Chapter Text
Hyunjin 🎨
Being the only son of the king of Joseon was an honor. It meant that Hyunjin received whatever he wanted from birth. Well, mostly everything.
He was praised for his beauty and his talents in calligraphy and art. He was a dreamer and a soft soul, more merciful and gullible than his father.
The council looked upon him like he was easy prey.
Hyunjin couldn’t care less about them though.
His habit as he grew older was to sit out in the garden around the palace and sketch nature — from flora and fauna to the song birds and butterflies that graced the little paradise.
The most beautiful of all the sights came upon him days before his 20th birthday.
At first, he noticed the hanbok — adorned with the phoenix upon the dangui. The highest ranking courtesan in the palace. The dark hair was piled on the courtesan’s head, secured with jade pins. When the face turned towards him though — his breath halted.
A more perfect face had never been seen. The large, innocent eyes, deep and endless, outlined by delicate and long lashes. The lips, heart-shaped and full, the perfect shade of pink. The jawline was delicate and defined at the same time. So well balanced was the courtesan’s appearance that Hyunjin questioned reality. Surely the vision before him had to be something of legend.
Then they locked eyes. Hyunjin’s heart beat stuttered hard in his chest, thundering in his ears.
The courtesan smiled — bright and innocent, full of a warmth that roasted Hyunjin alive.
“Who is that?” Hyunjin nudged his closest servant, Jeongin, pointing out the absolute vision.
Jeongin glanced in the direction that Hyunjin pointed, huffing in disbelief. “Yongbok? The king’s favorite.”
Yongbok.
The name didn’t seem to suit such an ethereal beauty but Hyunjin repeated it over and over like a mantra.
“The queen allows it because he is a man and can not create heirs to take your place.” Jeongin continued to explain, though Hyunjin only half listened.
A man? With that face?
Hyunjin was in awe as to how someone like that could exist. He was entranced, under his spell completely. Perhaps that was how his father felt. The very idea that the older man was touching Yongbok bothered Hyunjin. The pinch of jealousy took root so fast.
Hyunjin had never wanted for anything but the one thing he truly wanted — he couldn’t have.
It seemed the pull was mutual though.
Each time Hyunjin was outside, painting under the warmth of the sun, Yongbok was too. He would pose under a parasol, protecting his flawless skin. He would look over his shoulder, usually giving Hyunjin innocent doe eyes.
It twisted something in his gut.
It wasn’t just lust. Perhaps it would have been easier if it were.
Hyunjin could have anyone — just not Yongbok.
The female servants all but threw themselves at him when he walked through the palace. Even some of the palace guards eyed him with a hunger that could only be satiated one way.
He didn’t care. He only wanted one.
One day, Yongbok sat beside him, peering at his canvas as he drew the magpie perched on the cherry blossoms.
“You have a beautiful soul.” Yongbok’s words were surprisingly deep, the tone warm and rich. Like the most decadent of sweets served after a dinner feast. Hyunjin felt hungry, his mouth watering. He looked over to Yongbok’s eyes, finding the open sincerity there again.
“Bold of you to make such assumptions.” Hyunjin replied, lifting his brush to finish each elegant stroke with a flick of his wrist.
“You find beauty in the everyday. You are gentle with servants and despite your heritage — you’re kind.” Yongbok’s words were soothing, like sinking into a warm bath. Hyunjin set down his paint brush, fingers shaking. How long had Yongbok watched him? What had Yongbok experienced to imply that his father wasn’t kind?
Hyunjin wasn’t blind to the coldness of his father but if any harm had occurred to the young courtesan —
Well, Hyunjin wasn’t sure what he could do, but he hated it.
He slowly turned his head, meeting the soft gaze full of openness. It was to the point that it made Hyunjin uncomfortable. Who could talk to a prince that casually?
“The council will eat you up.” Yongbok added, brow furrowing in concern. “Because you are too good.”
Hyunjin felt his jaw slack, stunned.
“Don’t ever change for them.” Yongbok reached out, his small fingertips trailing across Hyunjin’s jaw like the most unfair seduction. “I like you the way you are.”
I like you.
Oh.
Hyunjin placed his own palm over the smaller ones, keeping Yongbok in place.
His cheeks were dusted with little specks like cinnamon sprinkled across charming cheeks and nose. Up close, he was even more devastating.
Hyunjin wanted to taste the spots, to see if they tasted sweet or spicy.
“Yongbok,” he said his name with so much longing that the doe eyes shifted into something darker, the innocence giving way for something else. They stared at each other, a heaviness between them that bordered on suffocating. “I cannot breathe. What are you doing to me?”
Yongbok lowered his lashes, his small fingers moving to Hyunjin’s neck, feeling across the long column. His skin was tingling everywhere Yongbok dared to touch. If anyone had been around, the scandal it would have caused.
“Yearning for something I have no right to.” Yongbok answered, his intentions transparent enough as his fingers dropped away from Hyunjin’s skin as if letting go of a dream.
Hyunjin didn’t yet want to wake. He grabbed Yongbok’s wrist, halting him. He fixed the man with a gaze so full of forbidden things, so weak for the power that Yongbok held without a word. “You can even bring a prince to his knees.” He said, leaving no question where he stood on the temptation that laid before them.
Yongbok inhaled sharply, glancing at his wrist and back into Hyunjin’s dark gaze, getting lost in their depths.
“If you are an ally, perhaps there is reason enough for us to meet.” Hyunjin added, giving Yongbok an excuse to seek him out.
“We shouldn’t.” Yongbok whispered, turning away quickly. It wasn’t a no, nor had he yanked his wrist away. But he wouldn’t, would he? He was letting Hyunjin decide when he was dismissed.
“I’ll be king someday. Isn’t that enough?” Hyunjin responded, desperate. He grimaced at himself, realizing how pathetic he sounded.
The smile was soft — full of fondness and amusement. “You can have me then.” Yongbok answered, gently moving his hand wrist, a gentle wiggle to call to attention his desire to be released.
A throat cleared behind him and Hyunjin startled, immediately releasing Yongbok and turning to find Jeongin staring at him with disapproval. Even though he was younger than Hyunjin, he still held knowledge beyond his years. He was giving Hyunjin a warning so they wouldn’t be caught.
“Will I see you again?” Hyunjin asked, knowing he was playing with fire. Yongbok pulled his wrist into his chest, staring blankly ahead, as if looking at Hyunjin would weaken his resolve.
“Does the sun rise at dawn?” Yongbok answered, biting back another smile.
“As surely as the moon lights up the night.” Hyunjin replied, feeling his heart pound in his chest. He caught Jeongin rolling his eyes skyward out of the corner of his eye.
~~<3~~
They met many times with notes passed through trusted servants. It was innocent enough.
Sometimes Yongbok would play the gayageum for him while he wrote poetry at night. Sometimes he would read to him while stroking his hair until he fell asleep.
His presence felt steady and calming. It filled in the gaps of loneliness that seeped into his being. It wouldn’t be long until his father picked a suitable bride for him and he could always find his own concubines.
He only wanted Yongbok though. The majestic beauty who calmed his soul and lit up his entire being with joy. Yongbok was sunshine embodied and staring at him for too long likewise stung. His presence shined too much and Hyunjin knew how much it would burn if he got too close.
But the moment was inevitable.
His head rested upon Yongbok’s lap, his gaze fixed upon the other man with such unfailing intensity that Yongbok’s ears turned red and he averted his gaze, shyly pulling his lip between his teeth.
“How my father can entertain anyone else but you is a mystery to me.” Hyunjin hardly ever mentioned the king but every time he did, Yongbok flinched. “Luckily for me, he does. Or else how would I be privileged to see you?” He raised his hand, stroking Yongbok’s cheek.
“He’s been busy with council meetings. There’s unrest in the kingdom.” Yongbok answered, his small hand moving to Hyunjin’s, their fingers lacing together. It was the most intimate they had touched the whole time Yongbok had been visiting.
It was such a small, insignificant gesture — but it meant everything. Whenever Yongbok initiated something, it meant he was choosing to touch Hyunjin, not just allowing it out of obligation for his rank.
“You know he’s growing ill, don’t you?” Yongbok added quietly, as if afraid to be overheard. Any talk of illness within the royal line always caused a stir.
“I know.” Hyunjin solemnly confirmed it. He heard the whispers, also of their doubts of his competence as ruler. He had already prepared himself for the battle he would have to put up to prove himself.
“I’m on your side, your highness.” Yongbok promised, turning his head to kiss Hyunjin’s fingers. The touch was so soft and warm, beckoning him to ask for more. He was so touch starved, craving the comfort of affection. Both his parents were so withdrawn, only concerned with his role in their lineage.
“Yongbok,” he whispered, voice breaking with emotion. He rose from Yongbok’s lap, from the pillow of warmth and silk. He faced those shining, doe eyes with hardly a breath between them. “Make me feel whole.” He begged, the yearning so deep that it sat like a rock in the pit of his stomach. It kept pulling him deeper with every breath that Yongbok should be his. His beautiful phoenix.
Hyunjin crossed the line, diving in to connect their lips but he met Yongbok’s fingers instead. He opened his eyes in confusion, looking questioningly at the courtesan. “Why? Do you not desire me?”
Yongbok swallowed, throat bobbing. “You know I burn for you,” Yongbok admitted, slowly lowering his hand. “I may not be able to stop once we open those gates and I couldn’t bear to cause trouble for you.”
Of course, sweet Yongbok. Always thinking about him.
“You are my greatest happiness, Yongbok.” He confessed with all sincerity. “Am I yours?”
Tears reflected like glass in those endless depths, the emotions overflowing whether Yongbok wanted to free them or not.
“Yes,” he gasped, lips parting in awed desire. “Make me feel happy, Hyunjin.”
The use of his given name was such a bold move, one that signified exactly how close they had grown. Even though Hyunjin had always yearned to hear it from that deep voice, he understood why it had never been previously uttered.
The next thing he knew, a flutter of colorful silks gleamed in the moonlight and Yongbok was suddenly upon him, knocking him back onto the mattress on the floor. Lips met in an ungraceful smash until Yongbok steadied himself, moving his lips in a slow, sensual dance over Hyunjin’s. It was new territory, never before having kissed or touched someone in such a way. Hyunjin moaned against the plush softness, pressing back with a devoted eagerness. Yongbok’s fingers tangled through his hair, untying it from the top knot it was fashioned into. His lips greedily devoured Hyunjin until the prince was gasping, heat flooding his body and making him throb under his clothes. He had never been so consumed with want, with the craving for another person.
“Yongbok,” he sobbed weakly, his hands scrambling at clothes and tugging. He managed to pull his hair pins free, sending the long, dark locks tumbling down over Yongbok’s shoulders. “Please.” He begged, though he wasn’t entirely sure he knew what for. He had the basic understanding of sex between a man and a woman — the kind he would need to know for providing an heir. Nothing else except for whispers among the guards of their conquests had reached his ears.
“Shh,” Yongbok sat up, a bit disheveled but otherwise still very clothed. “Let me guide you, your highness.” Hyunjin shivered violently, bucking his hips with an unbidden enthusiasm. He would never hear those words the same way again, delivered so gravelly and deep from that beautiful man.
Yongbok laughed a bit breathlessly, glancing down at him and biting his lip. “You like that, my handsome prince?” Yongbok moved to untie his jeogori, shrugging it off his shoulders. More freckled skin was exposed to him — the shoulders more broad and muscular than a woman’s but just as beautiful. Hyunjin’s breath caught, awed.
Yongbok’s face softened, seeing the way Hyunjin looked at him.
“You’re so beautiful, Yongbokkie,” Hyunjin breathed, reaching up to tentatively touch his collarbones and shoulders. “The greatest beauty in all of Joseon.”
“In all of Joseon?” Yongbok repeated, his smile growing wide.
“Possibly the world,” Hyunjin added, “though I haven’t seen all of it.”
The laughter that followed was slightly wet, like Yongbok was so touched that he couldn’t hold back his tears. “You are too pure for politics, my darling prince. You have a poet’s soul and an artist’s hand.”
“My father finds those frivolous.” Hyunjin smiled, touched by the words even if he knew he was lacking in his father’s eyes. Yongbok saw him — and loved him as he was.
Wait, love? Perhaps Hyunjin was jumping to conclusions.
“Not to me,” Yongbok reached for his chima, unwrapping the ornate skirts from around his chest. “Make me feel just as decorated as one of your paintings, Hyunjin. Adorn me as you would canvas.”
Hyunjin’s throat grew dry, his heart thudding hard in his ribcage like a bird trying to break free. Yongbok shed the remaining layers, leaving the skin dotted with trails of charming little dots. His body was a mix of ying and yang — hard planes of muscle across his abdomen and his arms, but soft thighs and a gentle curve to his hips. Stunning.
His eyes fell between the legs though, finding the evidence of Yongbok’s desire flushed and hard. Hyunjin made a choked noise, his hands moving to fist in Yongbok’s thighs, digging into the softness there.
“Oh, Yongbok.” He breathed, overwhelmed. His head swam with desire, feeling dizzy from the force of it.
The courtesan crawled off of him and rolled on to his stomach, presenting the perfect curve of his back and the round globes of his butt for Hyunjin’s viewing pleasure. He tucked his chin on his arms, looking at Hyunjin expectantly.
“Make me into a masterpiece.” He requested, though Hyunjin could argue that he already was. He sat up in a daze and went to retrieve his brushes and paints. He returned to Yongbok’s side, swiping his silky hair aside.
“What will you paint?” Yongbok asked, turning his head to peer at him while Hyunjin worked.
Hyunjin dipped the first brush in the paint, starting at Yongbok’s shoulders with slow, delicate strokes. Yongbok squirmed a little, biting his lip at the ticklish sensation. “Wings.” Hyunjin answered, straightforward and simple.
“Why?” Yongbok questioned, slowly relaxing with each soothing motion of the brush on his back.
“So you can be like a bird,” Hyunjin whispered, something twisting in his gut as he spoke. “You can fly away from here and be free. So that you can live your life away from my father. So you belong to no one but yourself.”
Even if it meant Yongbok would fly away, it would be worth the pain. He hated seeing such beauty caged and locked away. Yongbok deserved freedom.
He finished the piece while Yongbok laid on his stomach in silence. Once done, he set his supplies aside again, his gaze lingering over Yongbok’s body.
The courtesan pushed himself up, turning to cup Hyunjin’s face in his hands. “I want to belong to you and you to me. Can we fly away together?”
Yongbok kissed him slowly, a tentative, pink tongue darting out to swipe over the seam of Hyunjin’s lips. He gasped, giving way to Yongbok’s request. He sucked the tongue between his own lips, moaning around it. He didn’t know if what he was doing was right but it felt good. He rubbed the muscle with his own, working it back and forth. Yongbok made a soft keening sound into Hyunjin’s mouth, drawing back enough that they could breathe.
“Touch me,” Yongbok pleaded, grabbing Hyunjin’s hands to set on his body. The larger hands moved to Yongbok’s waist, dragging him back to his lap. On instinct, Hyunjin bucked for friction, grinding into the curve of Yongbok’s backside. His hands gripped his spine, pulling him close as his lips trailed a string of hungry kisses upon the freckled skin. It tasted fresh and sweet, like the baths prepared with herbs and flower petals.
Yongbok squirmed in his lap, panting hot puffs across Hyunjin’s shoulder as Hyunjin nuzzled into the crook of his neck.
“Let me show you what my body can offer.” Yongbok whispered the words, rotating his hips in a sinful way that had Hyunjin boiling inside with pent up desire. He had been hard for so long, aching and waiting for Yongbok to show him how lovers touched.
“I’m yours, Yongbokkie.” Hyunjin kissed up the side of his neck and behind his ear, licking the shell. “I’m the one at your mercy tonight.”
Yongbok drew back, his eyes darkened with dilated pupils, the intensity behind them sending shivers down Hyunjin’s spine.
“Your highness,” Yongbok rasped, his fingers moving to work on Hyunjin’s clothes. “Don’t say such dangerous things so easily.”
Hyunjin leaned back, trying to assist him. “Would you hurt me, Yongbok? Would you betray me?”
Yongbok shook his head, pausing for a moment with his hands on the tie of his pants. “I belong to you, Hyunjin. For as long as I live.”
Hyunjin smiled, feeling a fluttering in his chest. “I’m a greedy prince.” He teased, stealing another kiss. “Give me every lifetime.” He knew he was so close Yongbok could feel each word spoken against his lips like a brand on his skin.