Chapter Text
Six Months Later
“I can’t wait to see Aera again!” Taehyung pulled Jungkook along the palace corridor like he didn’t know how to walk on his own.
“You’ve already seen her today.” Jungkook smiled, tugging his arm free.
He looked around, grateful they hadn’t been seen. It was increasingly difficult to keep the secret between them when they spent all their time together, day and night. They’d grown so close, Jungkook felt at peace when he was with Taehyung. He tried not to care that no one knew of their love. At the same time, as much as he tried not to care, the fact that he hadn’t been able to publicly claim the Prince as his, niggled at him.
Jungkook knew it was complicated. There were royal protocols and expectations and no one in the Royal Family had ever dared anything as outrageous, in public at least, as what Taehyung had done in secret. He was one step away from becoming a possible outcast. It was impossible to say how the family might react, if they knew, and Jungkook had no idea of the possible repercussions. If everything would all come out in the open, would they accept Taehyung as he was? Would they love him irrespective of his differences? And would they accept Jungkook, with his low status and all, as the Prince’s partner?
All these thoughts swirled in Jungkook’s mind as he watched from the door as the happy extended family looked over the baby amongst the frills in the Moses basket. The baby girl was smiling, red cheeked and glittering eyes, a perfect baby if there ever was one. The parents sat proudly, occasionally glancing at each other, so clearly in love and happy over the addition to the family. The whole room seemed to glow with love and happiness.
It truly was a perfect moment. Something blue swirled inside Jungkook. Would he always remain the outsider, watching Taehyung?
The Crown Prince stepped aside from the cooing and smiles and strolled to the window, inviting Taehyung along. It was obvious his brother had something to say. Sudden nerves tingled inside him as he tried to guess what the matter might be. He glanced at Jungkook and saw him standing by the door, quiet and alert, looking back. A small smile pulled at the corner of Taehyung’s mouth.
“You two have become rather inseparable,” Yejun said, eyes flicking from Jungkook to Taehyung.
“He’s my bodyguard, of course he’s always with me,” Taehyung tried to say with confidence. This was going somewhere and he worried where it might lead.
After a brief pause, Taehyung’s brother smiled. “It’s alright, you know. You don’t need to hide it.”
“Hide what?” A ball tightened in Taehyung’s throat and he felt like running away.
There was nothing but kindness in Yejun’s eyes as he said, “That you two are so desperately in love with each other.”
Taehyung cleared his throat as his words got stuck. In the end he gave up trying to find excuses. “I didn’t think anyone knew.”
“As if you could hide a thing like that, it’s written all over you both.” The Crown Prince chuckled. “I almost envy you two.” He looked at his wife and smiled, smitten. They had a love that was unusual among the royals, deep as the ocean and no one would ever deny it.
“Is it a... problem?” Taehyung asked carefully, his whole being on the verge of an apology.
Yejun turned to him and grabbed him by the shoulder. “No one will begrudge you this. Just go be happy.”
There was one more obstacle, the biggest one. “Does Father know?”
“Yes. He is the one who asked me to talk to you.” They both glanced over only to find the King looking over at them, eyes twinkling with happiness. “We all love you, Taehyung,” Yejun said before heading back to his wife.
Taehyung walked back to Jungkook in a daze. Everything he had been worried about no longer weighed on him. He was truly free. Without a second thought, he grabbed Jungkook by the hand, lacing their fingers. Jungkook gasped and tried to pull away, eyes flicking to the family whose attention had turned from the baby to them.
“W-what are you doing?” he whispered with urgency.
Taehyung simply smiled, heart full of happiness. “It’s alright, Jungkook. They know.”
He could see the shock on Jungkook’s face, the eyes full of hopeful disbelief. As the formal façade fell away, Taehyung’s heart filled with happiness. A warm smile directed at him was all Jungkook, the Jungkook he knew and loved with his whole heart.
He was barely able to hold back the tears when Jungkook cupped his cheek and traced the contour with his thumb with love in his eyes.
Still holding the strong hand in his, Taehyung turned to his family and gave them an affectionate wave. He pulled Jungkook with him and left the room with happy cheers following them.
After that, things changed. Taehyung still performed his official duties as a Prince but in his free time, he was often with Jungkook at his flat. There was nothing quite like returning to the small, comfortable place that smelled like Jungkook and home.
“Dinner’s nearly ready.” Jungkook called over to Taehyung who was taking his shoes off by the front door.
The simple words filled his heart with joy. To be here with Jungkook, doing normal people things was something he’d never take for granted. “Yum. I’m positively famished.” He hugged Jungkook from behind and dropped a kiss on the back of his neck. It was impossible not to nuzzle against the warmth and breathe it in after a long day of proceedings and meetings.
“I have something for you.” Jungkook turned around and pecked Taehyung on the cheek. “Wait here.” He disappeared from the room and returned with a small box covered with an oversized, red bow.
Excited, Taehyung reached for the box and looked up at Jungkook. “What’s this?”
“A surprise.” He took a deep breath in. “If you want it, that is.” Jungkook said with uncharacteristic shyness.
Unable to wait another moment, Taehyung opened the box and stared at the contents. It was a key. “And what does this open?”
“The front door.” Jungkook wrangled his hands and added, “Would you like to move in with me?”
A million thoughts ran through Taehyung’s mind as he considered the option. He’d never heard of a Prince moving out of the palace but neither had he heard of a rule that forbade it.
He smiled through the tears. “I’d love to... I can’t think of anything I want more.”
Jungkook pulled him close and kissed him softly. “Then, you’re all mine.”
“And you’re mine...” Taehyung smiled and kissed Jungkook back, with all his heart, with all his soul, he meant the words that sang in his heart. “I love you,” he whispered.
“And I love you,” Jungkook replied.
The End