Oak Prince

Jungkook woke up sandwiched between the Stone and Laurel Princes, their limbs entangled messily. Jungkook groggily turned his head to the left. Taehyung's face was inches from his, eyes puffy, softly snoring. One of Taehyung's bandaged hands was hanging off of the side of the bed and the other was resting on Jungkook's chest. Taehyung was hogging the entire fluffy blanket, his lower half wrapped up tightly like a white cocoon. 

Jungkook smiled at how peaceful Taehyung looked now compared to when he spoke about his father. Thinking about Taehyung's father made Jungkook's stomach churn in discomfort. 

The things he had done to Taehyung...sickened Jungkook to the bone. And he didn't even know the half of it. Disgusting...

But somehow knowing about Taehyung's past made him feel better about their relationship. It was a sign of trust, that Taehyung was confident enough in their bond to confide in him. Ever since Taehyung's refusal of his intimate advances, the Oak Prince had felt unsure and perplexed. Guilty, even, for some reason he couldn't place. 

But now Jungkook could understand why he felt those things...why the blonde had pushed him away when they were making out the other day. Given his past abuse, it was only natural for him to push away any kind of similar intimacy. A form of self-defense, to protect himself from the risk of getting hurt. Jungkook didn't hold any more irritation for Taehyung's refusal of him. 

He only felt bad for the blonde prince.

He must be suffering so much. 

Turning onto his right side, Jungkook realized that half of the Stone Prince's body was underneath him. Jungkook's legs piled on top of Jimin's lower half, crushing the male. Jimin's head was nestled into Jungkook's stomach, breathing softly. His chest hardly moved. Jimin's arms cradled his head, silver hair fluffed up messily from rubbing against Jungkook's side the entire night. Jungkook smiled at the interesting sight, watching the way Jimin's hair moved with every breath Jimin took. 

All princes were still in the same clothes from the night before. Jungkook felt thirst creeping into his throat as he tried to sit up. What time was it?

Jungkook wriggled around to find his pocket watch, earning himself a groan from Jimin who started to wake up. Jungkook's fingers wrapped around the cold metal of his pocket watch and he yanked it out from under Jimin's leg. The proud clock hands of the Jeon lineage stared at him defiantly. 

11 A.M.?

"Oh no. Oh no!" Jungkook quickly sat up in bed, disturbing the other two princes laying on him. "I missed Sungwoo's departure four hours ago! UGH!" Jungkook violently rubbed at his sleepy face, forcing wakefulness into the groggy flesh underneath. He groaned. 

"Jungkook, chill out." Jimin blindly grabbed for Jungkook's arm, found it, and pulled the ravenette back down on the bed. Jimin placed his head on Jungkook's stomach for a pillow and he adjusted himself until he was comfortable. "Just 20 more minutes of sleep Jungkook..."

Jimin's sleepy morning voice slurring his name made Jungkook's stomach swirl around in unexpected joy and giddiness. Taehyung's sleep-laced voice also called out Jungkook's name moments later. However, the tone of his voice was much different. His rich, throaty voice held sleep-diluted lust, startling Jungkook in its rawness.

Shit...he's dreaming...oh, this is embarrassing.

Taehyung's lips lightly parted as he mumbled a strain of words from whatever was happening in his dream. "J-Jungkook..." The older male sighed loudly in ecstasy. "Yessss, righhhtt...mmm...ahhhhh-"

Jungkook's face flushed a beet red and he could feel the tiny vibrations of Jimin's laughter against his stomach. Jungkook whipped to the side and grabbed Taehyung's arm, rattling Taehyung with fast jerks left and right. 

"TAEHYUNG TIME TO WAKE UP!" Jungkook's voice rang out in the room. He was sure the other rooms around theirs could probably hear it as well. 

Taehyung was slow to waken, disappointment covering his handsome sleep-filled features as he spotted the other two princes staring at him. Only one of his eyes opened, and his cheek remained red from rubbing against the pillow. Taehyung tried to scratch his face, but frowned when he brought his white bandage-clubbed hands to his face. 

"Ugh, you guys had to wake me up right from a good dream..." Taehyung's deep gravelly morning voice made both males in the room pause to listen in. "Plus my face is itchy, can one of you-"

"On it." Jimin reached over Jungkook's body to scratch Taehyung's cheek. Jungkook sat in between them awkwardly, the feeling of Taehyung's dream still lingering in the late morning air. What Taehyung said next made the situation even worse.

Taehyung looked at Jungkook's red face and did a double take. "Jungkook, are you okay? Have you been holding your breath? Your face is so red! Is something on your mind? Did someone do something to you?"

"Not yet." Jimin chimed with a lazy smirk. Jungkook pinched Jimin's arm as hard as he could.

"OW, alright I won't tease you. Actually, I should go and get ready in my own room...I feel a bit disgusting after passing out yesterday." Jimin paused, blinking at each of the sleepy princes in turn. "My head feels much better now, though. Jungkook, you might want to stay and help Taehyung with anything he needs for...uh, getting ready in the morning...since he can't get ready with his hands and all."

Jimin launched himself off of the bed and hurried to put his shoes on. Jungkook watched, his face heating up even more.

He would have to help Taehyung? This wasn't good. What if I mess it up?

Taehyung smiled politely at Jungkook, sitting up on the bed and holding his casts up to end any of Jungkook's protests. "Well, I guess you're stuck with me, Prince Jeon."

Jungkook opened his mouth to escape the situation when Jimin grabbed his rings off of the side table in one swift move. He booked it towards the door. 

"See you two laterrr!" Jimin's voice couldn't hide his amused laughter. Jungkook dropped his head in defeat as the door shut loudly.

Jimin is a little shit...I'll get him back for this.

Taehyung was the first to move from their positions, wiggling out of his blanket cocoon. He rolled to stand up off of the bed. Arching his back delicately, Taehyung stretched his entire muscled body to the ceiling. He turned to face a bewildered Jungkook, who was watching the entire thing in mild worry. 

Jungkook, who already felt uncomfortable by the situation, turned away from Taehyung sharply. He rolled off the other side of the bed, thinking about what he should say to the blonde. 

"So...uh, what exactly do I need to, um, help you with?" Jungkook hopped off the bed and eyed Taehyung over his shoulder. 

Taehyung hummed in thought. With grace, he strode towards the vanity mirror to gaze at himself. He frowned while he brought his white bandages up to his puffy face. He waved the clubs around in the mirror. In defeat, Taehyung clucked his tongue and dropped his arms to his sides.

"I need help with bathing, since I can't get these wet." Taehyung's raised bandages seemed to laugh at Jungkook who gaped in disbelief. 

"C-can't you, um...get a servant to help you with bathing? I actually should be in my study because I have lots of work to do...um...I have to sign some papers-" 

"Jungkook." Taehyung gently called from his spot at the mirror. "You don't have to feel uncomfortable around me." His gaze met Jungkook's through the reflective surface. "I know after that incident when I pushed you away...you were a bit upset, but I'm sorry, I didn't mean..." Taehyung trailed off. 

Jungkook sighed deeply. "Taehyung, you don't have to apologize...I mean, maybe I was a bit upset at the time..." Jungkook brushed the hair out of his eyes. "...but I understand why you did that and I'm sorry that I didn't make sure it was okay with you if I went further."

 A blush began to creep it's way onto Jungkook's face, his eyes nervously darting between Taehyung's bandages and the bed. The Laurel Prince cleared his throat and moved in the direction of the bathroom.

"Anyhow Jungkook, let's put that aside, yeah? I understand if you aren't comfortable helping me--but I'd feel more comfortable with you...than one of my servants. Whatever you want to do, I'll respect your choice. So...what will it be?" Taehyung pushed the bathroom door open with his foot and waited for Jungkook's reply. 

"I-" The Oak Prince felt immense gratitude that Taehyung felt comfortable around him. "I'd be happy to help you, Taehyung..." He paused. "Just know that I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable in any way so..." Jungkook walked over to the wardrobe and opened it. "I'll cover my eyes..." He pulled out a thin undershirt and mimicked tying it around his eyes. 

Taehyung nodded at Jungkook's suggestion but raised one eyebrow. "Actually, I don't really mind if you see me naked-"

"I'm using the shirt." Jungkook ended any further statements from the blonde. He headed to the bathroom to run the hot water for Taehyung's bath. The Oak Prince was determined not to embarrass himself. He didn't even know why it mattered to him so much to cover his eyes. They were both guys, right? No big deal. 

But after hearing Taehyung's story, and feeling the way he did around the older blonde male-

It was a big deal. He couldn't afford to mess this up. He enjoyed their blooming, trusting relationship too much to gamble with it.

"Hey Jungkook?!" Taehyung called from the bedroom. "I'm going to need help getting undressed! I can't get my shirt off over these bandages!" 

Jungkook bit his lip and responded quickly. "Yep, just a second!" His heart raced as the hot bathwater reached the top of the tub. He grabbed the shirt to cover his eyes and rushed out of the bathroom. 

Taehyung stood there expectantly, his black shirt bunched up at the waist as if he had already tried to take it off but failed. Jungkook reached up to put the makeshift blindfold around his eyes. Taehyung sighed. 

"It's going to take a lot longer if you can't see what you're doing, you know."

Jungkook said nothing. Dutifully, he wrapped the cloth around his eyes and tied it tightly in the back. "You'll just have to guide me, you know..." Jungkook unconsciously bit back at Taehyung in his anxious state. 

Jungkook finished tying the knot. He placed his hands at his sides. "Okay, tell me-"

"Right in front of you. You can find my sleeves right?" Taehyung started giving instructions to the flustered ravenette. Jungkook's hands came up slowly to find Taehyung only inches away from him, which shocked him a little. Jungkook's hands patted their way down Taehyung's arms until he was at the bandages. "Okay Jungkook, now try to get the sleeves around the bandages the best you can-"

"Got it."

Jungkook worked in silence as he tugged at the fabric of Taehyung's shirt around the bandages. Despite not being able to see, his hands were nimble and worked quickly. It made sense for Jungkook; he was used to constructing new inventions and making models of things for the kingdom. The Oak Prince's hands slid the fabric around Prince Kim's hands in a jiff. He could tell by the way small noises came out of Taehyung's mouth that he was impressed. 

"Nice, okay, they're through...now grab my sleeves and pull upwards to get my shirt off."

Jungkook took hold of the sleeves of Taehyung's shirt and pulled upwards with enough strength to yank it off of Taehyung right away--that is, if Taehyung was prepared. But Taehyung's head got stuck at the neck and he let out a small choking sound. 

"H-eey!" Taehyung's constricted airway made his voice a thin whine of air. "Jungkook, a little softer, geez."

"Sorry..." Jungkook mumbled as his hands felt around for Taehyung's head. His fingers found the fabric that was bunched up at the blonde's neck and he slowly pulled it up and over Taehyung's head, not missing the sensation of Taehyung's smooth cheeks on the back of his fingers. 

Once the shirt was off, Jungkook tossed it to the side and waited with his hands slightly in front of him for the next set of instructions. 

"Okay great." Taehyung sounded pleased. "Now I need you to um...unbutton my pants." He paused, and Jungkook could hear him swallow. "But I think I can get the rest off with my legs."

Jungkook's face tinted slightly red but he nodded anyway. He reached his hands out to find Taehyung's waistline. He flinched a bit when his hands found the smooth skin of Taehyung's stomach. His hands went even lower and met the fabric of Taehyung's pants. He made sure to go slow and methodical so as not to bother Taehyung. While his hands found the button on Taehyung's pants, it was dead silent. Jungkook didn't even notice that he was biting harshly on his lip. 

When Jungkook's slightly trembling hands undid the button and unzipped Taehyung's pants he immediately stepped away from the older male. He released a shaky breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. Taehyung's laugh suddenly rang out in the air. 

"Jungkook, you're acting like this is a life or death situation." Taehyung's deep laugh shook Jungkook's heart, making the beat falter for a moment. A sense of relief came over him.

"Sorry, T-Taehyung I'm just...trying not to upset you."

Effortful groans of Taehyung wiggling out of his pants could be heard throughout the room. "It's okay, Jungkook. You couldn't u-upse AGggh!" 

A loud thump in the room made Jungkook jump in place. Shit!

"Taehyung?! Are you okay!?! Where are you?" Jungkook got down on all fours and felt around for the blonde male who groaned painfully from the fall. 

Jungkook's hand brushed up against bare skin and he felt around, deducting that he was grabbing Taehyung's knee. "Taehyung! Did you hit anything? Are your bandages okay?" 

"Yeah..." Pain laced Taehyung's quiet voice. "My hip is going to be bruised later, but at least I got my pants off....heh." Taehyung sat up and held out his arm for the Oak Prince. "Jungkook, I'm right here." 

Jungkook latched onto Taehyung's arm and attempted to stand up, pulling Taehyung to his feet. 

"Uh...Jungkook, could you..." The Laurel Prince started to say something, but he stopped himself.

"Could I what?"

"Um, I don't want to fall again. So could you uh, help me with my underwear?" Jungkook could almost picture Taehyung's face at that moment, looking at Jungkook in anticipation, hoping the ravenette would agree even if it made him uncomfortable. Jungkook tried to force the blush out of his cheeks by biting his lower lip. 

"Y-yeah, sure...so you don't fall again." Jungkook fumbled around for the waistband of Taehyung's boxers with shaky hands. When he finally found the edge of the fabirc, he stepped back so Taehyung was an arm length away.  Very carefully, he lowered Taehyung's boxers down his legs. When the boxers were limp at the blonde's ankles, Jungkook stood up, willing himself to bite back his blush.

Taehyung is naked. Right in front of me. 

Why did that thought make Jungkook want to peek out from his blindfold so badly?

No, Jungkook.

"Okay, thanks." Taehyung said as he held his arm out for Jungkook to grab. "Here, take my arm, I'll help you to the bathroom."

Jungkook blindly stumbled along next to Taehyung, every once in a while brushing up against Taehyung's bare side. He tried to stifle all of the thoughts running through his head. 

Such smooth sk-

"Oh, I see the bath is ready! Thanks Kookieee." Taehyung hummed while lowering himself into the warm water. Jungkook felt his heart speed up at the nickname and kneeled down next to the wooden tub. He could hear tiny splashes as Taehyung adjusted himself so his arms were resting on the sides of the tub. 

A bit of water splashed up onto Jungkook's face and he turned his face to the side as another spray of hot water went up his nose. 

"Whoops, sorry!" Taehyung giggled from inside the tub. "I would wipe the water off your face but I can't because of my bandages...well maybe I could try-"

"No no, it's fine." Jungkook reached up and wiped the water off of his face with his arm. He hoped that the warm water would rinse some of his dirty thoughts out of him. 

Taehyung released a sigh of satisfaction as the warm water covered his bare body. Jungkook tried to push the feeling he got in his lower stomach away as that sound reached his ears. He tried to focus on something else, anything else. 

Pitch black. Just think of the darkness under the blindfold. Pitch black. There's nothing here.

Jungkook decided to try and locate the soaps for Taehyung's bath. He crawled around on the bathroom floor, trying to locate the vanity where all the soaps and oils were. When his hand met with the wood of the vanity, he pulled himself up and felt around for what he needed. 

As he was grabbing as many soaps as he could (he didn't know what Taehyung liked) he realized that the blonde male in the tub was being quiet.

Too quiet. 

"Hey Taehyung?" Jungkook questioned. No answer. He tried again. "Taehyung? You there?"

Taehyung didn't answer. 

Jungkook walked blindly over to the wooden tub, crouching down when he thought he was close enough and crawling the rest of the way. "Taehyung? Hello? I brought soaps."

The older male still didn't answer. Jungkook felt panic bubble up inside of him. He set the soaps down and plunged his hands into the water to make sure Taehyung was okay. His hands met with a strong shoulder and Taehyung's hair. 

"TAEHYUNG?!"

Why was Taehyung underwater?

Soon Taehyung was getting pulled out of the water by Jungkook, droplets of warm water falling off of his face and into the tub. He took a deep breath in and relaxed his back against the back of the tub. He waited a few seconds before saying anything to Jungkook, who was still gripping at Taehyung's neck and chest. 

Jungkook's eyebrows drew in worry. He began to splutter to Taehyung who he felt breathing under his hands. "T-Taehyung? Are you okay? Why were you under the water?"

Taehyung laughed at Jungkook's hands around him. "Jungkook, I'm fine. I was only getting my hair wet for you to wash and relaxing under the surface. Am I not allowed to do that?"

Jungkook sighed in relief, his heartrate tapering down to a lull. He pulled his dripping hands out of the water, shaking them off. He set his head down with a thump on the edge of the tub and groaned. "Fuck, Taehyung. You scared the shit out of me. I-I...thought you drowned or something..."

He could hear Taehyung sitting up in the tub before the elder male spoke up. "Maybe if you didn't have your blindfold on then you would know-"

"Shut up, Taehyung. I got soaps...anyway, where's your head?" The younger grabbed around for soap with one hand and felt for Taehyung's head with the other. 

Taehyung giggled at the younger's frustration and leaned his head towards the younger's outstretched hand. Jungkook proceeded to scrub rich soap into Taehyung's hair, massaging the prince's scalp with oil afterwards. 

"Damn Taehyung, you have so much hair...how do you deal with all this?" Jungkook gabbed, trying to improve the tense mood. "Also, this oil smells really sweet. I personally wouldn't think that you would choose such a flowery-scented oil for your grooming, but I can't be sure I guess since I shouldn't be assuming anything about you-"

"You're so cute." The elder male suddenly said. 

The bathroom fell silent. 

Jungkook pretended not to hear him. Inside, his stomach filled with a pleasant fondness for Taehyung, one that spilled into his heart in a strange way. "Alright, your hair is all done, Prince Kim. Next is your body."

Jungkook's hands went to find the other soaps, the smile on his lips obvious to Taehyung who sat there staring at the ravenette while he helped wash the elder. Even though Jungkook was blindfolded, he could feel Taehyung's eyes on him. It wasn't a horrible feeling. Jungkook couldn't deny that he liked the attention from the Laurel Prince.

"Y'know Jungkook, there are enough bubbles in this tub to cover my nakedness up. I don't mind if you take the blindfold off...really. Besides, you need to see where you are scrubbing..." Taehyung trailed off. 

Jungkook paused his soap gathering and considered Taehyung's words. He sighed. "Taehyung, I don't know if..." Jungkook waited for Taehyung to tell him it was okay if he didn't want to remove his blindfold, but Taehyung kept quiet. He wants me to take it off.

"Al-alright...I guess I'll take it off." Jungkook reached up with wet hands and untied the knot at the back of his head. When the makeshift blindfold fell off, he squinted, eyes not used to the brightness of the room. He rubbed at his eyes until they adjusted, and when they did...

He saw the most beautiful man in front of him. Wow.

The top of Taehyung's bare chest peeked out of the water, his muscular shoulders accentuated by the bubbles that lapped around his tan skin. Taehyung's arms were in a 'V' shape as they rested on the tub's edges, allowing Jungkook a better view of the stretched muscles of Taehyung's arms and forearms. It looked as if Taehyung was welcoming Jungkook into the room with the way he was positioned and Jungkook couldn't help but smile at the pose. Taehyung's wet hair gave him a wild, sexy look that made the blood rush out of Jungkook's head. 

Taehyung's dripping wet face heated Jungkook's own, the blonde's head tilted up in a dangerously attractive angle. Sharp, amused eyes watched Jungkook's doe eyes carefully. Taehyung's mouth parted slightly in greeting, and his cheeks were a bit flushed from the heat of the water his body rested in. Nothing else could be seen of Taehyung's body from above the surface; even Taehyung's feet were covered by rich-scented bubbles. 

It left much to the imagination. Jungkook's cheeks were thoroughly flushed.

But not because he was in hot bath water.  Deep down, he felt a strong urge to hop in the tub and join Taehyung's bath-

STOP STOP STOP! Control yourself, Jungkook!

"Okay, now that you can see me, I'll sit up and you can scrub my back, yeah?" Taehyung's nonchalance made him more attractive, pretending not to notice how affected Jungkook was by his beauty. If the blonde had an inkling of how much Jungkook was restraining himself, it did not show on his tan features.

"Y-Yeah."

Jungkook grabbed the soaps and watched as Taehyung sat up in the tub, making the water slosh around. Jungkook caught a peep of the long scar that ran down Taehyung's muscled chest and abdomen before Taehyung could face the other direction. Taehyung's long bare back stretched before him and Jungkook got to work scrubbing the other prince. 

To distract his mind from the thoughts bombarding him, Jungkook thought it best to make the elder talk.

"So..." He spoke, trying to hide the shakiness of his voice. "How did you get that scar on your chest?"

Taehyung said nothing for a long time. Jungkook began to think he said the wrong thing. God, why did I have to ask about a scar of all things? That's a horrible conversation starter.

"Um, actually, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to-"

"No. I'll tell you." Taehyung turned his head to make eye contact with Jungkook. In his eyes was a sadness that let Jungkook know it was a sore topic, but that Taehyung was trying to stay strong. 

"My father did this to me."

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

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Hi everyone <3

I enjoy writing chapters like this so much. But to imagine how difficult it would be to wash someone blindfolded? Oh gosh, I'd get soap all over the person's eyes. I would probably end up more clean than them...or fall right into the bathtub--LMAO.

Anyway, I hope you're all eating well and drinking lots of fluids. To keep the spirit strong, one must always first attend to the needs of the body! Stay healthy, first and foremost! :)

Thank you for reading! See you next chapter. 

~izzy~