Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Dark brown eyes transfixed on the sole figure standing on the courtyard meters away from him.  His  voice  reaching  barely  his  ears,  but  he  watched  his  mouth  move  calmly  and stretching with power over every syllable. His body leaning more into the frame of the stone wall.  The  crowd  gathered  in  front  of  the  man  of  the  moment,  all  of  them  staring  at  this mighty being that was their commander. The mightiest of them all.  Jungkook’s  focus  shifted  to  the  person  on  the  man’s  side,  catching  the  small  figure  moved their own eyes in pure pride from their commander over to where Jungkook was standing. A grin spreading over his face, Jimin. One of his best friends.

Just  for  a  split  second,  their  eyes  connected,  before  Jimin  slipped  back  into  paying  all  his attention to the man his entire being was devoted to.

Jungkook’s  lips  fell  again.  Nothing  of  this  moment  was  light.  Not  even  its  pretentious meaning. Two omegas over a pack of alpha knights. For some this would mean so much. For some, it would have indicated change.

However, this moment meant nothing of that.

It  was  a  sign  of  resistance,  of  hope.  A  result  upon  struggling  against  vast  obstacles.  Still entangled  in  the  entire  politics  of  an  old  society  that  was  created  in  a  time  when  natural behavioural tendencies were formed out of sense. A sense lost in the time of the present. Yet, so deeply embedded into their slow growing minds.

Jungkook’s eyes wandered over the figure of the man with a low voice. The one that held true change in his entire demeanour. The one that had created what others only have wished for in silence.

Change. All because of him. All for him.

He  had  always  left  the  biggest  marks  on  him.  Since  he  had  been  just  a  scratching  on becoming a teenager.

As a young little sprout, he had climbed around the castle because he had angered his brother Seokjin who has been running behind him with just a towel in a pure blue colouring over his skin. Which is all because of Jimin who had just came back from one of their expedition and he  had  showed  him  those  flowers  that  they  stain  anything,  if  they  touch  anything  in  touch with  water.  And  of  course  he  told  his  brother  to  use  them  on  his  bath,  telling  him  though instead that those flowers is meant to calm the nerves, as Jin has been struggling a lot lately due to being taught all the royal etiquettes and joining every banquet and meeting the King, their  father,  attended.  Jungkook  giggled  when  he  recalled  his  brother  jumping  out  of  his room, his name strained on his blue lips. A bashful Namjoon, his private knight and servant,



right  on  his  feet  in  confusion  –  and  amusement  as  Jungkook  was  sure  to  interpret  his  soft hidden smile.

Jungkook giggled as he climbed to the highest point just to find himself not alone. There on the edge was another one of their servants sitting. The one Jimin hang out most of the times. Yoongi. Staring at the falling sun. His white skin almost glimmered in the last sunrays of the day,  his  dark  hair  framing  his  soft  face  and  his  eyes  transfixed  onto  the  sky.  Jungkook  just stared.  Down  to  the  gracious  smile  on  his  pouty  lips.  His  bottom  nose  slightly  pink  as  he must have been sitting here for a while.

Min Yoongi.

Jungkook knew him. Of course, he did – him being Jimin’s best friend, which did hit his ego a bit. He even has grown to one of Jin’s closest one as well. But he could not blame them, he himself felt drawn to him. Yoongi would be always on the strangest spots. Never sitting with the  other  servants  in  the  hall  or  kitchen.  Yoongi  would  be  outside  in  the  grass,  Jimin  and Taehyung, his brother on his side. Laughing and playing games. He would join them, because he liked their air. The way they tasted like happiness.

He loved that they were his normal. He never thought of them as omega’s or alpha’s, as in case of Taehyung. He just treated them the way they did him. He would wrestle Jimin just as harsh as Taehyung. He would mock and test his boundaries with Yoongi just as much as with his  brother,  though  Yoongi  never  once  scolded  him.  Yoongi  always  let  him  do  anything. Always.

“The  world  is  the  most  beautiful  right  now.”,  his  deep  voice  enters  his  ears  and  Jungkook shivered when those dark orbs landed on him. Yoongi had grown a lot in the last few years – not much in height though. But his voice dripped down, never not hitting the right nerves in Jungkook.

“What have you done to your brother now?”, the smile growing into a grin and Jungkook’s cheeks burn.

“Nothing.”,  he  instantly  replied  but  as  he  stumbled  over  to  sit  down  next  to  the  omega,  he answered honestly. “Gave him the scorlius flower and told him to bath with it.”

And Jungkook believes his heart flutters to sound of Yoongi’s chuckle. “Which colour?”

“Blue.”, Jungkook grinned bright and his eyes finally slipped towards the sunset.

“I  told  Jimin  that  he  could  eat  them.”,  Yoongi  confessed  in  a  small  laugh.  “His  lips  were tainted in the most beautiful purple, like this sunset.”  Jungkook falls into his laughter. “Why couldn’t I have seen that? I really want to join your expeditions. They always sound like so much fun.”, he grumbles.  Yoongi smiles weakly. “Soon, they probably let you decide that for yourself. Though putting your brother into a blue state might not help your case.”, his eyes fell onto the young prince, who already stared at him eager, just to pout at the last few words.

Yoongi was always so calm.

So collected and yet… free.

Jimin and Taehyung would always highly praise him, while always adding that they would never let him hear that as his already buffed ego did not need that. Jungkook though never saw any buffed ego. Just a soft, wide mind. Full of knowledge and yet too patient. He had always been the one saving him from Jin. Jungkook admittingly still did not grab how that friendship found ground. His so lightheaded brother with the most in-depth person Jungkook has ever met. But his brother seemed to be attracted to opposites – point being his new guard, Namjoon.

“I  want  to  ride  with  you  guys.  Want  to  see  the  world.”,  and  then  the  smile  on  his  Yoongi faltered.

His  eyes  turned  away  from  him  down  his  legs.  “Kookie…”,  Jungkook’s  heart  already  beat harsh, every time he used his nickname.

“If you do…”, Yoongi lift his head. “Try to never stop turning your brother blue.”

It made Jungkook felt heavy. He did not know what Yoongi tried to say back then. He never fully grabbed the meaning, but he knew it was more. It was something that Yoongi had lost. Or  was  about  to  lose  back  then.  For  some  reason,  Jungkook  realised  just  at  this  moment  – staring at the now commander Yoongi, the highest of their ranks – that Yoongi had started to feel  heavy  himself.  Every  day  that  passed,  something  fell  off.  And  Jungkook  grabbed  it finally.

His freedom.

Yoongi had lost his freedom.

As  Jungkook  watched  the  man  in  front  of  the  knights,  his  heart  ached  when  remembering what this moment had cost.

Yoongi standing here, straight posture and a loud commanding voice running over their entire squad. Jungkook’s father, the king, never joined those announcements. Despite Yoongi’s rank and his achievements, his father still treated him as what he considered righteous. An omega.

Someone to be used, to be just existing of the mightiest of them all – the alphas.

Yet, Yoongi, a weak, soft, submitting omega?

No. All Jungkook ever saw, was somebody who was bright, strong and a pure force of all that was might. A heart of gold, a mind full of wonders and yet heavy. So heavy.

Yoongi learned to fight, physical and mentally even more. He begged for months and proved himself over and over again as being worthy to train as a knight. His voice was the one that lingered  the  longest  and  strongest  on  all  their  meetings.  His  father  never  once  not  listen  to him. Though also redirecting all order to alphas. Just because they hold more value. If one asks his father at least.
Never once  did  his  father  send  him  out.  Jimin  and  Taehyung  always  on  his  side.  Just  as strong, but never that heavy. They were like his tail but bright and full.  As if Yoongi acted as their shield. Let his freedom be stripped away by the responsibility of the growth on him. Just so Jimin and Taehyung could still play in the yard, still run down the halls with Jungkook or climb around the city rooftops.

Jungkook just once asked them, why Yoongi did not join them. Taehyung just shrugged his shoulders. “Grew out of it probably. Or he does not want to worry about us all the time, so better not to see what we do.”, he grinned and ran off.  But Jimin lingered, stared after Taehyung and waited. So did Jungkook. Knowing his friend has other thoughts about it.  “If he would join us, we wouldn’t be able to do it.”, Jimin turned to him. “He doesn’t, so we can.” Jungkook gulped. But Jimin smiled. “Don’t worry, he can handle it.”  Jungkook never doubted that. He just wondered… “Does he have to though…”  Jimin sighs softly and steps to him. “Who am I?”

Jungkook  looked  puzzled.  “You  are  Jimin?”,  he  was  confused.  But  Jimin’s  lips  lift  again. “Yes.  For  you  I  am  just  that.  But  in  this  town,  I  am  omega  servant.  On  the  castle  I  am  an omega  servant.  I  am  a  rank  and  a  position.  Not  a  person.  And  neither  are  Taehyung  or Yoongi. Or you.”, Jimin turns and start to balance over the rooftop.

“What do you mean?”, Jungkook follows confused.

“You are Jungkook. To us, to Yoongi. But you are a prince for your family. An alpha prince and future alpha king to this kingdom.”, Jimin stopped abruptly, Jungkook almost stumbling into him as he concentrated too hard on his own path.

“Yoongi  never  wanted  you  to  understand  this.  And  I  first  was  confused  why  it  was  so important to him that you kept looking at us as friends, as… equals. Maybe.”

“We are equals.”, Jungkook insisted, and his stare was strong. Jimin smiled again.

“But I get it now.”, he whispered.

“I get it after I met people who do not.”, there was sadness in Jimin’s voice and Jungkook’s fear spiked. “Did they hurt you?”

Jimin snorted. “They tried. But have you seen me.”, and Jungkook had to smile.

Of course, Jimin was strong, trained and so agile.

“Nobody would ever be able to hurt me. Not with Yoongi there.”, Jimin added.

He didn’t say Taehyung. He said Yoongi.

“As much as Taehyung loves me and cares, we both know he could never take me, let alone Yoongi in a proper battle.”, though Jungkook sensed that was not the reason Yoongi would stand before him than anybody else.

“And he is an alpha.”, Jungkook whispered.


Jimin nodded. “An alpha grown with the privilege to be respected. To start on a ground of a default higher level. An omega has to earn it. Prove it. If they want to. If they are aware of their choices. And Yoongi will do all that, just so I can be here.

Free.”

Jungkook’s heart broke at that moment. Because he knew Jimin spoke not just for himself. But for every single omega that can find space behind Yoongi.

“Jin is an Omega.”, Jungkook blurted out as he found a loop hole in their pain.

So clearly, lost in understanding how the world around him has been painted. He felt stupid for a second, just to see the warmest smile on Jimin’s lip he has ever seen. So purely happy due to his lack of comprehension.

“He was right.”, he whispered and Jungkook knew it was about Yoongi’s wish for Jungkook to never learn this system. Never feel it. When he wrapped his arms around Jimin, and his strong little body held him just as tight, he made a promise to himself.

He will fight with Yoongi. For Yoongi.

-

“I don’t want the throne.”, Jungkook stared at Jin, who ran to him in haste, eyes wide in fear and hand covering his mouth as quickly as his brother has spoken his words.  “Don’t say this out loud.”, he warned, looking around but it is just Namjoon standing with them, an eyebrow raised in interest.

“You have to get it.”, Jungkook continued.

“Jungkook, you know I can’t.”, Jin sighed. “I am an ome-“  “Exactly. That is why you have to get it.”, he frowned deep at his brother, who sighed again.

“What got into you?”

Jungkook  flinched  when  he  heard  Namjoon’s  voice  and  noticed  him  moving  closer.  They never  really  talked.  Namjoon  belonged  to  Jin.  And  he  was  big,  he  heard  Yoongi  saying  he might look scary but he was just a huge clumsy teddy bear. Jungkook did still not believed that. Not with that baritone voice rumbling over.

“How have you come to this conclusion?” Jin smacked his arm lightly. As if he wanted to say ‘this conversation is nonsense’.

But Namjoon just smirked at it while kept his eyes on Jungkook.

“Jimin… told me that omegas are not valued.”, silence followed.

“Not as alphas. And not just omegas but that there is a rank for everyone. On the basis what they do, where they live-“

He was cut off when the large doors opened to the hall. A huge group of soldiers walked in.

No, they stormed. Drained in joy and blood. The scent of iron filled the entire room.  Jungkook can smell Taehyung and Jimin among them. But most of all he can smell Yoongi. His  scent  sweeping  over  the  room  so  sharp  and  intense,  the  sweet  smell  of  tangerines  and charcoal.  “Captain  Min!”,  they  shouted,  loud  and  beer  rolled  in  and  they  just  stopped  in  their  full celebration when seeing the royals.  “Oh.  Sorry!”,  The  soldiers  align  and  bow,  Jungkook  hated  it.  Every  time  it  tasted  wrong. Especially, seeing his friends doing it. Especially, now knowing they bowed deeper for him than for Jin. Silenced quicker. His finger tighten to fists.

“Leave.”, Namjoon stepped ahead. “Take the celebration outside.”

They shouted in union, bowed again and retreated.

“Captain  Min.  Stay.”,  this  was  Jin’s  voice  and  there  was  a  small  rumble  before  they  all removed themselves and just the omega remained.

In his blood-stained armour.

Armour  as  light  as  a  tunic  but  just  as  impenetrable  as  a  stone  wall.  Yoongi  had  found  that material  on  one  of  their  expeditions  years  ago.  He  and  Namjoon  had  experimented  with  it before it turned into this fluid form of clothing. A shield to wear that was light, maintained their flexibility and so safe.  Jungkook wanted to run to him, check his body for harm as he can’t say the blood is his or not, but his brother beat him. Flashing past him straight to the omega, that stood strong and in high posture in front of them.

“What happened? Please tell me that is not your blood?”

A  small  grin  danced  on  Yoongi’s  lips  as  Jin  approached  him,  already  touching  his  covered arms. “Maybe some of it.”

“Don’t joke about it.”, Jin pouted and patched over him, trying to find an opening. “To my chambers, get a bath and-“

“I will take a bath at the knight’s quarters.”, Yoongi replied in a smile.

Jungkook stiffened and wanted to bark back, but Namjoon stepped in yet again.

“What is the fuss about?”

“I killed a Mordin.”, Yoongi stated stern and then there was silence again.

“You?”, Namjoon frowned.

“Me.”, Yoongi confirmed steady, “May ask the others, all watched when I slit its throat.”



Jungkook stared at him. His eyes holding their stare right at Namjoon’s. Not a flinch, not a move. He knew they were friends, well the ones that fight a lot. The ones that respect each other more than they might love.

“Why?”

Mordins were impossible to kill. Well, apparently not impossible.  But Jungkook heard the stories of how everyone who tried died. How even Namjoon, their mighty Royal knight, the strongest most would say– just after Yoongi and himself, if anyone would ever ask Jungkook – even failed. He almost lost his life.  The  reason  a  gigantic  scar  marked  his  back.  The  reason  he  had  not  been  in  the  field  but remained in the castle. And the reason why Jin forced him to stay as his guard on his side.

“There  was  a  fire  in  the  neighbouring  town.  We  went  to  stop  it  and  safe  the  villagers,”, Yoongi started into the story as dry as one could be. “It turned out the Mordin had started to nest below it. He planned to replicate itself. So, I killed it.”

Namjoon stared at his fellow knight. His friend.

In that order.

“How?”

“With my sword.”, deadpan and Jungkook almost chuckled.

Just almost, because Namjoon’s alpha growled.

To that Jungkook responded, with a deep growl himself. Not almost, but fully and deep.

He did not know where that came from, but he knew it was caused by his dislike for seeing Namjoon trying to put Yoongi in his place. For pushing his alpha onto him.

Resulting in all of them looking at him.

“Sorry. I… you should not be angry with him.”, Jungkook tried to explain his lack of control.

“My Highness,”, Namjoon stated and Jungkook gulped, he hated being addressed without his name.

That wasn’t him. He was Jungkook.

“He got himself in danger. He is a young omega that just started to become a knight and he-“

“And he killed a Mordin.”, Yoongi’s voice burned.

Pure fire right into his scent as his words grumbled into the hall.

“I killed it, because I was able to. Because I am strong, quick with the sword. Even quicker on  my  feet.”,  he  stepped  right  in  front  of  Namjoon.  “I  did  that.  Not  the  omega.  I,  Min Yoongi.”

Jungkook’s  chest  raises  in  full  pride,  which  must  spread  straight  into  his  lips  as  his  smile plastered over his entire face.

“Namjoon. Stop.”, Jin sighed as so often in the last few minutes. “Go and grab a bath. We shall celebrate. I assume the villagers are all saved?”

“Every single one.”, Yoongi confirmed lighter.

“Good. Namjoon, inform the King.”, Jin turned around and walked straight to Jungkook, who still smiled proudly at his Yoongi.

“And you, never talk about those matters again. Not here, not ever. You will be king.”, and Jungkook’s smile dropped but he was just able to watch his brother leave, Namjoon on his feet.

Just when he smelled the scent faint, his favourite scent taken from the room, his attentions fell back onto the leaving omega. “Wait.”

Yoongi stopped, the doorknob already in his hands. His eyes finding him and Jungkook felt his heart skip a beat. Even in blood, Yoongi held some beauty him. His strength had always been his appeal to Jungkook. Mentally and physically.

“Follow me.”, Jungkook insisted soft.

“Please.”,  he  feared  if  it  sounded  like  an  order,  Yoongi  would  do  it  for  merely  that  reason. And to Jungkook’s relief, there on Yoongi’s lips was a small lift tugging on his lips. At least Jungkook believed there was a small smirk on them.

He never wanted to command Yoongi. Never. And yet, it just felt like that it was still only an order for Yoongi when he nodded and stepped behind him.

“You are amazing.”, he grinned and tried to fall next to him, Yoongi still holding his distance. Another thing Jungkook had struggle to adapt to. Over the years of their knowing, distance had settled between them. Jungkook faintly believed it started around his first rut.

No, he was rather sure about that. He remembered how during his first rut, he had been so desperate for tangerines. Had asked to have them all brought to his room, trying to colour his room into their fresh scent. Just to still feel lost. Because it was not the same. Not the sweet one,  he  had  encountered  before.  When  his  senses  have  met  it  outside  of  Yoongi’s  room during his heat.

He remembered how he ran for Yoongi after his rut. He literally stormed out his room, down to  the  dungeon  where  knights  were  playing  cards.  Jimin,  and  Yoongi  in  the  corner  by themselves surrounded by a mountain of books, Taehyung curled around them. All of knights instantly stared at the prince, Jungkook. Who just stared lost into the room. His scent must be heavy,  must  be  strong  and  along  with  his  rank,  it  made  the  alpha  knights  growl  into submission,  bowing  deep.  Everyone  except  for  Taehyung,  who  just  turned  to  him  in confusion,  before  he  jumped  in  delight.  “Your  rut  is  over!”,  he  came  brightly  to  him.

Jungkook’s body stiff. Tangerines… on Taehyung. He pulled him into a small hug, finding those tangerines.

“Hey. Maybe we go out.”, Jimin and Yoongi both approached them and as per usual of more sense then the other two. They slowly moved out. Jungkook still in the need of those sweet tangerines, that were so close now. Right there, next to Jimin, who held his hand and guided them  out.  Yoongi  did  not  face  him,  just  stayed  silent  next  to  Jimin,  who  lead  them  almost forceful and quick, yet not in a haste around the castle. When they reached an old apple tree, Jimin let Jungkook off.

“You okay? The servants send us away, because they said you are better.”, Jimin explained in small worry… in caution.

Jungkook  nods  still  half  in  haze,  his  eyes  looking  for  the  only  one  who  had  been  not  said anything, remained distant. He tried to step forward to Yoongi, Jimin just instantly falling in front of him.

“Kookie, what is going on?”, he sounded more caring than before.

“I…  I  just  felt  alone.”,  he  mumbled.  “Felt  lost.”,  his  eyes  fell  down.  “Why  can’t  you  stay with me during my rut?”, it was earnest. “You stay always with each other… why not me…”

“You  really  don’t  know?”,  Jimin  stood  right  in  front  of  him,  his  hand  cradling  through  his hair.

“Do you not like me?”, Jungkook looked up, his heart right there on his heavy eyes. Just as heavy as the arms that wrapped around him, right from the back, as Taehyung leaned his head onto his shoulder, right form the front as Jimin hugged him tight. He did feel alone. He had hoped they would stay with him.

“Idiot. We do.”, Jimin grumbled. “It is just not that easy.”

Jungkook wanted to ask for more, for what it meant when his senses got lost in tangerines. Yoongi had stepped to them, had found his place on his side, between Taehyung and Jimin. He  was  so  hesitant,  so  careful.  But  once  his  arms  slowly  found  their  way  around  him, Jungkook pulled, his body into his side. His head falling down into his neck. Tangerines… his beloved tangerines. He felt Yoongi shift below him, his scent just so lightly present, he suppressed it.

“Jungkook.”, his deep voice hitting something deep inside of him. Pulling on his tears to fall.

“Sorry, we didn’t stay and you felt alone… but…”

Yoongi didn’t end it. Taehyung did. “You are stuck with us, we love you quite a lot. And next ruts, we will find a better way.”

Jungkook nodded, held them tight. His head hidden in those tangerines.

It was since then that something had shifted in Yoongi’s and his dynamic. Distance and less time became slowly more of their normal.

Jungkook always knew that he had been drawn to the older. Fascinated by his mind, by his way of phrasing the world.

Nonetheless,  Jungkook  had  never  felt  that  Yoongi  held  similar  thoughts  about  him.  Yoongi treated him the way he handled Jimin or Taehyung. To some extent. Jimin would always be allowed to peck him, even when he tried to fight the soldier off him.

And Taehyung, his brother, he was just allowed to do anything. Snuggled into him wherever and  whenever.  Jungkook  was  sure  that  there  were  only  a  handful  of  moments  in  which Taehyung had not been on Yoongi. He smelled the happiest with him.

“Thank you, your hei-“, Yoongi’s words ripped Jungkook’s mind back.

“Yoongi.”, he stopped instantly on his track.

Jungkook stared at his lips that had just tried to say the words he hated so much. In all their years,  that  had  been  something  Yoongi  had  never  done.  Then  again  time  has  changed  and Yoongi never felt harder to reach for. But Jungkook could just not get it to a place in which his beloved Yoongi lost the comfort to call him anything else than his name.

“Please. I am Jungkook. Your Jungkook.”, he whispered and finally Yoongi looked up into his eyes.

An  almost  forgotten  softness  grew  into  them.  “Of  course,  you  are.”,  he  smiled  and  so  did Jungkook.

“Tell me the story.”, and Yoongi did while just following down the familiar corridors. Just to end at Jungkook’s chambers, just then Yoongi stopped. “Pardon, but why are we here?”, he looked confused and lost. A rare side on him.

Jungkook  smiled  even  warmer.  It  had  been  a  while  since  Yoongi  had  been  in  his  sleeping quarters. There had been a time when Jimin, Taehyung and Yoongi would be spread around his room. Young days. Days when Jimin just joined them. When they both were training to become knights, but were still used as servants. Thus, allowing them to stay with Jungkook whenever  he  wanted.  Taehyung,  one  that  never  followed  the  rules  but  only  his  brother, obviously  part  of  it.  All  of  them  laying  on  the  bed  or  floor,  reading  each  other  stories  or novels.  Playing  some  acts  out  in  their  fullest  dramatic  deserving  manner.  Or  just  cards  or dices as games.

Days  Jungkook  held  dearly.  When  Taehyung  was  on  his  lap,  his  hands  playing  his  hair, Yoongi on a self-made instrument creating a melody into the warm atmosphere of the room, Jimin’s  voice  reciting  another  poem  he  wrote  himself.  Memories  that  Jungkook  wanted  to turn back to. Despite deep down, he knew they won’t reappear. They are lost. Lost in the past of his being.

Maybe instead he could create new ones. Ones just as dearly and warm.

Jungkook grinned at Yoongi.

“You will take a bath. Here.”, he pointed into his adjacent room.

“Jungkook, I am fine taking the bath at-“

“But you shouldn’t be.”, Jungkook stepped to him, their distance falling. “And you are my friend. You killed a mordin, saved a village."

“We all saved the village, want to invite all the knights?”, Yoongi grinned weakly.

“If that makes you stay, then yes.”, Jungkook said. “Do you want that?”

Yoongi stared at him, he searched for something.

“Brat.”,  he  sighed  and  then  slumped  his  belt  down,  followed  by  his  armour  while  his  feet drag him into the bath. Jungkook couldn’t hide his grin as he started to step behind him, but a hand on his chest stopped him.

Yoongi looked up, a raised eyebrow. “What do you think, you are doing?”

“Going with you?”, his big eyes fell confused on his friend.

“I am taking the bath, alone.”, Yoongi said harsh. “Go to Taehyung and Jimin, celebrate with them.”

“I  want  to  celebrate  with  you.”,  he  whispered  and  just  before  Yoongi  turned  hastily  away, Jungkook caught a small glimpse of pink on his cheeks.

It was beautiful. Cute.

“I  join  you  later.”,  Yoongi  grumbled  and  stepped  into  the  bath,  his  last  fabric  falling  to ground  and  Jungkook’s  eyes  wander  over  the  broad  back,  still  pale  but  marked.  Marked  in patterns of muscles, in small cuts and scars.

“Yoongi.”,  transfixed  he  stumbled  right  behind  him,  his  fingers  reaching  right  onto  the shoulder blade which is marked in black ink, Jungkook does not know what those patterns try to form but they definitely were meant to hide the heavy scar below it.

“It was in training. All good.”, Yoongi mumbled and flinched away from his touch. “Just go.”

“But  I  want  to  stay.”,  Jungkook  watched  him  sitting  down  the  little  sitting  pot,  grabbing  a sponge and soap.

“You got so spoiled.”, Yoongi grumbled and Jungkook knew that he already won, it did not take  another  second  before  he  stripped  off  his  own  gown  and  seated  himself  right  behind Yoongi, grabbing the shampoo and starting to massage his scalp.

“Well, guess whose fault is that.”, he grinned and felt Yoongi’s chuckle below him.

For a moment, there is just silence and the sound of scrubbing.

And scent.

Jungkook  always  thought  their  scents  mingled  perfectly  together.  His  peppermint  and  fresh falling  rain  one  with  Yoongi’s  fresh  tangerine,  its  sweetness  reminding  of  a  hint  of  honey. Whenever Jungkook was with Yoongi, he let it all out, fully exposing him and his emotions to him.

Like right now. But it was just his scent. No tangerines…

Only his.

He had noticed in their latest encounters that Yoongi had controlled his scent exposure more and more. At first he thought he did it out of practice, that he needed to in order to be better at hunting and sneaking, but then he never stopped doing it, even around him.

“Hyung…”, Jungkook barely used this term for him.

Because  Yoongi  was  not  his  brother,  he  was  more.  He  only  did,  when  his  brat  needed something desperately. Because Yoongi always did whatever a Hyung-request followed.

His or Jimin’s, or Taehyung’s.

“Let me smell you.”, he whispered, and he grabbed for the water to rinse it carefully over his head and removed the shampoo when it finally hit him.

The honey dipped tangerines.

“Still my favourite scent.”, he hoarsened and his eyes caught Yoongi shivering right in front of him and Jungkook did consider it might be the colder water.

Though he wanted it to be because of his words. He wanted to have a tiny affect on the man that had so much on him.

“Jungkook,  what  were  you  talking  about  with  Jin?”,  Yoongi  leaned  over  his  knees  when Jungkook grabbed the sponge and started to clean him. His arms first.

“That  he  should  be  king.”,  Jungkook  never  hid  anything  from  him  and  at  the  same  time Jungkook  realised  how  long  it  had  been  just  Yoongi  and  him.  He  was  always  in  training, always away.

“What?  Why  would  you  request  that?”,  Yoongi’s  eyes  caught  his  over  his  shoulder  and Jungkook smiled.

“Because if an omega sits on the throne, maybe people will start thinking differently about them.”

Yoongi turned, his chest full and Jungkook was not prepared to meet pain in his eyes. He had hoped it would be something good, something for him.

“Since when do you talk about omegas?”, so much pain in his voice.

“I  don’t.”,  he  watched  his  strained  face,  all  the  heaviness  right  there  in  those  broken  dark orbs.

“Jimin  mentioned  it.”,  he  almost  felt  even  more  guilty  to  tell  him,  but  he  never  lied  to Yoongi. Not to Yoongi.

“Why  would  he  do  that…”,  he  mumbled  and  his  eyes  fell.  “You  were  not  meant  to… ever…”, his words were so heavy and dark and Jungkook hurt, smelled the honey fading in his scent, souring the tangerines.

“Yoongi.”, but he did not listen, just mumbled. Jungkook felt heavy. “Hyung”, he tried again, and he grabbed his cheeks softly pulling Yoongi’s face up. “I am not. I will never. But they do. And if I want them to not look at you as just that, I need to change things. I need to make them see. See you, Yoongi. My Yoongi.”

Yoongi’s eyes grew and his scent softened again. “Jungkook… of course you wouldn’t…”, he whispered,  and  his  hands  touched  Jungkook’s,  just  to  pull  them  of  from  him.  Jungkook craved to touch him again, wanted to say more, tell him how much Yoongi is for him.

“That is why you don’t understand that Jin on the throne will do nothing.”, Yoongi’s voice returned into its normal calming tone. Yet, something broken swung along.

“Then  it  should  be  you.”,  Jungkook  did  not  want  to  give  in,  gaining  a  soft  smile  from  his Yoongi. Jungkook’s heart warm again.

“That won’t happen.”, Yoongi held his smile and took the time away for Jungkook to argue, “Because I would destroy it the moment I would sit on it.”

Jungkook’s  heart  burnt  once  more.  He  wanted  to  hear  more,  wanted  to  fall  right  into  his voice, but Yoongi turned around, his back facing his hyung. His sight just being taken away, though he gained some touches. Shampoo being massaged into his skull. Jungkook closed his eyes.

“Why?”, Jungkook dared to ask.

He wanted to hear everything that Yoongi desired, craved or even just thought.

No, especially that.

“I believe that any throne creates hierarchical systems; thus, leading to a ranked society that tries to compete to compare… and it drives on the freedom of every single person.”  Freedom. His freedom.

“If I would be on the throne, then only to destroy it, claim that we are all equal. Claim that no one  falls  under  someone  else…”,  but  Jungkook  heard  his  desperation,  smelled  the  fading charcoal. Only in Yoongi’s scent when he speaks with power.

“But  it  wouldn’t  work.”,  the  hollow  despair  in  Yoongi’s  voice,  made  Jungkook  wanting  to turn but the sponge kept him in place that had started to scrub over his skin. It should have felt nice. Like something of old days when this was their normal. But it felt desperate. Like Yoongi tried to maintain control.

“Because  everyone  raised  onto  this  world,  is  raised  with  the  idea  of  what  an  omega  is.  Of what  a  rank  holds,  of  how  any  work  holds  value.  Because  we  keep  rotting  every  new generation with our toxic broken system.”

Jungkook stared down the tiles. Feels in the strength of the scrubs how much anger Yoongi held, of how many pieces his mind must have been broken into.

“You were raised in it. And yet, you don’t believe in it.”, Jungkook said so weakly. As if that argument had been not bluntly obvious.

His scent trying to sooth, but he felt useless.

So unnecessary.

Yoongi did not need him to calm down, Yoongi did not need him to grow into this mind of desire, to fall into the system just to break. Just to protect Jimin and Taehyung from it. Him.

“Being an outliner is difficult.”, he sighed and stood up behind him, moving himself towards the  bath  and  sliding  right  into  it.  Jungkook  raised  his  head,  when  the  touch  is  lost  on  him, though  still  lingering  on  his  heartbeat.  He  hurried  cleaning  himself  to  suite  follow  Yoongi. His eyes glued to the closed ones of Yoongi right in front of him. So far.

“Then I will do it.”, he stated committed then.

Meeting wondering eyes.

“I  will  be  king  and  break  it.”,  using  the  moment  to  move  closer  to  settle  next  to  him.  He yearned for his closeness so much.

“Why?”,  Yoongi’s  voice  was  so  soft  and  closer.  Not  close  enough  though.  Never  close enough.

“Because you are right.”, he tried.

“You don’t believe that.”, Yoongi smiled so weakly. So heavy.

Jungkook  wanted  to  fight  him,  wanted  to  argue  that  indeed  he  did.  He  did  believe  in something he never thought about. In something he had just ever heard about minutes ago… but instead the truth slipped out of his lips.

“But I want you to be free again. Like on that rooftop.”, and Jungkook won.

He won, because Yoongi wrapped himself so tightly around him, so strong that he couldn’t hold back and push him deeper into his body, his nose diving deep into his neck, smelling and tasting the most intoxicating tangerines. He didn’t know how long he had waited and craved for this moment. But all his senses breathed it in.

He won.

Only for a second. Or some minutes.

Because then he lost. Yoongi stripped off his arms, and shook his head. “Your alpha really grew.”

He lost.

He wanted to shout and deny because what did that even mean? Because why did it sound so meaningless.

“Kookie.”, his heart melted.

“Once you know who you are. Not the alpha, but Jungkook. And you desire to still do it, then I will be there. Fight next to you. But don’t ever do something for someone just because of their  wishes.”,  Yoongi’s  eyes  stayed  on  him,  wander  of  his  features  in  something  so melancholic and fragile.

“But you do it.”, Jungkook tried to get closer to him again, but Yoongi moved away.

Jungkook’s  heart  pained  again.  “Why  are  you  allowed  to  give  yourself  away  for  Jimin  and Taehyung but I am not?”

“Because I don’t do it just for them. I do it for myself. Knowing that they can taste a bit of freedom, is what I want. “, not his omega. Not his so meant nurturing gender. But Yoongi, the brother and friend desired it.

 -

That  Yoongi  had  become  a  commander  soon  after.  Standing  and  demanding.  Jungkook watched him in pride. This moment felt big, but in reality it was bitter. A title that held little on  an  omega  as  his  father  said.  Yet  more  earned  and  deserving  than  anyone  and  solely  by Yoongi’s effort.

Years have passed and he had grown into the most prestige leader of them all. Even Namjoon stopped standing in his way. And on his side, never leaving him, were Jimin and Taehyung. Loyal to the bone and free.

They trained hard, because they liked it. Because this way they could not only be with their hyungs but also have deserved their spot right next to him. Though, two omegas on the head of their knights had caused a lot of rumours, a lot of assumptions of using their connection to the  throne.  From  Jin  being  a  secret  supporter  of  his  fellow  omegas  to  them  seducing Jungkook  and  his  father,  but  every  single  voice  died  down  with  every  word  and  every  cut Yoongi and Jimin did. Not leaving any doubt that they were the strongest. And it might sound so easy. But it wasn’t. Still isn’t.  They  might  have  accepted  Yoongi  as  right  now.  Accepted  Jimin  to  train  and  correct  them.

But  Jungkook  smelled  it  every  time,  the  undying  resistance.  The  unquestionable  believe  of them still being better glinting in their empty-headed eyes.

Jungkook remembered the moment, Yoongi entered their first tournament.

He was glued on his seat, Jin laughing at him. “Don’t worry they will go soft on him.”, and that angered Jungkook just even more.

“If they dare, I want them out.”, he grunted and gained a surprised look from even his father.

They  did  try  to  be  soft  on  Yoongi,  except  that  Yoongi  was  too  good.  Not  just  Yoongi  but Jimin as well. It looked almost too easy.

Yoongi would grunt after his second win and slammed his helmet.

“Is  that  all  an  Alpha  has  to  offer?”,  he  shouted  into  the  arena  in  anger,  the  charcoal  scent running strong over them.

Jungkook inhaled all of it, tasting the soft tangerine aftertaste.

He  just  grinned  bright  and  full  down  the  arena.  He  wanted  to  yell  in  celebration,  but  his father’s hand rested on his shoulder, pushing him back into his seat. He saw distaste in his face, because he struggled. Jungkook did not know about what but a quick look at his brother, who sank further into the seat, made him deduct that he feared it had to do with his status.

“An alpha stands always above an omega.”, his father grunted loud into the field. “Soldiers, put this omega into his place.”

Jungkook’s eyes widened.

No.

He wanted to jump down and take his Yoongi away, but there he stood. A grin so bright and full, the knights all coming.

Jimin was running right onto the arena, fully armoured, smashing his back onto Yoongi.

Jungkook can’t hear them, but he saw their lips move, their eyes meet and he searched for Taehyung, who just stood on the side.

His hand gripped the wooden reel. But he didn’t move. He watched and so did Jungkook.

He watched them all loose.

One after the other, several at once. Not one had a tiny chance against the two.

None.

His father flared and Jungkook stepped in front of him.


“A kingdom in which even an omega is strong to hold himself against an alpha must be the mightiest kingdom there is.”, he still didn’t know how those dark and empty words left his lips.

But Jungkook knew then more than ever that he had to play the game. Please the king.

And his words did. His father stared and stood.

“Show us who of you deserves the win more.”, the arena still silent and Jungkook watched Jimin and Yoongi turn to another.

He knew they will fight, he already saw them doing it every night in the courtyard.

The  outcome  resembled  the  one  of  any  of  their  training  fights-  with  Jimin’s  loss.  He  tried hard, maybe harder than he ever did before.

Maybe being filled with adrenaline, probably spurting him on. But it was hopeless, despite his high agility, Yoongi would simply cut into any move of his within seconds.

His sword on his neck and a smile on his lip.

“Will I ever defeat you?”

Yoongi smiled just as warmly. “When you have to, you will.”

“Then never it is.”, Jimin came to stand, and the arena yelled, shouted and celebrated.

Spectators shouting Yoongi’s name. Jungkook watched over the audience.

Young  omega’s  faces  were  so  bright  and  excited,  pointing  at  him  to  their  parents,  who  in worry just nod to their new evoked wishes.

Wishes Yoongi has inspired.

Jungkook wanted to run to him. Like Taehyung did, right into his arms, lifting his brother on his  shoulders  and  celebrating  him  loud.  Shouting  his  name  the  loudest,  Jimin  clapping  and cheering around them.

And just then, the other alphas eased.

Jungkook finally eased himself and turned to his father, who looked thoughtful.

“Namjoon. Get me both into the chambers later. I have matters to discuss.”

Namjoon nodded and his father left his seat.

“That was smart.”, Jin’s voice sounded so weak.

Jungkook  looked  at  his  brother,  his  eyes  fixated  on  the  omegas,  the  crowded  surrounding them.



“But it will need more than that. Yoongi is not good at pretending. Not like you.”, Jin finally turned to him and came to stand in front of him.

“He  is  fighting  the  system  and  father  knows  that.  Find  an  idea  why  he  would  let  a  rebel omega to just have what he aims for.”

Jungkook has never seen his brother that… defeated and yet, there was something in his eyes.

Just the same little glimmer Jungkook had just caught on the young kids down the audience.

Hope?

When Jungkook finally found himself in the crowded hall, that fully celebrated the end of the tournament, singing and drinking. And dancing, so much dancing, he caught Jimin actually getting Yoongi up the chairs and move around the floor. He looked a bit lost but nonetheless so skilled.

He  appeared  floaty,  the  smile  so  bright  and  light  and  then  there  is  Taehyung  over  his shoulder.  Taehyung,  the  only  one  drunk  on  the  mood  and  not  on  one  drop  of  alcohol. Taehyung never liked the taste and kept his cup always full with water alone. Yoongi always made sure no one would pick up on it, because he knew other would mock him for something so ridiculous. Because alphas just like to hurt.

Yoongi  laughed  and  danced.  Jungkook  wanted  that  to  be  engraved  forever  in  his  mind, wanted to linger and watch him as if that was all that matter. The moment broke, when Jimin reached  for  him  and  pulled  him  along.  There  was  a  short  discomfort  from  the  other  alphas and a bow, as they are not that comfortable around the prince. They held their distance, but Jungkook did not care. Never did, because the ones that matter were the ones, that held him. He just fell into the hug Taehyung pulled him in, his head hitting Yoongi’s and his eyes just wandering over his bright face, the little cuts, barely treated and this big gummy smile right in front of him on those so beautiful lips.

If  it  would  have  not  been  for  Taehyung  pulling  onto  him,  Jungkook  knew  he  would  have leaned down and pulled Yoongi into his space alone, but Taehyung did pull and he blinked but his eye caught Yoongi’s who lifted and the smile belonged just to him. His eyes so full of joy  and  when  they  met  Jungkook’s,  something  shifted.  It  became  warmer.  No,  deeper. Something else layered in them. Jungkook’s body shivered at their hold, which just was too short. As Jimin already moved them around the room, into rhythm. The music won over their moves.

It felt light and perfect. Jungkook moved around with them, just drank and danced, his eyes still  finding  Yoongi’s,  and  everytime  they  met  his,  Jungkook  felt  another  rush.  Tasted  the temptation to just pull him in. Right into his chest, owning his smile. Maybe Yoongi would even dance with him. Just him.

Their bodies were close, moving around with Taehyung and Jimin, even Jin had joined them in the chaos, his movements of less grace but therefore of so much more delight. Taehyung fully falling into their own lost moves. Their space full of laughers. Jimin on his side, forcing him into a dance before leaving him alone because Jimin’s rhythm was just not fitting his, but he laughed and let him slip, his eyes finding Yoongi again, who stumbled out of Taehyung’s grip. Jungkook swiftly moved to him, almost being hit by Taehyung, a hand covering his side from the impact and taking the hit instead. Jungkook’s eyes slide to Yoongi who grinned at him, his hand still on his side.

“Careful”,  his  voice  drowned  in  the  sound  of  hall,  but  Jungkook  caught  it.  His  eyes  less stable, definitely tainted by the alcohol. By his own and the ones he drank for his brother.

“You too.”, he replied in a smile.

Jungkook felt his fingers slip away and he stepped more into his space. Yoongi’s eyes finally only on him, again so soft. His cheeks flushed, and Jungkook just wanted to touch. Yoongi giggled. Jungkook never heard that before from him.

“Yeah,  I  had  quite  a  lot.”,  he  grinned  and  leaned  back  onto  the  wall,  Jungkook’s  body followed.

“But you don’t need to pro-“, Yoongi’s hand falling onto his chest, pushing Jungkook back.

“I don’t want to protect you.”, he instantly explained his follow. “Just...”, he whispered and searched for his eyes. Found them looking over his face. Melancholic… soft.

“Just wanted to be with you.”, Jungkook stepped next to him, leaning on the wall. Their arms touching.

“Good, but also don’t let me drink more.”, Yoongi grinned again. “Doubt I can take more.”

Jungkook smiled and their eyes meet again. He wanted to tell him how amazing he had been. How strong he had looked, how… he burnt his heart.

“Yoongi…”, his fingers finding his.

But Yoongi moved, turned on his side, Jungkook feared to have lost his chance, when Yoongi instead  leaned  closer  to  him.  “Don’t  tell,  but  I  drank  Tae’s  drinks  too.”,  he  whispered  and Jungkook chuckled, turning to him, leading his head to fall down to his. Their foreheads met.

“Don’t tell, but I knew.”, he grinned and Yoongi looked surprised, then he giggled into their space.  Jungkook  drank  this  moment.  Yoongi’s  hand  clapping  onto  his  chest  and  his  words falling  into  another  known-confession.  His  so  secret  love  for  coffee.  As  he  told  him,  he preferred it over alcohol and Jungkook chuckled while he watched him. Watched his pout and his eyes as they travel over his collarbone, right above Yoongi’s fingertips, that have stopped moving. Jungkook saw him lick his lips, felt his fingers twitch.

He dared not to move, even though he wanted to. Wanted to pull him in, wanted to hold his waist.

“Are you happy?”

Jungkook blinked at the heavy words slipping out of Yoongi’s lips and his eyes no longer on his neck but right up there, meeting his eyes, their foreheads no longer connected.

“Right  now,  I  am.”,  he  confessed  without  a  second  thought  and  he  slipped  his  hand  over Yoongi’s that still laid on his chest.

“Your  scent…”,  Yoongi  said  low  again  and  his  eyes  lowered  down  his  neck.  Jungkook inhaled, he wanted let him have it. All of his scent, all of…

“You can…”, he moved his body closer to him.

Yoongi  leaned  forward,  his  eyes  closed  and  Jungkook  felt  his  nose  brushing  his  neck.  His body flooding in heat. Yoongi’s finger tighten under his hand and Jungkook felt his lips on his skin without any pressure, and yet more than enough to spread another shiver down his spine. Yoongi scented him. So softly and carefully. Jungkook felt like melting and so afraid of that moment to end.

Why were forevers so short?

It was Namjoon who came to stand in front of them. “The King is asking for you.”, his voice is as steady and unbothered.

Jungkook’s  grip  tightened,  but  Yoongi  already  slipped  away.  Jungkook  looked  at  him,  his cheeks  flushed,  his  lips  so  wet  and  his  eyes  on  him  for  another  moment  before  he  just  fell behind Namjoon. Just his back facing him, as his body balanced back into stability.

Jungkook watched Namjoon taking Yoongi and Jimin away from the hall to his father, it is only thanks to Jin and Taehyung singing next to him to let him forget. Despite his body still entangled in the moment before. Yoongi had never touched him like that, never scented him like that… it was intimate. It was like he desired it, how he dreamed about it.

Taehyung tried to pull him into another dance, Jin along and for a moment Jungkook allowed to just do that. His mind still recalling all the little bits that his heart raced for.

It was much later, that the three slowly wandered around the hallways of the castle, Taehyung just seemed like a lost puppy without his brother and Jimin, while Jin… seemed just as bored without his guard.

“Am I really just your second choice?”

“Well better than none at all.”, Jin laughed and Jungkook pushed him off his shoulders, his lips still holding a grin.

Just when they reached the corner, they walked right into Jimin, Namjoon and Yoongi. All of them wearing a heavy face.

“My  Jimin-a,  My  hyung!”,  Taehyung  jumped  right  into  their  space  and  seemed  completely unfathomed by the apparent mood in front of them.

“We  should  talk.”,  Namjoon  announced  and  Jin  sighed,  while  already  heading  to  enter  his chambers, right where they were standing, the others slowly followed, Taehyung seemingly growing in worry as he started to scent Jimin, who smiled at his young friend.

“What did father say?”, Jin sat down as did the rest of them, even Namjoon, who took over to speak again.

“He  let  them  have  the  win  and  allow  them  to  keep  training.  But  he  wants  them  to  be claimed.”

Taehyung stilled and looked up from Jimin. “What does that mean?”

“We have to be mated with an alpha.”, Yoongi grunted, his knuckles white on his thigh.

“To  give  the  impression  you  are  under  control…”,  Jungkook  whispered  and  his  eyes  are glued to his Yoongi, his strained face and anger filled him. “He can’t do that.”

“He is the king and he can.”, Jin sighed. “It was a dangerous act the two of you pulled.”

“I am an alpha, right?”, Taehyung seemed so lost in this conversation. “I can claim them.”

“You can claim Jimin, not your brother.”, Namjoon clarified.

“And that is not the issue.”, Jimin mumbled and patting Taehyung softly. “It is the principle.”

Jungkook kept his eyes on Yoongi, he looked so pained. “As if it all was for nothing…”, he sounded so sad.

“The idea is that the claim would hold an alpha scent on them. Making it easier-“, Namjoon tried to clarify, but Jungkook growled harshly. “Cut the lies. He just wants to suppress them. And I don’t have it. You will not mate. Not if not on your own terms. By your own time.”, Jungkook jumped up and wanted to run out the room.

“Is that what you want to tell him?”, Jin shouted. “I told you, you need to play the game. We are just puppets.”, we.

The omegas.

“I will figure some words out when I am there.”, Jungkook mumbled, fingers on the knob, but all motivation lost.

“There might be something… claimed does not mean mated, necessarily.”, Namjoon spoke again, softer.

“It just means that an alpha stands behind them. Just to play the game.”

“A game play on semantics?”, Jin gruffed and looked over to Yoongi.

Jimin  was  the  lesser  problem.  Jimin  had  always  been  raised  with  those  values,  he  had believed himself for the longest that this is it. Yoongi just fed him hope and gifted him safety. But deep down Jimin had no pride but to fall for his omega role.

Jungkook turned back to them in defeat. Yoongi raised himself.

“I need some time.”, he stated low and passed Jungkook to get out. Jungkook walked right after him.

“Alone.”, Yoongi tried, but Jungkook stayed on his feet. Forgotten all the drunkenness. As if his brain had converted into a sober state upon that distasteful conversation.

“Yoongi, please. Let me be there.”, he pleaded.

“Why?”, Yoongi grunted. “Because your alpha needs to soothe me? I don’t need an alpha to figure life out, I don’t-“

“I know.”, Jungkook stepped slowly closer.

“I  will  always  need  you  more  than  you  could  ever  need  me.  And  even  less  my  alpha.”,  he whispered right in front of him, those dark eyes widened.

“I just… what you did today was just incredible.”, Jungkook smiled weakly.

“You  looked  so  gracious  and  powerful.  You  deserved  to  be  recognised.”,  Junkook  leaned down, putting his forehead onto his and was grateful that Yoongi let him, that he stayed here with him.

“Thank you, Kookie.”, Yoongi breathed and moved, Jungkook feared he would already slip away, but instead he pulled him close into a small hug. Jungkook inhaled sharp and not let this moment pass without him fully pushing him onto his chest. Finally holding him again.

His cheeks warm and his scent content.

“You looked so happy.”, Jungkook mumbled then.

“I was.”, he whispered against his collar and Jungkook shivered when his breath graced his skin. His mind recalling the softer moment just some hours ago.

They stayed in their arms not long enough but when Yoongi tried to move away once more, Jungkook tugged on his wrist.

“Take a bath.”, he demanded soft.

Yoongi smiled weakly, tired at him. “My plan.”

“In  my  chambers.”,  Jungkook  insisted  and  already  turned,  pulling  him  after  him.  “Because you deserve it. You won.”

Jungkook only smelled his defeat while he got them both to his room.

-

“I bath more at yours than in the knight’s quarters at this point.”, Yoongi hummed and leaned back.

Jungkook watched him, his scent the only in the room again. His eyes slide down his open, clean neck. The water drops down over his collarbones. It looked perfect. Just like that. No mark would fit there.  “I told you, you can come here anytime. Taehyung and Jimin do it all the time.”, he offered in faint mellow tone.

At  that  Yoongi  smiled  and  Jungkook’s  heart  is  delighted.  “They  love  spending  time  away from the knights.”

“They  will  mate”,  Jungkook  whispered.  He  had  assumed  for  a  long  time  now.  Yoongi nodded.

“If Jimin can explain it to Tae.”, they chuckled and Jungkook’s eyes caught a small dark blue light glowing on Yoongi’s wrist.

As  he  had  seen  it,  Yoongi  opened  his  eyes  and  looked  at  it.  A  soft  smile  growing  over  his lips.

“What is that?”, Jungkook whispered and without a second thought moved over, right next to him, his fingers gracing the invisible line of dots around Yoongi’s wrist. They almost looked melted into his skin. Just in closer inspection Jungkook noticed that they are just tightly glued around his skin. Morphed in similar tone to the pale skin they connected with.

How had he never noticed before?

“It is a memory bracelet.”, Yoongi offered his wrist.

“Those are pearls from the ocean, they are connected if coming from the same oyster. And they  all  can  have  different  hues.  If  you  touch  it  long  enough,  you  can  trigger  their  colour coding.”, Yoongi’s finger pushed down and the colours light up.

Jungkook  looked  in  awe.  “It  just  turned  blue.”,  he  raised  his  eyes.  “Who  was  sending  the message?”

“Hobi.”, Yoongi whispered the name so softly.

So carefully and caring.

“An  old  friend.  This  is  the  only  way  we  can  stay  in  contact.”  Jungkook  observed  him,  his slowly relaxing body. Right next to him.

“Tell me about him.”, he wanted to know it all. Always.

“Another time.”, Yoongi smiled. “I am too tired.”

“Then sleep.”, Jungkook put down his head right next to him. “Sleep here.”

Yoongi chuckled. “Now you even offer your bed?”



“Always.”,  Jungkook  whispered,  but  before  his  cheeks  could  burn  darker,  he  added  “Jimin and Taehyung sometimes do.”

“I am not them.”, Yoongi replied only.

Exactly.

A moment later, Yoongi got out of the bath covered back in his old tunic, only for Jungkook to  giving  him  one  of  his  new  clean  ones.  Yoongi  seemed  hesitant,  as  his  fingers  held  the fabric. Jungkook detected the same melancholic feeling from before.  Jungkook got himself dressed  and  just  when  he  saw  Yoongi  trying  to  turn  towards  his  door,  maybe  even  already preparing a goodbye, he acted quicker. Pulling on his wrist. Throwing himself and him right into the mattress.

He grinned bright and innocently at him. “Try it.”

Yoongi rolled his eyes just to close them a moment later.

“It is comfortable.”

Jungkook  hummed.  His  eyes  stayed  on  the  calming  face  of  Yoongi  right  in  front  of  him. Yoongi  on  his  back,  face  towards  the  ceiling  and  Jungkook  on  his  side  on  his  bed.  Yet  too much space between them. Jungkook just attempted to get closer, when Yoongi spoke again.

“They only celebrated me because Tae did. An Alpha did.”

Jungkook froze. His eyes stuck on Yoongi’s closed ones.

“Yoongi… “, but he failed.

What could he tell him?

There was nothing.

It was always like that.

Jungkook kept watching Yoongi until he heard his breathing fall and thus, giving away that sleep had caught him. Jungkook pulled the blanket over them and stayed right next to him, not touching but close.

-

Yoongi went even bigger to the courtyards after that. Hold himself up and higher but all those bigger alphas only played along in their own terms.  It  didn’t  take  long,  when  rumours  reached  even  Jungkook.  Rumours  to  justify  Omegas  as soldiers.

‘They must be mis-presented’  ‘They are trained by alphas’

‘They take muscle stimulator’

Over and over again.

Trying to demise all their work, all their witt. While in truth, it was cold-blooded training.

Jungkook would wake up in early hours and watch them train in the courtyard was just one of the few instances that he knew about.

But  Jungkook  grew  more  and  more  angry  about  it  and  when  he  finally  was  of  age,  just  a month after the tournament, he finally trained with them.

Delighted  about  all  the  extra  time  spend  again  with  his  friends.  He  would  wake  just  after Jimin and followed him into the yard. And he loved it. Loved to lose. Jimin was agile and strong. So much experience and he was beyond used to the heaviness of the blades. He would slam Jungkook over and over onto the ground.

Every time he did, Jungkook wanted to shout “You see! He is better!”

He was so full of pride.

Until.

Until Jungkook became stronger.

So much stronger.

He  was  skilled  and  so  quick  on  physical  learning  and  quicker  than  any  of  them  apparently anticipated, he outpowered Jimin.

Even in agility. Even in stamina.

In everything.

He wanted to hide, wanted to stop training, because he didn’t join to become better. He joined because he wanted to be with them. He joined to push down the rumours, to be there to stand between  those  idiots  of  alphas.  But  there  he  was,  looking  down  on  Jimin,  winning  another training fight. The alphas roar and Jimin just smiled weakly.

A sword shattered in front of him.

“Come.”, Yoongi’s voice is deep and so dark.

Commanding. No one else dared to talk this way to him, not even his father.

“Fight me.”, and Jungkook gulped.

Here in the middle of the courtyard in front of all their soldiers and explorers.

He did not want to fight. Because he was afraid to win. He did not want to win.

Not against Jimin and least of all against Yoongi. But Yoongi had been the only one he had not been fighting.

Yet.

He had watched him.

“If you can beat Jimin, you deserve my attention.”, for the first time Jungkook heard the buff Taehyung and Jimin talked about.

But how could they not hear that his tease was just meant to feed his motivation. Yoongi was sometimes so easy to read.

Sometimes.

He grabbed the sword and as they take their space, the others surrounded them. A spectacle.

The alpha prince against an omega knight.

It should be an interesting fight.

Except it wasn’t.

Jungkook lost quicker than he ever did against Jimin.

Yoongi  was  not  just  quick,  he  was  smart.  So  beyond  smart  that  any  opening,  any  little weakness was instantly used against him and he found himself so quickly on the ground.

Silence followed.  “Did you go soft on me?”, Yoongi’s voice was drained in anger and his scent fully on display in sour flavour.

Charcoal dripped.

“No,  you  are…  how  did  you  know  my  moves?”,  Jungkook  sat  up,  cleaning  up  his  armour. His armour being the only reason he had no wounds, but the paint showed where he would have been hit. Deadly.

“You are easy to predict. You move similar to Jimin. And you might be agile to adapt quick but your follow too quick to patterns you assume from you opponent.”, a lesson.

For everyone.

And Jungkook never beat Yoongi.

He tried.

He really did, but as strong as he got, as quick as he became he could never beat Yoongi’s mental smartness that just played with him. With everyone. And the cockiness he displayed was nothing but an assurance that his opponent did give it all.

“You really can’t beat him?”, Taehyung fell down next to him, passing a filled water bottle, his head instantly on Jungkook’s thigh, who raised a brow.  “What? People doubt you can actually not beat him.”

“Because he is an omega?”, Jungkook grumbled. Fully aware that the question coming out of Taehyung's mouth would never derive from any of those motions. It was probably simpler. Maybe  just  the  fact  that  Yoongi  was  more  than  head  smaller  than  him.  Or  something  less logical but definitely more of Taehyung's own logic.

“Have you seen him fight? He is not just using his body, he is using his brain. I can’t ever defeat that. But believe me, I did give it my all.”

“Yeah, when you tried to fight him blindfolded I was sure you lost it.”, Taehyung laughed.

“Asshole, stupid idea.”, he thought if he couldn’t see his moves and predict, it would confuse Yoongi and might finally give him an opening.

Except it didn’t.

Because Yoongi almost beat him quicker than ever. Despite his very keen senses.

“And  then  he  had  the  audacity  to  copy  me  and  show  me  how  it  should  have  worked.” Jungkook grunted but they both laughed.

When Yoongi had put his blindfolds on, Jungkook actually thought he could stand a chance. He had better senses and might actually have a tad more muscles on him, even if just because of his height. But once again Yoongi proved how much better he was. How much better he knew how to adapt and turn the a fight into his game.

Check mate within a minute. If not less.

“But you always smell happy.”, Taehyung smiled up.

Jungkook leaned back, his hand in his friends hair. “Because I am. He is so strong. Not just physically, but mentally. It is just beautiful…”

“Be careful, one could believe you fall for him.”

He already did.

Jungkook blinked.

Did he?

“Aren’t  you  meant  to  court  an  omega  in  your  next  heat.”,  nothing  of  that  sentence  was correct,  but  simply  so  righteous  Taehyung.  Just  as  untouched  as  Jimin,  his  probably  future mate. They lived in their own bubble. Thanks to Yoongi.

“I  prefer  to  spend  it  alone.”,  he  did  not  even  correct  the  heat  to  rut  one,  because  it  did  not matter to him.

And he preferred Taehyung not getting it right. For Taehyung treating Jimin and Yoongi as an equal. To a degree, that he had felt so heartbroken when Yoongi got in heat and he was not allowed to be with them. He laid curled up in front of their door for days. Only leaving for the bathroom and only surviving because Jungkook would come and provide food for him, but he couldn’t stay with him, the sweet tangerines were too strong for him, too tempting, so he let Jin rip him off the door and took over the care for Taehyung. He still does it. On every heat that hits Yoongi, he would be sitting, now on a small mattress with blanket and pillow, outside waiting for it to be over and crawl right into the room once Jimin opened the door and allowed  him  in.  Yoongi  reeked  of  Taehyung  more  than  Jimin  after  every  heat.  Jungkook found it adorable. So adorable that he did start to do the same for Jimin’s or Jin’s heat. He wanted them to know that he was there. And his alpha never struggled. Not even after his rut presented, he never felt the burn. The burn only ripped through him when his senses caught Yoongi’s sweet heated scent. Being the reason, he could never stay around during his heat. He smelled too good, too tempting.

And he only stopped staying in front of Jimin’s or Jin’s door when they would not spend it with  another  omega.  When  Yoongi  would  not  be  in  Jimin’s  room  anymore,  when  it  was Taehyung spending his heat with him. Same for Jin and Namjoon. Yoongi always stayed the provider.  Delivered  food,  blankets,  and  drinks.  Though,  Jimin  always  demanded  to  get  a stitched  scented  tunic  from  Yoongi.  Stitched  meant  that  even  after  several  washings  or misuses the scent never fades. Jungkook loved that Jimin would keep it with him during his heat and he believed that Taehyung appreciated it just as much.

“Scent it. Just this half.”, Jimin sat down on his other side, Taehyung only opening one eye and smiled.

“What?”

“Stitch scent this scarf. Yoongi did already the other half.”, Jimin repeated and already started wrapping the fabric around his neck.

Jungkook was almost knocked out when being hit by the intense tangerine flavour. Yoongi smelled so delicious.

“Don’t get him hard, when my head is so close to his dick.”, Taehyung warned and Jungkook blushed deep.

“I won’t get hard.”

“You literally growled.”, Taehyung grinned and Jungkook grunted annoyed.

“Well, don’t shove a scented tunic into my nose. What is this for anyways?”, he put the fabric down, though holding it tight in his hand.

“For my next heat. I want your smell on it. I miss you in front of my door, but I do agree you shouldn’t  hear  or  you  know…  but  this  way  I  can  have  you  with  us.”,  Jimin  smiled  too sweetly.  Jungkook’s heart became warm again.

Too warm and he felt his eyes blur.

“Oh, Kookie.”, Taehyung leaned up and pulls the alpha down into his arms.

“I  stop  in  a  second.”,  Jungkook  promised  but  he  felt  the  soft  pad  and  Taehyung  kept him close.

“Don’t.  Cry  as  much  as  you  want.  I  like  seeing  happy  tears.”,  Taehyung  grinned  and Jungkook grabbed hard on his friend.

He felt so loved.

“Mister Park, you are asked to follow Captain Min to the King.”, Jungkook shifted.

The claiming request. He knew instantly and so did the others.

“I shall go with them.”, Jungkook insisted and he felt Taehyung’s hand slipping in his as they both  escort  Jimin  and  Yoongi  into  the  hall.  His  father  sitting  on  his  throne,  waiting  while signing over papers.

“I  have  a  collection  of  Alpha’s  that  would  be  willing  to  hold  it  out  with  you.”,  he  lifted  a paper.

“I will claim Jimin.”, Taehyung spoke so loud yet so timid.

The King stopped in his movement.

“I am a capable and strong knight.”

“You are the brother of this rebel?”, the King asked and Taehyung nods, more confidently.

“The proud brother of Min Yoongi.”, Taehyung affirmed.

The Kings brow faltered deep. Obvious worry and doubt presented all over his dark face.

“It  would  be  a  good  sign  having  Taehyung  claim  Jimin.  It  will  portrait  that  the  alpha Taehyung is the reason an omega such as Yoongi became so strong. And that it is still all to Tahyung, the alpha, that both bow to.” Jungkook stated and stepped ahead of them.

Every  word  felt  like  a  distasteful  lie  that  he  wanted  to  throw  up  on.  He  barely  noticed  his brother shift next to the King. He could not see Yoongi nor Jimin as they remained behind him, both their scents tuned down. Taehyungs strong over them.

“Son, I did not ask you to come here.”, the King

“But  I  would  like  to  offer  my  own  claim  on  Yoongi.  You  wanted  me  to  pick  an  omega anyways.”, he continued sharp.



“For your rut.”, his father grunted back but it was less sharp, something thoughtful grew him. “That might actually work.”

Jungkook knew he screwed up. Just by the growing scent of Taehyung behind him, it was full of uncertainty. He tried to turn just to catch a glimpse of Yoongi, but his father spoke again.

“Claim Yoongi as your rut partner and I allow them to remain in the king’s guard.”, the King seemed pleased. Beyond that even a sharp glint sparking right onto Yoongi behind him.

“Show them, that the strongest omega still falls below an even stronger alpha.”

But he wasn’t.

Jungkook knew though that he didn’t care. That his father just wanted to humiliate Yoongi’s own  pride.  While  presenting  the  most  prestige  image  to  the  public  possible.  It  would  feed into  all  those  rumours.  Yoongi  only  being  able  to  win,  because  Jungkook  let  him.  Yoongi only being their best because he had the strongest alpha as partner.  Jungkook’s  fist  tighten.  He  wanted  to  protect  Yoongi  and  all  he  did  was  to  diminish  all  he did. It had taken him so long to be even considered worthy to be his friend. Because Yoongi deserved so much more. So much better.  He heard movement, shuffled noised behind him and his head lift to turn. Finding an angered Yoongi staring at the king, a weak Taehyung clinging onto his middle behind him and Jimin with much more power pushing onto his chest. Jungkook barely caught Jimin’s whispers.

“It could be worse. Jungkook is a good alpha.”

A growl.

Jungkook  believed  for  a  second  it  came  from  him,  just  to  be  assured  that  this  monstrous sound evaporated from Yoongi himself.

The darkest sound that went down his spine instantly.

“If he can’t oblige, he goes back onto the streets. Let’s see if an alpha even wants him then.”, his father barked and Jungkook turned back.

He will make sure the world will be the one Yoongi deserved. If Yoongi can take all that fight over  his  life,  he  will  make  sure  that  he  will  not  be  able  to  stop.  That  Yoongi  can  keep fighting. Even if it meant against him.

“I take him.”, Jungkook knew that he was not allowed to ask Yoongi here and right now. His father did not want Yoongi to pick, he wanted him to be thrown away, tossed out.

“He is mine. Only mine. No one will be allowed to touch him, except for me.”

The King grinned. “Of course my son. As long as he is a good omega to you.”

Jungkook felt his own growl growing.

“He will be.”, Jin jumped in to his surprise.

Their father paid little attention to him. “Good and just to be clear.”, the king rose from his chair and approached Jungkook in evaporating empty pride, which Jungkook did not know came from or was deserving of him to hold.

“You can have as many omegas as you want. Always feel free to pick his friend, if your alpha desires. “, Jungkook stiffened. A disturbing sound and even worse the little whine escaping from Taehyung. He would never. But they knew. Tae and Jimin knew, that he would never.

“I appreciate the kindness, father.”, Jungkook said in all the restraint manners he could come up with.

“Wonderful.”, his father turned. “Commander Kim, inform the soldiers and move the quarters of Yoongi right away into the adjacent chambers of my son’s.” – the one meant to be used for servants, an empty little room with barely a mattress fitting in. Degrading, exactly what his father wanted. His father wanted to move away, when Yoongi’s voice dark and deep filled the room.

“Captain Yoongi.”

His father turned. “Pardon?”

“I am Captain. Earned, deserved. Make sure that people know that your beloved alpha son is rutting with the Captain of the royal guard.”, he spitted the words out slowly without haste and his charcoal scent mixed so well and powerful over the tangerines.

Because his father never mentioned the rank of an omega let alone their last names.  His father twitched for a moment, Jungkook stepped ahead.

“Father, I will put him in place.” , he promised empty as before.

“Show me.”, Jungkook felt his blood being drained.

“Punish him here in front of me.”, the King grinned delighted. “Show him you are his alpha.”

Jungkook  inhaled  sharp  and  spined,  mentally  longer  than  his  body  did  to  turn  and  face Yoongi.

What was he meant to do?

Yoongi looked up at him, something soft in his eyes, something broken behind it.

He didn’t want to. Jimin pushed on Taehyung, who for the first time since their knowing had pushed out his chest. For the first time, Jungkook watched Taehyung trying to step in front of his  brother,  protect  him  for  once.  But  Jimin  is  stronger  and  his  scent  so  soothing.  Just  as Yoongi, who turned to his brother and smiled. Scent of sweet tangerines just for Taehyung, who seemed to struggle with all the comfort and anger. And fear, his eyes became watery and he looked begging to Jungkook, who just felt lost.

“Slap me.”, Yoongi’s voice was low.

Soft. Barely a whisper and probably only for him to hear.

“Kookie.”, he looked him into his eyes. “Slap me.”

Jungkook’s eyes widened and he nodded.

Yoongi could take this. Yoongi could take everything. Especially, his weak pathetic slap that had to sound loud and strong. So Jungkook raised his arm and stopped.  “Son, punish-“

“I don’t like red.”, Jungkook said.

“I don’t want him to be marked with red bruises. He will look even uglier than now. Let him fast.  No  food  for  three  days.  It  will  weaken  him  and  show  him  how  limited  his  body  is.” Yoongi could take it. But he could not step over this invisible line. The one that still allowed Yoongi to call him Kookie.

“Well  spoken,  son.  No  food  it  is.  I  do  prefer  my  omegas  untouched  too.  But  their  skin  is always so sensitive.”, the King mumbled along and finally moved back to his chair.

But Jungkook only kept his eyes on Yoongi. Was that a smile? A soft, hidden one? Jungkook wanted to grab him.

“Leave now. Train or be otherwise of use.”, the King announced and they bowed.

Jungkook  couldn’t  leave  the  hall  quick  enough,  right  behind  the  three,  Taehyung  in  the middle, at this point not holding back his tears.

“You  can’t  rip  off  my  feelings  like  that.”,  he  whined  while  pushing  both  omegas  into  his chest, barely able to keep walking ahead. But Jimin found a way to place small kisses below his ears. “You should not worry about us.”

Yoongi  just  remained  silent,  his  eyes  only  wandered  for  a  split  second  back  to  Jungkook, before he completely focused on his brother.

-

“You know, I didn’t mean my words, I was just-“

“I know, Kookie.”, Yoongi said softly and to further assure his statement, Jungkook tasted his honey tangerines.

“Good, and I hope you know, that you will not sleep here.”, he added and watched Yoongi stop  mid  move  as  he  had  started  to  prepare  the  tiny  mattress  in  the  side  quarters  of Jungkook’s room.

“I am only meant to sleep in the bed during your ruts.”, Yoongi proceeded again.

Jungkook kneed down and took the sheet of his hand.

“My dad will not check every night. You get on his nerves, but he will not let an annoying omega has more powers over him. You sleep in my bed. I mean…if you want.”

Jungkook did not expect to hear that full laugher from Yoongi.

“If I want?”, he repeated delighted and then his eyes turned sad.

“Of  course,  I  already  hate  that  I  had  to  take  so  much  from  you.”,  Jungkook  grumbled  and squeezed on the sheet.

“What did you take from me?”, Yoongi sounded too soft, too weak.

“Staying with Jimin and Taehyung. Picking your own partner or not or whatever you desire. Your food…”

Yoongi chuckled at the last one and Jungkook blinked, when he saw his hands slowly taking the sheets from his hand.

“Kookie, you got me so much more.”, Jungkook blinked again and looked up right into the eyes of his Yoongi.

“You  gave  me  the  chance  to  keep  fighting  and  for  that,  I  will  remain  always  grateful.”, Jungkook’s heart fell deep in his chest. A burn was spreading over all his limbs, ending right where Yoongi’s fingertips met his. He let go of the sheet and pulled Yoongi straight into his arms.

And Yoongi let him. More than that. He wrapped his arms slowly around him, right below his shoulder blades and Jungkook felt guilty on how happy he felt.

“Don’t get into a rut now.”, Jungkook blushed dark, his scent must have given him away. He always let it out when being with Yoongi.

“Hyung.”

“Oh no, not the Hyung-request. You just felt sorry for taking things.”, Yoongi grumbled in his chest and Jungkook chuckled.

“It is an easy one.”

“Let me be the judge of that.”, Yoongi muffled and turned his head up.

Jungkook couldn’t see him but he felt him soft leaning against him.

“I would like it when you don’t suppress your scent in our room.”

Our room.

Yoongi shifted at that, putting distance between them and looked up at him.

“I like your tangerines. And your charcoal. But…”, Jungkook evaded his eyes.

“I like them mixed in mine.”, he confessed softly.

A small bump on his forehead and he felt Yoongi’s inhale on his lips. So close.

“You little brat.”, without any bite.

“I shall leave my scent all around… our room.”

Jungkook giggled and pulled his hyung back into his arms.

All tasted so good.

So perfect.

How could it not for Jungkook?

Everyday he woke with his Yoongi on his side. Well, not everyday. Most days Yoongi was awake  ahead  of  him,  either  already  getting  ready  or  out  in  the  field.  But  the  few  days  he would  wake  next  to  him,  Jungkook  felt  himself  the  happiest.  Embraced  by  honey  sweet tangerines  and  the  softest  looking  Yoongi,  Jungkook  has  ever  seen.  His  pouty  lips  slightly parted,  his  hands  curled  and  his  face  so  calm.  As  if  nothing  did  ever  harm  him.  Jungkook would just watch, his breathing, his little movements, at times turning him into a little curled position, that made Jungkook’s heart jump even more.  If that was not enough, he was able to spend so much time with all his hyungs. Tae and Jimin always on their side after breakfast, that he still had separately, even from Yoongi, who still joined the knight table. They would train, play and just be together the whole day. Just for the second  best  part  of  the  day  to  come,  second  to  the  morning’s  Yoongi  stayed  in  bed,  the evening.  Sometimes  Jimin  and  Tae  would  join  them  in  the  bath  and  they  would  sit  around Jungkook’s  bed  until  late.  Just  then  Jimin  and  Tae  slipped  out,  despite  Jungkook  offering them to stay, just for Yoongi to chuckle at the attempted reasoning of the two for not staying – in short, they needed their own little cuddle time, as Yoongi explained Jungkook later. But Jungkook didn’t mind either, because that meant it was just Yoongi and him. The two laying in  the  dark  of  the  room,  sometimes  whispering  about  random  things,  or  daily  schedules. Though,  Jungkook  was  mostly  occupied  with  watching  his  Yoongi.  Speaking,  moving, laughing and just being here with him. It felt perfect. Perfect when Yoongi would slip into the dreams  and  Jungkook  wanted  to  always  pull  him  in,  right  onto  his  chest,  hold  him.  But  he never did.

It was perfect nonetheless.

For him.

For the alpha prince.

Not for Yoongi.

Jungkook knew that. Heard the way their partnership had instantly turned into what his father hoped. Yoongi’s rank stayed, but not the respect. Alphas would try to talk or push over him. They tried over and over, but Yoongi put them always back to place. Jungkook felt sorry of how much harder it had become for him, of how much disgusting words he had to endure.  ‘Just a little prince whore.’ Was probably among the worst and to his surprise it was Jimin that jumped on that, swords clang and Jungkook was sure that Jimin would have killed the alpha, if Namjoon had not stepped in. Not Tae, because Tae glared just as dark down at the alpha. Yoongi just came back from the city scouting, but his mind probably gathered quickly what must have occurred, when he picked Jimin to tend his little wounds, the alpha grunted on  the  floor,  Taehyung  standing  above  him,  making  all  the  others  alpha  stop  to  help  their fellow.  “I thought alphas don’t whine or know pain.”, Jungkook snorted at that comment of Yoongi. He loved when Yoongi was so teasingly disrespectful to the ones that did not deserve better.  The  alpha  stayed  on  the  floor,  blood  flooding  out  and  he  only  survived  because  Yoongi’s grace  was  bigger  than  his  hatred.  When  he  kneeled  down  and  took  care  of  his  wounds. Jungkook  never  interfered.  This  was  Yoongi’s  yard.  He  never  commented  on  questions  of how well Yoongi was pleasing him, bending for him. He only hit harder with the sword. He could handle that. Except, he didn’t. His anger grew and accumulated with every distasteful word.

“Is his slick more of a honey flavour? Does he take your dick good?”

Jungkook  snapped,  his  body  slamming  down  the  alpha  and  he  growled  hard.  The  group  of alphas around him silenced.

“Don’t you ever dare to talk about Yoongi like that ever again.”, Jungkook stood and glared into all their faces. “He is mine. Everything about him belongs to only me. Dare any of you to disgrace Captain Min one more time, I will shove my sword down your throat.”, he played the game again. And yet, Jungkook’s word were true of his heart. He would hurt any of them that kept disregarding their captain.

“End of training today.”, Jungkook flipped around and stared at the reappearing figure of his Yoongi standing there, small in figure but so tall in everything else.

“Sorry, my Captain.”, Jungkook slipped and bowed. Every movement stopped around them.

Jungkook  knew  the  alphas  watched,  watched  the  royal  alpha  prince  bow  to  the  omega Captain.

Only one pair of steps approached him.

Jungkook  waited.  Waited  until  a  hand  softly  patted  his  head  and  his  eyes  saw  the  boots  of Yoongi right in front of him.

“Another 30 laps for you.”, Yoongi stated and Jungkook smiled bright. His Yoongi could take anything.

“Yes, Sir.”, he dipped deeper before he removed himself and took the punishment.

-

“Their faces were frozen.”, Yoongi grinned bright onto the ceiling and Jungkook mirrored his excited expression.

“You are so good with words.”, Yoongi turned bright to him.

“They don’t even know how you play them.”, he added.

“That is the goal.”, Jungkook grinned and rolled over, right on top of his hyung, well half of it.

Yoongi laughed below him, complaining about the lack of air but he let him. He always did.

“You are not angry with me…”, Jungkook whispered and moved a bit off him, just to look down and meet his eyes.

“Angry  for  …  protecting  you.”,  Jungkook  did  not  want  Yoongi  to  feel  that  he  does  not believe he could not stand up for himself.

“I  think…  I  understand  that  I  can’t  do  this  myself.  Never  could.”,  Yoongi  answered  and turned himself into Jungkook’s chest.

Both on their sides, facing each other. Jungkook scooted closer, just so his forehead leaned on his.  He  liked  this.  It  felt  intimate,  private  and  yet  free.  He  had  wanting  to  get  another moment. A moment in which Yoongi would reach for him, maybe even scent him again. But it seemed that sober Yoongi did not crave him.

“I will always be there for you, Yoongi.”

Jungkook could live on that smile on his lips, so softly, so caring and all for him.

“Sometimes I wonder how I got to have this honour…”

…to be so devotedly loved by Jungkook.

Jungkook  moved  his  hand  over  his  waist  and  pulled  him  in,  closer.  He  watched  Yoongi’s cheeks  changing  their  colour,  feels  his  fingers  falling  onto  his  chest  again.  Maybe  to  stop him, or maybe to stop himself…

“Anything  less  is  not  your  worth.”,  Jungkook  breathed,  and  he  felt  so  far  from  him,  he wanted him closer. Nothing was enough.

Yoongi  chuckled  and  his  fingers  moved  from  his  chest  over  to  Jungkook’s  cheek,  when Jungkook moved his head again, trying to get closer, their noses bump.



“I sometimes believe you are just a puppy that imprinted all his loyalty onto me out of sheer admiration.”, Yoongi sounded too sad for something that meant so much to Jungkook.

Jungkook grumbled. “Don’t take the meaning of my heart away.”

Yoongi smiled silently. He never responded to Jungkook’s love. The one Jungkook tried so hard to show him, to ask him to reply to.

He  held  Jungkook’s  face  still  with  soft  movements  of  his  thumb  over  his  jaw.  Yoongi  just knew how to hold Jungkook in place. He knew how to feed him and yet, keep him starved.

Jungkook felt peaceful and his eyes close.

“Kookie…”

“Hm…?”, he could drink his deep voice right on his lips.

“You are pretty hot.”

“Took you long enough to notice.”, Jungkook grunted cheekily and opened his eyes just to meet a worried frown or rather feel it.

“Physically hot.”, Yoongi’s finger slid over his neck and even on his chest. Clearly ignoring, the desired shift Jungkook hoped for. Nonetheless, Jungkook inhaled sharp at that touch.

“When is your rut?”

“I forgot…sometime next week or so…”, he completely lost count of days since Yoongi had been with him.

All just became everything.

And nothing in the moment when Yoongi moved away from him, pulling himself up on his elbow.

“I believe next week is tomorrow.”, Yoongi looked down.

“Then it is tomorrow, why do we care?”, he grumbled and wanted to pull Yoongi down again.

“Jungkook, we have to prepare.”

We?

“Hell, let me get Taehyung. You don’t mind Taehyung being our caregiver, right?”

Jungkook looked confused when Yoongi started to get out of the bed.

“I shall refill more bottles.”, he murmured. “We probably need… how long is your rut?”

Jungkook sat up, still hurt about being ripped of his Yoongi.

“I don’t know… 5 days or ten.”

Yoongi stopped mid putting his boots on.

“That  is  a  vast  difference.  Oh  god,  okay.  I  will  let  Taehyung  know  to  maybe  give  us  some extra sheets.”

“Yoongi.”, Jungkook looked still confused over to him.

“Let  me  just  quickly  get  him.  Your  alpha  is  fine  with  another  alpha?  You  never  seemed bothered before with Taehyung. And I worry if we get Jimin, you might want to jump him too.”

“I  never  want  to  jump  Jimin.”,  Jungkook  said  firm  and  he  tried  to  follow  Yoongi’s movements, collecting and counting. But he needed to resolve his confusion.

“Yoongi, why do you keep saying us?”

Yoongi finally stopped and turned to him.

“Well, you said you will have me for your rut.”, he explained short.

Jungkook’s eyes widened.

Yoongi actually believed… Yoongi actually wanted to…

“Yoongi, no!”, he jumped off the bed, almost stumbled into Yoongi’s chest, just to be held up by him on his waist.

“Yoongi, I don’t want to… I only said that to not have any horrible alpha use you. I wanted to prote… make sure you are safe.”

Yoongi looked up at him at his big brown eyes that seemed so full of emotions.

“You don’t want to use me?”, he whispered.

“Never!”,  Jungkook  almost  shouted  and  stared.  “I  want…”,  he  turned  silent  “Can  you  just take care of me?”, he whispered. “In a not-intimate way…”

Yoongi  observed  Jungkook  getting  nervous  again,  his  cheeks  red  and  his  eyes  all  over  the place between them.

“Kookie… I am an omega.”

“And?”, Jungkook looked so lost and then whispered so silently as if he said the most hidden secret words in existence.

“Would I trigger your heat?”, at that Yoongi grew red.

“No!”, a small pat on Jungkook’s big arm.



“My point is, your alpha will want to hump me, when I am here. An alpha in rut does not care… they just… take.”, Yoongi mumbled.

“I will not take you.”, Jungkook assured.

“But I want you here… if you want to. Taehyung is fine too otherwise. Or we ask Jin… or Jimin.”

“You just listed two omegas and another alpha as optional helpers.”, he sighed.

“I listed Jin and Jimin. And Tae.”, Jungkook said so firm, it went right into Yoongi’s chest.

“And  you,  Yoongi.  I  ask  you,  Yoongi,  to  stay  with  me.  I  won’t  take  you…”,  because Jungkook didn’t want it that way.

He wanted it to happen when the morning sun kisses Yoongi’s pale skin, when Yoongi would lean into him and smile so warm that his chest would explode and he would finally be tasting those sweet tangerines of his pouty full lips.

Not in a rut, where he barely remembered. Barely would be sure that he fully embraced all his perfect Yoongi would offer.

But he did want Yoongi. His Yoongi.

Jungkook stilled.

How had this been the first time he realised how deep his admiration, his care for his hyung went?

Or was it just the coming rut?

“Okay.”

Jungkook blinked.

“I will be here.”, Yoongi nodded and moved his hands from his waist.

“Let me get all we need.”, he smiled and left.

Left a lost puppy.

Lost Jungkook who just stared after him.

Why did that feel like Yoongi would still submit to him?

Why did it sound like Yoongi just stayed to still serve him?

“Hyung…”, Jungkook whispered into the empty room.