haven - zb1

21

When Quanrui woke up and Jiwoong's bed was neat and untouched, he knew the older man had stayed the night exactly where he told him not to. Sighing and begrudgingly trading an extra thirty minutes sleep to find his senior, Quanrui first grabbed both his and Jiwoong's spears before heading out. He reckoned by the time he managed to drag Jiwoong out from Taehyun's room, it'll be time for breakfast and sparring.

Jiwoong had seemed absolutely entranced by the room, his eyes practically sparkled when he saw all those dusty old books. And Quanrui was willing to bet a lot that he'll find Jiwoong sleeping in a pile of books.

He was partially correct. Jiwoong was, incredibly, sleeping seated cross-legged, eyes shut peacefully and a book still open on his lap. Quanrui didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. Setting the two spears to a side and kneeling before Jiwoong, Quanrui studied his senior's sleeping expression, his chest rising and falling slowly as he slept.

He was rarely at peace. Usually he was stressed or worried, for his father's health, for the reputation of their house, for their safety, his strength... He did have quite a burden to bear, but he did so proficiently and without complaints.

But he had to get up. He was gonna get a spine injury at this rate. Quanrui gently nudged him, and that was enough to rouse him. Jiwoong blinked as the bright sun rays shone directly at him from behind Quanrui. "You've been here all night," Quanrui remarked as if that wasn't obvious enough, standing with a sigh of mock exasperation, "You should get up before your bones get permanently damaged."

Jiwoong groaned as he rose from the floor, joints cracking. Quanrui sent him a look of half disgust, half concern, before tossing his spear at him and announcing that he was hungry. Chuckling as he followed his junior out, Jiwoong quickly took a glance at the book he left unfinished, before hurrying to catch up with the impatient Quanrui.

-

Yujin was looking pale but perky at breakfast, greeting the two fire heirs with the energy of a puppy. "Are you here alone?" Jiwoong asked, sweeping his eyes across the vacant dining hall. Yujin nodded, "Gyuvin is sleeping in, the water boys too. Gunwook and Taerae are frolicking in the gardens." He showed no signs of joking so they took his word for it.

"You're sparring with Gyuvin today, aren't you?" Yujin asked as Jiwoong took a sip of black coffee. Seemingly not wanting to be second to him, Quanrui was also nursing a cup of coffee as dark as his soul. Jiwoong paused, before shrugging, "Most likely."

"We'll wait for the rest of them," Quanrui added, watching Jiwoong sleepily blink at his breakfast.

"He must have gotten little sleep last night," Yujin remarked as Quanrui slid his hand to narrowly prevent Jiwoong from slamming his face into the hard table. "He did," Quanrui replied simply, his hand now painfully sandwiched between the table and Jiwoong's forehead. Now it was hard to tell who was truly the older one of them.

"...I don't suppose he was nervous?"

"Hardly," Quanrui shook his head, extracting his hand gently, "All he wanted was to camp out in Taehyun's room. He fell asleep like this." Quanrui mimicked the position he found Jiwoong in, earning a giggle from Yujin.

Right on time, the water boys sailed in, rubbing their eyes sleepily but cheering up when they noticed the food. The heirs of the House of earth entered shortly, bodies flecked with dirt and flushed like they had been running laps.

"What's up with him?" Hanbin asked, gesturing at Jiwoong as they sat down to dine. "Late night," Quanrui answered and everyone accepted it. "Gyuvin too I suppose," Gunwook said through a mouthful of food.

-

To wake the sleeping Jiwoong, Zhang Hao sent a gentle stream of icy cold water to splash at the eldest's face. Around then, Gyuvin joined them, only slightly more refreshed than poor Jiwoong. Since the duo both looked like they just rose from the dead, they were given a few hours to recharge. While they were both trying to freshen themselves, the rest wandered off, eager to kill their boredom.

-

Somehow, Quanrui ended up tailing Zhang Hao as the latter returned to his room. The other two water heirs had vanished without Zhang Hao's knowledge, so he assumed the one following him were his juniors.

When he reached the door and turned, he took a double take when he realised who was really behind him.

"I'm bored," Quanrui simply explained.

Zhang Hao blinked, before moving aside to invite Quanrui in.

To Quanrui's surprise, the House of water heirs were probably the least tidy among them all. Clothes were strewn around, abandoned scabbards lay on the floor. Even a chess set was on a table, some of the pieces had tumbled to the ground.

Quanrui noted a strange wooden case in one of their trunks. Seeing his curiosity, Zhang Hao said, "Would you like to see my violin?"

"A what?" Quanrui scrunched his nose in confusion. "You've never heard of it?" Zhang Hao asked, completely taken aback.

"Nope," Quanrui sighed, taking a seat on a random chair, "What is it?"

"A musical instrument."

"I see," Quanrui nodded, "Our house has never seen the importance of...musical training. We don't even have other instruments besides drums."

Zhang Hao looked deep in thought, before Quanrui abruptly asked, "Will you play?"

"If you'd like me to." Zhang Hao hesitated, then unclasped the box and withdrew a worn but ornate violin.

Quanrui sat in silence, respectful and watching in awe as Zhang Hao raised a bow to his violin.

As sweet melodious music was drawn from the instrument, the two stayed where they were for a long time, taking in the lovely sound of the violin.