"Namjoon?!" Jin was startled awake, immediately looking at his husband and freezing in fear, he almost made himself go for the snake, but then he noticed the hissing all around the room, looked around and he saw Ten. Ten, with glowing eyes and a glowing stone on his forehead, looking like a demon version of himself.
He knew he should scream, alert the guards. He was certain that Yoongi wouldn't be far, as far as he could tell that man just plain never slept. But he couldn't bring himself to scream, instead he just stared at Ten, the bed sheets pooling around his hips, his upper body as bare as Namjoon's. He liked to feel his husband's skin against his.
"Ten?" His voice was shaking, fear clearly obvious. "Is it really you?"
"I didn't get a wedding invitation, hyung. You hurt me so much. I wanted to be part of your special day." Ten's voice was childish, sulky, as he crouched down and several of his beautiful serpents moved around him, two of them latching on instantly. Looking up, he smirked and moved forward, watching Hobi's beauty grip Namjoon tight as his babies slid around his person.
"Is this your husband? He doesn't look so good."
Ten giggled excitedly as he suddenly launched forward, leaping on the bed and bouncing. Hobi's beauty shot forward, it looked like she'd bite Ten but he showed no fear. There was no biting, no pain, the two just nuzzled like old friends. "I know, I know. I bet he tasted horrible. Northern men, they always do." Ten looked across at Jin, a wicked smile on his face. "I should know. I think Cheon is northern. He always had a harsh taste to him."
"Namjoon is not like that!" Jin moved forward now that the snake was away from Namjoon, concern clear on his face as he tried to catch Namjoon's eyes, reached out to feel his pulse. "The snake bit him, didn't it? There has to be an antidote." Jin knew he should be concerned about everything that was still happening, but Namjoon seemed unable to move and his skin felt so clammy when he touched him.
He had to do something, but he wasn't sure what to do. Was Ten even alive? Was he a malevolent spirit, here to haunt him? He certainly deserved it, but Namjoon did not. Jin turned his head to look at Ten, while holding on to Namjoon. He didn't want to let go of him. "I'm so sorry, Ten. So sorry about everything that happened."
Tears had sprung to his eyes and he lowered his head, bowing. "I wish I'd found a faster way to help you. I'm so sorry."
"There is. He will live. If I want him too. The poison is very painful, he won't be able to move. It's kind of like a living hell. It'll either slowly kill him, shutting down every organ... or I can fix it but I don't feel like it." Not right now, anyway. Namjoon was totally still, his breathing erratic and his eyes wide with pain. There was nothing he could do but suffer and hope that whatever the hell this was, it wasn't going to kill him.
"She's my new friend. Hobi says her name is beyond pronunciation so I call her Beauty." The snake hissed in approval and Ten replied back, the two spoke short words in their own speak and moved together, communicating their next move.
She gripped Namjoon tight and started to pull away, yanking Namjoon away from Jin. "I'd let go if I was you. She'll keep tightening until you let her move him. I just want some alone time with you. You understand, hyung. Yes?"
Reaching out, he set a hand on Jin, solid and strong - real. He was alive. Warm, breathing, touching him. "Lie back, hyung. I wanna catch up. Don't you want to talk to me?"
"Namjoon..." Jin wished he knew where Namjoon kept his weapons or how to use them, but it wasn't as if he would have known who to attack. He didn't want to hurt Ten, there were too many snakes and so he finally had to let go of his husband, looking at him with worry and terror in his eyes. "Please don't hurt him. He's done nothing wrong. You can't blame him!"
Jin looked at Ten, now certain that he was alive, but not certain what he was. More demon than human, with that stone in his forehead and speaking to snakes in a language he couldn't understand. He tried to sit up, but Ten was too strong. Since when was he so strong? Jin had no choice but to lie back, looking up at Ten. "I've prayed for you every day, every night. Of course I want to talk to you."
But his husband might be dying and he needed him to be safe. "Please don't kill him. Please. I love him."
"You prayed? Then that makes it okay, doesn't it? That you left. That you all stood there and spoke to Cheon, all of you, the powerful rulers of this kingdom and what did you all do? Oh. You left me." Ten snarled his words as he gripped Jin's throat punishingly tight and held it for a few moments, just wanting him to struggle, helpless and pained.
"Father told me we were all a family! That if one of us was hurt, we would all care! We'd all unite. Where were you, Seokjin?! You filthy coward! You say you love me but you can't. Not if you could leave me like that."
He let go of Jin's neck and over Ten's shoulder, three snakes loomed, hissing viciously down at Jin, feeding off Ten's anger. "Cheon held me in his clutches and you found love? How wonderful. Do you know what I found?"
Reaching out, he pinched Jin's nostrils shut at Cheon had done to him and waited, eagerly, for Jin to open his mouth. He shoved his fingers into his mouth and held his tongue down, trapping it under strong fingers. "I found out how to be helpless. Do you enjoy it, hyung?"
Jin tried to shake his head in denial, but all he could do was try and gasp for air to no avail, hands coming up to try and pry Ten's hands off him, struggling desperately. He was panting when Ten let go, desperately trying to get air and wanting to explain to Ten, wanting him to know that he hadn't forsaken him, that he had tried to find a way.
But he had no time, because Ten's fingers were suddenly in his mouth and he was breathing heavily, drooling as he looked up at Ten, his eyes drawn to the terrifying snakes surrounding him. He was trembling, trying to make noise this time, hoping he could alert Yoongi. He had no idea what Yoongi could do to help them, but he had listened to enough of Namjoon's stories to have faith that he could at the very least save Namjoon. He always seemed to.
"Good boy, good boy, drooling like an idiot. You're ready to be fucked." Cheon cooed those words at him so often, he just wanted Jin to know how it felt. "I prayed you'd come. See, I lost my family. My brothers and sisters. My father and mother. All dead. My snakes too. And I just wanted my hyung. When I saw you, I cried so hard. I thought my salvation had come."
And then Jin left. He pulled his hand back and wiped the wet on his cheek, pulling a face at how pathetic this king was. His anger ebbed and when he looked at Jin, his eyes didn't glow red. They just brimmed with tears. "Why didn't you save me, hyung? I was so scared."
Jin was so scared. He was scared and he wanted to keep begging, but the words wouldn't come. He knew he should be screaming, but all he did was shake his head, crying soundlessly, trying to sit up so he could pull Ten into his arms. He was scared of the snakes, but he saw Ten needing him and he wished he could help him. He seemed even further beyond his reach than last time.
"I wasn't strong enough to attack Cheon. I wish I had been... He threatened to invade us, to get Jimin to keep you company. I needed allies. I didn't go looking for love, Ten, I went to look for an army so I could safe you. You have to believe me, Ten, please. I love you. I love you so much. I'm so sorry."
He had no idea whether he'd be able to get through to him, but he couldn't stop crying.
He wanted to just fall into the love and have Jin hold him, to make it all better and fix it but it was far too late for that. If he couldn't hate Jin, he had to hate Cheon and the idea of Cheon made him want to curl up into a ball and sob like a child. He held Jin's soft hold and he didn't return it, just sat there with a blank face as his hyung sobbed and apologised.
"He drugged me after you left. I was out of my mind. I begged them all to fuck me and they did. I've never felt pain and humiliation like it. I remember screaming for you... for my mom. For anyone. There's no mercy in this world."
That was the sad lesson that Ten had to learn. He rested his chin on Jin's shoulder and slowly, Medusa slid from his arm and began to wrap around Jin's bare torso. "Why should I ever show you mercy?"
"...don't show me mercy then, if it will bring you peace." Jin had no idea what else to say, he just stared at the snake, unable to make his hands reach for it, even as he lowered his arms. He was scared. He had always been scared of the snakes, long before any of this. But still.
"If it will bring you peace to hurt me or to kill me or both... I want you to find peace." No, he didn't want to die, he didn't want to hurt, but he saw someone he thought of as a little brother with so much hurt in his eyes and he couldn't help any way, so... But still. "But please don't kill Namjoon. Don't let him die. He is a good man. Do what you want with me. Let him live."
The snake stopped and Ten stared at Jin, feeling an unbearable pain in his chest. He was willing to die just so he could be happy. He wanted to make it better. And he loved him. And that love wasn't easy to hate because really, he didn't want to hate it. He wanted it. And it hurt so much that he still wanted it. Medusa slid easily around Jin's torso and slid off just the same, coming over to protectively watch over Ten as he trembled on the bed, his insides burning with pain.
The pain ran through the snakes and they hissed, clattering about, loud and feeling as torn up inside as Ten did. Ten groaned in pain and shot forward, head against Jin's chest as he cried out angrily. "It hurts, hyung! Why does it hurt? Why does everything hurt?"
"I-- I don't know, Ten, I'm sorry." Jin wrapped his arms around Ten again, unsure what was happening. The snakes seemed to be losing it, as far as he could tell, and maybe he had gotten through to Ten? Maybe this would end? But for all he knew he might just start again. His hands were shaking when he stroked Ten's back, his eyes filling with tears once more. He tried to look around for Namjoon, wanting to make sure he was still alive, but there were too many snakes everywhere and it was dark.
But it was also loud. Which was why the door suddenly burst open and Yoongi came in, his sword already drawn, ready for combat.
No, he did not expect to see snakes everywhere, but he was a true warrior, he merely gripped his sword tighter, trying to take stock of the situation. Until his eyes fell on Ten and he recognised him, his mouth falling open. "...Ten?"
Still, even so, he didn't change his stance. Ready for combat.
Tend didn't move for a while, he wasn't sure what was happening but everything felt wrong and right at the same time. Slowly, he turned his head and looked at Yoongi, the man who had once taken his virginity, who he had taught so much about their culture and, naturally, their drinking traditions. Probably one adding up to the other there. He found himself watching Yoongi, eyes glowing a dangerous red as tears fell from his eyes.
The snakes slowly halted and Ten turned his head, speaking to them is a terrifying whisper that seemed to get through to them. The snakes slid by Yoongi's legs, weaving carefully around him and out away from Ten. On the retreat.
He couldn't bear to get any of them hurt.
Only Beauty remained, gently coiled around Namjoon. His lips were blue and he was drooling, foaming, faintly convulsing on the floor. Anyone who tried to approach was seen off by Beauty, no one would go against what Ten wanted.
But Ten didn't know what he wanted. Not any more. "... Yoongi."
"...you know each other?" Jin felt as if he had missed something in the script. He also felt exposed, because no one outside his family and some servants and Namjoon had actually seen him without a shirt on and it suddenly felt very odd, even though he knew that was hardly the thing to focus on. Instead his eyes went to Namjoon and he hesitated, trying to move off the bed and stopping his movement when the terrifying snake seemed to look at him.
Meanwhile Yoongi held still as the snakes passed, watching them for any signs of aggression, but not hurting them. He didn't exactly want to fight a bunch of snakes, there seemed little honour in that. He turned his head to look at Ten again at long last, still trying to piece things together.
"I've sworn to avenge you and save you any way I can. You are making that very difficult when you go after my lords." It was a conflicting situation. "The snake. She listens to you? She's beautiful."
He could appreciate that. Jin could not. "Please, Ten, you said you can keep Namjoon alive. I beg of you."
"She's not of this world. She's fascinating. My God gifted her to me for my loyalty, for my suffering and my burden." He wished he could greet Yoongi like an old friend, hold him and kiss him, maybe go drinking but his heart was heavy and cold. He heard Jin beg but it fell on deaf ears. When he turned his head, he didn't look at Jin, he looked at Beauty. They spoke in an odd language, words that were hard to catch.
How soon will he die?
Soon. I went for the throat. He has an hour.
Ten nodded and considered his options, idly tilting his head to Yoongi, not seeming as stressed as Jin was. More casual. Perhaps it was shock. "You swore to avenge me? That's adorable. You looooove me."
"Yes. I do love you." Yoongi nodded his head, moving his stance finally, even if he kept his sword out and ready. He moved his free arm up to his mouth and used his teeth to pull his sleeve up, turning his arm to show Ten the mark he had carved on the inside of it. It simply read 'TEN' in Ten's language, the way he remembered him signing it in the letter he had given to him before he left. It stood out red against his pale skin. "I've been carving it every night and morning since I found out about you."
It meant something, in his culture, to swear. He hadn't ever expected this one to conflict with his loyalty to Namjoon, however.
Jin finally moved off the bed, although he didn't dare approach the snake, approach Namjoon just yet.
"You do love me. Cute." Huh. He reached out, cold fingers tracing the name on his arm. He wished that he could be young again and be swayed by how beautiful this was, to see it as love or wanting, something greater than it was, but he felt worryingly hollow inside. The shadow of Cheon loomed over him and he knew now that hurting Jin wasn't making it go away.
He wanted Hoseok. He closed his eyes, knowing he would go back to him. "You were the best lover I ever had. Admittedly, you were the only one with consent." Ten smiled a sad, broken smile and slipped his hand into his trouser pocket, producing a small vial of bright yellow liquid. "Beauty. His life won't bring me joy."
Like that, the snake let go of Namjoon and slithered over his body, opting instead to wait by Ten's side, patient and loving. He idly held the vial out to Jin. "It will take three days to leave his system. He will hurt but he will live."
Jin didn't wait, he simply took the vial, bowed in thanks and muttered the words before falling onto the ground and hurrying to Namjoon's side, carefully making him drink the liquid while cradling him against his chest. He was still trembling, finally crying again while stroking Namjoon's hair and whispering sweet nothings.
Yoongi kept his attention on Ten, for one because he was the danger here, for another because he cared about him and it hurt to see how little he cared in turn. Not about him. Yoongi never expected anyone to care about him. But Ten didn't seem to care about himself. His eyes focused on the stone on Ten's forehead, then he looked at the snake again, finally meeting Ten's eyes. "I've sworn to kill them all for you. I still intend to."
"I don't think killing Cheon will make anything better." Lowering his head, Ten felt his heart ache painfully at that realisation. Cheon broke him and he felt like he could be sick at any moment. That pain returned and Ten hugged himself, whimpering in pain and wanting so badly to run back to Hoseok and hide in his cavern. Revenge didn't bring joy, just more pain.
"He's always going to be there. In my head. My dreams. I see him every night and I-- I don't think he can be killed." And that idea terrified him to his core.
"I don't know. I could kill him really, really slowly." Obviously he knew that wasn't the point here, but Yoongi wasn't sure what else to do or say. He wasn't good at comforting someone, it had never been his role. Not outside of taking care of Jungkook and that was a different matter.
"If I could go into your dreams and hunt him down there, I would do it. Every night for the rest of my life if I have to."
"You're sweet. You try to hide it but you are. My sweet boy. Suga." He laughed at the old nickname, hearing Namjoon wheeze and panic in the corner, flailing his now working limbs to grab onto Jin, crying out in agony. He supposed the venom had to work it's way out yet. "Maybe I can try to dream of you, sweet boy. And you can protect me every night."
Ten slid off the bed and approached Yoongi, nuzzling against him carefully before leaning in to kiss his cheek ever so lightly. "Will you protect me?"
Yoongi's eyes shifted to Namjoon, but it wasn't as if he could do anything for him right now and Jin was right by his side, holding him. He could wait. Ten didn't seem as if he could wait and he moved to wrap an arm around his waist once he was close enough. He seemed to be fine, physically. Hell. He seemed to be powered up, he still didn't understand it.
But it was his mind that worried him more. "Tell me how to protect you and I will."
"Dream of me and think of me, save me in my dreams. Make him go away. He has a hold of my heart and I hurt." Cheon had broken it in so many ways and gifts, powers and revenge didn't help. He needed love. He needed Hobi and Yoongi, he needed his hyung. He wanted to heal but he wanted to destroy and he hated that. It made him ugly.
"Your stone keeps changing colour." It was hard to just ignore it, it was right there. "I don't think it should be dark like this. It's not you." Not that he knew how it worked, but it looked murky at times, almost poisoned. Yoongi wondered if there was a reason for that. He moved his eyes to meet Ten's eyes instead, wanting to save him so badly. "I swear I will." He lifted his arm, showing off the mark again. "I'll bleed for you forever."
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He knew he should scream, alert the guards. He was certain that Yoongi wouldn't be far, as far as he could tell that man just plain never slept. But he couldn't bring himself to scream, instead he just stared at Ten, the bed sheets pooling around his hips, his upper body as bare as Namjoon's. He liked to feel his husband's skin against his.
"Ten?" His voice was shaking, fear clearly obvious. "Is it really you?"
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"Is this your husband? He doesn't look so good."
Ten giggled excitedly as he suddenly launched forward, leaping on the bed and bouncing. Hobi's beauty shot forward, it looked like she'd bite Ten but he showed no fear. There was no biting, no pain, the two just nuzzled like old friends. "I know, I know. I bet he tasted horrible. Northern men, they always do." Ten looked across at Jin, a wicked smile on his face. "I should know. I think Cheon is northern. He always had a harsh taste to him."
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He had to do something, but he wasn't sure what to do. Was Ten even alive? Was he a malevolent spirit, here to haunt him? He certainly deserved it, but Namjoon did not. Jin turned his head to look at Ten, while holding on to Namjoon. He didn't want to let go of him. "I'm so sorry, Ten. So sorry about everything that happened."
Tears had sprung to his eyes and he lowered his head, bowing. "I wish I'd found a faster way to help you. I'm so sorry."
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"She's my new friend. Hobi says her name is beyond pronunciation so I call her Beauty." The snake hissed in approval and Ten replied back, the two spoke short words in their own speak and moved together, communicating their next move.
She gripped Namjoon tight and started to pull away, yanking Namjoon away from Jin. "I'd let go if I was you. She'll keep tightening until you let her move him. I just want some alone time with you. You understand, hyung. Yes?"
Reaching out, he set a hand on Jin, solid and strong - real. He was alive. Warm, breathing, touching him. "Lie back, hyung. I wanna catch up. Don't you want to talk to me?"
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Jin looked at Ten, now certain that he was alive, but not certain what he was. More demon than human, with that stone in his forehead and speaking to snakes in a language he couldn't understand. He tried to sit up, but Ten was too strong. Since when was he so strong? Jin had no choice but to lie back, looking up at Ten. "I've prayed for you every day, every night. Of course I want to talk to you."
But his husband might be dying and he needed him to be safe. "Please don't kill him. Please. I love him."
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"Father told me we were all a family! That if one of us was hurt, we would all care! We'd all unite. Where were you, Seokjin?! You filthy coward! You say you love me but you can't. Not if you could leave me like that."
He let go of Jin's neck and over Ten's shoulder, three snakes loomed, hissing viciously down at Jin, feeding off Ten's anger. "Cheon held me in his clutches and you found love? How wonderful. Do you know what I found?"
Reaching out, he pinched Jin's nostrils shut at Cheon had done to him and waited, eagerly, for Jin to open his mouth. He shoved his fingers into his mouth and held his tongue down, trapping it under strong fingers. "I found out how to be helpless. Do you enjoy it, hyung?"
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But he had no time, because Ten's fingers were suddenly in his mouth and he was breathing heavily, drooling as he looked up at Ten, his eyes drawn to the terrifying snakes surrounding him. He was trembling, trying to make noise this time, hoping he could alert Yoongi. He had no idea what Yoongi could do to help them, but he had listened to enough of Namjoon's stories to have faith that he could at the very least save Namjoon. He always seemed to.
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And then Jin left. He pulled his hand back and wiped the wet on his cheek, pulling a face at how pathetic this king was. His anger ebbed and when he looked at Jin, his eyes didn't glow red. They just brimmed with tears. "Why didn't you save me, hyung? I was so scared."
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"I wasn't strong enough to attack Cheon. I wish I had been... He threatened to invade us, to get Jimin to keep you company. I needed allies. I didn't go looking for love, Ten, I went to look for an army so I could safe you. You have to believe me, Ten, please. I love you. I love you so much. I'm so sorry."
He had no idea whether he'd be able to get through to him, but he couldn't stop crying.
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"He drugged me after you left. I was out of my mind. I begged them all to fuck me and they did. I've never felt pain and humiliation like it. I remember screaming for you... for my mom. For anyone. There's no mercy in this world."
That was the sad lesson that Ten had to learn. He rested his chin on Jin's shoulder and slowly, Medusa slid from his arm and began to wrap around Jin's bare torso. "Why should I ever show you mercy?"
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"If it will bring you peace to hurt me or to kill me or both... I want you to find peace." No, he didn't want to die, he didn't want to hurt, but he saw someone he thought of as a little brother with so much hurt in his eyes and he couldn't help any way, so... But still. "But please don't kill Namjoon. Don't let him die. He is a good man. Do what you want with me. Let him live."
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The snake stopped and Ten stared at Jin, feeling an unbearable pain in his chest. He was willing to die just so he could be happy. He wanted to make it better. And he loved him. And that love wasn't easy to hate because really, he didn't want to hate it. He wanted it. And it hurt so much that he still wanted it. Medusa slid easily around Jin's torso and slid off just the same, coming over to protectively watch over Ten as he trembled on the bed, his insides burning with pain.
The pain ran through the snakes and they hissed, clattering about, loud and feeling as torn up inside as Ten did. Ten groaned in pain and shot forward, head against Jin's chest as he cried out angrily. "It hurts, hyung! Why does it hurt? Why does everything hurt?"
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But it was also loud. Which was why the door suddenly burst open and Yoongi came in, his sword already drawn, ready for combat.
No, he did not expect to see snakes everywhere, but he was a true warrior, he merely gripped his sword tighter, trying to take stock of the situation. Until his eyes fell on Ten and he recognised him, his mouth falling open. "...Ten?"
Still, even so, he didn't change his stance. Ready for combat.
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The snakes slowly halted and Ten turned his head, speaking to them is a terrifying whisper that seemed to get through to them. The snakes slid by Yoongi's legs, weaving carefully around him and out away from Ten. On the retreat.
He couldn't bear to get any of them hurt.
Only Beauty remained, gently coiled around Namjoon. His lips were blue and he was drooling, foaming, faintly convulsing on the floor. Anyone who tried to approach was seen off by Beauty, no one would go against what Ten wanted.
But Ten didn't know what he wanted. Not any more. "... Yoongi."
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Meanwhile Yoongi held still as the snakes passed, watching them for any signs of aggression, but not hurting them. He didn't exactly want to fight a bunch of snakes, there seemed little honour in that. He turned his head to look at Ten again at long last, still trying to piece things together.
"I've sworn to avenge you and save you any way I can. You are making that very difficult when you go after my lords." It was a conflicting situation. "The snake. She listens to you? She's beautiful."
He could appreciate that. Jin could not. "Please, Ten, you said you can keep Namjoon alive. I beg of you."
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How soon will he die?
Soon. I went for the throat. He has an hour.
Ten nodded and considered his options, idly tilting his head to Yoongi, not seeming as stressed as Jin was. More casual. Perhaps it was shock. "You swore to avenge me? That's adorable. You looooove me."
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It meant something, in his culture, to swear. He hadn't ever expected this one to conflict with his loyalty to Namjoon, however.
Jin finally moved off the bed, although he didn't dare approach the snake, approach Namjoon just yet.
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He wanted Hoseok. He closed his eyes, knowing he would go back to him. "You were the best lover I ever had. Admittedly, you were the only one with consent." Ten smiled a sad, broken smile and slipped his hand into his trouser pocket, producing a small vial of bright yellow liquid. "Beauty. His life won't bring me joy."
Like that, the snake let go of Namjoon and slithered over his body, opting instead to wait by Ten's side, patient and loving. He idly held the vial out to Jin. "It will take three days to leave his system. He will hurt but he will live."
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Yoongi kept his attention on Ten, for one because he was the danger here, for another because he cared about him and it hurt to see how little he cared in turn. Not about him. Yoongi never expected anyone to care about him. But Ten didn't seem to care about himself. His eyes focused on the stone on Ten's forehead, then he looked at the snake again, finally meeting Ten's eyes. "I've sworn to kill them all for you. I still intend to."
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"He's always going to be there. In my head. My dreams. I see him every night and I-- I don't think he can be killed." And that idea terrified him to his core.
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"If I could go into your dreams and hunt him down there, I would do it. Every night for the rest of my life if I have to."
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Ten slid off the bed and approached Yoongi, nuzzling against him carefully before leaning in to kiss his cheek ever so lightly. "Will you protect me?"
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But it was his mind that worried him more. "Tell me how to protect you and I will."
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Made him like Cheon. "Save me. Keep me safe."
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