Chapter Text
Hyunjin's POV:
It was probably near midnight when a violent nudge shook me up from my floating around consciousness. I almost drifted off to sleep. The painkillers did a great job suppressing a high fever and an unbearable pain. But my head felt so much lightheaded. The whole Lee camp had plunged into utter silence after the afternoon.
The patients were settled inside to take proper rest. The healers were also equally exhausted, so they also excused themselves for a stretch out. The guards of the Jeons had taken the duty to patrol the base.
"Hyunnie..... Hyunnie...... Hyunnie...." Chan hyung's quiet voice resonated just beside me.
"Hyung, let him be. He is exhausted and the medicines for his wounds might have put him in a deep sleep....." Seungmin's voice sounded just as quiet.
"I told you guys not to disturb him. He needs rest to be healed!" Jeongin's annoyed voice sounded more reasoning.
"Now you sound more like an older brother. How drastically you changed your mind for him!" Seungmin countered.
"Hyung! I'm being professional! He is my patient! Of course I'm worried about his wellness!" I already could imagine a pout on his lips.
"All of you.... can you stop arguing on my wellbeing first?" I finally responded, more like snapped.
"Second Prince Hwang! You're awake! Tell me how do you feel ? Do you feel a heavy head? .....Cold?....how about....how about pain?" Jeongin inquired as he took in my pulse.
Both Chan hyung and Seungmin looked like they had seen a complete different person in the Crown Prince Yang.
I firmly shook my head to assure the worried boy that I was fine.
"What are you guys doing here anyway? It's almost midnight!"
"All the Kings and Queens are here. King Yang, King Jeon, King Lee, King Hwang, King Kim, Queen Lee and Queen Hwang too. They're about decide the fate of the Khirighans and...also Theodore's excursion." Seungmin muttered the last part almost inaudibly.
"So? Why am I..... Wait! You said Queen Hwang? Mom woke up?!! Where is she right now?...." I almost lost my footing while getting up hastily.
Thankfully Chan hyung held me firmly.
"Mom dad wants to see you too.... before they start on the political debate."
Chan hyung informed me.
We headed towards the strategy room of the base again. Jeongin right beside me. He was intentionally slowing down and that told me to keep the pace with him.
"If you are worried about my wounds, don't be. I'm doing good."
He was still silent.
"Look if you want to...."
"Can I call you hyung?!"
I almost didn't get that. Only because of our close proximity, I could hear it. But didn't believe my ears anyway.
The 'Yang Jeongin' just asked me to be his hyung! Who would believe that?!
"Forget it.... I..... I shouldn't have asked like that...it was so reckless of me...."
"I've never held grudges against you....."
"I know you won't. That's why I considered!" His way of agreeing with me, was indeed agressive.
One eyebrow arched in amusement, I gave him an encouraging nod.
"So.... can I?"
"Why do you want a hyung all of a sudden?"
Genuinely curious I asked back.
"I've always wanted one. Having a person to learn so much with. A person who could become my life lessons. Becoming my reliable anchor, at the same time matching my chaos. You have one yourself. I bet you know that feeling." Voice filled with sincerity he let out his feelings.
My eyes darted towards my hyung, walking a little ahead of us. He had become my only anchor, my only family after mom's abduction. The only person who showed me a constant light through all these of years of my endless abyss.
"Why me?" My eyes still fixed on my hyung I asked.
"You fit in my demands." He deadpanned.
Wow!
"What's up in your criteria for being your hyung?"
I couldn't help but ask. My amusement increasing further.
"Being a genuine person with broad mind and even a bigger heart. And of course an insanely handsome face card."
He listed as a toddler would do for his shopping hunt.
A small chuckle left me. He was indeed considering it.
"Can you really tolerate me as one?"
"I have already apologised. Felix hyung had gone through too much. Once I took care of him temporarily and asked him to let me stay by his side until..... Until you knew everything and accepted everything truly."
"I've long passed that phase, Jeongin. Now, nothing about him bothers me. No secrets. No deceptions. Only the person. I just want him to find his own peace." Letting a sigh escape me, I relied on his thoughtfulness.
"I should've had better faith in his choice." With a quiet voice he remarked.
"I'm grateful to be worthy of your faith then." It amazed me that though younger, he was much more collected person.
"If you really are, then answer me already."
Always demanding or throwing tantrums. Jeez! What am I getting myself into?
"I don't have any problem with it." Looking back at him I answered.
His avoiding gaze finally stared at me with surprise.
"You don't?!"
"No." Shaking my head I affirmed.
Immediately enough I had a full grown up toddler crushing me into a tight hug.
"Thank you... thank you... thank you so much... hyung!!!"
A overexcited one on that.
"Enough, enough.... I'm already regretting my decision!"
Pushing him away a bit, I remarked. Only then he behaved like an obedient kid. Silently walking by my side.
Our pace fastened until we joined the other two. Jeongin clutching Seungmin's hand caught Seungmin by surprise but the former broke into a huge grin, eyes glistening with playfulness. Finally, they had found their own world within themselves even after all those triangle entangled. They found eachother. They found their solace.
"You okay?"
Chan hyung's genuinely worried tone brought me back to present. We were already at the threshold of the strategy room.
"I am."
"Hyunnie....if you feel overwhelmed by all this...you don't have to mind anything at all! Give yourself time. Resolve your emotions first. Make yourself happy first. Only then you'll be able to be okay."
"I'm fine, hyung. Really. I just want to see if Yongbok is okay or not. I haven't seen him the whole day."
"You're...... really okay."
Chan hyung commented with a genuine smile. He looked relieved.
When we entered the strategy room, my eyes first searched for the blond haired boy. Certainly realising he wasn't there at all, neither was the Lee Royals and King Kim.
Seungmin joined his brothers, professor Kim and professor Park also present with them. Jeongin as expected joined his dad, King Yang. King Jeon still steadily present by our dad's side. I should be thankful to him for keeping dad safe all these years. Mom's eyes locked with mine the next moment and she called me join them.
Taking a seat beside mom, I asked her, "how are you feeling now?"
Her eyes lit up with a genuine smile, her fingers made signs and I didn't understand a single ounce of it.
"She is saying that she is completely fine. Prince Jeongin has taken good care of her. And she asked you how's your wound." Dad's voice resonated quietly just beside her.
I stared at him, genuinely surprised, I asked "how....."
"I learnt. When I heard she only could communicate through hand signs, His highness, King Jeon arranged a lesson for me." Dad's gratified smile to King Jeon made us to look at the mentioned male.
King Jeon gave us a small smile. Always the humble one.
".....no I don't want any of my sons to be involved in the succession to the Khirighan throne."
Queen Lee's firm voice reached us first as she entered the room, along with the Lee trio and King Kim. Her sharp eyes swiping past us.
In the next second, she turned to King Kim, "your majesty, you have three heirs. You surely can let someone to inherit the throne. The Khirighan border is nearer to your kingdom."
"Yes, the border is indeed nearer. However the cultural diversity is huge. If someone understands them the most, then that person is you, your majesty." King Kim responded immediately.
Queen Lee turned to dad, "since King Hwang strongly denied any further interactions with the Khirighans and we're backing away too I suggest King Jeon and King Yang takes the reign." Her eyes scrutinizing the mentioned kings.
"I rule over a kingdom that relies on peace and prosperity more than anything. And my people are mostly from healer tribes. They won't support my interference in such a robust situation. However......" King Yang halted.
His eyes suddenly sneaking a glance at professor Min who also felt the tension.
Why? How does it concern him?
Queen Lee's voice resonated again "your majesty, you aren't pointing to a democracy system, are you?!" Her eyes widened in disbelief.
By my side dad sat more upright position, King Jeon got alerted too, even King Kim decided to concentrate on it seriously. Cause turning a monarchy into a democracy would change the whole tide of political situation.
Moreover until now St. Loire had been the only democratic country that survived. That's because the Yangs and the Lees had that land neutralized in the terms of their treaty. Now turning a whole Kingdom into a democratic country would be a huge different story maybe a different novel too.
"I am." King Yang affirmed.
"That'll take time. Moreover the Khirighan people will strongly rebel against such arrangements." King Lee commented.
"Then let Queen Lee return to her throne. If someone actually can take the reign that should be her." Dad's firm suggestion silenced the whole room.
"Then let's settle the Theodore's fall first. After that we will talk about a presidential candidate." Queen Lee agreed.
Then turning to professor Min, she added, "Yoongi, can you reach President Min in the morning? We want him here as soon as possible."
"Yes, your majesty. I'll send a messanger to dad." Professor Min replied immediately.
So professor Min is the son of President Min! And I didn't even realise that?!
As the meeting ended everyone took their leave. Mom stayed at her tent, Queen Lee accompanying her. Dad, King Lee and King Kim returned to Hinoi. The members retired to their respective tents, Chan hyung joining them. The others also departed on their own accord. I didn't even realise when I walked towards the Lee Royal rest areas untill someone nudged me to get attention.
"Second Prince Hwang, are you okay?" Han Jisung looked worried. His big eyes trying to decipher any error.
Only then I realised that I was about two tents away from Felix's tent.
"Yes, I'm fine, Jisung. I just wanted to check..." I trailed off as not finding out what to say.
"Felix isn't okay, Hyunjin." Minho's soft voice resonated just behind me.
As I looked back, his brooding eyes met with mine. They felt so helpless.
"He has locked himself again. He is loosing himself again. Or I should say he doesn't know how to find himself anymore..... He looks so vacant." His voice trembled as a shaky breath left him.
"We tried talking with him and he acted like he is okay but he isn't. He is a mess right now. Hyunjin....can you please talk to him for once. I have this feeling that he is feeling guilty for lying to you. That's one of the reasons he didn't come out of his tent."
"I will." I assured them with my utmost determination.
When I reached Felix's tent, it was lighted with a single table lamp. Felix was utterly focused on something. Soft sniffling could be heard. He was trying to distract himself from the hurdles of overwhelming thoughts.
I softly cleared my throat to get his attention. Immediately his eyes snapped at me, stopping his hands altogether. That reflex. Only then I noticed he was practicing some surgical sewing on a rubber sheet.
He cleared his throat too, before speaking.
"What are you doing here at this hour? You should be taking rest. Your wounds hasn't healed yet."
His voice sounded groggy. His eyes staring at anything except me.
So he is not sure again.
Maybe he needs more time. I should've stayed away! What if my presence pressure him more?!
"I didn't see you the whole day, so I wanted to check on you. If you want me to leave, then ...."
"No! You can.... can you stay?"
A rare vulnerability present in his eyes as they widened in fear. The fear of being left. The fear of being alone. In the end they pleaded.
Striding to him, I engulfed him in a tight warm hug. Caressing his back, I assured, "Lixie-ah, you don't have to say it more. I'll stay. As long as you want."
"You won't regret it?"
Again that question.
Looking into his trembling eyes, I reassured, "no. I've never regretted it. And I'll never regret it. Trust me."
"Don't trust in me, Hyunjin. I'm terrible at being genuine." His gaze guilty, almost loathing himself.
"How can you say that? I've never felt you weren't being genuine when you cared for me, when you comforted me. When you poured your affection for me....."
"Don't overshadow my lies to you!" He literally snapped, startling me a bit.
"You didn't lie to me. You just hid. You were going through much more complicated situations Lixie-ah. I'm not blaming you for that. No one is."
Once his mind calms down, he'll think more reasonably.
"I'm sorry for snapping at you. I.... I....this revenge had been my only goal to live until now. Now this revenge is done and I don't know what to do anymore. It feels so vacant."
His hands reached for his hair, ruffling it further. His eyes felt so lost until I grabbed his hands.
Taking them in mine, I met his vacant eyes.
"Then make something else as your purpose. You are going to be a surgeon Felix. Live for those people who needs you in their life. Make them your goal."
"Do I deserve....."
I couldn't afford to let him doubt again.
"Yes. You do. You deserve everything best in your life. Everyone's waiting for you to become the best version of yourself. Make their wait worthy. You can do that, right?"
"I don't know. If something goes....." His eyes seeking for a crack of delusion again.
Caressing his cheeks, wiping his tears, I spoke with the softest voice ever.
"Nothing will go wrong from now on. Everyone's here. Your parents, your hyung, your friends, The Seven.... Me..... We'll not let anything go wrong again. Trust me."
"I've been in this facade for so long.... I've forgotten how I used to be Hyunjin-ah. I've forgotten myself." Fresh tears rolled down his cheeks again.
"Then start anew. Be the best son, your parents could've imagined. Be the best brother, your hyung yearned to see for so long. Be the Second Prince Lee, the whole Lee Dynasty had never seen. It's all yours now. Be what you truly are, Felix. They will be so proud of you."
"And what about you?"
Finally hope was back in his eyes.
"Me? I can't be more prouder. You're a warrior yourself Yongbok-ah. You fought your life out of this crisis. I'm so awed by your endurance. You are already the best version of yourself in my eyes."
A red coated his flustered cheeks. My heart swelled up in excitement with that sight alone. He looked finally at ease.
Will he deny it now? Will he mind?
"Lixie-ah.....look at me."
His wondering shy eyes met my nervous gaze and immediately enough they froze. I don't know what he saw in my expression, but he was about to avert his gaze. Like he was unable to take the weight of it.
Keeping a hold of his hands in mine, I uttered with utmost sincerity, "Second Prince Lee, Lee Felix Yongbok, will you bless me with your grace being my boyfriend."
There. My heartbeat stopped for a moment then restarted with double speed as I stared into his honey brown orbs. His stupified expression broke into a huge grin as fresh tears rolled down his cheeks.
"Hyunjin-ah......" His sob startled me.
Did I cross the line again? Wasn't he ready yet? What have I done?! I'm the one who told him that we would wait. Now what?!
"Shh.... Lixie-ah.... I'm sorry.... I should've...."
Before another word left me, a pair soft lips grazed with mine. A soft light peck. My whole system froze yet again as I stared at him widened eyes. A soft shy smile adorning his equally flustered face.
"Yes."
Almost breathy.
Almost a whisper.
But that was enough.
I captured his lips in mine. This time pouring out every stuffed emotions in it. Happiness, relief, pride, content and love. Our lips braced, moving in synchronisation as we both expressed eachother's presence to our souls.
When we parted, we both were heavily breathing, our foreheads attached.
Felix murmured, "that was......a whole dam!"
Only looking at him I realised he was staring at me the whole time.
How can he even do that every damn time?!
"I'm sorry Hyunjin....for making you stand at the edge always... I'm truly....."
Before he could continue further, I shut him up with another light kiss.
"Can we stop saying sorry to eachother for the sake of our past promise....."
He was about to protest again.
"No. I'm not going to regret anything or hold you guilty for anything. From now on, focus on only one thing: living your life like you have found your life anew. And that's enough for me."
"Why are you so mean to me?! You won't even let me feel guilty for a second!"
He gave me a light punch on my chest as he embraced me in a warm hug.
"Yes, I love being a meany with you like this." I hugged him back.
"I love you too."
His soft voice resonated just behind my ears.
That definitely felt so unreal to my delusional mind. I had waited so long for him to say that. Now that he had finally confessed it, it felt so overwhelming. Like at least 14 emotional states crashed into me altogether. And he stared at me like he very much expected me to act like that. A shy smile bloomed on my face as I averted my gaze.
"That's my response to your confession back from that night." He added. Quietly enjoying me struggling with holding myself together.
"Look at me, Jinnie."
Now it was my time not to break into tears. Happy tears of course.
As our eyes met, we both knew that it was finally time to confront eachother with all the suppressed love.
Maybe one or two moments later the hourbell of the base struck midnight. Successfully reminding us that we needed to sleep.
"We should go to sleep. It's getting late." I suggested as I left a kiss on his forehead.
I was about to turn around when he held me firmly.
"Can you.....can you stay here?"
His pleading round eyes melted me and I gave in before I could even start.
Settling on the bed I opened my arms for him and he immediately snuggled into my chest.
With a heavy content sigh, he whispered "Good night Jinnie."
"Good night Bokkie."
Few mere seconds later only tranquility engulfed us he drifted into deep sleep, only a peaceful calm face and even breathing left.
At the door, Minho stared at us with a relieved smile. His eyes telling a thousand of gratitude. I reassured him with a slight nod. Only then he left and I stared back at the sunshine held in my arms.
Few months ago if someone asked me what is my opinion about love I would have cursed out loud at them. Or might have sprewed some really mean words to them. Look at me now, carefully holding someone so precious to my heart. My heart, that never believed in any attachment after mom's abduction, finally settled in peace. This feeling of contentment so much overwhelming, sometimes it feels like it would burst out.
Felix shifted lightly by my side, his hands ghosting over my face. As if he was assuring that I stayed.
"I'm here....go to sleep.... I'm here." Caressing his cheeks softly, I reassured.
Only then he settled peacefully, his breath drifting back to smooth rhythm. My eyes darted to his freckles. Those little stardusts adorning his cheeks and nose glistened in the dim light. A lone strand of his blond hair had fallen on his eye. I carefully removed it. My hand found it's right place there - behind his head. Following the tempo of his breath I drifted to sleep as well.