Arranged | Jinkook ✓

Chapter 8.0

The sky. How long had it been since he'd seen it?

Only days, really. He could still break the span of time down into hours if he wished. Could still technically could the minutes.

But a week had turned into two, and suddenly that word had become plural and he wasn't sure if his count was even accurate anymore.

In the back of his mind the knowledge of the door constantly replayed, ever searching out a moment where he could revisit. Where he could step out into the world of wonder that had been withheld from him. Where he could discovered what secrets lay hidden away.

In truth there probably weren't any, and the rational part of his brain was entirely aware of that. It was probably nothing more than an old, crumbling terrace that would provide little refuge or relief from the way the stone walls made everything feel suffocating.

Like he wanted to run.

Like he wanted to be free.

And he didn't understand.

...

"Taehyung!" He hadn't seen the other in what felt like days. Since the moment he had handed over the small, hand written and prettily sealed envelope meant to be delivered to his family. Surely they would have received it by now. Surely they would have sent something in return.

But there had been nothing. Not even a whispered confirmation that they had been found, that it had arrived safely.

"Ah, now there is a sound I have missed hearing." To his credit, Taehyung at least stopped the instant his name was called, turning around to find the source running after him. "How may I be of service to his future highness on this lovely, warm spring day?"

"Um." Silently he attempted to count the days within his head, honestly believing that perhaps he had been trapped in some sort of time warp and had miscounted so terribly. "It's fall though?"

"Please." It came out as a desperate, almost playful sigh, the other's head falling back between his shoulders. "Let me dream. It's been raining for weeks. I can feel mold growing on my bones."

"Sorry, I just -" It was still raining. And he instantly felt disappointment wash over. Because that meant he wouldn't be able to go on his little expedition even if he had the chance. Although maybe he could, if he planned it just right. Time it so he would make it back through the castle before anyone else. He could head directly to the baths and warm up there. It would certainly account for his hair being wet. It would be -

Lying. A set beyond simply hiding the knowledge from his prince. And he felt shame come on to replace the disappointment. Because it was one thing for it to be warm and beautiful and for him to say he thought it might be some garden he could tend to. This was plotting.

"You doing okay there?" Without even realizing it he had become lost in his own thoughts, Taehyung's voice cutting through them and bringing him back down to earth. "Your eyes did this thing where they went all glossy and for half a second I was legitimately worried I was going to have to tell Jungkook I had broken you."

Jungkook. His prince. That name alone was enough to bring dozens of thoughts flooding back into his mind. Provoked images that were premature. Thoughts and ideas of a future that it was too early to expect.

"Hello? Earth to Seokjin." Right. Taehyung. He shook his head slightly, trying to force himself to focus on what he was actually doing.

"Right. Sorry. What were we talking about again?"

"Uh, you stopped me." Taehyung had the look of someone who had suffered for far longer than they ever should of, and was resigned to the fact that it would continue seemingly forever.