“Fireflies” (ft. BTS’ Jungkook)
Summary: You’ve been friends with Prince Jungkook ever since you met him while watching fireflies as a kid. Years pass and feelings bloom, but just when you think you’re a step closer to your happily ever after, Jungkook is sent to war. Promises are made, letters exchanged, but will real love endure until the end?
Pairing: Jungkook x Reader
Genre: Prince!Jungkook, Princess!Reader, RoyaltyAU, set in a fictional country, late 40s to early 60s vibe (but not meant to be historically accurate), somewhat epistolary in format, Fluff, Angst, Drama
Warning(s): mentions of blood, violence, torture and death
a/n: It’s funny how the same song can inspire you in an entirely different way because I’m pretty sure I wrote a scenario on Run Away With Me already, but I used it as an inspiration in this one again (the Jeremy Jordan version this time). Paper hearts was also part of this scenario’s soundtrack. Took very minimal cues from Dear John, it’s more of a nod than anything. Generally prompted by The Crown. LONGEST ONESHOT EVER. Read at your own risk. BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY FAVORITE MAKNAE, JEON JUNGKOOK-OPPA.
You hated these parties and you hated them more when they were thrown for you. You barely knew any of these people in your home and yet your mother insists that you should enjoy the ‘pleasantries’.
They were hardly pleasant for you.
During your 7th birthday, you were introduced to the world as the young and only princess of your kingdom. Your parents loved you and Crown Prince Seunghyun, your older brother, doted on you like you were his daughter, but you just hated the people who only came to these parties for their own ulterior motives.
People parted when you walked by, they showered you with compliments with hopes of gaining the royal family’s favor… They smiled and yet you could see that it hardly reached their eyes.
You hated it, so you escaped and went to your secret place—the forest behind the castle.
It was a warm summer night, dewy enough for fireflies to appear. You picked up your skirts and trudged down the muddy path leading to the swamp nearby. You were well aware that your new clothes were being ruined and that your mother would probably scold you about palace etiquette again.
You sat quietly, the hem of your gown dipping slightly in the water, and waited.
You suddenly heard rustling behind you and a million thoughts entered your head. Was it an intruder? Someone who wanted to abduct you and extort from your family? Was it a carnivorous beast that wanted to skin you to your bones?
You prepared to run, but you slipped on the mossy pebbles and was falling face first into the water when you felt someone tug your skirt backwards.
A boy, around your age, who you recognized as Prince Jungkook from the next kingdom stood before you. In your head, you wanted to berate him for touching you and tugging on your clothes as if you were friends, but he already sat by your feet without even asking for permission.
You were about to say something, but he said, “Ssshh… They’ll get scared.”
He pointed forward and you followed the line from his finger. Slowly, like they whispered amongst themselves and decided to appear one by one, fireflies floated over the untrimmed grass. You could only gaze in admiration as their reflection danced on the surface of the water.
“So pretty…” You cooed, trying your best not to ward them off with your voice. You tucked your legs against your chest and rested your chin on your knees. “I wish I could keep them in my pocket and see them all the time.”
“If you do that, they’re going to die.” He said too nonchalantly that you were almost offended. “…but if your mom… I mean, the Queen doesn’t allow you to go see them alone, I can go with you. I’m a prince too, you know. I can protect you.”
You briefly glanced at his face, his wide eyes were still on the fireflies, and maybe you imagined it or maybe it was the fact that it was a warm summer night, but you could’ve sworn that his cheeks were tinged the right shade of pink.
And that was the catalyst of countless more summer nights, some too cold, some too warm and some just right.
Just as he had sat beside you all those years ago in the murky swamp, he has done so in countless other balls and formalities. He made you laugh with silly faces, completely unbefitting for a prince. Sometimes, when you two were alone, he’d hum a tune or sing a lullaby. He was the one who taught you how to ride a horse, how to shoot a bull’s eye and in turn, you pestered him by teaching him etiquette and recipes. During days that you didn’t feel like being your titles, Jungkook and Y/N had picnics in the attic. You hadn’t meant to and hardly anyone expected it, but more than 10 years have passed and you were still friends.
You’ve never had anyone you can call your best friend before, but somehow, you were sure that he was yours.
And recently, maybe even more.
Being the youngest of 7 sons, there was little to no expectations on him, but he always delivered. At 21, he excelled at being a prince and some might argue that he was much better than Crown Prince Jin. He was a great marksman and a talented military strategist even in theory. He was well-educated and true, he may not be as adept with the constitution as Crown Prince Seokjin or Prince Namjoon, but what he couldn’t achieve through intellect, he got with charm. In his free time, he can even beat a handful of artists who paint for a living. He was undoubtedly the most eligible bachelor in his land, the Kingdom of Kiōs.
His flawlessness sometimes made you wonder why he remains as your friend; nothing more and nothing less.
More than being his friend, however, you were first a princess, so you were almost obligated to attend the grand celebration for his 21st birthday. Your mother picked out your dress herself and your handmaids took an extra hour to prepare you. Your whole castle was bustling and everyone seemed determined, for very different reasons, to present themselves well to Jungkook’s household. Your reason, however, was a very selfish one—you wanted to tell him how you felt before either of you were betrothed to someone else and some part of you believed that powdering your nose more than usual would help you achieve that. To say that it was customary for a prince in Kiōs to marry by 25 would mean killing all your thoughts of ever pursuing your feelings for him, but still… you had hope.
You had hope in all the years you’ve spent meeting his gaze and answering his smiles, in his playful nature and gentle voice. You had hope that out of all the times you were looking at him with adoration, he was also looking at you without you knowing. However, the fact that all his brothers were either married or engaged by the time they reached 25 years old did not help your confidence.
‘The celebration will be opulent, no doubt about it.’ You thought as you stepped into a car.
You can just imagine the lengths that the King and Jungkook’s 6 brothers would take to properly celebrate the youngest’s birthday. Compared to your domain, the Kingdom of Acies, Kiōs was larger. They ruled over more land and had more subjects. The citizens of Kiōs respected the King and even when the Queen had passed away when Jungkook turned 15, they never questioned the King’s compassion nor his iron fists. Neighboring kingdoms, such as yours, preferred to be in good terms with them, even swearing to be their ally. Truth to be told, your friendship with their kingdom protected your smaller land.
But along with friends, came their foes.
