i: smooth operator.

as if by magic, the week-long september showers have suddenly ceased their downpour on the most populous stretch of illinois, allowing those who’ve made home of vivacious chicago to carry out their daily tasks under the dry warmth of a shining sun.though he hadn’t been bothered much by the seemingly ceaseless rain (it’s nothing a decent umbrella and a native’s knowledge of the city’s labyrinth cannot defy), johnny is grateful to see uninhibited sunlight and fluffy white clouds once again as they appear like beloveds that had been away too long, even if the majority of his view had been through a high-rise office window.the whirr of the air conditioning competes with the rhythmic hum of the radio as johnny sits maddeningly motionless in his two-thousand twelve mercedes. as he waits, remnants of the summer heat threaten to roast him under his blazer. traffic is rarely stellar in this part of town, but even so, he can’t understand why his usually twenty-minute commute from his day job edges on an hour now.logic offers that the surplus of cars and bodies out and about can be chalked up to the change in weather—to people wanting to take rightful advantage of the reprieve from nonstop rain. but he can’t help but notice the gathering throng comprised of all ages loitering excitedly by the roadside, chattering as if some popular band or movie star is expected to make an appearance in the near future. evidently, it’s nothing on johnny’s radar, thus, beyond being annoyed about his delay in getting home, he doesn’t think much of it.“hey, there you are! sheesh, man, i was starting to get worried.”mark’s voice reaches him before he even fully opens the door to their unit, prompting johnny to start at the burst of energy assaulting his tired body.on a normal day, this would be something johnny would appreciate, feeding off the liveliness offered to him and absorbing it like some sort of excessively extroverted sponge, but he can’t deny that it grates on his already nublike nerves after the day he’s had.nevertheless, he’s conscious enough not to show this to mark, instead offering a playful roll of his eyes as the door shuts on its own behind him and he lowers to one knee to untie his shoes.“i’d have been here at the usual time if traffic wasn’t complete ass,” he replies, setting polished leather aside and raising up on now-socked feet. “the streets were so fucking crowded—i swear i moved like an inch every minute, if even that.”“oh, shit,” says mark, shifting where he’s perched on the couch to stretch his legs out, which had previously been tucked beneath his body. “i didn’t even think about how crazy it’d be out there. makes sense, though.”johnny’s brows furrow, lips pursing into a puzzled pout as he slips out of his blazer.“did i miss something?”round eyes go even rounder, catching the light like polished marbles. “dude, are you serious?” mark asks, an incredulous height to his tone. “did you forget the prince would be in town today?”the answer becomes obvious when johnny’s face loosens with realization, the topic of his mother’s innumerable facebook posts recurring to him all at once.apparently, the prince of south korea has been on some kind of diplomatic tour across the united states for the past month, starting in california and making his way to the east coast, trending on social media with practically every stop whether people take time to rave about his elegant style choices or share candid photos of his otherworldly face.though johnny hadn’t ever understood the obsession with royalty in the twenty-first century (especially royalty hailing from a country in which the obsessed don’t even live), as he’d stumbled across a few photos of the monarch-to-be on his socials, even he couldn’t deny the objective appeal. korea’s darling prince is a sight to behold—he’d had no idea people could even look like that in real life.but who’s to say it is real life? johnny’s seen the netflix shows about the dark side of monarchies in the modern world, and in general—he’s aware of the possibility that every aspect of the prince’s life is rehearsed down to every nonexistent pore on his blemishless skin.“damn. i guess i did,” he answers, throwing his blazer over the back of his ancient leather recliner—a hand-me-down from his father, who likely got it from his father. “don’t know how i managed to do that with my mom treating it like the second coming of christ.”mark snorts out a breathy cackle. “you’re telling me! i had the pleasure of learning that my boyfriend’s been secretly obsessed with prince jaehyun this entire time,” he says, rolling his eyes and tonguing the inside of his cheek. “between him and your mom, it’s all i’ve seen on my feed for days.”“that’s rough, buddy,” says johnny, chuckling under his breath. “so, i’m guessing dejun was one of the groupies waiting on the street downtown?”“he would’ve been,” mark answers, “if i hadn’t managed to talk him out of waiting there overnight. when i mentioned that he should look his best to see the prince and not be all unshowered and hair unbrushed, he took that shit personally. now he’s at his place trying to put together his best look on the off-chance the prince makes eye contact with him for half a second.”johnny laughs louder at that. “you gotta admire his dedication.”“that’s one way to put how i feel about this whole thing,” mark grumbles. “of course he’s roped me into it; i have to take him down there and wait with him as soon as he’s ready.” he pauses for a few moments, sniffing. “by the way—” he starts, but johnny cuts him off.“i’d love to let you borrow my car so you and dejun can be ignored by a prince, mark,” he says, “but i need it to get to work tonight. especially now that i know i’m gonna have to leave way earlier than i was expecting just to get there on time because prince charming’s come to town.”with a groan, mark deflates against the couch. “great, hyung. dejun’s gonna hate me.”“not my problem,” johnny offers unhelpfully, moving toward the kitchen to scour for sustenance of some kind.regardless of his prior disposition, he finds himself trying to be a good friend after all. “why don’t you ask yuta to borrow his car? he’s probably home by now, and he likes you way more than i do,” he says, retrieving two-day-old gimbap from mark’s mother’s brief visit. “i can drop you off at his place on my way to work if he says yes.”“ah, yeah! great idea, hyung. my relationship is saved,” he says, swiping his phone from its resting place atop the coffee table.“for now,” johnny snickers, popping an ice-cold roll into his mouth. “the prince might take one look at dejun and fall in love, and then you’ll be fucked.”mark sputters, comically offended. “dejun and i have been serious for almost a year. no way he’d leave me even if that did manage to happen by some freakish coincidence … i hope.”he pauses, lower lip jutting out and fingers ceasing to move over the touchscreen of his phone. he looks at johnny, who cocks a brow at him, before his gaze swiftly returns to his screen, cheeks turning pink.“whatever, man,” mark mumbles as johnny starts laughing nigh on maniacally. “anyway, it’ll probably take dejun a while to finish getting ready, and the prince won’t be riding through for another two hours, so everything should work out.”“perfect,” says johnny, a few giggles trickling out of him. “now, if you’ll excuse me, i’m gonna take a cat nap before i have to head out. do not disturb me unless someone breaks in here and you can’t handle them yourself. which, knowing you, you’d better come get me no matter who it is.”mark laughs out loud at that. “shut up, man!”johnny’s own laughter echoes down the narrow hall as he makes his way to his room, gimbap in hand.♡unsurprisingly, yuta had agreed to let mark use his car to take dejun to millennium park, a fact of which mark had been sure to inform him the moment johnny emerged from his bedroom napped, showered, and ready to head to his second job.he’d already factored mark’s detour into his commute, based on his knowledge that his best friend has yet to say no to his other best friend. if mark wasn’t in a committed relationship with dejun and johnny knew less about yuta’s character, he’d suspect yuta fosters ulterior motives with all the affection he shows him—but it appears that yuta’s adoration for mark is the one pure thing about him.after throwing on a clean sweatshirt and making sure his bag is packed with everything he’ll need, he yells for mark to hurry up, half-heartedly threatening to leave without him. it’s just before six o’clock and he doesn’t have to show up for his shift until seven, but based on his earlier experience in attempting to navigate the crowded streets (even the backroads were littered with people, unsafe as they can be), he’s unwilling to take a chance on being late.mark rushes down the hall in casual wear, though elevated enough for going out. he’s still brushing his hair as he meets johnny in the living room.“the prince is expected to drive through around six-thirty,” he says. “dejun’s panicking, thinking he’s gonna miss it.”johnny tuts. “you’ll get there on time. dejun’s, like, two minutes from millennium park. you could walk there, honestly—probably wouldn’t have much luck getting through the crowd, though.”“that’s exactly why we’re not walking,” says mark. “unrelated, but i’m pretty sure your mom is gonna be there, dude. she might be there already—she’s posting a ton of pics on facebook.”the two make their way out of the unit, johnny pausing a moment to lock the door. “i know, i saw. this whole thing is so ridiculous. i mean—i guess it makes sense for her, because she’s actually from korea. but why should anyone else give a shit?”mark shrugs, starting down the stairs and toward the parking garage, leading the way. “beats me. he’s just super popular—especially with the gays. you know, since he’s one of them.”“well, i’m gay,” says johnny. “where’s the crowd of people waiting for me to drive by?”“you sound so jealous,” teases mark, mischievous little giggles bubbling up from his throat. “c’mon, dude, don’t be so sour. it’s not like you.”with the press of a button on his keys, johnny’s mercedes flashes to life, greeting both of them and unlocking with a click.“please,” he mutters, “the only thing he has that i’d ever want is infinite money to pay off all this goddamn debt.”as he slides into the passenger seat, mark toys with loose threads on the distressed sleeve of his denim jacket. his eyes find johnny in the considerable darkness of the garage, and by extension, the car, and he watches him silently for some time as he tosses his bag into the back and starts up the engine, getting settled in to take off.“your parents have offered to help you with that a million times, but you keep tellin’ ’em no,” he fusses, staring down at the dashboard, even when johnny freezes, aside from the sharp turn of his head to look at mark. “i don’t get it, hyung. you’re their only child, you know? they probably—no, definitely—want to help you out, but you’d rather work yourself to death just to do it on your own.”johnny can hear the concern in mark’s tone, and the tinge of frustration, too. his job at the insurance company is stressful and exhausting enough, thus, adding additional employment on top of that had been a difficult decision to make, as work has come to consume the majority of his twenties.but it’s just until he can save up enough to pay off his student loans, and his car, and to buy his first home—which, even with the healthy sums of money he brings in from his second gig, will see him trying to manage this lifestyle for at least another five years.and that’s fine. all of it is temporary, he tells himself. he’s too optimistic to believe he’ll be stuck at a dead-end job by day and stripping six nights a week by night for the rest of his life. his two college degrees have to go somewhere, for all the debt he’d acquired trying to get them—and he’ll only be this hot for another twenty years, tops.“how many times do i have to tell you?” he starts, sighing as he recenters himself enough to safely back out of the parking space. “i can’t rely on my parents for everything. they’re nowhere near rich—that’s why i had to take out loans in the first place—and they literally just retired a year ago. i don’t feel comfortable asking them for money. they’ve given me enough throughout my life.”he stares at his hands gripping the wheel, ivory spreading over his knuckles. “i want to be able to give back to them for everything they’ve done for me … not take even more than i already have.”“johnny,” mark says, eyes going from locked on the dashboard to laser-focused on his friend. “you’re joking, right? you’re their child. i hear what you’re saying, man, but there’s no way you could ever be a burden to them. all ma ever talks about is how happy she was that they were able to have you after everything they went through. you know that.”johnny doesn’t say anything for some time, pulling out of the garage in silence as mark’s words echo through his head as though it’s an empty cave.deep down, he knows that mark is right, that his parents would do anything to help him without question or complaint, but he can’t bring himself to take advantage of that; perhaps they’ll never see him as a burden, but johnny often worries that he is one, regardless. as their only child, the pressure to be perfect is suffocating—to make his parents proud, to be worth all the pain they endured in their attempts to have a successful pregnancy, and all they sacrificed to give him the best life they could.how can he do that if he only ever takes from them?“i just want to do this on my own,” he replies belatedly, the last of the day’s luster bathing them in amberish light as they fully emerge from the garage. “i made up my mind about that a long time ago.”defeated, mark sighs, electing to let it go for now.“i know, man,” he utters. “i know.”a soundless tension stretches on for a handful of minutes, even when mark reaches out to turn on the radio, filling the car with “peaches” by justin bieber. he sings along quietly, though he still has a pout on his lips, suggesting that he’s not entirely satisfied with johnny’s verdict.just as johnny opens his mouth to offer something to remedy the rigidity of the atmosphere, mark’s phone rings, demanding both of their attention.in retrieving it from the pocket of his joggers, one corner of mark’s lips pulls slightly upward, dark eyes half-rolling in affection masquerading as mock-annoyance.“it’s dejun,” he announces, though that much had been clear. johnny lowers the volume of the radio, and mark accepts the call, putting his phone on speaker.“baby?” he answers.“hey, babe,” says dejun, voice a little airy. “are you on your way yet?”mark chuckles. “yes, baby. johnny’s driving me to yuta’s right now to get the car. i should be at your place in the next fifteen.”“good,” comes the reply through the other line, though dejun sounds far from relaxed. “i just hope we can get close enough to the side of the road to actually see him.”“i doubt it,” johnny says. “it’s already packed. you guys are gonna have to push your way through half the population if you even want a decent view.”dejun huffs. “mark, i told you i should have waited overnight!”“baby, relax,” mark whines. “it’ll be fine. you’re tiny, so you can fit your way to the front no problem.”“i am not tiny!” hollers dejun, prompting both johnny and mark to laugh. there’s a grumble on the other line. “just hurry up. i have a little surprise for you when you get here.”mark licks his lips seemingly unwittingly. johnny barely swallows the urge to gag.“ooh … what kind of surprise, princess?”a giggle. “nothing like that, pervert. in fact, the only way you’re getting any tonight is if i get a clear view and some nice pictures of the prince.”mark emits an indignant chuff, but before he can argue, johnny cuts in.“i’m right here, you know,” he utters dryly. “really don’t want to hear about you guys getting busy. i’m already at risk of losing my lunch after hearing mark call you princess, dejun.”

“sorry, johnny,” says dejun, though his continued giggling makes it sound anything but sincere. “but to be fair, mark’s the one with his mind in the gutter.”“isn’t he always?” johnny grouses, tousling mark’s neatly brushed hair into an unruly mess before giving his head a playful shove toward the window. “dirty little gremlin.”“man!” mark hollers, though he’s laughing too much for his objection to be taken seriously. “you can judge me all you want, but you know if you had a boyfriend, you’d be even worse.”“on that note,” dejun begins, and johnny gets a sinking feeling in his stomach as he can guess where this is headed. “why don’t you have a boyfriend, johnny? i mean, i’m sure you’ve got plenty of options,  since you’re so good-looking. not to mention that body of yours is absurd.”“why, thank you,” johnny replies, smiling despite himself. he forgets how annoyed he tends to get with questions about his relationship status with the bubbly sound of dejun’s resulting laughter—and the compliments hadn’t hurt his case, either.“and, well—you’re not wrong,” he continues. “i get asked out from time to time … but i’m just not looking for a relationship right now. i’ve got too much going on.”“in other words,” mark interjects, “he wants to fall in love so bad, but nobody around here is doing it for him.”a tight gust of a breath leaves johnny, and mark eyes him knowingly. both are aware that he’s right.“ohhh, i get it,” responds dejun, an understanding gentleness about his tone. “no worries, johnny. i’m sure you’ll meet the right guy soon!”though dejun’s ‘encouragement’ is certainly cheesy and on that account, embarrassing, johnny can’t help but be the tiniest bit comforted by it in the privacy of his heart.“and you’ll be so in love that you’ll forget all about how much life sucks, sometimes, because he’ll make it all worth it,” dejun continues. “‘love is the medicine that heals the heart’, as my dad always says.”johnny hums. “is that how you feel about mark?”dejun starts sputtering unintelligibly over the phone, and mark’s face goes bright red.johnny cackles at both of them, unable to deny how cute they are, even if he’d be reluctant to say it aloud. even more reluctant would he be to admit that he’s a little jealous that the two of them are so in love and so fucking happy while he spends his nights alone, wishing to have someone by his side to offer him a warmth even beyond that of a physical sense.“a-anyway, baby, we’re pretty close to yuta’s,” says mark, clearing his throat. “i’ll see you in a bit, okay?”“okay, yeah,” dejun replies, and johnny can almost hear the shy little lip bite in his voice. “fifteen minutes, lee minhyung.”“okay, okay!” mark groans, though his grin is wide. “sheesh!”so comes an exchange of ‘i love you’s, and the call ends just as they pull up to the front of yuta’s apartment building.speak of the devil, the other half of johnny’s most intense friendship sits right on the steps, smoking a cigarette and seemingly waiting for them; the moment he recognizes the car, he’s getting up and sauntering over.johnny rolls down the window, his sweatshirt-clad arm hanging over it as he leans out to greet him.“i brought you your favorite person,” he proclaims, and yuta gives a crooked smile, ribbons of silver smoke forming clouds as he opens his mouth to laugh.“i can see that,” he says, slanting forward to wave at mark, who waves back happily. swiftly, his attention returns to johnny as he leans on the side of the car. “you on your way to get some singles stuffed in your g-string?”the question earns a monosyllabic ‘ha!’, prior to johnny unlocking the passenger door and gesturing for mark to hop out, a cue mark follows at once.“oh, you know,” johnny replies, all while playfully rolling his eyes. “livin’ the fuckin’ dream.”thoughtfully, yuta takes a long drag from his cigarette, soon thereafter exhaling the smoke through his nose. johnny has long envied his ability to do that so effortlessly—chronic allergies can be unreasonably cruel.“i know all about it,” yuta sighs, patting the side of the car he’d slanted his weight against before throwing his arm around mark, who’s come over to his side. “i’ll take mark home when he brings the car back, so don’t worry about it. you just focus on doing what you need to do, and getting some rest afterward.”johnny smiles, nodding his head. “’preciate you, yuta.”honey-hued eyes flit toward mark, who looks anxious to get to dejun as soon as possible for the sake of preserving his relationship. “don’t wreck yuta’s car, okay? even though he’d probably forgive you instantly, anyways.”“it wouldn’t be mark’s fault,” yuta replies without hesitation. “he’s too cute for it to be his fault. it’d be your fault, actually, since it was your idea for him to borrow the car. and you’re not as cute as him.”mark laughs awkwardly, and johnny rolls his eyes.“i’m leaving now,” he says.“bye, not-cute johnny,” yuta offers, waving over his shoulder as he guides mark toward the parking garage. “throw ass extra hard today, make me proud.”with that, johnny rolls up his window, unsuccessful in his attempts to restrict proof of his amusement with his friend’s banter as a grin and a poorly muffled chuckle sneak past his defenses.♡though traveling the world will always hold a place as one of his deepest loves in life, to deem the tour utterly exhausting would contend for understatement of the year.the prince has taken pleasure in visiting cities he’s experienced enough to have favorite restaurants and attractions, as well as those in which he’d never before set foot, uncovering wonders in the endlessly unique landscape of one of the most bizarre and diverse countries on the globe—but the nonstop motion and the early mornings and late nights required by it steadily intensify an ache to go home; to be in his own bed, unobliged to make appearances and greet politicians for at least a few days.being the sole heir expected to uphold a three-hundred-year-old dynasty comes with its fair share of work, most of which jaehyun takes in prideful stride, but the chaos of the last month has made him further appreciate and even yearn for those rare stretches of down time.nevertheless, he needs no reminder of how important his remaining a positive and charming presence through his stress is. he’s representing his family and his nation, demands that place a colossal weight on his shoulders, and expectations only seem to steepen whenever he meets these demands with grace.as silly as it may seem to those on the outside of this lifestyle, to jaehyun, his responsibilities of bringing honor and esteem to the jeong name and their beloved homeland are a gravely serious matter. hence, as weary as he’d felt upon crossing into chicago, he’d met the new city and its lively inhabitants with genuine excitement and intrigue.he can’t say he ever expects the energetic crowds and cries of adoration whenever he makes an appearance, but he certainly hadn’t foreseen the thousands of people that had clustered at the heart of chicago as close to the blocked-off road as they could manage, representing all ages and ethnicities. the sheer height of the energy that he’d encountered rivals the explosive greetings he receives each time he visits los angeles, or even san francisco.jaehyun still thinks about it now, chills skating up his spine and a sweet smile etched into his lips as he leans back in the SUV, recalling all of the enraptured faces he’d spotted amid the massive assembly.he’ll make a point to visit this city more often for sure.nightfall blankets chicago’s “loop” in deep indigo, a backdrop that intensifies the spectrum of lights bringing the cityscape to life through the darkening hours. he’d shaken hands with so many men in suits and been subjected to a maddening amount of meaningless small talk, thus, jaehyun is quite looking forward to a much-needed night of rest in the presidential suite.his advisors and personal staff had gone ahead of him to prepare the space for his arrival, leaving only himself, his security, and one of his closest friends in the spacious car.beside him, jungwoo’s gaze remains fixed on the vivid scenery flashing just beyond the window. jaehyun can feel his desire to go out and be among the nightlife from where he sits, and he can’t help but be amused by jungwoo’s near tangible longing.he’d always been something of an oddball—a loose canon compared to the strict discipline exhibited by most men of the court—and that had always been part of what had drawn jaehyun to him.“aren’t you tired from everything we’ve had to do today?” jaehyun asks playfully, snatching jungwoo’s attention from the other side of the backseat.as he shrugs, jungwoo catches every passing city light in his round, brown eyes.“sure. but i’ve still got a little bit of energy to burn off. and i could really use a drink.”jaehyun chuckles, glancing over his own shoulder at the kaleidoscopic smear of scenery just beyond the tinted windows, blurred by the car’s motion. “we can have drinks at the hotel. the others are already waiting for us.”pausing a moment, jungwoo appears to be hatching a plan in his mind; jaehyun well-recognizes the sharpness of mischief on his friend’s face.but before he can fix his lips to pose an inquiry about jungwoo’s obvious scheming, jungwoo has sprung forward and thrown himself into jaehyun’s personal space, draping an arm around his shoulder.“i have a better idea, hyung,” he replies. “trust me?”jaehyun glares at him warily, unsure eyes scouting up and down for signs of danger, but he’s unable to keep from exhaling with amusement at jungwoo’s theatrically innocent expression. it would be convincing, if he didn’t know him so well.“just what are you thinking, kim jungwoo?”“i’m thinking,” jungwoo answers, raising his brows and making his eyes appear even rounder in doing so, “that we should see the best chicago has to offer. i have some connections, and there’s a club around here that i totally think’s worth checking out before we leave tomorrow.”he bats his eyelashes, and jaehyun rolls his eyes.“come oooooon, hyung. don’t you wanna have a little fuuuuun?” he baits, tone pleading. “all you’ve been doing is work this entire trip. you deserve to cut loose a little!”sighing, jaehyun tilts his head, a knowingly suspicious air about his expression. “don’t try to make this about me. if you want to go to the club, you should just say that.”jungwoo pouts, falling silent, though his face expresses his grievances effectively enough.“your mom set you up for another dinner with doyoung,” he says after some time, garnering jaehyun’s undivided attention at once. “i heard the advisors talking about it. they’re probably gonna tell you once we get back to the hotel, and then you’ll get to hear every detail of the future the queen is planning out for you. i’m sure you’re looking forward to that.”frustration burns at the base of jaehyun’s throat like acid reflux.“i’ve told her over and over again that i don’t want to marry doyoung,” he says, exasperation weighing on his cadence. “i cannot fathom why she seems so convinced that the millionth date with him is going to inspire a sudden change of heart.”“she’s trying to make a point,” jungwoo replies. “it’s like when a cat meows at the door over and over again until you give in and let it into your room. all she cares about is you getting married as soon as possible,” he says, tilting his head while looking at jaehyun through unentertained eyes. “you know that. you’re already twenty-five, and she wants the jeong dynasty secured yesterday. but right now, the direct line of succession ends with you.”jaehyun groans. “i’m tired of having this conversation,” he says. “marriage is not a priority at this point in my life. and when it finally happens, i’ll want a husband that i chose for myself—i want to marry someone i love, not someone my mother picked for me before i even truly understood what marriage was.”“i know, hyung,” says jungwoo. “but you know the queen. the minute you get back to that hotel, you’ll have a list of demands waiting for you, and another one-way conversation about your future—you know, the one you just said you’re tired of having.”he clicks his tongue, removing his arm from around jaehyun’s shoulder and entwining his fingers over his own knee, leaning forward in the seat.“which is why we should go to the club.”blinking slowly, jaehyun eyes jungwoo for a while, confusion illustrated clearly across his face.“i don’t believe i’m following your train of thought here,” he replies.“it’s ten a.m. in korea right now,” says jungwoo. “the longer we stall, the more likely your mother is to be busy by the time we get back, which means you can avoid talking to her for the rest of the night. and it gives you plenty of time to come up with a rock solid excuse as to why you can’t have dinner with doyoung.”jaehyun draws in a deep breath, mulling over jungwoo’s proposal. by the time he exhales, he’s made his decision.“alright,” he assents. “let’s go.”jungwoo beams at him, face brighter than any light beyond the car windows.“driver!” he pipes up, slanting past jaehyun in an effort to aid his voice in reaching the man behind the wheel. “we’re taking a slight detour!”♡the low lighting and loud music hits them the moment they make it through the back entrance and into the main room of the club.long stretches of elevated flooring form runways all throughout the space, atop which lean, oiled-up men sway their scantily-clad bodies to the penetrating bass, many of them rewarded with screams from inebriated patrons and wads of bank notes thrown at their feet.as he takes in the scene, jaehyun feels heat plume around the collar of his white silk shirt, the realization of just what kind of club jungwoo had dragged him into settling in like an unwelcome guest.the moment jungwoo finishes his chat with one of the club’s security guards, jaehyun seizes him by the arm, tugging him near.“you neglected to mention that the club your connection told you about is a strip club,” he hisses.jungwoo hums, lips poking out in feigned pensiveness. “did i?” he queries, a response that prompts jaehyun’s ears to burn, crimson crowding in from the corners of his vision.“well, when i said ‘the best chicago has to offer’, i meant the best men.”jaehyun tsks, partially disbelieving of his friend’s behaviour, and partially ashamed of himself for not having better sense than to trust him with something like this.“if i get caught here, my mother will have my head on a platter,” jaehyun seethes, “not to mention dispatch would have a field day. we’re leaving. now.”“but we just got here!” jungwoo whines. “and security was kind enough to let us come in through the back.”he frowns, yanking his arm from the tightness of jaehyun’s grasp with some difficulty and standing his ground.“nobody’s gonna know you’re here, hyung,” he insists. “just keep a low profile! have some drinks and look at some hot guys and take your mind off things. and hyunwoo,” he gestures toward the man as he speaks his name, alert and on his post as always, “is here to look out for us if shit gets real. just don’t worry so much, alright? we’ll literally be fine. relax!”wordlessly, jaehyun examines the room, relieved to see that no one is paying him any attention—everyone is absorbed in either their own personal business or the hypnotic movements of the dancers. but he can’t be certain of how long this luxury will last, and part of his brain is a siren blaring for him to get out of here as soon as possible.yet, the moment he thinks back to his mother’s meddling in his personal life, an indignance starts to simmer beneath his breastbone, and he thinks that if she knew of his current whereabouts while she attempts to steer him toward a marriage he doesn’t want, the message of his independence and the consequences of her interference couldn’t possibly be clearer.“i want a rum and coke,” he says, prior to turning gracefully on his heel and making his way toward the bar. “when i finish it, we leave. that’s final.”

an ecstatic jungwoo follows him, closely trailed by a dutiful hyunwoo.they acquire their drinks from a starstruck bartender who asks jaehyun a barrage of questions about how he’s liking chicago, where he’s headed next, what he’ll do once he returns to korea. a lively, young, masculine figure with bright blue hair, the bartender seems nice enough, so jaehyun happily engages in conversation with him for some time, and is sure to leave him a hearty tip for his company and cordiality before he and jungwoo find a booth in the vip section of the club.due to the angle at which the booth is situated, they have a wide view of the dancers and the patrons gathering at their feet. none of them are of any particular interest to jaehyun, though he is one to appreciate the beauty of the male form whenever he gets the opportunity. thus, he allows himself to respectfully indulge in a bit of eye candy in the various sets of glistening washboard abs and tight, bulging glutes.when one dancer finishes in a particular section of the club, he trades places with another—jaehyun notices the well-oiled machine after witnessing a few rotations. some men collect their payouts and disappear behind a velvet curtain while others stuff their thongs with banknotes and move on to the next section to entertain new faces, likely to maximize their earning potential for the night.their outfits—if they can be called that—vary in terms of modesty (or lack thereof), but no one is wearing more than half a shirt and a pair of hotpants, and those men tend to be the ones who’ve just come out onto the floor and haven’t yet had the chance to tantalize their guests by shedding layers.contrarily, no one is completely nude, either. perhaps full-frontal is an experience exclusive to the backrooms—he’s seen the kind of action that takes place there, even if only through the wonders of cinema.jaehyun takes his eyes away from the dancers to note his half-full glass, and to compare it to jungwoo’s, which is already empty.hyunwoo stands attentively by the booth, and jaehyun very nearly tells him to sit down to avoid drawing attention their way. but before he can, he remembers that he no longer cares if anyone knows he’s here or not—he won’t go broadcasting his presence, but he’s not actively preventing himself from being discovered, either.he casts a half-hearted gaze toward the runway once again, thinking he won’t find much there, but a flash of something heavenly snatches his attention.jaehyun’s eyes dart back to where the figure had appeared, leading him to realize that a new dancer has come their way, one who must have emerged from an unseen location—perhaps heaven itself, or wherever the angels dwell between this world and the next—for jaehyun knows he would have easily spotted such a divine being from several kilometers away.golden skin glistens under the shifting lights, his perfectly sculpted body a masterpiece from every angle as he falls easily into a rhythm, the control he exudes over his impressive stature more than attractive. the dancer takes hold of the pole and swings himself about, and it feels like the world around him slows down as jaehyun catches a clear glimpse of his face when the light hits it—catlike eyes trained into a smoldering gaze, sinfully plump lips forming a perfect loveheart, and a masculine beauty that makes jaehyun’s heart rattle in his chest.jungwoo has been going on about something for a while, now, and jaehyun was listening to him at first, but this adonis of a dancer has stolen all of his attention, rendering jungwoo’s voice nothing more than a dull drone at the back of his mind.jaehyun watches the dancer’s every move, wholly captivated by the way he rolls and works his body; the swell of his thick thigh muscles, the bounce of his well-built chest, the smooth gyrations of his rippling abdomen, the veins cascading down toned arms each time he catches his weight. he’s larger than life in his platform heel boots, rainbow lights dancing along glossy leather in bursts of color, coalescing with his unbelievable height to frame him in a godlike splendor upon the elevated stage.he’s not sure how much time has passed when jungwoo shakes his shoulder, extracting him from his trance.“you’re not listening to me at all, are you?” he deadpans.jaehyun blinks. “sorry,” he mutters, raking a hand through his fringe, briefly exposing a pale forehead in the process. “i just—”“who is it?” interrogates jungwoo, taking it upon himself to scoot closer suddenly, as if trying to recreate jaehyun’s point of view.jaehyun feels his entire face get warm. “what are you talking about?”“please,” says jungwoo. “you were all up into some guy just now. i saw that look on your face.”jaehyun huffs out a breath, but prior to an opportunity arising for him to deny it, jungwoo emits a dramatic gasp, telling jaehyun that he’s found exactly what he’s looking for.“oh, it’s him, isn’t it?” he questions, raising a hand to point, but jaehyun catches his wrist, shaking his head.“could you be a little more subtle?” he fusses.jungwoo smirks. “shirtless, shiny black boots, right? with the leopard tattoo?”jaehyun blushes, fixing his gaze on the table of their booth and subconsciously nipping his lower lip. at that, jungwoo hollers excitedly, knowing that he’s correct.“ooh, hyung! excellent choice!” he chirps, leaning even closer to jaehyun. “he’s probably the best looking guy in this club. and that body …” jungwoo whistles, immediately licking his lips in such a vulgar way, it makes jaehyun’s cheeks burn. “i knew you had good taste.”sighing, jaehyun gives in. “he’s an amazing dancer. he moves so fluidly, it’s hard not to watch him. plus … the things you mentioned, too.”the grin on jungwoo’s face is nearly blinding jaehyun. “go get closer! he’s here to entertain you. and it sounds like you think he deserves a tip.”“i—” heat floods jaehyun’s face once again, more intensely than before. “i am not going to throw money at another human being.”jungwoo rolls his eyes. “hyung, he literally wants you to do that. it’s part of his job.”“i know, but …” jaehyun pouts unwittingly. “it simply doesn’t feel right. i’d want to tip him in a more dignified, personal way.”“so you want a private dance?” jungwoo asks.jaehyun’s mouth opens. closes. opens again. unfortunately, the words jumbling up in his brain get clogged somewhere on the way to his mouth and never make it out.“okay,” says jungwoo, rising up from the booth suddenly. “wait here. i’m gonna tell him you want a dance.”in a panic, jaehyun suddenly remembers how to speak. “jungwoo! what on earth are you thi—?”“i can’t hear you, hyung!” jungwoo claims while he all but sprints toward the stage.horrified, jaehyun leans back in the booth, attempting to make himself invisible and wishing he’d have left earlier after all.why does he always allow jungwoo to talk him into shit like this?♡it hadn’t taken long for johnny to get used to the whole ‘stripper’ thing.he’s been dancing since he could walk, primarily as more of a hobby than anything else until he started to take it more seriously in high school—and walking around scantily clad is something of a natural thing for him.nevertheless, how he’d ended up here is a blur. it’s normal for people to make jokes about becoming strippers amid their financial woes, and johnny had been no exception, but the difference between himself and most others in that situation is that he’s friends with ten lee, who is of course acquainted with someone who owns a high-end gay strip club.a month of pole dancing classes after that conversation (which had been the most bizarre work training he had ever undergone), johnny was thrown right into the spotlight and told to bewitch the clientele.unlike most clubs (presumably—he’d never actually worked at a strip club before this one), the dancers are paid a set salary and have contracted hours, but the pay is nothing to write home about. thus, the bulk of what keeps their lights on comes from tips and convincing customers to cash out on expensive drinks, leaving them all in competition with one another to stand out the most, draw the most attention, make the most money.johnny has a natural advantage, as most of the men he works alongside are nowhere near his height, even in platform shoes. beyond that, he’s been told by customers and coworkers alike that he exudes a special charisma: the stage presence of a born performer, biologically engineered to captivate an audience.upon all of this praise being thrown at him, he’d really started to feel as though his day job sitting at a desk and answering phone calls is the most tragic case of wasted potential.even so, stripping isn’t something for which he could see himself quitting his office job, as it’s only meant to supplement his income until he can carve out a better life for himself. yet, admittedly, when he looks at some of the dancers who’ve been in the industry for over a decade, he starts to feel nervous about his own future.johnny clears his head as he struts out from where he’d taken a quick break and touched up his makeup in the ‘dressing room,’ which is nothing more than a communal space of vanities, a single sink, and a mess of slutty clothes and ankle-breaking platforms.he’s no makeup influencer, but anyone can put some shimmer on their lids and gloss up their lips—and it makes a striking difference under the club lights, so even when he’s short on time, it’s not a step he skips.on his way to the floor, johnny runs into one of his coworkers—a petite, wiry man he knows as glimmer, noted for having electric pink hair and being double-jointed, among other, less family-friendly things of which johnny hopes to never know the details.the two of them get along quite well, for despite the fact that he hardly comes up to johnny’s chest and looks as though he could still be in high school, glimmer is a few years older than johnny, and recently ‘celebrated’ his tenth year stripping.he’d been kind enough to serve as something of a supportive, almost coaching presence when johnny had first started out, which meant a lot as he tried to find his footing in such an intimidating environment—and the highest heels he’d ever seen in his life.“hey, honey!” glimmer greets, a bright smile lighting up his face as their paths cross. “perfect timing. i think some of the customers are wondering where you are.”from up close, though he almost has to press his chin to his chest to be able to get a decent enough look at glimmer’s face, johnny notices the sweat droplets dotting his hairline, hinting that he’s in dire need of the break he’s about to take.johnny chuckles lightly, rolling his eyes. “well, thanks for holdin’ ’em over. what’s it lookin’ like out there?”“glad you asked,” says glimmer, a smirk tugging his painted lips to an angle. “remember how everyone and their mom was freaking out about the prince of korea being in town today?”blinking, johnny raises an inquisitive brow. “uh, yeah. what about it?”“i’m, like, ninety percent sure one of the guests out there is him,” he reveals, words causing johnny’s eyes to widen drastically. “i know, i know, you probably don’t believe me. but some of the other guys said the same thing, and after comparing some pics we found on google, i think it might actually be him!”“you’re serious?” johnny asks, quickly answered by glimmer’s enthusiastic nodding. “i—what the hell’s he doing here? this isn’t exactly a fucking country club.”glimmer shrugs. “beats me. maybe he just needed to unwind after doing prince shit all day. he’s pretty safe coming here—celebrities do it all the time when they’re in town, so i guess royalty isn’t off the table, either.”he pauses thoughtfully, though the sharp, impish glint in his eye persists. “but, y’know, honey, i think he’s a bit shy. he’s kinda just been sitting in the corner with his friend—and his bodyguard, i think.” youthful face flooding with mischief, glimmer suddenly leans closer to johnny, placing a hand on his bare chest.“but you’re a fan favorite around here, right? maybe you can get him to come out of his shell and sponsor all of us.”at what he finds to be a gross overestimation of his potential, johnny laughs out loud.“get real—he’s a prince, glimmer. he’s not gonna risk it all for any of us,” he says, rolling his eyes. “i bet he’s only here to have a few drinks and blow off some steam. but you’re right about one thing: he could at least give us the royal treatment when it comes to tipping.”giggling, glimmer reaches up to shove johnny’s shoulder.“don’t sell yourself short, honey,” he purrs. “who knows? tonight could be the night your life changes forever.”though they both laugh about it as they part ways, johnny can’t deny that those words echo faintly between his ears as he climbs up onto the runway, nodding toward his coworkers as they greet him.his mind drifts to dejun, and his own mother, as well as the hundreds or potentially thousands of other people like them; how they’d spent so much time and energy braving a crowd just to catch a glimpse of the prince.now, he’s allegedly somewhere in this horny little club, and johnny has a real chance of experiencing him up close and personal.they’d be so jealous.even so, johnny elects to focus on his job rather than whether or not he’ll get a tip from a royal tonight. the club’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ culture is rigid for guests and dancers alike, to the point that the owner keeps a thick stack of NDAs printed and ready to go at all times. and even if things ran on more of an honor system, johnny isn’t the type to expose people at their most vulnerable.but he can’t help but wonder what the south korean public would think about their beloved angel of a prince being in such a dirty place, even if it is the classiest strip club one could find in chicago. they’d probably assume he just got lost, that he’d stumbled in by accident, or even that he intended to make charity work out of it, somehow.the music pulses through johnny, pulling him into a routine that comes like second nature, and his head goes blissfully blank as he lets his body do all the thinking and talking for him.he really can’t say he hates this job at all. there are things he hates about it, but overall, being cheered for and admired by dozens of people at a time really isn’t so bad, so long as everyone plays by the rules.he’s not sure how much time has passed when he’s interrupted by the sound of a voice calling out to him over the music, but judging by the growing pile of money at his feet, it had been more than just a moment.johnny looks down, seeing a young man standing far too close to the stage, even resting his elbows on its edge as he looks up at johnny with unclear, yet evident intent.“hello!” he greets, the other patrons eyeing him with a variety of emotions ranging from innocent confusion to burning envy.johnny notes his accent, which combined with his face, leads him to assume that this man is korean. his simple yet polished outfit is far from atypical for this setting, and his plump lips and round eyes make him look young, much like glimmer, yet, the way he carries himself alludes to age and experience that’s appropriate for a twenty-one and older club.“i am—uh. m-my friend … he is—” the man pauses, lips pursing with frustration before he gives up, switching to his native tongue. “i’m sorry. do you speak korean?”through his persisting bemusement, johnny smiles, crouching down so the other man won’t have to shout so loudly to be able to communicate with him.“yes,” he answers in korean.“oh, thank god,” says the patron, relief flooding his soft features. “okay. i’m sorry to bother you, but i’m here with a friend of mine, and he’s very interested in you,” he explains, and johnny’s heard this spiel before, so he thinks he knows what to expect.the man clears his throat, going into the breastpocket of his crisp white shirt and pulling out a bundle of neatly folded bills.“i’ll give you however much this is to give him a private dance,” he offers, tucking the thick stack of notes between his index and middle fingers and extending them toward johnny, who blinks with disbelief, alarm.

as he looks closer, the shifting lights of the club catch on the surface of the bills, and johnny can see that at least the outermost note bears the likeness of benjamin franklin.he must be too stunned to speak, because the guest takes the initiative to fill the ensuing silence.“you can count it if you want. i’m offering you so much as a show of gratitude for catching his eye,” he explains, a nonchalance typical of the filthy rich stitched into his tone and radiating off his every gesture.“trust me, you wouldn’t believe how difficult it was to get him to agree to come here, and to stay at that,” the patron says on the same breath as a bitter, but truly amused chuckle. “he’s a gentleman, sometimes too much of one. and he’s a little shy, but he was looking at you like he wanted you to wreck him, so i thought i’d take the initiative to make it happen.”johnny swallows, starting to put the pieces together in his brain.there’s no fucking way …slowly, he reaches for the money. in pulling off the clip, he quickly finds that he’s holding thirty one-hundred dollar bills in his hands—not only the most lavish tip he has ever received, but in itself the most money he has ever made in a single night working at this club—in a single night doing anything at all.this practically confirms his hypothesis, but still, he finds himself asking, “who’s your friend?”smiling, the man tilts his head a certain way. “behind you. the booth farthest from the bar.”taking in a deep breath, johnny turns his head, fixing his gaze to follow the directions provided. though he finds exactly what, or who, he was expecting to find, his heart still leaps toward his throat, and his eyes still go wider than ever they have before.there, sunken slightly into the booth, is a man clad in attire similar to the guest that had approached johnny; a silky white shirt accented with touches of fine jewelry here and there. his dark fringe frames his ethereal face, comprised of glittery sable eyes, an immaculately straight nose, and plush, pouty pink lips that look even more charming with the way he’s currently biting down on the lower of the pair.his skin is milky and flawless, flushed pink in all the right places, and his long eyelashes curtain a brittle gaze that lights ablaze upon his realization that johnny is looking at him.there’s no doubt about it. the man sitting in that booth is jaehyun jeong, the crown prince of south korea.upon finding himself caught in johnny’s gaze, jaehyun gives him a tiny wave, his ears flushing hot pink—johnny can see it from where he stands, shell-shocked.unknowing of whether he should laugh or scream, johnny clears his throat instead, giving the undoubtedly charming man—prince—an easy smile. then, he turns back to the customer, wearing an expression made of far more confidence than he actually feels.“okay,” he says. “i accept your offer. lead the way—seems like your friend could use an icebreaker before we get a little more … intimate.”the guest agrees with an eagerness that could arise suspicion about his intent, but johnny doesn’t pay it too much mind, given his thoughts are wholly occupied with what he’s about to get himself into.for the first time since he’d started working here, he disregards the tips at his feet—he doesn’t need them!—and hops down from the stage, meeting the nameless patron on the ground level. the other guests are noisy around them, but johnny can’t hear anything they’re saying, as he can only focus on the sound of blood rushing between his ears.“i’m jungwoo, by the way,” offers the man, once they begin their trek to the other side of the club. “what’s your name?”“uh—” johnny glances at jungwoo from the corner of his eye, unsure if he should tell him his real name. as other customers may be in earshot, he decides against it.“i go by honey,” he says. “it’s nice to meet you, jungwoo. how did you hear about this club?”he’s trying to make small talk to keep himself from staring blankly at jaehyun as they come nearer and nearer to where he waits for them, even if he can feel the heat of jaehyun’s eyes on him from so far away.apparently, those eyes have been on him for a while, if he is to believe what jungwoo had said to him—which, judging by the sum of money he’d offered (even if it’s likely pocket change to him), he finds reason to do just that. but above all else, johnny is still trying to come to terms with the fact that this is actually fucking happening.“a friend of mine knows the owner,” answers jungwoo, extracting johnny from his racing thoughts. “his name is ten. we met through social media a while ago.”again, johnny’s eyes become saucers. “you know ten?” he questions, shocked, though perhaps he shouldn’t be. ten lee is an enigma. he’s probably sold drugs to this guy through unmarked mail, or something. “i—we went to high school together. he’s the reason i got a job here.”“oh, really?” chirps jungwoo, smiling wide. “small world.”“for sure,” johnny agrees, chuckling with an awkward incredulity. by now, though he thinks of himself as a master of meaningless interactions, he’s run out of things to say, and they’re less than a few feet from the prince’s booth.there’s a broad unit of a man who stands in their way, but jungwoo waves him off easily, linking his arm through johnny’s as if to signal to the bodyguard to stand down.the man doesn’t say a word as he slowly removes himself from their path. then, in the same manner as a cloud clearing before the shining sun, the prince is revealed, now sitting up attentively and offering a tight, coy smile, showing a pair of unbelievably symmetrical (and unbelievably deep) dimples.johnny takes in the novelty of beholding him from this proximity. photography is a marvelous invention, but no camera on earth could capture the extent of this beauty.“hyung,” jungwoo begins, and johnny is glad for his tenacity, as he cannot conceive a single word in the presence of the handsome prince.howbeit, it seems that jaehyun has encountered a similar extent of trouble in making conversation—he’d only sat and smiled at johnny for a solid couple of seconds before jungwoo had interjected.“this is honey, the dancer you were admiring from across the club,” jungwoo continues, pulling his arm away from johnny’s to gesture toward him in an introductory sort of fashion. “he has happily accepted your request for a private dance.”jaehyun’s eyes flicker to jungwoo, the dazed smile dropping from his face.“my requ—...? ah. yes …” he takes in a deep breath, before returning his attention to johnny, lips slowly starting to curve once more, the indentations of his dimples gradually deepening. “i—i’m honored, honey,” he says, switching to english and offering a polite bow from where he sits. “please forgive my shyness … i’ve never … done anything like this before.”despite all the shit he was talking to mark, and to himself in the privacy of his own thoughts, johnny is self-aware enough to realize that he’s already stepped into the glue trap of jaehyun’s charm. it would be a greater challenge to not be transfixed by this man—not only is he a breathtaking sight, but this display of timidity, be it real or rehearsed, is … really fucking cute.offering a sweet simper, johnny bows back, ignoring the gust of cold air that brushes under his asscheeks. hotpants are not made for bending over—except for when there’s a tip involved.“don’t worry, baby,” he replies, voice the smooth, low drawl he always uses when working. “i’ll take good care of you.”jaehyun’s face quickly starts to redden, and jungwoo giggles, covering his mouth.“you two have fun!” he exclaims, moving aside to give jaehyun some room to approach johnny. “i want to hear all about it later, jaehyunnie-hyung.”jaehyun’s mouth pulls into a flat line, something fiery flashing in his eyes upon their darting toward jungwoo once more.“i bet you do,” he says, slowly rising from where he sits, making his way out of the enclosure of the seats and table.johnny has never seen a person exit a booth so gracefully.the bodyguard makes to approach as well, but jaehyun holds up a hand, bringing him to a halt so sudden that the bodyguard himself seems shocked by it, as if his body had acted on its own.“i’ll be okay,” he says, offering the visibly concerned man a gentle smile. “stay here and look after jungwoo. i’ll let you know when i’m on my way back.”“your royal highness,” he utters quietly, wearing a solicitous frown, intensified by the deep wrinkle between his eyebrows. “are you sure …?”“yes,” replies jaehyun. “honey said that he will take care of me. i’ve made the decision to trust him.”johnny can see the ‘why?’ written across the bodyguard’s face, and truthfully, he doesn’t blame him—he very nearly asked the same thing aloud, before catching himself.in eyeing johnny with something like vitriol, the bodyguard offers a warning that needs no verbal component. johnny gazes back at him with what he means to be earnestness, though it does little to alleviate the clear concern conveyed through the man’s expression and body language.if jaehyun had been privy to their wordless exchange, he says nothing about it. he only nods toward johnny, wearing that same awed expression from before, when first their eyes met.“please,” he says, giving a half-bow this time. “if you would guide me to a more private place, my gratitude could not be overstated.”“wait,” jungwoo cuts in, swooping forward and reaching into his pocket once more. “take this,” he says, prior to handing something to jaehyun—attempting to whisper, but not quite succeeding. “i figured you probably didn’t have a lot of cash on you.”“just how thoroughly did you plan this?” jaehyun replies on a deep mumble, raising a brow at his friend.jungwoo grins. “we can have that discussion later. now, go enjoy yourself.”jaehyun grumbles something unintelligible, and johnny pretends to be occupied with his hair for the time being. when jaehyun faces him again, he perks up.“ready to go?” johnny asks.jaehyun nods, smiling. “yes. my apologies.”“no worries,” says johnny. he reaches out, taking jaehyun’s hand, intertwining their fingers securely.“so you don’t get lost,” he giggles out the explanation upon seeing jaehyun looking down at their hands and blushing.“o–oh,” he replies, chewing his lower lip. “how thoughtful. thank you.”with that, johnny whisks jaehyun away, leading him toward the back of the club and leaving the other two men behind with a smile he hopes comes across as more reassuring than carnivorous.it’s difficult for him to not want to have at least a little fun teasing such a sweet, innocent thing—that’s part of what the job is all about, after all—but at the same time, he feels a strange responsibility to protect jaehyun, to make sure he’s taken care of. he is a prince, for god’s sake, and the last thing johnny needs is to be on the shitlist of an entire nation after something goes wrong with their precious golden boy in his hands.on their way, he catches a few of his coworkers giving him fish-eyed looks, some appearing comically envious and others cheering him on as he passes by with a royal in tow. still, even if the club is generally a safe space, he tries to avoid drawing too much attention to either jaehyun or himself.the backrooms are stationed amid a rectangular hall, rows of doors on either side bearing identical furnishings; the bare minimum of a couch for the guest, a pole for the dancer, and a stereo system to play music.all of the rooms are soundproofed so each dancer can focus, but also equipped with alarms that can reach security in case of an emergency. said security consists of two men huddled around a small table playing cards to pass the time, a testament to how rarely things get out of hand.but johnny doesn’t plan on entertaining the prince of south korea in any of the basic rooms. he leads him right to the sole door at the end of the hall—the “presidential suite” as it’s called, reserved for guests who pay top dollar for private services.the light above the entrance is off, insinuating that the suite is not in use. thus, he gives one of the security guards a wink before kicking the door open, tugging jaehyun inside and noting with amusement how much he resembles a nervous, leashed puppy.given that he’s never before brought a guest to the presidential suite, johnny takes a moment to heed all of its amenities as he closes the door tightly and flicks the switch for the aforementioned exterior light.there’s a plush, wine-colored couch encircling the pole at the middle of the room, an elevated version of the typical setup. beyond that, a king-size bed rests off toward the rightmost corner, adorned in red and pink to align with the rest of the décor, and right of the bed is a chest which johnny can assume bears an array of lube and condoms, and maybe even toys.there are no formal offers of sexual services at this club, especially if the cops are asking, but on the occasion the dancers are comfortable and the guests are able and willing to stretch their wallets a bit further, johnny has known it to happen every now and then. this considered, he himself has yet to go so far with a guest, but he can’t say he’d be opposed, should jaehyun be in the mood for something more tonight.with jaehyun’s hand still in his, he leads him toward the couch, stepping down into the circular pit containing it and inviting him to take a seat.jaehyun readily obeys, eyes locked on johnny’s all the while, even as he lowers himself onto the cushions.“what do you want to listen to?” johnny asks, seating himself beside jaehyun, intentionally much too close. he leans over his lap to grab the remote to the sound system, and jaehyun’s breath hitches slightly, but enough for johnny to notice.“you can pick,” he says diplomatically, voice tight with restraint.johnny smiles at him, licking his lips as he scrolls through the playlist options, more than aware of the way jaehyun’s eyes follow his tongue.“so polite, baby. but this is about what you want, so you can’t leave everything up to me, hmm?”the heat of jaehyun’s gaze lingers, though his expression exhibits a certain depth, as if he’s wanting to say something, but too fixated on staring at johnny’s lips to utter any words past his own.johnny’s smile grows as he notices this, just as he taps shuffle and the deep, sensual tones of some r&b track he doesn’t immediately recognize fill the room at once.“what do you want me to do for you, baby?” johnny asks softly, resting a hand on jaehyun’s thigh, reveling in the way he feels the muscle tense beneath his palm.“i …” jaehyun starts, eyes briefly meeting johnny’s before his gaze falls into his own lap, like the intensity of eye contact sends shockwaves through him that he’s not equipped to handle.his voice is feathery light when it returns to him. “i like it when you call me that …”“when i call you what?” johnny asks, though he knows the answer.jaehyun licks his lips. “… baby …” he replies. “nobody’s ever called me that before. not like that, at least …”he finds himself genuinely surprised by this information, but johnny elects not to show it in favor of keeping up his seductive air. so he hums, rubbing his fingers back and forth over jaehyun’s thigh, hearing him whimper under his breath on account of his nearness to him.“i’ll keep calling you that, then, baby,” he answers. “but you didn’t answer my question.”dark eyes find johnny’s face once more, braving the electricity; a brilliant spark caught within them, even in the low light of the room. “i’d … like you to dance for me, honey.”“alright, there we go,” says johnny, encouraging jaehyun’s boldness. who knew a prince could have so much trouble saying what he wants? “would you like it if i took off my clothes, too?”jaehyun’s face gets impossibly redder. “yes …” he answers.johnny hums, assenting. “you got it, baby.”he stands, then, exuding confidence with each long-legged stride toward the pole. jaehyun watches him like his life depends on it; like if he cannot memorize each and every of even the slightest twitches of johnny’s muscles, he’ll cease to exist as nothing but a memory to all who knew him.

even so, johnny notices the way jaehyun cannot seem to decide where his eyes should linger, even if they never once leave his body. sometimes he’s looking at his face, then his eyes will sink down to his bare chest, his arms, his abdomen, until a siren blares at the back of his head and he hastily rakes his gaze either back up to where he’d been looking before, or down to his leather-clad legs.“i know all of this is new to you,” says johnny, leisurely circling the pole to give jaehyun a complete view of his nearly naked figure, “but you’re allowed to look at my dick. and my ass. and any part of me you want—that’s kind of the whole point of this, baby.”that heavenly face goes pink and warm at once, the words articulated so bluntly and explicitly a visible shock to the well-mannered royal.“forgive me,” jaehyun wheezes, breath high in his throat. “i’ve … it’s just that i’ve never seen anyone like you before.”riding the beat of the song, johnny lets his hips find their own rhythm, the rest of his body following suit with a sense of control he’s mastered through both blessings and ambitions. he hums in acknowledgment of jaehyun’s words, whirling himself around the pole faster this time, locking the distribution of his weight at his core to enable himself to stay upright.“anyone like me?” he queries, smouldering eyes fixed on jaehyun’s like a big cat gearing up for a fatal pounce. “and what do you mean, baby?”jaehyun exhales, long lashes draping heavily over enchanted eyes.“you’re just … so beautiful.”for all of a moment, johnny pauses. he hears that word plenty around here—shouted at him from beneath the platform, exclaimed by coworkers as he passes by, grunted by patrons who want far more than they’ll ever get from him—but none of them had ever said it like that, like they’re looking at an art piece that moves them, that gives them that full feeling that’s the closest thing to a definition of what it means to be human.thus, for a fleeting stretch of time, he’s extracted from the fantasy of his own creation, his psyche reverting to that of the johnny he’d been before starting his shift amid the polychromatic strobes.yet, before he wades waist-deep into the quicksand, he pulls himself back to where he’s supposed to be, reminding himself that jaehyun is a patron to be satisfied, and nothing more—even if he is a prince.“you really like me that much?” he teases, a honeyed giggle bubbling beneath his tone. “i’m flattered, babe. but you haven’t even seen the whole picture yet, right?”plush lips part, but all that leaves jaehyun is an abandoned, “i …” likely due to the distraction served by johnny beginning to unzip his bottoms.as he slides the fabric down his hips, he ensures that his back is to jaehyun so that he can enjoy an uninhibited view of all that’s revealed to him, including the full expanse of johnny’s smooth cheeks and the whole of the black g-string that had peeked above his hotpants in clinging to his hipbones.johnny shifts, then, turning to face jaehyun—raised muscle curving low light. after kicking the garment away, and smirking when jaehyun doesn’t even flinch upon the abandoned bottoms landing right next to him due to how transfixed by johnny’s body he is, johnny glides his hands up his own hips, past his waist and stopping at his chest, arching and exhaling a sultry breath.“that’s a little better,” he declares, leaning back against the pole and reaching overhead to grasp it, flexing effortlessly, but intently. “right, baby?”jaehyun is blushing madly, his ears a deep red and the entirety of his face a warm pink, the hue stretching down his neck and beneath the collar of his shirt. as he gives him an unabashed once-over, johnny notes that jaehyun’s nipples are poking through the silky blouse—and given that it’s not cold in the room at all, he feels confident that his performance is already manifesting the desired effects.now, there’s only one place left to get him hard.“you—” jaehyun starts, attempting to force words out of a mouth that had previously been hanging open. “you … are a sight to behold either way. but this is … ravishing, honey.”johnny giggles lowly, nipping his lower lip as he basks in the high praise. “you sound like a poet,” he teases, stepping down from the platform and closing in on the couch.jaehyun tenses slightly upon realizing that johnny is coming closer, his hands scratching absentmindedly at the velvet of the cushions from where they remain anchored to his sides.“why are you speaking english to me?” he asks, leaning down to sink his knees into the cushion beside jaehyun’s thighs, arms grasping the back of the couch to effectively cage him in. “you heard me speaking korean with your friend, right?”though he seems to be struggling to speak any language with johnny hovering over him like this, jaehyun manages to find his voice after taking in a few shaky breaths, his hands trembling, twitching at his sides.“when i travel, i like to … use the language of the place i am visiting as much as i can. if i can,” he answers, eyes bright yet hazy as he raises his gaze to meet johnny’s. “it’s good practice. but also … it’s nice to talk to people with the words they use every day.”the charming earnestness of jaehyun’s answer is not lost on him, but johnny can’t stop himself from teasing. “i don’t think ‘ravishing’ is part of my daily vocabulary,” he says, simper edged with mischief as jaehyun practically liquefies beneath him. “but jungwoo was right about you, baby. you are a gentleman.”johnny lowers his head, then, until his lips can brush against jaehyun’s blushing ear, until he can feel the heat radiating from it against the swell of his mouth.“but you can let loose with me,” he adds, whispering despite the two of them being the sole inhabitants of the room. “you don’t have to hold anything back. i want to see your wild side, baby—show me all the dirty stuff you hide from everyone else.”he hears jaehyun whimper, seemingly frozen against the couch, petrified by arousal.“touch me, jaehyun,” johnny requests. “put your hands on me. i know you want to.” he lowers his voice as he adds, “i can feel how much you want to, baby.”jaehyun says nothing in reply, but he does finally move. slowly, he lifts his shaking hands, appearing to muster every ounce of confidence he can access just to guide them to johnny’s hips, where they rest rather modestly, his palms barely brushing exposed flesh.“almost,” johnny coos, an encouraging warmth in his tone. “touch me where you really want to.”“i—” a broken breath crumbles the integrity of whatever statement jaehyun had initially intended to make. ever so resolved, he makes a second attempt. “i’ve never …”“it’s okay,” says johnny, pulling back to look him in the eye. he sees desire scripted indubitably across jaehyun’s face, his eyes the epicenter of intensity—but he notes the presence of anxiety as well, even if jaehyun seems to be consentingly inching his way out of his comfort zone.“watch me dance for you, and then you can try again,” he offers.jaehyun nods, looking up at johnny through long, thick lashes. “okay,” he replies breathlessly, prior to repeating himself, as if he seeks his own reassurance. “okay.”a new song thunders through the room as johnny unlatches himself from jaehyun. despite this change in position, jaehyun remains melted into the sofa, hands slowly sinking from where they’d touched johnny as if he’s caressing the air where he once stood.jaehyun’s hands are a pretty sight, exemplifying the same delicate beauty as the rest of him—an alluring juxtaposition of a robust masculinity and an ethereal daintiness.johnny watches as the pale extremities fall into his lap, twitching slightly as they come to conveniently cover his crotch. he smirks, feeling the deep pulse of the rhythm surge through him as he steps back onto the platform.he always gives his all when he dances—the quality of his performances often directly informs whether or not he’ll be able to make his rent. but even though he feels secure in his earnings thanks to jungwoo’s generous compensation, johnny reckons with the desire to impress jaehyun as it rattles around in his chest; he wants to be remembered by his darling little prince for as long as he lives, wants to be in the back of his head when he eventually marries some uptight royal that will never be able to give him anything like this.it’s a challenge for him to pinpoint exactly why he feels this way—perhaps it’s some motive at the intersection of his boundless competitiveness and the fact that he grows increasingly fond of jaehyun with each heartbeat. whatever it is, johnny will make tonight impossible to forget.his thoughts fade to the outskirts of his mind as he lets the music take over, fully immersing himself in the titillating reverberations of the beat, each rolling sway of his hips and fluid flex of his limbs commanded by sensuality. the pole becomes an extension of him as he uses it to display his body to jaehyun with no intent of modesty; he spreads his legs to show the weight of his cock swelling against the dark lace of the thong, he bends and tips and swings about to accentuate his exposed ass and strong legs, he arches to emphasize his built chest and the ripple of his abdominals.the heat of jaehyun’s eyes on him all the while is invigorating. though he’s polite and reserved and everything a prince should be, his eyes cannot lie, and the sheer lust burning through his gaze surrounds johnny in a ring of fire and lights up his insides just the same.“you’re an amazing dancer,” jaehyun says, seemingly without intending to; the words leave him in a breathy jumble, the vein of a confession that had been wrenched out of him rather than consciously given. his face is an even deeper shade of cerise when johnny looks at him over his shoulder.“i … i’m …” through his struggle to compose himself, jaehyun sits up, eyes curtained and lips slightly puffy from being bitten excessively. “i noticed when i first saw you on the runway. the way you move … it’s like your body is made of music,” he says, breaths shallow and shaky. “it’s captivating.”even with his finest effort to not break character, a warm smile tugs at the seam of johnny’s lips. “you really aren’t used to this kind of thing,” he chuckles, leaning on the pole as he twists to face jaehyun, “are you?”jaehyun shrinks in on himself just slightly. “am i talking too much?” he asks.johnny shakes his head, his smile pulling his lips tighter as it widens. “it’s normal for customers to talk to me, but they don’t normally say stuff like that. i like that you do, though,” he says. “it’s cute.”jaehyun’s eyes dart away from johnny’s right as he starts to knead his pretty pink lips together. “i just don’t know the right way to behave,” he admits. “i want to loosen up like you said, but i … i can’t.”“you can,” johnny counters, voice soft but sure as he comes down from the platform once more. he sits with jaehyun again, close enough for their thighs to touch, and delicately cups a hand against jaehyun’s knee.“it’s just you and me here,” he says, leaning nearer to impel eye contact. “let go of the life you have outside of this room. how do you feel right now, jaehyun?”“i feel …” the words are flimsy in jaehyun’s throat, his deep voice just above a whisper as he answers, “frustrated.”it’s not quite the answer johnny was looking for—he was hoping for something more along the lines of what’s causing the hard-on jaehyun is very poorly obscuring. but he’s so far out of being ‘honey’ in the present moment that he can’t disregard the concern triggered by that response.“why?” he asks, brows knitting together as he removes his hand from jaehyun’s knee. “am i making you uncomfortable?”“no!” jaehyun replies hurriedly, raising his gaze to meet johnny’s at once and startling the both of them. “sorry,” he nearly whispers, ears going impossibly redder and eyes falling back into where his hands wring in his lap. “it’s not you. i … feel more comfortable here, with you, than i have felt with anybody in quite some time.”johnny’s neck rolls back a bit at this, bewilderment flooding his face, but something like a tender pride kindling in his chest.“then … what’s wrong?”jaehyun sighs. “my mother,” he confesses. “she’s trying to marry me off to a man i have no interest in. i know it’s selfish of me, but i don’t want to spend the rest of my life tethered to someone with whom i can’t even have a genuine conversation.”“that is not selfish,” johnny replies, draping his free arm over the back of the couch as he shifts his weight. “that’s completely reasonable. you should be able to marry whoever the hell you want to marry, whether you’re a prince or you spend eight hours a day on the phone selling people insurance.”jaehyun blinks slowly at him. “i’m sorry?”johnny clears his throat. “nothing. my point is, whoever you marry, he should be someone that you actually want to spend your life with. i got a c minus in world history, but i’m pretty sure we’re past the days of royals marrying each other so they don’t have to go to war, or whatever.”a soft giggle bubbles up from jaehyun’s throat, an occurrence which stirs up a tiny flutter in johnny’s chest. jaehyun raises a hand to run through his dark hair, and johnny is just a little smitten with him, he decides.“maybe not to prevent war,” jaehyun says, “but marriage remains an important means of ensuring the success of our dynasty. my mother says that it is imperative that i marry a man who exemplifies the values and traditions we’ve upheld for the past three hundred years, and the very moment she became aware of my exclusive attraction to men, she picked such a man for me. but …”a forlorn sigh forces a tense pause, and johnny can see the conflict strung between jaehyun’s handsome features.“i struggle to imagine a future for him and i,” he finishes. “one where i’m happy, at least.”someplace amid the sea of thoughts flooding his head, johnny discerns that it may be reckless of him to discourage a royal from abiding by the tradition that’s likely been drilled into his head since birth. but he also thinks he’d have a hard time living with himself if he turned on the tv or opened twitter one day and saw jaehyun forcing a smile next to some man he’d been coerced into giving the rest of his life, knowing that he once had a chance, even if an ostensible one, to talk him out of it.“then marry a man that you can see a future with,” he says, reaching out once more, squeezing lightly at jaehyun’s knee. “i’m sure all of that traditional stuff is important and has its place, but this is your life. why should you spend it with someone who can’t make you happy?”for a while, jaehyun only looks at johnny, his eyes round and effulgent, his lips parted so that only tiny breaths may slip between them.there’s a profound silence that passes, underlined by incandescent, uninterrupted eye contact, and johnny thinks that perhaps he’s convinced jaehyun to follow his heart after all. hopefully the government will offer him some kind of protection if jaehyun’s mother sends the south korean military after him, or something.“honey,” jaehyun starts, slowly snaking one of his hands overtop of johnny’s. “what if i married you?”at such a ludicrous suggestion, johnny can only stare blankly at jaehyun, eyes going wide. then he laughs, giving an amused roll of his eyes.“oh, yeah. then you could pay off all my student loan debt and we could live happily ever after,” he jests, tone round with sarcasm.“yes,” jaehyun replies, nodding much too earnestly for what’s supposed to be lighthearted banter. “i could do that.”reality knocks johnny upside his head like his aunties used to do when he would greet them in english instead of korean.“wait—are you being serious? i thought you were joking.”jaehyun frowns. “i’m serious,” he replies. “i want to marry you, honey.”“jaehyun,” johnny starts, springing up like the back of the couch had burned him. “we can’t—why on earth would you want that? we just met. you don’t even know my real name.”

“i feel like i know you more than the man my mother chose for me,” says jaehyun. “despite seeing him almost every day for the past six years, i cannot tell you even one thing he likes. any time i try to talk to him, he says what he thinks i want to hear,” he sighs, sparkly eyes pleading. “one time, i asked him what his favorite film was, and he replied with, ‘whatever film is my prince’s favorite.’”“christ,” says johnny, narrowly pacifying the reflex of a violent cringe upon the reception of such information. “but, i—you don’t know me either. and there are plenty of other men out there besides me and him. there’s no need to be hasty.”“but of all the men i have ever met, aside from my friends, you are the only one that i’ve felt like i could really talk to—the only one that has never judged me or expected me to be perfect,” jaehyun tells him, eyes shining with a sincerity that makes johnny’s stomach drop. “i don’t know if i will ever meet a man like you again, honey. i’m afraid to lose this chance.”a few more beats of silence elapse, a whirlwind of thoughts starting up a cyclone in johnny’s mind. but he can see the eye of the storm.perhaps this is his chance—to be free from struggling his way through life, to finally make something of himself of which he can be proud—of which his parents can be proud. this could be the way he gives back to them instead of taking endlessly.beyond that, he can’t even imagine an existence without debt plaguing his mind or working days and nights to make ends meet, because for the last couple of years, it’s all he’s known.but most beguiling of all, jaehyun seems like he really wants this. even if johnny cannot fathom why, that honest luster in jaehyun’s eye is undeniable. he wants him, wants to marry him. why would he—should he—refuse?on the edge of a deep breath, he approaches a decision.“johnny,” he says quietly.jaehyun’s brows furrow with confusion, before it dawns on him.“that’s your name?”a nod. “john jun suh. but most people call me johnny.”there’s another stretch of quiet, but in no time at all, jaehyun starts to smile.“what a lovely name, johnny,” he replies. “fitting for a lovely person like you.”despite himself, johnny chuckles. “thanks. i … i can’t believe i’m saying this, but … okay.”jaehyun looks as though he’s going to hit the ceiling.“okay?” he echoes, eyes bright and smile outright blinding. “you accept? you’ll marry me?”holding his breath, johnny nods. “yes. i’ll marry you, jaehyun.”so comes a joyous laugh as jaehyun reaches for both of johnny’s hands, squeezing them tight.“excellent!” he exclaims, practically bouncing on the couch cushion. “ah, this is—i’m absolutely enraptured, johnny. this will be momentous for us both. and i’ll ensure that you have everything you need—you have my word.”though he’s quite taken aback by the sheer elation jaehyun shows him, johnny can’t deny that it’s a little contagious—he’s smiling as he watches jaehyun struggle to contain the happiness he feels that they’re … getting married, apparently.“hey, hey,” he says, reaching out to take jaehyun by the shoulders. “don’t get too excited yet. we have to figure out what happens next, right? you’re still on your tour, and i still kinda, you know, live and work here.”“oh,” jaehyun replies, sucking in enough air to compose himself. “of course—my apologies. the tour will conclude at the end of this week, and i’ll be returning to korea thereupon. rather than taking you with me, i’ll fly you out separately once i have made my family aware of our engagement.”johnny hums, trying to ignore the anxiety that starts clawing at his core. “okay. i’ll tie up all my loose ends here, i guess.”jaehyun reaches back to remove johnny’s hands from his shoulders so that he can hold them again. he caresses over his knuckles, looking up at him with tender eyes.“i understand that this is a lot,” he says. “the magnitude of what i am asking of you is not lost on me. but i promise, i will do whatever i can to make sure that you are happy, johnny. you won’t want for anything. and if you change your mind, i’ll see to it that you’re able to go home, and return to the life you’ve made for yourself here.”perhaps the insanity of his choice has already caught up to him, for when johnny looks into jaehyun’s eyes, he thinks he can see the silhouettes of a future with jaehyun as his spouse—the blurred edges of a happily ever after for the both of them. together.beyond that, the truth is that he hasn’t made a life for himself here.but for right now, he cannot deny that he is terrified. the sweet comfort he finds in jaehyun’s eyes and the warmth of his touch certainly helps, though.“i’ll see you in korea, then,” says johnny.he feels his heart pop in his chest at the way jaehyun lights up all over again.♡upon dragging his feet toward the door to his and mark’s unit, johnny’s head is so full of noise that somehow, all of it blends together into a droning hum, making his temples throb.he’s quite used to coming home feeling as though he’s been hit with a shovel, and then a bus after that, but tonight is, understandably, different—even when he’s exhausted from dancing for hours and exerting the mental labor of pretending to be interested in every man that thrusts a fistful of cash in his direction, once he’s back at his apartment, he can drain his head of all the stress and frustration and not worry about anything else until he wakes up for his day job a few hours later.considering he’s made the decision to get engaged to a prince on this particular night, this routine bit of relief evades him, leaving his depleted brain to vibrate around the gravity of his situation in a dark, frigid void.at the very least, he’d been permitted to leave the club shortly after jaehyun, jungwoo, and their bodyguard fled the scene. the prince’s ‘private dance’ had mostly consisted of more surprisingly heartfelt conversation after his proposal, despite the fact that johnny had only been wearing a thong (he’d taken off his boots to get more comfortable on the couch around when jaehyun began talking about the pressure he’s felt since childhood to be perfect), and by the time he’d figured he ought to get going as his bodyguard would likely break down the door any minute, the two had discovered much to their mutual disbelief that they’d been talking for nearly two and a half hours.after slipping back into his clothes and escorting jaehyun out onto the floor, johnny returned him to jungwoo and the bodyguard, watching with some amusement as jaehyun very poorly concealed his giddy excitement about their upcoming nuptials. despite his terror surrounding what’s to come, something about the way jaehyun appears to genuinely be looking forward to it makes it impossible for johnny to brood or sink too far into the recesses of his own mind in his presence.but he is no longer in jaehyun’s presence. thus, the magic spell has worn off, and johnny is forced to confront the lunacy of the choice he’s made.he expects the apartment to be listless once he unlocks the door and makes his way inside—he may have left early, but it’s still nearing three in the morning, and he knows mark and dejun had an eventful day (and night, if what he’d unfortunately overheard in the car earlier is to be considered) and are likely to have gone to bed by now.thus, he’s rather stunned when he enters to find the lights still on and the couple snuggled up on the couch, sharing a throw blanket while rick and morty provides background noise from the television.mark perks up at the sound of the door opening and closing despite johnny’s finest efforts to be quiet. it had likely been the fault of the obnoxious bee-bee-beep of the security system.“heeey, man,” mark mutters sleepily, rubbing his eyes and reaching for the remote to mute cartoonish zaps and screams. “we were waitin’ up to make sure you got back safe, since it was so crowded out there,” he answers, as if the perplexed look on johnny’s face had been enough of a question.“oh,” johnny replies, blinking. “you guys didn’t have to do that.”“nah, it w’s no trouble,” mark yawns, stretching out his arms and looking more awake once he’s done. “we went to dinner with ma and yuta after the thing with the prince, and yuta hung out for a bit before he went home so he could get up for work. so it’s not like we were just sittin’ here the whole time.”by now, dejun is starting to stir, pulling away from mark as if he’s trying to avoid the source of the sudden noise. as he does this, johnny notes that the dark brown hair he’s used to seeing on him is now … hot pink.“why does dejun look like a k-pop idol?” he asks through an incredulous laugh, throwing his duffle bag onto the floor just beside the seemingly ever-present pile of shoes that lives in their pitiful excuse for a foyer.mark livens up immediately at that; if he’d been a little more awake after his big stretch, any influence of sleepiness has completely drained from him now.“dude, you’re not gonna fuckin’ believe this,” he starts, a huff vaulting up from his chest as he jostles dejun lightly, prompting him to open his eyes at once. “dejun found some random interview from like twenty-eighteen where the prince said pink was his favorite color, so he dyed his hair to have a better chance of being noticed.”though he’s exhausted and distended with conflicting emotions, laughter crackles in johnny’s throat upon hearing this.“you’re lying.”“i swear, man!” says mark, before he hops up, tucking one of his legs under himself as he sinks back down into the cushion, shifting to face dejun. “tell him exactly what you told me, dejun.”a small fist raises to rub a knuckle against a sleepy eye. “would you stop bullying me?” he grumbles. “you said you thought it looked cute.”“it does look cute,” mark replies, “but that doesn’t make what you did and why you did it any less bonkers.”johnny chuckles. “did it work, dejun?” he asks, rolling his eyes as he’s met with a perplexed look. “did the prince notice you?”“oh!” dejun exclaims, somnolence all but vaporizing. “yes, let me show you! i got it on video.”as dejun pats around the couch to retrieve his phone, mark crosses his arms, a petulant pout eclipsing his face as he falls back heavily against the cushions.“get ready to hear him squeal like a teenage girl,” he grumbles.when the phone is recovered from between the cushions, johnny approaches after toeing off his crocs, the latest addition to the aforementioned shoe-pile.“mad he doesn’t squeal like that for you?” he asks, placing a hand atop mark’s messy bedhead and giving him a playful shove.mark laughs, but in the distinct ‘amused-yet-offended’ way that johnny knows well of him.“fuck you, man. actually—”thankfully, before mark can say whatever disgusting words he’s fixed his mouth around, dejun pulls up the video, which autoplays upon its selection, filling the room with deafening cheers.johnny hears his own mother’s voice proudly singing what sounds like the korean national anthem, and the secondhand embarrassment that plumes through him cannot be overstated. regardless, he tries to focus on jaehyun coming into view amid the vividly crafted signs and rippling pride flags, sitting up in the backseat of a flashy drop-top car and waving to the adoring masses with a bright, dimpled smile that easily outshines the light of day.he’s surprised at how close to the front of the crowd they seem to be. he recalls mark updating him via text that they’d miraculously located his mother and joined her in her spot, which means that she’d likely been waiting there for a while before they’d arrived.again, embarrassing.at some point after the minute timestamp, through all the screams of jaehyun’s name and the professions of love (some of which definitely come from dejun), jaehyun turns toward dejun’s camera and indeed appears to make direct eye contact, his smile widening as he points toward his own head and mouths something that looks like ‘i love your hair’.there’s an ear-splitting scream that rips through the phone’s speaker at that (it prompts a flinch from johnny despite the fact that he’d somewhat been expecting it), the phone shaking violently as dejun narrowly evades losing his grip, like he’d been struck by lightning rather than looked at by some guy.(privately, johnny thinks he can understand it. he didn’t scream when jaehyun looked at him for the first time, but if he’d been a little fainter of heart, he might’ve—it did feel a little bit like lightning went through his chest, and he’s endlessly thankful that he’ll never have to admit it.)dejun, who’s smiling so wide it must hurt, drags his finger across the screen to play the moment back a few times.“i can’t believe this happened to me,” he says, a blissful breathlessness encompassing his words. “definitely the best moment of my life.”mark looks unhappy with this, but doesn’t say as much. there’s an unambiguous conflict strung amid his features—evidently, he wants to be happy for dejun, but the wall of his jealousy is a bit too steep to climb.“that’s pretty cool,” johnny validates, smiling as he keeps his eyes on jaehyun through the screen of dejun’s phone. “you even got a compliment. i bet everyone on twitter is jealous.”“he got ten thousand likes in an hour,” says mark. “god knows what it’s at now.”johnny hums. “how many likes does he get when he posts about you?”dejun laughs, and mark bites the inside of his cheek, giving johnny a displeased look that he’ll never be able to take seriously.slowly, johnny rises from where he’d knelt by the couch to watch dejun’s video, wandering toward the kitchen to hunt for a quick snack.“well, it was nice of you guys to wait for me,” he says while rummaging through a cupboard, “but i’m back safe and sound, so you’re in the clear to head to bed.”“yeah, we probably will,” mark mumbles, lifting his phone to check the time. “it’s already—hey, wait a minute. doesn’t the club close at three? what’re you doing back already?”for a fraction of a second, johnny freezes in the middle of opening the fridge. quick to regain his composure, he thinks he’s slick enough for mark to not have noticed him falter, but even so, he offers a vague explanation in hopes of sating his curiosity.“left early. boss said i could, plus i made a lot in tips tonight.”there’s movement from the living room, and footsteps nearing the kitchen. johnny exhales tightly.“oh, yeah? well, that’s good,” says mark, seemingly satisfied with this answer. “i’m kinda surprised you left early, though. especially after everything you said in the car.”johnny sighs. something snaps in him when he hears those words, and he knows he can’t keep this up. he’ll have to tell mark eventually—and soon, considering he’ll be leaving for korea in less than a week to start what will surely be a very long process.fuck. he really didn’t think this through. how long will he be gone? six months? a year? forever?“mark,” he says, just as dejun shuffles into the room. the extra presence makes johnny’s chest sink, but nevertheless, he utters, “i have to tell you something.”rarely ever does johnny use such a serious tone with him, so mark looks alarmed at once.“everything okay, man?” he asks, eyes going soft as he looks johnny up and down.the words are right on his tongue, but johnny can’t say anything. he doesn’t even know how to begin to explain this in a way that won’t sound completely ridiculous, but by the time it dawns on him that such a way may not exist, mark becomes visibly unsettled.“come on, hyung. you’re scaring me,” he says, voice shaky.the way he calls him ‘hyung’ instead of ‘dude’ or ‘man’ or even ‘bro’ makes it all the more difficult, somehow—it’s like mark wants to be comforted, wants to be reassured that everything is fine, that there’s nothing to worry about.so how can johnny tell him that he’s done something that will alter the trajectory of their lives?

briefly, he makes eye contact with dejun, who idles awkwardly by the entryway, concern etched into his dainty features. the pit in johnny’s stomach deepens, but with a running start, he leaps right into it, electing to just get the information out there and do as much damage control as he can afterward.“i’m getting married,” he says.mark blinks, uncharacteristically silent. the thin line of his lips falls slightly open with unsurety, and the silence in the room, in the entire apartment, feels eerie and hollow, something one could expect of an abandoned warehouse.then, the void fills with an incredulous laugh, and mark shakes his head.“dude, what are you talking about?” he asks. “stop playing with me, man. i thought you were being serious for a second.”“mark,” johnny says again, voice a little sharper than before, though fatigue still bleeds through. “this isn’t a joke.”another stretch of tense silence ensues. when the severity of johnny’s expression doesn’t drop, when there’s no noisy cackling or a ‘you should’ve seen your face!’, when gravity itself feels like it’s crushing the room around them as though god is crumpling them up like a piece of paper bearing an unsightly mistake, the amusement melts from mark’s face; his eyes uncrinkle, his buoyant smile deflates, and a violently visceral disbelief eclipses the jovial mirth he’d so easily displayed before.“how can you be getting married?” he finally asks, freshly remembering how to speak. “how the fuck can you be getting married, hyung? you—you don’t even have a boyfriend. you haven’t dated anyone in years, and you’ve rejected any guy who had the balls to ask you out.”mark exhales shakily, exhibiting a clear hurt at the concept of johnny having someone special in his life and not telling him, and remnants of incredulity that he could even be telling the truth.“you can’t just say some shit like that and expect it to make sense, man.”“i didn’t expect it to make sense,” johnny argues, but he keeps his voice stable, calm. “but i—i didn’t want to overload you with information right out the gate, okay? just … just listen, and let me explain.”“okay,” mark says, taking a deep breath. “okay, man. i’m listening.”now that he’s gotten this far into the water, johnny feels like he’s going to drown. part of him wishes he’d taken the life raft of an opportunity to act like this was a joke and he was just fucking around, but he’s in too deep. he reminds himself that if they don’t have this conversation now, they’ll have to have it later, at what will certainly be an exponentially worse time.so he bites the bullet, forcibly erasing the stubborn remnants of his concerns over how nonsensical the words will sound upon their departure from his lips.“prince jaehyun came to the club tonight,” he starts, not pulling any punches.both mark and dejun’s eyes bulge out of their skulls at this, an obvious yet understandable disconnect in their brains as to what to make of this information, and in what way it could possibly be related to johnny’s apparent engagement.“one of the other dancers told me he was there, and i didn’t even think much of it, honestly,” johnny continues, speaking slowly and carefully selecting his words. “but not even ten minutes after i went back out to the floor, the prince’s … friend came up to me and told me that the prince wanted a dance. he gave me three grand to do it.”mark’s jaw drops. dejun comes further into the room, like the recollection of events is quite literally reeling him in.“obviously, i did it,” says johnny, pausing to knead his lips together. “but jaehyun was nervous the whole time. he’d never done anything like that before, and he wasn’t used to … being horny, i guess.” he sighs, shaking his head. “i tried to help him relax, but he started talking about his mom, and how she’s trying to force him into a marriage with some dude he’s not interested in at all. somehow, i …”a sudden lump forms in his throat, compelling him to pause and swallow tightly. but mark seems to be putting the pieces together, the increasingly horrified look on his face clear enough of a testament.“there’s no way,” he cuts in, voice strained. “there’s no fucking way, johnny. i don’t fucking believe you, man, there’s no way—”“as if i would fucking lie about this,” johnny retorts, voice spiking in volume, though he swiftly collects himself following the outburst. “look, he—i wanted to help him, okay? he kept saying he wanted to marry me, and i … i just couldn’t say no. i couldn’t let him get locked into some shitty marriage just because he feels like he owes it to his mom, or to his country, or whatever.”“so you think the answer to that is him marrying some stranger he met in a fucking strip club?” mark rasps out. “you think that’ll make his life easier? that it won’t end up being another shitty marriage, just in a different way?”he stops to breathe, letting out another broken, deflated laugh, but one filled with anger, with resentment, with betrayal.“what the fuck were you thinking, johnny?” he hollers, sputtering a series of half-syllables as he tries to answer his own question. “what, is this about money? huh? ’cause i can’t see why the fuck else you’d suddenly have any interest in a prince you didn’t give a shit about a couple of hours ago.”johnny frowns, eyes darkening. “it’s not just about money,” he mutters. “i said i wanted to help him.”“it’s not your fucking job to help him!” mark shouts. “you’re just some guy who works at an insurance company and strips at night to pay your goddamn bills. why do you think you have any obligation to help a prince by giving him the rest of your life? did you even think about us, johnny—” he questions, eyes filling with fat tears and voice tearing as it shoots up a decibel. “—your family, your friends, everyone who gives a shit about you? did you think about how maybe it’ll affect us if you just up and leave to another country to join a royal family?”“hey, mark,” dejun addresses softly, taking a few steps forward and placing his hands on mark’s shoulders. “baby, just breathe, okay?”though his tone had been quiet, it startles johnny, somewhat—he’d wholly forgotten dejun was there.mark starts to sob, words shattered by shallow breaths and wet wails.“i can’t believe you would do this,” he bumbles out, crumbling as dejun wraps his arms around him from behind and rocks him back and forth, whispering softly to him in vain attempts to soothe his erupting emotions. “i c’n’t b’lieve you’d do this, johnny …”he’d expected mark to be upset—maybe even a little pissed—but never would he have thought he would be … devastated.seeing his best friend so broken up, so deeply hurt because of his actions, rips johnny apart inside, and his own vision starts to blur as he watches, stunned, as dejun struggles to calm mark down.“i’m … sorry,” johnny tries, his words wobbly. he knows it won’t fix anything. “i’m sorry, mark, i … i didn’t think about all of this.”mark says something else, but it’s too jumbled and fragmented to be intelligible. dejun seems to understand it, though, for he hushes him with an almost maternally stern ‘don’t say that.’an aching wordlessness leaves ample room for the guilt johnny feels to expand until it fills his whole body, all while mark’s angry crying echoes through his head at an impossibly intense volume.dejun takes initiative, thankfully, as mark cannot form coherent sentences and johnny bears the unfortunate knowledge that anything he’d dare to utter at this point would only intensify the pain he has already caused.“let’s go to bed,” he says, effectively to both mark and johnny. “we can talk more in the morning, once everyone’s had a chance to rest and calm down.”“yeah,” johnny says airily, breaking eye contact in an attempt to offer himself some reprieve from the proof of how severely he’s fucked up.he raises a hand to scrub the wetness from his eyes, prior to running it through his hair and sucking in a lungful of air with hopes of grounding himself.though he’s not looking back, johnny can feel dejun’s delicate gaze cast on him; a soft light pouring into a dusky room.he can sense that he wants to say something to him, or perhaps ask a thousand questions, but he doesn’t. instead, he offers more gentle affirmations to mark as he steers him out of the kitchen and down the hall.alone, johnny stares blankly into the open refrigerator, though his appetite has evaporated. he finds himself thinking of jaehyun again, recalling the moment he’d accepted his proposal, and all that had been whirling through his mind upon his realization that the offer was legitimate.as unhappy with himself as he is for hurting mark, and as much as he fears that others in his life may respond similarly to his decision, johnny cannot bring himself to call it off. strangely, as he sees jaehyun’s beaming face on the backs of his eyelids, he doesn’t feel even an ounce of regret.

ii: kiss of life.

he feels like death as he drags himself out of his bedroom, the chilly morning air nipping johnny’s naked upper half as he wanders into the kitchen. everything is as he’d left it the prior night; a neoguri pot in the sink, a bottle of sriracha abandoned on the counter, and unsorted mail that he’d intended to go through after returning from the club, but—understandably—forgot.he’d only managed to catch about two hours of sleep the prior night, as most of his time in bed was spent thinking about all that had occurred between himself and mark after he’d broken the news of his engagement, and said engagement itself—how in a couple of months to a year, he’ll be married to a fucking prince.it’s with unending frustration that he can’t get mark’s words concerning the apparent fact that he and jaehyun will have a ‘shitty marriage’ out of his head. jaehyun himself seems convinced they’ll live happily ever after, and his optimism must have been contagious enough for johnny to innately believe that, too—but now that he’s taken some time to think about it, he’s forced to confront the slimness of the chance that he can be the kind of man jaehyun needs.for one, he doesn’t know anything about royalty, and his knowledge of korea and korean culture, despite being full-blooded korean by heritage, is very limited. he’s not all that great at reading and writing hangul, even, though he speaks his mother tongue fluently. there’s no way jaehyun’s esteemed bloodline will be welcoming to a random american who can’t even write out their alphabet.(he probably could, if they gave him a chance. it would just take him a little longer than the average korean kindergartener.)yet, some part of him stubbornly holds steadfast to the sliver of a possibility that everything will work out, somehow. perhaps jaehyun’s family will see it as an opportunity to gain more influence in the states—johnny is no seasoned politician or loaded nepo baby, but he likes to think of himself as a decent representation of the average american, and that must be of some kind of value.minus the stripper part … but he can’t imagine he’ll be divulging that information to the korean public anytime soon. he hasn’t even told his parents about it.or maybe, by some miracle, jaehyun’s family will be so elated that he’s finally getting married that they’ll gloss over the fact that he’s bringing some nameless nobody into their lives.with that thought, johnny nearly hits his head on his way up from poking around the cupboard for the griddle he requires to make apology pancakes. mark isn’t usually one to hold a grudge, but johnny’s never seen him that upset before, especially not at him. a peace offering is definitely in order.dejun alluded to there being more to talk about, but johnny isn’t so certain of that, beyond his needing to apologize as many times as it will take to soothe mark’s pain. the remorse that fills him is genuine, but he’s not willing to go back on his word to jaehyun. he at least wants to get to korea and see where he fits in the bigger picture—maybe there won’t be a place for him, and maybe there will be. he won’t know until he feels it out for himself.and there could be some part of him that doesn’t want to disappoint jaehyun, or break his heart. he’d never seen a smile as bright as the one jaehyun had given him after he agreed to be his husband.or, fiancé. it may not be time for the h-word yet.while making his way to the stretch of counterspace he’d cleared for the armfuls of ingredients he’s carrying, johnny barely manages to not drop the plastic container of blueberries when his phone vibrates six times in the pocket of his sweats.after setting everything down carefully, he reaches to retrieve the device, shocked to discover he’d received a string of messages from jaehyun.jaehyun jeong at 8:13am good morning, johnny. i hope you are well. i would have preferred to hear your voice, but as i am currently in motion toward the airport, i figured texting you would be a better and more convenient option. my apologies, i know these types of messages are meant to be brief. but i have quite a few things i would like to tell you.firstly, i wanted to check in with you about our engagement. i know it was something of a hastily-made decision and i want to be certain that you haven’t changed your mind. it is okay if you have. i do not wish for you to feel trapped … the purpose of this marriage is to be an expression of freedom and consent, among other things. thus, if at any point, including right now, you no longer want this, i want you to be able to tell me.secondly, i will inform you of when the tour is over and when i am on my way back to korea so that you may prepare for your arrival there. do not concern over any logistics; i will take care of everything. you may bring as many of your belongings as you wish.thirdly and lastly, i want to be honest and inform you that my parents, namely my mother, will likely have an adverse reaction to our engagement. do not worry about her. i know that may be easier said than done, as she is the queen, but i will advocate for you and for us, and i will not allow her or anyone to mistreat you. you have a right to be part of our family. i have chosen you. remember this always.again, please message me with any concerns you may have at this time. i will be in the air soon, but i am happy to correspond with you as i am enroute to washington, d.c. beyond that, i hope that you have a good day today. in fact, i would like to hear about your day later, if that would be okay.p.s.: o’hare is one of the most beautiful airports i have ever seen. chicago is a special place, and i will be happy to visit many times in the future.he feels a little winded when he reaches the end of jaehyun’s texts, thinking he’s probably written essays shorter than that, but he can’t deny that it’s … comforting to hear from jaehyun so casually, despite his bizarrely formal word choices.maybe that’s how a prince is meant to speak. if jaehyun’s family is expecting johnny to sound like that, they’re in for quite a surprise.but it’s kind of cute, johnny thinks. he recalls jaehyun’s elevated vocabulary as they interacted the prior night, and the way it seemed to be so natural, almost as if he doesn’t know how to speak informally.regardless, he does pause for some time to consider jaehyun’s words. ‘i do not wish for you to feel trapped,’ ‘i have chosen you.’ evidently, they had been simple, even if earnest things for jaehyun to say, but they prompt a tug in johnny’s chest; one that, ironically, causes him to rethink everything.why did you choose me? he wants to ask. why do you think i can do this?but he won’t ask either of these questions. as he taps his screen to pull up the keyboard, he elects to take a more uninhibited approach.me at 8:25am good morning jaehyun. i’d have liked to hear your voice too. we can definitely talk later when we’re both freethank you for being honest with me. i feel really happy that you’re willing to look out for me like that. i’ll look out for you too, though i doubt you’ll need much of my helpi just want you to know that i’m here for you.and i haven’t changed my mind, by the way. i still want this. and i think we’ll be ok.↳ p.s.: o’hare is one of the most beautiful airports i have ever seen. chicago is a special place, and i will be happy to visit many times in the future.ohare is honestly a fucking nightmare to get around but yeah it’s a pretty cool place.and chicago is special for sure … i’d love to show you around next timetext me when you’re free, ok? i’ll tell you all about my day. and i want to hear about yours too. are you gonna shake hands with joe biden? ㅎㅎbefore he knows it, johnny’s bent over the counter, smiling down at his phone like an idiot.there’s a tender warmth in his chest as he types that he hasn’t changed his mind; a whisper in his heart that they really will be okay, even if all the odds are stacked against them. they’ve got each other’s backs, and that ought to count for something.in hearing movement behind him, johnny turns just in time to see mark and dejun shuffling into the kitchen. mark’s hair is in utter disarray, sticking out in every possible direction and nearly blocking his eyes in a way that suggests he’d lifted his head from a pillow just moments ago.dejun looks a little more put together, his circular specs low on his nose and his pink hair fanning out around his face like a cotton candy crown. the old hockey jersey he’d borrowed from mark hangs off him like a crimson curtain.johnny looks at mark for some time, watching as he grabs a pre-packaged orange juice from the refrigerator. based on body language alone, he doesn’t seem so upset, but johnny can’t forget how much of a mess he’d been just hours ago, standing in that same spot.“good morning,” he chances, several notches quieter than the boisterous and carefree tone he typically uses when greeting his best friend.mark takes several swigs of his orange juice, only about half of it left by the time he lowers the bottle. “morning,” he mumbles back, just as awkwardly.“johnny, are you feeling okay?” dejun pipes up, gesturing toward the coffee maker with a genuine look of concern. “you haven’t made coffee, yet.”johnny chuckles a little, licking his lips. “damn, you’re right. guess i got distracted.”“i’ll make it for you,” he replies, lips pulling into a soft smile. “you like three shots of espresso, right?”“four,” johnny corrects, offering a grateful smile.“you drink that every morning?” dejun snorts. “you’re gonna have a heart attack.”as dejun fires up the appliance, johnny gives a breathless chuckle.“hasn’t happened yet.”“hyung,” mark says, cutting in after allowing himself to fade into the background of johnny and dejun’s exchange. “i’m sorry for the way i acted last night.”johnny remains silent at first, lips parted just slightly in his surprise to hear those words. it’s not that mark never apologizes—quite the opposite is true; sometimes he apologizes too much—but it’s that johnny can’t think of a damn thing mark had done wrong.“that was my line,” he says softly, leaning back against the island with his weight steadied on the heels of his hands. “listen, mark, you had every right to be mad at me,” he continues, looking at mark with sincere contrition. “i didn’t even think about how you and everyone else i love would be affected by this batshit choice i made. i’m really sorry for that … i wish i could do something to just … make this all work out somehow.”mark sighs, shaking his head. “is this … is this really what you want, man?”johnny sucks on his teeth for a moment, recalling jaehyun’s earlier text message.“yeah,” he says. “i mean … the plan is for me to go to korea and suss out the vibe for a bit, but jaehyun made it clear that nothing’s, like, official until our engagement is announced to the public.”slowly, mark nods—but he still looks a little dazed, like he’s struggling to grasp this. “so … what if you go to korea and decide you like it and you’re gonna go through with it? you just … won’t come back?”pursing his lips, johnny gives a one-shoulder shrug. “in theory, yeah. but it’s not like you wouldn’t ever see me again. you know i’d come back here to visit you and my parents, and to just spend some time at home.”“yeah,” mark utters airily. “but it wouldn’t be the same.”johnny raises up off the counter a little, gaze falling toward the floor for a moment.“i know, mark. i’m sorry.”“and what about our apartment?” he says, voice raising as if a great horror has dawned on him. “i—i can’t afford to live here by myself, hyung. i’m gonna have to move back to toronto to live with my parents, and—”“i’ll send you my part of the rent,” johnny replies, jumping in just as mark starts spiraling. “as long as you need me to. you won’t have to go anywhere.”mark doesn’t look so relieved. “but you won’t be here.”johnny had never considered how much five simple words could break his heart, especially when paired with such a miserable expression.“i’m sorry,” he repeats, a heavy sigh punctuating his apology.there’s a stretch of moody silence, a few beats where no one speaks and nothing moves. but dejun does away with it, brightening the room with much-needed optimism.“i’ll stay with you, mark,” he offers quietly, a sweet, empathetic smile etched beneath his nose. “i know it won’t be the same, and i’m not as funny as johnny, but at least you won’t have to be alone.”mark’s eyes go wide, blinking like he’s heard something unbelievable.despite himself, johnny giggles, amazed that mark seems to have forgotten that dejun loves him, even after a year of steady and serious dating.“oh, baby, you don’t have to,” he says, cheeks starting to turn pink. “and johnny’s not that funny, really.”“is that why you laugh at every other word i say?” johnny asks, offended.dejun cackles, throwing his head back and all. “yeah, mark, you’re the last person that has any room to say something like that,” he agrees, beaming at mark with crinkled eyes. “but really, baby, i’d be glad to. if johnny thinks he’ll be happy with his prince charming, then i’ll be more than happy with mine.” he huffs a little upon adding, “it’s about time you asked me to move in, anyway.”mark smiles, the hue of his cheeks deepening. “you really think i’m …? ah, i guess i thought maybe you’d be jealous of johnny.”“i am, a little,” dejun replies, an eyebrow arching as he admits this. “but as much as i adore prince jaehyun jeong, the only man for me is mark lee.”eyes brightening a considerable amount, mark makes his way over to dejun, taking him tightly into his arms. he pulls back just enough to kiss him, melting into dejun as he raises his arms to loop around mark’s shoulders.johnny stands there for an unbearably awkward stretch of time, not wanting to disturb their heartfelt moment, but also not so fond of being the third wheel. again. he clears his throat, giving a tight smile when they part to look at him.“so do you guys want pancakes, or …?”mark rolls his eyes, laughing as he sets his orange juice down on the counter. “think you can buy my forgiveness with pancakes?” he accuses.“perhaps i do, if they’re blueberry cream cheese pancakes,” johnny replies.with a tilt of his head and a click of his tongue, mark concedes. “okay, yeah. i think you can, too.”johnny laughs out loud, retrieving a bowl for the batter. “come learn how to make them, loser. if i can do it without burning the whole building down, so can you.”“i don’t know about that, johnny,” dejun interjects, setting out mugs for their coffee. “remember when he tried to fry an egg?”dramatically, johnny shivers. “genuinely thought we were gonna die that day.”“shut up, man!” mark hollers, slapping johnny’s arm and pulling more laughter from everyone in the room. “i was doin’ my best!”as the energy between himself and mark gradually returns to normal, johnny feels the steadying warmth of relief wrap securely around him.yeah, jaehyun. we’ll be okay.♡by way of a painfully laughable coincidence, as the elevator doors part to allow johnny to pass through, he crosses paths with yuta making his way inside.sharp, lionlike eyes go round like a calico’s as he recognizes the familiar face where it shouldn’t be. and swiftly, whatever task to which he’d been tending is pitched to the backburner as yuta makes a tight u-turn to follow johnny into the half-populated office.“what are you doing here?” he asks, a wrinkle raising above his scrunched nose. “it’s your day off.”johnny shoves his hands into the front pockets of his jeans, which look drastically out of place amid the suits and pencil skirts surrounding him.“trust me, i didn’t come here to do any work,” he replies. “i just need to talk to tiffany for a minute. is she in her office?”yuta nods, but the skepticism doesn’t leave his face—in fact, it edges into suspicion.“i think she’s having lunch, actually, so she’s probably not gonna be thrilled to see you,” he replies. “what do you need to talk to her about right now? monday isn’t that far away.”

with something of a huff, johnny bites the seam of his lips. “i’ll explain it to you later.”“oh, will you?” yuta bristles a little. “if it’s so urgent, shouldn’t i know before her?”by now, they’re quickly closing in on tiffany’s office—johnny can see the corner of her desk through the tall glass panes offering a limited view into her workspace.“normally, yes,” johnny acknowledges, “but nothing about this situation is normal. just give me a break, yuta—i promise i’ll fill you in on all the details as soon as i get the chance.”evidently, yuta is far from pleased with this conclusion, but he falls out of step with johnny, letting him progress to tiffany’s office on his own. his gaze remains trained on him as he approaches the barely-open door, tapping his knuckles against the wood to capture the attention he seeks.through the glass, johnny sees tiffany eating a salad at her desk. her shoeless feet are propped up on the surface intended for work while killing eve plays on her macbook, positioned dutifully beside her stocking-clad ankles.just as sandra oh and camille cottin start aggressively making out on her screen, johnny’s gesture to alert her of his presence startles her to the point her fork flings out of her hand and clangs against the desk, a few scraps of arugula shooting up into the air like bitter confetti.if looks could kill, johnny would have ceased to exist the moment tiffany’s seething gaze locked on him like a heat-seeking laser.“what do you want?” she barks, somehow simultaneously slamming the spacebar and lowering her feet from the desk, likely to slip them back into her shoes unseen. “i’m busy.”“i’m sorry, i know you’re having lunch,” he says, baring his teeth in an authentically apologetic grimace. “but this is kind of important.”“you’re not even supposed to be here,” tiffany grouses, reaching out to collapse the screen of her laptop so forcefully, the sharp clapping sound quakes through the entire office. “i swear to god, if you think i’m going to pay you for this—”“i don’t,” johnny sighs. “trust me, i wouldn’t be here on my day off if it wasn’t something urgent. this won’t take long, okay?”with a guttural groan, tiffany sets her salad aside, her narrow-eyed expression still pointing daggers at johnny. “fine. but this better be damn near an emergency.”johnny steps into her office with the begrudgingly given permission, letting the door swing closed behind him.“something came up,” he begins, tongue gliding along the swell of his upper lip as he tries not to fidget, “and i’m gonna … need some time off work to get it situated. like … a lot of time.”tiffany raises a groomed brow, looking johnny up and down as she leans back in her chair, eyes narrowing impossibly more.“you couldn’t have told me this on monday?”“no,” he answers, pursing his lips with a tinge of indignance. “because i’ll be gone sometime next week.”as the corners of her lips sink into a frown, tiffany says nothing for a stretch of time, seemingly waiting for johnny to elaborate.when he doesn’t, she queries, “and just where are you going?”“… korea,” johnny replies.her expression only momentarily softens, even if to the slightest degree. “did someone in your family die?”“no,” he quickly denies, raising his hands. “it’s not like that. i—uh.”johnny sighs, a hand starting to rub at one of his cheeks.“i’m getting married, actually,” he mumbles.forthwith, tiffany sits up, nearly throwing herself out of her chair.“married?!” she echoes, disbelieving. “since when were you even in a relationship? and people usually plan weddings far in advance, johnny. you should have asked me for this time as soon as you had a date.”“well, i … i don’t have a date, yet,” he mutters. “but my … fiancé lives in korea, and i’ll be spending some time with him there as we … figure things out.”again, tiffany says nothing for quite some time. she only sits there, staring at johnny as if he’d grown another head right in front of her.it’s evident that she has many more questions, and though they have something of a friendship outside of work, tiffany makes a point to maintain a clear divide between their professional and personal lives, and is likely grappling with the fact that it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to interrogate johnny about this new development while he’s requesting time off.after a while, she emits another theatrical sound of disapproval, scooting forward on the wheels of her chair and opening her laptop again, quickly pulling up work-related documents.“i can’t just give you time off,” she maunders. “you have to submit a request at least a month in advance. you know that,” still, she starts typing furiously as if she’s intent on seeing what she can do. “i’m not promising you anything, but i can at least have an answer for you by monday. how long will you be gone?”johnny feels something in his stomach plummet to the floor. “well—” he swallows, kneading his lips together uneasily. “i don’t … know.”tiffany’s immaculately manicured fingers freeze over her keyboard. a head of dark waves whips toward johnny at once.“what the hell do you mean you don’t know?” she demands, eyes ablaze with mounting frustration. “johnny, i don’t have time to play games with you today—”“i really don’t know,” he repeats, voice straining in a manner between pleading and exasperated. “it might be a month, or six months, or … forever.”tiffany fixes a wide-eyed look on him for another wordless while, blinking slowly as if she’s giving her finest effort to turn the cogs in her brain in a way where this exchange will make sense.johnny feels another sinking guilt, wishing he could be more expository, but knowing that his engagement to jaehyun and any details of it must be kept under tight wraps until the time is right.“johnny,” she says, eyeing him soberly. “i don’t know what you expect me to do. if you can’t give me an exact amount of time you’ll be gone, i can’t get coverage for you.”“i …” fuck. johnny didn’t want it to have to come to this, even if he’d known in the back of his head that it likely would. the immature part of him that stubbornly believes in miracles had hoped he could find one here, but alas, no luck.with a deep breath, he announces, “then … i quit.”for a few beats, tiffany doesn’t move. doesn’t speak. johnny isn’t even sure he sees her breathe.“you what?” she replies tightly, both eyebrows lifting as if to challenge him.but johnny stands firmly in his decision. “i quit,” he repeats. “effective … now.”“you can’t just quit,” tiffany argues, voice raising slightly. “you’re a full-time employee. you’re under contract. you have the most clients out of anyone in this office and the highest commission rate. you can’t—”she takes a stuttering breath, standing from her chair, though she’s nowhere near johnny’s height, even with the authoritative boost provided by her four-inch heels.“you can’t just walk away from the company, johnny,” she argues, jabbing the pad of her finger against her desk to emphasize her words. “you at least need to give me some time to try to replace you! can’t you tell your fiancé to wait two or three weeks? a week, even?”“tiffany, i’m sorry,” he says, shaking his head. “i just—i swear, it’ll all make sense eventually. but i have to go when he needs me to go. and you’ve got a lot of great agents here—you guys’ll be fine without me, i’m sure!”with a deep exhale, tiffany palms half of her face, though carefully enough not to ruin her makeup.“you’re marrying rich, aren’t you?” she accuses. “you found some loaded guy who’s willing to give you the world, and now you don’t need this job anymore. i can respect that, johnny, but damn—you’re putting me in a really shitty position right now.”petulantly, johnny toys with the hem of his sweater. “i know …” he acknowledges through a pout. “again, i’m really sorry.” he draws in a shaky breath just as a tug in his chest compels him to try to lighten the mood. “but … before i leave the states, i’ll treat you to dinner to make up for ruining your lunch, okay?”tiffany only glares at him at first. yet, the bit of light in her eyes betrays her, and it only takes a matter of seconds for her to start to smile, a slow shake of her head diluting the newly-induced stress with fondness.“you’re something else, johnny suh,” she says. “don’t think i’ll forget. i want a nice dinner, too. you can afford it since you’ve got some samsung mogul to pay your bills, now.”a chuckle rumbles from johnny at that. “not quite,” he replies. “but i’ll see what i can do.”he pauses, taking some time to look around her office as the thought occurs to him that this is likely the last time he’ll ever be inside of it.“thanks for your time,” johnny says, a rush of conflicting emotions binding the atmosphere in a bizarre energy. “i’ll let you get back to your lesbian spy thriller now.”tiffany rolls her eyes, yanking her laptop closer to herself almost protectively. “get out. it’s better than anything you watch, idiot.”her words pull a string of laughter from him as he reaches back to open the door, a fleeting surprise sparking at the corner of his brain when it gives much more easily than he’d been expecting.“johnny,” tiffany addresses, the sternness of her tone stroking a filial instinct in johnny that has him whip his head around to look at her with boyishly wide eyes.she smiles warmly, then, her eyes crinkling in revelation of a genuine affection. “congratulations. it’s about time you found someone—you’re a good kid.”johnny feels his heart give an extra thump or two. congratulations, he repeats inwardly. he smiles back.“thanks.”“send me pictures after the wedding.”i don’t think i’ll need to, remarks some part of his mind. chuckling airily, johnny answers, “i will.”he exits her office wearing an appreciative smile, a wave of newfound freedom washing over him as he realizes that he’ll never have to come back to this place.the fresh feeling doesn’t last long, for as johnny makes to return to the elevator, he encounters yuta once again—a very agitated yuta, considering the dissatisfied expression with which johnny had earlier left him has taken on a sharper edge.“so,” he starts, sucking the inside of his cheek before continuing, “you’re getting married, huh?”johnny’s shoulders drop as a groan vaults up from his core.“you were listening.”“of course i was,” yuta scoffs, brows furrowing as johnny brushes past him to continue toward the elevator.“hey!” he calls after him, several of their (ex-)coworkers raising their heads at the commotion. “where do you think you’re going?”“we’re not having this conversation in the office,” johnny answers, smashing the down button a handful of times. when the light above the doors display that the lift is at the ground floor, he sighs, changing course for the stairs.“i can’t believe you were eavesdropping,” he continues, the pounding stomps echoing through the stairwell creating a vicious throb between his eyebrows. “actually, i can fucking believe that. but it doesn’t make it any less annoying that you couldn’t just wait for me to talk to you about it when i was ready.”yuta trails him like a menacing shadow.“you left the door cracked, dumbass,” he fires back. “as if i was gonna just wait patiently to know what was going on with you when you were acting like a weirdo when you came in. i thought maybe something was wrong, but it turns out you’re the secret winner of the bachelor or something.”as they continue their descent from the sixth floor, the winding stairs seem as though they never end, but johnny hasn’t even broken a sweat in his ire. it appears yuta hasn’t, either.“you think this is a joke, don’t you?” accuses johnny. “you think i’m playing some kind of big fucking game.”“obviously!” yuta shouts, “you’re always playing big fucking games. didn’t think you’d go this far, though, i have to admit.”“fuck off, yuta,” johnny says.there’s a bitter chuckle from behind him. “no way you think i’m gonna let you off that easy. you’re not that dense.”his words hit the back of johnny’s head like a handful of stones.“you’d better explain to me what’s really going on right now, johnny,” he demands. “why are you quitting your job out of nowhere and making up elaborate stories about rich men in korea?”johnny doesn’t reply. he only flings open the door to the parking garage, snatching his keys from the inside pocket of his jacket and sifting through them to find the fob for his car, which flashes to life with the press of a button.“hello?! answer me!” yuta hollers, voice echoing through the empty garage and exacerbating the ache in johnny’s head.“i didn’t make anything up!” johnny shouts back, the rareness of him raising his voice in anger seeming to prompt yuta to take a step back. “if you’d have just let me explain it to you instead of trying to play sherlock fucking holmes, we wouldn’t look like idiots yelling at each other in a fucking parking garage!”yuta purses his lips, looking up at johnny with fiery eyes. however, he enlists a moment to breathe, drawing in a chest-widening breath to give himself time to tuck away his anger.johnny takes the opportunity to do the same.“maybe i shouldn’t have listened in,” he admits, his glossy black nail polish catching the light as he rakes a hand through his hair. “but i was concerned. like i said, you were acting weird.”“i know,” johnny sighs. “i probably should have paid more attention to the door … especially since i was talking about something that’s supposed to be a secret. honestly, my head’s been on backwards since everything went down.”there’s a pause. then, yuta calmly asks, “since what went down?”johnny swallows. explaining this isn’t getting any easier.“what you heard me say to tiffany is true,” he answers. “i am getting married, and i am leaving for korea next week.”yuta opens his mouth, but johnny cuts him off. “—i know, i know. it doesn’t make any fucking sense, i’m aware of that. but—you’re not gonna believe me, but the prince of south korea asked me to marry him last night, and i said yes. so here we are.”only a moment’s pause precedes a, “you’re right. i don’t believe you.”johnny sighs. “yuta,” he groans, almost pleading to be taken seriously, “i’m telling the truth. he came to the club last night, and his friend paid me to give him a dance. but instead of putting money in my thong, he started telling me about his childhood trauma—and how much he doesn’t want to marry this total NPC his mom is trying to stick him with.”he pauses, eyes slipping closed as he drags a hand down his cheek. no matter how he tells this story, it never sounds less insane.“so he’s … marrying me instead.”yuta seems to find the claim more believable with these added details, if the way his expression softens is any indication.“of course you got yourself into this weird-ass situation,” he says, words sailing on a sigh. “this could literally only happen to you, johnny.”“very helpful, yuta, thank you,” johnny replies, eyes rolling. “anyway, once he’s done with his U.S. tour, he’s going to fly me out to korea to … meet his fucking family, i guess.”his free hand rubs his arm through his sleeve as he adds, “i said yes, but i’m not … fully locked in yet. i want to go to korea and spend some time there with him before i decide whether or not to go through with it.”“you seem pretty locked in to me,” yuta comments. “you just quit your fucking job, johnny.”johnny drags an open palm down his face, clutching lightly at the base of his neck.“i wanted to quit this job anyway,” he says. “i hadn’t planned on doing it this soon, but … if this doesn’t work out, i can find another job—or work at the club full-time, even. maybe it shouldn’t be, but that’s the least of my worries right now.”“right,” says yuta. “i guess right now, you need to focus on whether or not you actually want to marry a fucking prince who proposed to you while you were waving your dick in his face.”a frown. “that’s not how it happened.”dismissively, yuta waves a hand. “so, when are we leaving?”johnny’s eyes widen to the size of dinner plates. “i’m sorry, we?”

it’s yuta’s turn to roll his eyes. “get real, johnny. you think i’m going to let you go to a different country and make a life-altering decision by yourself? obviously, i’m coming with you.”“hold on,” says johnny. “you can’t just come, i—i’m assuming this has to be, like, a really carefully organized thing. since, you know. we’re dealing with a royal fucking family here.”yuta fixes him with an unamused glower. “so call up your darling prince and tell him you’re bringing a plus one. you do have his number, right?”“i do,” replies johnny, but he still hesitates. “i just don’t know if it’s a good idea, yuta. i mean—i’d feel better if i had a familiar face around, but his parents are probably going to hate me already. i don’t want to make it worse by bringing someone else.” his face sours a little. “not to mention you aren’t the most … well-mannered person out there.”at this notion, yuta looks genuinely offended, even if he is surely more than aware of the validity of johnny’s concerns.“i know how to behave myself, asshole,” he snaps. “it’s just that i choose not to, most of the time. but i’ll be on my best behavior. for you.”the tight pull amid yuta’s facial features loosens a little, and johnny recognizes a subtle tenderness to his gaze.“listen, i meant it when i said you shouldn’t go there alone,” he says, crossing his arms over his chest. he’s a head and a half shorter than johnny, but he always manages to look imposing. “you’ve already made some really stupid decisions when left to your own devices, so let me be your voice of reason, since the one you were born with is apparently on vacation.”johnny huffs, sucking in his cheek as he considers it.“okay,” he caves. “i’ll ask him about it.”“good,” says yuta. “go ahead, call him.”“right now?!” johnny blinks. “yuta, jaehyun is a prince. he’s busy.”“doing what?” yuta’s lip curls. “having tea time with the queen of england?”“i doubt it, since she’s fucking dead,” says johnny.yuta bats a hand, brows furrowing. “you’re his fiancé, aren’t you? nothing should be more important to him than you.”for some reason, johnny’s face burns when yuta says those words. evidently, that can’t be true—it’s not like the circumstances of his and jaehyun’s engagement are even remotely typical.still, he’s slowly reaching toward his back pocket before he fully realizes it. if he’s busy, he’ll just ignore me, right? we’re going to talk later, anyway.“i’ll call him,” johnny announces, licking his lips as he pulls up jaehyun’s contact in his recents. “but if he says it’s a no-go, i’m not going to sneak you in my suitcase, so don’t even think about it.”one corner of yuta’s mouth lifts in a smirk—some cross between amusement and defiance—as johnny presses the call icon, holding his breath as the phone rings and he switches it to speaker.once. twice. three times.there’s a ‘see? i told you’ on the tip of johnny’s tongue, but before he gets the chance to spew it out, the ringing stops.“hello?” comes a deep voice—somewhat hushed, but not quite a whisper.johnny’s throat goes dry. “heeeey, jaehyun,” he manages, voice coming out faintly, almost trembling.yuta looks mystified—as if he’s struggling to believe that johnny is actually on the phone with a princedeep down, some part of johnny feels weirdly smug about it.“is this a bad time?” he asks, gaining a world of confidence, yet increasingly conscious of his not wanting to inconvenience jaehyun. he picked up, right? so it can’t be. “sorry for calling out of nowhere. i—uh. i just have a question that kinda needs a quick answer.”jaehyun hums, and it sounds like a smile. “it isn’t a bad time. i’ve managed to escape the crowd, so you have me all to yourself.”johnny’s eyebrows lift and knit simultaneously. “crowd? where are you?”“i’m at the white house,” jaehyun explains casually, as if he hadn’t just knocked the air from johnny’s lungs. “the president organized a brunch for me and a few others.”yuta bursts out laughing. johnny glares at him, moving the phone away to muffle the sound of his cackling.“holy shit, jaehyun, i’m sorry. i can call you later, it’s—”“but you said you needed a quick answer,” jaehyun insists, and johnny thinks he can see the little pout on his face in his mind’s eye. “and i don’t mind. everyone here is … pleasant, but rather dry. listening to them talk at me about very little has been draining.”his voice softens, almost shy as he adds, “talking to you is like a breath of fresh air.”“awww,” yuta coos.johnny, whose cheeks are flare hotter, is just about ready to strangle him.this time, however, jaehyun notices the peanut gallery. “is someone else there, hyung?”“yes,” johnny answers, glaring at yuta once again, “my best friend, yuta—”“hello, sweet prince,” yuta says, a wild grin on his face. it’s the type of expression that can be heard.“o–oh,” says jaehyun, through a quiet, startled laugh. “hello, yuta.”“would you fucking stop?” johnny hisses at yuta, shoving him away by the head. “a–anyway, jaehyun, yuta wanted to know if he could come with me to korea. he’s … very worried about me, apparently.”jaehyun makes a pensive sound, the honey of his low, smooth voice thick with empathy.“ah. i should have suggested that from the beginning,” he mutters, sounding genuinely apologetic for his oversight. “you’ll be far away from home, and tasked with making so many serious decisions. it only makes sense for you to have someone you trust by your side.”johnny blinks. he’d half expected to have to argue for this—surely a bunch of royals won’t be pleased with not just one, but two commoners polluting their elite air.“are you sure?” he asks, looking back at yuta, who is smirking at him with a disgruntling amount of hubris.johnny frowns at him, fleetingly considering telling jaehyun to forget about the whole thing, but pressing on despite himself. “i mean, you told me your mom isn’t going to be thrilled about this to begin with.”there’s a quiet huff on the other end. “my mother will never be happy with anything that she cannot control,” jaehyun mutters. “as much as i love and respect her, i’ve accepted that she’s going to make this difficult. thus, pleasing her is no concern of mine. you are my priority, johnny.”yuta’s eyebrows raise. “okay, yeah. i like this guy.”“shut up,” johnny barks, flushing even redder as jaehyun laughs softly.he attempts to reorient himself as he returns to their conversation. “as much as i admire your resolve, jaehyun, your mom is still … you know. the queen. i just don’t want to make this harder for you.”jaehyun sighs with a depth that vibrates through the receiver.“perhaps you are right,” he concedes, voice echoing faintly—johnny almost thinks he’s in a public restroom, before remembering he’s at the fucking white house. “but i am not worried. you will be worth it.”johnny’s pulse stutters at those words, throbbing almost painfully in his chest, and he’s grateful that yuta’s mouth stays shut for once.“besides,” jaehyun continues, “you are an american citizen. she cannot and will not harm you.”this puts johnny the slightest bit at ease. but the pressure goes both ways; if johnny fucks this up, not only will he make an enemy of an entire foreign power, but he’ll never hear the end of it back home.“either way,” comes jaehyun’s voice again, wrenching johnny up from the rabbit hole down which his thoughts had been tumbling, “i want for you to feel safe and supported. if bringing yuta helps, then i want it as much as you do. i’ll make arrangements for both of you to be taken care of.”johnny swallows, chest feeling like a pot just seconds from boiling over. “… well. it’s hard to argue with that.”“then it’s settled,” yuta says, reaching up to drape an arm over johnny’s shoulder. “we’re going to korea.”despite himself, johnny huffs out a short laugh. “and how exactly are you gonna get the time off work?”“don’t worry about it,” yuta replies. “i have my ways.”again, jaehyun giggles on the other line. “i’m looking forward to meeting you, yuta,” he says, and johnny wonders how long that sentiment will last. before he can make a snide comment about it, however, jaehyun adds, “and i’m especially looking forward to seeing you again, johnny.”“oh,” johnny replies, flush flaring back up just as it had started to cool down. “me, too, jaehyun. i’ve been … thinking about you. a lot.”“ooooh,” yuta teases, and johnny locks his arm around his neck, shoving his head down as far as he can manage without actually hurting him.yuta laughs loudly, his hyena’s cackle echoing around the parking garage.jaehyun laughs, too, though the sound is quickly muffled, as if he’s covering his mouth.“i’ve been thinking about you a lot, too,” he says, a sweetness lingering in the air as a few beats of silence pass between them. then, jaehyun heaves another long sigh.“i have to return, now,” he mutters. “but we’ll still talk later, won’t we?”“we will,” johnny answers without a stroke of hesitation. “don’t let us keep you—we have a lot of packing to do, anyways.”jaehyun’s giggle is swiftly becoming one of johnny’s favorite sounds. he’d have never thought someone so regal and seemingly untouchable could be this … cute.“i’ll be happy to answer any more questions you or your loved ones may have,” he says, an earnest warmth beneath his voice. “have a wonderful rest of your day, both of you.”as they exchange goodbyes, johnny finally lets yuta go, rolling his eyes as he exaggeratedly rubs his neck.“what the fuck happened to being on your best behavior?” johnny asks, pursing his lips—mostly to keep from laughing.“we aren’t in korea yet,” yuta argues. “and i meant that mostly for when we’re around all of those uptight royals. your new man should see the real me sooner rather than later, considering you and i are a package deal.”johnny sighs, though the heavy sound tapers off with a laugh.“you’re handling this better than mark did, shockingly.”yuta blinks, instantly curious. “what happened with mark?”“i’ll tell you later,” johnny replies. “for now, i’ve gotta figure out how i’m gonna fit my whole life into a couple suitcases.”♡as eager as jaehyun had been to return home just a few days ago, now, as he’s guided into an SUV and sits mere hours from entering the palace for the first time in over a month, anxiety settles in his stomach like water slowly flooding a perforated boat.he’d requested to ride in silence, hoping for the opportunity to debrief from the tour in relative peace. thankfully, his staff had extended him that grace, despite the fact that jaehyun can feel how they ache to congratulate him and catch him up to speed on all that he’d missed since he’d been away.jungwoo rides in a separate car, none the wiser to what’s really on jaehyun’s mind. though johnny had told his closest friends about their engagement, jaehyun hasn’t spoken a word about it to a single soul.chiefly, it’s practicality; jungwoo couldn’t keep this large a secret to save his life, and taeyong would likely have a heart attack upon receiving such news over the phone. but above all else, jaehyun knows the first person who should hear it from him is his mother.he’s imagined every possible reaction to infinity by now, and can confidently predict how she’ll respond upon being made aware of johnny’s status (or lack thereof). thus, he’s elected to reveal the details in manageable installments rather than all at once; his mother will fill in the blanks herself, assuming jaehyun is marrying some powerful american mogul or political figurehead.he intends to allow her that delusion until the moment she actually sees johnny. this way, she won’t have time to interfere or try to intercept his arrival, and she’ll just have to accept everything that follows, lest she’s keen on jeopardizing her reputation and friendship with the states in one careless move.it is, admittedly, a little dishonest. but as he’d told johnny over the phone, his comfort and safety are jaehyun’s top priorities. everything else is collateral—and collateral, while a headache, can be managed.his thoughts run so far ahead of him that they seem to arrive at the palace in record time.a dense crowd has gathered at the gates, the buzz of their excitement seeping into the car even before the guards rush to open jaehyun’s door. the palace’s rear entrances are inaccessible to anyone without proper authorization, but the moment jaehyun steps out of the SUV—even prior to his shoe making contact with the pavement—screams of adoration burst like firecrackers through the atmosphere.the guards stand rigid at the perimeter, rifles relaxed but ready. a stretch of empty space—three meters at least—separates them from the impassioned citizens, and no soul dares to cross the invisible line. still, devotion spills forward in waves—voices raise, hands reach, and flags flutter as they welcome their prince home with an energy that hums against his tightly wound nerves.as exhausted and anxious as he feels, jaehyun puts on a smile and chooses to be present for his people, waving to the masses in a gesture large enough to be seen across the sweeping distance from the back drive to the front gates. the screams swell as a sea of cell phones captures his every move, along with high-definition cameras with so powerful a zoom that he’ll soon see images of himself that look as if the photographer had been within arm’s reach.“this way, your royal highness,” urges one of his advisors, his hand gentle but insistent at jaehyun’s waist. “her majesty the queen is eager to greet you.”assentingly, jaehyun allows his attendants to escort him into the palace. he continues to wave until the fortress walls swallow him up, flanked by guards and advisors from all angles. once he is safely inside, the guards salute him before dispersing, though they are quickly replaced by servants already moving to attend to him.he is ushered toward his mother’s preferred sitting room, face freshly powdered and outerwear plucked from his shoulders by the nimble hands of servants who hadn’t been asked.jaehyun doesn’t protest. they’ve been trained to tend to him like porcelain: smoothing, adjusting, correcting every visible flaw—especially before he faces his mother, who expects nothing less than perfection of anything that is presented to her, most of all her shining heir.finally, the heavy doors are drawn open by two guards. soft light pours into the hall where jaehyun stands, waiting. his attendants step aside, all but his chief advisor, who moves to stand dutifully behind him as they cross the threshold.at the very center of the room, atop a plush, velvet sofa gilded with gold and mother-of-pearl, sits the reigning queen.her flawlessly manicured hands suspend an ornate teacup and saucer just below her chest, poised at the perfect angle for an elegant sip. golden rings adorn her slender fingers, stacked with deliberate symmetry and framing the blinding diamond crowning her ring finger, complemented by matching diamond-and-pearl studs sparkling at her ears. her makeup is soft but immaculately feminine, preserving a youthful glow despite her fiftieth year fast approaching.to her right is her husband, the prince consort, perched atop a separate chair, but looking almost as elegant—his simple black suit provides a deliberate backdrop for his wife’s exquisite lavender.upon jaehyun’s entrance, his father smiles warmly, eyes crescenting behind his gold-rimmed specs. his mother slants forward to set the cup and saucer onto the nearby table, which is hastily cleared by a servant.“what a blessing that you have returned to us safely, yuno,” says the queen, her diplomatic cadence filling the opulent room. even the marble-white walls pale in comparison to her pristine demeanor. “i have heard glowing reports with regard to the success of the tour. allow me to offer my sincerest congratulations.”jaehyun draws in a deep breath, though with a subtlety he has long rehearsed. “thank you, mother,” he replies. “i’m glad to hear of your satisfaction, and relieved to finally be home.”

“we’ve missed you terribly,” offers his father. “as much as we look forward to hearing about all of your endeavors over a celebratory dinner, you must be exhausted, son. take the next few days to rest.”“within reason,” his mother interjects. “try not to fall behind on your responsibilities. more behind than you already are, leastways.” dark eyes catch a flickering light as she looks him up and down, eyebrows arching. “i understand that this was no holiday for you, yuno, but you have much to attend to now that you have returned.”with a nod, jaehyun acknowledges his mother’s words. inwardly, he rolls his eyes.“i am very much aware, mother. but, if i may, before we return to business as usual, i have wondrous news that i would like to share.”the queen tilts her head, at once intrigued. “you may,” she replies. “just what kind of news is this, yuno?”jaehyun can’t help but smile wide, dimples perforating his cheeks.“while i was in america, i met the most wonderful man,” he reveals. “it may seem like something of a whirlwind romance, but … he and i are engaged to be married.”in a rare display, the queen’s seemingly indestructible composure melts away, her eyes widening dramatically and mouth falling open. his father looks much the same, though his lashes are fluttering as he blinks rapidly, seemingly unable to process what jaehyun has just said.his advisor sputters beside him, eyeing jaehyun up and down.“your highness, when did this occur?” he blurts, though he quickly realizes he’d spoken out of turn. “f–forgive me, your majesty,” he says toward jaehyun’s mother, “but i was with the prince for the entire tour and cannot recall his meeting such a man, or hearing of such an engagement!”“you are forgiven,” the queen replies on a steadying breath, though her gaze never leaves her son. “yuno. what is the meaning of this? you understand this is no matter nor occasion for jest.”“i do not jest, mother,” jaehyun replies. “my fiancé and i have kept this a secret up until now. i wished for you to be the first to know.”“good heavens,” his mother proclaims, rising from the sofa. his father does the same at once, following behind the queen as she crosses the room until she is face-to-face with jaehyun.“what manner of man could convince my son—who so stubbornly dismissed marriage, and who has continuously rejected the candidate i so carefully selected for him—” her tone sharpens faintly, and jaehyun’s smile strains at the reminder of her constant meddling, “—to abandon such troubling convictions? i’d feared this day might never come.”still smiling, jaehyun emits a soft laugh, resisting the urge to scratch at his nape. his mother had always admonished him for that habit.“he is remarkable, mother,” he replies. “a man i can envision a future beside. one i will be proud to call my husband.”“an american?” his mother asks, unsurety threading through her tone. “why, yuno, a non-korean has never ascended to our throne …”“he is korean by blood,” jaehyun assures her. “born in america, yes, but fluent in his mother tongue, and boasting such beautiful ethnic features. if you’d never heard him speak, you might believe he’d been of royal blood.”jaehyun’s father makes an impressed sound, and the queen turns to look at him, almost as if she’d forgotten his presence. swiftly, she turns back to her son, reaching out to rest her hands on his forearms.“you meeting such a man must have been the ancestors’ work,” she says. “where is he? did you not bring him back with you?”“he will arrive within a few days,” jaehyun answers. “surely you can imagine he has many matters to settle in america.”the queen nods. “regardless, see to it that he comes swiftly. i must meet this man for myself—if he has convinced you to pursue marriage, he must be unlike any man we have seen before.”“oh, he is,” says jaehyun, lashes draping over dark eyes as he wears an easy, dimpled smile. “i trust that he will make quite an impression.”steeling herself, the queen withdraws her hands, resuming a poised disposition.“we shall make preparations for his arrival at once,” she announces, turning toward her servants, who stiffen beneath her gaze.“ready our finest guest room for my son’s fiancé,” she orders. “ensure that it is spotless from top to bottom and furnished most exquisitely.”at once, the servants bow and spring into action. jaehyun watches them scurry to fulfill her command and can’t help but wonder what johnny will think when he sees the final result of all their efforts.he wishes he could have stayed in chicago longer—could have immersed himself more fully into johnny’s world, in the rhythms and realities of his everyday life. but he supposes there will be time for that later, once the chaotic novelty of their engagement settles into something softer, steadier.they’ve spoken a few times over the phone since jaehyun left. just the sound of johnny’s voice puts him under some kind of spell—excites but soothes him at the same time, leaving him eager to hear him speak about anything at all, from what he’d had for breakfast to how quitting his job had gone.there’s an inkling of guilt jaehyun feels for effectively turning johnny’s entire life upside down, but the feeling doesn’t weigh him down; rather, it strengthens his resolve. if johnny is willing to uproot all he’d ever known for him, then jaehyun will ensure it’s worth it. he will give him a life so full, so lovely, that no sacrifice will feel empty.he can’t quite explain why he feels so strongly about johnny, especially since he’s never felt anything even remotely similar for another person. but jaehyun has always believed in fate, in destiny, and from that first conversation they’d shared in that sleazy backroom—that first glance he’d gotten of johnny’s inner radiance shining even brighter than his unthinkable beauty—jaehyun knew he couldn’t stand to never see him again.their lives are meant to intertwine—they must be. there is simply no other explanation as to why everything feels right when they’re together, and why a gaping void burns through jaehyun when they’re apart.♡by the time he gets a moment to himself, the sun has sunken into the horizon, painting brushstrokes of red and violet across the silver-blue sky. the clouds cluster in cotton-candy tufts, absorbing fiery rays while darkness creeps inward, but enough light remains for jaehyun to venture through the gardens without an artificial aid.he spots jungwoo and taeyong just where they’d said they’d be; perched at their usual spot near the grand fountain spouting crystalline waters into a basin of spotless marble. they’re mid-conversation when they become aware of jaehyun’s presence—jungwoo spots him first, as he’s sat on the fountain’s wide lip and facing the direction from whence jaehyun comes.“you finally made it,” he remarks, sounding genuinely surprised. “i thought your mother would never leave you alone.”at this, taeyong turns, beaming as his eyes befall jaehyun approaching them.“welcome home!” he exclaims, hopping down from the fountain and all but flinging himself into jaehyun’s arms.though he’d expected such enthusiasm, jaehyun still laughs brightly when taeyong collides with him, arms looping around his shoulders to keep them both upright..“thank you, hyung,” he murmurs once his laughter softens, crescent eyes alight. then, over taeyong’s shoulder, he adds to jungwoo, “i’d figured most of the day would be spent in my mother’s company. we had much to discuss.”jungwoo huffs. “hopefully she didn’t pester you too much about doyoung.”faintly, jaehyun smirks, and both of his friends stare at him in open suspicion.“i don’t think that will be an issue anymore,” he replies.“really?” taeyong blinks, pulling back to study him. “i can’t imagine you finally managed to get through to her … just what do you have up your sleeve, jeong yuno?”“you’ll know soon enough,” replies jaehyun. “i can’t tell you yet, but everything will make sense in a couple of days.”“that’s no fun,” jungwoo protests. “it isn’t like i have other things to do with my day than gossip about your love life. or lack of one, i should say.”jaehyun’s playful expression dissolves as dark eyes roll, contrasting with the banterous backdrop of his friends’ laughter.“that is precisely why i won’t be telling you anything,” jaehyun says, less than swayed by jungwoo’s exaggerated pout. “it won’t be long, anyway. the preparations are already being made.”taeyong lingers close, one lithe arm pressing lightly against jaehyun’s waist, warmth seeping through the silk of his pearly blouse.“something definitely happened in america,” he utters, groomed brows raising until they disappear into his orchid-mauve fringe. against the verdure of the gardens, taeyong looks fairylike. “you wouldn’t give a man your virginity without telling me, right?”cerise burns along the shells of jaehyun’s ears, and though he opens his mouth, jungwoo speaks before any words can leave it.“no way!” he argues. “jaehyun-hyung was so determined to be a prude the whole trip. trust me, i tried to get him to have some fun, but …” he halts, seeming to recall something.anxiety grips jaehyun just above the navel.“… there was one time where he was alone with a ridiculously hot guy for a while,” jungwoo utters, and taeyong gasps. “i assumed nothing happened, because he came back walking in a straight line and didn’t ask for an NDA, but he wouldn’t tell me a word of what actually went down.”“oh, jaehyun,” taeyong starts, turning to face him. “did you and that man …?”“no,” jaehyun answers curtly, lips pursing as both of his friends visibly deflate. “and i’d prefer not to discuss that encounter further. i can’t understand why the two of you are so concerned with whatever sexual escapades i may or may not be partaking in.”slowly, taeyong lets go of jaehyun, prior to sauntering back toward where he’d been seated at the edge of the fountain.“forgive us, jaehyun, but you’re twenty-five already!” he says, lowering himself onto the marble ledge with a rehearsed grace. “and the only of us that hasn’t yet known a man’s touch. of course, there’s nothing wrong with that—neither of us are saying it’s wrong, or that you should rush into things, but … we can’t help but be curious about when it’s finally going to happen, and under what circumstances.”“we’re your best friends,” jungwoo emphasizes, shoulders slanting as he angles himself nearer to jaehyun. “we’re allowed to be nosy. and we know that you’re interested in sex, and you’ve said so many times that you don’t want to get married. so what are you even waiting for?”jaehyun shakes his head, folding his arms over his chest.“i never said i don’t want to get married,” he corrects, finally stepping forward to take his place between them at the fountain’s edge.as he sits, a small sigh escapes him. “i just don’t want to get married under my mother’s terms. and as silly as i find much of the royal protocol, i’ve been following it all my life. there’s no reason for me to have a man who isn’t my husband.”jungwoo groans, but taeyong gives jaehyun a soft smile.“and you have the right to make that choice for yourself,” he says. “buuuut … you also have the right to change your mind. so don’t limit yourself if that’s not what you actually want, okay? i know it’s different for you because you’re the prince, but at the end of the day, it’s your body and your life.”jaehyun hums thoughtfully, kneading his lower lip between his teeth. jungwoo shrinks down enough to rest his chin on jaehyun’s shoulder.“royal protocol is kind of stupid, anyway,” he mutters. “it’s just for appearances. there’s no way your mom and dad actually follow all those rules all the time. i mean, we definitely don’t,” he points out, gesturing between himself and taeyong.“it’s different, jungwoo,” taeyong says. “we’re royals, but not the royal family. and knowing the queen, i bet she does follow all those rules, all the time. but the prince consort … that’s up in the air.”as he’d been listening and pondering, jaehyun can’t help but chuckle, relinquishing his thoughts in favor of immersing himself in the moment.“for my father’s sake, i cannot confirm nor deny,” he replies. then, softer, “but i’ve always felt as though i have something to prove. i’m the only heir. if i fail, the jeong dynasty fails with me.”“if i were you, that’d be even more reason to do whatever i want,” says jungwoo, raising his head enough to look at jaehyun. “i mean, what’s your mom gonna do—have another kid? she’s, like, fifty. and even if she did, it wouldn’t matter; you’re the rightful heir no matter what. everything’s going to go however you want when you’re king, anyway.”jaehyun remains silent for some time, mulling over those words.“maybe that’s true,” he replies, “but the protocol is in place for a reason. all i want is to do right by my people, and my esteemed ancestors … but right now, i just don’t know how. i hope i will by the time i take the throne.”“you will,” taeyong utters, a sure sincerity encompassing the warmth of his tone. gently, he drapes an arm across jaehyun’s broad shoulders. “you’re already doing better than you think, jaehyunah.”a soft smile etches itself between the plush tiers of jaehyun’s lips.“thank you, hyung,” he says. “and thank you, jungwoo. even though i feel as if i’ve got no clue what i’m doing, having you two around makes it a little easier.”“weren’t you just complaining about us prying into your sex life?” jungwoo says, and taeyong snickers noisily at jaehyun’s other side.“i never said you were perfect,” jaehyun retorts, laughter trickling out of him anyway, “just that you’re a comfort. and perhaps i wouldn’t have you any other way.”their shared laughter rises like smoke into the atmosphere, the sun sinking completely out of sight and the heavens dusking enough for a scattered handful of stars to wink down at them. one by one, the garden lamps flicker on as the darkness spreads, beaming dutifully down onto the cobbled pavement until an amberish halo glows around the three friends.as the topic shifts to all taeyong had been up to while they’d been overseas, jaehyun tucks away an image of johnny at the back of his mind—a tiny, precious portrait safekept in a golden locket.we’ll be okay, he utters to that image, distantly wishing he could say it to the man himself, but hoping the thoughts he sends toward him will do for now. our loved ones will take care of us. and i will take care of you.♡johnny hadn’t managed to get much sleep.for one, he’d been up all night agonizing over what to pack and how to fit everything he could ever need into the three suitcases to his name. beyond that, his brain is at capacity as he’s forced to confront the reality of being on the edge of an enormous shift in his life.thus, when yuta shakes him awake at three-thirty in the morning to let him know that their royal escorts have arrived, johnny practically springs out of bed, flying through an abridged version of his morning routine on autopilot.halfway through an attempt to brush his teeth and get dressed at the same time, johnny freezes in his bedroom doorway.last night could very well have been the last time he’ll ever sleep in his own bed. right now could be the last time he sees this room, at least for a while.he hadn’t realized just how attached he’d grown to this little space, given that he’s spent most of the last few years stumbling in and passing out between jobs, but there’s a hollow ache that comes with leaving it behind.it’s his, after all. he’d bought nearly every piece furnishing it and had taken time and care over the past five years to curate it carefully—the lamps for ambient lighting, the movie posters crowding the walls, the photos and trinkets lining shelves and workspaces. he has a sinking suspicion that his accommodations on the other side of the world have already been laid out for him, pristine and perfect down to every square centimeter, and won’t be his to change.“yo, johnny,” yuta’s voice echoes down the hall until he appears a few steps behind him. “you ready, yet? my stuff’s already in the car.”

extracted from his own head, johnny snaps back to the present moment, its urgency far from lost on him.“gimme a sec to rinse,” he mumbles around his toothbrush. “i’ll bring all my shit out after. did you wake mark up?”yuta nods. “he’s in the kitchen,” he says, following a couple of paces behind johnny until he disappears beyond the bathroom doorway. “i think he’s finally starting to accept all of this.”“good,” johnny sighs, shutting off the faucet. he looks at himself in the mirror for a few beats, studying every lineament of his own face.at least one of us is.with a deep breath, he flicks off the bathroom light and returns to his room. yuta has already started dragging one of johnny’s suitcases down the hall, leaving johnny to grab the other two.as they stop just short of the kitchen, two men in crisp black suits and blackout shades stand attentively by the front door. an ornate crest is embroidered at the left breast of their jackets—distinct enough for johnny to recognize it as belonging to the jeong family.“please, allow us to load your belongings for you, johnny-nim,” says the taller of the two men.flustered, johnny thinks to tell them he can do it himself—but it’s a long way down to the parking garage, and he still has to say goodbye to mark.“ah—… okay. thank you.”dutifully, the men take the bags, including johnny’s crossbody, and step out without another word.johnny watches them disappear before remembering that mark is waiting for him in the kitchen. when he turns back, yuta is already gone.sure enough, he finds yuta and mark chatting by the island. mark holds a glass of water in one hand and his phone in the other. dejun’s half-hidden, slow-blinking face fills its screen.mark gives a soft smile when he notices johnny—but there’s something distant and melancholic about it.johnny’s heart sinks, and he forgets to smile back.“i thought those guys would be more lowkey,” mark says with an airy chuckle. “y’know, since this is supposed to be a secret.”this time, johnny forces a small smile.“yeah,” he replies, “they aren’t exactly subtle with their royal crests and fancy car. but no one has any reason to think they’d come here, right? it’s not like anyone’s keeping tabs on the royal family’s staff.”mark hums. then, movement flickers on his phone screen, and a warm light brightens the display. dejun must have turned on a lamp.“jaehyun has already returned to business as usual,” he says, and mark holds the phone up so that he can better participate in their conversation. “there’s been no mention of an engagement or anything—no rumors, even. so i guess they really are keeping it quiet.”admittedly, johnny has avoided looking at anything related to jaehyun or his family online. he wouldn’t even know where to start, but he’s also unendingly aware that he’d only psych himself out diving into reddit threads regarding how they live and what kinds of ludicrous rules they have to follow.he knows it’s foolish of him to forego any preparatory research, but strangely, he feels better about going in blind. there’s no way he’ll ever be able meet their expectations, anyway—so why sacrifice his sanity over them?jaehyun’s words regarding the queen echo in johnny’s head. she’ll never be happy with anything she can’t control.is there even a point in trying to win her over? perhaps he’s better off focusing on not making anything worse instead.“maybe it sounds crazy, but i haven’t been all that worried,” comes his belated reply. “i mean—i’m nervous for sure, but i’ve pretty much accepted that i’m a black sheep going into this, and all i can do is my best.”yuta eyes johnny thoughtfully before resting a hand on his forearm.“you won’t be alone,” he reminds him. “i’ve got your back, alright?”“yeah, hyung,” mark adds. “you and yuta-hyung have survived worse. besides, you always land on your feet. you’ll be alright.”“and jaehyun chose you for a reason,” dejun chimes in. “maybe we don’t know what it is yet, but he takes his role as a prince very seriously. he sees something in you that he thinks the jeong dynasty needs.”their affirmations press heavily into johnny’s ribs, and the pressure behind his eyes and quivering lump in his throat makes it difficult to verbalize his gratitude.instead, he moves forward, scooping mark into his arms and holding him against his chest.“i’m never too far away,” he utters, heart thrashing almost painfully when mark trembles against him. “i’m never going to be too far away, okay? no matter what, i will always be there for you. i promise.”mark’s shaky breaths break into sobs, face buried into johnny’s shoulder.“i know, man,” he whimpers. “i know. but i’m gonna miss you so much, hyung. i just wish i had more time with you before you have to go.”they stay that way for a while. neither yuta nor dejun utter a word.johnny manages to keep the dam from breaking, but the wetness soaking into the fabric of his shirt alludes that the same isn’t true for mark.normally, he’d poke lighthearted fun, calling mark a crybaby and comforting him with their typical banter, but he can’t find the strength to do that today. so he just lets him cry, hoping his arms around him offer even a thread of comfort.when yuta finally speaks up, it feels like an eternity has passed.“we should go,” he mutters. “we have a fourteen-and-a-half hour flight to get on. and something tells me royals don’t like to wait on commoners like us.”with a nod, johnny lightly pats the back of mark’s head.“yuta’s right. which isn’t something i say often.”despite his sniffling, mark giggles, and so does dejun. yuta rolls his eyes.“asshole,” he grumbles, though his lips are quirking into a smile. “just wait until korea finds out their future prince-in-law is such a tool.”mark eventually manages to unclasp himself from johnny. now free, johnny does a quick sweep of the apartment to ensure he isn’t leaving anything important behind.when he’s convinced he’s in the clear, johnny takes one last look at his bedroom before turning the light out, refusing to look back as he returns to the kitchen.both johnny and yuta say their final goodbyes to mark, who sees them off at the front door. before they go, johnny plucks his apartment key from his old university of chicago lanyard and presses it into mark’s palm.“dejun will need this when he moves in,” he explains, managing a crooked smile.mark’s eyes fill with tears all over again, but he nods, curling warm, clammy fingers around cold metal.“thanks, hyung,” he whispers.with that, they offer parting waves until they’re out of sight, and the sound of mark shutting the apartment door echoes through the hall.“i don’t like that you made mark cry,” yuta says as they wait for the elevator.johnny rolls his eyes.“as if i could help it,” he grumbles. “we’re practically brothers. he literally calls my parents mom and dad.”“speaking of your parents,” yuta starts, stepping onto the lift with johnny in tow, “how are you planning on telling them about all of this?”as the elevator doors inch shut in front of him, johnny’s lips press into a tight line, before he wheezes out an, “i have no fucking idea.”♡the ride to the airport is agonizingly awkward.johnny spends it wedged inside a black SUV with a group of straight-backed, stone-faced men he knows absolutely nothing about.thankfully, yuta’s presence makes it tolerable—but even he seems ill at ease in the stiff, unfamiliar atmosphere.johnny attempts to make small talk with the guards, and though they’re polite and responsive, they aren’t all that personable. he doesn’t know much about the nuances between formal and informal dialects, either, but their clipped phrasing and careful diction makes it obvious they aren’t accustomed to chatting casually with someone like him.he wonders if they know about the engagement.they’d called him “johnny-nim” earlier, but it could have been tied to their knowledge that he has some kind of connection to jaehyun. they don’t let on that they understand the extent of that connection, and the last thing johnny’s keen to do is bring it up and throw a wrench in any carefully constructed protocol he should be following.jaehyun had let him know that he’d told his parents, and that they’d been shocked by the news, but were ultimately eager to meet him. based on that alone, johnny can’t imagine jaehyun had told them the full truth—but perhaps that’s for the better. if they knew everything from the start, he might not even be on his way to korea right now.on that note, johnny is a little stunned that they’ll be boarding a private jet—though perhaps he shouldn’t be, given who he’s dealing with.not only has he never even seen the interior of a private aircraft, but he recalls jaehyun off-handedly mentioning during one of their calls that he opposes the massive carbon footprint they create, and that he tries to offset harmful emissions by taking commercial flights when he can. despite this, his family upholds that it’s the “safest” way for them to travel—and considering johnny’s arrival is meant to be a quick and secretive operation, it makes sense for as many factors as possible to be controlled down to the smallest detail.they have some time to grab breakfast in the lounge while their belongings are loaded onto the jet, though a guard accompanies them the entire time. it’s suffocatingly awkward, but were they left to their own devices, they’d likely have to brave a mile-long queue at starbucks, even at four in the morning.“i’m not even hungry,” yuta grumbles, shaking his iced americano. “but i know if i don’t eat now, i’m gonna be starving later.”“are they—” johnny starts, then hesitates, looking toward the guard standing a few feet away from them. he seems as if he’s very pointedly trying not to eavesdrop, though his shades offer no indication of where he’s looking.they’re speaking english, anyway—johnny wonders if he understands. he’s only spoken korean to them thus far.he decides to finish his thought. “well, they’re gonna give us some kind of meal on the flight, right? it’s fourteen hours.”“i’d fucking hope so,” replies yuta, and johnny glares at him, subtly gesturing toward the guard with his eyes. yuta bats a hand. “it’s probably going to be rich people food. you know, they eat small portions and shit.”johnny’s brows furrow, and he shakes his head. “in europe, maybe. not korea—i wouldn’t be surprised if the royals are even more serious about food than everyone else.” his lips press upward toward his nose as another thought crosses his mind. “doesn’t japan have a monarchy, too? i can’t imagine it’s all that different.”yuta’s mouth slants. “as if i know anything about how those old imperialist fucks live.”before johnny can think too much about yuta’s words, his phone lights up, vibrating to life with an incoming call.“ooh,” yuta says, able to read the caller ID from where he sits. “your fiancé is calling.”with an exaggerated scowl, johnny accepts the call, making a point to dramatically turn away from yuta.“hey, jaehyun,” he answers, biting back the annoyance in his tone. maybe he should have brought mark instead. “what’s up?”“good morning, johnny,” jaehyun answers, and somehow, all of the irritability melts out of johnny just at the sound of his voice. “it is morning where you are, isn’t it?”johnny chuckles. “it is. very early, but still morning.”“ah,” jaehyun vocalizes. “apologies for such an early flight—the time difference has made it difficult to adhere to a more reasonable itinerary. nevertheless, the guards have informed me that they’ve safely transported you to the airport and that you’ll be on your way soon.”“yes,” johnny confirms, “we’re grabbing a bite to eat while they load everything up. i guess we’re trying to keep things lowkey, but …”his gaze drifts to the guard once more, and he sighs.“well, we’re in a lounge, so i guess it’s no big deal,” he mutters. “still, every time i come to o’hare, the place is packed from wall to wall … to wall.”there’s a giggle on the other line, and johnny’s lips twitch into a smile before he realizes it.“as expected for a city as lively as chicago,” jaehyun replies, tone brightening. “i’m sure you will miss it … i regret not having the chance to explore more while i was visiting, but i’m hopeful you will be able to give me the grand tour sometime in the near future.”johnny isn’t sure why that idea makes warmth crowd his cheeks.yuta seems to know, for he makes an impish sound somewhere behind him, and johnny swats blindly in his direction.“i’m sure that’ll happen someday,” he chuckles, despite himself. “did you at least get to have a hotdog while you were here?”a beat or two of silence ensues.“i’ve never had a hotdog,” jaehyun replies. “what meat is it, exactly? they always look so … uniform. i’ve never been able to tell.”johnny blinks. it hadn’t crossed his mind that the prince of south korea would not have tainted his esteemed palate with a fucking hotdog. duh.“it’s … usually beef,” he answers. “sometimes pork—but chicago is pretty loyal to beef, for the most part.”yuta’s brows furrow as he leans over johnny’s shoulder. “are you guys seriously talking about hotdogs?”“shut up, yuta,” johnny hisses between his teeth.while jaehyun giggles cutely once again, movement catches the corner of johnny’s eye. his gaze befalls the guard, who is now gesturing discretely toward the exit.“oh, jaehyun, it looks like the jet is ready,” he says. “we should probably get going.”“of course,” jaehyun replies. “excellent! i will see you in approximately fourteen hours.”he pauses, but johnny doesn’t interject, able to tell he wants to say something else.“i know i’ve said it already,” jaehyun continues, lower now, “but i’m … quite excited to see you again, johnny.”another smile etches between johnny’s lips, but it’s softer. fonder.“me, too, jaehyun,” he replies. “you know, you being so sweet to me is kind of easing a lot of my nerves about this whole thing.”jaehyun hums, and his voice goes a little lower.“should i not be sweet to the man i intend to marry?”this time, johnny is the one giggling like a flustered schoolboy.“can’t argue with that.”another few beats of silence stretch between them, but it’s far from empty. contrarily, it trills—replete with thoughts unsaid, but deeply felt.they’re both toeing a line that can’t be uncrossed; a point where, even if they decide to try to return to how things were before, nothing will ever really be as it was.through it all, johnny is uncertain about many things. but not about jaehyun.♡the second johnny steps off the jet, he’s whisked into yet another SUV while his and yuta’s belongings are loaded into an entirely different vehicle.he’s perplexed and a little unsettled by this, but as he looks at yuta and finds him completely at-ease through all the chaos unfolding around them—posture relaxed, expression blank—johnny’s heart rate slowly descends from its spike.in a strange way, he almost feels like he’s been kidnapped.he hasn’t spoken with his parents at all—of the fourteen hours he’d been in the air, at least half had been spent trying to figure out how to tell them about all of this. usually, he’d just blurt it out and try to damage control his way out of the worst outcome, but he feels as though he has to handle this matter more delicately.his mother is likely to notice he’s not in chicago very quickly, and though he knows mark won’t tell her anything johnny wouldn’t want her to know, once she figures out where he is, she’s going to ask a thousand questions.he can’t say he’s visiting family, because she’d know immediately that it’s not true—and he hates lying to her, anyway, so it would be best to come clean.but how exactly does one tell their parents that they’re engaged to a prince? that they met at a strip club? where their parents also don’t know they’ve worked for the past few years?it’s a series of conversations he’s not ready to have. but it seems reality won’t wait for him, so sooner or later, he’ll have to come up with some way to navigate the absurdities he’s brought upon himself.

regardless, he’s relieved that he’ll have some time to rest and relax before his entire life is turned inside out. he hopes wherever they’re headed before the palace will offer a warm bed and a delicious meal—their accommodations during the flight had certainly been glamorous, but he’s thankful to be on solid ground at last.but as he gazes through the one-way tint of the car window, he realizes that their surroundings are becoming increasingly more like jongno district—the home of the gyeongbokgung palace.he’d visited a handful of times as a kid, and though his memories are foggy, he recalls standing at the front gates with his parents while his mother buzzed excitedly about the monarchy and how adorable the then-tiny prince was. she’d been hoping to catch a glimpse of little jaehyun, for sometimes he could be seen toddling between his parents during their various outings, but hadn’t been so lucky despite their standing in the vicinity of the palace for hours.johnny remembers whining that he wanted to go home, even if “home” was on the other side of the world, and his mother scolding him to have a little more regard for his heritage.he couldn’t have imagined back then that he’d end up in this position, returning to that palace he’d dreaded staring at for so long. that soon, he’ll be making his way inside and meeting the royal family. that he’ll be marrying the prince his mother once longed to see.“did you ever visit gyeongbokgung while you were in that study abroad program?” johnny asks, prying his eyes away from his window to look at yuta.he captures his attention at once, prompting their eyes to meet for the first time since they’d been ushered into the car.yuta shakes his head. “thought about it, but i had so many other things to do. so it kind of just never happened,” he explains. “i have a feeling i’m about to get a pretty exclusive tour, though.”a soft puff of laughter breezes past johnny’s lips. “yeah,” he replies. “i haven’t been since i was a kid. the outside is the same as it was hundreds of years ago, but most of the inside is modern. that’s what i’ve heard, anyway.”“well, you’re gonna know for sure real soon,” yuta says, pointing toward johnny’s window. “looks like we’re about to arrive.”“wait—” johnny says, reality smacking him upside his head like a disgruntled auntie. “are we—we’re not stopping first? we’re just going straight there?”yuta shrugs, but such indifference evades johnny as he leans forward to address the two men sitting in front of them.“e–excuse me,” he starts, unsure if he’s technically being rude. “sorry for speaking so suddenly, but—we’re going to see jaehyun right now? i thought we would have some time to—you know—prepare …”the two men look at each other briefly before the driver returns his eyes to the road, leaving the guard in the passenger seat to deal with johnny.“yes, johnny-nim,” he answers, reaching up to remove his sunglasses. he’s the first guard to show johnny his eyes, and his gaze looks somewhat apologetic. “forgive us for not clarifying that from the start. we must deliver you to the palace by eight sharp. the royal family is already expecting you.”“oh, fuck—” johnny says in korean, which makes yuta laugh behind him, but he doesn’t have the time to get annoyed about it. “sorry, sorry—i just thought—” he gestures toward his clothes—sweater, slacks, and an old leather jacket (leagues above his usual, pajama-chic airport attire in terms of class, but still not elevated enough for presenting himself to the royal fucking family)—“i mean, i can’t go meeting them looking like this—”“they understand you are arriving directly after traveling,” the guard assures him. “your appearance is appropriate.”that should be comforting, but it isn’t. his first impression is already shot.nevertheless, he’s well-aware that there’s nothing he can do at this point; they’ve already reached the palace and are pulling in around the back of the main building. his sole option is to suck it up and work with what he’s got—and if johnny suh knows how to do anything, it’s turn up the charm as high as he can when he’s dealt a shitty hand.there’s a throng of more guards waiting to receive them the second the car stops. both doors to the backseat are opened and a series of low greetings are offered as johnny and yuta climb out, not having to wonder for a second about where to go as they are swiftly intercepted by domestic staff.the guards form something of a barrier around them as they are escorted to an entrance, but johnny’s height renders him partially exposed.he knows immediately when they’ve made it inside—he almost flinches when a woman starts powdering his face and another begins to adjust his clothes. yet another pair of deft hands fluffs through his hair, sweeping it into place with a golden comb all while they continue to walk.he must admire their dexterity, even if he feels remarkably uncomfortable being ‘fixed’ like some kind of dress-up doll.“thank you,” he mumbles, once they seem satisfied with their work.their eyes crescent as they smile and bow, before moving on to give yuta similar treatment.johnny snickers at the way his friend goes as stiff as a board—he knows how particular yuta is about his appearance, and he can tell it’s taking a lot of effort for him to not shoo them away like a swarm of mosquitoes.they cross into a corridor where two finely dressed men are waiting for them. both bow, and johnny returns the gesture, subtly looking to his side to make sure yuta is doing the same.maybe he really can behave himself after all.as he straightens back to his full height, johnny finds that one of the men looks distantly familiar. he’s seen him in beside jaehyun in photographs.“good morning, johnny-nim, yuta-ssi,” he says, eyes crinkling behind his glasses as he gives his most diplomatic smile. “i am the prince’s chief advisor. it is my sincere honor to welcome you to gyeongbokgung, and to south korea.”despite suddenly feeling like he’s going to throw up, johnny mirrors the advisor’s smile. “thank you. we’re glad to have arrived safely after such a long journey.”the advisor nods. “i am sure you are eager to rest, but the prince is even more eager to present you to his parents at last. the queen has been quite restless since learning of your engagement.”johnny resists the urge to swallow thickly. “well … let’s not keep her waiting any longer.”“that would be wise,” laughs the advisor. “everyone is already assembled in the main hall, but as you may understand, we have specific ways of handling official business in our court.”he clears his throat, outstretched palms sweeping away from one another as he elaborates, “we would like for you to process in after your arrival is formally announced.”johnny must look as uncertain as he feels, because the advisor hastily explains, “it isn’t as complicated as it sounds, johnny-nim. the court herald,” he gestures to the man at his side, “will let the family know you have arrived with a proclamation stating your full name and title. the prince has asked that i accompany you in your procession; all you must do is match my pace so that we do not fall out of step with one another. then, your party—which seems to just be yuta-ssi—will come in behind us, and the servants will follow.”his smile softens, almost with the air of an adult comforting a frightened child. “very simple. nothing to fret over.”it seems suspiciously straightforward (therefore easy to fuck up), but overthinking it seems to be the least helpful option.so johnny nods soundly, expelling the tension from his body as best he can while the herald and the advisor get into position. two guards are already stationed at the massive, arched doors, gloved hands taking hold of golden handles and wrenching them open upon the advisor’s wordless signal.any sounds that had filled the spacious hall die down the moment the doors open. the herald strides through, turning to face the crowd that johnny cannot yet see.“your majesty the queen, and all esteemed members of the court,” he calls out, strong voice seeming to echo through the entire palace, “allow me to present mr. john jun suh of chicago, illinois; betrothed to our most honorable heir to the throne, crown prince jeong yuno.”the world stops when johnny hears those words, boldly proclaimed as if the herald had carved them in stone.this is real, now. this is so fucking real.he autopilots his body, brain moving a thousand thoughts a second while he steps gracefully in tandem with the advisor, yuta and the servants following several paces behind.as he crosses into the main hall, he sees them—the royals, dressed in the finest fabrics money can buy and dutiful hands can spin, dozens of sharp eyes trained on him from the nanosecond he comes into view.the urge to panic claws up his throat, but he swallows it down—a feat made far easier when his eyes find a familiar face; a beacon of hope amid an intimidating cluster of black clouds.jaehyun stands at the foot of a grand staircase, wearing a gorgeous smile that only grows with each step that carries johnny closer to him.his clothes are similar to the ensemble he’d worn when johnny had first laid eyes on him, except that his shirt is black, the stark white lettering of the prada logo seeming to glow at the left side of his chest while the sleeves are neatly cuffed just above his elbow. delicate white-gold jewelry brightens the otherwise dark look, emphasizing the stars shining in jaehyun’s eyes as he gazes upon his husband-to-be.johnny is too stunned to smile back. it seems that every time he sees jaehyun, he’s impossibly more beautiful than the last—but beyond that, his tangibly authentic elation to see johnny again renders him astonished.he hadn’t doubted jaehyun’s sincerity when he’d repeatedly expressed his excitement for them to meet again over the phone, but he hadn’t expected it to be to this degree—especially not in front of his family and friends, who look varying shades of bewildered and ambivalent.the procession stops, and johnny stands pin-straight before the royal family, uncertain of what to do now that he’s stopped walking. before he can look toward the advisor for a lifeline, jaehyun is all but gliding to him, earning him wide-eyed looks from every other person in the room, including johnny.“honey!” jaehyun exclaims, a strong grip clasping around johnny’s shoulders, jaehyun’s weight practically thrown into johnny’s arms.without warning, he pulls him into a nigh on frantic kiss, sending fireworks through johnny’s nervous system the second their lips crash together.he hears the gasps and the disbelieving laughs, even hears yuta make some kind of smartass comment behind him, but johnny doesn’t actually register any of it.his brain has gone offline, only able to vaguely comprehend that he is being kissed by a beautiful creature and that it feels incredible, melting the stress and anxiety and uncertainty from his body and enabling him to kiss back without inhibition, both hands gripping jaehyun at the waist and pulling him closer as their tongues brush eagerly.reality sets back in with a shrill, scandalized voice—the advisor desperately calls out to them, breaking through the spell of stunned silence that had been cast on the entire room.“your royal highness! what on earth has gotten into you?!” he questions, seizing jaehyun’s shoulder as gently as his panic could allow and giving it a light, but fevered tug.relentingly, jaehyun does pull away from the kiss, but his eyes remain trained on johnny, a honeyed look in them that makes johnny feel as though molten lava spills through his core.the advisor goes on, all while trying to wrench them even further apart.“your mother, the queen, should not have to bear witness to such undignified behavior!” he cries. “please, get ahold of yourself!”those words prompt johnny to fully realize what had just happened. slowly, his eyes go wide, but jaehyun only giggles, shifting to link arms with him rather than hold him so amorously.the advisor appears relieved by this change, but johnny’s heart is hammering in his chest as he wonders whether or not he’s about to be thrown onto another flight right back to the states.“i find love to be most dignified of all,” jaehyun utters, deceptively dainty fingers pattering along johnny’s arm. the touch tingles through his sleeve. “but i acknowledge that my display of affection may have been improper for this occasion. forgive me.”johnny hopes that the fire burning beneath his skin is only internal, but when jaehyun looks up at him and immediately starts giggling again, he knows that hope is futile—he must be flushed from his forehead to his toes.yet, even in his flustered and slightly disoriented state, it doesn’t take him much time or effort to discern that the woman standing at the top of the staircase is the queen.her glare is knifelike, but she still manages to look immaculately polished, untouchable, exuding authority with every fiber of her being as she regards johnny like a troublesome little roach creeping about her pristine palace.“so,” she says, brushing past the man at her side—jaehyun’s father, if the fact that he’s all but a much older version of him is to be considered—and slowly descending from her point of elevation, “you are the one that has convinced yuno to marry …”her white skirt hems just above her knees, flowing gracefully around her thighs as she closes the distance, but johnny is particularly transfixed by her pointed, golden-toed shoes, which reflect the light so brightly, it almost stings his eyes.beyond that, he dares not to look at her face—at least not until she is only a few steps away from him, commanding his respect without a word uttered past her painted red lips.“never have i seen my son so beside himself with affection for anyone,” she comments, her glare shifting toward jaehyun, who only clings tighter to johnny’s arm.his expression has darkened considerably, but his lips remain pressed into an easy smile—though, with the glint in his eye, it looks to be more of a smirk.“surely you understand that you were not what we envisioned,” says the queen.johnny can’t think of anything to say—which only prompts him to realize that he’s been silent since he’d presented himself—but jaehyun intervenes, his low tone filling the penetrating void, offering johnny’s overworked conscience a place to rest.“i assure you, johnny is everything i’ve stated him to be thus far, and much, much more,” he says, unwavering in holding his mother’s gaze. “he is the one i have chosen for myself, so he is the one i will marry.”a quiet chorus of whispers follows this declaration, and johnny’s eyes lift to scan through the crowd of onlookers. he sees the man he’d met at the club—jungwoo, if memory serves—looking as if he’s seconds from imploding.something cold grips the base of johnny’s spine. he’s not going to say anything, right?there’s a man next to jungwoo, the pinkish tone of his hair causing him to stand out against the various shades of black and brown surrounding him. they’re huddled close together, arms touching, with jungwoo craned down enough to that his lips are level with the pink-haired man’s ear. both of them are looking directly at johnny, eyes round with disbelief.fuck, he utters inwardly. this could get so much worse, so quickly.a flash of anger flickers in the queen’s gaze, but her lips remain sealed, even if the slightest twitch at their rightmost corner hints that there is much she wants to say. but she only draws in a lungful of air through her nose, irises settling on johnny once more, impelling him to meet her eyes. the heat of her ire sears like a blood-red laser.“your mother could not have only given you the name john,” she mutters, her lips pulling into a scowl as if the name tastes foul on her tongue. “what is your ethnic name?”swallowing tightly, johnny wills his voice to leave him smoothly as he answers.“youngho.”“youngho,” the queen echoes, a sliver of tension melting away from her pole-like posture. “that is a name much better suited for a royal. at least you have that.”

jaehyun tsks at johnny’s side, rolling his eyes. “is that so important, mother?”“you ought to know more than anyone what’s in a name, yuno,” she replies, pinning her narrowed gaze onto her only son once more.johnny seizes the opportunity to exhale.“now, untangle yourself from that man and join me in the sitting room,” the queen commands, her voice raising just enough to ricochet from the walls. “we have matters to discuss in private.”johnny feels like his stomach has sunken to his shoes as jaehyun slowly releases him, ultimately bending to his mother’s will, even if he does so unhappily. it seems that he’d been expecting her to make such a demand.“we will only be a moment, youngho,” the queen assures, though her expression retains a degree of hostility that does little to comfort him. “please, make yourself comfortable while we are occupied.”that’s easier said than fucking done, he muses, but only puts on a polite smile and gives a dutiful nod.by now, jaehyun’s father has joined them on the ground level, his own face illegible, aside from a tinge of apprehension in his distant, thousand-yard stare.as the queen and her husband lead the way to the sitting room, jaehyun pauses, turning to look at johnny with soft eyes.“don’t worry,” he whispers, reaching out to take his hand. “remember what i said, okay? i chose you.”somehow, those words begin to unravel the tightly-wound cords of doubt the queen had fashioned johnny’s guts into. he sighs, lightly squeezing jaehyun’s hand.we’re strangers, aren’t we? he asks himself. so why does this feel … right?“don’t make too much of a fuss over me,” johnny mutters, lips pursing tight. “i just—i don’t want to cause you any more trouble than i already have.”“you haven’t caused me any trouble,” jaehyun says, taking a few steps nearer. his free hand cups johnny’s cheek, his touch cool, soothing. “and i will do what i must to ensure that everyone is aware that you have a right to be here.”“yuno,” calls the queen, her impatience echoing through the hall. “what on earth is keeping you?”jaehyun huffs, but brushes his thumb against johnny’s warm skin one last time.there’s something fierce yet tender in his eyes, but johnny can’t quite place what it is—all he knows is that he can feel it, warm and solid in his chest, and that for the first time since he was a child, he feels as though there’s someone there to protect him for once.“coming, mother,” jaehyun replies, ‘untangling’ himself from johnny once again—first, his hand falls from his cheek, and then their fingers untwine.last to break contact are their eyes as jaehyun slowly turns away, his advisor resting a hand at his back to guide him toward where his disapproving parents are waiting.despite it all, jaehyun holds his head sky-high and walks with a confidence that radiates off of him in waves. he looks indestructible.even once jaehyun disappears behind a set of heavy doors, johnny’s eyes remain fixed on where he’d once been, still able to feel the resonant warmth of his touch, his gaze. the only thing that pulls him from his trance is a hand clapping his shoulder, and though he already knows whose it is, he still slants his head to his side, where yuta is now standing.“seems like the prince ’s got your back,” he says, looking up at johnny with a wide smile. “i like him even more now.”with a breathless laugh, johnny’s lips pull into a grin of his own.“yeah,” he murmurs, lashes setting low over his eyes. “me too.”♡the heavy echo of his advisor shutting the doors behind him rings through the soundless room.jaehyun gazes upon portraits adhered to the marble-white walls. his ancestors watch from gilded frames—lifelike enough that it nearly feels as if they’ve gathered to offer their own judgment regarding what he’s done.despite the brushstrokes amounting to stern, regal expressions, he’s convinced himself that they understand, that they’ll be on his side in this matter. hadn’t they lived and died for the prosperity of this dynasty, so that his choices could be his own, informed not only by a dedication to his country, but to his future?he can’t imagine that they’d support a forced marriage, considering many of them had to endure so dismal a fate. while he cannot undo their misery, he can evade his own—and as they live on through him, and will live on through his reign, perhaps, for them, there’s a sense of healing to be found in his refusal to be married off for prestige’s sake.“whatever joke you are trying to make of this dynasty has fallen flat,” says his mother, her expression listless as she faces him amid the luxurious splendor of her sitting room. “where on earth did you find that commoner and why has he infiltrated my palace?”jaehyun’s lips purse with indignation—the blatant disrespect toward johnny brings his blood to a simmer, but he keeps a level head. there’s no use in allowing his emotions to play puppeteer; it’s likely his mother already perceives him as irresponsible in light of the display he’d put on in the main hall.“i’m afraid i know not what joke you speak of,” he replies, folding his arms over his chest. “i am serious about johnny, and about marrying him.”jaehyun’s eyes go darker, colder, the firmness of his jaw communicating his conviction.“and he may be a commoner,” he continues, “but i am not troubled by that. he is the man i want. thus, he is the man i will have.”“you don’t even know him,” his mother snaps. “how dare you put this dynasty in jeopardy for a man you met only weeks ago?”“i know him as much as any man you have selected for me,” jaehyun answers, voice raising despite himself. “and you had no qualms about how recently we’d met until you found he did not meet whatever impossible standard you have constructed.”the queen’s eyes go wide. for a few beats, she merely stares at jaehyun, stunned into silence now that her once meek, obedient child has suddenly become so outspoken.“how dare you?” she repeats, voice dropping dangerously low. “my mother chose my husband, and i did not utter a word of complaint. i understood my duty, yuno, and you should understand yours. for three hundred years, our family has upheld tradition and honored the jeong name by producing the finest heirs who exhibit the utmost prestige.”her eyes narrow, sharpening like brandished blades.“how could you be so selfish as to destroy the sanctity of our lineage for some nobody?”silently, jaehyun chances a glance toward his father.the prince consort does not return his gaze—only lingers by the window, hands tightly clasped behind his back as if he is merely an audience for the discord unraveling his family.the crease between jaehyun’s eyebrows deepens, but his jaw sets firm in his resolve.“the only duty i have as heir to this throne is to do right by my ancestors and my country,” he replies, selecting each and every one of his words with the utmost care. then, his gaze flickers toward the portraits lining the walls. with a deep breath, he continues, words coming slower now.“i know our traditions, mother, but i also understand the harm they have caused, and i have never wanted that for myself, hence why i have always feigned a disinterest in marriage.”slightly, his tone softens—for the first time since he’d entered this room, warmth breaks through the polished steel of his voice.“but when i met johnny, i had never seen my future so clearly. i saw the past, too—saw our ancestors standing behind me.”he pauses to knead plush lips beneath his teeth, waiting to see if his mother will argue further. but she is silent, only staring at him with disbelief strung between her wide eyes, a thousand objections jumbled atop her tongue, leaving room for nothing to come out.finally, someone speaks—but not his mother.“yuno is not a rebellious child,” his father’s low voice fills the room, though he does not pull his eyes from the window pane.his wife turns to face him while his son gapes at him with astonishment.“he never has been,” he goes on. “he has always carried out his duties as prince, and as heir, with the utmost grace. i do not believe that he has suddenly decided to live without intention.”the queen sputters, looking between her son and her husband with incredulity.“you cannot agree with this ludicrous decision he has made!” she exclaims. “it may be true that yuno has never been reckless before, but his reluctance and outright refusal to marry has always come with complications—and now, he has resolved to make marriage the problem by destroying what my ancestors have built.”“well, beloved, what do you believe can be done?” asks the prince consort, looking toward them at last. “yuno is never going to marry doyoung. he has made that abundantly clear. and if he does not produce an heir, this dynasty is effectively over.”“there are other options!” the queen cries, nigh on frantic. “doyoung is the best of them, but there are other men of the court—”“i will have johnny,” jaehyun utters, shoulders squaring, “or i will have no one.”the frigid finality of jaehyun’s words echoes through the sitting room, bouncing off marble and mother-of-pearl like a silver bullet.once more, the queen only looks at him, eyes blown wide with disbelieving anger like a fierce but cornered lioness.yet, jaehyun watches in real time as helplessness eclipses his mother’s ire. the reality of the ultimatum appears to set in, and as the queen is confronted by a limit to her power, she cracks like glass blown far too hot.“fine,” she utters, nigh on whistling through her clenched teeth. “i may not be able to stop you from making this mistake, but i will not support a divorce when you come to regret it.” the burning fury in her eyes flashes, before going stone cold. “you will have to live with this foolish decision for the rest of your life, and bear the burden of that shame alone.”clenching his jaw, jaehyun stares down at the queen through lowered lids, long lashes curtaining his leer.“so be it,” he replies. “whatever consequences may come of my decision will be mine alone to face. i am not afraid of that.”slowly, the queen eases back into her composure, a steady hand smoothing invisible creases from her sleeve. all the while, she does not break eye contact with her son, and jaehyun holds her stare just as unwaveringly, causing his father to evaporate into the backdrop of the nearly empty room.“i suppose, then, we have a wedding to plan,” she mutters after some time, eyes slotting closed prior to a smooth turn on her heel. “allow me to be the first to offer my sincerest congratulations, yuno.”jaehyun scoffs, gaze drifting toward the door separating him from johnny.“i won’t allow anything to come between johnny and i,” he replies, turning on his own heel and carrying himself toward the door on sure, graceful feet.before he makes his exit, he looks back toward his parents one last time. his father is facing him, but his mother isn’t.“he will be what this dynasty needs,” jaehyun says, tone so resonant with certainty, he may as well be uttering a creed. “and so will i.”♡the silence that drowns the main hall once jaehyun and his parents disappear behind the sitting room door is unbearable.johnny can feel every set of eyes on him like needles pricking his skin, and while he tries to appear unbothered by it, he can feel sweat dotting his hairline, threatening to spill into his eyes.gradually, the hum of hushed conversations traded between clusters of people offers reprieve. some of the royals have started to whisper amongst themselves, and while johnny can imagine the disdain with which they’re talking about him (the way their eyes dart toward him and quickly dart away once he dares to meet their gazes is reminiscent of playground gossip), at least it does away with the haunting soundlessness.yuta stays by his side, but seems to sense there isn’t much he can say or do to soothe johnny’s nerves. still, his presence alone throws him a floatation device in vast, raging waters—johnny takes comfort in the little slice of home, the reminder that he doesn’t have to endure all of this by himself.eventually, there’s movement on the landing.jungwoo and the pink-haired man inch toward the staircase arm in arm, descending cautiously. the cordial expressions they wear serve to make them look as though they’re approaching a scared, wounded animal rather than their prince’s husband-to-be.several royals watch them with open confusion—and in some cases, obvious irritation.“it’s nice to see you again, johnny-nim,” jungwoo says upon closing in on him, an airy chuckle beneath his tone. he stretches out his name as if to emphasize that he’d previously known him by a different one. “it’s quite a surprise under these circumstances, but a pleasant one. or maybe exciting is the better word?”johnny bites the seam of his lips, feeling hot above his collar but cold beneath his belt.“uh … yeah,” he cautiously replies. “it’s good to see a familiar face around here.”the pink-haired man releases jungwoo’s arm, stepping forward with a beaming smile.his huge, sparkly eyes catch the light, nearly hypnotic in the way they shine like marbles. in giving him a once-over from this close, johnny notes him to be a head shorter than jungwoo, but nearly identical in stature to yuta—thus, compared to johnny, he is quite small. but that’s nothing he’s unused to.“jungwoo told me about your and jaehyun’s … chance encounter,” the pink-haired man says, before lowering his voice enough to evade any prying ears. “but don’t worry, your secret is safe with us. we’d never do anything to hurt jaehyun, and it seems like he really cares about you.”jungwoo nods, before whispering, “i’d be cooked if the queen found out i brought jaehyun-hyung to that club. so, trust me, my lips are sealed.”there’s a tinge of relief that comes with that (even if jungwoo’s reasoning seems a little selfish compared to his friend’s—but johnny isn’t in the position to be picky about why his secret doesn’t get out, rather than simply being grateful that it likely won’t), yet, johnny can’t fully abandon his unease.“i … appreciate you guys looking out for me. and for jaehyun,” he murmurs, scratching behind his ear. “i’m sure he’s having a hard enough time as it is …”his gaze drifts toward the sitting room doors, in front of which jaehyun’s advisor paces back and forth like a man on the verge of collapse.“i can’t help but feel really bad about all this.”“don’t,” says jungwoo, shaking his head. “jaehyun-hyung’s made it clear that this is what he wants, and his mom should accept that. it’s his life—even if he is a prince, and he owes a lot to his people, or whatever. the least he should be able to do is pick his own damn husband.”yuta hums from where he’s standing beside johnny, breaking his observatory silence as his gaze oscillates between jungwoo and the fairy-like friend he’d brought along. he appears to be studying them quite closely, trying to reach some conclusion about whether or not they’re trustworthy.johnny has to give him credit; yuta’s judgment has never failed in that regard.curiously, he notes that yuta seems particularly intrigued by jungwoo’s (and presumably jaehyun’s) friend. the two of them hold an intense mutual gaze, and when the pink-haired man gives a coy, kittenish smile, yuta grins right back.johnny’s eyes narrow a bit. “i’m sorry,” he says toward the stranger, seeming to interrupt the mutual spell he and yuta had been casting on one another, “i don’t think i caught your name.”“oh! forgive me,” he giggles, stepping back to give a charming little bow. “i’m lee taeyong, son of the duke of gyeonggi province.”johnny mirrors his bow, though nowhere near as flawlessly, and when taeyong comes back up, he’s smiling, those sparkling eyes giving him an innocent, almost angelic air.“jaehyun and i have been friends pretty much since he was born,” taeyong explains, the warmth of fondness glowing amid his soft features. “i’ll admit that i’m a little hurt he didn’t tell me about his engagement, but i can understand why he kept it a secret.”his smile softens, as do his eyes.

“and as surprised as i am, i have to say that i’ve never seen him so excited about anything as long as i’ve known him,” he adds. “there must be something really special about you, johnny-nim.”johnny wheezes.“j—just johnny is fine,” he swiftly corrects. “for both of you. jaehyun has mentioned you a few times, so it’s nice to finally put the name to a face. my pleasure to meet you, taeyong.”silently, he glances toward yuta, vaguely gesturing toward jungwoo and taeyong. yuta lets out a puff of air.“i’m yuta,” he says, mostly toward taeyong. “nakamoto yuta.”“ah, i figured you were japanese,” taeyong says, another giggle tucked into his words. “where are you from?”“osaka,” yuta answers, smirking. “but i moved to chicago when i was fifteen. that’s how johnny and i met.”jungwoo’s eyes go rounder. “your korean is so advanced!” he praises. “how did you learn? you must’ve lived here at some point!”yuta waves a hand dismissively, his softening smile cutting through his intimidating air.“i studied in seoul for a few semesters during uni,” he says. “didn’t think my first time back would be like this, but i couldn’t let johnny go through all this on his own.”“aah,” taeyong replies with an impressed nod. “what a good friend you are. i actually studied abroad in tokyo for two years, but i didn’t get nearly as good at the language as i had hoped …”those doe eyes shimmer as taeyong sizes yuta up, long lashes batting.“maybe you could help me improve.”yuta’s wolfish grin from moments prior returns—sharper and wider than it had been before.“yeah,” he replies. “i could do that.”johnny and jungwoo exchange glances, blinking rapidly at each other. it almost feels like communicating through morse code: what the fuck is going on?all the while, taeyong and yuta just look at each other for a few more moments, appearing to have a nonverbal exchange of their own.johnny has never been more grateful that he can’t read minds, because he’s sure he’d be traumatized if he could tune into their frequency.“uh, hyung?” jungwoo calls, awkwardly poking through the ballooning tension, and seemingly reminding taeyong that people other than yuta exist, and are with them right now.“mm—” taeyong clears his throat, a faint pink dyeing the apples of his cheeks. “right. um. i feel like we’re learning more about yuta than we’re learning about you, johnny,” he chuckles, scratching at his cheek as he collects himself. “you two seem like you’ve been friends your whole lives, rather than meeting in high school. i’m glad yuta is here to keep you company, but jungwoo and i will be happy to help in any way that we can, too. like i said earlier, jaehyun’s happiness is important to us, and you’re important to him.”johnny smiles a little wider, another, stronger flutter of comfort spreading warm through his chest.“thank you,” he replies, sincerity threaded between the words. “it’s a relief that jaehyun’s friends are so kind, and welcoming—but he said that you’d be. i don’t know why i was so worried.”they chat a little more, trading anecdotes to extend their common ground, until yuta shakes johnny’s shoulder, snatching him away from the conversation.he says nothing, just flicks his head as subtly as he can toward the mezzanine.johnny looks up, meeting the eyes of a man staring down at them with so much vitriol, it almost knocks the wind out of him.swiftly, taeyong and jungwoo notice the shift in their attention and try to pinpoint where they’re looking.“oh,” taeyong says, rolling his eyes.yuta’s eyes narrow. “the fuck is that guy’s problem?”the man leers at them a while longer before turning back toward his conversation, his overgrown fringe casting a shadow over sharp, frosty eyes while the flowy, black-on-black ensemble he wears underscores his unwelcoming aura—as if he’s not only mourning something, but intends to avenge it.“that’s doyoung,” taeyong explains, sighing with near tangible annoyance. “he’s the one the queen picked for jaehyun to marry. i’m sure you can imagine that he’s not very happy with you.”“don’t even worry about him,” jungwoo reassures, speaking as flippantly as he ever could. “jaehyun’s never been interested in him, not even a little bit, but somehow, doyoung-hyung managed to convince himself that they’ll be getting married some day. he had to let go of that delusion sooner or later.”johnny frowns. great. he’s been here less than an hour and there’s already another person here who has it out for him.“makes sense he’d be mad, i guess,” he mutters. “i mean, i’m just some no-name, sweeping in out of nowhere and taking what’s been promised to him, as far as he’s concerned.”it almost sounds funny, when articulated in such a way—like he’s the slutty antagonist of a cheap, paperback romance novel. still, it’s an inconvenience that will only serve to stress him out more.“think he’ll get over it?” he asks, swallowing his apprehension about the answer.taeyong’s lips tug toward one side, his expression pensive, but doubtful.“it’s hard to tell with him,” he admits. “i’ve known him almost as long as i’ve known jaehyun, but it seems like, as the years go by, he just gets more and more obsessed with being jaehyun’s husband—or being a prince … i really can’t tell which matters more to him.”taeyong goes quiet for a few beats, and no one says anything during his stretch of silence, allowing those words to settle and dry out.when he speaks again, taeyong fixes johnny with a stern, almost maternal look.“if i were you, i’d just steer clear of him,” he advises. “it’s one less headache for you to deal with while you get adjusted.”johnny tuts, raising his head toward the mezzanine once more. doyoung does not acknowledge him, though he’s sure he can sense his eyes on him.“seems like sound advice,” he complies.“well, he’d better not get any bright ideas,” yuta grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest. “i know i promised i’d behave, but if he gives you a hard time, i’ll knock the taste out of his stupid fucking mouth.”taeyong blushes, and jungwoo snickers, delighted by the prospect of a little drama.but johnny shakes his head, turning himself fully toward yuta.“i don’t need you to do that,” he says. “that would only make everything ten thousand times worse.”yuta scowls. “i could make it look like an accident,” he argues. “you know i could.”johnny folds his lips in, taking a deep breath. “that’s not—”before he can finish that thought, the sitting room doors are opening and jaehyun is emerging, looking every bit as regal as he had when he’d gone in. instantly, he commands the attention of everyone in the room, even as his mother follows behind him, her expression frighteningly illegible.johnny’s throat dries out at the sight of the mother and son. their thick, angry tension spills into the main hall like a noxious gas, and he narrowly avoids choking on it, as bad as years of a nicotine addiction have made his lungs.but the sight of jaehyun so confidently unbothered mesmerizes him, swiftly expelling all other thoughts from his brain.then, suddenly, the queen speaks, wrenching him back into reality headfirst. right. he’s supposed to be fearing for his life right about now.“it is my pleasure to announce that prince yuno’s wedding will take place six months from today,” she says, voice filling the otherwise silent hall.johnny swallows, every last word she’d just spoken echoing through his head. he searches for jaehyun, who approaches him with a warm, unreasonably sweet smile.again, he links his arm with johnny’s, guiding him to turn to face the awestruck throng that had earlier scrutinized him.“we will make preparations to formally announce the engagement in one month,” the queen continues. “until then, not a word of it is to be spoken to the public. i am certain that there will be attempts to leak this information for financial gain, and such indiscretions will be gravely penalized.”johnny doesn’t even want to imagine what kind of consequences she could be talking about. either way, before he can, he finds the queen’s stern eyes laser-focused on him.“youngho,” she addresses, groomed brows lifting toward the gentle slope of her forehead, “we will see to it that you swiftly acquire your own staff to assist you in your transition from civilian to royal life.”her gaze sharpens, pinching hard at johnny’s already sore nerves.but jaehyun rubs his arm, as if he can sense johnny’s troubles, and it offers enough relief for him to claw at the fraying fabric of his composure.“i hope you don’t expect that this will be easy,” chides the queen. “you may look like a prince, and you may even have a prince’s name, but there is much more to this life than appearances. there are many expectations you must meet and exceed, since your impending marriage to prince yuno will position you as heir to the most honorable jeong throne. you ought to regard this with greater esteem and resolve than anything you have ever done in your life.”the words echo through johnny’s brain like a struck gong, and the gravity of what he’s gotten himself into presses down on him all at once, threatening to crush him until all that remains is the dust of his ground-up bones.lightly, jaehyun squeezes johnny’s arm. it’s an encouraging touch, but it chiefly serves to reinforce what’s on the line—that someone else could pay the price for his mistakes. countless people, even. he can’t mess this up.drawing in a deep, steadying breath, johnny raises his head and stands proudly at his full height.“i’ll do the work,” he says, ambition flooding his tone. “your prince chose me … and i will show you why.”jaehyun’s eyes enlarge the slightest bit at the bold remark, his ears flushing a bright pink. but he beams with pride, squeezing johnny’s arm once again, but letting the solid warmth linger this time.there’s applause coming from behind them, and johnny chances a backwards glance to see that jungwoo has started cheering them on.taeyong and yuta swiftly join, and gradually it spreads to the royals watching from the mezzanine, many of them genuinely impressed by johnny’s determination and jaehyun’s unwavering admiration for him.the queen does not participate, but she allows the ovation. beside her, the prince consort looks perfectly mellow, almost as if he wishes to join in on the gaiety of it all.there’s something deeply vindicating about the praise. pressure builds in johnny’s chest before it releases in a quivering burst, mirroring that feeling he gets when he’s moments from crying.but his eyes remain dry, and he smiles earnestly, placing his hand overtop of jaehyun’s where it rests on his arm. soon thereafter, he turns to gaze at him with tender warmth—only to find that jaehyun is already looking at him in such a way.heart full, johnny’s eyes cast upward, scanning the royals perched above him.his eyes find the one figure amid them that stands completely still, refusing to entertain the ongoing cheer. doyoung eyes johnny bitterly, jaw set so hard, his lips have started to quiver.johnny holds his stare for only a moment, a dark cloud rolling in to eclipse his relief, before taeyong’s words echo in his head.one less headache.suddenly, the queen raises a hand, and the room goes quiet. she allows the silence to persist for a few beats, as if basking in her own power, settling over her like a cloak woven entirely of gold.“you certainly are an interesting man, youngho,” she utters flatly, leaving johnny unsure as to whether or not she’d meant it as a compliment. “tomorrow evening, we shall hold a private banquet to formally celebrate the prince’s long overdue engagement. as our guest of honor, it is my hope that you will allow us to know a little bit more about yourself, and what you intend to bring to the jeong family.”she pauses, flawlessly manicured hands clasping neatly at her front.“until then, i am sure you wish to rest after your travels. your room has already been prepared—as has a room for your japanese friend. the servants will escort you.”at this declaration, jaehyun perks up.“i can escort them, mother,” he suggests. “taeyong-hyung and jungwoo will join me,” he looks back toward them, “won’t you?”the aforementioned pair briefly resemble two deer caught in the brights of an eighteen-wheeler, before appearing to remember who and where they are—and who they are standing before.“oh, yes!” taeyong answers, face flushing pink. “we’ve—we have been quite pleased in getting to know johnny and yuta thus far, your majesty.”the queen hardly resists the urge to roll her eyes.“very well,” she assents with a sigh. “yuno, bear in mind you still have appearances to make this afternoon. surely your fiancé will not be such a distraction that you lose track of time.”“of course not, mother,” jaehyun answers easily, smiling despite the queen’s patronizing tone. “as charming as my fiancé is, i have not suddenly developed amnesia regarding my responsibilities.”he gestures toward the staircase, leading the way. before he passes her, he throws his mother one last lash-curtained gaze over his shoulder.“that would be living without intention.”♡johnny tries not to count the number of times his hand brushes against jaehyun’s on their way down the seemingly endless corridor.it should be easy to distract himself from the fleeting touches with the cacophony of thoughts and feelings blaring through his head, resembling the feedback of an old radio as its dial turns, but whenever they make contact, even if it’s just for a fraction of a moment, his brain goes totally blank.they’d ditched jungwoo, yuta, and taeyong about fifteen minutes ago. once they were away from the queen’s admonishing eye, jaehyun made clear that he’d intended to part ways from the start, and the others were seemingly on the same page.the only one who hadn’t been expecting this initiative had been johnny, but he’s grateful to have his first moment alone with jaehyun since they met. with everything that’s happened, with the way his whole world is flipping upside down and imploding on itself, the only real solace johnny can find amid the anxious chaos comes when they’re together.he can’t really explain why, considering they’re only a little bit more than strangers at this point. there’s just something about him that emits warmth and comfort, something that makes johnny feel … safe.perhaps he could capture more of that feeling if they’d actually talk to each other—but johnny can’t think of anything to say, for once in his life.jaehyun seems to be in a similar state of involuntary muteness; the way he keeps stealing glances at johnny with a certain twinkle in his eye makes it clear that he wants to say something. anything.it must be a lot for him to take in, too. even if this marriage had been jaehyun’s idea, johnny can’t imagine he wouldn’t be a little psyched out about the fact that he’s giving the rest of his life to someone he doesn’t know that well. it’s as if this whole marriage is based entirely on … vibes.jaehyun’s gait slows considerably, signaling to johnny that they must be near the bedrooms. at last, some of the weight seems to lift from jaehyun’s tongue.“the room that’s been prepared for you is very nice,” he utters softly, barely audibly. but johnny can hear him crystal clear, somehow. maybe he can’t hear anything but him.“it’s just across the hall from my own,” jaehyun goes on, gesturing toward a pair of tall, ivory doors with golden handles as they come to a halt. “i made sure everything would be to your liking as best as i could. but if you’re not satisfied with anything, don’t hesitate to let me kn—”“i won’t be sleeping with you?” johnny asks, unthinkingly cutting him off. he watches as jaehyun’s eyes slowly enlarge, plush pink lips falling slightly open and ears flushing a pale red, and he realizes the unintended double meaning to his words.“sleeping in the same room, i mean,” he hastily clarifies, a hot pink heat pluming up from his collar. “i, uh … —t-that’s what couples normally do, right?”jaehyun blinks slowly at him, lips still parted with shy bemusement.

“i suppose it is,” he answers, raising a hand to graze his nape with dull, perfectly manicured nails. “but royals don’t normally share a bed until after marriage, if even then. my parents have been sleeping in separate rooms since i was born.”“oh,” says johnny, feeling like the stupidest person on earth. “of course—that makes sense.” he laughs awkwardly, trying to do away with the burn of embarrassment that makes his throat feel fuzzy.but jaehyun holds his gaze, that twinkle from before returning to his eyes. his lips purse momentarily, and suddenly, he’s smiling as sweetly as he ever could.“hyung … if you would be more comfortable sharing a bed with me, that can certainly be arranged.”johnny can feel himself blushing, and he wonders if jaehyun can see it on his face.“oh, no,” he chuckles airily. “i don’t wanna get you in trouble, or anything—i should follow the rules like everybody else.”jaehyun giggles, kneading his lips together in a vain attempt to bite back his beaming smile. his dimples give him away.“you can’t get me in trouble,” he says. “we’re engaged to be married, and two warm-blooded young adults … if we want to share a bed, we should be able to do that.”at last, he reaches out to take johnny’s hand, their fingers interlocking in a gratifying union after the awkward brushing and bumping that had gone on for what felt like eons. jaehyun’s touch is so warm, his hands so soft … johnny almost thinks he can feel warmth spreading through his veins from the point of contact.“but i understand if you still have reservations about doing things differently than what’s expected,” jaehyun adds. “for appearance’s sake, you can keep all of your clothes and other belongings in the room that has been prepared for you. but when you’re ready to retire for the night, you can come to me. is that alright?”this time, johnny is the one wide-eyed and blinking—though his lashes flutter wildly where jaehyun’s had been slow and graceful, almost feline.“your mom really won’t notice?” he asks.jaehyun shrugs a shoulder. “she only pays attention to me when there’s something she thinks i should be doing,” he answers. “i rarely see her after six p.m.”johnny hums comprehendingly, though that reply makes his chest sink a little. he can’t imagine having so distant a relationship with his own mother—but he doesn’t want to think about her right now. not when he still hasn’t figured out how to tell her about any of this.he cracks a soft, somewhat shy smile. “well … if you want to share a bed, and i want to share a bed, i guess the solution is pretty obvious.”with a grin, jaehyun squeezes johnny’s hand, though only lightly—enough to emphasize where they are joined. “i shall show you my room later, once you have settled in. you must be exhausted from your travels, and there’s an event i have to get ready for, soon …”jaehyun trails off, as if the idea of them parting ways is upsetting to him.johnny rubs his thumb into the valley connecting jaehyun’s thumb and index finger, bewitching him into eye contact once more.“jaehyun,” he starts, absentmindedly licking his lips as their eyes lock. “can i … ask you something?”for a few beats, jaehyun says nothing. he just looks up at johnny, eyes as dark as the night sky reflecting the honeyed hue of johnny’s own. then, he appears to realize that johnny’s words beg a response.“yes,” he murmurs belatedly, lips barely moving. “you can ask me anything, johnny.”johnny draws in a soft, shaky breath.“why did you kiss me like that in front of everyone?”he watches in real time as jaehyun’s cheeks light ablaze, but he doesn’t look away. there’s an unbreakable spell between them, but johnny isn’t sure if he or jaehyun had cast it.“i wanted everyone, especially my mother, to know that i am serious about this marriage. and about you,” jaehyun answers. his soft voice has gone even softer, though there’s no one else in the corridor that could possibly overhear their conversation. “i know how it looked—mindless, reckless, maybe even immature—but i felt that it was the most effective way to express my commitment.”there’s a thread of silence that stretches on, before jaehyun’s eyes go rounder and wider, and he pulls slightly away from johnny.“oh. did i—?” he starts, and johnny’s brows furrow with bewilderment. he hasn’t yet finished processing jaehyun’s heartfelt revelation, so this sudden shift in demeanor startles him.“did i make you uncomfortable?” jaehyun asks, looking mortified. “goodness, i must have. i—i’m so sorry, johnny, i should have been more considerate of your—”“hey, woah,” johnny interrupts him intentionally this time, reaching out to hold jaehyun by the arms. his palms spread warm and wide along the swell of jaehyun’s biceps, grip firm, but not constricting.“don’t worry,” he says, eyes impossibly soft, “that’s not why i asked. i kissed you back, didn’t i? i was into it, jaehyun. to be honest, i was really into it.”he laughs a little as he watches relief flood jaehyun’s face.“oh. of course,” jaehyun mutters, cheeks dyed a soft pink. “i didn’t mean to … lose my composure. i just hope that if i ever did anything that made you feel uncomfortable, you would tell me, and not just endure it for my or anyone else’s sake.”johnny shakes his head. “don’t think like that,” he implores him. “i don’t think there’s anything you could or would do that would make me feel that way. but if it ever happened, i would tell you. i promise.” his smile grows. “it really was a wonderful kiss. i can’t say i wasn’t shocked, but … i dunno, it was almost like you kissed all my worries away.”jaehyun’s teeth pinch his lower lip.“really?” he asks. “i … don’t have much experience with kissing. and … and beyond all of the reasons i came up with to kiss you, above all else, i … i just wanted to …”the admission causes johnny’s pulse to stutter. he stares at jaehyun for some time, still holding onto him—nearly backing him against the wall in this current position. so he wasn’t just acting.“what about now?” johnny asks.jaehyun’s eyebrows raise. “hmm?”“do you want to kiss me right now?”“oh,” jaehyun utters breathlessly, flush deepening. “… yes.”suddenly, johnny’s pressing jaehyun up against the tightly closed doors, sliding his hands down to his narrow waist and leaning in until their noses brush.true to his word, jaehyun takes the initiative to close the distance, lips pressing against johnny’s in a deep, hungry kiss, arms looping around his neck to draw him in even closer, strengthening their embrace.johnny doesn’t know what he’s doing in this palace among all of these royals, nor does he have any idea how all of this is going to play out in the end. but he does know that kissing jaehyun feels like the rightest thing in the world, that the way his tongue slides into jaehyun’s mouth is too perfect for him to really be out of place, that jaehyun’s lips are too soft and too sweet for him to desire to be anywhere else or doing anything else.maybe going off vibes isn’t so bad if it can lead him to this kind of bliss.he presses his knee between jaehyun’s thighs, and jaehyun emits a soft, startled moan, trembling a little in johnny’s hold. but he doesn’t pull back at all—conversely, he dives deeper into johnny, one of his knees raising to brush against johnny’s leg.johnny removes only one hand from jaehyun’s waist to grab him by the thigh, hiking his leg up higher, and jaehyun gasps, clinging to johnny like he’ll plummet to his end if he lets him go.“you’re doing this in the hallway, now? i thought the PDA was a one-time thing.”the unexpected voice causes both of them to nearly jump out of their skin.jaehyun tears himself away from johnny, flattening against the doors, and johnny steps back with both hands up as if he’s about to face a firearm pointed at him.jungwoo glares at them, unamused with the feigned innocence.“j-jungwoo,” jaehyun stammers, attempting to fix his clothes—which had been somewhat disheveled in his pressing himself so amorously against johnny. “what are you doing here? i thought you were with taeyong-hyung and yuta-hyung.”“i was,” jungwoo grouses. “for all of, like, five minutes before they ditched me to go into taeyong-hyung’s room. i’m sure they’re getting to know each other really well by now,” he scoffs.jaehyun’s ears turn crimson, and johnny can’t help but roll his eyes. so much for yuta behaving himself.“and it seems like you guys were on your way to pound town, too, before i interrupted,” jungwoo accuses.johnny swallows, trying his hardest not to laugh.“no, no, it’s not like that,” he says. “we were just kissing a little, that’s all. jaehyun will be busy later, so i was giving him a lover’s sendoff.”as johnny turns to look at him, jaehyun turns his head away, trying to hide his flushed face. it’s no use, with how red his ears have become, but johnny resolves to let him have whatever sliver of dignity he’s managed to hold onto.“uh-huh, sure,” jungwoo drawls, smirking. “believe it or not, i didn’t come here to be a cockblock. i was actually asked to deliver an important message—jaehyun’s stylists want you to come to their studio so they can get your measurements and take a look at your hair, johnny-hyung.”johnny’s brows furrow, and jaehyun has since recovered enough from his shy spell to look equally confused.“does it have to be now?” johnny asks. “i thought i was supposed to be ‘resting.’”jungwoo shrugs. “i’m just the messenger, and that’s the most i was told. but if they’re gonna be busy with jaehyun later, it makes sense they’d want to squeeze you in.” he blinks slowly, one hand raising to tap an index against his chin. “they might want to start sending your measurements to brands and stuff so they can start sourcing looks for you.”as reasonable as it sounds when it’s put that way, johnny still finds himself a little annoyed. he looks at jaehyun, who’s seemed to fully collect himself.“no worries, hyung,” jaehyun says, clearing his throat and adjusting his shirt. there’s still a faint pink dusted over his t-zone, and johnny can’t help but think he looks adorable. “they’re good people, and they’ll take care of you. besides, i won’t be gone too long—i should return by dinnertime.”a coy smile curves his lips as he extends a hand, brushing his fingers against johnny’s wrist. “i’d very much like to take you out, if you’d feel up to it.”slowly, johnny smiles back. “i’m sure i will. i … guess we’ll see each other then.”jaehyun hums. “maybe we’ll get the chance to catch up with taeyong-hyung and yuta-hyung after that. if their … activities have concluded by then.”johnny laughs, fixing his lips to issue some snide reply at yuta’s expense, but nearly chokes on his own tongue when jaehyun raises up to kiss his cheek.“i’ll see you later, honey,” he says. “jungwoo, would you kindly show johnny-hyung where to go?”“yeah, yeah,” jungwoo grumbles, but he’s smiling. “i didn’t stick around just so i could watch you two be gross about how in love you are. come on, hyung.”then, jaehyun is walking away with a warm, lip-biting smile and a wave, and jungwoo is pulling johnny in an entirely different direction.his lagging brain attempts to catch up with what’s going on, but the most he can do is raise his hand to his cheek to cup the residual warmth from jaehyun’s kiss.♡evening bleeds into nightfall, inkblots spreading across the indigo skies until only darkness remains, save for specks of starlight that glitter through the lightless abyss.the stretch of land where the palace sits extends for miles on all sides, its end invisible to the naked eye from any of the main buildings constituting where most of the royals spend their time—thus, it’s easy to forget that just beyond the scope of the naked eye is a lively city district with everyday people going about their daily mundaneities.johnny considers that there’s irony in the royals being right in the middle of seoul, yet so detached and untouchable all the same—like reality itself cannot penetrate the massive, fortified gates housing the blue bloods of his motherland. in some ways, time has stopped here, trapping them all in a chrysalis that will only unravel once they learn not to repeat their own history.guards greet them as they amble into an entrance different from the one johnny had been whisked through upon his arrival—it’s a smaller, more inconspicuous passageway with a shorter distance to the private chambers.even so, it’s still quite a walk. johnny follows jaehyun dutifully as they climb staircases and navigate lavish halls, the palace’s interior so quiet that their footsteps seem to echo against exquisitely polished floors.when johnny looks down, he can see a murky cast of his own reflection in the wooden fractals of the parquets.“do you prefer to wash in the morning, or at night?” jaehyun asks, voice just above a whisper.johnny looks up, realizing that they’ve made it to their destination. he and jaehyun stand facing each other in the soundless hall, the doors to their respective rooms towering behind them.“usually morning,” he replies, feeling a strange flutter in his chest. he tries not to think about the fact that they’re going to be in bed soon. together. “i’ll do my nighttime routine and then i’ll come join you. it shouldn’t take long.”jaehyun gives an easy smile. “i’ll be waiting for you. just come in when you’re ready.”with that, they part ways, retreating behind separate doors.johnny turns on the first lamp that he can reach, aided in finding it by the minimal light pouring in through the drawn curtains. the chandelier crowning the massive bed clad in velvet and silk feels like overkill, especially since he’ll only be here for a few minutes.quickly, he starts to undress. he’d made sure to bring his nicest clothes, though he was sure they’d be casual wear to royals, if even that, but to his surprise, he’d actually felt adequately dressed for his lovely dinner with jaehyun.it hadn’t been anything of a formal affair, despite the restaurant they’d patronized being nothing short of a fine dining experience, but jaehyun himself hadn’t even bothered to change out of the simple, black-on-black ensemble he’d worn for the prada event he’d attended.nevertheless, he looked so perfect. he always does. and though he knows by now that jaehyun resents being thought of as korea’s perfect little prince as opposed to a human being, johnny can’t help but be in awe of how effortless he makes being a royal look.he was literally born for this, right? johnny reminds himself, folding his trousers and draping them over a chair that looks like it belongs in a museum. he’s been doing this his whole life, so no wonder he makes it look so easy. but i have a feeling that he’s starting to show me who he really is underneath that ‘perfect prince’ persona.perhaps that’s why jaehyun had been drawn to johnny, aside from being attracted to him—why he came up with the outlandish idea that they should get married: johnny doesn’t expect jaehyun to be anything but himself.only now does he start to realize the significance of that, and the troubling reality that he could be the first person jaehyun’s ever met that offers him that kind of reprieve.and as insane as it sounds, the more time he spends with jaehyun, the more comfortable he feels with marrying him. but he hasn’t even started learning the ropes of how to be a royal, yet—a rude awakening that he’s not cut from the right cloth for this life could be just around the corner.down to just his briefs, johnny moves to thread his hair behind his ear out of habit, only to find that it doesn’t quite sit the same way.he frowns. he doesn’t hate his new haircut, but he still resents that the stylists tried to cut off even more until they likely sensed that johnny was moments from springing out of the chair and fleeing the scene. they’d trimmed away quite a bit of his volume, too, leaving him with a sleeker, more ‘put together’ look—and dyeing his hair jet black had been the icing on the cake.shuffling into the ensuite, johnny rakes a hand through his shorter, face-framing fringe, only for it to spring forward and obscure his eyes.

he sighs, sweeping his fingers through the longer strands at the back of his head, barely brushing his nape. sure, it’s sleek and sexy, fitting for a prince-to-be, but he can’t help but mourn the charming fluff he’d had before. the hairstylist, kibum, had so brazenly dubbed it ‘hippie hair.’briefly, johnny hears his mother’s voice at the back of his head. then, it’s two-thousand three, and she’s trying to comfort him after accidentally cutting his hair too short.“john-ah, it’ll grow back!” she pleads with him, though the guilt in her tone is evident. “i’m sorry, sweetie, but once you get used to it, it won’t be so bad. and who knows? maybe you’ll even like it.”he didn’t like it. but he did get used to it, even though he was relieved when his hair was finally long enough again to be styled the way he’d wanted it.(he’d refused to allow his mother to cut it after that, and had his aunt do it instead for the next few months while he learned to trust her with his hair again. his mother was hurt, but she understood.)briefly, johnny glances at his phone resting on the bathroom counter. the time reads ten forty-nine, and he realizes it’s nearly one p.m. in chicago.he can’t help but wonder what his mother is up to—if she’s noticed he’s not in town yet.no. she’d be calling nonstop if she had.with a sigh, he turns his phone onto its screen and decides to leave it in the room. he can’t tell her tonight—he’s too overwhelmed, and hasn’t even conceived how to navigate through explaining everything from his employment at the club to his engagement to a prince.it’s past eleven when he’s poking his head out to look up and down the hall. no movement, no voices.jaehyun’s room is a straight shot across, so he closes his own doors behind himself as quietly as possible and tiptoes a few paces until he can reach out and push the surprisingly heavy doors open, slipping inside.the cool night air breezes against his bare top half, but it’s a welcome sensation. as jaehyun’s doors fall closed behind him, johnny raises his head to find jaehyun on his balcony, staring out at the night sky suspended above the magnificent gardens with a deep focus, as if there are secrets strung between the stars. he doesn’t notice johnny at all.thus, johnny takes the golden opportunity to admire him. he’s wearing pink silk pajamas and a white fluffy robe, bare feet anchored to the balcony floor as he leans over the railing. a slight breeze tousles his thick, black hair.he looks like something johnny would dream.the room is just as luxurious as anyone would expect a crown prince’s private quarters to be—in fact, johnny thinks this room alone might be as big as his apartment back in chicago. maybe bigger. and the furniture looks as though it had been pulled directly from one of those paintings old rich people used to commission while the majority of the population starved to death.slowly, johnny approaches, hoping not to startle the wingless angel looking as if he’s wondering how to get back home.“clearing your head before bed?”at once, jaehyun tears his gaze away from the shadowy moon and scattered stars to meet johnny’s eyes. he gives that alluring little smile that johnny is sure has burned itself into the backs of his eyelids by now.“trying to,” jaehyun replies, gesturing for johnny to join him with an inviting flick of his head. “the day has left me with many thoughts to sort through. i’m sure the same is true for you.”as he steps out onto the balcony to be by jaehyun’s side, johnny sighs, resting his elbows on the railing as well.jaehyun appears to notice his state of half-dress, but doesn’t comment on it—something flickers in his eyes for only a moment, and his ears start to pinken, but he says nothing.“my head’s been on a fucking spin cycle since i got here,” johnny admits, a breathy chuckle beneath his tone. “but i’m sure i’ll pass out once we hit the sheets, and the jet lag catches up to me.”jaehyun hums. “that’s preferable to staying up all night with your thoughts, isn’t it?”johnny nods. “i did that before i came here. no doubt it’ll happen again, even if not tonight.”a warm, pale hand rests atop johnny’s forearm. again, he finds himself thinking that even jaehyun’s fingers are pretty.“i’m right here with you. and for you,” he says. “if you think talking through it will help you get some things off your mind, i’m always ready to listen. or even if you just want to talk about other things to get your mind off of the stress and anxiety, we can do that, too.”a soft smile spreads between johnny’s lips. “there is something i’ve been curious about, actually.”jaehyun tilts his head. “what is it?”“earlier, you mentioned you don’t have a lot of experience with kissing,” johnny recalls. “i kinda wanna know what your first kiss was like.”faintly, jaehyun blushes. it almost looks violet against the deep blue of the night.“it was nothing special,” he giggles, resting his chin on his palm. his other hand lightly curls its fingers around johnny’s wrist.“i had trouble trying to ‘date’ at university because i never knew who was actually interested in me and who just wanted to be with a royal,” he explains. “i tried not to think about it in an attempt to be as normal a student as i could, but it didn’t work out so well—everyone knew the prince of south korea was studying at yale.”he sighs, but there’s a tiny laugh tucked away in the gust of his breath.“anyway, i met a boy during my first year that i became very fond of, very quickly. he was handsome and charming and talked to me about things other than what his family does or owns,” jaehyun explains, exasperation phasing across his face as he seems to remember plenty of dead-end conversations with nepo babies eager to impress him.johnny can imagine it clearly.“… but i was too shy to admit how i felt about him, and i knew my mother wouldn’t approve, so we were strictly platonic, despite my growing affections,” jaehyun continues, blinking slowly up at the sky. “but then, he invited me out to his family’s estate in california for a weekend. i don’t think he told his parents who i was, because he introduced me as ‘jay,’ and i liked that, because i felt like someone was finally interested in getting to know me and not just prince jaehyun.“the first day was so much fun—his father taught me how to play tennis and let us browse and listen to his jazz vinyls. we took some up to his room to play before we went to sleep, and while we were listening and talking, he just … kissed me. i was totally shell-shocked—i wasn’t fully certain that he liked boys up until that point—but i lost myself in the moment and these feelings i had been attempting to drown out just bubbled up to the surface.”jaehyun pauses, then, thumb scratching along johnny’s skin. his face sours, and johnny’s chest goes from light with vicarious nostalgia to heavy with dread as he gets the sense he knows where this story is going.“well, he … wanted to do more than just kiss,” jaehyun mutters. “apparently, it was the whole reason he’d even brought me out there. and when i told him i wasn’t ready for that yet, he got upset and called me elitist for thinking he wasn’t good enough for me. which—that wasn’t what i thought at all, but—”“you don’t have to explain,” johnny says, moving his arm until his fingers slip right into the spaces between jaehyun’s. “he was just bitter that you didn’t want to have sex with him, so he tried to hurt your feelings. lots of insecure guys do that.”mutely, jaehyun nods. but it’s clear that his old flame’s words still have some kind of effect on him even now—his eyes are heavy with shame.johnny clicks his tongue. “truth be told, he probably wasn’t good enough for you, jaehyun,” he says. “not because you’re a prince, but because you’re a beautiful person inside and out, and you should be with someone who will go above and beyond to give you everything you deserve instead of trying to drag you down into their shit.”light finds jaehyun’s eyes again with those words—almost too much, for it seems the stars in his eyes are outshining those in the sky above them.after a few beats, jaehyun just smiles at him, long lashes curtaining a tender gaze. johnny feels the rhythm of his pulse speed up.“tell me about your first kiss,” he says, smile turning cheeky. “i think it’s only fair i get to hear your story, too.”giggling, johnny shakes his head. “i don’t know how great of a story it is, but …” he pauses, lips pulling to one side. “well, technically my first first kiss was with a girl i went to middle school with. she was pretty, and i thought i was supposed to like girls at the time, so i asked her to see mamma mia with me and i kissed her after the movie.”before he can even get through the rest of the story, he starts to bubble up into laughter. “it was so bad, and so awkward. i had no clue what i was doing, and neither did she, and i just felt weird about it because—you know, i wanted to kiss boys. but i hadn’t figured that out yet.”jaehyun laughs with him, eyes forced shut by the beam of his smile.“that’s very cute,” he wheezes out. “i’m sure she remembers that date fondly.”johnny playfully rolls his eyes. “maybe,” he acknowledges. “i don’t like counting it as my first kiss, though. it was that bad.”with a hum, jaehyun leans a little closer. it’s starting to get cold on the balcony, and johnny is thankful for the extra warmth as jaehyun’s head rests on his shoulder.“what do you consider to be your real first kiss, then?”johnny’s arm wraps around jaehyun’s shoulder, the fluff of his robe tickling his bare skin.“the first time i kissed my first real boyfriend,” he says. “i think it was freshman year … i was definitely fifteen, so this wasn’t long after the mamma mia thing.” with a thoughtful click of his tongue, johnny’s gaze drifts out toward the stars as names and faces he hasn’t given much thought in years come back to him with astounding clarity.“his name was jason, and we played volleyball together,” he offers. “i remember he had these really bright blue eyes that i thought were so beautiful back then, but looking back, now i’d just feel like he’s constantly staring into my soul.”johnny pauses to dig up a little more of his memory, and jaehyun seems deeply invested, making small sounds to indicate that he’s actively listening.“yuta was in my life by then, and i remember him teaching jason all of these random japanese words because he liked anime, but apparently they were all swears—” he laughs, and jaehyun laughs with him. “anyway, that’s not the point. we went on a date to get ice cream, even though it was the dead of winter. he ended up getting some on his top lip, so i decided to recreate every rom-com i had ever seen and try to kiss it off. but then i dropped my ice cream in his lap.”jaehyun laughs out loud at that, shoulders shaking and eyes glistening with unshed tears, and johnny makes a comically wounded sound.“it’s not funny!” he scolds, even though it definitely is—evidenced by the fact that he’s laughing, too. “i thought he was going to break up with me! but he didn’t—he just laughed while i apologized a thousand times and helped him clean it up. and then he kissed me for real.”a fond curve spreads along johnny’s lips as he reminisces on that simpler, more innocent time.“tasted like ice cream. it was … nice.”“it sounds like it,” jaehyun replies, voice warm and airy. though johnny can’t get a good look at his face from this angle, he can see his dimples poking through his cheeks, and knows that he’s smiling. “you were right; that story was better than the other one.”johnny chuckles, nose brushing through jaehyun’s hair.“yeah … we dated for a while. two years, i think—that’s, like, eternity when you’re a teenager.” he pokes the inside of his cheek with his tongue. “we went real steady, too … didn’t go all the way until we’d been together for about a year.”“go all the way …?” jaehyun pulls away just enough to look up at johnny. “you had sex for the first time when you were still in high school?”heat starts to crowd at the edges of johnny’s face.“well—yeah,” he replies through a breathy laugh, scratching his cheek. “that’s … kinda common in the states. looking back, i do kinda wish i’d waited until i was older, though. i was so eager to grow up and be an adult … and now that i’m here, i’m just wishing i could get some of those years back.”jaehyun is quiet for a while, aside from humming assentingly. then, he mutters, “i’ve never had sex.”truthfully, johnny should not be surprised by that information. but he is—his eyes go wide, and he immediately regrets his over-the-top reaction, because jaehyun shrinks in on himself.“hey, that’s totally fine!” johnny scrambles to say, gently tugging jaehyun closer to him. “that’s … pretty cool, honestly! there’s literally no reason you should do it before you’re ready, no matter what anyone says.”but jaehyun pouts up at him, evidently still self-conscious.“then why did you look so surprised?”johnny sighs. “because you’re just … fucking gorgeous,” he wheezes, and jaehyun flushes with flattered embarrassment. “i guess i imagined that guys would be begging you for it and you’d eventually say yes to one of them. when we met at the club, i figured you were a little reserved, maybe inexperienced, but i didn’t think it had just—never happened, you know?”slowly, jaehyun’s pout melts away, but his face stains an even deeper pink.“perhaps it would have happened, had i not the tendency to be so painfully awkward about it,” he admits, voice only a notch above a whisper. “from the moment i began showing that kind of curiosity, i’d been told that i shouldn’t give myself to anyone i’m not married to, and any discussion on the matter was left at that.”he quiets a moment, staring out into the night through the dark curtain of his long eyelashes, before returning his gaze to johnny’s. the ache of vulnerability colors his expression, down to the way his shoulders bow.“… and now that i’ve made it this far, twenty-five years without so much as another man seeing me bare, aside from the servants on the odd occasion … is there any point in not seeing it through?”he averts his eyes from johnny’s, ears turning red again. “i’m … interested in it. a lot—even more so since i met you. but i don’t even know where to start. i’m not even good at … doing it on myself.”johnny buffers for a moment, still wondering how their conversation had led here, a strange concoction of pride and terror filling him as jaehyun confirms that johnny had awakened his sexual appetite in one way or another.“you mean masturbating?” he asks, and jaehyun meekly nods. “what do you mean you’re ‘not good at it’…?”jaehyun sucks on his teeth as he looks up at the sky, seemingly hoping to be beamed up by extraterrestrials before he has to answer that question.“i can’t ever … finish,” he confesses, jaw tightly clenched. “so i just … give up.”“oh,” johnny says, briefly surprised by the casualness of his own response, before he considers that shame is likely the very thing inhibiting jaehyun from discovering his own pleasure. “well, that’s normal. i think most people kind of just awkwardly rub until they figure out how they like to be touched.”he leans in a little, trying to get jaehyun to look at him.“how often do you try?”jaehyun doesn’t give in—only chews his lower lip before answering.“not very. not anymore,” he admits. “i don’t … know what i’m doing wrong. i get so close, but then i lose the feeling and i just can’t get it back.”there’s a stretch of silence, though it’s replete with tension. johnny goes back and forth on whether or not he should say what he wants to say, but in the end, he goes for it. they’re gonna be married in a few months, right?“i can help you,” he offers.immediately, jaehyun flings himself backward, looking at johnny with wide eyes.“wh—” he starts, but his voice breaks in his throat. he takes in a breath, and tries again. “what exactly do you mean by … help?”

“depends on what you’re comfortable with,” johnny replies, taking on a milder tone—gentler than the straightforward way he’d spoken moments ago. “you can watch me do it, and try it out on yourself. or i can … touch you, and help you figure out what you like.”jaehyun’s whole face is pink, the sweet hue bleeding down his neck, even dipping past his collarbone. he only stares at johnny silently for some time, trying to manually turn the cogs in his brain.johnny hopes he’s not showing how smitten with this adorably flustered display he is, given that he’s trying to come off as earnest.“i … i’ve never been … touched that way before,” jaehyun admits, lips folding inward.johnny can see in his eyes how badly he wants the release that’s been evading him, but he won’t speak on it. jaehyun has to directly tell him what he wants, and how far he wants to go.“but … it’s not the same as having sex, right …?”despite himself, johnny can’t help but chuckle a little. “no, not really. but i guess it depends on who you ask.”jaehyun purses his lips into an unwitting pout. “well, i’m asking you. and it’s evident that you know far more about this topic than i do.”softly, johnny smiles at jaehyun, replenishing the proximity that had been lost in jaehyun’s shock by draping an arm over his shoulder once more.“i’m not going to do anything you don’t want me to do, okay?” he says, soft eyes locking with jaehyun’s conflicted stare. “we don’t even have to do this at all. it was just a suggestion.”again, jaehyun goes mute as he thinks about it, eyes sinking somewhere near johnny’s thigh, clad in blue flannel pajamas.all the while, johnny studies jaehyun’s face—trying to gauge what he might be feeling, but distracted by his unbelievable beauty.“i want to do this,” says jaehyun, reestablishing eye contact.johnny knows he’s telling the truth; the uncertainty that had weighed down his gaze has brightened into conviction.“i trust you, and i know you’ll take care of me,” he goes on. “but … i’m worried that i may be a little too eager, and i would rather ease into something like this as opposed to just … jumping in.”johnny nods along, emphasizing that they’re on the same page.“perhaps we could … go slowly, and explore each other,” jaehyun suggests, lashes fluttering as he looks up at johnny. “and … if things progress from there, that would be okay.”johnny pulls away from jaehyun, only to face him head-on, taking both of his hands into his own, larger ones.“if you want to stop at any time, just tell me,” he murmurs, brushing the pads of his thumbs over the soft skin of jaehyun’s hands, “okay?”jaehyun nods, lashes draping over his eyes. “i trust you,” he repeats.johnny raises jaehyun’s hands to his lips, kissing his pinkish knuckles. “i know,” he replies. “you won’t ever have to regret that.”they gaze into each other’s eyes for some time, hearts racing in a similar rhythm. then, johnny leads jaehyun into the bedroom by their joined hands, nudging the balcony doors closed with his heel.the only light in the room comes from one of two small lamps positioned at either side of jaehyun’s bed. the amber glow drowns the bed in an inviting warmth, hence, jaehyun sits on its edge without hesitation, still holding johnny’s hands, even as johnny stands over him now.“do you want me to take my pants off?” johnny asks.jaehyun blushes. it feels like déjà vu.“yes,” he answers as he slowly, reluctantly, lets go of johnny’s hands.johnny takes his time as he reaches for the waistband of his pajamas, sinking his thumbs beneath the elastic and gliding it down his hips.jaehyun bites into his lower lip, eyes following johnny’s every movement, breaths stuttering just the slightest bit as if his heart is climbing up towards his throat.once they’re past his thighs, the pants tumble into a heap at his ankles, allowing johnny to simply step out of them and kick them aside. for the second time tonight, he’s standing around in his underwear, but unlike the previous occasion, there’s another person here, staring at him with reverence burning hot between his eyes.it reminds him of the night they met, but it’s a little different—jaehyun looks equally as innocent and nervous as he had while johnny swung his hips right in his face, and johnny is equally as undressed—but there’s a softness that hadn’t been present all those weeks ago as jaehyun’s declaration of his trust echoes through johnny’s head, setting the backdrop as much as the intimacy of being in jaehyun’s bedroom does.honey said that he will take care of me. i’ve made the decision to trust him.i trust you, and i know you’ll take care of me.that night, johnny found himself wondering why jaehyun had decided to trust him, thinking he might have been some unfortunate combination of naïve and crazy. but he doesn’t feel that way anymore—now, he thinks he understands how jaehyun feels, because he feels the same way. they’re on the same page.coyly, jaehyun’s hands raise to reach for his robe, draping it off his shoulders before sliding his arms out of it and setting it aside. even his pretty pink pajamas have the prada logo embroidered on the breast pocket.he doesn’t remove anything else—at least not yet—and he scoots backward, to bring his legs up onto the massive canopy bed, crawling toward its center.johnny takes it as an invitation to join him, sinking his knees into the plush comforter and unthinkably luxurious mattress. he nearly forgets that they’re about to jerk off together as he considers how excited he is to sleep in this incredible bed.“tommy hilfiger,” jaehyun says, eyes trained on the waistband of johnny’s briefs.johnny is perplexed for all of half a second before he realizes where jaehyun is looking.“oh, yeah,” he chuckles. “all my underwear are tommy hilfiger. i guess when i like something, i stick to it.”jaehyun nods. he’s blushing so dark, he outdoes the pink of his pajamas.“i’m sorry,” he mutters, turning his head away and curling his fingers over his lips. “it’s just—… you’re so …”they’re facing each other on the bed, kneeling. there’s enough space for both of them to lie flat and spread out—and then for another few people to do the same.johnny leans a little closer, impelling jaehyun to look at him again.“i’m so what?” he asks, smirking faintly. “ravishing?”jaehyun giggles, cupping his own face with both hands. “you’re teasing me …”“yeah,” johnny admits, reaching out to rest a hand on jaehyun’s thigh. “you’re really cute. i can’t help it.”“mmh …” jaehyun hums, leaning back and propping himself up on the heels of his hands. his eyes stay focused on johnny, a dark heat strung between them that makes johnny’s cock pulse in his briefs. “i like it …”johnny licks his lips. “i can tell,” he says, dipping a single finger beneath the branded waistband of his underwear and stretching it away from his skin, only to allow it to snap back into place.“but i think you’ll like this even more.”he raises up on his knees, then, towering over jaehyun and pinning him down with a smoldering gaze, inching his briefs past the swell of his thighs.jaehyun gasps, eyes darting to johnny’s half-hard dick before his brain can even signal to the rest of his body what’s happening. he flushes impossibly darker, pinker, and tries to turn his head away, but his neck won’t move. he can’t stop looking.“oh shit,” he whimpers, and johnny giggles inwardly as jaehyun’s prim and proper demeanor melts away for a moment. “it’s—i’ve never …”he pauses, taking a few beats to attempt to compose himself.“you are certainly well-endowed …”johnny smirks, shifting to tug his underwear fully off, throwing them near the edge of the bed.“thank you, baby,” he purrs, spreading his thighs a little wider to give jaehyun a better view. he can hear jaehyun swallow hard in response. “i have to admit that having you look at me like this is getting me pretty excited.”as if to prove that claim, his dick twitches a little.jaehyun stares, the soft roundness of fascination blending with a heavy, fiery lust, resulting in a look of pure desperation.“may i …” jaehyun’s voice comes shakily, the deep, throaty quiver almost like a vibrato. “may i touch you?”johnny nods slowly, scooting himself closer to jaehyun. he’s bolder than he was at the club.“wherever you want,” he answers.it only takes a moment for jaehyun to reach out, brushing a feathery touch down johnny’s neck, fingers skating over the bulge of his chest. he brushes his nipple, seemingly without thinking, and johnny hums, letting his head fall back.that reaction sparks something even hotter in jaehyun. he goes back to that spot, touching with a little more intent this time; rolling johnny’s flat, brown nipple between his index and middle fingers, feeling it pebble instantly.johnny’s stomach tightens, abs flexing as he takes in a sharp breath.“mmh, jaehyun, baby …” he whispers. “touch both of ’em, don’t be shy. and use your thumbs.”immediately, jaehyun does what he’s told. he raises his other hand to johnny’s chest and cups both of his bulging pectorals, circling his nipples with his thumbs before pressing the pads of them against the stiff peaks and rolling again.johnny moans, and jaehyun’s fingers falter for a second—but then he keeps going. faster.“i didn’t know other men were sensitive here,” he admits breathlessly, flushed from his forehead to his collarbone. “i thought it was just me …”johnny smirks and bites his lip, nodding. “most guys like being touched here … but some are more sensitive than others,” he murmurs. “you like to play with your nipples, jaehyun?”unintentionally mirroring johnny, jaehyun bites hard into his lower lip, giving a nod of his own.“i … i can get myself pretty close, just by touching them …”johnny’s curtained eyes light up with interest. “oh really?” he replies. “god, i bet you look so fucking good when you’re being touched just right.”jaehyun huffs out a hot breath, suddenly dragging his hands down johnny’s abs, eyes all but rolling back in his head as his fingers glide over the ripples of raised muscle. he stops just above his groin, fingers trembling.“your body is so …” he starts, eyes clouding with lust. “i’ve never felt this aroused. just looking at you is making my …”jaehyun pauses, sitting back and slowly parting his knees to show rather than tell.“you’re already so hard,” johnny comments, licking his lips. jaehyun follows the movement of his tongue with his eyes. “take off your pants, baby. and your underwear, too. can you do that for me?”at first, jaehyun shyly averts his gaze, and johnny thinks to tell him that he can keep his clothes on. but then, he reaches for the waistband of his silky pink pajama pants and tightly grasps it in his hands, closing his eyes as he slowly pulls them down.a pair of black calvin klein boxer-briefs are revealed, but johnny is far more interested in jaehyun’s incredibly sexy legs.they’re sculpted yet soft-looking, like his skin is made of cream, and johnny is overwhelmed by the urge to kiss and bite all over them until they’re covered in proof that he’d been there.some other time.the pants are laid aside, and jaehyun’s erection is far more obvious now with only a thin layer of cotton protecting his modesty.johnny remembers him getting hard at the club, but doing all that he could to mask it. he seems a little less embarrassed about it now, but not fully able to relinquish his shame.“you’re so pretty,” johnny tells him, raising up on his knees again until he’s slanting over jaehyun, boxing him in with arms on either side of him.naturally, jaehyun falls back, legs opening to accommodate the man on top of him, knees framing johnny’s sides. he only looks up at him, face flushed and eyes hooded.those long lashes make johnny’s stomach quiver with infatuation, with desire.“will you show me your pretty dick, too?” johnny asks, lightly gripping jaehyun’s waist. “i wanna make you feel so good, baby. wanna make you cum.”jaehyun shivers beneath him, eyes squeezing shut and lips falling open to let out a few shaky breaths.“take them off, johnny,” he nearly whines. “i … i want to show you everything.”fleetingly, johnny considers that he may be slowly descending into madness. how many times in the last few minutes alone has he figured it impossible for him to become even more attracted to jaehyun, only to be proven wrong with each passing second?the fire at his core has blazed into an inferno that’s slowly consuming him, and in this moment, the only thing he wants to do is bring this gorgeous angel beneath him the most pleasure he’s ever experienced in his twenty-five years. he won’t stop until jaehyun achieves the same heaven that crafted his unthinkable beauty, until he’s sent past the very stars that birthed him beneath their ethereal glow.slowly, reverently, he lets his hands glide down the short way from jaehyun’s tiny waist to his narrow hips. as he starts to pull down his underwear, he presses his lips to jaehyun’s burning hot ear, whispering for him to arch his back and draw his knees up.“that’s it,” he encourages, snatching his briefs from around his ankles and tossing them somewhere to the side. “let me see you.”he pulls back, first locking eyes with jaehyun, who’s gazing up at him through his lashes again, looking like something from a wet dream. his eyes trail down past jaehyun’s clothed, heaving chest, narrowly resisting the burning temptation to tear his pajama shirt right off of him, until he at last gazes upon the parts of him that had been laid bare.jaehyun’s cock is rock hard, lying heavily against his partially-exposed stomach in all its hot pink glory.it’s certainly above-average in size, but somehow, it looks so cute—the way he’s wet and dripping at his tip combined with that irresistible color, it looks absolutely delicious—johnny salivates at the sight of him, hoping that the day he gets to swallow him down will come soon enough.reaching out, he cups the backs of jaehyun’s knees with his hands, spreading him a little more. jaehyun whimpers, but doesn’t resist; he’s totally pliant under johnny’s guiding touch.“oh, fuck,” johnny utters upon catching his first glimpse of jaehyun’s pretty pink hole. it’s tightly puckered, hairless, and blushing a soft gradient between his creamy skin and its rosy hue. if johnny had been eager to have a taste of jaehyun’s dick before, now he’s absolutely starving for his ass.“look at that sweet little hole …” johnny almost growls it out, maddened with lust. “do you touch yourself there, jaehyunnie?”“mmnh …” jaehyun moans softly, turning his head in an attempt to hide his blushing face amid a mound of pillows. “yes, b-but … i don’t know what i’m doing, i just get so nervous …”those words offer johnny a new sense of clarity regarding jaehyun’s ‘problem’ when it comes to touching himself: he’s scared of the pleasure. he gets himself right up to the edge and panics, overtaken by the shame and guilt that comes with knowing that a pure, perfect little prince shouldn’t be doing something so ‘vulgar.’well, to hell with that. jaehyun will not sabotage himself tonight; he’s going to break down that barrier and allow his body the relief it’s been aching for. and johnny is going to hold his hand through it all, show him that there’s nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to meeting his own needs.large hands slide down the backs of jaehyun’s thighs, keeping him wide open. johnny leans down, pressing a line of hot kisses down the sliver of jaehyun’s stomach that’s exposed from his shirt riding up, dipping his tongue into his cute outie bellybutton and licking along his happy trail.jaehyun tenses beneath him, breaths tightening. he lifts his head from the pillows just to watch what johnny is doing, though his eyes are barely open and he’s once again peeking through the thick curtain of his lashes.“hyung …” he whispers, fingers curling into the silk of his sheets. “oh, hyung …” he closes his eyes again as johnny’s nose brushes through his neatly trimmed pubic hair.

there’s a natural, undoubtedly masculine musk that johnny finds addicting, but it’s infused with a tinge of sweetness, like the aroma of a ripening fruit.he’s pointedly ignoring jaehyun’s hard, pulsing cock, mouthing at the skin around it and letting it brush against his cheek a few times, pulling small whimpers from jaehyun. there’s a slick smear of precum on his cheek by the time he moves further down, breath fanning hot over jaehyun’s flushed balls, watching as they tighten at the whisper of contact.finally, he’s made his way down to the point of utmost interest. his hands curl around jaehyun’s soft, smooth cheeks, thumbs pressed inward to part the flesh framing his clenching hole.jaehyun makes a sound somewhere between a moan and a whine. “hyung,” he repeats. “hy–hyung, wait—”“it’s okay,” johnny says in korean, voice sweet and tender. “it’s okay, jaehyunah. you trust hyung, don’t you?”jaehyun nods, though johnny can’t see it well from this position.but he can feel jaehyun’s body relax in a way that is an answer in itself, though he doesn’t proceed until jaehyun gives him a tiny, pouty, “yes.”johnny smiles, expressing his gratitude with a kiss to the cleft of jaehyun’s ass.“i’ll take care of you,” he promises. “hyung will take good care of you, baby.”jaehyun melts into the mattress, putty in johnny’s hands.with him so relaxed and pliant, johnny goes in for the kill, dragging a flattened tongue between jaehyun’s parted cheeks, thoroughly washing over his hole.“a-ah!” jaehyun gasps, eyes flying open and body spasming, trying to pull away and press in closer at the same time.johnny hadn’t known jaehyun’s voice could go that high.“you …! hyung, you can’t put your mouth there—…!”johnny answers by licking him again, smirking around his protruding tongue when jaehyun moans and arches his back.“seems like you really like it, though,” he replies, peppering slow kisses against the fluttering hole. “and you look so fucking sweet, i can’t help but indulge.”he decides he’s talked enough and puts his mouth to better use, circling his tongue around jaehyun’s hole and flicking the tip of it in quick kitten licks, groaning obscenely like he’s having the best meal of his life.jaehyun becomes increasingly vocal, moaning low and loud into the quiet room and bucking back toward johnny’s mouth, but struggling against his tight hold now that johnny’s arms have wrapped around his thighs. there’s a pressure on his back, and the ache of keeping his hips raised, but johnny supports him well, encouraging him not to be so stiff.and really, he can’t be. each time he tenses from the rush of pleasure, he melts into johnny again, like his body is begging for more. the wet-hot sensation against his most sensitive place stopped feeling weird and started feeling fucking incredible almost immediately.“oh, th-that … feels so good,” he utters shakily, his cock leaking profusely onto his stomach, rivulets of precum pooling into his abs and staining his shirt. “why does that feel so good …?”inwardly, johnny giggles. but outwardly, he keeps working magic with his tongue, getting jaehyun wet enough to start pressing it inside of him. it’s a tight, heavenly squeeze, like dipping his tongue into a jar of hot honey.but when he can’t quite reach the right spot, he decides this angle won’t do. he wipes his mouth with the back of his hand as he pulls away, watching jaehyun deflate at the loss of such intense pleasure.johnny chuckles. “don’t worry, i’m just getting started,” he assures, holding eye contact with jaehyun’s dazed, blushing face. he’s glowing like a neon sign—those pouty lips swollen from how much he’s been biting them, pupils blown wide.“turn over for me, baby. on your hands and knees.”jaehyun doesn’t hesitate to obey, propping himself up on wobbly limbs until he’s in the position johnny’s requested.his bright red ears poke through his dark hair, revealing his embarrassment at being so exposed, but when johnny glances down between his legs and sees his flushed cock twitching, he concludes that his need for release has started to overpower the shame.good.his own cock is just as painfully hard, tortured by the gorgeous sight of jaehyun offering himself up this way, but he ignores his own needs for now to focus entirely on jaehyun. he’ll get pleasure from giving him pleasure, anyway.“fuck, you’re so hot,” johnny groans, squeezing jaehyun’s cheeks in both his hands and spreading them to reveal his spit-slick hole. “feel like i’m gonna cum just looking at you, baby.”jaehyun whimpers, lowering his head between his shoulders and arching to present his ass for the taking.“hyung, your mouth …” he begs, giving his hips a little shake to emphasize where he wants it. “please, more …”johnny couldn’t deny that even if he’d wanted to.“you like how hyung eats you out, huh?” he asks, crouching behind jaehyun and squeezing his cheeks harder, resisting the urge to spank him. for now. “maybe i should have you sit on my face next time, let you ride my tongue until you’re satisfied. would you like that, baby?”he watches a shiver skate up and down jaehyun’s spine.“yes,” jaehyun answers, voice quivering with desire. “yes, hyungie, i would like that so much …”again, johnny licks his lips. he concludes that no one and nothing in this world is sexier than jaehyun jeong, his sweet little prince.he dives into him again, tonguing and sucking around his hole earnestly from the jump, picking up right where he left off.jaehyun gasps and chokes on a moan, rocking back into johnny’s tongue harder, chasing his pleasure instead of running away from it. when johnny slips his tongue inside of him again, jaehyun lets out a low groan that vibrates the whole room.johnny isn’t worried about it being loud. there’s no one close enough to them on the whole floor to overhear—and even if he’s wrong about that, fuck it. he can’t bring himself to care.when he gets into a good rhythm, he sneaks one of his hands between jaehyun’s thighs, palming over his neglected cock.jaehyun jolts, his straining erection throbbing in johnny’s hand, desperate for attention.“hyung—oh, fuck,” he cries, and something about hearing his ever so polite prince swear like that makes johnny’s own dick twitch. he wants to hear more of it, so he starts stroking him, matching the pace of his tongue.jaehyun’s hips stutter, conflicted between thrusting back into johnny’s face or up into his hand. he trembles, a familiar pressure building at his navel—but now, the mental block that bars him from the finish line is but a small speedbump he can manage.he can see his pleasure so clearly, taste it on his tongue, and as his brain fills with nothing but johnny—his touch, his scent, his body, his face—he understands that this pleasure has a name, and he just didn’t know it before.“johnny,” he moans, humming in ecstasy when johnny’s fingers, wet with his own precum, tease his slit, rubbing over the tender spot on his tip with extra care. “oh, fuck, fuck—johnny, johnny, johnny …”johnny hums right back, trailing his mouth downward until he’s licking and sucking at jaehyun’s balls. then, the hand that isn’t stroking jaehyun’s cock pokes a saliva-coated finger into his hole, and jaehyun keens, pressing back on it much too quickly, making him whimper in pain.“shh, baby, relax,” johnny tells him, kissing up and down his taint. “just relax, stay still. let me do it.”jaehyun listens and tries to calm down, even if the pleasure is overwhelming. he feels johnny pressing gently inside of him, mapping out his walls and convincing them to make space for him with slow but thorough caresses. oh, it’s like heaven.but johnny presses even deeper, and deeper still, until his fingertip bumps against something inside of him that makes jaehyun’s vision go white.“ah—mmnh …!” he cries out, arms suddenly made of gelatin and unable to support the weight of his upper body. he falls forward, ass in the air and face pressed to the mattress, his whimpering muffled as johnny strokes that spot a few more times.“there it is,” johnny purrs, massaging it as best he can with one finger. thinking it’s not enough, he pulls back just to spit on jaehyun’s hole, and when he thrusts back in, his middle finger has joined his index.“mm, that’s better. right, baby?”“i’m—” jaehyun tries to speak, but he’s interrupted by his own moaning and panting, especially since johnny is still fisting his cock. “hyung—johnny-hyung, i’m—it’s—i’m g-going to—…”johnny answers him with another hum, low and sultry—much different than his typical cadence.“come on, my little prince,” he encourages, pressing into jaehyun’s prostate harder and stroking him faster. “cum for me, baby.”it feels like jaehyun is going blind. his eyes are wide open, but he can’t see a thing; white crowds his vision and his entire body tenses up, hole clenching tight around johnny’s fingers, cock pulsing near painfully in his hand.and then, the tension breaks, and he’s spilling out a sticky-sweet heat, moaning high and loud as his body drains of all its pent-up energy and emotion, erupting into his first ever orgasm.the room around him disappears and he melts into oblivion, surrounded by johnny’s scent, his warmth, his voice. it’s pure bliss, to the point he feels like he weighs nothing, light enough to rest on a cloud.there’s no clear indication of how much time has passed once he’s cognizant of reality again, but he can feel one of johnny’s hands caressing up and down his back, no longer buried deep in his heat or milking him of every last drop of cum.he’d collapsed at some point, too—or maybe johnny had helped him to lie down properly, with one of his legs slightly askew and bent at the knee.had it been a dream? no, it couldn’t have been. he can feel wetness on his sheets, though it seems johnny had managed to catch most of jaehyun’s cum in his hand. besides that, the heaviness of his body is starting to come back to him, adrenaline coursing through him like he’d just run a marathon.“jaehyun?” johnny says, voice fuzzy and far away in jaehyun’s ears. “you still with me?”with a hum, jaehyun tries to turn over, but he can’t move. his eyes are glazed over in the afterglow, and he can hardly see through his lashes.“that was so wonderful,” he sighs, eyes slotting closed. “i haven’t felt this lovely since i was a child.”johnny chuckles, playfully pinching jaehyun’s ass.“dork,” he teases. “you really gotta work on your pillow talk.”jaehyun giggles with him, sounding so sweet.at last, when he finds the strength to move, jaehyun props himself up on his elbows, which are still a little wobbly, and manages to roll fully into his back with a bit of help from johnny. when their eyes meet, his heart flutters anew.but as his gaze trails a bit lower, he becomes aware of a little problem.or … a very large one, more accurately.“you didn’t …” he starts, sitting up a little more and gesturing toward johnny’s still-hard cock, flushed and engorged at its tip.johnny blushes faintly, making a dismissive gesture with a wave of his hand—the one that’s not covered in jaehyun’s cum. “it’s no big deal. i felt good enough making you feel good. i can finish this off on my own.”but jaehyun shakes his head. “let’s do it together, hyung.”johnny’s eyebrows raise. he’s prepared to question the idea of pushing jaehyun any further, but realizes there’s no reason to infantilize him. he may be inexperienced, but he’s not naïve.within no time at all, he’s on top of jaehyun again, and jaehyun’s legs fall open without any prompting from him.“this’ll be quick,” he chuckles, nipping his lower lip as he looks down at jaehyun’s gorgeous face. he starts to think that maybe he just can’t get used to that kind of beauty. “i already feel like i’m about to fucking explode.”jaehyun wraps his arms around johnny’s shoulders, pulling him down until their noses touch.“you’ve shown me how to chase my pleasure, hyung,” he whispers, that deep, sexy voice reactivating the dark lust coiled tight at johnny’s core. “it’s only fair that you get to chase yours, too.”for a few seconds, johnny can only stare down at jaehyun, trying to control the flames of desire raging through him. it’s a difficult task, considering jaehyun has essentially just given johnny permission to use him to get off—and who is he to refuse that kind of honor?“you make me feel fucking crazy,” johnny admits, finally putting the cum on his hand to good use as he lines his own cock up with jaehyun’s, spreading slick over both of their shafts.jaehyun’s breath hitches, the contact with his spent cock offering the pleasurable sting of overstimulation.“from the second we met at the club, i could feel myself sinking deeper and deeper into this undeniable attraction to you,” he continues as he wraps his hand around both of them, slowly stroking from balls to tip.johnny groans, and jaehyun echoes him with a throaty sound of his own, knees shaking on either side of johnny.“i know everyone loves you, everyone wants you, but i don’t give a damn about anyone else,” he mutters, voice a panting, lustdrunk growl. “i want you to be mine, jaehyun. i don’t care if the whole world hates me for it. they can go straight to hell, as long as i can have you to myself.”johnny swears he can feel jaehyun’s cock twitching back to life, starting to fill out against the hardness of his own.“i’m already yours,” jaehyun replies, threading his fingers through johnny’s hair. “i’ll always be yours. take me however you want.”jaehyun’s words carry the sensation of being struck by lightning—johnny’s whole body feels numb and tingly for a split second, before lust burns its way up to his throat and he’s stroking faster, starting to thrust his hips against jaehyun’s.their cocks rub against each other with enough friction to start a fire, and it’s so slick and hot and good that johnny removes his hand, anchoring both his palms at either side of jaehyun’s head and mounting him fully, thrusting against him with all his strength.there’s another half-gasp and a shaky moan, and then jaehyun’s ankles are crossing at the base of johnny’s spine, eliminating any space between them until not even air molecules can fit through.“fuuuuuck,” johnny moans, his cock already weeping precum all over both of them, adding to the intoxicating wetness.he can hear the gorgeously filthy sound of slick skin sliding against slick skin, and along with jaehyun’s breathy, needy moans, it fills his brain like smoke.suddenly, one of jaehyun’s hands falls from johnny’s head and starts plucking the buttons of his pajama shirt loose. johnny groans, licking his lips as more of jaehyun’s body is slowly revealed, deliciously milky skin flushed a soft pink in all the right places. his nipples are the pinkest johnny has ever seen, and he can’t help but lean down to have a taste, sucking on one with an inkling that it will taste as sweet as it looks.jaehyun cries out, back arching and hips stuttering. johnny keeps fucking against him, teasing the rosy little bud with his tongue when he takes a break from sucking, even detouring to nip lightly at jaehyun’s beautifully built chest.he can see his perfectly defined abs clenching and quivering, and presses down harder, until both their cocks are sandwiched between two sets of chiseled abdominals, hard, rippling muscle rolling over them and adding to the addictive friction.then, johnny starts to feel it—the pleasure knotting up in his gut. he’s close, and though he’s already lasted longer than he thought he would, he wishes this feeling could last forever.“jaehyunnie,” johnny calls, rocking both of them hard into the mattress, feeling and hearing the bed creaking around them. “say my name again, baby. say my name so i can cum.”jaehyun lets out a hot, heavy breath, flushed from his forehead to his chest. he looks perfect—johnny has to focus hard so he doesn’t cum from the sight.“ah, hah—” jaehyun whimpers, wrapping his legs around johnny tighter, and grasping him tight in his arms, too. “johnny, my johnny-hyung—oh, johnny, johnny, johnny …”

before long, jaehyun is repeating his name like a mantra, matching the rhythm of his thrusting against him. it’s like he’s lost the ability to say anything else.that’s when johnny kisses him, swallowing jaehyun’s resulting moans. he holds him steady, keeping him in place against the power of his thrusts so that his tongue can slide easily into his mouth.jaehyun sucks on it without hesitation, even as he struggles to stop moaning.johnny gives one last thrust—two, three—and then he’s blowing his load, spilling his release all over jaehyun’s abs.it’s hot and sticky when it splatters over his skin, but it feels so good to be drenched in proof of johnny’s toe-curling orgasm.jaehyun cums for the second time, though he doesn’t release as much fluid as he had before—it spurts weakly, then flows out in a small stream, mixing with the mess of cum that’s already all over him.they’re both panting, but still trying to kiss. jaehyun’s grip on johnny weakens as his strength wanes, but he tries his best to keep him close, burying his face into his shoulder when their attempts to keep their lips locked prove futile.“you came twice,” johnny whispers, using his cleaner hand to cradle the back of jaehyun’s head. “most guys can’t do that.”jaehyun hums, too tired to speak. he just nuzzles against johnny’s neck, clenching his legs around johnny’s waist.johnny kisses the side of jaehyun’s head, gently putting more of his weight on him, holding him at the waist as both of them sink deeper into the mattress. he’d been concerned about crushing him, but jaehyun seems fully content with this arrangement.but it isn’t long before johnny feels the slimy mess between them cooling and hardening. he sighs, starting to sit up, but jaehyun’s hold on him tightens, a low whine protesting his attempt to pull away.johnny giggles, giving jaehyun’s waist a soft squeeze.“i’m not leaving,” he says. “just going to get something to clean us up.”jaehyun huffs, but relents, letting johnny go.“hurry,” he mutters.“i will,” johnny promises, kissing jaehyun’s forehead. this seems to pacify him, as he gives a dazed little smile.quickly, johnny climbs off of jaehyun and finds his way off the bed, taking a few moments to steady his footing on wobbly legs.once he’s confident he won’t stumble, he makes his way toward jaehyun’s bathroom, groping around in the dark for a washcloth. when he finds one, he dampens it with warm water from the sink and wrings out the excess.he cleans himself off first, given that there’s not as much of a mess. once he’s done, he rinses the rag off again and hurries to tend to jaehyun, who he finds in the exact same position, lying stark naked on the bed with his pajama shirt open.giggling, johnny comes near, crawling back onto the bed and kneeling over jaehyun.“you should take this off,” he says, tugging at the shirt. “it’s a little stained.”jaehyun blushes, darkening his flush from their activities, which hasn’t fully faded. silently, he pulls the shirt off, setting it aside near the pants. the bed is so large that the clothes are hardly disturbed by their movements.as johnny gently wipes the drying cum from jaehyun’s abdomen, wordlessly admiring his tight, sculpted body, he steals a few glances at his face, noticing that his eyes are closed.he lies perfectly still as johnny cleans him, soothed by the slow motions of the warm rag over his soft skin.as blissed-out as jaehyun looks, johnny still asks, “you feeling okay?”slowly, jaehyun opens his eyes. he smiles, dimples melting johnny’s heart.“i feel … so happy, johnny,” he answers. “lighter than air … like i can think clearly for the first time.”johnny pauses mid-swipe of the washcloth, eyes enlarging at that response.“really?” he asks, gaze going tender at the sight of jaehyun so blissfully relaxed. “i … didn’t realize the trouble you were having with this was weighing on you so much.”jaehyun tilts his head, gaze trailing toward the balcony doors. he’s still smiling sweetly.“neither did i.”there’s another few beats of silence before johnny finishes up with the rag. soon thereafter, he’s rising to discard of it properly. but before he returns to the bathroom, he tenderly brushes jaehyun’s sweat-slick fringe away from his forehead with the side of his finger.upon returning to him for the second and final time, johnny finds jaehyun beneath the covers, eyes closed and breathing slow and heavy.a fond smile settles along his lips, and he circles to the other side of the bed, turning off the lamp and climbing on as subtly as possible so as not to wake the sleeping prince.he settles next to him, slipping under the covers and draping an arm over jaehyun’s warm, naked body.only a few seconds elapse before jaehyun scoots backward, fully pressing himself against johnny, ass flush with his groin.johnny laughs, wrapping his arm around jaehyun tighter, and jaehyun grins, entwining their fingers.they slip into their dreams that way, meeting one another in the hazy warmth of their subconscious.

iii: i couldn't love you more.

as he listens to his own footsteps echoing through the great hall, sauntering past paintings of his ancestors and relatives adhered to towering walls in ornate, solid gold frames, jaehyun savors the peaceful silence. it breaks only around the chattering of migrating birds beyond the tall, spotless windows, which pour pale sunbeams into the open space, caressing him with bursts of warmth each time he passes through a column of light.as he turns down a particular corridor, a servant tending to indoor plants meets his eyes and blushes, halting his work to give a deep bow.jaehyun acknowledges him with a smile and a dip of his head, not wanting to disorient him more than he already has by speaking.nearly never does he meet his mother without a stitch of makeup on—he wonders if she even remembers what his bare face looks like—but after rising, washing, and dressing himself a bit later than he normally would, he’d elected to answer her request for an audience sooner than it would take for the makeup artists beautify him.his face still feels dewy from skincare, but he figures it will be dry by the time he reaches her. the queen isn’t exactly known for being patient.“good morning, yuno,” she greets cordially, tucked comfortably into an armchair by one of the windows of her study.jaehyun bows and comes further into the room. a servant promptly draws the doors closed behind him.his mother gestures toward the chair across from her. “have a seat, my son.”he tries not to appear apprehensive as he approaches the other armchair, lowering himself onto it slowly.“good morning, mother,” he utters, belatedly returning her greeting. “what is it you wish to speak with me about?”the queen tuts, taking one of two prepared cups of tea into her dainty hands. she nods toward the other one, alluding that jaehyun is welcome to take it, should he want to.“always in such a rush, aren’t you?” she tsks, pausing to have a long sip.lips tucking inward, jaehyun does not reply. his only acknowledgment of her accusation comes by way of his nails scratching lightly into the velvet of the armrest.the queen had likely been expecting his silence, for she continues as if her words were unbroken.“you ought to be a little more grateful to still have your mother around,” she lectures, her leer pricking jaehyun like thorns where it casts over her teacup. “if i could turn back the hands of time and have one last conversation with my own, i’d seize the opportunity.”jaehyun’s gaze softens a little, a guilty frown downturning the corners of his previously taut lips.he knows how hard his grandmother’s death had been for his mother, and how the aftermath of their complicated relationship left her with little closure. the last thing he wants is to be in that same position someday—but his mother certainly doesn’t make it easy for him to be open with her.“forgive my discourtesy,” he mutters sincerely, though he quickly adjusts his volume so as to not be scolded for mumbling. “it just isn’t often that you … wish to have a conversation for conversation’s sake.”the queen sets down her teacup, eyeing her son frigidly. then, much to jaehyun’s surprise, she emits a soft laugh, a wry smile curling her lips upward.“you are much too charming, yuno,” she says, resting her hands in her lap. her beige suit and warm-toned jewelry almost make her look approachable. “if only i could teach you how to properly wield such a power … alas, i have never embodied such innate charisma.”brows furrowing, jaehyun can’t help but blink through his confusion at the sudden compliment—and the admission of a potential shortcoming—from his mother. rather than boost his confidence, it causes the apprehension festering at his core to deepen.“mother, why would you say such a thing?” he asks, a tinge of dubitation coloring his tone. “you are dearly loved by our people.”“that is true,” replies the queen, dark eyes catching a single drop of light amid their sable depths. “i have the highest approval rating of any monarch in modern history. it is a status i work tirelessly to maintain.”her head tilts slightly as she quiets a moment, gaze piercing through jaehyun’s own.“… and yet … your popularity far exceeds that which i could so much as aspire to,” she says, tone embodying an illegible neutrality. “globally, even … and you do nearly nothing to maintain such astronomically high standing. why, yuno, i can’t help but be envious of that.”jaehyun feels his ears flush with heat.“you and i both know that i do far more than ‘nearly nothing’ to maintain public approval, mother,” he says, affronted by the implication of carelessness, naïvety. “you have conditioned me from birth to always be conscious of how others are thinking of me, and how i may appear to them. i’m bewildered by this sudden implication that i go about my life and my image with so little awareness.”the queen clicks her tongue, and jaehyun nearly flinches. it’s her way of telling him to be silent without saying as much, and has been since he was a small child.“do not speak so recklessly,” she warns, the usual coldness of her expression returning at once.jaehyun purses his lips, but maintains eye contact, unwilling to be overpowered.“i am implying no such thing,” she clarifies, the inward pinch of her features more indicative of a resentful exasperation than any genuine offense at being misconstrued. “what i am saying is that you are loved across borders and beloved by millions, simply because of your natural charm. your beauty certainly plays a role, but simply being beautiful is not enough to captivate the entire world.”her eyes sharpen like twin blades as they sink into jaehyun, fileting his flesh until a direct pathway to his core opens up.“people feel connected to you, yuno,” the queen declares. “they genuinely admire who you are. or who they think you are.”silence stretches between them as jaehyun carefully considers his mother’s words, analyzing the dozens of underlying implications they could have, but still uncertain of what elusive thread ties them together.“why are you telling me this so suddenly?” he asks, a crease deepening between sculpted brows.sighing, the queen reaches for her cup once more.“you still have much to learn,” she mutters, and jaehyun’s chest tightens with indignation. “my concern, yuno, is that you will allow your charms to eclipse your sense of responsibility. you cannot rely on how much people like you when it comes to your reign, or you will quickly lose sight of your many obligations to your nation and to your ancestors.”jaehyun sits back, straightening like an arrow in both shock and offense.“you truly believe that i intend to ride on the coattails of public approval rather than fulfill my duties?”the queen glares at her disgruntled child. “your behavior as of late has offered no other reasonable conclusion.”“is that so?” jaehyun scoffs, ears burning hotter. “that must be why i have been so diligent with all of my endeavors as of late. it must also be why i have studied harder than ever before, why i’ve stretched myself paper thin to meet each of my political and social duties only to still have you allege that i haven’t done enough—”“watch your tone,” the queen orders, gaze cutting through jaehyun’s nerve. “you are quite entitled to expect me to extend sympathy to you when you are only doing what you were born to do.”jaehyun’s mouth clamps shut, lids tightly veiling his eyes as he focuses on breathing steadily, trying to swallow his heightening emotions. when he opens them, he stares through his mother with a cold, empty ire.“you will not change my mind about this marriage, mother,” he says lowly, exerting all of his effort to keep his voice steady, but appearing as though he does so effortlessly. “my resolve is written in stone. i have promised myself to johnny, and he has promised himself to me.”his mother stares back at him just as stubbornly, though her grip on the handle of her porcelain cup has tightened, much like her jaw. she says nothing as she sets the teacup aside again, soon thereafter slowly tapping her index finger against the armrest of her chair.in light of her silence, jaehyun elects to offer parting words, knowing that this conversation has reached a dead end.“i cannot fathom why this one thing has led you to lose all faith in me,” he says, slowly rising from his own chair, “but i will not lose faith in johnny, or myself. i know that this is right … and if it takes a lifetime for you to see that, then so be it.”with that thought suspended in the increasingly frigid air, jaehyun walks away, leaving the room with all the grace of a prince in procession.he doesn’t look back to gauge his mother’s reaction, but her brooding silence is a novel’s worth of a response in itself.it would be best if he could avoid her for the rest of the day, but this evening’s banquet will not allow for such a luxury—especially since his uncle and cousin have made a hasty trip from their lives in london just to attend, eager to have a chance to see for themselves the man who’s ended jaehyun’s apparent aversion to marriage.beyond that, he isn’t sure what his mother intends to put johnny through tonight, but he won’t allow her to humiliate him. he couldn’t care less about whatever she wishes to subject him to, but johnny has done nothing to deserve her wrath, thus, he’ll do everything in his power to shield him from it.as he storms out of the study, he startles a few servants. meekly, jaehyun mutters a soft apology and scurries back down the hall from whence he came, brisk steps and racing thoughts coalescing to lead him toward the central staircase in record time.though he yearns to return to his lover’s side, jaehyun practices restraint, reminding himself that he shouldn’t bother johnny while he rests.♡“ah. i thought i would find you here.”jaehyun freezes at the voice addressing him from the doorway, fingers hovering over ivory keys as the dulcet tones he’d been playing echo and evaporate into dead air.he turns, shifting on the velvet bench placed before the golden grand piano until most of his body is facing the one who’d sought him out.“hyung,” he utters softly, a touch of fondness wrapped around his tone. “good morning.”taeyong smiles, ambling into the room with graceful ease. his white, wide-legged slacks swish daintily around his legs up until he approaches the bench, nudging jaehyun’s shoulder with the back of his hand to encourage him to make space.“it hasn’t been that good of a morning for you, has it?” he questions, sympathy sweet on his tongue.the light color and loose fit of his slacks contrast with jaehyun’s dark, slightly flared trousers, emphasized when their thighs touch upon taeyong sitting beside him.“i heard you and your mother had some kind of disagreement,” he adds.jaehyun’s eyebrows raise, jaw slackening with surprise. “how did you know?”easily, taeyong plays a few notes on the piano, humming along to a simple melody that must’ve become an earworm for him at some point.“i literally heard it,” he laughs, smile going catlike. “i passed by her study earlier and heard you giving her a piece of your mind. no doubt she was pissed that you talked to her like that, but honestly, i’m proud of you.”he taps a few more keys, the melody from before bleeding into something more original.“it’s about time you got the point across that your life is yours and not hers. or anyone else’s.”with a sigh, jaehyun’s hands rest heavily on his thighs.“i will always respect my mother …” he mutters, gaze trailing off toward the window at his side. the view of the massive fountain encircled by the gardens is breathtaking from this room, and the water is so clear that it reflects the baby blue sky in a perfect mirror.“… but often, i find myself wondering if she respects me,” he continues, eyes casting toward the floor. “she told me she’s concerned that i intend to allow my ‘charisma’ to overshadow my role as the future king. i can’t understand why she would make such an outrageous accusation, even if she disagrees with my marriage.”taeyong says nothing for a while, continuing to play his impromptu sonata. but when jaehyun looks at him again, he notes that taeyong’s expression is pensive, his soft features pulled slightly inward with abstraction.“i think she’s just trying to make you feel guilty so you’ll do what she wants,” he eventually replies, lingering on one note too long as if the music in his head has stopped, notes fading into obscurity. he raises his head, looking at jaehyun with his big, bright eyes.“it’s probably a mom thing more than it’s a queen thing,” he adds, exhaling through his nostrils. “but it’s shitty either way. i hope you know you have nothing to feel guilty about—and even more than that, i hope your mother will come to see that johnny makes you the happiest you’ve been since you were a child, and that matters a lot more than any bloodline purity bullshit.”jaehyun stares down at the piano keys, ruminating on taeyong’s words. then, he raises his hands, picking up the abandoned melody where taeyong had left it. quickly, it takes shape into something still lighthearted, but bearing the depth of devotion.once he melts into the rhythm, taeyong takes note of his pattern and joins him, the accompaniment soft and fluttery like a butterfly’s wings.“johnny does make me happy, and carefree—in ways i haven’t felt since i was too young to understand the kind of pressure i was born under,” jaehyun says, slowly softening the force with which he presses down on the keys. “i think it’s because he actually understands me. perhaps that sounds silly, since we haven’t known each other very long, but … he’s so gentle, and thoughtful, and he listens genuinely and without judgment.”he pauses, a tender smile tugging at his lips as warmth blossoms at his core. “i’ve never felt like a man actually wanted me, rather than what i could offer him.”taeyong giggles sweetly, removing his hands from the piano so he can wrap an arm around jaehyun’s shoulder, pinning him closer.“this whole thing has been crazy … but again, i’ve never seen you so happy. it makes me happy, too.” he leans up and inward, pressing a kiss to jaehyun’s dimpled cheek. “but if he breaks your heart, i’ll kill him.”chuckling, jaehyun shakes his head. “i’m not so worried about that.”“of course you aren’t,” taeyong tuts, smiling a little wider. “you’re in lovey-dovey mode.”he returns to the piano, punching out another lovely melody—perfect for an ongoing love story.“all those years you lost because your mom was trying to force you into a marriage you didn’t want must finally be catching up to you,” he says.jaehyun hums, cheeks taking on a bit of color. “perhaps that’s it … i can’t deny that my feelings for him only seem to grow stronger with each passing moment.”he nips his lower lip, flush spreading. “impossibly more now, since he’s the only man that’s ever … touched me …”taeyong’s eyes expand like helium balloons, fingers hitting the wrong keys. sour notes echo through the music room.“you—?” he starts, but it seems he’s not quite sure what he’s asking. “i’m sorry, what do you mean ‘now?’ just a few days ago you were going on about how you wanted to wait until marriage, and now you’re telling me you let johnny fuck you during his first night at the palace?”jaehyun’s face burns to deep cerise. “i—i never said we—there was no … penetration. at least not with his …” he trails off, gesturing vaguely for taeyong to fill in the blank on his own.taeyong’s lips purse, eyebrows lowering. “jaehyun, you’re a grown man. you can say cock.”jaehyun’s face turns a little redder. “he did not penetrate me with his … cock,” he mutters, voice going airily soft on the vulgarity. “he only used his fingers. i touched him, too, but nothing below the waist, because i got nervous … but all i can think about now is how much i want to feel the weight of it in my hands, and in my mouth, and inside of me—”“woah,” taeyong says, wheezing, “slow down. i’m still trying to process this—i genuinely can’t believe you let someone touch you at all, let alone that you basically fucked without actually fucking.”

he turns toward the door, double-checking that it’s fully closed—though both of them are speaking quietly enough for there to be no chance of anyone effectively eavesdropping.“walk me through the whole thing,” he requests, placing his hands on jaehyun’s shoulders. “how did you even get to that point? were you naked? like, fully naked?”jaehyun nods, again biting his lip. it’s excruciating to discuss, but it’s also relieving—taeyong is the only person with which he feels he can safely divulge the details of the encounter, and as much as it’s been on his mind since he woke up naked and in johnny’s embrace, he surely needs advice on how to handle these intense feelings from someone more experienced.“i don’t think either of us intended for it to happen,” he explains, raking a hand through his dark hair, momentarily exposing his forehead. “we returned from dinner and got ready for bed separately, and he came to my room because we’d decided earlier that we wanted to sleep next to each other. he joined me on the balcony and we talked for a while about first kisses and past lovers, and then, somehow, the conversation shifted to sex, and i admitted how inexperienced i was, and that i have trouble … pleasuring myself.”“you do?” taeyong asks, eyes enormous. “you never told me that.”jaehyun kneads his lips, jaw clenching slightly. “i’d never told anyone,” he says. “but johnny reassured me that there was no reason to feel so much shame. and then he … offered to help.”taeyong blinks at jaehyun silently for a few moments, lagging like an old computer.“so, he was going to jerk you off,” he says, speaking slowly as if he’s processing this information in real time. “and then, somehow, he ended up with his fingers inside you?”the deepest sigh he’s ever released gusts through jaehyun’s nose.“not quite,” he replies, trying with all his might to ignore the fact that his face feels as if it’s moments from bursting into flames. “he took off his clothes, and i started touching him, and then my nerves caught up to me. but he comforted me, and i felt like i was going to burst with longing, and then my clothes came off and he was … eating me out, as he put it.”jaw dropping, taeyong grasps jaehyun’s shoulders tighter, squeezing him in a grip that’s almost painful.“oh my god, jaehyun,” he says, but his expression has shifted from shock and confusion to utter amazement. “a man started eating your ass without you having to ask him to and you’re sitting here embarrassed about it?”“hyung,” jaehyun starts, brows pinching inward and shoulders dropping. “it’s not that i’m embarrassed about what happened … i’m embarrassed talking about it, and the way you’re behaving isn’t making this any easier.”taeyong takes in a deep breath, withdrawing his hands and raising them harmlessly, as if to surrender.“sorry, sorry. you’re right,” he acknowledges. “i just hadn’t thought we’d be having this conversation for another few months, at least. i wasn’t prepared. but let me ask you one more question, okay? then i promise i’ll stop being weird.”rolling his eyes, jaehyun sighs yet again. “fine. what is it?”taeyong sucks on his teeth. “was it big?”“hyung …”“it had to have been,” taeyong muses, rubbing his chin. “your face just got really pink.”“forget it,” jaehyun says, moving to stand from the bench. “i don’t want to have this conversation anymore.”“no, nooo, jaehyunnie, i’m sorry,” taeyong says, pawing at jaehyun’s legs like a clingy cat to get him to sit back down. “i know you’re probably feeling a lot of things right now, and it’s overwhelming. and i’m sure when you saw johnny naked for the first time, it felt like fireworks were going off inside of you, right? and you wanted him to do so many things to you all at once, things you had never even thought of before.”taeyong quiets, eyeing jaehyun knowingly, and jaehyun nips his lower lip, slowly lowering himself back onto the bench.he gives a shy nod.taeyong smiles softly. “that’s totally normal, and i understand! i’m not trying to make fun of you, jaehyunah—i’m only trying to share in your excitement.”he leans closer, placing a tender palm against jaehyun’s waist.“i wasn’t always experienced, you know,” he giggles. “there was a time when i was like you, and i was having my first sexual experiences ever and feeling like the world was opening up and closing in on me at the same time.”silence encompasses them for a few seconds, during which it feels like all of the instruments in the room are listening in to their conversation, taking in every vulnerable detail and holding the shame so jaehyun doesn’t have to—much like johnny had last night.dainty hands reach out to lower the fallboard of the piano, lightly tracing over the same ornate detailing his ancestors must have touched at some point. then, jaehyun releases a soft, steeling breath.“it was huge,” he says, eyes remaining fixed on the piano, reading invisible sheet music.taeyong roars with laughter, kicking his legs and springing forward to wrap both arms around jaehyun’s shoulders, rocking him back and forth.jaehyun pretends to be annoyed, but not for long—he laughs, too, half-heartedly trying to pull away, since the embrace offers him the loving warmth he may never get from his mother.♡it almost feels like any other morning. songbirds chatter back and forth in what must be riveting conversation, streaks of light sweep across veiled eyes as if to whisper that the day is slowly slipping away, and the bubble of warmth and comfort cradling his weary body is so divine that he considers eternal slumber.however, even in a half-conscious state, johnny is able to recognize that he is not in his bed—rather, he is in a far better bed, one likely made of cumulus clouds and freshly-spun silk, personally delivered by heavensent angels.the blanket draped over him is delightfully snug, but cooling all the same, and the mattress seems to have committed his shape to memory while still managing to offer support to his aching bones.and the pillows—there must be a million of them, all wreathing his head in a splendorous fluff fit for a king.oh. right.johnny’s eyes snap open as memories of the prior day, and night, come flooding back to his conscience, nearly drowning it. of course he’s not lying on his too-stiff mattress back in his overpriced apartment in chicago, because he’d fallen asleep beside a future monarch after the two of them had almost-sex last night.huffing out a soft breath, johnny slowly sits up, scratching through his sleep-mussed hair. somewhat absently, he notes that it’s not as wild as it normally is, and concludes that all the hype around silk pillowcases must be worth something after all.the verification is unnecessary, but he still finds himself lifting up the sheets to peek underneath. suddenly, he’s staring down at his bare lap, noting that his morning wood is indeed a bit stiffer than usual.it doesn’t take much effort to recall that he’d been having a wonderful dream about jaehyun, wherein he basked in the tight, drunkening heat that had been around his fingers and tongue, except in the wonderland of his imagination, it was wrapped around his dick instead.he throbs just thinking about it, mouth suddenly excessively wet. god, jaehyun is so fucking attractive. he can’t recall the last time a guy had such a strong effect on him, and without even trying at that. it seems that korea’s darling prince is in a league all his own.yet, just as suddenly as the heat of desire had overtaken him, johnny realizes that he’s completely alone in jaehyun’s bedroom. the space beside him is empty and cold, almost like he’d never been there—but johnny knows he had, for he can still feel his weight and warmth between his arms and against his chest, like it had been imprinted there.a tiny frown tugs at his lips, bordering on a pout. he’d have liked to wake up with jaehyun in his arms, to ring in a beautiful new day with kisses and cuddles, lying pliant and unmoving while they soak in nothing but each other without a care in the world about what the rest of the day has in store for them. but it’s probably his fault for sleeping in, since jaehyun is a fucking prince and likely wakes up at the crack of dawn to start a mile-long to-do list.johnny sighs, flopping back down on the mattress. his dick is still hard, but he’s not in the mood to do anything about it right now.what time is it, anyway? he tries to remember where he’d left his phone, only to want to smack himself upside the head, because it’s definitely across the hall.there must be some kind of clock or something nearby, so he tucks his sulking away for now to sit up once more, scanning the room for an indication of the hour.all the while, he takes the opportunity to actually look at jaehyun’s room. the light of day shining through the lofty windows leaves nothing obscured, rendering him impressed with the simple, but charming aesthetic that surrounds him.the walls are so pale a pink, they almost look white, with golden ornaments and accents climbing up to the high, tiled ceilings that look as if they’re made of marble. along with pink and gold, earthy brown tones give the room a softer, more grounded touch, evoking a feeling that matches jaehyun’s elegant, but humble disposition.it crosses johnny’s mind that he’s being nosy at this point, but it hardly stops him from studying the few extravagantly framed paintings adorning seemingly every stretch of wall space.jaehyun seems to be into every genre from impressionist to still-life—in fact, johnny thinks he spots something that looks like it could have been done by claude monet, prompting him to consider that jaehyun is part of a literal royal family, and it wouldn’t be so shocking if they managed to acquire an authentic monet piece for their heir’s bedroom, of all places.he’s forgotten about the clock by now. johnny is thoroughly distracted by his sudden affinity for interior design as he crawls off the bed, half-heartedly looking for something to cover him from the waist down, just in case a servant or housekeeper stops in.their clothes from the prior night are nowhere to be found, leading johnny to believe that they must have been collected and put into laundry by either jaehyun or his staff (he’d much prefer the former option, given that he’s technically not supposed to be in this room at all, but according to jaehyun, the servants tend to keep to themselves—which only serves to make johnny think that they must have the best gossip sessions), but thankfully, he spots a robe hanging by the bathroom door.there’s an ornate ‘j’ embroidered into the left breast pocket. it’s undoubtedly for jaehyun, but johnny is technically ‘j’ too, right?it’s a bit small for him, but covers what it needs to cover. besides, the fluffy fabric feels like a dream against his skin.only when johnny pads over to the vanity to chance a look at his reflection does he notice a watch displayed beside some of jaehyun’s other ‘everyday’ jewelry—a stunning white-gold rolex with rainbow gems flooding the face, studded with blinding white diamonds to the extent that johnny can barely see the time.no way he bought this for himself, he thinks, chuckling at the idea. it must have been a gift, hence why it looks as if it’s never been taken out of its box.either way, when he finally manages to make out where the hands are pointing, johnny discovers that it’s twelve after ten, which offers some relief that he didn’t sleep in as late as he’d initially feared. how awful would it look if he’d rolled out of bed at noon on his first day at the palace?he really ought to have a shower and find something to do with himself. the queen had mentioned that there’s much more to royal life than the glitz and glamor that everyone sees, and johnny doesn’t doubt that, but the idea that there may be people expecting him somewhere or looking for him while he has no idea is a little daunting.whatever anyone wants or doesn’t want from him, it can wait until after he’s gotten through his morning routine. and hopefully after breakfast, too.on his way toward jaehyun’s bathroom, something johnny hadn’t noticed before catches his eye.a small piece of paper, frayed at one edge as if it had been torn from a book, rests on the bedside table, weighed down by a sleek, golden pen.as he nears it, he spots writing on it, leading to a pleasant surprise that jaehyun had left him a note.my dearest johnny,i hope that you are well-rested and in good spirits this morning.i very much enjoyed our time together last night, and i long to stay with you until you wake up, but unfortunately, i have quite a full schedule that i must attend to. hopefully, we will be able to spend time together this afternoon before the banquet.i’ve asked the servants not to disturb you, since you are still recovering from your long day of traveling and taking everything in. i can’t think of the english word for 시차적응, forgive me, but you must be experiencing that.again, i’m sad that i can’t be with you longer, but know that i am thinking of you every moment that we are apart. as i write this, i’m admiring your sleeping face. you look so lovely, it’s melting my heart … i’ll be so happy to see you later.perhaps we can meet for lunch? text me your thoughts on the matter once you get back to your phone. i’ll be waiting. ♡your little prince,jaehyunjohnny reads the note thrice, feeling his pulse spike anew each time he reaches the end. whatever sourness he’d been feeling about being left alone evaporates entirely, leaving him with only butterflies in his stomach, fluttering about like they’d just been released from a cage and are experiencing their first taste of freedom—wild, eager, feverish.he imagines jaehyun sitting beside him in bed, drafting these thoughtful words and pausing every so often to watch him sleep. it’s tenderness in a way johnny has never experienced before; proof that he’d lingered in the mind of a lover long enough to be immortalized, even if it’s only on a sheet of paper that had seemingly been torn from jaehyun’s diary, if the floral motif of the page reveals anything.the growing fondness reaches its boiling point when johnny’s eyes dart toward the top right corner of the paper where jaehyun had drawn a big circle, explaining its presence with an arrow and a tiny note that reads ‘you can’t see it, but i kissed the page here.’johnny giggles, covering his mouth with his free hand.he’s so fucking cute, he thinks, lightheaded with affection. he closes his eyes, picturing jaehyun’s sparkly eyes and dimpled smile—even the cute, button-like tip of his tall nose—and drops his hand, bringing the page to his lips to kiss the space within jaehyun’s lopsided circle.wherever he is and whatever he’s doing, johnny hopes jaehyun had felt it.carefully, he folds up the paper until it’s palm-sized, and slips it into the embroidered pocket of the robe, where it rests against his palpitating heart.maybe he’s a little too sentimental, but it seems he’s met his match in jaehyun.by the time he starts the shower, johnny is already daydreaming about the next time they’ll see each other—where perhaps both he and jaehyun will fully embrace that the prior night saw them sailing past the point of no return, and that together, they may venture even deeper into the intensifying feelings tethering them closer and closer together.♡johnny slips across the hall unseen, grateful for the lack of activity in jaehyun’s wing of the palace, especially since only a towel is protecting his modesty.he tosses the robe he’d worn prior to his shower onto the same chair where he’d abandoned his pants from last night’s dinner, noting with both curiosity and confusion that they’re no longer there. his brows furrow, but he isn’t so distracted by the peculiarity that he forgets to tuck jaehyun’s note beneath an empty cosmetic jar on the vanity.upon turning around, however, he’s presented with more evidence that someone else had been in this room. there are clothes neatly laid out for him on the bed, as well as a card with rushed handwriting chicken-scratched onto it.

johnny - i know you’re still mad about your haircut. i’m sorry. you really look so much better though. anyway, come meet noona and i for your fitting at eleven so we can get you a look for this banquet that will gag even the queen. we’re still working on your wardrobe, but we put together something you can wear around the palace that is appropriate for the prince’s fiancé. you’re welcome!xx, kibumjohnny can feel himself frowning. kibum seems like a kind enough man—a little eccentric, and somewhat rude, but in a fun, endearing sort of way that makes it hard to be offended.regardless, johnny isn’t quite used to his new hair, yet, and he’s encountered some frustration in trying to figure out how to style it after falling into a comfortable routine with his previous length and volume. hopefully kibum is in the mood to offer a little insight today instead of talking his ear off with gossip about people he doesn’t know.it had been just before ten forty-five when he’d left jaehyun’s room, so he’s going to be late for the fitting—and as annoying as that is, it can’t be helped. he finds himself wishing once again that jaehyun had just woken him up earlier, despite how sweet it was for him to want him to rest up.and, truth be told, johnny probably could have been out of the shower quicker if he hadn’t jerked off to thoughts of jaehyun. but what’s done is done.only after tossing kibum’s card and briefly evaluating the clothes he and taeyeon had selected does johnny realize that the servants must have come in and out of this room, too, since all of his luggage is unpacked and neatly stored.he’s conflicted between feeling thankful and a little violated as he finds his underwear impeccably folded and organized by color in a drawer in the walk-in closet, but he doesn’t give himself much time to dissect those feelings before he’s stepping into a fresh pair and moving on.soon thereafter, he discovers there’s a second and larger vanity built into the walk-in where his fragrances and jewelry have been beautifully arranged, and as he meets his own dumbfounded gaze in the golden-framed mirror, he muses that the nuances of royal life will take even more getting used to than he’d initially thought.apparently, the servants really had unpacked everything—his toiletries and hair products are stowed away in a cabinet in the ensuite, stacked attractively like wares on a drugstore shelf.johnny sighs, grabbing what he needs and padding over to the sink to groom himself.here, he finally reunites with his phone, which had been left sitting on the bathroom counter all night. johnny empties his hands and raises the device in an attempt to check the battery, disappointed but unsurprised to find that it’s completely dead.where did they put my charger …?he groans, resolving to deal with it later. he really needs to shave and brush his teeth.♡finding his way to the common area of the palace had been a challenge—it isn’t as though there are maps or directories he can consult, given that most people that find themselves within these walls either know them inside out or are being whisked around by other people who do.johnny isn’t in either position, and had to ask several of the housekeeping staff to point him in the right direction until one ahjumma took enough pity on him to lead him right to his destination. he hated to take her away from her chores, but she’d insisted, claiming that he looked like a lost stray cat and she didn’t feel right leaving him to encounter a hungry dog.despite his embarrassment, johnny’s gratitude for her help is genuine and he expresses as much with a deep bow, which seems to fluster her a little.she waves him off, a faint pink dusted over her cheeks as she hurries back to her previous post, leaving him to navigate the common area on his own.he glances about, trying to ignore the tightness in his stomach. forget about hungry dogs, johnny himself is starving, and kibum hadn’t said anything about breakfast (or brunch, at this hour), so he decides the first order of business should be finding something to eat—preferably something he could take with him, since he’s already running behind.the common area isn’t especially busy. there are a few people chatting in secluded clusters, dotted between the posh interior and the outdoor seating area, where some are soaking up the last of the agreeable weather as autumn transitions to winter.nobody pays him much attention, aside from a few sideways glances, and johnny notes with resignation that none of the other guests seem to be eating anything.he’s moments from losing hope and getting himself lost again in pursuit of something to fill his stomach when a savior comes into view—silky dark hair and a severe resting bitch face round a corner, holding a tray of matcha and, more importantly, a small assortment of sweets.“yuta!” he calls out, momentarily losing himself in his excitement to see his friend (and the food he is holding) and quickly regretting it as every pair of eyes in the general vicinity befalls him.johnny tucks his lips in, smiling sheepishly before he dashes over to where yuta has stopped in his tracks, eyes wide.“i thought you’d be busy,” yuta says, setting the tray down on a nearby table. johnny’s stomach growls at the sight of the sweets, and yuta rolls his eyes.“oh, that’s why you came over here.”johnny tuts. “listen, i haven’t eaten anything since last night. are you gonna share or what?”“what’s stopping you from taking your ass to the kitchen and getting something for yourself?” yuta replies, eyebrows raising. “i didn’t just make this stuff appear from thin air.”johnny frowns. “i’m kinda short on time right now,” he explains. “i’m already late for a fitting since i slept in way too hard. plus, i don’t even know where to go. i’m surprised you did.”yuta tongues the inside of his cheek, shrugging. “it’s not hard to find,” he says, shooting johnny an unimpressed gaze. “but, alright, i guess you can have some of this stuff. i got it to share with taeyong, though, so don’t be greedy.”“taeyong?” johnny echoes, before recalling that yuta had been missing for hours last night. “hey, wait—where the fuck have you been? i haven’t seen you since we split up yesterday. don’t tell me you’ve been with taeyong this whole time.”yuta makes a fine effort to look annoyed, but johnny can see that his cheeks are taking on a bit of color.“and what if i have been? he’s cool and fun to be around, not to mention hot as fuck,” he huffs. “it’s nothing serious, so don’t be annoying. we’re just messing around.”before johnny can argue, yuta’s gesturing toward his clothes, which johnny notices are very elegant and flowy and nothing like anything he’s ever seen in yuta’s wardrobe.“he even leant me these so i wouldn’t stand out as much, since we’re pretty much the same size.”after he blinks a few times, johnny gives yuta a once-over.“okaaaay …” he starts, watching as yuta rolls his eyes in response. “but if it’s ‘nothing serious,’ why did you get tea and sweets to share with him? doesn’t sound like just ‘messing around’ to me.”“are you dumb? i said he’s fun to be around,” yuta barks, though he manages to keep his voice at a reasonable enough volume to not draw too much attention.despite himself, his cheeks get a little redder. “just because we fucked a few times doesn’t mean we can’t also be friends,” he argues. “you know i don’t get attached.”“a few times?” johnny says, eyes enlarging. “you’re telling me we’ve barely been here a day and you’re already casually sticking your dick into one of jaehyun’s friends?”he rolls his eyes, mouth slanting with dissatisfaction. “i should’ve known this would happen, especially since you two were being so fucking weird yesterday. but i’ve never seen you go out of your way to spend time with any of your past hookups, sooo …”with a groan, yuta grabs a few of the sweets, shoving them into johnny’s arms.“would you get out of here already? i thought you were late for something,” he grumbles. “and god forbid i keep myself entertained instead of standing around all day waiting for you to get yourself into trouble.”despite yuta’s harsh tone, johnny can’t help but giggle—he knows the difference between yuta actually being angry with him and his merely being petulant.“alright, alright, whatever. not like i want to third wheel your little tea party anyway,” he says, smirking when yuta shoots him a death glare. “but maybe don’t go missing for a whole day again, alright?”at that, yuta lightens up a little, a sigh tapering off into a chuckle as he shakes his head. “and you say i’m an asshole,” he mutters.johnny laughs along with him, and starts to turn away to leave, but swiftly remembers something.“oh, wait—before i go, can you take my phone?” he asks, turning his back to yuta and gesturing toward his back pocket as best he can with his head. “it’s dead and i don’t know what the housekeeping staff did with my charger after they marie kondo’d the fuck out of all my stuff.”yuta blinks slowly, lips tugging into a perplexed frown. “sure, i can charge it for you,” he says, reaching into johnny’s pocket without any shame, even going as far as to pat his ass with the phone once he fishes it out. “but aren’t you gonna need it? it’s not like you to walk around without your phone.”johnny shrugs one shoulder as he turns back around. “i’ll come find you later. jaehyun and i are gonna meet up for lunch, so i’ll just text you from his phone to find out where you are.”a pause, punctuated by rapid blinking. “that reminds me—can i use your phone to text him? i still gotta confirm our date.”“for fuck’s sake, johnny,” yuta grumbles, eyes rolling as he pats himself down for his own phone.johnny’s eyes narrow as he shifts the sweets around, freeing up one of his arms to take yuta’s phone. “i don’t want to hear it. all the times i let you use my phone after your dad took yours, you should be happy to hand it over.”yuta cackles, shaking his head. “that was, like, ten years ago, asshole,” he says. “and i had moves to make back then. you wouldn’t get it.”♡kibum and taeyeon share a studio directly across from the palace’s spa and gym facilities on the lowermost floor.johnny takes the same elevator down that jungwoo had shown him the day before, when he’d offhandedly mentioned that most of gyeongbokgung is accessible by lifts, excluding the bedrooms and other more private quarters.he doesn’t even get the chance to offer a greeting as he walks in, for he’s immediately apprehended by kibum and dragged toward the mirrored enclosure where taeyeon is waiting for him.“well, it’s about time you showed up!” kibum grouses.johnny can only sigh as he’s given a weak slap to the chest.“i’m pretty sure i wrote eleven o’clock on that note, so why have you stumbled in here at—” he eyes his wrist, tapping the screen of his smart watch, “—twelve twenty-eight?!”johnny squints under the blinding lights of the fitting room, a little disoriented by his own image surrounding him at every angle.“i’m sorry, i’m sorry,” he mutters, and though he’s a little annoyed to be accosted like a child, his apologies are sincere. “i slept in late because of the jet lag. i didn’t even see your note until ten forty-five.”kibum tsks, but taeyeon gives him a shove, glaring at him through narrowed eyes.“give him a break, kibum,” she says, slipping her measuring tape from around her neck. “i’m sure he’s going through a lot right now. the flight from chicago was probably long and stressful, not to mention he got right off of it just to be thrown into a whole new world of expectations and responsibilities.”her frown deepens when kibum gives her a wounded look. “you haven’t been doing anything all day, anyway,” she adds.kibum scoffs. “it’s the principle, noona!” he says. “isn’t, like, ninety percent of being a royal just being on time to things?”“we should have scheduled for later in the afternoon, so it’s on us,” taeyeon argues, eyes rolling. “royal or not, people still need their rest and relaxation time.”her tone softens significantly as she leans closer to johnny, reaching up to place a hand on his shoulder.“ignore him, darling, it’s not your fault. we’re just glad that you’re finally here so we can get started, and we’ve still got plenty of time before the banquet tonight,” she says, eyes crescenting in a way that lights up her face. “do you want some coffee?”johnny gives a meek smile, grateful that the yelling has stopped. “coffee would be great. i haven’t had any since yesterday.”taeyeon laughs brightly. “you must be serious about your caffeine,” she deduces, punctuating her words with a knowing nod. “the prince is the same way—we’re often the first people he sees in the morning, so we always have it ready for him.”“oh, really?” johnny asks, intrigued by this nugget of information, even if he’s not surprised. “what’s his go-to drink?”“iced americano,” taeyeon answers with a grin. she flicks her wrist a few times in kibum’s direction, and johnny hears him groan before he stomps out of the fitting room. “sometimes he gets an extra shot of espresso.”johnny giggles. “so do i,” he says. “two extra shots, even.”taeyeon gapes at him with an air of concern. “you’re not having multiple of those a day, are you? you may as well be drinking gasoline.”“well,” johnny scratches his nape, chuckling faintly. “i lived a pretty … busy life before i met jaehyun. drinking that much coffee was necessary just to get through a day.” and smoking at least half a pack, but he refrains from mentioning that part.as much as he’s been craving nicotine to mitigate the mounting stress and anxiety, he hasn’t seen a single person smoking in or around the palace, and the last thing he wants is to give anyone here another reason to hate him.taeyeon hums, pulling a small notebook from inside her blazer and subsequently raising her hands to slip a pen out of her tightly pulled-back hair. “i guess that’s understandable. you must have to pee all the time, though.”before johnny can confirm or deny, kibum makes a dramatic return, holding an iced americano in a short, rounded glass with a thick glass straw.“here, hun,” he says to johnny, who accepts it with a gracious bow of his head. “please don’t spill it on anything.”he looks toward taeyeon, then, watching as she scribbles something in the notebook. “oh, you got the measurement already?”she shakes her head. “not yet. just jotting down some notes.”meanwhile, johnny takes a few sips, sighing contentedly as caffeine floods his bloodstream.“didn’t you get all of my measurements yesterday?” he asks upon coming down from the brief high, one eyebrow lifting.taeyeon lifts her nose from the book, smiling softly and craning her neck to look up at johnny.“i forgot to measure your head,” she tells him. “you know, for your crown.”johnny’s eyes go so wide, he thinks he can feel them drying out immediately. “wait—my what? isn’t there a long way to go before i’m gonna need that?”“yes,” taeyeon says, thoughtfully clicking her tongue. “but the jeweler needs to get started on it right away. they have to make you something brand new, since there’s never been two princes joined by marriage in the history of this dynasty. it’s kind of a big deal.”she giggles, reaching up to gently massage johnny’s shoulder, likely able to sense the nerves that sentiment had inspired.“hey, don’t freak out,” she murmurs, tenderness swaddling her tone. “everyone’s been expecting this for years—we’ve known that jaehyun is gay pretty much since he was a child, and he’s been out to the whole world for the last six years.”she removes her hand, but still offers a reassuring smile as she adds, “besides, you can’t just wear a princess’s tiara, because you won’t be a princess. you’ll be a prince.”johnny isn’t sure what to say, so he busies himself with another long sip of his coffee.

on a purely cognitive level, he’d understood that his and jaehyun’s marriage would be a historic moment. but with more immediate concerns frequently popping up and a storm of thoughts and emotions raging through his head since he’d arrived—since jaehyun had proposed to him, really—he hadn’t actually processed the implications of that. he’s about to be half of the world’s first ever open and legitimate same-sex royal couple, which is a monumental step for queer visibility and marriage equality, and on that front, he’s honored.but should it be him?never in his life had he thought he’d end up in such a significant role in history. johnny had always imagined he’d meet some random but decent enough guy and settle down once he’d gotten his shit together, and they’d live a quiet and modest life with two point five kids, a dog, and a mortgage.but this couldn’t be further from quiet or modest—this is him solidifying his place in a history book. or at least a wikipedia page.“i think it’s pretty fucking cool,” kibum says, breaking through the stretch of tense, pensive silence. “when i was a kid, gay marriage was still illegal. now the fucking prince is doing it. i never would’ve imagined we’d come so far, you know?”he crosses his arms, smiling fondly as he meets johnny’s eyes in the mirror. “now, lots of little gay boys and girls are going to see you and the prince living happily ever after and know that they’re not alone, and that they’ll get their happy endings, too. that’s so special.”slowly, johnny starts to smile. it’s a distant, melancholic curve to his lips—but a deeply sentimental one, too.maybe if i could have seen two princes get married when i was a kid, i wouldn’t have been so confused for so long.“yeah,” he agrees. “it is.”taeyeon drags over a stool for johnny to sit so that she can neutralize their massive height difference. he’s facing the mirror, so he can see her focused expression as she carefully wraps the measuring tape around his head, muttering numbers before scrawling them into her book.“your head is surprisingly big,” she chuckles, her long, intricately designed nails briefly catching his attention as she holds the tape against his forehead. “but it’s well-proportioned to the rest of your body, so it doesn’t actually look big.”“uh … thanks?” johnny mutters, unsure of how to respond to such a statement—or if it even begs a response at all.“so, when are you going to get eyelid surgery?” kibum asks suddenly, and johnny is thrown by the random inquiry. just how closely had kibum been looking at him?he meets his own gaze in the mirror, uncomfortably hyper-aware of every detail of his face. johnny has never thought of himself as unattractive—his mother has showered him in compliments from the day he was born up to now, and it must have gotten to his head at some point, because he’d never gone through the dreaded ‘i’m ugly’ phase a lot of his peers navigated during puberty.beyond that, despite knowing that he’s not quite in alignment with the beauty standards of his motherland or his homeland, he’s always thought of himself as handsome in his own way, and the treatment he gets from others—random people on the street, potential suitors, the prince of south korea—has reinforced his confidence.but now that he’s in korea, where image is everything, and he’ll be marrying the paragon of beauty that is their beloved prince, he’s sure people will be expecting him to live up to that standard. and while he’s never considered going under the knife before, it dawns on him now that he’s in an entirely different world where perfection should be the starting point, rather than an aspiration.“i hadn’t planned on it,” johnny admits, momentarily sucking on his teeth. “honestly, i hadn’t planned on having anything done.”kibum’s eyes enlarge dramatically. “really?” he replies. “i mean, don’t get me wrong, you’re easy on the eyes for sure, but you have asymmetrical eyelids. i’m sure you’ve noticed.”he pauses, and johnny only nods, confirming that he has, in fact, noticed.“i mean, most people who aren’t royals would want to fix that,” kibum continues. “sorry for assuming, but i guess i thought you’d want to go for a more … perfect kind of look.”taeyeon slings her measuring tape over her shoulders, suggesting she’s recorded all the numbers she needs. she returns to her book, pen lightning fast against the page.“don’t feel pressured to get any work done if you don’t want to, johnny,” she says, splitting her attention between writing and entertaining the conversation. “your eyelids aren’t even that noticeable. and i think they give your face a unique kind of charm.”johnny smiles gratefully for the kind words, but kibum tuts, placing his hands on his hips.“this coming from the most plastic face in all of seoul.”taeyeon glares at him.“so what? that doesn’t mean i can’t appreciate natural beauty, too,” she chuckles, snapping her book closed and returning it to the inside pocket of her blazer. “you’re so superficial, sometimes.”johnny can’t help but chance a closer look at taeyeon’s face. he hadn’t thought about it at all, but now that it’s come up, he’s not surprised to know she’s had work done. not that it’s any of his business—and she’s gorgeous, so she must be happy with her results.“has jaehyun had anything done?” he finds himself asking, genuinely curious. “do you know?”taeyeon laughs a little louder, and kibum snickers, too.“he has,” she says, nodding. “nothing too dramatic. a little jaw work here and there, and a nosejob or two. but of course, the surgeon that worked with him is the best of the best, and kept his natural beauty intact—just enhanced what he already had, i would say.”“could you imagine cutting up the literal face of the nation?” kibum adds, whistling. “i’d be shaking in my boots.”johnny chuckles, nipping his lower lip. “well, he did a great job, either way. jaehyun is out of this world … a face like that is one in a trillion.”he quiets for a few beats, too occupied admiring jaehyun’s heavenly face in his mind’s eye to notice the way taeyeon and kibum exchange glances, smirking at one another.“… but he still looks like his parents,” he notes, eyebrows raising, “so i guess the surgeon can’t get too much credit.”taeyeon smiles, patting the top of johnny’s head. “well, the queen’s had her fair share of work done, too. but i doubt jaehyun’s father has had any—and jaehyun’s almost a mirror image of him, so maybe you’re onto something, johnny.”she moves away, then, turning off the bright lights embedded into the mirrors, giving johnny’s sore eyes a much-needed break.“let’s get to the fitting,” says taeyeon, motioning for kibum to follow her out of the fitting room, likely to retrieve the clothes. “just wait right here, okay? we picked out some really nice things for you to try—i think you’ll like them.”her eyes squeeze shut as she gives him a big smile, all while she tucks her pen back into her hair.“plus, we need to settle on a look so kibum and his team know what kind of hair and makeup to do for you.”♡johnny had never actually done a real fitting before. the closest experience he’d had was getting a suit tailored for prom, which merely consisted of one consultation where he was measured, and the suit magically appearing a week later.but the real deal is far more involved—he’d had to give his input on every piece and every variation of every piece that he’d tried, which had actually been quite fun, since he rarely gets to show the side of him that adores fashion and high-end clothing.taeyeon and kibum even admitted that they were impressed by his knowledge of luxury brands and clothing construction, which was likely intended to be flattering, but johnny couldn’t help but be the tiniest bit offended. just because he’s just a commoner with humble beginnings doesn’t mean he can’t waste hours of his life coveting clothes he can’t comfortably afford.either way, he hadn’t been expecting the process to take three hours. there had only been four distinct looks, and some mixing and matching to create new possibilities, but taeyeon and kibum couldn’t seem to agree on the best option; kibum had been insistent on him wearing white to reference the wedding and highlight him as the guest of honor, but taeyeon thought darker colors would be a classier selection, and that matching with jaehyun, who will be wearing black, would make more sense than him standing out.in the end, they’d given johnny the final say, which he hadn’t been expecting. he’d landed right in the middle, selecting a light gray thom browne suit with delicate, asymmetrical plaid accents. they’d praised his choice in the end, calling it brilliant. you’ll fit in but stand out at the same time.he’s hungry again by the time he’s released from their studio. his watch tells him that it’s well-past three in the afternoon, and he wonders if jaehyun is still up for lunch this late. the banquet isn’t until seven, but johnny isn’t sure if people actually eat to get full at those types of events or if they just glamorously poke around their plates of expensive food for show.thankfully, right when johnny steps off the elevator leading into the common area, he crosses paths with jungwoo.“hey,” he greets, reaching out to brush his hand against the back of jungwoo’s arm to get his attention, smiling apologetically when he startles him. “sorry to pop up out of nowhere. have you seen jaehyun?”jungwoo tuts, dramatically rolling his eyes. “oh, you don’t care about how i’m doing at all, do you?”suddenly feeling warm around the collar, johnny giggles.“sorry,” he mutters sheepishly. “he and i were supposed to meet for lunch, but my fitting lasted way longer than i thought it would, and yuta has my phone, so i can’t text him.”a tiny smirk pulls at jungwoo’s lips.“no worries, johnny-hyung,” he reassures him. “jaehyun-hyung plays polo with his dad on the weekends, and if i had to guess, their match is probably wrapping up soon.” leisurely, he glances at his watch. “if you hurry, you might be able to catch them before they leave the field.”“cool, got it,” johnny says, nodding diligently. “thank you. where the hell am i going, though?”jungwoo laughs. “the polo field is behind the tennis courts, which are past the gardens,” he explains. “i wouldn’t recommend walking all the way out there, or you’ll miss them for sure. ask one of the gardeners to give you a ride on a golf cart.”johnny nods again, feeling a lot clearer about his objective this time around. “you’re the best,” he says, patting jungwoo on the back before running off. “thanks!”his next order of business is to stop by one of the kitchens, where he asks for assistance in making his plan for a romantic lunch date happen. the predominantly female staff there are wonderfully hospitable and supply him with everything he needs, packing it all up in a cute wicker basket and sending him off with giggles and well-wishes. he hopes he’s not blushing as he makes his way toward the gardens, moving quickly but carefully so as not to drop anything.everything seems to go by in a haze up until the moment he’s sitting in the golf cart with the basket on his lap, kneading his lips together anxiously.why does he feel nervous? he hadn’t batted an eye when jaehyun had picked him up for their dinner date last night, and considering how intimately they’ve gotten to know each other by now, and the fact that they’re getting married in a matter of months, it’s silly for him to be getting butterflies about seeing him all of a sudden.either way, jungwoo had been right about walking not being an option—even with the golf cart, it takes them ten minutes to exit the gardens and pass the tennis courts. as the massive field comes into view, johnny sees men on galloping horses scattered about the sea of green, the back-and-forth of the game apparent in the strategic patterns in which the players and their steeds move.he doesn’t know anything about polo, aside from it serving as the inspiration for a fashion brand synonymous with early two-thousands prep school boys, but he’s still amazed at the precision and power in the movements of the players and the horses. even before they’re close enough for him to clearly make out any facial features, he can tell which player is jaehyun just by his shape alone—his broad shoulders and tiny waist, the way he carries himself, his energy.belatedly, johnny realizes that jaehyun is the only one on a white horse.per jungwoo’s prediction, the game appears to be at its end by the time the cart pulls in a safe distance away from the field. johnny climbs out, thanking the gardener who gives him a bow and a smile before driving off to return to his work.he threads his arm through the basket handles, draping the cloth the kitchen staff had lent him over his shoulder, and squints to get a better look at the field in the beaming sunlight.the players are huddled at the end farthest from him, still on horseback, shaking hands in a show of stellar sportsmanship. johnny spots jaehyun talking to his father, watching as he reaches up to remove his helmet and run a hand through his dark, sweat-slick hair.before he even realizes, johnny is biting back a smile, giggling to himself when he sees jaehyun start to laugh at something his father had said.once his conscience catches up to him, he scolds himself inwardly for being ridiculous and dares to step closer to the field, ambling his way down to where the men have congregated.jaehyun notices him then. he stops mid-sentence, eyes bursting with light as they settle on johnny, and his father looks confused for only a fraction of a moment before he looks in the same direction.he smiles, reaching out to pat jaehyun’s back, and jaehyun doesn’t waste another second before he’s riding over to the edge of the field where johnny is waiting for him.“i was starting to think you’d forgotten,” he says through a dazzling smile, eyes twinkling as he hops off his horse.he practically glides on his way to him, like an angel levitating above ground, and pulls him into his arms, pressing his face into johnny’s neck.“you mentioned you don’t have your phone,” he whispers, “but still, i was worried.”johnny’s heart pops like a firecracker, and as if it’s the most natural thing in the world, his arms lock around jaehyun’s waist, pulling him closer (and trying not to whack him with the basket).he understands why he’s feeling so strongly, now—this is exactly what he’s been craving since he woke up alone this morning.“aww, i didn’t forget, babe,” he replies, lips curling into a fond smile. “i just got tied up with the fitting—we were having trouble deciding on what i should wear tonight.”johnny tries to pull away a little, just to see jaehyun’s face, but jaehyun grips him tighter, snuggling deeper into him and relishing in the warmth between their bodies with a contented sigh.he giggles close to jaehyun’s ear, feeling jaehyun shiver against him. it seems johnny hadn’t been the only one who’d been a little touch-starved.“oh,” jaehyun utters suddenly, starting to put some distance between them, even if he’s tangibly reluctant about it. “i’m awfully sweaty. i’m sorry, hyung, let me—”but johnny pulls him right back in, unbothered by the dampness, and the musky scent of exertion. it’s kind of hot, actually.“don’t care,” he says, resting his cheek atop jaehyun’s head, grinning as he hears (and feels) him start to giggle uncontrollably. “this is making up for you leaving me alone this morning.”jaehyun pouts, and johnny hears it more than he sees it. “i’m sorry, hyung. i wanted more than anything to stay in bed with you, but—”“yuno,” comes a deep murmur, much closer than johnny had been expecting. for a moment, it felt like he and jaehyun were the only people for miles all around. “i don’t mean to interrupt your quality time with your fiancé, but it’s about time to get the horses back to the stables.”jaehyun manages to successfully separate himself from johnny this time, turning to face his father and looking up at where he’s mounted on his black steed.

johnny takes a good look at him as well, noting all the details he’d missed by not seeing him from this close until now. as he smiles softly at them, it’s revealed from whom jaehyun inherited his charming and perfectly symmetrical dimples. the resemblance between father and son is more than striking, to the extent that johnny almost thinks he’s looking at a time-progressed image of what jaehyun will look like in thirty years.but the prince consort’s features are rounder and softer; not just with age, but overall. jaehyun has a sharper, almost catlike edge that he’d gotten from his mother—it gives him the potential to exhibit an icier, more untouchable allure when he wants. but when he’s his softhearted, down-to-earth self, he’s all his father, though his otherworldly beauty is uniquely his own.“forgive me, father,” jaehyun mutters, ears dyeing a faint cerise. “i wasn’t expecting johnny-hyung to visit—i suppose i got a little too excited …”jaehyun’s father gives a low, breathy laugh as he shifts to dismount the horse. he steps aside to drag over a golden trough, where both his and jaehyun’s horses gracefully slurp up clean water.“i’m not inclined to think of your excitement as excessive,” he says, sauntering over to where his son stands and placing an arm around his shoulder. he’s shorter than jaehyun, but only by a few centimeters. “love is a mysterious force, but it’s what makes life worth living. i’m happy that you’ve found it.”jaehyun’s ears flush darker, and his face slowly turns pink.“thank you, father,” he mumbles, smiling shyly and locking his gaze onto the grass beneath his boots. he breathes out a tiny laugh when his father shakes his shoulder affectionately before letting him go.with a calm ease about him, the prince consort turns his attention to johnny, eyeing him up and down. given he hadn’t been expecting it, johnny’s eyes widen and he scrambles to bow ninety degrees, his own cheeks taking on a bit of heat.“well, aren’t you a handsome fellow?” he says, and johnny blushes darker, awkward laughter tumbling out of him as he straightens to his full height.“oh, thank you,” johnny replies. “i guess i had to get jaehyun’s attention somehow.”jaehyun giggles behind his hand, and his father laughs again, casually plucking off his riding gloves.johnny hardly manages to swallow the gasp threatening to spill out of him when he extends his right hand for him to shake.immediately, he obliges, ensuring his grip is firm, but not too firm—he doesn’t want to seem like he’s trying to assert any kind of dominance. this is effectively a king, even if his official title gives him less credit.“i’ve been hoping for a chance to get to know you, youngho,” says the prince consort, dimples impossibly deep as he gives a sincere smile. his cool brown eyes glitter behind the circular frames aiding his vision, long lashes nearly brushing against his spectacles.“i was always sure that if our yuno ever found a man he’d like to spend the rest of his life with, he’d be something special,” he adds, head canting slightly to a side while his kind eyes soften impossibly more. “and indeed you are.”johnny hears jaehyun giggling again, and in that moment, he knows he must be blushing profusely. he wants to pout at him for laughing, but chooses instead to focus on the exchange at hand.“i’m deeply flattered,” he says. “and—i’d like to get to know you, too. you … remind me of my dad, a little.”their hands are still locked, though no longer shaking. the prince consort places his other hand overtop of johnny’s, squeezing him lightly.“that’s good,” he says, voice so low and soft, johnny thinks he can feel it more than he can hear it. “i would like to be someone you can have a genuine conversation with. i know that my wife can be … unyielding, but this dynasty has been her entire life for the past thirty years, and she is quite concerned with its image.”he sighs, pointing an empathetic look toward johnny. “her ascension to the throne was quite a turbulent one, and she doesn’t want that for yuno. but the manner in which she goes about that is … interesting, to articulate it in the simplest of terms.”astounded, johnny only blinks, but jaehyun makes a displeased sound beside him.“let’s save that conversation for another time, father,” he mutters, jaw clenching faintly.the prince consort hums pensively, prior to releasing johnny’s hand.“right, son,” he complies, before gazing up at johnny once more.“i hope you’ll come to my study sometime for a chat,” he extends, something like hope bright in his gaze. “do you like to play chess? yuno and i often play together, though he always wins,” he laughs.johnny smiles. “my dad taught me how to play when i was still in middle school, so i’m definitely rusty, but—that sounds great, your highness.”the prince consort gives a contented hum. “i suppose you two would like to get back to your sweet rendezvous.”jaehyun huffs out a shy laugh, affectionately rolling his eyes. “father …”johnny holds up the basket, subsequently witnessing the doubling in size of jaehyun’s eyes as he appears to notice it for the first time.“we had lunch plans,” he explains, “but i got held up with something. so i brought some stuff for us to have an outdoor lun—woah!”before johnny can finish that thought, jaehyun has grabbed him by his free hand and is leading him away toward his snowy steed.“father, i’m going to need to keep dandelion a little longer,” he calls out over his shoulder, though his father only chuckles, waving a hand dismissively. “i promise i’ll have her at the stables before sundown.”“are we gonna—?” johnny starts, but stops short when he finds himself making eye contact with the horse—dandelion, apparently. “jaehyun, i don’t know how to ride. the only experience i have is when one of my friends had a pony at her birthday party in, like, fourth grade.”jaehyun smiles at him so warmly, johnny’s inhibitions are all but vaporized.“it’ll be fine,” he says, and despite himself, johnny believes him. “just hold onto me as tightly as you can.”he only looks at jaehyun for a moment, admiring him in his sexy riding gear—the polo jersey hugging his broad chest and fitted pants wrapped snugly around sculpted thighs.should he really complain about being whisked off to some romantic location by a handsome prince?“okay,” johnny says, taking a deep breath as jaehyun mounts dandelion, petting through her cropped mane.he offers a gloved hand to johnny, and johnny takes it, climbing on and seating himself behind the saddle. his arms clamp around jaehyun’s waist—probably to the extent that he’s cutting off circulation.but jaehyun doesn’t complain at all—in fact, he’s beaming.“i hope i don’t drop anything,” johnny mutters, and jaehyun giggles, shaking his head.“i won’t go too fast,” he purrs, and something stirs at johnny’s core at the flirtatious lilt to his tone. “you went to the trouble to prepare this for us, so let me do the rest, honey.”♡it shouldn’t be shocking that jaehyun leads them to the perfect spot. he’s been roaming these palace grounds since he could walk—johnny can only imagine the pressure he’s been under since birth, and how vital it is for him to have places to slip away, where no one can bother him, where he can do nothing and be no one.he brings them to a cozy glade far beyond the gardens and outdoor facilities, framed by thickets of trees and shrubbery to obscure anyone and anything inhabiting the soft, dense grass. one great tree towers near the center of the clearing, and it must be older than the jeong dynasty or even gyeongbokgung itself.after safely dismounting dandelion and allowing her to wander off to snack on the lush verdure, jaehyun threads his fingers through johnny’s and leads him right up to the towering hardwood.they set up the makeshift blanket—which is actually a lacy white tablecloth—together, spreading it out as evenly as they can and weighing down the corners with their shoes.then, johnny opens the basket to show jaehyun everything he’d brought for them to enjoy: a few types of gimbap and yubuchobap, kimchi and cucumber salad, perfectly steamed dumplings, and fruits and vegetables prettily arranged and cut into cute shapes (johnny is sure to tell jaehyun that he helped to cut them, and that the wonky-looking ones are his work, and jaehyun tells him they’re the cutest of all). the kitchen staff were also nice enough to pack a couple of sweets, as well as fresh fruit juices they’d prepared themselves.“i wasn’t sure how hungry you would be, so i made sure to ask for stuff we could save for later if we don’t finish it all,” johnny explains. “but i’m actually, like, starving—so i might just end up eating it all anyway.”jaehyun laughs, curling up close to johnny atop the soft ‘blanket,’ and beneath the shade of the tree. it’s warm for early november.“i worked up quite an appetite during the game,” he says, unpacking golden chopsticks and offering a pair to johnny, who tries not to look awed by how fancy they are.jaehyun giggles at him, so he must not have done a great job.“and i didn’t eat lunch, because i was waiting for you,” he continues, eyes twinkling. “but we’ll have dinner in a few hours, so maybe we shouldn’t eat too much now.”johnny gives a hum of acknowledgment, already chewing his third gimbap.“i wondered if you guys actually eat a lot at those banquets,” he says. “i mean, i’m sure you do any other time. you’re korean, after all—isn’t food the second most important thing, after looks?”again, jaehyun laughs—louder this time.“we do eat a lot, but there’s a certain way that we eat that makes it look more ‘elegant,’ i suppose,” he explains, gesturing vaguely with his hands as if to suggest an arbitrariness to the concept. “you haven’t had etiquette training yet, but i’m sure if you watch everyone else and follow their example, you’ll survive.”jaehyun smiles, pointing a tender gaze at johnny through his long eyelashes.“and i’ll be right beside you, so don’t worry.”a mighty flutter spreads through johnny’s core, rendering his chest a cage housing a hundred thousand butterflies.“thank god for that,” he utters, voice a few notches quieter than usual. “i feel like such a fish out of water here. which, i expected as much, but i guess i just … don’t want to make too many mistakes.” he shrinks in on himself a little as he adds, “i don’t want you to be embarrassed by me.”jaehyun freezes mid-bite, eyes all but doubling in size. he hurriedly swallows, placing his free hand overtop of johnny’s where it rests on the cloth.“i could never be embarrassed by you,” he insists, expression a striking combination of somber and pleading. “it doesn’t matter to me what anyone else thinks of you, johnny. you’re the one i want to be with, the one i want to marry—and i knew that from our first conversation, where i saw such a beautiful, caring, and intelligent man, in the intellectual sense and beyond.”he sighs, lightly curling his fingers around the side of johnny’s palm.“besides, i understand that you come from an entirely different world. your parents had you for love, and raised you to be a good man, rather than a good monarch,” jaehyun continues, voice dropping off near the end of his reply. “of course there are aspects of this life that you don’t understand—and others that you may never understand. and that’s okay.”then, he smiles, lashes curtaining eyes that soften with fondness, with admiration.“i want you to learn and grow here alongside me, but i want you to stay you, too,” he tells him, all while stroking a gentle thumb over the ridges of johnny’s knuckles. “i do not fear the pressure and scrutiny that will come with marrying what others so coldly call a ‘commoner.’ i have faced pressure and scrutiny my entire life, and i will have to endure it either way. so why not endure it happily?”johnny remains silent as he listens, and even for a few beats after jaehyun finishes speaking.if his heart had been fluttering before, it’s hammering now, blood pumping so fast that he starts to feel lightheaded. or maybe he’s just dizzy with affection, unsure of where to put the strong feelings that only seem to grow impossibly stronger each moment he spends with jaehyun. no one has ever touched his heart so deeply—uplifted him to make him feel as if he could do anything, all while bringing him back down to earth just the same.is it crazy that this marriage makes more and more sense with every second they’re together? johnny’s had boyfriends he’s spent years with, and never had he seen himself giving them the rest of his life. but with jaehyun, somehow, it’s like he’s never seen anything clearer.“i … i just …” johnny starts, poking through the cucumber salad as he tries to smooth the lump in his throat into a coherent string of words. “i just want to be … good for you. someone you can be proud to be with, you know?” he tries, lips pursing into a pout amid his attempts to clarify. “… worth all the trouble, i guess.”for a few beats, jaehyun only looks at johnny, who is looking down into the salad. then, he reaches for him, cupping his cheek with a firm but mindful hand and impelling eye contact, bringing johnny’s face closer to his until their noses brush.“you are worth everything i have ever endured in my life,” jaehyun says, voice low with devotion. “and you will be more than worth anything i shall endure as long as i live.”johnny starts to feel the telltale pressure behind his eyes, wetness threatening to well in their ducts.he takes a deep breath, trying to suppress that intensifying urge, but loses his senses when jaehyun swoops in to close the sliver of distance left between them, claiming his lips in a kiss that beams a healing warmth directly to his core.johnny shoves everything off his lap with just enough care to not make a mess, and brings himself as close to jaehyun as he can, until he’s lying on the blanket and jaehyun is on top of him. their chests press together, legs left askew to accommodate the food set out between them.jaehyun kisses him deeper at this angle, tongue flooding into the heat of his mouth while his hand slides down from johnny’s jaw to his chest.then, johnny reaches up to grab a handful of jaehyun’s hair, shoving him down further into his mouth, and jaehyun moans, slipping a hand beneath where the buttons of johnny’s satiny shirt had been left open.he parts with a gasp when johnny pulls his hair harder, a shiver wracking through his whole body.oh, he likes that.“i—i can’t …” jaehyun babbles out, abandoning that thought to stamp hot kisses along johnny’s jawline and down his neck.just a moment ago, he’d been so composed and sincere, and now he’s rapidly crumbling into something wilder—and under any other circumstances, it would give johnny whiplash, but he’s in a similar condition. the way jaehyun mouths at his neck and squeezes his chest effectively levels the playing field.still, he manages to ask. “you can’t what, baby?”jaehyun expels a shaky breath, nipping lightly at the skin beneath johnny’s adam’s apple, pulling a throaty sound from him.“i can’t stop thinking about the way you touched me,” he answers, hand trailing down lower over johnny’s clothes. “i touched myself in the shower thinking about it, about you, and i came so hard, i nearly collapsed.”“jesus, jaehyun,” johnny groans, picturing it clearly: jaehyun wet, naked, trying to replicate what johnny had done to him on his own body and bringing himself immense pleasure to thoughts of their passionate night.absently, he wonders if he’d done it before or after he’d written that lovely little note.jaehyun kisses his way back up johnny’s neck, pulling back enough to make eye contact with him. it feels like there’s a pink haze between their gazes, like the world around them slowly evaporates.“i want to touch you,” jaehyun tells him, pupils blown out so that his smoldering dark eyes appear even darker. “it’s all i’ve been able to think about, all day. i want … to suck your cock.”those words rattle around johnny’s brain, ricocheting off the walls of his mind like a pinball.

perhaps he should reflect on why this demure little prince speaking vulgarities to him turns him on beyond belief, but there’s no time for that right now. instead, he’s much more inclined to let him take what he wants, eager to see what jaehyun will do if he gives him the reins.besides, who in his right mind would allow the chance for a gorgeous, eager-to-please man giving him head to slip through his fingers, especially after being launched headfirst into a life-altering situation and craving relief?“oh, fuck,” johnny utters on a hot breath, curtained eyes staring up at jaehyun with pools of lust spreading between them. “i’m getting hard just thinking about it, babe.”within the next few moments, johnny is sitting up against the tree again, pants open and tugged down his hips enough for easy access.jaehyun nestles himself between his legs, lying on his stomach and propped up on his elbows so that his hands can reach johnny’s lap unobstructed. his head bows over the bulge in johnny’s briefs like he’s saying a prayer before a long-awaited meal. once both of them are comfortable, jaehyun reaches out with shaky but certain hands, pinching his fingers around the waistband of johnny’s briefs.johnny sighs as the cotton slips away and his growing erection pops free, nearly smacking jaehyun’s awestruck face. it’s a bit of a novel feeling, to be exposed outdoors, but it’s not unpleasant—there’s a thrill to it, a reverence for the natural world serving as a perfect setting for this natural act between two lovers.and of course, there’s the simmering adrenaline that threatens to spill over at the idea of someone nearby hearing or potentially even seeing them, but they’re secluded enough for that possibility to be reduced to a freak coincidence. the only living being near them is dandelion, and she seems far more interested in indulging in her namesake than she is in her companion indulging in another man.jaehyun is entranced by the sight of johnny’s stiff, veiny cock—the way it lies heavily against his flat stomach and chiseled abdomen, precum leaking prettily from the dusky pink tip, trailing down the relief of his abs and pooling into his bellybutton. it’s evident how aroused he is, and at the thought that jaehyun had managed to get him to this point with only kisses and lustful words, he feels proud, but nervous, too. he’s never done this before, and all he wants is to please johnny, to make him feel as good as johnny had made him feel last night.and, admittedly, he is a little curious about the taste, and the way it will feel in his mouth. he can’t quite explain his desire for it—it’s like a fixation, an urge—a craving, almost.but how can he crave something he’s never had? it feels as though his body knows what it needs and is begging for it, and jaehyun just can’t quell that yearning without yielding to temptation.thankfully, johnny is fully on board, and seemingly just as eager.gingerly, he takes johnny’s cock into his grasp, marveling at how the sheer size and girth make his hand look dainty and small. he sees johnny’s stomach pull tauter and hears him expel a hot, shaky breath, so he goes a bit further, stroking him slowly.the warm, silken flesh feels familiar in his hand, even as his fingers bump over prominent veins, but he notes how different it is from touching himself. the angle is new, and johnny’s open responses to the pleasure go right to jaehyun’s own groin, egging him on to do whatever he must to hear more of it.he thinks back to what taeyong had told him this morning, after jaehyun had decided to continue their conversation surrounding the new developments in the exploration of his sexuality.just follow your instincts, and don’t be scared to give in to your desires, he’d said through a reassuring smile. that’s how you learn what you like. it’s totally natural.natural.right, jaehyun thinks, slowly leaning in to lessen the distance between his mouth and johnny’s throbbing cock. i already know what to do.plush lips part to take just the tip past their slick warmth, a hot tongue pillowing the tender underside, offering jaehyun’s first taste of another man. it’s overwhelming, but in the most gorgeous way—and before he knows it, he’s taking more into his mouth, and more after that, moaning around the shaft as johnny’s sweet, sapid flavor floods his senses.johnny moans, too, eyes rolling back in his head as it tips back against the tree. it’s been a while since he’s had this kind of pleasure, and though jaehyun had been a little shy at first, he can feel that bashfulness melting away into a sweltering desire, like he’s allowing lust to autopilot his body.before he knows it, he’s hitting the back of jaehyun’s throat. johnny gasps, eyes snapping open with both shock and concern.“baby, wait, slow down—” he starts, reaching out to tug at jaehyun’s hair. but he stops suddenly, realizing that jaehyun isn’t struggling at all.experimentally, johnny shoves jaehyun’s head down a little further, and jaehyun’s only response is a moan and his fingers tightening a little more around the base of johnny’s shaft, palm pressing hot against his balls.“holy fuck,” johnny murmurs, voice almost a whisper. “you don’t have a gag reflex.”jaehyun whimpers around him, lids fluttering open to look up at him with sweet, innocent eyes.johnny almost cums right then and there.he can feel his sanity dissolving until all that’s left of it is a thick, honeyed haze. jaehyun’s throat is so warm and tight and wet, closing around his cock greedily like sucking him off is the sole function it had been made for. it’s heaven, bringing on a hot and heavy rapture that manifests in the series of fluttering pulses he gives inside jaehyun’s gullet.johnny watches jaehyun’s adam’s apple dip and the thick bulge of his beautiful neck quiver, and johnny is a goner again, all but liquefied against the trunk of the tree.then, jaehyun moves, starting off with a slow, mild rhythm, bobbing up and down. but just as it had earlier, his eagerness dials up, and soon he’s full on fucking his throat on johnny’s cock, low, broken moans flooding past his busy mouth and vibrating around johnny’s shaft, which makes a lewd squelching sound each time jaehyun swallows it down, driving johnny right up to the edge.“oh—oh, fuck, baby,” johnny moans loudly, hips stuttering up into jaehyun’s pace. his fingers tighten in his hair, but he doesn’t try to control him—just grips him tight for some kind of purchase, even as he arches against the tree.“you’re so good, jaehyunnie,” he praises between panting breaths. “so fucking good.”a higher-pitched sound ripples out of jaehyun, and he pulls off for the first time, excess saliva spilling from his sweet, swollen lips and dripping down johnny’s glistening shaft.both of them take the opportunity to breathe, but jaehyun doesn’t stay off him for long, for soon he’s gripping him a bit firmer and dragging his tongue up and down the shaft, savoring him like his favorite flavor popsicle.johnny is panting, biting down on his lip so hard that he can taste blood beading up to the surface.“how are you so good at this?” he asks, utterly delirious with the pleasure jaehyun’s giving him. the question leaves him on a strangled moan as jaehyun circles his tongue around his tip and even kitten-licks into the leaking slit, drinking up johnny’s essence like sweet nectar.at first, jaehyun’s only response is a thick moan, his lips too occupied trailing wet kisses down johnny’s cock to entertain conversation, mouthing at the tender place where his base and balls meet. his nose presses into him, and he inhales deeply, the heady, musky scent adding a whole new layer to his pleasure.“i love the way you taste,” he finally answers, voice impossibly deeper, rasped by his efforts.rather than explain any further, he chooses to show instead of tell, sucking one of johnny’s balls into his mouth and immediately groaning around the flushed, sensitive skin.johnny’s eyes flutter closed, and he can feel himself smiling as he lets his head fall back against the tree once more. so his sweet little prince has been a freak this whole time.“you want my cum?” johnny asks, licking his lips as jaehyun tongues between his balls like they’re made of candy. how he manages to keep his voice steady when he feels like he’s about to shoot his body weight out of his cock, he doesn’t know. “you wanna swallow my cum, don’t you, baby?”jaehyun makes a needy sound, immediately releasing johnny’s balls just to lick all over his cock again.“mmmh—mm-hmmm,” he answers, taking him into his mouth.“yeah, that’s it,” johnny moans, guiding jaehyun’s head down with the grip he has on his hair. his scalp is probably going to be sore after this, but johnny can apologize for that later. “i’m so close, babyboy, gonna cum right down your tight little throat. you’ll be tasting me for days.”moaning eagerly, jaehyun revisits his prior pace, but spikes it even more, alternating between keeping his throat relaxed and open and swallowing around johnny in unpredictable patterns, pulling moans and groans from him that echo through the open air.“here it comes, baby,” johnny grits out, hips stuttering upward, every muscle in his body pulling taut with tension. “i’m cumming, i’m cumming—fuuuuuuck, jaehyunnie …!”johnny holds jaehyun down until his balls press against his chin as he spurts into him, a thick stream of cum flooding into his mouth and down his throat.they both moan, though jaehyun focuses his efforts on swallowing it all; throat bobbing, one hand clawing johnny’s thigh while the other rakes down his abs, undoubtedly leaving scratch marks into the tan, glistening skin.the comedown takes only a few moments, but it feels like they’re suspended in paradise for a lifetime. johnny releases his grip on jaehyun’s hair, gently caressing the places he may have pulled a little too harshly.meanwhile, jaehyun releases johnny from his mouth, drawing in lungfuls of air and letting his head drop into johnny’s lap, arms wrapping loosely around his thighs.johnny’s cock twitches from overstimulation each time jaehyun’s breath fans over it.they sit in silence for some time, just feeling each other’s warmth and reveling in the heat of the afterglow. then, once his brain starts functioning close to its usual capacity again, johnny breaks through the comfortable quiet.“that had to be the best first blowjob in the history of humankind,” he says. “i think you deserve, like, a world record or something.”jaehyun giggles, licking his lips.“all that matters to me is that it was good for you,” he utters, still breathless.with a fond smile, johnny hums, brushing his fingers through jaehyun’s soft, thick hair.“it was beyond good,” he praises. “honestly, it was the best i’ve ever had.”the angle is a little obscured, but he can see one of jaehyun’s dimples appear, while his cheeks and ears flush a darker pink.“i enjoyed it, too … and i’ll enjoy doing it many times more,” he says, propping himself up on the heels of his hands to look into johnny’s eyes. “you really do taste like heaven.”johnny bites his lip. one of his hands sneaks its way between them to cup over jaehyun’s crotch, where he discovers that he’s rock solid in his riding pants.jaehyun whimpers at the obstructed contact, hips jerking toward johnny’s hand, and johnny smirks, chuckling lowly.“i want to know how you taste, too,” he says, stroking jaehyun over his clothes. “i mean, i already know, but i’m curious if your pretty pink dick tastes as sweet as your pretty pink hole.”“please,” jaehyun begs, hand raising to caress johnny’s face, pressing in closer until their lips brush faintly. “can’t you enjoy them both, honey?”♡before they’re due to part ways to get ready for the banquet, johnny and jaehyun steal a few more moments together in the gardens, strolling leisurely through paved walkways and watching the sunset while chatting sweet nothings.neither of them can deny the little thrill that comes with walking out in the open after what they’d just done to one another in the clearing. perhaps it’s an immature sentiment, like horny teenagers who’d gotten away with fooling around without their parents finding out, but if there’s one thing johnny has learned from that bygone era of his life, it’s that the giddiness is always more obvious than it seems—if not by the way they stop mid-sentence to just look at each other and giggle, then certainly by how loose and relaxed their shared gait is, and how jaehyun keeps stroking along the soft flesh between johnny’s thumb and index as they ‘innocently’ hold hands.as they perch by the fountain, jaehyun admits that he’s dreading this banquet, expressing his concerns about his mother giving johnny a hard time. but johnny assures jaehyun that he’s prepared for it, and has been psyching himself up to not crumble or lose his cool.he’s a bit too shy to admit it to jaehyun’s face, but he feels as though he can handle anything with his support, and given that he’ll be right beside him the entire night, johnny is inclined to believe that he’ll have the strength to gracefully play along with whatever mind games the queen may subject him to.still, he notes that jaehyun’s expression holds more than just concern—it almost looks foreboding, like he knows something that johnny doesn’t, and isn’t keen to share.it’s his first time seeing such a somber look on jaehyun’s face. johnny isn’t sure if he should ask or not, but jaehyun seems to sense his unease, for he suddenly reaches out to hold both of his hands.“there’s nothing my mother can say or do that will make me change my mind about you,” he promises, squeezing johnny’s palms lightly, but earnestly. “i only hope that she won’t try to change your mind about me.”alarmed by such a suggestion, johnny squeezes jaehyun in return, trying to whisk those thoughts away. “i’m not going anywhere,” comes his earnest reply. “especially not because of her, or anyone else. i’m here for you, jaehyun.”the reassurance brings a little light to jaehyun’s eyes. he smiles, releasing johnny’s hands to hold him gently by the face, leaning up and into him until their foreheads touch.neither of them say anything more, but it’s as if johnny can feel what’s in jaehyun’s heart—and he can feel that same thing in his own heart, too.that sense of connectedness persists even now, when he’s standing awkwardly in his room amid a throng of servants tending to him, dressing him up like a doll.johnny has never had this kind of treatment in his life, and it’s immensely overstimulating, to the extent that part of him wants to bark at all of them to leave so he can do it himself. but he resists that urge, figuring that he’s just not used to it yet, and may even grow to like it with time. being pampered is meant to be a luxury, isn’t it?for now, he conjures up thoughts of jaehyun to keep his brain occupied, but consciously ensures that those thoughts don’t take a carnal turn—it would be mortifying if the servants got the wrong idea from his body’s natural reaction to less than chaste images of the man that’s had a monopoly over his mind lately.his hair gets curled into a fluffy, boy nextdoor kind of look that kibum’s team thought would contrast well with the sleek, structured attributes of the suit. as he faces the mirror, johnny is a little surprised by his own reflection, never having seen himself look so … polished. he’s always known how to dress up and keep himself well-groomed, but what the servants have done is an attention to detail he couldn’t ever achieve on his own between the makeup, hair, and manner in which the outfit is laid and assembled.he almost feels like an actual royal—like he could look nearly as otherworldly as jaehyun does every time he’s in the view of a camera lens.moments after the styling team finishes with him, an advisor tells johnny that jaehyun is already on location with his parents and personal team, hence, they won’t be seeing each other before the start of the event. johnny is a little disappointed by this, but takes comfort in the fact that they’ll be together again soon regardless.

he does get the chance to see yuta, however; the two cross paths on the landing of the grand staircase, and yuta returns johnny’s phone to him without a word.johnny is a little confused to see that it’s completely turned off, until he notices the sober look yuta is giving him.“you need to call your mom,” he says, folding his arms over his chest.he’s wearing another flowy outfit that definitely does not belong to him, but even fancier than the first look johnny had seen him in. the accessories are evidently his own, though—the dangly silver earrings johnny has seen him wear for dinner parties and nights at the bar alike, and a ring on every finger but the one reserved for matrimony.but johnny hardly notes any of these details in his conscious mind. yuta’s words drag him by his ankles into the reality he’s been so blissfully avoiding since they’d taken off out of o’hare, as if it was a problem he could just leave behind in chicago.he glances at the lifeless black screen, heeding the apprehension present in his own expression.in light of johnny’s penitent silence, yuta goes on.“i know it’s going to be a disaster of a conversation, but the fact of the matter is, the longer you wait, the bigger of a disaster it will be,” he advises, words leaving him firmly, but with an empathetic warmth tucked between them. johnny knows him well enough to recognize it.“she called you forty-two times while your phone was charging,” yuta goes on, unfazed by the way johnny’s eyebrows arch at that information, “and then she started calling me, and i felt like shit because i wanted to answer and explain everything, but i know it’s not my place.”yuta sighs, eyes going sharp all over again as he points a stern look up at johnny.“so you better tell her something. tonight.”johnny groans, slipping his phone into his pocket. he knows that he’s pouting, but he doesn’t have the presence of mind to force his face into a less childish expression.a pathetic helplessness overtakes him whenever conflict with his mother arises—it’s like he regresses back to being a kid, wanting more than anything to keep her happy and hating himself when he fails—when he upsets her, or gives her grief.“i will,” he mutters miserably. “i really didn’t think she’d be this worried.”with a bitter laugh, yuta shakes his head.“yes, you did,” he argues. “come on, johnny. you’re everything to your mom, her whole fucking world. you really thought she’d notice you disappeared under mysterious circumstances and wouldn’t get concerned?”johnny’s lips fold in on themselves. he knows yuta is right, and that he should have kept anxiety from clouding his common sense, but he doesn’t want to confront his oversights. especially not right now. it’s already past six-thirty, and the last thing he needs is another thing weighing on his mind before having to face what will essentially be the most uncomfortable job interview of his life.“and god knows mark has probably only made the situation worse,” yuta adds, scoffing. “i love him, but he’s a shit liar.”“i know, i know,” johnny concedes with a heavy sigh. the more he thinks about his mother lying awake at home, sick with worry, the more he starts to feel sick himself.inwardly, he utters an apology to her, hoping she can wait just another few hours to hear from him—hoping that mark had at least told her that he’s okay, and hadn’t run off with some guy, or something.well. i guess i kind of did run off with some guy, didn’t i?“i’ll make it right,” he vows, taking in a deep breath and slinging his arm around yuta. “for now, let’s just focus on trying to get through this banquet. i can only stomach one high-stress situation at a time.”yuta hums, patting the hand that’s gripping his shoulder. “i’ve got your back,” he reminds him. “seems like jaehyun does, too.”together, they approach the stairs, descending in pensive silence. johnny keeps his arm around yuta, and yuta holds onto johnny’s wrist, underscoring his intent to be a lifeline during a challenging time.they enter the common area soon thereafter, as they’d been told the quickest route to the banquet hall is to cross directly through it and circle behind the kitchens. some of the other guests offer cordial greetings as they pass by, but when yuta lets out a sudden puff of air as if he’s some kind of disgruntled dragon, johnny turns his head toward whatever—or whomever—could have elicited such a hostile response.the answer is unsurprising. clad in yet another all-black ensemble, the very last person johnny wants to encounter at a time like this shoots them a disgusted leer from across the common area, the woman he’d been talking to withering a bit with the shift in his attention.“just ignore him,” johnny mumbles, tugging yuta toward the archway they ought to pass through. “he hasn’t bothered us yet. don’t give him a reason to.”yuta scoffs. “if he’s gonna look at us like we’re fucking roaches, i’m gonna return the favor.”they keep walking, but the prolonged eye contact seems to send an invitation to doyoung to approach them—which is exactly what johnny hadn’t wanted.“fuck, he’s coming over here,” johnny groans, glaring unhappily at yuta. “this is why i said to just fucking ignore hi—”“on your way to the banquet, are you?” doyoung asks, squaring his shoulders and resting his hands on his narrow hips.he’s taller than yuta, but nowhere near johnny’s height—a fact which seems to irk him, given his visible disdain at his having to look up at him.“i believe her majesty the queen named you the ‘guest of honor,’” he adds, eyes narrowing. “though i’m uncertain of what honor she could be referring to.”johnny frowns, unable to keep from rolling his eyes. ultimately, however, he brushes him off, continuing toward the archway.his lack of a dignifying response only seems to deepen doyoung’s contempt for him; anger burns hotly in his sharp eyes, and he opens his mouth to try to goad him further, but yuta commands the situation with ease.“who are you again?” he asks, though it’s evident that he already knows.johnny sighs, turning back to face his friend with a pleading expression.“yuta, don’t—”“we have somewhere important to be, so maybe you shouldn’t waste our time,” yuta says, holding doyoung’s seething glare with a bored nonchalance that serves to make him angrier. “i don’t think the queen would appreciate that so much, considering she didn’t even bother to invite you.”doyoung’s eyes triple in size, the whites of them flashing brightly as his pupils constrain, and despite himself, johnny struggles to bite back a laugh.“you irreverent little—” doyoung starts, narrow nostrils flaring, but he snatches up his composure before it gets too far away from him.he inhales sharply, but exhales slowly, eyeing both of them with a cold, condescending smile.“forgive me for not introducing myself,” he replies, tilting his head as he leans slightly backward. “kim dongyoung—doyoung by preference—son of the duke of gyeongsangnam province. before you two just waltzed in out of nowhere, i was the prince’s rightfully betrothed.”yuta smirks. “oh, so you’re the reason jaehyun kept telling everyone he didn’t want to get married. you must be proud.”“yuta,” johnny attempts yet again, but he’s too late.doyoung bristles, face hardening with barely-bridled rage—that composure he’d seized just moments before charring to blackened ash.“you know nothing,” he seethes. “the prince is in a rebellious phase, that much is true, but he will grow out of it. and when he comes to his senses, he will realize what a grave mistake he is making by bringing strays into this dynasty.”his glower befalls johnny, who has remained stone-faced throughout his tirade—but at being referred to as a stray, he clenches his jaw.noticing this, doyoung smirks, daring to slant closer to him.“the family tree is no place for charity work,” he sneers.“oh, i’m sure marrying you would have been paradise,” says yuta, lids still curtaining his eyes in that impudent, dismissive air. “who doesn’t want to wake up every day next to some slimy, entitled prick? yeah, jaehyun’ll really be missing out.”“yuta, enough,” johnny snaps, brows furrowing. “we’re going to be late.”both yuta and doyoung startle, eyebrows arched with a combination of surprise and indignance, but yuta ultimately huffs and yields to johnny’s plea.then, johnny eyes doyoung, and taeyong’s warning from the prior day echoes through his mind. but he’s never fared well with being blatantly disrespected—and in that way, perhaps he and yuta are more alike than he’d ever admit.so he sighs, trying to keep his tone as neutral and diplomatic as possible.“listen, doyoung,” he starts, unable to keep some of the ire from bleeding into his expression. he must look somewhat frightening—doyoung cowers a little. “i know you feel like i’ve taken something from you, but that’s no excuse for you to call me out of my name. maybe we really do know nothing, but you don’t know anything about us, either, so i suggest you put your assumptions to rest.”he watches as doyoung recovers from the lapse in his composure and goes right back to looking scornful, his eyes sharpening and lips pursing tighter with each word johnny says.“we’re here because jaehyun wants us here, and there’s nothing you can do to change that,” johnny continues, hands finding their way to his hips, unwittingly making his posture wider. “and if you can’t find the maturity to accept that jaehyun wants to marry someone other than you, then you’d best stay out of our way—because the one thing i do know is that if you do anything to upset him, you will regret it.”yuta looks stunned for half a second before he smirks, proudly folding his arms over his chest.all the while, doyoung appears as if he’s moments from a full-on meltdown.“is that a threat?” he asks, laughing with affronted disbelief.johnny sizes him up through narrowed eyes. “that’s entirely up to you.”“you don’t know the mistake you’ve just made, youngho,” doyoung replies through grit teeth. “you will not last even a second as a royal, and you will never exude the prestige that can only be earned by birthright,” he hisses, eyes dark and lightless like gaping voids. “and i will be there when you crumble and fail, proving what the queen and everyone else in this palace, including you, already knows to be true: you do not belong here.”johnny’s fingers curl tightly into fists, blunt nails biting into the flesh of his palms. the iron grip he’s maintained on his anger up to this point begins to wane.but before doyoung can spew anything else, the massive doors connecting the common room and banquet hall fly open, and taeyong and jungwoo burst through the archway with urgency in their eyes.briefly, taeyong makes eye contact with doyoung and curls his upper lip, but swiftly returns to the matter at hand.“what on earth is taking you two so long?” he chastises, a vein raising between his neatly groomed brows. “the banquet is starting in three minutes, and the queen is not happy that her guest of honor is nowhere to be found!”alarmed, johnny checks his watch.“oh, fuck,” he groans, whipping his head around to point an exasperated glare at yuta. “i told you we were gonna be late!”“relax,” yuta tuts, batting a dismissive hand. “we can get there in two and a half if we haul ass. c’mon, let’s not waste any more time with this loser.”taeyong and jungwoo giggle, and johnny sighs, shaking his head, but doesn’t argue further. the four men speed off before anyone cares to notice doyoung’s brooding offense to their lack of regard.yuta’s estimation of their arrival time proves to be accurate, as they fly down the corridor and approach the dining hall with thirty seconds to spare. they pause to collect themselves at taeyong’s insistence, not wanting to appear as if they’d been rushing or to cause any kind of a scene—surely it would only serve to piss the queen off more.once they’re straightened out, the two guards manning the entrance bow dutifully and draw the doors open for them. taeyong gives johnny’s shoulder a light nudge, gesturing for him to go first.he sucks in a deep breath as he heeds the unspoken suggestion.yuta and taeyong link arms behind him, and jungwoo pouts, eyes rolling with dissatisfaction at his somehow being a third wheel in a group of four.johnny keeps his posture pin straight as he enters the room, immediately cognizant of every eye that befalls him. he searches for jaehyun, though it takes no time at all to spot him at the most extravagant table in the room, gorgeously dressed and seated beside his glowering mother.but he hardly notices the queen’s expression. the light of jaehyun’s beaming smile drowns out her sullen gloom, prompting the rhythm of johnny’s heart to surge, generating a heat that penetrates his chest and spreads through his ribcage.he can’t help but smile back, suppressing the urge to give a flirtatious little wink. as much as he’d love to see jaehyun blush and giggle, he knows now isn’t the time for those types of antics—the queen might find a way to strike him down with just her eyes.the empty seat beside jaehyun beckons to him, and johnny approaches with all of the regality his body can muster—which he’s certain isn’t enough, anyway, but it’s the best he can manage.jaehyun keeps smiling at him, and eventually rises from his own seat to offer his fiancé a formal greeting.“what kept you so long?” he whispers as a servant scurries to pull out johnny’s chair for him. both men can feel the queen eyeing them with antipathy, the sensation much like being pricked with a needle.johnny thinks to mention doyoung’s antagonistic behavior, but he doesn’t want to add to the stress both of them are already under. plus, he thinks it would do more harm than good to give him the time of day—he’s always thought that the best way to deal with a pest is to ignore it until it inevitably tires itself out.“we just lost track of time,” he responds, nodding gratefully toward the servant before taking his seat. jaehyun sits, too, and scoots his chair an inch or two closer to johnny. “thank god taeyong and jungwoo came to get us.”jaehyun giggles. “i may or may not have sent them,” he admits. “my mother was getting restless, and the last thing i’d want is for her to happen upon any kind of reason to spite you.”johnny kneads his lips together, briefly making eye contact with the queen before focusing on jaehyun once again.“i don’t think she needs a reason,” he mutters.gently, jaehyun rests a hand on johnny’s thigh. he can tell that it’s meant to be comforting, but it sends a bolt of electricity through him.“don’t worry about her,” he says. “i won’t let her terrorize you.”lips pulling into a sweet, appreciative smile, johnny places his hand overtop of jaehyun’s and gives a light squeeze.jaehyun smiles back, flipping his hand palm-up so that their fingers can interlock properly.“your majesty,” the herald addresses, nearing the table with a bow. “it is seven o’clock, and it seems all of the guests are accounted for. shall i begin?”with a painstaking slowness, the queen tears her leer away from the prince and his fiancé.“you shall,” she answers, staring blankly ahead, her painted red lips pulled into a tight frown. “now that the guest of honor has at last bothered to make an appearance.”the heat of embarrassment crowds around the collar of johnny’s pristinely pressed shirt. beside him, jaehyun huffs as silently as possible, though he doesn’t bother to hide his eye roll.“of course,” is the herald’s dutiful reply. he turns away from the royals, clearing his throat prior to projecting to the massive hall, voice filling the room as easily as it had the day johnny arrived.“ladies and gentlemen of the court, and esteemed guests alike,” he calls, gathering every pair of eyes in the room at once.the herald bows, outstretching his arms in an introductory gesture, framing the queen in all her royal glory.“with the utmost honor, i present to you: her majesty the queen.”

johnny half-expects a thunderous applause, but instead, there is only reverent silence as the queen rises from her chair as gracefully as the moon rises in the night sky.her sleek, black-and-gold gown sparkles amid the splendorous lighting of the hall, but the crown pinned amid the dark sea of her elegantly styled hair sparkles like nothing johnny has ever gazed upon. he’s seen many costume tiaras and prop crowns for school plays and halloween costumes, but this is the real deal—a symbol of wealth and status he cannot even conceptualize, let alone understand.he glances toward the prince consort, and then toward the prince, noting that they are not wearing any blinding jewelry atop their heads. he knows they have crowns, too—he’s seen them in pictures and portraits both online and around the palace—thus, he wonders why only the queen has chosen to adorn herself with the bold reminder of the jeong dynasty’s enduring power.“my dear subjects,” the queen begins, commanding the room with a low, soothing tone, “it is such a pleasure to entertain you tonight as we celebrate my son’s engagement. we have gathered to give thanks to the ancestors for looking upon us favorably once more, allowing for such a momentous occasion—one we have anxiously awaited since prince yuno came of age six years ago …”though the queen is captivating when she speaks, johnny’s gaze keeps returning to her son, noting the blankness of his expression. the slight pinch of his eyebrows makes it appear as though he is trying to keep from showing resentfulness or contempt, and has thus elected to show no emotion altogether.however, when he catches johnny’s gaze, warmth floods jaehyun’s face, and he smiles. johnny smiles back, feeling his straggling nerves quell once jaehyun gives his hand a tender squeeze.“please join me in honoring my son’s fiancé, youngho, as we make space for him amid our most esteemed family tree,” utters the queen, her dark eyes shifting toward where johnny and jaehyun are entangled in one another in all ways but physically.she glares, but maintains her regal composure.“we ask that you wish the betrothed a prosperous marriage,” she says, “including the eventual birth of an heir to preserve the jeong legacy.”the latter sentiment induces a cold sweat for johnny. he’s always wanted kids, and though he and jaehyun haven’t had that conversation yet (why would they have? they’d only met weeks ago), something tells him that he feels the same way.but the framing of it as producing an heir puts him under a pressure he isn’t so sure about. he can only imagine how jaehyun has felt the past six years, as his mother was so certain to quantify.he’s snapped from his thoughts, and his fixation on jaehyun’s face, by the queen’s sudden calling of his name.“youngho,” she addresses, flicking a wrist in his direction. “have you anything to say of your future contributions to the most honorable jeong dynasty?”perhaps it is only the queen’s elevated vocabulary, but the question almost feels like a threat.jaehyun squeezes johnny’s hand again, gesturing subtly with his other one under the table for johnny to stand.thankful for the bit of direction, johnny rises to his full height as gracefully as possible, relinquishing the warmth and safety of jaehyun’s touch and facing the sizeable crowd of nobles and others with royal ties. his blood feels thin and cold in his veins, but he does his damnedest not to show as much, employing the whole of his focus to appear as poised as the royals amongst which he’s standing.amid all of the unfamiliar eyes taking in his every move, he can feel jaehyun’s gaze casting a warm light at his side, and again, it soothes him.“thank you, your majesty,” he says, bowing in her general direction. “i am grateful to be here. but above all else, i am grateful to have met jaehyun. i will work and study hard to make him proud, and to be someone worthy of standing beside him, and of upholding the honor of the jeong dynasty.”he glances down at jaehyun, who is smiling up at him, bright eyes offering silent praise for his thoughtful reply.johnny smiles back, a wave of relief crashing over him. he gazes across the table where taeyong, jungwoo, and yuta sit amongst the other important guests, noting the way pride shines in their eyes, too. taeyong even gives him a thumbs up.“what a lovely sentiment, youngho,” says the queen, one of her eyebrows arching in such a way that almost makes her look impressed. “thank you. you may be seated.”he almost drops like a ton of lead in his relief, but swiftly remembers that he ought to exude elegance with his every move—as much as he can, at least. thus, he bows toward the queen and sinks back into his chair with a polished dignity, keeping his back pin-straight as if he’s balancing encyclopedias atop his head.“hyung, that was wonderful,” jaehyun whispers, eyes shining with delight. “i think even my mother was pleased—genuinely pleased. i can tell when she’s pretending.”johnny wheezes out a shaky breath.“you think so?” he whispers back. “i tried to prepare a few things to say in case she asked me anything, but i wasn’t expecting her to put me on the spot like that, so i kind of just … told the truth,” he chuckles.jaehyun gives him another heart-wrenchingly warm smile. johnny wonders how anyone could get used to witnessing this kind of beauty from so close.the queen starts talking again, encouraging the guests to enjoy the wine and hors d’oeuvres as they wait for the first course. johnny is still a little too wired to eat anything, but he does reach for the wine—a tall, slender glass with intricate golden spheres separating the cup from the stem—with hopes that it will enable him to relax a little more.“i think you’re better-suited for this than you may believe,” jaehyun murmurs tenderly, resting a gentle hand on the swell of johnny’s thigh. “i have endless faith in you, johnny.”johnny smiles against the rim of the glass. he wants to kiss jaehyun, but he figures it’s off-limits for now. he’ll have to save all of this affection bubbling up at his core for later.the queen takes her seat beside jaehyun, causing him to straighten up once again. he keeps his hand on johnny’s thigh.“so, youngho,” she begins, voice rising easily among the dull hum of chatter throughout the hall as guests at different tables start up conversations of their own. “i don’t believe yuno ever told us what it is that you do. it is evident you don’t come from an elite family, so how did you make your living back in chicago?”johnny swallows a bit more wine than he’d meant to, feeling the thick bead of liquid sink slowly down his throat as he tries to conceive an answer to such a loaded question.“i … worked at a life insurance company,” he replies. “it was a typical desk job, so not very exciting … but yuta’s father is the director of the branch where i worked, so i got that job pretty much the moment i graduated from university, and was there up until i met jaehyun.”there’s a tense silence, wherein the queen simply stares blankly at johnny, her face completely illegible. it makes him feel as though bugs are crawling all over him under his suit.“i see,” she says, evidently unimpressed. but johnny had been expecting that. “life insurance … very unexciting, indeed.”johnny looks at jaehyun, whose jaw has clenched.“it’s an honest job, mother,” he says, voice steely with annoyance. “johnny works hard to achieve his goals. he was saving money to pay off his debts and make a life for himself. i think that is very honorable.”“plus,” yuta suddenly speaks up, drawing in the eyes of all who sit at their table, “if i may add, johnny was the best agent at our company. he had the highest commission rate, and customers loved him—which is saying a lot, since most people hate talking to insurance agents.”he looks across the table at johnny, who stares back at him wide-eyed, and breaks into his big, shark-toothed smile.“more than that, he could always upsell and get them to buy the biggest policies in their budget,” he continues, making johnny want to sink down into his chair until he is no longer visible.jaehyun is giggling beside him, so his embarrassment at the praise—especially from yuta—must be detectable.“my dad always makes the joke that johnny could sell a million-dollar policy to a newborn baby,” says yuta. “he made that company millions, even if he had to live modestly off what they were paying him, so, he’s a hard worker for sure. and, like, dangerously likable.”the queen eyes yuta carefully, visibly cross that he had spoken out of turn, but interested in what he’s saying, nonetheless.“is that so?” she says, gold-tipped nails tapping against her wine glass. “i suppose one must be ambitious when hailing from humble beginnings.”she turns back to johnny, brow arched. “what of your parents, youngho? what do they do?”johnny clears his throat, vanquishing the flustered heat burning the apples of his cheeks as best he can.“uhm—well, my mother worked for a local news station in chicago, and my dad was a high school math teacher,” he explains. “they’re both retired now.”jaehyun’s father hums with interest. “it seems your parents were heavily involved in community work,” he says. “that explains how kindhearted and sociable you are.”“oh,” johnny replies, feeling his face get warm again. “i—thank you.”“what about university?” the queen asks suddenly, brushing the praise aside. “you mentioned graduating. where did you attend, and what degree did you earn?”“mother,” jaehyun interjects, brows pinching inward. “this seems more like an interrogation than a conversation. johnny is our guest of honor; wouldn’t you agree that he should be treated with a little more respect?”the queen glares at her son, who fixes a similar gaze upon her, the tension thickening around them like polluted air.johnny attempts to mitigate some of the negative energy with a soft, though awkward-sounding laugh. he places a hand at the small of jaehyun’s back, capturing his attention.as usual, jaehyun’s face softens when he looks at him.“it’s okay, jaehyunah—i would be pretty curious, too, if i was in her position,” he says, watching as jaehyun pouts, but ultimately doesn’t protest any further.he takes the opportunity to answer the queen before her impatience grows large enough to fill the entire room. “i graduated from the university of chicago with one degree in media studies and another in communications, your majesty,” johnny explains.the queen’s eyebrows slowly raise toward her hairline. “you have two degrees?” she questions, though it’s evident she isn’t expecting an answer. “that’s quite extraordinary, youngho. and what fine degrees to have—i imagine if you had been better connected, you might have been incredibly successful.”the compliment feels like a knife sinking into his chest.“… thank you, your majesty,” johnny replies. “i did spend a few summers working with my mom before getting the job at the insurance company.”“it’s nothing to lament; it’s all in the past, now,” says the queen. “at least you had the initiative to study something useful. could you imagine going to yale just to get a music degree?”silence settles over the table, leaving johnny winded and confused—until he looks toward jaehyun, whose gaze is locked into his lap, lips pressed into so taut a line, his dimples show through.johnny could never have imagined seeing those charming dimples under such distress.“i—” johnny starts, scrambling to try to take some of the shame from jaehyun’s shoulders. “i think that’s amazing! it isn’t every day you meet someone with a music degree.”“and perhaps there is a reason for that,” retorts the queen. “what’s the use in studying music at university? that’s something he could have done at his leisure. now, he has to make up for it by studying the material he needs to rule in the palace. it’s an unthinkable waste of time and resources.”johnny can feel his mouth hanging open, but despite the ample space, he can’t get a single word out of it. across the table, taeyong, jungwoo, and yuta look equally stunned, and even the prince consort wears a pained expression, pointing a miserable look at his wife.jaehyun has not moved at all, his gaze still downcast and body stiff with angry tension.but the queen is unfazed by the wounded reactions to her frigidity. she takes another sip from her glass, swishing the blood red liquid inside with even rotations of her wrist.“with … all due respect, your majesty,” johnny starts, voice low but firm, “i think there’s value in studying music. clearly, it’s jaehyun’s passion.”beneath the table, he grabs jaehyun’s hand once more, and squeezes it tight. he feels jaehyun relax a little, but nowhere near enough.“and he still has plenty of time before he’ll be king,” he adds. “what’s so wrong about him using it?”taeyong, yuta, and jungwoo’s wide-eyed stares are pinned to johnny, now, but on the other side of the table, the prince consort is smiling at him. jaehyun still hasn’t lifted his head, but johnny feels him squeeze his hand back.all the while, the queen blinks slowly at johnny, as if she is processing each and every word that had come out of his mouth and is taking her time developing a reaction. finally, she glances ahead of her, eyes settled on seemingly nothing in particular.“i suppose that is one way to think about life,” she mutters vaguely. “an endless string of time. that’s rather comforting, isn’t it?”her eyes narrow as they settle on johnny again, and her voice goes from pensive to cold. “but it is rooted in delusion,” she continues, stern and chastising. “especially for yuno. he has taken too much time already, and only seems to be moving increasingly slower.”abruptly, jaehyun rises from his chair, moving so swiftly that the sound of it scraping against polished floors echoes through the banquet hall, prompting the entire room to go silent.“i have lost my appetite,” he announces, expression blank and listless, though his voice shakes slightly—but enough for johnny to notice.then, just as suddenly as he’d risen, he’s making an exit, head held high and shoulders squared, but hands clenched into tight, shaking fists. by the time johnny starts to process what is happening, jaehyun is only a few paces from the nearest door.“jaehyun,” he calls, rushing to get to his feet. “jaehyun, wait—”but jaehyun doesn’t. he slips through an inconspicuous side door likely meant for servants and lets it fall closed with a heavy thud behind him—a deafening sound in the ringing silence of the hall.dumbly, johnny stands still, staring at the door behind which jaehyun had disappeared. his mind is roaring to go after him, obviously he is not fucking okay, but for some reason, he can’t move. shock has hindered his mobility.as if he shares johnny’s brainwaves, the prince consort mutters, “he’s never done that before.” the weight of concern drags his tone down several octaves, but there’s something sharp, too—something that sounds like resentment, though evidently not toward his son.the queen sighs, sitting back in her chair. “he will be fine,” she replies, voice equally quiet. “reality must be setting in for him at last.”her nonchalance makes something burn at the base of johnny’s throat. he wants to scream, wants to ask what her fucking problem is, but he already knows—it’s him.thus, he can only take in a deep breath and do what he knows how to do best: damage control.“the prince isn’t feeling well,” he says, projecting to the entire room. “it seems he’s suffering from a sudden illness. i’ll go make sure he’s alright—but everyone, please, continue to enjoy yourselves.”there’s a moment’s hesitation, but gradually, the room goes back to how it had been before—a few conversations start back up, and servants begin moving again, refilling glasses and dashing between the kitchen and the banquet hall.johnny doesn’t spare a second to see how the queen and the others will react. he’s remembered how to move, and is all but sprinting toward the door after jaehyun, though it’s likely he’s hidden himself in some crevice of the palace unfamiliar to johnny by now.

once he makes it out to the corridor, he feels a hand wrap around his wrist. he whips around to explain that he can’t stop to talk, but sees taeyong standing there, looking as if he’s moments from combustion.“let me go with you,” he asks, grip surprisingly firm. “please. it’s not like him to storm off like that.”with lips pursed, johnny considers it—leading him to wonder if jaehyun will even want to see him. ultimately, he shakes his head.“i know you’ve known him longer than i have, but … i don’t want him to get overstimulated,” johnny explains. “i think it would just upset him more.”with a forlorn sigh, taeyong releases johnny’s wrist. “… i guess you’re right,” he mutters. “please, just call me if there’s anything i can do. are you going to try to bring him back?”a shrug. “it’s up to him. i know the queen will be pissed if we disappear, but—to be honest, my main focus is just making sure he’s alright.”taeyong nods. “i’ll talk to the prince consort about keeping her off your case. but she really can be impossible sometimes.”“yeah, i’ve figured that out by now,” johnny grumbles. “thanks anyway. there’s no harm in trying.”with that, taeyong lets him go, standing in the doorway for a few beats before returning to the banquet.this leaves johnny tasked with figuring out where in this massive palace jaehyun has run off to.nightfall brings an increasingly frigid chill, so it isn’t likely he’s sought refuge outdoors without a proper jacket. beyond that, it’s only been a few minutes since he’d taken off, so he can’t have gotten too far.he decides his best bet is to just pick a direction and commit to it. thus, johnny starts down the corridor, peeking into every room on the way only to find vacancy after vacancy.after about fifteen minutes, he convinces himself that jaehyun is not on the ground floor, and elects to head down, given that there are less rooms at the basement level, making it easier to clear.taeyeon and kibum’s studio is empty, as are the gym and spa, so johnny keeps exploring, poking into dark rooms and occasionally running into servants who give him wide-eyed looks of wonder. he asks them if they’ve seen jaehyun, but they shake their heads unhelpfully—at least, until one ahjusshi suggests johnny check the record room.“where’s that?” johnny asks, trying not to show his impatience.“it’s the door across from the prince consort’s study, johnny-nim,” he replies, pointing down a long, deep corridor. “shall i take you there?”but johnny shakes his head. “no, i can find it. thank you.”how curious that the prince consort’s study is in the basement. johnny figures he can ask about that some other time—right now, he’s too busy hoping the ahjusshi had pointed him in the right direction.once he finds the correct room (the golden plaque above the doors reading ‘record room’ is immensely helpful), he gently nudges one of the doors ajar and pokes his head inside.soft music spills through the now open air. it’s dark, but there are columns of moonlight beaming in from tall windows—and it’s then, johnny realizes that the basement isn’t entirely underground.the soft, bluish luster illuminates rows and rows of records that are immaculately organized, almost as if the royal family had taken the time to put one of the largest record stores johnny had ever seen in their palace, only with none of its wares for sale.jaehyun had mentioned that he and his father bond over an affinity for vinyl records and have shared their music since jaehyun was little, but johnny could never have imagined that their collection would be this vast. perhaps this is what naturally occurs when one has endless resources to accommodate their endless passion.nevertheless, these discoveries are minimized by the sight of a figure perched by one of the windows, tucked into an armchair across from what appears to be a vintage gramophone, based on its shadow.from its horn, a soothing voice fills the air, and johnny can’t help but stop and listen.i couldn't love you more, boystay exactly how you are, yeah, yeah, yeahi couldn't love you more, boycouldn't love you moreif everyone in the worldwould give me their treasurei would not want for more (i would not want for more)than i have right now (oh, right now, baby)hey, yeah, yeah (on your side)(i really am on your side)slowly, and as quietly as he can manage, johnny closes the door behind him. then, he steadily approaches, and the image of jaehyun’s side profile, backlit by the glow of the moon, draws him near like a moth to a flame.the song comes to an end, and jaehyun crosses one shin over the other as he puts his shoeless feet up onto the chair, waiting for the next one to play. he’s facing the window, looking out at the night sky, hands resting lightly atop his knees. from body language alone, he looks like a wounded child.“jaehyun,” johnny calls softly, not wanting to startle him. “you okay?”jaehyun whips his head around at once, just as the dulcet tones of the next song start to fill the room. johnny can’t see his face too well, aside from the light held in his eyes, but he knows jaehyun can see him, given that he is facing the window and the moonlight is washing over him in a powdery blue beam.jaehyun reaches out to turn a knob, making the music even quieter. then, his hands raise to his face, scrubbing beneath his eyes with his wrists.johnny’s heart aches when he realizes that jaehyun’s eyes weren’t just sparkly—they were wet.“i’m fine, hyung,” he murmurs, poorly subduing his faint sniffles.there’s another armchair on the other side of the record player, but johnny doesn’t move to sit there—it feels too far away from jaehyun. instead, he approaches the window and perches himself on the thick sill. this way, they can both see each other clearly.“tonight was a disaster, huh?” johnny mutters, a tiny, bitter chuckle beneath his tone. “i wasn’t expecting it to be perfect, but … damn. your mom didn’t pull any punches.”jaehyun sighs, avoiding eye contact.“i’m sorry for storming out of the room,” he says on a quivering breath. “i shouldn’t have left you there by yourself—it was a cowardly and immature thing to do, especially considering my determination to protect you tonight.”he swipes his fingers beneath his hidden eyes again, and when he pulls them away, they glisten with his tears in the silvery blue glow of the moon.“i suppose that in all of my ambition, i had foolishly forgotten about protecting myself,” jaehyun laments.“hey,” johnny starts, leaning down so that his eyes are level with jaehyun’s. even so, jaehyun does not look at him.this time, johnny sighs—he can barely stand to see jaehyun this way.“it’s understandable that you’re upset,” he insists. “what your mom said was harsh, and totally uncalled for … even your dad was shocked. i don’t blame you for not wanting to be around her—and removing yourself from the situation probably stopped you from saying something you’d regret. beyond that, it’s …”he pauses, trying to find a more articulate or profound way to comfort jaehyun, but falling short of any groundbreaking revelations.“… it’s not immature to have feelings,” he mutters.at last, jaehyun raises his watery eyes, returning johnny’s gaze. the hurt they hold could fill an ocean.after a few pensive beats, he finally replies.“all my life, i’ve only wanted to please my mother. everything i did was to make her proud, make her happy—but once i reached a certain age, it seemed like nothing was ever enough,” he says, voice trembling with despair, with frustration. “she always expected more, always urged me to be the perfect little prince to carry on her legacy, to prove that she wasn’t a failure. and i wanted more than anything to do that for her … i felt it was my duty; the entire reason i had been born was to redeem her and save our family name.”a weighted silence ensues, and though johnny wishes with every atom of his being to push back against that claim in an explosive rebuttal, he holds his tongue, instead directing all of his energy into being a calm and loving presence in jaehyun’s time of desperate need—a safe place for him to rest his heavy head.“but … now that i’m an adult …” jaehyun continues, tone so hushed, johnny feels him more than he hears him, “i’ve come to the realization that the prince she wants me to be simply isn’t who i am.”jaehyun’s lips tremble slightly, and he bites their seam to keep from looking like a weeping child, but it only serves to more vividly illustrate the extent of his grief.as he watches him through misty eyes, johnny recalls the night they met, when they’d spent the hours of his “private dance” talking to each other on the velvety couch, forging a connection built on trust and vulnerability despite being strangers. he’d wanted to take all of jaehyun’s pain away then, hence why he’s ended up in this palace beneath the promise of marriage, and as jaehyun divulges the true depths of what makes his beautiful heart ache, he wants to save him impossibly more—or help him save himself.“if i give up all of myself to please her, then … i’d have nothing,” jaehyun says, breaths quivering softly between his words. “i’d be miserable … a hollow husk rather than a person. and i don’t want that, johnny. i don’t want that …”johnny feels a burning sting at the top of his throat that often comes when he’s on the verge of bursting into tears. but he steadies himself as best he can, wanting to be strong for jaehyun—wanting to be the pillar that holds him up before he crumbles.reaching out, he brushes jaehyun’s soft, dark hair out of his eyes. jaehyun leans into his touch, resting his head heavily against johnny’s hand, and johnny supports him.“jaehyun, you don’t owe anyone your life,” johnny tells him, scratching lightly at jaehyun’s scalp. “not your mother, not your country, not your ancestors—no one. you deserve to live openly and happily as yourself, other peoples’ wants and expectations be damned.”fleetingly, johnny thinks about what doyoung had said earlier—how johnny doesn’t know anything, isn’t cut from the same cloth as a royal. but maybe that isn’t such a bad thing.“i know it’s easier to say than do, given that you’re a prince, but—” he huffs, shaking his head. “just because you were born a royal doesn’t mean that you should give up your happiness to go by some outdated book. your life is your life. live it.”jaehyun lets out a stuttering breath, using his own hand to hold johnny’s in place, like his touch is healing him.“but i’ll let everyone down,” he whimpers. “i’ll be a disappointment. my mother will die ashamed of me, just like her mother died ashamed of her, and then i’ll become exactly what she is.”“no, you won’t,” johnny says. “you’re not going to let anyone down. you’ve been preparing for this your entire life, jaehyun. and you may not have all the answers yet, but you still have time.” his tone edges on pleading, as if unraveling the tightrope jaehyun has been trained to walk since birth is his only ambition.“think of all of your ancestors, how miserable some of them must have been having to live in ways they didn’t want to—” he prompts, recalling kibum’s testimony from earlier that morning. when i was a kid, gay marriage was still illegal. now the fucking prince is doing it. i never would’ve imagined we’d come so far, you know? “—your queer ancestors who had to marry the opposite gender to save face, your eccentric ancestors who toned themselves down to conform to impossible standards … what if they’re watching over you and depending on you to break the cycle?”jaehyun gapes up at him, wide-eyed and open-mouthed, and johnny himself can hardly believe that he’s suddenly found so much eloquence to express these complicated feelings, to relate to this situation he can barely understand. but maybe that’s just what love can do.“that’s not something to be ashamed of, jaehyun,” he says, moving his hand to cup jaehyun’s flushed face, soothingly sweeping a thumb back and forth in a sweet caress.jaehyun’s grip is loose at johnny’s wrist, hanging off him like he hangs off every word he says.“your mother may not understand that right now, but maybe she will one day. i know she thinks you don’t have time, but you do.” his voice drops to a murmur, but conviction makes his words firm, unbreakable. “you’re twenty-five, for fuck’s sake. you have so much time.”slowly, jaehyun lowers his head and slots his eyes closed. then, johnny feels wetness trickle down his palm—the same palm holding jaehyun’s cheek.slanting forward, he takes him into his arms, pressing jaehyun’s head against his chest and cradling him close until they’re flush to one another. he kisses the top of his head, folding his lips tightly inward while jaehyun clings to him desperately, pressing his smaller frame against him so hard, it almost feels as though he wants to disappear inside johnny, to be eclipsed by him entirely.“i knew that this wouldn’t be easy, and i knew that it was going to hurt, too. but …” jaehyun pauses, inhaling johnny’s scent, finding all the strength he needs in his arms.“... i think i can get through anything, as long as you’re by my side,” he tells him, voice softer than even a whisper—but johnny has never heard anything clearer.“i’ll always be by your side,” johnny replies. “always, jaehyun.”they remain entangled for some time, the romantic tones of the record settling over them like a warm blanket.when i was led to youi knew you were the one for mei swear the whole world could feel my heartbeatwhen i lay eyes on youi-i-i-i-iyou wrap me up inthe color of love …after a while, jaehyun pulls away just to look at johnny, arms still tucked beneath johnny’s own and hands clutching at his upper back. without a word, he starts slanting forward, as if he’s only scrap metal to a powerful magnet—and just as pale lids and long, thick lashes veil his sparkling eyes, johnny meets him halfway, sealing their soft, supple lips in a deep kiss.jaehyun shifts, lifting his arms to loop around johnny’s neck and shoulders, pushing his overcoat to the floor in his ambition to bring him as close as physicality allows.johnny matches his intensity, locking his arms around jaehyun’s waist and pinning their bodies together until their heartbeats synchronize. in the process, jaehyun sinks deeper into the chair, pulling johnny on top of him. one of his johnny’s hands slides down toward jaehyun’s ass to establish a better grip on him.with a soft moan, jaehyun welcomes the slick heat of johnny’s tongue into his mouth, hooking one of his legs at the small of johnny’s back while the other falls against an armrest.taking the invitation, johnny glides his fingers down jaehyun’s stomach to cup a hand over his crotch, earning another sweet sound from him. he breaks the kiss, then, eyes remaining closed as he presses his forehead against jaehyun’s.they stay locked in their embrace, various limbs intertwined, sharing hot, shaky breaths as they simply relish in one another’s touch, like cats sunbathing in the warmth of life-giving rays.“i’m guessing you don’t want to go back to the banquet,” johnny murmurs.jaehyun giggles, and johnny is so elated to hear it that he giggles, too—the contagion of mirth sweeping away the sadness. one of jaehyun’s hands glides up from johnny’s chest to his neck, walking his fingers up a tantalizing trail that makes johnny shiver.“i would rather us stay here together,” he answers, beaming as the tips of their noses touch, and johnny nuzzles against him.blushing, jaehyun bites his lip prior to adding, “the way you rubbed yourself against me last night … could we do that again? just with our clothes on?”johnny blinks down at him, processing the request.“you want me to dry hump you? here?”“yes,” says jaehyun, lying back against the armchair, “i want to feel you again, but someone might find us here.”his dark hair is a little messy, catching moonbeams in its sleek, healthy shine, and his flushed face and kiss-swollen lips paint an irresistible image. that, combined with the searing heat between their bodies, makes it obvious what johnny’s next move should be.

he kisses jaehyun again, lightly squeezing the bulge in his pants with the hand still lingering between his open thighs.“pants on or off?” he parts to ask.jaehyun hums, pointing a dazed, but sultry look up at johnny. “just unzip them—i think it’ll be enough, baby.”♡still silence enshrouds the corridor where jaehyun’s bedroom lies, rendering johnny’s every step a deep, penetrating echo.in his arms, jaehyun rests soundly, curled up against his chest with one arm slung over johnny’s shoulders in a half-embrace.johnny can feel the warmth of jaehyun’s slow breaths washing over his collarbone, exposed where his pristinely crisp shirt had been pawed and unbuttoned to his sternum, and it fans the flames of fondness burning at his core.surprisingly, jaehyun isn’t very heavy—despite his considerable build, johnny has no difficulty carrying him up several flights of stairs and through the winding labyrinths of the palace’s corridors. he may have his own strength to thank for that—being able to deadlift several times his weight has benefits beyond showing off at the gym, apparently.it has to be near to two in the morning. they’d remained hidden in the record room for a while, talking lowly in the afterglow of intense pleasure and dry orgasms, and by the time jaehyun began dozing off in the armchair where the two of them could barely fit even with their limbs entangled and bodies pressed flush, the moon had been at its highest point in the sky, and the gentle commotion of servants making their rounds had dwindled to soundlessness.then, johnny figured it would be safe to retreat to jaehyun’s bedroom, and had scooped the sleepy prince into his arms with the promise of transporting him from the cramped armchair to his much more spacious and comfortable bed.jaehyun had blushed at being lifted so easily, but was ultimately too tired (and fucked out) to protest, resolving to embrace his being treated like a dainty little thing and cuddling up to johnny with a soft sigh denoting comfort, contentedness.upon nudging jaehyun’s bedroom doors open, johnny laments having to put him down (he’s not sure jaehyun will let him carry him around like this again without either being a little drunk or in a post-orgasmic haze), but fulfills his promise of reuniting jaehyun and his bed. gently, he sets him down onto the mattress, plucking jaehyun’s arm from around his shoulders and returning it to his side, but not before pressing a soft kiss to his pinkish knuckles.“i don’t think you want to sleep in these clothes,” he whispers, noting that jaehyun is somewhere between slumber and consciousness, but sinking toward the former.with mindful hands, he strips him of his fancy outfit article by article, folding the items as best he can and setting them near the vanity where a servant will surely find and know what to do with them.he thinks to search for where jaehyun keeps his cute matching pajama sets to dress him properly, but by the time he returns to the bed, jaehyun has rolled onto his side and snuggled into the pillows. johnny smiles, an amused breath huffing past his slightly parted lips, and elects not to disturb him. his calvin klein briefs, still a little damp with pleasure fluids, will have to serve him well in his dreams.johnny untucks the comforter from the mattress as delicately as he can and drapes it over jaehyun’s flushed, mostly-bare body to keep him warm. after that, he presses a sweet kiss to jaehyun’s temple, and he thinks he sees his lips twitch into a little smile, emphasized by the suggestion of a dimple poking through.with jaehyun taken care of, johnny sighs, starting to remove his own clothes and giving them the same treatment of leaving them by the vanity. he hates to think it’s a little slobbish, but he doesn’t want to cause any problems or confusion for the housekeeping staff—thus, until he learns where things are meant to go, leaving them out in plain sight seems like a solid plan.as he removes his pants, his phone slips out of a pocket and rattles against the floor with a heavy thud. johnny grimaces, hastily picking it up, though the noise had likely already disturbed jaehyun—but he doesn’t hear any complaint or as much as jaehyun stirring, and breathes a sigh of relief.the device is still powered off despite being fully charged. he stares at it for a while, and at his own reflection in the blank, dark screen, thinking about what yuta had told him before the banquet.come on, johnny. you’re everything to your mom, her whole fucking world. you really thought she’d notice you’d disappeared under mysterious circumstances and wouldn’t get concerned?biting the seam of his lips, johnny sits on the edge of the bed opposite where jaehyun is sleeping. with trembling hands, he powers his phone back on, ensuring that it’s set to silent mode in the likely event he’s hit with a barrage of notifications.as expected, the missed calls and texts come flooding in, and it makes his stomach drop seeing his mother’s name pop up over and over again, her hours’ worth of messages ranging from frantic to angry to desperate.honey, please call me.mama is worried. mama is so worried.mark won’t let me into the apartment anymore. i heard him crying. i can tell he’s hiding something for you.whatever it is, i won’t be mad, okay? please just tell me that you’re okay. i need to hear your voice.john, how could you do this to your mother? do you want me to die worrying about you?john.please.your father keeps telling me that you’ll call me when you’re ready and to give you space but i don’t even know where you are. how can i rest without knowing that you’re okay? you’re my only child. my baby.mr. nakamoto told me you quit your job. why would you do that?are you going to hurt yourself?you wouldn’t do that, would you? john?please call me. i won’t sleep until you call me. i can’t.i love you.as he reads through the endless text bubbles, seemingly his mother’s stream of consciousness as she lies awake worrying about him, johnny’s throat constricts and burns so violently that he thinks he’s about to throw up.his eyes fill with tears until he can barely see anymore, and he hangs his head low, cupping his free hand over his mouth and nose as the emotion starts clawing its way from the deepening pit of his stomach to the prickly cavern of his throat.he hates himself for being the cause of his mother’s suffering, and hates himself even more for not being able to just tell her the truth. he will, he has to, but not now, not when she’s already bordering on hysteria if not fully entrenched in it.but the thought of her lying awake with an ache at her core because of his foolish actions is unbearable. he has to try to make this right, has to ease her pain, even if just a little—but he doesn’t know how. avoiding it had been easy enough when the reality hadn’t been right in front of him, glowing ominously on the screen of his phone in the moonlit room, and now that he’s opened this can of rotting worms, he can’t just put the lid back on and pretend like he hadn’t seen the decay.johnny takes in a deep, shaky breath, trying to find his strength. he can hear jaehyun breathing softly behind him, and tries to match his rhythm.then, he taps the screen, pulling up the keyboard.me at 2:09am ma … i’m so sorry. i’m sorry i left without saying anything. all of this just happened so suddenly and i couldn’t think of a way to explain it to you and dad and i needed to be in korea by a certain time and i just … i panicked.i tried to pretend like everything would be fine if i could just think of a way to fix all this and explain it perfectly so that nobody would be hurt. i know i’m causing you so much stress and i can’t apologize enough because i know it won’t fix anything.i’m sorry.i can’t call you right now, but i will call you as soon as i can, okay? it won’t be more than a week. i promise.and i still can’t tell you what’s going on yet because i just need some time and some space to figure everything out. i have a lot of really big decisions to make and i need to do this on my own.but i’m okay. i promise i’m okay. i’m safe and healthy and i’m with good people who care about me and will look after me. i know there’s no point in saying this but i will anyway: please don’t worry too much.i love you, too. i’ll call you soon, mama. i know it’s the middle of the day there, but please go to sleep now, okay?after he sends the last message, johnny waits a few beats. he sees the status change from delivered to read and his heart leaps up to his throat.then, the ‘typing …’ bubble appears and disappears a handful of times, and never more than now has johnny wished he could just jump through his phone and pull his mother into an embrace; assure her his words are sincere.finally, new messages appear.ma at 2:14amokay. i will rest now.you rest, too. and call me as soon as you can.i’ll be waiting, john. please don’t keep me waiting forever.a sigh of relief gusts out of him. his nerves aren’t quelled entirely, but at least his mother will get some rest—that alone is enough to soothe the ache in his heart so that he can do the same.setting his phone aside on the nightstand, he crawls into bed, slipping under the sheets as delicately as he can manage so as not to jostle jaehyun awake. gently, he curls himself into the contours of jaehyun’s back, hooking an arm around his waist and relishing in the healing comfort of his warmth. the blaring static in his brain slowly dies down, and his eyes slot closed, nose tickled faintly by the long, fragrant hairs at jaehyun’s nape.just as sleep beckons him toward unconsciousness, he feels a warm touch wrap around his hand, dragging it from jaehyun’s waist up to his chest and lacing slender fingers into the spaces between johnny’s own.neither of them say a word, but johnny smiles against jaehyun’s neck, sure he can feel it.♡jaehyun is unusually cheerful this morning.the catastrophe of the banquet and his abrupt departure from it is far enough into the past for him to simply not dwell on it. taeyong and jungwoo question his soundness of mind upon his meeting them for brunch, but they don’t speak on what occurred beyond voicing mild concerns, which jaehyun quells with promises of his being just fine.perhaps the undueness of his high spirits inspires them to not sour his mood with further discussion of the prior night. instead, they focus on maintaining his gaiety, even if they couldn’t understand its origin.in the end, both of them seem relieved to see jaehyun okay after he was very much the opposite less than a sunrise ago. they make passing comments about their wonder toward just what johnny had done to wrench him up from the depths of despair, which jaehyun only dignifies with fond giggles and fluttering lashes.he himself can’t say what it is about his fiancé that makes him feel as though nothing in this life or any other can bring him down for too long. there’s just a loveliness about johnny that jaehyun has never before experienced in another person—a light in him that beams bright and healing, that sustains life itself like the glow of the sun.unlike the last time they’d shared a bed, johnny had woken jaehyun up just after 8am, rendering one another the last thing they’d laid eyes upon before going to sleep, and the first upon waking to a new day.with warm embraces and soft, tender kisses, they hadn’t a care in the world as they kept safe in their sweet little bubble, and it was then that jaehyun had realized he never wants to start any day in any other way or with any other man for as long as he lives—he wants to wake up to johnny suh for the rest of his life. he may even need to.alas, they’d eventually had to part ways, as johnny had his first meeting with his etiquette coach, and jaehyun had lessons to attend. but the promise of being reunited later keeps the hearth at his core ablaze.further aiding in jaehyun’s good mood is his pointed avoidance of his mother. she’d made it easy enough by not requesting an audience with him as she usually does whenever he steps out of line (which had been bizarre, but jaehyun won’t argue with a blessing), but beyond that, jaehyun knows her routine and makes a conscious effort to keep to a path less likely to intersect with hers.she may resent his game and demand his presence in her study sooner or later, but he’ll worry about that if and when it actually happens. he believes johnny deems it ‘crossing a bridge when he gets there.’for now, he warmly parts with taeyong and jungwoo upon their return to the palace and makes his way toward the gardens, hoping to soak in the last of their beauty before the winter frost puts it to sleep. the november chill already threatens to nip him beneath his warm jacket, but once he zips it to his adam’s apple, he manages to keep the shivers at bay.as he wanders deeper into stiffening verdure, closer to the massive fountain and its glittering waters, jaehyun’s mind drifts toward wonder at what johnny is doing. might he look out a window somewhere in the palace and spot him on his stroll? would he smile fondly at the image of him, wishing that the sands of time would spill swifter between the hourglass’ chambers?he could text him to see if he’s still occupied. and if he isn’t, perhaps they could sneak away to the clearing or some other quiet place and not be bothered for a few hours.jaehyun’s thoughts evaporate upon his passing the fountain, when the grove often used for outdoor events comes into view. he spots a lone figure placed on the paved stairway encircling the pearly gravel of the “ballroom,” hands folded into their lap and eyes trained on the smaller, synchronized fountains spewing arched streams in hypnotic patterns.heart leaping into his throat, jaehyun is rushing toward the grove before his brain can fully compute what (or who) he’s seeing, covering the significant stretch of ground in record time.“uncle!” he shouts, unable to keep his childish excitement at bay.he hasn’t seen him much since he was a child, before the queen mother had unofficially banished him to england for not living up to her standards. on paper, he’s there to handle “diplomatic affairs,” but with the exception of funerals, weddings, and other major happenings, he hasn’t returned since his being cast out.for that, jaehyun cannot blame him—but rationale doesn’t stop him from missing him terribly.at the sound of jaehyun’s voice, yunho’s head whips around from where his gaze had been fixed on the fountains. immediately, a warm smile lights up his face, and he springs to his feet, opening his arms wide for his nephew to launch himself into them.despite his being overtaken with mirth, jaehyun is careful to not knock his uncle off his feet, though he still buries his face into his shoulder, inhaling the comforting scent of his flowery perfume.“aebok!” yunho greets with a bright laugh, the nickname he’d given jaehyun since before jaehyun can even remember making it seem as though no time at all had passed since they last saw each other.his uncle’s arms seem to be as strong as they were when jaehyun was a toddler, and he hugs jaehyun tightly, nearly squishing him in his hold—but jaehyun doesn’t mind. in fact, he hopes the numbing tingle can last until the next time they’ll be able to embrace this way, whenever it may be.“what are you doing out here alone?” jaehyun asks, pulling away suddenly to look around. “where’s soojeong-noona? and uncle jaejoong?”again, yunho laughs, but quieter than before. “somewhere in the palace, i would imagine,” he explains. “i wanted some time to myself to think. i’m glad you showed up, though, because i was worried about you.”his expression goes soft and melancholic, bright eyes sparkling with concern as he looks jaehyun up and down.“i didn’t want to leave until i saw with my own eyes that you were okay after what happened last night.”“oh,” jaehyun says softly, feeling his ears start to flush with embarrassment. “i’m fine, uncle. i was being a little dramatic, that’s all.”yunho looks at him for a while, seeming to doubt his words. ultimately, he lets them go without rebuttal.

“come sit,” he says, gesturing toward where he’d been perched on the stairs.without a second thought, jaehyun obeys, lowering himself onto the cold concrete and waiting patiently for yunho to join him.“i can imagine that you’re experiencing a lot of anxiety right now,” yunho says, relinquishing his weight with a heavy thud, soft eyes never leaving his nephew’s face.jaehyun folds his lips inward until they press into a line, eyes sinking toward the pavement.“i know how my sister is, and i knew just from the way she was glaring at youngho that she didn’t approve,” yunho continues, leaning closer as if to silently will jaehyun to return his gaze—and eventually, he does. “but i’m proud of you for standing up for yourself, and doing what you want to do, even if it’s not easy.”jaehyun blinks slowly at him, those words touching his core.“uncle …” he mutters, once again breaking eye contact in favor of studying his polished shoes. “i never expected her to be fully on board with this, but she’s being cruel now. i don’t know what to make of that … and i’m doing all that i can to keep her from hurting johnny, but it seems as though she’s set her sights on hurting me instead.”he sighs, shoving his hands into the pockets of his faux-fur-lined leather jacket.“maybe i just need to be stronger, but … she’s my mother,” jaehyun mutters, tone colored by grief. “i don’t want to be at odds with her. i … i want her to be proud of me, even though i think i’m starting to accept that it may never happen.”yunho says nothing for a few beats, jaw tight as he mulls over those words.on account of his silence, jaehyun casts a worried look upon his face, and at once, a quivering ache burrows through his chest. there’s a world of pain in his uncle’s eyes that feels distant yet familiar.though yunho always appears joyful and spirited around him, as jaehyun gets older, he starts to recognize a somber weight that never fully leaves his gaze. now, he thinks he’s finally starting to uncover its true nature: the pain of a severed bond with a mother, reinforced by the permanence of death.and if he continues down this crumbling path, eventually, jaehyun will have that same, haunting look in his eye, too.“aebok, i want to tell you a story,” yunho says, suddenly breaking the wordless tension. “it’s a sad story, but i think you need to hear it.”given the sudden austerity rarely seen in his uncle, jaehyun can only nod, sensing that attentive silence best suits the shift in mood.“when i was twenty, i met the man i was certain was the love of my life,” yunho starts, holding eye contact at first, but eventually allowing his gaze to wander skyward, absorbing silvery blue. “his name was changmin, and he was eighteen … and because of that, i wasn’t interested in him at all,” he laughs, though the forlorn melancholy of his distant smile drains the humor out of his words.“i thought he was annoying—just a persistent little kid who wouldn’t leave me alone. but as i got to know him more, my opinion of him started to change … we always talked so easily, about any- and everything, and for the first time in my life, i felt as if i had met someone who really understood me, who wanted to understand me …”yunho pauses, as if all of the emotions of his younger self come flooding back, like time hadn’t pacified them at all.“before i knew it, i was sitting with him for hours, telling him everything about my life, and listening to every detail about his. and at some point, i realized that i was meant to meet him … that our lives were meant to intertwine.”he smiles, though there’s an undeniable distance to it—a sadness.“i wanted him to be part of my story,” yunho says, conviction crowding his words. “i wanted to write a new story together.”jaehyun stares intently at his uncle as he speaks of this man he’s never heard of, enchanted by every detail of what seems to be a beautiful love story. but his heart sinks as he recalls his uncle’s warning, and the reality they’re living in now—there won’t be a happy ending for yunho and changmin.yunho sighs, tucking his lips inward. “all of this was before you were born, of course. it was a different time. as much as changmin and i were in love, a public relationship wasn’t an option, let alone marriage, which wasn’t even legal. for years, i had been told that no one could know the truth about such a large part of my identity, or it would bring shame and dishonor to my family, and to the jeong dynasty as a whole.”those bright, warm eyes take on a sudden darkness, and jaehyun thinks he can feel his heart crumbling at his core as he listens on.“i pleaded with my mother—i wasn’t asking for marriage, or for any exceptions, but i just wanted to be able to be with changmin,” yunho murmurs, the breathlessness crowding his tone hinting that some wounds have yet to mend. “i knew he was my soulmate. and i swore to her that no one would ever find out, that we could keep our relationship secret.”another pause ensues—even heavier than the last. jaehyun can feel it this time, but still, he says nothing. he knows his uncle needs the space to navigate such deep hurt, to let it breathe.“but she wouldn’t hear any of it,” yunho goes on. “she reminded me what i had been born for—that i was expected to uphold my duty and marry a woman, as well as to contribute to the security of the esteemed bloodline.”jaehyun’s mouth quivers, and he purses his lips tightly. “that’s how you ended up with aunt sooyoung.”yunho nods. “it was an arranged marriage,” he confirms, and jaehyun’s chest throbs like an open wound.“two nights before the wedding, i cried in changmin’s lap for hours, because i knew that once sooyoung and i were married, i would never see him again—” another dry, humorless chuckle, “really, i wasn’t even supposed to be seeing him then, given that my mother had forbidden it, but i just couldn’t stay away from him. every time we were apart, it was like a piece of my soul was missing … it’s … it was unbearable.”there’s a weighted pause, wherein yunho, seemingly subconsciously, places a hand over his chest as if to soothe an ache.“but my marriage to sooyoung would change everything. once it was done, my mother would be watching intently, waiting for my wife and i to fulfill what was expected of us and present her with our child,” he continues, tone taking on a grim, mournful darkness. “that night, changmin let me cry for a while, but then, he took my face into his hands, kissed my tears away, and asked me to run away with him.”eyes blowing wide and lips swiftly parting, jaehyun reaches for his uncle’s wrist, squeezing it in his astonishment.“he did?” he asks, though the answer is evident. “oh, uncle—why didn’t you?”yunho laughs—softly, miserably.“i was afraid,” he answers, finally returning jaehyun’s gaze. his eyes glisten with unshed tears, and the seam of his lips sags with grief. “i didn’t want to lose everything, to be a failure and a disappointment to my family.”taking in a deep, trembling breath, yunho lowers his head for all of a moment before reestablishing eye contact, the weight of his gaze uttering a thousand words already.“aebok, i know exactly how you feel right now,” he mutters, lips barely moving to accommodate his breathless whisper. still, jaehyun hangs on every word.“it’s terrifying to think that you can’t live up to the only reason you were born, or meet the lofty standards that have plagued you since you became aware of your own existence. it feels like your whole world is slowly crumbling, and all of the debris is piling up, separating you from everything you’ve ever known.”yunho articulates the feeling as if he had extracted it directly from the frequency between jaehyun’s brain and his heart. it breaks him that his uncle understands it so well—understands it even better than he does, to the most unfortunate extent.“but i will tell you what i wish i would have been strong enough to realize when i was your age,” yunho resolves, the shakiness melting away from his voice, which resonates with gallant clarity: “the only person who can determine your purpose is you.”those words sit on jaehyun’s chest like a boulder. he tries to blink his tears away, exhaling tightly as his gaze falls into his own lap, but yunho takes him by the chin, tipping his head upward and impelling eye contact.“promise me that you won’t let anything come between you and youngho,” he implores. “i’ve seen the way your eyes light up just at the mere mention of him, the way you seem to be more of yourself when you’re with him. yuno, i can’t bear the thought of you giving up your soulmate for your mother’s imaginary approval.”staring back at his uncle—feeling the depths of his pain and grief as they’re reflected in his eyes, thinking he could be looking into a mirror—jaehyun feels hot tears start to spill down his cheeks.“i promise,” he whispers, peering pitifully up at yunho through wet lashes. “i promise, uncle.”gently, yunho takes jaehyun into his arms, pressing his face into his shoulder.“it’s okay to be scared,” he murmurs, “but don’t let that fear stop you from being happy.”jaehyun nods, slowly pulling away to look up at his uncle once more.“what happened to changmin?” he asks softly. “and what about uncle jaejoong …?”with a warm smile, yunho rubs jaehyun’s shoulder.“i haven’t seen or heard from changmin since that night,” he admits. “when i told him i couldn’t run away with him, i encouraged him to move on and find happiness with someone else. i don’t doubt that he’s long since gotten married and had children of his own with some other man or woman that could give him everything he wanted …”drawing in a deep breath, he lets his hands fall into his lap as he thinks of his own family.“and of course i love jaejoong … he was the only person who supported me after the divorce, and after my mother sent me away. more than that, he’s been a great stepfather to soojeong.”yunho’s smile is authentic, but it bears a tight tension that hints toward an unspoken dissatisfaction. the curve of his lips flattens as he ventures to be fully honest with jaehyun.“as happy as i am with him, i can’t help but wonder, sometimes, what i could have had with changmin,” he confesses, eyes drowning in guilt. “i think i’ll wonder about that until the day i die.”reaching out, yunho brushes gentle, thoughtful fingers through jaehyun’s hair. “and that’s exactly what i don’t want for you.”it takes a while for jaehyun to reflect on all he’d just learned. he’s long known about his uncle’s sexuality, and the divorce, and all the strife that had come with his choosing to give up the illusion and pursue his own happiness. that had been heartbreaking enough—but he’d never known about the scars of his lost love, and how it seems they won’t ever fully heal.the afterimage of the pain only love can bring comes to him clearly—and it’s harrowing.“… i understand,” jaehyun mutters, swiping away the last of the moisture beneath his eyes. “thank you for telling me about all of this. i think you were right that i needed to hear it.”yunho’s smile returns, warmer than ever, complemented by his tender eyes.“aebok, i’m always on your side, okay?” he promises, uttering the words as if his voice could etch them into stone. “you represent everything the jeong family name should be.” as he declares this, he gives jaehyun’s shoulder a gentle, but firm squeeze.“i only hope my sister will come to see that sooner rather than later. she knows exactly how it feels to never get the chance to mend the rift between a mother and child …” yunho sighs, gaze again darkening with gloom. “it would be a shame if she put you through that, too.”jaehyun only nods silently. yunho’s words echo in his brain, making his head feel heavy—thus, he rests it on his uncle’s shoulder, finding peace in the comfortable quiet between them.he isn’t sure how much time passes before his phone vibrates a few times in his pocket. he sits up, pulling the device from where it had been concealed and finding that he has a few messages from johnny.쟈니형 오후 1:27heyyyyy you still busy?finally managed to escape my first day of etiquette training. thought it would never fuckin end ㅠㅠanyway, i really wanna see you. meet me for coffee?he tries to bite back his grin, but he must not achieve much success, for he can hear his uncle chuckling beside him.“i won’t hold you any longer,” he says. “go be with your fiancé. we’ll see each other again before i set out for london tomorrow.”jaehyun feels his ears burning, neutralizing the nip of the autumn chill, but his smile only grows.“thank you, uncle. for everything.”yunho smiles back, playfully mussing jaehyun’s thick, dark hair. he kisses his forehead. “always, aebok.”giggling, jaehyun pulls his uncle into one last embrace, which is enthusiastically reciprocated, much like the mirthful laughter bubbling up between them. then, he gets to his feet and takes off, waving behind himself until he’s fully exited the grove.with his uncle no longer in sight, jaehyun returns his attention to his phone. pale, quivering fingers type a string of replies as quickly as they can, as jaehyun hopes to evade the threat of them becoming icicles.나 오후 1:35 i really want to see you, too, hyung. i’m on my way back to the palace nowyou’ll have to tell me all about how your first day went ㅎㅎㅎ you sound like you really enjoyed yourselfby the way, i want you to meet my uncle before he leaves tomorrow. dinner with his family tonight?♡johnny’s brain hasn’t felt so congested with new information since his college days—he’d have never guessed the umbrella of etiquette training would cover everything from how to greet different royals and nobles to knowing each and every article of silverware on a dining table.more than that, his etiquette coach hadn’t wasted any time getting right down to criticizing and ‘fixing’ every aspect of how he carries himself, down to the smallest details of which foot should go in front of the other when he walks to where his hands should be and what they should be doing at any given time to the precise angle that ought to be formed at the junction of his neck and chin.there’s no way he’s going to remember all of this stuff, and he finds himself increasingly impressed that jaehyun and the others seem to have it programmed into them like perfect etiquette androids.then again, lady joohyun, his kindhearted but no-nonsense coach, had emphasized that remembering isn’t so important as allowing it to be ingrained into everything he does. apparently, proper etiquette resembles a religion more than a subject like history or mathematics.regardless, johnny is relieved to be free for the day, though the idea of going through it all over again tomorrow is daunting.but it’s not tomorrow yet, thus, he’d rather not waste his free time worrying over problems for future johnny. now, he’s laser-focused on finding his way to the common room to meet jaehyun and spend as much time as he can with his darling prince.by the time he makes his way down the grand staircase, he’s a little shocked to find yuta and taeyong idling there instead, engaged in what appears to be a lively conversation with an unfamiliar young woman. even from a distance, johnny can see that she embodies the essence of a royal—even if she laughs loudly and loosely, and is far less restrained than any women of the court he’s seen thus far.as he draws nearer, he notes that she bears a striking resemblance to jaehyun—to the extent that, had he not known for sure that jaehyun is an only child, he may have assumed her to be his sister.“ah, johnny!” taeyong greets upon spotting him, gesturing with a hand for him to join their conversation. “we were just talking about you.”johnny’s brows furrow a little. “not sure how i feel about that, considering you were all laughing.”yuta huffs with amusement. “quit sulking, princess. we weren’t saying anything bad. if anything, we’re glad you were able to save last night from being a total shitshow.”“oh,” says johnny, lashes fluttering as he blinks rapidly. “i mean—i don’t know about that. i tried my best, but i’m not a miracle worker.”

“you handled the queen better than anyone has in years,” says the woman, as she tosses the long, thick curtain of her dark hair over her shoulder.she speaks english to him, and johnny notes with some curiosity that her accent is a blend of something he’d hear in southern california and something he’d hear in a BBC documentary.“believe me, everyone was impressed,” she continues, eyes aglow with kindness. “it’s been the talk of the entire palace all day—how gallant prince yuno’s fiancé is.”awkwardly, he chuckles. “really? well … i just wanted jaehyun to know that i’m on his side. i think anyone would want that from someone they’re going to marry.”he looks at the woman for a while, watching as her expression takes on a fond warmth. “i’m … guessing you’re related to him somehow? you look like him.”“you mean he looks like me,” she swiftly corrects, but there’s a playful humor about her tone. “i’m three years older than him, so i had the look first. but, yes, we’re cousins. princess jeong soojeong, but you may call me krystal.”“ah, right,” says johnny, automatically slanting to offer his most polite bow. perhaps his etiquette training is starting to sink in, after all. “i should’ve known—jaehyun mentioned you two were close as kids. pleasure to meet you.”soojeong gives a sweet smile. “we used to be very close … neither of us have any siblings, so back when i used to visit the palace every summer, i’d spend a lot of time with him and taeyong,” she laughs. “yuno was such a weird kid. he’s still pretty weird as an adult, but he hides it better, i think.”there’s a clear nostalgic warmth in her eyes, but a tinge of melancholic blue dyes its edges.“i can’t believe he’s getting married, soon …” she says, voice softening. “makes me wish i could’ve been around more. i’m starting to feel like a stranger who’s missed so much of his life.”taeyong frowns. “noona, don’t think like that,” he pleads, tone edging on scolding. “just because you haven’t been physically close doesn’t mean jaehyun doesn’t think of you as someone important to him. remember how much fun we had at your wedding last year? it was like no time had passed at all.”the memory pulls a bright laugh from soojeong. “that was only because you got way too drunk and yuno and jungwoo had to carry you to bed. my dads were so mad, but jongin still laughs about that all the time.”johnny and yuta laugh, and so does taeyong, though his face takes on a bit of warmth.“i didn’t do it on purpose,” he insists. “really, i don’t know what hyung expected to happen with so much alcohol around.”“the cameras didn’t catch that part, so that’s what matters most,” says soojeong. she leans toward johnny, jabbing a manicured thumb in taeyong’s direction. “i’ve already warned yuta, but if you ever go drinking with this one, just make sure you keep an eye on him.”laughing a little louder, johnny nods, eyes crinkled with amusement.“i’ll keep that in mind. but i didn’t know you were married, krystal—jaehyun didn’t mention that.”“yeah, well,” soojeong chuckles airily. “my husband and i haven’t even celebrated our first anniversary, yet, so i guess you can still consider it a new development. and since we’re considered the screwup family, the queen tries to limit how much people talk about us around here.”johnny’s face falls, brows knitting nearer to one another. “that’s … fucked up. i mean, you’re still part of the royal family, right?”soojeong sighs. “right. but my dad … it’s a long story. and we’re happy, really. there’s no point in trying to have a presence where we clearly aren’t wanted.”she offers a bright smile, and with it, her tone lifts considerably.“don’t look so sad about it, johnny,” she insists, reaching up to place a hand against his shoulder blade. “i couldn’t care less what the queen thinks about my family, or my marriage to a ‘commoner’—we’re doing just fine.”“a commoner …” johnny repeats, a bitter chuckle woven through his tone. “that sounds familiar.”“hey,” says soojeong, “there’s no point in getting caught up in semantics. yuno is obviously very in love with you and has made up his mind about this marriage.”the firm certainty with which she utters those words makes johnny’s face feel warm—and he hears yuta and taeyong giggle faintly. but before he can shoot them a death glare, soojeong continues.“and, for what it’s worth, it seems like people around here like you a lot more than they liked jongin … they wouldn’t even bother to remember his name half the time.”“seriously?” asks johnny, eyes widening. he shouldn’t be surprised by now, but every new instance of the royal family’s frigid behavior that’s brought to his attention only serves to shock him more.is krystal not a princess? a member of their own family? how could they treat her as if she’s … disposable?“man …” he mutters, lips pursed into an unwitting pout. “makes sense why you came here without him.”a solemn nod. “yeah,” soojeong answers simply, emphasized by a click of her tongue. “that being said, if you ever want to meet him, you’re welcome to come visit us at the estate in london any time. i think you two would get along famously.”johnny can sense the heartfelt tenderness in the invitation, though soojeong speaks so casually. it seems as if she’s accepted him as part of her family already, even if her own family lacks acceptance toward her.“i’d like that,” he says. “i’ve always wanted to visit london. though i’ve heard the food isn’t much to look forward to.”soojeong laughs out loud at that. “lucky for you, we eat korean food.”johnny grins, charmed by soojeong’s buoyant sense of humor. her tendency toward optimism rings with a warm familiarity to him—but more impressive than that, her strength and tidal waves of confidence are as brilliant as a full moon in a cloudless sky.“noona?”the voice comes from somewhere behind them, prompting soojeong and johnny to turn around, given that they’re the only ones facing away from the entryway.“yuno!” soojeong calls, smiling wide as her cousin approaches.they embrace tightly, and though she’s far shorter, soojeong reaches up to pat the top of jaehyun’s head.“just the person i was hoping to see!” she greets, though her tone shifts toward concern as she asks, “how are you feeling?”jaehyun sighs softly at the thoughtful inquiry, pink dusting the shells of his ears.“i’m feeling fine,” he assures her. “today has been quite nice, actually.”he smiles warmly at soojeong, before his eyes flit toward johnny and he blushes a little darker.“… and last night was wonderful, too,” he adds with a chuckle—the words practically slipping out before he can reconsider them.the subtle implications are far from lost on the others. taeyong and yuta immediately look at johnny, who pointedly looks away, but soojeong is a lot less cryptic about her suspicions.“i guess johnny must have given you a lot of comfort after you ran off,” she tsks. “i suppose it’s a good thing you can’t get pregnant.”“noona!” jaehyun gasps, and yuta and taeyong cackle noisily in the background.johnny only clears his throat, pressing his lips tightly together to keep from laughing, too.“that must have been why you were in such a good mood at brunch,” taeyong adds, eyebrows arching.jaehyun pouts, rolling his eyes. “no, that isn’t why,” he answers. “we haven’t even—goodness, there’s no reward in trying to explain myself to any of you,” he grouses, his flush fiery against the backdrop of their teasing giggles.“anyway, noona,” he recovers, shifting the topic as quickly as possible, “i just spoke with uncle yunho in the gardens. we had a wonderful chat, but i’m a little worried he’s going to freeze without a proper jacket.”deeply, soojeong sighs. “that stubborn old man,” she mutters, crossing her arms over her chest. “i’d better go find him before he dies of hypothermia.”before she sets off, bows toward the others, beaming bright. “yuta, johnny, it was lovely meeting you—and taeyong, it’s always a delight to see you.”she turns back toward jaehyun, then, reaching out to grab him by the face with one hand, squishing his cheeks affectionately.“and you’d better make some time for me before i have to go back to london tomorrow, loverboy.”“actually,” johnny interjects, unable to keep from giggling at the sight of soojeong holding jaehyun hostage by smushing his cheeks, “he suggested we all have dinner together—jaehyun and i and you and your parents.”“oh,” she says, relenting immediately and loosening her grip. “and when were you going to tell me that, yuno?”“as soon as you released my face,” he answers, chuckling softly. “i’ve missed you, noona.”soojeong’s face takes on a sentimental warmth. “i’ve missed you, too. babo.” she drops her hand from jaehyun’s face, again sweeping her sea of dark hair over her shoulder as she turns to leave.“thanks for keeping dad company. he’s always talking my ear off about how much he misses his aebok,” she mutters, rolling her eyes with all of the fondness in the world. “one would think you were his child instead of me.”jaehyun laughs. “i … think he sees himself in me. that’s all.”looking over her shoulder, soojeong smiles, eyes agleam.“that’s not it,” she replies, gaze casting toward the floor for a fleeting, pensive moment. “i think he sees what he could have been.”♡initially, johnny had been hoping for his coffee date with jaehyun to be only the two of them, but he’s not as annoyed as he’d thought he’d be when jaehyun invites taeyong and yuta along.he can tell that it had mostly been out of politeness, but it seems jaehyun is genuinely grateful for their company—and johnny is, too, for he’s never seen yuta take to another person as quickly and easily as he’s taken to taeyong.beyond that, he, against his will, knows that there’s some sort of explosive sexual chemistry between them—and as much as yuta dances around admitting it, johnny can see with a shocking clarity that there’s something more to their budding relationship. yuta looks at taeyong with a fondness he can’t hope to hide, and the softness and warmth of whatever he feels for the other man penetrates deeper than just physical attraction.yuta is into taeyong, and more than he’s ever been into another person, for ought that johnny can tell.though his focus is mostly on jaehyun, he can’t help but steal glances at the two of them every so often, observing the way they stay pinned to one another like magnets.jaehyun seems somewhat distracted by it as well, though he doesn’t say as much—but the knowing looks he exchanges with johnny whenever yuta and taeyong spin into an orbit all their own speaks more than any words ever could.“so, johnny,” taeyong says suddenly, hands cupped around his steaming mug. yuta sits nearby, and with such a proximity that renders his thigh flush with taeyong’s atop the silk sofa. “what was doyoung bothering you about yesterday, before the banquet?”jaehyun blinks slowly, gaze befalling johnny from where he sits beside him. their position mirrors that of yuta and taeyong, who sit across from them, a low, mother-of-pearl table creating the suggestion of a barrier between either pair.“doyoung?” jaehyun queries. “you didn’t mention him, hyung. what did he do?”johnny sighs. “nothing,” he answers. “it’s really no big deal. i’d rather not give him any more attention than i already have.”with a frown, jaehyun reaches out, brushing his fingers along johnny’s wrist.“hyung,” he addresses. “tell me. if he’s causing you trouble, i can talk to him.”at that, johnny can’t help but laugh a little. “jaehyun—i don’t need you to protect me from doyoung,” he insists, eyes rolling playfully. “he just tried to get under my skin yesterday by being rude and saying some stuff he must’ve thought would hurt my feelings. it was more embarrassing for him than it was for me—i’m really not worried about him at all.”“i am aware that you can handle yourself,” jaehyun replies, seeming to find a lot less humor in the situation, “but if someone disrespects my fiancé, it’s my job to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”johnny can feel his eyebrows raise toward his hairline. jaehyun blushes, but doesn’t look away, conveying that he’s being earnest.“whoo, johnny,” yuta says, theatrically fanning himself. “seems like your man means business.”slowly, johnny turns toward yuta with a sour look on his face, while jaehyun and taeyong giggle. he chooses to ignore him, and instead opens his hand so jaehyun’s palm can slide against his, until their fingers intertwine in a perfect fit.at this, jaehyun smiles at him, caressing along coffee-warmed skin with an affectionate thumb.“seriously, though,” yuta continues, breaking the wordless spell they’d cast on one another, “that bastard better find a way to surgically remove the telephone pole from up his ass, or we’re going to have a serious problem.”taeyong sighs. “it’s a shame he started acting that way,” he says. “doyoung and i used to be good friends—he was so sweet when we were younger. but it seems like the second ideas about marrying jaehyun were put into his head, he got totally obsessive about it, and about the prospect of one day being king.”there’s a heavy silence that settles over the room after those words are uttered, all four men’s expressions a blend of annoyance and pity, sentiments clashing like oil and water.tone weighted with melancholy, taeyong continues.“it doesn’t help that the queen kept egging him on …” he mutters, gaze sinking into his lap. “i feel sad for him, really; it’s like she’s been grooming him for this since he and jaehyun were teenagers.” despite his clear empathy, taeyong’s expression hardens with sternness. “still, that doesn’t give him any excuse to treat jaehyun like some prize he’s owed.”“yeah,” johnny says quietly, mulling over this new, but unsurprising information. “i guess i kind of get it. i’d be pissed, too, if something that had been promised to me all these years had suddenly been ‘taken away’ … but, like you said, this is jaehyun’s life we’re talking about, and his decision to make. if he’s always been clear about not wanting to marry doyoung, the first ‘no’ should have been enough.”yuta scoffs. “guys like that don’t know how to be told ‘no,’” he says, brows pinching inward. “he’s probably never been denied a damn thing his entire life. now he thinks he deserves that title, and he sees you as a roadblock in the way of it, johnny. seems like he doesn’t even care about jaehyun—only about himself.”the harsh assertion seems to echo between the four of them for several beats, resonating like the toll of a cathedral bell, until jaehyun relinquishes his silence, breaking through it with a deep sigh.“as hard as it may be to extend doyoung-hyung any sympathy, he’s grown attached to the idea of becoming my husband. he’s effectively grieving a loss,” he says, mouth slanting unhappily amid evident discomfort in seeing himself from such an entitled perspective. “i wouldn’t dare ask you to go out of your way to be kind to him, especially not after how he’s behaved, but i do hope that, in time, we may all find ourselves on more amicable terms.”optimism cast aside, jaehyun’s lips tug into a frown.“even so, i won’t tolerate any disrespect toward johnny, or toward anyone i hold dear,” he clarifies. “please don’t hesitate to tell me if he steps out of line again.”those words hang in the air like fresh laundry set to dry. yet, just as johnny parts his lips to respond, a heedful knock sounds at the door.startled, jaehyun turns toward the direction from whence the sound had come.“you may enter.”at once, the twin doors are drawn open, and two servants emerge, both of whom fall into deep, ninety-degree bows.“your royal highness,” addresses one servant, “your father, the prince consort, has requested that johnny-nim and yuta-ssi come to his study anon.”jaehyun’s eyes enlarge. “he has?”johnny and yuta exchange perplexed glances. yuta shrugs, and johnny frowns.“like … right now?” he asks, looking toward jaehyun this time. “we’re kind of in the middle of something.”“we can certainly deliver a message that you would prefer to come later,” the other servant replies.

but jaehyun shakes his head, turning his attention to johnny.“no, you should go now,” he says. “father rarely summons anyone to his study with such urgency, so it must be important.”upon the souring of johnny’s expression, jaehyun’s eyes soften, and plush pink lips curve into a tender smile.“you and i can reconnect later, hyung,” he promises, lashes fluttering sweetly. “besides, taeyong-hyung and i ought to find jungwoo before he gets himself into trouble.”taeyong laughs dryly at the suggestion. “it may be a little late for that, but at least we can say we tried.”even with jaehyun’s lightheartedness, johnny can’t keep himself from pouting.“you sure?” he mutters. “i was kinda enjoying this. and you and i haven’t had any alone time since this morning.”jaehyun pouts back at him, but ends up smiling again, endeared by the show of clinginess.“it’s hardly three o’clock, johnny-hyung,” he points out, eyes crinkling when johnny’s pout only intensifies. “we can steal a few moments together before we meet my uncles and soojeong-noona for dinner.”as he says this, jaehyun brushes a tender touch over johnny’s knuckles, before his fingers venture further, ‘walking’ up the length of his sleeve.“and after that, we’ll have the entire night together, with no disturbances. i promise.”a few beats of quiet ensue, wherein johnny gazes upon jaehyun with a slowly intensifying heat in his eyes.“alright, alright,” he eventually consents, although his reluctance is near tangible.jaehyun giggles at him, moving to stand, and taking johnny with him by their joined hands. when johnny suddenly snatches him by the waist, he gasps, heart fluttering at the sensation of johnny’s breath caressing his flushed ear.“but i better get you all to myself tonight,” johnny purrs. “i mean it.”jaehyun blushes a deep cerise, but beams wide and bright, teeth sinking into his lower lip.“you will.”with that, they part ways; johnny and yuta move to follow the servants, and taeyong and jaehyun stay behind.“i can’t believe you forced me to witness that,” yuta complains, and johnny rolls his eyes, snickering.“like you haven’t been cuddling taeyong right in front of my salad this whole time.”“fuck you, it was not ‘cuddling,’” yuta argues, but he laughs, too, as they’re escorted toward the basement floor.jaehyun watches until they’re out of sight, smiling coyly when johnny throws him one last longing look over his shoulder. he feels a little lightheaded, but his senses come rushing back when taeyong locks an arm around him.“i don’t think you’re going to last in this ‘no sex until marriage’ thing,” he says through a knowing smirk.jaehyun’s whole face turns pink. “hyung. don’t start.”♡the servants weave dutifully through winding lanes of productivity, assisted by the tendency of their peers to clear the way for johnny like the parting of the red sea. hospitality seems to be so deeply ingrained in them that they do it without thinking—but it makes sense, considering their line of work.even so, johnny finds himself somewhat flustered by their insistence on minimizing themselves in his presence. he’s never been treated as if he’s more important than anyone else, aside from by his mother, who’s always revered him as if he’s the evening star in her sky.briefly, he thinks of her, and utters another inward apology. he’ll have to spend a lifetime making amends for this stunt he’s pulled, but he hopes his becoming a royal and honoring his ethnic roots in the most prestigious way will come to manifest as something in which she and his father will take immense pride. he’s spent his entire life trying to be worth all of the pain they endured in their efforts to have a child, and all the sacrifices they’d made in providing him the safest, happiest upbringing they could.he has a feeling this could be it. once the shock subsides, once the absurdity washes away into mundanity, his parents will finally be able to look at him and see the son they prayed for—the son who embodies greatness rather than wasted potential.“johnny-nim,” addresses one of the servants, wrenching him out of his spiraling introspection, “his royal highness waits for you just beyond these doors.”she gestures toward the grand, rosewood doors arching high over their heads. without thinking, johnny glances behind himself, eyeing the unoccupied record room with some familiarity. when he recalls how he and jaehyun had spent their time there the prior night, he blushes faintly and swiftly directs his attention to his front, where the servants work in tandem to tug the massive doors open.this response does not evade yuta, who quirks an eyebrow at him.thankfully, just when he appears ready to open his mouth, the servants fall into a deep bow before the prince consort, who sits elegantly yet welcomingly behind his massive desk, polished to such perfection that it glistens in the light of day.“johnny-nim and yuta-ssi have graciously honored your request,” utters the more softspoken servant.the prince consort smiles warmly at him, nodding his head in such a way that appears to wordlessly communicate that they may straighten from their bowing positions.“thank you,” he replies, his low tone vibrating against the walls of the ornately furnished room.offering one last bow, the servants skitter dutifully away, leaving johnny, yuta, and the prince consort to whatever matters are up for discussion.yuta doesn’t appear nervous at all, but he nearly never does—and johnny hopes he’s embodying a similarly ‘cool’ temperament, though with a touch of approachable warmth. the last thing he wants is to be construed as too cool.“my apologies for summoning you so suddenly,” says the prince consort, once the doors close heavily behind the servants.to johnny’s surprise, he rises from his chair and crosses the room, making his way toward a corner of his study where four large armchairs flank a glossy chess table.the warm light of the room beams down on the ornate set arranged in perfectly straight rows, exhibiting the dazzling glitter of white gold, as well as the black and white crystals adorning every role from pawn to king.even from a good distance away, johnny can tell from the way they glitter that the gems laid delicately into each of the palm-sized pieces are diamonds.“i thought you’d rather have the evening to yourselves, and it would be more considerate of me to borrow your time beforehand,” he explains, though johnny is still half-entranced by the luxurious chess set. he tunes back in just in time to hear the prince consort utter, “please, have a seat,” just as he himself perches in the armchair nearest the window.clearing his throat, he offers what he hopes is an assuring, polite smile (rather than the bug-eyed look he wants to give as he mentally estimates the value of that goddamn chess set).“it’s no trouble, your highness,” he replies. “jaehyun mentioned you aren’t usually so insistent. is everything alright?”yuta remains quiet as he sits down in the chair to the left of the one johnny had chosen, leaving an empty seat between himself and the prince consort.sighing, the prince consort’s expression changes to something nigh on pained as he opens a drawer beneath the chess table.inside is a golden tin and a curious-looking block with rounded rows of equal size. johnny’s confusion immediately melts away when the tin opens and inside are thick wrappers and dried tobacco.“yuno caused quite a scene yesterday at the banquet,” he begins, separating a generous portion of tobacco from the rest with a small scraping tool—just as golden as everything else in the box. “i do not blame him, for his mother had no reason to speak to him so cruelly, but still, it was something i had never seen him do before … and it seems i wasn’t the only one with concerns.”johnny watches as the prince consort fills a wrapper with tobacco and begins to carefully roll it. all the while, his chest tightens as the events of the prior evening are recounted, and his frustration with the queen resurfaces.stronger than that, however, is the depth of his desire to support jaehyun, despite his being the reason for all of the enduring turmoil.but the prince consort seems not to hold this against him. and as he reflects on their brief exchange on the polo field, johnny wonders if he could actually have jaehyun’s father in his corner—and how immeasurably meaningful it would be for someone of such a high position to be on his side, even with all of the odds stacked against him and formidable opposition from multiple angles.the two of them appear to have the same goal, after all: to ensure that jaehyun is happy.“i was approached by taeyong-ssi after you left to pursue yuno, and he asked that i intervene in this ongoing conflict between yuno and his mother …” he explains, peering at johnny over the circular frames of his glasses. “i haven’t gotten much of a chance to know you, youngho, but in seeing how much my son has brightened since you came into his life, i have no reservations about your relationship and about this marriage. you have my unwavering support.”softly, johnny smiles. however, he can sense the melancholy underlying the prince consort’s tone, and braces himself for what may come next.“even so, my wife is the queen,” he goes on, coiling the cigar wrapper tightly around itself to secure the dried leaves inside. “she has the highest authority in all this sovereign nation. despite my position, i must embody the utmost honesty in telling you that i’m not certain that there’s much that i can do.”johnny sighs, but makes his appreciation clear. “you advocating for us is more than enough. trust me, it means a lot to know that you’re with us rather than against us.”“but is there really nothing you can do?” yuta speaks up suddenly, startling johnny, as he’d all but forgotten he was there.it isn’t like yuta to fade into the background—and that much becomes exceedingly clear as he speaks so casually to the prince consort.“i mean … i get that she outranks you, but you two are married, right?” he points out, and johnny feels horror settle in his chest as he keeps going. “surely if anybody can talk some sense into her, it’d be the person she shares her life with.”“yuta,” johnny calls, a sharp whisper blown through clenched teeth.rather than take offense, the prince consort emits a low, warbling chuckle.“yuta-ssi … you’ve got the heart of a lion when it comes to protecting your friends. it’s an admirable trait,” he says, and johnny’s eyes widen like full moons at the fact that yuta receives a compliment as opposed to a tongue-lashing for talking as if he has no sense.he isn’t allotted much time to dwell on his shock before the prince consort continues.“i don’t mean to portray myself as helpless,” he clarifies, a subtle crease raising between strong brows. “i am certainly not, and i intend to do all in my power to ensure that youngho and yuno are able to marry on their own terms. yet the reality remains unchanged: before my wife is my wife, she is my queen.”yuta frowns, arms crossing over his chest as he leans back in his chair. “i guess that makes sense …” he mutters. “tell me, then, your royal highness … just how far do you think the queen is willing to go to keep this marriage from happening?”johnny’s throat goes dry. he doesn’t think he wants to hear the answer.with an agonizing slowness, the prince consort cuts the cap of his cigar and tucks it between his lips, subsequently reaching into the inside pocket of his blazer.from it, he pulls a golden petrol lighter and sparks a bright, whitish flame, which he brings nearer to the foot of the cigar to toast it. he puffs slowly, then blows silver smoke past his lips in ribbon-like clouds, filling the air with the heady scent of tobacco.“the era of royals requiring the reigning monarch’s approval to marry has long since passed … for that much, we should be grateful,” comes his belated reply. “but to answer your question, yuta-ssi, i believe in my wife’s potential to concede to yuno’s desires for his own life … only, i think that she will require a long period of adjustment to things not being exactly as she has long envisioned them.”yuta huffs out a bitter laugh. “so basically, you’re saying she’s going to be pissed off for a while and make everyone’s life a living hell because of it.”again, the prince consort laughs. “in so many words, yes.”johnny kneads his lips together anxiously. “well … i guess that’s not so bad. as long as you don’t think she’s actually going to try to come between us …”“no, she most definitely will,” says the prince consort. “but her attempts will be more of a thorn in your side than a blade through the chest. i believe you have the mental fortitude to withstand whatever trouble she may give you, as does yuno, but your relationship will surely be tested under her ire. perhaps, then, you may think of it as a trial to overcome.”a hum. “i’ve had plenty of those,” johnny mutters. “i hate to cause jaehyun so much trouble, but … you’re right. he’s strong. and my first priority is always to support him, no matter what.”that’s the whole reason he’s here, right?as the scent of tobacco becomes stronger, johnny feels a throb in his chest—oh, how he’d love to quell his nerves with a drag or two.the prince consort seems to sense this. he plucks the cigar from his lips and graciously extends it to johnny, one eyebrow quirking with an unspoken question.johnny almost politely refuses—until he feels yuta glaring at him to just accept the damn offer, likely so he could capitalize on the prince consort’s generosity, too.“thank you,” johnny says, smile genuine, if not a little bashful. “i didn’t know you guys were allowed to smoke around here,” he laughs.laughing along, the prince consort leans back in his chair, watching with a twinkle in his eye as johnny takes a puff from the cigar and visibly relaxes.“we’re not,” he replies, lightheartedness wrapped around his honesty. “but with all the nerves that come with royal life, i find it essential to have something to take the ‘edge’ off, now and then. keeping up appearances is important, but it matters not when one is in a place where no one can see.”sincerely impressed, johnny’s eyes are wide and bright, and he can’t help but giggle airily. he understands now why the prince consort’s study lies in a secluded corner of the basement.yuta shares this sentiment, grinning as johnny passes him the cigar.“besides jaehyun and his friends, you’re the first royal we’ve met that behaves like an actual human,” he jests.“it isn’t that,” says the prince consort, humor on his tongue. “no one else has trusted you with their humanity. we all have our secrets, for they’re the only things we can keep … every other part of us belongs to the nation.”johnny falls silent, reflecting on those words. he’ll be part of that world, soon, with nothing truly belonging to him besides what can be skillfully concealed. once he gives himself to jaehyun, he’ll be giving himself to an entire country, too.but those private moments where they meld into one another, where they lay themselves bare and reveal the parts of themselves that are for each other’s eyes only are worth more than the safety of anonymity. walking the walk and talking the talk can be learned—they’re muscles that can be built and exercised, masks that can be put on and taken off—but the happiness he’s found in the healing warmth of jaehyun’s light is too precious to be lost.between them is the same force that causes the earth to orbit the sun, and that binds the moon to its unchanging path around the earth despite the unending vastness of the galaxy. it’s cosmic.this in mind, johnny resolves that he can brave the dark depths of the unknown for jaehyun—and takes comfort in knowing that jaehyun is doing the same for him.“were you upset when jaehyun came out?”the question flies past his lips faster than he can reestablish the link between his thoughts and his mouth.johnny blinks at the prince consort, whose face momentarily disappears within a cloud of pure white smoke as he finishes a long puff from the cigar.

when his features emerge from the fading tufts, swaying through the air like sleepless spectres until they dissolve to nothing but a lingering scent, his eyebrows are drawn together in an image of heartache.“yes,” he admits, and the moment the answer is breathed into the atmosphere, johnny’s face loosens with surprise.noticing this, the prince consort thoughtfully continues, “not due to any alignment or lack thereof to protocol or traditions, or any ludicrous prejudices. i just … worried for him.”the wrinkle between thick, but immaculately groomed brows intensifies, and the prince consort lowers the cigar as if his body is slowly becoming heavier.johnny doesn’t say a word, and neither does yuta; both can sense the sudden weight bearing down on the atmosphere, making the air tighter and harder to breathe. they allow the prince consort the time and space to sort through the complexities of his emotions—as eloquent as he appears, his struggles in articulating the dissonance amid his identities as dedicated royal and loving father are evident.“the gratitude i feel that we live in more progressive and accepting times cannot be overstated,” he continues, piercing through the heavy silence. “yet … i cannot disregard the fact that it wasn’t so long ago that yuno’s orientation would have disgraced his entire lineage and threatened the preservation of the monarchy. his own uncle was cast out without a second thought, and still has not recovered.”with a thoughtful pause, a sigh surges from the depth of the prince consort’s core.“and how could anyone ever recover after being so carelessly discarded by their own mother?”johnny blinks, eyes wide and jaw slack. it dawns on him, then—the significance of what soojeong had said earlier—and suddenly, things start clicking into place. their family being sent away to london, her mentioning two dads, the fact that nobody in the palace seems to want to acknowledge the cruelty they’d imparted onto them, considering the heir to the throne is soon to show that there is nothing disgraceful about queer love …the pit in his stomach festers, causing a nauseating ache.“i can’t even imagine,” he mutters, tone as delicate as gossamer. “you … did you think jaehyun’s mother was going to throw him out?”swiftly, the prince consort shakes his head. “she wouldn’t do that,” he answers. “as i said, times had changed by the time yuno was comfortable enough to share that part of himself with us, and with the world. but even if they hadn’t, yuno’s mother loves him—more than anything. she would never abandon him, as hard as that may be to believe in light of her current behavior. she has always advocated for him, and saw to it that he had everything he needed.”he clicks his tongue, something of a bitter laugh fluttering out of him. “the truth, youngho, is that she is only putting him through this because she truly views it as what’s best for him. she believes she is protecting him from the same heartache her mother inflicted upon her.”johnny considers these words for a while, gaze tumbling into his lap as he ruminates on them.“what about jaehyun’s happiness?” yuta asks. “i’m not trying to speak for him, or anything, but—hypothetically—what if all this royal stuff and all these rules about who he should marry are just making him miserable?”the questions raised remind johnny of the jaehyun he’d seen last night—the way he’d sobbed in his arms, petrified by the prospect of being a failure, of his mother being ashamed of him, of being crushed under the weight of an entire nation’s expectations.“forgive me if this is a disrespectful thing to say, your highness, but …” johnny draws in a deep breath, taking a page out of yuta’s book and speaking freely, honestly. “… it almost seems like being miserable has been the expectation for a long time—like royals are supposed to sacrifice their happiness to be the leaders their country needs.”he stops, carefully selecting his words, but the prince consort seems far from upset by this perspective. he listens intently, eyes trained on johnny with earnest respect.hence, he feels empowered to go on.“but with how determined jaehyun is to be a good king one day, and with how seriously he takes his responsibilities as a royal,” he posits, eyes aflash with hope, “i truly believe he can bridge that gap.”sagely, the prince consort nods. he takes his time processing all that’s been said, settling into the ensuing silence, but when he speaks at last, it’s with confidence.“yuno will be the first to accomplish many milestones in this dynasty,” he acknowledges, eyes shifting between johnny and yuta, before settling firmly on johnny, “and uncharted territory always brings new challenges. i find immense comfort and relief in knowing that you will be by his side, youngho. your unwavering faith in him will carry him through his darkest hours.”johnny’s face burns, and he smiles sheepishly, words evading him in that moment. but yuta speaks up, voice carrying the warmth of the smoke that bleeds past his lips.“those two keep each other strong—it’s sappy, really, how supportive they are about literally everything,” he offers, and johnny glares at him, which only makes yuta grin. “maybe johnny’s not the blue-blooded cookie-cutter royal the queen thinks jaehyun needs, but he’s the one that’ll encourage jaehyun to be the best version of himself, both as a royal and as a person.”uninhibited, the prince consort laughs. it’s a slow, honeyed sound that reverberates, breaking apart any leftover tension in the air.“well said, yuta-ssi,” he replies. “youngho, i look forward to watching as the king yuno will one day be emerges in your care.”“oh, i—” johnny laughs nervously, at once feeling the pressure of such an idea. “well, i’ll do my best. but he deserves all the credit for his hard work.”“you are ever so humble,” says the prince consort through another low chuckle. “yuno is the same way.”♡“well, it’s nice to know there’s at least one higher-up that doesn’t hate your guts.”johnny chuckles airily at yuta’s endeavor in breaking the heavy, pensive silence that had encompassed them upon their dismissal from the prince consort’s study.they’ve been left with much to consider, which is a state of being that johnny is used to navigating by now, but between his being relieved at having the prince consort on his side and his unease concerning what the queen could be scheming to destroy his and jaehyun’s relationship, he’s nearly dizzy amid the extremes, caught at the center of a raging cyclone.what’s more, he’s not entirely sure how to go about defining his and jaehyun’s relationship. they’re engaged, and his feelings for him grow at a rate not even he can fully comprehend, but there’s still so much about jaehyun and about his life that he doesn’t know. what if all of this ends up being for nothing? what if they aren’t even a viable pair?there’s no use in thinking like that. he needs to hone all of his energy into being there for him in any way that he can—as beautiful a soul as jaehyun is, johnny can’t stand the thought of him succumbing to generations of misery and dissatisfaction just to save face with forces that may not even matter.“the prince consort makes it seem like he doesn’t have a whole lot of power, though,” yuta adds, lips tugging to one corner in his consideration of this. “can’t say i know shit about the hierarchy, but he can’t be that much lower than the queen, right? i mean, besides her, who’s above him?”as they climb the grand staircase together, johnny ponders it. then, realization strikes like an arrow, and he stops suddenly.“jaehyun.”yuta stops, too, turning to look at him with wide eyes and creased brows. “huh?”“jaehyun’s the heir,” johnny clarifies, tone hushed so that the royals hanging around the common area are none the wiser to their chat. “the prince consort isn’t of jeong blood, right? at least not jeong dynasty blood—but jaehyun is. he’s second in line.”“oh,” says yuta, blinking. “yeah. i guess that’s true.”he grins, suddenly, reaching back to shove johnny’s shoulder. “you know what that means, don’t you? you have two higher-ups on your side. that’s gotta count for something.”johnny cracks a smile, sparks of relief fluttering in his chest. “thank god. i can only hope it’s enough to keep the queen at bay.”“sure it’ll be,” yuta declares, gesturing with a flick of his head for them to continue up the stairs. once johnny is level with him, he slings an arm around him.“remember what i said about you being dangerously likable?” he asks, dredging up memories from the prior night—before it had gone to utter disaster. “you just gotta use that to your advantage. then, when you’re revealed as the prince-to-be, you’ll have the people on your side in no time—and there’s nothing more powerful than that.”they cross into the great hall, portraits of jaehyun’s ancestors lining the walls like a high court brandishing judgment—or support, johnny would love to imagine.“even if i can swing that—which there’s no guarantee—that’s still a month away,” johnny sighs, fleetingly meeting the eyes of each bygone royal he strolls by. “there’s no telling what i’ll have to deal with up until then.”there’s a lull wherein johnny tries not to acknowledge the way his face gets warmer.“but there might’ve been some truth to what you said about me and jaehyun keeping each other strong …” he mutters, and yuta laughs noisily, shaking johnny’s shoulder.“you’re in love with him,” yuta replies, plain and simple. “you need to just admit it already.”the channel between johnny’s brain and mouth disconnects, rendering him able to produce only a flustered scoff. but before yuta’s teasing can persist, johnny’s phone starts vibrating in his pocket, and fear grips him at the possibility that it could be his mother calling.hesitantly, he reaches behind himself and slides the device from its hiding place. eyes widen upon his being met with who’s actually calling.“if you’re going to ask me how to start the washing machine again, i’m hanging up,” says johnny, though he’s beaming the second mark’s face fills his phone screen.mark’s too-loud laughter bursts through the speakers, eyes gleaming as he leans too close to the camera.“we haven’t heard each other’s voices since you left, and that’s what you have to say to me, man? that’s cold!” he huffs, adding, “and it’s not my fault you were always the one who did all the laundry. i’m doin’ my best out here.”“hi mark,” says yuta, shoving johnny’s head away so he can appear in the camera. “i miss you, mark.”“see, that’s more like it,” mark replies, giggling. “i miss you, too, yuta. waaaay more than i miss johnny.”johnny rolls his eyes, but his smile doesn’t fade or falter for even a moment. “whatever, dude. everything alright over there? i wasn’t expecting you to call.”mark hums, finally pulling back so that he can be properly seen. he’s reclined in bed, as far as johnny can tell, arm tucked behind his head while warm lamp light washes over his face.“things’re going fine,” he answers, offering a one-shoulder shrug. “still trying to get used to how weirdly quiet it is without you.”the words sting in johnny’s chest, the tinge of sadness in mark’s tone like pins and needles in his ribcage. he doesn’t get the chance to mutter a pathetic apology, however, because mark keeps going, his mood lifting considerably.“dejun’s a great roommate, though,” he claims, giggling and nipping his lower lip. “he always shares his food, and doesn’t take up the whole couch manspreading, and never leaves a bunch of little hairs on the sink after he shaves—”“i did that, like, one time,” johnny argues, tangibly offended, “and it was only because i overslept and had to rush.”all three of them laugh, but deep down, johnny feels a little strange hearing the details of mark sharing their apartment with someone else. regardless, the knowledge that he’s comfortable and happy outweighs the uncertainty, and just as johnny had thought it would, dejun’s being there for mark when johnny is unable gives him one less thing to worry about.“anyways,” says mark, shifting to lean on his hand. the phone rests on his bed, now, likely propped up by some kind of pillow or plushie, leaving the camera pointed up at his face. “i just wanted to check in with you, man. i been real worried since you left—texting is cool or whatever, but actually seeing that you’re alive and well gives me a little peace of mind.”unwittingly, johnny’s throat tightens. being so absent from the people he loves isn’t ideal—and it’s even worse that he’s had so much on his mind, he’s barely thought of them at all.“i know, i know,” he sighs. “once things settle down a little, we’ll talk more often. being a royal is way more work than you’d think. i have, like, classes and stuff.”mark blinks, fish-eyed. “seriously?” he asks. “what are you learning?”“how to hold silverware and shit,” johnny sighs. “how to greet people, how to dress, how to talk—basically, how to change everything about myself.”“man,” says mark, whistling. “that kinda puts things into perspective, huh? maybe it’s normal for royals to have, like, multiple personalities. like, who they really are and who they learn to be.”yuta and johnny exchange glances, blinking. hadn’t the prince consort effectively confirmed that?“that’s shockingly profound for you, mark,” yuta says, and johnny laughs, free hand flying up to cover his mouth. they’re being far too noisy for the palace halls.mark laughs, too, jovially indignant. “what’s that supposed to mean?” he hollers. “i mean, i’ve been thinking about that ever since you said you met jaehyun at the club—”“mark!” johnny hushes, both he and yuta swiveling their heads about too ensure no one had heard that. “careful bringing that up, genius! nobody knows about that.”yuta sighs, biting the inside of his cheek. “well, not nobody,” he corrects. “just nobody who doesn’t have any business knowing about it, which just so happens to be most of these uptight nobles.”“oh, shit,” says mark, sincerely apologetic. “sorry, man. i didn’t even—wait. what have you been telling people then? about how you met?”the question prompts the realization that nobody had actually asked.johnny’s eyes expand, lashes fluttering as he blinks rapidly through his attempts to reckon with the cold, heavy feeling settling in his stomach.apparently, where johnny had gone to college and what his parents do for a living and his ‘unexciting’ job at the insurance company had been of higher import than how he and jaehyun had connected.that should offer relief, as it gives them time to get their story straight. yet, there’s an unfortunate quality to it—a bitterness, even, that what led jaehyun to choose his husband doesn’t matter as much to his family as what that husband can contribute, or how useful he could be.“i guess nobody really cares about that,” he answers, lips tugging into a frown. “they haven’t asked, so we haven’t said anything.”at once, mark looks confused—but he appears to sense the dip in johnny’s mood. thus, he says nothing for a few beats, as if he’s carefully considering the implications of what’s been revealed to him.“either way, you two are gonna have to put your heads together and workshop something,” says yuta, a sharp matter-of-factness to his tone. “i’m sure the press will want to know all about your fairytale love story when the engagement is announced.”mark produces a thoughtful sound. “yeah, that’s true,” he affirms. “how long ’til then?”“a little less than a month,” says johnny. “i don’t want to make up some elaborate story, though. obviously, we can’t say things as they are, but if we just change a couple of details around, we should be fine.”yuta hums. “more than a couple, maybe,” he replies. “but you’re both clever. you’ll figure it out.”“just let me know when you do,” says mark. “because if anyone asks me, i need to know what to tell them.”“for now, you shouldn’t be telling anybody anything,” johnny sighs. “not until things are made public. but we’ll keep you in the loop, don’t worry. you and dejun.”he pauses, then. “where is he, by the way?”

mark chuckles, lifting the phone. johnny nearly gets motion sickness from how much the camera jerks in every conceivable direction, but once the view settles and focuses, he’s met with the image of dejun in bed beside mark, headphones on and ipad screen reflecting in his glasses.he glances up, blinking through his confusion upon suddenly being filmed, but breaks into a wide smile when he sees johnny and yuta.“hey you guys!” he greets, perking up and slipping his headphones off one ear. “i had no idea mark was calling you. we miss you!”johnny smiles, eyes crescenting. “we miss you, too. really hope i can get you guys in for a visit sometime next month.”dejun’s eyes sparkle. “that would be so cool!” he cries. “i’ve always dreamed of touring gyeongbokgung. and meeting jaehyun, obviously—”“i can’t believe you’re still fangirling over him even though he’s marrying johnny,” mark grumbles, and johnny can’t see him, but he can very much hear the eye-roll in his voice.matching his energy, dejun rolls his eyes right back. “a true fangirl is in it for life, baby.”johnny chuckles, shaking his head. a wave of bittersweetness crests over him, once again raising the question of whether or not he’s where he’s meant to be.“i should let you go now, guys,” he says, tone a notch softer than usual. “i know it’s late over there, and both of you have work in the morning.”mark points the camera back to his face, showing his pout. “noooo, it’s fine. we haven’t talked in so long, hyung.”quirking an eyebrow, johnny giggles. “it’s only been a few days, mark.”before mark can whine out his grievances, he’s squished lower into the frame, dejun pressing himself on top of him until both of their faces are visible through the camera.“he really misses you,” says dejun. “it’s like he’s lost an arm, or something.”this time, johnny pouts, guilt making a sinkhole of his chest. “aw, mark …”“going from someone being there all day, every day to not hearing from them much at all is sort of like chopping off a limb,” yuta acknowledges, lips tugging to a side.“yeah,” johnny sighs. “i hate to say ‘you’ll get used to it,’ but, well … things’ll be alright, mark. i’m still gonna be there for you. no way you can get rid of me that easily.”mark gives an airy, forlorn chuckle.“i know, man. i’m not selfish enough to think i should be your priority right now,” he says, cheek smushing against his mattress as dejun gives him a squeeze. “and i’m here for you, too! can’t imagine there’s much i can do for you right now, but anything i can, i wouldn’t hesitate.”a stretch of silence follows as the wires in johnny’s brain spark toward one another.“there is something you can do for me right now, actually,” comes his belated reply.mark perks up, marble-like eyes catching every scrap of light in the room. “yeah, man?”“my mom …” johnny kneads his lips together, sucking in a breath. “could you spend some time with her? just—you know, take her to dinner, or hang out at her and dad’s for a bit, anything.”he sighs, disliking the feeling that comes with asking another to try to fill his shoes, but at a loss for an alternative. “i just don’t want her to be stuck at home worrying about me for a whole month.”the way mark avoids eye contact illustrates his discomfort. “i—dude, i dunno if i should get in the middle of that.”“i’m not asking you to,” johnny counters. “you don’t have to talk to her about me at all. in fact, i’d love it if you talked about me as little as possible.”yuta huffs. “you know how that’s gonna go, johnny.”“i know,” he acknowledges, frowning. “but now that i’m easing her into this, it won’t be so bad, i swear.”johnny’s expression turns pleading, borderline desperate.“please, mark,” he implores him. “i just—it’s tearing me up inside, man. i’d feel better knowing someone she loves is looking after her until i get my shit together.”mark sighs, staring down at his comforter for a few beats. from his place on top of him, dejun kisses his shoulder, whispering something johnny doesn’t catch.“well, when you put it like that,” he mutters, mouth slanting, “i can’t really say no, huh? of course i’ll do it, hyung. i love ma, too.”relief crests over johnny, chest immediately feeling lighter.“i owe you big time, mark,” he replies on a soft breath. “really. thank you.”mark smiles. “no worries, man. with all the stuff you’ve done for me, i could never leave you hanging.” his expression tightens a little, then, though his eyes become impossibly rounder.“just promise me you’ll take care of yourself out there,” he requests, voice quieting. “and that you won’t forget about us.”johnny nods slowly, trying not to show his hurt that mark could even imagine such a thing. “i promise,” he replies, prior to his lips pulling into a barely-there smile. “you guys are my family. you’re always in my heart.”he finds a tinge of relief when mark smiles back, looking as if those words had brought him true reassurance.“now, get some rest,” says johnny. “we’ll talk soon. and i’ll see about that tour.”dejun perks up all over again, and mark rolls his eyes. johnny and yuta laugh.“alright, hyung,” mark mutters. “we’ll go now.”they say proper goodbyes amid earnest promises to stay in touch, and then mark hangs up, the screen of johnny’s phone promptly darkening as the connection goes out.johnny deflates with a slow, heavy breath, staring at his own reflection in the lightless void.without a word, yuta reaches out to rub his shoulder, guiding him down the hall.♡after nearly an hour spent trying to find jungwoo, jaehyun and taeyong approach the edge of giving up on such an endeavor. they’d tried texting and calling, but jungwoo proves to be impossible to reach—which isn’t like him at all, given that he is seldom seen without his phone in hand.just as jaehyun grows concerned, taeyong assures him that jungwoo is likely occupied with one of his many hobbies and will get back to them soon. in light of this, they decide to head out to their usual spot by the fountain to wait for him.to their surprise, they hardly make it out of the palace before they spot exactly who they’re looking for—jungwoo strolls through the courtyard whistling a bright tune, absentmindedly twirling a tennis racquet in his right hand.he’s dressed as if he’d just played a few matches, save for the warm jacket draped over his shoulders. despite this, he’s alone, the song on his lips interrupted every so often as he returns greetings to other royals who pass him by.jaehyun shoots taeyong a quizzical glance, and taeyong only shakes his head and rolls his eyes, tugging jaehyun forward by his sleeve so that they may close the distance separating them from their friend.“is your phone broken?” taeyong asks as they enter hearing range. “we were starting to think you’d been kidnapped, or something.”jungwoo’s eyes expand, lashes fluttering as he blinks rapidly. “oh—taeyong-hyung, jaehyun-hyung,” he greets, tilting his head. “i meant to message you back, but i didn’t see my phone until i was done on the court. i guess i forgot.”“well, now we know who not to call when there’s an emergency,” taeyong complains.jungwoo pouts. “don’t be like that, hyung. you two were busy, anyway,” he mutters, arms crossing over his chest. “ever since your american boyfriends came around, i don’t exist anymore.”jaehyun blinks, taken aback. “kim jungwoo. that is not true,” he argues, tone somewhere between scandalized and apologetic. “why would you even say such a thing?”“especially considering we haven’t seen you any less than every day since they’ve arrived,” taeyong adds.with a huff, jungwoo averts his eyes. “it’s not about the time we do and don’t spend together,” he mutters. “it’s the fact that jaehyun-hyung has johnny-hyung and you have yuta-hyung and i’m the fifth wheel. five wheels is too many wheels, taeyong-hyung.”“are you being serious?” taeyong asks him, brows lifting in his disbelief. “jungwooyah, i’m not trying to be dismissive of your feelings, but you have to be a little more mature than this,” he scolds, unwittingly resting his hands on his hips, prompting jungwoo to shrink in on himself the slightest bit.“jaehyun is getting married, soon,” he reminds him, though all present are unendingly aware of that fact. “of course his focus is on johnny, especially since the queen is taking every possible opportunity to remind everyone of how much she can’t stand the sight of them together. cut him some slack if he’s spending a little more time and energy on that than on you.”“hyung,” jaehyun addresses, voice impossibly soft, “that’s harsh, isn’t it? it’s understandable he’d be frustrated.”taeyong sighs. “it’s understandable—but haven’t you got enough going on? as your friends, it’s our job to help you get through your stress, not add to it.”“that’s not fair,” jungwoo argues, indignance sharpening his tone. “it’s easy for you to say something like that when you aren’t the one that’s getting pushed to the side!”a bitter, incredulous laugh spews from taeyong’s open mouth. “do you hear yourself?” he asks. “you’re behaving like a child!”“enough!” jaehyun orders, the rarity of him raising his voice stunning both of them into silence, as well as drawing the attention of the entire courtyard.a tense quiet follows, whereupon all three men collect themselves. jaehyun feels the shells of his ears burn as the few royals that had been enjoying the peace and stillness of late afternoon try to pretend as if they’re not staring at him through the corners of their eyes.regardless, he tries to focus on what actually matters.“jungwoo,” he starts, returning to his standard timbre, “the last thing i would ever want is for you to feel as if you’ve been discarded. you’re a dear friend to me—one of the most important people in my life.”jaehyun watches as jungwoo’s gaze lowers shamefully, blowing a sigh through his nose before continuing, “but taeyong-hyung is right that my fiancé has been my priority. i have to be there for him, considering i’ve effectively turned his entire life upside down. he needs my support … and, truth be told, i need his.”“… i know, hyung,” jungwoo mumbles, still not lifting his eyes. “i didn’t mean to sound self-centered. i’m just worried that our friendship isn’t going to be the same after all of this.”finally, he finds the nerve to look at jaehyun, whose eyes are already pinned to him.“i mean—it’s been us three against the world for as long as i can remember,” says jungwoo, tone hushed with uncertainty. “but now it seems like it’s just the four of you without me.”jaehyun cannot find the words to respond right away—not for his lack of expecting this, though it’s an undeniable factor, but for knowing there’s nothing he can do or say that can truly make those worries disappear for jungwoo.in the enduring silence, taeyong draws in a deep breath.“we didn’t know this was upsetting you,” he says, eyes endlessly soft. “since johnny and yuta got here, you’ve seemed just as happy and excited as we’ve been… you have to understand that from our point of view, this is coming out of nowhere.”jungwoo huffs. “i am happy and excited!” he wails. “i like them, and i think they’re great, and i’m happy for the two of you. but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t suck to be the disposable one.”“please stop saying that,” jaehyun begs. “you are not disposable. we’re only going through significant changes in our lives—things may end up a little different, but that doesn’t mean you are any less important to me, or that i’ll suddenly start behaving as if that’s the case. i’m sure the same is true for taeyong-hyung.”taeyong affirms this with an enthusiastic nod, before adding, “jungwooyah, there’s no version of our lives without you as our friend.”upon hearing this, jungwoo’s eyes become misty. “i’m sorry,” he whimpers. “i don’t know why i’m so bitter. i really am happy for you.”with a smile, taeyong pulls him closer, patting the small of his back. jaehyun joins in, draping an arm over jungwoo’s shoulder.“i’m sorry, too,” says taeyong. “i shouldn’t have yelled at you.”“you’re worse than my mom,” jungwoo whines, prompting taeyong and jaehyun to chuckle. “and, really, i think you two should give me more credit. i’m the whole reason jaehyun and johnny even met, you know.”“ah, that’s right,” jaehyun says, giggling as they make their way through the courtyard in rhythmic step with one another. “i suppose i haven’t acknowledged that enough.”“you can repay me by making me the guest of honor at your wedding,” he says, pulling more laughs from his friends. “or at least by inviting me along on your world class honeymoon.”taeyong cackles, brows furrowing in amused confusion. “weren’t you just complaining about third wheeling?”“fifth wheeling,” jungwoo corrects. “and i would stay in a different place so i don’t have to hear them having horny sex all night, obviously. though maybe it would be kinda hot—”“… jungwoo,” jaehyun sighs. “even if i had been considering letting you come along, you just blew your chance.”“oh, come onnnn,” jungwoo grumbles. “you know i’m right. especially since you’re playing this weird abstinence game right now. when the floodgates finally open, you two won’t ever leave the bedroom—”“jungwoo!” jaehyun shushes, though taeyong laughs noisily either way.this earns him a glare from jaehyun, but it hardly silences him, despite the way he cups a hand over his mouth.once the giggles die down, and they’re out of earshot of others, jaehyun utters in a low tone, “there is a favor i’ve been wanting to ask of the two of you, but i’d prefer we wait to discuss it until we’ve reached our usual place.”taeyong blinks, and jungwoo cocks a brow.“a favor? what kind of favor?”jaehyun’s face starts to flush. “i’ll tell you at the fountain.”taeyong and jungwoo look at each other, both raising their eyebrows.jaehyun huffs. “would you two stop that? i wish you wouldn’t make every conversation about sex excruciating—”“your royal highness! if i could have just a moment!”jaehyun freezes, whipping toward the source of the voice at once. taeyong and jungwoo follow suit, equal parts confused and unsettled by someone breaking through their little bubble.groomed brows knit together as jaehyun comes face to face with the last person he’d expect—or perhaps even want—to see at a moment like this.“… doyoung?”quick steps carry doyoung from where he’d apparently been slinking around the courtyard to where jaehyun and the others had been nearing the gardens. he smiles cordially as he approaches, bowing ninety degrees toward jaehyun, who acknowledges him with a polite nod.“forgive me for calling out to you so casually, my prince,” he replies, “i simply hoped to catch you before you ventured too far away.”taeyong sucks on his teeth, and jungwoo’s eyes narrow, but neither of them say anything.jaehyun, conversely, gives a soft hum. “understandable. what can i do for you, hyung?”doyoung’s smile grows—but only subtly, the corners of his lips curling upward in a way that doesn’t quite reach his eyes.“i could never burden you for my own benefit, my prince,” he says, gazing at jaehyun through his lashes. “i simply wish to express to you that, despite my having … complicated feelings toward your upcoming marriage, which i’m sure you can understand, i have come to respect your decision. as has always been the case, i want only the best for my dear prince.”taeyong scoffs, neck rolling backward. “jaehyun knows about what you did yesterday, idiot.”the moment his eyes shift to taeyong, doyoung’s expression changes, leaving his glare colder than the winter approaching.“i don’t believe i was speaking to you,” he replies, brows nearly converging amid a deep crease.taeyong bristles, but jaehyun raises a hand, wordlessly requesting his silence. ultimately, taeyong complies, though not without an audible huff.“i’d like to believe we can have a civil conversation, even if there are points of contention,” says jaehyun, maintaining his most neutral expression. “regardless, it’s true that i’ve been made aware of an incident that appears to contradict what you’ve just told me, doyoung.”

doyoung exhibits astronomical restraint when his gaze returns to jaehyun, something akin to pleading strung between his dark eyes.“if you’d allow me to explain, your highness,” he entreats, head dipping in a half-bow prior to his coming back up, “yesterday was a moment of weakness for me. my actions were regrettable, and i ought to have managed my heartbreak in a less destructive manner.”jaehyun blinks slowly at doyoung, listening earnestly, though he can practically feel taeyong and jungwoo rolling their eyes somewhere behind him.insistently, doyoung goes on. “but i’ve reflected on my actions—and i’ve come to realize that my prince’s happiness is what matters most. if youngho is the one who will bring you that happiness, then … i can accept that.”“it hasn’t even been twenty-four hours,” jungwoo mutters, slanting toward taeyong despite his being loud enough for all to hear.doyoung’s lips purse, but he forces a smile through evident offense, pretending as if the jeering remark hadn’t graced his ear.jaehyun affords him that same courtesy. “if that is the case,” he says, “then you ought to have no issue apologizing to my fiancé.”eyes enlarge until doyoung’s irises swim in a sea of white. meanwhile, taeyong and jungwoo snicker like schoolchildren.“with the utmost respect, my prince, i don’t think there’s any reason for that,” doyoung replies through an airy, nervous laugh. “i doubt he even desires to talk to me. he made his contempt resoundingly clear yesterday.”but jaehyun does not allow him the avenue out. “he would appreciate it very much, i’m certain,” he counters, eyebrows arching, though the drape of his lids and lashes doesn’t budge. “you can apologize at the end of this month, after the end-of-tour festivities. that ought to allow you plenty of time to choose your words carefully.”doyoung sputters, disbelieving. “you cannot mean in front of everyone, your highness …?”“surely not,” replies jaehyun. “a personal apology would be most meaningful. especially if you are sure to repeat all of the heartfelt sentiments you have offered me.”the sharp curve of doyoung’s jaw pulls taught as he grinds his molars, exerting great effort to maintain a pleasant expression.“if it will please my prince, then i shall do it,” he mutters.jaehyun obliges his deference with a nod, plush lips twitching into the shadow of a smile. “excellent,” comes his reply, “i look forward to this matter being settled once and for all.”doyoung’s mouth slants in his attempts to force another smile. his eyes flit to jungwoo suddenly, something sharp but ultimately illegible strung between them.“as do i, your highness.”taeyong huffs through his nose, quizzical eyes befalling jungwoo with an air of protectiveness.jungwoo’s only reply is a one-shoulder shrug, though he holds doyoung’s gaze through narrowed eyes framed by one brow raised higher than its twin.“right,” says jaehyun, back straightening. he elects not to speak toward his burgeoning apprehension. “if there’s nothing else, doyoung, i must be on my way.”with a ninety-degree bow, doyoung makes to dismiss himself. “i am most grateful for your time, my prince.”upon his skulking away, coat billowing like black smoke behind him, jaehyun’s gaze trails doyoung for a few beats, unease mounting with each step that carries him away.“what the hell was that about?” taeyong asks, lips curling in the same manner as furrowing brows—a blend of confusion and disgruntlement. “he looked at jungwoo like he was trying to put a curse on him.”jaehyun shakes his head. “my hope is that this humbling experience will finally encourage him to forego any meaningless grudges he’s still carrying.”“i’m not sure what i have to do with it, though,” jungwoo scoffs, gaze casting toward manicured grass. “it’s not like he’s ever paid me any attention before.”“don’t concern yourself with it,” says jaehyun. “if he gives you any trouble, i will handle it.”“no,” taeyong asserts, turning his head back toward the direction doyoung had gone. “you have enough to worry about, jaehyun. leave him to me.”♡johnny giggles as he enters his room, leaning his body weight against the doors until they shut. a dreamy sigh leaves him then, eyes slotting closed as the highlights of the evening play through his mind.dinner with jaehyun’s uncle and his family had shown johnny the most fun he’d had since arriving at gyeongbokgung—disregarding his private time with jaehyun, and the precious moments they steal together. prince yunho is nothing like his sister—where she is austere and unbending regarding rules and protocol, he is welcoming and charismatic, overflowing with jokes and commentary around culture—especially after he’s had a few glasses of wine.immediately, johnny could see where soojeong had inherited her quick wit and vibrant sense of humor. it had been a great delight to hear stories of jaehyun’s childhood, too; tales of old games they’d make up on the fly and adventures through endless palace grounds, rendered impossibly larger by childhood wonder.he’d particularly enjoyed tell of one game where they used to pretend as if they could only travel through shadows. jaehyun had been particularly good at it, leaping between dark columns cast by trees and palace architecture—even people, as he used to employ his princely authority to order the servants to stand still until he could pass.soojeong, to this day, views it as cheating. jaehyun claims he was only being resourceful.much of the conversation had broadened johnny’s perspective, leading him to the realization that he and jaehyun, despite growing up under wildly different circumstances, weren’t so different as children.he can’t help but wonder if they’d have been friends, had they met—if, by some freak coincidence, he had managed to catch the eye of the little prince as a younger johnny, standing at the gate beside his mother, and their story had started much earlier.what might it have been like? is there a parallel universe wherein johnny had been born a royal, and the queen had chosen him as jaehyun’s betrothed? could their connection have sparked during their tenderest years, rendering it a relief when he’d been chosen, rather than a burden?it’s tempting to imagine: a world where he still gets to have jaehyun, just without all of the mess that precedes it.still, it’s worth it, even in this life. the more he learns about jaehyun, the deeper he feels for him—even when he’s certain the pit of tenderness cannot extend any further down, and he cannot keep falling.johnny straightens against the door, intending to quickly undress. jaehyun is waiting on him across the hall, and johnny is more than eager to finally have him all to himself, as promised.swiftly, he slips into jaehyun’s room unseen, allowing the doors to click shut as soundlessly as possible. he ought not harbor so much paranoia about someone seeing him—this wing of the palace is essentially a cluster of private apartments where no one other than those who live in them have any business wandering about, but he’d rather not be careless and come to regret it.he’s unsure what to think upon finding the room seemingly empty. jaehyun is not perched on the balcony, nor waiting on the bed, nor grooming himself at the vanity. had he slipped away to tend to some last-minute business?blinking, johnny ventures deeper into the opulent but lived-in space, cool air brushing honey-hued skin through his partially-unbuttoned pajama shirt, pebbling his nipples beneath the delicate fabric.“jaehyun?” he calls, just to be sure—and surely enough, he notices a glow emanating from the ensuite just as jaehyun replies with a soft, “i’m here, hyung.”the moment he peeks inside, the sweet scent of peach, ylang-ylang, and rosewater graces his senses. it pales in comparison to the sight he comes to behold, however: jaehyun, seated in the large, round tub, surrounded by glowing candles with pearly bubbles and rose petals adorning his flawless, flushed body.his lashes flutter when he meets johnny’s eyes—which takes some time, for johnny spends quite a while tracing the swell of his full chest and the chisel of his partially-exposed abs, accentuated by the wet glistening of milky skin. the coy, but strikingly seductive look he finds on jaehyun’s face sends sparks right to johnny’s groin.“wh—what’s all this about, baby?”jaehyun giggles, biting his lip and sinking a little lower into the water. his ears burn bright pink.“it’s been a long day, right, honey?” he answers, tongue darting out to wet plush tiers. “i thought you and i could unwind together.”gradually, the astonishment on johnny’s face melts into flirtation, lashes curtaining his eyes and lips spreading into a slick smile.“i like the sound of that …” he purrs, hands raising to pluck the buttons of his pajama shirt loose one by one. “it has been a tough day … and you’re famously good at taking my stress away.”jaehyun hums, eyes flickering lower to follow the movements of johnny’s hands as they slowly slide his pants and briefs down his thighs.it’s subtle, but johnny catches the way jaehyun’s breath hitches upon his being fully nude; his gaze washes over every part of johnny that’s revealed, but catches between his thighs, prompting jaehyun’s face to turn pink.smirking, johnny comes closer, crossing the bathroom until he’s standing before the tub—before jaehyun. their eyes meet, but jaehyun can’t hold eye contact for long; he breaks almost immediately, taking in all of johnny’s physicality like a scholar studying an art piece.“i don’t know if i’ll ever grow used to just how incredible your body is …” he whispers, almost as if he hadn’t wanted johnny to hear him.regardless, he does, and he licks his lips at the irony—jaehyun isn’t the only one struggling not to stare.“look who’s talking,” he replies, smirk splitting to show teeth. “half of you is under a cloud of bubbles and i’m still fucking losing it over how hot you are.”again, jaehyun giggles, flush spreading down to his collarbone.“come in, hyung. the water is perfect.”johnny’s response to the invitation is swift. as if jaehyun’s voice had bewitched him, he’s lifting a long leg to step up and into the tub at once, the soothing heat of the bath pulling a slow, deep sigh out of him as he submerges himself in its chest-high depths—stress, tension, and anxiety effectively melting away.strong arms spread to rest on the lip of the tub as johnny sinks in, settling comfortably across from the gorgeous man watching his every move through eyes aflame with desire.“you weren’t kidding about it being perfect,” he giggles, eyes smoldering as he drinks in the sight of jaehyun from up close, naked and flushed and stunning.jaehyun returns his gaiety, giggling right back.“i took great care to ensure everything is to your liking,” he replies, furthering the sentiment when he reaches toward the marble counter annexed to the tub and produces two glasses of red wine, which johnny hadn’t even noticed amid all of the flowers and candles.the tub is spacious enough for both of them, two men of considerable builds, to get comfortable and maintain personal space—but the innate magnetism that had established itself from their first meeting and has only intensified up to now will not allow for that. thus, their legs brush under the water, knees caressing the insides of thighs, spreading sparks along wet skin.and jaehyun comes closer still, nigh on pressing himself against johnny just to offer him a glass.with the utmost gratitude, johnny accepts, a hushed “thank you” tumbling through plush, slightly parted lips. evidently, he’s far more focused on jaehyun than anything else.“we drank plenty at dinner,” he hums, teasingly raising a brow. “you trying to get me drunk, your highness?”jaehyun laughs, lying his head on johnny’s shoulder. “not any drunker than myself, i suppose,” he answers, eyes slotting closed. “you can hold your alcohol, can’t you?”“oh, for sure, baby,” says johnny, grinning wide. “hardly felt a thing this evening. i’m more worried about you—if you’re anything like your uncle, i’ll have to carry you to bed tonight.”pointedly, jaehyun takes a long, slow sip of wine. “the similarities between him and i end there, i’m afraid.”again, johnny licks his lips, tilting his own glass toward his waiting mouth—but not without admiring the fragrant suds cascading down jaehyun’s rippling abdomen.“you’re so sexy when you talk like that,” johnny tells him. “all sure of yourself … you should be cocky more often.”jaehyun beams, perfect teeth sinking into a plush lower lip. “i’m learning it from you,” he claims. “which shouldn’t be a surprise … you’re an expert on all things sexy. you could very well be the sexiest person to have ever lived.”johnny laughs, throwing his head back. “nah,” he counters, “that’s gotta be you, baby. a whole nation’s in love with you, remember? maybe even the whole world.”slowly, jaehyun’s eyes flutter open. “perhaps. but there’s only one person whose affections actually matter to me.”the sweetness of the wine on johnny’s tongue cannot compare to jaehyun—and though the dull buzz it offers is exceedingly pleasant, johnny finds himself infinitely more interested in the pleasure he knows his lover can offer.in light of this, he downs the rest of what’s in his glass, the wine velvety smooth on its way down his throat, pooling warm and heady at his core and serving to intensify those same sensations that jaehyun had already brought about in him.then, he sets the glass aside so that he may curl an arm around jaehyun beneath the water, pinning him impossibly closer by his waist.“i had a thought earlier—” johnny admits, voice soft, “—or maybe you could call it a fantasy—about what it might’ve been like if we’d met when we were kids. or if i had been born a royal, and your mother could have chosen me to be your husband after we’d already spent years knowing we’d wanted to be together.”jaehyun blinks slowly, dreamily, up at johnny, leaning in until their noses touch.“that’s funny,” he replies, blindly reaching back to set his own glass aside, “because, sometimes, i can’t help but imagine a world where i’d been born someplace closer to chicago—an ordinary child with a normal, loving family—and your light shone on me much sooner.”his eyes close once more, and he shifts until his lips touch the soft warmth of johnny’s cheek. “then, we wouldn’t have to worry about what or who my mother chooses, and no one would question what we have.”there should be a poetic justice to it—someone born at the pinnacle of privilege yearning for a simpler life—but now that he knows jaehyun, knows his heart and much of what it has endured, johnny can only feel a crushing empathy for him. there are endless advantages to being a royal in the manner that jaehyun is: limitless resources, an adoring public, never having to do any true labor a day in one’s life—but seeing the other side of it firsthand leads johnny to wonder if it’s worth what it costs.“in this life or any other, the only choices that matter when it comes to this are ours,” johnny whispers, brushing a warm, wet hand through jaehyun’s damp hair. gently, he coaxes him to tilt his head back with a tug against his scalp, mouthing his way down jaehyun’s neck and lining its strong breadth with smoldering kisses.“maybe it would be easier in a different world, but you said yourself that i’m worth all you’ve endured and will endure,” johnny reminds him, nipping lightly at his collarbone, heart fluttering when he feels jaehyun shiver.“and i feel the exact same way about you, jaehyun.”“johnny …” jaehyun sighs, blinking slower and slower until his eyes shut entirely. he gropes blindly at johnny’s chest, squeezing its fullness in one hand while the other ventures down his abs in a slow slide.he takes his sweet time caressing every inch of johnny’s skin before his hand rakes through neatly trimmed hair, wrapping around his cock at last.

with a soft groan, johnny covers jaehyun’s mouth with his own, tongue sliding in deep until he can taste jaehyun’s stuttering breaths and sweet whimpers. his own hand cups jaehyun’s chest, thumb flicking back and forth over a perfectly pink nipple in maddening motions that have jaehyun squirming and stroking him in a matching rhythm.johnny can’t quite say how it happens, but in no time at all, jaehyun has climbed into his lap and is deepening the kiss with fiery intensity, pressing johnny’s now achingly-hard cock between supple, slick cheeks.gasping, johnny breaks the kiss. “jaehyun—baby, wait, are you—?”jaehyun answers with a shaky whine. “i—i want to, i want to so badly, hyung, but—”“it’s okay,” johnny answers, stamping hot kisses along jaehyun’s jawline, making his breaths quiver. “you’re not ready. we don’t have to.”raising up, jaehyun presses johnny’s face between his pectorals, whimpering and bucking involuntarily when one of his nipples suddenly slips into the wet heat between johnny’s lips. the sharp movement causes johnny’s cock to slide against jaehyun’s pulsing hole, and they both moan, rolling their hips in tandem to chase that electrifying feeling.“o–oh, oh, hyung,” jaehyun moans, grinding his ass back faster, able to feel every vein of johnny’s dick rubbing against his fluttering entrance.the water swishes around them, splashing lightly as they both become more desperate, moans and sloshing sounds filling the bathroom.with both hands, johnny reaches down to spread jaehyun’s cheeks, ensuring he has all the space he needs to thrust against his hole with perfect precision. in response, jaehyun’s head falls back, and he pushes his chest out even more for johnny to lick and suck and play with his nipples, exploiting their sensitivity like a savant playing his instrument of choice.all the while, he feels jaehyun’s cock sliding against his abs—the wet friction and the sight of the bright pink tip poking through the frothy water mind-numbingly delicious. precum spills all over johnny, only to be washed away and replaced with sweet-smelling suds, and johnny can’t deny that he misses the mess.regardless, he’s too lost in pleasuring jaehyun to focus on himself for more than a few, fleeting seconds at a time. he’s getting everything he needs from this—jaehyun feels incredible, solid muscle and soft skin and burning heat—and he sounds like an angel, singing johnny’s praises as he gets him off.“yes, yes, johnny, please,” jaehyun cries, nails sinking into johnny’s shoulders, leaving crimson crescents in their wake. “so good, hyung, it feels so good …”“you’re leaking like crazy,” johnny utters lowly, flicking his tongue against one of jaehyun’s flushed, pebbled nipples. “you gonna cum soon, baby?”whimpering, jaehyun nods—then gasps, for johnny grips his hips tighter and starts bouncing him in his lap, sliding him faster and more forcefully against his hard, throbbing cock, causing water to splash out of the tub and onto the tiled floor.the onslaught of pleasure becomes too much. between the cock thrusting against his ass, the mouth on his nipples, and the set of chiseled abs he’s grinding his weeping cock against, jaehyun surrenders himself to his imminent orgasm, choking out a broken sob as he tenses up and cums, vision going white as he spills hot and heavy against johnny, and into the water.all the while, johnny talks him through it, holding jaehyun tight and cooing tender praises as he loses control. right when jaehyun goes rigid all over, johnny pins him even tighter to his front, thrusting against his clenched ass as hard as he can.jaehyun keens, collapsing in johnny’s arms, and johnny cums, the pressure of his spewing seed bursting against jaehyun’s tight hole, eliciting full-body shivers from him.spent, johnny goes boneless against the tub, save for the arms cradling jaehyun. they stay that way for a while, though neither knows exactly how long, enjoying the warm, perfumed water and each other’s touch.“you’re incredible,” johnny says suddenly, large hands clutching jaehyun’s small waist, caressing him beneath the bubbles. “if you can make me cum that hard just from letting me grind against your ass, i’m scared for what’s going to happen when i finally get to fuck you.”a breathless laugh gusts from jaehyun’s parted lips, given he’s still trying to catch his breath. johnny can feel hot air puffing against his neck from where jaehyun is nuzzling into his shoulder.“every time i think about it, my stomach feels like it’s on fire,” jaehyun confesses, thumb tracing the shape of johnny’s lower lip. “imagining you inside me … the feeling of our bodies connecting in the deepest, most intimate way …” he trembles, breath hitching as he turns johnny’s head toward his, establishing unbreakable eye contact.“it will be an unforgettable night.”somewhat subconsciously, johnny licks his lips, gazing upon jaehyun as if he’s a wonder of the world.“any night with you is unforgettable,” he replies.jaehyun smiles, eyes crinkling at their corners. he slants forward, and johnny meets him halfway, sealing their lips in a tender kiss.♡upon emerging from the steam-filled bathroom immaculately clean and smelling of delicately perfumed soaps and shampoos, johnny and jaehyun take a few moments to cool down in the bedroom, dabbing away the last of their bath’s moisture with fluffy, pink towels.they hadn’t bothered to dress after drying off. rather, they lie atop the comforter in matching robes with nothing underneath, propped up on their sides so that they can gaze into each other’s eyes as they ebb and flow through casual conversation—exhausted, but too giddy to sleep, speaking lowly in the quiet, moonlit room.“there’s something i’ve been meaning to ask you since i got here,” says johnny, prompting curiosity to flicker across jaehyun’s face.beyond that, jaehyun only silently raises his eyebrows at him—wordless encouragement for him to continue.johnny hums, gaze flickering toward jaehyun’s soft, pretty lips before finding the hypnotic depths of his dark eyes once again.“how come some people call you jaehyun, and other people call you yuno?”“ah,” jaehyun vocalizes, as if he’d been expecting johnny to ask.he shifts to lie on his back, at which point johnny moves a little closer, slanting over him just enough for their eyes to lock comfortably. jaehyun giggles, warm light twinkling amid sable brown.“when i was born, my mother chose the name jaehyun,” he explains, dainty hands folding over his abdomen. “she liked the combination of talent and virtue, as she wanted me to embody these traits—but her mother, who was queen at the time, disliked that the ‘hyun’ element didn’t have a proper hanja meaning.”johnny’s eyes enlarge slightly, lashes fluttering as he blinks quicker. “wait, really?” he asks. “my mom cares way too much about that stuff, too. guess what your mom said about my name makes more sense, now.”with a muted chuckle, jaehyun nods. “right,” he affirms. “my grandmother was a very intense woman, and she put a lot of pressure on my mother as her heir … so, eventually, she decided to honor her wishes and change my name to something my grandmother had chosen.”“oh,” says johnny, unsure of how to feel about this information. what jaehyun’s father had earlier said about the queen’s behavior embodies a greater clarity, all of a sudden. “so, if your name was changed to yuno when you were still young, why do people still call you jaehyun?”jaehyun sighs. “after my uncle yunho was sent away, my mother worried about me being associated with him for having a similar name,” he explains, expression darkening as if storm clouds had fazed across his face, “at which point she decided that, publicly, i would go by my original name.”johnny’s nose scrunches. “that’s a little confusing.”sunlight swiftly returns to jaehyun, evidenced by the bright laugh that bubbles out of him. “imagine how i felt as a young boy—” he prompts, rolling his eyes, “my name was jaehyun, and then suddenly it wasn’t, and then out of nowhere, it was again.”humming pensively, johnny smiles, leaning down to bring his face nearer to jaehyun’s. “well … is there a name you prefer?”lashes lower over dark eyes, a pale hand lifting to cup johnny’s cheek, thumb stroking over the warm, smooth skin.“not really,” jaehyun answers, voice almost a whisper. “both are my name … both are me. they just represent different parts of my life.”another hum. “that makes sense,” johnny replies. “in a way, i think i understand—though, to be honest, i’ve never been called youngho as much as i have since i came here.” a faint chuckle punctuates the claim as a reel of memories come flooding in.“the most i ever hear it is when my mom is mad at me,” he adds. “part of me braces myself for a slipper being thrown every time.”johnny can see the shift in jaehyun’s expression as he imagines it; his eyes burst with light, and his lips spread into a beaming grin—and then he stars to laugh, a sweet, sonorous sound, which he attempts to muffle by raising a hand to shield his mouth.dutifully, johnny catches his wrist before he gets the chance.“you have the cutest laugh i’ve ever heard,” he says, pausing only to press a kiss between jaehyun’s knuckles. “why are you always trying to hide it?”by the light of the moon, the pink flush that stains jaehyun’s ears reads violet. he bites his lip, then gives half a shrug.“it isn’t a very ‘princely’ laugh,” he answers.faintly, johnny frowns. “you can’t think i give a shit about that. when you’re with me, you don’t have to worry about any of that stuff, alright?”jaehyun only looks up at him for a few beats, dark eyes sparkling like starlit skies, before he nods. “i know,” he utters, lips barely moving.“no titles between me and you,” says johnny, pressing his forehead to jaehyun’s. “you’re just jaehyun. or yuno. or whoever you are.”jaehyun laughs again, unrestrained this time. “okay, hyung. i understand.”lips meet in a soft kiss without any true clarity as to who had initiated. it hardly matters, either way; they savor the sweetness of one another, warmth blooming between them even as winter’s chill looms on the horizon.so comes a quiet, but comfortable pause, wherein their heartbeats sync to twin rhythms. johnny cannot say he’s ever known such bliss in the presence of another person—or perhaps even at all.you’re in love with him. you need to just admit it already.“i have been curious about something as well,” jaehyun says, his voice effectively extracting johnny from his own thoughts.“oh,” he replies, blinking down at jaehyun. “yeah, of course. what’s up?”jaehyun hesitates, warmth crowding his cheeks, but after drawing in a deep breath, he asks, “do you … like being touched … down there?”johnny quirks a brow. “… down where?”“your …” jaehyun breaks eye contact, seemingly staring directly into the cleavage of johnny’s chest. “… hole.”a few beats of silence. johnny hadn’t been expecting an inquiry like this.“oh,” he says again, breaths fading into flustered chuckling. “well—yeah, i do. i think you’d have a hard time finding a guy that doesn’t like it, even if some don’t want to admit it. i mean, you know by now. it feels really fucking good.”jaehyun’s flush deepens. “yes …” he replies, “i do know that. but i am also aware that people tend to have their preferences—and though i lack experience, i’m fairly certain that my own align with those of a … receiver.”his whole face drowns in pink, and johnny calls upon all the restraint he can muster to not giggle at him.“it’s—it’s seemed to me that you are more of a giver,” jaehyun continues, finally working up the nerve to meet johnny’s eyes again. “i wasn’t sure if you’d be comfortable being touched that way.”“who have you been talking about this stuff with?” johnny asks, a teasing levity to his tone. when jaehyun huffs and turns impossibly pinker, he cannot stop himself from laughing, this time.“i’m just messing with you, baby,” he says, emphasizing this with a kiss to the tip of jaehyun’s nose. “you’re definitely right to think that i’m more of a top. i’ve bottomed before, and i’ve had some good times doing it,” with amusement, he notes that jaehyun looks surprised by that information, “but i get more pleasure by giving it, you know?”jaehyun nods shyly. “i’ve noticed as much,” he mumbles.johnny grins. “this stuff isn’t as strict as some people might have you believe,” he says. “there are no ‘rules’ to sex. i can top, and you can bottom, and you can still be the one in charge, if you want. and the thing about both of us being men is that we have the same parts, so if something feels good for you, there’s a pretty high chance it’ll feel good for me, too.”“… i suppose i hadn’t thought of it that way,” says jaehyun, eyes alight with interest. “so—if you were … topping me, and i wanted to … be the one in control … that would be okay? you’d like that?”“oh, baby,” johnny replies, unable to keep from licking his lips. “you’re gonna get me all hot and bothered again.”despite how flustered he’s become, jaehyun giggles, grazing his lower lip with his teeth.“we are already in bed …” he points out, gaze smoldering as it trails down to johnny’s chest once more, but with sultrier intent. “and already nude … it seems this is a perfect opportunity for me to discover how you like to be touched, hyung.”with a single hand to his chest, jaehyun prompts johnny to lie back as he raises up on his knees to climb on top of him.johnny goes down pliantly, erection already straining against the fluff of his robe. “i’m ready and willing, your highness,” he purrs, looking up at jaehyun through his lashes.“no titles, remember?” jaehyun teases, mouthing along johnny’s jaw. “it’s just you and i, youngho.”