[A09] ROYALS
Prompt Code: A9
Title: Royals
Rating: pg-13
Word Count: 3,636
Warnings: veryminor!crossdressing
Summary: The one where Jongin’s eight and wears high heels.
AN: Thank you prompter for the wonderful prompt! To my beta, I love you with all my fucking heart. I hope the heavens will bless you with more cheese in your life. Also, I always curse which is why writing this fic was such a challenge yet fun at the same time. I like mozzarella cheese strings.
Jongin could feel his eyes start to tear up, and his cheeks start to get red just from thinking how embarrassing this situation was for him.
“I’d rather be a peasant than wear this stupid dress!” Jongin exclaimed, pushing away from Baekhyun’s attempt to put the red, frilly dress on him. “Where did you even get this?”
“It’s my sister’s. Now shut up and be a man!”
There were thousands of other roles Jongin would rather be in their game of Royal Kingdom. He could be a Royal Knight like Jongdae and Baekhyun, or maybe a Sorcerer like Minseok. Hell, he’d even accept the role of playing as the farmer’s cattle. Anything would have been fine as long as it didn’t involve him wearing a dress and a tiara.
Eyeing him from head to toe, Baekhyun looked pleased with his work. “Fabulous! Now all you need is a little of my mom’s blush on and - ”
“Don’t you dare,” Jongin glared.
Baekhyun backed away. “Okay, okay. I see you’re going for a more natural look. I respect that.”
Jongin was angry, embarrassed and just plain confused because he’s only eight and he’s not quite sure if he should be feeling such murderous intent at such a young age.
“Okay, now that we’re both dressed up. Let’s head to the park, your Highness.”
Stomping his way out the door, Jongin made sure not to miss Baekhyun’s foot.
***
The walk to the park was an experience Jongin would like to forget the moment the day ends. Yes, amnesia would be nice.
The adults weren’t minding him, some would even stop and coo, praising how cute 'she' looked in the princess outfit, but the kids from their neighbourhood knew him and every single one of them would start giggling and laughing the moment he passed by.
“Hey, Baekhyun,” Jongin called, his cheeks bright red and his hands itching to dig a hole in the ground to hide himself.
“Yeah?”
“Have I mentioned I hate you?”
Baekhyun paused for a few seconds to think. “Yeah, about fourteen times now ever since we left my house and we’re not even that far.”
Jongin sighed. He was mad at Baekhyun for forcing him into the dress but he was also mad at himself for losing the Rock Paper Scissor match. If only he won, Baekhyun would have been the one in his shoes (a pair of high heels to be exact) and he’d be a Knight.
Baekhyun, from time to time, would giggle and try to evade his punches but other than that, his mind was off wandering to much more important things. If he was the Royal Queen then who was his Royal King? Will he actually have to wear the whole outfit until he gets home? His train of thoughts were endless until he heard Baekhyun announce their arrival.
“Your Highness, we have reached the Royal Kingdom.”
Jongin turned towards Baekhyun’s voice and saw him kneeling down like the Royal Knights from the Medieval documentary Junmyeon forced all of them to watch the other day. He looked around and saw that the park was particularly quiet today. No one was around other than the old couple sitting under a tree and a few joggers passing by with their dogs.
Jongin had always wanted a dog.
“The Royal King is waiting for you,” Baekhyun added when he wasn’t responding. Jongin raised his brow. “That’s Junmyeon hyung. He won against Kyungsoo and Sehun.”
There was a pang in his chest. “Why - why did he win?” Jongin asked, not aware what he was even asking the question for in the first place.
Baekhyun rolled his eyes, “Seriously?”
Pursing his lips, Jongin walked away without a word. There was a long pause before he heard Baekhyun exclaim and run after him.
“Ah! I get it now, you were hoping for someone with beautiful owl like eyes and skin as white as snow to be your Royal King, right?”
Jongin’s face paled. “How - how did you know about those - those lines?” He stuttered.
“Well, you see,” Baekhyun said mockingly. “I saw this piece of paper under a certain someone’s desk. Written on it was a beautifully written poem dedicated to a certain someone as well.” Wiggling his eyebrows, he lightly punched Jongin’s arm. “You get what I’m saying?”
“Sadly, I do,” Jongin mumbled, walking away once more. This time, Jongin could feel his embarrassment reach its boiling point.
Making their way towards the playground where they always decide to meet, Jongin and Baekhyun passed more joggers with their furry friends. Baekhyun made sure to stop Jongin from running after the dogs.
“Jongin, stop. You’re wearing heels,” Baekhyun would remind him.
Once they finally arrived, Jongin was once more pulled into reality. He’s wearing a dress and waiting for him was Junmyeon and Jongdae. He looked around some more but saw no one else other than the two of them by the playground.
“Ah…my Queen!” He heard Junmyeon say while walking towards them. “I have been waiting for years to see your beauty once more!”
Jongin couldn’t help but internally cringe at the sight. Junmyeon was wearing a red button up shirt, a blue blanket tied around his neck as a cape and a crown made from yellow colored paper covered in glitter.
“We only got here, hyung.” Lying down on the foot of the slide, Jongdae waved at him and Baekhyun. “Nice dress there, Jongin. I’d make you my Queen any day.”
“Stop flirting with my wife, Jongdae!” Junmyeon nagged. “I’m going to have to banish you if you keep on doing that.”
“Hyung, if you do that, I’m switching to Kyungsoo’s side,” Jongdae threatened.
“Wait what?” Jongin marvelled at the statement. “What do you mean Kyungsoo’s side?”
Jongdae turned to the both of them. “Oh yeah, you two went to borrow Baekhyun’s dress.”
“It’s my sister’s!” Baekhyun argued.
“You see,” Jongdae continued. “Sehun lost to Kyungsoo and Kyungsoo lost to Junmyeon hyung. Sehun was supposed to be a farmer’s cattle and - ”
“Wait a minute - what?”
“Yeah, I know. We don’t even have a farmer. Now, stop interrupting me.” Jongdae shushed. “But then Sehun wanted to be a prince instead of a cow so Kyungsoo suggested that he just make a separate kingdom with him as the Evil King and Sehun as his son.”
“So there’s only two of them?” Baekhyun asked.
“Nah, Kyungsoo recruited Minseok hyung to be their - ”
“Queen?!” Jongin interjected which earned him a very viscous glare from Jongdae.
“No. He asked him to be their Wizard.”.
Next to them, Junmyeon had both his hands on his waist, sighing. “And that’s how our Kingdom fell. The Evil King has risen and now we’re doomed,” Junmyeon dramaticized.
“Yeah, well good story,” Baekhyun retorted. He patted Junmyeon on the back and continued. “Now, let’s start the game of Kingdoms, young men and of course - ” He turned to Jongin, “My lady.”
Jongin glared and was about to smack Baekhyun, but the moment he lifted his arm he felt a hand grab it and put it down.
“Jongin,” Junmyeon said, smiling. “No violence. You’re the Royal Queen so you’re with me.”
“Unfortunately,” he mumbled.
“Did you say something?” Junmyeon asked innocently and Jongin felt incredibly guilty. For a second.
“No, nothing, hyung.”
Junmyeon led him to the fountain not far from where they were. “Here, you can go and sit on that bench over there by the bushes and trees. The Knights and I will go and build us a fort as our Kingdom, okay?”
“Okay,” Jongin agreed solemnly.
“Good.” Junmyeon beamed. “Take care, my Queen!” He waved and continued to run back to the playground.
Forcing a smile, Jongin waved back.
“It hurts,” he said to himself, looking down at his feet. “High heels suck.”
***
Sitting on a bench under a tree like he was told, Jongin kept himself entertained by watching Baekhyun and Jongdae taking turns pulling Junmyeon’s cape whenever he wasn’t looking.
“Stop it!” He heard Junmyeon scream. “Pull it one more time and I’m banishing the both of you out the kingdom!”
Yawning, Jongin was starting to get bored. He lifted his throbbing feet and stared at his heels. There were countless of straps around his ankles and he recalled how a pain it was to have Baekhyun whine continuously while putting them on him earlier.
He turned his attention back to his kingdom and saw the Royal King chasing the Knights. It would have been hilarious if he wasn’t wearing the tight red dress at the moment. He’s having a hard time breathing.
Jongin closed his eyes and laid his head on top of the bench. He could hear the birds chirping, the fountain water flowing, and the soft breeze shaking the branches of the tree above him. Slowly, Jongin could feel himself falling asleep.
Hiding in a bush, just behind him, someone was watching him closely.
“Finally,” a voice whispered.
“Is he already asleep now?”
***
Sehun and Minseok were starting to get tired and hungry. They’ve been walking around the park mindlessly for almost half an hour, looking for Junmyeon and the others.
“Did you eat lunch, hyung?” Sehun asked, rubbing his belly for emphasis. “I’m getting hungry.”
Minseok nodded. “Yeah, but it’s already snack time so I’m getting hungry too.”
“I see, but Kyungsoo hyung promised to buy us ice cream when we finish our mission, right?”
“Actually, Sehun,” Minseok corrected, “It was me Kyungsoo promised an ice cream to. You’re the prince so he ordered you to stay with him.”
“Yeah well, the prince wants ice cream! So I say let’s get some, servant!”
“Hey!” Minseok protested, “I’m a wizard, not a servant.”
“Yeah well, if you’re under the King, that’s pretty much the same thing.”
Minseok pouted. “That’s it. I’m leaving you here.”
Just as he was walking away, Minseok heard a loud booming voice coming from the direction of the playground. “Sehun!” he called. “Did you hear that?”
Sehun walked towards him and listened carefully. There was only silence. “No, I don’t hear any - ”
“Stop it! Pull it one more time and I’m banishing the both of you out the kingdom!”
“Sounds like Junmyeon hyung,” Sehun continued.
“No, Sehun. That is Junmyeon hyung.”
“Ohhh,” There was a pause. “Then what are we waiting for, let’s go kidnap the Royal Queen!”
Completing their mission wasn’t as challenging as they both expected it to be. Luckily enough, The Royal King and his Knights were too busy chasing each other in the playground to pay any mind to their Royal Queen sleeping soundly on the park bench.
“Finally,” Sehun whispered after waiting in hiding for fifteen minutes for Jongin to let his guard down.
“Is he already asleep now?” Minseok asked.
“Yep. Do you want to carry the head or the heels?” Sehun asked back.
Minseok scrunched his face in concentration, as if his answer was going to cost him life and death. “I’ll go with the head,” he decided. “The high heels looks too dangerous.”
“Nice choice, hyung. I’ll go with the head and you go for the heels. I love it!’ Sehun beamed.
Minseok could only sigh, “You’re such a brat.”
***
“ - ngin. Jongin?”
Jongin could hear his name being called and the voice was particularly familiar and soothing to his ears. Maybe he died of boredom or exploded from embarrassment and now he’s in heaven where an angel is trying to tell him to go change his clothes because he’s still wearing the ridiculous red dress.
“Jongin, I’m starting to get cramps. I’m only nine. I don’t think I should have those yet.”
“Kyungsoo hyung?!” Jongin snapped his eyes open and saw the most prettiest eyes looking down on him. And that’s when he realized whose voice it was. “And I’m sitting on your lap right now, right?”
Kyungsoo nodded.
Jongin sat up straight and that’s when he had his second realization. “Oh no.”
Next to him, Kyungsoo shifted in his seat, quietly giggling behind his fingers. “Nice dress by the way. Red looks nice on you.”
Jongin felt a smile tug on his lips. Kyungsoo looked absolutely adorable in his white shirt and black cape (which he recognized as a piece of Kyungsoo’s halloween costume a year ago). He noticed a hint of eyeliner under his eyes as well. Somehow, Jongin didn’t mind looking ridiculous anymore if it meant he could see Kyungsoo enjoy himself like this every single day.
“Eyeliner?”
“Yeah, Jongdae said Baekhyun would get jealous if he saw it.”
“Looks nice but I like your eyes better without them,” Jongin smiled but then, the amount of cheesiness of what he just said hit him hard on the face. He froze, staring at Kyungsoo, more embarrassed than before.
Kyungsoo stared back, both waiting for each other to say something.
Jongin blinks.
“Uhhh… anyway, Baekhyun and eyeliners aside,” Kyungsoo breathed. “You’ve actually been kidnapped, Jongin.”
“What?”
“Haven’t you heard? I made a separate kingdom.”
“Oh yeah! They did explain that to me.”
“Well, I ordered Minseok to kidnap you but Sehun tagged along anyway,” Kyungsoo said. He shifted his eyes and instead stared at his own twiddling thumbs. “So yeah, you’re kidnapped.”
Jongin just stared. “And?”
Starting to look agitated, Kyungsoo couldn’t look at Jongin straight anymore. “Well you see…we kinda… my kingdom needs a…well we… It’s kind of hard but…”
“We need a Queen is what he’s trying to say,” a voice behind them said. It was Sehun, Minseok with him, both holding two ice creams each “We have your ice creams, by the way.”
Jongin turned to Kyungsoo, who was now looking at him with expectant eyes. His cheeks and ears were bright red and Jongin wondered if he looks the same and if Kyungsoo felt the same as Jongin was feeling as well.
“You - you - ” Jongin stuttered, eyes glued to Kyungsoo. “You want me to be your Queen?”
Behind them, Sehun rolled his eyes, “We’re right behind you, in case you’re wondering,” he said and Minseok made sure to shut him up by shoving his ice cream to his face.
Right now, Jongin couldn’t even comprehend the feeling bubbling in his chest.
Kyungsoo pursed his lips and nodded. “Yes, Jongin. I want you to be my Queen.” He smiled and made an awkward sound at the end that made Jongin believe Kyungsoo was very nervous.
Jongin smiled back, “Well… if it’s okay with you then I - I would love to - ”
But suddenly, the moment was interrupted by a familiar screaming voice.
“THERE THEY ARE! THEY HAVE JONGIN!”
Everyone turned their heads to see Junmyeon sweating and covered in mud. His hair was sticking up and his blue cape was now nowhere to be seen. Behind him, Baekhyun and Jongdae appeared with Junmyeon’s blue cape tied around Jongdae’s waist.
“What are you two Knights waiting for?! They have my queen!”
Jongdae scoffed. “Uhh… excuse me? Are you forgetting I’m your mistress now?”
“My what?”
“Obviously, you don’t watch soap operas with your mom,” Baekhyun said. “Anyway, I’ll go and get your precious Queen back, hyung!” And just like that, Baekhyun started running towards their direction. “Jongin, we’re coming to save you!”
Jongin didn’t know what to do. Does he stay and let the Royal Knights of his kingdom save him or does he run off with Kyungsoo, The Evil King? Conflicted, Jongin turned to Kyungsoo.
Kyungsoo was staring back at him, eyes serious. “Jongin, we have to - ”
“What are you two still doing here?! Run!” Minseok screamed. “Me and Sehun will keep them busy!”
With that said, Jongin felt small hands tug at his dress. It was Kyungsoo. “Jongin, can you run with your heels?”
Jongin shakes his head.
Kyungsoo suddenly kneeled in front of him, removing the straps of his heels. “Stay still.”
Behind them, Minseok and Sehun were doing their best to keep Baekhyun and Jongdae from getting to them. Jongin wondered what happened to the ice creams they were holding and immediately finds the answer when he saw Junmyeon wiping his shirt with his handkerchief, obviously not amused at the chocolate stains.
Once both of his heels were removed, Jongin noticed Kyungsoo removing one of his own shoes. “Hyung, you don’t have to.”
“I’m only letting you borrow one,” Kyungsoo said.
Jongin laughed because somehow, the thought of sharing shoes with someone has never crossed his mind.
“Thanks, hyung.”
Kyungsoo stood up and dusted his knees once he got the shoe on Jongin. “Now, come on.”
Jongin nodded and stood up as well. It felt uncomfortable standing with only one shoe. He didn’t even know how he was going to run like this but knowing that it was Kyungsoo who put the shoe on him somehow made him feel like a princess in a fairy tail. It made him feel special.
Jongin smiled. “Okay hyung, let’s go.”
They started running, not knowing where they were headed. All they know was that they have to get far, far away from Junmyeon’s complaints about the stain on his shirt, far away from Sehun’s battlecries, far away from Baekhyun’s screaming, just - just far away from everyone else.
After several minutes of running, Jongin was starting to run out of breath and so was Kyungsoo. They stopped and tried to catch their breaths. Jongin turned to look around and saw they were far from the park now. He turned to Kyungsoo next to him and met his eyes. They both burst out in laughter.
“Does this mean you’re my Queen now?” Kyungsoo asked shyly, his eyes still expectant and his breathing still ragged.
Jongin laughed some more. “I wouldn’t have ran with you if I wasn’t.”
The moment the last word left his mouth, Kyungsoo’s face lit up with the most genuine smile Jongin has ever seen. It was beautiful.
~ Years later ~
“ - ngin. Jongin.”
Jongin could hear his name being called. It felt like deja vu.
“Jongin, you’re drooling on the sofa.”
Jongin finally blinked his eyes open, still half asleep and confused. “Kyungsoo hyung?”
Standing in front of him and blocking the television was Kyungsoo, looking down at him with the prettiest eyes Jongin had always loved.
“You slept on the sofa again,” Kyungsoo said. “We have class in an hour and you still haven’t taken a bath in two days. I can smell you from my room.”
Still dazed, Jongin just stared. He was trying to comprehend what was happening.
“Hyung, I think I just dreamt of that time when we were kids.”
Kyungsoo raised an eyebrow, “I know. You’ve been mumbling in your sleep.”
“Really? What was I mumbling about?”
Kyungsoo gave a cheeky smile, “About being my Queen or something like that.”
Jongin froze. “Seriously?”
Kyungsoo laughed and patted Jongin on the head. “The red dress really suited you.”
“Hyung, no.”
Jongin looked out the window and saw that it was, indeed, morning already. He has a Psych class in just an hour but he doesn’t feel like going anymore. He feels lazy and feels heavy after having such a nostalgic dream.
“Jongin,” Kyungsoo called and Jongin turned to him instantly. “You want to go to the park?” he smiled.
Jongin nodded without a thought. “I’d love to, hyung.”
It’s been thirteen years since then, and a lot of things have changed: Junmyeon being in America continuing his studies, Minsoek having his own coffee shop with Sehun still pestering him to add bubble tea to the menu, Baekhyun and Jongdae being in a top idol group and most of all, his relationship with Kyungsoo.
They’ve been going out since Jongin’s second year in high school. It was Kyungsoo who asked him out and now, Jongin’s about to take the greatest step he would ever make in his whole life.
He thinks the dream he just had was a sign. A sign to finally take out the ring he’s been keeping under his bed for months and present it to his Royal King.
“Well, go change then,” Kyungsoo said, pulling Jongin off the sofa. “Also take a bath. You stink. I’ll go get you a change of clothes from your room.”
“Okay, hyung. Also, I think I left my wallet under my bed.”
Kyungsoo just stared at him. “You what?”
“Oh come on, just check under my bed.” Pushing Kyungsoo into his room, Jongin didn’t care if he haven’t bathe in days when he finally proposes. All Jongin cared about was how he wants Kyungsoo to be finally his.
Officially.
“I swear, Jongin. If it’s a dirty underwear. I’m gonna smack you.”
The small red box was covered in dust from being kept under Jongin’s bed for far too long, but Kyungsoo didn’t care because Jongin’s proposing to him and nothing could ever ruin that (Yes, not even the dirty laundry basket beside him).
Kyungsoo felt a tear fall down from his cheek.
“So, is that one single tear a yes?”
Kyungsoo’s face was starting to get red now and Jongin was getting worried. “Uh, hyung? You’re not allergic to silver, are you?”
“Fuck you, Jongin,” Kyungsoo laughed.
Jongin scratched his head. “So is that a yes or… a real fuck you and get lost, Jongin? I’m confused.”
There was a cheeky smile on Kyungsoo’s lips. “Only if you wear a red dress.”
Jongin’s face paled. “Uh, no.”
***
On their wedding day, Jongin wore a red dress without any complaints.
“Red looks really nice on you,” Kyungsoo smiled.
Jongin felt a smile tug on his lips. He doesn’t mind looking ridiculous all over again if it meant he could see his husband enjoy himself like this for the rest of their lives.
“You don’t look too bad yourself, hyung, with your black cape and eyeliner.”
Bursting into laughter, Jongin and Kyungsoo felt like they were back in the past, eight years old all over again, playing Royal Queen and Evil King. Only this time, there are no more running and high heels involved.
Thank goodness.