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Yunho usually prides himself on his skill.His skills protect a lot of things he cares about, they protect the kingdom, they protect the king and queen. But most importantly they protect Mingi.
Which is why he's here now, on one knee as he dutifully bows before the royals humbly asking for forgiveness, eyes lowered to the floor and armour feeling heavier than usual. He couldn’t bring himself to look at him. Because even now servants were bustling about cleaning up broken glass and rubble, a disaster that Yunho could have prevented if only he-
“-nho are you listening?”
If only he was faster, smarter, saw the signs earlier he could’ve-
“Yunho!”
Yunho felt himself jolt back to reality, instinctively looking up where Mingi was sitting on his throne that was placed between his parents. He looked beautiful, dressed in soft fabrics that flowed around his figure all the while coloured in pastels that matched the softness of the light marbled room. He looked like an angel in human form but he quickly looked down, once again taking in the cracked floor of the palace.
It was the twenty-fifth attempt on Mingi's life and one Yunho almost wasn’t in time for, he was almost too slow and he paid for it. He paid for it when he saw Mingi forced on his knees as his captures roughly pulled his hair up, forcing him upright. A sword placed on his neck as his blood trickled down. Even thinking about it now made him clenched his jaw, they’re hands touching him, hurting him.He didn’t care how they got in or what they came for or if if Mingi’s death was even what they truly wished for all he cared about was getting Mingi safe and out of harm's way.
“Are you done pouting now?” Pouting? Yunho doesn’t pout, the captain of the royal certainly doesn’t pout.
And without meaning to, he responds. “I’m not pouting, I don’t pout” And for the first time in a few days he heard Mingi let out a giggle, Yunho loved that sound, he treasured it which is why while being an object of Mingi’s amusement for once he didn’t bite back and instead he let the sound wash over the throne room.
“Wallowing then, would you please rise and look at me. Properly, please?” Unable to deny the pleading in his tone Yunho stood up and despite days spent berating himself and punishing himself from looking at the only thing that gave Yunho meaning, he looked. It made guilt swell in his stomach, incapable as he eye trailed over Mingi's figure, unable to tear his eyes away from where a long thin cut ran around the side of his neck, faint bruising on his cheek from a pommel of a sword that Yunho was too slow to stop. Even though it didn’t help much Yunho was glad that the hand that did was no longer a threat, after he made sure of it.
It made feelings that were once buried bubble to the surface, the urge to hide Mingi away so no hand that wants to harm him could, to love and hold, to keep him for himself.
“Come here” It was said so sweetly it could’ve been a siren song and without hesitation Yunho stood and began to climb the steps up to the throne, allowing the noise to fade into the background as he focused on the prince. He kept walking until he stood in front of Mingi and without a word he once again fell to his knees, his hands hesitantly coming to cradle his cheeks. Before he could though he stopped, hands a breath away until Mingi's own hands cups both of Yunhos and gently brings them the rest of the way. His skin was warm and finally, finally Yunho let out a shaky breath and felt the prick of tears in his eyes.
Ming was alive, bruised and scraped but alive.
He didn’t look away, he didn’t want to. He wanted to just look at Mingi forever, imprint his image on his eyelids so the only thing he could see was him. He made the rest of the room fall away and suddenly it was only the two of them. Prince and knight. What a pair they were too, too attached for their stations and especially so since the attempt. Yunho was all too happy to follow after Mingi even more, happily his shadow.
“You did well, my knight” tears tipped over and rushed down his cheeks as Yunho let out a shaky breath.
“ I don’t like seeing you like this, you got hurt. I should’ve-should’ve done better.” Mingi gently shook his head in denial, ever so slightly moving back but before he could pull back fully Yunho chased him causing their foreheads to softly bump against each other.
“I’m here” Mingi said, no longer pulling back, instead he stared definitely into Yunho’s eyes “i’m here and they’re dead, my heart still beats and I still breathe and so should you” Yunho’s hands tighten ever so slightly but Mingi didn’t seem to care, instead he gladly welcomed any it.
And for the first time Yunho could breathe.