Those Aren't Dewdrops, My Love (Jikook fantasy au)

Chapter 5

Another month passes by and Jungkook's training has gone really well. Not only did his hand-to-hand combat improve but so did his flower-forming. He can now control the size, density, and even the strength of scent of the flowers he creates. Every other day Jin tells him to read up on flowers and shrubbery that he can grow. Some of the things he reads are about how fairies centuries ago came to be. There used to be spells that needed to be recited in order for their powers to be used. There used to be fairies of elements that could create the material out of nothing. Or that they would become the element itself. But those fairies usually didn't live long as it took too much energy to do so. Throughout the years, the species has evolved and found a balance where the powers are only to be controlled from another source rather than the fairy itself. That's why Jungkook can't shoot flowers out of his hands, but only grow them from the ground.

He also sees Jimin more regularly because of training. He now knows that seeing Jimin has become one of his biggest motivations. He hasn't told him that yet though. As much as Jungkook likes to act like a cocky bastard, feelings are the one thing he has a hard time getting around. It's not like he never gets a chance. The past month has been pleasant enough, especially when Jungkook feels like Jimin is his private tutor. When he has to read up on things in the library he often finds Jimin there as well. He knows it's stressful being the prince and knowing everything about the kingdom requires almost an entire lifetime. Jungkook first thought he comes to the library to read up on foreign policy. But he's slowly learned that Jimin comes to read as an escape. Jungkook also likes to think that him being there makes Jimin's day a little better. Sometimes they each read their own books in silence, sometimes Jungkook will find a cool fact and share it excitedly with Jimin. Sometimes in the middle of Jimin instructing him about the history of the kingdom, he'll begin rambling and complaining about all that's wrong and all he needs to make right. It's fascinating hearing Jimin talk about his dreams for the kingdom. Jungkook has no doubt he'd be a great king.

When not spending a few hours in the library, most times Jimin is going back and forth between meetings and visiting the towns. Sometimes Jimin will return with a smile on his face and Jungkook wants to hear Jimin talk all about it. Other times he'll return with disappointment or just plain exhaustion and Jungkook wants to wrap him up in a warm (probably expensive) blanket and give him some of his mom's famous (in his town at least) japchae. He wants to be there for him but Jimin is just too busy. Jungkook forgets that Jimin is a prince, that the feelings he has aren't supposed to be real, but just for show. He forgets that he doesn't belong here. He forgets that every moment he spends here will be fruitless soon enough. But Jungkook doesn't dwell on it too much. He ignores those painful truths and buries them deep in the back of his mind and focuses on what's right in front of him.

He's seen more than the average hustle and bustle around the palace now and asked what was going on. One of the royal attendants tells him that the 875th Annual ball which celebrates the creation of the kingdom is coming up in a few weeks. Great, another thing Jimin will probably be stressed about.

Jungkook learns, however, that when Jimin is stressed, his temper is dangerous. And he learns that the hard way.

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Jimin is many things right now. He is stressed. He is in awe of how ridiculous some people can be. And he's also pissed. Jimin has just returned from the water fairy village. He originally went to do some investigating but after being recognized, he was pulled aside to help a crying woman. Turns out she was wailing about her cheating husband! Jimin tried to escape but the woman had a literal grip on him. After what seemed like forever, another family member solved things and the prince was free. But it was already too late to do any digging and headed back to the palace with a scowl. He's a damn prince, not a relationship counselor. He's so sick of being forced to deal with idiots these days.