Timeless Love || Jinx (Manhwa)

Chapter 17: Conversations

The tent was big enough for both of them to fit in, and the rain drops hitting it were lightly calming the nerves of the doctor as he saw Jaekyung getting ready to sleep. They were only illuminated by a single candle, and in the dim light of it his doubts were only rising. Dan wasn't entirely sure as of why the lord wanted to stay with him instead of just sleeping alone, or letting him stay with the other servants like he assumed it was going to be. Perhaps he...

'Isn't it obvious? He just wants to fuck. Why else would he want you around? Do you really think he sees you as his equal in any sense?'

Although they had a great time at archery, he couldn't stop thinking of what Kyong had told him, the implication of Jaekyung not seeing him only as a doctor, a boy toy to use for his "curse", a courtesan even, but a courtier. What did it mean for him to be one if not death whenever the lord got tired of him? He fidgeted his fingers softly as the lord was laying in the makeshift bed the servants had made, noticing him looking at him after a few seconds, as if he expected him to lay down as well. Dan looked somewhere else, fixating in a blank space that just happened to be the lord's chest, still uncovered while the blanket for the night was covering all the way to his belly button: It felt weird to have his eyes on him now. Not a bad weird, just...

'Don't be an idio-...'

―You're not going to sleep or what?

Dan flinched a little at the sudden voice interrupting his thoughts, keeping his head low. ―No, it's not that, Lord Joo, I just don't...

―Doc, please look at me when you speak.

Dan's eyes traveled from the lord's chest to his face, having to affront the reality: he was already looking at him. His eyes were lost in his for a moment, trying to find anything that would send off the alert alarms in his head like previously that day, but they were nowhere to be found. He could, however, hear his own heartbeats drumming in his ears just by the sight of the lord's candlelit face.

―So? You were saying? ―The lord inquired with a raised eyebrow, inciting Dan to keep talking.

Dan gulped softly, now not knowing exactly what he was going to say in the first place. The lord sighed at the silence and rested his head on the small pillow.

―The rain won't last long. We'll leave after sunrise, if that's what you were worried about.

―It's not that, Lord Joo. It's just that, well... do you need a therapy session?

―Therapy? As in my therapy or yours? ―The lord looked at Dan, a little confused.

―I'm... not really sure. That's up to you. ―The doctor nodded, ready for whatever was coming.

The lord looked at Dan in his eyes, sitting up in his bed as his payed close attention to his doctor. His face was a masterpiece even in the bad light of the night, and he couldn't help himself for a moment. He reached out for his cheek, caressing it as if he was a piece of fine porcelain at the risk of being broken.

―But what do you want to do? ―The lord softly asked close to his face, looking at his eyes.

Dan's breathing was getting frisky, fearing he could get exposed. Kyong's words were jumping all over his head like a screensaver: "He's fond of you, he estimates you".

'Does he really though?'

―I'm not sure what I want, Lord Joo.

Jaekyung nodded softly and looked at him, never ceasing the soft touch in his cheek.

―Then we won't do anything.

―Why else would you call me to your tent tonight?

The lord stood quiet, looking at the doctor with attention as he was close to him. Why would he call him that night if not to do it? Why else would he...?

―For a ton of reasons, Doc. First, its part of our agreement to spend the night together... you sure didn't forgot about that, did you?

―No, Lord Joo... ―The doctor shook his head softly, looking at the man right in front of him as he looked at his eyes.

―...And maybe I just wanted you to tell me all about those "tree-ains" you like to use.

Dan looked at Jaekyung with a small smile on his face, wanting to believe him for a moment. ―What if I tell you about them while I give you my therapy? You did a lot of activity today and you wouldn't want your shoulder to get worse.

―Sounds like a good idea.

[...]

Dan moved his hands over Jaekyung's shoulder blades and even if he didn't had any ointments to use on him, it should be good like this. Jaekyung was sitting on the floor, giving his back to Dan as he was looking towards the tent's "door". Why would he bring Dan to his tent, if not to fuck? Sure, they've done it a bunch of times since they met and started sleeping in the same room, even in days where his demon wasn't really causing any issues, and although they've shared a room for weeks, he did it simply because he felt like it. He liked having meals with Dan, take him to the market whenever he needed something extra, being intimate with him; spending time with him in general was something he thoroughly enjoyed, even if he didn't liked a lot of people. But what was it about Dan that stood out to him?

He was cute, that's for sure. He didn't talk a lot unless he initiated the conversation, and when he did it was in an odd dialect; he was taller than most of his previous cures, and he spoke about weird things like trains and those "convenience stores". He was a little weird really, but somehow it was all he could think about. The way he grabbed tea cups, the way he moaned, how he massaged his back and his body, how he walked and the way he smiled this day after hitting the parchment paper while using the bow... He took him arching. Why would he do that? He's not even a noble, as far as he's concerned. Not only did he took him arching, he taught him how to do it; he had never taught anyone before, not even his friends. He was doing things out of order, not at all like him to do this whole shtick.

―... And that's a train really. I'm sorry Lord Joo, I wish I could've given you a better explanation. ―Those words snapped Jaekyung out of his thoughts, looking over his shoulder as Dan was finishing the massage. He separated slowly from him and sat on his side, now both looking at the tent's door. ―What are we looking at, Lord Joo?

―The door.

―I see that... but why?

―I'm not sure...

Jaekyung looked at the door for another moment, thinking of his next move. He raised his head and turned it towards Dan, but a pair of honey-colored eyes caught him by surprise already staring at him. Next thing he knew, his lips were hitting his own.