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A blanket being wrapped around his shoulders was the thing to finally snap Jeongin out of the stupor that he had been in for the last who knew how long. He must have let out a sound of some kind because there came a gentle voice just behind his ear not a moment later, “It’s okay, cub, we’ve got you and you’re going to be safe.”
The words were clear and gentle, and the accent was achingly familiar but the young kitsune could barely focus on that thought as finally his arms were dropped from the heavy chains that had been holding him. He could recall the day that he was hauled in here, kicking, screaming and biting at anything and everything that was daring to touch him as he was not going to give his captors anything that they wanted. At least not willingly.
Though the guards had barely cared, manhandling him into chains around his wrists and ankles before heaving his arms up towards the ceiling where the were locked in place. He was forced to kneel and felt as his expensive tunic was ripped from his torso but they left after that. Jeongin had no idea what was going on, who these figures were and what they wanted, all he knew for certain was that he was not in a position to argue with anyone and he was not going to give up any information that they wanted.
After that the thoughts became hazy, though whether due to a lack of food, water and sunlight or turning his powers on himself in order to protect his mind, Jeongin wasn’t sure. He felt weak, like a days old cub who was literally just beginning to walk and explore the world around him. A twinge of embarrassment passed through him, but only for a moment as the soft, accented and rather honey like voice spoke again, “We’re going to take the chains off your feet, my prince, and then we shall leave this cell. Do not fear, you have been through so much and it is perfectly natural for you to be slightly diminished but no one will hold that against you. You have done us all so proud, your mother and father are waiting for you as are all your brothers.”
Letting out a breath that he did not realise that he had been holding in the slightest, Jeongin allowed himself a small, silent flood of tears because that was all his body could produce right now. He felt the biting metal be stripped away from his ankles, hissing as he was sure that there was a layer of skin that was taken away with it but the soft spoken voice from before just kept uttering soothing words in that soft tone. There was a fresh smell in the air, now that Jeongin was focusing properly and it was a sweet scent of magnolia that instantly calmed him down. He felt almost as if he were walking in a forest of those trees, in the middle of summer when the scent would be the most inviting and let out a shuddering breath.
“There you go,” the soft voice continued in his ear, “Let it out. It’ll help, my prince, believe me it will help.”
Nodding Jeongin allowed himself more silent tears, especially when he was picked up by the magnolia scented person – Jeongin wasn’t entirely sure if they were an omega or an beta, so opted not to guess as scents alone did not always guide the secondary gender – and he did shamefully whimper and whine as he was moved. His body protested at the movements that he had been forbidden to do as he had been forced into that kneeling position by forces unknown.
“I’m sorry for the discomfort, little prince,” a new voice spoke, this one slightly harsher but still warm sounding and filled with an blackberry scent that sparked a memory in Jeongin’s mind. A black kitsune with eight tails that were all tipped with a shocking white, which also matched on the top of his ears and nose. Hongjoon, the captain of the royal guard, his memory supplied. “Captain?” Jeongin asked gently, his voice raw from lack of use and pain.
A hand ran through his messy black locks, “Yes, my prince. We’re here to take you home.”
That meant he was currently being held by Mingi but Jeongin couldn’t force his eyes open any further but did not allow himself to dwell on it too much. The Royal Guards were here to take him home, which meant whoever had captured him would be nothing short of a bloody mess as they took no prisoners on a good day. He nodded, practically rag-dolling against Mingi but it seemed as though the other really did not care about that fact as he huffed and the last thing that Jeongin really remembered for a little while was that he was being moved gently out of the place that had held him and that was all that mattered.
~*~
There had been unrest in the capital city ever since the youngest prince had been taken away, the most coming from the Queen himself who seemed to be caught between constant mood fluctuations of worry, anger, outrage, the greatest sorrow that anyone had ever know and a desire to get revenge on those who had dared to take his baby away. The King, Bang Chan, had been worried that he would have to resort to poppy water in order to get his beloved Hyunjin to calm down enough as to not hurt anyone unnecessarily but his stunning omega thankfully retained some of the his sanity throughout his outbursts and did not do anything too drastic.
Well not by Hyunjin standards anyway, but Chan knew that his kitsune queen was not the type to go blindly into an situation. Yes he could be an emotional wreck and extremely dramatic in his reactions, but those moments were only reserved for those whom he was truly happiest around and comforted by.
So to receive word back by harrier hawk that Jeongin had been found and was being brought back filled the snow white kitsune alpha’s heart and mind with so much joy that he was not surprised in the slightest to find his wife rushing towards him as he retreated to his families quarters. Chan easily caught the rose gold kitsune in his arms and held him tight, “Hongjoon and the others found him, he’s alive and you’ll have him in your arms for as long as you want, my queen.”
“I’ll never let him go,” Hyunjin half wailed, clutching to Chan like the other was his lifeline to tether him to the world right now. “Never, ever, ever.”
Chan grinned gently, imagining in his head how the youngest would react to such a statement but knew that Jeongin was a secret mama’s boy who loved to be pampered and treated with cuddles. They just had to be on his terms, which Chan always liked to push the boundaries of but Jeongin always seemed to be secretly pleased when the elder alpha won and fussed over him just as much. Even if he claimed not to be a fan of hugs and touches, like his elder twin brothers.
But both Jisung and Yongbok were omegas, so they were both naturally more inclined to be into skinship and hugging. Plus both boys were perfectly fine with the way that their youngest brother acted, because they had all the stories of all the times when the other had been cute, clumsy, or just downright embarrassing and would use them as the perfect blackmail in order to get their way or demands. Not that either of them ever needed to, as Jeongin would give into them way too easily.
Pressing a kiss to the top of Hyunjin’s head, Chan let out a sigh of relief that Jeongin had been found. He felt Hyunjin sag a little in his hold and allowed himself a little smile before he gently picked up the tall omega, “Let’s get you well rested, my love, they are around a days journey from here.”
“Why don’t they just teleport back?” Hyunjin whined, though with a little less of his usual clout behind him.
Chan shook his head, “They say that the prince is too weak at the moment but they’re nourishing him so he will be fine. You need nourishment as well before he returns to you.”
Hyunjin was about to argue that fact and demand that he be taken to his youngest, but just at that moment his body opted to finally give into the stress and virtually made him crash. It was a good thing that his husband was holding him up in this moment because he wasn’t sure what would have happened to him otherwise. “You dare hold this against me,” he playfully tried to threaten his husband but was only met with those beautiful, understanding eyes that never got too tired of his antics or emotions even when they were pretty detrimental to everyone around them.
“I would never,” Chan replied, nuzzling his beloved wife gently on the cheek to gain a small purr, “Especially not when one of ours is concerned.”
Hyunjin blinked towards the alpha, noting the darker than usual circles and the ring of red around his eyes and did the only thing that he could think of in that moment. Which was to bring their lips together in a sensual, slow and unhurried kiss. “Are you sure he’s on the way back?” Hyunjin asked again, needing to hear the words at least a thousand more times before he would accept them.
Or at least until the cub was safely back into his arms where he should have never left.
An nod was his answer, “Hongjoon is personally escorting him with his elite bodyguards, they will not be overpowered or challenged.”
That was enough for now, as Hyunjin snuggled into Chan and allowed himself to relax for the first time in weeks. Chan smiled and carried his queen to their chambers where he was set down with grace and reverence before their personal servants could start to help Hyunjin bathe, eat and rest well. “I’m going to speak to the kids,” he said gently, kissing Hyunjin on the forehead, “I’ll be back shortly.”
“Bring them to the nest tonight?” Hyunjin asked with a little whine that was cute and certainly not needed but welcomed anyway.
The alpha nodded, knowing that they would have been there regardless of anything else that was going on. Once he was sure that Hyunjin was going to accept the help and not try to go running to intercept the guards return, Chan stepped out of the chambers and headed to where his sons currently were residing. Most of them were of age now and should be out in the world, seeking out their mates and finding where they were meant to be as even though they were princes’ it did not mean that they needed to inherit the crown. Chan and Hyunjin had many more years left in them, so their sons were free to choose what they wanted to do with their lives.
Of course the report of Jeongin disappearing had resulted in all five of them returning home within hours, some demanding to know what had happened whilst others were fearful and wanted the comfort of family surrounding them.
The King was not surprised to find all five of them in the family quarters, in the central rooms which had been transformed into some odd kind of pillow fort. The exact type that they would all build together as kittens whenever they wanted to just be in the same space and it made him glad that he had brought them up so well.
Changbin was sitting just outside of the main fortress, clearly acting as a guard whilst Minho and Seungmin were snuggled up to their omega brothers trying to get them to rest but Chan knew that was a task and a half at the best of times. With their missing baby brother, both their stress levels were through the roof so rest and sleep were out of the question. They were so like their mother, it was wonderful to see at times.
The buff beta’s head snapped straight up at the approach of his father and Changbin was on his feet in seconds, “What news do you have?”
Chan smiled, “Jeongin has been found by the royal guard and is coming home to us.”
There was a fraction of a second pause before Changbin let out an huge and loud whoop before he flung his arms tightly around his father and held on, “For real? They found our baby bread?”
“Yes,” Chan nodded, mainly towards Minho who had stuck his head out of the fort to see what all the fuss was about, “They’re about a days journey out and teleportation is not…”
There was a puff of smoke left behind from where Minho had been, but Chan should have known it would happen. Minho was not the type to leave anything unverified, especially when it came to his baby brothers. Most of the time, the eldest prince looked to be stone faced and cold towards his brothers but anyone who knew him well enough knew the care and dedication that the eldest had towards them all.
“No one else go,” Chan immediately commanded towards the others, “Your mother needs you here tonight and from the reports Jeongin is too weak to travel back by any other means.”
Seungmin pouted, clearly having plans to follow but knowing that now was not the time to be defiant. Though he really wanted to be that much was evident.
Jisung and Felix were next out, both bouncing around happily, “Jeongin is back! Jeongin is back!”
“Not yet,” Seungmin said softly, reaching out to the pair to pull them into an slightly awkward hug, “But he will be soon.”
“I bet Minho hyung will bring him straight back,” Felix stated with all the confidence in the world.
“If Jongho doesn’t pin his down first,” Changbin stated back, having let go of his father to go and help settle the twins down, “If our little brother is that bad he can’t be teleported then we’ll just have to be patient for a little while longer.”
Chan smiled proudly at his second son, knowing that Changbin was always grounded and level headed even if at times he appeared to be like some wild child that was uncontrollable. “Once you’re mother is out of the bath, we’re having an family night in the nest. Hopefully he’ll understand that Minho has disappeared off.”
“It was inevitable that one of us would do,” Jisung replied cheekily, clinging to his father as was his usual desire. “But can we at least have a proper family night in there, with snacks, drinks and cake.”
“Snacks and cake?” Chan teased, having already requested those things as he really knew his own sons far too well.
Jisung’s pout was adorable as always, “We need to celebrate and once Innie is home and fully rested, he’ll want all the sweet treats too.”
There was no denying that statement and Chan couldn’t help but nuzzle his head against his cub, scenting him carefully as he always did. They would soon all be back together again and it would be utterly amazing.
~*~
Jongho had seemingly been prepared for the arrival of at least one of the princes after the harrier hawk had been sent with the news, as Minho found himself trapped inside an teleportation circle. The guard glared at him, “He cannot travel by teleportation.”
“I am aware,” Minho half snapped back, but anyone who knew him knew that it would out of concern for his little brother, “I’m not going to attempt it. I need to see him with my own eyes before he gets back to the others.”
The guard stayed where he was for a few moments, his brown tails flicking, mentally counting to ensure that no one else came along which Minho counted on seeing as their father was in the room. Not that he was going to tell Jongho that because that wasn’t how they played their games in the slightest. Finally, as well as a bit too quickly, Jongho relented and released the circle, pointing to a nearby tent. “He’s in there with Mingi and Wooyoung, but I don’t…” the youngers words were completely cut off as Minho rushed straight towards the tent without hearing anything else other than the fact that his little brother was in there.
Wooyoung briefly acted as a barrier, though Minho did not blame the electric kitsune in the slightest as he had just charged in with no announcement, but once he realised who it was, he allowed him through with a call of, “Kitty-boy incoming.”
Mingi looked up and waved towards Minho, then quickly pressed his finger to his lips. “I’ve only just gotten him to rest, I didn’t want to use any oils on him, you’ll see why in a second.”
Minho was vaguely aware that Seonghwa was also nearby but barely paid attention as he fell to his knees and scrambled unprincely towards Jeongin who was resting his eyes but clearly too ware of everything going on around him. The boy was too pale, too thin, too hurt for Minho’s eyes but he quenched his rage, fought back the tears and rested his hand on top of his brothers head, “Agibbang.”
Jeongin’s eyes shot open and within the next second he was grabbing tightly onto Minho as if the world was going to force them apart. Minho was no better, holding onto his youngest brother so tightly that it was amazing that the pair didn’t fuse into one. Pulling back, Minho took Jeongin’s face into his hands and stared into his eyes, seeing all the pain and hurt there but also the strength and resistance that the youngest prince and put up against those who had taken him away.
There were tears falling down Jeongin’s face and Minho hated them but knew that they needed to be shed so he simply said, “I’ve got you now, Agibbang.” Before pulling the other back into his chest and curling up tightly around him so it was almost impossible to tell one from the other.
Seonghwa gently tapped Mingi on the shoulder who nodded and stepped out of the tent, whilst Wooyoung lingered in the doorway to act as a barrier though all of them knew that his presence was probably not needed now that the eldest brother was here.
“I take it that none of the others showed up?” Seonghwa asked gently, turning his head toward Hongjoon who was sitting by the fire.
The Captain shook his head, “No, they’re staying put and I put up an barrier just in case. Forgot that Minho could bypass it though.”
“The scouts will have a full report of the upcoming path before the sun rises,” Jongho stated as he stepped back into the circle of firelight, “But I don’t foresee any issues.”
No one dared to ask how he was aware of that and instead the guards fell into silence as they kept watch for anything that could potentially disrupt the sleeping princes. Though nothing came close to their camp, not even a little bird.
~*~
Minho had insisted on carrying Jeongin the next day, the youngest kitsune prince still completely out for the count but starting to heal through a variety of different magics that were being pushed his way. The guards had relented with no real issues and the Prince had sent a call for the horses to come to them. They had remained in the same spot, until the familiar clattering of hooves appeared along with the not so unexpected appearance of Felix as well.
Minho raised an eyebrow in challenge towards the younger who just raised his head a little higher, “The river passing would have been next to impossible for the horses to do solo, you know that. I got them here without issues and there’s guards posted every half mile back along the track so I was safe the whole time.”
The eldest rolled his eyes and lightly headbutted the younger, before shifting an still sleeping Jeongin in his arms, “Here, you can take him for a bit.”
It was no surprise that Felix ended up on the floor, holding Innie like a precious little doll but it was quite cute to see. Minho ensured that the horses were saddled and loaded correctly, apologising to his own steed for the extra weight he’d have to carry and giving the mighty stallion an boost of strength and resilience with his powers before hopping up onto the back. Hongjoon passed Jeongin up to him before Felix got swiftly back on his own horse and the rest mounted up.
They set off together, Minho never letting go of Jeongin in the slightest and as promised, every half mile they found another guard who would confirm that there had been no issues and would join the ranks to follow the three princes and the royal guards back home.
The gates were opened and servants rushed forward to aid and help but Felix was swiftly down to allow Minho to lower Jeongin to him and the eldest leapt down right after to take the youngest back. Neither prince stopped, knowing that the gates were closed and that every last protection spell was being thrown up around the gates, walls and themselves to ensure that the prince got straight into the loving arms of his family as fast as possible.
They had barely reached the doors before both Seungmin and Changbin had flung them open and clambered around Minho for the briefest of brief hugs. Minho barely even snarled at them but Seungmin understood, “Family Den.”
The five of them were quick to set off, finding Jisung waiting for them outside the doors to the family den who burst into tears but managed to open the door regardless and somehow ended up tripping up all of them so they crashed down onto the pack bed.
The shock of which jolted Jeongin awake but before he could panic, he found himself wrapped tightly in the arms of his mother and father and started weeping openly. He couldn’t’ believe that he was here, that he was finally back where he wanted to be most in the world and that he was safe and protected. Never again was he going to complain about being smothered, protected or fussed over because these last few weeks had just driven him to the uttermost brink.
“I love you,” he managed to stutter out, “I love you all so much.”
“We love you,” Chan said in reply, “We will always love you Innie, our baby, our precious little one.”
Hyunjin could barely speak with the tears that were escaping down his cheeks but Jeongin couldn’t’ bring himself to care. He was home, he was safe and that was the best feeling in the world right now.