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The king passes by Minho in the hallway in a hurry. He scrambles to bow, but luckily he doesn’t even acknowledge him, let alone stop to talk. As happy as he is about that, he can recognize the anger in his scent and his heart squeezes, thinking of Yongbok. So he hurries towards his chamber.
He politely bows and smiles to the guards when he gets there and waits to be announced. Few moments later, one of the guard steps back out in the hallway and leaves the door open. Minho closes it behind himself.
The room smells of dead sunflowers. Minho thinks he prefers Yongbok’s anger to this melancholy. It’s suffocating.
“Your Highness.” He bows.
It makes Yongbok laugh, which was the plan. It’s a wet laugh, he’s sitting on his bed, looking out the window, wiping away his tears. “Hi, hyung.” He sniffs.
The bed is too big for him alone on it, even with his belly. Minho takes a breath and walks up to him, carefully sitting on the edge of the bed.
“Are you okay?”
It’s a useless question, really, but he doesn’t know what else to say. For all of his expressions and easygoing nature, Yongbok shuts down very easily. And Minho has known him for years, yet he still feels like he’s exploring the sea sometimes when it comes to his emotions and how to handle him.
Yongbok leans into the pillows and sighs. He looks up at the ceiling. “I just keep hoping the man’s priorities will change because I’m carrying his child now, but it’s no use.”
Yeah. Minho is familiar. He watches Yongbok’s small fingers tapping on top of his baby bump and has to look away. There’s heaviness in his chest whenever he’s reminded of his place and he almost stands up. Sitting on the bed the king shares with Yongbok would certainly get him punished if he were to find out. But Minho has always cared more about Yongbok’s feelings than his own and Yongbok is lonely so Minho will stay. As simple as that.
They stay silent. There isn’t much Minho can say in moments like these. Yongbok gets more comfortable and eventually places a bare foot on Minho’s lap. Then the other one. Minho smiles and wraps a hand around his ankle. His skin is cold to the touch, his feet and hands have always been.
Minho presses a thumb into the sole of his foot. Yongbok curls his toes and relaxes them. His eyes are closed. His cheeks are dry. Minho thinks about bending down to press his lips to his navicular bone. Gentle, barely there. He doesn’t. He sticks to softly massaging his feet, a little swollen. Dry, no oil.
Yongbok spreads his legs a little. Barely noticeable if Minho wasn’t so close and so attuned to every move of his. His scent gets stronger. At least the sunflowers don’t smell burnt anymore. Still, Minho stops him with a firm hand on his calf, keeping him in place. Yongbok opens his eyes. He looks hurt.
It pains Minho to deny him or cause him any pain. God knows he has enough of that already. But he can’t. Yongbok knows he can’t. Still, he’s a weak man and he squeezes his eyes shut, forehead coming in contact with Yongbok’s knees. He could spend a lifetime here.
Yongbok’s hands come to rest in his hair. Minho takes a deep breath. He imagines running down a field, chasing a girl with freckles and long, brown hair. Letting her run into Yongbok’s arms, bare and tan. Kissed by the sun. He spins her around in circles and she giggles, hiding in his chest and squealing when Minho catches them and tickles her. He kisses Yongbok’s forehead.
He has to sit up before he can get too lost. The baby in Yongbok’s belly is not his. Yongbok does not belong to him.
“I just miss you.” He tells him.
Minho knows. “I know. I miss you too. I just—“ he cuts himself off, looking out the window. It will snow soon.
“I know.” Yongbok smiles sadly and scoots closer.
He’s so cute, gotten even cuter since pregnant, if possible. It takes him more effort to move and Minho allows himself a chuckle when he manages to crawl over to him and sit on his lap sideways. He hugs him close, one arm around his waist and the other bringing his legs to him. Yongbok curls around him like a warm blanket.
“If it was just my life on the line, I wouldn’t think twice.” Minho tells him. He places a hand on Yongbok’s belly, slow, almost scared. “You have to know this. Please tell me you know this.”
Yongbok looks at him with so much sympathy and understanding something melts inside Minho. “I’ve known you for so long, hyung. I know how you breathe.”
How lovely that must be.
“Good.” Minho swallows his tears and hugs him tighter. “Good. I would die if anything were to happen to you.” He looks down and strokes Yongbok’s belly. “Or her.”
Yongbok’s hand is so soft when it lands on Minho’s. Taken care of. He doesn’t do much with his hands, except pet the cats that come around in the morning. He traces the divots between his knuckles.
“Can I tell you something?”
“Anything.” Minho takes a selfish lungful of air, close to Yongbok’s neck.
“I don’t know if I’m happy with this baby.”
Minho blinks up at him. Yongbok says it so quietly, a whispered secret just for them. He’s always dreamed of having children. Minho lets his hair tickle his nose. “Why?”
“It’s his child.” He swallows and looks away.
“It’s your child.” Minho squeezes him and Yongbok nuzzles closer. “More yours than his. You know this. This is your baby.” He strokes his belly, a smile appearing on his face despite everything.
“Yeah…” Yongbok wipes his nose and chuckles, dry. “But I can never leave now. This will forever be my life. I can never leave her with him.”
Minho closes his eyes. He lets his hand travel to Yongbok’s thigh, squeezing the flesh there and pressing his forehead to his jaw. He smells so good, so strong. Ever since he got pregnant. Minho doesn’t know what to do with himself. He doesn’t know why is god testing him like this.
But he knows he will die before he lets Yongbok feel trapped.
“I’ll find a way.” he promises. “I will find a way. And I’ll keep you both safe. And then she will be our baby.” He smiles at Yongbok, hoping he projects at least a little bit of confidence. He does have a plan, but Yongbok doesn’t have to know about it. Stress is not good for pregnant omegas. “And I’ll give you more children.”
Yongbok’s scent clears up and he nods, chewing on his bottom lip. He’s always trusted Minho endlessly. Minho is yet to fail him. He hopes he doesn’t live to see the day.
“Okay, hyung.” He kisses Minho’s nose. “Okay.”