Teahyung twisted and turned for hours but he couldn't get to sleep. The moon hung in the centre of the sky, its rays fluttering through the curtains. It's not because he missed home, it's because he was buried under a blanket of rage. Seokjin was sleeping in the room next to him, but he didn't even want to see him when he woke in the morning. If he sleeps at all.
Suddenly, he lightly got onto his feet and made an exit. Luckily, his other Hwarang roommates were heavy sleepers, so the shutting of the sliding door didn't wake them. Taehyung stopped at Seokjin's room, where he saw his older fast asleep, his eyes fluttered shut in a deep slumber. He felt his heart ache seeing his hyung encased in a trance of temporary peace. If only his heart wasn't so cold- he hated being this way.
The city was quiet. Taehyung easily jumped over the walls just like the many times he did it with Jungkook as a child. It was all the same: a vast field with trees swaying in the distance. It was the part of the world that hand't been touched by man's poison and corruption. There were very little to no people who lived in this area, as the bright colours of the city hypnotised them just like a peacock's feathers. Once you were on the other side of the wall, you were imprisoned in the Venus flytrap for good.
It's not like Taehyung didn't enjoy living in the city. He too was entranced by the beautiful colours, but he just wondered what was beyond that wall. To the west there seemed to be a light, and what seemed to be a rice farm. Taehyung thought it would be nice to go for a stroll up there, since the farmers wouldn't know who he was.
And so, he climbed. He scaled the hills until suddenly the image became more clear. Sheep grazed lazily on the grass and the light came from a lone hut. Taehyung just assumed that there was just one farmer living up in the hills, but he disregarded that thought as he approached the hut.
It was very worn down, the planks of wood barely supported. The lantern outside illuminated the front, and there was a black cat curled up on the doormat, as if tiredness took it down during the wait for its owner. When Taehyung saw the crack in the door, he stood back.
"Nobody's home," He said to himself. He brought himself to gaze over the rice field. It was lifeless- there was acres and acres of bare land stretched out before him, and he could just make out where the natural stretches of grass just about made it.
"May I help you?" A deep voice called out from behind.
Taehyung jumped a little. There was another man, presumably the farmer who wore scruffy clothes and a had a hat resting on a set of liquorish locks. He held a sack of rice in his filthy hands and on his face there was a scar that went over his right eye, as if someone tried to cut right through him.
Taehyung was at a lost for words. He was the rice farmer alright, but why does he feel as though he has come face to face with a warrior?
The farmer pulled his hat over his head and put the sack down. He then reached his hand out to Taehyung's:
"I'm Agust."
No hello. Just Agust. Taehyung shyly shook his hand and muttered out his own name. The air around the two men was stuffy and Taehyung found it difficult to breathe. Agust's hat hug low over his face- Taehyung was unsure if the man could even see. The atmosphere was unusual; it was nothing like he has ever experienced. It was intimidating, although Agust is actually smaller and Taehyung looks like he has more muscle than him. Maybe it was the fact that they were on his private land. No matter who Taehyung was, the smaller man had full authority- his life could end here if anything went wrong.
Agust invited Taehyung to sit and have a cup of tea. The timid man sat down on the edge of the bed and clutched the cup firmly between his palms. The owner of the hut almost looked amused underneath his hat. He immediately recognised Taehyung to be someone with power. The fact that the man in expensive silk garments is practically quaking brought some ease to the man. He knew now that Taehyung is a man of honour and respect, and that he is working for the kingdom with respect for others. Just how he liked it.
"You don't have to be so tense you know,"
"Sorry, I-It's just I'm not used to this,"
"Not used to what? A man named after a month wearing a hat so you can't see his face?"
"Sir, I've seen your face,"
Agust raised a brow. With a laugh, he took off his hat, revealing his serious yet relaxed face to Taehyung once more. This time, his scar stood out a lot more since there was more light.
Taehyung felt shivers race up his spine.
"Why do you..." He began, his words suddenly being caught in the back of his throat. Agust smiled, as if he knew what Taehyung was about to say.
"You're probably wondering why I look so much like the emperor don't you?"
Taehyung, surprised, nodded furiously.
"Well, I guess you could call it a curse? A blessing? Whoever gave me this face is the one to blame," Agust knelt before Taehyung, lifting his chin so their eyes met, "and my eye? Well, there was a nasty accident that occurred a couple of years ago, only when I was a boy. A terrible fight between me and another farmer boy."
"Who won?" Taehyung asked with a croak in his voice.
Agust shrugged, resting his hand against Taehyung's cheek,
"Perhaps you should go home now, the sun will rise and your royal duties will await you."
Taehyung rose to his feet at once. Before he left, he turned to face Agust, who was still knelt at the bed, once more,
"Did it hurt when you got slashed across the face like that?"
Agust shook his head.
"That scar looks like it hurts."
