Taekook Oneshots

Magic Shop (2)

We return to the castle soon after this, and Jungkook keeps glancing over at me, a worried expression on his face. It's almost like he's thinking of the danger I've put myself in, and he's wondering why I decided to do that. I mean, to be fair, it is kinda weird for a mere servant to be so loyal to their employer or whatever, but I don't care about it being normal or weird or anything else.

How I act is completely up to me.

As I expected, Morgana is imprisoned in the castle dungeon, but Jungkook is able to persuade his father into avoiding an execution. At least for a few weeks. He points out the value of family, and that his sister hasn't actually used her magic to hurt anyone without being provoked.

It's a surprisingly moving discussion between the two of them, which lasts for a good hour before the King makes up his mind and agrees to his son's terms. I'm standing in the corner, trying to blend into the stone walls, and listening in just because nobody has noticed that I'm still here.

By the time Jungkook realises I'm there, the conversation is over, and he's making his way back to his chambers. He barely reacts, just jolts his head as a clear indication to me that I should see him as soon as logically possible.

The moment his father is also out of the room, I hurry over to Jungkook's chambers, knowing better than to keep the impatient young royal waiting. He's probably angry with me, and I get why, but one day he might realise that I did the right thing. That I was looking out for him the whole time.

I can only hope that he understands my actions today, and doesn't question me on my loyalty to him.

The second I step in the room, therefore, I'm expecting him to yell at me, throw something, get pissed off for taking control of the situation as I did - which is completely disallowed. He's the future King, and I was the one calling the shots in that moment. It goes against all of the rules of our social hierarchy and undermines his power entirely.

So the fact that he immediately wraps me in a tight hug comes as a surprise.

"Your Highness?" I venture cautiously, my arms beginning to reciprocate the movement. He grunts, and I nod slightly, knowing that he's complaining about the name used. "Sorry. Kook? What-"

"Thank you, Tae," he mumbles into my shirt, and suddenly it all makes sense. Suddenly, my never-changing faith of him feels properly placed again, and there's a wave of relief crashing over me. He's not mad. He's just grateful.

"For doing my job?" He pulls back, confused, and I spot that there are tears welling up in his eyes. I smile slightly, wiping them away gently with my sleeve. "I've said that I came here to support you. If that means slaving around cleaning your clothes and room, then fine. But today you needed me to do something different, so I did. That's my job, always has been, always will be."

He sighs. "You're a servant, Tae. You're supposed to curse me for treating you badly. You're not supposed to stand there and offer your life in my service. I've treated you like shit this whole time, and somehow you've still had faith in me as a person. I don't get it, I really don't. And I don't get how Morgana was able to believe you. I believed you for a while myself."

I smile a little. "Kook, you're not a bad guy, and I think you forget that a lot of the time. Sure, you can be an utter prat, but at the same time you can be a wonderful friend and that's the bit I focus on. I'm here to serve you, not Morgana or indeed anyone else. And I knew you needed me in that moment. It's not my place to assume that, but-"

He shakes his head, and I stop talking instantly. "No, Tae, I did need you. And I appreciate you trying to help me keep my sister safe. She means a lot to me, as you well know." I just shrug, nodding slightly.
"She certainly does, and therefore she means a lot to me as well," I admit. "Anything that helps you is important."