ɬɧɛ ɱąɖ ƙıŋɠ//℘ʝɱʄʄ

•27•

"Yeah, we did"

His hot breath fanned her wet lips, heating her cheeks and sent shiver down her spine. Her thumb unconsciously stroked his dusty cheek while the other hand scratched his scalp, making him groaned sensually. Their lips brushed against each other and tempted him to taste her again but they were rudely interrupted, again, by civilians pouring out from the kingdom and onto the vast land of desert after the familiar disturbing screeches and shrieks of the infamous Arak's Devil.

Torches of fire lit up the desert and gasps of both horror and awestruck filled the cool air upon the gory sight of a butchered Desert Emperor Scorpion with its limbs scattered everywhere. The civilians could easily tell by one glance that this slaughter wasn't carried out by the usual heroes from their kingdom. They knew the royalties and the military could never dismember this monster like a lobster cuisine and could only kill in the traditional way which was suffocating it with sand drowning or twist its head with a sand storm by using their powers.

Upon seeing the civilians, Jimin quickly grabbed Xena's wrist and jogged into the dark before teleporting them back into the streets of Arak which was already empty when everyone got distracted by the scorpion outside. A glimpse of light flashed across the streets before the two of them popped out if nowhere and tumbled onto the ground with hisses and groans. "Yeah, I really should work on that", the young king cursed as he struggled to get up before the General came to help him.

Jimin let out a loud groan and fell again before grabbing above his right ankle which was swollen. "Oh dear", Xena gasped as she kneeled beside him and inspected his injury with a concerning gaze. "No worries, princess. It's just a sprain", he gritted through his teeth, not wanting to show vulnerability or pain in front of her but Xena only grew more worried for him as she helped him up and seated him onto a bench. Jimin being barefooted was no help at all with all the sand and rocks pricking his feet and scratching his skin yet he still trued to remain unaffected.

Xena quickly took, stole, a small towel that was hanging outside a random house and carefully tied it around Jimin's ankle to prevent it from further movements. He must've yanked his leg out when Xena was swinging the scorpion before running towards her and did their last blow but thanks to their very heated kiss, Jimin totally forgot his injury until he threw them through the teleport. Unfortunately, him and his not-so-skillful teleportation were unable to send them directly back to the palace as it was too far away and would be another risk of being toss out of thin air and injured his foot further. Not to mention how they just abandoned that dun horse in the desert.

Jimin felt rather ashamed of his current helpless state. Even his power had given up on him at this point. Should've train my teleportation skills... he clicked his tongue at himself and threw his head back with a sigh. He didn't even know exactly why and what made him this frustrated since he doesn't usually get angry with himself, being a narcissist and all, but now he feels agitated for not being able to walk.

Yall know why? Because the General was there, doing all she could to get him comfortable and lessen the pain. Jimin might or might not have developed a massive crush on this General of his and his weak current state was seriously making him looked like a fool and he was not pleased by that. He is a man after all.

On the other hand, Xena couldn't care less about how weak he was because all she was worried about was how to keep him safe and sound without being pained by his ankle. In fact, the General felt rather contented to be the one responsible for him and his safety, as she should, and can finally be in charge because the young king couldn't. She felt like a General and is actually taking care of her king now.

Suddenly, Xena squatted down in front of Jimin with her back facing him and patted her back. "Come on, I'll carry you to the palace", she said nonchalantly but Jimin's eyes bulged at her words. Honestly he shouldn't be this shocked and reluctant when his bodyguard or General offer something like this since he is the king but that's the problem, he didn't want her to be his General only. Not only that, it would make him look unmanly especially when they're supposed to go to the castle with officers and royalties watching them.