Chapter Text
Hongjoong had been reading a book written by some old pirate he didn't remember the name of when one of the servants walked in his room.
"Prince Hongjoong" she said, seemingly a little out of breath "I have- oh, apologies. I didn't knock first I-"
"Don't worry, I was just reading" he looked down at her hands and saw a sheet of paper "is that for me?"
She nodded quickly and handed it to him "it's a letter from prince San and prince Mingi. I'll get going now, except that you need something?"
"Oh, no" he smiled, watching her bow and go out "thank you!" He called out.
He opened the letter and immediately recognized San's handwriting despite being apart for so many years.
Kim Hongjoong.
This is your brothers San and Mingi. San writes right now because Mingi's lazy. Anyway, to the point.
Father will hand down the crown very soon and as you know, it has to be to the older son. And that's you. Take your ass back here right now. I don't plan on becoming the king and Mingi has reasons to not to want the title either. That only leaves you as an option.
With love, your really angry and desperate brothers.
Hongjoong almost laughed, except that as far as he knew his father wouldn't give up his title any time soon. And anyway, why wouldn't any of his brothers want to be the king?
Hongjoong couldn't say he was excited either but he understood that it was something that had to happen. He stood up from his bed and began to pack.
"Wooyoung" Hongjoong called, knowing that his friend was always near "Wooyoung!"
The omega burst into the room, a book on each hand "what! Is something wrong? Did you find something?"
"No, I just wanted to talk to you"
"Oh, okay- wait, why are you packing your stuff? What's happening?"
Hongjoong sighed and handed Wooyoung the letter, giving a few seconds for his confused friend to read it. Wooyoung lifted his eyes slowly to meet Hongjoong's.
"I've got to go and... I was wondering if-"
"If I'm going with you? Of course! Why would you even ask? I don't even have a home anymore!" yelled Wooyoung, being his loud self "you're my only friend!"
Hongjoong smiled, a warm something spreading through his chest. He appreciated Wooyoung so much.
"Okay, thank you" said Hongjoong, turning back around to continue packing "go pack now, we leave as soon as possible"
"Oh, okay! Do we need to pack our diaries?"
Hongjoong turned around to look at his friend, tense as ever.
"We...won't be able to continue our research, Wooyoung. You can pack them or continue it on your own but...no, I'll have plenty of responsibilities already. I'm sorry."
Wooyoung's face fell, a little pout appearing on his lips "that's...that's okay. I- we- okay. I'll go pack now"
Wooyoung got out of the room before Hongjoong had the time to even form another apology in his head. Hongjoong let out a long sigh as he went back to the task at hand. He sure as hell wasn't happy to end their journey before it even properly began. They were finally getting close to find some coordinates to follow, after all.
Hongjoong hoped his brothers had good fucking reasons to make him let go of one of his biggest dreams.
-
They got to the castle six days later, as his father had insisted in them going by ground instead of by the sea, like Hongjoong had initially planned. Hongjoong had lost his opportunity to say the final goodbye to the oceans.
Hongjoong wasn't feeling well. Not just because of this little disappointment but because it had suddenly weighed on him that he was going to be the King.
A King. The one man everyone felt forced to respect and adore. The one man that had the destinies of thousands in his hands. It was a lot of pressure and, god, Hongjoong did not feel ready for that. Responsibilities sure felt like a burden in that moment.
But Hongjoong still allowed himself to enjoy the sight of his people. The kids running around, desperate parents murmuring curses while chasing them, the loud market, the great castle that could be seen from every spot in the city.
He had missed it. Just a little.
"Your domains are really beautiful, prince" murmured Wooyoung, focusing more on what was around him than on the horse he was riding.
"Come on, just because we're on my father's land doesn't mean you have to pull all that political shit out"
Wooyoung chuckled and shook his head with a smile "you know, I was just trying to be polite"
"We've known each other for eight years now and I know you're anything but polite, Wooyoung"
Wooyoung gasped and tried to hit Hongjoong's arm, failing miserably.
"I can be polite! what the hell?"
"Sure, sure-"
"Is that the prince?"
"Kim Hongjoong?"
"The prince!"
Hongjoong forced a smile as people began to cheer for him, kids staring at him with shock and admiration. They looked healthy. Round, rosy cheeks and healthy looking skin. Clean. At least Hongjoong could rest assured that his father was a good king.
Hongjoong had the misfortune of going to some kingdoms that had their people living so...poorly.
People continued to cheer loudly until they were inside the castle and, even if Hongjoong didn't like the attention, he appreciated the love people still held for him even after ten years of being away.
He was getting his things out of the carriage, when he saw a boy. He was maybe Hongjoong's height, he had glowy tan skin and-
And a huge belly.
A pregnant omega.
A pregnant omega?
The boy stopped walking and just stared at Hongjoong for a second before opening his mouth to yell.
"Mingi-ah! Your brother's here!"
He was incredibly loud and the fact that he spoke to Mingi like that just added to the shock Hongjoong was currently experiencing.
Two loud, high pitched "what?!" Could be heard through the entire castle. Hongjoong barely had the time to take his next breath when two alphas were suddenly clinging to him.
"Hongjoong!" Yelled San right at his ear.
"Brother! It's been such a long time!"
Yeah, Hongjoong thought, a long time if you two are towering over me now.
Hongjoong could kiss goodbye the assumption that his little brothers still didn't reach him in height.
"Mingi, you're a fucking giant, what the- San? What the fuck did you do to your hair?" Was the first thing Hongjoong could say as his brothers took a step back. Hongjoong would take to his grave the fact that he missed San's dimpled smile so much it actually hurt to see it again, in much grown up features.
"Oh? I dyed it like a week ago" said San, touching his hair lightly "also, I didn't freak out on your blue hair! Last time I saw you, an ugly mullet was on that big head of yours"
He heard a high pitched laugh, that Hongjoong knew belonged to Wooyoung, making them turn to look at the omega.
"Hongjoong..." whispered San "is this your mate?"
Hongjoong rapidly shook his head, a nervous laugh leaving his mouth "no! No, he's Wooyoung, my friend and partner in... a project"
San and Mingi hummed at the same time. Both going to meet Wooyoung properly.
"I'm Song Mingi, his youngest brother!" Yelled Mingi with a big smile, bowing to Wooyoung "nice to meet you!"
"Ah, no. It's me who should be grateful to be here. I'm Jung Wooyoung"
"Choi San here!" San gave a short bow and jumped excitedly on his place "it's been so long since we got a visitor!"
Hongjoong smiled and turned his head to look at the pregnant omega, who was looking in the general direction of the other three, a gentle smile on his face as he nibbled on a cookie and held his big belly with his free arm.
"Uh, I don't want to be rude or anything but who are you?" carefully asked Hongjoong, taking a few steps closer to the boy.
Mingi suddenly put himself between the omega and him, a warning low growl in his throat, his friendly smile completely gone and replaced by a scowl.
He looked so intimidating and grown up, it kind of made Hongjoong proud.
"What the fuck?" Hissed the omega behind Mingi "get the fuck out of my way, I was about to greet your brother!"
Mingi turned around, his expression shifting to the one of a kicked puppy.
"But Jongho, I-"
"You nothing. Does he represent any danger to me or our pup? I'll answer that for you, no he doesn't. I would break every bone in his body if he tried something. Now, move."
Mingi obeyed, a huge pout forming on his lips as he stood behind the omega.
"Choi Jongho, prince of the terra nova islands and Mingi's mate. Nice to finally meet you" said Jongho with a little smile on his round face "Mingi talks about you all the damn time"
Hongjoong gasped "the terra nova islands? I was there for two days like three years ago. The most beautiful islands I've had the privilege to visit"
Jongho laughed and god, Hongjoong never believed when people said pregnant people just...glowed. Now, looking at Jongho, Hongjoong was able to confirm it himself.
"Flattery will take you nowhere"
"It's not like I want to get somewhere. By the looks of it, someone already did" he smiled at his youngest brother teasingly.
"Oh my god!" Hongjoong heard Wooyoung scream "can I feel it? Pretty please?"
"Go ahead" said Jongho, letting Wooyoung touch his belly with such care, Hongjoong almost laughed.
"You're so cute!" Exclaimed Wooyoung as he met the other omega's eyes "you look so young...pregnancy suits you well"
"Well, I knew that already" smiled Jongho "do you want to see me split apples in half with my bare hands?" He then asked, casually.
Mingi looked ready to panic and San just face palmed so hard it must've hurt.
"Jongho, we've been over this. You can't-"
"Oh, shut the hell up, San!"
As Jongho took Wooyoung to the kitchen, both chatting excitedly about something, Hongjoong approached his brothers.
"I like him, he has a mouth on him. Terra nova islands' omegas are well known for being strong, really skilled fighters."
"Yeah, I know. It's so hot" mumbled Mingi, clearly staring at his mate's backside.
"Gross" said San and Hongjoong at the same time.
-
They were all sitting at the large table in the dining hall, Wooyoung and Jongho chatting about the perks of knowing how to climb trees, Mingi at his mate's side feeding him all the vegetables in his own plate, as he was never a fan of them and anyway, they were good for their pup. San was pretty much choking on whatever he could put his hands on.
While Hongjoong was just sitting there, still trying to get used to all the noise, to be surrounded by so many people. It had always been just Wooyoung and Hongjoong, occasionally any servant his father decided to send for him.
He felt happy, though. He had missed his brothers, the castle and Jongho was a nice person to be around. Not to mention how much Wooyoung had liked the other omega. He didn't even pay attention to Hongjoong after going to the kitchen with Jongho!
Suddenly, the huge doors opened, letting them see the king's hunched over body. Hongjoong immediately stood up.
It had been almost six years since he last saw his father, the last time he hadn't looked so sick.
"Father, I'm back. I'm-"
His father shushed him quietly, and Hongjoong would have been very offended if his father wasn't smiling so...tenderly.
His father walked right past him, giving him a few pats on his shoulder. Hongjoong frowned and turned around to see just where his father was heading to.
He was pretty surprised when his father stood behind Jongho's seat.
"Jongho-ah, how are you feeling?" The king asked in a hushed tone, his voice raspy.
"Oh, quite alright, dad!" Said the omega, loudly as he looked at Hongjoong's father. The king opened his mouth to say something but Jongho interrupted him "if you want to touch the belly, you've got to pay a price" he said, rising a finger and giving the king (the king!) a side glance.
Hongjoong's father reached down to one of his pockets slowly and pulled out a single chocolate out of it. Jongho clapped excitedly as he received his beloved payment. The omega let the king touch his belly while he ate the chocolate slowly, enjoying it to the maximum. Hongjoong could do nothing but stare in disbelief.
The king suddenly laughed and gestured at the belly "they're kicking!" He exclaimed, suddenly sounding so happy.
"Our pup likes those chocolates, I guess" mumbled Mingi, watching the scene with a little smile.
Wooyoung gasped and San stood up as well, reaching out to touch the omega's belly. They all took turns, touching where the pup kept on kicking.
It was almost as if the little pup knew people already loved them in the outside world and wanted to put on a good show. It was, admittedly, a very satisfying sight.
His family looking so...happy.
"...Joong" Hongjoong snapped out of his thoughts to look at the person that was talking to him "Hongjoong, I'm sorry to interrupt your meal. Can we go out for a walk?"
Hongjoong nodded quickly at his father and followed him outside, into their enormous garden. They sat on one of the stone benches when the king mumbled that he was too tired already.
They stayed silent for a while.