Destiny's Children

38. Confusion

“Haven’t you been eating all day already?”, Yoongi teases the younger.

“You know I stress eat hyung”, Taehyung pouts with a mouthful of his favourite strawberry cake.

“But has anyone ever told you that you look like a pig while doing so?”, Yoongi teases again.

“Jin hyung said once…”, Taehyung murmurs before gulping down the portion he has been chewing.

“What?”, Yoongi asks, unable to understand.

“Nothing… let’s talk of something that matters… How do I look today?? I packed this vest especially to show you… Even Namjoon hyung helped me choose!!”, Taehyung asks excitedly.

Yoongi made a face as he looks down the younger from head to toe.

“Taehyung… you know it very well that you’ll look like a prince even if you end up wearing an old rag!.. What’s the point of your asking anyway”, Yoongi complains.

“Oh come on! What kind of prince I’ll be if I wear a rag?!!”, Taehyung says frustrated.

“I don’t know.. a bankrupt one I guess..”, Yoongi shrugs and they both falls back in laughter.

“But for real though.. how do I look?”, Taehyung asks after he controls his laugh.

“Like a confident young king…”, Yoongi says affectionately, “I’m proud of you Taehyungah.. I always have been… You were like the brother I never get to have..”, Yoongi smiles.

“Thank you hyung… and please know that it really means a lot..”, Taehyung smiles back, “I need your permission to leave Daecann tomorrow hyung”, Taehyung says.

“Wow I didn’t know that being the King would bring this much chivalry out of you”, Yoongi teases.

“You are elder hyungie.. and also the my host… as a younger and a guest.. it’s only convenient to ask you”, Taehyung replies.

“I like how much you’ve grown up”, Yoongi smiles, “And of course you can leave tomorrow.. but I want you to take mark with you…”, Yoongi raises his hand to stop the younger as he was trying to object, “Listen to me first! Mark is very loyal and well-trained.. I understand you don’t like having guards with you.. mark will follow you with rest of your guards in the shadow as well.. why? Because I’ve reason to believe that the stance you pulled last night won’t be the last one of yours.. therefore you need someone very trained for your protection.. beside.. what happened last year.. it’s only convenient to have extra security to have a journey like this.. as if I am not wrong then you are going to Ielan now… you know that the road the east and the north is not what it used to be right? Trust me you’ll need mark at some point.. He will stay with you till your coronation and then will return with me after it’s done peacefully..”, Yoongi declares decisively.

Taehyung nods his head, “Okay hyung… I’ll take Mark with me.. Do you have any message for me to hand over to your lovely fiancé??”, Taehyung asks suddenly and Yoongi chokes on his tea.

“N..no… I..I’lll think of it later…”, Yoongi says quickly and Taehyung’s head falls back in laughter again.

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Jungkook was enjoying the garden when he feels a presence behind him. He looks back to find the guard he had seen on the first day here with the general. Mark.. Jungkook remembers.. Mark was his name. He smiles at the guard.

“The general wants you to be prepared for leaving tomorrow early in the morning.. It will be a long journey.. therefore rest well tonight”, Mark informs robotically.