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Daeyoung knows Prince Sion is getting antsy to leave sometime close to midnight when he tugs at his collar once, twice, and sends a meaningful look Daeyoung’s way. His eyes are wide. Pleading. The crowned prince has too many people looking at him to express much more than that but there is a twitch at his mouth that means it’s time to move. 

Daeyoung stands up straighter from where he was leaning against the doorway that leads to the kitchens. He glances over at the only other personal guard on duty tonight. “Tokuno-san.”

Two cat-like eyes glance up to meet his. They blink. Just once.

“Kim Daeyoung-ssi,” Yushi replies as haughtily as ever. His hand has been set firmly on his longsword for many hours now and if Daeyoung weren’t conditioned to look for such things, he wouldn’t even notice the way Yushi’s grip tightens on the hilt once he notices eyes are on him. It’s instinct. Daeyoung knows it’s a learned instinct because Prince Sion has the same habit. 

“I believe our Highnesses are ready to leave,” Daeyoung tells him simply, his voice in its usual gently firm cadence. “Prince Sion has sent the signal. Do you think perhaps…“

His voice trails off as he follows Yushi’s gaze stretching across the ballroom, looking over to where the knight’s own kingdom is stuck in conversation. There’s the usual old Ministers and Counselors from farther South East, across the sea on those stretches of tiny islands, but in the center of it all is Prince Maeda. Who is already looking back at them. 

Riku looks equally as pleading as Sion as he mouths: Now.

“I suppose they are,” Yushi comments idly. As usual, his tone betrays no particular emotion other than boredom. Or at least it never does when they’re at these gatherings, on standby for hours and hours where there is rarely anything to do besides eat tiny bites of food fit for royalty and watch out for trouble. And also talk to each other. Though that is only a sometimes-thing since Yushi isn’t really the talkative type. 

But even if he was - the idea of a talkative Tokuno Yushi is a bit terrifying, but that’s not the important thing here - this isn’t the right sort of place for them to talk, not about the things they enjoy talking about. And it’s rare these days they spend their time talking to each other anyway. Or at least not in any literal sense of the word. 

Instead they usually… Well. Daeyoung prefers the term ‘indulge.’ 

It’s a little silly. He thinks about the tone Yushi’s voice will take on once they’re out of the ballroom and he can’t help his small smile. Fond, maybe. Daeyoung’s always been awfully fond and that’s something he can’t help. Today’s ball is for the celebration of the Valentine’s Festival and Yushi has more or less promised him something worthwhile once their shift was over and their Princes were sorted away, no doubt wrapped up in each other in Sion’s chambers. Hopefully the two of them can get even just a second away by themselves. Because Daeyoung is a rather adaptable man and all he ever needs is just one second.

(Though he’d like much more than that. Such as all the time in the world, actually, just the two of them together…)

“Shall we go then?” Daeyoung means it seriously but he can’t help the way his smile continues to grow. Because he’s excited to be alone with his favorite knight and he’s also imagining the face Yushi will make once it’s just them, alone, in the dark of the castle corridors. That nose scrunch; that petulant look. Mouth turned up at the corners like a cat.

There’s just the smallest twitch of Yushi’s lips as he wraps a hand more firmly around the hilt of his sword but then his face fades back into its usual nonchalance. “I suppose we shall. They’ll get restless otherwise.”

Yushi goes for Riku and Daeyoung goes for Sion, their movements practiced through years of training and endless lessons and standing out on the fighting pitch, sweat beading down their foreheads and mud smeared into their skin from relentless brawling. It’s funny. Yushi is an expat who grew up in their kingdom and only returned to his own when he was exchanged in a peace treaty some years after turning of age. He was the one groomed to be by Sion’s side, in Daeyoung’s role, and he was expected to be the Head of the Guards had he stayed. Those two grew up together, Sion and Yushi. Trained side by side. Took the same classes from childhood all the way up to the time they became adults. Daeyoung can only read Yushi so well because of the years and years he’s had to figure out how his own Prince operates. They both follow the same trails of logic almost every time and without fail. Like two peas in a pod. 

Yushi is just a little more… how would you put it? Bossy? Incorrigible even on a good day? The most stubborn man perhaps in the entire world? Where Sion is gentle and stern, Yushi can be brash and demanding. He is quite sweet once you know him. But he is a terror on the battlefield and he has never lost a fight in all the years Daeyoung has known him; they’re coming up on over a decade now. And all of that together can make him seem very… unruly, perhaps. 

Ah, yes. It’s something like that. Yushi is unruly. And Daeyoung’s quite fond of him because of that.

But both the similarities and differences between those two is how Daeyoung knows Sion will not flinch upon his arrival, because he comes up behind his Prince and there is nothing more than a surprised, quick inhale when Daeyoung lands a heavy hand on his shoulder. Sion is rather predictable like that, unlike his knight counterpart. So Daeyoung leans down and murmurs into Prince Sion’s ear: “Your highness. Tokuno-san is retrieving your beloved. Do you wish to make a discreet exit?”

Sion’s head only turns back the slightest bit to answer in response. His voice is very, very low: “Yushi is discreet about nothing. I’ll make my goodbyes first.”

Sion is always quick with these kinds of things and gets pretty no-nonsense once he has his eyes set on running into Riku’s arms, and so Daeyoung straightens his back and steps backwards, putting a good respectable few feet between himself and the Prince. Sion has always been incredibly poised, even for royalty. That’s something he and Prince Maeda have in common. They are excellent at poker faces and Sion doesn’t even stutter when he tells the King - his father - goodnight.

“I believe I ought to retire early, Your Majesty,” Sion bows his head in the slightest curtsey. There is nothing but a tiny little twinkle in his eyes and Daeyoung only catches it because it’s his job to know when his prince is feeling mischievous. “I have an early morning mingling with the cohorts from abroad…”

“Your prospects, yes,” the King grunts, downing a chalice of wine. “We’ve worked hard to gather them in one place for the festival so do tread carefully, Sion-ah.”

It’s a dismissal. Sion only bows deeper, a smile on his face that betrays absolutely nothing. It doesn’t even hint at the fact that he will be spending his night with the only suitor he’s ever had eyes for, the one Prince he has been forbidden by his parents from entangling himself with. Daeyoung worries everyday something will slip but it’s always Sion who reassures him that he has a plan to one day make the King and Queen see reason. He’s always insistent that being the eldest in his bloodline does not make him the most fit for the throne, and even if it does, he will find a way to disgrace his lineage if it means being Riku’s. Or perhaps he will even find a way to bring Prince Maeda with him into their kingdom’s leadership.

Daeyoung has his doubts about most of it - especially since young Princess Siyeon is the only other heir in the bloodline - when Sion has always been wise in all aspects of politics and is generally someone who puts the kingdom before his own image. He is almost annoyingly level-headed about everything, so much so that Daeyoung has constant headaches from his stubbornness. 

And yet when it comes to love, even a man like Prince Sion can get tunnel vision. 

It’s funny. A man like Oh Sion only has one weakness. It’s the most damning weakness in all of the world. It’s something that will most likely kill him and it’s something that will most likely kill all of them and the burden only weighs heavier by the day. He can see Sion’s facade starting to crack as he gets older - how many suitors can he deny before his father chooses to intervene? Surely time has already begun to run out. They are already too old to be given many choices, let alone a choice as important as this. 

So Daeyoung, again, has his doubts. It’s hard not to when something could get found out so easily and they’d all be punished before Sion could even convince the King to be merciful, let alone tolerant of a union between his son and Prince Maeda. So far he has been staunchly against even the mere possibility. There is a very long, very bloody history between their two kingdoms. It would be the first time in which someone from Sion’s bloodline took the hand of a Maeda by choice and not by terror. So it’s a little… it’s not something the King would be moved to change his stance on even if it meant Sion’s happiness.

But alas. It’s Daeyoung’s job to carry out Sion’s orders with absolute faith and no doubts about his Prince’s plans. So.

“I am an expert at treading carefully, Abeoji,” Sion promises. And then he turns to his mother, the Queen, and kisses her upon the cheek. And he ruffles Princess Siyeon’s hair. “See you in the early morning, yes?”

“Stop being a brute!” His sister complains. Daeyoung always found it so interesting how she never refers to him with affection. He’s never heard ‘oppa’ uttered from her mouth except when talking to Yushi. How curious for a man like Oh Sion, who is affectionate with every child he comes across, to have such an awkward relationship with his own sister.

(Daeyoung has contemplated asking Yushi about it. He’s contemplated it many times. But Prince Sion is only ever private for very good reasons…)

“Surely you can hold off on bickering just for tonight,” the Queen chides. She waves them off. “Sleep well, darling. And you too, Daeyoung-ah.”

Daeyoung bows with a smile. “Your Grace.”

Sion straightens his back and smiles his usual princely smile. He runs two hands down his lapel before slicking back his hair. Only Daeyoung seems to catch the way his hands tremble. But then Sion turns to him and his smile is softening and with just the briefest tilt of his chin, he nods.

“Let’s go, Daeng,” Sion says. And then, voice lowering: “Where’s Yushi bringing him?”

Their movements are quick, even now, thoughtful and well-practiced. Daeyoung puts a hand on Sion’s arm and leads him across the ballroom. They head down to the palace steps. “Your quarters, sire,” Daeyoung reports. “Tokuno-san didn’t say any specifics.”

And as to be expected, Sion just sighs. “Of course he didn’t.”

Sion has to wave goodbyes and address certain people with certain titles as they make their way through the crowds, but the presence of Daeyoung escorting him means that no one tries to get him to linger. Thank god. The Valentine’s Festival is extensive and while that’s always been the case for these celebrations, it’s getting worse now that the Prince is at the marrying age. Though he’s been at the marrying age for many years already. There are whisperings of the King seeking retirement and Sion is seen as unsuited for the throne if he intends on ruling alone. So many are trying to force their own sons or daughters into his orbit. By bribes or deals or looks or what have you.

It really is fortunate for Daeyoung that Sion and Riku have considered themselves betrothed since childhood, even before there was peace between their kingdoms. Daeyoung has never asked for the specific details of how they grew so close but he has a feeling that those frequent meetings with Yushi before he was sent home had something to do with it. ‘Political discussions,’ they’d call it. Daeyoung’s just grateful that Prince Sion and Maeda Riku’s involvement with each other means he can frequently spend time with his own beloved.

Though Yushi would probably behead him if he said such a thing out loud. His beloved. No matter how true it is. Hmph.

The thought is rather amusing. Daeyoung’s favorite hyung can be quite stingy about the sickly sweet things even though sometimes he seems to really enjoy being doted on. It’s very peculiar. Daeyoung likes to think he’s got Yushi all sorted out but sometimes he does wonder if their relationship has gotten him in over his head.

But he only wonders that sometimes. Usually he just feels so lucky that he could die happy. Which is much better than dying as most knights do, honorable but feeling bitter about everything they have left undone. Unmarried and unloved and alone. All knights die alone.

So. He doesn’t have it all that bad, really.

Daeyoung leads Sion into the backrooms of the castle. They won’t be seen this way, or at least not by anyone they don’t want to be seen by. Sion and Riku’s relationship is an open secret among the palace staff. Everyone speaks nothing of it because they all know one day Sion will be the one on the throne no matter what the King thinks of his and Riku’s relationship. There is no one else fit to lead them and Oh Sion has spent the last twenty-five years of his life being primed perfectly into the role.

“Why am I nervous,” Sion mutters to himself as they descend down a spiral set of stairs. “Yushi didn’t- Riku doesn’t seem very-“

“Are you getting cold feet, sire?” Daeyoung can’t help but tease. He flinches when Sion elbows him in the side. “Ow, hyung!” 

He was only joking. Goodness. Since when was his prince so particular? Normally you can’t get him to shut up. And Daeyoung says that with love, really.

“Riku is already twenty-three. He will be wedded off soon.” Sion seems more petulant than usual, which is unnerving, even for him. “There are kingdoms in the South more suited for him. There was a Prince across the Pearl River…”

“Last time I checked, Maeda-sama’s kingdom had no obligation to come tonight,” Daeyoung drops the formalities because he’s not letting his- his boss - or his older brother-adjacent figure, whatever term is the most apt - talk himself out of the only romance he’s ever cared for. “And yet he came, hm? For you?”

He holds a heavy wooden door open for Sion and the prince ducks through it. His ears are red but he grumbles: “Or maybe he did it for you. Yushi would’ve caused a fit if he didn’t get to see you today.”

Sion’s being incorrigible on purpose and yet the goading works anyway. Daeyoung’s cheeks go pink. He knows that Yushi certainly has a hand in when Riku makes appearances in their kingdom and he is very fucking stubborn about them regularly meeting, but even still. As if a lowly knight could influence such a thing! Even one at Yushi’s level, who is regarded as one of the strongest soldiers in the entire continent! Even then!

Daeyoung blushes anyway, slightly admonished. “Hyung, stop. What do you-“

“Don’t act so coy, Daeyoung-ah, it doesn’t suit you,” Sion smiles. And then they’re rounding the corner to his chambers where there are already four young men waiting for them and Daeyoung doesn’t have a comeback for him after that. His words die in his mouth before he can even consciously think to say them.

But Daeyoung purses his lips and he thinks: Sion hyung has really gotten more testy with age, huh…

Though that hardly matters now, anyway - the sight waiting for them is the sight they’ve been waiting for all night. Because there’s Riku, of course, whose face lights up as Sion approaches. And there’s Yushi, too, as impassive as ever. But next to them are two very familiar figures, ones with round baby cheeks, who immediately-

“Hyung!”

Within seconds, Sion has his arms full of teenage boy. Their accents are heavy on the word, much heavier than Yushi’s is, or even Riku’s. Sakuya and Ryo, as usual, are a handful to deal with. Though that’s not surprising in the least. 

“You brought the babies?” Sion asks Riku and it’s hard to tell if he’s delighted or crestfallen by their appearance. Ryo is the younger Prince of the Maeda family, albeit related through cousinhood and bearing a much smaller stature. Sakuya is his guard. Though the term ‘guard’ is used liberally because the kid isn’t exactly much more than a sidekick, really.

“They saw Yushi and I and insisted on following us,” Riku is as soft-spoken as ever. But he steps in closer when Sion holds out an arm to him. “I’m sorry, hyung, I-“

“What are you sorry for, hm?” Sion asks with a grin. He brushes Riku’s hair out of his eyes and pulls him in close, into a hug. “You looked beautiful tonight. I wanted to tell you that.” And then he ducks down and kisses him sweetly.

Because Yushi and Daeyoung are trained explicitly to ignore such things - it’s their job, after all - they both look away in order to disguise their disgust. Meanwhile the babies wretch.

“Did you really just say that with a straight face!”

“Riku-nii, you like hearing those types of things?”

Sion goes bright red and hides his face in Riku’s hair. Prince Maeda scowls. He is only ever like that around the kids, which is funny. Normally he’s so easy going and kind and shy, sometimes to the point of getting brushed over.

And yet:

“I didn’t ask you to escort me, did you!” Riku scolds. “How often do I get to see my betrothed outside of letters! Of course he talks sweetly! We’re lovers!”

The scolding is nothing unusual but that only leads them into another round of bickering, of course. Riku and Ryo and Sakuya are akin to brothers and they never hold back on trading blows. Not even in the dark corridors of a foreign castle. You can always count on the three of them to turn what is supposed to be a no-nonsense gathering into something full of familial arguments and excessive teasing. Every single time and without fail, too.

But the kids, admittedly, do seem a little more self aware once they realize the firmness in which Sion holds Riku to his side. Tight. Like anyone could steal him away. Ryo nuzzles into Riku’s shoulder with thinly-disguised affection and even Sakuya softens.

(Though that doesn’t mean they stop complaining, because when do they ever.)

“I brought the boys here to watch guard while you two… re-familiarize yourself.” Yushi’s voice is soft and his nose is all scrunched up but he doesn’t make a disgusted face like the little ones are. He cuts right into their bickering with practiced ease. “My presence here is much more damning since I’m not to leave your side, Ku-chan. Sion hyung is known to be fond of the babes. It will raise less alarm if they are seen here and I am not.”

At his words, the others snap their mouths shut and Daeyoung’s eyebrows raise. While it’s true that Tokuno Yushi is quite adept at his job, he never makes it obvious how much care he puts into their safety. Especially not when he prefers to act so nonchalant about it. But Riku grins and even the kids just nod along to his words and there is something very, very fond growing on Prince Sion’s face.

“Aw, Yuu-chan, really?” Sion is beaming. He ruffles the kids’ hair and seems almost overjoyed now that he knows they are here with good intentions. They usually are, but it can be hard to say for certain when you’re dealing with two young men who often are left to their own devices - and also have a tendency to raise havoc wherever they go.

“I owe Yushi-nii a favor,” Ryo bows his head, almost in regret. But he seems accepting of it, at least. “And it can’t be too hard to just stand here while you guys bone or whatever.”

His wording causes some incredulous looks from the hyungs - Riku opens his mouth like he’s about to scold again - but then Sakuya nudges Yushi in the side. “Then what will you do? Mess around all night since you don’t have to work? Hm? Have you just been fiending to slack off?”

While it’s true that normally would earn Sakuya nothing more than a blank stare, or maybe a slow blink - especially from Yushi, who so often enjoys coming across as impassive even when they all know he is anything but - tonight Yushi’s hand reaches out to clasp onto Daeyoung’s and he smirks something sly. It is almost devious. It promises nothing good at all.

“I am also re-familiarizing myself with my beloved,” Yushi says haughtily. “I wish to be left unbothered until dawn, so please hold up your end of the deal.”

It’s silly. Both kids’ jaws drop open and even Sion laughs. Riku opens his mouth again like he wants to ask something very demanding, eyebrows knitted together. Sometimes he acts like their mother figure and it’s always a bit unnerving if not just very embarrassing. Riku’s voice comes out a little shrill.

“Yuu-chan, you-“

“I’m not answering any questions,” Yushi barks back, ears red. And then he tugs on Daeyoung’s hand and turns on his heel. “Puppy, come with me.”

Daeyoung blushes something furious at the nickname but follows without a second’s worth of hesitation. Even as the others shout out after them, both with questions and jeers. Sion, specifically: Puppy? It comes out scandalized but also vaguely delighted, which is how Daeyoung knows he’ll never be hearing the end of this.

“Do you think they’ll be alright without us?” Is the only thing Daeyoung asks his beloved. Because yes, he’s fond of the term now that Yushi’s said it, even though his hyung would never let him speak of it again. “The kids are not- if the hyungs-“

Daeyoung is the only house worker who resides in the royal wing due to ease of access. So when they very quickly get to his door, Yushi wordlessly opens it with a tug. The door creaks open and Yushi drags him inside and once it’s closed behind them, he pushes Daeyoung up against it.

“Don’t focus on them,” Yushi demands with the tiniest sneer in the world. “Focus on me. Have you not been dying to touch me all night, Daeyoungie?”

Oh. Oh, yes. His tone is mean and Daeyoung likes it when his tone is mean and so he breathes out something excited and aroused and slightly terrified. Because there’s no such thing as escaping Tokuno Yushi when he wants something. Daeyoung's head rolls back against the door with a thud as he’s shoved up against the hard wood and there are already fingers undoing his tie. His scabbard is unbuckled. There is already a hand pulling at him; tugging him closer; mean in the way only his hyung is mean.

“Hyung,” Daeyoung groans eagerly as Yushi bites hard at the skin of his neck, firm and over his pulse point. “Hyungie, I-“

“My puppy,” Yushi pulls him down by the collar, hard and with a yank. He never rises on his tip toes - he only drags Daeyoung down to his level. Though that’s nothing new. “Puppy-yah, come here and kiss your hyung.”

It’s not difficult to listen to a demand like that. Daeyoung is a weak, weak thing and he always has been. Especially when it comes to the man he loves. And so he leans down and mumbles yes, hyung and takes Yushi by the waist and kisses him. 

Which is just… god. Finally. 

It’s been damn-near a month and the second they’re pressed together again, something in him slots into place. Their mouths meet sweetly. Once, twice, and then over and over and over and-

It’s just a peck, at first, but then it’s another. And then he presses in harder and Yushi is pressing back with more vigor and Daeyoung feels- he can feel something warm and low in his belly begin to stir as his tongue gets eager. With spit and the warmth of Yushi’s mouth and the fact that this beautiful, small, terrifyingly strong man is his.

“Good boy,” Yushi mutters. His hand fists into Daeyoung’s hair and pulls him in even closer. He mouths at him. “Mm, Youngie.”

Daeyoung kind of feels like he’s losing his mind. But that’s not new when it comes to Yushi, not really.

He holds his hyung firmly by the waist and cranes his head down, down, down, so Yushi can do whatever he wants to him and his mouth and every pliant inch of his body. Yushi has one hand still in his hair and the other plucking at the buttons of his shirt. Yushi exhales something harsh when Daeyoung nips at him. And then he nips back. He nips back much, much harder. Enough to leave a mark.

How wonderful. It’s so very wonderful to be marked up by him. Especially when Yushi’s kissing him like he’s going to eat him and Daeyoung only wishes he could. 

“Hyung,” Daeyoung’s moaning. His hands travel up Yushi’s sides, up to his shoulders. He presses his lover in closer. He cradles Yushi by the jaw and his hand is big enough to hold him steady all on its own. Cupping his cheek as a thumb brushes under his eye, so tenderly, and-

“My Daeyoung,” Yushi groans the tiniest bit. Somehow it’s not even pathetic-sounding when he makes those noises, not like it is when Daeyoung does. He just sounds desperate. Wanting more. Needing it. “Daeyoung, I missed you so much.”

It’s rare that Yushi will admit to such a thing, and so Daeyoung grabs his face in both hands and kisses him even harder. Fuck. He’s actually losing his mind.

The thing is that it hasn’t even really been that long since they saw each other last, maybe just a month and a half or so. Sion and Daeyoung visited Riku’s kingdom for the New Year under the guise of political allying. Then they got to spend three whole days wrapped up with their beloveds before coming back to their own homeland, and since then, their communication has been strictly confined to letters and little else. Sometimes Yushi sends him the occasional gift. He’s quite fond of gift giving. Which is good. Because Yushi’s letters are never all that long and do leave a lot to be desired more often than not…

But Daeyoung won’t tell him that, obviously. He knows that Yushi pens him only with love. His words are few but the desire and the affection is always there. Daeyoung is trying to learn Kanji these days. He’s used to the harsh strokes of Yushi’s Hangul but he wants to know if his hyung is more willing to talk in the language he knows the best.

The desire is heady in his belly and it’s very hard to not get too excited when they’re allowed to sneak around like this. After all, there is still a chance the Prime Minister gets wrapped up with the King tomorrow and Yushi’s entourage stays here until Seollal in a few weeks time. Daeyoung doesn’t dare to dream for such a thing but the region has been plagued by snow storms and it might be too risky for them to travel home when they will have to immediately travel right back. Besides, Daeyoung hasn’t gotten to spend more than a week at once with Yushi since they were teenagers. Since before they ever got together. Since before hyung ever let him-

“Daeyoung!” Yushi yelps a surprised thing when Daeyoung scoops him up in his arms and has him picked up from around the waist. He doesn’t squirm to get out of the hold - he’s usually pretty pliant when it comes to these kinds of things, actually - but he moans a little when Daeyoung cranes up to just kiss him again and again and again and again. “Oh, Youngie-“

“Hyung,” Daeyoung mutters. He reaches a hand up to pull Yushi down by the neck, pressing their lips together even harder in half-hopes that they’ll bruise and he’ll have something to remember this night by. He backs them up to over where his bed lays, still unmade. 

(Oops. Hyung would kill him if he knew he brought his lover back to an unmade bed. Bad manners and all of that. But what hyung knows won’t kill him, so-)

“More,” Yushi breathes to him, his kiss equally as bruising. “Puppy, give me more.”

Daeyoung is careful with his movements and it’s only once he feels his knees hit the hardwood of his bedframe does he carefully lay his hyung out on the sheets. The room is unlit but moonlight shines in through the big window that overlooks the grounds. Normally Daeyoung would take the time to light an oil lamp and study Yushi’s face in micro detail but he’s so- he feels so riled up. And he knows his hyung is, too.

“Hyung, you’re gorgeous,” Daeyoung bites into his mouth. And then he bites down his jaw, down his neck. Undoes his tie and unbuttons his shirt and kisses him with each new inch of skin revealed. The usual wrappings are tied firmly around Yushi’s chest but the mound of softness under them makes his cock twitch with excitement. It’s out of habit more than anything else.

“You’re so good,” Yushi sighs out something deep as Daeyoung’s lips trace over his stomach and the slightest pudge of fat there, just enough to suck a mark into. Daeyoung’s lips move even lower. He unbuttons his pants, slides them down his hips. “And insatiable too, fuck, are you-“

“I told you in my letters, hyung,” Daeyoung moans and noses at the mound of heat under Yushi’s undergarments. He’s not wet - not yet. “I missed tasting you here. The New Year was not enough to enjoy you.”

Yushi hisses but a hand slides into his underwear just enough to shimmy them down his hips. And then his thighs spread. Even in the low light of the moon he can see something glistening wet. A hand fists back into Daeyoung’s hair and pulls and pulls and pulls.

“Enjoy me, then,” Yushi demands. “Kim Daeyoung-ssi. This is yours, isn’t it? My cunt has-“ He gasps when Daeyoung moves in closer, still nuzzling at him. “It missed you, baby. Your tongue. Puppy, taste me.”

Daeyoung wants to sit in it for a moment, the heat and want. The warmth emanating from where his lover is the most needy. The most tender. He’s beautiful here and he’s beautiful everywhere and sometimes Daeyoung is reminded of when they were much younger and he thought his terrifyingly competent mentor Tokuno Yushi was the most handsome, most unattainable thing in the entire world. But then Yushi pulls at him again and when hyung gives him a command, Daeyoung always listens. Always.

“Hyung,” Daeyoung says, voice low. “My hyung.” And then he leans in and tastes him. 

God, it’s so- it’s always good when he has Yushi spread for him, firm between his thighs, but he’ll never get over the pure fucking relief he gets from digging his chin into Yushi’s cunt and mouthing at him. There’s the usual heady taste of sweat. The familiar musk of a man who never stops moving even when there is no danger lurking around just because of the mere chance there could be. Daeyoung licks up slick and the scent of his hyung where he is the wettest and he moans as Yushi’s hips grind into his mouth. Fuck. Daeyoung groans into his cunt and wants more.

“Baby,” Yushi moans. His hands fist into Daeyoung’s hair and drag him in closer. “Daeyoung. You’re such a good boy. Fuck.”

Daeyoung closes his eyes and whines. He always goes a little lightheaded whenever Yushi has him in his control like this. Between his thick thighs and nose deep in his cunt and mouthing at where Yushi is hard and only growing harder. Daeyoung’s hands fidget at the edge of the bed and dig into the sheets. Christ, it’s so good.

“God,” Yushi’s voice is light, almost a whine, but it doesn’t come off as delicate or small or weak in the slightest. Yushi’s chest heaves as Daeyoung sucks at his clit, wishing he could swallow his hyung down his throat. “God, it’s been so- it’s been so long, Daeyoungie. You’ve been so good for me, baby, haven’t you?”

Daeyoung makes a broken noise and he backs off only to pant hotly against the slick of Yushi’s cunt. He blinks his eyes up at his Yushi hyung and can’t help but keen when his Yushi hyung looks back down at him like he is tiny and precious and perfect.

“I’ve been very good for you, hyung,” Daeyoung breathes. “I’ve been working hard to make up for my absence. Do you… do you enjoy it?”

He’s genuinely asking and for a second, Yushi’s hand just cards through his hair. Gentle, affectionate, caring. It’s a touch Daeyoung could recognize as Yushi’s even with his eyes closed. He’d know it even in his sleep. But then his hyung is smirking something evil and cat-like and he is taking that hair in his fist and he is yanking Daeyoung back into delicious heat and Daeyoung follows him easily, without question, moaning wantoningly into his cunt. His tongue flattens and he moans again and he tastes his hyung dripping, dripping, dripping, only for him.

Fucking hell. This is like heaven.

“You’re unsure if I enjoy this?” Yushi asks with a groan. Daeyoung sucks at his clit again, except harder this time, and he groans again. “I love it. I love you, Youngie. I wanted to tell you earlier. I missed you so much on the boat ride over that I couldn’t stop touching myself and imagining you were in me, so-”

Daeyoung actually thinks his vision whites out for a second at the mental image of his usually impassive Yushi hyung all alone in a cot, three fingers in himself and whining into the sleeve of his blouse. It’s so fucking- god. Daeyoung moans into his cunt and he wants to eat him. Wants to consume him. Wants whatever hyung wants him to want.

“Please,” Daeyoung thinks he begs but with his mouth busy it just sounds like urmph.

“I was going- going crazy,” Yushi breathes. He pets at Daeyoung’s hair, almost gentle, before he is turning firm again and again and again. Tugging harshly. Tugging him right where he needs it. “I couldn’t stop thinking about New Year’s, baby. How good you were. How you kept me so full-”

Daeyoung’s eyelids flutter closed. He’s rock hard in his undergarments and he so desperately wants to touch himself but he knows he’ll be scolded if he does. So his fingers twist into the sheets and hold on so tightly he can feel his circulation getting cut off.

“Imagine if we’re here until Seollal,” Yushi pants. He pulls at his hair and moans, loudly, when Daeyoung licks roughly over his clit. “You can just- until the festival, we can- god, you could just fill me and fill me and-”

It’s too much. It’s way too fucking much. Daeyoung pulls away with a gasp because he can’t breathe but also because his resolve is fucking shrinking and he can’t help but drag his fingers up hyung’s leg, up the inside of hyung’s thigh, up to where hyung is dripping.

“Please,” Daeyoung begs. He can’t stop panting. He licks at Yushi’s clit and moans into his cunt, desperate to- to make him come or make both of them come or literally anything. His fingers prod Yushi apart, just one of them. “Hyung, I wanna- inside you. Please.”

“You want to make me come?” Yushi asks. His hand travels down to Daeyoung’s nape before squeezing. “Do you think you can get me to spill, puppy?”

Normally such a question would make Daeyoung go red but they’ve been apart forever and he’s so desperate for it that he’d probably do anything. He groans as Yushi runs a thumb across his hairline. Over that tender spot at the base of his neck.

“I’ll be good,” Daeyoung slurs out a desperate promise. “Hyung, I can- I can do it. Just let me-”

“Fuck,” Yushi curses. He squeezes down on his nape again, pulls him closer, back to his slick heat. “Fuck, Youngie, make me come.”

So Daeyoung - who is his Yushi hyung’s good boy, thank you very fucking much - goes back to eating him out like a man starved. And Kim Daeyoung knows what it’s like to be starved, is the thing. Before he had a bed in this castle he was on the streets and had nothing at all. Nothing besides the clothes on his back, the clothes that were mud-soaked and deteriorating with each rainshower during the typhoon season. Daeyoung knows what it’s like to be starving and it feels a lot like a month and a half without his hyung’s cunt in his mouth. And he knows what it’s like to find relief because Yushi was the one who found him and dragged him up the palace stairs and demanded a then-fifteen-year-old Prince Sion to give the pathetic orphan a seat in the training squad.

So Daeyoung knows what relief is like, too. And it’s a lot like being ten years down the line and sucking at his Yushi hyung with everything he has and getting him to groan.

“My Daeyoungie,” Yushi hisses, sounding almost pained as he does it. You can tell he’s close because his thighs are rising in the air, twitching a little as his foot kicks out. He always does that when he’s going to really spill. “Daeyoungie. Daeyoungie, you’re so good, baby, fuck-”

Daeyoung moans into him. Daeyoung’s not even touching himself but somehow this feels even better than his own release. He slides two wet fingers into Yushi’s cunt and curls them up right where he’ll feel it the most. In the spot that gets him squirming.

“Baby,” Yushi pants. “Baby, right there, fuck, I’m so- I’m really close. God.”

So Daeyoung only doubles down on his efforts. Of course he does.

Hyung is so wet that he’s damn near leaking and Daeyoung presses three thick fingers right into his sweet spot, right where he is soft and sweet and tender. Yushi’s back arches off the bed and Daeyoung grinds his fingers into him. Daeyoung sucks and licks at his clit. He slurps up slick and moans when hyung tugs at him harder, panting.

“Puppy, right- right there,” Yushi’s voice is slurring the slightest bit. He moans. “God, your fingers are so- ‘m really gonna- baby, you-”

Daeyoung sucks at his clit and backs an inch away just to say: “Need it.” And with a kiss to where Yushi’s hard: “In my mouth, please.”

“Oh, god,” Yushi moans. “Oh, fuck.”

It doesn’t take much after that. Daeyoung eats at him and Yushi pulls him so taut he’s basically riding his face, and then Daeyoung’s fingers press into his sweet spot again and again and again and Yushi is wailing Daeyoungie, ‘m gonna come, baby before he’s squirting into Daeyoung’s mouth.

Daeyoung groans. He’s actually a little scared that he came too, except in his pants and completely untouched like a fool. But then he chooses to ignore that as he drinks down his hyung’s slick all greedily. He loves the taste of it.

(He’s fucking addicted to the taste of his Yushi hyung, actually, but that information is surprising to literally no one. He probably would’ve died if he had to go any longer without Yushi’s release on his tongue. As any sane man would, except no other sane man gets to, because his Yushi hyung is his.)

“Daeyoung,” Yushi whines a broken sound. He pulls at his hair like he has no energy left - it’s barely even a tug. “Honey, ‘s too much.”

Daeyoung is obsessed with his hyung’s cunt so it takes him maybe a second too long to pull away and give Yushi room to breathe, but then he’s reluctantly letting go and collapsing against the bed beside him. Both of their chests are heaving. Yushi’s hand is still in his hair but this time it’s stroking over his head.

“...Was it good?” Daeyoung asks belatedly but he’s genuinely curious because he always likes it when Yushi hyung sings his praises. Then he slowly eases his fingers out of Yushi’s dripping cunt and he groans just at the wet heat of him. “Hyung…”

“Don’t ask me idiotic questions,” Yushi breathes out. He tugs at Daeyoung’s hair, once, and then lets go. His arm collapses down on the bed. “God. I really needed that. Come here, Youngie.”

Daeyoung kind of just wants to pass out and sleep instead of having more sex, but he’s still achingly hard in his pants, so he listens. He gets up on wobbly knees - eating Yushi out while kneeling on the floor will surely have its consequences tomorrow, fuck - and climbs atop the bed. Yushi is barely dressed, still panting, but he reaches for him. And so Daeyoung follows where a hand is beckoning him. Because he always, always follows. 

“Hyung,” Daeyoung sighs almost contently as Yushi brings him into a cuddle. This is even nicer than the sex. A lot nicer. Even in the rare times they meet it’s not typical that they get to be alone together for any more than a few minutes at a time. And when they’re finally alone, it usually involves tugging Yushi’s pants down and getting off as soon as possible. Maybe that’s unromantic of them but it’s hard to think rationally when the person you love more than anything is asking for more, Daeyoungie, I need you inside me now.

“My good boy.” Yushi just sighs, his breath starting to even out. One hand strokes through Daeyoung’s hair as he nuzzles into Yushi’s neck, choosing to ignore how awkward it feels to curl up like this with their very blatant size difference. Yushi kisses him on the forehead. “I missed you, Daeng. This past month was terribly long…”

Yushi’s voice trails off. Daeyoung slings an arm over his waist, tugging him in closer. “Are they keeping you busy, hm? Swamped with work?”

Yushi noses into Daeyoung’s hair and nods. “It’s all childish politics. In the castle and with my men. It’s not even worth talking about when you’re with me.” Yushi’s words are so sweet but his breath comes out slow, tired. Almost like he’s falling asleep. Daeyoung wouldn’t be surprised if his hyung just started snoring, given his habit of passing out once he’s been properly sated. But then, after a moment of silence, Yushi’s voice goes contemplative: “Well. Hm. I could ride you instead, actually.”

Daeyoung blinks. They’re both obviously sleepy after a long day of looking after their assigned princes at the Valentine’s Ball, so he thinks maybe he misheard his that. Because Yushi is a mumbler by habit and he often will say very insane things only to himself. Sometimes even going you didn’t hear that, Daeyoungie, okay. Tell me you didn’t. So perhaps Daeyoung just misunderstood the mumbling or maybe he’s already dreaming or-

“Yes, that’s an excellent idea,” it’s impossible to tell just who Yushi’s talking to but his lips curl into a grin against Daeyoung’s forehead. A hand trails down the back of his neck, down to Daeyoung’s shoulder. And then his bicep. And then his chest. “This is just what I need to take my mind off of the stress, Youngie.” The hand squeezes over his pec. “I need to ride you until I can’t think anymore.”

That line of logic is simply so Yushi that Daeyoung shouldn’t even be surprised and he’s not, really. But he still blinks as Yushi rolls him onto his back and unbuttons the rest of his shirt and squeezes harshly at where his cock is straining in his-

“You want to be on top of me?” Daeyoung asks dumbly. He must be more tired than he thought he was. A part of him still isn’t even sure if he’s awake or not. “Hyung, you don’t have to-”

“If I let you mount me, you’re going to fall asleep halfway through,” Yushi grins but he’s not wrong about that. Not at all. He pushes Daeyoung firmer back against the sheets and tugs his shirt off his shoulders. “Just let me do the work, puppy. You were so good for me today. Hyung will reward you.”

Daeyoung is pathetic. He already knows that. He does. But his cock twitches in his undergarments and Yushi can feel him because his ass is sat right on top of Daeyoung’s crotch. He groans something strangled when Yushi grinds down against him. Fuck, he’s so fucking wet.

“I knew you’d like a reward,” his hyung smirks. He toys with the button of Daeyoung’s pants. “Do you want to be inside me, Young-ah?”

It’s like neither of them are tired anymore even though Daeyoung swears they were both just falling asleep. He whimpers as a palm squeezes down on him. He’s afraid he’ll come in his pants. So he tilts his head back and offers his hyung his everything and whines.

“Please,” he pleads something low. “Hyungie. I missed you so much.”

There’s a hum from Yushi - something very smug and satisfied - and then that button on his pants gets undone. And so does the other. And Daeyoung raises his hips as his trousers get pulled off and his undergarments are-

“So big,” Yushi is mumbling again but he sounds a little excited. Daeyoung looks down at him only to see his hyung eyeing his cock like he is a meal. Yushi’s smile turns coy. “Do you think it’ll even fit inside me, baby? It’s been so long. I might need to stretch myself out…”

Daeyoung makes the most pathetic whining noise in the entire goddamn world because he knows that if he’s subjected to the sight of his Yushi hyung fingering himself, he will genuinely come untouched. He will. Daeyoung’s cock is straining against Yushi’s ass, and he’s already worked up from getting to feast on his hyung’s wonderful cunt, and this is the very thing he’s been aching for for a month and a half now. And Yushi knows exactly what he’s thinking. And Yushi knows just how much he wants it. Which is why hyung just huffs out a laugh.

“I suppose you really do need it,” hyung purrs. He shifts back until he’s sat atop Daeyoung’s thighs and then with slow, careful movements, he wraps a hand around Daeyoung’s cock. Yushi runs the tip over where his cunt is leaking - across his clit and pressing at his hole - and then he squeezes Daeyoung’s dick again. “Daeyoungie. Baby. Do you think you can fill me?”

Yushi has the head of his cock rubbing over where he is already soft and leaking and open for him. So close to being inside him and yet so fucking far. Daeyoung whimpers.

“Hyung,” he whines. “I can fill you. I promise, hyung, please-”

“Are you sure?” Yushi teases even more. He shifts his hips so the head sinks inside but then he’s rising off of it and Daeyoung genuinely groans. “Is it going to feel as good as last time? Do you think you have the energy to give me whatever I ask for?”

Daeyoung moans at the question because last time they did this was so- it was so good that he literally cried. On New Years, Sion and Riku let them sneak off alone so Daeyoung had gotten to hold his hyung down into the sheets of his bed and bear into him again and again until Yushi had enough. Though they must’ve gone half a dozen times before Yushi decided he had enough. Before then he was goading him on. More, baby, again. So Daeyoung was in his cunt and in his asshole and in his mouth and also eating out his hyung every way he could think of and-

“Hyungie,” Daeyoung moans. “I’ll be good. Please.”

His voice is pleading. Desperate. Normally Yushi would tease him more, actually, but the need must be clear on Daeyoung’s face because Yushi hyung decides to be merciful and lets up. He grins and settles a hand firm on Daeyoung’s hip and slowly, carefully, positions his cock right at his hole.

“I know you’ll be good, baby.” Yushi smiles. “Just let hyung do all of the hard work and reward you. Alright?” And then he doesn’t even wait for an answer because he sinks down onto Daeyoung’s cock, slotting him right into-

Daeyoung wonders, distantly, if he’s so pent up that he’s just become a degenerate or something. Because maybe he has. But being inside of his hyung after a month and a half of nothing but his own hand and moaning Yushi’s name into an empty room feels like pure relief shot directly into his veins. Hyung is so warm and wet and warm and wet and warm and wet and tight and- fucking hell. Yushi moans something pleased and Daeyoung keens and keen and keens. Holy shit. For a second he’s worried he’s going to come immediately.

“Hyung,” Daeyoung moans. “Hyungie.”

“My good boy,” Yushi purrs back at him. “My puppy. You fill me so well, Daeyoungie. I missed you inside me.”

It’s not fair. They have a pretty noticeable size difference that has to translate somewhere beyond their heights because there’s- there isn’t a lot of room in Yushi, is the thing, and yet he takes Daeyoung so easily anyway. So fucking easily. Like he was made for it. Yushi sinks down until he’s sitting directly on Daeyoung’s hips and Daeyoung whines something pained.

“‘M inside you,” he groans. “Hyung. I can- I can feel your-”

“I know, baby,” Yushi coos. He rises up on his knees and then he’s sinking back down and then he does it again. Getting used to the stretch. Just taking it. Hyung moans something very, very satisfied. “I’m already full, Youngie, you’re so good to me.”

Daeyoung thinks he might be drooling. All he can say is: “Hyung.”

Normally their sex is a lot more debauched than this, is the thing he’s stuck on. Usually he’s forcing his hyung up against a wall or bending him over a table and making him take it because they’re on a time crunch and that is all they’re able to afford after months of being apart. But now they have all goddamn night and Daeyoung feels so sleepy and pliant and Yushi has this very pleased smile on his face as he takes him. And takes him. And takes him.

“There we go,” Hyung moans. Both of his hands are curled into Daeyoung’s hips, riding him like you’d ride a horse. And fuck, Daeyoung’s never going to look at Yushi on his steed the same way ever again. But Yushi’s still grinning even as Daeyoung’s face screws up in desperate pants of his breath. Hyung coos: “You fill me so well, honey. Did you miss this? Did you miss me?”

“I did, hyung,” Daeyoung whines. His hands circle Yushi’s wrists and he kind of feels like he’ll pass out over the blatant size difference even in their fucking hands. “I missed you so much. I- I really missed you, I was so excited for today, Sion hyung kept telling me to shut up about it-”

“I was excited too,” Yushi leans down, then, to kiss him. His hands settle over Daeyoung’s shoulders and he just kind of grinds down on his cock, lazy and unhurried and full. “If Sion tells you to shut up again, hyung will teach him a lesson.” Yushi kisses Daeyoung once more, grinning into his mouth. “No one pushes my baby around, hm?”

“Hyung,” Daeyoung moans, voice strangled. He’s never been more aroused in his entire life and the- the angle is different with Yushi laid atop him like this. He knows he’s actually hitting hyung’s sweet spot because Yushi’s starting to pant on each thrust in, clenching down on his cock. Fuck. “Hyung,” Daeyoung moans again. He can’t stop moaning. “Hyung, I love you.”

Yushi smiles and kisses him even more sweetly this time. He clenches down on him, again and again, and there is nothing more wonderful in the entire world than the two of them tangled together. Hyung feels so good and he sounds so good and Daeyoung hopes that when he dies, it’ll be because Yushi’s cunt killed him.

“Daeyoung,” Yushi hyung tells him with a kiss, “I love you too.”

It’s maybe the most tender thing they’ve ever done together, which is saying a lot, since the first time they had sex they were both virgins and Daeyoung was crying for half of it. They were tears of joy, of course, and the whole thing was a very incredible experience, naturally, but still. This is just different. It’s been years since then and they’re settled now, so settled that Daeyoung doesn’t know what to do about the fact that being inside Yushi feels like coming home. 

It’s so familiar. It’s one of his favorite things maybe ever. He’s carved out this space inside of his hyung that only he can fill, the space that Yushi demands he fill. They were doomed the first time they ever had sex because of the way they completed each other - no one else could satiate Daeyoung like this. And no one could keep Yushi as thoroughly filled. They hadn’t known it, then, back when Daeyoung was nineteen and Yushi was twenty and they were about to be an ocean apart and so they were desperate for more. But they know it now - they know that they’ll always need more. They know that nothing will ever be enough. Daeyoung needs to fill the space inside his hyung and his hyung needs to ask him to be filled and this is how they become complete; being each other’s. 

Yushi says so in his letters, on rare occasions: I miss your touch, Daeyoung. All of it. I crave to have you inside me again. I’m fearful that you ruined me, puppy. My fingers aren’t enough. They haven’t been enough in a very long time. You have to come here and take responsibility for your actions. I really am yours. 

And Daeyoung always writes him back: I’m counting down the days until I see you again, Yushi hyung. The bed is so empty when you’re not here. All I have is my hand and even when you are with me, I miss you more than anything

It took Daeyoung so long to believe Yushi when he’d say he missed him - my Daeyoung, I really am yours - even though his hyung is not a liar. But he was still afraid anyway and the first few months after they became a Situation, Daeyoung wanted to ask him more in the letters. Are you really mine? Do you mean it? Do you mean I can always have you? It was months and months before they met in person again, and within minutes, Daeyoung was inside him and Yushi was drooling onto his desk in the country he now calls home. Daeyoung, ‘m yours. Keep me full. I missed you so much. And even then Daeyoung was still not sure. It was only in the last few years that he became much more certain that his Yushi hyung loves him in the same way Daeyoung loves him. And now he knows it for sure. 

Now he knows it more than he knows anything. Really. He does. 

It’s just so difficult to be an ocean apart and have contact only through letters. Daeyoung didn’t start reading or writing until he was around twelve years old, so his vocabulary isn’t the best. And the calligraphy brush always still feels so heavy in his hands, uncomfortable even though Sion has told him time and time again to imagine he is holding a chopstick. It doesn’t work. Writing is still so unnatural. So Daeyoung often just wants to send his voice across the sea: Hyung, I love you. Hyung, I miss you. Hyung, I ache for the day we are together forever.

So:

“You feel so good,” Daeyoung moans. He can’t stop moaning even now, even still, although that’s nothing new. He puts two large hands on Yushi’s waist and guides his hyung down deeper onto his cock as Yushi moans into his neck. Daeyoung’s voice goes pleading, whiny. “Hyung. I love you so much. It feels like I’m dying when we’re apart.”

And:

“Daeyoung,” Yushi groans. His voice is starting to get whiny in the way it only ever does when he’s really feeling good. When he’s really full. “Oh, Daeyoung. My Daeyoung. I love you too.”

It’s so unfair. Sometimes Daeyoung really loses his head and he wants to ask: Be with me. Run away with me. Let’s be dishonorable and betray the kingdoms we swore our lives to so we can be together. I will go with you. Or you can come with me. Just don’t leave me again. But he doesn’t ever say it because he knows they both owe their lives to their lands. And he never says it because he would’ve died on the streets if it weren’t for Prince Sion’s mercy. And he doesn’t ever, ever say it because he could never leave this castle behind when he knows nothing else besides swords and bloodshed and putting his own neck on the line for someone else without any hesitation at all. In the outside world, he’d have to value his life before anyone else’s. Sacrifice comes so easily to him nowadays - it comes easily to the both of them, actually, because that is the very thing they were molded into since childhood; being sacrifices; being soldiers - that the idea of being selfish makes him feel sick to his stomach.

But then Daeyoung thinks about how beautiful Yushi hyung is when he laughs and sometimes he still wants to ask anyway. Sometimes he has to stop himself from saying the very things that could end their comfortable lives as they know them. Sometimes they lay together in the darkness of night and Daeyoung wants to pick Yushi up in his arms and whisk him away to a place in which they speak in tender voices instead of clunky brushstrokes in alphabets they are not native speakers in. And yet he still doesn’t because he- because he just can’t. 

So. He wants to ask but he always pretends he doesn’t have anything to ask at all. And it hurts. Even now, it hurts.

“Hyung,” Daeyoung whines when Yushi’s hips slam down a little harder. The pleasure’s starting to build more and more and he can’t help himself. He braces his feet on the bed and digs his fingers into Yushi’s hips and yanks his hyung down on his cock and listens as Yushi moans and moans and moans, so very loud- because Daeyoung- Daeyoung needs to make hyung come so then he feels good. So hyung may be more inclined to stay. So he can fuck the words he wants so desperately to ask out of his goddamn brain.

“‘M all full,” Yushi whines back. “Daeyoungie. Baby. It feels so good. You always fill me so well.”

Hyung sounds so desperate. Like he needs the release too. Daeyoung thinks about how much he loves him and tells himself don’t say it, don’t say it, don’t fucking say it-

“I want to- I want to keep you full,” Daeyoung hears himself blabber. “Forever, hyung, always inside you. Do you want it?” He’s groaning and gasping and he wants more. “Hyung, would you want me to-”

“Yes,” Yushi gasps back. “Yes, please. Daeyoungie, please.” 

And Tokuno Yushi never uses the word ‘please,’ not during sex. And so Kim Daeyoung lets himself completely lose his fucking mind.

He should’ve known it’d end up like this - taking over control when Yushi starts slipping - but even so, Daeyoung just keeps his hyung in two strong hands and slams him down on his cock, over and over again. Into the spot that makes Yushi moan. Into the spot where he is soft and sweet for Daeyoung and no one else. Hard and rough and needy and claiming. Hyung asked him to. Hyung needs him to. Hyung asked him to please, please keep him full. So Daeyoung pounds into him and he groans and he wants this moment to last until he fucking dies. 

“H-hyung,” Daeyoung moans into his cheek, into his ear. “Fuck, hyung, you’re so warm and- and wet and-”

“Baby,” Yushi’s lips drag over Daeyoung jaw, up his chin. He mouths at his lips, his tongue lazy and soft. “Baby. My Daeyoung.”

It’s so wonderful. Daeyoung can’t help the way he mewls into Yushi’s mouth as his hyung licks at him like he’s delicious. Like he’ll eat him. Like he owns him. Daeyoung’s pummeling inside him and yet Yushi still cups his jaw and kisses him like he loves him more than anything. More than his homeland or the royal crown or the price of their lives. Like if Daeyoung asked those selfish things, hyung would not hesitate to say yes.

Daeyoung moans something deep and visceral and full-bodied. “Hyungie.” He can’t help it.

“Daeyoung-ah,” Yushi moans back. He mewls into Daeyoung’s mouth as his cock presses in even deeper, into that place where Yushi loves it the most. Hyung moans again. “Oh, Daeyoungie. Fuck.”

Daeyoung pants and pants and pants. He won’t ask but he wants to. Do you love me enough to run away together? Do you love yourself enough to be more than the fearsome warrior the world is so afraid of? Hyung, do you love me enough to stay with me? 

Are you also worried that one day you will die alone even though we always say we are each other’s? Do you promise that we’re each other’s? Would you be okay if I was gone or would you feel the same as I would, like one of my limbs has been severed?

Even if we die oceans apart in the shadow of castles that will be just fine without us, will you still miss me? Hyung, please tell me that you’d miss me.

Instead Daeyoung just whines into Yushi’s mouth and says: “Hyung. Hyung, I can fill you.”

And instead Yushi begs back to him: “Daeyoung, yes. Inside me. Inside me. Please, inside-”

Daeyoung grinds Yushi down deeper onto his cock and chases his release with the buck of his hips, holding back the things he has wanted to say for years. He holds Yushi’s hips firmly in his oversized hands and keeps his hyung right where he wants him, on him and in him and everywhere he can touch and see and feel. He can’t stop moaning. He can’t stop moaning when Yushi is moaning back at him. He doesn’t know if anything will be enough when they only have tonight and maybe tomorrow and so little after that and-

“S-so close,” Daeyoung whines. “Hyung, you’re lovely.”

“I love you,” Yushi cries into his neck. “Daeyoung. Please, Daeyoung.”

It hurts. The crest of it almost hurts. “I’m going to-” Daeyoung gasps and grits his teeth and pummels into Yushi even harder. Even deeper. As deep as he possibly can even though nothing will ever be deep enough unless he can mark his hyung at his very core. Daeyoung groans something pained. “Hyung, please, I love you. Hyung, I’m going to-”

“Daeyoung,” Yushi sobs in his collarbone as he grinds down, hard enough for Daeyoung to hit something firm and impenetrable in his belly. A hard edge where he can’t push any deeper and Yushi clenches down and sobs again, crying out: “No, that’s- wait, you’re-“

And then he sobs again and again and Daeyoung feels nothing besides warm, tight, hyung, fuck because that’s when they both come.

It’s a little incredulous, actually. Never before have they released simultaneously. But Yushi makes a choked sound like he can’t breathe and Daeyoung is coming, coming, coming, at how hard his hyung clenches down on him. He can’t help it. He’s never- he didn’t know he could- he’s all the way in him, somewhere he’s never-

“Oh my god,” Yushi is crying, his hips twitching as he takes Daeyoung’s release inside him. “Oh, ‘s so deep, Youngie, you’re all the way-”

“Hyung,” Daeyoung whines. He deflates like a balloon but his cock is still spilling. He knows it’ll spill until he’s empty. “Hyung.”

“Baby,” Yushi whines back. It edges on a sniffle. “Baby, that’s really… you’re so good…” Yushi shudders. “Daeyoung.”

“Love you,” Daeyoung thinks he says into Yushi’s forehead. And things get a little bit hazy from there.

He definitely- definitely came harder and probably deeper than usual because Yushi doesn’t even spill that much when Daeyoung pulls out, but they both gasp at the feeling and the nasty schlick sound it makes. Daeyoung has to consciously order all his limbs around as he pulls off the remainder of Yushi’s clothes and rolls his hyung onto his back, under the covers. He should- fuck, he needs to-

“Take off your clothes and just lay here with me,” Yushi mumbles with a hand around his wrist. His breath is even now but he looks exhausted. His eyes are still a little wet. “Daeyoung. We’ll sort it out in the morning. Okay?”

Daeyoung wasn’t panicking, really, but relief comes immediately at Yushi’s soft tone anyway. His commanding tone that is just as fond as it is stern. There’s that familiar firmness of Yushi’s voice and how adoring it is only when they are alone together - the adoration Daeyoung knows better than anyone else in the world. 

So:

“Okay,” Daeyoung breathes. He’s not sure why his heart is racing. He crawls under the covers and into Yushi’s arms. “Okay, hyung. I’m sorry.”

It’s curious. There is something much more vulnerable about tonight than usual. Maybe it’s the- the time they have after sex. Usually they aren’t allowed such a thing, nothing besides a quick release and maybe a short cuddle before heading back to work. Even on New Year’s they were too busy making up for lost time to lay together all that much. But now Yushi’s fingers rub at Daeyoung’s back and Daeyoung feels boneless, sinking into his arms. He feels small and vulnerable and needy and he does not know how to say it. He does not know how to tell Yushi the truth: I feel so safe when I’m with you. I feel so loved. I did not know what it meant to be loved until I knew you, hyung, until you picked me up off the street and gave me a life worth living. 

It’s a lot to sit in in the aftermath. It’s a lot to- his mind is running. Daeyoung thinks about everything he wanted to say during sex and he almost feels ashamed about it. He feels so embarrassed. Because his mind is still racing with run away with me, hyung. Be mine, hyung. Tell me I’m yours, hyung. 

“That felt good,” Yushi says to him. “Did you feel good?”

Yes, is what Daeyoung means to say back. But what comes out of his mouth is: “I wish I could marry you, hyung.”

It’s so dumb. It’s so dumb because obviously it was an accident but that’s something he can’t backpedal from, disregarding the fact that it’s straight up impossible to backpedal from anything in front of Yushi anyway. His brain needs a good ten seconds to catch up and then he goes red and he only turns away when Yushi’s hand on his back presses down, firm. Very firm. He thinks oh, god, this is when I die. Hyung is going to fucking kill me.

“I-” He stutters. Daeyoung doesn’t know how he could even begin to excuse himself. “Hyung, I really- I just-”

That’s because he always imagined that Yushi would be surprised if Daeyoung asked for anything. Or he’d be angry. Or he’d be insistent that things are fine as they are. But in a very unamused voice, Yushi hyung only says: “After sex, Daeyoung? Really?”

It’s stupid. Daeyoung blushes even more. “Sorry. That’s not what I meant to say…”

But that only makes Yushi pinch him this time: “You can’t ask someone to marry you by accident. Idiot.”

It feels like a dream, almost, because Daeyoung is floating between that space of sleepy calm and awakeness. But he knows it’s real because Yushi’s pulse is thundering under his cheek. Beating so fast. Thump, thump, thump, thump. Is he really all that surprised? Daeyoung didn’t- he didn’t mean to say it but then he did and now it’s out there, between them, the thing he wants more than anything else in the world. And surely it’s not surprising that he wants it. Not when he’s always wanted it. He thought it was so obvious because sometimes Sion hyung turns to him and laughs: Daeyoung, you really love him, hm? I can see it on your face. I thought Yushi taught you better than to stare.  

“It wasn’t an accident,” Daeyoung mumbles, a little petulant. “I’ve thought about it for years. But our jobs are- you’re back home and I’m-”

“Yes, I know. I was teasing.” Yushi’s heart is still speeding in his chest. But then he says: “I want to marry you, though.”

And that’s… silly. It’s silly that he says it so simply. This is something Daeyoung would also think about, over and over and over again, wondering how Yushi would answer him in a hypothetical proposal. Would he say yes? Honestly, Daeyoung didn't know. Yushi’s very sweet in some ways and very unconventional in others and he’s not exactly the type who enjoys being tied down unless he chooses to be. But he’s always chosen Daeyoung, so- so why is it surprising?

Daeyoung sits up just enough to look his hyung in the eyes. His voice is shaking. He’s disbelieving even though from day one Yushi has always called himself his. “You want to marry me?”

But even though he’s the one who said it, Yushi - surprisingly enough - is blushing. “Of course I do. I’ve wanted to marry you since-” He looks away this time, cheeks red. “Shut up. Let’s just get married.”

This is something that should be terrifying, is what Daeyoung knows distantly. His mouth opens. And it closes. And then it opens again because he’s thinking about the ocean between them and the kingdoms who have always had bad blood between them and the harsh, practiced lines of Kanji against rice paper and- “But Riku hyung-”

“There is a plan that we are forming,” Yushi mumbles to him, still looking away. “Sion wanted to use trade deals to seal a marriage. Ku-chan is the third in his line. He’s not up for the throne. But if he gets his sisters to acknowledge the- the genocide and the settlements-” 

Yushi’s words are firm but he is saying something that is impossible. The acknowledgement of how their kingdom has suffered for… centuries, really. Always at the hands of others. Daeyoung never put much thought to what it means for the two of them since there has been relative peace for many decades, but even still-

“What?” Daeyoung asks. He sounds and feels like a fool. 

Yushi bristles. “I told you. Ku-chan’s sister will be the Queen soon. And she will make sure that Riku has an in with Sion’s family. Hyung thinks it’ll be culturally sensitive and it might work to heal some- well.” Yushi scrunches his nose up. “You remember the kinds of things they taught us. You know the history there.”

It’s not even that complicated of a plan, nor is it very outlandish, but Yushi’s words take a very long time to sink in. Because this is all very… Daeyoung blinks. This is even more surprising. This is- he’s confused, actually. Because he knows how the King feels and he knows how goddamn stubborn his Prince is, but even so. Even so, there’s no goddamn way they’ll actually attempt to- there are centuries of war and famine and language erasure and the suppression of their ancestral rights, and-

It makes sense. That’s the thing he’s stuck on. Sion came up with the only plan that could ever possibly work and it makes sense. Daeyoung deflates a little. 

Leave it to the hyungs to change their kingdom forever as they know it, huh…

“They’re going to try and get married.” Daeyoung’s not asking a question. He can’t help that his lips are trying to twitch into a smile. “Hyung didn’t tell me about that.”

Yushi’s hands are shaking. They run down Daeyoung’s sides. “He was going to tell you tomorrow. Over tea. But then you…” Yushi’s still looking away, except his gaze somehow turns even more firmly petulant. Which is very- It’s cute.

It’s cute because Yushi hyung is so sweet. And his sweetness is very familiar. This is Yushi hyung as Daeyoung knows him to be, and the Yushi hyung Daeyoung knows wants to marry him. Because the hyungs have a plan. And if there’s one thing he knows about their princes, it’s that they will not see this plan through until it goes perfectly well and exactly in their favor. Those two simply will refuse to give in to anything besides each other. They will refuse. Riku is too likeable even to his adversaries and Sion is too fucking relentless.

Which means the marriage is only inevitable. Riku’s sweet demeanor and ability to charm everyone he meets is one thing but it’s only certain that Sion will get what he wants because he’s an incredible leader and was destined for greatness and he has bid his time and repented for years to- to deserve this. He’s too smart to give up the throne and he’s too disillusioned to give up Riku. 

Which means they’ll- which means Yushi will get to- they’ll be together, forever, and there won’t be an ocean or any letters at all. Which means Daeyoung can tell him. He can tell him all of it.

Daeyoung exhales a breath he didn’t know he was holding. He’s been holding it over the past three years, ever since Yushi went back home and there was nothing between them besides a night of tender sex and the promise that next time we see each other, we might be something. The hyungs have always been crazy and unpredictable but Daeyoung didn’t know they’d actually try to- that they’d push in the one place they’d get punished for pushing at. And Yushi knew. And Yushi is encouraging it. And Yushi wants- Yushi wants him.

Yushi wants to get married. He wants Daeyoung and he wants to be together forever. He wants what Daeyoung wants and he always has and they don’t have to hold back on their feelings because they get to just be together.

It’s everything he’s ever wanted: Yushi and his hyungs together and all of that distance shrinking down to nothing. Something worth living for. Something besides dying honorably and alone. 

“...So they’ll get married, our princes,” Daeyoung’s voice comes out watery. “And you and I can- hyung, we will-”

“Well we don’t have to wait like they do, do we,” Yushi scowls this time, which is somehow even cuter. Like he can’t stand the idea of waiting any around like their hyungs have to. “You don’t even have a ring, huh? So let’s just go to a shrine tomorrow. Forget formalities, we can sneak away. And then it’ll be just like-”

Daeyoung can’t help his laugh even though he’s crying. It comes out watery and wet and Yushi just blushes harder, admonished. Why are you laughing, huh! He’s just shocked and he’s in love and he’s happy. Yushi wants to get married tomorrow. Whether or not the plan actually works, he wants to get married and be together. Actually together!

“You want to- at a shrine? Tomorrow?” Daeyoung’s still laughing and all he does is laugh more when Yushi pinches at his side, hard enough to hurt. “Let’s do it, hyung. We can go to the vendors and get rings and-”

“I’m not marrying you if you laugh at me,” Yushi growls, nipping at his cheek. “I’m trying to be romantic and you’re- you’re just-” His heart is still pounding and Daeyoung feels so fucking honored that of all people, Yushi loves him. That Yushi’s heart pounds for him.

“No, we have to get married, hyung,” Daeyoung grins. He cups Yushi’s face in both hands and brushes their lips together. “I’m sorry. You’re just very sweet to me. And I love you.”

Which is funny, too. Normally Yushi would demand more from him, a better apology, but tonight he just blushes again. He leans into Daeyoung’s touch. Nuzzling him, affectionate, like a cat. Like the sweetest little thing Kim Daeyoung has ever had the honor of having. His hyung. All his. And his hyung is his forever. 

“You’re lucky,” Yushi mumbles. “Your spend is inside me and I still want to be your husband. Who else would put up with you when you can’t even buy me a ring?”

Daeyoung grins and he’s still crying a little bit. He kisses his hyung, once. And then again once more. “I’m sorry,” he says. “I’ll get you a ring. Tomorrow. We’ll get married.”

“Mm,” Yushi hums. He leans in this time to kiss him again. And then he presses their lips harder against each other and smiles. But he doesn’t stop kissing him. But he also doesn’t stop smiling. Daeyoung mouths at him and Yushi’s arms come around his shoulders and pull him in closer. “Mm, let’s just- tomorrow, let’s do it. While you’re still inside me, we can-”

“Hyung,” Daeyoung mouths harder at him. He grins. “Hyung, shut up.”

That turns into bickering, of course, because Yushi’s adamant that his precious, well-behaved Daeyoungie would never say such a thing to his beloved Yushi hyung. And on the eve of our marriage, no less! But they also can’t stop laughing and smiling and Daeyoung buries his head into Yushi’s chest and his hyung holds him there, still scolding: I’m not taking any last names and neither are you. Our children can-

Daeyoung blinks. Our children?

Yushi pinches his ear. Our hypothetical children. I’ll be surprised if you don’t knock me up by accident one of these days. Which turns into Daeyoung blushing so red he nearly faints and Yushi cackling into his ear.

Hyung with- hyung and him and- having kids and-

“Kim Daeyoung, you perverted boy!” Yushi pushes at him. “When did I say I wanted children!”

“I don’t want any either!” Daeyoung’s face is a fierce shade of embarrassed and ashamed because his cock is- goodness, is he seriously-

So Yushi grins something devious, something that promises him the rest of his life and no mercy at all. 

“Come here,” hyung smirks. “I never said I couldn’t be persuaded, did I?”

So it doesn’t really matter what they get up to for the rest of the night. And it doesn’t matter when dawn breaks and the kids are kicking down Daeyoung’s door to switch out guard duties. And it doesn’t really matter when Sion and Riku go over their year-long plan over tea. They are certain that it will work. They are certain they will be together. Because Daeyoung and Yushi will back them up every step of the way and they will continue to serve their princes until their last breaths. No matter whose word must be followed or whose blood must be spilled. 

“Do you think this is my color, Youngie?” Yushi asks him later at the market. They are looking at rings. They already went to the shrine, actually, already got married. It was rather quick. Just the shaman blessing them and a kiss and little else.

“I think everything’s your color, hyung,” Daeyoung says sagely. And he gets elbowed in the side for that, which he deserves.

(“I married you and you can’t even be honest with me!” Yushi hyung scolds. “I’ve already had your size and cut and color picked out for three years!”)

(But that just makes Daeyoung even happier. He grins. “Three years?” Which again, means he deserves it when his husband kicks in the back of his knees.)

It truly is a blessed season, though, because Yushi and Riku end up staying until Seollal. Which means hyung is in Daeyoung’s bed every night. Their rings match and in every way they are each other’s and in a year or so’s time they will never have to be apart again. Yushi keeps teasing him. Saying Daeyoungie, my husband. Jagi-yah.

And Daeyoung answers back every time: Yushi hyung. My husband. I love you.

“If we have a kid,” Yushi yawns lazily into his collarbone, “it has to be in a few years. I want to retire if Ku-chan comes over here. Because I’ve always been-” He yawns again, this time more drawn out and sleepy. “Since I’ve been a kid, I’ve had this job. I want to rest. I want to buy a house.”

Daeyoung hums. Maybe he should be more surprised by the news of a warrior as fierce as Yushi wanting to quit but he’s not, not really. He holds his hyung a little tighter. “If you retire, so will I. We can be farmers. Or merchants. Or-”

“I want a daughter,” Yushi mumbles again, this time half-asleep. “In a few years, Youngie, let’s start a family.”

So that night, as they do most nights, they fall asleep wrapped up in each other. And a few weeks later, as they always do, they say goodbye. But it’s a year and a half later when Prince Sion and Prince Riku becomes King Sion and Queen Riku and Yushi finds them a house out in the countryside where he doesn’t have to be a knight or a guard or the boy who was groomed into spending his life living for others. And neither does Daeyoung. They have their pensions - courtesy of Sion hyung because he refused to let them off without any help - but they still buy some farmland anyway. Just to keep themselves busy. 

“A girl, Daeyoung,” Yushi says sternly the night they christen their family home. “If you give me a boy, I swear I will slash your-“

“Yes, hyung,” Daeyoung laughs and kisses him. “Don’t worry. I’ll give you whatever you want.”

⚘.⋆˚࿔

And when they welcome their daughter the following spring:

“Why does she look exactly like you!” Yushi complains, which is fair, because their baby has Daeyoung’s eyes and Daeyoung’s nose and Daeyoung’s lips and- “I’m the one who carried her! How could you do this to me?”

“Sorry, hyung,” Daeyoung grins. He runs a hand down their baby’s back, gently patting her. Just as Riku taught them. He had a lot of practice with Ryo, apparently. “Maybe our next one can be-“

He laughs and ducks when Yushi throws a pillow at his head, scolding him about being perverted and of course our next one will look like me, or else I’m divorcing you. Their baby giggles at the ruckus. Daeyoung presses a kiss to her forehead. 

“Your papa thinks you’re very cute, aegi,” he promises. “He thinks we both are.”

“No, you’ve gotten less cute with age,” Yushi grumbles. But then he pulls Daeyoung down by the collar into a kiss. “I’m seriously going to be upset if all of my babies look like you.” Even though he’s smiling. 

Daeyoung smiles back. He rubs his nose against Yushi’s. “We’ll make sure they do.”

And so they do. Or at least they try to. Because they live out their lives and have more children and they don’t all look like Daeyoung, except two out of three is a record Yushi isn’t all that happy with. But they’re all very cute regardless. And also great with swords. And also with every weapon, really, and neither of them are discouraging their kids from getting good at fighting, so-

“You are just raising three knights,” Sion hyung tells them sagely. “My castle will never be rid of you two.” But who cares what Sion hyung thinks anyway.

There’s a night, many years down the line, when Daeyoung has his arms full of a sleepy husband and sleepy babies and he thinks I would happily do this forever, with my hyung, with my family. Which is exactly what he does. 

⚘.⋆˚࿔

Except the fourth one is an accident and Yushi’s voice is shrill: “Kim Daeyoung, why did I give birth to three three identical versions of you! I swear I’m going to chop off your-” 

⚘.⋆˚࿔

And really, Daeyoung couldn’t ask for anything more.