𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐎𝐑𝐒

#.. TWENTY-ONE

the residency in the western water tribe started to get boring. repetitive. but they had to stay and wait for an answer.

jiseok entered jooyeon's hut, seeing the younger sit on his desk. he was too stressed, writing a protocol and planning way too many things.

with a sigh, the airbender came closer. "joo, you should relax" he mumbled with a soft smile. but he received a simple shrug.

"i can't. not now."
standing right next to him, jiseok touched his shoulders, feeling how tense he was. "you need a break, joo.."

but the younger shook his head again. "there's no time for a break." sighing, jiseok cupped the waterbender's cheeks and leaned down to kiss him.

he didn't even think about it, his body acting without thinking. just the moment he felt the sensation of jooyeon's lips on his own did he realise what was happening.

backing away, it was no wonder jooyeon was as shocked about the action as jiseok. but the elder tried to not let his nervousness show.

"lets go, i'll give you a massage - you're too tense to think rationally now." and finally, jooyeon gave in.

with a sigh, jiseok led him to his bed, helping him with lying down. jooyeon let out a groan, not noticing how much he really needed this.

feeling jiseok's hands on his back was amazing. he worked through every tense muscle as gentle as he could, humming in the meantime.

it was relaxing. until he started talking. "i don't want to scold you like the others" the elder started, his thumbs drawing circles on jooyeon's neck.

would this be about seungmin? the waterbender was about to stand up, but jiseok's grip around his neck tightened, keeping him in place.

the action was unexpected, jooyeon let out a surprised yelp and jiseok just laughed innocently, not understanding the ambiguity of his action.

"yes, it's about seungmin. don't worry, i understand why you dislike him. but i just want to explain why you can trust him, okay?"

the tension shifted and jiseok noticed the changes in the air. but jooyeon eventually gave in. "okay."

with a smile, jiseok continued his massage and started explaining.

"hyeongjun wouldn't be here now without him" jiseok started explaining. "when his parents got killed, king oh actually wanted to kill hyeongjun, too. seungmin talked him out of it."

jooyeon hissed as jiseok's hands caressed an extra tense spot. wanting to answer, jiseok didn't let him talk, continuing with his explanation.

"then he saved gunil. the day of the invasion, gunil stayed on the island to defend it. he was injured and drained, he would've died if it wasn't for seungmin.

joo, believe me, if seungmin was not on our side, he would stay with his father. he's a fugitive in the earth kingdom, a traitor. he took the risk just to fight for peace and freedom, just like you.

and he saved you from drowning. if he disliked any of us, he wouldn't let that happen."

jiseok finished up his massage, patting jooyeon's back as a finishing act. the younger sat up and looked at the elder.

apparently the effects of being blind completely took control over his eyes - his iris' were gone. jooyeon was staring into a portal of pure white, which was scary at the one half but intriguing at the other.

jooyeon wanted to forgive seungmin. what was there to forgive? he did nothing wrong.

especially now, knowing how much seungmin did for them. sighing, he brushed back a stray strand of hair, that was in jiseok's face.

"i know you hate him because he's an earth bender, their prince especially" jiseok stated, searching for jooyeon's hand, grabbing it gently once he did find it. "but trust me, he hates that title as much as you do."

with these words being said, he pressed the younger's hand tightly for a short moment before letting go and walking out of the hut.