CRYSTAL EMPIRE | JINKOOK

EIGHT

Jimin walked with soft steps, sad as the expression on his face, heading to the palace with a gift for the Emperor, his hands carried a small and rather light wooden chest. The guards let him enter without great inconvenience to then be guided by a servant to the throne room where the Emperor and a group of priests were.

"Jimin, it is good to see you here," the tall one greeted cheerfully ordering his companions to leave the hall.

"Good afternoon, my lord," he greeted formally bowing. "I have come today to present you with a gift,"

"I didn't ask for it," replied JungKook with some confusion "Was it SeokJin?"

"No, but it is for him,"

JungKook asked him to accompany him to the living room table to take a seat so that the young man could rest and leave the gift there.

"It's something he liked from the bazaar, I know he wouldn't dare buy it,"

"May I see it," he asked and Jimin nodded his head. JungKook opened the box finding a strange ornament, like a very big necklace and a kind of skirt whose fabric was transparent all over.

"It's a hip ornament, I told him he could wear it naked, however I think something that covers it more will make him feel better,"

"Then I hope he dares to wear it. I thank you, tomorrow I will give NamJoon to give you the money for this,"

Jimin turned his face away as if he had been slapped and a grimace of annoyance settled on his face.

JungKook knew immediately, given the years he had known the craftsman, that something was wrong with him and that he was surely in league with the general of his army. The Emperor asked a maid to bring a bottle of wine and pour it, when she withdrew she spoke:

"What is it, and don't you dare lie to me Jimin, you know I know you very well,".

"It's just Nam, we're not together anymore,"

"What's the reason," he inquired taking a sip from his wine glass.

"I've had enough of him and his ranting, there's always something more important than me to him," he replied in a sad voice.

"He's a general in the army,"

"It's the same excuse he's made, "he replied pouting in annoyance.

"It's not an excuse," he sighed, he knew telling her that wouldn't convince him. "Listen Jimin, you're being unreasonable,"

"Is that what you call standing me up all the time," he rebutted almost elated, if it were anyone else he'd already be in the dungeon for raising his voice to the Emperor, but Jimin and JungKook had known each other long before they hit puberty and had great trust in each other "He never has time for us and that's not the way to continue a relationship,"

"Neither is it the way to end it,"

"I'm tired, sir, tired of being the last important thing in your life. I guess I can give you that same place in my life now,"

"Are you sure about that? I know you don't want this, Jimin; however, you think it's the best way out,"

"If you suggest I talk to him... that just gave him a reprieve from his next rant,"

The Emperor sighed exhaustedly, giving helpful talks was never and would never be his forte, but he couldn't leave the couple like this, they were both close friends of his, and perhaps if he thought about it that was his fault.

"If Nam has been so absent it's my fault, I asked him to work longer than he should because of a problem with Rome," he explained hoping to appease Jimin's anger "you know that a soldier can't refuse the Emperor's orders. If anyone is to be blamed, then blame me,"

"...I'm sorry," Jimin muttered somewhat embarrassed.

"I'm sorry about all this too, Jimin, but I promise to be more considerate of him. Now, and if my memory serves me correctly, Nam should be in the training camp with the younger soldiers and I think you should talk to him,"

"Thank you, my Lord,"

'Now, my own purpose will be to convince the little angel to wear this provocative outfit for me' thought JungKook.

Jimin walked with uncertain steps to the field behind the palace where the Greek army was training, he hid behind a pillar spying them while his eyes searched for his partner, he found him in the middle of the field wearing barely the lower part of his armor, the sight of his well-defined muscles made him sigh; he heard orders and shouts, grunts and gasps of the soldiers until he managed to gather his courage and advance towards NamJoon. He was frightened.

"At ease!" dictated the general as he saw his subordinates so tired. Turning around he met Jimin, he gasped.

"Hello, Nam,"

"What are you doing here?,"

"I was delivering a package to the Emperor, and.... I thought we should talk,"

NamJoon nodded. The pair moved to the soldiers' bathroom, asked that no one else enter, then they could talk privately and calmly. Jimin looked nervous and even a little upset, Nam shared one of those feelings, nerves.

"The Emperor told me about your extra duties, he said he asked you to stay late into the night why didn't you tell me about it,,"

"At what point was I supposed to, before or after your screams as you kicked me out of your house," he ironized with a cute smile unable to anger the adorable maiden.

"Sorry about that, I'm very impulsive at times,"

"I've already checked that," NamJoon hugged Jimin's slender body seeing him so flushed and nervous "Does that mean I can come to your place tonight,"

"Yes, but first...I want to ask you a question, what place do I have in your life, how important am I to you,"

"Do you know that any soldier found in a compromising situation inside the training camp is expelled from the army," he said as he carried Jimin by the legs causing the young man to grab hold of the other's body and wrap his limbs around Nam's hips "Right now I'm going to make love to you and I won't mind not being a general anymore; that's how important you are to me,"

"I'm a bad man, I've doubted your word and your love for me,"

"It is not your fault, it was I who gave you the reasons for it,"

"I will not close the door of my house to you again,"

"I know you won't because from now on you will live with me. I am not willing for my husband to sleep in any other bed than mine,"

"Your husband?"

"Oh, right, my love, I should have asked you before, would you mind making a ring for your own finger? I swear on my honor to pay you," he said with a smile between sweet and teasing on his face leaving Jimin dumbfounded.