Chapter Text
"Good morning boys," Jae smirked to his two companions, "What a fine day today will be." Beside Jae, Dowoon nodded along agreeing with his leader with a grin matching his devious smirk. "Boys, what day is it today?" Dowoon and Brian glanced at one another unsure of what the occasion could be, "It's the day of the Royal feast?" Brian ventured, focusing his attention on a stray rock a few feet away. Jae grins down on his disciples of defying deeds, “And that means?" He asked expectantly of the youngest member of the group. Dowoon sighed, "What it means is that there are extra food carts going through the palace gates."
Already Brian had an uneasy feeling about the carts.
Dowoon continued explaining the plan to Brian about how they were going to sneak into the palace and steal from the royal family. "You do realise we're dead if we're caught." Brian hissed at the man who had planned their heist. Jae just shrugged, "I'd rather be dead than return to the streets empty handed." A sigh escaped Brian, Jae wasn't wrong for once.
The trio were a family; they were all each other had in an empire built on one backs of their ancestors. It was common on the streets for many homeless or orphaned to despise the royal family: three faes who had everything they could ask for and more. It was envy that lead street rats like Jae, Brian and Dowoon to hate their country's leaders with such a fiery passion.
Years ago the Fae and Humans lived in harmony until a Prince was found dead outside the walls of a city. The story doesn't state the race of the prince but it did cause war to break out between the races, chaos followed closely after. The Fae took everything from the humans and divided the country into two classes: the rick fae and poor humans.
The fae outnumbered humans but it didn't stop numerous uprisings and a civil war.
An uneasy feeling settled over Jae as he surveyed the area below them. Just few feet from the balcony the trio were perched on was a food cart heading straight for them in the direction of the palace. "Three, two, one!" Jae yelled, throwing himself over the side of the balcony, followed closely by Brian. However, Dowoon was still perched on the railing of the balcony like a lost cat with cold feet. Neither Brian not Jae could say anything to encourage the younger to jump without giving away their positions, so instead they watched on in fearful, hopeful silence, praying to themselves he would eventually make the jump.
God must have been listening at that moment because before either had seen it a 60kg body came hurtling towards them, fear painting his pale face. "I hate you so much, Jae." Dowoon hissed, nursing his scratched knee he had caught on the corner of the wooden cart. Jae waved Dowoon's complaint off and turned his attention towards the large burlap sacks next to them most likely carrying ingredients for the annual feast the royals held in their beautiful, perfect palace.
It was a long journey to the palace through the crowded streets and bare fields that few had the money to tend to. When the trio did reach the palace they were left speechless at its breathtaking beauty that couldn't be described as hard as they tried. The palace gates were tall pillars built of white stone, decorated with climbing plants of ivy and sunflowers. The gate held by the pillars was made of wrought iron in decorative designs, the main eye catching point was the Dragon head central on the gate, striking fear into the heart of anyone who looked it in the ruby eye.
The palace was something else. Built of white marble it reflected the sun beautifully making the building look like it was glowing in the afternoon sunlight. Surrounding the building were flower beds of expensive and exotic flower and plants Jae had never seen before. The sight was just pure beauty. Even the stables their cart was directed towards was elegant. The horses had water troughs of expensive gold, decorated in the rarest jewels. Many of the horses the trio had seen wore blankets of expensive silk and jewel encrusted harnesses that only the rich could ever afford.
The arrogant ways in which the royal family spent their riches aggravated Jae more than he wanted to let on but it was clear to see the family was more interested in hosting parties and clothing their animals in the most expensive fashions rather than feed their starving people. It all made Jae's blood boil knowing that the fae ruling their country were proving they were no different than the fae years ago who had caused war so long ago.
"We need to get out and sneak in now boss." Brian whispered, pulling Jae out of his thoughts and back to the task at hand. "Right. Through the kitchens." He hissed back, shaking a dozing Dowoon from his dreams and pushing him off the back of the cart into a bale of hay just feet away.
Jae and Brian scrambled out to join Dowoon in the hay and wait for a time when the coast was clear for them to dash towards the kitchen entrance opposite.
"Have you got the bag?" Jae asked over his shoulder to Brian who was half trapped under both Dowoon and Jae, "Yeah I got the bag boss." Relief washed over Jae knowing that the bag with their change of clothes in was safe.
"Dowoon, the plan." Dowoon groaned, sitting up. "In through the kitchens where Jimin is waiting. Change in a cupboard. Ransack the palace. Return to Jimin and escape in a stolen carriage." Dowoon received a clap on the back and congratulations off Brian as Jae watched the entrance to the kitchen. "Now!" Jae hissed at his merry men and began his dash towards the kitchens where Jimin was stood in the doorway with a fake moustache and flat cap on waiting for the trio with a broom in hand.
If anyone was happiest to see Jimin it was Brian because he knew she would be the one to talk sense into the boss if he ever went too far with this heist. "Jimin!" Brian beams enthusiastically, holding his arms open slightly for a hug. "Not here," Jimin hissed, putting a finger to her lips, "And its Jamie, don't blow my cover."
Hastily the four humans moved through the kitchens and headed straight up a passageway to a small broom cupboard. "Get changed quickly. I'll give you your character details in a moment." Jimin opened the door with a key and pushed the trio of men inside and locked the door again and began to sweep the floor idly with the broom she held, doing her best to look like she was occupied with a task.
A knock from behind made Jimin jump and nearly shriek but she held it back and quickly released the trio from the cupboard. Each was dressed differently.
Jae wore a shirt in a deep maroon and shoes that looked like real leather accompanied with a coat and tails. Jae would be pretending to be Jaehyung, a young mage from an outer city.
Brian was dressed similar to Jimin in a dirty white shirt, muddied slacks, a flat cap and shin high boots. Younghyun was the name of Brian's character, a stable groom there to help with the carts.
And finally Dowoon wore a clean pressed white shirt and black slacks to match his leather boots. Dowoon was portraying Junhyeok and he would be a server in the grand hall handing out food and wine to faes attending the high class event.
Immediately the four parted ways. Jae headed for the main staircase out of the kitchens, his role was steal as much as he could to sell on later. Dowoon stayed in the kitchens, his role to be the distraction. Brian followed Jimin out into the courtyard to the stables where he and Jimin would be arranging their getaway at the end of the night.
Either this heist was to go to plan or Jae and his four followers would find themselves on a suicide mission and that was the last thing he wanted.
Jimin was the youngest of them at 20, she had so much more to live for, same as Dowoon who was barely any older. At 22 Jae knew that Dowoon had so much left. Himself and Brian had different stories. Growing up on the streets is tough and they had it bad. Whereas Jimin and Dowoon had their parents Jae and Brian had grown up too fast on their own. This heist meant the most to Jae and Brian, it would finally be the revenge they had wanted since they were children on the streets.