Enamored 4/?
Title: Enamored 4/?
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 4: The Unexpected Complications
Jaejoong woke up from a deep sleep, the first in a long time. His body ached from the fight the day before, but nothing was broken. He was not injured. They lost only three of their men, and captured many Hawks. The King and Changmin still debated what to do to them. Not him, because he had been ordered to bed and to stay there. It had been so easy to fall asleep with Heechul in his arms.
Light filtered through the hazy fabric that hung at the opening of his balcony.
The body in his bed moved, and Jaejoong turned his head just in time to see Heechul’s sleepy pout.
“You are not allowed to get up yet,” he said, voice deep with sleep. He shifted closer, throwing a leg over Jaejoong’s thighs and an arm over his chest. He wore only his thin, white sleep shirt that slipped off a shoulder. A strong shoulder that swung a staff around like it was a twig.
By the trees, his Swan was sexy.
“I said you were not allowed to get up yet,” Heechul growled and pressed his leg against Jaejoong’s growing erection.
Jaejoong chuckled and pressed a kiss to his forehead. “It is your fault that you are so incredibly sexy.”
Heechul huffed and even without seeing, Jaejoong knew that he had rolled his eyes.
Magic swirled at the entrance of his room, and Jaejoong shifted to sit up, but Heechul growled, knee against his groin, and Jaejoong chuckled just as Taemin walked through the door.
“Apex,” Taemin said and bowed, slightly. He carried a tray with him that had coffee and a bowl of fruit upon it.
“Hey, Taeminnie,” Jaejoong said. “How is Kai’s leg?”
“Almost healed,” he said with a grin. “Kyuhyun’s magic is still working on it.”
“Good.”
“I am going to shove my staff up your--”
Jaejoong covered Heechul’s mouth with his hand. “Thank you for breakfast, Taeminnie. Will you run and tell Changmin I will be there to check on Yunho before lunch?”
“Yes, Apex.” Taemin sat the tray down and hurried back the way he came.
Jaejoong removed his hand and smiled at the murderous look in Heechul’s eyes. “I am sorry. Was that too domineering for you? Or not enough?”
Heechul’s face wavered between furious and contemplative, and Jaejoong laughed. “You like ordering me around, beautiful, but how do you feel about being the one ordered?”
Jaejoong crawled over him, one hand curled under his neck and into his hair. He hovered over Heechul, tightened his grip and tilted Heechul’s head up. “Yes or no, my Swan?” He pressed a kiss to Heechul’s open mouth.
Heechul swallowed, adam’s apple bobbing. He nodded.
“Use words,” Jaejoong said with a tug on his hair.
“Yes. Yes.”
Jaejoong smiled and kissed his forehead. “Good boy.”
Heechul whimpered.
Jaejoong rolled to the side and out of bed. He stopped at the edge of the bed and stretched. The thin pants he had almost gotten used to wearing were hanging lower on his body, almost slipping off his hips. He moved to the tray and picked up a cup of coffee, pondering this new development. He had no idea that his proud, bossy Swan liked to be dominated in bed.
When he was sure he could keep his face under control, he turned back to the bed. Heechul was watching him, smirking.
Jaejoong lifted an eyebrow. “Did you want to go back to sleep?”
Heechul shrugged. “There are better things to do in a bed besides sleeping.”
“Like cuddling.”
Heechul rolled his eyes. “Yes, like cuddling.” He sneered at Jaejoong and flung the blankets off his body. Before their fight, it had been a body that looked lithe and weak, strong only because he was expected to be. Now it was well-built, firm and toned. Gorgeous. The shirt he wore barely covered his ass, leaving the back of his thighs for Jaejoong to ogle. His beautiful, elegant, regal Swan walked into the bathing room.
Jaejoong smiled and picked up the tray. He followed Heechul, catching just a glimpse of bare body before it was lowered into the water. Jaejoong waited until he settled, then sat on the edge, lifting his pant legs before putting his feet in the water.
“Your coffee, your highness,” Jaejoong said and held out the cup.
Heechul opened one eyes and snorted. He took the coffee and sipped at the steaming liquid before settling the cup on the edge. He sank back into the water.
“Fruit?” Jaejoong asked, holding up a quileebee berry.
Heechul opened his mouth.
Jaejoong chuckled and placed a berry against his lips. Heechul took it and then spluttered when Jaejoong leaned over and kissed him.
“Another?”
With a small smile, Heechul nodded and licked his lips. Mouth open for another berry. No more words were said as they finished the fruit and their coffee. Jaejoong stood up to remove his pants and then sank into the pool, right in front of Heechul. His slim long legs wrapped around Jaejoong’s waist and pulled him close. Their lips touched and then joined. Heechul’s hands slid down his side and Jaejoong pulled him away from the wall by the shoulders. They floated in the middle of the tub, Jaejoong standing, Heechul wrapped around him. Kissing. That was the most important part.
“I do believe I owe you a few orgasms,” Jaejoong said.
Heechul nodded and tilted his head back.
Jaejoong kissed his chin and down his neck. “Here? Or back in bed?”
“B-bed.”
Jaejoong laughed. He pressed one more kiss to Heechul’s lips. “Go. Dry off, stay naked.”
“Bossy, bossy,” Heechul muttered and stood up, the water level barely hitting his stomach. He ran his hand over Jaejoong’s wet shoulders on his way by, and Jaejoong watched him, lust churning through him. He watched the water drops trail down Heechul’s bare skin.
Heechul grabbed a towel, threw one more smile over his shoulder and left the bathing room. Jaejoong waited until he could breathe again before climbing out of the tub himself. He threw on a robe and then grabbed a pot of lotion and one of oil from the shelf.
He entered his room and stopped in his tracks. Heechul was splayed out, one knee bent, arms above his head. His hair was pulled up, probably still wet. Jaejoong figured he would get to pull on it from behind eventually. His skin glowed in the blue light of the torches.
Jaejoong licked his lips. “Beautiful.”
Heechul smirked. “Completely.”
Jaejoong took a step to the bed, and the warnings at his room blared white hot in his head. He winced, hand to his head, just as Taemin stumbled into the room.
“Yunho, Yunho.”
The flare went red and he felt panic through more than just his magic.
“What is--”
“The baby,” Jaejoong said, and spun around, running out of the room and to the balcony in only a robe. He took the short way up to Changmin’s rooms, almost flying up the ladders and the stone walkways along the cliff’s edge.
The panic grew and Jaejoong had to push past it, keep climbing to keep from falling to his death. He landed light and quick on Changmin’s balcony and rushed into the room.
Kyuhyun had his magic spiraling around Yunho’s body.
“Status,” Jaejoong snapped.
“He isn’t breathing. Neither is the baby. Changmin said that Yunho jerked and went still.”
Jaejoong cursed. “Go get the doctor.”
“He’s already on his way.”
Changmin was screaming Yunho’s name, over and over.
Jaejoong told him to shut up. He did not.
“Get him out of here,” Jaejoong said and plunged his magic into Yunho’s too-still body. He was not breathing. His heart barely beat. The baby was just as unresponsive.
“No, no, no. I won’t leave him. You can’t--”
Jaejoong spun around and slapped Changmin across the face. “Shut up. If you stay, you have to help.”
Changmin blinked at him. “Help.”
“Yes, help.” Jaejoong knew that Changmin could do nothing to help but shut up, but he needed to feel useful. “Go breath for him. Cover his mouth and nose with your mouth and breathe for him. Slow exhale, eight counts.”
Changmin shook himself, face hardening, and he moved to his lover’s head.
Jaejoong rolled his eyes at Kyuhyun and went back to the baby with his magic. “We have to get it out of there. It isn’t breathing. Why isn’t it--” And then he noticed.
Babies needed a place for the baby to grow, like a uterus, but males did not have one. Male pregnancies were always risky even if they were possible because of that. Most males’ bodies helped grow a pouch for the baby, and Yunho’s had, but it had taken a long time, with the pouch just around the baby. It was part of the reason why Yunho was in so much pain, but now the pouch had expanded, exploded almost, and filled with fluid. Like it suddenly realized it needed to grow and make up for lost time in less than a day. It was pressing against Yunho’s organs, ripped and leaking fluid all over his body. And the baby, the baby was drowning.
“Fuck!” And here he was, naked, without a weapon on him.
But Kyuhyun was armed.
“Knife, give me a knife,” Jaejoong demanded with his hand out.
Confused, Kyuhyun did as ordered, slapping the hilt in Jaejoong’s palm. Jaejoong flipped the blade around and pressed the tip to Yunho’s belly, right above his belly button.
“Jaejoong!”
“Changmin, I swear to Yunho’s god that if I don’t do this you are going to lose both of them.”
Changmin kept his mouth shut, kept breathing for him. The knife cut into his stomach, blood gushed over his hands, but it was mixed with a yellow-milky fluid. He concentrated, careful to work with his magic because he was not a doctor. He let his magic lead him to where he needed to go.
“Jaejoong,” Kyuhyun said, voice calm. “The doctor is here.”
Jaejoong nodded and then pulled the knife away. He was too hot, too overwhelmed. He pulled the robe off for a little relief.
“It is bad,” the doctor said.
Jaejoong swallowed a lump in his throat and told the doctor what he had discovered. The doctor nodded.
“Stabilize him,” the doctor said. “The baby may already be lost.”
Jaejoong ignored Changmin’s wail and had his magic enveloping Yunho, trying to pull the fluid out of Yunho’s body.
“Tell us what to do,” Taemin said at his elbow.
Jaejoong glanced around the room. “Taemin, take over for Changmin, he’s freaking out too much to be effective. Kai, are you a magician?”
Kai nodded.
“Good. Help the doctor with whatever he needs. Kyuhyun, go get Seohyun and Key and Jonghyun. We need more help.”
Kyuhyun nodded and ran off.
“What do you want me to do?” Heechul asked, suddenly behind him, hands on his bare shoulders. It was way more comforting and supportive than Jaejoong had expected.
“Stay,” he said and then concentrated back on his task.
The baby was alive, but he did not want to announce that, not give hope if it ended up being futile. The doctor cut deeper. Hours, lifetimes, Jaejoong lost track of time. He was only aware of the answering power of Seohyun’s magic twisting with his, and he took a much needed breath, revitalized from the help. They kept the fluid from Yunho’s organs, kept his lungs free, kept his heart working.
“There you go, there you go,” the doctor muttered.
“Give him to me,” Heechul said. His hands left Jaejoong’s shoulder, and he held out Jaejoong’s green robe. A mess of red blood and yellow goop was placed on it, and it took a moment for Jaejoong to realize that it was the baby. The baby who was too blue, too still, not breathing.
Heechul placed his mouth over the baby’s face and sucked, spitting fluid out a moment later, he did it again, and then again, Jonghyun placed a hand on the infant and twisted magic around its chest. A sudden wail echoed around the room. A cry. A baby’s cry, and Jaejoong met Heechul’s eyes and smiled. Everyone in the room took a breath of relief.
Except Yunho, who still wasn't breathing on his own.
Heechul returned the smile. “I got this,” he said, “keep him alive.”
Jaejoong turned back to Yunho. The doctor was wrist-deep in his stomach, pulling the sack and goopy fluid from his body. Key and Seohyun helped with magic. Taemin and Kai traded places, breathing for Yunho, and Kyuhyun had Changmin wrapped in a physical and magical hug, keeping him still, keeping him away. His eyes never left his husband’s face.
Jaejoong kept his heart beating, kept sending white mental proddings to his brain. He had no idea how long it was before the heart started beating on its own. Weak, but pumping. Jaejoong pulled away from it, but went through Yunho’s body, unclogging pathways, pulling errant fluid to the surface. Just a few minutes after his heart beat on its own again, Yunho’s body stiffened and convulsed, lungs pulling in air and then releasing it.
Changmin whimpered.
Kai and Taemin stayed at his face, keeping his airway clear.
And then Yunho screamed, and half of the doctor’s work was ripped open and Seohyun cursed and pressed bloody hands to his chest, freezing his body.
“Put him under,” Jaejoong snapped.
Key quickly placed his fingers to Yunho’s head and whispered a spell that knocked him unconscious. But his heart kept beating and his chest kept moving, lungs breathing.
“Let go,” a voice said.
Jaejoong told it to fuck off.
He recognized Heechul’s amused huff. “You are exhausted, my Raven. Let my guards take over. They are all magicians.”
Jaejoong ran his magic around Yunho’s body one more time. It was slow going. He was exhausted. Finally, he pulled it all back and staggered. He did not fall. A firm arm around his waist kept him up and pulled him toward Changmin’s bed.
“Rest,” Heechul said.
“The baby?” Jaejoong muttered and toppled onto something soft.
Heechul chuckled again. “Just fine. Rest, Apex. Rest.”
Jaejoong tried, but his body was on high alert, his magic still thrumming. Heechul stayed next to him, sitting up, and Jaejoong curled around his waist, face pressed against his hip. A light fabric settled over Jaejoong’s body.
“Look,” Heechul said and touched his shoulder.
Jaejoong pushed himself up on an elbow to look at the bundle in Heechul’s arms. The baby was pink, eyes shut, lips and nose where they should be. As he watched, the baby yawned.
“Changho.”
Heechul smiled. “Yes. He’s just fine. Yunho will be fine. You need to sleep.”
Jaejoong huffed but settled back down. Kyuhyun’s blue magic spread over his body, and he let it relax him. Just a few minutes. To recharge. That’s all he needed.
^/\-v-/\^
Jaejoong woke up still sore and exhausted. He had no idea how long he had slept. He tried to sit up and his body protested. With a moan, he managed to at least roll on his back.
“Ah, our Apex is awake.”
Jaejoong cracked open an eye. Heechul leaned over him.
“How are you feeling?”
Jaejoong cleared his throat. “Half and half.” He was in his own rooms, in his own bed. And clean. He vaguely remembered having blood and baby goop all over his body. Naked body because he’d run up to Changmin’s without clothes on.
Heechul chuckled.
“Yunho?”
“Alive,” Heechul said. “Awake. Sore.”
“Baby?”
“Perfectly healthy. Can you sit up?”
Jaejoong thought about it and pushed his elbows to the bed. He managed to prop himself up and then Heechul’s arm was under him, steadying him, helping him to sit and lean against the headboard.
“Why do I hurt so much?”
Heechul chuckled. “Because you almost killed yourself trying to save Yunho, you ungrateful Raven. You’ve been unconscious for two days.”
Jaejoong moaned.
“Here, drink.” Heechul held up a cup of cool water. “Doctor’s orders are that you are not allowed out of bed and I am not allowed to take advantage of that.”
Jaejoong swallowed the water and then gulped it. It felt so good on his throat.
“Oh, Taeminnie,” Heechul sang, and Jaejoong winced against how loud it was.
Taemin entered the room with Kai right behind him.
“Apex!” Taemin shouted, and Jaejoong winced again.
“Be quiet,” Heechul demanded.
“Sorry, Apex.”
“Go run and tell Changmin that Jaejoong is awake. He wanted to be told right away.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jaejoong waited until the two younger males left, and then he groaned. “Changmin is going to be weepy and grateful and he is not going to let me go.”
Heechul nodded. “Probably. Before he gets here,” Heechul pulled Jaejoong’s head around and kissed him. Jaejoong whimpered and kissed him back, but tried to move and ended up toppling them both to the bed.
Heechul laughed and wrapped his arms around Jaejoong’s back. “Sexy Apex, naked and over me. Just what I wanted.”
Jaejoong huffed into his neck. “Too weak.”
“And I expect perfection.” Heechul kissed his forehead and then helped move him to his back again.
Changmin entered the room, much slower than Jaejoong expected, and then he saw that he carried a bundle of blankets.
Changmin smiled at him. “Hi.”
Jaejoong sat up (again with Heechul’s help). Changmin crawled onto the bed on his knees and moved the blanket covering his baby’s face. Jaejoong smiled and did not protest when Changmin passed the bundle to him.
“Changho,” Jaejoong muttered and stared at the soft face that was healthy and pink and he sighed and relaxed. The baby was small compared to some, but not dangerously so. Jaejoong had been about to suggest an early birth in a couple of weeks anyway. The baby yawned and opened deep green eyes.
“He is perfect,” Jaejoong whispered.
“Thanks to you,” Changmin replied.
Jaejoong shook his head. “We all helped.”
“How is Yunho?” Heechul asked and traced a finger over the baby’s soft hairline.
Changmin swallowed. “Okay. In pain. His body is still fighting the magic. He thinks he’s still pregnant. Or his body does. At least physically. The doctor and magicians are monitoring him hourly. He would like to see you when you are feeling better.”
“I would go now, but I doubt I will be let out of bed.”
“You’re lucky if I don’t strap you down and use your body in whatever way I want,” Heechul said with a growl. “This is twice you have been interrupted giving me orgasms.”
Changmin chuckled. “Both have been good reasons.”
Heechul nodded and then he frowned.
“What?” Jaejoong asked.
“I have been thinking,” he said. He took a deep breath, and Jaejoong had a feeling that he would not like what he was about to hear. It was another moment before he said, “We should get married. Now. Within the week.”
Jaejoong choked and even Changmin looked at him in surprise.
Heechul smirked. “If Yunho had almost died on the same night the Hawks attacked, we would have lost one or the other. Yunho would have died without the magicians. The Hawks would have won without the magicians. If we are married, the Swans will send warriors and magicians.”
“How do you know that?”
Heechul grinned. “Because I am in charge of them.”
Silence. Jaejoong thought back to the battle and how well Heechul fought and how well he picked up the Hawks’ strategy even before Jaejoong had.
“I am an arrogant Swan prince,” Heechul said. “The one least likely to be thought of to run the ranks of warriors and magicians. They are my warriors. We do that on purpose so you never know that you are surrounded by warriors masquerading as unrepentant nobles.”
“You devious little Swan,” Jaejoong said.
Heechul grinned at him. “Such flattery, my Raven. Anyway. My father has been refusing to send aid because there is no reason to. If we are married, it becomes necessary for there to be Swans in the Raven stronghold, protecting the weakest--” He rolled his eyes as he said this. “--of the royal family.”
Jaejoong fought to keep his temper. He was still holding a baby. “So you have orchestrated this entire thing?”
Heechul laughed. “Of course.”
“I’m confused,” Changmin said.
“It did not go exactly as planned because I am telling you about the plan before we are married, but the Hawks attacked and I wanted to fight.”
“Someone explain.”
Jaejoong looked at Changmin. “The Swan magicians suggested a marriage to their only single noble in order to get Heechul into our stronghold and then magicians and warriors to what? Take over?”
Heechul nodded. “Yes. My father has ideas of his own to weaken the Ravens, but this will at least make him listen to me that it cannot be done.”
“Why tell us now?”
Heechul kept eye contact with Jaejoong. “Because you have a baby in your arms and both of you are still too weak and I could easily overpower both of you if I wanted or needed to.”
“And?” Jaejoong prompted, trying to keep his anger in check. Heechul was right. He was too weak for a fight, and Changmin’s only concern would be his baby.
Heechul grinned. “And I want to marry you. I did not at first, but as you told me before, you are much less arrogant than I thought.”
“You did not want to marry me when you arrived?”
Heechul rolled his eyes. “Of course not. You are the most arrogant, self-centered, Bird of Death in our entire world.”
Jaejoong growled.
“Calm down,” Changmin said and took a deep breath. “So now, this was a cunning maneuver by the Swans. But why spoil it? Jaejoong probably still would have married you and you still could have gotten away with it.”
Heechul smiled. “Because it was not my plan. It was my father’s plan. My plan included honoring our alliance and sending you my magicians and warriors to help. I was outvoted. It is still early. It has not even been two weeks. You can send me home. You can throw me from a cliff and call it an accident. You can do whatever you think is best for the Ravens.”
Jaejoong met Changmin’s eyes, and this time, Changmin knew exactly what he was thinking.
“Then I guess you two should get married.”
Or not.
Part 5: The Reluctant Trust
Part 3: The Ferocious Warrior
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 4: The Unexpected Complications
Jaejoong woke up from a deep sleep, the first in a long time. His body ached from the fight the day before, but nothing was broken. He was not injured. They lost only three of their men, and captured many Hawks. The King and Changmin still debated what to do to them. Not him, because he had been ordered to bed and to stay there. It had been so easy to fall asleep with Heechul in his arms.
Light filtered through the hazy fabric that hung at the opening of his balcony.
The body in his bed moved, and Jaejoong turned his head just in time to see Heechul’s sleepy pout.
“You are not allowed to get up yet,” he said, voice deep with sleep. He shifted closer, throwing a leg over Jaejoong’s thighs and an arm over his chest. He wore only his thin, white sleep shirt that slipped off a shoulder. A strong shoulder that swung a staff around like it was a twig.
By the trees, his Swan was sexy.
“I said you were not allowed to get up yet,” Heechul growled and pressed his leg against Jaejoong’s growing erection.
Jaejoong chuckled and pressed a kiss to his forehead. “It is your fault that you are so incredibly sexy.”
Heechul huffed and even without seeing, Jaejoong knew that he had rolled his eyes.
Magic swirled at the entrance of his room, and Jaejoong shifted to sit up, but Heechul growled, knee against his groin, and Jaejoong chuckled just as Taemin walked through the door.
“Apex,” Taemin said and bowed, slightly. He carried a tray with him that had coffee and a bowl of fruit upon it.
“Hey, Taeminnie,” Jaejoong said. “How is Kai’s leg?”
“Almost healed,” he said with a grin. “Kyuhyun’s magic is still working on it.”
“Good.”
“I am going to shove my staff up your--”
Jaejoong covered Heechul’s mouth with his hand. “Thank you for breakfast, Taeminnie. Will you run and tell Changmin I will be there to check on Yunho before lunch?”
“Yes, Apex.” Taemin sat the tray down and hurried back the way he came.
Jaejoong removed his hand and smiled at the murderous look in Heechul’s eyes. “I am sorry. Was that too domineering for you? Or not enough?”
Heechul’s face wavered between furious and contemplative, and Jaejoong laughed. “You like ordering me around, beautiful, but how do you feel about being the one ordered?”
Jaejoong crawled over him, one hand curled under his neck and into his hair. He hovered over Heechul, tightened his grip and tilted Heechul’s head up. “Yes or no, my Swan?” He pressed a kiss to Heechul’s open mouth.
Heechul swallowed, adam’s apple bobbing. He nodded.
“Use words,” Jaejoong said with a tug on his hair.
“Yes. Yes.”
Jaejoong smiled and kissed his forehead. “Good boy.”
Heechul whimpered.
Jaejoong rolled to the side and out of bed. He stopped at the edge of the bed and stretched. The thin pants he had almost gotten used to wearing were hanging lower on his body, almost slipping off his hips. He moved to the tray and picked up a cup of coffee, pondering this new development. He had no idea that his proud, bossy Swan liked to be dominated in bed.
When he was sure he could keep his face under control, he turned back to the bed. Heechul was watching him, smirking.
Jaejoong lifted an eyebrow. “Did you want to go back to sleep?”
Heechul shrugged. “There are better things to do in a bed besides sleeping.”
“Like cuddling.”
Heechul rolled his eyes. “Yes, like cuddling.” He sneered at Jaejoong and flung the blankets off his body. Before their fight, it had been a body that looked lithe and weak, strong only because he was expected to be. Now it was well-built, firm and toned. Gorgeous. The shirt he wore barely covered his ass, leaving the back of his thighs for Jaejoong to ogle. His beautiful, elegant, regal Swan walked into the bathing room.
Jaejoong smiled and picked up the tray. He followed Heechul, catching just a glimpse of bare body before it was lowered into the water. Jaejoong waited until he settled, then sat on the edge, lifting his pant legs before putting his feet in the water.
“Your coffee, your highness,” Jaejoong said and held out the cup.
Heechul opened one eyes and snorted. He took the coffee and sipped at the steaming liquid before settling the cup on the edge. He sank back into the water.
“Fruit?” Jaejoong asked, holding up a quileebee berry.
Heechul opened his mouth.
Jaejoong chuckled and placed a berry against his lips. Heechul took it and then spluttered when Jaejoong leaned over and kissed him.
“Another?”
With a small smile, Heechul nodded and licked his lips. Mouth open for another berry. No more words were said as they finished the fruit and their coffee. Jaejoong stood up to remove his pants and then sank into the pool, right in front of Heechul. His slim long legs wrapped around Jaejoong’s waist and pulled him close. Their lips touched and then joined. Heechul’s hands slid down his side and Jaejoong pulled him away from the wall by the shoulders. They floated in the middle of the tub, Jaejoong standing, Heechul wrapped around him. Kissing. That was the most important part.
“I do believe I owe you a few orgasms,” Jaejoong said.
Heechul nodded and tilted his head back.
Jaejoong kissed his chin and down his neck. “Here? Or back in bed?”
“B-bed.”
Jaejoong laughed. He pressed one more kiss to Heechul’s lips. “Go. Dry off, stay naked.”
“Bossy, bossy,” Heechul muttered and stood up, the water level barely hitting his stomach. He ran his hand over Jaejoong’s wet shoulders on his way by, and Jaejoong watched him, lust churning through him. He watched the water drops trail down Heechul’s bare skin.
Heechul grabbed a towel, threw one more smile over his shoulder and left the bathing room. Jaejoong waited until he could breathe again before climbing out of the tub himself. He threw on a robe and then grabbed a pot of lotion and one of oil from the shelf.
He entered his room and stopped in his tracks. Heechul was splayed out, one knee bent, arms above his head. His hair was pulled up, probably still wet. Jaejoong figured he would get to pull on it from behind eventually. His skin glowed in the blue light of the torches.
Jaejoong licked his lips. “Beautiful.”
Heechul smirked. “Completely.”
Jaejoong took a step to the bed, and the warnings at his room blared white hot in his head. He winced, hand to his head, just as Taemin stumbled into the room.
“Yunho, Yunho.”
The flare went red and he felt panic through more than just his magic.
“What is--”
“The baby,” Jaejoong said, and spun around, running out of the room and to the balcony in only a robe. He took the short way up to Changmin’s rooms, almost flying up the ladders and the stone walkways along the cliff’s edge.
The panic grew and Jaejoong had to push past it, keep climbing to keep from falling to his death. He landed light and quick on Changmin’s balcony and rushed into the room.
Kyuhyun had his magic spiraling around Yunho’s body.
“Status,” Jaejoong snapped.
“He isn’t breathing. Neither is the baby. Changmin said that Yunho jerked and went still.”
Jaejoong cursed. “Go get the doctor.”
“He’s already on his way.”
Changmin was screaming Yunho’s name, over and over.
Jaejoong told him to shut up. He did not.
“Get him out of here,” Jaejoong said and plunged his magic into Yunho’s too-still body. He was not breathing. His heart barely beat. The baby was just as unresponsive.
“No, no, no. I won’t leave him. You can’t--”
Jaejoong spun around and slapped Changmin across the face. “Shut up. If you stay, you have to help.”
Changmin blinked at him. “Help.”
“Yes, help.” Jaejoong knew that Changmin could do nothing to help but shut up, but he needed to feel useful. “Go breath for him. Cover his mouth and nose with your mouth and breathe for him. Slow exhale, eight counts.”
Changmin shook himself, face hardening, and he moved to his lover’s head.
Jaejoong rolled his eyes at Kyuhyun and went back to the baby with his magic. “We have to get it out of there. It isn’t breathing. Why isn’t it--” And then he noticed.
Babies needed a place for the baby to grow, like a uterus, but males did not have one. Male pregnancies were always risky even if they were possible because of that. Most males’ bodies helped grow a pouch for the baby, and Yunho’s had, but it had taken a long time, with the pouch just around the baby. It was part of the reason why Yunho was in so much pain, but now the pouch had expanded, exploded almost, and filled with fluid. Like it suddenly realized it needed to grow and make up for lost time in less than a day. It was pressing against Yunho’s organs, ripped and leaking fluid all over his body. And the baby, the baby was drowning.
“Fuck!” And here he was, naked, without a weapon on him.
But Kyuhyun was armed.
“Knife, give me a knife,” Jaejoong demanded with his hand out.
Confused, Kyuhyun did as ordered, slapping the hilt in Jaejoong’s palm. Jaejoong flipped the blade around and pressed the tip to Yunho’s belly, right above his belly button.
“Jaejoong!”
“Changmin, I swear to Yunho’s god that if I don’t do this you are going to lose both of them.”
Changmin kept his mouth shut, kept breathing for him. The knife cut into his stomach, blood gushed over his hands, but it was mixed with a yellow-milky fluid. He concentrated, careful to work with his magic because he was not a doctor. He let his magic lead him to where he needed to go.
“Jaejoong,” Kyuhyun said, voice calm. “The doctor is here.”
Jaejoong nodded and then pulled the knife away. He was too hot, too overwhelmed. He pulled the robe off for a little relief.
“It is bad,” the doctor said.
Jaejoong swallowed a lump in his throat and told the doctor what he had discovered. The doctor nodded.
“Stabilize him,” the doctor said. “The baby may already be lost.”
Jaejoong ignored Changmin’s wail and had his magic enveloping Yunho, trying to pull the fluid out of Yunho’s body.
“Tell us what to do,” Taemin said at his elbow.
Jaejoong glanced around the room. “Taemin, take over for Changmin, he’s freaking out too much to be effective. Kai, are you a magician?”
Kai nodded.
“Good. Help the doctor with whatever he needs. Kyuhyun, go get Seohyun and Key and Jonghyun. We need more help.”
Kyuhyun nodded and ran off.
“What do you want me to do?” Heechul asked, suddenly behind him, hands on his bare shoulders. It was way more comforting and supportive than Jaejoong had expected.
“Stay,” he said and then concentrated back on his task.
The baby was alive, but he did not want to announce that, not give hope if it ended up being futile. The doctor cut deeper. Hours, lifetimes, Jaejoong lost track of time. He was only aware of the answering power of Seohyun’s magic twisting with his, and he took a much needed breath, revitalized from the help. They kept the fluid from Yunho’s organs, kept his lungs free, kept his heart working.
“There you go, there you go,” the doctor muttered.
“Give him to me,” Heechul said. His hands left Jaejoong’s shoulder, and he held out Jaejoong’s green robe. A mess of red blood and yellow goop was placed on it, and it took a moment for Jaejoong to realize that it was the baby. The baby who was too blue, too still, not breathing.
Heechul placed his mouth over the baby’s face and sucked, spitting fluid out a moment later, he did it again, and then again, Jonghyun placed a hand on the infant and twisted magic around its chest. A sudden wail echoed around the room. A cry. A baby’s cry, and Jaejoong met Heechul’s eyes and smiled. Everyone in the room took a breath of relief.
Except Yunho, who still wasn't breathing on his own.
Heechul returned the smile. “I got this,” he said, “keep him alive.”
Jaejoong turned back to Yunho. The doctor was wrist-deep in his stomach, pulling the sack and goopy fluid from his body. Key and Seohyun helped with magic. Taemin and Kai traded places, breathing for Yunho, and Kyuhyun had Changmin wrapped in a physical and magical hug, keeping him still, keeping him away. His eyes never left his husband’s face.
Jaejoong kept his heart beating, kept sending white mental proddings to his brain. He had no idea how long it was before the heart started beating on its own. Weak, but pumping. Jaejoong pulled away from it, but went through Yunho’s body, unclogging pathways, pulling errant fluid to the surface. Just a few minutes after his heart beat on its own again, Yunho’s body stiffened and convulsed, lungs pulling in air and then releasing it.
Changmin whimpered.
Kai and Taemin stayed at his face, keeping his airway clear.
And then Yunho screamed, and half of the doctor’s work was ripped open and Seohyun cursed and pressed bloody hands to his chest, freezing his body.
“Put him under,” Jaejoong snapped.
Key quickly placed his fingers to Yunho’s head and whispered a spell that knocked him unconscious. But his heart kept beating and his chest kept moving, lungs breathing.
“Let go,” a voice said.
Jaejoong told it to fuck off.
He recognized Heechul’s amused huff. “You are exhausted, my Raven. Let my guards take over. They are all magicians.”
Jaejoong ran his magic around Yunho’s body one more time. It was slow going. He was exhausted. Finally, he pulled it all back and staggered. He did not fall. A firm arm around his waist kept him up and pulled him toward Changmin’s bed.
“Rest,” Heechul said.
“The baby?” Jaejoong muttered and toppled onto something soft.
Heechul chuckled again. “Just fine. Rest, Apex. Rest.”
Jaejoong tried, but his body was on high alert, his magic still thrumming. Heechul stayed next to him, sitting up, and Jaejoong curled around his waist, face pressed against his hip. A light fabric settled over Jaejoong’s body.
“Look,” Heechul said and touched his shoulder.
Jaejoong pushed himself up on an elbow to look at the bundle in Heechul’s arms. The baby was pink, eyes shut, lips and nose where they should be. As he watched, the baby yawned.
“Changho.”
Heechul smiled. “Yes. He’s just fine. Yunho will be fine. You need to sleep.”
Jaejoong huffed but settled back down. Kyuhyun’s blue magic spread over his body, and he let it relax him. Just a few minutes. To recharge. That’s all he needed.
^/\-v-/\^
Jaejoong woke up still sore and exhausted. He had no idea how long he had slept. He tried to sit up and his body protested. With a moan, he managed to at least roll on his back.
“Ah, our Apex is awake.”
Jaejoong cracked open an eye. Heechul leaned over him.
“How are you feeling?”
Jaejoong cleared his throat. “Half and half.” He was in his own rooms, in his own bed. And clean. He vaguely remembered having blood and baby goop all over his body. Naked body because he’d run up to Changmin’s without clothes on.
Heechul chuckled.
“Yunho?”
“Alive,” Heechul said. “Awake. Sore.”
“Baby?”
“Perfectly healthy. Can you sit up?”
Jaejoong thought about it and pushed his elbows to the bed. He managed to prop himself up and then Heechul’s arm was under him, steadying him, helping him to sit and lean against the headboard.
“Why do I hurt so much?”
Heechul chuckled. “Because you almost killed yourself trying to save Yunho, you ungrateful Raven. You’ve been unconscious for two days.”
Jaejoong moaned.
“Here, drink.” Heechul held up a cup of cool water. “Doctor’s orders are that you are not allowed out of bed and I am not allowed to take advantage of that.”
Jaejoong swallowed the water and then gulped it. It felt so good on his throat.
“Oh, Taeminnie,” Heechul sang, and Jaejoong winced against how loud it was.
Taemin entered the room with Kai right behind him.
“Apex!” Taemin shouted, and Jaejoong winced again.
“Be quiet,” Heechul demanded.
“Sorry, Apex.”
“Go run and tell Changmin that Jaejoong is awake. He wanted to be told right away.”
“Yes, sir.”
Jaejoong waited until the two younger males left, and then he groaned. “Changmin is going to be weepy and grateful and he is not going to let me go.”
Heechul nodded. “Probably. Before he gets here,” Heechul pulled Jaejoong’s head around and kissed him. Jaejoong whimpered and kissed him back, but tried to move and ended up toppling them both to the bed.
Heechul laughed and wrapped his arms around Jaejoong’s back. “Sexy Apex, naked and over me. Just what I wanted.”
Jaejoong huffed into his neck. “Too weak.”
“And I expect perfection.” Heechul kissed his forehead and then helped move him to his back again.
Changmin entered the room, much slower than Jaejoong expected, and then he saw that he carried a bundle of blankets.
Changmin smiled at him. “Hi.”
Jaejoong sat up (again with Heechul’s help). Changmin crawled onto the bed on his knees and moved the blanket covering his baby’s face. Jaejoong smiled and did not protest when Changmin passed the bundle to him.
“Changho,” Jaejoong muttered and stared at the soft face that was healthy and pink and he sighed and relaxed. The baby was small compared to some, but not dangerously so. Jaejoong had been about to suggest an early birth in a couple of weeks anyway. The baby yawned and opened deep green eyes.
“He is perfect,” Jaejoong whispered.
“Thanks to you,” Changmin replied.
Jaejoong shook his head. “We all helped.”
“How is Yunho?” Heechul asked and traced a finger over the baby’s soft hairline.
Changmin swallowed. “Okay. In pain. His body is still fighting the magic. He thinks he’s still pregnant. Or his body does. At least physically. The doctor and magicians are monitoring him hourly. He would like to see you when you are feeling better.”
“I would go now, but I doubt I will be let out of bed.”
“You’re lucky if I don’t strap you down and use your body in whatever way I want,” Heechul said with a growl. “This is twice you have been interrupted giving me orgasms.”
Changmin chuckled. “Both have been good reasons.”
Heechul nodded and then he frowned.
“What?” Jaejoong asked.
“I have been thinking,” he said. He took a deep breath, and Jaejoong had a feeling that he would not like what he was about to hear. It was another moment before he said, “We should get married. Now. Within the week.”
Jaejoong choked and even Changmin looked at him in surprise.
Heechul smirked. “If Yunho had almost died on the same night the Hawks attacked, we would have lost one or the other. Yunho would have died without the magicians. The Hawks would have won without the magicians. If we are married, the Swans will send warriors and magicians.”
“How do you know that?”
Heechul grinned. “Because I am in charge of them.”
Silence. Jaejoong thought back to the battle and how well Heechul fought and how well he picked up the Hawks’ strategy even before Jaejoong had.
“I am an arrogant Swan prince,” Heechul said. “The one least likely to be thought of to run the ranks of warriors and magicians. They are my warriors. We do that on purpose so you never know that you are surrounded by warriors masquerading as unrepentant nobles.”
“You devious little Swan,” Jaejoong said.
Heechul grinned at him. “Such flattery, my Raven. Anyway. My father has been refusing to send aid because there is no reason to. If we are married, it becomes necessary for there to be Swans in the Raven stronghold, protecting the weakest--” He rolled his eyes as he said this. “--of the royal family.”
Jaejoong fought to keep his temper. He was still holding a baby. “So you have orchestrated this entire thing?”
Heechul laughed. “Of course.”
“I’m confused,” Changmin said.
“It did not go exactly as planned because I am telling you about the plan before we are married, but the Hawks attacked and I wanted to fight.”
“Someone explain.”
Jaejoong looked at Changmin. “The Swan magicians suggested a marriage to their only single noble in order to get Heechul into our stronghold and then magicians and warriors to what? Take over?”
Heechul nodded. “Yes. My father has ideas of his own to weaken the Ravens, but this will at least make him listen to me that it cannot be done.”
“Why tell us now?”
Heechul kept eye contact with Jaejoong. “Because you have a baby in your arms and both of you are still too weak and I could easily overpower both of you if I wanted or needed to.”
“And?” Jaejoong prompted, trying to keep his anger in check. Heechul was right. He was too weak for a fight, and Changmin’s only concern would be his baby.
Heechul grinned. “And I want to marry you. I did not at first, but as you told me before, you are much less arrogant than I thought.”
“You did not want to marry me when you arrived?”
Heechul rolled his eyes. “Of course not. You are the most arrogant, self-centered, Bird of Death in our entire world.”
Jaejoong growled.
“Calm down,” Changmin said and took a deep breath. “So now, this was a cunning maneuver by the Swans. But why spoil it? Jaejoong probably still would have married you and you still could have gotten away with it.”
Heechul smiled. “Because it was not my plan. It was my father’s plan. My plan included honoring our alliance and sending you my magicians and warriors to help. I was outvoted. It is still early. It has not even been two weeks. You can send me home. You can throw me from a cliff and call it an accident. You can do whatever you think is best for the Ravens.”
Jaejoong met Changmin’s eyes, and this time, Changmin knew exactly what he was thinking.
“Then I guess you two should get married.”
Or not.
Part 5: The Reluctant Trust
Part 3: The Ferocious Warrior
Part 2: The Complicated Beauty
Part 1: The Impossible Proposition
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