Enamored 3/?
Title: Enamored 3/?
Pairing: Jaejoong/Heechul (Changmin/Yunho, Kai/Taemin)
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: This much pretty can only happen in fanfics. I think if these two were a couple in real life the world would explode.
Summary: War with the Hawks is imminent. The Ravens do not want to fight, but no one is willing to back them despite being allies. The Swans have their own plans: marry off their last prince to the Ravens and then they'll think of siding with the Ravens if they need to. It's all very manipulative, especially to Jaejoong who is suddenly forced into the idea of an arranged marriage with a snobby nobel.
A/N: This fic is in the same universe as Nevermore and Forever More. This happens about three years after the events in Forever More.
Fanfic poster by me!
Part 3: The Ferocious Warrior
Jaejoong slipped into the warm water of his bath and sighed in contentment at the heat on his skin. He sank low and tilted his head back, all but his face underwater. The rushing of the small waterfall behind him filled his head. He let his body relax and stayed floating for long minutes.
Fingers brushed over his leg and he jerked up and alert, halfway in a defensive stance before he noticed that it was Heechul in his bath with him, long black hair floating on the water.
“Fuck, do not do that.”
“I said your name twice,” Heechul said with a smirk before ducking under the water to wet his hair.
Jaejoong rubbed the water from his face and tried to find that moment of relaxation again. When Heechul surfaced, black hair slicked away from his face, Jaejoong’s body thrummed with another feeling that kept him from being relaxed. Heechul smiled and glided over to him, and Jaejoong let him between his legs and then into his lap. All pale skin and pretty pink nipples and muscles and that fucking smirk that was causing Jaejoong’s sudden erection just as much as the nakedness.
Heechul had not gone back to the guestroom, and the very next day, all of his things had somehow ended up in Jaejoong’s rooms. Heechul had dared him to protest with a look, and Jaejoong had kept his mouth shut, but turned the glow of his torches blue.
Heechul had been with the Ravens for an entire week, which also coincidentally was the longest Jaejoong had ever gone without sex.
A week of kisses. A week of sharing a bed. A week of sharing meals. A week of smiles and touches and now he had a very wet, and very naked Heechul in his lap.
Fuck.
His hands slid down Heechul’s sides to his hips. Heechul smiled, head tilted back, hands against Jaejoong’s chest.
“What are we going to do today?” Heechul asked.
“What would you like to do?” Jaejoong returned.
Heechul smirked. “I am sure you know the answer to that question.”
Jaejoong snorted, but the noise was muffled by Heechul’s mouth, lips and tongue. His arms went around Jaejoong’s neck, pulling him closer, allowing him to sit in Jaejoong’s lap with his legs around his waist and naked skin pressed together.
Jaejoong moaned.
“Wash me,” Heechul demanded.
Jaejoong pulled him back for a kiss instead.
Heechul laughed and pulled away, his slick skin slipping from Jaejoong’s grasp. “Wash me.”
With half-hearted grumbling, Jaejoong moved to the shelf that held his soaps and picked the one that smelled of roses and sage. Heechul had his back to Jaejoong. He moved in behind him, arms around his body, and rubbed the soap up and down his chest. He used his face to move hair off his neck and pressed dry kisses to the wet skin. Heechul shivered in his hold.
“I need to ask you something,” Heechul said.
Jaejoong hummed to show he was listening. He dragged the soap down his leg.
“You are not very good at this washing thing.”
Jaejoong chuckled. “I would much rather kiss you. Your question?”
Heechul turned around in his arms and pushed away to the edge of the tub. He sat on the rock bench under the water and lifted a slim leg. “Wash.”
Jaejoong smiled. He brought the soap to his foot and washed, digging his fingers into the muscles for a firm massage.
“You are not just humoring me, right?” Heechul suddenly asked, voice a little breathy from Jaejoong’s hands curling around his knee and sliding up the back of his thigh.
“Humoring you?”
Heechul tilted his head back on the wall, sinking lower into the water with a quiet moan. “Yes, humoring me.”
“In what way?”
“This last week. You let me move into your rooms, you cater to my whims in terms of food, and you do not protest when I bombard you in the bath or demand kisses. I don’t want you to do these things because you are being nice.”
Jaejoong smiled and transferred his wash to Heechul’s other foot. “If I did not want you in my rooms, I would have said no. I do not care what I eat. I like kissing you.” He washed the leg much faster, moving up higher on his thighs. Heechul’s whimper echoed around them. Jaejoong moved between his legs, hands on his hips and then his cock, swiping soap and hand over his hardness. He did not linger, and went higher on his stomach and chest, pausing to rub and play with his nipples.
Heechul’s fingers tightened into fists. His hips rose, and Jaejoong put the soap on the edge of the pool and pulled Heechul away from it and into his arms. Their lips met and Heechul’s legs wrapped around him.
“You are not as rude as I thought,” Jaejoong said between kisses. “You are insanely beautiful. I like your attitude and your company.”
“Not enough to marry me?”
“Not yet,” Jaejoong smiled. “Before I met Yunho, I thought nothing of nobles being promised to each other. It made sense. But Yunho refused to marry Changmin just because they were destined to be married. Many of us took bets on if they would or would not marry.”
“Did you win the bet?”
Jaejoong chuckled. “Of course.The two of them adore each other.”
“And what does this have to do with us being married?”
Jaejoong cupped his cheeks and touched their lips together. “They adore each other, and I want that. I want to be with someone I adore, someone that I love. I do not want to married just because of an alliance. And you are a beautiful Swan who deserves better than that. You deserve to be adored.”
Heechul smiled and there was a hint of red on his cheeks that could have been a blush or just form the heat of the bath. Jaejoong kissed him. HIs hands slipped down his back to his ass and he pulled him ever closer, slick skin sliding up and down. Heechul broke away with a gasp and Jaejoong moved his mouth down his neck.
“You do not mind being ordered around.”
“I am Changmin’s head of security, the Apex of the Raven Warriors. I am used to taking orders.”
Heechul pulled at Jaejoong’s wet hair and yanked his head back. His eyes were fiery, his mouth open, red lips tempting. “Give me an orgasm.”
Jaejoong smiled and moved one hand to Heechul’s front. He gripped his cock and stroked slowly. Heechul’s moan echoed around them.
“Just one?” Jaejoong whispered before capturing Heechul’s lips in a heavy kiss again.
Heechul moaned, going pliant in Jaejoong’s hold. Jaejoong sped up his strokes. His own erection rubbed on Heechul’s leg.
A pulse of bright red panic shot through Jaejoong’s magic and he jerked away, practically pushing Heechul off him.
“What the--”
Jaejoong vaulted out of the tub, barely managed to grab a towel, and ran to his room, drying off as he went. He was dressed and pulling on his weapons when Heechul emerged from the bathing room.
“What is going on?” Heechul demanded.
Jaejoong glanced at him, and then stopped. His long hair fell in wet waves over pale shoulders and down his chest. The large green towel barely clung to his hips, loosely held in one hand. The other hand was on Heechul’s hip. And his erection still pushed against the towel. His pale skin glowed in the blue lights.
Jaejoong strode to him, pressed a kiss to his lips, and said, “Hawks. Attack. Somewhere. I have to go. I’ll be back.”
Heechul huffed. “Wingless chicks.”
Jaejoong laughed, kissed him one more time, and headed toward the door.
“You owe me an orgasm, Kim Jaejoong!” Heechul shouted after him, startling both Taemin and Kai.
“Pretty sure I owe you more than one,” Jaejoong shouted back. “Stay here,” he said to Taemin. “I have no idea what’s going on, but you and Kai protect him if anything happens.”
They both bowed, and as they straightened, Jaejoong noticed that Taemin’s clothes were in disarray and Kai’s lips were swollen. He smirked, said nothing, and headed up to where Kyuhyun’s magic led him.
The Hawks hit near the falls. Unsurprising. It appeared to be their main target. They wanted the Ravens to give up their claim on the cliff, but that would mean giving up their claim on one of their main sources of food. The Ravens only controlled the top of the waterfall. The river leading into it belonged to the Hawks.
Jaejoong jumped up stairs and shimmied up ladders, getting to the top of the stronghold. He wished he could fly. Speaking of ... Apollo coasted above him, and it was his calmness that calmed Jaejoong. The battle was not over, just beginning, but if Apollo was not there defending against the Hawks on the ground and the Hawks in the sky, then they were not in too much trouble.
He ran up the last stone steps. The feeling of Kyuhyun pulsed, leading him through the sparse trees and toward the bank of the river. As he ran, he let out streams of magic, testing the air, clearing his way. He felt Apollo above him and threw a strand of white magic up to him, connecting them, feeling him, seeing through his eyes.
Kyuhyun’s forces were split between two rabbles of Hawks. Kyuhyun fought with the men in the largest group, Jaejoong flung blue at him to let him know he was there, and then he went to the smaller group. He noted that his warriors fought well, magicians dotted between them offering warnings and support. A few injured had been helped away, and Jaejoong paused only long enough to check that none needed his advance medical magical assistance.
But Key was there, already closing wounds and giving them water.
Jaejoong went into the fray.
“Apex!” someone shouted and Jaejoong turned just in time to catch a crossbow. He followed the arm up to the sky and saw the birds waiting.
Apollo! Engage them!
He felt reluctance from his raven, and he understood why.
They are waiting for their ground warriors to weaken us. We cannot fight them off if we are weak below.
As soon as Apollo cawed out their battle cry, Jaejoong lifted the crossbow, took aim, and let an arrow fly. The Hawk it was meant for dodged, but Jaejoong smirked and turned away. The arrow would follow until the Hawk fell. He aimed another arrow toward the fighters on the ground. A Hawk barreled at him with a raised sword and he pulled his own free to deflect the blow and used the crossbow to bash him over the head. Another Hawk fell to his sword, and then another. He spun and fought on automatic, shouting out encouragement to his warriors.
A weak green spell attempted to latch onto his arm and he shook it off, buried his sword in the side of a man attempting to disarm one of his warriors and threw a spell at a magic caster. The black streams streaked to him, wrapped around the man’s face, and buckled him, pain searing along his skin.
A mass of feathers tumbled toward him, a Hawk and a Raven, both smaller than Apollo, and Jaejoong spun from an attack on the ground, lifted an arm and attempted to save the Raven. He caught nothing but feathers, and lost his footing as the pair hit too close to him and knocked him over.
A sword almost flew toward him, and it was stopped a little too close for comfort by a pointed staff. The wielder flung the sword up with a twist, smacked the hilt with the staff, and grunted with the force it took to fling the sword back at its user where it impaled the man in the shoulder.
“Too easy,” Heechul said with a smirk.
Jaejoong stared, eyes wide, at the suddenly ferocious man above him. He was dressed, head to toe in black, long hair pulled up on top of his head. The silver cuff at his thigh held a wicked looking, serrated knife. The staff in his hands was taller than him, both ends glistening with sharpened steel. One blade was straight, the other hooked.
Heechul smirked down at him and then reached out a hand. “Not a good time for a nap, Apex.”
Jaejoong gripped his wrist and let Heechul pull him to his feet. Movement caught his attention, and he flung his arm, throwing a knife at the man about to drive a mallet into Heechul’s head. Heechul spun him around and blocked another blow with his staff. He shoved the pointed end through a man’s ribcage.
Back to back, they warded off a volley of attacks.
“What the fuck are you doing up here?” Jaejoong asked when they had a moment. The moment did not last, and Heechul ducked and Jaejoong ran a man through with his sword.
“I cannot believe you think that the prince of any clan does not know how to fight,” Heechul said, using the hooked end of his staff to cut into a Hawk’s stomach.
“Taemin should not have left you--”
“Both of them are up here fighting with us, by my orders,” Heechul said. “I think you have forgotten that I outrank you, Apex”
“Arrogant, flightless--” A Hawk with an axe swung at Heechul, and he caught the blade in the middle of his staff. The blade sank into the wood, and Heechul almost laughed. He jerked his arms, tearing the axe from the other’s grip and then used the curved end of the staff to slit open his throat. Blood sprayed up over him. He turned to Jaejoong, face half red and said, “You want an axe?”
Jaejoong rolled his eyes, but yanked the axe free and used it to dispose of yet another Hawk coming at him. With Heechul by his side, Jaejoong used more magic, tossed spells of confusion and burning pain. And he watched Heechul, when he had a chance. A few long strands of hair escaped the pins and spun and blew with him in his movements with the staff. It was beautiful, like a dance, fluid and perfect.
Definitely not flightless.
Only once did a Hawk get close enough to slice at him with a knife, but Jaejoong had him run through a moment later, and a pulse of blue magic helping heal the wound below Heechul’s ribs.
Apollo sent him an image of the Hawks flying off, and a moment later, those left fighting turned and ran away. A few Ravens made to follow.
“No!” Jaejoong said and let his voice reverberate with magic. “Let them go! Gather prisoners and have mercy on those too close to death to save.”
Heechul shoved his staff in the ground. With both hands gripping it, he leaned against the staff, chest heaving with labored breaths. He smiled at Jaejoong. “Not bad for a fledgling, Apex.”
Jaejoong smirked. “Not bad yourself even if you did not follow right away and were not right behind me to fight.”
“You left me with a problem way more important than this petty squabble.”
“You stroked yourself off?”
Heechul laughed. “No. I had to get dressed. One must be properly clothed for a fight.” He motioned to his body and Jaejoong noted that he also had short throwing knives on a belt at his waist. “Such a quick battle. I didn’t even get to use my favorite knife. What a waste.”
“I will assume you are more lethal with a knife than that staff.”
Heechul smiled. “Maybe.” He looked at his nails and made a face. “Ugh. I need another bath.”
Jaejoong groaned. He moved next to him, gripped the staff just above Heechul’s hands, and pressed a kiss to his bloody lips. “You do look disgusting.”
Jaejoong expected the blow, but not to his stomach, with a knee, and he fell back onto his ass.
Heechul laughed. “How dare you, my Raven!”
Jaejoong glared goodnaturedly and used his own sword to stand up. “I did deserve that.”
Heechul stuck his tongue out at him.
“Apex!” Kyuhyun shouted. He ran up to them, knives at his belt clinking.
Jaejoong turned to him with a smile. “A good fight, Kyu!”
They lifted their arms, clinking their holsters together.
“Prince Heechul!”
Heechul smirked at Kyuhyun. “Hi Kyu-ah. It is a shame I did not see your body in action again. I’m sure you fought well.”
Jaejoong glared at him. “Is there a Raven Warrior you have not bedded yet?”
Heechul’s smirk grew wider. “Just you, I think.”
Kyuhyun laughed.
“Apex,” another warrior said, “the King wants you right away.”
Jaejoong nodded. “Would you like to come with me, Prince Heechul?”
Heechul chuckled. “You do not trust me alone with your warriors, do you?”
Jaejoong returned the smirk and pulled him close for another deep kiss. “They know better. They know you belong to me.”
“Do I?”
“If you wish to.”
Heechul left his staff in the ground and wrapped his arms around Jaejoong’s neck. “I guess we will see.”
Jaejoong smiled over at Kyuhyun. “Gather up the prisoners and the wounded. I will go give the king our report. Where did they attack from?”
“The water, actually.”
“What?”
Kyuhyun nodded. “They slipped down the river in wooden boats that looked like logs. And they attacked where they came ashore.”
“It was a strong offensive.”
“Nothing we cannot handle.”
“It would have been worse had their boats landed near each other,” Heechul said. “They were divided as soon as they attacked and easy pickings.”
Kyuhyun nodded. “Exactly. Thanks for coming to help. The King said I wasn’t to bother you, but I know how important it is for your men to see you fighting with them.”
Jaejoong nodded. “I hate missing fights.”
“And with Heechul here I am going to assume I did not interrupt anything.”
Heechul snorted and shoved Jaejoong away from him. “Your arrogant Apex had his hand on my cock and practically flew out of the tub when you called.”
“It was important,” Jaejoong said as Kyuhyun laughed.
Heechul yanked his staff from the ground and spun it over his head, just to show off, Jaejoong knew. It was an amazing weapon wielded by an amazing warrior.
“And to think I used to think you were just a pretty face,” Jaejoong said.
Heechul swung the staff at his head, and Kyuhyun’s sword was there to block it.
Jaejoong laughed and moved around the two weapons. He hooked his arm around Heechul’s neck. “Come on, my Swan. We need to report back to the king so we can get back into the tub.”
Heechul settled the staff on his shoulder and the two of them sauntered away from Kyuhyun.
Part 4: The Unexpected Complications
Part 2: The Complicated Beauty
Part 1: The Impossible Proposition
.
Pairing: Jaejoong/Heechul (Changmin/Yunho, Kai/Taemin)
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: This much pretty can only happen in fanfics. I think if these two were a couple in real life the world would explode.
Summary: War with the Hawks is imminent. The Ravens do not want to fight, but no one is willing to back them despite being allies. The Swans have their own plans: marry off their last prince to the Ravens and then they'll think of siding with the Ravens if they need to. It's all very manipulative, especially to Jaejoong who is suddenly forced into the idea of an arranged marriage with a snobby nobel.
A/N: This fic is in the same universe as Nevermore and Forever More. This happens about three years after the events in Forever More.
Fanfic poster by me!
Part 3: The Ferocious Warrior
Jaejoong slipped into the warm water of his bath and sighed in contentment at the heat on his skin. He sank low and tilted his head back, all but his face underwater. The rushing of the small waterfall behind him filled his head. He let his body relax and stayed floating for long minutes.
Fingers brushed over his leg and he jerked up and alert, halfway in a defensive stance before he noticed that it was Heechul in his bath with him, long black hair floating on the water.
“Fuck, do not do that.”
“I said your name twice,” Heechul said with a smirk before ducking under the water to wet his hair.
Jaejoong rubbed the water from his face and tried to find that moment of relaxation again. When Heechul surfaced, black hair slicked away from his face, Jaejoong’s body thrummed with another feeling that kept him from being relaxed. Heechul smiled and glided over to him, and Jaejoong let him between his legs and then into his lap. All pale skin and pretty pink nipples and muscles and that fucking smirk that was causing Jaejoong’s sudden erection just as much as the nakedness.
Heechul had not gone back to the guestroom, and the very next day, all of his things had somehow ended up in Jaejoong’s rooms. Heechul had dared him to protest with a look, and Jaejoong had kept his mouth shut, but turned the glow of his torches blue.
Heechul had been with the Ravens for an entire week, which also coincidentally was the longest Jaejoong had ever gone without sex.
A week of kisses. A week of sharing a bed. A week of sharing meals. A week of smiles and touches and now he had a very wet, and very naked Heechul in his lap.
Fuck.
His hands slid down Heechul’s sides to his hips. Heechul smiled, head tilted back, hands against Jaejoong’s chest.
“What are we going to do today?” Heechul asked.
“What would you like to do?” Jaejoong returned.
Heechul smirked. “I am sure you know the answer to that question.”
Jaejoong snorted, but the noise was muffled by Heechul’s mouth, lips and tongue. His arms went around Jaejoong’s neck, pulling him closer, allowing him to sit in Jaejoong’s lap with his legs around his waist and naked skin pressed together.
Jaejoong moaned.
“Wash me,” Heechul demanded.
Jaejoong pulled him back for a kiss instead.
Heechul laughed and pulled away, his slick skin slipping from Jaejoong’s grasp. “Wash me.”
With half-hearted grumbling, Jaejoong moved to the shelf that held his soaps and picked the one that smelled of roses and sage. Heechul had his back to Jaejoong. He moved in behind him, arms around his body, and rubbed the soap up and down his chest. He used his face to move hair off his neck and pressed dry kisses to the wet skin. Heechul shivered in his hold.
“I need to ask you something,” Heechul said.
Jaejoong hummed to show he was listening. He dragged the soap down his leg.
“You are not very good at this washing thing.”
Jaejoong chuckled. “I would much rather kiss you. Your question?”
Heechul turned around in his arms and pushed away to the edge of the tub. He sat on the rock bench under the water and lifted a slim leg. “Wash.”
Jaejoong smiled. He brought the soap to his foot and washed, digging his fingers into the muscles for a firm massage.
“You are not just humoring me, right?” Heechul suddenly asked, voice a little breathy from Jaejoong’s hands curling around his knee and sliding up the back of his thigh.
“Humoring you?”
Heechul tilted his head back on the wall, sinking lower into the water with a quiet moan. “Yes, humoring me.”
“In what way?”
“This last week. You let me move into your rooms, you cater to my whims in terms of food, and you do not protest when I bombard you in the bath or demand kisses. I don’t want you to do these things because you are being nice.”
Jaejoong smiled and transferred his wash to Heechul’s other foot. “If I did not want you in my rooms, I would have said no. I do not care what I eat. I like kissing you.” He washed the leg much faster, moving up higher on his thighs. Heechul’s whimper echoed around them. Jaejoong moved between his legs, hands on his hips and then his cock, swiping soap and hand over his hardness. He did not linger, and went higher on his stomach and chest, pausing to rub and play with his nipples.
Heechul’s fingers tightened into fists. His hips rose, and Jaejoong put the soap on the edge of the pool and pulled Heechul away from it and into his arms. Their lips met and Heechul’s legs wrapped around him.
“You are not as rude as I thought,” Jaejoong said between kisses. “You are insanely beautiful. I like your attitude and your company.”
“Not enough to marry me?”
“Not yet,” Jaejoong smiled. “Before I met Yunho, I thought nothing of nobles being promised to each other. It made sense. But Yunho refused to marry Changmin just because they were destined to be married. Many of us took bets on if they would or would not marry.”
“Did you win the bet?”
Jaejoong chuckled. “Of course.The two of them adore each other.”
“And what does this have to do with us being married?”
Jaejoong cupped his cheeks and touched their lips together. “They adore each other, and I want that. I want to be with someone I adore, someone that I love. I do not want to married just because of an alliance. And you are a beautiful Swan who deserves better than that. You deserve to be adored.”
Heechul smiled and there was a hint of red on his cheeks that could have been a blush or just form the heat of the bath. Jaejoong kissed him. HIs hands slipped down his back to his ass and he pulled him ever closer, slick skin sliding up and down. Heechul broke away with a gasp and Jaejoong moved his mouth down his neck.
“You do not mind being ordered around.”
“I am Changmin’s head of security, the Apex of the Raven Warriors. I am used to taking orders.”
Heechul pulled at Jaejoong’s wet hair and yanked his head back. His eyes were fiery, his mouth open, red lips tempting. “Give me an orgasm.”
Jaejoong smiled and moved one hand to Heechul’s front. He gripped his cock and stroked slowly. Heechul’s moan echoed around them.
“Just one?” Jaejoong whispered before capturing Heechul’s lips in a heavy kiss again.
Heechul moaned, going pliant in Jaejoong’s hold. Jaejoong sped up his strokes. His own erection rubbed on Heechul’s leg.
A pulse of bright red panic shot through Jaejoong’s magic and he jerked away, practically pushing Heechul off him.
“What the--”
Jaejoong vaulted out of the tub, barely managed to grab a towel, and ran to his room, drying off as he went. He was dressed and pulling on his weapons when Heechul emerged from the bathing room.
“What is going on?” Heechul demanded.
Jaejoong glanced at him, and then stopped. His long hair fell in wet waves over pale shoulders and down his chest. The large green towel barely clung to his hips, loosely held in one hand. The other hand was on Heechul’s hip. And his erection still pushed against the towel. His pale skin glowed in the blue lights.
Jaejoong strode to him, pressed a kiss to his lips, and said, “Hawks. Attack. Somewhere. I have to go. I’ll be back.”
Heechul huffed. “Wingless chicks.”
Jaejoong laughed, kissed him one more time, and headed toward the door.
“You owe me an orgasm, Kim Jaejoong!” Heechul shouted after him, startling both Taemin and Kai.
“Pretty sure I owe you more than one,” Jaejoong shouted back. “Stay here,” he said to Taemin. “I have no idea what’s going on, but you and Kai protect him if anything happens.”
They both bowed, and as they straightened, Jaejoong noticed that Taemin’s clothes were in disarray and Kai’s lips were swollen. He smirked, said nothing, and headed up to where Kyuhyun’s magic led him.
The Hawks hit near the falls. Unsurprising. It appeared to be their main target. They wanted the Ravens to give up their claim on the cliff, but that would mean giving up their claim on one of their main sources of food. The Ravens only controlled the top of the waterfall. The river leading into it belonged to the Hawks.
Jaejoong jumped up stairs and shimmied up ladders, getting to the top of the stronghold. He wished he could fly. Speaking of ... Apollo coasted above him, and it was his calmness that calmed Jaejoong. The battle was not over, just beginning, but if Apollo was not there defending against the Hawks on the ground and the Hawks in the sky, then they were not in too much trouble.
He ran up the last stone steps. The feeling of Kyuhyun pulsed, leading him through the sparse trees and toward the bank of the river. As he ran, he let out streams of magic, testing the air, clearing his way. He felt Apollo above him and threw a strand of white magic up to him, connecting them, feeling him, seeing through his eyes.
Kyuhyun’s forces were split between two rabbles of Hawks. Kyuhyun fought with the men in the largest group, Jaejoong flung blue at him to let him know he was there, and then he went to the smaller group. He noted that his warriors fought well, magicians dotted between them offering warnings and support. A few injured had been helped away, and Jaejoong paused only long enough to check that none needed his advance medical magical assistance.
But Key was there, already closing wounds and giving them water.
Jaejoong went into the fray.
“Apex!” someone shouted and Jaejoong turned just in time to catch a crossbow. He followed the arm up to the sky and saw the birds waiting.
Apollo! Engage them!
He felt reluctance from his raven, and he understood why.
They are waiting for their ground warriors to weaken us. We cannot fight them off if we are weak below.
As soon as Apollo cawed out their battle cry, Jaejoong lifted the crossbow, took aim, and let an arrow fly. The Hawk it was meant for dodged, but Jaejoong smirked and turned away. The arrow would follow until the Hawk fell. He aimed another arrow toward the fighters on the ground. A Hawk barreled at him with a raised sword and he pulled his own free to deflect the blow and used the crossbow to bash him over the head. Another Hawk fell to his sword, and then another. He spun and fought on automatic, shouting out encouragement to his warriors.
A weak green spell attempted to latch onto his arm and he shook it off, buried his sword in the side of a man attempting to disarm one of his warriors and threw a spell at a magic caster. The black streams streaked to him, wrapped around the man’s face, and buckled him, pain searing along his skin.
A mass of feathers tumbled toward him, a Hawk and a Raven, both smaller than Apollo, and Jaejoong spun from an attack on the ground, lifted an arm and attempted to save the Raven. He caught nothing but feathers, and lost his footing as the pair hit too close to him and knocked him over.
A sword almost flew toward him, and it was stopped a little too close for comfort by a pointed staff. The wielder flung the sword up with a twist, smacked the hilt with the staff, and grunted with the force it took to fling the sword back at its user where it impaled the man in the shoulder.
“Too easy,” Heechul said with a smirk.
Jaejoong stared, eyes wide, at the suddenly ferocious man above him. He was dressed, head to toe in black, long hair pulled up on top of his head. The silver cuff at his thigh held a wicked looking, serrated knife. The staff in his hands was taller than him, both ends glistening with sharpened steel. One blade was straight, the other hooked.
Heechul smirked down at him and then reached out a hand. “Not a good time for a nap, Apex.”
Jaejoong gripped his wrist and let Heechul pull him to his feet. Movement caught his attention, and he flung his arm, throwing a knife at the man about to drive a mallet into Heechul’s head. Heechul spun him around and blocked another blow with his staff. He shoved the pointed end through a man’s ribcage.
Back to back, they warded off a volley of attacks.
“What the fuck are you doing up here?” Jaejoong asked when they had a moment. The moment did not last, and Heechul ducked and Jaejoong ran a man through with his sword.
“I cannot believe you think that the prince of any clan does not know how to fight,” Heechul said, using the hooked end of his staff to cut into a Hawk’s stomach.
“Taemin should not have left you--”
“Both of them are up here fighting with us, by my orders,” Heechul said. “I think you have forgotten that I outrank you, Apex”
“Arrogant, flightless--” A Hawk with an axe swung at Heechul, and he caught the blade in the middle of his staff. The blade sank into the wood, and Heechul almost laughed. He jerked his arms, tearing the axe from the other’s grip and then used the curved end of the staff to slit open his throat. Blood sprayed up over him. He turned to Jaejoong, face half red and said, “You want an axe?”
Jaejoong rolled his eyes, but yanked the axe free and used it to dispose of yet another Hawk coming at him. With Heechul by his side, Jaejoong used more magic, tossed spells of confusion and burning pain. And he watched Heechul, when he had a chance. A few long strands of hair escaped the pins and spun and blew with him in his movements with the staff. It was beautiful, like a dance, fluid and perfect.
Definitely not flightless.
Only once did a Hawk get close enough to slice at him with a knife, but Jaejoong had him run through a moment later, and a pulse of blue magic helping heal the wound below Heechul’s ribs.
Apollo sent him an image of the Hawks flying off, and a moment later, those left fighting turned and ran away. A few Ravens made to follow.
“No!” Jaejoong said and let his voice reverberate with magic. “Let them go! Gather prisoners and have mercy on those too close to death to save.”
Heechul shoved his staff in the ground. With both hands gripping it, he leaned against the staff, chest heaving with labored breaths. He smiled at Jaejoong. “Not bad for a fledgling, Apex.”
Jaejoong smirked. “Not bad yourself even if you did not follow right away and were not right behind me to fight.”
“You left me with a problem way more important than this petty squabble.”
“You stroked yourself off?”
Heechul laughed. “No. I had to get dressed. One must be properly clothed for a fight.” He motioned to his body and Jaejoong noted that he also had short throwing knives on a belt at his waist. “Such a quick battle. I didn’t even get to use my favorite knife. What a waste.”
“I will assume you are more lethal with a knife than that staff.”
Heechul smiled. “Maybe.” He looked at his nails and made a face. “Ugh. I need another bath.”
Jaejoong groaned. He moved next to him, gripped the staff just above Heechul’s hands, and pressed a kiss to his bloody lips. “You do look disgusting.”
Jaejoong expected the blow, but not to his stomach, with a knee, and he fell back onto his ass.
Heechul laughed. “How dare you, my Raven!”
Jaejoong glared goodnaturedly and used his own sword to stand up. “I did deserve that.”
Heechul stuck his tongue out at him.
“Apex!” Kyuhyun shouted. He ran up to them, knives at his belt clinking.
Jaejoong turned to him with a smile. “A good fight, Kyu!”
They lifted their arms, clinking their holsters together.
“Prince Heechul!”
Heechul smirked at Kyuhyun. “Hi Kyu-ah. It is a shame I did not see your body in action again. I’m sure you fought well.”
Jaejoong glared at him. “Is there a Raven Warrior you have not bedded yet?”
Heechul’s smirk grew wider. “Just you, I think.”
Kyuhyun laughed.
“Apex,” another warrior said, “the King wants you right away.”
Jaejoong nodded. “Would you like to come with me, Prince Heechul?”
Heechul chuckled. “You do not trust me alone with your warriors, do you?”
Jaejoong returned the smirk and pulled him close for another deep kiss. “They know better. They know you belong to me.”
“Do I?”
“If you wish to.”
Heechul left his staff in the ground and wrapped his arms around Jaejoong’s neck. “I guess we will see.”
Jaejoong smiled over at Kyuhyun. “Gather up the prisoners and the wounded. I will go give the king our report. Where did they attack from?”
“The water, actually.”
“What?”
Kyuhyun nodded. “They slipped down the river in wooden boats that looked like logs. And they attacked where they came ashore.”
“It was a strong offensive.”
“Nothing we cannot handle.”
“It would have been worse had their boats landed near each other,” Heechul said. “They were divided as soon as they attacked and easy pickings.”
Kyuhyun nodded. “Exactly. Thanks for coming to help. The King said I wasn’t to bother you, but I know how important it is for your men to see you fighting with them.”
Jaejoong nodded. “I hate missing fights.”
“And with Heechul here I am going to assume I did not interrupt anything.”
Heechul snorted and shoved Jaejoong away from him. “Your arrogant Apex had his hand on my cock and practically flew out of the tub when you called.”
“It was important,” Jaejoong said as Kyuhyun laughed.
Heechul yanked his staff from the ground and spun it over his head, just to show off, Jaejoong knew. It was an amazing weapon wielded by an amazing warrior.
“And to think I used to think you were just a pretty face,” Jaejoong said.
Heechul swung the staff at his head, and Kyuhyun’s sword was there to block it.
Jaejoong laughed and moved around the two weapons. He hooked his arm around Heechul’s neck. “Come on, my Swan. We need to report back to the king so we can get back into the tub.”
Heechul settled the staff on his shoulder and the two of them sauntered away from Kyuhyun.
Part 4: The Unexpected Complications
Part 2: The Complicated Beauty
Part 1: The Impossible Proposition
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