Falling || Taejin

Chapter 2

When Taehyung woke up, he found himself on a feather soft bed and something told him there were actual feathers inside the mattress. He sat up slowly, let his eyes sweep the dark room as he tried to recollect his memories.

The room was quite small, almost like a child's room with several closed windows dotting one of the walls. He could hear a clock ticking somewhere but couldn't figure out its location. There was a dwarf closet against one of the corners of the room and a smaller version of the dining table next to the head of the bed.

Taehyung frowned when he remembered two things- a) he had surely collapsed on the ground and b) the clothes he wore last night were white. But there he was sitting on the bed, wearing a blue nightshirt and trousers.

He decided to ponder on those thoughts later and got out of bed in one swift swing of his legs.

Bad idea

Excruciating pain clawed at his back and made him double over and fall on his hands and knees. Tears pricked his eyes as the agony intensified by the moment. Taehyung tried to remain very still and took deep breaths.

After what felt like forever, the burn began to subside and Taehyung hoisted himself on his feet carefully. Taking timid steps, he approached one of the many windows and carefully opened one of its doors. Sure enough, it was daytime.

"-and if you dare to even show your face again within ten metre radius of my house, I will see every feather in those wings turn to dust."

Taehyung pushed the leaves of the willow tree aside and craned his neck to see what was going on. His blood ran cold when he saw three pairs of white wings and a familiar red badge. Taehyung did not care to see their faces because he immediately dropped to his knees to shield himself from the sight of the guards. He wanted to close the window but he was afraid one of them might notice.

"Sir," Taehyung heard a gruff voice "You must understand that this is a mandatory procedure-"

"Do not speak of your laws in a land that is not yours!" Seokjin cut through like a dagger.

"You must understand-"

"That you have the right to barge into my house and create an absolute wreckage of it in my absence?! Is that your damned law?" Seokjin spoke with so much heat that it made Taehyung cower even though he was not in fault.

...or was he?

"Enough, Dark one. We are here on duty-"

"And I am here to let you know that I will snap your wings if you remain here for another minute. Our ruler does not tolerate trespassers and I can assure you that she would be more than happy to know that I took well care of you."

"You conceited Dark-"

"Wonho. Do not speak. We will leave, Seokjin."

Taehyung heard the powerful batting of wings and his heart nearly stopped beating when the silhouette of a guard passed by the window. Silently, he said thanks to the willow for veiling the opened window.

After counting till two hundred, Taehyung quietly exited the room and descended the stairs. He found Seokjin sitting on a beige couch with his wings splayed on either side of him. His face was resting on his hands with his eyes closed and eyebrows knit in concentration as if he was drowning in the ocean of thoughts.

"You got rid of the guards," Taehyung's faint voice pierced through the silence.

Seokjin's eyes opened and stared at Taehyung with absolute loathing. He raised to his full height, his mighty wings making him ten times more intimidating.