Ship/Member: Jeonghan/Seungcheol Major Tags: medieval-esque, king jeonghan & captain of the guard seungcheol, implied violence Additional Tags: major injury, love as duty Permission to remix: pls ask! a/n: i... don't know if this quite fills the prompt but this is where my brain went forgive me
***
If you still want me, please forgive me The crown of love has fallen from me If you still want me, please forgive me Because your hands are not upon me -Arcade Fire
Seungcheol was not born to be Captain of the Guard. He was born and raised as Jeonghan’s companion, first and foremost, always at the crown prince’s side. Seungcheol was born two months prior, a gift just for Jeonghan.
Wherever Jeonghan went, Seungcheol followed. That was the way of things.
–
“Why are you learning the sword?” Jeonghan is displeased, lying in Seungcheol’s bed, watching as he puts on his practice armour. “Who is supposed to entertain me in the middle of my lessons?”
Seungcheol doesn’t look at him, struggling with his breastplate. “His Highness will have to find new sources of entertainment,” he grunts. Jeonghan watches him struggle for a minute longer before getting up with a sigh. Hopeless fool. He means to be a swordsman? Jeonghan tuts under his breath as he helps lace Seungcheol up properly.
His hand pauses at Seungcheol’s bare neck. Jeonghan hadn’t thought he was serious in his endeavor, until he chopped off his hair, adopting the usual short-cut meant for soldiers. Jeonghan’s own hair is loose and free, to his shoulders. The way he always wears it when it’s only the two of them.
Seungcheol is still, letting Jeonghan touch him. Duplicitous creature, letting Jeonghan do as he wants, and then turning around and doing as he pleases in turn.
“I don’t like it,” Jeonghan declares sullenly, one last protest. “What if I order you to stay?”
Seungcheol grins. “Forgive me, Hannie. Just this once.”
–
Jeonghan thinks it would have been easier if Seungcheol was an only child. That way, he could devote himself solely to Jeonghan. But Seungcheol admires his older brother, newly appointed Captain, and has a score of cousins that he’s always carrying on his shoulders. Laughing, so generous with his love.
Give it only to me, Jeonghan wants to demand. Especially in times like these, celebrations that force him in formal dress, to be seated with his parents and sister, the royal family on display. Seungcheol is a noble, but gets to run around in the streets, full of childish glee.
Most of the time, Jeonghan enjoys being a prince. But sometimes, he thinks he would give it all up. If only to be a boy running free, with Seungcheol.
–
Two years before his coronation, the castle is attacked. Jeonghan watches in muted shock as his father’s personal guard, the one that’s been in service for over a decade, slits his throat. Seungcheol’s brother is quick to react, charging the traitor with a roar. A frantic Seungcheol shoves Jeonghan’s sister in Jeonghan’s arms, and drags him away, hiding them in a secret compartment in the kitchen quarters.
“Don’t make a sound,” he commands. “Don’t leave, until I return.”
Stay with me, Jeonghan means to scream, but Seungcheol takes his sword out, shuts the door, and runs.
In the bloody aftermath, Jeonghan comes out King, shaking and shivering.
And Seungcheol, sobbing next to his brother’s corpse, becomes Captain.
–
“No,” Jeonghan shakes his head once all the advisors leave them. Jeonghan knows what being Captain means, especially if their enemies are still at large. His body seizes with fury and fear. Seungcheol belongs to him, not their kingdom. “No, no. It doesn’t have to be you. Be my personal guard instead. Someone else can do it!”
Seungcheol’s eyes are exhausted. “Forgive me, Jeonghan,” he whispers, resigned. He has always loved too much for his own good. “Your Majesty.”
Jeonghan could not have hoped to keep him as his own.
–
Seokmin and Mingyu are handpicked by Seungcheol for Jeonghan’s personal guard. Both strong and sturdy. Jeonghan scoffs when he first meets them, but six months into service, Seokmin kills an assassin before they can even wake Jeonghan up and Mingyu finds the rest of them in three days.
“They’re adequate,” Jeonghan tells Seungcheol when he returns from battle. Seungcheol, even covered in weeks’ old grime and sweat, is still the sweetest sight. Bowing low to Jeonghan in court to report their success.
Bowing in an entirely different way when they are alone in Jeonghan’s chambers.
“Do you mean for them to be your replacements?” Jeonghan asks, naked and sated. Seungcheol snorts lightly.
“If you’d like,” Seungcheol says. A jest.
Jeonghan wonders if Seungcheol has anyone out there, on the battlefield, that is meant to be replacing Jeonghan.
–
Most of the time, Jeonghan hates being King. Especially in times of war, Jeonghan can hardly trust any voice in his ear, maintaining a strong, stoic disposition as he sends more and more men off to die.
Seungcheol leads them all, promising to come back every time.
It is the only promise Jeonghan wants him to keep. He would not forgive him otherwise.
–
Dark wings carry dark words. A messenger hawk arrives with dire news of a lost battle, countless dead men on their side. A missing Captain.
“He’s dead,” Mingyu says, thoughtless in his shock. Seokmin elbows him harshly, and Jeonghan clutches at the letter with white knuckles. Seungcheol isn’t dead. He can’t be. Jeonghan would have felt it if he was, would have collapsed to the ground the moment Seungcheol’s heart stopped.
Jeonghan walks around like a ghost for an entire month before Seungcheol rides back to the castle, half-dead on his horse. It is not proper for the King to be so involved in the healing process, but he’s at Seungcheol’s bedside every night until he wakes up.
When Seungcheol’s eyes finally open, Jeonghan is furious.
“What is more important?” Jeonghan hisses. He should be grateful Seungcheol is alive but he is too angry for that. “Your duty or your life? Or me? If you cared about me, as you did when we were boys, you wouldn’t risk your life so foolishly!”
Seungcheol takes his hand, placing a weak kiss on it. “You are my duty,” he murmurs, half out of his mind. “I care about you more than anything. I carry you with me, everywhere I go.”
Kings do not cry. But Jeonghan does, dropping to his knees, cursing Seungcheol’s foolish, good heart.
If he carries any more of him, there will be none of Jeonghan left to rule.
–
Jeonghan carries Seungcheol with him everywhere as well. He cannot do a single thing without his mind wandering to him. It is a particular kind of agony, to wait on the throne while Seungcheol rides out to fight on his behalf.
He knows, if Seungcheol ever does fall, Jeonghan won’t let him rest alone. He will go to his grave, claw at the dirt with his own fingers, and settle next to Seungcheol’s body.
Wherever he goes, Jeonghan will follow. To hell with everything else.
[FILL] heavy is the head
Major Tags: medieval-esque, king jeonghan & captain of the guard seungcheol, implied violence
Additional Tags: major injury, love as duty
Permission to remix: pls ask!
a/n: i... don't know if this quite fills the prompt but this is where my brain went forgive me
***
Seungcheol was not born to be Captain of the Guard. He was born and raised as Jeonghan’s companion, first and foremost, always at the crown prince’s side. Seungcheol was born two months prior, a gift just for Jeonghan.
Wherever Jeonghan went, Seungcheol followed. That was the way of things.
–
“Why are you learning the sword?” Jeonghan is displeased, lying in Seungcheol’s bed, watching as he puts on his practice armour. “Who is supposed to entertain me in the middle of my lessons?”
Seungcheol doesn’t look at him, struggling with his breastplate. “His Highness will have to find new sources of entertainment,” he grunts. Jeonghan watches him struggle for a minute longer before getting up with a sigh. Hopeless fool. He means to be a swordsman? Jeonghan tuts under his breath as he helps lace Seungcheol up properly.
His hand pauses at Seungcheol’s bare neck. Jeonghan hadn’t thought he was serious in his endeavor, until he chopped off his hair, adopting the usual short-cut meant for soldiers. Jeonghan’s own hair is loose and free, to his shoulders. The way he always wears it when it’s only the two of them.
Seungcheol is still, letting Jeonghan touch him. Duplicitous creature, letting Jeonghan do as he wants, and then turning around and doing as he pleases in turn.
“I don’t like it,” Jeonghan declares sullenly, one last protest. “What if I order you to stay?”
Seungcheol grins. “Forgive me, Hannie. Just this once.”
–
Jeonghan thinks it would have been easier if Seungcheol was an only child. That way, he could devote himself solely to Jeonghan. But Seungcheol admires his older brother, newly appointed Captain, and has a score of cousins that he’s always carrying on his shoulders. Laughing, so generous with his love.
Give it only to me, Jeonghan wants to demand. Especially in times like these, celebrations that force him in formal dress, to be seated with his parents and sister, the royal family on display. Seungcheol is a noble, but gets to run around in the streets, full of childish glee.
Most of the time, Jeonghan enjoys being a prince. But sometimes, he thinks he would give it all up. If only to be a boy running free, with Seungcheol.
–
Two years before his coronation, the castle is attacked. Jeonghan watches in muted shock as his father’s personal guard, the one that’s been in service for over a decade, slits his throat. Seungcheol’s brother is quick to react, charging the traitor with a roar. A frantic Seungcheol shoves Jeonghan’s sister in Jeonghan’s arms, and drags him away, hiding them in a secret compartment in the kitchen quarters.
“Don’t make a sound,” he commands. “Don’t leave, until I return.”
Stay with me, Jeonghan means to scream, but Seungcheol takes his sword out, shuts the door, and runs.
In the bloody aftermath, Jeonghan comes out King, shaking and shivering.
And Seungcheol, sobbing next to his brother’s corpse, becomes Captain.
–
“No,” Jeonghan shakes his head once all the advisors leave them. Jeonghan knows what being Captain means, especially if their enemies are still at large. His body seizes with fury and fear. Seungcheol belongs to him, not their kingdom. “No, no. It doesn’t have to be you. Be my personal guard instead. Someone else can do it!”
Seungcheol’s eyes are exhausted. “Forgive me, Jeonghan,” he whispers, resigned. He has always loved too much for his own good. “Your Majesty.”
Jeonghan could not have hoped to keep him as his own.
–
Seokmin and Mingyu are handpicked by Seungcheol for Jeonghan’s personal guard. Both strong and sturdy. Jeonghan scoffs when he first meets them, but six months into service, Seokmin kills an assassin before they can even wake Jeonghan up and Mingyu finds the rest of them in three days.
“They’re adequate,” Jeonghan tells Seungcheol when he returns from battle. Seungcheol, even covered in weeks’ old grime and sweat, is still the sweetest sight. Bowing low to Jeonghan in court to report their success.
Bowing in an entirely different way when they are alone in Jeonghan’s chambers.
“Do you mean for them to be your replacements?” Jeonghan asks, naked and sated. Seungcheol snorts lightly.
“If you’d like,” Seungcheol says. A jest.
Jeonghan wonders if Seungcheol has anyone out there, on the battlefield, that is meant to be replacing Jeonghan.
–
Most of the time, Jeonghan hates being King. Especially in times of war, Jeonghan can hardly trust any voice in his ear, maintaining a strong, stoic disposition as he sends more and more men off to die.
Seungcheol leads them all, promising to come back every time.
It is the only promise Jeonghan wants him to keep. He would not forgive him otherwise.
–
Dark wings carry dark words. A messenger hawk arrives with dire news of a lost battle, countless dead men on their side. A missing Captain.
“He’s dead,” Mingyu says, thoughtless in his shock. Seokmin elbows him harshly, and Jeonghan clutches at the letter with white knuckles. Seungcheol isn’t dead. He can’t be. Jeonghan would have felt it if he was, would have collapsed to the ground the moment Seungcheol’s heart stopped.
Jeonghan walks around like a ghost for an entire month before Seungcheol rides back to the castle, half-dead on his horse. It is not proper for the King to be so involved in the healing process, but he’s at Seungcheol’s bedside every night until he wakes up.
When Seungcheol’s eyes finally open, Jeonghan is furious.
“What is more important?” Jeonghan hisses. He should be grateful Seungcheol is alive but he is too angry for that. “Your duty or your life? Or me? If you cared about me, as you did when we were boys, you wouldn’t risk your life so foolishly!”
Seungcheol takes his hand, placing a weak kiss on it. “You are my duty,” he murmurs, half out of his mind. “I care about you more than anything. I carry you with me, everywhere I go.”
Kings do not cry. But Jeonghan does, dropping to his knees, cursing Seungcheol’s foolish, good heart.
If he carries any more of him, there will be none of Jeonghan left to rule.
–
Jeonghan carries Seungcheol with him everywhere as well. He cannot do a single thing without his mind wandering to him. It is a particular kind of agony, to wait on the throne while Seungcheol rides out to fight on his behalf.
He knows, if Seungcheol ever does fall, Jeonghan won’t let him rest alone. He will go to his grave, claw at the dirt with his own fingers, and settle next to Seungcheol’s body.
Wherever he goes, Jeonghan will follow. To hell with everything else.