” Hoseok greeted as his staff gently closed the door.

“I really wish you’d stop calling me that.” Taehyung chided.

“Anything for the prince,” Hoseok chided despite Taehyung’s eye roll. “How are you feeling?”

“Nervous, excited, but mostly nervous. I thought I was going to throw up earlier.”

“You’ll be fine, just —“

“Don’t you dare say be yourself.”

“Relax,” Hoseok offered instead, laughing. “Let’s get you changed. I told the staff to not disturb us until you’re ready to leave, so no one should come knocking.”

“Perfect.”

Hoseok pulled a set of casual clothes out of the bottom of one of his dresser drawers and handed them to Taehyung. Taehyung looked them over — jeans, a sweater, and a pair of canvas shoes.

“Where are the glasses?”

“Oh!” Hoseok dug a little deeper in the drawer until he pulled the thick framed glasses out. “Can’t forget the most important part of the disguise.”

Taehyung changed his clothes as Hoseok searched for his own disguise. Taehyung had felt jittery all day but the reality of seeing Jimin soon resurfaced his anxiety. He took a deep breath as Hoseok finished dressing himself.

“Ready?” Hoseok asked, handing Taehyung a jacket and pulling one around his shoulders.

“As I’ll ever be.” Taehyung felt light-headed, “Let’s go before I get sick.”

Hoseok smiled. “We’re sneaking out the back door. It’s through the kitchen so if we get caught they’ll think I just got hungry.”

Taehyung followed Hoseok down the wooden stairs and around the corner into the kitchen. Hoseok peaked into the kitchen first, making sure the coast was clear before ushering Taehyung out the back door.

Once outside, the only thing separating Hoseok’s house from the rest of the world were tall hedges. Hoseok knew precisely where there was a perfect gap to squeeze through. Taehyung followed at his heels, hoping the chilly air might soothe his churning stomach.

“We actually aren’t that far from that bar from here. I actually go there pretty frequently from home.”

Jimin was waiting for him outside the bar as Taehyung and Hoseok came around the corner. Hoseok immediately dipped back and out of sight so Taehyung could proceed alone. Taehyung looked back to Hoseok with wide eyes, feeling the nervous pinch of fear. Hoseok returned with a thumbs up.

“I’ll be right behind you the whole time, just in case.”

Taehyung turned back to Jimin, who was idly looking down at his phone, his dark hair fringing down and covering his eyes. His thin, yet strong body leaned against the exterior wall of the body. He looked like art, posed for a photograph. Taehyung selfishly took the sight in for a moment longer before forcing his heavy feet forward.

“Jimin!” Taehyung called.

Jimin’s brown eyes flashed up from his phone to Taehyung. Taehyung watched in slow motion as a bright smile formed across Jimin’s face.

“Hey Tae.”

They stood together goofily smiling. Taehyung tried to take in every centimeter of Jimin’s face as quickly as he could.

“Are you hungry, Tae?” Jimin asked, breaking up his observation session.

“Yeah, I am actually.” Taehyung had been so nervous all day he really hadn’t eaten much of anything.

“Good, me too,” Jimin’s smile returned, “Do you like pizza? There’s a really good place not far from here.”

“That sounds great to me.” Inwardly, Taehyung was ablaze with excitement. The palace ensured he had the healthiest diet possible, so foods like pizza were exclusives and rarities, reserved for birthday parties of his younger family members.

Jimin lead the way and Taehyung walked next to him. Jimin was ever so slightly shorter than Taehyung, and something about that made Taehyung swell with affection. Jimin was broader than Taehyung’s thin frame, something Jimin accentuated with a warm looking black varsity-style jacket.

Jimin’s hand brushed momentarily against Taehyung’s as they walked. Taehyung’s heart fluttered in a way it had never done before. He wanted Jimin to bring his hand back, to entwine his fingers with Taehyung’s long slender ones. He looked over at Jimin, who seemed unaware of the effect his hand had on Taehyung.

“Me and the guys come here on our lunch breaks a lot,” Jimin turned his head as he spoke, catching Taehyung in the act of staring. Taehyung thought of looking away in embarrassment, but summoned the courage necessary to keep his eyes on Jimin.

“The guys?”

“My construction team. It’s been really busy lately, the city is trying to get a lot of stuff done before it gets really cold. Not that that would stop us from working still.”

“You work outside even in the cold?”

“Yeah, unless the weather is bad, I suppose,” Jimin glanced back at Taehyung, “You mechanics work outside in the cold too, don’t you?”

“Oh!” Taehyung had forgotten his stupid lie from his first meeting with Jimin, “Yeah, I guess we do.”

Jimin laughed, “You don’t sound so certain.”

“I am. I am certain.” Taehyung couldn’t help but smile along with Jimin. His smile occupied his entire face, it scrunched his eyes and revealed a row of white teeth.

Jimin held the door to the restaurant open for Taehyung when they finally arrived. The weather was just beginning to chill into fall and the warmth offered by the pizza ovens were welcomed. Jimin guided him to a booth along the wall before peeling his coat off and sitting down. Taehyung took a brief moment to scan the room, wanting to be sure his disguise was working before joining Jimin. No other guests were paying attention to him — they munched and chatted amongst themselves, unaware they were in the presence of the heir to the throne. Taehyung slid into the booth across from Jimin a shallow smile blooming on his face.

“Isn’t it nice here?” Jimin asked, noting Taehyung’s smile. “I like that you can see the brick oven over there.” Jimin nodded towards the large oven radiating heat near the door.

“It’s really nice. I’ve never been someplace like this before.”

“Wait, really?” Jimin’s eyes were wide, “Never?”

“I guess you could say I had a sheltered life growing up.”

“So have you had pizza before?”

“Well yeah, who hasn’t? Just not often. I have a bit of a strict diet.”

“Gotta keep your figure slim?” Jimin’s lips slipped into a slow, coy smile.

“Something like that.”

Taehyung let Jimin decide on the toppings — cheese and mushrooms. They both let themselves settle into a comfortable stillness as they waited.

“You know, you fascinate me Tae.” Jimin leaned forward with his elbow braced on the table, his black v-neck revealing a bit of his slim collarbone.

“What makes you say that?”

“For starters, you’re far too beautiful to be an ordinary mechanic.”

Taehyung felt his face erupt into a pink blush at that — Jimin had just called him beautiful. His heart raced at his ribcage.

“You live in the twenty-first century but you didn’t own a phone until a few days ago, and now I find out you have some sort of strict diet.” Taehyung could tell Jimin was teasing, which eased the nervous pinch of the moment.

“Maybe I’m an international spy.” Taehyung raised his eyebrows playfully.

“I do love a man in a suit, Mr. Bond.” Jimin leaned his chin into his palm, closing a bit of the distance between them. “I swear I’ve seen your face before.”

“Maybe I’m actually a famous male model.” Taehyung laughed.

Jimin considered him for a moment, “I’d be less surprised at that.”

“Or maybe,” Taehyung leaned his chin into his hand to mirror Jimin’s position, inching them closer together, “I’m just an ordinary mechanic.”

“Maybe,” Jimin said, almost to himself.

Taehyung watched as Jimin’s eyes roamed his face for a moment and settled on his lips. Taehyung felt overcome with the desire to close the gap between their lips, but forced himself to sit back a bit. The small act seemed to break the trance Jimin had also fallen into, and he sat back as well.

Almost as if on cue to interrupt the awkward silence that would’ve consumed them, a waiter dropped off their steaming pizza. Both Jimin and Taehyung eagerly dug in.

By the time Jimin and Taehyung were done, only a few crusts and one slice of pizza remained between them. They sat together in a sleepy, content state.

“What’d you think?” Jimin asked.

“Amazing.”

Jimin smiled proudly at Taehyung. Affection pulsed through Taehyung’s body in response.

Before Jimin could say anything further, his phone buzzed loudly. He looked down at his lit up phone, picking it up quickly.

“Hey Tae, I have to take this,” Jimin was standing, eyebrows knit together in concern. “I’m really sorry, I’ll be right back.”

Taehyung nodded and watched him answer the phone as he made his way outside. Taehyung tried to watch his conversation from the window. He was talking fast and gesturing with his hands a lot. Taehyung shifted his eyes away from Jimin and nibbled on a leftover crust to pass the minutes.

“I’m really sorry, Tae.” Jimin repeated when he finally sat back down at the table.

“Is everything okay?” Taehyung was concerned, Jimin looked flustered.

“Yeah. . . Well, no, not really.” Jimin kept his eyes down, avoiding Taehyung’s eyes. “It’s my mom, that was the hospital she’s at that just called.”

“Oh.” Taehyung wasn’t sure what to say. “Is she —?”

“Yeah, she’s fine. They were just calling about expenses. They’re adding a new medication and just needed to confirm with me I could afford it.”

“Can you?” Taehyung immediately regretting asking such an intrusive question. Jimin chuckled.

“I’m going to have to find a way. I can’t lose her yet.”

“What about your father?”

“He left when my mom had me. I’m all she has.” Taehyung pitied the pained expression Jimin wore. It was a familiar one, one he had worn himself.

“I lost my mom when I was sixteen.”

“Yeah?” When Jimin’s eyes met Taehyung’s he could tell he was holding back tears.

“If you ever need to talk or anything. . . I know what it’s like to have a mom there.”

“Thanks Tae.” Jimin’s smile returned to his face. “What do you say we pay and head back?”

Taehyung paid at the counter with some of the money Hoseok had slipped him before they left his house earlier that night. The process was new to him, so he watched the people in front of him in line closely and followed their lead. Jimin was waiting outside the door for him when he had finished.

“You know, I’m really lucky I met you, Tae.”

“I’d say I’m luckier to have met you, Jimin.”

“I don’t buy that.” Jimin’s sly smile shifted into a new expression. It looked like he was holding back from saying something.

“Jimin —?”

“Would it be okay if I kissed you, Tae?”

Taehyung’s heart stopped. “Oh —“

“I’m sorry — I shouldn’t have — Only if you want to.”

“It’s just —“ Taehyung looked around him. He felt hyper aware of every single person walking by them on the street. Any one of these people could recognize him and snap a photo of him and Jimin. “Ah — Follow me.”

Taehyung had spotted a nearby alleyway and pulled Jimin under the cover of it. He felt safer, less exposed.

“I didn’t think you’d be into this type of thing,” Jimin teased.

“Just kiss me.” He breathed and it didn’t take long for Jimin to oblige.

The kiss started soft, Jimin’s lips felt as gentle as a butterfly landing on his own thin lips. They started pushing themselves closer, closing the distance between their bodies as best they could. Taehyung tried to drink in as much of Jimin as he could, as if by kissing him he might be able to absorb a part of him to keep with him.

They separated their lips, but didn’t distance themselves any. Taehyung could feel Jimin’s breaths on his blushing cheeks.

“Can I see you again?” Jimin breathed, keeping his eyes on Taehyung’s lips.

“Oh. . .” Taehyung had forgotten to tell Jimin about the tour. Jimin looked up at Taehyung with worried eyes.

“What?”

“It’s just. . . I’m going to be leaving for a long time on Friday.”

“Oh.” Jimin’s face fell into disappointment, he looked down from Taehyung. “How long is a long time?”

“Almost two months.” Taehyung sighed. Jimin didn’t respond. “But I’ll call you on my new phone.”

Taehyung watched a smile form on Jimin’s lips, he finally looked back up. “Promise?”

“I don’t think I can stay away from you.” Taehyung closed the distance between their lips again, wishing he could spend the next month and a half kissing Jimin instead.

Chapter Text

Jimin and Taehyung kissed in the alleyway until their lips hurt and then continued placing gentle kisses all over each others’ faces. They kissed to make up for all the time they’d lose in the coming weeks. Neither wanted to break away first.

“You’re more beautiful up close,” Jimin’s breath was hot on Taehyung’s cheeks, their chests pressed together, “I don’t want you to go.”

Taehyung used the bit of height he had over Jimin to study his face for a moment. Jimin’s brown eyes looked back up into his own. Taehyung felt so content, so at ease with Jimin looking at him like this. Jimin liked him for who he is as a person, not because he was forced to because of his rank. He wished more than anything he could stay in this moment with Jimin looking at him with his beautiful brown eyes. Taehyung leaned his head forward so his forehead rested against Jimin’s.

“I wish I could stay.”

“Where are you going?”

Taehyung froze for a moment, his mind searching. He hadn’t come up with an excuse. He pulled away from Jimin’s warmth, but kept his hands resting on his shoulders.

“It’s a. . . Sort of family trip, I guess. There’s some business involved.”

Jimin’s eyes narrowed a bit.

“My dad wants me and my brothers to get out and see the country,” Taehyung elaborated, not exactly lying.

Jimin kept his eyes narrow, but a slow smile spread across his thick lips.

“You’re so cute, Tae,” Jimin said in something short of a sigh and brought his head to rest just below Taehyung’s chin. Taehyung was sure Jimin could hear the frantic flutters of his own heart through the fabric of his clothes.

“I should go.” Taehyung sighed. Jimin didn’t break his grip around him.

“Are you sure you have to?”

“No, but I do have a busy couple days ahead of me getting ready.” Taehyung seized the opportunity and ran his curious hands through Jimin’s thick dark hair. Jimin leaned into his hand ever so slightly.

“Let me walk you home?” Jimin said, his voice small and soft.

Taehyung came up with some lame excuse about living too far away so Jimin couldn’t walk him all the way home, and Jimin seemed to accept that after some dispute. They would depart from each other at the bar from earlier instead.

Jimin and Taehyung walked side by side, sometimes in silence and sometimes with Jimin talking about anything and everything. More than once, Jimin’s hand would brush seemingly intentionally against Taehyung’s, sending flares throughout his entire body. Taehyung never gave in to the feelings and took Jimin’s hand, still inwardly afraid he might somehow be recognized by someone with a stray camera. Guilt ate away at him, he wished he could forget what the flashes of paparazzi were like so he could just stretch his fingers out and intwine them with Jimin’s. He made a promise to himself that next time he was with Jimin, he would be brave enough to reach out.

Jimin couldn’t hide his face of disappointment when they arrived at the bar again, and Taehyung was sure his face mirrored Jimin’s.

“I guess this is where I leave you,” Jimin lamented. He was looking away but Taehyung couldn’t take his eyes off of him.

“I guess so.” Taehyung sighed. His voice brought Jimin’s eyes back to his.

“I don’t suppose I could buy you a drink before you go?” Jimin raised a dark eyebrow. Taehyung offered a pained smile in response.

“I really should get back.”

Jimin looked down towards his feet. He looked small, like a child who wasn’t getting his way. Affection overflowed from Taehyung, his heart pounding hard in his chest again. He glanced around before leaning down to place a gentle kiss on the top of Jimin’s head. Jimin didn’t look up but Taehyung watched as a blush rose from Jimin’s chin all the way to the top of his ears.

“I can’t wait to see you again when I get back,” Taehyung leaned in, pleased that he had made Jimin blush rather than the other way around.

Jimin lifted his face, a wide toothy grin painted on his lips. “I can’t wait either. Don’t forget to call either, Tae.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Taehyung let Jimin pull him into a deep hug. Taehyung kept his face down, almost completely hidden in Jimin’s shoulder.

Taehyung watched as Jimin walked away from him, his steps looking sad and heavy. Taehyung couldn’t tear his eyes away as Jimin slowly got smaller and smaller. He was glad he kept looking after him becuase after a short distance, Jimin chanced a shy glance back at Taehyung. Taehyung didn’t have to be close to know what his slick smile looked like dancing across his lips — he had a similar one spread across his own. His heart fluttered with affection as Jimin waved before turning back around, drawing his jacket around him tighter in the chilled air. Taehyung grinned like an idiot and had to look down at his feet to find relief from the emotions overwhelming him at once.

“So, that seemed to go well,” Hoseok’s voice interrupted the explosions in Taehyung’s chest. Hoseok had slipped next to him after Jimin had faded from sight. Taehyung wasn’t ready to talk to his friend yet, and covered his blushing face with his hands for a moment.

“Come on, let’s head back.” Taehyung could hear the fond smile in Hoseoks voice as he gently patted his back.

Sneaking back to Hoseok’s house was unceremonious. It had gotten late while Taehyung was occupied with Jimin, so the staff had cleared out of the kitchen for the night. Hoseok had still gone in front of Taehyung and waved him in, just in case. They quietly slipped up the steps and back into Hoseok’s room, their adventure coming to a close.

Taehyung slumped down into a padded chair as Hoseok closed the door behind them. “How much of all that did you see?”

“Enough.” Hoseok smiled, “But I let you two have your privacy.”

Taehyung played at the hem of his shirt to avoid looking at Hoseok.

“I’m happy for you Tae Tae, he seems to really like you.”

“Yeah. . .” Taehyung sighed, “I think so too.”

“But Taehyung,” Hoseok knelt down so Taehyung was forced to look him in the eyes, “You should be careful with this from here on.”

“What do you mean?”

“I think you know what I mean, Tae.” Hoseok’s eyes were steady. Taehyung rarely saw him get serious like this. “This should only be for fun. You know how this will end if you let it be anything else.”

“Hobi —“

“I don’t want to be responsible for your broken heart.”

“You won’t be.” Taehyung felt suddenly angry, “I’m an adult Hobi, not the little kid you got to boss around when we were younger. I know what I’m doing.”

Hoseok’s eyes couldn’t hide the hurt at Taehyung’s words, as much as he tried. Taehyung felt a pang of guilt in his stomach.

“Sorry,” Taehyung muttered, and avoided Hoseok by bringing his eyes back to the hem of his shirt.

Hoseok stayed quiet for a moment. “I know you’re not a little kid anymore, Taehyung. I just want to make sure you know what you’re doing,” Hoseok continued, “To yourself and to him.”

Taehyung kept his eyes down, knowing that Hoseok had a point and that Taehyung needed to be honest with himself. Taehyung was the future of the throne, there was no possible way he could officially be with Jimin, not as himself. He didn’t want to think of life without Jimin — he wanted to cling to the happiness he felt around him for as long as time would allow.

“I know what I’m doing.” Taehyung still hadn’t lifted his eyes, his voice childlike as it left his mouth. “He makes me really happy, Hobi. The happiest I’ve felt in a long time.”

“I’m glad for you Tae Tae,” Hoseok sighed and slid himself down to the ground beside Taehyung’s chair. “Although I do wish you were still a little kid. You were so cute with your floppy hair and big ears.”

“My ears weren’t that big,” Taehyung laughed, pushing Hoseok’s shoulder.

“Are you kidding me?”  Hoseok squeaked out a loud laugh and pinched at Taehyung’s ears, “They took up your entire face!”

“They did not!” Taehyung argued, wiggling away from Hoseok’s reach, joining him in loud laughter.

“What do you say about an old fashioned sleep over at my house?” Hoseok asked after their short wrestling match calmed down, “I know it’s not the the glitz and glamor you’re used to these days, but it’d be nice to have one like when we were kids.”

Taehyung smiled and finally raised his head. “Do you have pajamas I can borrow?”

“Of course, your majesty!” Hoseok laughed.

The first thing Taehyung heard when he woke up was Yoongi’s voice filling the room and Hoseok’s frantic attempts to quiet him down.

“He’s still asleep Yoongi!” Hoseok whispered, hoping to bring down the volume of Yoongi’s voice.

Taehyung groggily sat up, his eyelids still tugging at the idea of sleep. He blinked a few times until the sight of Yoongi standing over him came into focus. Hoseok was standing behind him still in his light blue pajamas, his red hair messy from sleep.

“Yoongi?” Taehyung rubbed at his tired eyes.

“Do you know how terrifying it is, Taehyung,” Yoongi’s thick eyebrows were bent harshly down, “When you’re charged with protecting the only true heir to the throne and you go to wake him up and he’s not in his bed or anywhere in the palace?”

“Namjoon knew I was here.”

“Namjoon was under the impression that Hoseok’s staff was supposed to bring you back last night.”

“Well clearly I didn’t come back.”

“Clearly not.”

“It’s not a big deal, Yoongi.”

“It was my idea Yoongi,” Hoseok interrupted, “I should have told my staff to notify you, I’m sorry.”

Yoongi looked like he had something else he wanted to say, but let his face lighten. “I’m just glad you’re safe.”

“It’s not like I’m sneaking out or anything,” Taehyung brought his eyes mischievously to Hoseok’s. Yoongi rubbed at the back of his neck.

“I know. You know better than that. I’ll let Namjoon know you’re still here,” Yoongi sighed, his face drawn and tired, “We both have a lot of things to do today before we leave.”

Yoongi bowed slightly before leaving. Taehyung was never particularly comfortable with the idea of Yoongi bowing to him, he only ever did it when he felt it was necessary. Yoongi and Taehyung had grown up together, but at some point along the way Yoongi began being conditioned to treat Taehyung as something other than a friend.

“I’m really sorry Taehyung,” Words began pouring out of Hoseok the moment Yoongi closed the door behind him, “I completely forgot, I was just excited to have you over one last time before you left on Friday.”

When things fluster Hoseok he won’t stop moving until he calms down. He paced the room, rambling about how he felt bad about not notifying the palace about Taehyung’s whereabouts. Having to check in with his staff every time he went somewhere annoyed Taehyung most about who he was.

“Hobi, it’s fine, don’t worry about it.” Taehyung tried to assure him, but knew he would have to work himself down. “I was safe here and that’s all that matters.”

That seemed to ease Hoseok and he slowed himself a bit. Taehyung peeled himself out of the blanket nest he had formed on Hoseok’s couch and redressed himself in his abandoned dress pants and button down shirt.

“I think I should head back myself, Hobi.” Taehyung finally said after Hoseok mellowed.

“Oh.” Hoseok stopped and looked at Taehyung. They exchanged eye contact for a moment, feeling the full weight of how long they would be apart. Taehyung couldn’t remember a time since they were children when Hoseok and Taehyung would be apart this long. When they were younger, Taehyung used to beg his parents to bring Hoseok along on long trips. When he did come along, he would have to be tucked far away from photographers.

“I wish you could come this time.”

“Me too.”

“We could just swap you for Jungkook,” Taehyung chuckled.

“You might have more peace that way,” Hoseok laughed along.

“Do you want to hide in my suitcase?”

“I think your staff would notice.”

“You’re right, you’d be too heavy,” Taehyung joked, earning a playful slap on the shoulder from Hoseok. “I’ll miss you a lot Hobi.”

“Me too Tae Tae.”

Hoseok and Taehyung exchanged a tight hug as Taehyung left. Taehyung felt a specific misery as one of Hoseok’s staff member’s drove him back to the palace. He wished he had been born as his best friend’s genuine brother, so that he could stay home with Hoseok instead of this tour.

The days following Taehyung’s date with Jimin were a blur. He and his step-brothers spent their remaining hours at home reviewing and finalizing their rigorous itinerary. Every moment of this tour was occupied with some kind of visitation or dinner. Taehyung was exhausted by the mere idea of the coming weeks.

Taehyung’s staff had packed all of his clothing for the coming days. He didn’t get much say in what he wore for public appearances. Taehyung’s room in the past days had been a whirlwind of suitcases and staff members moving in and out of his room. By the time their departure day came, his room was mostly empty of clothing. Taehyung sat with a small leather bag packed with books to read while traveling next to him, waiting for word that it was time for him to leave the palace.

Namjoon knocked gently at Taehyung’s open door before entering. “Are you ready, your royal highness?” His voice gentle.

“Yeah,” Taehyung sighed and gathered his bag. “Is my father coming by to say goodbye?”

Namjoon smiled weakly. “I’m afraid not, Taehyung.”

“Of course not,” Taehyung laughed softly to himself. After his mother died, Taehyung’s father got extraordinarily distant from Taehyung. Their relationship was more of a facade for the public and in front of cameras without any substance backing it up behind closed doors. Taehyung accepted this as part of his reality, but couldn’t help but miss the intimacy he once shared with his father.

Taehyung indicated towards the door for Namjoon to lead him down to the car. “After you, Namjoon.”

Jungkook and Seokjin were waiting for Taehyung and Namjoon by the car, both wearing nervous expressions. Taehyung pitied them. While he had grown up with cameras following him, this is something that the other two have only had to learn to deal with in the past four years. There are so many rules they had to memorize in order to be a part of this world. The first public appearance Jungkook did he looked like he was about to throw up the entire night. While Jin seemed to pick everything up very quickly, Jungkook struggled and often seemed overwhelmed.

“There shouldn’t be any cameras until we get to the airport,” Taehyung assured Seokjin and Jungkook. There were always tourists just outside the palace gates, but Taehyung had traveled with his parents enough to know the cameras they had to worry about would wait to catch a photo of their departure. The reminder of that seemed to ease the minds of Seokjin and Jungkook a bit.

“Your majesties,” Yoongi’s voice rang out, he was moving quickly towards them with a stressed look drawn tight across his face. It looked like he hadn’t slept in a long time. “Are the three of you ready to go?”

“It looks like it, Yoongi,” Taehyung said, glancing around to his step-brothers, who nodded slightly in agreement.

“Then let’s get you three to the airport,” Yoongi said, and Namjoon opened the door to the car for Taehyung to slip through to his seat.

Their car pulled them directly up to the runway they would be taking off from. Camera flashes greeted them the moment their car became visible. Taehyung watched as Jungkook and Jin twisted with fresh anxiety.

“It’ll be okay,” Taehyung assured them, “We can do no wrong in their eyes.”

Jin offered a small smile in response but Jungkook turned his wide eyes back to the camera.

“Hey,” Yoongi reached back to pat a comforting hand on Jungkook’s shoulder, “Just do what we’ve been practicing.”

Jungkook brought his eyes to meet Yoongi’s, smiling shyly. “Yeah,” he said, almost to himself.

Their procession from the parked car to the door airplane is one of their most choreographed parts of their tour. Taehyung had to be the first from the car, waving to the cameras as he stepped forward. Jungkook and Jin followed about ten steps behind him. The moment they stepped from the car, their nerves were a thing of the past. When Taehyung reached the stairs of their airplane, he shook hands with high ranking military generals before ascending the stairs. He stayed for a moment at the top of the stairs, turning once more to wave at the cameras with Jungkook and Jin a few steps below him. They waited for Taehyung’s cue to duck into the shelter of the airplane’s cabin.

Taehyung looked back at his step brothers once both of them were safely inside. Jungkook’s face washed with relief. Yoongi, Namjoon, and the rest of their staff followed closely after them.

“You all did great,” Yoongi said, mostly to Jungkook. He slipped past them in the aisle to take a seat in one of the large comfortable seats in the lavish cabin. Jungkook followed and assumed the seat next to him, quietly watching as Yoongi pulled out papers to read and work on during the flight.

Taehyung slid into a seat a distance away from Yoongi and Jungkook, pulling a book out of his bag. He tried to hide his disappointment as Jin slid into the seat next to his. Sometimes Jin had a hard time catching on to when people weren’t in the mood for a conversation, and Taehyung wasn’t particularly thrilled at the idea of talking to Seokjin for the length of the flight. He flipped his book open in hopes that Jin would get the idea.

“As we prepare for take off, can I have your attention your majesties?” Namjoon’s voice brought their eyes back to the front of the plane, “Our first stop will be on the coast. We’ll be spending a few days there before we set off to the next city again. When we land you three will  be having a dinner with some of the ambassadors and embassy officials that are based there. We’re in for a busy few weeks, so please be sure to take care of yourselves.” Namjoon nodded, looking at the three princes individually.

“Thank you, Namjoon,” Taehyung said as Namjoon bowed and sought out a seat with a desk for him to work out.

Planes always made Taehyung sleepy. The plane they were on was one of the planes reserved exclusively for the royal family. Taehyung had spent a good portion of his life in this particular plane, being flown about with his parents. His eyes grew too tired to read so he set his book to the side and glanced about the cabin.

Jungkook was still watching Yoongi work, quietly talking with him. Taehyung couldn’t hear what they were saying, but Yoongi must have said something funny because Jungkook threw his head back in laughter. Taehyung could see the faintest tease of a smile on Yoongi’s thin lips, satisfied at the younger’s reaction.

“He’s good for Jungkook,” Seokjin said, intruding on Taehyung’s observations. He turned to face his older step brother. “Yoongi. I’ve never seen Jungkook take to someone like he has him.”

“What do you mean?”

Jin’s face gloomed, “Jungkook had it pretty hard when we were kids.”

“You mean your — ?” Taehyung began.

“Father?” Seokjin finished, sighing. “That was only the start of it. Jungkook was only ten years old when he passed away. It really took a toll on him.”

“I didn’t know he was so young,” Taehyung’s heart sank. He looked back to Jungkook, who was still fighting to maintain Yoongi’s attention. “I was sixteen when my mother died. It took me a long time to recover.”

“Jungkook too. He loved our father so much, he was Jungkook’s hero. He got sick and passed away very suddenly and Jungkook didn’t have a lot of time to process it. He shut down for years. He wouldn’t talk to anyone or look anyone in the eyes. Our father took care of us, so when he died we had nannies coming in and out of our home to care for more Jungkook than me. They’d get frustrated with him, since he wouldn’t talk and misbehaved a lot.”

“He’d misbehave?”

“All the time. He’d always do what he wanted. It’s like he lost his understanding of authority.”

“And then he wouldn’t talk about it?”

“He would talk to me,” Seokjin moved his head in a way that made his dark hair fall wistfully onto his forehead. “But only me. Once our mother gave up on nannies for him, I was his main caretaker. I’d cook for him and help him with his homework. He is so smart but he would get bullied a lot in school since he was an easy target. He’d come home crying and not tell anyone what was going on.”

“But he’d tell you?”

“He’d kill me if he knew I told you this, but he used to come to my room at night when he couldn’t sleep. I’d stroke his hair and let him cry all he needed to. He’d tell me about school and eventually I convinced our mother to pull him out to homeschool him with a tutor. She couldn’t see what the problem was. She wasn’t around a lot to see him. I raised him more than she ever did.”

“Did you still go to school?”

“I did. I’d go straight home to be with him, so I didn’t have many friends either. He used to wait in one of the front windows of our home for me to come home. He’d be so excited to see me. It was the same when he was really little and I had just started elementary school.” A fond smile enveloped Seokjin’s face.

“He’s lucky to of had you, Jin,” Taehyung said, “I used to wish for siblings like you.”

“I am your sibling, Taehyung,” Seokjin’s persisted in his sweet smile. Taehyung felt an overwhelming warmth radiating from him.

“I’m glad,” Taehyung said, “I always wanted brothers.”

“You and Jungkook used to argue like you really were brothers,” Seokjin laughed at the memory, “You two were such a headache.”

Taehyung laughed along, “He used to annoy me so much.”

“Now you know what having a younger brother is like.”

Seokjin shifted his eyes back to Jungkook and Yoongi and Taehyung followed his gaze. Yoongi was showing him something on the paperwork he was doing, Jungkook leaned carefully forward.

“Yoongi really helped him come out of his shell again,” Seokjin said, still watching.

“Really?”

Seokjin nodded. “I’m sure you can imagine the last thing Jungkook wanted was to become a prince. Our mom didn’t care much about what we thought about such a drastic change, it was all about what her and our grandfather wanted. I was afraid of how Jungkook would react to the public attention. He had made a lot of progress since he was ten, I was worried that it would all be ruined in an instant. . . But then he met Yoongi.”
“Why Yoongi?”

“It was that dog he has. Jungkook loves animals. He had these two cute little bunnies our dad got him just before he died. They were the lights of his world. Here,” Seokjin searched through his small briefcase and pulled out his wallet. “This is my favorite picture of him.” Seokjin slid out a small photo out and handed it to Taehyung.

The paper of the photo showed its age. It was crumpled and curling in at the corners from being carried around. Taehyung recognized the person in the picture as a very young Jungkook. He was sitting cross-legged on a hardwood floor looking up to the camera with a wide crooked tooth grin that occupied his entire face. In one hand, he held a black bunny and in the other a white one. Taehyung looked back up to Seokjin from the photo, who was smiling softly down at the photo.

“You keep this in your wallet?” Taehyung asked.

“Just in case I need a smile,” Seokjin said, gently taking the photo back and returning it to his wallet.

“So Yoongi’s dog, Holly —?” Taehyung started, returning to the conversation.

“She must have reminded Jungkook of those bunnies. He saw Yoongi walking her in the gardens and was captivated. So he started waiting in the gardens for him to be able to play with Holly. I think Yoongi grew on him because he’s so quiet. He didn’t force Jungkook to talk to him, he would just sit quietly and let Jungkook spend as much time as he needed with Holly.”

“I knew he really liked Yoongi, but I didn’t realize he had such an effect on him.”

“All that time he had been talking to only me, then he met Yoongi and everything changed for him. He finally had someone other than me. And then he started becoming comfortable with all this.” Seokjin’s face seemed distant.

“How do you feel about that?”
Seokjin was still for a moment. “I spent so much of my life as a young man taking care of him, I sometimes don’t really know what to do without him.”

“But you’re happy for him?”

“Yes. And proud. He’s becoming a man himself. I wish our father could see him.” Taehyung could tell Seokjin was threatening tears. “A part of me is a bit jealous of Yoongi for getting all of his attention. I wish I could keep him little and all mine for forever.”

“He’ll always be your little brother, Seokjin.”

“I know,” Seokjin tried to discreetly wipe at the tears sparkling in his eyes. Taehyung pretended he didn’t notice. “I’m worried about him though.”

“How so?”

“He’s been ditching his responsibilities and events lately, and no one knows where he goes. He won’t tell me or Yoongi. I’m afraid he’s mixing into things he shouldn’t be.”

“Do you really think he would?”

Seokjin’s eyebrows knitted together, “I don’t know. I’m just afraid with all the public attention he gets now he might make a mistake that will follow him forever.”

“Have you tried talking to him?”

“He gets an attitude if I ask anything. He’ll avoid saying anything. It frustrates me, he used to tell me everything.”

“Maybe I can ask Yoongi to say something?”

Seokjin looked away, “I wish he’d just tell me.”

“I’m sure he’s fine, Jin. You know him best out of anyone.”

“I know, I know,” Seokjin breathed. “I just can’t help but worry.”

Seokjin stayed quiet after that. Taehyung stared down at his hands until he eventually flipped open the pages of his book. His eyes felt heavy and tired. He let his head fall backwards onto the comfortable headrest and drifted into sleep.

Chapter Text

“Your royal highness,” Namjoon’s voice stirred Taehyung’s sleep. His senses slowly swirled back into his consciousness. At some point in his sleep, his seat had been reclined for him and a blanket tucked carefully around his curled body. He peeped an eye open and the image of his advisor slowly manifested in front of him. “We’re going to land in about an hour. The stylists want you to come into the back so they can get you ready for the photographers when we land.”

Taehyung gave a small nod, his eyelid drooping down. He let his head fall backwards as his eyes slipped closed again, earning a gentle nudge from Namjoon.

“They’d like you now, Taehyung.”

Taehyung shifted away from Namjoon. “My mother always said it’s impossible for the royal family to be late.”

“While that’s true, we do have a schedule to keep.”

Taehyung groaned and slowly peeled himself out of the blanket. Namjoon smiled and left Taehyung to blink away his sleep. After a moment of vacant staring at the ceiling he sat his chair back up to take in the scene around him. Jin had laid himself down across a few seats and pulled a blanket tight around his broad shoulders. His head rested on a large pillow, his dark brown hair splattered against its delicate fabric.

The small windows lining the aisles of the aircraft were shuttered closed so the cabin was lit by only faint overhead lights. Taehyung struggled to his feet, the feeling of sleep still weighing on his body. He stretched his arms and legs, hoping the blood flow would wake his body faster. Mid-stretch, Taehyung glanced over at where Yoongi and Jungkook had been sitting. Yoongi was hunched tight over his papers, a small overhead light shining directly onto his work. At some point on the flight, Jungkook had shifted downwards in his sleep, curled tight with his head resting on a pillow nested next to Yoongi’s leg. Yoongi busied himself with reading, but slipped an idle hand into Jungkook’s hair as he slept. Jungkook stirred a bit at the contact, but kept his eyes closed. Yoongi ran his long fingers through his hair, looking down with a soft smile as Jungkook drew closer in his sleep. Taehyung looked away, preserving the intimacy of their quiet moment together.

Taehyung knew Yoongi would have been incredibly embarrassed if he had known Taehyung had just seen what he did, so Taehyung tip-toed towards the back of the plane. He slipped through a small hallway and into a room set up like a dressing room. His main stylist, Jisoo, a woman who styled his mother as long as Taehyung could remember, greeted him with a change of clothes, chiding him for falling asleep in an expensive shirt and pants and getting wrinkles into it. Taehyung smiled and apologized to the woman who had been styling him since he was a child. To Taehyung, Jisoo was more like family. When he was younger, he had mistakenly called her his aunt many times, which made his mother and Jisoo giggle with fondness for him.

“What time is it?” Taehyung asked as he slipped into the hair and makeup chair.

“It’s fairly late in the afternoon,” Jisoo answered.

“Why did they make the cabin so dark then?”

“After you fell asleep Jin drifted off too, and Jungkook can sleep anywhere at any time,” Jisoo laughed. “So we closed the windows to help you all rest up for when we land.”

“So why exactly did I have to wake up first?” Taehyung asked raising an eyebrow. “Shouldn’t I get the most beauty sleep?”

Jisoo laughed, “Of course you do, your majesty. But you also need to look like the most handsome bachelor in this country. Now sit still while I do your makeup.”

A part of Taehyung always wondered if his people knew how much time went into making him look flawless. When he was a teenager, he often headlined magazines claiming they knew the secrets to his bright, perfect skin. But the secret was always Jisoo. If it were up to Taehyung, he’d rarely wash his hair and he certainly wouldn’t wear foundation. Acne never bothered Taehyung, but Jisoo would sigh in despair every time his face would break out. She would equip him with cleansers, oils, and moisturizers that Taehyung would inevitably never use. She’d always chide him for wasting such expensive products.

Taehyung asked Namjoon to bring him a newspaper as Jisoo worked at his face. He flipped it open to read the cartoons, making Jisoo smile with fondness. When he was younger, Taehyung’s mother used to read them out loud to him to keep him from wiggling as Jisoo peppered his face with product.

When he finished reading, Taehyung flipped open to the popular culture section, scanning to see news of his family. Printed large on the first page he found his own face smiling back at him. He had to give credit to the newspapers, they always managed to print flattering photos of him. This photo was taken as the three princes boarded the plane, smiling and waving to all the cameras gathered.

“That’s a nice photo of the three of you,” Jisoo smiled. “I’ll have to cut that out to keep in my scrapbook.”

Taehyung smiled at her. She had been keeping photos of him since he was a baby. At first, he was a bit jealous when she started clipping photos of Jungkook and Jin as well, but he couldn’t stay mad at her. She’d call the three of them her ‘masterpieces’ every time they went out.

“Okay, perfect.” Jisoo beamed as she finished combing back a section of his hair. She had parted it to one side and smoothed the layers behind his ear, his bangs loose and cutting across his brow. She came in front of him and slipped her soft hands on his cheeks, making him look up at her. “My dear Taehyung, when are you going to bring a nice princess home?”

Taehyung laughed, she asked him this often. She couldn’t wait for his wedding day. “Maybe some day, Jisoo.”

“You won’t stay young forever, Taehyung,” She raised a dark eyebrow at him. “You can’t keep puttering around with Hoseok your entire life. The country wants a new princess.”

“I know what the country wants,” Taehyung sighed, “I’m just not ready for all that.”

“No one ever is ready for all that,” Jisoo smiled. “Now go change out of those wrinkly pants. No woman in her right mind would want to marry you in those.”

Taehyung laughed. He loved Jisoo. He wished he could tell her about his secret meetings with Jimin. That he’d found someone who he couldn’t stop thinking about. If she knew what he’d been up to, she’d be forced to tell Yoongi and Namjoon.

He stood up and changed into a new shirt and pants. Next to the hanging clothes was an assortment of jewelry for him to chose from. He slipped on a watch and slung a tie around his neck.

“When we land, we’ll greet the cameras as you go to the car,” Namjoon said, appearing with a schedule in his hand, “Then we have a dinner with the local ambassadors and diplomats tonight. I hope you rested as much as you need to for today.” He laughed.

“I hope so too,” Taehyung laughed as Jungkook and Jin sleepily shuffled back into Jisoo’s care. “Here I was hoping this would be a bit of a vacation. What’s going on tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow we’re heading to the coast to greet local craftspeople and to give your people a chance to see the three of you.”

“That’ll be fun.” Taehyung smiled.

“For you,” Namjoon sighed, “Not for the people charged with keeping you safe.”

“Fair point.” Taehyung laughed.

Taehyung set the pace for everyone when the plane landed. They’d wait until he was ready, whether they themselves were ready or not. Taehyung was used to his father being around to let everyone know when it was time to go. Without his father’s presence, Taehyung had the highest rank — an unsettling glimpse into what it will be like when he is king one day.

“I’m ready,” He told Yoongi and Namjoon, who were waiting by the door. Jungkook and Jin nervously stood close to one another. Namjoon nodded and opened the door of the airplane, letting Taehyung pass and step down onto the red carpeted stairs. He stopped for a moment at the top, to smile and wave as he’d done with his parents countless times. As he started down the stairs, Jin and Jungkook appeared at the door. He noted the increase of camera flashes as the three of them stood on the stairs together, waving precisely how they were trained to. Jin and Jungkook followed Taehyung’s lead when he reached the bottom of the stairs, shaking hands with local military leaders and thanking them for their service to the country. A photo all of the local newspapers were waiting for was a photo of Taehyung shaking the mayor’s hand at the end of the line. Taehyung could tell he was leaping out of his shoes to host the three princes in his city by the eager handshake that lasted a bit too long. Jin and Jungkook shook his hand, and the three of them made their way to a black car at the end of the carpet. They waved one last time to the cameras before dunking their heads into the vehicle.

“You have to give them a lot of photo options,” Taehyung joked, trying to dissolve the queasy look that painted Jungkook’s face. Both him and Jin cracked a halfhearted smile in response. “Jisoo is going to love some of those.” Jungkook shifted his eyes to his feet, but still managed a smile.

“They can still see us, Jungkook,” Jin nudged him to look back up. Yoongi and Namjoon were just sliding into the front seat of the car.

“Sorry,” Jungkook mumbled, shifting his eyes back up front. Yoongi turned around in his seat, catching Jungkook’s eyes for a faint moment. Jungkook seemed to ease at under Yoongi’s brief glance before Yoongi’s eyes turned to Taehyung.

“Are you ready to go, Taehyung?” Yoongi asked. Taehyung nodded and Yoongi shifted back to the front, indicating to the driver it was time to go.

During their time along the coast, the three princes were staying in a house near the beach that the royal family owns. Despite being in the surrounded by the city, it was far enough removed to keep the three princes safe and comfortable. Taehyung had been to this house a few times before, on family vacations when his mother was still alive. There was enough time between their landing and the dinner for the princes to stop by and see where they’d be staying.

“They’re lining the streets to see us,” Jungkook said, his eyes wide as he stared out the windows of the moving car. Their arrival was almost like a parade, families waving flags of their country as they passed. “It looks like they’ve been waiting all day.”

“They probably have been,” Taehyung smiled. “It’s a lot different than the capital, isn’t it? They’re used to us there.”

“Let’s wave, Jungkook,” Jin leaned forward towards Jungkook, waving his hand at the passing crowds. Jungkook smiled and joined him. Taehyung watched as they giggled at the reactions from the excited crowd. He was suddenly very grateful for their presence, thinking of how terrifying this experience would’ve been had he been on his own.

Jungkook’s eyes were still wide as they pulled up to the house. Taehyung liked when Jungkook opened up like this. When he dropped his standoffish attitude, he was a lot of fun to be around.

The house had a welcomed privacy with the amount they will be in the public eye over the next few weeks. The interior remained unchanged since Taehyung was a child. Large full length windows fitting of a beach house lined the entry way, giving them a beautiful view of the water. Soft white furniture with blue accents dotted the rooms. Taehyung can remember the sound of his mother’s laughter filling the house as he crouched in front of the glass coffee table in the living room, showing her the shells he’d scavenged at the beach earlier that afternoon. A sudden, fresh wave of sadness ebbed into him when he realized he hadn’t been back here since that trip.

“Your royal highness,” Namjoon’s voice broke up Taehyung’s thoughts, “Since your father isn’t here, we could arrange to have your bags sent to the master bedroom —“

“No,” Taehyung interrupted. “I want my room.”

Namjoon nodded, knowing that Taehyung meant the room he had always stayed in as a child. Namjoon returned to the staff busying themselves with moving suitcases inside. Jin and Jungkook found themselves being moved into two large rooms across the house from Taehyung’s. A part of Taehyung was happy to have almost an entire wing of the house to himself, but another part was jealous of Jin and Jungkook for having each other. He excused himself to his room as his two step-brothers wandered the house gazing with wonder at every new thing.

Taehyung’s room was exactly how he left it. It was considerably smaller than his room at the palace, but Taehyung loved its more intimate size. It gave him insight into what it might be like to have a normal bedroom and a normal life outside of the palace gates. The large, plush bed fit for the future king took up most of the powder blue room. White dressers and chairs filled the rest of the space in a cozy, sensible way.

Taehyung flopped his back onto his bed with a sigh. He didn’t like to complain much — especially since being a prince was his full time job — but he felt exhausted already. He wanted to return to his leisurely life at the palace, spending days with Hoseok. Taehyung knew he couldn’t hide from his royal responsibilities for forever, but that didn’t make it easier for him to handle now.

Taehyung closed his eyes and his idle thoughts slipped back to Jimin. Taehyung thought of his dark hair and sun-kissed skin. He wished he could have brought Jimin with him, that he was here to experience all of this with the same sort of endearing wonder that wafted off of Jungkook. Taehyung brought his hand to his lips, thinking of the soft curve of Jimin’s. Taehyung rolled over in a huff of frustration, yearning to hold his delicate, yet authoritative body in his arms again.

Taehyung had been granted a period of lamenting before Namjoon came to collect him. Gently knocking at the open door. “Taehyung, you should start getting ready for tonight.”

Taehyung groaned and sat up. “I don’t suppose you could just send Jin and Jungkook in my place?”

“They might not survive it.”

“Then I could go back to being an only child.”

“Taehyung —“ Namjoon started.

“I’m only joking, Namjoon.”

“Right,” Namjoon nodded, “I’ll leave you to get ready in peace.”

Taehyung watched as Namjoon left, still sitting on his bed. A suit with a bow tie had been set out for him before he had arrived. He was a bit surprised that it seemed that Namjoon wasn’t going to send any staff members in to help him dress. He didn’t mind though, nothing made him feel more useless than not being allowed to put on his own suit jacket. He indulged in a few more minutes laying on his back before rising to his feet to get the evening started.

The arrival at the event was standard. The three princes pulled up to a luxury hotel in in a single car together and Taehyung led them in amidst a flash of photographers — almost double what they’re used to in the capital. The event began with them in a large, wide-ceiling room with oversized chandeliers and a fireplace. A local string quartet played softly on one side of the room, while a bar serving wine made from the wineries along the coast nested itself on the other side. Hors d’oeuvres floated around the room as appetizers for the assembled crowd. Overall, an It was quaint, a nice change of scenery for the three.

The three split ways almost immediately. Since his father wasn’t around, everyone wanted to speak with Taehyung. Namjoon stuck close to him, feeding him the names of people Taehyung had either never met or met when he was too young to retain their names. Taehyung shook hands and nodded politely as the people he met excitedly rambled to him about anything and everything. By the time he had greeted everyone, he was already exhausted. He sought out a glass of wine and scanned the room for his step brothers.

As expected, every young woman and daughter in attendance was surrounding Jin in an impenetrable wall — all seeking a glance of his worldwide handsome face. They giggled and batted their long eyelashes at every word he said. Taehyung found Jungkook standing mostly alone, weakly chatting with anyone who might want to strike up conversation with him. He looked small, shy. Taehyung wanted the refuge that standing with another member of the family provided, and made his way over to him.

“You don’t look so well, Jungkook,” Taehyung said, drawing Jungkook’s nervous eyes to him. “You’d be used to all of this if you showed up to these more often.” Jungkook jerked his head away at that, his bangs covering his eyes in a huff.

“I don’t skip them that often,” He protested.

“Are you sure?” Taehyung pressed, “Because I don’t see you too often. You could be like Jin, talking with some girls.” Jungkook kept his eyes away from Taehyung, but Taehyung could see the faintest blush on his cheeks.

“Only the teenaged girls like me,” Jungkook sighed.

“That’s more than I have,” Taehyung laughed. Jungkook managed a smile.

“That is true.”

“Hey,” Taehyung lightly pushed Jungkook’s shoulder, “You’re not supposed to agree.” They laughed together for a moment. “Where do you go when you’re not at these events, Jungkook?”

Jungkook stayed quiet for a moment. “Just not at them, I guess. Anywhere but.”

“Like you stay at home instead?”

“Something like that.”

“Jin worries about you.”

“He always has.”

They stayed quiet together. They shifted their eyes around the room in the silence, not sure how to continue talking to each other. They stayed like that until Namjoon came to usher them to the dinner portion of the evening.

Taehyung hated sitting at the head of the table. He hated that everyone stared at him with hungry eyes, waiting for Taehyung to give them the cue to begin eating. He wished he could be Jin and Jungkook, strategically placed in the middle of the table to keep the lower ranking guests thinking they were important. Nothing brought him more joy than dismissing the dinner and climbing back into the car to return home that evening.

Taehyung, Jungkook, and Jin were silent as they reentered their temporary home. They had a pretty early morning tomorrow and each of them shuffled to their own individual rooms. Taehyung rinsed the makeup off his face and changed into loose pajamas. He nested deep into his bed, laying his head against the soft pillow. He stared at the wall, not quite ready to go to sleep but also not sure what to do. As he always did when he was still, he thoughts slipped back to Jimin. He wondered if he was still awake. Taehyung peeled himself out of his blankets and rooted through his bag to find his small flip phone. He hesitated for a moment, acknowledging that it was quite late at night to call him, but dialed his phone number anyway.

Taehyung’s heart pounded as he listened to the line ring. Every part of him wanted to hang up, but he forced himself to hang on. The line seemed to ring endlessly, and Taehyung’s hopes of talking to Jimin started to wane.

“. . .Hello?” A sweet, sleepy voice answered on the other side of the phone.

“Jimin?” Taehyung exclaimed, maybe too loud and too excited.

“Tae?” Jimin’s voice cracked, sleepiness hanging in it.

“Yeah, it’s me,” Taehyung’s heart bounced in his chest. “Did I wake you up? I didn’t realize how late it was. . .”

“Yeah, but it’s okay. I’m glad you called.” Taehyung smiled sillily to himself at Jimin’s words and crawled back under the covers of his bed. “What’s going on Tae?”

“I guess I just wanted to hear your voice.”

“Oh?” Taehyung could hear the sly smile in the sound of Jimin’s voice. “Are you on your road trip?”

“Yeah, although we actually flew today instead of driving.”

“Where are you at now?”

“We’re on the coast. It’s really beautiful here.”

“I grew up on the coast,” Jimin’s voice lit up, “I love it there. I moved to the here when my mom got sick. I miss it so much — especially the ocean. I love swimming.”

Taehyung smiled through Jimin’s rambling. “I don’t know if we’ll get to swim. We’ll see the beach tomorrow though.”

“I wish I was there,” Jimin sighed.

“I wish you were here too,” The words tumbled out of Taehyung’s mouth before he had a chance to control himself. Heat rose in his face and he had to roll himself over to hide his face into a pillow. His heart eased when he heard Jimin’s gentle giggle on the other side of the phone.

“You’re so cute, Tae,” He laughed, which only got Taehyung’s heart rate up again.

“Where are you?” Taehyung asked, hearing extra bustling noises on Jimin’s side of the line.

“Oh, can you hear all that? I’m at the hospital with my mom. She’s sleeping right now. I like to spend the night with her when I can.”

Taehyung’s heart swelled. “That’s really sweet of you.”

“I try to be,” He giggled again. “She’s really into the royal family. Apparently they’re going on tour of some sort. She’s been glued to the news about it.”

“Oh, I think I saw something about that,” Taehyung tried to keep his voice steady.

“I don’t pay much attention to any of it, but I like that they make her so excited.”

Taehyung listened as Jimin talked about life at the hospital. Taehyung liked to listen to Jimin’s voice. It was sweet, soft, and small. Taehyung could tell he was fading back into sleep as he spoke. Taehyung especially loved the sound of Jimin stretching his words out, fighting through sleep to think of what words came next.

“Do you have to work in the morning?” Taehyung asked.

Jimin sighed into the phone. “Yes, but I don’t want that to make you hang up.”

“I won’t if you don’t want me to.” Taehyung’s eyes were starting to yearn for sleep.

“Good,” Jimin breathed.

Taehyung and Jimin didn’t say much after that, but Taehyung still listened to every sound he could hear from Jimin. Eventually, he began to hear Jimin’s breathing slow and grow deeper, until those soft breaths turned into delicate snores. Taehyung stayed on the line, listening to every bit of Jimin, wishing more than anything he was really here, asleep in his bed next to him. He closed his eyes, content with everything if it meant he could have Jimin.

Chapter Text

By the time Taehyung woke up, the phone had tumbled to the floor, flipping closed and ending the call with Jimin. Taehyung reached for it, turning it over in his long fingers. He wanted to open it and summon Jimin again — to hear his honey sweet voice. Taehyung sighed, rolling over and hiding the phone in his bedside table. Light was streaming in through the curtained windows and Taehyung was sure he’d be able to smell the ocean if he opened the window, but he couldn’t convince himself to get out of bed yet. His body was heavy and tired — he wanted to sleep forever if he could.

As always, he heard a knock at his door that could only be Namjoon. “Enter,” Taehyung groaned. He could hear Namjoon’s laugh as the door opened.

“Rise and shine,” He called opening the door up and moving towards the windows to open them and air out the room. Taehyung groaned again, but enjoyed the fact he was right about the smell of the water crashing against the beach. Taehyung pulled his blankets a bit further up past his head, blinking at the fresh sunlight.

“There isn’t a lot of time your majesty, everyone is waiting for you.” Namjoon gently tugged at the blankets Taehyung had cocooned himself in. Taehyung gripped them tightly, effectively defending himself from Namjoon’s offense. “Taehyung,” Namjoon said in an oddly paternal voice, “Don’t make me get Yoongi.”

“Fine,” Taehyung huffed, pushing the blankets off of him and sitting up. Namjoon looked smug; Taehyung pouted.

“What you’ll be wearing today is set out for you in the bathroom already, get moving. I’ll send Jisoo in in twenty minutes.”

Taehyung sat still for a brief moment after Namjoon closed the door on his way out. Taehyung hated mornings. He especially hated mornings that he had to be a prince in public during. It was one thing to be Taehyung in the morning, it was completely different to be the heir to the throne in the morning.

He marched himself into the bathroom built into his room. It was too large and had every amenity any person could ever need — the floor could even heat itself in the cold of the winter. Taehyung took in the outfit Jisoo selected for him for the day — a casual short sleeved button down and breathable pants, perfect for spending a long day along the beach. Taehyung was glad he could momentarily drop the suits for a day. He groaned, trying to stretch the tiredness out of his body before stepping into the warm water of the shower.

Jungkook was uncharacteristically chipper when the three princes convened in the open living room. He looked young, jumping out of his expensive sandals. Jin and Jungkook were dressed similarly to Taehyung — casual short sleeved button downs and loose cotton pants.

“You seem excited, Jungkook,” Taehyung said, rubbing at one of his eyes with a long finger.

“JK loves being outdoors,” Jin answered, smiling brightly.

“We just don’t get out much at the palace,” Jungkook said, making an attempt to make himself less visibly excited.

“There’s the gardens,” Taehyung offered with a small shrug. Jungkook shook his head.

“That’s not the same.”

“The gardens are beautiful though,” Jin said, but Taehyung wasn’t paying attention anymore, wandering his way to Namjoon instead.

“We’re visiting local artists today, right?” Taehyung asked.

“Yes,” Namjoon responded, “We all thought you especially would enjoy that, Taehyung.”

Taehyung smiled, “I will enjoy that. I’m looking forward to it.”

“This area specializes in seashell art. You’ll be impressed by the amount of detail that they can get on such a small surface.”

Taehyung smiled, “Will we get to talk to the artists?”

“Of course. I think it’ll make their lives to get to talk to you personally. Especially the older artists.”

“My family does seem to have that effect.”

“Are you all ready to go, your royal highness?” Yoongi called from the door. Taehyung nodded, heading towards the door, glancing back to be sure his step-brothers were following.

Taehyung was still tired from his early morning, but seeing how excited Jungkook was was energizing both him and Jin. Jungkook stared with wide, childlike eyes at everything that passed on their drive.

“Jungkook, you’ve been to the coast before,” Jin laughed fondly. Jungkook shifted his wide eyes from the window to his older brother.

“I know,” Jungkook’s cheeks turned slightly pink, seemingly embarrassed at his own excitement, “I just forgot how pretty it is out here.”

“It is, isn’t it?” Jin said, arching his neck so he could see the ocean past Jungkook. Jungkook smiled faintly and shifted to look back out with Jin. Taehyung also did the same, certain he wouldn’t be paying the view any mind if he hadn’t been with Jungkook. The coastline was beautiful — sloping lazily into a white sand beach and soft blue seawater. He could see small sailboats dotting the calm water. So far away they looked small and toylike. Something about them reminded Taehyung of Jimin, maybe it was their simplicity and sense of ease. Taehyung felt himself smiling for the sake of smiling, something he hasn’t found himself doing in a long time. Jimin was having an effect on him.

“Can you see the boats?” Taehyung asked, nudging Jungkook slightly. Jungkook made a small sound of wonder and leaned forward against the window. He looked so young. Jin also leaned a little closer to the window, pointing out a particularly colorful sail to Jungkook. Taehyung watched them, feeling genuinely happy.

This particular city they were in is known for its street vendors. Local artists and food stands dot the boardwalk and piers in makeshift malls for miles. Some artists have had stalls on the pier for decades, making their living off of their craft. This area is a shining jewel in their country’s tourism industry. On any given summer day the pier is packed with tourists searching for gifts and souvenirs. Finally seeing it in person gave Taehyung a sense of pride in all that his people create.

Despite the heat still bearing down on them, the tourism season was coming to an end so the pier should have been mostly empty. The three princes being in town changed that. Jungkook immediately shrank when they began to see the crowds that had formed to see the three. Jin kept a comforting hand on Jungkook’s shoulder, waving through the car window for the both of them. The crowds never seemed to bother Taehyung, they were always part of his reality.

The car pulled into a lot closed off to the public to allow them some privacy before they made their small parade down the pier. Taehyung was excited to be on his feet again, smelling the salty coastal air. Meeting artists was one of his favorite perks of being who he was. He loved having them describe the meaning behind each of their pieces. Jungkook, however, was beginning to look pale and nervous. Jin kept his hand firmly on his shoulder, occasionally tracing gentle circles along his back.

“Whether all of those crowds of people know it or not, this entire area is secure for the three of you,” Yoongi said in his serious voice, “But that doesn’t mean you should wander too far away from me, Namjoon, or any of your security team. We have a photo shoot planned before lunch, so don’t get yourselves dirty. Tonight we have another dinner with local actors and musicians but you’ll have some time between lunch and then for yourselves.”

“Thank you, Yoongi,” Taehyung said after he had finished. Yoongi always looked tired, but he seemed particularly exhausted this morning. Yoongi nodded in response and made his way over to Jungkook. Jungkook subtly wiggled Jin’s hand off his shoulder and stood up a little straighter at his approach. Jin pressed his lips into a thin line.

“How are you feeling?” Yoongi asked, “You look nervous.”

Jungkook nodded, pink dancing across his cheeks. “It’s just different than how it normally is here.”

Yoongi didn’t take his eyes off Jungkook. “If you get scared or nervous, you can always stand with me. That’s what I’m here for.”

Jungkook gave a small, shy smile. “Thank you.”

“I’m here for you too, JK,” Jin interjected, seemingly annoyed at Yoongi.

“Of course,” Yoongi smiled, “There’s Jin too.”

Taehyung fidgeted awkwardly. “Are we ready to set off, Yoongi?”

“Yes, of course. The people are waiting,” He said, motioning for Taehyung to lead the way.

Sometimes Taehyung enjoyed the spotlight, and today was one of those days he felt like he was flourishing in it. It seemed that families had taken days off of work and school in a makeshift holiday so they could come down to the pier to see him and his step-brothers. He especially loved when kids wanted to talk to him. Children never seemed to realize how important he was. He loved seeing the world from children’s eyes and seeing what troubles his youngest subjects.

“Hey mister prince!” A small voice stopped Taehyung in his tracks. A small girl had wandered up to him from where her family stood on one side of the pier. They were frantically surging forward, apologies tumbling out of their mouths. Taehyung waved them back, smiling.

“What can I do for you, princess?” Taehyung asked, bending his knees so his eyes met the girl’s. She fiddled with something in her hand.

“I found this for you. . .” She said, offering a small purple seashell in the palm of her hand.

Taehyung smiled, “For me?” She nodded in response as he took the shell from her outstretched hand. “Thank you, I’ll treasure it forever.” A smile lit up on the girl’s face.

“My mommy says you’re going to be king one day.”

“That’s what my mom told me too,” Taehyung smiled, “Let’s just hope it’s not any time soon.”

The girl’s mother started calling her name, insisting that she needed to stop bothering the prince. The girl offered a hasty goodbye to Taehyung before bouncing back to her mother. Taehyung turned the smooth purple shell in his hand a few times, before carefully tucking it into his pants pocket.

Taehyung rose back to his feet to continue his walk down the pier, offering waves to as many families as he could manage. Up ahead of him young girls screamed out Jungkook’s name and he’d smile and wave at them with an obvious blush dancing on his cheeks. He glanced behind him, noting that Yoongi had his eyes locked on to Jungkook’s every movement. Taehyung was happy that Jungkook seemed to be making progress with his crush, but couldn’t help but feel a bit annoyed that his own head of security was paying such close attention to someone other than him. It did entitle him to a bit more freedom, maybe that is why sneaking out had been almost too easy.

Part of Taehyung’s upbringing as a prince is to always stay calm and elegant. Normally he had no problem maintaining an aura of refinery — especially if he was attending something boring — but he was struggling to contain his excitement when it came to art. Gallery openings, artist visits, official portraits, anything having to do with art is always one of his favorite aspects of his role. He listened carefully as each artist described their work to him at each of their booths. One elderly man told Taehyung that his family has owned that particular booth on the pier for generations, producing jewelry for locals and tourists alike.

“It’s such an honor to meet you your royal highness,” the man said, shaking Taehyung’s hand and bowing deeply. The man’s skin was deeply tanned and had deep wrinkles from sitting in the sun for so much of his life. His children and grandchildren stood nearby, bowing to Taehyung as they introduced themselves. “My grandfather taught me how to make this jewelry, and now I have the honor to teach my grandchildren our craft.” The man held onto Taehyung’s hand as he spoke.

“How wonderful it must be for you to have that chance,” Taehyung said, smiling. The man laughed with joy. “Will you tell me about how you make these pieces?”

The man, never once letting go of Taehyung’s hand, described how they found shells of various sizes along the beach and hand selected each shell for each piece of jewelry. Some of the more expensive pieces got shells and pearls with intricate carvings on the surfaces. They were beautiful and highly detailed. Taehyung’s eyes caught on a selection of bracelets — each unique and in a small variety of colors.

“Those are traditional bracelets,” One of the old man’s daughters piped in, catching where Taehyung was looking, “They’re given to a person you love. People in this area have been giving bracelets like that as an almost pre-engagement gift for centuries.”

Taehyung nodded as he listened, looking back at the bracelets. He thought of giving one to Jimin, imagining how the delicate bracelet would look on his strong hand. A soft blue one caught his eye. It was thinner and less ornate than the others. It was small, but looked sturdy, much like Jimin himself.

“Does one catch your eye?” The old man asked.

“Yes,” Taehyung said, running a finger along the blue bracelet, “This one. How much is it?”

The old man’s eyes almost popped out of his face. “How much?” He exclaimed, “Why for you, your royal highness, it’d be completely free. It’d be our honor to give it to you.”

Taehyung smiled. “That is very kind of you, thank you.” He watched as the old man’s daughter carefully packaged the bracelet for him.

“Do you have someone you’ll be giving it to, your royal highness? Is this a hint there might be a royal wedding soon?”

Taehyung kept his face calm as best he could. “Not yet, I’m afraid. But I’ll have the bracelet for when I do find my perfect princess.” The young woman tried to not look disappointed, but handed Taehyung the small package. Taehyung knew with certainty that by accepting this particular bracelet, rumors of him dating someone will surface and make the rounds in every gossip magazine. He also knew that Jimin wasn’t the type of man that would read those types of things, so he couldn’t care less. There would be rumors about his love life no matter what he did.

The rest of that day was standard. Taehyung was offered gifts from almost every artist he visited that day. Namjoon’s hands were full of paintings and rings for the three princes by the time they returned to their temporary home. They had a dinner that evening where every bachelorette swooned over Jin again. Taehyung was happy to have Jin take that form of attention from him, but he couldn’t help but envy him for taking all the light conversation. Some conversations Taehyung was in that evening bored him to tears — he could honestly care less about politics and military strategies.

That night the three brothers split into their own individual rooms. Taehyung laid on his freshly made bed for a long time. He might have drifted into sleep, he wasn’t sure. He felt tired, yet restless. He cracked open a book, but closed it almost instantly. He got to his feet, wanting to move around more despite how tired his body was.

Down the hall was the room his parents used to sleep in together when he was a child. He hovered outside the room, but didn’t dare open the door, afraid it’d look exactly the same as when his mother was alive. He could remember tiptoeing into that room as a child when he was scared to sleep with his mother. He broke himself away and continued down the hallway towards the living area.

There was a single light on in the dark living room. Taehyung came around the corner and found Jungkook standing along one of the walls, looking at a row of photos on a bookshelf.

“Couldn’t sleep?” Taehyung asked, joining where Jungkook stood. Jungkook stayed quiet for a moment, keeping his eyes on the photos.

“No, not really,” He finally said. Taehyung nodded, and looked at the photos Jungkook was looking at. They were photos of Taehyung as a child that his mother had decorated the beach home with before she passed away.

“My mother took most of these,” Taehyung said, motioning towards the photos.

“I guess I figured,” Jungkook mumbled. “What’s going on here?” Jungkook asked, pointing to a photo of a young Taehyung sitting on the beach surrounded in vaguely shaped mounds of sand.

“Oh,” Taehyung laughed, “I was making sand sculptures and wanted my mom to see.”

“What about here?” Jungkook pointed to another photo. It was cut from a newspaper and framed.

“That’s from my very first day of school,” Taehyung said, “The media surrounded me that day. That was one of my first experiences with the hoards of cameras. My mom was with me though. She protected me from a lot of it.”

Jungkook hummed to himself. “Did you ever get used to it? The cameras?”

Taehyung shrugged, “I guess I have. I was an only child until you and Seokjin came along, so the cameras were always pointed solely at me. They’d wait out of my school or try to photograph me in my classroom through the windows. A photo of me as a child would’ve earned any photographer a fortune.”

“That sounds horrible.”

Taehyung clicked his tongue against his cheek. “I guess I never really thought of what life would be like without all those cameras. The frenzy died down after awhile, until I became a teenager and a countrywide heartthrob.”

Jungkook laughed. “I’m sure you still are.”

“Not as long as you and Jin are around.”

Jungkook was quiet again for a moment. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it. . .The pressure of it all.”

“Yeah. . . It’s one thing to grow up with the burden, it’s another thing to have it sort of thrown upon you. Seokjin told me you two didn’t get much say in the matter.”

“No. . .” Jungkook’s eyes looked distant, “It sort of all happened overnight. Jin is better at this than I am.”

“I don’t know how many times you have to be told the country adores you until you believe it yourself.”

A faint smile appeared on Jungkook’s lips. “What’s this you’re wearing?” Jungkook asked, pointing at another photo. Taehyung recognized it immediately.

“I used to sing in the royal choir when my mother was still alive.” Taehyung looked closer at the photo. He was wearing a royal purple choral robe, elaborately decorated so that he stood out among the other children in the choir. “I used to love those costumes we’d wear.” Taehyung smiled down at the photo. “My mother loved to hear me sing. I used to do it all the time.”

Jungkook pressed his lips together. “I didn’t even know you could sing.”

“That’s because I couldn’t do it anymore after she died.”

Jungook shuffled his feet. “I’m sorry.”

“That’s okay.”

“I had to stop drawing after my dad died.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. . . I used to draw things for him and Jin all the time. I couldn’t anymore after he died though.” Jungkook shifted a bit, finally looking towards Taehyung. “Jin buys me a sketchbook every year for my birthday. Sometimes I try to draw something, just to make him happy, but I never can.” Jungkook sighed and the two princes were quiet. “I’m afraid I’m going to disappoint him.”

Taehyung pressed his eyebrows together. “What makes you say that?”

“Nothing in particular. It’s just how I feel.”

They stood in silence again. Taehyung felt himself starting to yawn. “I should head back to bed,” Taehyung said. “You should do the same, Jungkookie.” Jungkook nodded but remained where he was standing. Taehyung shuffled his bare feet back down the hallway towards his room, his thought still on what Jungkook could’ve meant by what he said.

Chapter Text

“Stop that,” Jin’s voice cut quick across the small car. The three princes had been traveling together for a few weeks and patience was beginning to wear thin. Recently they had been arguing with each other with increasing frequency. Jungkook had been absently clicking his tongue for the past few minutes, seemingly unaware he had been doing it. The three normally traveled in the most luxurious forms of transportation, but climbing into the mountainous cities near the capital had them stuffed into the back row of a four door car.

“Why?” Jungkook asked. He sat in the middle of Taehyung and Seokjin, despite how much he whined about it.

“Because your clicking is annoying me and I asked nicely.”

“Hmm.” Jungkook hummed, but continued clicking his tongue. It didn’t bother Taehyung much, but he did think it was rather childish of Jungkook to be doing.

“Jungkook,” Seokjin’s voice was thin, tense. “Stop that.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t have made me sit in the middle,” Jungkook said, clicking his tongue louder and more in Jin’s direction. Seokjin poked him harshly in the ribs, resulting in an exchange of smacks and pokes between the two of them.

“Hey, hey!” Taehyung protested, leaning as far away from the feud as the small car could allow. “Both of you stop that!”

The two brothers continued wrestling and jabbing at each other in the small space. “You’re smaller than I am, that’s why you have to sit in the middle! My shoulders wouldn’t fit!” Jin cried.

“Taehyung is smaller than I am!” Jungkook fought back.

“I’m also the future king, Jungkook!” Taehyung interjected, pushing at Jungkook to try to get more room for himself.

“That doesn’t mean anything to me if I have to call you my brother,” Jungkook pushed back against Taehyung. Jungkook was stronger than Taehyung, and ended up pushing Taehyung hard against the car door.

“Ah!” Taehyung cried in pain, rubbing at his arm. Jungkook knit his eyebrows together, clearly he hadn’t meant to actually hurt Taehyung.

“Way to go, Jungkook!” Seokjin sighed and turned himself to look at the window. “I’m pretty sure you could be arrested for hurting Taehyung.”

Taehyung shifted towards the window on his side like Seokjin. Jungkook brought his knees close together and slumped his shoulders so he wasn’t touching Seokjin or Taehyung in any way. They sat in harsh silence like that for the remainder of their car ride.

Their destination was a college city near the capital. They had been making their way up the coast and moving inward over the past weeks of the tour. This is the closest they had been to the palace in a long time. They still had a long way to go before they would return to their beloved palace.

They were staying in an expensive hotel in a fairly secluded part of the city. The entire top floor was reserved for the princes and the staff. Photos began to flash as they drove through the city. The princes would be visiting with the university students to hear about their research. Taehyung would have been excited, if he weren’t so exhausted from the previous events. The three didn’t have a day off scheduled for another few days, and days off weren’t particularly enjoyable thanks to the constant cameras on their every move.

Jungkook was the most worn down out of the three. Maybe it was Jin’s maturity that kept him together a little bit better, but Jungkook’s temper often flared. Their overexposure to each other made simple arguments worse, often ending in Jungkook storming away in a huff. They start arguing as soon as breakfast and don’t stop until they all go to sleep. In front of the cameras they dishonestly smile as if nothing is going on between the three. Being forced to pretend to like each other probably isn’t helping their situation.

The small car pulled out of the view of the cameras so the princes could spill out of the car the moment the door opened. They straightened out their clothes and hair briefly before stepping back out into the line of fire of the public.

The elevator ride to the top floor was tense. Even Yoongi and Namjoon were reaching a breaking point. Yoongi’s dark circles under his eyes were darker than Taehyung had ever seen them. He looked pale and thin. He and Namjoon worked so hard for the princes — Taehyung was deeply grateful.

Taehyung got a room to himself. He didn’t envy Jungkook and Seokjin for having to share one of the large lavish rooms. He was certain they’d have enough space since these rooms were overwhelmingly large, but there was something about being able to be completely alone. Taehyung’s room was a glorified apartment disguised as a hotel room. It was still smaller than his room at the palace, but much larger than what any one person would need. Any creature comfort he could want is contained in the room.

His staff ensured all of his belongings made it into his room before he arrived. Taehyung only ever carried one bag with him, which contained both his cellphone hidden deep in the bag and the bracelet he had gotten for Jimin.

Taehyung had been calling Jimin almost every night on the trip if he could help it. It was sort of unspoken that Taehyung would be the first to call. Jimin was often at the hospital, but sometimes he was at home in bed. Sometimes they’d talk for the entire time, but sometimes they’d just listen to each other, linked through the phone until one fell asleep. Taehyung was looking forward to returning to Jimin. They’d been talking so much, but Taehyung was starting to forget how Jimin felt. They’d been falling asleep with each other so often, Taehyung was beginning to wonder what it’d be like to actually fall asleep with Jimin with his thin arms wrapped around Jimin’s sturdy body.

When they arrived at a new lodging, Taehyung would wait an hour or two upon arrival before taking his phone out and dialing Jimin’s number. His staff often brought things to him last minute, or set up his bathroom for the following morning. He slipped into his button down pajama set and waited until he thought it was all clear. He tucked himself into his bed and quickly dialed Jimin — no longer nervous, but excited to hear Jimin’s voice.

“Hey you,” Jimin’s voice answered after a few rings.

“Hey,” Taehyung responded, a smile on his lips.

“You’re a bit later than usual, I was getting worried.”

“I’d never forget to call you.” Taehyung thought he could hear Jimin smile for a moment. “Are you at the hospital?”

“No, not tonight. I felt like being at home today. It’s been a long time since I slept in my own bed and not the reclining chair in my mom’s room.”

“I can understand that. I’d love to sleep in my own bed again.” Taehyung had no right to complain to Jimin about sleeping conditions. While he curled into a hospital recliner, Taehyung had some of the nicest beds money could afford. That didn’t exclude him from craving the feeling of being back home though. “I’m sort of near home again. We’re up in the mountains now. It got cold back here while I was down at the beaches.”

“Yeah, it might start snowing soon. If it gets too cold work will start thinning out. I don’t really know what I’ll do if I can’t work,” Jimin’s voice was prickled with stress. Taehyung felt guilty. He knew he could help, but that would involve revealing his true identity to Jimin. “I don’t know what I’m going to do, Tae,” Jimin’s voice was small, and quivered at the end. “I won’t be able to pay for her medicine if I don’t work.”

Taehyung was quiet, not sure how to best comfort Jimin. He listened to Jimin’s silence until he heard the smallest sob escape from the other side of the phone.

“Hey, Jimin, it’ll be okay,” Taehyung’s heart was breaking. He wanted to get into a car and drive to Jimin himself. The sobs were timid at first, but soon Jimin was outright crying. “Jimin — Hey, Jimin. . . Don’t cry.”

“I’m sorry. . .” Jimin choked out between gasps, “I’m really sorry, Tae.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry for, Jimin.”

“No, this isn’t why you call,” Jimin hiccuped, “I shouldn’t cry like this to you. I’m just so tired and I feel so lost.”

“If you don’t cry to me, who will you cry to?” Taehyung listened to Jimin trying to bring his short breaths back to normal for a moment. He wanted more than anything to be able to reach out and pull Jimin into his arms. “Tell me how I can help you.”

Jimin laughed a bit, despite himself. “You have any mechanic friends hiring?”

That was an idea for Taehyung. “I can see what I can do.”

“Thank you,” Jimin said in a whisper. “Thank you so much.”

“For what?”

“For being here with me. You make everything so much easier. I don’t know how to explain it, I just. . .” Jimin trailed off, words seemingly failing him.

“You just?”

“I just — I think —“ Jimin stammered, “I think I love you, Tae.”

“Oh —“ It was so unexpected Taehyung was speechless. His brain functioning came to a screeching stop. He thought of Jimin, so perfect and so beautiful. He had never met someone quite like Jimin before. Out of all of the royalty and politicians’ children he’d met in his life he had never met someone so organically beautiful as Jimin. When he thought of it, it was natural how he felt back about Jimin.

“I mean —“ Jimin’s words came suddenly and quickly, “You don’t have the feel the same — I just — I mean, it’s okay if you don’t — I just —“

“Jimin,” Taehyung tried to stop the train of words spilling out of Jimin’s mouth.

“I’m sorry I said anything, just forget —“

“Jimin,” Taehyung finally stilled Jimin’s mouth, “I think I love you too.”

“Oh.” It was Jimin’s turn to come to a halt.

“I can be myself with you. Not who everyone wants me to be. You see the real me.”

“I never thought I’d meet a person who makes me feel the way you do.”

“Me neither.”

A brief awkward silence fell between them, but Taehyung smiled through it. He pulled the blanket high above his head, not wanting anyone to see him smiling like a fool to himself despite being alone in his room. His hiding was interrupted by a sharp, distinct knock at the door of his room. Taehyung bolt upright, his heart pounding — he knew it was Namjoon on the other side of the door.

“Tae?” Jimin must have heard Taehyung moving. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Namjoon knocked again, louder this time. “I have to go Jimin, I’m really sorry.”

“Oh. . . Okay —“

“It’s nothing you did — I just — I just have to go. I’m so sorry.”

“That’s okay. I’ll talk to you tomorrow?”

“Yeah, tomorrow,” Taehyung couldn’t think with Namjoon’s knock coming harder and quicker. “Goodbye Jimin, I’m sorry.” Taehyung flipped his phone shut and quickly shoved his phone under one of his pillows. “Enter!” Taehyung called, trying to calm the racing of his heart. Namjoon pulled the door open and came in, a confused look on his face.

“Were you talking to someone just now?” Namjoon asked, standing near the door.

“No, no — Not to anyone,” Taehyung was stumbling, his mouth never quite closing as he spoke, “Just — Just to myself.”

“Oh?” Namjoon turned his head slightly.

“Who else would I be talking to?” Taehyung pressed his body closer to the pillow hiding his flip phone.

“Not sure,” Namjoon started walking closer to Taehyung, “But it seemed like you were talking to someone other than yourself.”

Taehyung could feel a prick of sweat. He knew his eyes were wide and betraying him. “Even if I was talking to someone, as the heir to the throne I think I’d be entitled to speak to whoever I want.”

“Even without the people in charge of making sure you’re safe knowing?”

“I’d hope that they’d trust me enough to know what’s best for myself.”

“I’m sure you’re more than capable of knowing that. But Yoongi and I should also know things like that.”

“Why are you here, Namjoon?” Taehyung was growing agitated. Namjoon raised his eyebrows.

“I came to drop off your speech for tomorrow,” Namjoon offered a paper layered with text to him, “I thought you might like to read it before you went to bed.”

“I do. Thank you,” Taehyung took the paper from Namjoon and hunched himself over it in his bed. Namjoon lingered, seemingly wanting to say something more. “Do you need something else, Namjoon?”

Namjoon opened his mouth, then closed it, searching for the right words. “You know you can trust me, Taehyung? We were friends once. Before we even knew what our jobs were.”

Taehyung wanted to trust Namjoon, but Jimin was his most precious secret. A secret so delicate that confiding in Namjoon would certainly shatter it. He had to hang on to JImin as long as he could possibly could.

“Can you arrange a phone call with Hoseok for me?”

“Hoseok?” Namjoon raised his eyebrows in surprise. He stared as Taehyung nodded. “Right now?” Taehyung nodded again. “I suppose.”

Taehyung waited a moment while Namjoon left and returned with a large black wireless phone. “He’s on the line, just press the hold button to speak.”

“Thanks,” Taehyung said, taking the phone in his long fingers. Namjoon lingered with an odd expression. “You can leave now, Namjoon.” Namjoon jerked and gave a small bow, quietly closing the door behind him as he left. Taehyung played with the phone in his slender fingers for a moment before pressing the hold button to summon Hoseok.

“Hey,” Taehyung said.

“To what do I owe the honor, your majesty?”

“Don’t call me that,” Taehyung sighed, “I need a favor.”

“Wow, no how are you holding out without me being home, Hobi? No how have you been keeping yourself entertained all this time, Hobi? Just straight to business?” Taehyung stood and made his way to the door of his room as he listened to Hoseok ramble. He wanted to be certain Namjoon wasn’t lingering outside the door listening in on him. He glanced out the peephole in the door — the coast seemed clear.

“You can tell me all about that in a second, Hobi.” Hoseok sighed dramatically into his ear.

“Is Namjoon there?”

“Not right now, I don’t think.”

“What did you need, then? Does it have to do with that boy?” Taehyung felt his face turning red.

“Yes. He needs help.”

“And that’s where I come in?”

“Yes — He needs a new job.”

“And you want me to. . .?”

“Help him find one.”

Hoseok sighed on the other side of the line. “Tae Tae, I can’t do that.”

“What do you mean?” Taehyung raised his voice slightly.

“Taehyung, we can’t interfere in his life like that.”

“Hoseok, he needs help. He has this mother who is sick and his job is going to start cutting his hours and —“

“Taehyung,” Hoseok cut him off, “I can’t do something like that for you. If I do that he’ll figure out who you are. That’s crossing a line.”

“It’s not! Hobi, we could just find him something small —“

“And how are you going to explain finding him a job, Taehyung?”

“He wouldn’t know it was me, Hobi,” Taehyung’s voice was pinched into a small whine. Hoseok stayed quiet on the other side of the line.

“I can’t Tae,” He paused, “I think you may be getting too attached.”

Anger flashed through Taehyung quick and hot. “What do you mean?”

Hoseok hesitated. “I think you know what I mean.”

“No, I think I need you to explain it for me, Hoseok,” Anger was rising deep in Taehyung’s chest.

“Well. . . Taehyung, I don’t know how long this can last. I know he’s important to you, but you’re the heir to the throne. You can’t pretend to be something you’re not even though it feels good to be something else. What do you think will happen if this keeps going? Do you really think this will all end well for you?”

Taehyung rolled over harshly in his bed. He wasn’t sure what to say back to Hoseok. He could feel hot tears welling in the corners of his eyes. He didn’t want to let Jimin go. Even if it was complicated he had to hold on to Jimin. “Hobi, I think I love him.” A hot, heavy tear traced down his cheek as he said the words out loud.

“Taehyung. . .” Hoseok’s voice gave out, unable to formulate a response to Taehyung’s confession.

“You can think what you want, Hobi, but I think he loves me back. I can’t just go without him.”

“I can’t stop you, Tae. But I just don’t want you to get hurt in the end.”

“I won’t.”

“Then you’ll do what you have to. But I can’t help him find a job. You can’t always get what you want sometimes, even if you are the future king. . .”

“I have to go, Hobi. It’s late.” Taehyung didn’t feel much in the mood to talk anymore. Tears were dropping out of his eyes with increasing frequency.

“Taehyung —“ Hobi started, but Taehyung clicked the call to a quick end. He dropped the phone on the floor near his bed and flopped down deep into it. He nested himself deep into it. He hadn’t realized how late it had gotten. He stayed awake under the covers of his bed for a long time — long enough for him to hear Namjoon softly reenter the room after a long time, retrieve the phone from the floor and turn the lights off before gently closing the door behind him. Taehyung stayed hidden in his bed with his overactive mind thinking only of Jimin as the clock ticked away the rest of the night.

Jungkook seemed tired and on edge. All three of them were wearing thin on one another, but Jungkook seemed most affected. When the cameras were turned away and it was just the three of them he would snap and come up with snide comments. Taehyung and Jin blamed it on the constant exposure — Jungkook especially needed time to himself to recharge.

They spent the morning giving a speech at the local university and meeting graduate students to hear about their research. That evening following their visit to the university, they were scheduled to attend a gala for a newly opened art museum. Jisoo fluttered about Taehyung’s room, trimming his hair and pressing it flat with heat. Jungkook lingered with them, lounging and fiddling with things in the room.

“Why are you in here, Jungkook?” Taehyung asked, watching him in the mirror Jisoo set up in front of him as she worked. He shifted a bit on his feet, uncertain.

“I can’t just hang out with you?”

“No you can, you just don’t normally.”

Jungkook shrugged, “Jisoo is doing my hair next anyway, so I might as well just stick around in here.”

“Are you going to the event early with me?” Taehyung raised an eyebrow.

Jungkook gave a harsh laugh, “No, I’m going with Jin.”

“Oh, okay.” Taehyung’s heart sank a bit at Jungkook’s strong reaction. He’d been on Taehyung’s nerves a lot lately, but it would’ve been nice to have the company for the boring openings of the event. Taehyung indulged in a moment of jealousy at Jungkook for being able to freely decide when he comes and goes.

Taehyung often had to arrive at events before Seokjin and Jungkook had to join. His government used him as a tool to impress and flatter political and foreign visitors. A visit with the royal family was rare and a high honor. Prior to the gallery opening Taehyung met with more ambassadors, keeping himself falsely engaged in all they had to say. He was tired and disengaged, but had to smile politely for the cameras. He lingered next to Namjoon, using his advisor as a buffer between him and unwanted attention from the guests.

In between his meetings and the gallery opening he was ushered into a small, yet comfortable waiting room. His entrance had to draw the attention of entire room — yet another aspect of his job that annoyed him. He wished he could just enter a room without every head snapping in his direction.

Jin arrived and joined him in the small room, his dark hair combed out of his eyes and dressed in a deep navy suit.

“Where’s Jungkook?” Jin asked, scanning the empty room.

“What do you mean?” Taehyung pressed his eyebrows close together, “He said he was coming over with you.”

“What? He told me he was going early with you.” Jin’s voice was riddled with sudden panic. The two stared at each other with wide eyes, Taehyung watched as Jin’s face turned a pale white.

“What do we do? Where is he then?”

“We have to tell Yoongi,” Jin turned sharp on his heel and headed to the door.

“Wait!” Taehyung stopped him and Jin turned back to face Taehyung, “He’s probably just spending the night back at the hotel.”

“He should be here, Taehyung.” Jin’s lips were thin, impatient.

“Jin, he might just need a night away from all this,” Taehyung gestured about him vaguely with his hands. “Yoongi will figure out he’s not here soon enough. Maybe we should just give him a bit of peace. I know I want some too after all we’ve been doing these past weeks.”

Jin seemed to soften. “You’re right, he’s probably just taking the night off back in the room.” Jin sighed, “I just don’t know how he got past all of us — even Yoongi it seems.”

Taehyung shrugged, “I guess even Min Yoongi isn’t perfect.” The two princes stood together in uncomfortable silence until they heard Namjoon’s signature gentle knock at the door.

“We’re ready for you your highnesses,” He said opening the door, seeming to not notice one prince was missing.

Chapter Text

Taehyung woke up that morning to a series of quick knocks on his door. Taehyung blinked his eyes open, letting his eyes adjust to the sunlight pouring in from his windows. “Enter,” He groaned, stretching slightly under the covers. Namjoon appeared in the doorway, his expression illegible. He lingered in the entryway. “Is everything okay, Namjoon?” Taehyung asked, sitting up. Namjoon shook his head. Taehyung’s heart gave an anxious pang, his thoughts moving fast and all at once.

“Get dressed, Taehyung,” Namjoon said, “I’ll wait outside.”

“Namjoon —“ Taehyung started as Namjoon began to close the door, he paused, “What happened?” His head swam with the possibilities of what could have made Namjoon so serious. His thoughts spun before they settled on Jimin. He looked at Namjoon with panicked eyes.

“Just get dressed, Taehyung.” He closed the door and anxiety consumed Taehyung. It wasn’t often that Namjoon dropped his usual lighthearted character. He couldn’t stop thinking about Jimin. He pulled open the drawer in his bedside table, seeking the cellphone he had stored in it from his conversation with Jimin the night before. He sighed in relief when it was still there.

There was no way he heard me talking to Jimin. There’s no way he knows, Taehyung thought to himself, It has to be something else. Taehyung looked back at the door. His heart was racing and a cold sweat was making its way down his back. He summoned the strength to crawl out of bed and pull on a pair of pants and a button down shirt that he didn’t bother to tuck in.

Namjoon was waiting for Taehyung just outside the door. Taehyung tried to get a read of his face, but Namjoon gave no indications on what was wrong. Taehyung tried to keep his face just as illegible, but knew his wide eyes were betraying him. His steps matched Namjoon’s, following close behind, as he led him to one of the suites the staff had taken over for their own purposes. Namjoon opened the door, and the staff inside watched with quiet eyes as Namjoon led Taehyung down a hallway in the suite. Taehyung looked at them all as they tried and failed to not reveal the fact that they were staring at him. He felt another bead of sweat run down his back. Jimin, Jimin, Jimin, Taehyung repeated in his name in his head — a silent prayer that this wasn’t the end for them.

“Taehyung,” Namjoon said, stopping outside a door to a small conference room, “There’s something you need to see.” Namjoon’s lips were pressed into a thin, stressed line. Taehyung’s heart pounded at his ribcage, so loud he was certain Namjoon could hear it. He watched as Namjoon pulled a folded newspaper from his jacket pocket and handed it to Taehyung. Taehyung gave a questioning look to Namjoon before carefully opening the paper. His blood ran cold at the headline:

 Runaway Prince Caught Partying, Alcohol in Hand.

 Directly under the bold letters was an enlarged photo of Jungkook, stumbling with a red cup of alcohol — a look of shock and fear in his eyes as the camera flashed in his face. His shirt was partially unbuttoned and his tie loosened. The photo was dark and grainy, and wherever he was was occupied with people adorned in designer party clothes. His eyes quickly scanned the words of the article, trying to catch as much information as he could. His eyes stopped on a name and another chill ran through him.

“Kwon Jiyong?” Taehyung’s eyes flashed up to Namjoon, who nodded solemnly. “Kwon Jiyong?” Taehyung repeated, his voice begging Namjoon to tell him there had been a mistake. A part of him felt a selfish relief that he hadn’t been caught — his body eased and relaxed more.

“He’s inside,” Namjoon nodded to the door to the conference room, “So are Seokjin and Yoongi.”

“What are we going to do?” Taehyung asked, his mind racing. He felt small, childlike.

“We had to get you before we could make any decisions.” Namjoon’s eyes were apologetic. “Are you ready go in?” Taehyung wanted to say no and run, but squared his shoulders and nodded, trying to maintain his composure.

Taehyung could feel the tension in the room the moment Namjoon opened the door. Jungkook had his arms crossed, leaning against the wall looking out the window. His face was dark and turned away. Seokjin sat at the table, his face calm. Yoongi paced the room, intensity pouring off of him. The three turned to face Taehyung as the door closed behind him and Namjoon. Taehyung wasn’t exactly sure how to address the situation.

“I assume Namjoon has shown you?” Yoongi’s voice was sharp, pointed. Taehyung nodded. “Kwon Jiyong,” Yoongi turned so his words fired against Jungkook, “You snuck away from us and went to party with Kwon Jiyong and all his party friends. What were you thinking Jungkook? What could have possibly been going through your head?”

“Yoongi,” Seokjin warned, his eyes fierce and protective, “You need to calm down.”

“Calm down? How am I supposed to calm down, Seokjin? Do you have any idea what happens when anyone in the royal family does something like this?” Seokjin kept his eyes steady, Yoongi continued, “People start asking if it’s worth keeping us around anymore. Our public image gets shattered if we’re anything less than perfect. Galavanting around with the son of one of the wealthiest CEOs known for his wild parties who also happens to be twice Jungkook’s age is a excellent way for the country to start the discussions on whether or not they still want to pay the taxes necessary to keep us around. Did you even consider those consequences, Jungkook? Or did you only think about yourself?” Yoongi fumed for a moment, and Jungkook kept his eyes locked outside the window. “Did you even think, Jungkook? Look at me.”

Jungkook’s eyes finally lifted and faced Yoongi’s, tears dancing in his eyes. Yoongi and Jungkook maintained their eye contact for a long moment. “Did you even consider —“

“Yoongi —“ Seokjin tried to intervene, but Yoongi continued to speak over him.

“— Did you consider that the centuries of history with Taehyung’s family could be wiped away with just one photo of you like this?”

The tears finally won in Jungkook’s eyes and he shuddered out a shaky breath.

“Yoongi, that’s enough.” Seokjin warned, Yoongi turned his fiery eyes to Seokjin then back to Jungkook. Something in his eyes softened at the sight of Jungkook quivering. He huffs a heavy sigh and looks away from him again.

“The royal family has gone through worse scandals, Yoongi.” Namjoon’s voice was steady, reassuring. He glanced at Taehyung to try to read his face. Taehyung was watching Jungkook as he fidgeted and shifted his weight back and forth.

“Why, Jungkook?” Taehyung asked. It was such a simple question that Jungkook was caught off guard, his tearful eyes meeting Taehyung’s.

“Why?” He asked, seemingly uncertain if he heard the question correctly. Yoongi turned towards Jungkook sharply, the heat in his attitude returning.

Jungkook took a sharp intake of air in, trying to control his breathing. “Just — Just because. . .” He was thinking as he spoke, his eyes towards the ceiling.

“Why, Jungkook? Answer the prince.” Yoongi’s words cut sharp across the room.

“Yoongi.” Seokjin warned again, “Let him speak.” He looked at Jungkook with soft eyes, “Go on.”

“I just. . . I wanted a night away. . .” The floodgates broke and tears were streaming down Jungkook’s cheeks with no sign of stopping. “I just wanted. . . I wanted to feel normal for a night. . .” Seokjin was on his feet, wrapping his arms around Jungkook. Jungkook buried his face into his older brother’s chest for a few sobs. Seokjin stroked his hair as Jungkook continued, “. . .I’d been going out with Jiyong and his friends. . . It was fun and he said. . . He said there was no way we’d get caught. That. . . That he’d paid off the security to make sure no one got in. . .”

“Yeah, because trusting Jiyong is a good idea,” Yoongi scoffed, Seokjin shot him a look.

“But why, Jungkook? You’re a member of the royal family now.” Taehyung asked, keeping his voice gentle. “You know we can’t do things like that.”

Jungkook turned his face from Seokjin’s chest to face to meet Taehyung’s eyes. “That’s the exact reason, Taehyung. . .” He hesitated, a new wave of fresh tears running fast down his face. “I never asked for any of this, Taehyung! I didn’t want this. I just want to be a kid!”

Something flashed inside Taehyung. He took a step forward. “And you think I do want all this?” Jungkook opened his mouth, but closed it. He wiped at his tears as Taehyung continued. “I can’t even talk to someone who isn’t approved by Namjoon and Yoongi, Jungkook. The crown isn’t fair, none of us ask for it.”

“Taehyung,” Namjoon rested a hand on Taehyung’s shoulder. Taehyung looked up at him and closed his mouth, turning back to Jungkook.

“Jungkook —“ Yoongi started, but was interrupted by loud abrupt sobs from Jungkook.

“I’m sorry — I’m sorry — I didn’t mean to get caught! Jiyong said there that no photographers were going to be there.” He hid his face in Seokjin’s chest again. Seokjin ran his fingers through his hair and along his back.

“Shh. . .” Seokjin soothed.

“I’m sorry. . . I’m sorry, Taehyung. . . I’m sorry, Taehyung.” Jungkook repeated through hiccups. The sight of it broke Taehyung’s heart. “I didn’t mean. . . I didn’t mean to. . .” Jungkook’s chest was heaving and it sounded like he was having trouble breathing through his sobs.

“Jin, why don’t you take Jungkook to your room and come back?” Namjoon’s voice brought them all back. “We need to talk about what comes next.”

Seokjin nodded and rubbed Jungkook’s back, “Come on, JK.” Seokjin helped him out the room. Jungkook walked as if he had at some point forgotten how to, leaning almost his full weight onto Seokjin as they moved.

Seokjin was gone a long time with Jungkook. Taehyung, Namjoon, and Yoongi sat quietly at the table. The three of them turned when Seokjin opened the door and rejoined them in the room.

“He needed me for a bit before I could come back,” Seokjin explained, “He’s sleeping now.” Taehyung and Namjoon nodded as Seokjin slipped into one of the empty chairs next to Namjoon.

“This has already blown up on social media,” Yoongi got straight to business, “We need to do something to bring the family back into favor.”

“But Jungkook isn’t the prince?” Seokjin’s question was innocent enough, but Yoongi sighed.

“It doesn’t matter, taxes still pay to keep Jungkook in the palace.”

“We don’t have time to do anything more on the tour, Yoongi, we’d be exhausted.”

“The tour. . .” Yoongi said, mostly to himself. He was thinking. Namjoon turned to him.

“We’ve already cancelled all of your appearances for today to figure out what comes next.” Namjoon informed as Yoongi thought. “We’ll continue to cancel until we figure something out.”

“We should probably cancel the rest of it.” Yoongi said, casually. Taehyung sat forward in his chair.

“What do you mean?”

“There’s only a few weeks left in the tour. The longer we’re out of favor the more dangerous it is for you three to be on the road. We’re safest in the palace and we can do the most good for our people in the palace.” Taehyung and Seokjin stared at Yoongi.

“So it’d be over just like that?” Seokjin asked, turning to Namjoon. “What do you think?”

“I agree with Yoongi, actually,” Namjoon said. “Your safety is our priority.”

“So we head home then?” Taehyung asked. “When?”

“Tomorrow.” Yoongi said without hesitation. “The sooner we leave, the better. Jin, let Jungkook know to pack his bags.”

Taehyung nodded. “And what do we need to do to return to favor?”

Yoongi looked at him, thinking for a moment. “A wedding would cause a boom of joy for you and your family.”

“That’s not an option,” Taehyung cut off the idea quickly, as he always did when the topic of his marriage status came up. “There isn’t even a princess in my life right now.”

“We could make up a story about how you kept your relationship secret,” Yoongi pushed.

“It’s not happening, Yoongi. The answer is no.”

“Let’s think of something else,” Namjoon said, dissolving the tension between Yoongi and Taehyung.

Taehyung thought for a moment. He thought of different charitable things he could do with his time and fame. He thought until his mind drifted to Jimin and his mother in the hospital. Jimin had told him how much the royal family meant to her — other people in the hospital probably love his family just as much. An idea snapped into his brain.

“What if we visited patients in the hospitals in the capital?” Taehyung blurted out. Namjoon, Yoongi, and Seokjin stared at him for a moment with open mouths then turned to one another, nodding.

“I like the idea of that,” Seokjin said. “I think it would be good for JK too.”

“It’s safe, we’d get some really nice photos in the paper. I like it too.” Namjoon added, looking at Yoongi.

“Then I guess we have it. Namjoon and I will stay behind to make arrangements for the plane and the visit, the two of you should go pack your bags.” Seokjin and Taehyung nodded before rising to their feet and leaving their two staff members behind.

 The three princes set off to return home the next day. They weren’t far from the capital, but they had to fly in order to get the royal plane back home as well. The moment the three princes dreaded was upon them, and they had to enter the public for the first time since the headline went out.

A mass of photographers from all across the country had gathered outside the hotel. There was no way of avoiding the walk from the hotel to the car in front of them. Taehyung and Seokjin did their best to block Jungkook from the view of the cameras as they walked with solemn, serious faces. Jungkook kept his head down with dark sunglasses blocking his eyes.

The the three princes gathered into a black car with dark tinted windows, preventing any view into the vehicle. It was different than the usual car with large, clear windows so everyone could see their beloved princes.

They had a short drive to the airport from their hotel. The buzz of the paparazzi all about them brought people out of their homes and into the streets to gawk at the passing princes. Taehyung ignored the thoughtless stares and shifted himself in the car so he could knock on the partition between the princes and their staff. Namjoon rolled the window down and gave Taehyung a questioning look.

“I want Hoseok in the main palace when we get home.” Taehyung said. Namjoon nodded and rolled the partition back up. A part of Taehyung was still mad at Hoseok for what he had said, but he needed his best friend.

Jungkook was quiet the entire drive. He kept is eyes down as they stepped back into the barrage of camera flashes on their way up the stairs of their airplane — Taehyung and Seokjin still blocking him to the best of their abilities. They did not wave and they did not smile. The three princes wanted nothing more than to quickly return home.

The drive to the palace was much like the drive to the airport. Photographers lined the plane’s runway as the princes emerged with their eyes downcast. Reporters called to Jungkook, but he didn’t even acknowledge their beckons. The three princes didn’t relax once until their car passed through the gates to the main palace and they were back in the privacy of their own home.

The palace staff waited for the princes in the entryway, immediately busying themselves with transporting their belongings to their rooms. Jungkook took the sunglasses off and exposed his exhausted eyes. Seokjin kept his hand on his back, rubbing comforting circles as they made their way up the palace stairs towards their wing of the palace.

Taehyung scanned the room until his eyes found Hoseok, who lurched forward at the eye contact. Despite the solemn circumstances that he returned under, Hoseok still embraced him in a tight, overenthusiastic hug. Taehyung laughed for the first time in a long time.

“Let’s go up to my room,” Taehyung smiled, “I’ve been missing my bed.” Hoseok nodded with a giant, loving smile spread across his lips — he was just as happy to have Taehyung back as Taehyung was to be back.

As soon as they slipped behind the closed door of Taehyung’s room, Hoseok started asking questions. Taehyung slowly unpacked the things from his small bag.

“How was the tour?” Was his first question, Taehyung wasn’t sure how else to answer other than very simply.

“It was fine.”

“Just fine? It wasn’t a life changing journey of self discovery like you see in the movies?” Hoseok asked with his eyebrows raised, already making himself at home on one of Taehyung’s couches.

“No, it wasn’t that. But it was really great to see the country. Everyone was excited to see us.”

“Of course they were. It’s not like three handsome princes show up in their hometowns every day.” Taehyung rolled his eyes and Hoseok giggled. Taehyung liked that Hoseok could help him forget his worries — their previous argument a thing of the past.

“How was it here without me?”

“Just dreadful,” Hoseok said, dramatically throwing himself against the back of the couch. “I was so bored without you here. All I could do was watch you from the TV in my room and wish you were back here with me.”

“That’s not true,” Taehyung laughed.

“You’re right, I was exaggerating a bit. I managed to keep myself entertained,” Hoseok smiled mischievously.

“Within the rules of being a duke, I hope.”

“Something like that,” Hoseok waved a dismissive hand. Taehyung pulled his flip phone from his bag and tucked it away in its original hiding spot in his nightstand. “Are you still calling that boy?”

“You mean Jimin?” Taehyung asked, looking up at Hoseok.

“No, the other one you met while sneaking out with me.”

Taehyung rolled his eyes at Hoseok’s sarcastic comment. “Yes, I’m still calling him, Hobi.”

“Are you going to keep calling him? Even after Jungkook?”

“Why would I stop?”

“It’s one thing for Jungkook to get caught sneaking out. . . But if it were you doing something you weren’t supposed to be? I can’t even imagine. Yoongi’s head might finally explode.”

“I’m smarter than Jungkook, Hobi, I won’t get caught.”

“If you say so.” Hoseok held up his hands in defeat.

“Speaking of which, now that I’m back I can finally see him in person again.”

Hoseok sat up quickly in his seat at Taehyung’s words. “How long does he think you’re gone for?”

“I told him for the length of the tour.”

“Tae Tae, you can’t tell him you’re back until then.” Hoseok’s eyes were serious.

“Why not?”

“Because your return to the capital was broadcasted on every newscast and plastered on every headline today. If you were going to be gone for the same amount of time as the prince and then come back on the same day as the prince he might put two and two together. Even with your disguise you still look like the crown prince.”

Taehyung thought over what Hoseok said. He hated to admit it, but he had a point. He sighed. “I guess you’re right. I’m not going to stop calling him though.”

“It seems nothing will stop you from calling him.” Taehyung smiled to himself at Hoseok’s words. “Here, come sit with me,” Hoseok patted the couch cushion next to him. “I want to hear all about your trip. . . How many marriage proposals did you get while you were out there?”

Taehyung laughed and went to sit next to Hoseok, overwhelmingly happy that he is back at home with him.

Chapter Text

“Hello?” Jimin’s voice answered on the other end of Taehyung’s phone and he sank deeper into the comfort of his bed, blushing to himself.

“Hey.” Taehyung said, smiling to himself.

“Hi Tae,” Jimin had a voice reserved for Taehyung, so soft and sweet. Taehyung never grew tired of it. “Tae, I have amazing news.”

“Oh yeah?” Taehyung asked, rolling over in his bed to get himself more comfortable for his and Jimin’s nightly conversation.

“Yeah, it’s amazing! I can’t believe it’s actually happening if I’m being honest.”

“What is it?

“You remember how my mother loves the royal family?”

“Yeah, I think I remember you saying something about it.” Taehyung said, thinking he might know what Jimin was about to say, but kept up his act.

“The hospital just announced that the princes will be visiting next week! Isn’t that amazing? My mother is so excited!” Jimin’s voice buzzed with excitement. Taehyung smiled at it.

“Wow, that’s amazing, Jimin!” Taehyung replied. “Are you with her right now?”

Jimin gasped and lowered his voice, “I am, I shouldn’t be so loud while she’s sleeping.”

Taehyung continued to smile to himself as he listened to Jimin on the other line. “She says she’s going to have to get her hair and makeup done for when they come. She’s so cute sometimes.”

Taehyung laughed, “I’m sure the princes will love her even without her hair done up.” Something crossed Taehyung’s mind and he had to ask. “Which prince is her favorite?”

Jimin hummed in thought for a moment. “She talks about them almost all the time, I should know this. Of course she loved prince Taehyung’s mother like everyone else, so I think she loves her son just as much.”

“She was a good woman, wasn’t she? A beautiful queen.”

“Prince Taehyung looks exactly like her.” Taehyung smiled at that. Everyone always said he looked like the late queen, but he loved hearing Jimin say it. “But I think she likes how handsome prince Seokjin is. . . I think if I were a girl she’d make me be there so she could arrange some kind of Cinderella story for me.”

Something flashed into Taehyung’s mind, and he couldn’t hold back the words. “Will you be there when they visit?”

Jimin huffed a sad sigh on the other side of the line. “No. . . I couldn’t get off work.” Taehyung felt a guilty relief at Jimin’s words — he ran a high risk of Jimin recognizing him outside of his disguise. “I wish I could be there for it though, this means so much to her, Tae.”

“I’m happy for you and her, Jiminie.” Taehyung swore he could hear Jimin’s smile at the nickname through the phone.

“Have I said I love you to you recently?” Jimin asked. Taehyung blushed and hid his face into his pillow, smiling despite himself.

“No, not recently, but it’s nice to be reminded.” Taehyung giggled. “Hey, I’ll be home soon.” Taehyung remembered, the date he originally told Jimin he’d be back was coming up.

“Oh!” Jimin inhaled, “Has that much time really passed?”

“Yeah, I guess so. I’d really like to see you again when I get home.”

“I’d love that.” Jimin said, yawning into the phone. Taehyung rolled over so he could see what time it was from his bed — it was getting late.

“We can talk about it later, it’s late. You need to get some sleep.” Taehyung said.

“You do too,” Jimin whined, his voice fading with drowsiness. “I don’t want you to hang up.”

“I won’t then,” Taehyung smiled. “Goodnight, Jimin.”

“I love you, Tae.”

“I love you too.”

Taehyung listened on the phone as Jimin’s breathing slowed. He liked to imagine that Jimin was in his bed, breathing right there in person next to him. He indulged in listening to Jimin for a long time until he quietly flipped his phone closed. He didn’t like having his phone out in the open — he could risk anyone potentially seeing it. He pulled the drawer in his bedside table open and tucked it deep inside before dropping his head onto his pillow in a heavy flop.

Sleep didn’t come easy for Taehyung that night. He tirelessly turned and rolled in his sleep. He opened and closed his eyes, willing for sleep to come to him to cure him of his boredom. He rolled onto his side, facing the rest of his bed. He draped a lazy arm across the pillow, pulling it close. He childishly imagined that it was Jimin gently wrapped in his arms and pulled his arms even tighter around it. Something was comforting about the idea of it — sharing a bed with Jimin. He thought of the way Jimin would look when he slept, peaceful and beautiful with his dark hair falling into his face. Taehyung closed his eyes, content in the daydream he found himself in, until he was able to slip into sleep.

Taehyung hadn’t seen Jungkook since their flight home. Nothing seemed to give him enough incentive to leave his room. The three princes had always ate breakfast together, but now when Taehyung made the walk down the hallway to their personal dining room, he would only find Seokjin sitting at the table.

“No Jungkook again?” Taehyung asked, sitting down across from Seokjin. Seokjin pressed his lips into a thin line and shook his head.

“He’ll come back around in time.” Seokjin looked calm. Taehyung felt a twinge of jealousy that Jungkook had someone who understood him as deeply as Seokjin did. “He thinks you’re mad at him.”

Taehyung looked up at Seokjin’s eyes. “Why?” He asked, pressing the button to alert the staff they were ready to eat.

“Because of what Yoongi said. He doesn’t want to be the reason you won’t be king.”

Taehyung sighed, allowing a part of himself to pity Jungkook. “It wouldn’t be so bad not being king.”

Seokjin smiled softly. He was only a few years older than Taehyung, but he seemed so much wiser. He filled the room with a sense of ease, that even though the thought of the crown filled Taehyung with an unbearable anxiety, if he just looked at Seokjin’s understanding eyes everything would be okay. “Let’s hope the day you become king is a long way away, Taehyung.”

“It’s easier to handle the reality of it with you and Jungkook around.” Taehyung startled himself with the honesty of his words. A glimmer of fondness passed through Seokjin’s face.

“I’m glad to hear you say that, Taehyung,” He said, smiling.

Taehyung broke his eye contact with Seokjin, focusing his eyes down on the food being served in front of them instead. “It used to just be Hobi and I. He’s always been sort of like a brother. He’s not much older than me like you are.”

“So he’s not the best with advice?” Seokjin asked, picking up his fork.

“No, he’s a bit more mischievous.”

Seokjin raised his eyebrows. “How so?”

Taehyung shrugged. “Just stuff we do. Especially when we were younger.”

“I can’t picture the perfect prince having a mischievous side,” Seokjin laughed, “What’s the worst thing you two did?”

Sneak out of the palace and fall in love, Taehyung thought to himself, but shrugged again to Seokjin. “Just pranking the staff. Kid stuff.”

“Too bad you two didn’t have Jungkook around at that age. I think he would’ve had fun with you guys.”

“Wasn’t he shy growing up?”

Seokjin’s fond smile returned to his face. “I think he just needed some friends.”

Taehyung was quiet for a moment. “You care about him a lot, don’t you Jin?”

Seokjin smiled. “Yes,” He paused, “But I care a lot about you too, Taehyung.”

Taehyung came to a complete stop, staring at Seokjin’s face. His eyebrows were pressed together, earnest and honest.

“I know I don’t say it often,” Taehyung began, “But you’re very important to me too, Jin. Jungkook too. You both are.” Feeling his cheeks turn pink, Taehyung returned his gaze to the food in front of him, avoiding Seokjin’s eyes.

“I’m glad to hear you say that, Taehyung.” Taehyung didn’t have to look up to know how the smile looked on Jin’s lips.

“All of this Jungkook stuff will blow over soon,” Taehyung said, changing the subject. Seokjin nodded.

“I know it will. It doesn’t make it any easier for him though.”

“He’ll be okay, Jin. Worse things have happened in this family.”

“I can only imagine what some of those things are.”

“Another celebrity scandal will come along and erase Jungkook from everyone’s minds. That’s what always happens.”

“The next scandal can happen any day then,” Seokjin said, raising his food to his lips.

Sleep seemed to be coming harder and harder to Taehyung. After his nightly phone calls, his brain would dance with thoughts of Jimin. After hanging up on their calls, Taehyung would lay on his back, daydreaming of life with Jimin. He’d catch himself imagining making food with Jimin or going on late evening walks together.

Taehyung was caught up in one of these late night fantasies when he heard a gentle knock on his door — a knock so soft he was almost certain he had imagined it.

“Enter?” Taehyung called out, raising his voice at the end of the word as if it was a question. There was a hesitation for a brief moment before Taehyung heard the door slowly open. Taehyung squinted into the darkness until he recognized Jungkook’s form approaching his bed.

“Jungkook, is that you?” Taehyung asked.

“Yeah,” Jungkook said, “It’s me.”

Jungkook stood over Taehyung’s bed in silence. Taehyung was confused — Jungkook never visited Taehyung in his room, let alone after he had been absent for so long.

“You can sit sit down,” Taehyung indicated to the side of his bed.

“Okay,” Jungkook mumbled, sitting himself down on the corner of the bed. As Taehyung’s eyes adjusted, he could tell that Jungkook was wearing his white striped pajamas. His hair was messy, as if he had been trying to sleep but couldn’t.

“Can’t sleep?” Taehyung asked, propping his back up against the headboard.

Jungkook shook his head. “No.”

“Is something on your mind?”

Jungkook nodded.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Jungkook nodded again, but kept quiet.

“Does it have to do with Yoongi?” Taehyung guessed after a long pause.

Jungkook nodded a third time. “He came to talk to me.”

Taehyung raised his eyebrows in suprise. “Oh?”

“I can’t talk to Jin about it — He’d just —“ Jungkook’s voice seemed anxious.

“He’d what?”

“He’d just freak out.” Jungkook kept his eyes on his feet.

“Why?” Taehyung asked. Jungkook shifted uncomfortably.

“He wouldn’t like what Yoongi said. He’d probably get mad at him.” Taehyung could hear Jungkook’s voice falter, as though he wanted to cry but was holding back.

“What’d he say?”

“He said he thinks I should spend some time away.”

“Away from where?”

“Here. The palace.” Jungkook wiped a stray tear from his eye with his thumb before it had a chance to roll down his cheek.

“How long does he think you should be away?”

“He didn’t say.”

Taehyung and Jungkook were quiet together for a moment before Taehyung interrupted their silence. “Do you want to go?”

Jungkook thought for a long moment. “I kind of just want to disappear.”

“I can talk to Yoongi for you.” Taehyung offered.

“No, I don’t need that. It’s just —“ Jungkook let out a breathy gasp before all of the tears he had been holding back rushed forward, “It’s just I feel like such a failure.”

“Don’t cry, Jungkookie,” Taehyung soothed, using one of Seokjin’s nicknames. He sat forward and rested a hand on Jungkook’s back.

“I wish my dad had never died,” Jungkook said, his voice thin like a whisper. He drew his knees in to his chest and hid his face. “None of this would’ve ever happened if he hadn’t left.”

Taehyung sympathized with the feelings Jungkook was experiencing. He wrapped his arms further around Jungkook. “It helps to cry when you feel like this.”

Jungkook nodded, using the back of his hand to wipe at his eyes. “I’m sorry, Tae.”

“Why are you saying sorry to me?” Taehyung drew circles on Jungkook’s back like his mother did when Taehyung used to cry.

“What Yoongi said — About your family.” The peak of Jungkook’s crying seemed to have passed as suddenly as it came, and Jungkook hiccuped into his knees. “I really didn’t think that —“

“Yoongi was exaggerating,” Taehyung said, simply. “People might make angry posts about us on Facebook for a bit, but they’ll never get rid of us. The tradition and culture of our family is what will keep us around. At least that’s what my mother would say.”

“You’re not mad at me?” Jungkook asked, his voice like a child’s.

“Only for being a stupid and irresponsible little brother!” Taehyung joked tousling Jungkook’s hair. Jungkook laughed through his tears and brought a hand up to stop Taehyung.

“Thanks, Tae,” Jungkook said, returning his feet to the floor. Taehyung moved back, but watched as Jungkook kept his lips pressed in a thin line.

“Do you want to take some time away?” Taehyung guessed at what was still bothering Jungkook.

Jungkook nodded. “I think I could use some time in private. It’s just — I know Jin will come too.”

Taehyung shrugged. “What’s wrong with that?”

“He’s good at all this,” Jungkook waved his hands to indicate the palace. “He shouldn’t leave it because of me.”

“It’s not forever,” Taehyung pointed out, “Plus he loves you, Jungkook.”

“Do you think that’d make it worse? You know, in terms of publicity?”

“It might be the first story in the celebrity gossip section of the newspaper, but nothing other than that.”

Jungkook laid back at the end of Taehyung’s bed, stretching his body over the length of the plush mattress. “You’d be alone if Jin and I went.”

“It wouldn’t be the first time,” Taehyung said, following Jungkook’s lead and laying his head against his pillow. “Promise you’ll write to me,” Taehyung joked.

Jungkook laughed. “Every day. I’ll send pictures too.”

“Good.”

“Thanks again, Taehyung. I guess I should talk to you more often.”

It was Taehyung’s turn to laugh. “I guess so.”

Jungkook stayed quiet at the base of Taehyung’s bed, and eventually Taehyung heard his breathing begin to slow and lengthen. Jungkook had a talent for falling asleep anywhere, but Taehyung hadn’t expected him to fall asleep at the foot of his bed. Shifting Jungkook around, he managed to get one of his own pillows under Jungkook’s head. Looking at Jungkook, Taehyung sighed before getting to his feet and digging through one of his closets to find an extra blanket. He gently spread the soft material over Jungkook, before climbing back into bed himself.

“Brothers. . .” Taehyung sighed to himself, pulling his blankets up to his chest and closing his eyes.

Chapter Text

“Jungkook said what now?” Hoseok idly tossed a tennis ball up and down, draped across his favorite couch in Taehyung’s room.

“That he wanted to take some time off.” Taehyung stood in front of his mirror, comparing necktie colors with the light blue button down he had already selected.

“I didn’t think princes could request time off.”

“Well, no, but we can go away.” Taehyung huffed and set his ties down, unable to decide.

“Like where?” Hoseok stopped tossing the ball and leaned to inspect Taehyung’s ties.

“Like one of the vacation houses in the countryside. They’re smaller and the paparazzi know to leave us alone there.” Taehyung watched as Hoseok crossed the room to look at the ties closer.

“Must be nice,” Hoseok sighed. “This one matches best.” Hoseok pointed to a dark blue tie with slim silver accents. “Where are you going anyway?”
Taehyung shrugged. “Since the holidays are getting closer tourism season is picking up. Sometimes I like to walk by the palace tours and see the tourist’s excited faces.”

“Sounds like that’s excellent for your ego,” Hoseok smiled. “Is it weird? Having tourists coming in to where you live.”

“Not really,” Taehyung picked up the dark tie and began working it around his neck. “They don’t ever even see how to enter into the residential side of the palace. It’s just a museum  where they are.”

Hoseok paced the room, curiously poking into things while Taehyung shifted through his accessory drawers.

“Oh, Hobi?” Taehyung asked, and Hoseok turned to look at him. “I told Jimin I could meet him later this week.”

Hoseok pressed his eyebrows together, but nodded. “What day?”

“Thursday. Namjoon will be spending time helping the king.”

“You mean your father?”

“Yeah, him.” Taehyung rolled his eyes.

“If that’s the best day to do it, then let’s go have fun! What will your date consist of this time?”

“I want to see the park by the river. I’ve only ever seen it in pictures.”

Hoseok nodded. “Good choice.”

“You’ve never been there either, Hoseok.”

“Yeah, but I like the pictures.”

Taehyung laughed and Hoseok scratched the back of his head.

“When?”

“In the evening. I already told Yoongi and Namjoon I’d be spending the night with you.”

Hoseok nodded. “Are you excited to see him again?”

A slow smile spread across Taehyung’s face. He moved a hand to cover the blush creeping up in his cheeks.

“Really excited,” Taehyung exhaled. He peeked up through his hand and caught Hoseok smiling with a wide toothy grin.

“Taehyungie’s got a crush!” He clapped.

“Shut up, Hobi!” Taehyung swatted the air in his direction. “What happened to being worried?”

Hoseok shrugged. “You’re a stubborn prince who won’t listen to me anyway, so I might as well be happy for you.”

Taehyung smiled. “Thanks, Hobi.”

“Now to think of what I’m going to find for you to wear for this date.” Hoseok joked, bringing a finger to his chin as if he was thinking hard.

“Make me look good, I want to impress.”

“My style has always been better than yours, so that won’t be too hard.”

“Hey, I have great style!” Taehyung whined.

Hoseok scoffed. “If it were up to you, you’d wear sweatpants and oversized button downs every day.”

“Yeah, but designer sweatpants and oversized button downs.”

“Whatever,” Hoseok said, rolling his eyes. Taehyung laughed.

“Thank you for doing this, Hobi.”

“That’s what friends are for,” Hoseok smiled.

Taehyung pulled the maroon woolen beanie down over his ears, pushing at his dark thick rimmed glasses. The tight dark wash jeans felt uncomfortable on his legs, and the thick flannel felt wrong on his body.

“I don’t know, Hobi, these jeans are really tight.” Taehyung turned as he looked at himself in the mirror, catching glimpses of how the denim looked spread tight across his thighs.

“That’s the point, Tae Tae.” Hoseok said, coming over to inspect Taehyung. “Unbotton your flannel, that’s why you have that t-shirt on.” Hoseok used his long fingers to work at the buttons on Taehyung’s shirt.

“Hey, let me!” Taehyung said, lightly smacking at Hoseok’s hands. Hoseok turned away as Taehyung fully unbuttoned the flannel and fiddled with the slight v plunge of his t-shirt that revealed part of his collarbones.

“Here,” Hoseok said, handing Taehyung a pair of black canvas shoes. Taehyung took them, but hesitated.

“This just doesn’t feel like me,” Taehyung said.

“The real you wears clothes more expensive than his apartment, Tae.”

“Yeah, but —“

“You’re supposed to look like a mechanic, Tae, not like you’re going to sit on a throne one day.”

“But these jeans are so tight! I don’t think a mechanic would wear something so tight.” Taehyung whined.

“A mechanic who hasn’t seen his crush in a long time would!” Hoseok said, pulling a thick coat around his arms. Taehyung turned back to the mirror, sighing in defeat and slipping on his shoes.

“Here,” Hoseok handed him a coat of his own and a thick scarf, “It’s getting colder. The scarf is in case a stranger starts looking too hard, you can cover your face with it.”

“Thanks, Hobi,” Taehyung said, rising to his feet and pulling the coat on.

“You ready?” Hoseok asked, looking down at his watch.

“Yeah,” Taehyung smiled.

Hoseok nodded and turned to head out the door.

“Oh, Hoseok,” Taehyung said, pulling at a thread on his coat, “You don’t have to stay so close by this time.”

“Oh, I see,” Hoseok teased, “You want your privacy, I get it. I’ll keep my distance.”

Taehyung laughed and Hoseok turned towards the door.

“Oh wait! Hold on,” Taehyung said, turning to find the bag he had brought over to Hoseok’s. Digging through it he pulled out the small blue bracelet he had received from the old artist on the coast. Taking a deep breath, he carefully tucked it carefully into his coat pocket.

“Alright, I’m ready,” Taehyung said, rising back to his feet and turning to join Hoseok.

When Taehyung caught a glimpse of Jimin’s dark hair outside the bar they first met at, he had to dive himself back around the corner and out of sight.

“I can’t do this, I can’t do this,” Taehyung repeated, his heart beating painfully hard in his chest.

“Hey, hey, what’s wrong?” Hoseok asked, putting an hand on Taehyung’s shoulder and looking looking at him with concerned eyes.

“I just can’t do this Hoseok,” Taehyung said, gulping down breaths in hopes of calming his wild heart.

“Listen to me,” Hoseok said, waiting to continue until Taehyung looked up into his eyes, “You have been willing to risk your reputation as the prince of this nation for this guy. Haven’t you been talking to him on the phone like every night?”

“Yeah, but it’s different in person —“ Taehyung wanted to look anywhere but Hoseok’s eyes, but couldn’t find anything else to focus on.

“You like him though, so what’s there to worry about?”

“It’s just —“ Taehyung struggled to find the right words, “I just like him so much, Hobi. So much it hurts.”

“Then why hide from him?”

“I don’t know, Hobi, I don’t know,” Taehyung wiggled from his touch, “I feel like I’m going to throw up.”

“Your royal highness prince Kim Taehyung, with all due respect you are being ridiculous.”

Taehyung opened his mouth to say something in protest, but closed it when he met Hoseok’s serious, steady eyes.

“Don’t hold yourself back from this, Taehyung.”

Taehyung nodded, his thundering heart slowly becoming more bearable.

“Okay, okay,” Taehyung said, taking a final deep breath.

“He’s waiting,” Hoseok said, motioning in Jimin’s direction with his hands. Taehyung looked in the direction of his hands and then back to Hoseok with wide, terrified eyes.

Jimin must have heard Taehyung coming the first time, because he was looking up the next time Taehyung came around the corner. Jimin bounded to Taehyung at the first glimpse of him. He bounced like an excited puppy until he had his arms wrapped tightly around Taehyung. Laughing, Taehyung wrapped his arms around Jimin’s waist and lifted him, spinning Jimin in a circle while Jimin’s singsong giggle filled the air. All of Taehyung’s previous anxiety washed away at the sound of Jimin’s laugh.

“You’re back,” Jimin sang, running his fingers through Taehyung’s hair.

“I am,” Taehyung said, setting Jimin’s feet back down on the ground.

Jimin looked into Taehyung’s eyes, and the rational princely side of Taehyung lost all authority over him, and Taehyung let Jimin press their lips together. Their kiss was short, but with all of the emotion of two people who missed each other very much.

“I’ve waited so long to do that,” Jimin whispered against Taehyung’s lips, and Taehyung smiled them back into another short kiss. Every time Taehyung kissed Jimin it was like experiencing it for the first time. Everything was soft and so deliciously Jimin.

They pulled apart, and not caring who saw him, Taehyung swept Jimin’s hand into his.

“You got your hair cut,” Taehyung observed. Jimin nodded.

“I did,” Jimin said, running a hand along the freshly buzzed sides of his head. “Do you like it?”

“I’d like anything on you,” Taehyung said, watching Jimin’s face light up in a gentle blush.

“Stop,” he giggled, hiding part of his face behind his hand.

“To the park?” Taehyung asked and Jimin nodded enthusiastically.

“Let’s go,” Jimin smiled.

Taehyung wasn’t expecting to have the courage to hold Jimin’s hand in public yet, but he clung to it as though Jimin might float away if he loosened his grip. He loved the feeling of Jimin’s fingers intertwined with his own. He looked over, and Jimin was smiling to himself.

“What are you thinking about?” Taehyung asked, curious about Jimin’s smile.

Jimin’s smile grew wide, and mischevious.

“I’m thinking about how happy I am to have you back home.”

Taehyung blinked, a blush on his cheeks.

“I’m really happy to be home,” Taehyung’s words jumbled together as he spoke.

“You were gone for so long,” Jimin’s thick lower lip pouted out.

“I was,” Taehyung sighed.

“I missed you.”

Jimin’s pouted lip was so irresistible it forced Taehyung to stop walking. Placing a hand on the small of Jimin’s back, he pulled closer and swept his lips back on Jimin’s. He felt Jimin smile, and melt more into the kiss. Jimin moved his own hands to rest on Taehyung’s chest. Taehyung felt strong and protective with Jimin wrapped in his arms. He whined when Jimin moved away.

“I think you missed me too,” Jimin said, pushing his bangs back off his forehead.

“More than you know,” Taehyung said, pecking a kiss on Jimin’s forehead.

The sun was setting into a chilly evening when Jimin and Taehyung finally arrived at the park. They walked along with other couples, occupied in their own conversations. Taehyung kept his scarf wrapped high above his mouth, concealing his face.

They walked huddled together until they found a bench facing the river. Jimin pulled Taehyung’s around him as he sat, using Taehyung’s body as a personal heater.

“It’s colder than I thought it’d be,” Jimin shivered.

“I’m warm with you here,” Taehyung said, keeping Jimin as close to his chest as he could.

“You’re so cheesy,” Jimin jokingly rolled his eyes and he pulled his coat closer to him.

“It’s nice not having to talk through a phone anymore,” Taehyung could see his breath as he spoke, “I like being able to feel you.”

Jimin turned and looked at Taehyung’s face, “Oh?”

Taehyung’s face erupted into a fierce, dark blush, “I didn’t mean it like that!” Taehyung defended amidst a flurry of giggles from Jimin, “It’s just I really like being with you!”

“I know what you meant,” Jimin said, nestling his head onto Taehyung’s shoulder, “I think the same thing. I spent so many nights wishing you were actually there with me and not on the phone.”

“I did the same thing,” Taehyung laughed, relieved the feeling was mutual.

“There’s something special about you, Tae, I don’t know what it is.”

“Me? I’m just me. You’re the one who is special.”

“No I’m not,” Jimin protested.

“Jimin,” Taehyung shifted so his eyes were looking into Jimin’s, “I really mean it. You’re so kind, and loving, and hard working. I’ve never met someone like you.” Taehyung ran a finger along the delicate bracelet in his coat pocket as he spoke.

“Tae —“ Jimin said, not breaking his eyes away from Taehyung’s, “I mean what I say when I say I love you.”

“I mean it too. No matter what, I’ll always mean it.”

Jimin’s breath quivered, and he closed his eyes. Taehyung accepted the invitation, and brought their lips together once more, relishing the sweet taste of Jimin’s plump lips. Jimin moved so he wrapped his arms around Taehyung’s neck, pulling him closer. Taehyung ran his long fingers through Jimin’s short, soft hair on the side of his head. Both of them trying their best to eliminate any space between their two bodies.

Jimin was breathing heavy when their kiss finally came to an end. Taehyung kept his hand in Jimin’s hair watching the soft smile on Jimin’s lips.

“I think we scared everyone away,” Jimin said, noting the empty park all around them. Taehyung laughed.

“I think it’s just too cold to be out for too long.”

A shiver passed over Jimin, and he huddled closer to Taehyung.

“We could go back to my place,” Jimin suggested.

Taehyung tensed at the thought.

“Not to do anything like that!” Jimin exclaimed, sensing Taehyung’s reaction and immediately feeling flustered, “I wouldn’t want you to do anything you’re not comfortable with!”

“Well —“ Taehyung began, but Jimin spoke over him.

“I just meant I could make us some coffee or — I just mean it’s warmer there and we don’t have to pay anything —“

“Jimin!” Taehyung interrupted the waterfall of words coming from Jimin. Jimin stopped and blinked at Taehyung. “That’s fine with me. Just one thing though. . .”

“What?” Jimin asked.

“I don’t like the taste of coffee.”

Jimin laughed and swatted at Taehyung’s shoulder.

“I’d much prefer hot chocolate.”

“I can do that,” Jimin laughed, “You had me worried.”

“Then let’s go,” Taehyung said. As he rose to his feet, he slipped his hand in his pocket to touch the bracelet once more.

Chapter Text

“Tae!” Jimin suddenly stopped his walking and grabbed Taehyung’s arm.

“What’s wrong?” Taehyung turned to study Jimin’s face. Jimin was looking upward, a faint smile on his lips.

“It’s snowing,” Jimin said, his voice soft and full of wonder. Taehyung followed Jimin’s eyes upward. In the glimmer of the streetlights, Taehyung could see small, delicate snowflakes dancing their way to the ground. He turned back to Jimin, whose face was still turned upward. Taehyung smiled at him, and slid his hand into Jimin’s, giving it a small squeeze. Jimin turned to Taehyung, catching his smile.

“It’s beautiful,” Taehyung said, his eyes focused on Jimin’s. The snow was picking up, and small white flakes were getting caught in Jimin’s dark hair and eyelashes.

“Yeah. . .” Jimin said. He leaned forward, unable to resist Taehyung’s gravity and met his lips. Their kiss was soft and gentle. Taehyung moved his hands to wrap them around Jimin’s waist. Jimin responded by dragging his hands along Taehyung’s shoulders and running a few shy fingers through his hair.

They let their lips pull apart from each other but kept their arms holding the other close. Taehyung leaned forward and placed a small kiss on Jimin’s forehead. Jimin smiled and hid his face in Taehyung’s chest.

“I like that you’re shorter than me,” Taehyung said, giggling at Jimin. Jimin turned his head and looked up at Taehyung.

“I like that you’re taller than me,” Jimin smiled, a shy blush dancing on his cheeks.

Taehyung looked up from Jimin and around at the empty street around them. They were the only ones out on the quiet street, and the snow was building up in a small dusting on the sidewalk.

“It’s getting colder,” Jimin shivered in Taehyung’s arms, “Let’s go make that hot chocolate.”

Jimin didn’t live too far from where they stopped. The kept their cold fingers locked together while they walked. Eventually they turned off the main road and wound their way down streets lined with apartments.

“This ones mine,” Jimin said, coming to a stop in front of a small building. The building was tucked away at the end of a street. The windows were dark, and the paint on the exterior was peeling. “It’s not much, but it’s mine.”

“I love it,” Taehyung said, smiling at the lackluster building.

“You’re just saying that to make me feel better,” Jimin laughed, swinging their hands back and forth.

“No, I’m not,” Taehyung protested, “I really mean it.”

Jimin laughed again, “Well thanks. The door closest to the alley is mine.”

As Jimin began to rustle his keys, Taehyung could hear movement coming from the alleyway on the side of Jimin’s apartment. The moment Jimin began to put the keys in the door, a gentle meows began to make their way towards the pair.

“Is that a cat?” Taehyung asked. Jimin laughed.

“I feed a stray. She must be hungry.”

“A stray?”

“Do you want to meet her?”

Taehyung nodded, and let Jimin guide him around the corner and into the alleyway. A thin gray cat with bright yellow eyes greeted them. Its cries raised in volume the moment it saw Jimin.

“I call her Stella,” Jimin said, scooping the cat into his arms and offering the cat to Taehyung to pet. Taehyung smiled and ran a gentle finger along her head. Stella’s eyes closed and Taehyung could hear her begin to purr.

“She likes you,” Jimin giggled, setting her back down.

“I’m glad,” Taehyung smiled. He looked up at Jimin. He had a gentle smile on his face as he watched Stella wander over to her food bowl and look back up at him.

“I can’t afford the monthly payment to keep her inside,” Jimin admitted. “I found a tutorial online on how to keep outside animals warm in the winter and made that,” Jimin indicated to a box on the ground, “I stole some insulation supplies from work and try to keep her as warm as I can.”

“How did you find her?”

Jimin shrugged. “She was in need and happened to find the right doorstep to sleep on.”

“Do you like to take care of everyone you meet?” Taehyung teased.

“Only the ones I like,” Jimin said, a shy smile on his lips. “We should go inside, it’s too cold.”

Taehyung followed Jimin inside his small apartment. He lived in a glorified studio, with faded walls and chipping paint.

“I didn’t get a chance to clean, but this is where I live.” Jimin flipped on a switch and a dull overhead light flickered to life. Taehyung took in the space. Jimin’s furniture was mismatched. A sunken couch and a small TV occupied one side of the room, and a small creaky dining table and chairs occupied the other. Tucked away in the furthest corner, Taehyung could see Jimin’s neatly made bed.

“I think it’s wonderful.” Taehyung had only ever seen spaces like this on TV shows and in movies.

“Where do you live then?” Jimin raised an eyebrow, “If you think this place is great?”

Taehyung’s head spun, not expecting the question. “Oh, um — In the palace.” Taehyung smiled at the end, hoping Jimin would think of it as a joke.

Jimin looked at Taehyung, and a slow smile spread across his face. He let out a small laugh. “I’m sure. In your dreams, right?”

“Yeah, in my dreams,” Taehyung repeated. He watched as Jimin went into his small kitchen and started pouring water into his small kettle. Taehyung slipped his coat off and hung it on the back of a chair. He wandered over to Jimin’s dining table, looking at the objects strewn across its surface. There were half finished drawings and charcoal pieces scattered haphazardly.

“I didn’t get a chance to clean that up,” Jimin said, watching Taehyung over his shoulder as he turned the kettle on.

“Do you mind if I look?” Taehyung asked, picking up a sketchbook.

“Please do.” Jimin stood on his tip toes and rustled through his cabinets to find the hot chocolate.

Taehyung held the book delicately in his hands and gently opened to the first page. The first sketch was a choppy but deliberate portrait of a sleeping woman. He turned the pages, and her face occupied most pages.

“I mostly do portraits.” Jimin said, coming to stand next to Taehyung and look along with him. He leaned forward to set the two cups of hot chocolate on the table.

“Is this your mother?” Taehyung asked, lingering on a particularly intricate sketch of the woman’s face.

Jimin nodded. “She sleeps a lot, so she’s the perfect model. She won’t move too much.”

Taehyung stared down on her face. She had a small delicate nose like Jimin’s, and his strong yet graceful brow. “These are beautiful.”

“Thanks.” Jimin ran a hand along the back of his neck before gently taking the book from Taehyung’s hands. “I was actually hoping you’d let me sketch you.”

Taehyung blinked at Jimin, before nodding. “Of course!”

Jimin smiled, revealing his slightly crooked front teeth. “Really?”

Taehyung nodded again, more earnestly this time.

“Can you sit here?” Jimin asked, pointing to one of the chairs at the table. Taehyung followed his instructions. “Then just turn your head just a bit this way. . .” Jimin gently touched Taehyung’s jaw and turned his head towards him. He let his fingers linger a little longer, and Taehyung relished the feather-like touch. The moment Jimin’s touch left his skin, Taehyung wanted the warmth back.

“Just stay still. . .” Jimin said, sitting in a chair across from Taehyung and opening his book to a new page. Taehyung closed his eyes, and could hear Jimin rustling through pencils before he heard the distinct scratches of his pencil along the paper. He kept his eyes closed, listening to Jimin work.

Minutes passed, and Taehyung heard Jimin set his pencil down. “You can open your eyes now.”

Taehyung blinked his eyes open, letting Jimin come back into focus. “That didn’t take long.”

“It’s just an outline, I’ll finish the shading and everything later. . .” Jimin ran his hand through his bangs, looking down at the sketch. Taehyung got to his feet and went to stand over Jimin’s shoulder. The lines were graceful and deliberate, carved into the paper with Jimin’s gentle hand. Taehyung looked at the sketch of his face as if he was looking in a mirror.

“It’s amazing. . .” Taehyung breathed, unable to take his eyes away. “You’re amazing. . .”

Jimin turned his head to face Taehyung. With Taehyung leaning over his shoulder, their faces were centimeters apart. Jimin’s lips were so close to Taehyungs, he could feel his breath ghosting along his own lips.

“Jimin —“ Taehyung started, but the words were lost when their lips met. Taehyung loved the soft, pillowy feeling of Jimin’s lips. A thought slipped into his head, and he broke away from the kiss. Jimin pouted and sought out his lips again.

“I have something for you,” Taehyung said, stopping Jimin before he could land another desperate kiss.

“Oh?” Jimin asked.

“Stay here,” Taehyung said, turning from Jimin to seek out his abandoned coat. He rummaged through the pockets until his fingers felt the sleek shell bracelet.

“It’s your turn to close your eyes,” Taehyung teased as he turned around to face Jimin again.

“I don’t like surprises,” Jimin whined.

“You’ll like this one. Just close your eyes.”

“I’ll trust you.” Jimin smiled before closing his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest. Taehyung laughed at how childish he looked. He stepped forward, running the bracelet through his hand. He reached out, and took Jimin’s wrist, holding it out in his hand.

“I got this for you while I was out on the coast,” Taehyung spoke softly, fastening the bracelet around Jimin’s slender wrist, “That’s where you’re from, so you probably understand the significance more than I do.” He finished clasping the bracelet and took a hopeful step back. His heart pounded in his chest and anxiety rattled through his body. “Open your eyes.”

Jimin’s eyes fluttered open, immediately focusing in on the blue bracelet around his wrist. Taehyung watched as his expression shifted from curiosity to something much softer, much more delicate and fragile.

“Is this?” Jimin asked, his eyes shimmering like glass as he searched Taehyung’s face. Taehyung nodded and watched as Jimin returned his gaze to the bracelet, running a finger along the small shells.

“The man who made it told me what it means.” Taehyung said, still watching Jimin closely.

“Do you — “ Jimin grappled with his words, raising his eyes to Taehyung’s again, “Do you really mean it?”

Jimin’s brown eyes were wide, wider than Taehyung had ever seen them before. He felt like he could see through all the walls Jimin had ever built around himself — that in that moment, he was experiencing Jimin for what he truly was. He looked small and soft, but so elegant through his emotions.

“Since I met you. . .” Taehyung searched for the words. He wanted Jimin to understand how pure and raw his love for him had grown. “. . . I feel like I’ve discovered a whole new part of myself. A part of me I never knew was there. You’re the only person I ever want to see and you’re the only person I ever want to talk to.”

A stray tear surprised Taehyung as it ran down his cheek. Jimin watched it roll down his cheek. Taehyung watched in slow motion as Jimin rose to his feet, and took one careful step after another towards him. Jimin stood before him, his brown eyes unwavering as he stared into Taehyung’s.

“Jimin —“

“Yes.” Jimin answered before Taehyung could even begin his sentence. Jimin’s lips came crashing down onto Taehyungs lips with an intensity Taehyung had never experienced from Jimin. Taehyung didn’t move as Jimin’s arms wrapped around him and pulled him closer. When Jimin nipped at his lower lip he opened his mouth without hesitation. He wanted nothing but Jimin and to be everything for Jimin. He finally moved his hands, running them up Jimin’s back and into his hair.

“Stay,” Jimin said, his hands running along Taehyung’s chest and toying with his collar. Taehyung didn’t respond, and returned his lips to Jimin’s. Jimin indulged with another long kiss, before pushing a gentle hand on Taehyung’s cheek to separate them again. “Tae, stay.”

Taehyung bit his lip, looking at Jimin. He looked irresistible, and Taehyung wanted more than anything to stay. He wanted to fall onto Jimin’s bed like a normal couple. He wanted to fall asleep to Jimin and then wake up to him again. He wanted to spend the night again, and then all of the nights after.

“Please stay,” Jimin repeated, kissing along Taehyung’s mouth as he waited for him to answer.

For a moment, Taehyung entertained the idea of staying. He thought of giving up his crown and taking Jimin and running as far away from it as he could. In that instant, Taehyung could see a perfectly ordinary life with Jimin — a life with no advisors or royal formalities. In his vision, they had a family and the daydream was so powerful it almost brought tears to his eyes.

“Tae,” Jimin breathed and Taehyung let his tears fall.

“I can’t.”

Jimin stopped and took a step back, his hands still on Taehyung. He blinked at him before noticing Taehyung’s tears.

“Why not?”

“I just can’t, Jimin.”

“Why?”

“Please don’t ask that.”

Jimin released Taehyung from his grip, taking another step back. Taehyung could feel Jimin’s absence as a sharp pain in the pit of his stomach.

“Because you can’t answer?” Jimin asked, crossing his arms.

Taehyung said nothing and looked to the floor. He heard Jimin let out a sad sigh.

“I don’t think you’re actually a mechanic.” Taehyung’s eyes shot up to Jimin’s. His eyes were serious and steady. “I wasn’t a very good student in school, Tae, but I’m not stupid.”

“I —“ Taehyung struggled with his words and his head swam.

“Who are you really, Tae?” Jimin asked. His voice was so small but so deliberate.

“I can’t tell you, Jimin.” Tears still flowed down Taehyung’s face. He felt like his heart was breaking and his stomach churned uncomfortably.

“Why not, Tae?” Jimin protested.

“Because —“ Taehyung swallowed his words. He didn’t want to say them, not to Jimin. “Because if you know who I am it’s all over, Jimin.”

Taehyung watched as his words absorbed into Jimin. His face shifted as he processed what Taehyung had said.

“What?”

“Please don’t try to figure out who I am, Jimin.” Taehyung began struggling to hold back sobs. He had never hated being a prince more than he did in this moment. “I can’t lose you, Jimin.”

Taehyung wiped his tears and looked at Jimin. He could see his eyes glimmering.

“Tae —“

“I have to go.” Taehyung felt confined. His heart was beating dangerously fast in his chest.

“Please don’t —“ Jimin begged as Taehyung gathered his coat around his shoulders. Taehyung looked back at Jimin with his hand on the doorknob. He looked innocent, like a child and Taehyung could see tears on his cheeks.

“I’m sorry,” Taehyung choked out, before quickly opening the door and closing it tight behind him.

“TaeTae?” Taehyung could hear Hoseok’s surprised voice from the alley where Stella lived, but he didn’t stop moving. The moment he was on the sidewalk, Taehyung took off running. He could hear Hobi’s fast footsteps behind him, but he didn’t stop moving. He ran through Jimin’s neighborhood until his burning lungs felt like they were going to give out. His knees buckled and he hit the ground hard. Taehyung was choking out pathetic breathless sobs on the snow covered ground when Hoseok caught up with him.

“TaeTae!” Hobi cried, panting hard himself. He also fell to the ground and wrapped Taehyung in his arms. “What happened, whats wrong?”

Taehyung turned so his face was hiding in his best friend’s chest. He sobbed until his lungs were able to return his breathing to normal.

“I hate who I am, Hobi.” Taehyung sobbed.

“Shh. . .” Hoseok soothed and ran a comforting hand through Taehyung’s hair.

Hoseok held Taehyung until his sobs softened and his tears ran out.

“Let’s get you home, Taehyung,” Hoseok whispered, his voice almost inaudible in the quiet night, “It’s too cold to stay out here.”

Taehyung nodded, and let Hoseok gently lift him to his feet.

“I’m sorry,” Taehyung mumbled, and Hoseok shook his hand.

“We’ll talk about whatever happened later.”

Chapter Text

Taehyung let Hoseok guide him home. His legs felt heavy and he could hardly move his feet forward. With each quiet sob he could feel Hoseok’s arms tighten protectively around him.

Taehyung’s thoughts were so distant he barely noticed Hoseok guiding him back to his house and up the stairs to his bedroom.

“Sit down,” Hoseok said, gently setting Taehyung down onto his couch. Taehyung slumped into it, his eyes growing tired from crying. He was hardly aware of Hoseok busily moving about him until he felt his hand rest on his shoulder. He looked up at Hoseok, hearing that he was speaking but straining to make sense of the words he was saying.

“What?” Taehyung blinked.

“I’m drawing you a bath, Taehyungie, you’re freezing.”

Taehyung looked down at himself. His clothes were damp and cold from the snow outside. He lifted his cold fingers to fiddle with the zipper of his coat.    

“Here, let me help,” Hoseok said, stooping to his knees to unzip Taehyung’s coat. Taehyung let his head fall forward, fresh tears suddenly forming in his eyes.

“Taehyung?” Hoseok asked, his voice soft. Taehyung looked up into Hoseok’s worried brown eyes. Tears spilled out from Taehyung’s eyes and onto his cheeks. Fresh sobs surged Taehyung forward and Hoseok pulled him back into his chest. Hoseok wrapped his arms around Taehyung and held him tight.

“I want to die,” Taehyung sobbed into Hoseok’s chest.

”I know, baby tiger,” Hoseok soothed and Taehyung’s breath caught in his throat.

”Mom used to call me that.”

”I know she did.” Hoseok storked Taehyung’s back and Taehyung shuddered.

“I wish she was here,” Taehyung sobbed, his tears soaking into Hoseok’s shirt, “She’d know what to do.”

“I bet she would,” Hoseok cooed, weaving a hand into Taehyung’s wet hair. He waited for Taehyung’s sobs to quiet into small hiccups before pulling away. “We need to warm you up, Taehyungie.” Taehyung nodded and wiped at his eyes. Hoseok leaned forward and placed a gentle kiss on the top of Taehyung’s head. “I love you, Tae, you know that? You’re like my little brother.”

“I know.” Taehyung’s bottom lip quivered. “I love you too, Hobi.”

Taehyung let Hoseok guide him to the bathroom. Hoseok left him with a soft towel on the sink counter and quietly closed the door behind him. Alone, Taehyung let his clothes fall to the floor around him and slowly sank into the warm bath. In the steaming water he finally felt at ease. He let his tired eyes, heavy from crying, finally close as his thoughts quieted.

He must have fallen asleep, because the next thing he remembered was Hoseok gently knocking at the door.

“Taehyungie?” Hoseok called between knocks, “It’s been a long time, are you okay in there?”

Taehyung blinked and rubbed his eyes. “I think I fell asleep.” The heat of the water had faded and felt lukewarm around him. “I’ll get out now.”

“If you’re ready. I have an extra pair of pajamas you can wear when you dry off.”

“Thanks,” Taehyung mumbled, sitting forward in the water. He lingered for a moment, not wanting to face Hoseok and explain what happened between him and Jimin. He knew he’d ask questions, and he didn’t want to answer. He didn’t want to let Hoseok know he’d been right all along. Taehyung let out a long heavy sigh before finally lifting himself out of the water.

“I’m not ready to talk yet, Hobi,” Taehyung said as he buttoned up the flannel pajamas Hoseok had laid out for him. He looked up at Hoseok who returned with an innocent look.

“I didn’t ask you to yet,” Hoseok replied, sinking down to sit on the edge of his bed, “I just need to know if I need to kill him or not for hurting you.”

“No, no,” Taehyung sighed, sitting on the couch across from Hoseok, “You don’t need to do that.” He was silent for a moment before saying in a voice barely above a whisper, “I hurt myself.” A dry sob shuddered out of Taehyung at his words. “I should have listened.”

“TaeTae,” Hoseok spoke gently again and moved so he was sitting on the couch next to Taehyung, “Please stop crying, I can’t stand the sight of it anymore.”

“I’m sorry.” Taehyung wiped the fresh tear running down his cheek and closed his eyes. “I’m tired, Hobi.”

“I called Yoongi. I told him you must have eaten something bad and weren’t feeling good. I made him and Namjoon cancel everything you had planned for tomorrow.”

Taehyung’s shoulders slumped. “Yoongi,” He sighed.

“He really is pretty intimidating,” Hoseok laughed, trying to lighten the mood.

“I bet he wanted to come pick me up immediately and take me to a hospital.”

“He might’ve. . . But I talked him down.”

“Everyone treats me like I’m glass, Hobi.” Taehyung pinched at the flannel covering his knee. “I’m not.”

“I know you’re not.” Hoseok ran a hand across Taehyung’s shoulders. “You need to get some sleep. Your head is going to hurt in the morning from all this crying.”

“It already does,” Taehyung groaned, rubbing the heel of his palm along his forehead just above his eyebrows.

“You probably need water.” Hoseok stood and moved to the door. “I’ll get you a glass.”

The door closed quietly behind Hoseok and Taehyung was alone. He rose to his heavy feet and walked to Hoseok’s bed, pulling the covers back to curl tightly underneath them. He lifted his hand to run a finger along his lips, thinking of Jimin’s. He wondered what Jimin was doing at this moment, and figured he was feeling about the same as him. A pang of guilt rattled through him and Taehyung felt compelled to call him and gush out an apology. Taehyung heard the door open again and Hoseok appeared at his bedside.

“Drink some before you close your eyes.” Hoseok offered a large glass of water to Taehyung and Taehyung took it in a weak hand.

“I messed up Hoseokie!” Taehyung cried, his voice quivering.

“Please Taehyungie, you have to stop crying!” Hoseok took the water from his hands and set it on the bedside table. He crawled over Taehyung so he was laying next to him with his arms wrapped tightly around Taehyung’s chest.

“I shouldn’t have ran away!” Taehyung turned his face so it was hiding in his pillows. “He probably hates me know!”

“No he doesn’t,” Hoseok cooed, “How could he?”

“I should call him.”

“Not now, TaeTae, not now. Give it some time.”

“How long?”

“At least not until tomorrow.” Hoseok ran a hand through Taehyung’s hair. “You need to sleep.”

Taehyung nodded.

“Go to sleep, baby tiger.” Hoseok’s voice was soft, and his fingers stroking through his hair made his body finally feel at ease.

“Hobi. . .?” Taehyung started to say, but the weight of his eyelids finally won and he drifted to sleep before he could finish his sentence.

The first thing Taehyung felt when he woke up was the sharp pang of a headache coursing through his forehead. He blinked his eyes open but quickly closed them again when the light filtering through the curtains of Hoseok’s windows were too much. He groaned and shifted, finding Hoseok’s arm wound tightly across his chest. Hoseok was sleeping close to Taehyung — his back pressed against Hoseok’s chest. Taehyung wiggled, Hoseok’s body heat was making him sweat.

“Hobi,” Taehyung whined through his dry throat, shaking Hoseok’s arm, “Wake up.”

“Hm?” Hoseok kept his eyes closed but curled so the blankets fit around him tighter.

“Hobi, get up!” Taehyung pushed Hoseok’s arm so it landed on the bed with a dull thud. He sat up, but the movement made his head spin, and he brought a hand to soothe his forehead.

“Not feeling so great?” Hoseok asked sleepily. Taehyung looked back and Hoseok was looking up at him with one eye drowsily cracked.

“My head is killing me.”

“You look terrible.” Hoseok stretched and sought out the clock on his nightstand. He groaned, “It’s way too early Taetae, I never get up before noon.” Hoseok watched Taehyung rub his forehead with a frustrated sigh. “Drink that water I left out for you.”

“The sun is hurting my eyes,” Taehyung whined, rubbing his eyes before picking up the glass of water.

“You sound hungover,” Hoseok said, letting his head lull back onto his pillow. “Have you ever even been hungover your royal highness?”

“Of course not,” Taehyung said, finishing the water with a loud exhale.

“You’re so innocent!” Hoseok cried, his voice high pitched and teasing. Hoseok reached one of his long arms out and pulled on the sleeve of Taehyung’s pajamas, “Lay back down and cuddle with me again. I’m cold.”

Taehyung sighed and laid back down again, letting Hoseok wrap his arms tightly around his chest again. They laid in silence, Taehyung staring at the ceiling and Hoseok with his eyes delicately shut.

“Are you ready to talk yet?” Hoseok asked, breaking their silence and moving his head so it was nestled onto Taehyung’s chest.

“I guess.” Taehyung’s stomach filled with dread and he shifted uncomfortably under Hoseok’s weight.

“Then what happened last night?”

“We —“ Taehyung started, but struggled to find the right words. Hoseok waited patiently, his eyes now open. “We kissed a lot.”

“I could’ve guessed, Taehyungie,” Hoseok giggled, “But that’s not what made you cry.”

“No, it wasn’t.” Taehyung anxiously pressed his lips together. “It’s just — He started asking questions, Hobi. He knows I’m lying to him.”

“Well, saying you were a mechanic probably wasn’t the best lie in the world.”

“Not helping,” Taehyung said, flicking Hoseok’s ear. “I couldn’t just take it back after I said it,” Taehyung continued over Hoseok’s cry. “I can’t answer his questions. He can’t know who I am. It’s over if he does.”

“He’ll have to know eventually,” Hoseok said after a small pause. “He’d have to figure out he’s dating the prince at some point.”

“So I should tell him then?”

“Well, I didn’t say that. . .” Hoseok’s voice trailed off and Taehyung could tell he was thinking hard.

“He probably doesn’t want to talk to me again.” Taehyung could feel tears stinging at his eyes again.

“No, no, don’t say that!” Hoseok finally lifted his head off of Taehyung’s chest and gave his shoulder a chiding slap. “I’ve seen the way you two look at each other and I know that isn’t true. He’s probably just confused.”

“I should call him. I should call him right now and apologize.” Taehyung started to move his weight forward to stand, but Hoseok’s hands stopped him, pushing him back down.

“Hold on!” Hoseok cried, “I think you both need some time to sort out your feelings.”

“What?” Taehyung blinked.

“If you call him right now, you’ll just end up crying again, TaeTae!”

“So? I want to talk to him!”

“So neither of you are thinking straight. You might say something you regret.”

“So what should I do then?” Taehyung asked.

Hoseok was quiet with his lips pressed together for a long time. “You’re visiting the hospital where his mother is soon, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, later this week.”

“Why don’t you wait to see what happens when you see her?”

“Oh.” Taehyung thought for a moment. “That’s a good idea, Hobi.”

“By then you’ll both had time to process and breathe and you’ll have met his mother. You can decide what to do after that.”

“What if he calls me though?” Taehyung asked.

“He’s probably more confused than you are. I bet he’ll wait for you to reach out to him first.”

“Okay.” Taehyung stared up at the ceiling again.

“Do you think you can wait that long?” Hoseok asked, raising an eyebrow.

Taehyung shifted. “I can try.”

“Why don’t I keep your phone?” Hoseok suggested, making Taehyung look up at him. “That way you don’t feel tempted?”

“That’s. . .” Taehyung hesitated, “That’s a good idea.”

Hoseok watched as Taehyung slowly rose to his feet, seeking out his phone from the pocket of the pants he was wearing the night before. He returned to the bed, standing in front of Hoseok before slowly offering it out to him.

“I’ll keep it safe until after you go to the hospital. I promise.” Hoseok took the phone in his slender fingers and stretched to tuck it away in the drawer of his nightstand. “Now then,” Hoseok said, turning back to Taehyung, “I’ve gotten you the day off, how do you want to spend it?”

Chapter Text

“Seokjin —“ Jungkook wiggled as his brother finnicked with his tie, pulling it tight with a quick whooshing sound. “— Jisoo already tied it!” He swatted at Jin’s hands, trying to pull away.

“You must’ve undone it somehow, it’s not straight! Jungkook, let me!” Jin cried, and Jungkook stopped his wiggling with a dramatic sigh. Taehyung could hear the distinct swish of the tie’s fabric as Jin tightened it around Jungkook’s neck. “There,” Jin said, flattening Jungkook’s collar with a wide, dramatic brush.

“Are you done?” Jungkook asked, a teasing laugh dancing behind his lips.

“I suppose,” Jin said, taking a step back from his younger brother.

“We’re only going to visit patients at the hospital today.”

“Cameras will still be there, Jungkook!”

Taehyung watched their display before turning to the full body mirror to inspect his own dark purple tie. He fiddled with Jisoo’s expert knot, trying to fit it tighter under his chin.

“Do you want me to readjust yours too, Taehyungie?” Jin asked, appearing in the mirror behind him. Taehyung searched his face — his kind eyes and caring smile. In the mirror, Jin looked so much older than him. He nodded and Jin smiled, turning his shoulders so he could better reach the expensive fabric.

Taehyung watched Jin’s face as he untied the knot. His tongue stuck out slightly as he focused, and Taehyung couldn’t help but laugh.

“What?” Jin asked, pulling the knot tight and laying the purple fabric flat against Taehyung’s chest.

“You look funny when you concentrate.”

“How so?” Jin asked, turning Taehyung’s shoulders so he could see himself in the mirror again.

“You just do.” Jin stood next to Taehyung in the mirror, and Taehyung studied both of their faces.

“You always look funny, Seokjin,” Jungkook laughed, joining them in the cramped mirror. Taehyung could see all three of their faces, smiling back at him in the mirror. Taehyung looked between Jin and Jungkook and felt a sense of ease. He felt Jin place hand on his shoulder, and saw in the mirror he was doing the same to Jungkook.

“You’re leaving soon, aren’t you, Jungkook?” Taehyung watched from behind him as Jungkook’s eyes dropped. He nodded glumly. “When?” Taehyung asked.

“In a few weeks.” Jungkook’s eyes stayed glued to the floor.

“You look like you’re having second thoughts,” Jin observed.

“It’s just —“ Jungkook’s eyes looked up at the mirror and darted back down, his words caught in his throat.

“You’ll miss us?” Jin finished with a laugh and Jungkook’s cheeks lit up bright red. Jin laughed, “It isn’t forever, Jungkookie!”

“I know that — It’s just that —“ Jungkook struggled with his words again.

“You don’t need to say, Jungkook,” Taehyung interrupted, “We know. Just use your time away to be normal again.”

“As if he was ever normal,” Jin joked, using his hand to tousle Jungkook’s hand. He yelped and brought his own hand up to defend against Jin’s.

“Stop! You’ll make Jisoo angry with me again!”

Jin and Taehyung threw their heads back in laughter as Jungkook surged closer to the mirror to adjust his hair. A firm knock at the door interrupted their joking. Jin and Jungkook turned to look at Taehyung.

“Enter!” He called turning back to the mirror. He watched as Namjoon slowly opened the door and peered inside.

“I heard laughing?” He said, taking a step inside. He opened the door wider and Yoongi entered behind him. Taehyung could see Jungkook visibly straighten and turn Yoongi’s way.

“Just joking around with each other,” Jin explained and Namjoon looked from him to Taehyung. He offered a soft smile and Taehyung returned it.

“Are you ready to go to the hospital, your highnesses?” Namjoon asked. Taehyung nodded and Namjoon turned to Yoongi.

“Obviously we’ve invited the media to be pretty heavily present — especially around you, Jungkook.” Yoongi looked to Jungkook and Taehyung could see him fidget under his gaze. “There will be a few photo opportunities together, then the three of you will split up throughout the hospital to meet with patients. We have a strict schedule we’ve given the hospital, so try to stick to it as closely as possible.” The three princes nodded their understanding as Yoongi finished speaking.

“Shall we head to the cars then?” Namjoon asked, looking back to Taehyung.

“Let’s go,” Taehyung said, and followed Namjoon out the door.

Taehyung had been to this hospital before. When his mother died, the royal family donated a new wing of the hospital in her name. At the grand opening, he cut the ribbon and smiled weakly to the cameras as they called his name. He stood before the wing now, his two brothers by his side, smiling much wider as TV cameras followed their steps inside.

“My mouth always hurts from all the smiling we do,” Jungkook whined the moment they were alone again in the lobby. Jin subtly swatted his shoulder, indicating the hospital staff nervously lined up to meet them for the first time. Taehyung lead them down the line, shaking each of their hands and thanking them for the work that they do. Yoongi gathered them together after the employees dispersed, excitedly whispering together as they walked.

“We’ve divided you by floor,” Yoongi explained, handing a schedule to each prince as he spoke, “I’ll go with Jin and Jungkook and Taehyung you will stay with Namjoon. We’ll meet back down here again when we finish.”

“Copy that!” Jin said, smiling at Jungkook who kept his eyes on Yoongi. Taehyung could feel Namjoon’s presence next to him, and he turned to look at him.

“Are you ready to go, your royal highness?” He asked, and Taehyung nodded. Inside, Taehyung’s heart beat fast, anticipating the fact that he might encounter Jimin’s mother soon.

Taehyung was used to meet and greets with the public. He enjoyed taking pictures and hearing their stories. He enjoyed his time most in the children’s wing — he played and reading stories with the children and getting the opportunity to offer words of comfort to their parents. He liked seeing their faces ease in his presence, it made him feel like his position was worth something more than living in a palace.

His heart started beating nervously as he met with the adult patients. He’d glance at the patient’s name on the door, hoping behind the next door he’d find who he was looking for.

He saw her name scrawled out on the nametag of the last room in a long hallway. His heartbeat quickened, suddenly beating uncomfortably against his rib cage. He slowly opened the door, the knob cold against the sweat on his hand.

If he didn’t know from her name she was Jimin’s mother, he’d have known from her face. From the doorway Taehyung could see how once, when she was younger, she had looked just like Jimin. He quickly stepped inside, and she opened her eyes, blinking as Taehyung came closer.

“I must be dreaming,” She said, a smile growing across her lips when Taehyung came into full view, “Because I have spent my entire life wishing I would meet you one day.” Taehyung smiled back at her, noting how her eyes scrunched close when she smiled, just like Jimin.

“The pleasure is all mine,” Taehyung said, slipping into the chair next to her. Her twinkling brown eyes followed his every movement.

“You’re so kind to visit a sick, old woman like me,” She coughed and the air rattled through her small body, “Society often forgets us.”

Taehyung sat forward, taking her small, boney hand in his and gave it a comforting squeeze. “Surely no one could forget you.”

She kept smiling at Taehyung before using her other hand to cup his cheek. “You really do look exactly like your mother.”

“That’s what everyone says,” Taehyung said, watching as her eyes scanned his face.

“It’s the truth,” She dropped her hand from his cheek and returned it to her side, “When I was younger, I used to buy any magazine your mother was in just to see what she was doing or what she was wearing. I kept her photo in my house even after I got married and had my son.” Her smile got softer, more distant, like she was living in the past for a moment. “I wanted him to be here, my son.” She nodded her head to a picture on her bedside table. It was an old picture of Jimin — thick glasses decorating his smiling face. “That’s my Jimin.”

“He has your face,” Taehyung said, turning more towards the photograph. She watched him examine it.

“He had to work,” She sighed, “He works so hard for his mom. He really wished he could be here to meet you, your royal highness.”

Taehyung turned back to her and could see the smallest tears glittering in her eyes. “Don’t cry,” Taehyung said, unsure of what else to say. He squeezed her hand again, and she wiped her eyes.

“I shouldn’t cry in front of you, your highness, I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need to be sorry,” Taehyung said.

“It’s just I don’t have much time left for him. There’s so much life left for him and I won’t be here to see it!” Her breath shuddered as a tear rolled down her cheek. Taehyung kept quiet until she controlled her breathing again. “He’s met this person,” She explained, and Taehyung couldn’t stop himself from sitting more forward, “He said he makes him so happy.” She paused to wipe another tear from her eye, “He thinks he’s met the one,“ She paused, her grip suddenly tightening on Taehyung’s hand, “I’ll miss it all!” A sob shuddered through her again, and she cried for a long time. Taehyung didn’t let his grip loosen on her hand.

“I’m sure whoever your son has met loves him very much too,” Taehyung said when her breathing steadied again, “Maybe more than he even knows.” Taehyung thought of Jimin — so kind and beautiful that Taehyung felt he hardly deserved to know him.

“Thank you, your highness,” She smiled at him, “I’m so happy to have met you.”

“It means much more to me to have met you. More than you even know.” Taehyung returned her smile. He gave her hand a final squeeze before releasing it. “I have to move on, but I wish you and your son all of the best.”

“Thank you,” She said, her voice so quiet Taehyung thought it might be on the verge of tears again. Taehyung could feel an uncomfortable lump forming in his throat as he opened the door and met Namjoon again in the hallway. Namjoon raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“You look like you’re about to cry, Taehyung,” He commented. Taehyung shook his head.

“It’s nothing,” Taehyung said, walking past Namjoon to continue down the hallway.

“These pictures are really nice!” Hoseok said, throwing a newspaper onto Taehyung’s lap. Taehyung sat up on his couch, examining the photos closer. The front page had a sprawling photo of him, Jungkook and Jin smiling and waving in front of the hospital.

“I guess they are.”

“You guys have to be the most photographed men in this country.” Hoseok plopped down on the couch next to Taehyung, dramatically curling his long legs into his chest and looking at Taehyung. “So?”

“So what?” Taehyung asked, tossing the newspaper to the side.

“Did you meet his mother?”

Taehyung shifted. “Yes.”

“And?”

“She said what I already knew.” Taehyung rose to his feet and walked to a window near his bed. He could feel Hoseok’s eyes on the back of his head as he looked out at the gardens.

“And that is?”

“Hobi —“ Taehyung whined.

“Tell me!”

Taehyung slid one of his fingers along the windowsill, fidgeting with the lock. He hated Hoseok’s persistence — how he could get Taehyung to tell him anything by working with long silences and pestering reminders.

“She said she thinks he’s met the one.”

Taehyung kept his eyes glued outside, not wanting to see Hoseok’s reaction. The silence fell between them again. The words Taehyung just spoke felt heavy and uncomfortable in the room.

“Taehyungie,” Hoseok said. Taehyung knew the exact tone of voice he was using — he was enticing him to turn around. Taehyung wanted to win, but knew Hoseok could last longer. “Taehyungie,” Hoseok repeated and Taehyung caved. He turned to face his friend.

“What?”

“He loves you Taehyung.”

Hoseok’s words made Taehyung’s stomach quiver.

“I’ve been so bad to him.” Taehyung suddenly felt like crying. He hasn’t spoken to Jimin in days. “He must feel like I’ve abandoned him.”

“You should call him,” Hoseok said, pulling Taehyung’s phone from his pocket and presenting it to him. Taehyung stepped forward, slowly reaching his hand and taking the small device in his hand. He turned it over, his fingers analyzing the smooth features. He flipped the phone open and pressed the power button. The screen lit up and a flood of notifications poured through to him.

“He tried to call,” Taehyung covered his mouth with his hand, “He tried almost every night.” He clicked through the notifications — Jimin tried calling late at night when he should have been sleeping. Guilt consumed Taehyung as a text message lit up his screen:

im sorry, plz call me

Taehyung’s heart plummeted. Tears flooded his eyes. He checked the timestamp, it was from the night after he’d run away from him. A tear rolled down his cheek — he should be the one apologizing to Jimin.

“I’ll leave you alone for a bit,” Hoseok said, gently getting to his feet and leaving. Taehyung kept his attention on the phone, clicking his phone to Jimin’s phone number. He took a deep breath and pressed dial. He held his breath as he listened to the rings on the other line until —

“Tae?” Jimin’s voice answered, and Taehyung exhaled.

“I’m so sorry, Jimin,” Taehyung whimpered as more tears began to flow down his cheeks.

Chapter Text

“I should be the one apologizing,” Jimin began, his words pouring out of his mouth all at once, “I shouldn’t have pushed and I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable. We can move slower, just please, don’t leave again.” 

“I won’t,” Taehyung’s throat felt choked, and tears were soaking his cheeks, “I won’t ever leave you again. I shouldn’t have ran like that.” 

“Tae —” Jimin was struggling with his words. Taehyung was too. There was so much he wanted to say but just wasn’t sure how to say it. The time they’d spent away from each other wore heavy between them. “I won’t ask anything until you’re ready to tell me. I want to know everything about you but I’d rather have you here with me.” 

“I’ll tell you everything,” Taehyung paused, swallowing hard, “Just not now. It might change everything.” 

“No,” Jimin exhaled, “It won’t ever change anything.” 

“You sound so certain.”

“Because I am, Tae. This time away from you — not being able to talk to you or hear from you — I never want to be apart from you like that again.” Jimin spoke with a clear, crisp tone, like he’d never been so certain of something in his life. Taehyung’s heart stilled.

“You might not want everything that comes with me.” 

“Then tell me the truth and let me decide for myself.” 

Taehyung held his breath. “I can’t,” He finally exhaled. 

“When you’re ready then. Until then, when can I see you again?” 

“Tomorrow,” Taehyung replied, not even stopping to think of the logistics, “I want to see you as soon as possible.” 

“Should we meet in front of the bar again?” 

“Yes, wait for me there, Jimin. I’ll be there.” 

Chapter Text

“Wait, why did you tell him you’d meet him tomorrow?” Hoseok asked, his eyes wide and eyebrows nervously knitted together. “We need a plan first!” 

“I don’t care what the plan is, I have to see him.” Taehyung was turned away from Hoseok, leafing through one of his smaller closets, looking for something casual to wear for tomorrow. “Do you think I could borrow that pair of blue jeans again?” 

“Taehyungie,” Hoseok said, his voice serious, “I don’t know if I can get us away tomorrow. Yoongi and Namjoon have been on high alert since Jungkook.” 

Taehyung stilled. “We’ll figure something out then. Anything.” 

“But Yoongi —” Hoseok started, but Taehyung quickly cut him off. 

“You can distract him with something in the royal garden while I sneak away,” Taehyung suggested. Hoseok thought for a moment.

“That could work,” He paused, “But how will we get you back in?”

Taehyung shrugged, “We just wait until he goes to sleep before I come back. It’s easy.” 

Hoseok sighed nervously. “How will I distract him?” 

Taehyung shrugged. “You’ll think of something. You’re an amazing actor.” 

“Yeah, but Yoongi is really smart. He’ll know I’m up to something. And what about Namjoon?” 

“Namjoon is too busy these days to notice. Tell Yoongi you want to talk to him about some plans you have for the garden. You can stall for a long time with that.”

“I guess I can do that.” Hoseok pressed his lips into a thin line as he thought. “What will you do with Jimin?”

“I’m not sure. I just know I have to be with him.” Taehyung turned to face Hoseok. Hoseok looked back at him with worried eyes. 

“Are you sure you’ve thought properly about all of this? Maybe you should call him back and tell him —”

“I’m not!” Taehyung interrupted, raising his voice at Hoseok. Hoseok blinked at him. “My entire life I’ve been a perfect prince, Hoseok, I’m not giving him up now.” 

“I wasn’t telling you to,” Hoseok defended himself. “I just don’t want you to lose him because you’re being reckless.” 

“I’m going either way. Either you’re helping me or you’re not.” 

“Of course I’m helping you!” 

“Then we’ll figure it all out tomorrow.” 

“Tomorrow it is then.”

The sun was just starting to set when Taehyung and Hoseok put their plan into motion. Taehyung could tell that Hoseok was nervous — he hadn’t stopped pacing around Taehyung’s room once since he arrived. 

“So how are you getting out of the palace exactly?” Hoseok finally asked as Taehyung zipped up his coat. Hoseok had brought him a change of casual clothes like usual.

“I’m going to sneak through the side fence in the garden while you distract Yoongi.” 

“Is it really that easy?” 

“I’ve never tried it before,” Taehyung shrugged, “But I bet that was how Jungkook was sneaking out all this time. No one really thinks to look over there.” 

Hoseok pressed his lips together, two small dimples appearing just above his mouth. “Wouldn’t it have been easier to sneak away from my place?” 

“I think Yoongi and Namjoon know we’re up to something when I spend the night there. They probably don’t get why I would want to sleep anywhere but in the palace.”

Taehyung took a moment to examine himself in the full length mirror just outside his closet. Hoseok had given him dark-washed blue jeans and a knitted black sweater. Around his neck was a thick red scarf. “Perfect,” Taehyung said, pushing his trademark glasses up his nose and around his ears. “Are you ready, Hobi?” He asked, turning to face his best friend. 

“It sounds like I have no choice,” Hoseok exhaled, his nervous breath turning into a small laugh at the end. 

Taehyung followed far behind Hoseok, not wanting to be caught by anyone in his casual clothing. Hoseok wandered down the halls of the palace, hoping to meet Yoongi along their way to the garden. 

Eventually, they found him. Yoongi was just outside the door to the garden, holding his dog Holly on her leash. Hoseok lit up, and bounced out the door. Taehyung carefully watched their interaction from behind a curtain. 

Hoseok and Yoongi talked for a long time. Hoseok kept pointing at something in the distance, away from where Taehyung intended to slip out of. Yoongi looked skeptical, but after a while Hoseok convinced Yoongi to follow him. Once they were out of sight, Taehyung took the opportunity and slipped out the door and out of sight among the tall hedges in the garden. 

The royal gardens were expansive and it was a long walk to get to the fence. When he finally reached the ornate metal fence, he used all of his upper body strength to shimmy himself up and over the tall fence. His feet hit the sidewalk on the other side with a quiet thud. He looked around him and exhaled in relief — he had made it. He gathered himself up and took off down the street before Yoongi or anyone else could notice him. He picked up the pace until he was almost running — excitement, adrenaline, and anxiety all coursing through his body and carrying his feet to Jimin. 

Taehyung was winded by the time he rounded the corner outside the bar. The moment he turned the corner, he saw Jimin standing there outside the bar. A new wind blew through Taehyung, and he moved his feet faster. 

“ Jimin! ” he called out and Jimin snapped his head up. A warm, excited smile danced across his lips at the sight of Taehyung. Without a second thought, he was racing towards Taehyung too. They met in the middle, Jimin leaping into Taehyung’s arms and Taehyung pulled him up and closer to his chest so there was no space between them. Jimin’s arms and legs wrapped desperately around Taehyung’s torso and buried his face into Taehyung’s chest. Within seconds Taehyung could feel Jimin’s chest rising and falling with sobs. Taehyung faltered a moment, his own eyes filling with tears and then spilling over into sobs. 

“I’m so sorry,” Jimin cried into Taehyung’s chest. “So sorry, so so sorry.” 

“Don’t be, Jimin, don’t be.” Taehyung nestled his face into the crook of Jimin’s neck, fully eliminating any space between them. “I’m the one who should be sorry.” 

“Don’t ever leave again,” Jimin cried, his voice so soft only Taehyung could hear it. Taehyung felt like crumbling. 

“I won’t,” Taehyung promised, “Never again.” 

After a long time, Jimin began to grow heavy in Taehyung’s arms. He dropped his legs back to the ground, but didn’t separate himself from Taehyung just yet. 

“We should go somewhere,” Jimin said, turning his head so he could look up at Taehyung’s eyes, his bottom lip pouted slightly. 

Taehyung suddenly felt very self conscious of the fact that they were clinging to each other out in the open. His cheeks heated up. “We should,” He agreed. “Where though?”

“Anywhere as long as it’s with you,” Jimin sighed and Taehyung’s stomach twisted into a knot. It was pure chance he met Jimin, but he the way he makes him feel is so vivid and so real. 

“Let’s just walk then and see where we end up,” Taehyung suggested and Jimin nodded. Jimin slowly peeled himself out of Taehyung’s arms and slid his hand into Taehyung’s instead. He held Taehyung’s hand tightly — like he’d slip away if he let go. 

They walked quietly next to each other for a long time. The silence was comfortable and Jimin’s hand was so warm in Taehyung’s. It felt like there was nothing more to say — the other’s presence was more than enough for them both. 

Jimin stopped walking outside of a convenience store, examining the storefront. “Are you hungry?” He asked. Taehyung nodded. He had been so nervous about sneaking by Yoongi he hadn’t eaten dinner. “Do you want some ramyeon?” Jimin asked, his eyes glimmering in the light from the store. 

“Sure,” Taehyung said, “Whatever you want.” 

Jimin ushered them inside, immediately turning down the noodle aisle. Taehyung followed close behind, his eyes wide as he took in the convenience store. He had never been inside one, only ever seeing them on television instead. It bustled with life and people walked past him without even offering him a glance. Taehyung smiled to himself. 

“Do you want a spicy one?” Jimin asked, looking up at Taehyung, a bowl of instant ramyeon already in his hands. 

“Not too spicy,” Taehyung replied. Jimin nodded and grabbed a different bowl off of the shelf. He then grabbed two bottles of iced tea and paid for them at the register. Taehyung watched as Jimin moved through the store. He returned to Taehyung and guided him to the back of the store where they could pour hot water into their noodles. Taehyung watched what Jimin did and repeated his actions exactly. 

Taehyung watched in fascination as Jimin slurped his noodles, exhaling with delight after he swallowed. Taehyung did the same, closing his eyes to better savor his first bite of ramyeon. When he opened them again, Jimin was grinning wide at him. 

“You act like you’ve never had ramyeon before,” Jimin observed, taking another big bite. 

“I haven’t in a long time,” Taehyung lied, “I forgot how good it is.” Jimin giggled, shyly covering his mouth with his hand. 

When he finished eating, Jimin turned his face to watch the traffic on the street outside the big window they were sitting by. Taehyung used the opportunity to study his face. Jimin had high cheeks that sloped gently down his face. The angles of his face looked beautiful in the streetlights. For a moment, Taehyung indulged the idea that Jimin’s profile was suited for being printed on a stamp. Jimin turned back to Taehyung, catching him staring and Taehyung could feel his cheeks heat up. 

“What were you thinking about?” Jimin asked. 

“About how beautiful you looked just now,” Taehyung confessed and watched as Jimin’s cheeks pinkened. 

“You’re making me blush,” Jimin observed, bringing his hands to cover his rosy cheeks. Taehyung smiled softly. 

“Hey, Jimin,” Taehyung said abruptly and Jimin looked up at him, “What do you think it’s like to be prince Taehyung?” 

Jimin blinked for a moment. “What made you think of that?” He asked. 

Taehyung shrugged. “Just something I’ve been thinking about lately.” 

Jimin thought hard for a moment. “I imagine he’d be very lonely,” Jimin finally said, his eyebrows knitting together. “He wouldn’t be able to have any friends and to be constantly watched like he is,” Jimin shook his head solemnly, “I don’t think I could do it,” He pouted. 

Taehyung watched Jimin’s face closely, something inside of him slowly melting. It was like he was managing to fall deeper in love with Jimin. “You wouldn’t want to be a prince?” Taehyung asked.

Jimin shook his head again. “What about you?” He asked, “Would you?” 

Taehyung thought carefully for a moment. “Not if it meant giving you up,” He finally answered, a pang of guilt hitting sharp in the pit of his stomach. He swallowed and looked up at Jimin. One look at him was all it took to know he was right about what he’d said — he’d give it all up in a heartbeat if it meant he could be with him. 

“When it gets cold like this the pond in a park not far from here freezes over,” Jimin had excitedly said, pulling Taehyung’s hand into his, “The park turns it into an ice skating rink and we can rent ice skates there!” 

Jimin had been so excited about skating that Taehyung kept the fact that he couldn’t skate to himself. But now that he was sitting on the edge of the pond lacing up the skates he wasn’t so certain. Jimin had already pulled his skates on and was skating circles around the almost empty rink. He looked beautiful as he pulled himself into a graceful spin and came to a stop in front of Taehyung. 

“You’re really good at this,” Taehyung observed. Jimin nodded.

“I took figure skating lessons when I was a kid for a bit,” Jimin admitted. He stretched his hands out to Taehyung. “Come join me, Tae!” 

Taehyung rubbed the back of his neck nervously, desperately trying to think of an excuse to keep him off of the ice. “I don’t really know how,” He finally confessed.

“I’ll hold your hand then,” Jimin suggested and Taehyung felt his heartbeat quicken. He hesitantly rose to his feet and wobbled to Jimin, taking his gloved hand in his. Once Taehyung had both skates on the ice, Jimin was whisking him down along the ice. Taehyung panicked, his legs stiffening under him. 

“Too fast!” Taehyung cried and Jimin giggled next to him. 

“We’re barely moving!” 

After a few laps around the rink, Taehyung got used to the feeling of ice under his skates. As Jimin guided him, he tried to move his feet on his own. Jimin slid to a slow, easy stop. 

“Do you want to try on your own?” Jimin asked. Taehyung nodded. “Move your feet like this then,” Jimin momentarily let go of Taehyung’s hand to show him how to skate on his own. Without Jimin keeping him upright, Taehyung began to wobble again. “Here,” Jimin said, scooping Taehyung’s hand back into his to keep him steady. “Now you try. I’ll be right here if you lose your balance.” 

Taehyung took a deep breath and moved his feet the way Jimin had just showed him. He took a few conservative strides forward, clinging to Jimin’s hand whenever his balance felt off — which was often. Jimin giggled alongside Taehyung. “You’ve got the hang of it!” Jimin exclaimed. “Try without my hand now,” Jimin said, letting go of Taehyung’s hand before Taehyung even had a chance to protest. Almost immediately, Taehyung’s legs gave out and he was falling backwards, desperately trying to grab onto Jimin as he fell. 

He hit the ice hard on his back, the wind momentarily leaving his lungs. He opened his eyes with just enough time to see Jimin also losing his balance and toppling down on top of Taehyung. Taehyung groaned as Jimin’s elbow landed directly on his chest. Jimin shifted so that his hands were on either side of Taehyung’s shoulders, and pushed himself up so that his face was directly above Taehyung’s. Taehyung caught his breath in his throat and held it. 

“Are you okay?” Jimin asked, his eyebrows together in alarm. 

“Yeah,” Taehyung exhaled, his cheeks reddening from the proximity of Jimin’s face. Jimin hesitated a moment, biting his bottom lip and gazing down at Taehyung. Taehyung reached up and tucked a stray strand of Jimin’s hair behind his ear. He wasn’t sure who finally leaned in first, but Jimin’s soft lips were on his and Taehyung wrapped his arms around Jimin, pulling him closer and closer. 

“I love you,” Taehyung whispered when they broke apart. 

“I love you more,” Jimin whispered back. 

“Not possible,” Taehyung laughed, pulling their lips back together. 

When they broke apart the second time, they decided to pull themselves back up to their feet — Jimin helping Taehyung find his balance again. They glanced around themselves, slightly embarrassed, but thankfully there were no other skaters around. They looked back at each other, laughing again. Jimin took Taehyung’s hand back into his, and pulled him forward for a few more laps around the ice. 

“Do you have to leave?” Jimin asked when they returned to the bar. Taehyung nodded, his heart sinking. Jimin pouted next to him. 

“When will I see you next?” He asked. 

“I’m not sure yet,” Taehyung admitted. Jimin tucked into himself, crossing his arms tight in front of him. A pang of guilt rang through Taehyung. “It won’t be long, I promise.” 

Jimin looked up at Taehyung through his dark eyelashes. “It better not be.” 

Taehyung leaned forward and placed a decisive kiss on Jimin’s cheek. “It won’t be,” He promised. Jimin lightened up into a smile and Taehyung pulled him into a hug. 

“Until next time,” Taehyung whispered and placed another kiss on the top of Jimin’s head.

“Until next time,” Jimin repeated, his voice muffled by Taehyung’s coat. 

The walk back to the fence around the palace gardens was lonely and quiet without Jimin. Taehyung took it much slower than when he left — his pace was more of a shuffle than a walk. When he finally reached the spot he climbed over earlier, he glanced all around him before climbing up and over the fence just like he’d done before. His feet hit the other side with a thud softened by the grass. 

He very slowly made his way through the gardens, not wanting to make any noise to draw any attention to where he was. When he reached the glass door leading back into the palace, he peered around a hedge first to make sure the coast was still clear. Yoongi and Hoseok were nowhere in sight, so he slipped silently through the garden door and into the palace again. He exhaled the moment the door closed behind him, relief flooding through him. 

He quickened his pace again and made his way down the long hallways and back to his room. He quietly pulled open his bedroom door and stepped inside but immediately stopped in his tracks, his heart turning to ice and plummeting to the floor. 

Yoongi stood in the middle of his room, his arms firmly crossed and his expression illegible.

Taehyung stood in front of him with his mouth mutely hanging open. Behind Yoongi he could see Namjoon standing nearby and Hoseok squirming in his seat on one of his couches, tears flooding from his eyes. 

“Your royal highness,” Yoongi began, his voice tight with anger, “Where exactly have you been all night?” 

Chapter Text

Taehyung was seated on a single armchair, his hands balled into tight fists on his knees. No one had spoken in minutes and the tension was thick in the air. 

“Taehyungie, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry!” Hoseok cried, his voice breaking. Taehyung couldn’t bring his eyes to look at Hoseok, or anyone else in the room for that matter. “They didn’t give me much of an option! I had no choice!” 

Taehyung didn’t respond, he only kept his eyes steady on the white forming on the back of his knuckles. 

“Yoongi asked you a question,” Namjoon finally said, stepping forward to stand next to Yoongi. “Where have you been, Taehyung?”

Something started simmering deep in Taehyung stomach. It felt like a combination of anger and sadness that had laid dormant in him for years. Finally it was starting to bubble over. 

“Taehyung?” Namjoon repeated.

“It’s your royal highness ,” Taehyung replied, his voice as cold and sharp as ice. He finally looked up, his dark brown eyes meeting his advisor’s. “Or maybe prince Taehyung, heir apparent to the throne. Do not forget my title so easily, Namjoon.”

Namjoon’s mouth hung open momentarily, then he quickly dipped his neck in a bow. “Of course, your royal highness.” 

“Apologize,” Taehyung said. Namjoon blinked at him. “Apologize for your error.” 

“My apologies, your royal highness,” Namjoon bowed again. 

“Enough of this,” Yoongi cut in. “You’re avoiding the conversation. Where have you been?” 

Taehyung’s eyes snapped to Yoongi’s. He glanced from his to Hoseok’s tear-filled eyes. They exchanged a long look before Hoseok shook his head. 

“They know, Taehyungie, I told them,” Hoseok admitted, his voice quaking. 

Taehyung turned his eyes back to Yoongi’s. “I was on a date,” He finally said. 

“With who?” Yoongi asked, his voice calm. 

Taehyung looked back at Hoseok who only closed his eyes and shook his head. 

“His name is Jimin.” 

Yoongi was silent for a long moment. “And was this relationship with Jimin approved by anyone on palace staff?” He asked, Taehyung shook his head. “Is he of royal descent?” Taehyung shook his head again. “Is he even a suitable marriage candidate for his royal highness prince Taehyung?”

Taehyung didn’t respond. 

“What foolish mistake you’ve made,” Yoongi huffed out a frustrated sigh. “Thankfully it seems that he has no idea who you actually are. None of this will make it to the press. You’ll have to stop seeing him immediately.” 

“What?” Taehyung asked, that feeling rising in his belly again. 

Yoongi crossed his arms in front of him. “You don’t really think we’d let you continue seeing him?” 

“I won’t stop seeing him.” 

“Stop this nonsense,” Namjoon intervened, “You know better than this, your royal highness.” 

“I won’t stop seeing him. You can lock me in my room or put bars around all the windows but I will find a way to keep seeing him!” 

“You’re behaving like a child!” Yoongi reprimanded, finally raising his voice. “You are prohibited from seeing this Jimin again and you will have an escort any time you leave palace property.” 

Taehyung had had enough. Slowly, he rose to his feet and took a few steps closer to Yoongi until he was standing directly in front of him. 

“When you speak to me,Yoongi, I advise that you remember that you are speaking to your future king. There was a time that raising your voice to me would have you thrown in a dungeon.” Taehyung wasn’t sure where his confidence was coming from, but before it could fade he turned to Namjoon. “I want you to bring him here.” 

“What?” Namjoon asked. 

“I want you to bring Jimin here,” Taehyung clarified. 

“What are you thinking?” Yoongi asked. 

“If I can’t see him outside of the palace, then he will come live here.”

Namjoon’s mouth hung open. “Your royal high—” He began, but Taehyung quickly cut him off. 

“I asked politely,” He said, “Don’t make me order you.” 

Namjoon turned to Yoongi and they exchanged a glance. 

“Be reasonable,” Yoongi finally said. “You know this can’t happen.” 

“I want you to bring him here,” Taehyung repeated, his eyes never looking away from Yoongi’s. 

Taehyung sat alone in a room reserved for private meetings between his father and dignitaries from other countries. It was a room for hosting visitors — where confidential conversations took place. Harsh afternoon light filtered in through the old decorative curtains. Across the room, Taehyung could see himself in a mirror. He shifted and for the briefest of moments he could hardly recognize his reflection. 

Yoongi had personally sent for Jimin himself. It felt like he had left decades ago, the weight of each minute weighing heavy on Taehyung. His life with Jimin was about to change forever. Taehyung swallowed hard and hoped it would be for the better. 

Taehyung was watching his reflection blink back at him when the door suddenly opened, and Namjoon quickly entered. Taehyung rose to his feet, almost stumbling as he stood. 

“Your royal highness,” Namjoon bowed quickly and looked up at Taehyung. “He’s here,” He exhaled and Taehyung’s stomach twisted into an anxious knot. 

Taehyung nodded slowly. “Bring him in.” 

Jimin’s eyes were wide and hesitant. Pure confusion danced across his face as Yoongi escorted him into the room. His body shifted forward into an awkward bow when Yoongi bowed his head forward, following his lead. Yoongi exchanged a stern look with Taehyung before turning on his heel and leaving Taehyung alone with Jimin. 

Jimin’s eyes didn’t blink as he stared at Taehyung. He didn’t move when Taehyung took a step forward. The silence between them was deafening and stomach churning. 

“Do you want to sit?” Taehyung finally asked, extending a hand towards an armchair across from the one he had been sitting in earlier, “Are you hungry? I can send for —”

“Tae?” Jimin finally asked, his question so small as it moved through the air. Taehyung stopped and looked at Jimin. “Is it really you?” Jimin asked. 

Taehyung caught his reflection in the mirror behind Jimin. He studied himself again. 

“In a way,” He answered his reflection and not Jimin. 

“You’re —” Jimin was fighting for his words. His eyes were frantically scanning the room, taking in the ornate furniture and portraits of previous kings and queens that lined the room. His eyes lingered on a portrait of his mother. “You’re prince Taehyung,” He finally stated, his eyes concluding their journey on him. 

Taehyung swallowed. “Yes,” He confessed, “I am.” 

“But how?” Jimin asked, his eyebrows knit together. Taehyung wasn’t sure he understood the question. 

“My father is the king and my mother the late queen. I am the rightful heir to the throne.” 

Jimin shook his head. “I know that. I mean how did I meet you? How did this happen?” 

“Please sit,” Taehyung offered again. “ Please ,” He added earnestly when Jimin didn’t move. Jimin hesitated for a moment, before his feet finally moved forward. 

Taehyung explained everything to Jimin — or at least tried to. He explained that the night he met Jimin it was supposed to only be a fun night out with Hoseok, he hadn’t thought he would meet someone so important to him. 

“It was fate, Jimin,” Taehyung implored, “It had to of been fate that I met you that night.” 

Jimin had kept his eyes down throughout Taehyung’s story. He had been running his fingers along the blue shell bracelet that decorated his wrist. 

“We can’t do this,” Jimin exhaled, his words were delicate but landed a harsh blow on Taehyung. 

“What do you mean?” Taehyung asked, his heart accelerating. 

“You said it yourself. You’re the rightful heir to the throne.” Tears began to fill Jimin’s eyes, but he still didn’t dare look up. “You brought me here to end it right? That’s why you sent that fancy car for me?” 

“No —” Taehyung began, wanting to stand and take Jimin tight in his arms. He settled for shifting to kneel in front of Jimin’s chair instead. He took his hand in his, running a thumb along the blue bracelet. “The opposite, actually.” 

“What?” Jimin asked, finally meeting Taehyung’s eyes. His soft brown eyes once so open and receptive to Taehyung seemed distant and closed off. 

Taehyung took a deep breath. “I said I couldn’t live without you and I meant it, Jimin.” Jimin’s bottom lip quivered as Taehyung continued, “I want you to come live here. Will you? Please?”

Jimin’s head tilted to the side. Looking down at Taehyung his eyes softened. The corners of his mouth raised into a sad smile. He took his hand from Taehyung and ran it through Taehyung’s hair, brushing his bangs up and out of his eyes. 

“I can’t do that.” 

Taehyung felt his heart turn to ice then plummet into his stomach where it shattered into tiny, jagged pieces. 

“What?” Taehyung asked, dumbfounded. 

“I can’t just leave my life behind and live here.” 

“Why not?” Taehyung asked, tears beginning to spill out of his eyes. “I can’t live without you, Jimin, I really can’t!” 

“And I can’t live without you either, Tae,” Jimin reached forward and wiped the tears from Taehyung’s cheeks with his thumbs. “But I wouldn’t be able to have a life here.” 

“You’d have everything here,” Taehyung implored, taking both of Jimin’s hands into his, “You’d never have to want for anything ever again.” 

“There’s one thing I’d want.” 

Taehyung tilted his head. “What’s that?” 

Jimin sighed. “We could never be public, could we?” 

Taehyung paused. He hadn’t considered. What would Yoongi say? His father? 

Jimin took his silence as an answer. “That’s what I thought.” He sat back in his seat, his hands falling from Taehyung’s. “If I lived here, I’d just be a lie — a scandal waiting to happen. What would happen then?” 

Taehyung shook his head. “It wouldn’t be like that.” 

“And what about my mother?” Jimin asked, “Would I even be able to see her again?” 

Taehyung hadn’t considered that either. “She could live here too. We have the best medical care anyone could —” 

“I couldn’t do that to her,” Jimin interrupted, his voice so gentle. More gentle than Taehyung wanted. He could feel the love for him behind Jimin’s warm words and that made it worse than if he were being cold. “She’s too sick to move.” 

“Then this is it?” Taehyung asked, “This is goodbye?” 

Jimin didn’t answer. He pressed his lips into a thin line. 

“I don’t want it to be,” He finally answered.

“You said you didn’t care who I was. You said, you said —” Taehyung let in to the tears building in him again, and his head fell forward onto Jimin’s lap. Jimin gently stroked Taehyung’s hair as he spoke.

“I didn’t think you’d be prince Taehyung when I fell in love with you.” 

“I’ll never love anyone else the way I love you.” Taehyung cried. He heard Jimin sniffle above him.

“I won’t either,” He promised. Jimin stopped petting Taehyung’s hair and Taehyung could hear him moving above him. He felt Jimin pull his hand up, then felt the cold of the blue shell bracelet clasp around his wrist. He bolted up, looking into Jimin’s pained face. 

“Something to remember me by,” Jimin breathed, a hot tear rolling down the slope of his cheek. He wiped it away as Taehyung shook his head. 

“No, no,” Taehyung repeated as Jimin rose to his feet. “ Please, ” He pleaded as Jimin made his way to the door.

“I’ll never forget you, Tae,” He said, wiping a final tear before walking out the door. 

Taehyung crumpled. Grief rocked through him and he cried out as if he were truly wounded. The emotions rushing through him felt worse than physical pain he’d ever been in. He buried his face in his hands and cried. He cried as hard as he had when word had reached him that his mother had died. He cried until he was empty and there was nothing left to cry. 

“Taehyungie?” Hoseok’s voice broke through to him. Taehyung opened his eyes. He was still in the meeting room, but the bright afternoon light had been replaced with darkness. He must have fallen asleep. 

“ Hobi ,” Taehyung sobbed, flopping forward into his best friend’s arms. Hoseok held him like he was a little kid who had just had a nightmare again. In a way Taehyung hoped that his conversation with Jimin had just been a nightmare. “He said no,” Taehyung said, his voice barely audible. 

“Shh,” Hoseok soothed, running a comforting hand along Taehyung’s back. 

“I can’t live without him,” Taehyung cried, “I can’t.”

Hoseok was quiet for a moment, thinking. “If it is meant to be between you two, then you’ll have to show him you’re not afraid.”

“Afraid?” Taehyung asked. 

“Afraid,” Hoseok repeated. “That you’re not afraid of what people will say or what people will think if you marry a prince and not a princess.” 

Taehyung hiccuped. 

“Everything has always been provided for you your whole life,” Hoseok observed, “This time you will have to fight for what you want.” 

“Do you think he’ll —?” 

“He loves you, Taehyungie. Anyone with eyes can see that when you’re together.” 

“But he —” Taehyung was lost for words, he wasn’t sure how they worked anymore. 

“Let’s give it some time,” Hoseok resolved, “And then we’ll see.” 

Chapter Text

Rain beat against Jimin’s face. He’d been standing outside for what felt like hours, but he could hardly feel the icy dampness of his suit. The new dress shoes he’d bought just for this were covered in mud, and yet he couldn’t move. Gravity was cruel and heavy, keeping his feet where he stood.

His mother’s headstone stood in front of him, the mound of dirt in front of it still fresh from the burial earlier this morning. 

Jimin leaned his head forward and a river of water fell from his bangs and ran down his face. All of the other attendees had left hours ago, but for Jimin there was nothing to go back to. His entire world was at his feet. Jimin slumped down, almost completely collapsing to his knees, to put the bouquet of flowers in his hand at her headstone. They were white roses, and the crisp petals stood out against the dark brown mud. He lingered on the ground, before struggling back to his feet. 

In the distance, Jimin could hear a car approaching. He was certain it was someone coming to collect him — to tear him away from his mother’s grave and usher him back inside. He could almost hear one of his aunties scolding, “Jimin, you’ll catch a cold!” He looked behind him when he heard the car come to a stop, not expecting the sight he saw. 

A black car with dark tinted windows had rolled to a stop just at the top of the hill from where Jimin was standing. A thick feeling manifested in Jimin’s stomach and Jimin was unsure of what exactly it was. Fear? Anxiety? Love? Jimin swallowed, a part of him hoping and wishing his hunch was correct, and the other part dreading who he might see. 

It’d been months since he last saw Tae, or Taehyung rather. Turning him down had been the hardest thing Jimin had ever had to do. The moment he’d left that meeting room that day, it felt like his legs were going to give out underneath him — like something had shattered inside of him and would remain broken until he saw Taehyung again. 

In that time since they’d last met, his mother’s health had taken a turn for the worst and that was how he’d ended up here today. He’d had a feeling Taehyung had been watching out for him and his mother from afar because when he’d gone to discuss billing at the hospital, the worker at the desk told him the bills had been paid in full. She said she couldn’t tell who had paid for it, but Jimin knew that it'd been him .

And now he was emerging from that sleek black car and Jimin could see him again. At the mere sight of his face, it was like the universe was slowly correcting itself around him. Everything else melted away around him until it was just him and Taehyung. 

He watched Taehyung pull out a large black umbrella and hold it above him. In his arms he carried a large bouquet of white lilies. Too quickly, he was next to Jimin and knelt down to place the flowers at his mother’s grave. Then, he was standing upright again, looking directly into Jimin’s eyes. 

Jimin’s eyes welled with tears. He’d missed Taehyung’s eyes. In them he could see the past, the present, and the future. He could see all the stars that had guided him to meet Taehyung that late fall night. 

“I’m so sorry,” Taehyung finally said, holding the umbrella between them so it shielded the both of them from the rain. “Truly, I am.” 

Jimin quivered out a sob. “What are you doing here?” 

Taehyung thought out his answer carefully. “I couldn’t let you go through this alone.” 

Jimin studied Taehyung’s face, tears gliding helplessly down his cheeks. “You paid off her bills, didn’t you?” Unsure of what else to say.

Taehyung hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “I wanted to take care of you,” He paused, “It was all I could do if I couldn’t see you.” 

Jimin wiped the tears from his eyes, then blinked through new fresh ones. He jumped when he felt Taehyung’s hand touch his cheek to use his thumb to wipe away his tears, but then slowly melted into his touch. He’d miss the feeling of Taehyung so much. 

“Tae —” Jimin breathed, then lunged forward to wrap his arms tight around Taehyung’s waist. It didn’t take long before Taehyung’s arm was winding around Jimin, holding him as close as he could while still holding the umbrella up. 

“I missed you so much!” Jimin sobbed into Taehyung’s chest. The emotions of the day were flowing through him too fast, and Jimin couldn’t hold back anymore. His hands clutched the fabric of Taehyung’s suit, balling into fists. He could feel Taehyung’s shaky inhales and exhales through his chest, and got the suspicion he was crying too. 

“Jimin,” Taehyung moved his hand to comb through Jimin’s hair. “I can’t live without you,” He admitted and Jimin shook his head. “I tried. I truly tried to move on without you. But I can’t.” 

Taehyung brought his hand to Jimin’s cheek, slowly pulling him away from his chest so he could look him in the eyes.

“Won’t you give me a second chance?” Taehyung asked and Jimin inhaled sharply. His eyes searched Taehyung’s, but they were so sincere and earnest. Jimin glanced behind Taehyung, at the two other people standing by the car, waiting for Taehyung. Jimin glanced back at Taehyung, nervous.

“How?” He asked, so simply. 

“I talked it over with my father, brothers, and staff,” Taehyung explained, “We all agree that it’s time for even a prince to be true to himself.” 

Jimin watched Taehyung as he unclasped the blue shell bracelet off of his wrist and carefully extended it back to Jimin. “So, Jimin, if you’ll have me again, I’d like to do things right this time.” 

Tears rushed to Jimin’s eyes again. He covered his mouth with one hand and nodded vigorously. 

“Really?” Taehyung asked excitedly. “You will?” 

Jimin kept nodding, “I will,” He confirmed, taking the bracelet from Taehyung’s extended hand. 

Taehyung rushed forward, encasing him in a hug. Jimin giggled through it as Taehyung lifted him off his feet and spun him around. 

“I love you so much,” Taehyung said as he put Jimin back down. 

“I love you so much more,” Jimin said, pulling Taehyung into a sweet, gentle kiss.

“Not possible,” Taehyung contended through Jimin’s soft lips.

Chapter Text

“You look so handsome,” Jin said, adjusting the lapel of Taehyung’s suitcoat. “Jimin is one lucky guy,” He smiled. Taehyung shifted so he could glance at himself in the mirror behind Jin. 

The suit he was wearing was one of the most beautiful things he’d ever worn. The coat was a deep black fabric that sparkled with silver when he moved in the light. It was decorated along the collar and lapel with floral silver filigree designs. Pinned on his left side was a single delicate white rose. 

“Are you excited?” Jin asked, taking a step back. Taehyung smiled to himself in the mirror.

“Of course,” He said, “You only get married once.” 

He turned to face Jin just in time for Jungkook to make his way next to him. They were dressed in matching black suits with white roses pinned to their lapels like Taehyung’s. 

“You both look great too,” Taehyung said, surveying them both. “I couldn’t ask for better best men.” 

“It’s our honor,” Jin smiled, his chest pushed forward in pride. 

“We are your brothers after all,” Jungkook said. He turned to Jin, “Where is Joohyun, Jin?” 

“She’ll sit next to our mother.” 

Jungkook raised his eyebrows, “That’s a high honor. People will be expecting a second royal wedding when they see her sitting there.”

Jin smiled to himself. “And she looks so beautiful too.” 

Their conversation was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Hoseok, dressed in a deep navy suit. “Taehyung!” He cried, coming forward to take Taehyung in his arms. “I’ve been trying to find you all day! I’m so happy for you!” 

He parted away from Taehyung, but kept his hands on either of his shoulders. “It’s almost time,” Hoseok exhaled. “Just wait until you see Jimin.” 

“I bet he’s so nervous,” Taehyung said, biting down on his lower lip. “I haven’t seen him since yesterday.”

“Everyone loves him,” Hoseok said, “He’s going to be amazing.” 

“I know, I know,” Taehyung said, nodding, “Everyone already loves him more than me.” 

“You know that isn’t true,” Jin defended. 

“Uh, your royal highness,” Namjoon’s voice interrupted them and Taehyung turned to face him in surprise. “Sorry to interrupt but. . .” 

“Is everything okay?” Taehyung asked. “Shouldn’t you be with Jimin?” 

“Yoongi is with him, but,” Namjoon paused, “He said he needs to see you.” 

“Why? What’s wrong?” Taehyung asked, panic dancing in his voice. “Is he okay?”

“I’m sure he is,” Namjoon knit his eyebrows together, “But it sounded urgent.” 

Taehyung followed close behind Namjoon’s footsteps, following him to one of the guestrooms in the palace that Jimin had been using to get ready for the ceremony in. Namjoon stopped at the door, nodding for Taehyung to go in. 

Taehyung hesitated with his hand on the door, considering for a second the superstition of seeing who he was going to marry before walking down the aisle. Shaking the thought to the side, he opened the door gently and stepped inside. 

Jimin was crumpled on the plush couch in the middle of the room with his hands covering his face and Yoongi standing over him exasperatedly. 

“Your highness,” Yoongi said, straightening up as Taehyung entered. Jimin turned his head slightly and Taehyung could see the glitter of tears running down his cheeks. 

“Jimin!” Taehyung cried, lunging forward, settling on the ground in front of Jimin. He used his hands to gently cup his cheeks and his thumbs to wipe away the tears. “Beautiful boy, why are you crying?” He asked. 

Jimin smiled softly at Taehyung’s concerned face then slowly breathed out a laugh. “I’m being so silly, Tae.” 

“No you’re not! What’s wrong? Tell me.” 

Jimin took Taehyung’s hands from his cheeks and held them tightly in front of them. “I’m just so scared.” 

“Scared of what?” Taehyung asked, his eyebrows knitting together on his forehead.

Jimin sniffled and another tear rolled down his cheek. “What if everyone hates me?” 

“Jimin,” Taehyung exhaled. “That isn’t possible. The entire country has loved you since the second we went public.” Jimin smiled weakly and Taehyung continued. “Besides, today is about you and I. Who cares what anyone else thinks?”

Taehyung leaned forward and placed a single kiss on Jimin’s forehead. “I was afraid you were going to say you didn’t want to marry me anymore.” 

Jimin’s eyes snapped up. “I would never say that!” He exclaimed and Taehyung laughed. When he stopped, his eyes fixed on Jimin, and a slow smile spread across his face. 

Taehyung took in the sight of Jimin. He looked so beautiful dressed in a crisp white suit with silver details that matched his own suit. He caught Jimin’s beautiful brown eyes and for a single moment, Taehyung was transported back to the night they first met. 

“I fell in love with you the moment I saw you.” Taehyung said before his brain even had time to process the words. Jimin’s eyes caught Taehyung’s and a moment passed between them. “I think I’ll fall in love with you every time I see you.” 

A pink blush dusted across Jimin’s cheeks.

“You’re my destiny,” Taehyung continued, “My soulmate.” 

“I love you so much,” Jimin said, bringing their lips together in a soft kiss.

When they parted, a quiet knock at the door brought their attention back to the world around them. 

“Sorry to interrupt, your highness,” Namjoon’s voice spoke, “But it’s almost time for the ceremony to begin. I’ll take you to the entrance and Yoongi will bring Jimin when it’s time for his procession.” 

Taehyung looked up at Jimin, noticing that his hands were visibly trembling and his face looked much paler than it had only a few moments ago. Taehyung squeezed Jimin’s hands gently. He glanced up at Yoongi, who nodded, seemingly reading his thoughts. 

“Actually, Namjoon,” Taehyung began, “I think we’ll walk down the aisle together.” 

Jimin’s eyes snapped up to Taehyung’s, then relaxed in their presence. 

“If that is okay with you?” Taehyung asked Jimin. 

Jimin nodded and squeezed Taehyung’s hand back. “We’ll do this together.”

“From now on,” Taehyung emphasized, “You’ll never be alone again.” 

“If that’s what you want, we should get you two to the entrance of the cathedral,” Yoongi said, straightening his suit coat. 

Taehyung nodded, then rose to his feet. He offered his hand to Jimin, who took it and stood up next to him. 

“I love you,” Jimin whispered to Taehyung as they walked down the quiet halls of the palace.

“I love you more,” Taehyung whispered back his voice so low it was only audible to Jimin.

As they rounded the final corner, Taehyung caught a glimpse of his mother’s portrait hanging on the wall. He studied her face for a moment, then smiled at her. 

“Are you ready?” Yoongi asked, stopping in front of the large double doors. 

Taehyung took Jimin’s hand and wrapped it around his arm so they were linked together. He looked at Jimin, who nodded and Taehyung nodded back. 

“We’re ready,” Taehyung answered and Yoongi pushed the door open for them.