Stone Prince

Taehyung brushed Jimin's gray hair out of his face while Jimin snuggled closer into him. It was way past midnight in the infirmary and most of the other patients were sleeping. The two princes intended to do the same thing, just...

They wanted to hold each other in their arms before sleep took them. 

When Taehyung's bandaged chest finally rose and fell steadily, Jimin watched the sleeping male's face with a fond keenness. Despite all of the cuts that lined his body and the gauntness in Taehyung's weak face, he was still handsome. 

It made him think back to the nightmare he had just experienced before the Laurel Prince decided to wake him up. The worst dream he'd ever had...

The worst nightmare he'd ever had. 

It took place in a gray room. The walls were a bland shade of dark gray that reminded him of home, the cobblestone floors only a shade lighter. There were no windows, doors, or lights in this room, yet somehow he was able to see everything happening in from of him very clearly. 

There were three people in the room with him. The Oak Prince, the Laurel Prince-

And Jihoon. 

Both of Jimin's counterparts were kneeling next to each other, facing away from him. Their hands were bound tightly behind them, at the complete mercy of the asshole Uncle Jeon. Jihoon held a sword in each of his hands, pointing the tips at the necks of the two princes. Jimin looked down in his hand to find a sword. The first thought that passed through his mind was murder. 

He knew he could be faster than Jihoon and kill him in a few seconds, only-

Jimin's feet were shackled together. He could only take tiny shuffle steps forward, which would impede his ability to kill Jihoon. Jimin growled and raised his sword in anger. 

He could throw the sword (heaven knew that Jimin would be able to stick it in the man's chest in a flick of the wrist) but there were too many variables involved. If Jihoon fell over in his death, he might pierce one of the prince's necks. It was too risky. 

Jihoon noticed the Stone Prince's inner dilemma and laughed evilly. 

"Ah, I see Prince Park is angry that he cannot save his friends..." Jihoon smirked when the two princes under the tips of his swords stiffened at the mention of Jimin. 

Jimin opened his mouth to speak, "Jihoon, whatever you want- if it's Noirwood-" 

"I could give a rat's ass about your shitty Noirwood," Jihoon snarled, glaring into Jimin's eyes, "I just want to see the three princes of Noirwood suffer heartily for all the pain you've caused me in the past."

The Oak Prince shifted a little in his position, "Jihoon, my father was the one that banished you. Please take it out on me and not the other prin-"

"Jungkook, shut up!" Taehyung's blond hair ruffled slightly as he yelled, "You don't get to pick and choose who goes down," the Laurel Prince was quiet before he spoke up again, "But please Jihoon, if you must--kill me. Let the others go."

Jihoon rolled his eyes and snorted at the princes' annoying banter, "You two don't get to decide who dies and who doesn't," Jihoon lifted his gaze to meet a set of gray eyes. 

"He does."

Jungkook and Taehyung restrained themselves from turning their heads around to look at Jimin. Both sets of their bound hands were clenched together tightly, knuckles white. Jimin's knuckles were white too, but only because of how hard he was gripping onto the sword, wishing he could plunge it into the chest of the man in front of him. 

The man who had wiped out the entire Stone Castle court and burned everything Jimin had once known as home. 

The man who had tortured Taehyung, wiped out thousands of Laurel soldiers, and laid ruin to the countryside. 

The man who was now smirking at Jimin, forcing a choice upon the gray-haired male that made his stomach drop. 

"No words, huh? Did you hear me or are you really a mute dumbass like all the stories say, Stoney?" Jihoon pushed the swords lightly into each prince's throat. Jungkook whined in pain while Taehyung's hands trembled in their bindings. 

Jimin said nothing. 

"Well...if you aren't going to elaborate, I'll just explain it to you..." Jihoon's head jerked in the direction of the two that were below him, "Prince Park, it's up to you to decide. I'll let one survive-

If you choose who has to die."

Jihoon's eyes flew down to the sword that was shaking in Jimin's hand. 

"And if you can't make up your mind on who to kill, then...

I'm afraid I'll have to kill both of them, right here, on the spot."

A small whoosh of air escaped the Oak Prince's lips. The Laurel Prince's entire body was shivering in tiny spasms at those words. In horror, Jimin's eyes averted from the other two princes. The sword in his hand felt as if it weighed a ton. Tears pricked the corners of his eyes. 

Suddenly, Jungkook's shaky voice filled the small room, "Jimin, if you know what's right, you s-should kill me. T-Taehyung has been through enough pain, plus he has a s-sister to look after...I-I'll gladly leave if it means you two can go on. You two can run the kingdom without me. I-it's clear that Jihoon just wants me dead anyway. He doesn't care for y-you two...please Jimin listen to me. Let me go if you love me. J-Jihoon won't stop until I'm dead...you know that!"

Taehyung was quick to respond. 

"JIMIN! DON'T LISTEN TO HIM! You and I both know that he's the most fit to rule over Noirwood! With him dead, our authority will crumble! I-if you know what's best...kill me, yeah? Please Jimin. PLEASE. I can't have him die because of me! I've just been a liability to you guys since I've known you...I- If you love Jungkook...please save him. You two can-"

"NO JIMIN, HE'S WRONG!" Jungkook cried out next to Taehyung, both still facing the opposite wall. Jimin could hear the desperation in his tone of voice. He so badly wanted to comfort the princes, to protect them from the man that was standing there, but his feet were glued to the floor. 

"Ahhh...I see that you two will pose a bit of difficulty for the Stone Prince," Jihoon maliciously hooted, twisting each sword around in his hand. Both princes let out gasps as the swords dug deeper into their throats. 

"Jimin, are you there?" Taehyung whispered, his throat taking on a tear-stricken pitch, "Please, Jimin. Say something."

Jimin shuffled closer to the two in his shackles, Jihoon watching him closely, "I-" Jimin's voice cracked, "I...can't do it."

Jihoon smirked and stood up straighter, "Do you hear that boys? This bastard from the north really wants both of you dead! Fine by me-"

"NO!" Jimin shouted out suddenly, "I-why don't you kill me instead and let the other two go?"

At hearing this, the other two princes reacted instantly. 

"Jimin stop- don't-"

"Jimin please-"

"Hmmm. That sounds like a fine idea...Except I won't allow it," Jihoon's white teeth appeared in a twisted smile, "You're too useful for me--I could use a good swordsman like you to guard my mansion in the north."

Jimin's heart fell. He thought he had a chance at suggesting his own demise, but realized all Jihoon wanted to see was heartbreak and misery. 

This psychotic man must live for that horrible stuff. 

Jimin's panicked eyes rushed back to the sword in his hands and back to the two princes in front of him.

If he had to choose...

"Well, you have ten seconds to decide before I slit both of your friends' throats," Jihoon sang out in the air of the gray room, "Ten-"

"JIMIN, KILL ME!" Taehyung shouted, his voice filled with sadness. 

"Nine."

"Taehyung needs to stay alive, can't you see that?" Jungkook was crying. 

"Eight."

Jimin shuffled closer to the two, tears falling down his cheeks.

"Seven."

"Jimin, if you love us...then whoever you pick-" Jungkook paused to sniffle. 

"Six."

"-we won't be angry. Just please...know that it's okay."

"Five."

Taehyung turned his head around, the sword slicing deeper into his neck. Jimin saw this and watched the blonde with growing panic.

"Four."

Taehyung briefly turned his head to the side and made eye contact with Jimin, only for a second. In his dark eyes was a fire that Jimin had never seen before. Taehyung's message got across. 

"Three."

"Jimin, I love you," Jungkook's body was wracking with sobs.

"Two."

Jimin shuffled closer, raising his sword. He briefly glanced up at Jihoon, who was smirking malevolently at him, no sympathy in his expression. 

"One."

"I'M SORRY!" Jimin lunged forward with the sword in his hand, shutting his eyes tightly and hoping that the person he chose passed quickly.

I'm sorry. 

Jimin let out a gasp of shock when he felt the sword pass through thin air, his body stumbling forward and crashing onto cobblestone.

How could he have missed?

Jimin opened his eyes slowly, looking all around him. What he saw made his heart leap in relief. Well, it was more of what he didn't see. Jihoon and both princes had suddenly disappeared, along with the shackles around his ankles. He smiled to himself, wiping the tears from his face. 

So that person didn't have to die after all!

As he stood up to brush himself off, he felt a sudden presence in the corner of the room. He whipped around, shocked to see both princes standing before him, perfectly unharmed. 

"Jungkook! Taehyung!" Jimin ran up to them, but stopped when he realized both were frowning back at him. Jimin's mouth contorted into a confused line, eyebrows raised, "G-guys, what's wrong? Why are y-"

"We saw the whole thing," Taehyung's eyes were looking at everything but Jimin.

"I...I really-" 

"You don't need to say anything," Jungkook appeared dismayed, teeth biting frantically at his lower lip, "I just...can't believe-"

"I'M SORRY!" Jimin cried out reaching out to grab both of their hands, "I'M SORRY I COULDN'T SAVE BOTH OF YOU. PLEASE UNDERST-"

"No. I can't understand. I won't understand," Taehyung stated plainly. He began walking backwards, body becoming transparent and disappearing into the gray wall behind him. 

"Taehyung!" Jimin reached forward for the blonde's hand. Taehyung was frowning back at him, not slowing down. 

"Jimin," Taehyung's entity spoke in pained words, "Jimin...

Why did you have to kill me?

Why did you save Jungkook?"

Jimin was dumbfounded at the sudden accusation, "B-because, you- you told me to! Was that not w-what you wanted...?"

"Jimin," Taehyung's face suddenly went slack, his flickering body sticking half out of the wall, "Jimin."

The Stone Prince was confused at the blonde's sudden change in demeanor, "What, Taehyung?"

"JIMIN!" Taehyung's eyes rolled back into his head, the whites showing. Suddenly, a stab wound appeared on Taehyung's chest, blood pouring out from the wound and onto Taehyung's clothes. Jimin watched with horror as Taehyung crumpled onto the floor. 

"TAE-"

"JIMIN!" Taehyung's possessed body stuck his hand out dramatically and snapped his fingers once in front of Jimin's teary face, "WAKE UP!"

And that's when Jimin woke up from his nightmare, reaching out to grip Taehyung's hand in real life. That's when he found out it was just a terrible dream that meant nothing. Taehyung didn't die because of him.  

But laying here now next to Taehyung's sleeping body, the way that the blonde had accused him in his dream for saving Jungkook...

It gave Jimin an uneasy feeling in his gut. He felt a little guilty too. 

That's why when Jimin awoke, he treated Taehyung with the utmost care, being honest with him about his father and his sister Eonjin. He watched with relief as the Taehyung in real life smiled back to him, kissed him back passionately, and told Jimin that he loved him. 

Thinking about this eased Jimin's mind a bit, until he found himself drifting off to the soft breathing of the blonde next to him. 

Taehyung was okay. 

Jungkook was okay. 

He was okay. 

Jimin kept repeating this over and over in his mind until he finally fell into a deep sleep cuddled up next to the Laurel Prince. 

Oak Prince

Jungkook woke up to bright sunshine pouring through his window and the happy sound of birds chirping. As he rubbed his eyes and ruffled his black hair, he thought about breakfast, about what he wanted to eat. He thought about bathing and walking around in his garden later that day.

Then he remembered everything. The two other hurting princes popped into his mind. 

He shot out of bed, rushing to the door. Jungkook had to go to them. Before he opened it, though, he got a look at himself.

Boy, was he a mess. 

He was shirtless, save for multiple bandages wrapped around his arms where he had been cut by one of Jihoon's guards. He was still wearing the filthy soldier disguise on his lower half, and muddy shoes were still on his feet. Plus, he didn't smell the greatest. 

"Wash up first, Laurel and Stone second," he said aloud as he made his way to the bathroom. 

After doing the best he could at washing up without getting his bandages too wet, Prince Jeon left the bathroom and went to his wardrobe. What to wear...

He could stick to what he always wore. Plain black attire that didn't draw too much attention. 

Or...

His hand skimmed through his rack of clothes, edging towards the back. Towards the area where he kept clothes he thought he would never wear. Like a white dress shirt.

But today was different. Today he was celebrating the reunion of all princes in the Oak Castle, and also the construction of a plan for Jihoon's upcoming attack. 

Jungkook convinced himself to pull the white shirt on over his bandages. The sequins running up and down the arms didn't bother him for being too risque for once. He had a taste for a bit of flashiness today. He pulled on tight black pants and a black belt, carefully attaching his pocket watch to the side. To complete the look, he placed several silver bracelets and rings on his wrists and hands which he rarely did on a normal basis. 

In his new fit, Jungkook stepped up to his mirror, glancing at his face. He decided to try a new hairdo today...with a bit of oil he shaped his hair in a nice swoosh above his head. After the styling, he picked up one of his nicer scented body oils that smelled like ocean mist intermingled with subtle pine needles. Inhaling deeply, he rubbed the oil across his neck and wrists. 

In his reflection, he bared his teeth in a confident smile and straightened his collar. It hardly looked like he had just been through hell and back saving Taehyung. It hardly looked like he was nervous or afraid about what was to come. 

His lips pressed together tightly, Jungkook made a promise to himself that he would not bite them. No, he would appear confident and relaxed to the other two. The other two were probably suffering greatly from all the pain they were going through and the hopelessness of the situation. 

The Oak Prince needed to push down his fear and support his counterparts in their time of need. He nodded once at himself in the mirror and turned on his heel toward the door. To the infirmary it was. 

To see Taehyung and Jimin. Laurel and Stone. 

As he descended the flights of stairs, he wondered if either of them would be awake. Despite the fact that it was already pretty late into the morning, the two had been through a lot...they were probably passed out with exhaustion. 

"Good morning, Oak Prince. Glad to see you're doing well," one of Jungkook's personal advisers passed him by in the hall, bowing slightly.

Jungkook smiled and bowed back, "Thank you."

After the man passed him in the hall, Jungkook became more aware of the stares he was receiving on his journey to the infirmary, namely from the Laurel Court members that were mourning the loss of the Kim Castle. Some looked at him with hope in their eyes, glad that Jungkook had brought back Taehyung alive. Others were upset at the situation, blaming Jungkook in a way. 

Well, it was his uncle that had caused this. He understood why they might blame it on him. 

But Jungkook didn't want to wallow in who was to blame for the recent events of the kingdom. Lowering his head and speeding up his step, Jungkook hurried down to the infirmary. 

Before he could open the door, a sound floated into his ears. It was alarming; it was coming from inside the room.

Was that someone sobbing?

Without another thought, Jungkook ripped the door open and tore into the room, whipping his head around to find the two princes. 

Where were-

"JUNGKOOK!" that was Jimin's voice-

"Kookkiieeee!" and Taehyung. 

The Oak Prince did a 180, turning around to look behind him. In a small corner, away from the other patients, were the two princes huddled together on one bed, both smiling up at him. Both of their eyes were red, as if they had just been crying. Jungkook rushed over to the bed, sitting down and taking their hands in his. 

"What's wrong? Why were you crying? Are you feeling better? Are the medics taking good caring of you-"

"Jungkook, calm down," Taehyung's steady deep drawl was like music to Jungkook's ears. This prince was not the unconscious body he remembered hauling across the kingdom. No, this was the Laurel Prince, beaten up and weak, but nevertheless full of life, "We're alright. Jimin and I were just laughing at something together..."

"Really, Kook. We're okay," Jimin squeezed the ravenette's hand and leaned in, pecking his cheek. Jungkook's eyes grew and he blushed lightly. 

Why did Jimin do that right in front of Taehyung? Did he-

As if sensing the ravenette's surprise, Jimin laughed, pulling Jungkook in closer to the pair that was sitting side by side on the bed. The gray-haired male was careful not to let Jungkook crush Taehyung, as his body was still covered in bandages and healing. 

"It's okay, Jungkook. He's okay with it," Jimin grinned as he turned to look at the blonde. Taehyung turned to Jungkook with an amused expression on his handsome face. 

"Hmmmm...I think I'll only be okay with it if you bring that sexy face over here Mr. Jeon," Taehyung teased, motioning with his finger for the ravenette to lean in closer to him. Jungkook complied, cheeks still rosy from the entire situation, "Wow...you're so much better looking up close Oak Prince!" Taehyung tried hard to suppress the laugh that was growing in his mouth. Jungkook shook his head and raised his eyebrows. 

"He's not lying," Jimin whispered behind Jungkook's head. 

"And he looks so nice in white," Taehyung eyes trailed across Jungkook's white shirt, "Smells so good too...Damn it Jungkook," he pointed to the side of his face that wasn't cut up, "Alright, you know what to do... a kiss right here sir."

Taehyung wiggled his finger around on his tan cheek and Jimin snorted from behind the ravenette. Jungkook rolled his eyes with a cheesy grin spread across his face. 

Taehyung really was something else. 

Jungkook leaned in slowly, teasingly, towards the Laurel Prince's upturned face. At first Taehyung found it funny too, but after several seconds of Jungkook hardly moving at all, the blonde pouted. 

"Any day now, yeah?" Taehyung turned his mouth to face Jungkook, "Why do you ha-"

But Taehyung couldn't finish his sentence. Jimin had grown impatient at the situation and placed his hand on the back of Jungkook's feathery black locks, pushing the youngest forward into Taehyung. Jungkook's lips quite literally smashed into Taehyung's, the blonde also registering shock in his surprised noise. 

Jungkook eventually accepted his position and moved his lips against the blonde's passionately for a few seconds. Taehyung was frozen to the spot, unable to kiss him back. Finally, Jungkook broke the kiss for air and turned around to face Jimin. The Stone Prince's lower lip jutted out, a bit of attitude in his voice. 

"Sorry, Kook. You were too slow."

The ravenette punched Jimin lightly in the shoulder, puckering his lips before he spoke, "Well, I guess Jiminie doesn't want any kisses from me if he thinks I'm too slow..." Jungkook whisked around to face Taehyung again, ignoring the protesting expression on Jimin's face. 

"BUT-"

"Yeah, sorry Jimin. No more kisses for you," Taehyung grinned, shrugging his shoulders. The movement made him wince in pain. Jungkook placed his hands on the blonde's chest and frowned. 

"You should really stop moving, Tae. Please rest up. Seriously. It's only a matter of days before Jihoon shows up here...and we all need you to be strong for that day," Jungkook glanced away, a bit of disappointment flashing across his face as he saw the time on his pocket watch, "Actually... speaking of which, I have to go..." Jimin moved his head around to face Jungkook, a frown on his lips. 

"But you just got here Kook, why-"

"I have to find a way to make those gas masks if we're to have a chance at winning this war. I have to meet with my council to discuss the design, find the right supplies, do trial and error," the Oak Prince sighed, "...I need to make this work in the next couple of days...before it's too late."

Taehyung nodded solemnly, his hand gently rubbing Jungkook's thigh. Jimin looked at the bed sheets, face unreadable. Then, the gray-haired male tapped Jungkook's shoulder. 

"Alright, Jungkook. We understand...we don't want to keep Noirwood's brain from his work," Jimin gave him a soft smile, "But first...well, you gave Taehyung a kiss and-"

"On it," Jungkook leaned forward on the bed, brushing his lips against the Stone Prince's. Jimin immediately reacted once their lips were together, bringing his hand up to Jungkook's neck. Once they pulled away, Jimin glanced over to see Taehyung watching them with loving eyes.

"Hey, Jimin? Could you uh, could we-"

Jungkook knew that the Stone Prince needed no further explanation. In his smooth arms that stuck out from his patient's robe, Jimin enveloped the three in a big hug on the bed. 

Their foreheads touching and the sweet feeling of being together, the three main powers of Noirwood hugging made all three princes smile. Over the course of the time that they'd known each other, so much had changed- on personal levels and relationship levels between them. The different banners they wore were no longer barriers to getting along, nor were they blockades for relating to each other. 

The three princes of Noirwood were now one, sitting there on that bed. That beautiful notion of melding together brought whispered words to the Oak Prince's unchewed lips. 

"I love you guys."

"We love you too," Taehyung smiled at Jungkook who scrunched his nose up in appreciation. 

The three stayed like that for some time, until they broke apart. After Jungkook said his farewells to the other princes for the day and walked towards his study to begin his research, he realized something. 

Taehyung had never said that to him before. 

It made the ravenette hopeful for the future. 

Jihoon-

Jungkook clenched his jaw as he strode into his study. 

You're fucking going down. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Wow. The rainbow after the storm, am I right?

Haha- rainbow. 

Anyway, I love writing chapters like this. 

Just curious...

Anyone change who their favorite prince is since the beginning of the story?

Hope you enjoyed this :) much more to come.