He Walks Alone in the Moonlight [COMPLETED]

A MOUTH WITH A TONGUE (OR TWO)

(this chapter contains brief non-consensual kissing)

"We must go, now." The Crown Prince stalked out of the cave and immediately mounted his horse.

"What is it? What did you see?" Chang questioned as the prince's companions hopped onto their steeds.
"We heard you screaming, but we weren't able to go in. What happened?" Minjoo added.

The Crown Prince did not respond, did not even look back as he spurred his horse into a gallop, the thin trees of the forest whipping past him as he followed the leaf-covered path back to the camp. It seemed he could not get there fast enough, and he was only distantly aware of his the other four at his back, yelling after him. How many hours had it been since they departed? How long did it take for infection to settle in and fester? Surely the camp residents had treated Jihyun's wounds despite his orders, they all seemed to care for him greatly, they would not leave him to rot and die with fever just because he said so, would they? He had told the Captain his party would be gone for two days, as the Crown Prince was planning on strategizing with new-found information away from the prying ears and eyes of the camp. Surely if they knew that, they would take those days to treat him, and only return Jihyun to the dungeon upon his return. Surely he was not still half-naked and bleeding in a prison cell, surely.

"A future in which you're not with the servant, a future in which you can never be happy."

He didn't know how long it took, but by the time the Crown Prince reached the camp gates, night had fallen, his thighs were burning and his horse was slick with sweat. The camp suddenly bustled with activity as they scrambled to open the gate just before he crashed through it. The Prince lept from his horse, tossing the reins to the side. He grabbed the nearest servant he could, a middle-aged woman with graying hair. "Where is he?" the Prince growled, shaking the stuttering woman. She cast her eyes to the ground. "I-I do not know who you are r-refering to, your highness." The prince narrowed his eyes, liar, she was one who had cried most dreadfully when Jihyun was being whipped, she knew where he was.

"Jihyun. Where is Jihyun." The woman gasped at the name, and her eyes flickered, just for a second, over to the temporary residence of the training captain. Immediately, the Crown Prince released her arm, and he began to walk in the direction of the residence.

"Wait, please! Your highness! Do not hurt him, he was unconscious, he had no say in the matter! Do not-" her voice faded from his ears as rushed towards the wooden house, other servants and soldiers watching him, but not daring to stand in his way. With a bang, he threw open the wooden door of the entryway and forced himself into the cramped, paper-walled hallway. The yellow glow of lantern light called to him, and Doyoon hurried to it.

The doctor was startled as the Crown Prince ripped open the sliding doors and careened into the connecting hallway. With a push, the Crown Prince slid past the doctor and stalked towards the room that held Jihyun. After taking a deep breath the crown prince placed his hand against the door. What would he do? Hell, what would he say? What could he even say to the one he would vow to walk the moonlight path with, after shaming and punishing him? After throwing him in a cell to wither up with fever and die? The visions of his future flashed through his mind. Jihyun's tender smile, his soft lips, his back...

Releasing a final shaky breath, the prince opened the door. Jihyun woke from his mat with a start, eyes blowing wide with fear at the sight of the crown prince. Then he was on his knees, head tucked low to the earth, bent so far down the lumps of his wrappings were visible through his shirt.

"Your highness, I apologize. I wasn't trying
to-" Jihyun's words were cut off, because the Crown prince had just walked forward, lifted up Jihyun's face, and kissed him. And had continued to kiss him. Suddenly all Jihyun became aware of was the hotness of the prince's mouth as it pressed against his. The prince ran his tongue along Jihyun's bottom lip, before nipping at it lightly. Jihyun gasped at the slight sting, and the prince surged forward, wrapping his hand around Jihyun's neck and pulling the servant closer to him as he forced his tongue into the other's mouth. The prince began to tongue at Jihyun's mouth like there was honey coated inside. Jihyun made a small noise of confusion at the intrusion, his hands reaching to push against the prince's chest, before pulling back in fear. This was the crown prince, he could not dare to refuse his advances.

Not seeming to notice Jihyun's hesitation, the crown prince continued, moving his hand to grip the hair at the back of Jihyun's head before gently lowering him back to lay flat on the mat. Jihyun whimpered as the prince adjusted them, settling himself between Jihyun so the most intimate parts of them were flush against one another. With each flick of his tongue, the crown prince rocked forward, shooting sparks of pleasure low into Jihyun's gut. Too overwhelmed and confused, Jihyun did little but lie there, small noises leaving him without his volition as the prince pulled away from his mouth and began to kiss at his neck, sucking gently at the tanned flesh of his throat. It was only with his mouth finally free that Jihyun clearly made a noise that resembled a sob, a wet hiccup that was accompanied by a stream of tears that had been building on his lashes. The prince pulled away at the sound, his dark eyes coming to scan Jihyun's face. His pink, shiny, and kiss swollen lips. His red eyes and wet cheeks. Something was wrong.

"Why..." Jihyun hiccuped as the crown prince hovered above him, large hands placed on either side of his face. Finally noticing Jihyun's fear, the crown prince's face softened, even as his chest panged with guilt. Jihyun didn't know who they were to each other, of course, he wouldn't welcome the affections of the man who had ordered his misery.

"Jihyun," the crown prince's voice was still hoarse, from screaming, or thirst, or both, but he pressed on. "Jihyun, I must apologise to you, I commited a grevious sin against you, the person I should hold most dear." The prince brought a thumb to Jihyun's cheek, brushing away the tears that had fallen there.

"What? I don't-" Jihyun squeezed his eyes shut, curling his shaking hands into little fists. He shook his head as if trying to dispel whatever fog was clouding his mind, was making him play out this fantasy even after the crown prince had so thoroughly broken him. Jihyun felt wrong, his head felt too light, his back hurt, and he felt scared. He was brought back to reality by the sudden absence of the prince's warmth from above him. When he opened his eyes again, the crown prince was sitting on his knees on the opposite side of the room, watching him with dark eyes that swirled with a myriad of emotions. They stared at each other for a long time, Jihyun's frantic breathing the only sound in the room. What was happening? Jihyun licked his lips, and the prince's eyes flowed the movement, his gaze darkening. Jihyun whimpered, with pain and confusion as he pushed himself farther away from the prince, pulling the crumpled blanket up to his chest. "Please do not hurt me," he whispered, shutting his eyes tight again as the crown prince surged forward.
"Never, never again." The crown prince's voice was thick with emotion, and Jihyun flinched when the prince's hand once again came to rest upon his tear-stained face. Distantly, the crown prince could hear his companions arrive and hoped they were smart enough to not enter the room, not disrupt this moment, but that hope was crushed with the sound of Minjoo's voice. The door slammed open and an infuriated Minjoo entered the room, barely being held back by an exasperated looking Songmin.

"What in the absolute deepest pits of hell do you think you're doing, you royal dickhead?"