Chapter Text
20 cm
That's the distance he has to always obliged when he's walking behind him, next to him or infront of him. Not any closer but not any further either. Funny how other knights bring small daggers or swords with them, but for Taehyung, he always has to bring a 20 cm ruler with him.
It's always been like this since day one.
A rule he has to acknowledge although it seems stupid.
But that's Seokjin's condition in order for the other to be accept him as his knight. an order by his own father, to take care of the prince who was older than him at a young age so he had to do anything to make the prince like him.
"That's ridiculous Seokjin-ssi" a young Taehyung scoffed,rolling his eyes when Seokjin gave him a ruler. "You're my knight you listen to my rules. I don't want you too close to me or further either."
The young knight then let out an exhausted sigh before taking the instrument and placed it in his pocket.
"As you wish Seokjin-wangja"
"Ah, and call me hyung" the prince smiled, a soft smile so blinding it made Taehyung's heart skipped a beat.
It was hard in the first few months, Seokjin frequently tripping and getting into stupid fights with other villagers when he sneaks out and also always touching foreign fragile objects that Taehyung knows much to not touch.
“You can’t touch that dumbass”
“Yah! Disrespect 20 cm furthur from me”
“You can’t keep on doing this!” Taehyung whined, taking 4 steps back so that he was far from the prince anyways. Seokjin huffed before proceeding to touch the sleeping tiger in their family’s barn. The animal puffed out a hot breath, nose twitching and scowling a little when Seokjin stilled in front of him, clear regret on his face.
The thirteen year old boy tried his best to supress his laughter but later when Seokjin stepped on a twig -god knows where it came from - and awoken the sleeping tiger.
The young prince shriek making Taehyung having to use force when it almost scratched Seokjin.
“Woah boy, relax. No harm” he commanded with his voice, the animal recognizing the voice snapped before purring at him. Seokjin looking at him in disbelief (and shriveled hair) a scratch of blood on his cheek making Taehyung wince but as he approached, the older himself frowned and he be reminded of his 40 cm distance.
And so they had to go to the infirmary and a nurse lovingly cleaned the scratch. Luckily just a scratch or not Taehyung’s going to get the worst scolding of his life from his father. He watched from the door since Seokjin ordered him too and crossed his arms.
It kind of irked the boy when he couldn't touch his prince while others can. Taehyung kept that feeling to himself though, because he knows Seokjin's still not open to him yet.
He was afterall a child prodigy assigned to the rebellious crown prince, the king and his father thinking that Taehyung could at least control Seokjin's carefree life but it being a mistake later when the younger's also involved with Seokjin's mischiefs.
"Seems like these two are alike one way or another" the king sighed when Seokjin and Taehyung grinned at each other as they bowed their heads in apology for causing a ruckus in the kitchen. "Well, they are still young jagiya" Seokjin's mother, the queen giggles as she pats her husband's back.
"I guess so, you both are dismissed"
——————
Seokjin was also a someone who was looked upon, him being the fiest prince and an ace for each one of his skills also a skillful leader who had lead an army at the age of 18 when his father was sick. He was the exact kind of ruler that everybody loved, he was sweet and kind with the ladies, modest and caring with the villagers (although he disguises himself) and rowdy and cheery with the boys.
And all of that was because he had Taehyung with him. in the first place, the older despised the boy for being way better than him, so when the kid got appointed as his knight he decided to put a distance.
He also thought it was ridiculous but he didn't want Taehyung anywhere near him but as his knight, Taehyung had too.
Unfortunately though, They have grown up together. Have to since they’re stuck under the adults order.
When Seokjin's 18,had come of age and announced as the next heir, the citizens were all roaring in pride as the prince and his aide waved down to the crowd. They were a pair looked upon by the whole country. Two prodigy's working together in issues of the country, either economics or warfare. They were good at it, forming alliances with other countries since they were at school that later gave benefit to the country.
20 cm.
The distance Taehyung always takes as he looked at Seokjin's back when he mutters about something that happened in class, when Seokjin was busy pacing back and forth thinking of a strategy to win the war, debating which pawn to use in order for him to win this chess game with the enemy country or when the prince was just walking in the garden watering his plants.
Taehyung was always there, 20 cm further from Seokjin’s radius.
It wasn't that far, his hand was probably longer than it, so usually he keeps a distance where his hand couldn't touch the other when walking behind but the rules applying when walking next to him.
Even on days where Seokjin was breaking down because of stress or because he felt too anxious, Taehyung was always there.
Sometimes, he almost broke the rule and wanted to hug Seokjin when he cries in the corner of his room but then all he does is just wrap him in his fluffy pink blanket and sat next to him within the distance. He has to respect the princes wishes.
He would never break his first order unless with consent by the man himself.
"Thanks"
"No problem hyung…"
"..."
"Wanna talk about it?"
they'd chat until the anxiety goes, Taehyung sometimes asking Seokjin to take deep breaths as they leaned against the wall watching the stars outside the older's room.
Any lingering feelings were left unspoken as Taehyung softly look at the prince who was sleeping soundly next to him. He smiled before stretching his muscles and carried Seokjin to bed, leaving him all warm and comfortable. He was shorter, but strong enough to carry.
After all, when he was first appointed he did his best during training in order for his small body to be useful for the prince. He didn’t even take a glance when people called him a prodigy, only thinking of serving the prince since a young age.
———————
Seokjin would always feel a lingering warmth of Taehyung behind him and smiled when his knight was talking to attendees about his schedule. Though the younger would never know as when they walk together he would always put on a serious face. Which broke later when Taehyung made a stupid comment about him.
He’s always loses his composure with the boy.
On the first year Seokjin would always feel uncomfortable when Taehyung would walk behind him without saying anything like he wasn't there ,but later he ordered Taehyung to voice out whatever it is he wanted to say and the young knight just had to mutter
"Your clothes are not tucked in correctly and I can see your underwear"
Seokjin blushed furiously which Taehyung grinned and laughed when he knew that the young boys lying "Yah! You closet pervert"
"Am not! How dare you accuse me hyung"
"Yes you are! Or not you wouldn't be staring at my underwear or talk about it!!"
"Shhh! quiet hyung we are still in the Queen quarters"
"Who cares! Everybody should know that Sire Kim's son is a perve-"
That was the first time Taehyung stepped into the 20 cm line which shocked Seokjin. Eyes wide and the younger's long fingers touch his plump lips and the kid turning him into a corner before sandwiching him in between the younger and a wall (it was a stupid attempt since Taehyung's shorter) "Yah! What are you doing"
"Shh- someone's here."
That was also the first time that both Seokjin and Taehyung solved a case of thievery inside the castle, when one was 17 and the other 14. They were praised by the king and queen and Seokjin for once finally opened up to Taehyung after that.
-------
Since they grew up together, Taehyung has seen each and every side of Seokjin, yet he hasn't seen this expression that the older gives to Yoongi, a boy whom Seokjin grew attached to since his teens. The two were best friends even though they were different in status.
The young knights heart aches when Seokjin smiled widely, eyes soft and voice a pitch higher as he talks to the raven haired.
The other giving the same look that Taehyung had to look away in order to not feel anything.
Seokjin was 21 now, and the king has started accepting marriage offers from various houses either inside the country or from their alliances.
"Your not going to check the letter offers?"
"Nah, probably just a bunch of dad's offering their daughters who think it's nice to marry me"
"you think it's loveless" Taehyung grinned, teasing Seokjin when the prince scowled at him. "Shut up. Unlike you I don't believe in romance after marriage"
"I refuse to say so, you could always court them first"
"What? Are you trying to say something Taehyung?" Seokjin got up from his seat and walked to where Taehyung was sitting by the large window that shows the town at night time. It was an enchanting view that made Seokjin's eye soften at the sight each time he looks at it.
This is the country that he's going to be ruling in a few years time and yet the country wants him to be wed before it happens.
"Yeah, maybe like Yoongi?"
"Yah don't disrespect him like that" Seokjin smacked his night, distance be damned. Taehyung saw the redness starting to form in the prince's cheeks and smiled. "Why don't you just tell your father that he's the one you want?"
"Impossible. Yoongi's a commoner, he wouldn't want that"
"If it's about influence I'll just use my house."
"How nice, using your house as a disguise for me to be with Yoongichi" Seokjin scoffed but got reminded the day Taehyung stepped into the line for the second time.”but no thanks”
It was night time and Seokjin was unarmed when a person went into his room catching him off guard. He was almost killed by a masked person if it wasn't for Taehyung coming out of nowhere stopping the dagger from impaling Seokjin and instead onto the young boy's shoulder.
"TAEHYUNGIE!"
"I'm fine hyung, relax" he groaned before pushing the person and trapping him on the floor. Eyes red as he looked at the person before roughly taking the mask off. That sight took both boys off guard when it showed a very familiar face of a classmate whom they were close to.
Especially Taehyung
"Just kill me already coward-"
"Shut up! Tell me Bogum-hyung, why?!"
" my Father was killed because of you royalty, Of course I wanted revenge by killing their son! Forgot that you were his knight in shining armour Tae" he spat, coughing out blood when Taehyung stepped on his chest more deeper.
Seokjin got scared at this Taehyung who was obvious mad at the betrayal but managed to stop his knight from killing his best friend and ordered the troops who came rushing in to take Bogum away from their sight.
He will deal with it later.
Seokjin stepped closer to Taehyung only to the boy kneeling down to him and took his hand. 20 cm rule be damned as he kissed his hand and swear loyalty to the prince who just came of age 10 days ago.
"No matter who Seokjin-wangja, be it my best friend, my lover or my even my own family, I will kill them with my own hands if they are a threat and I shall protect you with my own life because my loyalty only belongs to you" he whispered out as Seokjin ruffled his hair.
Seokjin let out a deep breath as tears slowly fall down, Taehyung was still young but he already said the pledge with his own words. It wasn’t an official oath and there was no crowd or witness but he knows it was true.
He knows that the boy would always take care of him and dedicated his whole life to him.
Later he hugged the boy and begged him to be treated when the boy refused to be peeled off from the comfortable hug “what about that stupid rule of yours” Taehyung mumbled on Seokjin’s chest “hussh, only I am allowed to touch you freely”
He was the complete opposite of the man who almost killed before. That was actually the first time the two had any physical contact with both parties consent.
And it felt like home.