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sweetestofchaos · 1 year ago

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Blackthorn Ch 13 | M.YG

My Gift To You Part 1 - As the the engagement announcement approaches, Prince Yoongi give the Princess a gift.

a/n: As always thanks to @sailoryooons for making the banner. Shout out to @theharrowing for being my lovely beta this chapter! Character asks and the taglist for Blackthorn are always open! Minors do NOT interact with my work, please and thank you. Also, this is cross posted on ao3, under the same username sweetestofchaos.

Taglist: @thickemadame

Series Masterlist | Masterlist

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Madam Theda Vonner, one of the most sought after etiquette tutors was…vicious. She wasted no time during her lessons and scolded the Princess for wearing ‘inappropriate attire’. She berated the Princess on proper etiquette of respecting one's heritage and culture. If she continued to wear the garb of her nation, the Princess wouldn’t be respected by the people of the Min Empire and she would bring dishonor to all who lived within the castle walls. Madam Theda then went on to inform the Princess that she had two weeks and only two weeks to turn her into a proper Princess. She felt that Princess Kenna was only a Princess in name and had no real claim to the title. She was a woman born of noble blood that had no inkling to the meaning of what a true Princess was.

There was no time to hold the Princess’ hand as Madam Theda mapped out everything that needed to change. Lady Zarrin’s teachings were laughable and she regarded the title of Princess as nothing more than a fancy name. Theda would fix that, it was her job to do so. She allowed for the Princess to wear her attire for the first lesson, she refused to waste more time and had Cookie removed from the room. The tiny cub was a distraction and she already had her hands full with lessons that should have already been taught. By the end of the lesson, Madam Thea was convinced that the Princess had been taught nothing at all.

The homework for the Princess seemed endless but the Princess kept her head held high and thanked Madam Thea for the lesson. Before Thea could leave, the Princess spoke up and informed the new tutor that she refused to wear the garb of the Min empire. She was from Escistan and she would bring her culture to the empire. It was a part of her, in the very blood that ran through her veins, she refused to abandon her nation's culture and beliefs. Madam Thea had laughed, a sound so condescending that it made the Princess’ eyes flash silver.

“While you are under my tutelage, you will abide by my rules, Princess. I expect you to be in the proper attire tomorrow with no distractions around.” Madam Theda bowed to the Princess and San bit the inside of his cheek. He knew how to bow towards a royal and the half-hearted movements from Madam Theda were a blatant disrespect. Princess Keena bowed her head in silence and San watched as the older woman left the room. Once the door was closed, San glanced over at the Princess and he was shocked to see the silver of her eyes glowing.

“Princess?” San called out to her softly, “Would you like to take a break?”

The Princess’ eyes closed and she inhaled deeply. The silence stretched on and when her eyes opened they were once again that all too familiar brown that warmed anyone with just a look.

“Have Hyejin bring in a pot of rose bud tea with those strawberry rose petal cookies.”

San bowed low and stepped out of the room for a short moment. When the door opened, Chan stepped inside with Cookie in his arms. The tiny cub yelped and wiggled around until he was placed on the floor. He ran to the Princess and climbed into her lap. His green fur stood out against the chartreuse, red orange, and chili pepper kitenge skirt. Cookie nipped at the Princess’ fingers as she tickled his soft underbelly and she smiled.

“You are far from a distraction my sweet cub.”

The solid orange buba that the Princess wore hung off the shoulders with small gold buttons down the back. Chartreuse embroidered flowers were on the ends of the full length sleeves, and as the Princess continued to play with Cookie, the tiny cub swatted at them. Chan watched as the Princess’ shoulders relaxed and the tension that locked her jaw eased into a softer smile. Chan knew something had happened from the way Madam Theda and San both exited the room with frowns on their faces. Seeing that the Princess was unharmed physically, Chan worried that her heart might have been the target.

“Princess?”

“Yes, Chan?”

“Would you like to have your tea outside? I saw Namjoon poking around the lupine.”

Princess Keena shifted Cookie in her arms and stood up, “I haven’t looked at the lupine in a while…”

Chan moved from the doorway and allowed for the Princess to leave first with Cookie cradled in her arms as he followed behind. As he passed Byulyi in the hall, he informed the maid that the Princess would take her tea outside. Byulyi nodded and watched as the Princess left the butterfly house with Chan behind her.

In the garden, Namjoon plucked and pulled weeds from the soil as well as rearranged a few stones. His robes were simple since he had a lot of tasks to finish by the end of the day. A tan cross stitch blouse was tucked into a pair of loose fitted black trousers that had dirt on the knees. Sweat darkened the fabric of the shirt and stuck to his back as he worked endlessly and Seokjin sat behind him on a bench with a book in his hands as he read out loud.

Seokjin was dressed nicely, as expected of the next royal advisor. The white cross collared shirt had a thick red neckline and dropped into a blue and white vertical striped skirt with a bold red sash tied around his waist. Seokjin wore a sheer white open cross collared jacket over top that had red and silver plantain lily flowers stitched along the wide sleeves that covered his knuckles.

Namjoon had a few rock cress and daffodils loosely potted that he had planned to add to the flowerbed in front of him. Footsteps crunched against the stone and Namjoon looked over his shoulder as Seokjin stopped reading. Princess Keena was in the distance with her head held high; she wore a red orange gele with her edges smoothed flat and pecking out. Thick gold hooped earrings caught in the sunlight and reflected against her sun-blessed skin. Namjoon and Seokjin stood and bowed low before a soft cry caught their attention.

As Namjoon straightened up, he saw the tiger cub in the Princess’ arms and his face split into a large grin as the Princess walked closer.

“He is looking very well, Princess.” Namjoon reached out and scratched under the cub’s chin, only to laugh as the cub trapped his finger between its tiny paws. Seokjin smiled as he watched Namjoon interact with the cub and sat back on the bench.

“Cookie.”

“Parden?” Namjoon stared at the Princess, frozen in place as she smiled at him.

“His name,” she easily passed the cub to Namjoon and Namjoon buried his nose into the soft fur. “He picked Cookie.”

Namjoon swallowed thickly, and he bit his lip as his heart skipped a beat. “Cookie…I think that’s a wonderful name.”

The Princess grinned and Chan helped her sit on a bench that was across from the garden that Namjoon had been working on beside Seokjin. Princess Keena giggled as Seokjin winked at her and they watched as Namjoon kneeled on the ground. He carefully set Cookie beside him and went back to his work.

“How are your lessons? His Highness tells me you have a temporary etiquette tutor.” Seokjin questioned as he picked up the book beside him.

Chan melted away into the background as Seokjin coaxed the Princess into discussing her first lesson with the new tutor. Princess Keena watched silently as Namjoon created a pile of weeds beside him and Cookie jumped head first into it.

“I fear that we may not see eye to eye. She is archaic, or rather more traditional if I were to be polite.”

Seokjin chuckled at the Princess’ words and nodded his head, “Who has filled the tutoring position?”

“Madam Theda Vonner-”

“That old bat?”

“Namjoon!” Seokjin’s tone was scolding but his eyes glittered in laughter.

“Forgive him, Princess.” Seokjin rolled his eyes as he turned his body towards her. “She comes from a proud family, old money that dates back to the third dynasty.”

“One's lineage does not give the right away to be callous nor rude.”

Namjoon snorted from his place on the ground and shook his head, “Callous is far too kind, Princess.”

Seokjin sighed and ran a hand through his dark hair that was falling into his face before he tucked it behind his ears. “What issues are you having with Madam Theda? Maybe it is something that I can assist with?”

Before the Princess could answer Seokjin’s question, Hyejin and San showed up with tea and treats. San set a small plate on the ground in front of Cookie, and Namjoon watched as the tiny cub started to munch the small bites of food. Seokjin poured a cup of tea for the Princess and called for Namjoon to take a small break to enjoy the tea with them.

“She dislikes the Escistan garb and said I would bring shame to the Min Empire if I continued to wear them.”

“Nonsense!” Seokjin set his cup of tea down and grabbed the Princess’ free hand. “You are the Princess of Escistan and bride to the First Prince of the Min Empire; as such you are free to do as you please, Princess.”

Seokjin squeezed the Princess’ hand and shook his head, “Disregard her words, Princess. I think it is wonderful to see you so at ease here with us. Your garb is beautiful and I am always in awe when I see you around the palace grounds. Please,” Seokjin patted the Princess hand and smiled, “don’t change for us. If anything, allow the Min Empire to change for you.”

The Princess exhaled deeply and she looked down at their joined hands. Seokjin’s white robe started to blur as the Princess’ eyes burned. Her waterline flooded and she quickly blinked away her tears with a watery laugh as she sniffled. The smile that Seokjin offered was soft, and Namjoon sighed with a shake of his head.

“There’s going to be a light shower, you should head back inside.” Namjoon glanced at the sky as the bright blue had darkened.

“M-My apologies.”

“There is nothing to apologize for, Princess.” Seokjin released his hold on her hand and stood to his full height. He offered his hand as Namjoon scooped Cookie up and stood as well. As the Princess was helped to her feet, the first few drops of rain started to fall and San appeared by her side with a red and yellow parasol. He held it up for the Princess and Namjoon handed over Cookie, so the little cub could stay dry.

“Enjoy your lessons, Princess,” Namjoon bowed and Seokjin followed suit before they watched the Princess disappear around the corner.

Seokjin frowned and Namjoon sighed, “Should we inform Yoongi?”

“I think the Princess is more than capable of handling this herself,” Seokjin pointed out and Namjoon agreed. “Do you want help carrying everything inside?”

“You get inside before that book is ruined. I have a cart nearby.”

“...So, Jungkook really fused with the tiger’s spirit?”

Namjoon nodded his head and dusted his hands off on his trousers. “Cookie…he really picked that, huh?”

“Who else?”

Later in the night, Prince Yoongi sat in the grass in front of the Gildows lake. The lemming ducks were gone for the night, tucked away in their mother’s warmth as they slumbered. As the Prince stared up at the endless sky, he turned his gaze to the moon. The silvery-white of the large orb made the Prince smile to himself. He was reminded of the banquet held in the Princess’ honor. The time they spent alone, gazing up at the night sky, much like he did now. The stars twinkled a silent poem as a cool breeze caressed the Prince’s ears with a soothing song. Fallen petals danced above the lake in the moon’s reflection and the Prince inhaled deeply as he closed his eyes.

The soft crunch of the grass underfoot cut through nature’s serenade, and the sweet tang of tangerines flooded the Prince’s mind. His body relaxed farther and when the Prince opened his eyes, the flutter of ivory and lilac blinded him. Beside him, the Princess lowered herself onto a thick blanket and folded her leg to the side. The ivory nightgown she wore was pretty and tempted the Prince with its innocence. The dress hung off her shoulders, hugged her breasts and flared downward until it covered her feet.

Thin ribbons of lilac silk were threaded into the cotton dress at the bottom and pulled into tiny bows with rosewater colored beading stitched into the shape of lovely peonies. A lilac robe, silk of some kind, was worn over the nightgown with matching rosewater peony beading over the shoulders and down the sides. Large cutouts of peonies went down the length of the sleeves, stitched over with ivory lace.

Wordlessly, the Prince shifted his body and stretched out, his head now rested in the Princess’ lap as he stared up at her. Loose braids that were not tucked away in a ponytail hung over her shoulders and hid their faces from the prying eyes of Hoseok and Aga in the distance. Princess Keena cupped the Prince’s cheek in her hand as she leaned over him and he batted at the pewter crystals that were woven into her hair.

“What are you doing out at this hour, my gem?”

The Princess smiled and smoothed her thumb over the apple of the Prince’s cheek. “I couldn’t sleep.” The Prince’s lips turned into a frown at her words and she smiled, “It is nothing to worry over, Pallas.”

The Prince snorted and tugged at her braids lightly, “And yet, here I worry.” He stared into her warm eyes and licked his lips. “Tell me what troubles you, Princess?”

A soft smile rested on her lips, but it didn’t reach her eyes and the Prince raised an eyebrow. The Princess leaned down farther and closed her eyes as she rested her forehead against the Prince’s.

“You won’t answer me?”

“Would you send me away if I chose not to?”

The Prince stared at the Princess’ face silently and quickly rolled them forward. The Princess chirped in surprise and giggled now that she was sprawled out on the grass with her head in the Prince’s lap. Prince Yoongi bent his knees as he lifted the Princess and leaned down. Their lips touched with the grace of a butterfly and warmth of the sun. It was a silent answer to her question, one that was loud and clear between the two. The pressure of the kiss increased, the heat in the pit of their stomachs spread and sunk lower, and lower. The Prince growled deep in his chest and nipped at the plush lips before him.

He soothed the lingering pain with the teasing touch of his tongue as he kissed more and more. Honey, sweet and addicting. Sage, sharp and grounding. As they pulled away the scent of flowers lingered in the air, soft and fleeting. The night’s silent melody was no more, replaced by thundering hearts and panted breaths. Slowly, as the Prince pulled away, a gossamer strand of saliva hung between their lips and he chuckled. He swiped his thumb over the Princess’ lower lip and broke the wet connection before he pecked her lips once more.

“Have I not shown that my days are yours? I will give you many more without question. I am only but a shout away if you ever need me, Princess. Ask and I will answer, always.”

“Thank you, my Prince.”

Carefully, the young royals stood to their feet, and the Prince laced his fingers with the Princess, “Let us retire to our chambers. I have a gift for you.”

Together, arm in arm, the young royal walked along the stone and sand paths that led into the palace. Servants that worked late all bowed low and whispered about the couple as they passed. Hoseok and Aga glared at them all; it was improper for servants to whisper so freely when they should have all held their tongues. The Prince led the Princess into his chambers and she sat on the settee while he disappeared into his sleeping chamber.

Aga and Hoseok stood by the entrance of the Prince’s chambers and watched as the Prince emerged with a small box in his hands. He kneeled before the Princess and Hoseok’s eyes widened while Aga’s lips pulled upwards in the corners.

Prince Yoongi placed the box in the Princess’ lap and kissed the knuckles of her hands before he spoke. “Duttu sends her regards and thanks you for showing such trust in her skills.” He stayed kneeled before the Princess, his hands pressed softly against the top of her knees and Princess Keena bit her bottom lip.

Slowly, she opened the plain chestnut box and inside sat a black leather collar. A beautiful gold name plate with Cookie’s name carved into the center of Ginkgo leaves that were embossed into the leather. The collar was simple and elegant, perfect for the rambunctious cub that would wear it later.

The Princess’ fingers brushed over Cookie’s name and she smiled, as her free hand rested over the Prince’s. “I know Cookie will love it. Thank you, my Prince.”

A shy but proud smile pulled at the Prince’s lips and he gave the Princess’ knees a light squeeze. “Byenvini.”

The Princess’ eyes widened as the Prince spoke a simple Escistan phrase and he looked so shy that the Princess laughed.

“Did I say it correctly?” The Prince asked, worried that he had mispronounced the word of thanks and Princess Keena shook her head.

"Ou fè byen."

He smiled at the Princess’ words and leaned forward to capture her lips. The kiss was soothing, a pleasant weight settled in both the young royals' hearts as they pulled away.

"Ou fè byen," Prince Yoongi whispered and the Princess giggled. "You do well."

The days seemingly bled into each other as Princess Keena continued with her lessons. Madam Theda was not pleased to see the Princess in the Escistain garb but she made no comments on the matter. Madam Theda’s lessons were exhausting; the Princess felt like she had fallen behind during the day and had started to spend her nights with etiquette books and scrolls in front of her. She had Byulyi, Wheein, and Hyejin, and even her guards help her during breaks between lessons.

The Prince had noticed that he only had the Princess’ attention during their time together at lunch and their last meal of the night was split between himself and his parents. Empress Min asked about the Princess’ lessons and was pleased to hear that the Princess had no complaints. Things were moving along and the Prince was pleased to know that the Princess was preoccupied.

As the day of the night market grew closer and closer, the Prince had a lot to prepare for and he did so when Hoseok wasn’t around. San and Kai were helpful and acted on the Prince’s behalf while Minho carried out his own orders from the Prince. Things had become hectic within the palace as everyone prepared for the engagement announcement. With only eight days left, everyone had felt the pressure.

“Again!” Madam Theda smacked a bamboo cane against her palm as she stared at the fallen stack of books on the floor.

Mingi stood against the wall, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles were white. His jaw was locked and tense as he bit his tongue. Chan and San had told him how blatantly disrespectful Madam Theda had been to the Princess and asked him to stand in during one of the lessons. Mingi had thought that the younger guards had over reacted since the Princess had not spoken up, but now he understood. Mingi felt sick, his stomach churned, and his heart beated quickly in his chest as he watched the Princess pick up the fallen book. She straightened them out and walked across the room with them in her hands before she turned to face the entrance of the room.

Wheein took the books and carefully placed them on top of the Princess’ head with a frown on her face. As the Princess straightened her back, Wheein removed her hands and stepped back. The books didn’t move and the Princess took a step forward, then another followed by another. She kept her eyes forward and looked straight ahead as she walked. The books started to wobble and Madam Theda narrowed her eyes. Mingi watched with bated breath as the books tipped to one side and slipped off the Princess’ head.

Madam Theda clicked her tongue and Mingi stepped forwards, “That is enough. Move on to the next-”

“Silence!” Madam Theda swung her cane and smacked Mingi in his thigh. He clenched his jaw in pain but stood strong as his thigh plused. He knew there would be a nice sized welt.

“Mingi!” The Princess rushed to his side and he waved her off.

“A royal does not shout nor show care for those of lower rank. A mere guard does not speak out of turn.” Madam Theda voiced with a frown set on her face.

Princess Keena’s eyes slowly shifted from brown to silver and she smoothed down the skirt of her emerald green iro before she touched the large braided buns that sat on her head. She had opted out of wearing heavy hair accessories and focused on her outfit to show Madam Theda just how wonderful the Escistan grab truly was. She wore a celadon blouse that had a keyhole in the center with gold beading on the lantern sleeves in a swirled pattern. A golden getzner pele was tied over her skirt and pulled the whole outfit together.

The Princess folded her hands in front of herself and looked Madam Theda in her eyes, “You are dismissed for today, Madam Theda.”

“Parden?”

“You are dismissed!” The Princess raised her voice, but she didn’t yell nor did she return the glare that the older woman sent her way. “For you act of violence against one of my attendants, your pay will be docked by half-”

“You-”

“You should be thankful that this is all I will take away for your transgression.” The threat was loud and clear as the Princess stared at the older woman. “Have a good day, Madam Theda. Now, if you’ll excuse us-” Princess Keena bowed her head and gathered the skirt of her emerald green iro. Wheein hurried past Madam Theda and opened the door before she stepped to the side and waited for the Princess to leave first. Mingi stepped out of the room and Wheein bowed before she followed after them.

Outside of the room, Princess Keena took short inhales of air and remained silent until she stepped out of the butterfly house. She turned to Mingi and frowned, “Wheein, take Mingi to the doctor.” She held her hand up as Mingi opened his mouth. “I understand that it is not a life threatening wound, but pain is pain. Get treated and return to your post after a break. I will remain here in the garden.”

Mingi sighed but bowed his head and whistled loudly. A few moments later, Wonho appeared and took over guarding the Princess. She said nothing as she walked around the garden’s outside and the silver melted into brown once more. Wonho kept his distance and when he noticed Kwangseon with his wife, Ellarian at his side, Wonho informed the Princess.

“Let’s not keep them waiting.”

The smile returned to the Princess’ face and Wonho followed behind her as they stepped back into the butterfly house. As they entered the house, Hyunjin jumped at the sight of the Princess and quickly bowed. His robes were covered in paint and there was a smudge of white paint on his forehead which made the Princess giggle. Hyunjin was the artist that Namjoon had commissioned in place of Jungkook and he was a shy young man. Dark purple hair that he kept out of his face with a headband was always tied in a low ponytail. He had striking indigo eyes with a tiny beauty mark under the left one that was endearing to everyone who noticed it.

“Are you taking a break, Hyunjin?”

“Y-Yes, Your Highness…u-um, I have completed m-most of the-”

“Hyunjin, breath,” the Princess smiled as she placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Enjoy your break. I am looking forward to seeing your finished work.” Princess Keena bowed her head and continued into the house with Wonho right behind her.

As the Princess settled back into the lesson room, she smoothed down her skirt and glanced out the window. Chan walked by with Cookie tucked underneath his arm, his new collar shinned against his fur. The cub had become somewhat of a menace since he came to the palace and it made the Princess smile. Cookie was a playful and curious cub, he always got into something but at the end of the day when the Princess was settling down for the night, he would curl up in her lap and drift off to sleep. She wondered what the cub had managed to get into for Chan to have been the one to grab him.

The door to the room slid open and Ellarian grinned at the sight of the Princess’ smiling face.

“Oh, I see we have a new partner today. Hello, Wonho!” Kwangseon looked thrilled as he greeted the guard and Wonho bowed his head as his ears turned a bright red.

“How were your lessons today, Princess?” Ellarian asked as she helped her husband set up the different instruments for the day's lesson.

“It is another day complete in the eyes of the Empire.”

Ellarian laughed and nodded her head in agreement. She understood the Princess’ words. Lessons were lessons and they would not all be fun to learn.

“Shall we continue with the Buchaaechum dance?” Kwangseon offered as he sat behind his haegeum and cracked his knuckles.

“That is a wise decision. Princess, what do you recall from our lesson yesterday?”

The rest of the time during the Princess' lessons went by easily enough. Madam Theda spoke no more of the Princess’ Escistan garb and taught her everything that Lady Zarrin had not touched on. The lessons were hard but no longer had Madam Theda tried to push the Princess past her limits. Madam Theda’s attitude towards the Princess was still strict but there was an air of respect that had not been there before. The Princess considered it a small victory while her guards felt their hearts swell with pride. The Princess would be a great Empress once it was her time to step into the role.

Four days before the engagement announcement, Empress Min had called for the Princess and they sat in her chambers with tea and treats between them. Empress Min wore a beautiful iris colored seuran chima with a pale olive dangui on top. Her hair was braided and tucked into elegant loops that resembled two butterfly orchids decorated with four tteoljams and pinned with a golden eastern dragon that had ruby’s for its eyes. As she sipped at her tea, Empress Min smiled at the cub that sat beside the Princess. Gingko spirits were rare and she had never seen one in person before, Cookie was as cute as he was beautiful.

“Are you excited for the announcement, my dear? It is right around the corner.”

Princess Keena swallowed the bite of sponge cake in her mouth and licked her lips in thought. Was she excited for the citizens of the Min Empire to know who she was and what her role in their society would be?

“I will admit that I do hold some reservations about the announcement but I understand that it must be done.”

Empress Min understood the Princess’ worries; she remembered how she felt when she was first engaged to the Emperor.

“Is there anything I can do within my power to make the announcement less taxing on you, my dear Keena?”

“You and His Majesty have been kind enough to grant me such wonderful freedom within the palace. I have everything at my disposal and there is little that I wish for…” Princess Keena stroked the top of Cookie’s head and scratched behind his ears. “The worry lies within my own heart. I fear that I will not be the Empress that this empire deserves.”

“I disagree with you Princess.” Empress Min’s words were firm as she stared right at the Princess. “You have shown an unbelievable amount of wonderful qualities that will make you a true Empress of this nation.” Empress Min set her tea cup on the table and nodded her head to the attendant closest to the door.

“I have called for the best dressmaker in our empire. She will make your dress for the announcement, as well as the one for your wedding.”

Princess Keena turned her attention to the door and an older woman with blueish-white hair that was pulled into a neat updo bun stepped into the threshold. The bun showed that she had deep blue cat ears that sat proudly on top of her head and the Princess was in awe.

“Crown Princess Keena, this is Menzo. She has served members of the royal court for the last two generations while her family has served since the Taebong era.”

Menzo looked kind with pale peach feline eyes that were framed by crow’s lines and tear troughs on her cognac-toned skin. They were slanted towards a sharp and slender nose that was over a set of demure lips bordered by deep frown lines. She wore a simple taupe kurta that had black beading on the hem of her sleeves with matching palazzo pants that hung loosely around her legs. A sage green dupatta with black and taupe beading stitched throughout in a flower pattern rested over Menzo’s shoulders, and she bowed low. Her tail was blueish-white with a deep blue tip and swayed lazily behind her once she stood upright and offered the Princess a warm smile.

“It is an honor, Your Highness.”

Cookie mewled from the Princess’ side and Menzo grinned, her canines sharper than a humans.

“Hello, little one.” She bowed her head and Princess Keena knew that she would enjoy her time with the nekojin.

The Princess stood with Cookie in her arms and Empress Min held out her hands, “Give him here. Menzo will need your full attention.”

Cookie sat beside Empress Min while the nekojin tailor took the Princess’ measurements and held up different fabrics against her body. Menzo asked different questions and made notes in a small booklet that she pulled from the satchel that rested on her hip. The Princess was grateful that Menzo seemed to really listen and take her wants into account. If she was to stand before the citizens of the Min Empire, she wanted to show a combined front. The Escistan Kingdom intermingled and woven tightly together with the Min Empire. That is all the Princess wanted to show with the Prince by her side.

Alone in her chambers, Princess Keena laid in bed, wide awake. Her mind raced as she thought about the upcoming announcement. It was two days away and she feared that something would go wrong. A soothing breeze crept in from the lattice cut windows and the soft blue curtains that hung from the bedpost swayed gently. An earthy scent wrapped in warm spice rode the breeze and lingered just outside of the window. The Princess sat upright, the covers held close to her chest as her eyes sparkled in the cool moonlight that caught her gaze. A shadow danced along the wall and soon the Prince dropped down from the ceiling.

He wore a white kimono that was dyed a deep grey at the bottom with large white spider lilies that wrapped around the bottom. A grey and black obi was tied around his waist and a black jaori was worn over top. His blonde hair was pulled away from his face in a loose bun on the back of his neck and he was free from jewelry.

“You are asking for a repeat of last time, my Prince.” The Princess’ voice was nothing more than a scolding whisper as she frowned.

A fanged smile slid onto the Prince’s face and he held out his hand as he stood at the foot of the Princess’ bed. He wiggled his fingers and his eyes flashed a tempting gold before he licked his lips. “Come, I have a surprise for you, my gem.”

Still in bed, the Princess eyed his outstretched hand and tried to fight the smile that pulled at her lips. “Aga would kill you if he knew you were here.”

“He has to catch me first.”

The covers were released from the Princess’ hold and the Prince’s eyes narrowed as he took in the bare skin of her shoulders. There was nothing to the nightgown, the Prince thought to himself. Thin straps held the dress to her body while satin and delicate alabaster lace clung to the Princess’ chest. As she crawled towards the foot of the bed, the strap on her left shoulder fell and the Prince bit his lower lip.

The Princess was tempting, so very, very tempting. Her braids were down, the front pulled back into a low ponytail while the rest hung freely at her back. A few slipped over her shoulders and the Prince inhaled deeply. As she placed her hand in his, the Prince pulled her close, chest to chest and wrapped an arm around her waist as he exhaled. He released her hand and cupped her cheek before he growled softly, almost like a purr.

“How easily you tempt my patience without much thought.”

Their noses brushed against each other’s as the Prince closed the distance and he inhaled the tangy scent of citrus and honey.

“Cover yourself for my sanity…” As his lips pressed against the Princess’, his fingers dug into her waist and the Princess moaned softly. “Ashii-” Prince Yoongi pulled away and rested his forehead against the Princess’ collarbone on her left side as he inhaled deeply. “Such a pretty sound…” His lips ghosted over the exposed skin and the Princess shivered. Her nimble fingers found the bun that rested against the nape of his neck and she pulled his hair free. A waterfall of blonde covered the back of his haori and the Princess sighed.

“There is a r-robe by the-” The Princess’ breath hitched as the Prince’s tongue licked at the skin where her shoulder and neck joined. “My P-Prince…” Her fingers tangled in his hair and she pulled lightly to which the Prince nipped at her flesh.

“Just a taste, my gem?”

She could feel her willpower crumbling with each swipe of the Prince’s tongue. The warmth in her stomach grew and started to inch lower and lower. Blood rushed behind her ears and she yanked on the Prince’s hair harder. His head jerked back and he licked his split slick lips as he flashed that dazzling gummy smile with a solid ring of gold around his dark irises.

“My surprise?” The Princess’ question was whispered and the Prince’s upper right lip quirked as he smirked and pulled away from the Princess once she released his hair.

Carefully, the Princess sat on the bed and before her feet could touch the floor, the Prince was on his knees before her with slippers in his hands. Heat kissed her cheeks and warmed her neck as he slipped the cream colored slippers onto her bare feet and kissed her ankles. As he stood up, he removed his haori and placed it over the Princess’ shoulders. Sage and ginger seeped into her skin as the fabric of the outer jacket rubbed against her neck. It was comforting and settled the wild heart in her chest as she grabbed hold of the Prince’s hand once more.

Prince Yoongi led the Princess through her room until they reached the sitting area where three settees were placed around a large table in different shades of blue, with white and gold accent pillows. Cookie was sound asleep in his playpen, curled around a wooden toy that Namjoon had carved by hand to help with his teething. There was a box on the oak table, about two feet long in width and height. As they sat beside each other, Prince Yoongi grabbed the box and placed it on the Princess’ lap.

“You spoil me, my Prince.”

The Prince rolled his eyes at the Princess’ words and silently encouraged her to open the gift. Carefully, she untied the gold ribbon and slowly lifted the lid of the box. In the box a sand colored jeogori with thick beige cuffing sat on top of a beige pleated chima. It was a very simple and plain hanbok to which the Princess raised an eyebrow. The Prince chuckled as he saw the silent questions in the Princess' eyes and he kept quiet.

Also in the box was a pair of cream and sand colored hwahye shoes. A norigae was hidden between the shoes and it was beautiful in its simplicity. A cognac floral design in the shape of a rose acted as the base with a polished star garnet at the center that had a pearl butterfly on it, followed by the fluffy cognac tassel wrapped in gold thread that finished it.

“I have another gift.”

The Princess looked at the Prince beside her and clicked her tongue, “What are you planning, my Prince?”

Prince Yoongi grinned something devilish as he reached inside of his kimono and pulled out a cream silk ribbon with gold larch and lupine flowers embroidered at the ends.

“Am I not allowed to gift my soon-to-be wife a night of wonders?”

As the Prince placed the daenggi in the box, he leaned forward and captured the Princess’ lips in a soft kiss. He shifted closer and the box fell to the floor, ignored as he pulled the Princess into his lap and pushed his haori onto the floor. Her hands tangled in his hair as she settled herself in his lap, her knees bent on either side of his thighs.

He squeezed her hips and groaned as the Princess nipped at his lower lip. As the kissing went on, it became heavier and needier. Soft nips became pinched lips between teeth that were soothed by wet tongues. Hands that squeezed became hands that slid from place to place in search of more skin.

The heat between the young royals was thick, and when the Princess felt a firmness underneath her, she gasped into the kiss. The Prince was aroused, he strained underneath his kimono and he wished to pull more sweet sounds from her swollen lips. He trailed a path of wet kisses from her mouth to her shoulder and lower.

As her head lolled backwards, the wet trail became slick and smooth as the Prince licked at the skin from her shoulder to the tops of her breasts. A sudden flora aroma made him growl and buck his hips upwards to which the Princess moaned. Her legs tensed around his thighs and she fisted the collar of his kimono tightly.

“Oh?” The Prince made a show as he lifted his nose in the air and inhaled deeply. His irises now had a thicker golden ring around them. “What a lovely scent,” he purred as he licked his lips. The tip of his tongue was now forked but still pink and he hummed in delight as the Princess whined.

“Y-Yoongi.” His name was a stuttered whisper, a plea for something more than wet kisses.

“I know, my gem…I know.”

The Prince trailed his lips softly up the length of the Princess’ neck, along her jaw and pressed a sweet, slow kiss to her lips. They fused together, tongues tasted the other’s mouth and the Princess bit down on his tongue lightly. Prince Yoongi chuckled and sucked the Princess’ lower lip into his mouth before he bit down roughly and pulled away. The sweet heady scent of liquid honey flooded the Prince’s sinuses and his body shuttered.

“Just a taste, my gem. Wouldn’t want Aga to kill me, hmm?”

Wordlessly, he maneuvered their bodies and held onto the back of the Princess’ thighs before he stood up and strode into her bedchambers. He placed one knee on the bed and climbed on before he crawled forward to place the Princess in the center. As he pulled away, her nightgown was askew, shoulder straps draped low on her arms, the bottom bunched high on her thighs, hardly covered the mound between her legs and the Prince licked his lips. As he sat back on his bent legs, he drew random shapes on the Princess’ knee and upper thigh with his blunt nails. His eyes drank in every shiver, every goosebump, and every fluttering breath that left the Princess’ lips.

She was divine, bathed in the cool, silver milky glow of the moon that filtered in from the window. An offering, all on her own. Laid out before the Prince’s eyes, for him only. To touch and he did as he cupped the Princess’ cheek in one hand. To taste and he did, the moment his lips pressed upon hers, their tongues swirled and teased. To have over and over and over again.

Prince Yoongi kept his touches soft yet firm as he moved his kisses lower and lower down the Princess’ body. He kissed the soft skin of her chest, over the covered pebbled nipples and skimmed his nose down her stomach. He paused and nuzzled his nose into the fabric that covered her womb. The Princess shivered and she ran a hand down her torso until her fingers twined in the Prince’s blond locks.

“Why are you down there?”

The question made the Prince smirk, how innocent his wife-to-be was. His hands slid down to her thighs and massaged the thick muscles and skin. He nosed at the apex of her mound and kissed the warm skin as her nightgown shifted once more.

“I want to worship you. Give thanks to the ancient dragons who came before and offer them my-” the Prince placed a kiss to where the Princess’ thigh and hip joined, “silent praise…if you would grant me such an honor?”

The Princess couldn’t understand the words. It was all unfamiliar to her but the heat and wetness between her thighs, that was enough for her as she nodded her head. Prince Yoongi left open mouth kisses on her inner thighs before he settled himself on his stomach and wrapped one arm around the Princess’ waist to hold her down. He inched closer and closer to the leaking warmth that called to him. The sweet scent of honey, so much stronger there than anywhere else on the Princess’ body. She had dark curls of hair, trimmed neatly and kept low. It made his mouth water as the clear essence of her arousal coated her skin.

He leaned in and swiped his forked tongue from her perineum to her clit. The Princess’ thighs snapped closed around his head, his cheeks squished together as she gasped.

The Prince moaned at the taste, “Mmmmm, my gem. So good for me.”

Again he licked at her opening and the Princess’ eyes squeezed closed. It was different, not unpleasant, but different. As the Prince continued to lick, he changed his rhythm and motions. His tongue technique switched from fast to slow, shallow to deep, long to short…it pulled sounds from the Princess that she had never made before. Prince Yoongi pinched at her hip as he spoke from between her legs, “Shhhh. Bite the pillow to muffle your pretty sounds…I can’t have Aga or anyone else seeing you like this.”

The Princess nodded her head, unable to speak as tears collected in the corner of her eyes. Blindly, she reached for a pillow and dragged it over her mouth. As the Prince wrapped his plush lips around her clit and sucked hard, she screamed into the pillow. He swallowed down every ounce of liquid that touched his tongue, slurped up everything that the Princess offered. Her muffled cries were the sweetest sound that he had ever heard and with her thighs squeezed tightly around his head, the Prince had reached the gates of those before him.

He had never come untouched but he felt close enough with how hard he was; it was painful but his pain only added to his pleasure as the Princess whined and thrashed above him. The hand in his hair pushed him away and pulled him closer, it was the constant sting at the base of his scalp that pushed him to dive his tongue deep into the Princess’ warmth and the cry that spilled from her lips was beautiful. Her wall clenched around him, he felt the skin of his cheek grind against his teeth and more wetness flooded his mouth.

Endless tremors raked over the Princess’ body and Prince Yoongi groaned as he wiggled free from the headlock. He shifted upwards on the bed, now on his knees and released himself from the damp fabric of his kimono. His hand wrapped around himself and he threw his head back as the Princess’ fluttering eyes watched him. He growled, deep in his chest as he covered her thigh and stomach in his cum. Honey and sage mixed together in the air and as the Prince’s skin flushed with a red hue, he collapsed beside the Princess with his chest heaving. Together they caught their breaths and as the Princess tried to move, Prince Yoongi hissed.

“Stay.” It was rough, the single word coated in an unfiltered need to mark what was his. Silently, the Prince raised his arms and set his hand on the Princess’ stomach. She made a sound of disgust as the warmth of his cum had faded into cool ropes of his very being. The Prince leaned upward and nosed at the Princess’ jaw as he rubbed his cum into her skin. He licked and nipped at her jaw until he focused on the scent gland at her throat and licked at the sensitive spot. Princess Keena shivered, her body felt like it was underwater, flouting through an endless stream with the Prince’s hands slowly guiding her along.

“Hide the gift from your maids and wait for my call on the night of our announcement.” The Prince’s voice was gravely as he spoke in the Princess’ ear. His lips wet as he kissed her lobe and temple. “Will you wait for me, my gem?”

Princess Keena turned her head and cupped his face in her hands, “Always.”

The day of the announcement, the air was humid and buzzed with voices as the townspeople closest to the palace gathered in the arena towards the west gate. Throughout the Min empire, messengers rode since the day before with news of the Crown Prince’s engagement. Today the news would be shared with the townspeople and everyone who lived within the palace walls was on high alert. The arena wasn’t used often. It was a place for public executions and court sponsored entertainment for the townspeople. It was rare for everyone to be gathered in one place, but the townspeople woke up two days ago to handwritten notices from the Emperor that everyone was encouraged to join them in the area for a wonderful announcement.

Seokjin and Namjoon are dressed in the finest of robes; whites, creams and silver made up most of the court’s attire as they entered the arena. Slowly the crowd started to settle as more and more officials filed into their seats. Streamers hung from the rafters, paper lanterns in the shape of dragons and flowers were strung on sturdy twine rope that connected from section to section. A small band of musicians played in the middle of the arena, all dressed in matching yellow and white hanboks while another group danced around in colorful bedlahs and butterfly hanfus. The female dancers all had their hair down in long flowing waves with beaded and jeweled headpieces on display as they lept in the air and twirled on their bare feet.

Thick white smoke wafted in the air and carried the scent of takoyaki, dango, corn and other tasty treats from small venders that set up shop early that morning by the gate. Guards were dressed in their dress attire for the announcement. A green brocade button-down jacket that stopped just below their knees, with white trousers and a thick black leather belt fastened around their waist made up the base of the outfit for the royal guard. Depending on the rank of the guard, there was a white lotus flower stitched onto the inner sleeve of their jacket. Hoseok’s attire was the same but his colors were indigo and black.

Aga and the other guards that watched over the Princess wore a different uniform that combined the two nations’ styles. A indigo, white, and black dashiki was tucked into a pair of black hakamas. A white open cross collar outer jacket with a black hamerkop bird on the back was worn over top with matching indigo headbands that completed the outfit. As more guards filed into the area, the dancers cleared the arena grounds and sat off to the side while the band switched to a slower song.

Everyone in the arena rose to their feet and bowed low as Emperor and Empress Min appeared at the top of the arena. They wore matching black hanfus with a golden nightingale pattern. A large golden five-toed dragon was on the Emperor’s back surrounded by nightingales, while the Empress had a golden five-toed dragon on each of her shoulders and bottom of her sleeves.

They were a sight to see, elegant and powerful as they greeted their subjects with stern faces. Four intricately carved outdoor thrones were arranged at the front of the arena, where the royals were seated above everyone on a fenced riser. As they were seated, the rest of those in attendance sat, and once again the dancers took to the center of the arena. A jester performed, followed by two singers, before Emperor Chungho signaled the eunuch behind him to move forward with the day's events. As the older man stepped forward a hush fell over the arena and he pulled a rolled scroll from the inner pocket of his robes.

Princess Keena stood outside her room with her guards surrounding her. Byulyi, Wheein and Hyejin stayed behind her and walked with their heads bowed as they made their way to the Prince’s chambers. Aga led the way as Mingi and Chan flanked his sides. Today was a big day and no one took any chances of the Princess or Prince being harmed.

As they reached the Prince’s chambers, Hoseok grinned at the sight of the Princess. She was stunning in her attire and he knew that the Prince would feel the same way. Hoseok opened the door and stepped inside quickly to inform Prince Yoongi that the Princess was ready. Prince Yoongi stood from his seat behind his desk and swallowed thickly. His hair was pulled from his face and piled high on top of his hair in his signature topknot with a golden donggot; a dragon with ruby eyes and rose quartz petunias clutched in its mouth was carved at the end. Three small golden hoops clung to each of the Prince’s ears while a single earring hung from his left lobe, five rose quartz teardrops set in gold.

The day before the announcement, Menzo approached the Prince with new garments that would complement the Princess’ attire. She expressed the urgency of the Prince wearing the clothing and he did not understand why until today, once his attendants started to dress him. He wore an orchid color cross collared blouse that was tucked into a matching qun - skirt - that had a carafe and violet square patterned design along the hem. An orchid agbada was worn over top with the same matching square patterned design from the qun down the sides and around the hemming. His manggeon was replaced with a violet headband that had a gold hamerkop bird on the ends.

It wasn’t much different from what he wore in terms of style, but the colors were bright and eye-catching. As he inhaled through his nose, the Prince held his head high and followed Hoseok out the doors of his chamber. His eyes found the Princess immediately and his eyes flashed gold before a black plume of smoke huffed from his nose. They wore matching colors and it stirred a deep desire in Agust as he crawled in the Prince’s gut.

“You look…like a Queen.”

A rose quartz colored gele was on her head, folded and twisted into a crown in its own right. Pink diamonds and pearls were scattered over it with meori-kkoji pins on it as well. An orchid cross collared ru was tucked into an ankara patterned iro in carafe and violet. A rose quartz pele was wrapped around her waist and an orchid outer robe was worn over everything with a golden four-toed dragon on the back. The Princess smiled as heat attacked her face, and she offered the Prince her hand.

“Shall we, my Prince?”

“In a moment, Princess.”

Prince Yoongi held out his hand and Hoseok placed something in his palm. He walked to the Princess and took her outstretched hand in his own before he kissed her knuckles. She still wore his rings on her right hand and he grinned since her left hand was bare. Silently he raised his hand and slipped a gold ring onto the Princess’ ring finger. Her eyes widened and Prince Yoongi winked as he released her hand. She looked at the ring in awe, it was a plain gold band that split into tiny branches that held an emerald cut smoky quartz gem the size of a lima bean.

“Shall we, my gem?”

#yoongi fic #yoongi smut #yoongi angst #bts fantasy au #yoongi x oc #yoongi soulmate au #emperor yoongi #blackthorn ch 13 #dragon yoongi #bts ambw

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sweetfirebird · 11 months ago

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A Fairy in Everlasting

Feverfew Mole on Patreon made two donations but only one request, but it’s okay, because I went long with it. I suspect because I had Everlasting on my mind already (for Reasons) and so this happened. Don’t hate me.

Request was: a fairy walks into Everlasting Cuppa

Content tags: mention of homophobia/queer phobia as well as in-universe anti-being prejudice. Spoilers for Treasure for Treasure and His Mossy Boy. (and maybe Little Wolf??? But only slightly and vaguely?) um, some pining I suppose. Of a sort. Sorry not sorry. It is necessary.

Note: this is probably going to end up changed a bit and put into the new thing which is on my mind currently (see above) so… like Albert says, sometimes you have to wait a while.

A Fairy in Everlasting

Downtown Everlasting was the sort of place travel guides would deem quaint: small buildings and shops in white and faded pastels, neat and orderly sidewalks, old-fashioned street lamps, not a chain store in sight. The downtown was centered around a plaza of brick paths and decorative trees and benches that might have been in any small town if not for the statue of a dragon that had pride of place.

Outside of those few blocks, Everlasting was a tiny town overlooking a bay, with old abandoned canneries visible as one drove into town and wilderness on every other side. The skies above were gray, the mountains green with endless redwoods, the fog was everywhere and nowhere, and the ocean water was chilly blue.

It was beautiful.

Not even the frozen rain that began and ended with no warning could make Pansy think otherwise.

“Civilization and nature in one delightful package,” he said aloud into his phone, recording his impressions so he wouldn’t forget them later. He hadn’t even gotten to the dragons yet, which was the reason most people, including Grimsby, had assumed he’d wanted to come here.

With the attack on the dragon and the resulting court case in the news, the town of Everlasting was under discussion around the country in a way it possibly had never been. The only things keeping more busybodies away was the long drive required to get here, the lingering winter weather, and very likely a fear of the dragons themselves.

Lots of people thought of themselves as accepting, or on the side of one Zarrin Xu, wounded dragon, but the idea of being near dragons would have remained intimidating even if the dragons had been poor; the obscenely rich were their own danger.

Luckily, Pansy was not obscenely rich and never would be and at least never had to worry about that. He darted to a shop window lit with white fairy lights to peer at the antiques and curiosities on display—or would have darted, but his bulky parka and thermal pants beneath his jeans did not allow much darting.

Not the ideal ensemble for a fairy, and especially not to Pansy’s tastes when he did have to wear clothes, but it was so blasted cold up here, and there was so little sun. He very grateful that Grimsby had insisted he take his sun lamp on this adventure of theirs. Pansy would use it later when he returned to their hotel room and woke up the sleeping lump on the other bed.

The only reason he hadn’t woken Grimsby before leaving this morning was that they’d arrived in Everlasting late the night before and poor Grims had done all the driving to get there and deserved some extra rest. Also, no fairy would get very far making friends if they expected everyone to sleep—or not sleep—the way they did.

The shop was not open for the day yet. A pity, but Pansy could investigate it later. He had weeks to explore Everlasting if he wanted. He’d burned with curiosity since first seeing an overhead picture of the town and his brief peek into the town’s history had only convinced him that this was the place to go for atmosphere for his next book or two.

“Everything is set in the city,” he had explained to Queeny, Ginger, Dahlia, and the rest at the impromptu party they’d thrown for him and Grims before they’d left. “Except for the historical shorts. People will get bored. And anyway, what says mystery-romance more than an isolated, foggy, rainy town on the coast?”

They had not been convinced but Pansy had known he was right the second Grims had driven them past the wooden sign announcing they were entering Everlasting, the gloriously decrepit canneries and piers off to one side, the bay beyond that.

The cold, however, was a bit much. He’d have to get better gloves. His fingerless gloves, knitted himself, could not withstand the wet chill.

He chewed his lip, tasting birthday cake-flavored lip gloss, and turned from that window to continue down the sometimes-foggy street in search of people and warmth.

It wasn’t that early, although he imagined all children would be in school and most adults would have gone to work, probably leaving town to do so. Something had to pay for those big homes in the foothills, or the carefully maintain Victorians scattered throughout the area. Not everyone could live in the tinier homes closer to the water that he’d glimpsed on his walk from the hotel.

Several crows perched on a streetlamp ahead of him, their beady eyes reminding Pansy of the stares from the desk clerk at the hotel when he and Grimsby had walked into the lobby. Pansy had assumed that was because of Grimsby—Grims was only a were, and they were always big. Grims was just blessed with the worst RBF known to being and humankind. He’d probably frightened the poor girl, which was why Pansy had stepped forward to discuss the reservation and take care of the details.

Maybe that had surprised her too, a fairy doing that. Pansy was quite organized, all things considered, but recording things did help, as did having a best friend around to poke him and offer reminders.

But none of that explained her staring, or the stares from the new desk clerk this morning. Or how the mailman leaving the post office building had nodded an absent greeting to Pansy before doing a double take and giving him a far more piercing look.

Pansy paused at the next available shop window to peer down at his blue and indigo parka, and then, thoughtfully, at his painted yellow fingernails. A town that was used to dragons surely wouldn’t object to a fairy, or so he’d assumed. But dragons were special to humans as fairies weren’t. Powerful. People made exceptions for power. Maybe with everyone else, older human prejudices remained.

Pansy raised his gaze to study his face, making a kissy face at himself after brushing his purple-lavender bangs from his face. “Gorgeous, darling,” he assured himself, and turned from the window with a bit more determination. “And you’ll heal if anything happens,” he added, quieter, glancing up when the crows above him cawed.

He nodded. “Exactly.” Pansy didn’t get where he was by showing fear.

And if he did feel fear, well, he’d brought a mean-looking were to hide behind.

Speaking of, in addition to wanting to warm up a bit, Pansy should find some hot food and coffee to take back to his growly bestie. Although Grimsby would likely abandon him in favor of some godawful hike through the mountains before too long. Possibly even today, once the fresh air hit him.

The staring, stumbling morning desk clerk had told him there was a coffeeshop in the downtown area. A short walk, she’d said. Pansy had just gotten distracted. But he saw it now, a bright orange glow shining through glass windows and piercing the fog like a beacon.

Everlasting Cuppa. Naturally, not a corporate chain. Something local and hopefully good, although if any place should take coffee seriously, it should be a café in a freezing cold town known for rain. And dragons. But rain in this case.

Pansy sighed happily and opened the door to step inside. The blessed warmth of a coffee shop greeted him and he nearly opened his arms wide to hug the air currently being heated by a heating system, several coffee machines, and ooh, “A fire!”

They had a fireplace in the seating area. He loved this coffeeshop already.

The person in line in front of him turned at his exclamation, turned back, then did a doubletake.

Another one. Pansy frowned and tried to remember his reflection earlier. With his knitted beanie on, the tips of his ears hadn’t been visible. His wings were obviously hidden by his parka. He was dressed—fully dressed even. And his eyes looked dark brown at first glance.

Maybe it was his hair. Maybe this was the sort of town that hadn’t discovered how humans could vibrantly dye their hair yet.

Or maybe he looked like the pansy he was, and they would have stared even without seeing his wings.

Pansy narrowed his eyes. Ignoring the knot of anxiety in his chest, he pulled off his beanie and shoved it in his coat pocket. Then he ruffled his silky, choppy hair and stared ahead at the display cabinets and the counter and coffee machines and the menu board above it all.

Well, he intended to stare at them, to pointedly mind his own business the way some prejudiced humans could not. Only… only the shine.

Holy shit, Pansy thought helplessly, stunned by his first glimpse behind the counter.

The human at the register was…. Pansy was no shine-chaser though he’d take it when he found it, but the human at the register was exquisite. Oh, average height and pretty as a wedding cake, all warm tones and tattoos and sensitive eyes, a meal of a human boy, no mere snack. But his shine. It filled the space around him, gray and green and brown, chilly blue and iron red. As though he’d taken Everlasting’s colors for his own and made them brighter.

But then, behind and to one side of him, his back to Pansy, was another human of absolutely radiant pale blue and pinks, at such odds with the flaming red hair that it shouldn’t have worked and yet somehow did. He wasn’t as bright but his shine was soft, so soft that Pansy wanted to reach out to pet it.

Pink-and-blue turned his head, smiling crookedly and with infinite adoration at a larger figure waiting to one side. For his drink, Pansy would have assumed if a thought could have fully formed in that moment when he looked to that man and saw… not a man.

Like glimpsing a dragon on the news and seeing more, seeing other, around it. But this was no dragon. This was… a cop.

Pansy blinked several times but the large echo of feeling, of size and strength and wild, swaying shadows, remained around the cop. The big, square-jawed sort of cop, with glasses that did not hide eyes of blazing inhuman blue when the man glanced over toward Pansy and froze.

“Darling, what the hell?” Pansy asked out loud helplessly. “I’ve heard of firebirds having something even humans can see but that’s nothing to you.” He turned to the two shiny lovelies behind the counter who were now also utterly still and staring at Pansy and not in the way he was usually stared at.

Pansy was abruptly back in grade school, one of two beings in the whole school. He nearly winced reflexively as though a dodge ball was coming his way.

Then the whatever-he-was cop said, “I’ve got to go. Sorry,” to the pink and blue one, who had enormous hazel eyes and more freckles than Pansy did. He blinked those eyes when the cop moved away, not even waiting for his coffee.

The blue eyes did not meet Pansy’s as the cop skirted around him and slipped out the door.

“Goodness,” Pansy murmured before facing the rest of the room again.

The first one at the counter, the shiniest of shinies—and oh, oh what did that mean in a town of dragons?—recovered first. “Good day to you too, Forrester,” he said, apparently to the recently departed cop.

“His drink,” the soft shiny added, almost forlorn. But his attention returned to Pansy almost immediately.

On this side of the counter, several customers were waiting either to order or for their drinks. One, an older woman with the steadiest shine Pansy had ever seen, and rather wonderfully butch, gave Pansy a short smile. Pansy beamed back at her in relief; finally, a sensible human with good taste.

Behind the counter was a doorway, presumably to an employees-only area, although a tall figure came out of the doorway and went right behind the counter to the coffee machine. A pretty young wolf, which would delight Grimsby, who hated to shift and run alone. The young wolf had a vibrant shine, as they tended to, moonlight silver, with red-gold sparks around a hole in the center.

“Oh.” Pansy knew what that meant. The precious angel was so young and had lost a mate already. But he smiled at his coworkers and took the drink he’d made himself toward the back, as if he’d just come in for that. Then he saw Pansy and stopped.

“A fairy,” he said warmly, one more sensible person in this town, and kind despite his loneliness.

Pansy fluttered forward as best as he could with his wings in their parka prison. “Does this place attract the shiny?” he asked in a bit of a daze at so much of it in one place. “Do the dragons do it? Or import them or something?”

Mentioning the dragon made the silence worse, or maybe just made Pansy notice it for the first time as some of his dazzled senses began to calm down.

He faced the meal at the register, who cleared his throat and said, “Sorry,” in a low voice. “I just don’t think a fairy has ever been in Everlasting before.”

“And I’m the first!” Pansy was delighted, if a little trepidatious. He tossed his head to show his hair to best effect, that it would matter to this one. Now that Pansy was closer, it was clear that this one, and the other shiny for that matter, had the stamp of claims on them. Their hearts might be open to many things, but they were deeply loved, and by something powerful. Somethings, Pansy supposed, unless Zarrin Xu or the other dragons of Everlasting were hoarding people.

Ah. He glanced to the rabbit-soft human. The mysterious cop who had made him smile.

“That’s all right,” he offered in return, a little too late to pretend he hadn’t also been staring at them. “I’ve never seen so much shine in one place outside of the May Day fest in Madera when all the fairies gather to welcome spring.”

“I thought you were an elf at first,” Rabbit-soft volunteered. “But I’ve only seen one with, uh, I was going to say dyed, but you know, the colored hair.”

Pansy nearly shimmied for him. “Sweetness, your hair has color too. Flames to put a fairy to shame.” Rabbit-soft blushed too, a dark pink that Pansy could probably get darker if he tried. But he took pity. “My wings are under my coat. Your town has been lovely so far but so cold.” He shivered dramatically.

“Is that why?” The fantastic butch wondered. “Why fairies never come here?” she elaborated. “We did used to wonder. Unless it was the dragons keeping you out.”

Pansy shrugged. “I’d imagine dragons are indifferent to fairies, unless they think of them the way so many humans do.” He dragged that out at the end, letting them all think about the reputation that fairies had because he should have some fun in this town if they weren’t going to kill him or hurt him or run him out on a rail. “Tell me,” he leaned in toward her and batted his eyelashes, “what are the best sweet treats here for me? And where in town can I get a good, big breakfast to go for a friend of mine?” He glanced down to her sensible shoes and cuffed jeans and then back up. “And where’s the hardware store so I can get heat packs to put in my shoes and my gloves? Help me, gorgeous. I’m freezing.”

Her snorted laugh seemed to surprise even her. But then she pointed behind her. “Down the street that way. For the hardware store. Bold, aren’t you?”

She loved him. Pansy knew it. “The name is Pansy, oh love of my life. And when your name is Pansy, then a pansy you shall be.”

She cackled, and—be still Pansy’s heart—the pretty human at the register cracked a smile too. It was only for a second, but Pansy had seen it and his wings did their best to flutter despite himself.

“You could explore the park,” he suggested, “you and your friend. It’s open to the public.” He inched back and briefly seemed worried. “But we should probably tell Zarrin first.”

So he knew the dragon from the news. Perhaps that was the dragon who loved him so. That was good. Anyone going through what that dragon was going through should have a shiny, loyal pretty to cling to.

“I’m not a hiker really, not a serious one. I am more the kind to walk around to look at the view and maybe have a picnic. But my friend is, and I’ll pass that along, unless you think we’ll step on some toes. And ah, your sweetest, hottest, largest latte please. I’m not picky. Just cold.”

He gave the tip of his nose a furtive little rub to help warm it faster.

“I’m used to snow,” volunteered the young wolf, “but there’s something about rain that can make the air feel colder.”

“Are you staying in Everlasting long?” Rabbit-soft jumped in. None of the employees had nametags. It was the first time Pansy had ever thought employees should, just so he could meet them all properly.

“As long as it takes,” Pansy answered. “That sounds too mysterious. As long as we feel like, I should say. Until we get bored, probably.”

“Oh good. Jessie would be bummed if she didn’t get to meet you,” Rabbit-soft explained.

“Martin,” sighed the golden-warm one who named dragons freely, “he’s not an exhibit.”

“What?” Martin turned to Pansy guiltily. “Oh no, sorry. It’s just she loves out-of-towners. Especially the cool ones. Although you’re hot, so she’ll probably also…” He stopped, closed his mouth, and began to turn pink again. “That is, I mean,” he glanced to his coworker, then down. “You’re hot,” he said at last.

“Darling.” Pansy meant it. “In another life, I would take you out back and blow your… mind… for that compliment. But I’m not taking this parka off now for anybody. Anyway, you’ve got a big Taken sign all over you.” The pink grew darker. If this town was full of people like him, Pansy was going to have a treat of a time here. “Don’t worry. I’m only teasing. I’m no threat to your dragon.”

“My dragon?” Martin echoed, strangled.

“Or whatever,” Pansy replied, slowly and thoughtfully.

Perhaps to distract him, the one from the register moved around Martin to go to the espresso machine to make Pansy’s latte.

Pansy glanced around the room, full of somewhat tense, shiny people, all of whom had gone suspiciously silent again. This town was the perfect setting for a mystery. He had known it from the first second he’d heard the name. And now, having met some of them, in the little coffeeshop the locals loved, radiant with shine and happiness, he knew this town was also the perfect place to set a romance.

Oh he was going to get so much inspiration and have so much fun. Grimsby should never doubt him.

“Thank you.” No one had charged him but he put cash down by the register and stepped over to get his drink, which he held in his hands without putting the lid on it, so it would warm his fingers and cool enough to be sippable.

“Keep asking Ralph to let us try lavender simple syrup,” his wonderful server informed him, sweetly gruff, “but we don’t have it now. But that’s the French vanilla, with no artificial sweeteners. The weres,” he glanced back to the young wolf who hadn’t left, “apparently can taste the fake flavoring. So we have these now. I don’t know that I taste the difference but then, they do also taste better somehow.”

“This is the coffeeshop to go to, I can tell.” Pansy inhaled vanilla again appreciatively.

A chime rang out as a new customer walked in.

“I don’t know what has Forrester in a mood,” someone declared in a calm but very amused tone, “but he came tearing into the station without his usual coffee in hand. So I figured I’d get it for him for the sake of everyone in his sarcasm blast radius and maybe treat myself at the same time. It’s Tuesday,” the calmly amused person added, “Treat Yourself Tuesday is a thing. I’ve just decided.”

He seemed almost merry. Pansy turned, half expecting to see an elf or the sort of roly-poly older human man who delighted in telling silly jokes to strangers. But it wasn’t either. It was another cop. Human, certainly, and smaller than the other, inhuman one. He had a ruddy brown complexion and dark eyes. Average height for a human man. Regular-looking in nearly every way.

But his colors.

His colors.

The ringing, crystal clear, mountain spring purity of them, even as they melded and merged and moved together around him. They were not a shining beacon. Not overwhelmingly bright like the others here but clear. Blue and gray and white, all of them so astonishingly distinct and clear that it was as if a light was coming from behind him. As though he was a beam of light that only Pansy could see.

His wings struggled against the parka.

Pansy stumbled clumsily forward.

The man’s eyes fixed on him with obvious surprise, his gaze drifting up toward Pansy’s hair with a little blink, then falling to one of his ears and the chain cuffs Pansy wore since ear-piercing was impossible.

The man put his head back, then glanced away from Pansy to the others before looking at Pansy again. “A fairy in Everlasting? Well, the times they are a’changin’.”

Pansy couldn’t seem to manage a darling. “Apparently, I was meant to come here.”

“Really?” asked the human politely. “Well of course you’d come right in here. It’s a popular place.” He didn’t say, for beings, but Pansy thought he heard it. “Welcoming,” the man added with a smile. “And the best coffee. So you’ll probably be a regular soon like everyone else. Excuse me.” He was polite about that too, stepping around Pansy to get to the counter.

As if Pansy weren’t pretty. As if Pansy weren’t the handsomest, most gorgeous creature he’d ever seen.

Pansy slowly turned on his heel to stare at the clear, pure colors of his happiness who didn’t even look back at him.

Then the young wolf was suddenly next to him, leading him to the table where he could add more sugar to his coffee if he wanted or grab a lid. The wolf grabbed the lid for him. “I’d say get it for here, but Schmitty is going to get his to go.”

“Schmitty,” Pansy echoed. Schmitty. Like some sort of old-timey newspaperman’s name. It was horrible how charming that might be.

“It might not be that bad,” the wolf said, as soft as his rabbity coworker, the wolf who’d lost his mate—or perhaps not. “Sometimes, you have to wait a while. That’s all.”

“Wait a while?” Pansy was not the wolf here and yet he howled.

He glanced over, everyone in the coffeeshop, including Schmitty, had turned to stare at him.

“Sweetness,” he said, to the wolf, or the treasure behind the counter, or the butch queen, or the pink and blue bunny, or to Schmitty, perfectly average and perfectly devastating, “what even is this town?”

#being(s) in love #r. cooper #charity prompt #charity prompts 2023 #his mossy boy #treasure for treasure

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