Crimson Crown

⌠39⌡

Jinyoung read the hardcover of the book for maybe the hundredth time. 

He gazed up at whatever Jackson was reading as they shared the comfortable silence in front of the fireplace. He was stretched out on the sofa with his head in the vampire's lap, both having found this position quite comfortable. They hadn't moved for maybe two hours now, and during that time Jackson would occasionally glance at him from behind his book, or toy with his hair, or randomly touch him in a silent show of affection-- like when he caressed the latter's ears between his fingers.

Frankly, Jinyoung loved it, as he never anticipated Jackson to get so clingy and touchy. He was so used to being kept at a distance that now experiencing the opposite gave him an odd rush.

He allowed his mind to wander while using Jackson's thighs as a pillow, thinking about random things. Though one subject always came back to the forefront every time he drifted into his thoughts-- the war, which he did intend to speak to the vampire about. He'd been toying with an idea in his head that he was sure no one at the palace would support him in; his only other option was to suggest it to Jackson and see if the vampire would be on board to help.

"You know, I did come here with a purpose."

"A purpose?" Jackson repeated while looking down at the latter, at which Jinyoung smiled and nodded once gained his attention. The vampire smirked, interpreting the comment differently as he set his book aside. "You are greedy."

He leaned down and placed his lips against Jinyoung's, catching him pleasantly off guard.

"That wasn't what I meant." He mumbled against the vampire's lips despite his heart pumping a mile a minute.

"Yet you look satisfied." Jackson retorted, kissing him yet again.

The prince could feel a hand sliding up his neck to hold his jaw in place, signaling that Jackson had something totally different on his mind than he did.

The latter gently pulled away, lifting himself off of Jackson. His face was surely an embarrassing pink as he wiped his lips with his sleeve. "You are quite affectionate, more than usual."

"I haven't seen you for weeks..." The vampire nearly whined, quickly catching himself and clearing his throat. "I never felt this way before... I'm sorry, it's so odd..."

"No, I like it!" Jinyoung blurted out-- he didn't intend to make Jackson feel as if he were moving too fast, he simply wasn't used to the behavior. "I mean, it's good to feel that way, I enjoy it a lot. I just meant I came here for something other than your lips."

Jackson straightened up, his attention focused. "I see. What is it then?"

"The war... it's gotten much worse."

"I didn't mean to start it..."

"I know, Jackson. I am not blaming you, but I need to do something to try and help."

"Like what?"

Jinyoung paused, chewing on his lip. "I didn't want to tell Youngjae... we just made up, I didn't want to start another argument."

Jackson's brows furrowed. "What is it that you plan on doing?"

The latter paused again, his eyes drifting away, already signaling that maybe this idea wasn't exactly a popular one.

"I... want to go into battle."

The vampire blinked.

"What?"

"I just want to see it for my own eyes and assess the damage." Jinyoung explained.

Jackson shook his head as he sat up off the couch. "War is not a simple storm that you can observe from afar, it is a hurricane that destroys everything in its path and surrounding area; you must be mad, Jinyoung."

"No, I'm not, I just feel like I have no other options now--"

"What happened to the non-violent approach?"

Jinyoung shook his head. "Everything I tried turned violent. Everything I wanted to avoid I ended up causing..."

He already felt terrible that the war was happening in the first place, it felt like it was partially his responsibility to find a way to reach some sort of agreement or something that might stop it. He was hoping that maybe Jackson would understand his need to try and fix things, but instead, the latter continuously shook his head in disapproval.

"No, I refuse."

"You refuse?" The prince repeated confusedly.

"To let you go into battle. Do you even know how to fight?"

Jinyoung vigorously nodded. "I was trained by the best battle warrior there is! I will fight if I have to, but I will try my best not to."

"But then what, Jinyoung? You fail to realize that all of your plans are always half thought out. You have to have an end goal." Jackson urged.

"The end goal is to stop the battle!"

"That is my point! How can you possibly do that when it's already begun!?"

Jinyoung faltered; he didn't exactly have a clear answer to that, but he did plan on thinking of something... eventually. "I just... I don't know, maybe if I try to pay a visit to Cornelia then I could ask them to stop and talk--"

"You have gone mad... seriously, are you living in a fantasy or something? That is not how battle works at all. You wouldn't even make it to the river, you will be killed."

"How do you even know? You've been holed up in this house for centuries."

"I've seen my fair share of combat and death." Jackson snapped.

Silence settled between the two as Jinyoung took a moment and realized his insensitivity.

"I'm... I'm sorry... I didn't think about that--"

"Doesn't matter." Jackson waved it away, focusing on the present issue. "What I know is that war has not changed. You will step foot onto the battlefield and not return. I forbid you from going."

Jinyoung frowned, shaking his head. "You cannot forbid me, Jackson."

The vampire looked away, his brows knitted together. "I will use force, if necessary."

"Against me?"

"...if necessary."

Jinyoung scoffed. "You can't just--"

"Stop. I am through with this conversation." Jackson stood, averting his eyes from the prince. "You can rest in the spare bedroom, just across the hall from mine. I'm retiring for the night."

The latter walked off, heading up the stairs to his room, leaving Jinyoung alone. He clicked his tongue in frustration, hating that he argued with Jackson in the first place, but also frustrated that the latter refused to even try and see his perspective.

As he headed off to bed, Jinyoung decided to make the decision on his own, even if no one else was willing to back him up. No one could stop him from doing what he thought was right.