Taekook Oneshots

He Lives In You

He sits there, never moving, his hand grasping the limp hand of the man in front of him, head bowed. There's a sort of strange peace to the scene, even if it's heartbreaking. There's no energy left in his stance. No fight, no hope, no happiness. It kind of makes me want to walk over and give him a hug.

But I know better than to shatter the quiet calm of the moment, as if he never has this moment, he may never find the strength within him to move on and become the person he was born to be. It's so difficult to let him be, but my husband deserves to have the chance to mourn before he's forced to face his country and his new role.

He looks up, maybe five minutes later, tears brimming in his eyes, and holds out his free hand for me. I can't move for a moment, the pain in his eyes ripping at my heartstrings. But then I walk forward shakily, take the hand, smile at the sight of his wedding ring on his fourth finger. If he needs me, I will be there. No matter the cost.

"Are you okay?" I ask quietly, my voice barely a whisper, and he manages a small smile as he glances back down at the unconscious figure in front of him.
"I will be, when he's no longer in pain," the brave prince says after a few seconds of consideration. "He was a wonderful king. I'm just sad it had to end like this. He deserves so much better."

I press a kiss against the side of his head, the gesture drawing another smile out of him. "Kook, nobody gets a glamorous end. That's just life. We just have to give him the best send off, into the next life. We always knew this would come one day."

Jungkook bites his lip, glancing down at his dying father once more. "It still feels way too early," he admits quietly, "I thought I'd have a few more decades yet. But I'm twenty one, and soon I'll be the king. That just doesn't feel right, you know?"

"You'll never be alone," I say, trying to comfort him. "You've got your cousins, your servants, your subjects."
"And my beautiful husband, my consort," he adds on, squeezing my hand. "Will you stick with me through all of my bratty grief and insecurity, Tae? I wouldn't be able to cope without you."

I nod quietly, sitting down beside him. "I wouldn't even consider leaving you, not when we need each other the most. After all, your father is like a parent to me now as well. He's less of a king to me now and more of a leader. Just a person who brings his people together and helps them to be better than they are. That's all you need to do."

He frowns. "Can I do that? Am I capable of following in his footsteps, so soon? Can I deal with the responsibility and the power that will come with becoming his successor? Maybe someone else should-"

"Honey, no. I'm serious here. You can do this. It's not easy, sure, but I know you will rise to the challenge. If your father told you that he wanted you to become king after he died, instead of your uncle or your cousins, that's for a good reason. He knows what is required. And he was probably in your position all those years ago, with your mother beside him, telling him the same as I'm telling you right now."

He chuckles lightly at that, and we both jolt in surprise when a gravelly voice speaks to us from the bed. "Taehyung is right, Kook. I felt the same. But I know you can do this."

"Don't speak, you'll lose your strength," Jungkook says calmly, the tears in his eyes spilling down his cheeks. "Maybe you'll get better. We don't know." His father shakes his head, a fond expression passing over his face like the shadow of a bird of prey over the ground.
"No, Kook. My time has come. But don't worry. It'll be okay. I won't be that far away."

"I can't lose you," Jungkook returns desperately, leaning forward. The king smiles sadly, shrugging with a clear effort.
"You won't. The ones you love never really leave you. They'll always be with you, in your heart, and in your memory. If I'm able to live on like that, death doesn't seem so terrifying anymore. Trust me. It'll be okay. You will see me when you are crowned, anyway. That will be our last meeting before you pass on."