Taming the Dragon

Chapter 3

Taehyung couldn't believe it, the prince—no—the emperor has invited him to have lunch with him and his advisor. The butterflies in his stomach only became more wild. He followed the emperor into the palace.

When Taehyung first saw him, he noted the scar on his eye. A long scar, a scar that put his deadly aesthetic to action. There was something scary yet captivating about the young emperor. Maybe it was the beautiful blonde hair held up with a beautiful ornament. Maybe it was the piercings adorning his ears. Maybe it was his face. There was something cat-like about it. Something so beautiful.

It made Taehyung's heart skip a beat.

The four of them sat down. Taehyung was seated next to the emperor, and Jimin next to his advisor who seemed to be his significant other. Taehyung fiddled with his earring. The emperor was staring at him with cold eyes. He bit his lip and tapped his fingers on the table in a rhythmic pattern.

"So, Taehyung," the emperor spoke. "How did you come across Jimin?" Taehyung gulped down his nervousness.

"I had an argument with a friend beforehand. I was walking home from that. Then I saw Jimin being cornered by these three brutes. I grabbed him and got the hell out of there. That was last night. And today, I escorted him back here."

Jimin gave Taehyung an annoyed look. "You left out the part where you stabbed a guy in the stomach and another guy in the leg." Hoseok's mouth hung lose and shock appeared on the emperor's face. The dancer gave Taehyung a wink.

"Did you actually stab a guy right in the stomach?" Hoseok asked. Taehyung nodded. The emperor leaned closer to Taehyung.

"Why did you leave that out of the summary?" he questioned. There was interest in his eyes.

"Well, it seemed kind of violent. And I think one of them died of blood loss I'm not quite sure." Hoseok whistled.

"Damn that's brutal." Taehyung nervously laughed.

He looked back at the emperor.

"A-Are you going to execute me for attacking two people and possible murder?" A smile crept up the emperor's face. He scoffed.

"I'm not going to execute you for protecting my friend. Besides, those bastards deserved it." The emperor observed Taehyung more closely. It was like his eyes were bleeding into Taehyung's soul, not even tearing away for a second.

"Taehyung, are you a good swordsman?" he asked.

"I-I believe so, your majesty." The emperor stood up tall.

"In four days, I want you to come and fight me in a dual. If you win, you'll go back to your normal life plus some bonuses."

"What happens if you win?" Taehyung asked.

The emperor smiled.

"You'll become my personal guard."

-+-

"OH MY GOD TAEHYUNG!" Jungkook ran up and hugged Taehyung tightly. Taehyung was feeling a little stuff after having that lunch.

"Please, stop, you're going to suffocate me," Taehyung groaned. Jungkook let go of Taehyung and started crying.

"Taehyungie I'm sorry we got into that fight and I made you run away and-" He stopped and noticed the flower crown on Taehyung's head. He touched one of the flowers. A grin appeared on his face and he touched the flower again.

"Oh my god so cute! Where did you get it?"

Taehyung swatted Jungkook's hand away.

"Jimin made it for me."

"Who's Jimin?" Jungkook asked. Taehyung smiled and shook his head.

"There's a lot I need to tell you and Seokjin." Jungkook looked extremely confused.

"What secrets are you keeping from me is this Jimin a lover!" Taehyung let out a small screech. Jungkook took that as a no. The younger kept asking questions about what happened and where Taehyung went the night before. All of his responses including something along the lines of 'I'll tell you once we find Seokjin'.

Once they got back to where Jungkook and Seokjin lived, Taehyung sat down and let out a heavy sigh. Jungkook ran inside to drag Seokjin out.

"TAEHYUNG THERE YOU ARE I WAS WORRIED SICK!" Seokjin yelled as he hugged Taehyung. Taehyung rolled his eyes.

"Like how I told Jungkook I'm going to tell you, I'm perfectly fine Jin-hyung." Seokjin let go of Taehyung and sat next to him.

"Okay, tell us everything!" Taehyung motioned for Jungkook to sit on his other side. He let out another sigh and took a deep breath.

"Last night after me and Jungkook had that argument—I'm sorry Kookie by the way—I was walking home and I saved this guy from being robbed. He told me his name is Jimin and he works at the palace as a dancer and is the personally friend of Emperor Yoongi. This morning I took him back to the palace, met the emperor and here I am now." Seokjin and Jungkook were like dead fish, mouths agape, and eyes unblinking.

"Back it up! You met that prince?"

"Emperor now."

"Emperor whatever, and you lived?" Seokjin said. Taehyung nodded.

"Honestly he reminded me of a cat."

"A cat?!" Seokjin and Jungkook said in unison.

"Yeah, seems like an ass but means well," Taehyung told them. Jungkook groaned and Seokjin face palmed.

Taehyung laughed nervously. "Also you guys aren't gonna like this..."

"Kim Taehyung what in the fucking Hell did you do?" Jungkook asked.

"I need to go to the palace in four days," he responded with a shrug. Both of his friends now looked like they were going to strangle someone.

"Taehyung what if he wants to kill you?!"

"Maybe he's going to feed you to tigers!" Jungkook spouted. Taehyung slowly got up and brushed the dust off of his shoulders.

"Guys, I will be fine. Believe it or not I know how to take care of myself." Seokjin sighed and got up to. He looked Taehyung dead in the eyes.

"Just—just promise you'll come back safe, Taehyung," Seokjin said in a soft tone.

Taehyung smiled at him.

"Don't worry Jinnie, I will."