Enamored 5/?
Title: Enamored 5/?
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 5: The Reluctant Trust
Silence settled in a thick haze around Jaejoong’s brain. Was Changmin crazy?
“What?” Jaejoong demanded.
Changmin smiled and held out his arms for his baby. Jaejoong handed Changho over and could not protest when Changmin stood up to leave.
“You should get married. I will go tell my mother, and preparations will start. I’ll let you know the date.”
“Fuck you!” Jaejoong said but had no energy to go after his best friend.
Changmin laughed at him.
Jaejoong glared at Heechul. He felt betrayed, defensive ... and heartbroken. “Get out.”
“You want me to saunter around your stronghold unsupervised?”
“Fuck you. Leave me alone.” Jaejoong fell to his side, facing away from Heechul.
“Sleep on it. Think about it. It still makes sense for us to marry.”
“I cannot trust you anymore.”
“And you trusted me before? That is stupid. You don’t even know me.”
Jaejoong whipped around, wincing at his sore muscles. “Stupid! It was stupid. This entire situation is stupid. I am not going to marry you. Not after this, not after ...”
Heechul shrugged. “I know you do not want to, but it sounds like it is going to happen anyway.”
Jaejoong glared at him but said nothing. He turned back to his side and willed his body to sleep.
^/\-v-/\^
Jaejoong did not kick Heechul out of his rooms.
To keep up appearances, Changmin said.
Jaejoong wondered if he could get away with throwing Changmin off a cliff. A really high cliff. And hope he hit every branch on the way down. Or Heechul.
Jaejoong was angry that he had been played, and played so very well. He had no idea of Heechul’s real identity. Their sources, the Swans themselves, said that a man named Junmyeon was their equivalent of an Apex, both a magician and a Warrior. At every function, every dinner, every festival, Heechul had played the arrogant, youngest son of the Cob of Swans, carousing, fucking, drinking. Completely irresponsible. Completely irresistible.
Jaejoong seethed. He slept in his office, and he only left to check on Yunho and Changho. Both were doing fine despite the complications of almost dying. It made Jaejoong swell with pride because his magicians were amazing. He trained them to be.
And he needed to concede that he did train a select few for espionage. There were a few currently living as Owls and Falcons, giving them intelligence on those clans and the Hawks. He did not think he needed to do the same with the Swans.
He refused to be seen with Heechul. Appearances be damned. And he ate meals in his office. He lived out of his office while cursing the beautiful Swan.
And Changmin. He needed to be shoved off a cliff. He doubted he could make it look like an accident, and it was not fair to his little baby boy.
The red coin at his hip flared light up at him. With a sigh, he stood up to answer the call. He went one of the long ways from his office so he would not have to actually go through his rooms. A few of the Ravens that saw him in the hallways moved out of his way, and Jaejoong knew he had to figure this out because he did not want his people to be afraid of him. He was angry, deservedly so, but he was the only one. Most of the Royal Family danced over the moon because of the new baby and Jaejoong’s impending marriage but only because Changmin had told no one of Heechul’s identity, and Jaejoong had been ordered to keep his mouth shut. He felt insecure and caged in. Who knew how many others in stronghold were sneaky spies?
But the Ravens did not need him to take out his anger on them.
Jaejoong barely acknowledge Kyuhyun at Changmin’s rooms.
Kyuhyun was smart not to do more than greet him and bow properly. If even Kyuhyun was cautious around him, then Jaejoong’s bad mood was getting out of hand.
Inside the rooms, Jaejoong stopped and stared. He should have suspected that Heechul would be here. He and Yunho were getting along very well, especially now that Jaejoong ignored the Swan.
Heechul glanced up at him and smiled. His hair was left long, but part of it pulled from his face. He wore black pants and bright red billowy top. There was a knife hilt above his short boots, and another knife at the metal clasp in his hip. Silver jewelry adorned his wrists and neck. And his hair. He wondered how many of the pins holding up his hair were actually weapons.
Jaejoong had not seen Heechul for more than an entire day. He would not say that he had forgotten how beautiful the other man was, but it was a bit of a shock to his system.
Heechul stood fluidy, a green bundle of cloth in his arms. “Good morning, Apex,” he said, though his tone of voice was mocking, not respectful.
Jaejoong crossed his arms and glared.
“I am here too, you know,” Yunho said from the bed.
Jaejoong glanced behind Heechul and felt himself flush. He had not even noticed. He moved into the room, around Heechul without acknowledging him and climbed onto the bed.
“How are you feeling?”
Yunho shook his head. “Pain.”
“Still?”
He nodded and winced. Jaejoong put his hands just above the thick bandages on Yunho’s middle and sank his magic into his body. There were lingering patches of fluid that Yunho’s body had to eventually absorb. That usually happened with male pregnancies. The stitches from the doctor were not infected, and there were no major complications. Unfortunately, Yunho was just going to have to wait it out. Jaejoong healed a few of the outer wounds. The inner ones were too complicated. He sank pain relieving spells into his body, smiling when Yunho sighed in relief.
“He is also not producing milk,” Heechul said from next to them.
Jaejoong scowled and shook his head, fighting to be civil. “Men don’t always, I am not surprised that Yunho is not with the other problems he had with having this child.”
Yunho touched Jaejoong’s hand. “I--I’m not going to be able to have another one, am I? The doctor said--”
Jaejoong smiled and took his hand and squeezed it. “I don’t know. I don’t want to tell you either way. This first one was hard and you almost died. Partly because you lived so long in your realm so your body was not expecting this. So if you live long enough in this realm will it be different? I don’t know.”
Yunho frowned. “What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Are you going to have a child?”
“Not any time soon,” Jaejoong said with more animosity than he meant.
Heechul snorted, and Jaejoong bit his lip against cursing him out.
Yunho smiled. “I am not sure I understand why you are so angry.”
Jaejoong rolled his eyes.
“Well, it is not like Heechul attacked you in your sleep. He told you who he was when he did not have to, and last I checked, we are still allies.”
“Barely,” Jaejoong bit out.
Yunho laughed. “Come on. Before you were angry because you had to be married to a snotty, noble who did nothing but take advantage of his status. And now, you know that Heechul is a warrior and a commander, just like you. Much better suited to your status. It isn’t a big deal.”
“Does anyone care that he was planted here to eventually weaken the Ravens?”
“I wasn’t,” Heechul said and smirked at Jaejoong’s glare. “Okay, fine. So I was, but I told you, that was my father’s plan. I am not my father.”
“There is no way anyone is going to trust you.”
“You mean there is no way you are going to trust me. Changmin trusts me.”
“Changmin is stupid to continue to trust you.”
Heechul rolled his eyes again, and then held out the bundle of green cloth. Jaejoong had no option but to take the baby. “You are an arrogant snake,” Heechul said.
Jaejoong glared but said nothing. He watched Heechul walk around the pillar and out of sight.
Yunho chuckled. “Jaejoong, come on. If you really thought he was a threat, you would have told the Raven King about him. But you haven’t. Why haven’t you? Because Changmin told you not to? When have you ever listened to Changmin when it regarded something so important?”
Jaejoong scowled but said nothing because by the trees, Yunho was right. He spent his entire life arguing with Changmin and going against his orders when they did not make sense.
“So why haven’t you? Why are you allowing this marriage to be planned when you don’t want it and you don’t trust Heechul at all?”
Jaejoong stared down at the baby, little Changho who, despite being forcefully removed from his father’s body, was healthy and strong. He was tiny, almost too small, but breathing and eating and sleeping. His round head was covered in a patch of brown hair. His skin was pink and wrinkly. He yawned as Jaejoong watched and then opened his eyes, shifting in the wrap. Jaejoong loosened it and allowed his little hands freedom. Tiny fists balled up and waved in the air, and Jaejoong smiled over at Yunho.
“He is beautiful.”
Yunho smiled back and nodded. “I know, but thank you.”
Jaejoong chuckled. “Who is feeding him?”
“Seohyun is mostly, since she is the one with the youngest baby, though there are a few other women who do not mind helping out. Changho is a prince after all. They are loyal to his title.”
“And to yours,” Jaejoong assured him.
“Maybe. Sometimes I still feel like people treat me as an outsider, or worse, as an Eagle slave.”
“You are not!”
“I know that. And Heechul is not a bad person. You know that. You need to talk to him about this before your marriage, because it is going to happen, and it is going to happen soon. You cannot be this upset and angry without people questioning why.”
“They should question why. He tricked us!”
“Not really,” Yunho replied. “Tricking us would have been to continue to act like a weak noble, and have him and his guard assassinate the royal family after the wedding.”
“You do not think he is going to do that anyway?”
“Of course not. First of all, he likes you. He actually wants to be married to you and not just because the marriage prospects in his own clan are so slim. He likes being out of the shadow of his older brothers. And he likes being here. He doesn’t want to hide who he is. And you deserve a better match than just some snotty little noble. You deserve someone as strong, handsome, and arrogant as you, but sorry, Changmin is mine, so Heechul will have to do.”
Jaejoong did not reply and watched the baby blink open his eyes and yawn.
“I think you’re mad because you did not catch him and you did not suspect it. Think of his tactics, his brain, his ideas, on your side. He’ll make a great asset to your warriors.”
Jaejoong snorted. “Maybe.”
“You gave me some great advice right after I met Changmin, do you remember?”
“All my advice is great.”
Yunho chuckled. “It is, and now it’s your turn to listen. You told me, after you had broken into my apartment more than one time, that I needed to talk to him. And I did, and I talked to him a lot, probably more than was necessary. But you should do the same with Heechul. You may find that his past, much like Changmin’s past, has been fulfilling a single role, a single purpose, that he now has to change. So talk to him.”
Jaejoong huffed.
“Let’s talk about something else,” Yunho said. “Everyone has already said everything they can about Heechul. It will be up to you to decide what to do.”
^/\-v-/\^
Jaejoong leaned against the railing outside of his office. Clouds obscured the sky, and the air smelled heavy, like rain was coming. With the wind blowing through the trees, Jaejoong figured they would wake up to a storm.
The sound of metal cutting through the air had Jaejoong snapping alert and flinging himself away from the balcony, back to the tree. A gleaming knife thunked into the wooden railing right where his arm had been.
Soft laughter curled with the wind.
Jaejoong took a deep breath and mentally cursed Heechul off the cliffs.
“And here I thought you were observant.”
Jaejoong threw a knife back at him.
Heechul dodged, ducking and lifting an arm, complete with another knife. The metal twanged together, and Jaejoong’s knife hit the platform at Heechul’s feet.
The Swan laughed. “Pretty quick, Apex. That almost got me.”
“Liar.”
“Only a little.”
“Devious, pretentious, boastful.”
Heechul smirked. “You forgot beautiful.” He bent over, and Jaejoong’s mouth went dry. Heechul was only wearing a loose black shirt. One of Jaejoong’s. Bare legs, bare thighs, bare ass, skin just a dim flash of pale in the low light of the stronghold’s torches. He pulled Jaejoong’s knife from the wood and walked up to Jaejoong.
Heechul tapped the blade against Jaejoong’s shoulder. “You did not know I was coming, did you?”
Jaejoong did not respond. He did not want Heechul to know that he had not sensed him break through his magic wards.
“Kai can do that,” Heechul continued, “and he can show you how. Magic is only as good as you can manipulate it, right? Kai can practically see magic. And he can set a spell that makes is possible to slip right through magic.”
Which was pretty cool, but Jaejoong was not about to let Heechul know he thought so.
But as always, Heechul seemed to know exactly what he was thinking and he smirked. He draped his arms around Jaejoong’s shoulders, knife still gripped in his hand. “You know you are entirely too calm right now with someone that you think is going to kill you draped over your body.”
Jaejoong lifted a hand and unsheathed a knife at his wrist in the same movement. It pressed to Heechul’s ribs and the thin black shirt ripped.
Heechul laughed. “What do I need to do to prove that I am not going to betray you?”
“I am not sure that you can.”
“A good warrior is always cautious around his enemies and suspicious of his allies. You are a very good warrior, Apex. I want to be married to you. I want be next to you and support you. And by my wings, do I want to have sex with you.”
Jaejoong shook his head in disbelief. “I’m not sure I want any of those things anymore.”
“If you did not,” Heechul countered, “You would have told your father and you would have had me kicked out of your clan and sent home. The truth is, we are getting married in two weeks unless you say something to stop it.”
Jaejoong hated it when other people were right.
“Even if you wait until the moment before we are joined, will you do me a favor?”
“Orgasms?”
Heechul laughed. “I will not say no to that, but I need you to talk to the Raven Queen. She wants me to be dressed in white.”
“What?”
“Yeah, so if you could talk to her about that--”
“I will.” Jaejoong finally put his knife away and twisted around to take the one out of Heechul’s hand. “Even if I do not really want to be married to you, you deserve to be married to me as my equal.”
“Your entire clan has forgotten that I outrank you.”
“My clan considers me to be an extension of the prince, so I will always outrank you.”
“Yunho and Changmin were married as equals.”
“I know. I will take care of it.”
“What about the orgasms you owe me? When are you going to take care of those?”
Jaejoong removed Heechul’s arms from his body and stepped away from him. “You will be lucky if I ever touch you again.”
Heechul pouted. “At least come up to bed. You are no good to any of your Ravens if you are exhausted and not sleeping well.”
“Are you going to be sleeping in my bed?”
Heechul smirked. “Am I?”
Jaejoong turned from him and headed for his rooms.
“Again, Apex. You are willingly showing your back to someone you do not trust.”
Jaejoong fought the urge to turn around. He fought the urge to hide in the shadows. Heechul walked next to him, close enough to touch. Jaejoong did not touch him. He glared at Kai and Taemin standing outside his door, and Taemin did not meet his eyes, but Kai smirked at him. A smirk just like Heechul’s. Jaejoong balled his hands into fists to keep from hitting him.
Only one torch burned blue inside his rooms. Jaejoong thought of turning the light back to normal fire just to be a brat, but he was more mature than that. He really was. Heechul’s presence followed him into the room. Jaejoong removed his weapons and stripped down to nothing. He ignored Heechul’s long-suffering sigh and climbed into his bed. When Heechul sat on the opposite side, Jaejoong did not protest.
But he stiffened when Heechul curled against his back, just as naked as Jaejoong. Jaejoong shut his eyes with a heavy breath.
“Good night, my Raven,” Heechul whispered and pressed a kiss to his bare shoulder. His arm stayed around Jaejoong’s stomach, not reaching or moving to touch anything else.
It was nice to sleep in a bed after a few days sleeping in his office chair or on the floor. Or not sleeping at all. Once again, Heechul was right. He was no good to anyone exhausted. If the Hawks attacked tonight or even tomorrow, he would not be at his best to fight.
And he was still on orders of limited duties, so he had not excuse not to be in tip top shape. Unless he was planning on admitting that he was throwing a temper tantrum.
Jaejoong woke up cool and rested. The dim light in his rooms had him questioning the time of day, and then he smelled rain and heard the patter of drops on his balcony. Taemin’s presence twisted through the doorway. Jaejoong shut his eyes to pretend he was still asleep. He doubted Taemin fell for it, but he settled the tray of coffee on a table and left without saying anything.
Lightning flashed, followed by a rumble of thunder.
“I love rainy days,” Heechul said, voice soft against Jaejoong’s ear. “The Lake comes alive on rainy days. It’s the best fishing day for us and our Swans.”
“Do you have a Swan?” Jaejoong asked. “Like I have Apollo, I mean?”
“Yes. Her name is Athena. She has a clutch due soon, and well, I was hoping for her to come here, but it is not fair to take her from her flock.”
Jaejoong propped up on an elbow. “You are not a prisoner here, you know? You can go back and visit any time you wish. Athena can fly and roost in any of our cliff ponds. We have a few, you know.”
Heechul smirked. “Oh, I know. They make perfect spots for seducing your Warriors.”
Jaejoong rolled his eyes.
“Let’s go to one now,” Heechul said and shifted closer. “Just you and me.”
“No thanks.”
“You arrogant-” He broke off and flung himself off the bed. He walked, gorgeous naked skin on display, and grabbed one of Jaejoong’s robes. “You make me insane.”
Jaejoong chuckled. He waited until Heechul went out on the balcony, and then he too got up and wrapped up in a robe. He pulled a thick blanket over his arm, and picked up both coffee cups. He slipped around the thin curtain on his balcony. Heechul was under a rock overhang, sitting on a bench. Jaejoong handed him a cup of the warm coffee, and then sat next to him. They shifted and moved until they were curled up together in the blanket.
Jaejoong watched the streams of rainfall while sipping on his coffee. The Stronghold was quiet, not too many people out and about. The platforms were sometimes slippery during rain, and it was dangerous to use rope ladders.
Heechul held out his hand suddenly, fingers up and spread.
Jaejoong looked at it, and then took it, interlacing their fingers.
Heechul squeezed, and a moment later, bright blue magic twisted up and around Jaejoong’s fingers. Heechul took a very deep breath, body shaking from the effort.
“I’m not a magician,” Heechul said, “but Kai taught me to do this at least.” The blue flared and tightened, and it felt like everything Heechul was. A connection to his heart, mind, and soul. With labored words, he said, “I do not plan on hurting any Raven. I do not plan on betraying you or your trust. I am honored that you would even consider me a suitable husband let alone agree to marry me. I know you are worried, but do not be. Everything I am, everything I do, belongs to the Raven Clan.”
It was difficult to lie through magic. Jaejoong could do it because he was a very strong magician. Heechul was not. Even as he sat there, he felt the strain that such a simple spell caused him. But it was the best, most honest, and trusted vow that Jaejoong could demand. Or request; he doubted he’d ever be able to demand anything of Heechul. And he liked that, that Heechul could not be ordered or controlled, by Jaejoong. Or by his father.
With barely a thought, Jaejoong released his own magic that spun silver around Heechul’s blue. Sometimes his magic felt sentient, like Jaejoong did not even really control it. It felt that way now, twisting faster around Heechul’s. Happy. Compatible. Complete. The two colors twisted and molded into a lighter shade of shiny blue. The magic dispersed, the mixed color separating, not into its two colors, but just half and half. It disappeared, sinking back into their hands, and Jaejoong finally looked up and met Heechul’s eyes.
“Okay,” Jaejoong said.
Heechul smirked and then laughed. He wrapped his arms around Jaejoong’s waist and buried deeper into the blankets and against his body. Jaejoong wrapped his arms around Heechul’s shoulders and whispered a warming spell that felt more than anxious to wrap around Heechul. They sat in silence and watched the rain.
^/\-v-/\^
As promised, Jaejoong went and spoke with the Raven Queen. He made sure that both of them would be dressed as equals, but with only a bit of a twist. Instead of black sashes, belts and accessories, they would be silver, the color of magicians, twisted and intertwined with blue, the color of the Swan Clan.
Part 6: The Compatible Pleasure
Part 4: The Unexpected Complications
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 5: The Reluctant Trust
Silence settled in a thick haze around Jaejoong’s brain. Was Changmin crazy?
“What?” Jaejoong demanded.
Changmin smiled and held out his arms for his baby. Jaejoong handed Changho over and could not protest when Changmin stood up to leave.
“You should get married. I will go tell my mother, and preparations will start. I’ll let you know the date.”
“Fuck you!” Jaejoong said but had no energy to go after his best friend.
Changmin laughed at him.
Jaejoong glared at Heechul. He felt betrayed, defensive ... and heartbroken. “Get out.”
“You want me to saunter around your stronghold unsupervised?”
“Fuck you. Leave me alone.” Jaejoong fell to his side, facing away from Heechul.
“Sleep on it. Think about it. It still makes sense for us to marry.”
“I cannot trust you anymore.”
“And you trusted me before? That is stupid. You don’t even know me.”
Jaejoong whipped around, wincing at his sore muscles. “Stupid! It was stupid. This entire situation is stupid. I am not going to marry you. Not after this, not after ...”
Heechul shrugged. “I know you do not want to, but it sounds like it is going to happen anyway.”
Jaejoong glared at him but said nothing. He turned back to his side and willed his body to sleep.
^/\-v-/\^
Jaejoong did not kick Heechul out of his rooms.
To keep up appearances, Changmin said.
Jaejoong wondered if he could get away with throwing Changmin off a cliff. A really high cliff. And hope he hit every branch on the way down. Or Heechul.
Jaejoong was angry that he had been played, and played so very well. He had no idea of Heechul’s real identity. Their sources, the Swans themselves, said that a man named Junmyeon was their equivalent of an Apex, both a magician and a Warrior. At every function, every dinner, every festival, Heechul had played the arrogant, youngest son of the Cob of Swans, carousing, fucking, drinking. Completely irresponsible. Completely irresistible.
Jaejoong seethed. He slept in his office, and he only left to check on Yunho and Changho. Both were doing fine despite the complications of almost dying. It made Jaejoong swell with pride because his magicians were amazing. He trained them to be.
And he needed to concede that he did train a select few for espionage. There were a few currently living as Owls and Falcons, giving them intelligence on those clans and the Hawks. He did not think he needed to do the same with the Swans.
He refused to be seen with Heechul. Appearances be damned. And he ate meals in his office. He lived out of his office while cursing the beautiful Swan.
And Changmin. He needed to be shoved off a cliff. He doubted he could make it look like an accident, and it was not fair to his little baby boy.
The red coin at his hip flared light up at him. With a sigh, he stood up to answer the call. He went one of the long ways from his office so he would not have to actually go through his rooms. A few of the Ravens that saw him in the hallways moved out of his way, and Jaejoong knew he had to figure this out because he did not want his people to be afraid of him. He was angry, deservedly so, but he was the only one. Most of the Royal Family danced over the moon because of the new baby and Jaejoong’s impending marriage but only because Changmin had told no one of Heechul’s identity, and Jaejoong had been ordered to keep his mouth shut. He felt insecure and caged in. Who knew how many others in stronghold were sneaky spies?
But the Ravens did not need him to take out his anger on them.
Jaejoong barely acknowledge Kyuhyun at Changmin’s rooms.
Kyuhyun was smart not to do more than greet him and bow properly. If even Kyuhyun was cautious around him, then Jaejoong’s bad mood was getting out of hand.
Inside the rooms, Jaejoong stopped and stared. He should have suspected that Heechul would be here. He and Yunho were getting along very well, especially now that Jaejoong ignored the Swan.
Heechul glanced up at him and smiled. His hair was left long, but part of it pulled from his face. He wore black pants and bright red billowy top. There was a knife hilt above his short boots, and another knife at the metal clasp in his hip. Silver jewelry adorned his wrists and neck. And his hair. He wondered how many of the pins holding up his hair were actually weapons.
Jaejoong had not seen Heechul for more than an entire day. He would not say that he had forgotten how beautiful the other man was, but it was a bit of a shock to his system.
Heechul stood fluidy, a green bundle of cloth in his arms. “Good morning, Apex,” he said, though his tone of voice was mocking, not respectful.
Jaejoong crossed his arms and glared.
“I am here too, you know,” Yunho said from the bed.
Jaejoong glanced behind Heechul and felt himself flush. He had not even noticed. He moved into the room, around Heechul without acknowledging him and climbed onto the bed.
“How are you feeling?”
Yunho shook his head. “Pain.”
“Still?”
He nodded and winced. Jaejoong put his hands just above the thick bandages on Yunho’s middle and sank his magic into his body. There were lingering patches of fluid that Yunho’s body had to eventually absorb. That usually happened with male pregnancies. The stitches from the doctor were not infected, and there were no major complications. Unfortunately, Yunho was just going to have to wait it out. Jaejoong healed a few of the outer wounds. The inner ones were too complicated. He sank pain relieving spells into his body, smiling when Yunho sighed in relief.
“He is also not producing milk,” Heechul said from next to them.
Jaejoong scowled and shook his head, fighting to be civil. “Men don’t always, I am not surprised that Yunho is not with the other problems he had with having this child.”
Yunho touched Jaejoong’s hand. “I--I’m not going to be able to have another one, am I? The doctor said--”
Jaejoong smiled and took his hand and squeezed it. “I don’t know. I don’t want to tell you either way. This first one was hard and you almost died. Partly because you lived so long in your realm so your body was not expecting this. So if you live long enough in this realm will it be different? I don’t know.”
Yunho frowned. “What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Are you going to have a child?”
“Not any time soon,” Jaejoong said with more animosity than he meant.
Heechul snorted, and Jaejoong bit his lip against cursing him out.
Yunho smiled. “I am not sure I understand why you are so angry.”
Jaejoong rolled his eyes.
“Well, it is not like Heechul attacked you in your sleep. He told you who he was when he did not have to, and last I checked, we are still allies.”
“Barely,” Jaejoong bit out.
Yunho laughed. “Come on. Before you were angry because you had to be married to a snotty, noble who did nothing but take advantage of his status. And now, you know that Heechul is a warrior and a commander, just like you. Much better suited to your status. It isn’t a big deal.”
“Does anyone care that he was planted here to eventually weaken the Ravens?”
“I wasn’t,” Heechul said and smirked at Jaejoong’s glare. “Okay, fine. So I was, but I told you, that was my father’s plan. I am not my father.”
“There is no way anyone is going to trust you.”
“You mean there is no way you are going to trust me. Changmin trusts me.”
“Changmin is stupid to continue to trust you.”
Heechul rolled his eyes again, and then held out the bundle of green cloth. Jaejoong had no option but to take the baby. “You are an arrogant snake,” Heechul said.
Jaejoong glared but said nothing. He watched Heechul walk around the pillar and out of sight.
Yunho chuckled. “Jaejoong, come on. If you really thought he was a threat, you would have told the Raven King about him. But you haven’t. Why haven’t you? Because Changmin told you not to? When have you ever listened to Changmin when it regarded something so important?”
Jaejoong scowled but said nothing because by the trees, Yunho was right. He spent his entire life arguing with Changmin and going against his orders when they did not make sense.
“So why haven’t you? Why are you allowing this marriage to be planned when you don’t want it and you don’t trust Heechul at all?”
Jaejoong stared down at the baby, little Changho who, despite being forcefully removed from his father’s body, was healthy and strong. He was tiny, almost too small, but breathing and eating and sleeping. His round head was covered in a patch of brown hair. His skin was pink and wrinkly. He yawned as Jaejoong watched and then opened his eyes, shifting in the wrap. Jaejoong loosened it and allowed his little hands freedom. Tiny fists balled up and waved in the air, and Jaejoong smiled over at Yunho.
“He is beautiful.”
Yunho smiled back and nodded. “I know, but thank you.”
Jaejoong chuckled. “Who is feeding him?”
“Seohyun is mostly, since she is the one with the youngest baby, though there are a few other women who do not mind helping out. Changho is a prince after all. They are loyal to his title.”
“And to yours,” Jaejoong assured him.
“Maybe. Sometimes I still feel like people treat me as an outsider, or worse, as an Eagle slave.”
“You are not!”
“I know that. And Heechul is not a bad person. You know that. You need to talk to him about this before your marriage, because it is going to happen, and it is going to happen soon. You cannot be this upset and angry without people questioning why.”
“They should question why. He tricked us!”
“Not really,” Yunho replied. “Tricking us would have been to continue to act like a weak noble, and have him and his guard assassinate the royal family after the wedding.”
“You do not think he is going to do that anyway?”
“Of course not. First of all, he likes you. He actually wants to be married to you and not just because the marriage prospects in his own clan are so slim. He likes being out of the shadow of his older brothers. And he likes being here. He doesn’t want to hide who he is. And you deserve a better match than just some snotty little noble. You deserve someone as strong, handsome, and arrogant as you, but sorry, Changmin is mine, so Heechul will have to do.”
Jaejoong did not reply and watched the baby blink open his eyes and yawn.
“I think you’re mad because you did not catch him and you did not suspect it. Think of his tactics, his brain, his ideas, on your side. He’ll make a great asset to your warriors.”
Jaejoong snorted. “Maybe.”
“You gave me some great advice right after I met Changmin, do you remember?”
“All my advice is great.”
Yunho chuckled. “It is, and now it’s your turn to listen. You told me, after you had broken into my apartment more than one time, that I needed to talk to him. And I did, and I talked to him a lot, probably more than was necessary. But you should do the same with Heechul. You may find that his past, much like Changmin’s past, has been fulfilling a single role, a single purpose, that he now has to change. So talk to him.”
Jaejoong huffed.
“Let’s talk about something else,” Yunho said. “Everyone has already said everything they can about Heechul. It will be up to you to decide what to do.”
^/\-v-/\^
Jaejoong leaned against the railing outside of his office. Clouds obscured the sky, and the air smelled heavy, like rain was coming. With the wind blowing through the trees, Jaejoong figured they would wake up to a storm.
The sound of metal cutting through the air had Jaejoong snapping alert and flinging himself away from the balcony, back to the tree. A gleaming knife thunked into the wooden railing right where his arm had been.
Soft laughter curled with the wind.
Jaejoong took a deep breath and mentally cursed Heechul off the cliffs.
“And here I thought you were observant.”
Jaejoong threw a knife back at him.
Heechul dodged, ducking and lifting an arm, complete with another knife. The metal twanged together, and Jaejoong’s knife hit the platform at Heechul’s feet.
The Swan laughed. “Pretty quick, Apex. That almost got me.”
“Liar.”
“Only a little.”
“Devious, pretentious, boastful.”
Heechul smirked. “You forgot beautiful.” He bent over, and Jaejoong’s mouth went dry. Heechul was only wearing a loose black shirt. One of Jaejoong’s. Bare legs, bare thighs, bare ass, skin just a dim flash of pale in the low light of the stronghold’s torches. He pulled Jaejoong’s knife from the wood and walked up to Jaejoong.
Heechul tapped the blade against Jaejoong’s shoulder. “You did not know I was coming, did you?”
Jaejoong did not respond. He did not want Heechul to know that he had not sensed him break through his magic wards.
“Kai can do that,” Heechul continued, “and he can show you how. Magic is only as good as you can manipulate it, right? Kai can practically see magic. And he can set a spell that makes is possible to slip right through magic.”
Which was pretty cool, but Jaejoong was not about to let Heechul know he thought so.
But as always, Heechul seemed to know exactly what he was thinking and he smirked. He draped his arms around Jaejoong’s shoulders, knife still gripped in his hand. “You know you are entirely too calm right now with someone that you think is going to kill you draped over your body.”
Jaejoong lifted a hand and unsheathed a knife at his wrist in the same movement. It pressed to Heechul’s ribs and the thin black shirt ripped.
Heechul laughed. “What do I need to do to prove that I am not going to betray you?”
“I am not sure that you can.”
“A good warrior is always cautious around his enemies and suspicious of his allies. You are a very good warrior, Apex. I want to be married to you. I want be next to you and support you. And by my wings, do I want to have sex with you.”
Jaejoong shook his head in disbelief. “I’m not sure I want any of those things anymore.”
“If you did not,” Heechul countered, “You would have told your father and you would have had me kicked out of your clan and sent home. The truth is, we are getting married in two weeks unless you say something to stop it.”
Jaejoong hated it when other people were right.
“Even if you wait until the moment before we are joined, will you do me a favor?”
“Orgasms?”
Heechul laughed. “I will not say no to that, but I need you to talk to the Raven Queen. She wants me to be dressed in white.”
“What?”
“Yeah, so if you could talk to her about that--”
“I will.” Jaejoong finally put his knife away and twisted around to take the one out of Heechul’s hand. “Even if I do not really want to be married to you, you deserve to be married to me as my equal.”
“Your entire clan has forgotten that I outrank you.”
“My clan considers me to be an extension of the prince, so I will always outrank you.”
“Yunho and Changmin were married as equals.”
“I know. I will take care of it.”
“What about the orgasms you owe me? When are you going to take care of those?”
Jaejoong removed Heechul’s arms from his body and stepped away from him. “You will be lucky if I ever touch you again.”
Heechul pouted. “At least come up to bed. You are no good to any of your Ravens if you are exhausted and not sleeping well.”
“Are you going to be sleeping in my bed?”
Heechul smirked. “Am I?”
Jaejoong turned from him and headed for his rooms.
“Again, Apex. You are willingly showing your back to someone you do not trust.”
Jaejoong fought the urge to turn around. He fought the urge to hide in the shadows. Heechul walked next to him, close enough to touch. Jaejoong did not touch him. He glared at Kai and Taemin standing outside his door, and Taemin did not meet his eyes, but Kai smirked at him. A smirk just like Heechul’s. Jaejoong balled his hands into fists to keep from hitting him.
Only one torch burned blue inside his rooms. Jaejoong thought of turning the light back to normal fire just to be a brat, but he was more mature than that. He really was. Heechul’s presence followed him into the room. Jaejoong removed his weapons and stripped down to nothing. He ignored Heechul’s long-suffering sigh and climbed into his bed. When Heechul sat on the opposite side, Jaejoong did not protest.
But he stiffened when Heechul curled against his back, just as naked as Jaejoong. Jaejoong shut his eyes with a heavy breath.
“Good night, my Raven,” Heechul whispered and pressed a kiss to his bare shoulder. His arm stayed around Jaejoong’s stomach, not reaching or moving to touch anything else.
It was nice to sleep in a bed after a few days sleeping in his office chair or on the floor. Or not sleeping at all. Once again, Heechul was right. He was no good to anyone exhausted. If the Hawks attacked tonight or even tomorrow, he would not be at his best to fight.
And he was still on orders of limited duties, so he had not excuse not to be in tip top shape. Unless he was planning on admitting that he was throwing a temper tantrum.
Jaejoong woke up cool and rested. The dim light in his rooms had him questioning the time of day, and then he smelled rain and heard the patter of drops on his balcony. Taemin’s presence twisted through the doorway. Jaejoong shut his eyes to pretend he was still asleep. He doubted Taemin fell for it, but he settled the tray of coffee on a table and left without saying anything.
Lightning flashed, followed by a rumble of thunder.
“I love rainy days,” Heechul said, voice soft against Jaejoong’s ear. “The Lake comes alive on rainy days. It’s the best fishing day for us and our Swans.”
“Do you have a Swan?” Jaejoong asked. “Like I have Apollo, I mean?”
“Yes. Her name is Athena. She has a clutch due soon, and well, I was hoping for her to come here, but it is not fair to take her from her flock.”
Jaejoong propped up on an elbow. “You are not a prisoner here, you know? You can go back and visit any time you wish. Athena can fly and roost in any of our cliff ponds. We have a few, you know.”
Heechul smirked. “Oh, I know. They make perfect spots for seducing your Warriors.”
Jaejoong rolled his eyes.
“Let’s go to one now,” Heechul said and shifted closer. “Just you and me.”
“No thanks.”
“You arrogant-” He broke off and flung himself off the bed. He walked, gorgeous naked skin on display, and grabbed one of Jaejoong’s robes. “You make me insane.”
Jaejoong chuckled. He waited until Heechul went out on the balcony, and then he too got up and wrapped up in a robe. He pulled a thick blanket over his arm, and picked up both coffee cups. He slipped around the thin curtain on his balcony. Heechul was under a rock overhang, sitting on a bench. Jaejoong handed him a cup of the warm coffee, and then sat next to him. They shifted and moved until they were curled up together in the blanket.
Jaejoong watched the streams of rainfall while sipping on his coffee. The Stronghold was quiet, not too many people out and about. The platforms were sometimes slippery during rain, and it was dangerous to use rope ladders.
Heechul held out his hand suddenly, fingers up and spread.
Jaejoong looked at it, and then took it, interlacing their fingers.
Heechul squeezed, and a moment later, bright blue magic twisted up and around Jaejoong’s fingers. Heechul took a very deep breath, body shaking from the effort.
“I’m not a magician,” Heechul said, “but Kai taught me to do this at least.” The blue flared and tightened, and it felt like everything Heechul was. A connection to his heart, mind, and soul. With labored words, he said, “I do not plan on hurting any Raven. I do not plan on betraying you or your trust. I am honored that you would even consider me a suitable husband let alone agree to marry me. I know you are worried, but do not be. Everything I am, everything I do, belongs to the Raven Clan.”
It was difficult to lie through magic. Jaejoong could do it because he was a very strong magician. Heechul was not. Even as he sat there, he felt the strain that such a simple spell caused him. But it was the best, most honest, and trusted vow that Jaejoong could demand. Or request; he doubted he’d ever be able to demand anything of Heechul. And he liked that, that Heechul could not be ordered or controlled, by Jaejoong. Or by his father.
With barely a thought, Jaejoong released his own magic that spun silver around Heechul’s blue. Sometimes his magic felt sentient, like Jaejoong did not even really control it. It felt that way now, twisting faster around Heechul’s. Happy. Compatible. Complete. The two colors twisted and molded into a lighter shade of shiny blue. The magic dispersed, the mixed color separating, not into its two colors, but just half and half. It disappeared, sinking back into their hands, and Jaejoong finally looked up and met Heechul’s eyes.
“Okay,” Jaejoong said.
Heechul smirked and then laughed. He wrapped his arms around Jaejoong’s waist and buried deeper into the blankets and against his body. Jaejoong wrapped his arms around Heechul’s shoulders and whispered a warming spell that felt more than anxious to wrap around Heechul. They sat in silence and watched the rain.
^/\-v-/\^
As promised, Jaejoong went and spoke with the Raven Queen. He made sure that both of them would be dressed as equals, but with only a bit of a twist. Instead of black sashes, belts and accessories, they would be silver, the color of magicians, twisted and intertwined with blue, the color of the Swan Clan.
Part 6: The Compatible Pleasure
Part 4: The Unexpected Complications
Part 3: The Ferocious Warrior
Part 2: The Complicated Beauty
Part 1: The Impossible Proposition
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