Chapter Text

Court Of Dragons

Chapter 1: Prologue.

Stomp. Shhh. Stomp. Shhh. Stomp.

With each of his footsteps against the ground and the loud, long drag of his wings scraping behind with each past through the empty, echoing hall, his men stood guard. The fire in each of the torches kept the room warm and cracked within each minute of each other. His deep voice hummed as he turned to face the empty hall before spreading his wings away from his body and sitting upon his throne. His wings tucked back into his body and he felt his jewellery sway with each movement as he sat comfortably in his throne.

The hall had only been lit by the mere flames on each of the walls and the pillars along the centre of the room. His eyes glowed from the flames and the mere sight of his own group of guards holding a man by his biceps and dragging him into the centre of hall. They dropped him to his knees and stepped aside, allowing him to shake and plead to the men around him.

"Please- p-please, let me go, I've done nothing-" He stammered, his voice cracking from his constant screams before being dragged into the hall.

"Silence" The winged beast-man spoke. His deep voice echoed through the room.

The man fell silent and froze in place, his eyes slowly rising to met where the voice had come from. His breathing ragged and shallow as he waited, anxiously for what would happen to him next.

"Do you, or do you not, have information for me?"

"I-information?" The prisoner questioned, his voice shaking.

"Yes, information regarding the kingdom over, about their loss of riches" The beast-man stood from his throne and walked towards his prisoner with heavy, mighty steps.

"Do you, or do you not, have information?" He demanded, leaning over the man and gripping his hair between his claw like fingernails. His eyes bore a glare that struck fear into the prisoner.

"I do! I do!" The prisoner shouted as he grimaced from the pain.

"Speak"

The beast-man dropped the prisoners head and stood up to tower him. The prisoner looked up at the creature before him and gulped before he spoke.

"The kingdom doesn't have riches, at all, so they're looking to do an arranged marriage with another kingdom on the other side of the forest, t-to the older prince there, their kingdom are more than willing to give up their youngest prince in exchange for r-riches" The man explained, fear still dripping in his voice.

"Is that so?" The beast-man hummed. "When is this wedding to take place? Do you know?"

The man nodded his head. "In a f-few weeks, the kingdoms were hoping the two princes were to fall in love before then.."

"In just a few weeks?" The beast-man laughed. "A few weeks to fall in love, are they stupid?"

He shook his head as he made his way back to his throne. "It wouldn't be true, it would be false, what are they thinking?"

"O-only about the riches..sir.."

The beast-man laughed again with his back still turned. "You make me laugh- well, that kingdom does, trading their own son for riches? Oh how obscure" He then sighs.

"Take him away, don't kill him yet, I need to know more about this arrangement" The beast-man moved his hand in a way as to gesture to his guards to go.

"Wait!, hey! no-" The man shouted as he was being dragged away from the long hall. His voice was cut off by the door closing behind the guards with a heavy, loud, slam.

The beast-man huffed as he raised a clawed hand to his forehead to rub at his temples and pinch at the bridge of his nose between his eyebrows. His chest bubbled with frustration and threatened its way to his teeth, where he clenched them to keep it at bay. He opened his eyes as he looked at his throne. He almost glared at the stone made seat that could only withstand his strength and burning skin.

"Sire.."

"Everyone is dismissed" The beast-man spoke under his breath.

"Pardon..?"

"I said, everyone is dismissed!!" The beast-man shouted as he turned sharply to his guards. "Go!"

All the guards straighten up and quickly made their way out of the hall, their quick footsteps echoing off the walls and the door squeaking open and slamming shut once every guard had left the room.

The beast-man hissed to himself as he sat down on his throne, his head buried into his clawed hands. The kingdoms were so stupid. The poor one practically selling their own son for money and what would be the point in that? The joint kingdom wouldn't have an heir with just two princes. Well, two humans anyway. The beast-man laughed to himself, the prince's- to his knowledge, were human, the richer prince definitely. The poorer kingdoms prince. Well, he hadn't heard anything about the prince, there wasn't anything to go off from. No rumours or even much else. It's why he needed more information. The beast-man knew too much about the richer kingdom, the king, the queen and the prince. But nothing more about the poorer kingdom.

"Your highness-"

"What-" The beast-man looked up from his hands and almost smiled. "My friend, what brings you here?"

"Oh cut the formalities Taehyung-ah" The man laughed.

"You should too, Jimin-ah" Taehyung laughed back as he stood.

"What is this I hear about you wanting to know more about human affairs?" Jimin asked as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"I want leverage"

"Sure, sure, nothing about the younger prince?" Jimin teased with a smile, his eyebrow raised and wings curling away from his body.

"I know nothing about him, I know more about the other prince than the younger one" Taehyung shook his head, his jewels swaying with the motion.

"But I do" Jimin smiled.

"Tell me" Taehyung urged as he stepped closer, his eyes widening with the urge to know more.

"I thought you only wanted leverage?" Jimin hummed. "Anything else you wanted?"

Taehyung smirked and let out a dry chuckle and almost turned away from his friend to not give away the look in his eyes.

"Taehyung." Jimin furrowed his eyebrows. "Taehyung no, we are not doing that"

"Who said anything about 'we'?" Taehyung questioned. "And it would be a good look for the richer kingdom, saving the young prince before their marriage"

Jimin blinked at his friend and then sighed. "Taehyung, I've heard the young prince really likes this guy, what if-"

"What if what?" Taehyung raised an eyebrow. "Jimin-ah, what have you heard about the young prince?"

"That there is something.. different about him.."

This gained Taehyungs attention. "Different? different how?"

"I don't know, just.. different.." Jimin shook his head. "He isn't normal"

"How so?" Taehyung pushed.

"How would I know? that kingdom doesn't talk much, I only was told from the young princes personal servant" Jimin huffed. "Point is, if we-" He gave the other a pointed look. "-Were to do something, like kidnap him, then the other kingdom, would have to make a deal with you for him back"

"And how could they refuse me?" Taehyung questioned as he slowly made his way back to his throne. "Oh and Jimin-ah?"

"Yes?"

"Tell the guards to kill the prisoner on your way out, he's useless to me now" Taehyung sighed as if he was bored.

"Will do" Jimin smiled and turned to make his way out of hall and closed the door with a slam behind him.

The quiet of the hall settled over Taehyung again as he was left alone. Alone with his thoughts, his heartbeat, his breath and the raging, growing hate and unknown feeling growing within his chest; a feeling he swore he'd never, ever feel. It was a childish promise of course, a promise a younger, more child-like thought and just the type of promise you'd make as young as four years old. The 'Ew, I'll never, ever fall in love with anyone at all' Taehyung knew it wasn't love he was feeling. He knew that. But it was the opposite to love; or what goes hand in hand with it. He grimaced at the feeling because dragons don't feel jealously. They feel greed. Why greed, he wasn't sure. Greed is only for wanting gems, jewels or gold. Maybe he wanted more gold from the richer kingdom. Maybe that's what it was. Just wanting gold. Just wanting jewels. Just wanting gems. That's the greed he felt, nothing more or nothing else.

Greed sneaks in and whispers in your ear. Just softly, just slight urges and pushes. A dragon and greed go hand in hand. So why question it? Taehyung shouldn't; and yet he does.

"It's not greed" He whispers to himself. "Not in the normal greedy, dragon way"

Of course it's not. Not in the wanting gold, gems or jewels way.

"It's not jealously either"

Not that either.

"I am greedy for that prince, that little young prince that has a secret" Taehyung muttered and then smiled. "A little secret only for me to find out and know" He felt crazy saying this aloud. "It will be mine"

"Mine, only" He wasn't sure what he meant by that.

The door opening broke him out of his thoughts and he glanced at the main guard he had appointed as the leader and trainer of the lot.

"Yes?" Taehyung purred.

"Sire, the prisoner has been executed as you ordered"

"Good, good.." Taehyung trailed off as he nodded. "and what of the fortune teller?"

"She is.." The guard hesitated for a second.

"What? spit it out" Taehyung stood from his throne and jumped from the chair to be in front of the guard. "Speak" His voice low and growled past his teeth.

"She has made another prophecy" The guard spoke.

"Take me to her"

The guard simply nodded and turned to walk out of the hall. Taehyung followed behind, the ends his wings dragging along the floor with each step. The halls echoed the heels of his boots and his robes dragged with grace, down stairs and around corners. Into the darker halls of the prison cells below the upper castle floors. The halls only lit by torches and the flames slowly dying out, bit by bit. Then humming. Light and frail, airy and breathy. Giggling softly between small mutters.

Taehyung came to a stop. His guard moved to stand to the side and the dragon moved to stand before the bars where the prophet sat behind, rocking back and forth in the middle of her cell; she stopped. Her head rising and looking up at the dragon and then a smile hauntingly graced it's way on to her lips.

The sound of a few water drops broke the silence of the prison halls and the prophet smiled. The sound of a few water drops broke the silence of the prison halls and the prophet smiled. The sound of a few water drops broke the silence of the prison halls and the prophet smiled. The sound of a few water drops broke the silence of the prison halls and the prophet smiled. The sound of a few water drops broke the silence of the prison halls and the prophet smiled. The sound of a few water drops broke the silence of the prison halls and the prophet smiled. The sound of a few water drops broke the silence of the prison halls and the prophet smiled. The sound of a few water drops broke the silence of the prison halls and the prophet smiled.

The sound of a few water drops broke the silence of the prison halls and the prophet smile grew.

"My, my, what brings our dear lord down to see little old me?" Her voice flowed out like a song, like the tune she was humming before.

"I heard you had another prophecy" Taehyung stared at the women, his eyes dark with anger.

"Speak"

"Hm! Why should I?" She huffed and looked away. "It's shouldn't concern you, it was only about a little prince" She shrugged.

"The young prince?" Taehyung asked. The prophet look back at him and almost smiled.

"Oh so you do know about him" She giggled. "What would you like to know? Hmm?"

"Everything you saw" Taehyung huffed. "Don't be difficult"

"Ugh.. fine fine" She groaned. "He is hesitant about this arrangement.."

"As anyone would be.." Taehyung muttered.

"Shut it" The prophet warned in a voice that turned dark. "You should be quiet or else you won't hear it" She glared at him.

"Continue" Taehyung simply respond.

"Fine…" She sighed. "As I was saying; he's hesitant, he doesn't mind it but is willing to make it work with the other, though he hasn't spoken about his secret, his little secret that his parents told him to never speak of~" She teased.

"What's his secret?" Taehyung pushed.

"I can't see it" She shrugged. "I simply cannot see it" She looked at Taehyung and then smiled. "I can't begin to see what his little secret can do for you"

"What?" Taehyung breathed.

"Yeah, it's a powerful thing.." She nodded. "But, I'm not sure how or in what way it helps you out later.." She shrugged.

"What do you mean by 'later'?" Taehyung questioned harshly.

"Later, future, past, now.. whenever that may be, timelines are annoying" She huffed. "But, I wonder how you'll react when you see his face"

"Stop speaking in tongues, human.." Taehyung spat.

The prophet glanced up at him and moved to stand up in front of the bars. She smiled as she wrapped her hands around the cold, dirty steel.

"He'll be your most precious jewel of them all" She giggled. "That is, if you decide to keep him"

"Keep… him?"

"Yes, keep him" The prophet nodded. "Keep means many things to you, does it not?"

Taehyung took a second to reply, his lips twitched with frustration. "Yes, it does."

"You'll figure it out" She moved away from the bars. "That's all for now"

"That's it?!" Taehyung shouted.

"Feisty, no wonder..well, of course he would.." She giggled to herself. "Yes that's all I have to say- Oh! One more thing, I don't think the darkness would be best, that's all." She smiled and sat back down with a small little wave.

"Bye bye"

Taehyung glared at the prophet locked away in her cell before he turned around and walked back out of the prison halls and back up the stairs that way he came to head back to his throne room. Only to stop before the doors and look down another hallway towards the east wing where an empty room with a bed lay still.

He shook his head. "Whatever.."

Taehyung turned away from the throne room doors and to the west wing of his castle. Towards his own quarters to sleep for the night. Or at least try to. He'll be thinking for too long yet again. Head too full of thoughts and loud each and every night.

Maybe it'll be quieter another night. 

Chapter Text

Court Of Dragons

Chapter 2: Deal?

The dragon beast-man groaned as he heard the muffled screams from their newest prisoner being dragged into the hall, warmed from the torches surrounding the room. The guards shuffled closer to the dragons side with the prisoner in tow and pushed him to his knees.

Upon the morning of being told about the arrangement, Taehyung had ordered his group of men to hunt down the poorer kingdoms prince. It had been a few weeks, with little to no sign of the boy. But upon the day of the wedding, his men saw the carriage they were using the escort the prince to the other kingdom. They took it upon themselves to ambush and attack leaving the horses to run and the coachman left for dead. They took the prince, knocked him out with a type of powder that came from a certain flower of the colour dark purple to almost black, tied his wrists behind his back, placing a gag made from a dark red scarf and placed a sack over his head.

The prince apparently had woken up upon arrival to the dragons domain and was struggling to get free, bruising his pale wrists that had turned red over time from the struggle. His pants dirty with mud at the knees along with his loose sleeved shirt, under his vest, dirtied at the elbows. The whole outfit was a pale blue to white and the mud definitely did ruin it but Taehyung did not care.

"Bring him forward" Taehyung ordered as he rose from his throne, made his way a little closer and stood waiting for them the prince closer.

The guards brought him closer with ease, the prince seemed to have stopped struggling, giving up on fighting and just let his head hang down in defeat. Taehyung let out a heated huffed of his breath and lowered his head down to face the sack over the prince's head.

"Let's see what this prince looks like, hmm?" Taehyung hummed as he smirked eyeing the sack before grabbing it with his clawed fingers and lifting it off of the prince's head.

However, as he did, and moved the sack away from blocking the prince's face, his smirk fell and his eyes widened. He had never heard anything about how the young prince looked, no one spoke of his looks. No rumours or even tales. But here he was kneeling right in front of him and Taehyung felt something shift within his gut. He felt his breath get caught within his throat and almost stumbled in his stance, the sack falling to the ground from his hand.

The young prince, blinked once the sack was pulled off his head, his doe eyes looking around the room in confusion and trying to get used to the lighting as his eyebrows furrowed from the light on his face. His hair fell over his eyes but stuck up oddly from the sack having been pulled off his head. The dark red scarf sat between his reddened, chapped lips and pulled at his chubby cheeks. His eyes finally landed on Taehyung and they widened with shock, fear and something else. He gasped through the scarf between his teeth and almost fell back in shock.

"Well.." Taehyung trailed off. He then laughed as he lowered his face to be closer to the princes. "Who would've guess that the young prince was this beautiful? Such a treasure."

Taehyung took the boys jaw between to clawed fingers, though not harshly, he didn't want to mark the boy. He moved the boys face around slowly, his eyes spotting multiple moles around his face, upon his nose and below his bottom lip. His eyes stopped upon a newly formed cut on his left cheek, blood welting on the surface a little, though probably dried.

"Who did that?" Taehyung questioned as his eyes rose to face his guards and darkened as they landed on his men. "I asked who caused that cut?"

"It was an accident-" One spoke up.

"Accident? I told you lot to not leave any mark him or harm him in anyway, we need him untouched before the kingdoms realise he's gone" Taehyung stood up as he growled at his men.

"It probably happened when we were trying to knock him out.." another guard spoke up.

"What did you use?" Taehyung growled.

"Night-dust" The same guard spoke up.

"Night-dust?" Taehyung questioned harshly and then looked back to the prince, who had tears welling up in his eyes and looking up at the beast-man, just watching; eyes glistening with anxiety.

Taehyung clicked through his teeth as he looked back at his guards. "What else happened?"

"One of the others gloves must've nicked his cheek when they put the scarf in his mouth.."

Taehyung let out a breath. His wings twitched as he turned around to think; to not make eye contact with the prince and his absolute beauty, because Taehyung was in shock. He didn't expect the prince to be so beautiful. He just wanted to kidnap the prince for a petty deal, a mere trade but now? Now he doesn't even want any deals. Not for gold, not for gems, not for jewels. Nothing. His dragons desire just wants the prince.

"Your highness..?"

Taehyung turned and his eyes fell to the prince upon hearing a sob fall from the boy.

"Take him away.." Taehyung looked up at his guards. "To the dungeon, and then wait until I order you to bring him back"

"Yes sire" The guard moved forward to pick up the sack to place it on the prince's head again.

"Wait." Taehyung raised a hand quickly. "Make sure that the cell is clean enough for him and.." He glanced at the prince, whose eyes kept shifting from the sack and the dragon.

"..Don't place it back on him… he's scared enough as it is" Taehyung lowered his hand.

"You're dismissed"

"But sire-" One protested.

"I said you're dismissed!" Taehyung glared at his men. "Take him down to the dungeon now or I'll be the one to throw you into the neighbouring volcano myself"

The threat was indeed very real. He made sure to big it into their skulls the moment they decided to partake in his domain and be apart of his plans; to be apart of his ways that were deemed horrid. If they fell out of line, they were dead. By himself or others. It was worse if it was by his own hand. He had no mercy for those who wanted to betray his trust or thoughts. He loved to watch the fear strike it's way into their eyes and then, and only, then will be the last thing they ever saw would be his eyes in his dragon form.

The last thing Taehyung would see would be their fear and smell it through their skin.

"Yes s-sir-" the guards stammered and took the prince by his arms again to take him away.

Taehyung watched as the prince's eyes widened and his tears finally fell down his cheeks. One by one, falling delicately from his lashes and to his cheeks, gracefully falling down to the scarf against his cheeks. His dark brown doe eyes never left the dragons, and Taehyung felt the twist in his gut again. He felt his face softened and almost gave in to the terrified expression upon the prince face. The prince looked like a little, terrified bunny.

Taehyung then turned around to not face him. To get rid of the weird, twisting, feeling in his gut and build his wall back up. He listened as his men took the boys out of the hall, without fuss or strain. It seemed the prince gave in, and was planning to wait until he was rescued.

At least that's what Taehyung hoped and planned for.

Taehyung heard the door slamming shut and walked back to his throne. Sitting upon it and sinking into deep thought. What was he feeling? Why was he feeling this when he looked upon the princes face? He couldn't think about that, he wouldn't. The prince was in an arranged marriage. He was using the young, pretty thing as leverage, just leverage. Nothing more, nothing less. Just a tool.

A tool. Just a tool.

Why would Taehyung even want the prince? Why did his dragon side want to tuck him away from dangers and from his fiancé? Why? Would he? He couldn't think. Instead of having the urge to hoard gold like any other dragon would, he wanted to hoard the prince away. Taehyung didn't understand why. The prince wasn't his at all, he was apart of a deal. The two kingdoms deal and now his own. For gold. Much like the richer kingdoms plan for him. And exchange for gold. One kingdom gets the prince the other, poorer one gets gold. Simple.

But why it did bother him so much?

"Shut it" He hissed to himself and rubbed his face with his claw like hand, his eyes closing on contact. His claws crackling against his horns and jewellery as he went.

The crackle of the flames made him almost scream from the noise. Then the squeaked the door made him glare from the corner of his eye and between his fingers.

"Sire.."

"What is it?" Taehyung questioned with a groan.

"The prince is in a cell now, he is sitting against the back fall" The guard explained and stood tall.

"Good, any news about the other prince yet?" Taehyung asked with a deeper tone.

"Not yet, sire, probably soon"

Taehyung nodded. "Do let me know"

"Yes sire" The guard nodded before speaking up again hesitantly. "May I ask a question?"

Taehyung licked his lips and looked at the guard with a rather amused expression. "Proceed"

"I, and many other men had wondered why you've been.. kind-"

"Kind?" Taehyung growled, eyes narrowing.

"Well, not kind per say, just nicer to the prince than anyone else-"

"I haven't been nice to him, nor kind at all, he is in my dungeon is he not?" Taehyung asked.

"Well, yes"

"Then I am not being kind" Taehyung replied as he looked away from his guard.

"I see" The guard nodded.

"You're dismissed, only come back when you have news about the other prince" Taehyung gestured the other to leave.

"Yes sire-" The guard was about to leave when another walked up to him and whispered in his ear. "He's here"

Taehyung smiled and looked back towards his guard. "Let's him approach, and bring up our prisoner, he has a guest"

The two guards nodded and left the hall to go to the dungeon below. Taehyung on the other hand waited, sat upon his throne, for the other prince to arrive.

Taehyung heard the clanking of metal and the squeaking of shoes against his flooring. He heard the sound of a sword being taken out of its scabbard with a loud, echoing graze against mental on metal. The dragon laughed to himself; oh the stupidity of this human.

"You've arrived" Taehyung hummed out as he heard the prince approach through the open door. "Took you long enough"

"Where is he?" The prince demanded.

"Oh hush now, he's here, he's just coming up from my dungeon now" Taehyung chuckled.

"Then what do you want?"

"What do I want?" Taehyung questioned as he shifted in his throne to lay his legs over the side of it and his wings behind the other side.

"What. Do. I. Want.?" He gritted his teeth. "I want a deal"

"A deal?"

"Yes a deal. I want your riches, your gold, in exchange for your fiancé " He then looked towards the prince out of side of his eye and smirked when he saw his guards dragging his prisoner; the young prince into the hall at up to his side.

"You are aware I have your fiancé, right?" Taehyung asked as he stood up and walked over to his men.

"Place him on his knees" He spoke to his men silently. The guards pushed the younger prince down and he groaned as he landed on his knees.

"Come on, beg" Taehyung lowered his face to the boy. "Beg for your fiancé's help, beg for him to trade you for gold" He nodded to his men to take the scarf out of the boys mouth.

The young prince coughed softly, his throat and mouth felt dry before he locked eyes with his fiancé.

"Seungtae- listen-listen to what he wants, listen to his demands" The young princes voice came out shaken but beautiful and soft on the dragons ears. "He just wants gold- so promise him the gold and we can go"

Taehyung turned to look at the prince- Seungtae, and they locked eyes. Seungtae then looked at his fiancé and a smile grew on his face. It turned into a big, large mouth open grin and a crackle of a laugh escaped his mouth. Taehyung blinked in confusion at the reaction, he glanced to the younger prince and than back to Seungtae.

"W-why are you..?" The boys voice trailed off softly but his face showed clear sighs of confusion.

"Jeongguk, you really expected me to save you? go back with you? I didn't want to marry you, I just wanted to take over your kingdom, I didn't even like your company, why expect me to save you?" Seungtae exclaimed as he used his sword to gesture at the prince.

"But-..I thought we could try to make it work... I enjoyed your company, I started to love you-" A sob dropped from his lips as his head hung in shame.

"And you thought I'd feel the same?" Seungtae asked. Though the question was rhetorical. "Oh poor, poor, little Jeongguk; no one would ever love you, you're too predicable, too easy, too trusting" Seungtae locked eyes with Taehyung again.

"I can sort my own deal with the his kingdom, I don't need to marry him" Seungtae smirked before sliding his sword back into its scabbard. "I merely came here to see if you had killed him or not, now that I know you haven't.."

Taehyung watched as Seungtae's smirk fell. "You can keep him and I can take over his land"

"Why would I?" Taehyung spoke up, glaring at the man.

"Kill him for all I care" Seungtae shrugged. "I don't want him, I'm also guessing his parents didn't either with how eager they were to give him up, just like that" He clicked his fingers.

"Leave" Taehyung spoke lowly.

"Sorry, what was that?" Seungtae asked.

"I said, leave!" Taehyung roared. "You will never dare set foot into my domain ever again, you will stay away from my land and my castle for the rest of eternity" He exclaimed.

"Gladly" Seungtae turned around. "Goodbye Jeongguk, may we never meet again"

With those final words the doors closed behind him with a creek and a loud bang. Taehyung stood, eyes transfixed on the door with the most confused expression on his face. He turned around to face the younger prince, Jeongguk, that he now had learned the name of and witnessed the boy kneeling with his head hanging low and crying softly to himself.

Taehyung felt his gut twist at the sight.

"Untie him" Taehyung ordered softly.

"But sire?"

"Do you dare question me? I said untied him, then once that's done lead him to the spare room in the east wing, he does not deserve to be in my dungeon" Taehyung ordered.

His men nodded and untied the boy, letting him stand. Jeongguk blinked at the dragon and then looked at the men around him.

"Why can't I go back?" Jeongguk asked, his voice cracking with despair.

"Would you want to?" Taehyung questioned softly, his eyes trailing down the boys face, etching the tears, watery eyes and blank expression into his brain.

"No" Jeongguk shook his head. "If..if my parents really didn't want me around anymore and would rather send me off to.. to him, then why should I go back?"

"Then don't" Taehyung shook his head. "Lead him to the room, I'll deal with him later"

"Yes sire"

Jeongguk followed the guards through the hall but before leaving the room he turned to look over his shoulder at the dragon, who stood there, his head low and wings lowering with an exhale.

Jeongguk stopped for a second, just admiring the dragons appearance, his horns that sat amongst his black hair that trailed down the back of his neck, his scales gracing his cheek bones with the colours rose gold and black, With eyes of the deepest, softest brown.

Jeongguk wondered why the dragon acted with kindness towards him and not others.

"Move along" One of the men said as he pushed Jeongguk along.

"Sorry" Jeongguk replied in a whisper and followed the men down the halls.

What he didn't realise was that Taehyung watched from over his shoulder. Confused by his own actions.

Chapter Text

Court Of Dragons

Chapter 3: Silk Sheets and Questions

The tapping of Jeongguk's shoes against the tiled flooring echoed around the halls as he was brought into the room of the east wing. The hall lightly lit by the setting sun through the barely covered windows with ripped cotton sheets. Jeongguk's eyes fluttered as he had glanced at the ripped cotton sheets and saw how it looked like claw marks. He let out a shaky breath as he was lead towards the room.

The dragons men pushed him forward into the room. It made Jeongguk look behind him and at them with an offended yet confused expression.

"What-"

"Do not leave this room unless his majesty says so" One of the guards ordered.

"And what will he do if I do leave?" Jeongguk asked trying to look at the guards face but couldn't through the mesh like mask.

The guard kept silent but brought a hand up to his neck and closed his hand whilst leaving his thumb out and made a quick cutting motion away from his neck.

"Oh-" Jeongguk choked out and quietly watched as the guards left the room. The doors creaked as they shut behind them, leaving the young prince alone.

Jeongguk looked away from the doors and looked around the room he was brought to. The room itself was quiet big, the bed sat in the middle of the room, sheets where tucked in and bedding well made, but it was hard to tell what they were made of from where he stood. The room had an old vanity and wardrobe by the corner. The wallpaper was peeling in a few places. There was a thick layer of dust on everything.

Jeongguk took a breath and then walked towards the bed to look over it to work out what the material was and it was just a cotton sheet with a thicker blanket on top with detailed patterns on it. He let his fingers brush over it and grimaced at the dusty feel. Jeongguk picked up the thicker blankets and pulled it off the bed to try and shake it out.

Upon doing so, he dropped it to the floor and coughed a bit before sneezing from the influx of dust hitting his nose.

"Uh.." Jeongguk groaned as he sniffed and took a breath. "Too much dust.." He muttered to himself.

"Sorry"

Jeongguk jumped a bit from where he was standing and turned around to see Taehyung standing in the doorway of the room. Jeongguk questioned himself about how he didn't hear the door opening but realised that it probably happened whilst he was sneezing.

"Huh-?" Jeongguk blinked at the other.

"The dust.." Taehyung sighed. "It's been years since someone has been in this room.." He looked around the room, his eyes landing on the blanket on the floor. His eyebrows furrowing and face stiff as he sees it.

"Oh!" Jeongguk quickly picked up the thicker blanket. "Sorry, I was trying to get the dust off it, since.. I might..be sleeping here..?" He wasn't sure.

"Yes" Taehyung replied his eyes going back to the young princes face. "There are some old items of clothing in the wardrobe you may use to sleep in or even change into.." his eyes drifting to the other's pants, stained with mud.

Jeongguk followed his gaze and looked down at his legs before looking back up. "Right.. thank you…?"

Taehyung glanced back up to the others eyes, almost glaring in a way before he frowns. "You don't deserve to know my name"

"But you know mine" Jeongguk argued. 

"And that's how it will stay" Taehyung replied.

"But that's improper" Jeongguk shook his head.

"Your manners of the high court have no meaning here, dragons do not care for it, we use different ways" Taehyung replied. "Unlearn those ways, you'll never use it here"

"But I-"

Taehyung snarled at the prince. "I said unlearn those ways" his gaze hard as he bore a glare into the price.

"Well, what about your customs? Should I know of them?" Jeongguk questioned as he sat down on the bed. "If I should you need to teach me"

"I'll teach you nothing"

"Then I have questions" Jeongguk insisted as he stood up from where he sat.

"I won't give answers" Taehyung shook his head.

Jeongguk took a breath. "Please, I only have a few" his face was sullen with a plead and a pout on his lips. 

"Fine, but only three" Taehyung agreed with a stiff expression but his eyes softened ever so slightly.

"Three? But I more–"

Taehyung glared. "Just three"

"Okay" Jeongguk sighed. "My first question, Why did you kidnap me? Out of the two of us, why me? Why not him?"

Taehyung looked away from the prince before him and out of the window. He stood there for a few seconds; just thinking about what to say and the best way to say it, but let's face it, anyway he does won't make it sound better than what it was.

"I had no info on you; knew nothing about you or your personal background, I knew about his side, I know about his kingdom being richer and your kingdom being poorer, I was only told there was something special about you" Taehyung then looked back to the prince. "You were perfect because I had nothing against you, I had information against him"

"Right.." Jeongguk breathed. "And the special thing, do you know what?"

Taehyung shook his head. "No, I wasn't told"

"Good.." Jeongguk sighed in relief. "I don't want it to be.. Known I guess? I don't know, it's something my parents didn't want to get out.."

"I see" Taehyung hummed.

"My second question.." Jeongguk sat down on the bed again. "Is there anything I need to be aware of during my stay here?"

Taehyung took a breath and let it out slow.

"One; do not enter the throne room during the day, Two; If you want food the kitchen is to the left once you step out of this room and down the hall, Three; Do not enter the west wing at all, under any circumstances and Four; I am not your friend, my guards aren't your friends either, got it?"

"Got it" Jeongguk nodded. "My last question.." He looked around the room and his eyes landed on the wardrobe. "Who else here before?"

Taehyung's jaw tensed as he started to glare at the other man. "I won't answer that"

"You said you would though!" Jeongguk

"I didn't say I would give answers to personal questions" Taehyung glared at the prince before he stepped to turn around and leave. But Jeongguk stood up quickly to run after him and grab his arm to stop him.

"Wait! Wait! I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" Jeongguk hastily apologised. "I didn't mean to, I didn't realise it was so personal..I'm sorry"

Taehyung felt his arm tingle once he felt the others hand touch his arm through the fabric of his sleeve, his wings almost clinging to his body as he felt the touch and a shiver run down his spine and up to his head. His head slowly turned to look at the boy and his face morphed from the anger he had to a shock that melted to confusion. Their eyes locked and Jeongguk stepped back, letting go of the dragon beast-mans arm.

"Sorry.." Jeongguk breathed out of the apology.

"You have a bad habit of apologising" Taehyung pointed out, a dragon like huff left his nose.

"I-" He clamped his lips shut and looked away from the dragon. "Can I ask a different question then?"

"Speak" Taehyung growled.

"Are you able to hide your horns and wings or are they always out like this?"

"What?" Taehyung actually broke into a smile, assumed by the question. "What kind of question is that!?" He almost broke into laughter.

"I'm curious is all" Jeongguk whined and shrugged.

"Yes" Taehyung nodded. "But I haven't, because it feels closest to home when I'm like this" he gestured to himself.

"Really?" Jeongguk blinked. "huh… May I see you with them hidden one day? Or does it hurt?" He asked.

Taehyung's smile fell in that moment. He glanced at the prince for a second before looking away again and turning around to leave again. "No"

"No to what?" Jeongguk asked with confusion in his tone.

"To both" Taehyung said in a low tone. "You will never see them hidden away, ever" He glared from over his shoulder.

Taehyung then stepped out of the room and let the door squeak close then with closed with a bang behind him. The noise almost, almost made Jeongguk jump from where he stood and he stared at the door. He sighed as he looked around the dust lined room. He looked down at his vest and unbuttoned it; the vest felt like it was constricting his breathing. The situation was both scary and exciting to him; excitement he didn't know why but he was glad to be away from his parents, his kingdom and prison like room back at his kingdom. His room here felt homely, dusty but homely.

He took a breath once the vest was off and placed on the bed. His linen like shirt hung loosely around his body; he felt like he could finally breathe again. Jeongguk untucked the shirt from his pants, leaving it to sway around his hips and over his pants. He made his way over to the wardrobe to have a look inside it.

His eyes fluttered as they landed on the loose silk shirts, some more linen ones and some some pants made of the same material as his own. Which was more lien. It only seemed to be in whites for the shirts and blacks maybe dark browns for the pants. The silk shirts however were in a red colour. Jeongguk wondered if the pervious person who lived in the room had a favourite item to wear.

"I should get changed to sleep..I don't think the dragon will be back tonight.." Jeongguk muttered to himself. "Ah why didn't I urge him to tell me his name? I feel bad calling him 'the dragon'… though it is better than beast.." He let out a sigh as he spoke through his clenched teeth and loosely closed lips.

"Whatever…I'll still show him respect..he did save me..in a way.." Jeongguk shook his head as he grabbed a silk and turned to place it on the bed.

He slipped off his own loose linen shirt and his skin glistened in the moonlight, the pale tones shone like the the whitest clouds in darkest night. His fingers grazed his skin, over the littered faded scars covering his torso, along his ribs and waist. He was not the one who inflict them upon himself, for he was just a mere victim.

Jeongguk let out a staggered breath from the memories invading his mind and shook his head as he grabbed the red silk shirt and harshly tugged it on. Hiding the faded scars. Even though they were hidden, they would never be forgotten.

"One day.." Jeongguk whispered to himself. "One day someone will see me as I am and not.." He gripped at his sides, almost trying to cover the already covered scars with the palm of his hand.

"As.. not human.." Jeongguk gulped. "But I am.." He tried to take a breath, holding back a sob. "I am human, as any human with humanity can be.."

Jeongguk turned to look out the only uncovered window of the room.

"Please, I just want to be treated with humanity" He practically begged to the pale moon. "Humanity and respect..with love.."

Jeongguk turned away as he felt tears drip from his lashes and land on his cheeks. He used the back of his hand to tap them away and unbuckled his belt to take his pants off. It’s more comfortable to sleep without them on.

He dropped them to the floor and kicked them off along with his boots. He stepped out of them and placed them on the chair by the vanity.

Jeongguk walked back over to the thick blanket that laid on the floor and placed it back on the bed. Laying it out flat and pulling the blankets back to slide in under them.

Jeongguk sighed as he slid down into the cotton covered pillows and stared up at the ceiling. There were patterns that had been carved into. He turned to lay on his side and stared at the doors; closed but no locked.

Hopefully he won't have nightmares tonight.

Hopefully he wouldn't scream.

Jeongguk wouldn't want to disturb the dragon during the night with childish actions and displeasure's.

There wasn't much else he could do if it happens. He wouldn't tell the dragon. Because as he said, they weren't friends.

Taehyung walked around his room in a black robes and stood by his window. He stared outside at the moon and sighed as he slumped his shoulders down to relax them. He brought his hand up to his face to rub it in frustration. That prince, that boy. The beauty of the moon and the stars combined. Asking the most, amusing questions. Taehyung couldn't help but snicker at the mere thought. Why should he hide his horns and wings, it's what makes him who he is. Who he is always was.

With a huff he shifted the linen cover on the window to cover it again. He then made his way towards his own bed, messy like his mind, covered with shiny silk sheets and slipped under them, his wings splayed out under him on his big, bigger than a king size bed.

There were many thoughts fluttering in his head. There was a human in his castle. A human in a room where someone he knew years ago used to live. Someone personal.

He groaned as he didn't want to even think about his past. His past that he's willing to forget.

Maybe it'll be easier as the night goes on or even as days go by.

He didn't even know how long he had been awake, until he heard a scream from down the halls. He shot up from his bed and looked towards his own closed doors.

Taehyung got up from his bed and made his way towards his doors and harshly opened them. He saw his guards standing outside his door and looked between the two of them.

"What was that? Where did that come from?" Taehyung asked his men.

Before they could reply another scream echoed through the halls.

"It's been happening for a few minutes now, we assumed it was the prisoners in the dungeon" One guard spoke up.

"Well, it sounds like it's coming from the princes room" Taehyung growled at him before making his way down the halls and towards the room Jeongguk was staying in.

Taehyung didn't know why he was even bothering to check on the other. Something inside him told him to check.

As he was about to push the doors open, another scream echoed through the halls but there was something in that scream that haunted and echoed in his mind.

"Stop! It burns! It hurts!" Cried the human. "..There's too much.."

"Too much..?" Taehyung whispered to himself as he stood there listening, trying to work out what was happening.

"You took too much.."

"Of what..?" Taehyung whispered to himself again and then pushed open the door as he rushed inside to see Jeongguk rolling back and forth in his bed.

"Don't take more..please.. I'm sorry.." Jeongguk cried. "Stop it.."

Taehyung rushed over to the sleeping prince and as he placed a hand on his shoulder fo try and wake him up, Jeongguk's eyes shot up and he sat up before whispering something that made Taehyung's skin claw and heart stutter.

"Blood.." 

Chapter Text

Court Of Dragons

Chapter 4: Blood.

After the whisper of the word that fell from Jeongguk's lips, he laid back in bed and fell back asleep. Taehyung however, couldn't.

He went back to his room and spent the night pacing back and forth. He was stuck in his mind, wondering why Jeongguk had said 'blood' and what he was dreaming about. Well, not dreaming, more like what that nightmare was about. Taehyung had seen blood, he had seen bones, broke and not, pulled from bodies, some with flesh still attached. He had seen organs and mutilated limbs scattered on a battle field. He had seen his own people's wings ripped from their body's and throw carelessly away, as if they were nothing.

It's why Taehyung shows his own; he is proud of his appearance. His wings, his horns and scales. He loves to boast, stand tall and almost imit more confidence than he cares to admit.

What Taehyung would not admit aloud, however, is the fact he felt fear. For the first time in many, many years, he felt fear, what he also felt was pity. Not for himself but for Jeongguk. Pity over a childish nightmare. Was it really childish though?

He halted in his steps. Was it? Childish? No. People have nightmares all the time. He was his enemies worst nightmare. But he could not feel angry at himself for feeling pity. Jeongguk had been through enough already. Maybe more that Taehyung didn't know.

Before Taehyung realised the sunrise had risen, he felt the suns warmth touch his honey golden skin, through the gaps of his curtain covered windows. He sighed as he looked down at himself, upon arriving back to his room he disregarded his shirt for the night and now stood with only his loose black pants.

He groaned and just grabbed his black rode that had been hanging on the back of a wooden chair. Due to his wings being ever so big, he had to cut slits from the bottom of the rode to the same level where his shoulder blades were, in order to slide the rode on and over his wings. It draped along his back and towards the ground.

Taehyung shifted his shoulders to feel the robe shift and flow comfortably around his shoulders. He sighed as he rubbed under his eyes, feeling the bags from the lack of sleep.

Taehyung turns to make his way towards the doors of his quarters out of the doors. As he stepped out he glanced at his guards and almost snarled at them.

"Was he quiet the rest of the night?" Taehyung questioned.

"Yes sire" The guard replied.

Taehyung nodded. "Good, I'll be checking on him now, don't follow"

"Yes sire" The guard replied again.

Taehyung made his way around his halls, past the throne room doors and towards where the young prince was sleeping. He stood in front of the doors, thinking about if he should knock or not, before placing his ear against the wood of it. He could hear breathing, shallow and then a snore that echoed in the room.

Taehyung pushed the door open and cringed at the loud squeak of it and makes mental note to fix it later. Old castles always need fixing.

He made his way over to where Jeongguk was sleeping, leaning over to see how the young prince was still dead asleep. Jeongguk's mouth parted and a snore escapes his lips.

Taehyung sighed through his nose and stood up straight, the movement making his wings brush against the blankets and cause the prince to stir from his sleep.

"Huh..? Oh it's you" Jeongguk grumbled whilst looking over his shoulder with a half open eye, the other still closed. "Good morning.."

Taehyung watched as Jeongguk stretched and sat up in bed, watched as he ruffled his hair as he looked around the room taking in the room. Taehyung kept a blank expression, stiff, lips in a thin line and his eyes just followed.

Just followed.

"How is it a 'good morning' when you kept the castle up almost all night with your obnoxious screaming..?" Taehyung asked, his voice showcasing the tired nature of his words.

"I did..?" Jeongguk blinked and turned to look up at the dragon. "Oh.. I'm terribly sorry.." He grimaced and hung his head in shame.

Taehyung stood in shock for a second. Sorry? He was sorry? Taehyung blinked. He didn't feel mad about it. He couldn't, he felt that pity again in the pit of his stomach. It ached and crawled and gnawed at his insides.

"…you're sorry..?" Taehyung breathed the questioned out. He didn't have anger in his tone, just curiosity.

"Yes, I'm sorry, I should've mentioned them.. I just didn't think they'd affect me now that I'm.." Jeongguk gestured around and to the room. "..here.."

"But I do apologise, I do hope that you ignore my screaming from now on or even try to…" Jeongguk turned back to the dragon. "..I don't have anything to stop them..other than just letting it happen"

Taehyung sighed and placed a hand on his own hip whilst the other pinched the skin between his eyes on his nose. "Can I ask a question?"

Jeongguk's eyes went wide and he nodded. "Sure, one or as many as you want"

Taehyung snickered for a second, thinking back to when he allowed only three. He took a breath. "Why did you say blood?"

"I said that..?" Jeongguk asked, there was a shakiness to his voice.

"Yes?" Taehyung replied confused.

"But why should I tell you?" Jeongguk asked, he looked down at his hands. "We aren't close as friends, we're strangers, why should I tell you?"

Taehyung swallowed and took a breath. "If I have to listen to your screaming every night then I need to know the reason for them, you kept shouting that they were taking something, that it hurt, that they needed to stop, who was doing it? Who were they? Who are-"

"My parents" Jeongguk interrupted the dragon with a forced voice. He was still looking at his hands in his lap, fingers fiddling with each other.

"Your parents..?" Taehyung questioned.

"They.. they were taking..taking my blood.." Jeongguk breathed, he was trying not to cry.

"Why.." Taehyung dropped the hand that was on his hip and moved to sit in front of the prince on the bed.

Jeongguk looked up and his eyes held unshed tears, glistening with wetness and shaking as he looked around the dragons face. His eyes landed on the dragons scales. Admiring the way there was a rose gold sheen to the black. He sniffed before he took a deeper breath.

"That special thing you heard about.. it's to do with that…" Jeongguk started to bite his lip and then stopped. "Since I came from a poor kingdom, in the sense of wealth, we had a lot of sick towns folk.. and you must've heard about the fact that people who were sick suddenly got better over night as if it were magic, right?"

"I heard about that yes" Taehyung nodded.

"They..my parents, they would cut, wound, harm me in any way they could to get my blood.." Jeongguk almost laughed. "My blood healed the townsfolk.. but it took a toll on me"

Taehyung stared at the prince. He was still stoned face but his inner turmoil was loud. How could two people do that to their own child? Their own flesh and blood. Their own son; their own child. Their family. He felt like he was going to be sick, and that said a lot about the outlook Taehyung had being the bad guy. He had seen it all, bone, muscle, veins, organs and anything else he couldn't think of at that moment but one things for certain. A dragons bond with their own family is sacred, it's either you are bonded by the familiar bond and ways, love, romantic or not. But the actions of Jeongguk's parents just didn't sit right with him.

"Parents shouldn't do that.." Taehyung finally spoke.

"I know.." Jeongguk replied, his voice breaking.

Then Taehyung did something that shocked the both of them. He grabbed the prince by his shoulders, and pulled the human towards him and moved his arms to be wrapped around Jeongguk's body. Taehyung's wings moved to try and shield the other; from everything. Taehyung felt the the gasp, he felt Jeongguk's arm wrap around him and rest his head on the dragons shoulder.

Taehyung felt a warm, wet drop of liquid hit his shoulder and realised the prince was crying against his skin. Taehyung felt his eyes fluttered and his heart ache. He tightened his grip on the human, his wings enclosed more around them both and he just didn't want the prince to leave.

Taehyung then realised right there and then, he was being nice. He wasn't showing pity, it was sympathy.

"Oh.. shit.." Jeongguk breathed as he tried to pull away from Taehyung but was held tighter.

"Uh.."

Jeongguk felt the dragons head land on his shoulder. He felt the dragons hair tickle his jaw and noticed how the dragons wings almost wrapped around him. He felt the beast-man let out a staggered breath and his claw like fingernails dig into his sides over the fabric of his red silk shirt.

"Taehyung.."

Jeongguk blinked. "What..?"

"That's my name.." Taehyung spoke into the princes neck. "It's Taehyung"

Jeongguk's mouth was agape and then closed with a subtle purse of his lips to make the shape of 'oh' and he blinked in shock. He felt the other shift away from his neck and sit back to look at the princes eyes.

"You do not tell my guards what happened, you do not mention it ever" Taehyung growled as his eyes glared a blank yet hard look into the princes eyes. "Got it?"

"Got it" Jeongguk nodded. "But what about tonight..?"

"Tonight?" Taehyung asked as he took his hands away from the princes shoulders and his wings recoiled back to where they sit behind his back.

"Yes, I would be sleeping??" Jeongguk softly laughed.

"Oh..right" Taehyung nodded. "There won't be much going on today.." Taehyung then stood up. "Get breakfast when you're ready, if you need help, come find me, if not eat lots"

Taehyung then slowly made his way out of the prince's quarters. "I will be in my own quarters for the majority of the day, I need to catch up on sleep.."

"Oh I'm so-"

"Don't be" Taehyung stood at the doorway to leave.

"But I kept you up?" Jeongguk argued.

"That doesn't matter anymore, the reason you had it does now" Taehyung replied and continued his way out of the princes quarters, closing the door behind him as he went, leaving Jeongguk by himself.

Almost instantly as soon as Taehyung left the quarters and made his way down the halls, he regretting telling the other his name so easily. The human; the boy, should've begged and pleaded to know, on his knees and with eyes wide and eyebrows furrowed. A pout on his reddened lips from a bad habit of nervously bitting them raw. Taehyung would stop that habit. Stop the prince from making them bleed.

Though he'd made them bleed himself; make them wet with spit and bruised by-.

"Stop.." Taehyung groaned to himself, he then sighed. "I need sleep.."

He shook his head to try and rid of those thoughts. But he couldn't get the memory of the teary eyed prince from out of his head.

"I definitely need sleep" He nodded.

"Sire"

Taehyung groaned and turned to face his best guard. "What is it? There better not be something big to deal with, I need to nap"

"Well, the prophet wants to speak with you"

"She does? Take me to her" Taehyung ordered and followed the guard down the halls and down the many stairs to the dungeons where the darkness grows and candles barely light the way.

The prophet sat behind the bars, her legs crossed as she sat with her back straight up. Perfectly poised and proper.

"Speak" Taehyung growled at her just a few feet away from the bars.

"My, my, how impatient are you?" She hummed as she placed her elbows on her knees.

"You said you wanted to talk to me, don't waste my time-"

"Because the big bad dragon lord needs a nap" She spoke in a baby voice and pouted with her lips and closed her eyes.

"..enough.."

She opened one eye and looked at Taehyung before letting out a sigh. "No fun"

Taehyung waited with a glare on his features.

"I wanted to tell you, since that prince is now here, I know all about his little secret~"

"I do too, he told me" Taehyung replied.

"Not all of it" She said it in such a way that it was almost sung. "There are parts you don't know, bigger .. no what's the word… Hidden, yes, that's it, hidden.." She nodded.

"Hidden parts..?" Taehyung questioned. He wanted to know more sure, but he felt guilt immediately bite his stomach.

"Very hidden, so hidden in fact that even his own parents hid it from him" Her voice was deeper, flat toned and almost arrogant.

"So he doesn't know?" Taehyung asked.

"Not yet" She snapped her jaw shut with a click of her teeth. "But he will one day~"

"And that's the day you tell him yourself" Taehyung snarled.

"Oh? I get to be in the presence of our mighty lords, precious little jewel?" She half teased.

"He isn't-"

"Not yet" She giggled. "Such a cutie though, wouldn't want him to be in anyone else domain.. or hands.. I never know which one" She frowned.

"When in the future then?" Taehyung was intrigued.

"Yesterday" She nodded but then stopped and her eyes went wide. "Or.. was it later? Or in a few months from now? I never know, time is so confusing for me, it's all over the place"

"Right.." Taehyung didn't take her rambling seriously as he turned to go back upstairs to his quarters to nap.

"Have a good nap!!, I trust you sleep of night time angels" The prophet shouted to him as he left up the stairs.

Taehyung ignored her as he went. Each step louder than the last as he made his way up and up and up again. Left right, left right, left right.

"Taehyung!"

The dragon froze at the top of the stairs.

"Where are you?" Jeongguk's voice echoed through the walls.

Taehyung followed the sound of the young princes voice and turned a few corners and down a hall to find the other standing there with his back turned. In a clean lien shirt and some clean pants that were much like the ones he wore the day before.

"Jeongguk.." Taehyung replied lowly.

"Oh! There you are" The prince turned around and walked to the dragon.

"What do you need?" Taehyung asked, his expression ice cold.

"I was wondering where your library was.. I would like to read, if it's possible, if not that's okay I can find a way to keep myself entertained.." Jeongguk took a breath and then realised what he said. "Unless you don't have one.. sorry"

"Up the stairs at the end of the hall, take a right past the red curtains, if you walk past a blue vase you've gone too far, the doors are as big as the throne rooms" Taehyung replied as he pointed down the hall they currently stood in. Jeongguk's eyes and head followed along the motion.

"Anything else?"

Jeongguk shook his head. "No that's all, thank you"

Jeongguk then made his way down the hall with a skip in his step and a smile on his face.

Taehyung only blinked at how the prince acted. Still in a weird state of trying to be less nice to the prince and be as menacing as he normally is. Though it is failing for some reason. A reason he doesn't know yet.

"I definitely need sleep.." Taehyung groaned and turned to make his way back towards his quarters. "No one bother me for the.. next few hours, and that's an order"

"Yes sire!"

"And someone keep an eye in that prince, I don't want him to set fire to this place" Taehyung groaned as he pushed his quarters doors open.

"Yes sire"

With the doors slamming behind him the castle went quiet and soon the only sound that was heard in the respective rooms where the snores of the dragon and the gasp of the prince.

Chapter Text

Court Of Dragons

Chapter 5: Lunch

Jeongguk hummed as he made his way around the halls trying to find the library where Taehyung had said. He thought back to how the dragon looked; he looked tired, both physically and mentally. It was apparent that it was more mentally.

Jeongguk slowed his steps in thought. He wondered if his actions made it worse on the other. His screaming, his burdens. He let out a sigh and shuffled closer to the library.

He made his way past the red curtains and turned his head to look for the doors. They were to his right and upon looking down the hall he spotted the blue vase.

Jeongguk let out a hum of acknowledgement at the accurate directions Taehyung gave him. He turned back to the doors and let out a breath before he pushed his way through the doors with a creek.

The doors ached as they opened, indicating the amount of time they hadn't been opened. Once opened there right in the centre of the room was a chair with a high back rest and a table next to it. The chair itself was made of a dark red velvet, though there was a thick layer of dust on it, it still looked comfortable.

His eyes slowly widening as he looked around the library, thousands, upon thousands of books lined each and every shelf. On each book there was more dust and a few cobwebs surrounding the corners. There seemed to be a fireplace off to the right side of the room and a few books scattered around on the ground.

Jeongguk made his way into the library, the doors closing loudly behind him with a groan and then slamming shut. He flinched a little at the noise and almost jumped out of his skin.

"Fucking hell!" Jeongguk muttered to himself as he placed a hand on his chest and took a breath to try and calm his heart beating too fast out of his chest.

Jeongguk walked over to the dusty chair and saw a few books piled on the side table, the book on top open to the page it was left at by a pervious person. He stepped closer to it and furrowed his eyes in confusion whilst reading the two pages. The majority of the words obscured by dust, others faded by time but there were a few words Jeongguk could make out.

'-A good for love; the sunset and twilight, nevermore and never less is the love from one to another; the most prominent time to show this love is during the dragons time of ma-' the rest was too faded for Jeongguk to read.

"How strange.." Jeongguk breathed out and stood up straight. He looked around and wondered if any other books were faded like this one or were still okay.

He also wondered if he could ask Taehyung about the open book and any other questions he had after that. But before he could wonder any longer he walked to one of the many shelves and pulled out a book that was leather bound and closed with a string and button. Jeongguk fiddled with it in his hand before he unwound the string from the button and the book fell open, almost right down the middle.

"Oh-" Jeongguk muttered and moved each page so he could read from the start.

'--11/07 - -

The war started, there were talks of it months ago, about it happening. I wasn't prepared, I thought I was, but I was not. Now father and mother must go to the front to begin the fight, they told me to stay and be safe in the castle, but I don't think I can be okay with living by myself.

- T'

Jeongguk shook his head in confusion for a second. A war? What war? How long ago was this? He shot his head up to look at the shelf he got the book from and realised he was holding someone's journal. And there were more. There was room for more to come down the end of the self but the rest was filled with old, thick or torn journals.

"T..?" Jeongguk whispered. "T..T.." He looked around at nothing as he felt something click in his head.

"Taehyung..?" Jeongguk questioned aloud and he lowered the journal in his hands, almost dropping it upon the realisation.

He shook his head and closed the journal, making sure it was tied shut and slipped it back where it was between two other journals.

Jeongguk had more questions. He wasn't sure how to ask them to the dragon. He had too many questions and now he wasn't sure if he should ask. The last time he tried to ask questions he was only allowed to ask three.

Jeongguk huffed and then turned around to make his way out of the library and back towards his quarters. He stopped in his steps just outside the kitchen. Jeongguk wondered if he should make lunch for both Taehyung and him. Just as a thank you, and an apology to the dragon.

Jeongguk pushed his way into the kitchen and the doors swung easily open. Jeongguk shuffled around the kitchen. During his time making something that morning he managed to work his way around the kitchen and figured out the layout fairly easy. Though there wasn't much he could have for breakfast, he was already thinking of what to make for lunch for the two of them.

Now he wasn't sure what though.

Maybe something with meat for the dragon? Maybe something light? Nothing too heavy before dinner. He didn't know what though.

He then spotted some ground beef and hummed. Now, he didn't really cook for himself much back at his parents castle but he knew how to make a quick Korean ground beef and rice recipe. So he went on a hunt to find each of the ingredients.

Jeongguk knew he had spotted some honey in one of the cooler parts of the pantries and some soy sauce too. Then he remembered that in the drier herbs and spices area he saw some red pepper flakes, along with garlic and ginger. He hummed as he went searching for the cornstarch which was by the flour in a cupboard above him.

Jeongguk found a bowl and a whisk and put some honey, soy sauce, cornstarch and red flakes in the bowl and whisked it up to make the sauce.

He looked around through a few of the bottom cupboards and found a frying pan. He saw that they had a coal stove top, similar to the one used at his castle but a lot older. The prince hummed as he looked for either some wood or more coal, even a bit of paper and matches. He saw the matches on a shelf and only saw some paper, but no wood, so it'll have to do to heat up the coal inside the stove.

Jeongguk opened it and placed the paper inside and took a match out of the box before using it and lighting aflame before throwing it into the area where the coal was. He shut the small door and placed the fraying pan on top.

Jeongguk waited for it to feel hot by the heat radiating from the pan and once he deemed it was hot enough he poured some olive oil, Jeongguk remembered that the recipe called for avocado oil but there wasn't any in the kitchen. Hopefully it'll be okay.

He placed the ground beef into the pan and watched it as he used a wooden spoon to break it apart as it cooked. Once it was no longer pink he poured the sauce on the meat and stirred it around to make sure the ground beef absorbed it all.

He let it sit in the heat of the frying pan as he went on a search for some rice. He saw some when he was making his breakfast earlier and knew he could use it. He found the woven bag filled with rice and lifted it up to carry it over to the bench he was working on.

Jeongguk looked for a pot and remembered it was in the same place as the frying pan. He grabbed it by its handles and lifted it up and onto the stove top. He used a cup to pour water into it and used another clean cup to scoop rice out of the bag and into the pot.

Jeongguk made sure to have the water be a bit higher than the rice. He looked for the lid for the pot and let it boil over the heat of the coal burning below.

It did take too long for the rice to boil, so once it was at a boil Jeongguk lent down and opened the door to the coal area and blew it out. Then he waited until everything was cooler.

Jeongguk waited around ten minutes or so before he took the lid off of the pot for the rice and smiled as he saw it was all fluffy and cooked.

He looked for two more bowls and they were metal so he placed them on the bench next to him and used a wooden spoon that had a deeper scoop to scoop the rice out and into the metal bowls before he picked up the frying pan and used the flatter, wooden spoon from before. Jeongguk pushed half into one bowl and then the rest into the other.

"Now..we need.." Jeongguk muttered and he looked around the kitchen for green onion and smiled when he saw it. He grabbed it and ripped the ends of it to sprinkle over the dish. He then looked for two spoons and saw there were some silver spoons. He placed them into the bowls.

"There!" Jeongguk exclaimed to himself. "Hopefully he'll like it.."

Jeongguk took a deeper breath before picking up the two dishes and carried it out of the kitchen and down the halls. He walked past the throne room doors and towards the other wing of the castle.

"You!" A guard shouted.

"Yes..?" Jeongguk halted in his steps.

"Where do you think you're going?" The guard asked as he glared from behind his black mask.

"To see Taehyung, I made him lunch.." Jeongguk gave a small smile. "See?" He gestured with one of the bowls.

"How do we know you didn't poison it?" Another asked.

"I would never!" Jeongguk argued, his face contorted into anger.

"How can we be so sure?" The first questioned.

"I wouldn't do-"

"What's with all the noise?" Taehyung growled as he opened the door of his quarters to see Jeongguk standing there and his two guards staring at him.

"The prince here thought he could come to this wing of the castle to see you and give you food" A guard to his right replied.

"And?" Taehyung urged. "I told him it was okay, I told him to come see me if he needed help"

"But it doesn't look like he needed help" a guard replied.

"I have a few questions about something I read in the library.." Jeongguk spoke up making the dragon look at him. "I also thought it would be kind of me to make you lunch as a thank you and as a apology for keeping you up last night.."

Taehyung didn't reply right away, he only looked at the bowls in the princes hands before he looked back up to the princes eyes.

"But.. if you prefer, not to eat this in fear of poison.." Jeongguk glared at the guard who mentioned it pervious. "Or you just don't want to, that's okay as well.." He looked down at the bowls of food.

"What did you make?" Taehyung asked making Jeongguk look up again.

"Korean ground beef.. it was simple and easy to make, I used to make it back.." Jeongguk stopped speaking trying to figure out what his 'home' was to him now.

"You have questions, come in" Taehyung replied and opened the door wider for the prince to enter.

"Oh! Okay" Jeongguk nodded and almost ran in but quickly walked into the dragons quarters.

As Jeongguk stepped in, he eyed the dragons messy bed of silk sheets and stood as he heard the doors closing behind him.

"Now, speak" Taehyung walked his way towards the prince and grabbed one of the bowls as he passed Jeongguk.

"Well, I read a book that was left open next to a chair, some of the writing was faded but it mentioned something about dragon mates? Maybe mating? I'm not sure" Jeongguk shook his head as he picked up the spoon.

"Dragon mating season, yes, that's… something old in our instincts.." Taehyung replied. "It hasn't hit the few of us left yet because of everything-"

"Like the war?" Jeongguk asked.

"The war.." Taehyung blinked as he fiddled with the spoon in the bowl. "Where did you read that..?" He growled, not looking at the other.

"In your journal.." Jeongguk replied. "You have so many.."

"How many did you read?" Taehyung asked, still not looking up.

"Just one page, I put it right back after finding out it was yours" Jeongguk replied. "I wouldn't have read it if I had know.."

"What were your questions?" Taehyung asked and scooped up a bite of the ground beef to take a bite.

Jeongguk took a breath. He didn't know how to phase it. Or what he wanted to know more about, the war, the dragon mating season, or why there were so many journals.

"Why were there so many journals?"

Chapter Text

Court Of Dragons

Chapter 6: Immortality

A question. That question of all questions. That was both difficult and easy to answer.

You'd think the dragons of this story were just able to only live a few hundred years longer than humans. You'd be wrong of course.

The dragons ability to live is immortal. They may be harmed, killed in battle and many other things but if careful enough, if their healing abilities were at their peak. They'll be able to live, forever.

Now forever is an awfully long time. So long in fact that your brain will not be able to hold onto everything you bare witness to. It will not be able to remember the words you've said or the actions you've done, or even how you felt. They turn to dust to time itself.

So what would you do in that situation? Forget? Or remember in another way?

"I would write what happened each day in them" Taehyung replied as he shifted the spoon around in the bowl of ground beef and rice. "Anything I could; Everything I could.. but.."

"But..?" Jeongguk softly asked, nervous to push the dragon.

"But when the war started, I wrote hourly, I was probably paranoid, anxious, maybe even scared.." Taehyung didn't look up at the human. He couldn't. "Then once the war ended, I read back at what I wrote and.. I didn't want to remember anymore.."

"'Remember anymore..' ? What do you mean by that?" Jeongguk tilted his head in confusion, his spoon pushed into his rice.

Taehyung took a few seconds to decide his answer, his choice of words.

"Where there any ripped pages from the journal you held?" He asked instead.

"Ripped.. pages..?" Jeongguk muttered to himself. He sat down on the dragons messy bed and sat in thought for a second. Then he shook his head. "Not in the one I held"

"What was the date?" Taehyung asked shovelling a fair sized amount of rice into his mouth.

"August 7th.." Jeongguk replied.

"Hm, I guess it was another journal.." Taehyung hummed through his bite. "Don't go looking for it.. you wouldn't have anything to read anyway" He laughed to himself.

Jeongguk nodded to himself slightly before lifting a spoon full of ground beef and rice into his mouth as he thought of a reply. "I see.."

Then a beat later he placed the spoon in the bowl and hummed top himself. "Am I allowed to read any others?"

"No. Well.. None before the one you read" Taehyung replied.

"Why?"

"Because there is some information you should not know" Taehyung replied as he shifted a few bits of rice grains and ground beef.

"What type of information?" Jeongguk asked as he watched the dragon fiddle with the spoon.

"How should I know? I don't remember" Taehyung let a small smile form on his lips. "Remember?" He glanced at the prince across from him.

"Ha ha very funny" Jeongguk huffed through a pouted.

"Jeongguk, read whatever, I'm sure whatever you read, I will have answers to any question you have" Taehyung spoke softly as he placed the almost empty bowl down on a desk near him.

"Is is finished?"

"Hm?" Taehyung hummed.

"Your meal, is it?" Jeongguk clarified.

"Uh no..?" Taehyung replied as he felt confused by the question.

"Finish it" Jeongguk grumbled.

Taehyung stilled and then looked at the prince sitting on his bed. "Who are you to tell me what to do little prince?

"I— " Jeongguk gulped. "Well, I just thought that if you didn't finish it, you didn't like it.."

"Well I do like it" Taehyung smiled. "But I just wanted to make a point.."

"What point?" Jeongguk asked as he watched the dragon stand up and walk over to him.

"This point— " Taehyung moved to sit next to the prince. "Is that I don't know how I'll answer your questions, or if you even will have any after reading my journals because, I think some are detailed and other's aren't but I'm sure you will get answers from it, if not… despite my dislike for them, as you know—"

"Why?" Jeongguk asked softly.

"Why what?"

"Why do you dislike them?" Jeongguk asked, ironically asking a question that may or may not like it.

"Because sometimes the answers hurt"

Jeongguk blinked at him for a second, letting the words settle in his mind, rolling through his thoughts and settling into the back of his head. Before he could reply Taehyung continued.

"That's the only thing that's not forgotten; that stays in my head"

"I see" Jeongguk didn't have much to say after that.

"So forgetting can be for the best, sometimes." Taehyung breathed out. "Immortality..is a curse"

"If you see it as such, I don't.."

"What the fuck does that mean?" Taehyung growled through his teeth.

"I see mortality as a curse.. from.. you know the whole, my blood being taken thing..." Jeongguk shrugged his shoulders with a small laugh like huff and then sighed. "Sorry, I shouldn't have said that.."

Taehyung then sighed. "No, don't apologise, we have different view points that's all"

"I suppose.." Jeongguk nodded, his eyes downcast on his ground beef and rice. "Still-"

"What did I say about apologising?" Taehyung nudged the prince with his shoulder. "Hmm?"

"I should stop" Jeongguk laughed. He felt his chest warm softly from the action. "You know.. I haven't seen you do anything inherently evil since I was brought here by you.. aren't you're supposed to be evil..?"

Taehyung stood up abruptly at the question. He walked over to the window and slightly past the desk that had his portion of their lunch.

"Just because you haven't see anything yet doesn't mean I'm not" Taehyung spoke over his shoulder, his voice low.

"But you haven't" Jeongguk felt his smile fall. "Right..?" He then turned to place his now empty bowl onto a nearby table.

He heard Taehyung turned around and the dragons loud footsteps stomp their way over to where Jeongguk sat. He finally looked up from where he placed his bowl and his eyes went wide as he realised how close Taehyung had gotten; his nose was right in front of his own and his eyes glaring a heated, dark gaze right into his own. The sudden appearance of the dragon beast-man in front of him had made Jeongguk fall back onto the bed with a yelp.

Taehyung towered over the prince, following as he fell back and took the prince's face in his hand, his fingers and thumbs gripping Jeongguk's jaw and claws digging into his cheeks, though not too harshly to leave cuts, just red marks.

Jeongguk could feel his heart almost racing out of his chest and hitting against his ribcage, he wondered if the dragon could hear it. Taehyung laughed to himself slightly, glancing down at Jeongguk's chest before looking up at his eyes again.

"I can be evil; I am evil, I could be your worse nightmare; I could be anyone's worse nightmare" Taehyung growled as he stared into the princes eyes. "I could do worse than what your parents had done, I could leave you bleeding in my dungeon for the rats to eat, bleeding for days like sap from a tree" He spat.

"You wouldn't though.."

Taehyung furrowed his eyebrows as he tilted his head slightly with confusion. "Explain, human.."

"You didn't place me in your dungeon after Seungtae left me here, you placed me in the spare quarters you had, you left me to my own and allowed me to ask questions" Jeongguk replied. "And yet you didn't have to answer, you did though, none of those actions have been evil, you been nice to me"

Taehyung roughly let go of the others face and stepped away from Jeongguk to let him sit up again. "I'm not being nice, I'm merely entertaining you; It's-"

"It's sympathy, isn't it?" Jeongguk interrupted. "You can say it, it's true, as long as it's not pity" He laughed softly to himself.

Taehyung stood for a second before he looked back over his shoulder. "Do you not care..?"

"Care? About you 'not being nice'" Jeongguk raised an eyebrow. "It can be whatever you say to help you sleep at night, Taehyung"

Taehyung kept quiet for a second longer; a beat longer and then without a second thought he sighed. "What are you doing to me, Jeongguk?"

"Huh-"

"I have had not one thought of how to kill you, how to get rid of you, because you're just an innocent bystander in all this" Taehyung replied.

"Oh.. okay..?" Jeongguk replied feeling confused.

"I can't.." Taehyung trailed off and then decided to admit something he hadn't actually admitted to himself. He couldn't because it had only been well over twelve hours since Jeongguk was brought into his castle.

"Can't.. what..?" Jeongguk blinked at the other.

"I can't be the villain to you, to others sure..but to you?" Taehyung questioned himself as he turned around to face the prince again. "I just can't.."

Jeongguk kept quiet for a second, their eyes locking for a second. Then a minute. Then longer and longer. Jeongguk felt his stomach flip and twist with flutter. He felt his heart skip a beat and he gulped at the implications of the mere thought of what it meant.

"And I don't know why" Taehyung sighed.

There was a thick silence after that. The two just stared at each other before Taehyung broke their gaze and looked back out the window.

"Will you tell me if you do?" Jeongguk asked.

"Do what?" Taehyung asked smirked to himself.

"Know why" Jeongguk replied, his voice softer.

"Oh.." Taehyung's eyes widened for a second. Oh. "Uh.. probably."

"Sure" Jeongguk nodded, he felt his heart stutter, he then cleared his throat. "I have another question"

Taehyung turned and picked up the bowl again, continuing to eat it as he walked, making his way over to where the other sat and sat next to him. "Spill"

"What do you want for dinner? I'll cook again" Jeongguk asked as he looked at the dragon.

Taehyung laughed. "Don't stress about it, just get something for yourself"

"But-"

"Here" Taehyung smiled and handed the bowl back to the prince. "It's empty.

"Oh!" Jeongguk gasped. His eyes widening with shock. "Was it good?"

Taehyung nodded his head. "It was, now the next time you come looking for me here in my quarters, the guards outside won't bother you again, I'll give them a talking to"

Jeongguk blinked and then nodded. "Okay" he turned to pick up his own empty bowl and stood up from the dragons bed.

"One last question, very last one for today" Jeongguk turned around to face Taehyung.

"Last one for today"

"With the whole dragon mating thing, how do you know?, like how do you know who it is?" Jeongguk asked with a curious tone.

Taehyung took a breath before he sighed it out heavily. "We just.. do. We see them and it's like our whole existence changes, it's just all about them and them alone, their like our precious jewel in our hoard, but so much more than that, we are attune to their scent, we know where they are before anyone else and we can get to them quicker than anyone because we can just find them.."

"Have you ever..?" Jeongguk asked quietly.

"Found them?" Taehyung confirmed. "No" he shook his head. "I've been alive for far too long now that I should've met them by now, but I haven't"

"I see" Jeongguk nodded and then took in a quick breath. "Well, I should go wash these dishes and then go.. do something I'm not sure what yet but..I should go.." Jeongguk laughed to himself. "I'll see you later, Taehyung"

"Yes, I'll see you later too" Taehyung nodded.

Jeongguk nodded to himself before turning and walking to the door of the dragons quarters and pulled it open after placing to one bowl into another.

Once he stepped out of Taehyung's quarters he almost made a be-line through the halls and to the kitchen. As he sped-walked to the kitchen he felt his heart hammer away in his chest and couldn't help but think back to how Taehyung had him basically pinned down to his bed. His nose dangerously close to his own, their lips so close that if either of them had moved forward an inch or two their lips would've touched.

"Oh.. my fucking god" Jeongguk screamed under his breath as he pushed his way through the kitchen doors.

He hastily placed the silver bowls into a bucket that didn't have any water in it at that point and started to take deep breaths.

Jeongguk was in shock as to how he managed to not give anything away at the sudden gesture at the time.

He wondered if Taehyung was feeling the same effect as him. But then stopped that thought entirely. Taehyung has a mate somewhere out there; someone made for him and who was Jeongguk? Just a regular old human.

"Don't.. Just don't.." Jeongguk muttered to himself. "There's no reason for you to even think that he would… that you are.."

He couldn't finish that sentence.

As Taehyung watched the prince leave his quarters, he let out a heavy breath he didn't know he was holding and took in a deep breath to clear his thoughts. For one, pinning someone down like that, was out of character for him.

Sure he would pin someone down but on their stomachs not back, not that close to their face or so close he could hear their heartbeat and smell their scent.

The princes scent.

That made Taehyung reel back and fall onto his bed. Oh his scent; The sweet overlaying tones of cherry with the muted undertones of copper ever laying in his scent. It was beautiful.

Taehyung couldn't believe himself. He wouldn't. He won't accept it. And why would he? One day, at any time someone will come for Jeongguk, to 'save' him from the villainous dragon king and be the hero!

They won't take him away.

They will!

They won't.

They won't take away his most precious jewel of them all.

The prince and the dragon. The dragon and the prince. Taehyung and Jeongguk. The immortal and the mortal.

"I can't put him through that.. I won't.." Taehyung groaned to himself. "Because sometimes it'll hurt.."

Hurt. Pain. Love. Loss. All the same thing to Taehyung.

"I can't lose him" Taehyung admitted finally. "I won't lose him" He admitted truthfully. Finally some truth out of his mouth.

"If they want him, they'll have to go through me" Taehyung gritted his teeth as he realised that the princes kingdom and the rich one, would be back some day. Revenge? Possibly. But that'll be nothing compared to the forgotten war.

He'll kill anyone who lays a single finger on Jeongguk's flesh again. He'll kill anyone who harms, or draws blood from the princes skin. Because that prince is more important than Taehyung wants to admit at this very second.

Chapter Text

Court Of Dragons

Chapter 7: Two Weeks. More Nightmares.

A fortnight passed for the two males, some of their days were filled with lunch or dinner–upon the princes insistence, and many more questions. Along with the princes nightmares.

Taehyung hadn't pushed or even asked about the nightmares anymore than he had already. Which was only once. He didn't want to care about them, but he did. Taehyung didn't show his concern for the prince. He wouldn't admit it aloud, or initially to himself– it took him a few days to even admit to himself that he was concerned, let alone admitting that he thought about the humans well being. That took the majority of the two weeks and he was reluctant to even admit that to himself.

Taehyung even had a inkling of a thought seeping it's way into his head; something he wouldn't think to even possibly do as the type of person he was. He had a thought that made him almost feel his skin crawl but his heart ached at the same time. Would the prince benefit from sleeping in the same bed as him? Would it help reduce his nightmares?

Obviously, Taehyung didn't admit to himself that it would. He wouldn't even admit that he wanted it. That he wanted to help the prince, look after him. Have him look his way—Never would admit that aloud or even to others. He can't even admit it to himself. Because he had looked at the prince more than what he should be.

Taehyung had felt his eyes linger on the prince; on his face and body more times he can count and when he did he felt his wings twitch and flick at his legs. He would watch the princes smile, the way his nose would scrunch and his eyes widen with curiosity. The way he would fiddle with his fingers and shirts when nervous when in conversation with him.

Taehyung was deep in thought about it as he sat upon his throne over looking his dim lit hall waiting for his men to drag in their newest prisoner. It wasn't anyone substantial, it was just some villager from the closet village, who happened to have information about the two kingdoms and what plans they had. Though his prophet might have more information for him other than from the prisoner.

"Sire, we have the prisoner!" One of the men shouted gaining the dragon beast-man's attention.

"Bring them forward" Taehyung said after a deep breath, breaking away from his train of thought about a certain bunny looking human.

"Yes Sire"

There was a a harsh shuffle of feet against the ground, echoing and scraping against the stone. Taehyung stood up from his throne and made his way towards where the prisoner was thrown in front of him.

"What do you know?" Taehyung smirked, allowing his fangs to show to the prisoner's gaze.

"I.. don't know much but I know what the kingdom with the only prince wants to do to you"

Taehyung let his smirk lower and stood up to stare down at the prisoner. "Explain"

"Seungtae is planning to bring an army to your domain, he is taking his time making it, I-.. I was one of the one's who joined to try and train for his army but.."

"But what?" Taehyung growled.

"I couldn't continue, not after what he said about the other prince" The prisoner shivered, voice cracking at the end of his sentence.

"What do you mean?" Taehyung growled through his teeth.

"He said he wanted to continue what his parents did to him once married, whatever that means" The prisoner shrugged.

Taehyung knew exactly what that meant.Seungtae wanted to torture Jeongguk, make him bleed like a stuck pig and use the blood as a way to heal both kingdoms leaving the prince to wither and grow thin and die.

He would not want that. Not his prince. No this precious jewel.

"He wants to do what..?" a broken almost weak voice echoed from the hall doors.

"Jeongguk.." Taehyung muttered to himself as he looked up at the prince and his face fell to that of worry.

"He wants to hurt me more?" Jeongguk felt his eyes fill with tears and Taehyung watched as the princes eyes shine prettily with the unshed tears.

"I won't let that happen" Taehyungs voice echo darkly as he eyed the prince at the hall doors. "Please go to my quarters, I'll talk to you after I'm done here"

"But Taehyung-"

"Just go Jeongguk, I'll be there soon" Taehyung looked back down at the prisoner.

"Okay.." Jeongguk nodded before he shifted away from the doors of the hall.

Taehyung waited until he couldn't hear the prince's footsteps any longer before he glared back at his prisoner.

"You have him?" The prisoner asked. "Why?"

"Why what?" Taehyung questioned with his voice dropping.

"Why do you have him? Why didn't he go back with Seungtae?" The prisoner's voice was heavy with confusion. "Seungtae said you had denied his deal"

Taehyung glared at the prisoner who sat on his knees and felt his anger rise within his chest. "He had no deal with me, I presented a deal for him but he was the one who denied mine and left Jeongguk with me-"

Taehyung stepped forward to tower over the man. "I even asked if Jeongguk would want to go back to his palace and he didn't want to- Why am I even explaining this to you?"

He stepped away from the prisoner with frustration and confusion in his veins.

"So Seungtae lied to us then.."

"It would appear so.." Taehyung replied quietly.

"I see"

"You may go.." Taehyung muttered, looking at the prisoner from over his shoulder, his eyes glaring at the man. "I have no use for you now"

"W-what.." The prisoner questioned aloud as the guards untied his wrists and pulled him to stand on his feet. "But don't you-?"

"Kill?" Taehyung continued the prisoners question. "I might change my mind if you don't leave right now"

The prisoner didn't reply but the sound of foot steps running echoed through the halls gave Taehyung his answer that the man left. He sighed as he turned around and pinched the skin between his eyes with his index finger and thumb.

"Don't bother me for the rest of the afternoon" Taehyung ordered as he made his way through the throne room and to the halls.

"Don't you think you've gone soft?" A voice spoke up.

Taehyung stopped in his tracks. "What was that?"

"Before you'd kill anyone who gives you less to none information but now.. you let them go?"

Taehyung turned back to his men and shot them a dark glare. "And you question that?"

"Well.."

"Well what?" Taehyung growled.

"Well maybe.." The guard replied.

Taehyung stared quietly for a few seconds before he spoke. "Does anyone else dare to question my motives?" He asked.

The other shook their heads. "Then if you do question my motives then you will be killed-"

Taehyung then gestured to the other guards. "Take him away and kill him before I throw him into the nearby volcano"

"Hey! Wait-" The other took the guard in their arms by his own and dragged him out of the throne room. "W-what"

"You dare question my ways? my motives? My ruling?" Taehyung gritted through his teeth as he watched his men draw the guard out of the halls.

"I want him dead before I get back, and I want you all to decide who will take his place" His wings opened wide behind him with each word.

"You will tell me who is in charge by dinner tonight!" Taehyung shouted as the traitor was dragged away screaming. "And someone shut him up!"

Taehyung heard the one of the guards punch the new prisoner and he huffed a growl out of his mouth. His wings lowering and moving with each intake and outtake of breath. His shoulders moving with each breath, his chest rising and lowering as he calmed down.

"Shit!" Taehyung shouted as he turned to kick at a few bits of rubble on the ground. He then screamed; he yelled. It echoed in the room. Then his heavy breathing echoed through the room.

He took a deep breath and turned to continue his way down the halls and towards his quarters where he told the young prince to wait for him.

As he grew closer to his quarters his ears picked up the sound of soft sniffles and quieter sobs through the door. The dragon beast-man nearly stopped in his tracks outside the door but knew he shouldn't keep the other waiting any longer.

Taehyung pushed his way through the doors and let him close behind him with a slam. The noise making Jeongguk jump where he sat upon the dragons bed.

"Jeongguk.." Taehyung trailed off and then sighed.

"What did you do to him..?" Jeongguk asked softly.

"Who..? The prisoner?" Taehyung questioned as he made his way slowly over to the prince and sat next to him in the bed. "I set him free.."

Jeongguk let out a half hearted breathy laugh as he sniffed. "I meant your guard, I could hear you shouting"

"Oh.." Taehyung looked away from the prince for a second. "He's going to be killed"

"Ah..I see" Jeongguk nodded. "As anyone villain would do if their men betrays them.."

"I guess.." Taehyung sighed. "Look about what happened in there-"

"You won't let him get me, will you?" Jeongguk asked, fear laced in his voice, but there was also begging. He turned to face the dragon. "I don't want to go through that again, I've just become free.."

Free. That stumped Taehyung for a second. He felt free? Free being trapped in a castle with a dragon? Filled with fire and rage? Filled with anguish? He felt free?

"You feel free here?" Taehyung asked as he turned to look at the prince in his tears filled reddened eyes.

"More than I've ever been" Jeongguk answered. "Taehyung, your castle has things I can actually explore, I'm not confident to one singular room, I can go to others, get food and water when I want to, I can read all the books I've ever desired-" Jeongguk stood up in front of the dragon.

"I used to be surviving, but now I'm living" Jeongguk took the others claw like hands in his own. "So please do not let that horrible, horrible man get to me, please"

Taehyung stared into the princes eyes with his own dark ones. He would never let that monster take his prince.

"You mean that horrible monster" Taehyung replied and then he purred. "And I will never let that monster steal you away from me; you know there is a rule to do with dragons" Taehyung smiles.

"What is that?"

"You must never steal from a dragons hoard" Taehyung replied as he let his lips curl to show his fangs. "Or it's death"

There a moment of silence between the two; Jeongguk's grip loosened in the dragons hold and Taehyung's grip tightened, pulling the young prince forward to him.

"And you're in my hoard" He kept their eyes locked, a flash of gold greeted the prince before Taehyung let go of his hands from his own.

Jeongguk stammered back in shock from the mere flash in the dragons eyes and felt his breath get caught in his throat. The beauty of the gold in the dragons eyes made his heart stammer. Gold. Jeongguk felt his eyebrows furrowed and he tilted his head.

"What is it, Jeongguk?" Taehyung questioned softly.

"Where's your horns jewellery? You normally wear it" Jeongguk pointed out as his eyes moved from each of Taehyung's horns to where his earrings should be. "And your earrings.."

Taehyung tsked under his breath before smiling nicely. "I didn't have the patience to put them on this morning.."

"I see.." Jeongguk nodded.

"Why? Do my horns look worse without them?" Taehyung questioned with a cheeky tone.

"No" Jeongguk shook his head. "They look pretty with or without jewellery on them"

"Oh-" Taehyung felt his thoughts come to a stop.

"But it's up to you, I prefer them without, makes you look more menacing" Jeongguk took a breath. "If I can say that"

Taehyung nodded to himself as the young princes words muddled over in his head. Maybe he should stop wearing the horn jewellery he had, the dark black look of his horns were scary enough as they were, they didn't need anything else to make them more so.

"You can" Taehyung took a breath. "And I might"

"Are you.." Jeongguk's voice trailed off. "Never mind, that'll be the worse thing to say.." He shook his head and made his way back to sit on the bed next to Taehyung.

"No, no say it" Taehyung urged with a shoulder nudge.

"No, you'll be mad at me" Jeongguk shook his head. "I don't want that"

Taehyung let out a sigh. "Alright.."

"Do I keep you up at night?" Jeongguk asked. "I know I asked before, and it's been two weeks… but does my screaming keep you up?" He looked at the dragons side profile.

"A little-"

"Oh"

"But not in the way you think" Taehyung continued. "It's not the noise, you screaming, that keeps me awake, it's my worry of you" He decided to admit allow to himself, finally. More than what he was willing to.

"Oh." Jeongguk gasped softly. "But there isn't much we- I mean I can do about it"

"Well.. there is one thing" Taehyung glanced at the prince. "Sleep here with me tonight, if it doesn't help then we won't try again and if it does.."

"And if it does..?" Jeongguk questioned.

"Then you sleep here with me from then on" Taehyung took a breath. "The only reason I suggest this is because.. I remember reading an old memory of mine where my mother would hold me tightly to her navel and sing softly to stop my fledgling-hood nightmares.."

"I guess there's no harm in trying..is there?" Jeongguk shrugged.

"I agree there isn't any harm" Taehyung nodded.

"Then tonight we shall try it out" Jeongguk nodded and stood from the bed. "I should go, I was only my way to make lunch when.. everything happened.." Jeongguk laughed softly to himself and he made his way to the doors.

"Go eat well" Taehyung smiled and then remembered something. "Oh and Jeongguk.."

"Yes Taehyung?"

Taehyung then shook his head and then waved his hand. "Never mind, it wasn't important."

"Alright" Jeongguk nodded and continued om his way out of the dragons quarters.

As soon as those doors shut with a slam, Taehyung laid back until his back hit his bed and he let out a breath. He then groaned as he realised that Oh, oh, he was slipping. Slipping down a dangerous slope of things he had deemed horrendously shameless to even think he deserved as a dragon. But instincts are instincts and who was he to deny them?

"Fuck" Taehyung groaned to himself. He would never admit it now. 

Chapter Text

Court Of Dragons

Chapter 8: Silk and Dragons Scales.

Jeongguk's lunch wasn't noteworthy, dinner, however, was better, he actually ate with the dragon beast-man, on the rare occasion Taehyung joins him for dinner. They sat in the kitchen mostly. Their conversations though short, held importance that Jeongguk hadn't thought about before. Though the conversations weren't the only thing that had affected him. They had been doing this for a few weeks now. Taehyung joining the prince for a few days at a time.

Between bites of his food, he couldn't help but glance up at the other and watch as the others golden eyes focus intensely on the food on his plate and the way his hands moved fluidly yet looked so rough. When they've touched him in the past, they were rough in a good way, they felt strong yet so lovingly. Like there was a hidden longing behind them.

Jeongguk fluttered his eyelashes as he looked between his own food and the dragon. He bit his lip to keep a smile from growing as he almost laughed from his silly thoughts and looked back down at his plate that was now empty and huffed.

Taehyung had looked up at the sound and his eyes landed on the prince's empty plate. He stood up and took his own before walking over and taking the princes before he could properly protest.

"Hey wait-" The prince's protested quietly trailed off as he watch the dragons back slip away; the way the muscles moved under his loose shirt, catching glimpses of the muscle and skin underneath through the rips where the wings were settled under the shirt.

He saw how the the scales blended into the skin in a beautiful form of a dark, dark black to his tan skin in a gradient and dusting away into his skin like dust.

"Oh-" Jeongguk gulped as he tried to tear his eyes away from Taehyung's back as he felt his cheeks burn.

"Uh.. So when do you want me to come to your quarters? I assume you want some time to yourself before I come in.." Jeongguk turned back to look at the dragon who was washing their dishes. "Hey, I could've done that"

"But you did the cooking, I'll clean up" Taehyung replied as he scrubbed the plates they used. "and I would like it if you came just after sunset, when the stars are high in the sky and the moon is bright"

"oh-..okay then.." Jeongguk nodded. "That's fairly soon" He realised.

Jeongguk then stood up to leave the kitchen but before he could Taehyung spoke up.

"Jeongguk"

"Hm?" He hummed as he turned to look at the dragon beast-man.

"In a few days there will be a meeting between all the dragons that are still alive and the meeting will take place here, in my throne room, now it might be loud so try not to worry or get scared about it" Taehyung explained without looking at the other.

"What if I'm not scared?" Jeongguk asked, though the question wasn't really phased as such.

"What do you mean?" Taehyung questioned as he looked up.

"What I mean is.." Jeongguk let out a groan at the fact he is actually admitting it. "..I was never afraid or scared of you.."

Taehyung looked at the other shocked. "Why..? I'm the most horrible creature you've probably ever met.."

Jeongguk gulped and shook his head at the statement. "No, you're not the most horrible, believe me, I've already lived with them"

Taehyung let out a breath and nodded. "That is true.."

"So I may even join that meeting" Jeongguk laughed.

"I don't see why not now..as long as you can handle our topics and actions" Taehyung let a smile slightly grace his lips.

"I'll see-"

Taehyung placed the two plates to the side to air dry and turned to face the prince before walking towards him. "You know if it gets too much you can leave the room..I or any others wouldn't stop you, we would understand if you do"

Jeongguk took a breath and nodded. "I'll see if I do, I may not"

Taehyung narrowed his eyes at the other. "What do you mean?"

"I may not look it or even seem it, but..nothing bothers me..nothing scares me" Jeongguk looks away from the dragon for a second as he felt his heart race from the other's look to him.

"If nothing scares you, then why can't you look at me in the eye?" Taehyung lent down to face the human slightly and lifted his hand to brush and tap his index middle and ring fingers under his jaw to get him to look at him in the eyes. "Why can't you look at a dragon in the eye?"

"Because..you're.. you.." Jeongguk muttered. "I am very much a human, and I can't help what I feel.."

"and that is..?"

Jeongguk gaped at him for a second before thinking of what to say. "Intimidated..by your status"

Taehyung stepped back a step and stood straight. "My status?"

"The guards talk..you're like a king to them..to everyone around you and I'm a mere prince, I have a lower status to you" Jeongguk replied. "I don't have the right"

"Who says that?" Taehyung asked.

"I just said your guards" Jeongguk replied, confused. "They said it to my face when I was on my way to the library.."

Taehyung took the princes wrist in his and almost started to drag the prince out of the kitchen "Who?"

"The new one you appointed a few weeks ago" Jeongguk replied. "Well, not just him per-say"

Taehyung stopped in his tracks as he heard what the prince said. "Not just..? Him? There are more? How many more?"

"Probably three to four more.." Jeongguk grimaced before he sighed. "I don't want you to lose more guards, you need them" He pouted slightly, staring up at the dragon beast-man with his doe eyes.

Taehyung blinked with an expressionless face before he sighed and let go of the princes wrist before cupping the other faces in his hands. His thumb started to graze along Jeongguk's cheekbone without him realising.

"I do not need them, Jeongguk, I could take down a whole army myself, they're just for.." He smirked. "Intimidating others"

"That's my line" Jeongguk groaned.

"But I still don't need them" Taehyung shook his head. "And I'm also quiet lazy about my prisoners, they just.. help with that"

"I see" Jeongguk tried to nod but couldn't due to Taehyung's hands. "Uh.. Taehyung.." He used his eyes to gesture to the dragons hands before lifting his own and pointing at the others hands.

"Oh! Sorry" Taehyung cleared his throat and took his hands away from the other's face. They felt like burning within his skin, especially on his thumb where he didn't even realise he was touching the princes cheek. He doesn't apologise either; that was uncharacteristic of him. He doesn't like it one bit.

"Anyway-" Jeongguk started but the dragon took his wrist again and started to drag him again towards the throne room.

Upon entering the throne room the doors opened with a heavy creek and a slam behind them as they entered the room. The guards that where there jumped in place from the sudden sound and their eyes locked onto the dragon and prince.

"I would like to know who said rude things about Jeongguk's status right his face.." Taehyung's voice boomed loud through the throne room hall as he watched each and every face shift; a few of confusion and a few of guilt.

"..Why diminish his status? Why set myself higher than him? I may be a lord but I am no mere king, He may be a prince, but he is not at the status level of a mere commoner.."

"A lord..?" Jeongguk whispered to himself as he looked the dragon beast-man up and down slowly.

"Because he's not worthy of your presence, Sire!"

"Who said that?" Taehyung growled through his fangs.

"It was the one I mentioned Taehyung" Jeongguk spoke lowly behind the other, knowing he could pick up his voice with his hearing.

"You" Taehyung's eyes bore right into the one guard that was assigned to be the leader weeks ago. "Hae-Joon, I should've known.."

"I'm right aren't I? That fucking prince had to go and run to you for protection, had to go and tell tales" He tsked. "What a baby"

"He didn't run to me for protection at all, if anything he had the right to tell me that you were bad mouthing him and diminishing his status" Taehyung glared. "And he isn't a.. a baby..he's more mature than you, who in their right mind bullies another person in my castle? Have you done it to the others?"

"No.." Hae-Joon whispered.

"What was that?" Taehyung let a sickening grin crawl it's way on to his lips. "Speak up"

"I said No, I haven't done it to the others" He replied.

"Not even during training?" Taehyung questioned again, his smile growing.

"Training? I-" Hae-Joon's breath caught in his throat. "How did you know?"

"I always know, you know this, I know everything" Taehyung's smile was huge, his fangs sat at the tops of his bottom lip but his eyes looked hollow; empty, violent and void of emotion, dark even.

"I knew you would diminish the other guards in training, I also knew you threatened the others when I wanted a new commander and blackmailed them all into letting you do it" Taehyung continued, a laugh bubbled up from his chest. "I just wanted to see how far you'd go, and now I know.."

"And? What will do?" Hae-Joon's voice was stiff.

"I'll get the real commander to deal with you" Taehyung's eyes shifted to look at a guard that stood behind Hae-Joon, with the man following his gaze and looking at him.

"Yes sire" The guard nodded and with a click of his fingers the other guards who stood around them all, started to walk over to Hae-Joon and took him by his arms and dragged him out.

"Another to the volcano.." Taehyung muttered under his breath as he shook his head. "I'll speak to the rest of you later"

Taehyung then turned around to face the darling prince again and saw that his eyes were wide and jaw slacked open. His eyes seemed to be locked onto the dragons head and as soon as their eyes locked he shut his mouth.

"What?" Taehyung questioned, his voice not as rough, not as dark, not as commanding as before. It was soft.

"I didn't expect you to go that far.." Jeongguk breathed, he shook his head in disbelief.

"I heard murmurs around the castle, I needed to make sure" Taehyung nodded and eyed the prince before he looked towards one of the windows and saw how low the sun was set in the sky. "Night fall soon.."

Jeongguk nodded and looked down at himself for a second before looking back up at the dragon. "You saw how I dress.. or lack there of, when I'm sleeping.. will there be any guards around in the halls when I travel from my quarters to yours?"

Taehyung hummed for a second. "The travel time to the volcano takes a couple of hours.. but if you're worried bring a spare shirt and come right to my quarters and change in my bathroom..if you'd want to"

Jeongguk thought for a second and then nodded. "Yeah, that'll be best..for tonight though, right?"

"Yes" Taehyung nodded. "And since it's nearly night fall and the stars will be out soon, meet me in my quarters soon then"

"Okay" Jeongguk nodded and watched as Taehyung's lips curl slightly into a smile at the corner of his lips and step away to make his way out of the throne room.

"I'll see you soon.." Jeongguk breathed and thought that Taehyung didn't hear him.

"And as will I" Taehyung replied, his voice echoing in the hall.

Jeongguk turned his head to face the doors and didn't see him. He walked towards the doors where the hall was and saw Taehyung almost at the end of it, close to the hall the leads to his quarters.

Jeongguk bit his lip and turned to walk the opposite direction towards his own quarters, that felt colder than the rest of the castle as he grew closer and closer to the heavy doors. He assumed it was due to the broken windows in the hall but he wasn't sure. The castle was broken in different places so it's all he could assume.

Pushing open the heavy doors to his quarters, he made his way over to the wardrobe that stood in the blue moon light and he grazed his fingers over the wood before opening it and letting his hands run over the fewer silk shirts hanging up than normal as the others need a clean and he wasn't sure where he could do that. He'd have to ask Taehyung about it whilst with him.

Jeongguk's eyes landed on a black thin but linen made shirt that had a v-cut down the collar, he wondered if it would be better to wear for the night rather than a silk shirt.

He didn't want to upset the dragon in some way, he was fine wearing the silk shirts privately and Taehyung initially didn't seem to mind him wearing them when he check on him.

There was also an identical shirt with a v-cut collar but made of silk at the opposite end of the wardrobe, just hanging in the dark. Same colour and shape. He looked between the two and decided on the silk as he felt a bit more comfortable wearing that when asleep.

Jeongguk took it from the hanger and a pair of underwear from the draws within the wardrobe and closed its doors with a squeak. He let out a small shaky breath as he looked around the room and took in what it looked like; even if he was just going to be away from it for the night. Maybe just one night.

He pulled the doors to a close as he stepped out of the room and turned to walk down the hall, the doors heavy squeak echoing behind him as they shut. The prince jumped a little from the sound; he groaned as he was annoyed at the fact he wasn't used to it by now.

Jeongguks footsteps echoed in the halls like his heartbeat echoed in his ears. He was not ready to spend the night with the dragon, but what harm would it do to try and stop his nightmares for good? No harm at all to try. He was both nervous and hopeful about this.

He stood in front of Taehyung's door without even realising it and took in a breath before knocking on the door.

"You can come in, Jeongguk" Taehyung's voice spoke softly through the door and Jeongguk gulped.

He pushed the door open and almost gasped when he saw Taehyung standing by his window, looking out of it. He was shirtless and just in loose fitting pants that hung from his hips. It seems that the dragon decided to get changed too.

"The bathroom is through that door over there" Taehyung gestured to a door that was in the wall to the right of Jeongguk.

"Ah, okay, t-thank you" Jeongguk nodded and quickly made his way over to the door. "Where would you want me to place the clothing that I wore?"

"There is a basket by the wooden table where you can place them in" Taehyung replied, he hadn't looked at the prince as his eyes were locked on whatever was happening outside the window.

"Ah I see" Jeongguk nodded and opened the wooden door to step inside the bathroom that softly glowed due to a few candles.

He let the door slowly close behind him and he placed the items of clothing onto the wooden table by a mirror. Jeongguk took a breath and slipped off his current cotton shirt and threw it into the basket that was by the wooden table.

He glanced in the mirror for a second and his breath hitched when he saw his scars. It doesn't get any easier to see them. How scattered, deep and horrid they were, he wouldn't be able to get used to the sight of them. He wondered if Taehyung would think the same as him about the scars. Would he find them horrible? Would it make the prince less attractive to the dragon?

"What-" Jeongguk whispered to himself.

"Everything okay in there?" Taehyung asked through the door.

"Ah! Yes I'm fine, I'll be out in a second" Jeongguk replied as he picked up the black silk shirt and quickly slipped it on with burning cheeks and ears from his thoughts.

"Okay.." Taehyung muttered and the sound of his footsteps moved away from the door.

Jeongguk quickly pulled off his tight pants and underwear before swapping to the clean pair and throwing the wore clothing into the basket.

With another glance at his reflection in the mirror he took a breath to calm his face and nerves before turning and making his way to the door to open and stepped out into the dragons quarters.

Taehyung eyed the prince from where he sat in his wooden chair bf his desk; one hand holding a letter and the other mindlessly rubbing his jaw, which stopped once he looked at the prince. His eyebrow rose for a millisecond and then dropped as he placed the letter down.

"Are you ready?" Taehyung questioned as he stood up from his wooden chair and made his way over to the king size bed.

"Yes.." Jeongguk nervously replied. "But what if it doesn't help?"

Taehyung looked up at the prince; eyes searching for something. When he couldn't find it he gave a small smile. "Then we won't do this again..remember?"

Jeongguk nodded. "Right"

Taehyung slipped into his side and pulled the slim sheets back enough for himself. Jeongguk quickly followed suit and slipped into the sheets of the bed; his back facing the other.

There was shuffling and a huff behind him and Jeongguk looked over his shoulder.

"Sorry, it's difficult to get comfortable with wings this big.." Taehyung muttered out an apology and let his head land on his pillow as he looked at the prince. "Get comfortable, it's okay.."

Jeongguk nodded and got himself a bit more comfortable; his stomach laying flat against the bed and his shoulders digging into the pillow by his head, with his arms pressed under it. He closed his eyes, releasing a breath he didn't know he was holding and nuzzled his head into the pillow.

Just as he was about to slowly dose off he felt the others hand slip it's way to wrap around his waist, pulling him closer to his body; back against chest, forehead against the back of his head and a wing came down and over his body. The scales glistened in the pale moon light and he couldn't help but fall in love with the colours as they gleamed. The hints of rose gold shimming in the black was just beautiful.

Jeongguk felt the others hand flatten against his stomach and gasped quietly as he felt the others thumb move against his skin through the fabric. The silk wasn't doing too much to hide the feeling and the shivers tingling under his skin.

"Sorry, I can let you go, it's just.." Taehyung's voice came out softly and breathless against Jeongguk's nape. "I read that holding someone's as they sleep can help stop nightmares, I just thought it may help if this does help.."

Jeongguk didn't dare speak for a second as he took in the others words and touch. "It's okay, you can keep holding me.. it's no harm anyway to try whatever.. you think may help"

Taehyung just nodded against the others head softly and let out a breath. "You're not cold are you?"

Jeongguk shook his head slightly. "No, you're very warm, it's nice.."

"Dragon's for you, warm blooded.." Taehyung replied with a laugh.

"I though reptiles were cold blooded" Jeongguk sleepily replied with yawn. His eyes closing with a flutter.

"Some are, not dragons though.." Taehyung replied softly. "Sleep tight Jeonggukie.."

Jeongguk merely hummed in reply, and wasn't phased by the nickname nor the fleeting touch upon his forehead and the feeling of his hair behind brush away. Maybe even a fleeting brush of something else against his cheek.

Taehyung nuzzles his head against Jeongguk's and for a moment it felt right. Like everything was in place. His insists were calm for the first night in weeks since the princes arrival. It felt like nothing else mattered in all the land. All that mattered was the sleeping prince in his arms.

Perhaps this night may be the first of many where Jeongguk sleeps soundly and no nightmares haunt his mind.