Almost Killing the Prince | Minsung ✓

-XXXIX-

"When did you find Minho?" Yongbok questions, urging his horse to keep up with Changbin's. After the older had urged him to return to the palace last night to keep from arousing suspicion, Yongbok made an excuse to the servants and his temporary personal guard that he was going to fish (even if it was early in the morning).

So fishing rod in hand and out of his royal garments, he rides a horse out of town and fishes in the nearby creek. An hour later, Changbin shows up, smiling stupidly at the sight of the younger perking up and giggling at him.

They rode out further from the town to a nearby village. And while his brother was a priority, Felix wanted to catch up with his guard and close friend. Especially if they haven't seen each other for long months. In a way, his personal guard was the link that connected Yongbok to the rest of the world, to remind him that while yes, he was a prince, he still needed a break every once in a while. He was the only one who didn't complain when Yongbok wanted to fish or go to town- maybe even have a horse race.

Plus, he hated the guard his father chose for him. He was awfully boring and didn't accept the teasing Yongbok did. So after all these months without Changbin, it'd be unfair to say he didn't miss the older. Bitchy attitude and all.

"Oh, you don't want to know," Changbin groans, shaking his head. "You got all of my letters, right?"

"Yep. I wanted to keep each one, but I needed to burn them. Sorry about that, but I almost got caught."

"It's fine- I'm just glad we're back in Baekje. This mission was absolute hell," Changbin perks up, whipping his head toward the young prince. "Yah! Me and Chan didn't offend you somehow, right?"

Yongbok laughs lightly at that, his freckled cheeks rounding and a bright look glinting in his eyes. "Why? Was my brother that bad?"

"Yes. Him and Jisung."

"Oh, God. What did they do?"

"Jisung was like an instigator to Minho's awful decisions. He should've helped bring him back instead of sticking with him- I swear to God- Why did you let him come along?"

Yongbok bubbles. As always, Changbin hadn't changed and Yongbok was grateful for that. He almost forgot how serious the older could be during a mission since he did nothing but play around Yongbok and Chan.

But he was glad his brother had fun. That he found someone to stick with, even if it made Changbin's journey so much longer and much more difficult.

Yongbok knew he had reason to send Jisung after all!

As they neared a lone hut at the edge of a tiny village, Yongbok couldn't help but feel his heart beat faster. The house belonged to Changbin and his parents. After moving to the palace, though, the older almost couldn't live with his parents anymore.

"Are you nervous?" Yongbok heard Changbin murmur, and he laughs breathlessly, shrugging.

"I don't know- maybe?" He tries to smile at Changbin, the older reaching over to pat his shoulder. Even if Yongbok was nervous, he didn't understand why he should be. Minho was his brother! He had no reason to be so nervous to the one person in his family that wasn't out for his head.

Maybe because the reason being Minho is his brother made him so nervous. He didn't know how he should react to his brother again. Yongbok knew that he wouldn't be the same after all these years, and he prepared himself for it. But imagining Minho's changes were nowhere near the actual thing.

He remembered his brother to be a caring prince, quiet, but he always made an effort to keep Yongbok happy- even if he had royal studies and training that day. Did they still have that spark as they did back then? Or would it be completely extinguished, and they had to rebuild it from the ground up?