Five Kingdoms

Downtime

Jess walks to the kitchen, then stops and turns a few inches from Hoseok. A gasp leaves Jess' mouth and her eyes widen, she takes a big step back and lowers her head. "Forgive me." Jess whispers with her head down.

"Forgive you for what?" Hoseok asks, bending down and looking up into Jess' eyes. She averts her eyes, Hoseok lets out a sigh. "Stop apologizing. I wanted to ask you something before going to see mother." Hoseok says standing up straight, he slid his hands into the pockets of his sweatpants. Jess looked up for a moment before she nods.
♡
"Hobi hyung was right, it is different around here without Dawon noona." Taehyung says looking around the room. "You want me to invite Junki next time?" Yoongi asks opening one eye.

Jimin and Taehyung are sitting with their knees pulled to their chests on opposite ends of one of the sofas. Jimin flicks water from a pitcher on a side table towards Taehyung and Taehyubg flicks fire from his fingertip. The elements meet in the middle and a small poof of steam lingers for few seconds before disappearing. Jihyun taps his foot while he watches.

"Could you-" Jihyun starts, before Namjoon rests his hand in the youngers shoulder. "Do you want to come speak with me?" Namjoon asks. Namjoon runs his fingers through his silver locks and dimples appear as he smiles.

Namjoon and Jihyun sit in two, more isolated sofa chairs. Namjoon leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Jihyunah, I'm sorry. Don't be upset, but I heard your thoughts earlier. I know what you're thinking about, please don't." Namjoon says looking up into Jihyun's eyes.

"I'm not upset, just don't tell anyone. I just... it's not fair, everyone got a gift. Jimin hyung basically got two! I didn't get one and even now... I don't have any maids to occupy me. I- I just want to do something first and apart from him." Jihyun says looking down at his clenched fists in his lap.

Namjoon sat back in his chair and glanced over at the group. "I know it doesn't seem fair, but no one is thinking that you're different from us, not at all. They never have." Namjoon says looking at Jihyun.

"You not having a maid is because of what happened with Ana." Namjoon says before standing up. "She wanted to use me to get close to Tae hyung, because she had already applied in Central kingdom. You had read her mind and she was refused employment before she was even able to be interviewed." Jihyun says looking down with a pout.

"Jihyunah, it's that and maids aren't supposed to- they aren't supposed to be treated the way you treated yours." Namjoon says with a look of worry as he watches Jihyun. Jihyun crosses his legs, leaning back in his chair.

"We own them, so why not. I should be able to do whatever I want to them and with them. I am the second prince of the East kingdom." Jihyun says cocking his head and smirking up at Namjoon. Namjoon runs his hand through his hair, shaking his head, before letting out another sigh. "I'm sorry Jihyunah, but that's not true and it's not right." Namjoon says with a look of concern.

Jihyun crosses his arms and looks from Namjoon. "If you're going through with what you're thinking right now... just know, you won't be able to come back here. Once you cross that line, there's no coming back." Namjoon says before he walks away.