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Yoongi was tired. He hadn't slept in days and just the thought of closing his eyes made him panic. He had had to run away for a while, too tired to deal with the reality he was living in. His feet had dragged him to his favorite spot: a field that no one owned and took care of, which was why it was simply filled with dandelions. He sat down near the small scarp at the end of the field, hiding from the burning sun under the shadow of a oak tree.
He plucked one of the dandelions and held it up closer to his face. For a moment, he hoped he could die and be reborn as a flower. He was just too tired. He realised he was crying when he felt a tear drop on his hand as he was still holding the dandelion. A sudden spark of rage took over him and he threw the flower down the scarp. He rubbed at his eyes angrily, wishing the tears to stop.
And then he heard it.
A horse galloping.
Someone yelling at it.
He turned to look towards the commotion. A young boy was riding a beautiful horse, a huge grin plastered on his face as he held tightly onto the horse's mane. He was screeching happily, encouraging the animal to go faster. Yoongi frowned in confusion. The boy was riding right towards the scarp. It wasn't that tall and if the horse was healthy enough Yoongi thought it could make the jump, but it was still risky. He stood up, feeling the urge to warn the boy. But he was too late.
As soon as the horse saw the scarp, it stopped abruptly, sending the boy flying in the air since he wasn't using any riding equipment. Yoongi just watched uselessly as the boy turned in the air, probably attempting to land on his feet.
“Stupid idea.” He muttered under his breath.
And he was right. The boy fell ungraciously to the ground, landing badly on his right foot and rolling in the dirt before stopping with a grunt.
“Hey, are you okay?” he asked, leaning over the scarp and looking down at the boy.
The boy tried to stand up but fell back on his butt, his whole face morphing into a grimace of pain. “My horse! Is he okay?”
Yoongi just blinked at him in confusion. The guy had just been thrown off a scarp by his horse, yet he was worrying about the animal. He turned his head to look over his shoulder. The horse wasn't there anymore, but had started to run where it came from. “He's gone.” he explained, leaning over the scarp again.
He finally took a good look at the boy. He couldn't be older than Yoongi, baby-fat still puffing up his pink cheeks. He was wearing a white shirt and a pair of brown slacks, too large and long to be his own clothes, Yoongi noticed.
The boy sighed heavily, trying to stand up again but flinching as soon as his right foot touched the ground. “Fuck.” he breathed, plopping down to the ground again. “I think I sprained my ankle.”
Yoongi considered his options. For all he knew, the guy could be a thief or a murderer, running away from justice. And Yoongi wasn't exactly athletic, too skinny and fragile to do any hard works. Which was why he had always been victim of bullying from his peers. Maybe this guy would end up bullying him too.
He looked back down to the boy, who was just sitting there, trying to catch his breath and smile at the same time. Why would someone be smiling in such a situation?
But, Yoongi had to admit, the boy had the prettiest smile he had ever seen. He felt his face heat up with a fierce blush. And it wasn't the hot sun.
“You're gonna keep staring at me or you think you can go call for help?” he suddenly asked, still grinning up at Yoongi.
Yoongi shook his head to clear it, getting on his feet and thinking about how he should proceed. “Just... just stay there.” he heard himself say. “I'm coming to get you.”
Yoongi cursed himself. That was a crazy idea. How was he supposed to get down there? And most of all, how was he supposed to carry the boy back up?
Yet, his body moved as if on instinct. As if a magical attraction was pulling him towards the boy. Like two magnets attracting each other.
He carefully held tightly onto the rocks that were sticking out the most, lowering himself down the scarp. He could feel the boy watch his every move and that made him even more anxious. But he miraculously made it down safely, landing on both his feet. He turned towards the boy and crouched down, examining the boy's ankle. He rolled up the pants, his fingers touching gently the already bruising skin. “Yep, I think it's sprained.” he announced, glancing up at the boy.
Stupid idea, he thought.
The boy's eyes were simply gorgeous. So dark, yet so clear in the sunlight. He couldn't help but stare into them, as if he could find the answers to all his problems there. He tried to swallow the sudden lump that had formed in his throat but failed.
“You're very pretty. What's your name?” the boy asked, his grin never leaving his face.
“Yoongi.” he whispered, feeling his blush reach his ears. No one had ever called him pretty.
“Yoongi. Nice to meet you, Yoongi. I'm Hoseok.” If possible, the boy's grin grew even wider, two small dimples appearing at the corners of his mouth. He held out a hand and waited for Yoongi to take it before shaking it enthusiastically. “Now, would you be so kind to help me back up?”
“Yeah, yeah, sure, sorry.” blurted out Yoongi, helping Hoseok to stand up.
Hoseok hissed in pain at the movement, his smile finally disappearing. “Shit, sorry for causing you troubles.”
Yoongi shook his head. “It's okay.” He bit down on his lips, stepping closer to Hoseok. “Here, you can lean on me.” he proposed. He remembered there was a point where the scarp was smaller and maybe he could drag the other boy to that point, making the climb much easier for them both.
Hoseok accepted the help, leaning most of his weight on Yoongi's shoulder. “Thank you.”
“I know a spot where it's easier to climb back up.” he informed him, supporting the boy and starting to walk towards said spot.
“Okay.” Hoseok hummed, limping on one foot. The walk was probably draining all his energy, but the other boy tried to hide well, behind another grin. “So, how old are you, Yoongi?”
“Nineteen.”
“Oh, I'm eighteen! So you're my hyung! Nice!”
Yoongi glanced at him, confused. Why was it nice?
“Yoongi hyung. I can call you hyung, right?” he asked, his lips pouting cutely.
Yoongi's eyes snapped back to look in front of them. “Yeah, whatever.”
He was expecting more questions or at least a comment, but he was only met with silence. He looked out of the corner of his eye and noticed how Hoseok had turned pale and was biting down hard on his lips, probably to stop himself from whimpering in pain.
Yoongi stopped. They luckily had reached the spot. It was still a little bit of a climb. He hesitated only a few seconds before lifting the other boy and carrying him bridal-style.
“What are you doing? I'm too heavy and you're too skinny!” tried to protest Hoseok, but his voice was too weak. His arms sneaked around Yoongi's neck, holding tightly onto him.
“I'm stronger than I look.” muttered Yoongi. It wasn't true. He was actually pretty weak. But he couldn't just abandon the boy. Somehow, he managed to pull both of them up safely. He gently lowered Hoseok to the ground, staying bent in half to catch his breath. It had been quite the effort, after all.
“Stronger than I look, uh?” scoffed Hoseok. He lied on his back, also trying to catch his breath, his eyes closed.
“Shut up, you brat.” mumbled Yoongi, getting a chuckle out of Hoseok in reply. He sat down next the other boy's head, brushing the hair that had fallen into his eyes. Hoseok's hair was soft, his locks looking healthy. Unlike Yoongi's. He was too poor to take care of his hair. Too poor to take care of his health. He suddenly felt self-conscious about his appearance. Hoseok looked good. Very good. Too good. Yoongi hadn't really had time to look into a mirror recently, but he was sure he looked like shit.
“Do you usually just stare at people?” whispered Hoseok, shading his eyes from the sun with his arm, so he could look up at Yoongi.
“Only at pretty people.” The words were out before he even realised it.
Hoseok smirked smugly, propping himself up on his elbows. “You think I'm pretty?”
Yoongi shrugged his shoulders. What the hell am I doing? he asked himself.
“You're very pretty yourself.” Hoseok winked, he fucking winked at him, before chuckling softly. “Could use some color, to be honest, but still very pretty.”
Yoongi blushed to the tips of his ears. This was probably just a very vivid dream. He pinched his arm, but nothing changed. He wasn't sleeping.
“Well, not what I meant, but you do look cuter when you blush.”
Was Hoseok flirting with him? Why would he?
He shook his head. Maybe he had spent too much time in the sun and was just imagining things. He stood up, hands on his hips as he looked down at Hoseok. “We should go back to the village and let a healer see your ankle.”
“That's a good idea.” agreed Hoseok, standing up.
Before Yoongi could even realise what he was doing, his body moved on its own again, kneeling down in front of Hoseok. “Get on my back. You can't walk all the way to the village.”
Hoseok tried to protest, but in the end, he let Yoongi give him a piggy-back-ride.
“So, Yoongi, tell me. What's your favorite color?”
That must have been a damn dream. “What?”
“I said, what's your favorite color?” repeated Hoseok, resting his chin on Yoongi's shoulder. Yoongi could see him smile out of the corner of his eye.
“Why do you ask?”
“It's gonna take a while before we reach the village. Might as well get to know each other.”
Yoongi was about to ask why would Hoseok even care about him when they heard horses coming their way.
“Shit.” muttered Hoseok, his expression completely falling as he saw the people in front of them.
“My prince!” one of the man shouted jumping down the horse, immediately followed by three other men.
“Hey guys...” Hoseok waved his hand awkwardly from over Yoongi's shoulder.
“Let him go!” threatened one of the other boys stepping in front of Yoongi.
“Hey, hey, it's okay, guys, it's okay.” reassured them Hoseok.
Yoongi let go of him, glancing at him in confusion. “What?”
“I just fell down Mickey and this old man helped me.” explained Hoseok, pointing his thumb in Yoongi's direction.
“Ya, who did you call old man, you brat?” grumbled Yoongi, gently shoving at Hoseok's shoulder and making him giggle.
Four swords were suddenly pointed at his throat and Yoongi stopped breathing.
“How dare you insult our prince?” thundered the first man that had jumped down his horse.
“P-prince?” stuttered Yoongi. Hoseok. He was prince Jung Hoseok. How didn't he recognize the fucking prince of his own village?
“PLEASE!” someone cried out, throwing themselves at what Yoongi realised were guards. “Please, don't kill him! Whatever he did, he didn't mean to!” The swords lowered a little and Yoongi could see his little brother on the ground, his head bowed as he pleaded the men. “Please, please, forgive him!”
“Tae...” he breathed out, tears blurring his vision.
“He's the only thing I've got left. Please. We just lost our parents. Our home. Please, let my brother live.” Yoongi felt his heart break for the millionth time. That was the reason he left that morning. No matter how hard he had tried, he couldn't comfort his little brother. And that drove him insane. “Please, he's just upset and didn't mean what he said. Please, don't kill him.” Taehyung was openly sobbing, inching closer to the guards but not daring to touch them.
“No one is getting killed, kid.” announced Hoseok softly. He glared to the guards until they lowered their swords completely and then he knelt to the ground next to Taehyung, much to the guards surprise. “Please, stand up. It's okay.” He smiled as Taehyung looked up at him. “Your brother saved my life. No one is gonna hurt him. Not under my watch.”
Taehyung's eyes widened in shock and for a moment Yoongi was scared they were going to pop from his skull. “What?”
“I...I didn't save your life, um, y-your majesty...” mumbled Yoongi, bowing his head to Hoseok.
“Hyung, you can just call me Hoseok.” Hoseok sighed dramatically standing up and regretting it immediately.
Yoongi didn't even think, he just acted. He sneaked his arm around Hoseok's waist and supported the other boy's weight again. “We really need to get you to a healer.” he whispered. Their faces were too close and he suddenly noticed a freckle on Hoseok's upper lip. It was cute. He was still staring at Hoseok's lips when they morphed into a grin.
“Yeah, my ankle is kinda killing me.” he admitted.
One of the guards cleared his throat, getting everyone's attention. “I'm not sure what's going on, right now, but if you're hurt, we should get you to Seokjin hyung.”
Hoseok nodded. “Yes, please.”
Yoongi hesitated before letting him go. “Should I give you another ride?” he asked, worried.
Hoseok just laughed. His laugh was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard. “You're not that strong. And there are horses.” He pointed to the horses behind the guards.
“Oh.”
“Prince, can we go?” asked another one of the guards.
“Yeah, yeah.” Hoseok leaned away from Yoongi, accepting the guard's help to get on the horse. “Thanks, Junhongie.”
The tall guard bowed his head, before mounting the horse as well.
“Jiminie, Gukie. Please, give a ride to these two kind boys. They will be staying at our place.” Hoseok ordered two of the guards, who exchanged a confused look.
“Prince, are you sure...?” asked the other guard.
“Yes, Namjoon, I am sure.” scoffed Hoseok. “Yoongi hyung saved my life. And if what his brother said is true, they don't have a place to stay.”
Taehyung finally stood up, stepping closer to his hyung and gripping his arm tightly. His eyes were wide with fear. Yoongi slid his hand into his brother's, squeezing down on his fingers reassuringly. “It's okay.” he whispered, smiling at him.
Taehyung still didn't look convinced. He shook his head, licking his dry lips a few times before opening his mouth to speak up. “B-but we could never accept such a kind and generous proposal, your majesty.”
“Of course you can.” Hoseok smiled brightly. “Just get on the horse and follow us.”
“Your majesty...” called Yoongi, looking up at Hoseok, before changing his words. “Hoseok. We don't have anything to offer you...”
“Your brother said you lost everything.”
They both lowered their heads, memories of the night they lost their parents replaying in their heads.
“The farm that was burned to the ground a few nights ago. That was yours?” asked one of the guards, Namjoon.
Yoongi nodded his head, holding Taehyung a little tighter as he felt him stiffen. “We sneaked out that night to go watch the stars. That's why we're still alive.”
His eyes were still cast low, staring at the ground. Until hooves appeared in front of him. He felt gentle fingers lift his chin up and his eyes met Hoseok's. “Then, please, come stay with me.”
His heart replied instead of his brain, a soft okay getting pulled out of his lips.
Hoseok grinned before he kissed Yoongi's forehead. He straightened his back again, sitting up on the horse. The guard behind him was trying very hard to hide his own grin, his ears a little red. “Let's go.”