"The Second Ruler"

•°13°•

Jimin returned and noticed Yoongi's uneasy features. He chuckled and sat beside him on the mattress.

"What happened? You look a bit... you know," Jimin whispered teasingly.

Yoongi stared at him and sighed. "Stop teasing me, yeah? Let me have a bath," he rasped, breathing softly.

Jimin giggled and nodded, helping him stand and leading him towards the bathhouse. "I'll stand here. If you need anything, just call out," Jimin stated with concern.

Yoongi smiled and nodded as he entered the bathhouse, it was a serene, intimate space, illuminated by the soft glow of flickering oil lamps.

A heavy, embroidered curtain at the entrance ensured privacy.

The sunken stone basin, filled with steaming water, was surrounded by wooden buckets, soft linen towels, and shelves holding brushes, fragrant oils, and herbs.

The air was thick with the scent of lavender and rosemary, creating a tranquil haven where the gentle sound of water provided a soothing backdrop.

As the Guard dip in, letting the warm water drench his body.

He hummed in satisfaction. "The water is at the perfect temperature, Your Highness," Yoongi appreciated, his raspy voice making Jimin swallow hard.

With a white curtain between them, Jimin's eyes were cast down, too shy to even glance at the shadow displayed on the curtain.

"You should feel warmer," he stated, his voice nearly a whisper. Yoongi chuckled, cleaning his body with only his right hand.

After some minutes, the guard finished bathing. He managed to change his bottom attire and split the curtain away, meeting Jimin's back.

He smiled while shaking his head. "I am done," he informed. Jimin turned around to face him and passed him a dry towel.

Yoongi's eyes lingered on Jimin intently, snatching his breath away slightly.

He stepped forward while Jimin stepped back, the prince's back colliding softly with the door frame.

Yoongi stood in front of the prince, maintaining a respectable distance, noticing the nervousness in Jimin's eyes.

He tilted his head slightly. "You can't even look me in the eyes when I am shirtless. I wonder how you will react..." His voice trailed off, the remaining part was completed by his eyes, glancing Jimin from head to toe.

Jimin quickly slip away from under his gaze, calming his breath. He entered the chamber, muttering, "Shameless, shameless, shameless."

Jimin's cheeks turned crimson. He looked up at Older, hearing his deep chuckle. Yoongi sat on the mattress and covered himself with the coverlet.

The prince walked towards him and sat beside him, applying the ointment without looking into Yoongi's eyes.

As he finished and cleaned his hands, he blew softly on the wound to dry the ointment a bit, so it could stay longer on his shoulder to heal quickly.

The guard only admired the prince's concern. He was aware Jimin loved him a lot, but seeing him shed tears was overwhelming.

As they sat in comfortable silence for a few seconds, Jimin wasn't sure why he was so bashful in front of the older. He didn't know why he felt so nervous around the his beloved.

Jimin's breath hitched as he felt cold fingers under his chin. Yoongi lifted his face.

"What happened? Am I making you uncomfortable?" he questioned, his voice still hoarse, sending shivers down Jimin's spine.