A Caress Of The Sheep's Wool

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The hallways whispered to each other, seeming as though they were closing in on the slim figure that walked them, his candle being the only source of light to his short journey. He had lived here for so long, he'd memorize each step - how many steps, and how light he needed to step. Though tonight he didn't have to walk as light, thanks to the ongoing storm outside, leaving the windows to fog.

He walked with intention, already knowing where he was headed. When he finally made his way in front of the familiar door, he carefully, quietly opened it, shielding his candle's flame from the almost unnoticeable gust of wind. The room was pitch black dark. Had this need anyone, they would have assumed this to be a storage room of some sort considering how small and dark it was. But this was Sunghoon, and he knew every nook and cranny of his castle.

He quietly slipped past the door, the candle's flame dancing in the dark. He walked further into the small space, 1 step, and then 2. Each step illuminated more of the room, coming into view now was a familiar cot, more importantly, the frame atop of it. Sunghoon completely stopped, just staring. The air was still and the room was cold, Sunghoon's fingertips turning pink by the second.

He sat down his pricket on the nightstand, so quiet, so careful. He looked back at the figure once more before setting himself down on the edge of the comforter, watching the boy's eyebrows furrow for a moment before stilling. Sunghoon didn't worry much, having done this countless times.

His hand raised in the air for a moment, watching his body fall and rise with each breath before coming down to touch the black hair. Just a slight touch of the fingertips before carding through the familiar soft strands, letting out an exhale as he did so in unison with the sleeping boy.

He had learned everything; the way he breathed, the way his eyebrows twitched at any sudden disturbance in the air, the way he held his fists close to his chest. Sunghoon knew everything, and shamefully so.

He had been doing this for long enough that it felt natural. It felt natural, sneaking out of his chambers late at night to this same room. His bodyguard. His protector. It wasn't like he didn't know, however...

The first time Sunghoon did this, his movements were sloppy. He had carried no candle and hadn't known whether or not the boy was asleep. He didn't know his patterns, his habits, or how important it was to keep the air quiet. He had sat on his cot with little to no care, dropping his weight. He had only touched his hair for a second before the boy's eyes snapped open as if it had been rehearsed. His stare was as though he had already been awake for hours, and his hands were quick to reach for the sword at the side of his cot before he recognized the face.

"Your Highness...what are you doing?" His voice nothing short of groggy and quiet despite his stare. Nonetheless, there was trained authority in his tone.

Sunghoon had felt his heart almost jump out of his throat in that moment, not expecting the boy to have woken up in such a hurried panic, his hand jumping away like he had just been burned. "I could not sleep." He simply said, keeping his composure despite the storm going on in his stomach.

Jaeyun sat up at this, his look turning into one of concern. "I will escort you back to your chambers, Your Highness." He checked the prince for any injuries as he spoke, wondering if he had been in some sort of trouble.

The prince held him down before he could get up, despite knowing he could probably knock him out with one punch if he wanted. "No." Sunghoon saw Jaeyun's look of confusion, but still followed his orders. That's what he must do, anyway.