Jackson sat on the throne of Gwacheon with a satisfied grin as he stroked the hair of the blonde puppet by his side. Yeosang was curled up next to him, Seonghwa was nuzzling and kissing his neck while Wooyoung was draped across the general's shoulders. "Well now, you seem to be having fun." All four of them perked up when they heard a new voice enter the room.

"What, so cocky that you didn't think to employ guards to the throne room?" Remarked Namjoon as he stepped forward with Jin. Jackson scoffed and eased the growling demons at his side.

"Oh, you're alive. How unfortunate." Sighed Jackson, almost in pity. "Why use unloyal guards when I have these?" With one snap, the other members of Ateez approached from the shadows, surrounding the duo. Jin whipped around at each of their crooked faces worriedly, backing himself closer to Namjoon. The general took his hand while maintaining fierce eye contact with Jackson, keen on stalling just a bit. He knew how much he loved to talk.

"Well now, how'd you manage all of this?" He said nonchalantly.

"Did you forget that they're puppets?" Jackson laughed. "With the right sorcerer, you can take over anyone's mind, especially after days of torture. Thank you for that Namjoon, it made my life much easier. Now I've got three beautiful boys to cling to my arms while I rule this kingdom."

Jin's lip curled in disgust. He was ready to push his fear aside and smack Jackson to another dimension, but Namjoon silently urged him to hold still. He could feel a monologue coming on. "I'm doing what's best for the kingdom. I always have, yet the king and queen left their pathetic son behind to look after it? Always coddled and pampered, you're useless!" He spat towards Jin. Strangely enough, his words did begin to sting a bit.

"And high and mighty Namjoon, abandoning your kingdom for days to chase after your worthless fiance and play the games of Busan's intolerable prince. Not only that but housing and teaching our ways to Agust D. Have you no respect? Have you no shame at all?"

"You're one to talk!" Jin spat. "You're here shamelessly parading these puppets around, flaunting as if you're some sort of king! As far as I'm concerned, you're a second who's had one too many bitter days. Good of the kingdom my ass!" Namjoon squeezed his hand ever so slightly as if a silent warning to hold his tongue.

The general tapped on his hand, suddenly starting to count down under his breath.

"Well now, you've surely grown a spine haven't you Seokjin?"

"3..."

"A shame you won't be needing it any longer."

"2..."

"Kill them."

"1..." The second Ateez inched forward, Jackson was thrown back, hitting the ground in a harsh impact. A glowing portal opened just before, with Beomgyu sending him flying to the ground. While the gang was distracted, Namjoon quickly summoned his weapon and knocked down both Hongjoong and Yunho with the blunt end of his staff.

"Did you think you could get rid of me?" Spat Beomgyu. Before Jackson could comprehend what was going on, the silver-haired boy picked him up by the front of his face and delivered a blow to his face. "Did you think you could sell me!?" Another punch, blood rupturing from the assistant general's nose. "Never again!"

Jin found himself being easily defeated by the remaining three members, with Yeosang, Mingi and Jongho all hitting him at once. Quite the opposite could be said for Namjoon, who showed no mercy towards his targets. He went for Hongjoong first, expertly timing each of his attacks so that he could block one from Hongjoong just before turning around and returning to Yunho. "How does he make it look so easy?" Jin thought to himself.

Beomgyu was too busy focusing all his rage on Jackson to notice the other three puppets sneak behind him and attack all at once. The boy was yanked back, thrown to the floor and was served three different strikes from their weapons.

"Beomgyu!" Exclaimed Jin. Jackson hauled himself back up, rolling his shoulder back in annoyance before clicking his jaw back into place. Jin was too distracted to notice Yeosang pull his sword to his throat, with Mingi and Jongho soon joining him. Namjoon'gs eyes, but before he could make a move, Jackson tsked at him.

"I wouldn't move if I were you Namjoon," He spoke with a smirk. "Especially when I have your fiance's life in my hands. Drop your weapon." A bead of sweat rolled down Namjoon's cheek, his eyes flickering between Jackson and the demon's surround Jin. The older was silently pleading with him not to do what he said but winced when one of the swords pressed too hard against his skin, drawing blood. That was all the convincing he needed before Namjoong dropped his weapon.

"Wise choice," He waved the demons off. "Of course, I can't just allow you to walk free. Take them to the dungeon. As for you," Jackson's eyes turned cold once they made their way over to the wounded servant on the ground. "How annoying..." He muttered. "I've got someone who wants to see you. Why don't we get you all dolled up?"

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Taehyung opened his eyes but he still couldn't see anything. Days in endless darkness filled with only glimpses of the outside world were slowly driving him mad. There was nothing he could do but sit patiently for the ice around him to thaw and release his mind. He would come through now and again only to be shut right back out. He was being held captive in his own body.

When Kai shut him in that room he said he needed to "recharge" but all it did was wear away at his sanity. Hundreds of voices whispering and shouting at all times in a foreign language that made Taehyung's head spin. For days all he did was stare miserably out of the window hoping to see the others coming to rescue him. He wasn't sure how long he waited, but eventually, he stopped. He stopped caring. He stopped feeling. His mind had been poisoned by the sea of darkness that surrounded him.

Nothing could save him. Or so he thought. He wasn't sure how, but all of a sudden he could see, and what he saw was Jungkook clinging to him, pleading for him to speak. It sparked a bit of life back into his heart. He reached out to him, leaning into his touch, but the moment he did he was cut off yet again and the world went back to darkness.

Taehyung thought he had gone crazy, that he was just seeing things but he saw the light again and it was Jimin in front of him. He was speaking but Taehyung couldn't hear him. He could only see the devastation in his eyes. Then he turned away and Taehyung began to panic. He reached out to him, trying to keep him by side and called him. "Jimin! Jimin I'm right here!" Yet it only came out as a faith whisper. It was just loud enough for Jimin to hear and his expression turned much more optimistic. "Jiminie, I'm so happy to see you. Are you okay? You're not hurt right?" Only this time, nothing came out and Jimin frowned. "No no no! Jimin! Can you hear me?"

Jimin tried pulling away but Taehyung's hold remained firm. He started shouting at him, fighting back his tears and Taehyung could do nothing but watch as he held him. Slowly, darkness started to cloud his vision yet again no matter how hard he tried to fight it. "I thought I'd always have you by my side Taehyung!" He heard Jimin cry suddenly. "I told myself I could get through anything as long as I had you with me because I love you Tae!"

Taehyung froze, his eyes widened at Jimin's shocked face. "I love you Taehyung..." He repeated. He meant it, he really meant it, but he didn't look happy about it. He didn't even smile. Jimin looked pained by the fact. Even still, he reached up and cupped Taehyung's cheeks before planting a kiss on his lips. Just like that it was like Taehyung's world exploded. The darkness around him fizzled away but quickly crept back in. The last thing he heard before it overtook him completely was Jimin saying:

"Does it even matter? If I can't even get you to smile, then what's the point anymore." And he was gone.

"Don't give up on me Jimin. I'll find my way back to you and Jungkook."

So that's what he did. All Taehyung focussed on was using his energy to see through the void around him. At first, he got nothing but tiring and lacklustre results, only being able to see for a few split seconds to find he was just staring at the ground. At least he could feel his senses return to him. Still, it wasn't enough. He needed full control over his body again. So he kept trying. Every waking breath he focussed on listening to the world around him. He envisioned the faces of those he was familiar with, focussed on their voices and where he had been until he could build a clear image in his head.

Throughout he'd catch glimpses of Jimin and Jungkook and all the time they spent together. He thought that by now they would've given up waiting. That maybe the others would return home and that Jungkook would eventually forget about him. They didn't. Jimin would bring Taehyung everywhere, never leaving him for a second and Jungkook continuously tried to engage in some sort of conversation with him.

Taehyung wasn't sure how long he had been trying for but one day he just sort of...woke up. It was strange. It was like all the darkness had just faded from him. His eyes slowly creaked open, blinded by the bright lights from outside the window. He glanced around for a moment, surprised when he noticed he was being held down by someone's arms while something large and feathery covered them. He attempted to move yet it was to no avail. Taehyung sighed as his vision finally adjusted.

It was then that he finally realised who was holding him and he felt his heart soar. "Jungkook?" He poked the prince's nose, trying to get his attention. Yet he only tightened his grip, muttering incoherent and tired words under his breath. His gaze then travelled further down the bed and a wide smile spread across his face. "Jimin-ssi!"

The blunette was startled awake by the loud exclaimed, tumbling off the bed in surprise. "I'm awake I'm awake! What- huh..."

"A little help?" Taehyung chuckled. He tilted his head towards the still sleeping prince, but Jimin was too stunned to move. "Hyung?"

"T-This isn't some sort of trick right? Am I still dreaming?"

"If it was a dream, would you want to wake up?"

A grin soon crept across Jimin's face. "Never." He finally stood from the floor and launched himself back into bed. Taehyung winced when his wings came crashing down, but he didn't mind.

"Yah," a tired voice groaned. "I am trying to sleep..."

"Open your eyes, Kook," Jimin requested softly, yet Jungkook shook his head.

Taehyung chuckled. "Open your eyes bunny," That made the prince's eyes shoot wide open. Slowly, he released the man in his arms and was speechless to find him smiling at him.

"You're back? You're back!" Jungkook wasted no time bringing Taehyung back into a bone-crushing hug, Jimin soon followed which left Taehyung breathless. Did he care though? Of course not. He would take this over anything else in a heartbeat.

The two eventually realised they were suffocating the poor man and, reluctantly, released him. They watched Taehyung's every movement as he stood to his feet and stretched. "I'm not going to disappear you know," He chuckled yet both Jimin and Jungkook looked at him sceptically. They seemed as though they were waiting for something as well. When Tae noticed, he smiled once again and opened his arms. The other two didn't waste any time running to him and wrapping him back in an embrace.

"God I missed you two so much." Whispered Taehyung as he held the two boys close to him. Jimin snuggled up to his chest with a smile, ready to just spend a long and peaceful day together. Jungkook on the other hand had a much different plan in mind.

Taehyung flinched when he felt a hand squeeze his ass and sharply turned to the prince with a glare. Ever the tease he leaned over and placed a few kisses on the older's neck. Jimin finally noticed but before he could say anything, felt the prince grab him as well.

"Wouldn't want to leave you out," Said Jungkook with a smirk. Jimin glared at the young prince and it seemed they were all thinking the same thing.

"Lock the door, we don't want any interruptions like last time." Jungkook ran to lock his bedroom door and the moment he turned around he was hoisted over Taehyung's shoulder and thrown onto the bed.

The prince looked up at his two hyungs with his Bambi like eyes and they couldn't help but coo. "How sweet."

"Wait a moment, Taehyung is the one who has returned. I should be on top as well!" Taehyung smirked at him, crawling closer to the prince while Jimin did the same.

"Not with that attitude," The eldest said at Jungkook's pout. "Besides, we still need to make up for last time right?" He leaned towards the maknae's ear and whispered: "After all, a punishment is long overdo bunny."