Jinseok really likes good food. He doesn’t envy people who eat well though a all, despite his past situations. Jinseok just really likes good food. So obviously the one spot where he is sure to be found is in the ACE cafeteria, munching on everything. he had ordered one of everything on the cafeteria menu and was now surrounded by all sorts of delicious food. Jinseok reaches for his chopsticks and with a grin, just quietly dives into the food, eating bits from all the plates that he had.
Of course, while he’s eating, he looked up because he felt the gaze of someone. Was he being judged for all the food he was eating? He looked up and innocently blinked before shoving a bowl of kimchi into his mouth. “Yes, can I help you?” he asked.
Taejin had entered the cafeteria hoping to get some food when he’d seen the guy sitting at the table. The plates around him were many and Taejin wondered if he was going to eat all of the food there. When he saw who it was though, he nodded. “oh... no, I just. I was impressed with your spread. It’s... uh.” He hesitated, trying to figure out the right word, but finished lamely. “impressive?”
He felt his stomach growl and he looked down at his feet. “I uh... I should go get some of my own because... uh. yeah.”
Taejin looked at his leader and wondered how much the rest of the members had been bugging him for the past week, but Taejin had a different point of view, and it meant that he was in an interesting situation, although TJ didn’t know that. He took a breath, and followed Taejoon into his room, shutting the door behind him.
He watched as his leader sat back down on the bed, and, after a moment of standing awkwardly, hands entwined together, he decided to join him, sitting cross-legged at the foot of the be as he looked at TJ. “I’d like to know what happened... what’s happening?” He hesitated, unsure of how to state it. “Between you and Hanui... I, I mean, you and she...” He sounded worried, when if he was being very honest, he shouldn’t have been. It made him seem a little twisted. “are you two dating?”
Taejin hadn’t been sure of exactly what he was going to do once he was there, and now that he was there, and she was in front of him, he knew even less of what he was doing. He stepped inside, avoiding her gaze for a moment, looking at the floor instead. This was going to be more difficult than he thought initially.
His hand dropped from where it had been poised to knock and he stepped into the apartment, memories and thoughts flooding through his mind in only the moments since he entered. “Hanui...” He had to hesitate, wondering to himself, was that his own voice sounding like that? It sounded like he had come to announce the end of days. Though, perhaps, he thought, he was in a way. Just the days were days they’d do things between them. Not ever really dates, just connections between them, each one electric and surprising. The shiver that ran down his spine consumed him and he shuddered slightly, turning to look at her as he leaned against the wall, just down from the doorway, his eyes only halfway looking at her, half unfocused as he exhaled slowly.
“We need to talk... You and me... you and I.” He edited his own grammar, his eyes finding the floor again as he disengaged from his unfocused gaze, and only a moment later, his own eyes shutting as he leaned his head back against the wall, letting out a soft whine, barely audible. His mind was tight, and he felt awkward and uncomfortable here, unlike he’d felt any other time he’d arrived to see her. It was like waiting for his own death sentence. The look of disappointment on her face in his minds eye as he imagined this connection between them, severed, it made his heart feel tight and claustrophobic. As though even just being here was too small a location for them to be when beside each other. He waited, hesitant to continue until he knew he had her attention.
Taejin was caught, between feeling horrible and finally being happy. He wanted to ignore the feeling of harsh anger with himself, but that feeling all but vanished when he heard the shaky laugh from the younger. The sound was like hope for Taejin. A reminder that perhaps they could work things out between them. That they could get back to the place they’d been before. He wanted that, and looking down at Myungsoo, he wondered silently if Soo wanted that as well.
Taejin could feel Myungsoo physically relax as they curled onto the couch, Taejin’s body turned towards soo, arms still slung around the younger’s shoulders. that moment of tightness in his chest, an intake of breath, eyes widening, a breath trapped in his throat. didn’t care about what happened Taejin swore that’s what he heard, but it took a moment, and the next words Soo stated hammered the thought home.
It took Taejin a moment to arrange his thoughts, to put things together into coherent statements. “I do care about what happened. I care that it hurt you. I care that I was an idiot... but I care more about you.” He leaned his forehead downward, resting it on Myungsoo’s shoulder in front of him. “I want you to be happy, and if that’s with me, then here I am... I don’t want to be anywhere else. I was stupid to think that I did.” He let out a shaky sigh. He wanted this to be real. He wanted to be able to stay like this beside Myungsoo until the end of this day, and then till the end of all of the days in their future. He knew, his mind was conflicted because though he’d told Hanui that he needed to figure out where he stood, it only took being beside Myungsoo for him to know that this was where he was meant to be. He felt more at ease here than even before.
@acextaejoon Taejin didn't like the feeling that bubbled up within him when he saw the photo of Taejoon and Hanui appear across the internet. It wasn't that he was jealous, it didn't feel right for that, instead he felt anxious, as though somehow, he'd intruded on something he didn't know he could intrude on. It didn't take him long to decide that he had to do something about this feeling. He bit his bottom lip as he stood outside his leader's door. Had he missed something before? Was he seriously in the wrong here? Had he done something that would disappoint his leader again? He probably shouldn't have let whatever it was with Hanui go as far as it had, but this feeling of doubt as he lifted his hand to knock on his hyung's door left him uneasy in a completely new way.
Taejin had been avoiding seeing Hanui for a while, but knew it wasn’t fair to her to just cut her out of his life the way he’d thought to. They worked for the same company and ignoring her or avoiding her wouldn’t work out, especially considering the fact that he was disappointed with himself in the way he was handling everything.
The thing that had pushed his need to see her over the edge was the photo. He’d opened up the gossip site and there at the top had been a photo. It’s quality wasn’t fantastic, but it was obviously Hanui, with someone he never expected to see. It was Leader-hyung. Seeing Taejoon with Hanui made his lungs feel momentarily tight, but the more he looked at the photo, the more he realized how happy they looked. He needed details and he had to find both from Hanui and his leader, so he’d headed out, after avoiding it, and, standing outside her door, he could feel his own self doubt stirring.
Taejin grinned wryly, shrugging. “I mean... if I just told them that you weren’t baking any more... They’d never have to know that you were only baking for me...” He pouted at her, but hummed as he took the plate back from her. “Regardless of that, I know they’ll like this. This is healthy, and tasty. It’s kind of the perfect combination.” He used his fork to take another bite, smiling as he did so. He couldn’t help himself. There was something about baked goods that made him happy. “Do you think that the others appreciate your baking like I do?“ He couldn’t help but give her one last ditch effort to get exclusive rights to her baking. His smile was teasing as he looked up at her, fork trapped between his lips. He knew the others would miss her baking, so he wasn’t about to push it too far though.
“I know I’m your tester... but one of these days I’ve gotta be able to pay you back somehow, Yerin...”
If Taejin was surprised to see Myungsoo, it was nothing compared to what he felt when Myungsoo stepped forward and tugged him close. It was a natural response to put his own arm around Myungsoo, turning them into the dormitory, and letting the door shut behind them as he put his other arm around him as well, holding him close. Taejin was happy. Elated perhaps, but with an overwhelming sense of worry as well. He allowed a hand to slip over Myungsoo’s back, running his fingers through the hair at the back of Soo’s hair. He’d been thinking about the cause of this emotional response.
When Myungsoo spoke, Taejin felt his heart jump into his throat. The sound made it shatter and his hold grew tighter. He didn’t know what else to do. He felt a tightness in his ribs, a hand rubbing Myungsoo’s back as he spoke softly. “I missed you too...” He let out a shaky breath. Somehow, being here, even just standing in the entryway to his dorm, it felt like he’d successfully climbed a mountain. As much as he knew, he knew that they were still broken, the two of them, he felt like something had been put back together the way they were meant to be.
This, the two of them, it felt like the solution to a puzzle he’d been trying to solve since he’d last seen Myungsoo. lowering his head, he spoke gently. “Let’s go sit down... I promise I won’t go anywhere... Just if someone opens the door right now, we’re gonna get hit.” He let out a soft chuckle, and maintaining his arms around Myungsoo, he walked them into the living room, wanting nothing more than to be able to focus solely on Soo, and not worry about their surroundings.
myungsoo couldn’t lie that the days without taejin had been hell. not just because of what had happened, but because it seemed like as soon as he lost him, then everything started slipping. his sister went into critical condition, still was in that condition, and then his memory problems just started getting worse and worse.. he wasn’t even sure how bad they were now only knew that he was missing more than he should and really.. it was wrecking him in some ways. not to mention that his nightmares had increased.
but now he was standing outside of the imperium dorm, hesitantly as if he didn’t want to be there. as if he didn’t want to do what he was going to do. but he still did, he still found himself knocking on the door and waiting. he wanted to run, but myungsoo wanted to see taejin again. he wanted to forget everything that had happened. he just wanted him back. so he stayed, biting his lip and.. he felt scared honestly. but he stayed there. @taejinace
As every other afternoon when Taejin wasn't out doing a scheduled event, Taejin was hiding out in the Imperium dorm. He'd found himself sneaking into Hyunsoo's room far too early in the morning, finding the elder in a newly built blanket fort, and had curled up beside his still sleeping hyung. When he awoke hours later, he'd found that his brother had joined them, and he smiled. Looking at his watch he yawned, but sat up, going into the kitchen for a drink of water. He sat in the silent room, pulling his knees to his chin, his toes sticking off the edge of the chair, he wrapped his arms around his legs and closed his eyes again.
His mind was impulsively drawn to thoughts of Myungsoo, his mind running over how much it seemed the younger man had changed in the short time they'd been apart. He wished he could smooth the little crease he'd seen between Myungsoo's eyebrows, wished to kiss away the sadness on hips face until there was nothing but contented happiness there, but that wasn't a chance. It wouldn't be easy but he had to let Myungsoo go.
The knock at the door was a surprise, and it took him a moment to register the sound before he was unfolding himself to go and answer it. Opening the door, he was shocked, a greeting lost on his lips as he felt tears already springing to his eyes. Of all the things he'd thought of... this had never even been in his realm of thought. Never had he dreamt that Myungsoo would show up at his doorstep. Standing in silence, Taejin let out a soft breath, a greeting there in his inability to form words, his moth opening like a fish's, gasping for the words he so desperately wanted to say.
“People think being alone makes you lonely, but I don’t think that’s true...
being surrounded by the wrong people is the loneliest thing in the world.”
( Words : ft. @acexmyungsoo and mentions of @acexhanui )
It had been a month. A month that felt like moments each time Taejin saw Myungsoo in passing. A month that felt like years each time he walked away without saying a word. Taejin knew what he’d done was wrong, and more than anything in the world he wished that there was more he could have done for the younger, but after seeing Myungsoo for only the slightest moment after Valentine’s Day, he knew that he had to give the other space, and time to figure out what he wanted. He didn’t blame Myungsoo for being upset. Taejin was upset with himself as well. He’d tried so hard, but avoiding Hanui wasn’t working, and she kept contacting him. He’d felt guilty for just dropping things, and he planned on telling her that no matter how much spark there was between them, it just couldn’t be. She’d been a light, but sparks only last a moment before they peter out again, and he wandered around in the dark for so long, until he happened upon the light in his life once again. He’d frozen, just partway around the corner before backing the other way around it, and only peering around to peek at Myungsoo, who was talking to one of the voice coaches. Taejin’s bottom lip became trapped between his teeth as he held his breath, wanting this moment to last. Though, he wasn’t happy with what he saw. Myungsoo looked broken, exhausted, and lost. Taejin knew that there was a lot going on for the younger right now, but he’d hoped that being away from him would at least help some. That it’d be one less thing the younger would have to worry about. Instead... all Taejin wanted to do was rush to him and wrap his arms around him and tell him that he’d been more than an idiot, he’d been such an incomprehensible ass. It was a light at the end of the tunnel, and Taejin couldn’t stop watching as Myungsoo stood there, discussing something. Closing his eyes, he turned from the direction he was facing and leaned against the wall by the counter. He could feel the tears welling up in his eyes, but he tried unsuccessfully to will them to stop before they overflowed from his eyes, rolling over his cheeks. He missed the younger desperately, and wanted nothing more than to be able to make things right, though he really wasn’t sure how he could manage that.
Taejin grew up knowing that he wasn’t a part of his family. His sister, Rose, and his mother had always been very honest about that, but he never really cared much for where he’d come from, only that he always had someone by his side. It was as though, he felt like a part of himself was missing, and although he had Rose, it wasn’t exactly what he’d expected, and so he made due. He found himself acting out, and learned fighting from his sister after their mother died. They kept each other together, his own, less than fully legal actions bringing in some food and materials, while his sister worked up at the Palace. He didn’t have much of an opportunity to make his way near there, and it always seemed to feel dark and lonely, and so, he avoided it. He found much more comfort in the quiet comfort of the trees and plants in the forest than he ever did in town, and it was easy for him to collect nuts and berries and some wild vegetables that grew there, every once in a while, practicing his archery and bringing home meat for them to enjoy.
He’d only found out that he was capable of stealing recently. He’d gone wandering through a clearing, and had been stopped by a couple wanting to know the way through the forest. It was easy, he’d told them the way, and they’d been on their way, but he’d managed to swipe the bag of coins from the back of their wagon, the two none the wiser, as he nimbly jumped into the wagon, and then silently exiting once again. It had only grown more interesting from there. He’d heard stories of a thief who stole from the rich, and he couldn’t help but chuckle. There were so many rich people, and they had so much… how could they even realize that they were missing anything at all?
He found out, however, that not everything that the rich had was so simple. He’d heard whispers, that one of the higher nobles was planning on moving his priceless jewels from one locked warehouse, to another in a weeks time. The price of a jewel, any jewel, would be higher than anything he’d managed to steal before. There was a race in his heart, and he couldn’t help but want to think of some sort of idea as to how to satisfy it. It only took a few days for him to put his plan into place, a few of the local kids agreeing to help out for some of the soup his sister managed to make, when she wasn’t off fighting or killing someone.
Taejin worried about Rose, about the fact that even compared to what he was doing, she was in danger day after day. It wasn’t that he didn’t know she could take care of herself. He knew she was even more capable than he was with a blade or bow, and the sword that hung at her side was a testament to her skills.
When he’d been very young, Rose had gone away for a few days, left him with strict instructions not to leave the house, not to let anyone in. When she’d returned, she looked tired, lost, but the sword that returned with her gleamed like the light of a star, and she held it closer to her than he’d thought necessary. It was only when he grew older and asked again that she explained… the sword had come from the leader of the gang of Japanese thugs that lived in the next town over. She’d gotten a job to take him out, and her success made her somehow high on their hierarchy. The sword was the symbol, and to some, it made her untouchable.
She still wasn’t done though, he watched her as she made friends, whispers in the dark after she’d been sure he’d gone to bed, hushed voices echoing up to the loft where he slept. Plans to go after the King. Taejin had felt lost and confused, hearing this. He couldn’t figure out what it was that she had against the king, though she’d never been fold of him, and it seemed, she wasn’t the only one.
It only took a day before he had to be ready, fully alert the next night, as he stepped out, his black mixing with the inky darkness, standing in the shadow around the corner where he knew they’d come from. The wagon had several armed guards, their royal guard armor shining in the torchlight. He took a shaky breath, watching as he lifted his hand, giving the signal to the kids, who performed their task admirably. They surrounded the horse, reaching out, knowing better than to get under the hooves as the horse reared, making a distraction as the guards raced around to calm the horse. The last guard looked conflicted, and Taejin hesitated, waiting one moment, and then two, before one of the kids tugged at the man’s arm, pulling him towards the front of the wagon.
Slipping from the shadows, Taejin leapt quietly into the wagon, and his eyes widened as he saw what awaited him there. He’d expected the guards to all be outside the wagon, but one waited in the quiet of the inside of the wagon, seated next to a great chest. Taejin halted any movement before backing up rapidly, his foot catching the wall of the wagon, and he tumbled backwards, hitting his forehead against the wagon as he fell, biting back a shout at the pain, he landed on his feet, the only plus he figured, after years of practicing. He took off, the footsteps of the single guard now rapidly closing on him as he became slightly disoriented, dizzy. He put out a hand, glad to feel the feeling of a pillar there, and he stopped, holding himself upright, his head dipped, his breathing ragged. He was simply glad his hood remained in place to hide his face from the world.
That happiness was short lived, however, and his face was revealed by a tug from a hand behind him. His eyes widened and he turned to face his pursuer. The look on their face, however, was certainly not what he’d expected, as the hand instantly let go of his hood and, now that he could see fully, the captain of the royal guard was now backing away, eyes widened, and… was she… bowing? He raised a brow, then gasped, hand instinctively raising to touch the cut at his hairline.
“Y-your Highness… What are you doing here? Now?” Your Highness? What kind of drugs would the captain of the royal guard be on to think that he was in fact the crown prince.
“I’m no one’s highness… least of all yours.” He crossed his arms, leaning his weight on one of his hips as he watched her, considering the likelihood of him being able to escape if he ran for it while she was still confused. “But if you think I am… You probably should take me back to the palace.” He was far too interested in what she meant in her mistake to really run. He was far too curious for his own good. It was part of what had gotten him into trouble tonight. Her face had changed however, twisting with confusion, and then annoyance, but he could tell she was still quite confused. “I mean it… I’d love to meet my doppelganger if he’s the prince. Seems to me it’d come in handy.” He was very surprised when she simply nodded. She’d reached out, and put a hand on his shoulder, but said no words, only the mild pressure on his shoulder a reminder that he wasn’t exactly a free man yet.
It only took a short time for them to walk to the outer gates of the palace, where she tugged his hood back up over his head, re-claiming her place as she grasped one of his wrists in her hand, the other staying on his shoulder, her directions now, somehow more forced. He assumed it was some sort of show for other guards, but he was surprised when he was taken to the prison area. He tried to turn around, but was unable, and his outburst of annoyance was muffled with a hand over his mouth. He immediately stopped trying to shout and took as much of a deep breath as he could, turning his head to try to look at her. Instead of getting a look at her though, he was pushed around some corners, and into a side room.
When they arrived, he was pushed towards an empty chair at a table, and she went outside to speak to someone, if the muffled sounds of voices were any indicator. He couldn’t help but put his head on his folded arms. Even if he wanted to, there was no use in trying to escape now. He pulled his hood downward and closed his eyes, his head throbbing.
What seemed like moments later, there was a knock at the door, and it opened, Taejin had instantly been awake, the sharp pain at his hairline making full sleep a joke. He stood rapidly, the person in a cloak, hood hiding their face was obviously someone important. He could tell by the quality of their clothing. It was only when they lowered the hood that he gasped. The person standing in front of him was him. His hands shook slightly as he raised his arms, and pulled back his own hood. He supposed this moment was as much like looking into a mirror as things could get, as the look of shock on the other’s face, was probably as much like his own as it could get. The voice from the doorway was a muffled curse, before his eyes raised to meet the guard captain’s face. It looked as though she believed that god was playing some sort of horrible trick on her. He looked back at the other, noting minor differences between his own mirror image and this person.
“This is his royal highness, Prince Taechul… and you, I’m assuming, are not simply a pinch pocket in disguise.” There was a small amount of accusation in her voice, but for once, Taejin couldn’t disagree. The only trouble was, he didn’t know what he was anymore, but no matter what he was or had been before… Standing here, the prince in front of him… Something finally seemed to click into place. There was something less missing now, and he’d be damned if he wasn’t going to do everything in his power to figure it out.
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