│C H A P T E R 1 1 │
With the slow ticking of a clock, Taehyung and Jeongguk pulled away at the speed of light.
Before they could recollect themselves, the door opened and in walked Jimin who stopped in his tracks as soon as his eyes met with the scene before him. The tune he was whistling dragged out and eventually met with an end.
"What the actual fuck in going on?" Jimin spoke, his words slow and hesitant. This seemed to break the tension in the room and the two struggled to get up, repelling from each other but to no avail. The ladder remained stoic on top of Jeongguk. After a few collective groans, struggles and really awkward eye contacts, they managed to separate.
Jeongguk heaved himself up with a forced smile and stuttered a few words under his breath, along the lines of, 'I need to water my pigeons excuse me', and left the room in a few stumbled steps.
Taehyung remained still in his position for a few seconds, before recollecting himself. He brushed off his attire with the back of his hand and sat back down in his chair while Jimin stared, confused beyond words.
"He fell." Taehyung spoke, his eyes not leaving the lines of the book.
"And you kissed him for it? While fondLING ON THE FLOOR, SIRE?"
Taehyung shut his book with a loud bang at this remark. His eyes snapped to Jimin's with an angry glare.
"Jimin, he fell onto me. It was an accident. Can't you connect the dots?" Taehyung sat up from his seat before walking past Jimin, shoulders lightly brushing as he muttered, "Tsk I thought you were smarter than this."
***
Dinner was... awkward to say the least.
The trio was surprisingly quiet except for a few of Jeongguk's failed jokes, which included yelling 'IT'S FUCKING RAW' at the shrimp dish Jimin had prepared and a few smacks in return. Taehyung would ask Jeongguk to pass a dish and Jeongguk would drop everything to hand it over, his head hung as he avoided eye contact at all costs.
This was strange. Because usually Jeongguk yelled at Taehyung to get it on his own and proceeded to call him lazy which resulted in sighs from Taehyung with an occasional flick on the forehead.
Their utensils clinked against their plates as they sat in a few minutes of suffocating silence. Jeongguk glared at his plate, zoned out as Jimin glanced at him from time to time wondering, if maybe, that little shit was silently insulting his magnificent, show-stopping dish or maybe that extra pinch of salt was too much.
Jeongguk on the other hand, was not aware of where he was. His mind kept replaying the scene from before over and over again. Even though Jeongguk appeared to be somewhat calm on the outside (if you choose to ignore the fact that he was now unconsciously staring at his crotch area, confusing the other two at the dinner table), inside, his brain was a havoc.
Although the kiss lasted for merely a second, it awakened something in Jeongguk-
His inner sex demon.
Okay no, I'm kidding.
Maybe it's because it was Jeongguk's first kiss.
The feather-like feeling still lingered long after and Jeongguk couldn't stop the smile creeping onto his lips.
"Jeongguk, you really need to stop doing that."
Taehyung's voice broke Jeongguk out of trance as his eyes shifted to Taehyung's.
"Huh?"
"You were smirking strangely while staring at your own crotch. It was getting concerning, Jeon, I simply had to say something." Taehyung spoke before getting up from his seat and walking away with Yeontan yapping at his feet.
Blue balls on a cheese stick. He called me Jeon ajaksakdca that was the hottest thing ever oh my fucking god someone hold me while i ascend-
"Jeongguk, we can hear you." Jimin spoke this time, a concerned look etched onto his face as he stared at the younger before shaking his head and walking away. Jeongguk continued to smack his head on the dinner table, failing to notice Taehyung sending a second glance at him from on top of the stairs, a small chuckle escaping from his lips.
***
The sound of footsteps descended down the stairs and Jeongguk almost dropped the plate he was washing as the view of Taehyung met with his eyes.
"Why are you always scared when I walk into a room?" Taehyung spoke as he glanced back and forth at the dishes in the sink and Jeongguk. "Also whY are you doing chores all of a sudden?"
He paused.
"What did you break this time?"
Jeongguk let out an exasperated sigh. He wiped off some non existent sweat from his forehead in a melodramatic manner.
"One, you appear out of the fucking bluE or should i say red- cause this entire place looks like someone threw up after eating a mILLION STRAWBERRIES AND IT'S SLOWLY DRIVING ME INSANE. I CAN'T REMEMBER ANY OTHER COLOUR. LIKE PURPLE- WHAT'S THAT? DON'T KNOW HER ANYMORE, BECAUSE OF YOUR EXTREMELY BAD TASTE IN INTERIOR DESIG-
"Jeongguk, you're screaming again." Taehyung said, rubbing the two sides of his forehead as he let out a sigh.
"For a valid reason that is. Anygays, the reason i'm being a very courteous resident of this house is because I am extremely grateful for your-" Jeongguk took a few seconds to hurriedly remove his wash gloves, soap and water dripping to the floor during the process.
"-hospitality'" Jeongguk said, adding air quotes, before putting on the gloves again.
They stood in silence as Taehyung held a stern, questioning gaze and finally Jeongguk cowed.
"Okay finE- I broke the clock on the second floor." Jeongguk muttered as he finished up the last of his chores, meekly. Taehyung shook his head slightly, failing to hide his chuckle.
"It's 9 feet above the ground, Jeon. How did you manage to-"
"Let's just say Yeontan and I had a fun time." Jeongguk added with a smug smile and Taehyung let out a concerned okay then. "Also, you told me time doesn't exist or some shit so why are there clocks anyways. Is it another element to you InTeriOr deSIgnINg abliliTiEs?"
Jeongguk followed Taehyung to the dining hall where the red haired boy poured himself a glass of wine before raising an eyebrow at the younger in question. Jeongguk nodded and Taehyung poured another glass.
"Not really. Makes it feel a bit more- what's the modern day word for it- homey, you could say. Like time still runs, in some way."
Taehyung said before taking a slow slip from his drink. Meanwhile, the younger boy sat watching the devil, admiring how every word he spoke, his voice made it sound like outright poetry.
And sitting with the devil at the table, their knees almost touching, for the first time in a long time, Jeongguk didn't feel that constant bone crushing heaviness in his heart. But he was too caught up in the words Taehyung was speaking, to let that sink in.
"Ah Taehyung-" Jeongguk spoke up. "I wanted to talk to you about ahem- you know, what happened, back there."
"Back where?"
Jeongguk flashed Taehyung a deadpanned look.
"You really want to see me suffer don't you?" He tsked before averting his eyes from the devil, now focusing on brushing the rim of his wine glass with his fingertip. "Back at the library bitch."
Taehyung stiffened at the four words but covered it up by bending down and grabbing Yeontan off the floor. Yeontan nuzzled up against Taehyung before sending Jeongguk a look, or at least Jeongguk thought so.
"I'm sorry. I don't know why I'm apologizing but oof that must've hurt. Like bro, I crash landed onto you and since I'm a big boy that must've hurt a lot."
A short silence followed.
"Jeongguk, that's the worst apology ever." The devil said before downing the last of his drink. "Besides, don't worry. It was an accident."
"The fall was- but the kiSsSssS- okay fine I'll shut up."
They sat for a while in silence and Jeongguk felt content, realising the silence that swept over them was consoling for some reason. So he admired the crackling of the wood in the fireplace and the peripheral vision of the oh-so-vicious devil running his fingers through Yeontan's fur with a fond smile.
"Taehyung would you mind if I ask you a question?"
Taehyung lifted his eyes and glanced over towards the younger.
"Yes, I do mind but you're gonna ask it nevertheless so- shoot."
"You can't fall in love right? Did something happen to make y-you that way?"
This caught Taehyung off guard. Of course he expected an unorthodox question because the last time Jeongguk uttered this sentence it was soon followed by bro what are the qualifications to be a grim reaper like damn that's a bomb ass job, but apparently not this time.
Jeongguk could see the emotions in the devil's eyes stirring, a multitude of possible answers struggling to form one audible answer.
"I'm sorry, that was too sudden wasn't it? My bad-"
"Yes, something did happen."
Jeongguk paused, his words stuck in his throat as he held his breath. Taehyung's gaze held Jeongguk in his position.
"But everything happens for a reason, right?" Taehyung questioned and the younger nodded feeling his heart drop slightly as the familiar words of his brother left the devil's lips. "You've had your fair share of unfortunate events, don't you?"
The devil's eyes softened and Jeongguk pursed his lips before tilting his head in agreement.
"But something kept you going?"
"Yeah."
"There's things that kept me going too, still, there's things that keep me going." His words struck something in the younger and his heart skipped a beat. He secretly revelled over the pleasant atmosphere that had dawned on the two.
He felt something he failed to experience back in the mortal world.
He felt at home.
And for the first time, Taehyung was the first to look away.
A loud bang interrupted the two as Jimin walked in, his words stopping at his throat as he sensed the atmosphere. He rolled his eyes but walked in, his boots clicking against the wood, before handing a crimson envelope to the red haired boy.
Taehyung took a deep breath, deliberately avoiding Jeongguk's eyes as he focused on opening the envelope.
"It was in the mailbox sire. It's been so long since we received a letter."
Jeongguk's mouth fell open, aghast at the words.
"MAILBOX? LETTER? THE FUCK? FROM WHO-"
"From the neighboring kingdoms Jeongguk." Jimin answered calmly, his eyes focusing on reading Taehyung's reaction at the letter.
"NEIGHBOURING WHAT NOW?"
"Ah apparently there throwing a party at Brotopia Kingdom. We're invited."
"A PART-"
"Yes, Jeongguk, a party. Now go to your room child- put on some nice clothes, We're not leaving you here alone with Yeontan."
A/N
Annnnd im back? it honestly feels weird to post again for some reason oof
but i hope you enjoyed the chapter! and damn i decided to change most of the plot so jsvhsbvhd im so excited for ya'll to see what i have in store ohohohO
- Amy