"Do you think my mother and sister are in the same situation as me?"

Wooyoung looks up at him after setting down his food, frowning. Yeosang continues.

"I mean, the reward money is a lot, I'm sure other people have done the same thing as you in order to get it".

When Wooyoung just shrugs and walks out of the door, he huffs, not knowing why he even bothers trying to have a conversation with him.

He just wants to know if they're safe. Heck, he's desperate to know if they're alive at least.

Flashbacks to the day of the ball run through his head. The image of witnessing his father being murdered is still clear in his mind.

What a cruel world. He thinks, and unavoidable tears roll down his cheeks. He hopes that the rest of his family managed to escape before anyone could get them.

He hadn't made it. He should have escaped instead of running into the bathroom, foolishly thinking that he wouldn't be found. But he was. At least it was Wooyoung who kidnapped him, who doesn't want him dead, unlike les rois. That doesn't make it any better though. The kingdom is still without a king, and ruthless rebels are still hunting like eagles, searching for the remainder of the Kangs.

His heart aches for his family, literally. Yeosang clutches his chest and groans, kneeling into the floor. The thing with him is that when he feels an emotion, he feels it intensely, with all his heart. His tears splash onto the floor as he cries, he just wants to leave this prison. He doesn't care anymore if he's in danger out there, he just wants to be free.

Walking to the door, he pulls on the handle, shaking it vigorously, trying hard to open it. It's obviously locked and Yeosang his his head on the door in defeat, leaning against it. He doesn't know what to do anymore, any hope he had left in his body has gone now. He's been here already for so long, he hasn't seen the outside world in over a month. Being confined in such a small space does something to you.

Yeosang repeatedly hits his head against the door. Bang. Bang. Bang. He curses at Wooyoung, for finding him and taking his freedom away. He curses at his boss, who is clearly controlling Wooyoung. The nightmare he had a few weeks ago pops up in his head again and he shudders.

He curses at les rois, for murdering his father and who knows what to his mother and sister. He hits his head again. Bang, cursing at himself, for being so weak, so unable to stand up for himself and actually escape. He hates how he just gave up, what if his mother and sister is in danger, while he's just sitting here doing nothing all day?

Sighing, he prays that they're alive at least. What he needs to do first is escape. Then he can get his family back.

The handle is still in his hand and Yeosang doesn't realise that it's turning until the door opens, his leaning position making him fall forward onto whoever opened the door.

He yelps when a firm grip is placed on his waist, leaving Yeosang to grab onto their shirt.

Wooyoung looks down at him, confused. Not at the fact that he had been leaning on the door, but the fact that Yeosang's cheeks were tear stained and his eyes glossy.

Run. Now's your chance, go! Yeosang's mind chants, but somehow he can't seem to move. And when their eyes meet, he also can't stop the stream of tears falling down again.

He buries his face into Wooyoung's chest, not caring that his tears are most likely making it wet. On instinct, Wooyoung's hands move from the grip on his waist, to around his body, embracing him.

Wooyoung has absolutely no idea why he does it.

"Please..." Yeosang cries into his chest, "let me go"

Wooyoung raises his eyebrows, looking down at his hair. The small boy in his arms is maybe making him feel guilty.

"You know I can't do that"

The grip on his shirt tightens and Wooyoung gulps. Yeosang looks up but Wooyoung looks away, not having the courage to meet his eyes.

Yeosang contemplates bargaining with him, preparing to give anything to leave, more money, a house, anything. But he also knows that he is excruciatingly stubborn, and that he is probably acting under orders of his boss, meaning that he'd probably be in life threatening trouble if he let Yeosang escape. He shouldn't even care about that, but somehow he doesn't want Wooyoung to get into trouble.

Huh. He doesn't want the bad guy to get into trouble.

Yeosang gives up and releases his grip on Wooyoung's shirt, roughly pushing him and walking away from him. He has been defeated yet again.

Wooyoung considers picking a fight, maybe a punch or two would stop him even thinking about escaping. But his pitiful expression hinders any thoughts of even laying a finger on the prince.

Instead, something urges him to cheer him up. Yeosang isn't fun when he's sad, at least if he's angry, Wooyoung could pick a fight or have a good debate.

Yes. That's why he wants to cheer him up.

He walks over to Yeosang, who is sitting on his bed, head down, and he takes a seat next to him.

His hand somehow ends up on his chin, lifting his head up to face him. He cups his cheek, swiping away his tears with his thumb. 

Yeosang's breath hitches, this is too soft. Wooyoung's eyes are unreadable but the thumb stroking his cheek implies that he is trying to comfort him.

They hold eye contact for a second too long to be considered not staring. The two simultaneously cough and flinch away, shuffling on the bed so that there is a bigger gap between them.

"Don't cry. You'll be out of here soon enough, as you know, if you try to escape, I'll make sure you spend your life in this room."

Yeosang must have become immune to his threats, as he doesn't even react. Wooyoung also seems to be tired of his threats, saying them with no emotion.

Wooyoung clears his throat.

"I think they'll stop increasing the reward money any time soon, so I'll present you when the time comes."

"Ok"

Wooyoung's head snaps up so fast he's certain he got whiplash. Why is he accepting my words? You're supposed to fight me. We're supposed to fight.

I'm the bad guy. You fight bad guys.

His thoughts cloud his head as Yeosang remains apathetic. "If you're done, I'd like to sleep please" he says, looking at his watch.

Wooyoung just watches Yeosang in shock as he tucks himself into bed, earning an annoyed look from him. "You can go" he says again.

But for some reason (Wooyoung can't seem to find reasons for a lot of his actions today), he wants to stay a bit longer.

"Have you read all the books I gave you?" He says, just thinking of anything random to say.

Yeosang eyes him suspiciously "yes..."
Wooyoung doesn't expect him to answer but his eyes widen. "All of them? That quick?"

He rolls his eyes "I have nothing to do all day, obviously I'm going to read them all within a couple of days"

Wooyoung considers his words for a bit, before opening that stupid mouth of his again. "I will get you more". And with that, he runs out of the room, smacking his forehead, leaving a confused Yeosang staring at him as he closes the door.

♪───Ｏ（≧∇≦）Ｏ────♪
This was a bad filler chapter I'm sorry, it will get juicy later on I promise...