Agust had always wanted to overthrow the terrible king.

He had talked about it, been encouraged to do it by other commoners who wanted change. His neighbor Seokjin had smiled when Agust had first told him his plan.

"If anyone can change the Mad King, it's you, Agust."

Some people forbade him to do so, hurrying away from him as if they would get in trouble for just being around someone saying such things.

But Agust was set on his plans. He had a car, a few guys who also wanted to overthrow the king as well, and a guy on the inside.

He was all set.

Tomorrow night, their plan would be set into motion.

-

Shouts woke him up, and a sleepy Agust sat up, confused to see all the light outside his window when it was supposed to be midnight.

He rushed out of bed and hurried outside, where the fire from people's lanterns and torches lit up the starry night sky, as if it was New Years.

"What's going on?" He grabbed the closest person's shoulder, turning them around.

The commoner pointed to the castle, where the Mad King ruled over them with an iron fist.

"Rogues broke into the castle! They're overthrowing the king as we speak!"

"What?!" Agust exclaimed.

He was shocked- who was doing this and how did they beat him to it?

After his years of careful planning and all the emotion and passion he had invested into this coup, the way he wanted to see the king's face when he realized Agust had beaten him, he would be damned if he let anyone take his rightful vengeance victory away from him.

He raced off to the castle, pushing and shoving people out of his way as he ran.

-

Out of breath, he finally reached the edges of the castle's territory, where bodies of fallen, masked rogues and royal guards laid bloody and torn.

The sounds of fighting grew louder as he carefully stalked closer, hiding behind trees as he scanned for a way inside the castle.

Who was the leader behind this? Did they know Agust had been planning the same thing and wanted to do it first or was it merely a badly timed coincidence?

Movement from the corner of his vision caught his eye and he whipped his head around, seeing a figure dart across the empty space between two trees.

Agust didn't know if it was a guard or a rogue, but either way, they should be able to give him some answers.

He broke away from his own hiding place and ran over.

The figure looked behind them, hearing him approach and quickly scrambled to bolt away.

Before they could, Agust leaped at them, tackling the person to the leaf strewn floor with a grunt.

Hissing, the figure beneath him fought against him, kicking and clawing, until Agust finally pinned them down.

Taking a moment to catch their breath, Agust eyed the person in the bright moonlight.

It was a man- no, more like a boy.

Pale skin, marred only by a fresh cut down his eye. There were small injuries, like bruises and nicks littered over his arms, where the too long sleeves had fallen down. The clothes he was wearing looked to be too big on him.

Agust knew him.

"You're the Mad King," he said, shocked.

"Get off me, peasant!" The king snarled, struggling to throw Agust off.

Agust didn't flinch, clearly stronger.

He knew the king was dangerous when he was equipped with a sword. But he always had his guards to protect him, and didn't know how to fight on his own.

"You're injured." He commented, mostly because his mind was blank with shock and he didn't know what to say.

The king sighed and went limp, accepting he couldn't shove Agust off. "Are all my subjects fools like you? Yes of course I'm injured- do you think I took a sword to my own eye?"

"Shouldn't you be in there?" Agust raised an eyebrow and jerked his head back in the direction of the castle. "Fighting whoever planned this attack? Why are you out here by yourself?"

"Get your filthy hands off these royal robes!" The king snapped, renewing his fighting. "You're a foul rogue like those infiltrating monsters!"

"I wish." Agust muttered to himself, before looking the king over with more scrutiny. "Those robes don't look royal, they look like scrubs taken off the back of a commoner."

The king huffed, rolling his eyes. "Just my royal luck, getting caught by the village idiot of all my useless subjects."

The king glared at Agust, his hatred intense in the moonlight washing over them. "Yes of course they're commoners clothing, pig head. I had to disguise myself to get out of the castle. And even though they're scratchy and lack gold, they're still considered royal since they've had the honor to be graced by the touch of my skin."

Agust barely held back his own eye roll. Hail Mary save me from killing him with my bare hands right now.

And why shouldn't he? The king was called a Mad king for a reason- he was a horrible, cruel, unforgiving ruler. Agust had lost so many kind neighbors, close friends and even some family members due to the king not providing enough food, not providing enough medicine, and always starting a new war with other kingdoms.

Why shouldn't he wrap his hands around the kings throat and end his reign right now?

He lifted his hands from pinning the kings arms down and raised them to the kings pale neck, feeling the boys pulse fluttering rapidly.

The king looked shocked at the action, like he never expected someone to do this to him.

Agust held the kings throat in his hands, his fingers shaking slightly as he stared the tyrant in the eye, mentally encouraging himself to squeeze.

Kill him!

End him now!

He deserves it!

For some reason, the king wasn't fighting back.

His eyes were shiny with...tears.

The tears made Agust hesitate.

Kill him already!

The king looked really young. Like he was the same age as Agust.

Kill!

He wasn't fighting back because he was terrified.

Kill him now!

He was terrified, injured, forced out of the only home he had ever known, alone, on his own, and crying.

Agust's grip faltered once, twice, and then he slowly removed his hands.

The king stayed still as Agust sat back, his heart still pounding in his chest. His face hurt. His whole body hurt, especially his eye.

Agust sighed, running a hand through his black hair.

He couldn't do it.

He couldn't kill the king.

He was furious with himself for being unable to complete the task he had dreamed of doing for years. And he was furious he didn't know why he wasn't able to go through with it.

He stood up, brushing the dirt and debris off his clothes, before offering his hand down to the king.

The blonde stared at it, as if it was a dangerous snake instead of a hand.

"Come on," Agust shook his hand a little, prompting the king to take it. "We have to get out of here."

"Why would I go with a dirty rogue like you?" The king hissed. "You're just like them! You tried to kill me!"

Agust huffed. "Barely. Come on, we don't have time to argue!"

The king scrambled up, leaves sticking to his long blonde hair and scratchy robes. "I refuse! My throne is threatened and-"

"Shh." Agust suddenly grabbed him, yanking both of them behind a tree, his hand slapping over the kings mouth.

His back pressed firmly against the rough bark, he held the struggling king still as he looked over his shoulder behind them where a dark figure was walking, swinging a lit torch back and forth to see in the dark.

The king heard the footsteps too and went still, his chest rising and falling rapidly as his breaths were smothered by Agust's hand.

Agust waited until the footsteps stopped right beside the tree, the person seconds away from discovering them, before releasing the king and suddenly tackling the new person.

"Ah!" The person cried, the torch falling from his grasp as he was knocked onto his back on the forest floor.

Agust pinned him down, struggling to see in the dark now that the torch had slipped away.

The king quickly picked it up before the flame could die out and hovered as he watched the two rogues struggle with each other, tentively venturing closer.

It was only when the light source came close enough that Agust stopped fighting.

"Jungkook?" He gasped. "What are you doing?"

Jungkook paused too. "Wait...D?"

Agust climbed off him and helped him up, yanking the younger boy into a tight hug.

They embraced for a few moments before stepping apart.

"What's going on? Why are you attacking the castle?" Agust asked. "We planned that for tomorrow night!"

Jungkook looked confused. "What? No, you said the date changed to tonight! We only acted on your orders!"

Agust shook his head. "No, I never changed the date! Who told you that?"

"The message was passed from person to person in the group!" Jungkook explained urgently, his wide doe eyes illuminated in the torch light. "We were wondering where you were, you're the only one with a car! We had to break the gates open with a fallen tree!"

Agust bit his nail, glaring in thought.

He hadn't changed the date, someone in his group was a traitor and betrayed him by striking tonight without him.

Jungkook glanced over at the king and gasped, pointing. "It's him!"

"Didn't your inbred mother ever tell you it's rude to point?" The king growled.

Agust stepped between them. "Kook, listen. I didn't plan this, someone went behind my back for some reason. You have to get everyone out of there! We'll lose without our preparations!"

"But we have him!" Jungkook still pointed at the king. "We can behead him now and win!"

"No." Agust growled, surprising Jungkook and the king.

"Agust- what are you saying?" Jungkook hissed. "All the things he's done- all of our friends who have fallen due to his negligence and lack of care! We have a perfect opportunity to kill him now and change everything! It's two on one- and he doesn't stand a chance without his sword!"

"Gather everyone and retreat." Agust spun Jungkook around and pushed him back towards the castle. "We'll talk later."

Jungkook sputtered in shock. "Agust- what- how could you- why are you-"

"Go, Kook." Agust narrowed his eyes, still standing in front of the king protectively.

Jungkook shifted his gaze to the king and glared. He spat at the ground before turning around and racing off into the darkness.

Agust sighed after he left, running a hand over his face as he tried to think. He turned around-

-and blocked the torch the king swung at him with his forearm.

His eyes narrowed, lit by the close fire as the king's own dark glare met his.

"Really? After I just saved you?" Agust snapped.

"You just admitted you were going to attack me on tomorrow's nightfall!" The king hissed. "And you still tried to kill me not even ten minutes ago!"

"Barely. And you can't possibly be surprised a coup was coming."

"You were." The king pointed out. "You had no idea this was happening tonight."

"So that proves I'm not a rogue like them." Agust raised an eyebrow.

The king glared.

Agust stepped back, lowering his arm. "Come home with me, you'll be safe. No one will know you're there."

"I will not venture into the abode of a filthy pig head commoner whom I do not trust!" The king hissed.

"Fine. Then stay here and wait for someone else to find you. I can promise they won't have a problem killing you." Agust shrugged, turning and walking away.

The king bit his lip, looking over his shoulder at the dark, intimidating forest surrounding him.

A bird flew overhead and he jumped.

He quickly glanced at Agust's retreating figure.

"W-wait!"

Agust stopped, smirking, as he heard footsteps hurry to catch up with him.

The king stopped behind him.

"I will stay one night with you." The boy said, his tone sounding like royalty. "Until I can get a note to my strategist and friend Kim Namjoon. And then I will behead you for treason, rogue."

Agust rolled his eyes and held his hand out for the king to take.

"You're welcome, you royal pain in the ass."

The king reluctantly took the boys hand. "I'm going to carry the torch."

Agust broke into a run, pulling the king along behind him.

"Come on, we have to hurry before we're seen. I know a shortcut through the dark that should get us to my place safely."

The two boys ran hand in hand, unaware of the eyes watching them.

-

Agust closed the door behind them after scanning the dark road, making sure it was empty.

The king made a face at the small room he was in, filled with cheap commoner things. Not one silk garment or imported fruit bowl in sight. The pillows looked like they were only made from one fabric and stuffed with straw instead of pure cotton.

"You live alone?" He asked, pressing his back against the wall as he glanced at the window to his side.

Agust yanked the curtains over the window. "I used to live with my parents."

"Used to? What happened?"

"You forced my father to join the war and never sent medicine to save my sick mother."

"It's not my fault Pyongyang declared war on us first!" The king exclaimed in defense. "And it's also not my fault the key ingredient in medicine is also perfect for good skin care products."

Agust had to glare up at the ceiling, taking deep breaths as he clenched his hands into fists, trying to calm down.

Don't kill him, you just saved him.

While Agust tried to talk himself out of murder, the king looked around.

This house, if you could even call it that, was tiny. A fraction of the size of the palace. His old bedroom was ten times bigger than this whole hut.

Old bedroom.

That's what it was.

Because he would never see it again.

He had almost died tonight, at the hands of multiple different rogues, each one with hatred in their eyes as they leaped at him, trying to stab, beat and choke him.

His guards had barely saved him each time, and then Namjoon had shoved these clothes at him, telling him urgently to change into them and run far away.

He teared up at the memory of Namjoon, his only friend.

"Huh?" He snapped out of his thoughts when he saw the black haired rogue looking at him.

"I said, are you hungry?"

He couldn't think about eating tonight, not when he still had to sit down and digest what had happened.

He shook his head. "But I'll take some water, rogue."

Agust rolled his eyes at the name but turned into the kitchen to fetch a glass.

The king sat on the small couch and shouted, jumping back to his feet.

Agust burst back inside the living room. "What!"

The king pointed at the couch with a glare. "This! You dare call this furniture? It's rough and hard! Not at all meeting my standards!"

Agust huffed, defenses dropping now that there wasn't any danger. "Oh, my deepest apologies, royal pain."

The king glared. "You mock me."

"Sorry I can't afford a golden silk million thread count sprawling sofa for the kings ass to sit upon." Agust snapped. "You'll have to make do with that, or sit on the floor."

The king looked horrified. "The floor?!"

"Yes. Or you can sleep outside. With the cows." Agust smirked.

The king grumbled, grudgingly sitting back down. He brushed dirt off the thin blanket and daintily sat on it, trying to get comfortable on what felt like it was made out of straw and cement.

Agust filled the glass and headed back, thrusting it in the kings face. "Your highness."

The king raised an eyebrow. "Well? What are you waiting for?"

"What?"

The king sighed, exasperated. "You have to taste it first, to make sure it's not poisoned."

"Are you fucking serious? Why the hell would I poison you?"

"Because you're a filthy rogue."

"I saved you back there, remember?"

"You were planning on attacking me tomorrow."

"I could've killed you in the forest and I didn't."

"You still tried. Do you seriously expect me to trust you?"

"You don't have to trust me, just take the damn water!"

"Not until you drink some first! If you didn't poison then that shouldn't be a problem."

Agust huffed, taking a sip. He held it back out to the king. "There, see?"

The king looked distastefully at it. "You soiled the glass. Fetch me another."

Agust slammed the glass on the small table, splashing some over the rim. "Take this or leave it! I'm going to bed!"

The king was startled at the outburst. No one ever yelled at him- no one ever dared to. He felt...small as the rogue stormed away, throwing aside a hanging curtain that sectioned off another room.

This hut was small, dirty, and the outside smelled like farm animals.

But it was far better than being on his own in the woods, or being dead in the hands of those rogues. At least he had a roof, some water, and protection in the form of this black haired boy.

He curled up on the uncomfortable couch, hands tucked under his head as a pillow as he closed his eyes and tried to end this terrible night.

He missed Namjoon so much.

-

A loud bang startled him awake.

"Namjoon?" He called, climbing off his large bed, the imported blankets sliding off him.

He heard shouting and running footsteps.

He ran to open his door, but skidded to a halt when it was busted open on it's own from the other side and two ruffians raced in.

He gasped, backing up in shock when he saw the knives they held out, the sharp blades reflecting the fear in his eyes.

"There you are," One of them smirked, revealing his yellow teeth.

The other started advancing. "Can't wait to slash that pretty white throat open and watch all your blood run out."

"Namjoon!" He shrieked, backing up until he hit the wall and could go no farther.

Where did he leave his sword? He had to get it or else he was dead where he stood.

The rogue raised his blade and the king flinched-

Bang!

The king flinched at the loud noise, wrenching his eyes open with a gasp to see the rogue crumple in front of him, blood forming a large pool around him already.

Namjoon stood in the doorway, glaring, the gun held out with both hands in front of him.

The other rogue snarled and charged at him, and Namjoon fired again.

The rogue fell like his comrade and the king almost cried out in relief.

"Your highness, we must go!" Namjoon raced around the bodies to grab his hand.

"What's going on? How did they get in?" The king questioned as they ran down the corridor. He was still in his silk sleepwear as he listened to the sounds of fighting all around him.

"The castle is under siege, they busted the gates open and a small army forced their way inside!" Namjoon explained, guiding him around twists and turns of the castle hallways. "We have to get you away from here! You're what they're after!"

Fear struck the kings heart as he followed Namjoon, his only friend.

Namjoon opened a small door, a closet the maids used to store their cleaning supplies. "Wait here, I'll come back for you."

"Wait!" He begged, grabbing Namjoon's hand before he could shut the door. "Don't leave me, please!"

Namjoon smiled, pocketing the gun to take both the kings hands in his own. "I'll come back, my highness. You know I will. I love you."

He leaned in and they kissed.

The king whimpered when they broke apart, the sounds of shouting and fighting coming back when the kiss ended.

He nodded. "Be safe, Namjoon. That's an order."

"Of course, your highness. Have I ever disobeyed you?" Namjoon bowed, before exiting the small closet.

The door shut, leaving him in darkness.

The king backed up, sitting in the far corner, his knees drawn up to his chest and he tried to block out the screams of guards and rogues fighting and dying all around him.

He was terrified; he didn't know where his sword was so he couldn't defend himself, and Namjoon was in danger with all these rogues attacking and he could only imagine what they would do to him if they caught him.

It seemed like an eternity that Namjoon was gone, but then the door handle turned.

The king gasped and scrambled to his feet, heart pounding as the door opened.

"Namjo-"

A rogue looked startled to see him there, then broke into a grin. "Well well well, looks like I chose lucky door number three, huh?"

He raced inside and the king threw his arms up in defense as they crashed together.

They fell to the floor, fighting and kicking each other in the small space.

The king could feel small cuts and bruises forming on his delicate skin as the rogue went feral against him, and he finally managed to shove the man off him.

He made a break for the door but a hand shot out and grabbed his ankle, sending him crashing back to the stone floor painfully.

"Unhand me!" He shouted, struggling as the intruder climbed on top of him.

The rogue pulled out a small knife. "Your life is mine, king."

The king went still when a sharp blade was pressed over his eye, breathing heavily from fear and tiredness. He didn't want to give this feral a reason to stab him.

"All the pain and suffering you've caused, you deserve to feel the same!" He hissed, and the king winced at the rancid breath. "We'll see how you fare after I take your vision!"

He pressed the blade in, breaking the skin and the king cried out as blood trickled into his eye.

"Namjoon!"

"Shut up! You don't deserve to be saved!"

The king screamed in agony when the blade was yanked down, slicing through his skin and over his eye.

Blood streamed out like a river and the king could only feel immense pain. Nothing else existed except this hell.

He barely felt it when the heavy weight on top of him was suddenly removed and he was hauled to his feet.

Blearily, he opened his good eye to see a blurry vision of a man in front of him.

Namjoon shoved some clothes at him. "My highness, change into these! I opened the secret hatch, we can escape out the back of the castle!"

The king whimpered, reaching out for him.

Namjoon pulled him in for a tight hug. "Oh, my beautiful highness, even with that scar you are still the most gorgeous angel I have ever seen. Please, hurry and change so we can get away. We'll get your injury fixed as soon as we reach the medicine tent!"

The king couldn't focus with the pain blinding him so Namjoon helped him out of his pajamas and into the scratchy blue and white robes.

He pressed a rag over the king's injury and checked the corridor, before taking the kings hand and leading him down it.

They raced to the basement, running past bodies of dead and dying guards and rogues alike.

The air dropped in temperature as they reached the dungeons, ignoring the caged prisoners inside as Namjoon ran to the very back wall, where a small square hole had been unlocked in the stone, leading into the dark night. A forest laid just few meters away.

"Hide in the woods for me, my king." Namjoon urged. "I'm right behind you, we'll run far away from here and I'll protect you, I swear it."

The king clung to Namjoon's sleeve. "I won't go without you, my love. You go first."

Namjoon shook his head. "I could never leave your back exposed to dangers, my highness. Please, run for the woods and I will join you!"

The door to the dungeons was blown off its hinges, startling both of them.

"There they are!"

"Go!" Namjoon wasted no time in shoving the king to the hole. "Yoongi, go!"

The king fell and scrambled partly into the escape hole, eyes wide with fear as he watched Namjoon stand up and valiantly fight off the rogues that had broken in.

One of them spied him. "It's the king! Grab him n-"

Namjoon punched the man with a fierce growl, his eyes burning with hatred for them as the intruder fell.

Two rogues jumped on Namjoon's back, forcing him to his knees.

"No!" The king cried reaching for his friend.

"Love, go!" Namjoon pleaded, not seeming to care about his own safety, even as one rogue held a knife to his neck, ready to yank it across his skin.

The king sobbed, not wanting to leave Namjoon behind, but then hands were grabbing for him and he had no choice but to scramble away.

He made it outside and jumped to his feet, running as fast as he could to the forest.

Slowly, the sounds of fighting started to fade away the farther he ran, until he could only hear his own panicked breathing.

The pain in his eye had faded, as the pain in his heart for Namjoon took over.

He could still hear his lovers voice now.

"Run, my highness!"

"Please, go!"

"I love you!"

"Wake up!"

"I said wake up!"

"Yo- king asshole!"

The king sat up with a gasp, taking a few moments to calm down and remember he was in a small hut, and not in the forest.

Agust looked at him. "Do you always sleep like that?"

"Do you always watch people dream, rogue?" He snapped.

"I wouldn't call that a dream, more like a nightmare." Agust said. "You were whimpering and shaking."

"The king does not whimper." He glared.

Agust shrugged. "Whatever."

He looked the king over. "You started bleeding again."

The king frowned, reaching a hand up to his eye. He was shocked to feel wetness there, and when he pulled his hand back to look, blood ran down his fingers.

Then he remembered how much pain he was in.

With a cry, he flung himself back on the couch, cupping his eye in both hands.

Agust rolled his eyes. "Calm down, drama king. I'll grab some gauze."

The king barely heard him, too consumed with thoughts of Namjoon.

Agust went back to his bedroom and fetched the roll of white gauze, a rag, a half empty bottle of alcohol and some medical tape.

He set the items down on the bed and went back to the living room, approaching the king.

"Hey, get up. It'll be easier to do this in the bedroom, better lighting."

The king moaned as a reply and Agust bent down to haul him up, guiding him past the hanging curtain and into his room.

He sat the king on the bed and grabbed the rag.

"Move your hands." He instructed, adjusting the hanging lantern so he could see better.

The king shook his head.

"Do you want me to help you or do you want to slowly bleed out?"

"You are not the royal medic. You have not been blessed by the god of healing and therefor don't have the powers to heal me."

"No, but I have bandages to stop the bleeding and alcohol to clean it so you won't get infected. It's the only placeholder you'll get, not to mention the best one, since everyone else in this village would kill you, until you can get back to your royal medic person. So you can take it or leave it."

The king was silent for a few moments before sighing.

"Fine. I will take it. But this will not change your fate. You will still be beheaded for treason once I'm king again."

Agust rubbed his hand over his forehead as he counted to twenty to calm down.

Normally counting to ten would do, but this king was a royal pain in his ass.

The king slowly removed his blood stained hands, looking down at the bed.

It was comfier than the couch, as it was a real mattress with blankets on it and pillows and he was offended he wasn't offered this instead.

Agust gently pressed the rag to the kings cheek, trying to go slow and be careful as he cleaned the blood away.

The king hissed when the rag bumped against the cut.

"Ah! You dare inflict pain on the royal face?!"

"It was an accident, chill."

"I will not cool down!" The king scowled.

"Okay, hot head. Then just stay still and that won't happen again."

"Do not insinuate I have fire in my head, you pig head commoner."

Agust laughed and the king was surprised.

"I insulted you, rogue. Why do you laugh?"

"It was cute."

The king was stunned silent.

Cute?!

He was not cute, he was a fierce ruler, a heartless leader and a vicious king.

"Okay, I cleaned up the blood, and now I have to clean out the cut so you don't get an infection." Agust explained, grabbing the bottle of alcohol.

He popped the cork out and raised it to his lips, tossing back a swig. He wiped his mouth and handed the bottle over to the king. "Here."

The king leaned back. "I-"

"Oh shut up. You'll want this to help with the pain, trust me. You think getting the injury hurt? Cleaning it will hurt way worse, I can promise you that."

The king hesitated, before taking the bottle. He wiped the mouth of the bottle off before taking a hesitant sip.

It burned and tasted sharp and medical, and he spluttered, shoving the bottle back to Agust as he coughed and scrubbed his tongue with his sleeve.

Agust laughed. "Have you never had alcohol before?"

"Only the richest of imported wines grace the kings tongue!" The king glared. "That taste's nothing like Vin Chardeonne!"

"Because it's not." Agust handed it back to him, wrapping the kings fingers around the bottle. "Tip it back and swallow it fast."

"I do not want-"

"Yes, you will. Trust me."

The king didn't trust him, but he supposed he had no one else in this world anymore.

So he grabbed the bottle and did as the rogue said, tipping it back and swallowing fast.

He tasted it less this time, and it left a hot burn all the way down.

"Nice job," Agust praised, making the king feel warmer. "Alright, now I'll-"

"Yoongi."

Agust blinked.

"That's my name. Min Yoongi."

Agust hadn't known that. They always just called him Mad Min or Mad King. It was easier to hate someone who you only referred to by a crude nickname. Now that he knew the kings true name, the way he saw the king changed a little.

The Mad King was a ruthless, terrible demon.

Yoongi was a small, scared little boy.

Agust shook his head to clear it. "Um, okay, Yoongi it is, then."

"Are you not going to tell me your name, rogue? Or shall I keep referring to you as rogue?"

"I dunno, I kinda like rogue." Agust teased.

Yoongi blinked. "So...you prefer to be called that?"

"My name is Agust D, but you can call me whichever you prefer, Yoongi."

He picked up the rag again, dousing it in alcohol. "Prepare yourself, this will hurt like a motherfucker."

Yoongi balked at the blatant swear word, but Agust grabbed his hand to pull him closer, deciding to get it over with fast, and pressed the rag over the kings cut.

Yoongi's screech of pain sent a flock of birds outside the window into flight.

-

"Your head will hang in the courtyard for all future traitors to see! How dare you inflict pain upon the royal face!" Yoongi ranted as he watched through his non bandaged eye as the rogue filled up a small basin with water.

"Mhm." Agust stood up and dipped a hand in the water. "Alright, get in."

Yoongi blinked. "What."

"Get in the water. We have to clean your other cuts too." Agust explained, grabbing a bottle of some fine purple powder. He opened the cap and dumped a handful into the water.

"My neighbor Seokjin is a healer, he gave me this. It's an all in one ailment healer."

Yoongi looked at the large basin of water and crossed his arms protectively over himself. "The king only bathes in purified water from the falls. And only Namjoon is allowed to see the royal body exposed."

Agust rolled his eyes, rolling up his sleeves. "You think I'm gunna look? Just get in, the water's fine."

Yoongi shook his head. "You already pained my eye more, why should I allow you to further provoke my other wounds?"

"Because if you don't get them cleaned you'll get an infection and die, and then you'll never be king again."

Yoongi debated, knowing this angry, dirty rogue was right.

"Turn around." He snapped, sliding off the commoner robes.

Agust huffed, too annoyed to explain he wasn't interested in staring and turned around.

He heard a small splash as Yoongi stepped inside the tub and turned back.

Yoongi hissed at the water coming into contact with his cuts. "I knew it!"

Agust grabbed a brush and knelt beside the king. "Congrats. Now make sure to rub the water over your arms and chest. Careful with your face, don't get the bandage wet."

Yoongi listened, scooping up some lavender water in his cupped hand and releasing it over his arm, rubbing it in. It stung for a moment, and then the pain was replaced with a calming, soothing feeling.

Agust gently picked out the leaves and small twigs from the kings long blonde hair, hanging it over the basin so it wouldn't get wet.

Yoongi sighed, the nights events catching up to him. He had slept earlier but the nightmare and drained his energy and he was exhausted. The lavender helped him relax, as did the gentle tugging on his hair as Agust ran the brush through it.

"Agust."

Agust stopped, looking up. He was surprised Yoongi had decided to call him that instead of rogue. "Yeah?"

"Did you really have no part in the attack on my castle tonight?"

Agust sighed, resuming his brushing. "No, I was as surprised as you were. It's true I was planning to overthrow you the next night, but I wouldn't have done it the same way these current rogues are. I never wanted anyone to die, even you. I didn't want any castle staff to get caught up in it. I wish I knew who was behind the attack, he got my men involved."

"I'm scared."

"That's okay, after all you went through tonight, who wouldn't be?"

"I'm not scared for myself, I'm scared for Namjoon."

Agust bit his lip, knowing this Namjoon person meant a lot to the king. "What happened to him?"

"He got caught by the rogues when he was saving me. The last image I have of him is an intruder holding a knife to his neck." The kings voice was soft. "If they kill him...or worse...because of me..."

"Hey, don't think like that. The rogues only wanted you, I'm sure they'll leave Namjoon alone." Agust tried to console him, not believing his own words.

Yoongi sighed. "I have to go back."

"What?" The brush clattered to the floor. "Are you stupid?! You can't! They'll kill you before you even step foot inside!"

"Don't act like you don't want me dead!" Yoongi snapped, turning to face him.

"If I wanted you dead I would have killed you back in the forest!" Agust shot back.

"I need to go back, and I will, whether you help me or not!" Yoongi flared. "You don't have to come with me, but your help would be...appreciated."

Agust stared, then let out a long sigh, looking at the floor.

"Alright, fine. I'll come with you. We'll go in, get Namjoon and get out. Just promise you won't do anything reckless or stupid."

Yoongi snorted, settling back in the bath.

"The king is never stupid."

-

After the bath, Agust opened his wicker closet and sorted through his clothes, pulling out a pair of faded jeans and a green shirt. He yanked out a green jacket as well, deciding this outfit would be fine for storming the castle. He pulled out another pair of jeans and a shirt for Yoongi, tossing it to the king, who was huddled in a towel on his bed.

Yoongi frowned, picking up the denim.

"Those are jeans." Agust said, yanking his shirt off and pulling the new one on. "They're easier to run in than robes."

"The king does not wear...jeenz." Yoongi hissed, not liking the feeling of the fabric.

"Then go ass naked, your royal pain." Agust tugged on the jacket. "I don't wear robes."

Yoongi complained and grumbled, but grudgingly pulled the clothes on.

Agust went to the kitchen to fetch some water, bread, fruit and dried meat. He carried the items back to his room. "We should eat breakfast before we go, we'll need our stren-"

He looked up to see Yoongi passed out along his bed, his blonde hair fanning over the one pillow, soft puffs of air expelling being the only indicator he wasn't dead.

Agust sighed, setting the food and drink aside.

They could attack after they both got some sleep.

Agust didn't want to bring this up to the king, knowing Yoongi wouldn't take it well, but Agust had a suspicion Namjoon was the traitor.

He knew the castle, knew Yoongi's weaknesses, and could have overheard about Agust's plan to overthrow them. He could have decided to strike first and get Yoongi out of the way. Without a prince to take the throne next, Namjoon would be pointed as ruler as he was the king's right hand man. And it all could be blamed on the rogues.

He stretched and climbed onto the bed, deciding to keep this a secret from the king for now.

-

Yoongi yawned, waking up sometime later.

He sat up, surprised he had managed to fall asleep somewhere that wasn't in the royal quarters.

Sunlight streamed in through the window and Yoongi wondered how much time had passed.

Soft snoring to his side made him glance over, and he saw Agust sleeping on his side next to him.

Yoongi slid off the bed, wobbling a little as he got used to the feeling of these...jeenz. They were tight and confining, squeezing his legs like a second skin.

"Hey, rogue!" Yoongi walked to the other side of the bed, shaking the boys arm. "Wake up! We have to go to the castle and save Namjoon!"

Agust grumbled and raised a hand to shoo Yoongi away. "Five more minutes."

Yoongi huffed and shoved him off the bed.

Agust gasped, eyes shooting wide open in shock as he felt himself falling, crashing to the wooden floor of the house.

He sat up, glaring over the bed at Yoongi, who had his arms crossed. "You have a funny way of showing you're grateful for all I've done for you."

"We have to go." Yoongi insisted, worry growing by the second as he thought about Namjoon.

Agust sighed, knowing how Yoongi was feeling and climbed to his feet. He grabbed the food he had packed before. "Alright, fine. But eat first."

Yoongi didn't argue and he didn't complain about the quality of food, showing Agust he was serious about wanting to get to Namjoon's side as fast as possible.

They finished eating and Yoongi peeked out the window cautiously. "It'll take an hour to reach the castle, even with your shortcut. I fear that will be too long and my precious Namjoon will be hurt or worse in that time."

Agust chuckled, holding up a key, a green square attached to it. "Are you forgetting something, your highness?"

Yoongi turned and looked at him in confusion. "What is that?"

"Keys. To my car."

-

Yoongi held on tightly to the seatbelt he had across his chest, grimacing in fear as Agust sped the car along the dirt road, hitting every bump, throwing the car into the air.

Agust was grinning wildly, his hair flying around from the wind that rushed in, as all the windows were rolled down and heavy metal music shook the car from the powerful bass.

"You will kill us!" Yoongi cried, fingertips turning white as he struggled to hold onto something as the car raced along the country side.

"This is a suicide mission anyways." Agust shouted over the wind and music. "Might as well go out my way!"

Yoongi closed his eyes and prayed to the gods they wouldn't crash before he could save Namjoon.

The car finally slowed and Agust turned the music off as they got near. He pulled the car into the woods to hide it among the trees and parked.

Yoongi sighed in relief, unbuckling. "Let's go."

"Wait!" Agust grabbed the king's arm. "You can't just walk in through the front door! They'll kill you in three seconds, if you're lucky!"

"I'm not going in through the front." Yoongi rolled his eyes, yanking his arm free and opening the car door.

Agust followed him out. "Then how do you propose we get in?"

"There is more than one way into the castle." Yoongi informed him, scanning the courtyard. There didn't seem to be any guards out, and he made a break for the back of the castle.

Agust cursed and raced after him, knowing he had no other choice.

They reached the castle and pressed their backs against the cold stone.

Agust watched as Yoongi bent down in front of a square hole that was clearly man made.

"Be quiet, this leads into the dungeons, and they might have a guard posted." Yoongi whispered.

Agust nodded in understanding and lowered himself to his hands and knees, following Yoongi through the small hole.

Yoongi crawled as quietly as he could, not wanting to get caught like this in case a rogue was nearby.

He stopped at the edge of the opening, peering around the dimly lit dungeons. The cell doors were all open- the rogues having freed all the prisoners last night.

He crawled inside fully and stood up, brushing dirt and dust off his new clothes.

Agust popped up beside him a moment later and pointed down the row of cells. "That door at the very end is still shut. Someone must be in there."

Yoongi nodded and the two crept forward quietly, apprehension growing as the cell came closer and closer.

He took a deep breath and stepped in view of the cell, looking inside at the prisoner who was tied up inside.

Yoongi gasped in shock. "Namjoon?!"

Agust peered in too, taking in the form of the beaten up boy on his knees in the cell. His hands were tied behind his back and his shirt was gone, revealing numerous cuts and bruises on his skin. His lip was busted and there was bruises on his jaw, cheek and eye.

Yoongi grabbed the bars, rattling them. "My Namjoon! What have they done to you?!"

"Yoon...gi?" Namjoon murmured, forcing his eyes open. "What...what are you doing back here, my highness? You should be far away! The rogues have taken over the palace! It's not safe for you here!"

"I had to come back for you!" Yoongi pulled and tugged on the bars, but they were unyielding. "Namjoon, oh my beautiful Namjoon, I'm so sorry!"

Agust never thought the mad king would have a heart, but it was clear to see the king cared very much for this Namjoon person.

He frowned. "Wait, if you're down here, then who's on the throne?"

Namjoon looked at him with apprehension. "Who are you? What's a rogue doing with the king?"

"It's okay, he's different." Yoongi said, trying to break the bars open. "Namjoon! Do they still keep the keys in the hidden box?"

Namjoon nodded. "They freed the other prisoners and locked me up for not telling them where you were."

Yoongi raced to the wall by the stairs that led out of the dungeon. Agust saw a faint outline of a square in the wood, and when Yoongi pushed on it, the panel opened, revealing a set of large silver keys.

He grabbed out the first one and raced back, shoving the key into the padlock.

"You free him and get out of here." Agust said. "It's too dangerous for both of you here. I'll go to the throne room and see what's going on."

Yoongi nodded, not paying attention to the boys words as he unlocked the door and raced into the cell, hugging Namjoon tightly.

Agust turned and hurried up the stairs, racing down the long corridors to the throne room.

There had been rumors someone had taken the throne last night during the coup, and Agust just knew that whoever it was, was the same person who had betrayed him and attacked behind his back.

-

Yoongi sobbed, holding Namjoon's face in both hands, pressing a kiss to his lovers forehead. "My beautiful Namjoon, I'm so sorry! I should have stayed with you last night, I should have never let this happen to you!"

Namjoon shook his head as Yoongi worked on untying his wrists. "I would not have allowed that, my king. Your safety is my first, second and third priority."

Yoongi cast the ropes aside and helped Namjoon stand. "They were only after me, if I had given myself up you could have been spared."

Namjoon smiled, holding Yoongi's hands as he brushed the kings hair away from his face. "I'm just fine, my highness. We are reunited, and now we can run far away from here and spend the rest of our days together."

Yoongi nodded, burying his face in Namjoon's chest as he hugged his lover again.

When he had calmed down, he pulled back.

"I want nothing more than to start a new life with you, Namjoon. I'm so tempted to take your hand and run back out that hole and never look back." He kissed Namjoon deeply, before pulling back.

"But there is something I have to do first."

Namjoon smiled. "Wherever you go, I will follow, my king. Tell me what it is we must accomplish first."

Yoongi grinned, ready to finally act instead of running away.

"I need my sword."

-

Agust slowed down as he neared the grand throne room, hearing voices inside.

He strained to listen, trying to see if he could figure out who was inside, but the heavy oak doors were too thick to hear properly.

Before he could decide whether or not to enter, that decision was made for him when the door opened on its own and he gasped, startled.

Two rogues stood there and Agust relaxed, recognizing them as members of his rebel group.

"Hoseok, Taehyung!" He smiled in relief. "Thank God, someone I can talk to!"

His friends didn't return his smile as they grabbed his arms, yanking him inside the large, ornate throne room.

Agust was confused, struggling against them. "Hey- what are you doing? Let me go! We're on the same side!"

They said nothing as they pulled him to the center of the room, forcing him to kneel in front of the throne that sat atop gold painted stairs.

"Tae, Hobi- why are you doing this?" Agust argued and fought against them as they worked together to tie his wrists together, looping rope around his chest to pin his arms to his sides. "We're on the same side!"

A voice chuckled from the throne. "Correction, D. You were on the same side."

Agust was shocked into silence as he looked up, seeing Jungkook sitting on the throne, with Jimin sitting across his lap, his arms wrapped around the new kings neck.

"Kook...?" Agust couldn't believe the smallest, youngest member of his rebel group was the one who had betrayed him. "It was all you?"

"Of course it was me!" Jungkook rolled his eyes, standing up and pushing Jimin off of him. He stomped down the stairs, his sword trailing along behind him in its sheath.

He stopped in front of the rogue, grabbing Agust's jaw in his hand with a smirk.

"You were always too soft for this, D. You sounded convincing, the way you talked about how much you hated the king, how you wanted to over throw him, how you wanted to change how things worked here. But I saw through that. You kept pushing the date off for years. You talked about exiling the Mad King, not killing him. It was obvious you were too soft for this job! Too soft to take over! So I had to do it instead. You told your plans to my big brother Seokjin, and I overheard. I knew I could beat you with this attack, and I did. Now I'm on the throne, and not the terrible ex king!"

Agust ripped himself free from Jungkook's grip, glaring. "You killed innocent people! I was never going to involve them!"

"So what?" Jungkook rolled his eyes. "We needed a full purge of this place anyways."

"You're mad! Madder than he ever was! It's only been one day and all the power has already gone to your head!" Agust spat, struggling to stand, but Hoseok and Taehyung pressed down on his shoulders, forcing him back to his knees.

Jungkook laughed. "Cute, Agust. Acting like a good guy now, I see. Has hanging out with a cruel king really changed you that much? When you stopped me from killing him that night I knew I was doing the right thing by taking over. You act tough but you're soft on the inside. Korea doesn't need a soft king, it needs me."

"You asshole!" Agust shouted as Jungkook turned away, struggling against the ropes and his former friends. "You've become worse than Yoongi!"

"Yoongi?" Jungkook stopped and turned back. He pulled the long sword out of its sheath and walked back, pressing the tip of it between Agust's eyes. "You're on a first name basis with that monster?"

"He's not a monster." Agust glared. "He's a kid who made mistakes, but he's learning now."

Jungkook sighed. "I really didn't want to have to kill you, D. I thought I could brainwash you back to a cold rebel and you could lead my armies, but now I see there isn't even a brain to wash. He's corrupted you, and now I have no choice but to kill you. And then I will track down the king and make him pay for all the damage he has caused."

"Leave him alone." Agust growled, not scared.

"Worry about yourself, my old friend." Jungkook raised the blade above his head, grabbing the leather handle with both hands.

Agust refused to show his fear, glaring defiantly at the boy who had betrayed him.

Jungkook swung the sword down-

-and it hit the other sword with a loud clang!

Yoongi glowered, holding his own sword out, blocking Jungkook's blow half an inch away from Agust's face.

Jungkook snarled, yanking his sword back. "You!"

"I could say the same about you." Yoongi retorted, moving to stand in front of Agust protectively.

Hoseok and Taehyung glared, ready to lunge for the king, but a hand shot out and grabbed their collars from behind, yanking them back.

Namjoon hovered over the shocked rogues. "Hello, gents. Remember when you tied me up and beat me? Allow me to return the favor."

Agust struggled to his feet now that hands weren't holding him down, watching Yoongi and Jungkook face off.

"Yoongi! What are you doing here?" He gasped. "You should have run!"

"I will not run any more." Yoongi narrowed his eyes, holding his sword out. "This castle is my home and my rightful place, and I won't let a dirty rogue infiltrate it!"

He glanced over his shoulder at Agust. "No offence, rogue."

Jungkook snarled, striking with his sword and Yoongi blocked it.

Agust scrambled back, not wanting to get in the way of their battle. He looked to Namjoon to see if the boy needed help, and was surprised to see he had already knocked both boys out, shaking his hand free of blood.

Namjoon walked over to him. "Let me help you."

He untied the rope while Agust nervously watched Yoongi and Jungkook fight, their swords meeting in the air again and again, drowning out the sounds of their shouts and curses.

"Don't worry about my king," Namjoon hummed as the ropes fell to the floor. "He is unbeatable when it comes to sword battling."

"It's not him I'm worried about." Agust bit his nail nervously as he watched.

His fears were confirmed when Yoongi struck Jungkook's hand, causing the boy to scream in pain, dropping his sword.

It clattered away on the smooth floor, and Yoongi knocked the boy to the ground, standing over him, his sword raised and ready to slice through bone.

Agust broke away from Namjoon and raced over. "No! Don't kill him!"

Yoongi growled, not taking his hateful glare off of Jungkook, who had tears in his eyes now as he cradled his bleeding hand.

"Of course I will kill him!" Yoongi snapped. "He stole my throne and hurt my Namjoon!"

"He did all that because he thought you were a bad person- a bad king!" Agust hurried to explain. "He doesn't know the real you, the Min Yoongi that I know! If you kill him, you'll just prove to him that you really are a monster! Please, Yoongi, spare him. We can send him into exile!"

Yoongi snarled at the boy beneath him, sword still ready to deliver the killing blow.

"Spare him, Yoongi, and show everyone you're not the Mad King." Agust pleaded. "Show him people can change, show him mercy! Please!"

Yoongi glared for a few long minutes, before finally sighing and stepping back, lowering his sword.

"Fine. We'll exile him and all his followers. But if you ever step foot in my kingdom again, I will kill you!" He hissed.

Jungkook scrambled to his feet and ran away, Jimin crying after him.

Yoongi sighed as he watched them go, and Agust put his arm around the kings shoulders.

"You did the right thing," He praised.

Yoongi's face flushed. "Why do your words make me feel like I'm drinking that alcohol again?"

Agust laughed. "It's called praise, Yoongi. You get that when you do the right thing."

Yoongi thought about it.

"I like praise."

Agust smiled, knowing the king had changed.

"Good. Keep it up and the kingdom will like you too."

-

It took a few months for everything to go back to normal.

Yoongi gave a speech about how things were going to be different, and he meant it.

He listened to the farmers when they said they didn't have enough seeds to grow food, and were running low on animals. He opened up trade again, allowing more food to be imported into the kingdom. He listened to the hospitals when the doctors said they didn't have enough room or supplies to take care of patients. He ordered more hospitals to be opened and funded the research committee to look into cures for blights and diseases. He listened to his citizens when they brought up concerns and worries, and sat down with his team of experts to come up with solutions.

He called off all the wars he had started, and freed white doves into the air to show peace.

Slowly but surely, Korea changed into a beautiful place to live.

Flowers bloomed in the summer sun, and Agust tipped his head back, soaking up the warm rays as he strolled through the castle gardens.

"Agust!"

He turned around to see Yoongi and Namjoon waving him over by the fountain.

"Hey, how's the school going?" He asked as he approached them.

"It's all going well. We're lucky to have so many new healthy babies that we had to open another preschool." Namjoon smiled.

"Agust, I have to ask something of you." Yoongi said.

"Of course, ask anything."

"You know Namjoon and I are married now." Yoongi held up his left hand, admiring the glittering ring that sat on his finger.

Agust nodded, he had been there for the beautiful wedding.

"We talked about how we wanted to take a break from the castle every now and then, but we can't very well leave Korea without a ruler." Yoongi explained. "So, we discussed it and we want you to be the prince."

Agust blinked, shocked.

"You want me...to be the prince of the kingdom?"

Namjoon nodded. "There is no one better suited for the position. If anything were to happen to me or Yoongi, Korea would need you to step up and lead them. Do you accept?"

Agust was still shocked but he nodded all the same. "O-of course! It would be an honor!"

Yoongi smiled. "Perfect, I knew you would. Now, please come with me. There's something I have to show you."

-

He led Agust through the garden, to a peaceful, secluded spot under a willow tree.

Two white marble stones sat side by side, a soft breeze rustling the tree above them.

Agust stepped forward to read the words engraved on the stones, his heart tightening when he saw his parents names.

"I can't undo my mistakes of the past and bring them back," Yoongi's voice was soft. "But I can promise no one will ever die again due to my negligence and heartlessness. I had your fathers shield and sword buried, as well as the clothes your mother wore last. It was something small I could do for you, after all the pain I brought to your life."

Agust was speechless, resting his hands on each stone. He never got to bury his parents, as his father was lost in the war and the hospital had been overcrowded with sick patients, meaning all contaminated bodies were burned.

But now he had a piece of each of them, in a beautiful, serene spot that he could visit anytime. He knew they were resting peacefully now.

He smiled, getting to his feet and yanking Yoongi into a hug.

"Thank you."

Yoongi's heart fluttered, knowing he had done the right thing.

It felt good.

"You're welcome. Thank you for not killing me that night in the woods."

Agust chuckled, pulling back and entwining their fingers together. "It's a good thing I couldn't. You've really made Korea beautiful again. More than ever before."

They walked hand in hand along the garden, back to the castle.

"Why couldn't you?" Yoongi asked. "I always wondered."

Agust shrugged one shoulder with a faint smile.

"I think, deep down, I knew you weren't a Mad King."

-

Agust knocked on the door, and a moment later Seokjin answered.

"Agust!" He exclaimed. "I was wondering when you would come visit me!"

"Sorry it took so long," Agust apologized. "I've been busy up at the castle."

Seokjin smiled at him fondly.

"I knew it, Agust. I said it before and I'll say it again; if anyone could change the king, it was you."