JJP

@✺ Jaebum Joongchan hummed softly as he continued eating. "No one was treated fairly in that place... No one... Servants, maids, butlers, me. Only guests were treated kindly..." He sighed. He tapped his chin lightly. "Mmmm... I know a few ways to make it not-so-bland~. We can do that a different day though. When neither of us are tired..." He looked at Minjoon, smiling. "Though it's still not bad~."
Joongchan's face was so red, tomatoes didn't compare to it. "I didn't think you would do that!" He whispered, looking down at his bowl.

@✺ Jinyoung Minjoon took a spoonful of the soup and ate it, unable to help the smile that shows on his face. "Well, thank you for saying that. I'm sorry you were never treated fairly in your own home Joongchan. It's not right. But from now on you can cook with me, maybe we can figure out a way to make it less bland from now on" he suggested while lifting his brows.
Minjoon was beyond proud of himself, especially when he saw how red the orince's face had gotten from just a kiss "I warned you that if you apologized again that you'd regret it"

@✺ Jaebum Joongchan hummed softly, nodding. "I do, actually. Sometimes the stuff in the castle can be a bit too much. But they prepare things the way mom and dad want it." He answered, humming. "A little but not to the point where I can't eat. Just Joongchan... That's something I'm relieved to hear you say..."
Joongchan's face heated up as the other's lips brushed against his. "F-Fine! No more apologizing!" He squeaked. "What did you do that for?"

@✺ Jinyoung Minjoon raised his brows in surprise "You actually like it? I thought you would think its bland compared to what you usually eat in the castle" he rubbed his neck awkwardly "if it upsets you to talk about them, then don't. Here in this cabin, you're just Joongchan. Not prince Joongchan..and I'm glad you're here too" he smiled.
He looked into Joongchan's eyes, making sure it hadn't disgusted him when their lips touched. When he decided it was okay he moved his finger away and brushed his lips against the others "No more apologizing Joongchan"

@✺ Jaebum Joongchan took a few more bites of the soup, liking the way it tastes. "It's really good, by the way..." He said quietly. He looked back up at the other, giving a small nod. "I would be too... But right now... If I had the chance... I wouldn't even try to save my parents..." He bit his lip, setting the utensil down again. "We wouldn't be... And... I'm glad I'm here... I'm glad you're here..." He froze when the other stood up so quickly. His face immediately heating up as the other's lips just barely touched his due to the finger between them. "I'm... That's really hard.."

@✺ Jinyoung Minjoon watched Joongchan as he ate the soup, glad to see the prince finally eating and not complaining about his cooking even if it wasn't that good. He took a spoonful of his own soup and ate some before responding "I was and I'll always be grateful to my father since he sacrificed his life for my own" he frowned and then looked up at Joongchan "You're right, neither of us would be here if it weren't for my father's sacrifice" he stared down at his soup for a few seconds, but the second the apology left Joongchan's lips, he was up on his feet and swiftly leaned down, pressing his finger to Joongchan's lips and then kissing it as a warning "I told you to stop apologizing"

@✺ Jaebum Joongchan stared at the food for another moment before taking a bit of it. It wasn't bad. He thought it tasted pretty good, actually. But it was more the other's tone that got him to eat than anything. "You were?! Well... I'm glad he helped you escape... Or we wouldn't be here right now..." He looked at the other and tilted his head slightly. "It's fine. I don't mind the conversation... Morbid topics are nothing new... Even if I'm not fond of them... Don't apologize though..." He bit his lip. "But I am sorry..."

@✺ Jinyoung Minjoon sighed "Little prince, you need to eat something. I don't want to force you but if I have to then I will" he challenged and raised his brow "The nightmares come and go for me, especially since I was supposed to be executed along with my family, I should be dead right now but my father protected me and helped me to escape" he let out a heavy breath "Sorry, this isn't the right conversation to have while eating, I apologize for being morbid your highness". The prince felt guilty even though it wasn't his fault in the first place "If you try to apologize or make one more comment about feeling regretful for something you couldn't stop, you'll regret it" he warned with a serious expression

@✺ Jaebum Joongchan was staring down at the bowl in front of him. He was very hungry but unsure of whether he can eat anything. But he was going to try. He gave a small nod in response. "It happens... Almost every night..." He answered quietly. He was a bit surprised when the other's hand rested on his cheek. But instead of pushing it away he let him, and even tilted his head against the hand slightly, his eyes closed for a second before opening them again. "I hope so..." He said softly. He let out a small sound. "It's hard not to when I couldn't do anything to stop it... Even though I feel like I should have..."

@✺ Jinyoung Minjoon was speechless for a few seconds, just staring at Joongchan and realizing how wrong he was about the prince, he'd thought the prince would be just like the king and queen but they were nothing alike. "Is that why you were crying in your sleep?" he questioned and reached his arm across the table to lay his hand against Joongchan's cheek, it was impulsive and the prince could slap his hand away if he wanted to, but he wanted to comfort Joongchan however he could "It's going to be okay" he gave a reassuring smile "I understand Prince Joongchan, no need to feel guilty for the things your parents did, those are their mistakes, not your own"

@✺ Jaebum Joongchan shrugged a little in response before speaking. "Because I was forced to watch that... They are the ones I hear in my sleep... On top of my parents screaming at me..." He said softly. He looked down at the food, smiling. "I'm not a picky eater." He sat at the table, humming softly. "Mmmm... I see... I would say you should've come to us... But... My parents wouldn't have done anything about it..."

@✺ Jinyoung Minjoon's brows furrowed in confusion "Why are you apologizing? It's not your fault Prince Joongchan" he let out a breath "I can't say that I'm a good cook since I've only cooked for myself, so I apologize if the stew isn't good" he scooped the stew into two bowls and set the bowls on the dining room table "Thank you, this used to be a second home for my family during the winter since our house didn't stay warm and the roof would cave if there was too much snow"

@✺ Jaebum Joongchan let out a shaky sigh. "I'm sorry." He said softly. His voice barely audible. He let go of the other's shirt, nodding a little bit. "It does smell good... I might be able to eat a little..." He got up after the other and followed him. "You know... Your place isn't so bad..." He said this absentmindedly.

@✺ Jinyoung Minjoon sighed "I understand, the nightmares. I have them too. I haven't had good sleep in six months but there's not much I can do about it. Anyways, I made some beef stew for dinner, come and get it if you'd like some" he gave a small smile before letting go of the prince and standing up from the bed, heading back into the kitchen and dining room area

@✺ Jaebum Joongchan gripped onto Minjoon's shirt tightly. Forgetting he wasn't in his own bed and realizing that no one should be in his room with him. His eyes flew open but when he peeked up at the face he realized who it was an immediately calmed down again. "I don't want to go back to sleep." He whispered.

@✺ Jinyoung Minjoon hadn't expected the prince to cling to him so easily but he still continued to sing while rubbing Joongchan's back. "Hush now little prince" he whispered and gently rocked the sad prince in his arms, trying to help him get back to a peaceful sleep "shhh, sleep little prince"

@✺ Jaebum Joongchan whimpered softly as he laid in the bed, gripping onto the pillow beside him tightly. He couldn't get the images and sounds of his parents yelling and innocent people screaming out of his head. His hands let go of the pillow as someone pulled him into their arms. His hands instead gripping the person's jacket. The soft lullaby reached him, seemingly pushed out the screams and his whimpering slowly stopped.

@✺ Jinyoung Minjoon had just finished cooking some beef stew when he heard something, a whimper, or something similar to a cry. He set down the pot and quickly ran back into the room, his heart ached when he saw Joongchan curled up and whimpering, his face wet with tears. He sat down on the bed and pulled Joongchan into his arms, singing him a lullaby his mother used to sing to him so he could fall asleep.

@✺ Jaebum Joongchan somehow fell asleep easily, still holding onto the other. He didn't even move when the other lowered him down from Sugar and carried him inside. But it was almost like he could see Minjoon's face as the other touched his cheek, even though he was dead asleep. He curled up on the bed. He let out a soft whimper after seeing flashes of images from an execution and hearing his parents yelling in the background. A nightmare he had quite often. Physically flinching at the sound of the screams in his head. "N-No.." He whimpered.

@✺ Jinyoung It was an hour later when they finally arrived at a medium-sized house, getting out a lantern and lighting it so he can well enough to guide Sugar into a small stable nearby, carefully taking Joongchan into his arms and carrying him inside and laying him down on the bed, lightly stroking the prince's cheek before heading to his kitchen to work on making dinner

@✺ Jaebum "Mmm... You're probably right... But... I think they would get over it when they realize we are not my parents." Joongchan said quietly. He felt his face heat up as the other squeezed his thigh. He wasn't sure why but it felt... Odd. He was silent for a moment. "But... What if they think I'm doing it out of pity?" He tightened his arms around the other a little. "I hope so... They are my people... I need to have their trust..." His head was resting on Minjoon's back as they rode towards his place. For some reason... This felt so right. He still couldn't understand why... He was confused but he tried not to think about it too much. He heard the sadness in the other's voice. "I know... Don't worry... We will get my parents back for that..." He fell silent, giving a small nod. "Mmm... Alright~..." He held tightly onto the other and closed his eyes.

(sure~)

@✺ Jinyoung "I think they're going to have a harder time accepting that the prince is marrying a man, I'm sure they know you aren't like your parents" Minjoon mumbled and lightly squeezed the prince's thigh in reassurance "If they don't believe you then they'll believe me since I'm one of them, a townsperson I mean" he felt a sadness in the prince's voice "You'll win them over, just as you've done the same with me prince Joongchan" he closed his eyes for a second when he felt the prince lean against his back, for that one second he was no longer a boy who had lost his family, he was a man spending time with his soon to be husband "I don't know if I would have met you if they hadn't been.." he couldn't say it, it was too hard "You should rest, my home is still quite a ride away" he sighed "Sleep well little prince, I'll wake you when we arrive at our destination"
(time skip?)

@✺ Jaebum "Ah... I know... But... You know that people won't believe it... They'll think it's all a trick..." Joongchan said quietly. "Hopefully people will believe that I'm being genuine... I love my people... Which is why I was never allowed among them... My parents were afraid I'd turn on them... And they're right..." He was still clinging onto Minjoon rather tightly. "I know... I know..." He fell silent when Minjoon mentioned losing his family. "I'm sorry... I wish I could have met you sooner..." His cheek was resting against the other's back still. "I suppose that's true~"

@✺ Jinyoung "You'll have to show the people of the kingdom that you're nothing like your parents, it won't happen overnight but I know you can do it. Together we'll clean up the mess your parents have made and restore what was lost to the people" Minjoon said with a sense of determination in his eyes "You're nothing like them Joongchan, you have a heart, they don't" he muttered but kept his eyes forward making sure not to lose track of the trail "Loneliness is something I dealt with after I lost my family, it was difficult, I had no one. I was alone" he turned his head and looked at the prince out of the corner of his eye, a slight grin on his face "She's amazing because of you since you're the one that raised her"

@✺ Jaebum "That's true... I suppose..." He said softly. He hummed, smiling a little bit. "Of course it won't be... Trying to make amends for everything they ruined... All they damage they caused... I can't bring people back from the dead... Innocent people who did absolutely nothing but were executed..." He let out a soft laugh. "Thanks... But no one expects me to be nice..." He hummed softly, smiling a little as he let himself rest against the other. "I suppose it could count as a reward... I wouldn't be in the castle by myself..." He didn't know why this felt right... But he didn't want to sit up... "She does. She's amazing... I can always count on her..."

@✺ Jinyoung "Yeah, but its better than letting the people suffer because of an evil king and queen, it's not going to be easy and I don't expect it to be easy. I mean I didn't expect you to be so nice compared to your parents" Minjoon shrugged nonchalantly "I don't think we can do it, I know we can. As long as we work together then we can" he grinned "I guess marrying each other is a reward for what's to come" he teased, his breath hitched in his throat when he felt the prince's warm body behind him, it had been awhile since he'd laid with a man. "She moves with confidence and she's quite fast" he said to the prince as he rode through the forest

@✺ Jaebum Joongchan hummed softly. "We'll have to do a lot... Trust building... Rebuilding..." He said quietly. "But I think we can do it... I'm certain of it..." He nodded a little bit. "Mmmm... And I get to marry you. I suppose that doesn't sound like the worst possible thing." His voice was slightly playful. He shook his head a bit. "Mmm... Is that so?" He let his head rest on Minjoon's shoulder as they rode towards his place. "Alright. She's easy to control. You shouldn't have many issues with her." He held onto Minjoon's shirt, even though he was certain he wouldn't fall of anyways. He'd never been the second person on his own horse.

@✺ Jinyoung "We, you and I will restore the town and the entire kingdom so that the villagers can prosper and not have to fear for their lives" Minjoon said with passion "I don't mind it, not only are we helping people but I also get to marry a handsome prince, doesn't sound too bad to me" he grins cheekily "I'd love to see you know them from that tower, little prince" he teased lightly "Okay, let's get a move on, I don't like to be in these woods after dark, it's hard to see anything" Joongchan took the reigns and moved them so that Sugar began to trot forward towards his home, a smile on his face the whole ride there.

@✺ Jaebum Joongchan hummed softly. "Anything we do is for the people... By we..." He paused for a moment, looking at Minjoon. "Alright... I guess so..." He sighed. "By we... If you really want to... I mean you and me." He hummed softly, looking around. "Mmmm... IF I get to punch my dad in the face... We'll knock them from their tower of terror..." He smiled a bit, kissing Sugar's nose. "I hope so~ She's my baby~." He adjusted himself on Sugar's back before lightly holding onto the other.

@✺ Jinyoung "Then let's work together, let's get rid of them for not only my parents but for the people who are suffering from their tyranny" he grins "You don't have to be physically involved with me, it could be a marriage of convenience. We could knock your parents off their high horse if we work together" he looks away for a second before looking back to Joongchan "She's a good strong horse, I'm sure she'll live a lot longer than most, especially since you're her owner" he pulled Joongchan up onto the horse behind him "Let me know when you're ready to take off