Call of Winter
Title: Call of Winter
Beta: causticaria
Pairing: Yunho/Jaejoong
Rating: NC-17
Genre: Romance, Drama, Angst, Fantasy
Summary: Despite the unforgiving circumstances and the harsh frost, their love would bloom.
He was an offering.
Jaejoong shivered in the cold, and he wished desperately to clothe himself. He knew that people were outside the tent, and they would no doubt be waiting for the signal to know that the offering had been accepted.
If it was not, then he would get beheaded for failing.
His eyes were cast in the direction of the tent’s flap, and he waited for the head of the unit to take him. Jaejoong’s eyes screwed shut, and he tried not to think about the pain he was going to endure.
He would be raped for the sake of the cowardly council members that had so willingly offered him in a desperate plea for peace. More than anything, he just wanted to cry. He had never believed that his own family and people would be so willing to get rid of him.
The flap opened, and a tall man stepped through.
He stared at Jaejoong’s naked body for a few seconds before he took a step back and made his way to leave the tent.
“Wait!” Jaejoong pleaded. He stood up and looked at the man imploringly, “Please.”
The man blinked at him before he shook his head. He took a large covering made of fur off the ground and wrapped it around Jaejoong’s body, “I am sorry, but I cannot accept this. I do not want your body -“
“They’ll behead me if you return me,” Jaejoong whispered softly, “You know that they wait outside for you to…”
“I am a soldier, not a rapist.”
Jaejoong let the fur drop, and he exposed his body once more. His hands were shaking slightly, and he mustered his strength to reply, “It is not rape, I have willingly offered myself for my people -“
“So why are there rope burn markings around your wrists?” The soldier questioned as he took a step closer and examined the burns, “If you came here willingly, then tell me why you are injured.”
Jaejoong was silent, and his eyes fell to the ground.
“I thought so,” the man said as soon as it was clear that Jaejoong had nothing left to say to him. He looked around, “You said that there are people here?”
Jaejoong nodded, “They wait to make sure that you…”
“If I do not bed you, then you shall be beheaded?” the soldier questioned as he moved away from Jaejoong and began to remove the scabbard at his waist. He glanced at Jaejoong for affirmation, and the latter nodded.
The taller man heaved a sigh and took off his shirt, “Lie down on the fur.”
Jaejoong complied, and his eyes screwed shut as he waited for the man to come over and take him. He felt the other man’s weight press down against his body and callused fingers brushed across his face.
“Have you been kissed before?” the soldier questioned, his breath ghosting against Jaejoong’s face.
His answer was silence, and the soldier sighed softly before he stroked back Jaejoong’s hair gently. He pressed a soft kiss behind the smaller man’s ear and touched him as gently as possible.
“I want you to be loud,” the man explained as he tugged at Jaejoong’s earlobe with his teeth, “Do not feel ashamed. You do this for your own life. I will treat you kindly, and all I ask for you is to be loud.”
“What -“
Before Jaejoong could say anything, the man had already began to bite at his neck. A loud gasp of surprise escaped his lips, and he started to moan as soon as the other began to draw the skin of his neck into his mouth, biting and sucking roughly.
He buried his hands in the other man’s hair, and Jaejoong moaned loudly as the man continued to roughen his actions. His hips bucked upwards, and he didn’t fail to groan as the other man bucked against him.
The soldier’s mouth moved towards his, and he looked at Jaejoong kindly before he gently placed his mouth over his. Jaejoong fidgeted hesitantly, but after a few seconds, he surrendered and allowed the man to slip his tongue in his mouth.
It was pleasurable, to say the least, and Jaejoong greatly appreciated the other man’s gentle touches and kindness. His heart pounded in his chest, and he made sure to be as loud as possible. He squirmed underneath the heavier man, but he did nothing to fight him off.
He was aroused by their actions, and Jaejoong was quite sure that the hardness he felt proved that the other man was aroused as well. Their erections bumped through the fabric of the other man’s pants as the soldier continued to ravage his mouth, and he let out a whimper. The soldier looked down at him and whispered, “Are you close?”
“I…” he trailed off and bit his lip, “Don’t make it hurt.”
The soldier shook his head, “Just trust me,” he murmured as he slowly moved his hands and began to kiss Jaejoong once more. Jaejoong’s eyes fluttered shut, and the man whispered, “Just focus on the pleasure, and don’t forget what I told you earlier.”
The man intensified his kisses, wrapping his tongue around Jaejoong’s and kissing the other man in such pleasurable ways. Jaejoong felt himself close to his almost foreign feeling of release, and he moaned as the other man returned to sucking and biting his neck.
He clawed at the other man’s back and he instinctively wrapped his legs around the other man, grinding against him as he sought his release. His body gave into the sensual touches, and as soon as the soldier bit into his neck in a particularly rough manner, Jaejoong came.
“I think that should be enough,” the soldier whispered. He pulled his body off Jaejoong’s and reached over to get a damp cloth. He gently cleaned Jaejoong, and when he looked up, he was surprised to see Jaejoong’s eyes on him.
“What about you?” Jaejoong asked. He glanced at the tented fabric of the other man’s clothes and bit his lip, “Surely that is not pleasurable for you -“
“I’ll take care of it myself,” the man murmured as he pointed at the bed made of furs. “If you would look away…”
Jaejoong blushed profusely and immediately turned away. He bit his lip hard, and he tried to pretend like the soldier’s moans did not affect him. He screwed his eyes shut and breathed heavily, blocking everything out.
As soon as the older man was done, he walked over to Jaejoong and knelt beside him.
“I think they are all gone now.”
Jaejoong looked up at him, “What happens to me now?”
“I cannot return you here…” the soldier sighed, “It seems like you will be forced to keep my company for a bit longer until I find some new place for you. Do you wish to return to your village?”
Jaejoong fell silent, and the other man took that as a no. He fidgeted in the cold, and he pulled the furs over to cover his naked body. He looked up at the man with curious eyes and noticed the scar on his left cheek.
“Are you hungry?”
He tore his eyes away and bit his lip, “A bit,” he cleared his throat awkwardly and blushed, “What is your name?”
“You may call me Yunho,” the soldier said as he drew away from Jaejoong to reach into a pile of clothes and pull several pieces out for his new ward. He placed them down in front of him and knelt down, “I suggest you don’t leave this tent without me. You are a very…beautiful person, and it is not often that my men get to share their bed with someone else. I would not want anything to happen to you.”
Jaejoong nodded, and he reached out for the clothes, “Thank you.”
Yunho stared at him with his foreign eyes for a few more seconds before he nodded and left Jaejoong alone in the tent.
It was cold and sad to be alone, but as Jaejoong rested his head onto the furs to sleep, he supposed that he was in much better hands than he’d ever expected to be in.
o-o-o
“Do you do this every night?”
Jaejoong jerked upwards in surprise, and he bit his lip hard. Yunho’s eyes met his eyes in the darkness, penetrating through the cover of the shadows and staring at him with an intensity that he’d never seen before.
He remained still in the makeshift bed that Yunho had provided for him and nodded slowly. After all, the least he could do was offer Yunho some honesty about the whole situation - how he’d developed a problem with sleeping, and how he’d pass the time by simply watching the other man sleep.
Yunho sat up, and Jaejoong bit his lip harder as Yunho left his bed and walked over to him. He sat down in front of Jaejoong and fixed the furs around him, tending to him gently and protecting him from the harsh cold.
“If I may ask…”
Jaejoong tilted his head to the side, “Yes?”
“Why were you offered to me?” Yunho asked as he continued to tend to Jaejoong like one would do for a child, “Of all the people in your country, why were you the one selected?”
“I…was about to become oracle,” Jaejoong explained softly as Yunho paused his actions to look at Jaejoong. “My country is not…not quite religious, but we have our beliefs in nature and the future.”
“I know of that,” the other man replied as he sat down across Jaejoong, “If you were to become oracle, then why…”
“When times are desperate, people need action over words,” Jaejoong answered with a bitter smile, “I told the council that although there was bloodshed on the horizon, patience would avoid it, but they…they did not listen to me and chose to listen to rumors from neighboring nations.”
“Rumors about me?”
Jaejoong nodded, “Yes. Eventually the council came to the decision that if they offered a sacrifice to you, perhaps the plans on completing the conquest of our city would be delayed.”
“But why you?”
“I was the only one that had the courage to tell them that the idea of a sacrifice was unnecessary and stupid. I was the only oracle with the courage to fight back, and so they sent me - my family had no objections.”
Yunho’s jaw tightened, and he looked furious in the faint light of the tent, “They are wicked men, and you did not deserve to be -“
“You’re too nice,” Jaejoong whispered softly in an attempt to calm Yunho’s temper, “I find it hard to believe that you are truly the feared military commander of the West.”
A smile quirked at Yunho’s lips, and he raised his eyes to meet Jaejoong, “Well, it is best that my enemies think me to be fierce and threatening, isn’t it? I wouldn’t want to be thought of as weak.”
“You’re not weak…” Jaejoong said fondly as Yunho tended to him and offered him some water, “You are kind hearted, strong, and patient. I am sure that is why you succeed in your endeavors.”
Yunho chuckled, “You should tell my men that.” He laughed and tucked back a strand of Jaejoong’s hair in a breezy manner, “It would be nice for them to actually believe me to be anything but the strict commander that I am. Now, let’s see if I can get you to sleep.”
Jaejoong allowed Yunho to gently push him down, and the feeling of having Yunho nearly on top of him brought back memories of the night they’d first met. He shivered in pleasure, and as soon as Yunho settled beside him, his heart pounded quickly in his chest.
Yunho’s callused fingers gently brushed back a strand of hair, and as soon as it settled on his cheek, Jaejoong glanced over at Yunho, who was smiling at him through the darkness, “Go to sleep. Rest your mind.”
His words were simple, but as soon as Jaejoong’s eyes fluttered shut, he found himself drifting off into a peaceful slumber.
o-o-o
He’d lost track of time, but Jaejoong assumed that it’d been at least two months since he’d started living in Yunho’s tent. It was lonely during the mornings because all he did was sleep due to Yunho’s absence, but the nights more than made up for the terrible mornings.
Because at night, Yunho would keep him company.
He was gentler than Jaejoong had thought he would be. He was nothing like the ruthless military commander that he had heard of, and his heart fluttered each time Yunho would look at him.
It was not difficult for him to grow a soft spot for Yunho - after all, no one had been as kind to him before in his many years of existence. He’d never felt accepted in his own family, and he found it easy to bask in the warmth of Yunho’s small showered bits of affection.
“Your hair’s getting long,” Yunho mused one night as he poured over a map that was much too complicated for Jaejoong to understand. He sat down and rested his chin on his palm, “Would you like me to cut it?”
“I like it right now,” Jaejoong said in reply. He raised his head to look at Yunho and smiled radiantly, “Perhaps another time?”
Yunho nodded and looked at his map again. Jaejoong glanced down at his hands and raised his knees to his chest. He looked at Yunho again, and the other man looked back at him in amusement.
“Is something the matter?”
“Not really,” Jaejoong replied as he rested his chin on his knees. “Will you be moving camp soon? I did not think you would be residing here for much longer.”
Yunho turned his eyes back to his map, “We are still planning our best movement out of this territory. The weather is quite difficult to deal with here. It is much colder and harsher than I had expected.”
Jaejoong stood up and walked over to where Yunho was. He noticed that Yunho was dressed lightly, “You say that, yet you are still dressed so lightly.” He wrapped his arms around Yunho and buried his face into his back.
Yunho was still, and he said nothing for a few seconds, “What are you doing?”
“I’m keeping you warm,” Jaejoong mumbled softly as Yunho turned around to lift his chin up. He looked up at Yunho, “I think…I think you cannot be blind to how I feel towards you at this moment.”
“You need not repay my generosity through physical means,” Yunho said slowly as he looked into Jaejoong’s eyes for an answer, “It has been my pleasure to have kept your company and to have saved your life.”
“I wish to be your lover,” Jaejoong confessed, the words tumbling out of his mouth before he could hold himself back and try to make use of flowery speech which would conceal his desires. His cheeks turned scarlet, and he looked down at the ground, “A person has not warmed your heart or your bed since I have kept you company. I wish to do that for you so that you may not leave me behind.”
Yunho removed Jaejoong’s hands from his waist and gently tilted his chin up to press a soft kiss to his lips, “I wouldn’t leave you behind,” he murmured as his hands moved down to Jaejoong’s waist only to work up underneath his shirt and caress Jaejoong’s soft skin, “Not when I’ve come to love you so. You do not know how much my heart soars when I see you look at me every time I return to you.”
Jaejoong blushed and pulled at Yunho’s pants, “You have not touched me since our first meeting,” he drawled suggestively as he leaned closer to Yunho and pressed their lower bodies together, “As…the situation has changed, I offer myself to you willingly and lovingly now. Do you accept?”
Yunho’s answer came in the form of him taking Jaejoong into his arms and unceremoniously dumping him onto the makeshift bed made of furs. He pinned Jaejoong down and began to ravage his mouth, sucking his tongue into his and exploring every inch of the other’s mouth.
His kisses were filled with such feral want and underlying desire that Jaejoong felt himself weaken in Yunho’s grip. Although he’d always been gentle to him, he very much enjoyed the lack of propriety Yunho was displaying.
His clothes were pulled off unceremoniously, and Jaejoong mewled appreciatively as Yunho took a nipple into his mouth. He carded his fingers through Yunho’s hair and fisted the locks as Yunho bit him, and he let out a loud whine as soon as he felt rough fingers wrap around his aching cock.
He rocked loudly and wantonly against Yunho, purring against him encouragingly as he stripped Yunho of his own shirt. Jaejoong helped Yunho remove the last of his clothes, and as soon as they were both fully naked, Yunho pulled away.
“On your knees,” he ordered, huskily as he pulled away from Jaejoong.
Jaejoong looked at him in surprise, and he slowly sat up before he moved onto his knees. He felt himself harden from the way Yunho was staring at him intensely, and he wanted nothing more but for Yunho to touch him again.
After seconds spent achingly alone, Yunho moved to him and molded his body over Jaejoong’s. Jaejoong let out a whimper as he felt Yunho’s hard cock press against him, and he bucked against Yunho.
Yunho began to suck and bite at spot on his neck, and Jaejoong whimpered. He moaned softly, “Yunho, I -“
Before another word could be said, a slick finger coated with pleasant smelling oil pushed through his tight entrance. Jaejoong grasped the furs tightly, and he let out a pained moan. He breathed heavily, and Yunho left gentle kisses on his back.
Yunho soon added more fingers, and Jaejoong could hardly hold himself up. The pain was gradually fading away, and he only felt immense pleasure as Yunho prepared him for something larger.
Jaejoong let out a gasp as soon as he felt Yunho’s tongue run up the length of his erection, and his knees weakened. His eyes screwed shut, and he let out a pleading whine as Yunho sucked briefly at the tip.
“Did you like that?” Yunho questioned as he gripped Jaejoong’s cock and began to pump it slowly, “Did you?” he pressed, his voice husky and teasing. He played with the tip of Jaejoong’s erection, “Tell me. You do know I love your voice.”
“Yes,” Jaejoong mumbled into his arm, his face heating up with embarrassment and hidden excitement.
Yunho pushed Jaejoong onto his back, and his dark eyes studied Jaejoong, “You must tell me louder,” he lowered his head and took the tip of Jaejoong’s cock into his mouth, sucking only just a bit before he pulled his head away, “Tell me now.”
“Please continue,” Jaejoong pleaded softly, “Please. I like it. I like it so much, please, don’t stop -“
He broke off into a moan due to Yunho completely enveloping his erection into his mouth. The wet warmth made him forget everything else, and he moaned unabashedly, his hands looking for something to grip onto before he eventually decided to grip onto Yunho’s hair.
His moans filled the room, and he squirmed as Yunho’s tongue wrapped around him, licked him, and pulled him deeper into his mouth. Yunho’s hands kept him firmly onto the floor, and just as he felt himself nearing release, Yunho drew away.
“Knees,” Yunho urged, and Jaejoong felt his eyes widen when he noticed Yunho’s large cock in the darkness. He felt a large thrill of desire, and when he looked down and noticed a large amount of liquid leak onto the fur from his erection, he gripped the furs tighter.
Jaejoong let out a shaky breath, and Yunho left gentle kisses on his back as his hands moved southwards. He tightened his hold on the coverings, and Jaejoong felt his heart beat faster.
“Be gentle,” he pleaded nervously, “Please.”
Yunho said nothing, and just as Jaejoong was about to repeat his plea, Yunho entered him slowly. Jaejoong’s knees weakened at the feeling, and he cried out at the pain that he felt as Yunho began to push into him deeper.
It hurt, and tears pooled at the corners of his eyes as Yunho began to push impossibly further into him. He did not complain, and as soon as Yunho was buried completely to the hilt, he let out a loud groan.
“I cannot promise to be gentle,” Yunho hissed as he slowly began to pull out before thrusting in Jaejoong, going at a leisurely pace, “I do not make promises I have no intention of keeping. I promise to make you feel good.”
Jaejoong let out a shaky breath as Yunho began to thrust in and out, and he noticed that the pain was gradually diminishing with each thrust. He pushed back against Yunho, and Yunho grunted slightly.
“I take that as permission to go faster?”
“Yes.”
Yunho gripped Jaejoong’s waist tightly, and he began to rock faster into Jaejoong. He pounded into him rougher and faster as seconds flew by, and Jaejoong mewled underneath him, the pleasure almost too much to bear. His eyes were scrunched shut, and he could barely catch his breath.
“I can’t, Yunho,” Jaejoong groaned as he felt his limbs weaken. Yunho paused and drew back momentarily, setting Jaejoong onto his back before he resumed their activities. He thrust hard into Jaejoong and reached forward to lick at a nipple before biting it.
Jaejoong arched his back, and the burning sensation caused by his back rubbing against the furs was forgotten as Yunho pounded into him. He moaned loudly and wildly until Yunho moved up and ravaged his mouth, dominating him and sending even more pleasure throughout his body.
“Faster, please, faster!” Jaejoong begged, the words spilling out of his mouth wantonly.
He could soon feel a familiar tightness, and as Yunho continued to thrust into the spot in his body that made him wildly lose control, he knew he was going to come soon. Jaejoong buried his nails into Yunho’s tanned back, and came all over between their bodies, coating them both with his release.
Yunho was still unsatisfied, and Jaejoong mewled as Yunho continued to thrust into him roughly until he found his own release moments later. The scent of sex flooded the room, and the cold was completely forgotten due to the warmth of their entangled bodies.
Jaejoong let out a content sigh, and Yunho kissed him gently on the lips. He smiled happily against Yunho’s kiss, but as soon as he’d pulled Yunho down to deepen their kiss, someone slipped into the tent.
His eyes met Jaejoong’s and widened in surprise, and Jaejoong blushed in embarrassment before he pulled Yunho’s body down in order to bury his face into the other’s chest.
Yunho moved, and it was only then that Jaejoong realized that Yunho was still inside of him. His blush darkened, and his grip only tightened, his finger nails digging into Yunho’s tanned skin.
“Perhaps it is better for me to come at another time,” the man spoke, a hint of amusement in his voice.
“Yes, that would be best.”
The person exited, and Yunho laughed, “There’s no need to be embarrassed,” he whispered, “You are my lover now, it is only normal for -“
“He saw us naked!”
Yunho raised an eyebrow and gently pulled out of Jaejoong. He laughed and slowly moved to pick up his pants, “How would you suggest that I make love to you next time? It would make things difficult for us if both of us were to remain clothed -“
Jaejoong pouted, “You are mocking me.”
“No, I am only teasing,” Yunho replied as he pulled his pants on and smiled down at Jaejoong, “You are a beauty with an interesting mind. It amuses me to know that one could act like such an innocent person when your behavior was anything but innocent only moments prior.”
Jaejoong sat up and pulled the furs up to cover his body, “You are wicked,” he muttered irritably, “I did no such -“
“I do not think encouraging me to thrust into you faster would be considered as innocent, nor would the way you moaned when I -“
Jaejoong glared, “Wicked man.”
“I never said I wasn’t,” Yunho said gently as he moved to Jaejoong and stole a kiss off his lips, “I shall speak to Yoochun and then I shall return to you. Will you stay awake and wait for me?”
“I’m tired,” Jaejoong muttered as he buried himself into the bed and fluttered his eyes at Yunho, “I cannot promise you anything. I am tired.”
“But I am also tired,” Yunho whispered gently and teasingly as he traced spirals onto Jaejoong’s pale skin. His callused hand settled at Jaejoong’s waist, and he leaned down to whisper into his lover’s ear, “I am so very tired.”
“If you are so tired, then you should remain with me in bed and not leave me alone in this cold.”
Yunho chuckled and drew the covers over the bodies, “Then I shall not leave you,” he murmured before he placed his arm over Jaejoong’s frame and pulled him close, eventually settling his head into the crook of Jaejoong’s neck before they both drifted off to sleep.
o-o-o
“I think…you may leave the tent with me now,” Yunho said as he dressed himself for the coming day, “It is for the best that you see the camp properly, and I do not wish to keep you trapped in my tent for much longer.”
Jaejoong shot Yunho a small smile, “Is that so?”
“Yes, that is so,” Yunho replied before he pulled Jaejoong out of the tent and began to lead him past his men. He introduced a few of them to Jaejoong - his secondary commanders, Yoochun and Changmin, as well as others, but most of them were a blur of faces to Jaejoong.
All he could truly was enjoy was Yunho’s presence.
They spent the day together, and as soon as the sun was about to set, Yunho led Jaejoong away from the camp and brought him to a frozen lake. They walked in silence, and it was only when they were inches away from the lake’s edges that Yunho finally spoke.
“I received word that my country and your country have signed a peace treaty,” Yunho murmured as he crossed his arms and studied the frozen depths of the lake in front of them, “I shall be leaving soon - my work here is done.”
“What was your work exactly? You did not fight, and while I am glad of that, I am wondering why your presence was needed in a battle that was never fought.”
Yunho glanced at Jaejoong, “Wars are not all about bloodshed. There are battles that take place in the psyche, and I was assigned here to ensure that the army of your country did not misbehave.”
“What army? We are people not made for fighting,” Jaejoong murmured as he leaned in closer to Yunho for warmth, “We are about as harmful in war as a child with a sword made of grass.”
Yunho chuckled, “You put them down so harshly.”
“I know of men that control armies, and I know they are terrible creatures,” Jaejoong spat as he glared at the snow, “They offer people like animals and -“
“You do realize that I am one of those men that control armies, correct?”
Jaejoong glanced at Yunho, “Yes, I do recognize that fact, but you are not like them, and I have…I have heard that the present king of your country has desires to appoint you as his heir.”
“That…that may be true,” Yunho said as the wind blew past, “Our system is different from yours after all. Kings are appointed by choice and not by birth.” He sighed calmly and looked at Jaejoong, “What would you do if I were to be chosen as my king’s heir?”
“I suppose I would have to follow you. There is nowhere I would rather be than at your side.”
“You have no home?”
Jaejoong shook his head, “The moment a child is chosen as a candidate to be the oracle, he or she lives a life of seclusion from most people and is only allowed visits from family. As the youngest child of nine, my parents were happy to see me go so that they would not have to pay the costs of caring for me.”
“Well then, I would be glad enough to be considered as your home,” Yunho said as he drew Jaejoong into his arms and kissed his cheek, “What’s mine is yours, and if I were to be king, then you would be my queen.”
The shorter man snorted and elbowed the other man lightly, “The cold has gotten to your head. One cannot make a man a queen.”
“Yes, but he can love another man like one and cherish him like one,” Yunho insisted as he tugged at Jaejoong and refused to let him leave his side, “My people are not like yours, they are less judging and relationships like ours are almost the norm. What is the point of titles anyway? You shall stay at my side.”
“Your optimism and devotion is unusual.”
“I am a loyal man.”
Jaejoong was silent and studied Yunho for a few seconds before he leaned up to kiss him gently, “Yes, you are. You are also possibly the finest man I have ever met.”
Yunho chuckled lowly and brushed Jaejoong’s collarbone with his thumb, “I should not worry about anyone coming to reclaim you, should I?”
“They will not come for me,” Jaejoong murmured as he leaned into Yunho and shut his eyes while the other man left light kisses upon the skin of his neck, “I am not wanted, and I am an outcast to them by now.”
“Good,” Yunho muttered as he pulled Jaejoong closer, “Because I do not think that I would be able to let you go. Now let’s go back to the camp - it is cold, and your skin is freezing.”
Jaejoong murmured a reply against Yunho’s lips, “Keep me warm.”
Yunho growled and lifted Jaejoong off the snow, “Gladly.”
o-o-o
The sound of movement caused Jaejoong to wake up from his slumber. He moved drowsily, but as he caught sight of the flap of the moving, Jaejoong sat up and noticed Yunho’s presence slipping out of the tent. He pushed aside the furs and got out of bed so that he could carefully follow Yunho to wherever he was going.
He made his way thought the darkness and followed the sound of the voices he could hear. It was easy enough for him to make his way through because almost everyone was asleep, but as he neared the origin of the noise, he became more wary of his surroundings and made sure to move slower and quieter. He paused as soon as he caught sight of Yunho’s silhouette and pressed his body closely against the nearby tent frame.
“What are your men doing here?” Yunho asked as he stepped closer to the cloaked party.
The man at the front of the group pulled back his hood and Jaejoong gasped softly as soon as he recognized the person to be Seunghyun - one of the few people that had been against his offering to Yunho.
“We are here to reclaim Jaejoong.”
“What? I think that is more than just a bold request to make,” Yunho argued, “It was your people that offered Jaejoong to me -“
“It was a mistake, a move of desperation that our people made in a time of crisis. Now that the situation has changed due to the peace treaty between our nations, Jaejoong must be returned.”
“I refuse.”
Seunghyun stood up straighter, and he took a step forward, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword in an aggressive stance, “I do not think that you would be so foolish as to ignore a peace treaty.”
“The treaty told us to return prisoners of war, since we have kept none -“
“Jaejoong, he is a prisoner of war.”
“You cannot call him that when he stays of his own volition!” Yunho argued, his hand at his sword immediately, “Why would he return to your people, the same ones who offered him to me heartlessly?”
Jaejoong decided to come out of hiding, and as soon as he was seen, Seunghyun moved to approach him, but Yunho stepped in his path. “You would do well to remember that this is our territory, and not yours.”
“This land belongs to our people, and you all are merely trespassers -“
“Stop fighting,” Jaejoong demanded as he moved over to his place at Yunho’s side. He felt Seunghyun’s judging gaze on him and glanced away briefly before he dared to meet the older man’s gaze, “I did not think our people required me any longer.”
Seunghyun let go of his sword, and he shook his head, “The decision to send you here was a grave mistake, and the council have only just realized that now. You know that I argued against what happened to you -“
“Argued and failed -“
Jaejoong glared at Yunho and sighed, “He has accepted me into his camp, and he has offered to -“
“Keep you as a whore?” Seunghyun spat, “You shouldn’t lower yourself to that position, can you remember what kind of life you had before? You were about to become oracle, and -“
Before Seunghyun could finish his sentence, Yunho launched himself at him and began to attack him. All of the men rushed to the scene, and Yunho was quickly pulled off Seunghyun, who bled onto the pristine white snow.
“I will behead you myself if you step back onto this camp!” Yunho shouted as he broke free from Yoochun and Changmin’s grasp. He reached for his sword and drew it out of its scabbard, “Do not dare insult my honor and call my lover a whore!”
Seunghyun reached for his own sword, but before he could come any closer, Jaejoong stepped between them and held his hands out. He turned to Yunho, “I…I appreciate what you’ve said for me, but I must speak to him.”
Before Yunho could protest, Jaejoong led Seunghyun away from the area and ignored Yunho’s shouts for him to stay.
o-o-o
As soon as they were in a clearing by the frozen lake, Jaejoong turned to Seunghyun and crossed his arms, “They wish me to return? After the council had abandoned our traditions due to their cowardice, I did not think they would have any use for me.”
“Of the nine oracle candidates, four have died due to sickness and the other four have been proven to be unworthy and false. You are the only one left to succeed the position since the current oracle is dying.”
Jaejoong held Seunghyun’s gaze and talked calmly, “What is required of an oracle is purity of both mind and body. I am the general’s lover, and I am no longer a virgin.”
Seunghyun’s jaw stiffened, and he glanced at the men that stood a distance away from the two of them. He exhaled and turned his attention back to Jaejoong, “The council said they would be willing to instate you despite your…deficiency.”
“I do not think I can return to those that have betrayed me -“
“Your efforts have proven to be fruitful. If we had not offered you to that monster, who knows what could have occurred. You have distracted his attention, and it was because of his inaction that the peace treaty was signed in time to avoid any pillaging or ransacking of our lands.”
Jaejoong narrowed his eyes, “He is a good man, and he does not act like a monster. While he is indeed a soldier, that does not mean he is a savage.”
“Your heart is soft for him.”
“It is…I love him,” Jaejoong replied softly, “I cannot return to our people. I am willing to give up my previous life for a future with him. He provides me with more than I could ever ask for from another person, and -“
Seunghyun leaned back and studied Jaejoong. He crossed his arms and tilted his head to the side, “So, for your own profit, you would be willing for more than a hundred years’ worth of tradition to die? Are you willing to abandon all of your people?”
“They have -“
“No Jaejoong, only the selfish men on the council and the power hungry members of your family have abandoned you. What about the peasants who turn to the oracle’s readings for help in their daily lives? What shall happen to them? Who shall tell the farmers when to start their planting, and who shall advise the healing of the sick? Are you willing to abandon thousands because of what the few did to you?”
Jaejoong stood still, and he swallowed hard, “I love him.”
“You were not meant for that life,” Seunghyun replied harshly, “Your vow was to dedicate your life for the people. Are you willing to abandon all those that turn to you for help and guidance just for that one man?”
They stared at each other in silence, and Seunghyun called over his men before he turned back to Jaejoong.
“You have two days to make your decision. I will return at sunset on the second day.”
He turned away, and Jaejoong stood alone in the snow as he watched them leave. As soon as they were gone, he fell to his knees and buried his face in his hands. The chill of winter wrapped around his body and bit at his skin, freezing him to the core.
Duty called for him.
o-o-o
The moment he was inside the tent, Jaejoong knew Yunho was angry with him. He walked to Yunho slowly and just as he was about to kneel down next to him, Yunho sat up and stared down at him.
“You disobeyed me.”
“You do not own me.”
“I could have.”
“I would not love you if you treated me like an object.” A tense silence fell between them, and Yunho sharply turned to move away from Jaejoong. Jaejoong watched him silently, and he waited for Yunho to speak what was on his mind.
“What did you two talk about?”
“We discussed my circumstances, and Seunghyun made me an offer to return back to my people and serve them as their oracle.”
Yunho laughed bitterly, “Their oracle? Is that what you want? If you wish to be revered and loved Jaejoong, I do not understand why I am not enough for you.” He strode to Jaejoong and cupped his face roughly, “Your people abandoned you and left you to what could’ve been a most terrible fate. Are they truly worth returning to?”
Despite Yunho’s fury, Jaejoong remained calm and gently placed his hands over Yunho’s. He exhaled slowly and stroked Yunho’s cheek, “Your temper and jealousy are overwhelming.”
“Your calm is unnerving.”
Jaejoong breathed out calmly and looked up at Yunho, “I…I wish to look at your future.” He held onto Yunho’s wrist and grazed the skin with his thumb, “It shall help me determine my next decision.”
“I do not believe in omens and tricks.”
“Yunho, I -“
Jaejoong froze, and while his mind was awake, it was almost like he’d completely lost all control of his body. He could hear Yunho shouting and speaking to him, but he could not reply.
Blurred pictures raced through his mind, and they were all of Yunho. He could barely make out pictures of victory and glory, and as the pictures moved faster in his mind, it eventually settled to an image of Yunho standing with a shadow of a person next to him, the two turned to one another, and Yunho smiled lovingly.
The vision ended immediately, and Jaejoong jerked back from Yunho. He exhaled anxiously and pushed away Yunho’s attempts at comforting him. While his heart tried to convince himself that the person Yunho had smiled at had been him, Jaejoong’s mind knew better.
The last thing he’d thought of before the vision was the possibility of leaving Yunho, and he’d been provided an answer.
Without him, Yunho would still be able to achieve everything he’d ever desired, and he would be able to find a love to replace him as well.
“Jaejoong, what did you see?” Yunho questioned as he finally reached forward and shook Jaejoong’s shoulders, “Jaejoong!”
Jaejoong fell into Yunho’s arms, unconscious and barely breathing.
o-o-o
When Jaejoong woke up, he was alone in the tent. He sat up and breathed out uneasily. He had not had any dreams, and he presumed it was because of his vision. He did not know what day it was or how much time had passed, but his heart immediately sought out Yunho.
They did not have much time left together.
Jaejoong stood up shakily and as soon as he was on his feet, Yunho came into the room looking tired and uneasy.
“I have asked the most superstitious of my men, and they have all come to the conclusion that you had a vision of the future,” Yunho said as he approached Jaejoong cautiously.
“It is true,” Jaejoong replied as he allowed himself to be pulled closer to Yunho, “I have seen what is to happen to you in the future.”
Yunho shut his eyes tiredly before he opened them and studied Jaejoong, “And what do you know of your own future?”
“I can’t read my own future, I don’t know what will happen to me -” Jaejoong murmured sadly as he pulled away from Yunho’s grip.
Yunho took hold of his hand, “But you determine it.”
He brought Jaejoong close and cupped his face gently, “I do not care for visions. Do not leave me. The peace treaty has been signed, and I cannot stay for much longer -“
“You will find love again in the future,” Jaejoong whispered softly as he placed his hands over Yunho’s and slowly removed them, “You will love again.”
“Don’t do this to me! I do not care if you are an oracle or what you supposedly see! This is our life Jaejoong, and you are talking about my heart! Do not promise me that I will love again, and do not try to push me away with such words -“
“Do you think that I wish to part from you?” Jaejoong cried, withdrawing from Yunho completely, “Do you think that leaving you will be easy for me? I do this not for myself, but for a culture that has existed longer than our love ever has and for the benefit of my people -“
Yunho shut his eyes and moved away from Jaejoong. He withdrew to the other side of the tent, and he let out a shuddering breath, “You leave at sunset with them while our army moves for the West.”
“I know.”
“We head to a city, and I have been charged to make sure that it is conquered. Perhaps I shall not live to see that happen but know that I shall think of you.”
Jaejoong shook his head and let out a breath, “No, I have seen and read the signs presented to me, and they have pointed to your success and glory.” He took a step closer to Yunho but maintained their distance, “You will become even greater than you are now.”
“Your words do nothing to bring me comfort,” Yunho spoke coldly before he picked up his fur cloak and draped it around his body, “But…I cannot have our last hours together spent in tension.”
They stared at each other with looks filled with sadness and longing, both of them resigned to the fate that had been presented.
Jaejoong approached Yunho and slowly untied his cloak before he pushed it off of his shoulders. He rested his palms on Yunho’s chest, and he looked up at his candle lit face, “Do not worry for me, breathe.”
Yunho’s eyes fell shut, and Jaejoong kissed his jaw tenderly before he worked on removing the rest of Yunho’s clothes. He slipped off the layers of fabric carefully and slowly, and it was not long before he had Yunho lay down so that he could crawl over him.
Jaejoong ran his hands through Yunho’s hair, and he kissed his brow, “I will miss you,” he whispered as he placed his hand over Yunho’s heart, “I will miss you so much.”
“Don’t leave,” Yunho pleaded, his eyes finally open. He pinned Jaejoong onto the bed of furs and slowly began to work on divesting him of his clothing, “They will not love you as much as I do, and they will not care for you as well as I do.”
“I don’t do this for myself Yunho,” Jaejoong replied as Yunho removed the last of his clothing and looked at him, “I do this for my nation, and I do this for their future.”
“And what of our future?”
Jaejoong bit his lip and looked up at Yunho with teary eyes, “It was not meant to be,” he choked out, tears slipping past his eyes and rolling down his cheeks, “We have duties and roles that we are meant to fill. We will always have our past and can only make the most of what is left of our present.”
Yunho fell silent and wiped away Jaejoong’s tears gently with his hand. He said nothing for a few minutes, simply touching Jaejoong and kissing him softly, until he finally drew away and tilted Jaejoong’s chin up.
“I love you.”
Jaejoong felt himself tear up again, and he smiled back sadly at Yunho, “I love you too,” he whispered, before he pulled Yunho down so that they could kiss and consummate their passion for one last night.
o-o-o
The air was especially cold the following morning, and Jaejoong shivered as he exited Yunho’s tent and began to make his way to where he would be meeting Seunghyun and the rest of his party.
He could feel the eyes of Yunho’s men upon him, and when he noticed Yoochun staring at him worriedly, he forced a smile and continued to make his way forward. Yunho was a few steps behind him, and as soon as they reached the edge of camp, Jaejoong’s heart pounded painfully in his chest.
Before he could take a step closer to Seunghyun, Yunho pulled him close and drew him to his chest. Jaejoong cried out softly and grasped onto Yunho tightly, wishing to never let him go.
The harsh winds blew against them, and Jaejoong knew that their time together was over - the beloved spring of their love was gone, and winter had arrived.
There was nothing left for their love to grow on.
He pulled away with teary eyes, and he let Seunghyun pull him away. Jaejoong followed with heavy footsteps, and just as the pain in his chest had become too unbearable to deal with, he turned to look at Yunho.
He was there, regal and handsome in the snow although it looked like his whole world had been destroyed and crushed to pieces. His expression was cold and desolate like the harsh winter.
Jaejoong shot him a weak smile and turned away, the tears flowing down his cheeks.
The only thought that brought comfort in Jaejoong’s heart was that winter would eventually pass - Yunho would one day know spring and love once again.
Author’s Note: …what? This wasn’t depressing. I love you all! XD I hope you all enjoyed this, a product of watching Game of Thrones episodes. Hahaha. :3 *hands tissues if necessary, then runs away from pitchforks and angry readers*
Beta: causticaria
Pairing: Yunho/Jaejoong
Rating: NC-17
Genre: Romance, Drama, Angst, Fantasy
Summary: Despite the unforgiving circumstances and the harsh frost, their love would bloom.
He was an offering.
Jaejoong shivered in the cold, and he wished desperately to clothe himself. He knew that people were outside the tent, and they would no doubt be waiting for the signal to know that the offering had been accepted.
If it was not, then he would get beheaded for failing.
His eyes were cast in the direction of the tent’s flap, and he waited for the head of the unit to take him. Jaejoong’s eyes screwed shut, and he tried not to think about the pain he was going to endure.
He would be raped for the sake of the cowardly council members that had so willingly offered him in a desperate plea for peace. More than anything, he just wanted to cry. He had never believed that his own family and people would be so willing to get rid of him.
The flap opened, and a tall man stepped through.
He stared at Jaejoong’s naked body for a few seconds before he took a step back and made his way to leave the tent.
“Wait!” Jaejoong pleaded. He stood up and looked at the man imploringly, “Please.”
The man blinked at him before he shook his head. He took a large covering made of fur off the ground and wrapped it around Jaejoong’s body, “I am sorry, but I cannot accept this. I do not want your body -“
“They’ll behead me if you return me,” Jaejoong whispered softly, “You know that they wait outside for you to…”
“I am a soldier, not a rapist.”
Jaejoong let the fur drop, and he exposed his body once more. His hands were shaking slightly, and he mustered his strength to reply, “It is not rape, I have willingly offered myself for my people -“
“So why are there rope burn markings around your wrists?” The soldier questioned as he took a step closer and examined the burns, “If you came here willingly, then tell me why you are injured.”
Jaejoong was silent, and his eyes fell to the ground.
“I thought so,” the man said as soon as it was clear that Jaejoong had nothing left to say to him. He looked around, “You said that there are people here?”
Jaejoong nodded, “They wait to make sure that you…”
“If I do not bed you, then you shall be beheaded?” the soldier questioned as he moved away from Jaejoong and began to remove the scabbard at his waist. He glanced at Jaejoong for affirmation, and the latter nodded.
The taller man heaved a sigh and took off his shirt, “Lie down on the fur.”
Jaejoong complied, and his eyes screwed shut as he waited for the man to come over and take him. He felt the other man’s weight press down against his body and callused fingers brushed across his face.
“Have you been kissed before?” the soldier questioned, his breath ghosting against Jaejoong’s face.
His answer was silence, and the soldier sighed softly before he stroked back Jaejoong’s hair gently. He pressed a soft kiss behind the smaller man’s ear and touched him as gently as possible.
“I want you to be loud,” the man explained as he tugged at Jaejoong’s earlobe with his teeth, “Do not feel ashamed. You do this for your own life. I will treat you kindly, and all I ask for you is to be loud.”
“What -“
Before Jaejoong could say anything, the man had already began to bite at his neck. A loud gasp of surprise escaped his lips, and he started to moan as soon as the other began to draw the skin of his neck into his mouth, biting and sucking roughly.
He buried his hands in the other man’s hair, and Jaejoong moaned loudly as the man continued to roughen his actions. His hips bucked upwards, and he didn’t fail to groan as the other man bucked against him.
The soldier’s mouth moved towards his, and he looked at Jaejoong kindly before he gently placed his mouth over his. Jaejoong fidgeted hesitantly, but after a few seconds, he surrendered and allowed the man to slip his tongue in his mouth.
It was pleasurable, to say the least, and Jaejoong greatly appreciated the other man’s gentle touches and kindness. His heart pounded in his chest, and he made sure to be as loud as possible. He squirmed underneath the heavier man, but he did nothing to fight him off.
He was aroused by their actions, and Jaejoong was quite sure that the hardness he felt proved that the other man was aroused as well. Their erections bumped through the fabric of the other man’s pants as the soldier continued to ravage his mouth, and he let out a whimper. The soldier looked down at him and whispered, “Are you close?”
“I…” he trailed off and bit his lip, “Don’t make it hurt.”
The soldier shook his head, “Just trust me,” he murmured as he slowly moved his hands and began to kiss Jaejoong once more. Jaejoong’s eyes fluttered shut, and the man whispered, “Just focus on the pleasure, and don’t forget what I told you earlier.”
The man intensified his kisses, wrapping his tongue around Jaejoong’s and kissing the other man in such pleasurable ways. Jaejoong felt himself close to his almost foreign feeling of release, and he moaned as the other man returned to sucking and biting his neck.
He clawed at the other man’s back and he instinctively wrapped his legs around the other man, grinding against him as he sought his release. His body gave into the sensual touches, and as soon as the soldier bit into his neck in a particularly rough manner, Jaejoong came.
“I think that should be enough,” the soldier whispered. He pulled his body off Jaejoong’s and reached over to get a damp cloth. He gently cleaned Jaejoong, and when he looked up, he was surprised to see Jaejoong’s eyes on him.
“What about you?” Jaejoong asked. He glanced at the tented fabric of the other man’s clothes and bit his lip, “Surely that is not pleasurable for you -“
“I’ll take care of it myself,” the man murmured as he pointed at the bed made of furs. “If you would look away…”
Jaejoong blushed profusely and immediately turned away. He bit his lip hard, and he tried to pretend like the soldier’s moans did not affect him. He screwed his eyes shut and breathed heavily, blocking everything out.
As soon as the older man was done, he walked over to Jaejoong and knelt beside him.
“I think they are all gone now.”
Jaejoong looked up at him, “What happens to me now?”
“I cannot return you here…” the soldier sighed, “It seems like you will be forced to keep my company for a bit longer until I find some new place for you. Do you wish to return to your village?”
Jaejoong fell silent, and the other man took that as a no. He fidgeted in the cold, and he pulled the furs over to cover his naked body. He looked up at the man with curious eyes and noticed the scar on his left cheek.
“Are you hungry?”
He tore his eyes away and bit his lip, “A bit,” he cleared his throat awkwardly and blushed, “What is your name?”
“You may call me Yunho,” the soldier said as he drew away from Jaejoong to reach into a pile of clothes and pull several pieces out for his new ward. He placed them down in front of him and knelt down, “I suggest you don’t leave this tent without me. You are a very…beautiful person, and it is not often that my men get to share their bed with someone else. I would not want anything to happen to you.”
Jaejoong nodded, and he reached out for the clothes, “Thank you.”
Yunho stared at him with his foreign eyes for a few more seconds before he nodded and left Jaejoong alone in the tent.
It was cold and sad to be alone, but as Jaejoong rested his head onto the furs to sleep, he supposed that he was in much better hands than he’d ever expected to be in.
o-o-o
“Do you do this every night?”
Jaejoong jerked upwards in surprise, and he bit his lip hard. Yunho’s eyes met his eyes in the darkness, penetrating through the cover of the shadows and staring at him with an intensity that he’d never seen before.
He remained still in the makeshift bed that Yunho had provided for him and nodded slowly. After all, the least he could do was offer Yunho some honesty about the whole situation - how he’d developed a problem with sleeping, and how he’d pass the time by simply watching the other man sleep.
Yunho sat up, and Jaejoong bit his lip harder as Yunho left his bed and walked over to him. He sat down in front of Jaejoong and fixed the furs around him, tending to him gently and protecting him from the harsh cold.
“If I may ask…”
Jaejoong tilted his head to the side, “Yes?”
“Why were you offered to me?” Yunho asked as he continued to tend to Jaejoong like one would do for a child, “Of all the people in your country, why were you the one selected?”
“I…was about to become oracle,” Jaejoong explained softly as Yunho paused his actions to look at Jaejoong. “My country is not…not quite religious, but we have our beliefs in nature and the future.”
“I know of that,” the other man replied as he sat down across Jaejoong, “If you were to become oracle, then why…”
“When times are desperate, people need action over words,” Jaejoong answered with a bitter smile, “I told the council that although there was bloodshed on the horizon, patience would avoid it, but they…they did not listen to me and chose to listen to rumors from neighboring nations.”
“Rumors about me?”
Jaejoong nodded, “Yes. Eventually the council came to the decision that if they offered a sacrifice to you, perhaps the plans on completing the conquest of our city would be delayed.”
“But why you?”
“I was the only one that had the courage to tell them that the idea of a sacrifice was unnecessary and stupid. I was the only oracle with the courage to fight back, and so they sent me - my family had no objections.”
Yunho’s jaw tightened, and he looked furious in the faint light of the tent, “They are wicked men, and you did not deserve to be -“
“You’re too nice,” Jaejoong whispered softly in an attempt to calm Yunho’s temper, “I find it hard to believe that you are truly the feared military commander of the West.”
A smile quirked at Yunho’s lips, and he raised his eyes to meet Jaejoong, “Well, it is best that my enemies think me to be fierce and threatening, isn’t it? I wouldn’t want to be thought of as weak.”
“You’re not weak…” Jaejoong said fondly as Yunho tended to him and offered him some water, “You are kind hearted, strong, and patient. I am sure that is why you succeed in your endeavors.”
Yunho chuckled, “You should tell my men that.” He laughed and tucked back a strand of Jaejoong’s hair in a breezy manner, “It would be nice for them to actually believe me to be anything but the strict commander that I am. Now, let’s see if I can get you to sleep.”
Jaejoong allowed Yunho to gently push him down, and the feeling of having Yunho nearly on top of him brought back memories of the night they’d first met. He shivered in pleasure, and as soon as Yunho settled beside him, his heart pounded quickly in his chest.
Yunho’s callused fingers gently brushed back a strand of hair, and as soon as it settled on his cheek, Jaejoong glanced over at Yunho, who was smiling at him through the darkness, “Go to sleep. Rest your mind.”
His words were simple, but as soon as Jaejoong’s eyes fluttered shut, he found himself drifting off into a peaceful slumber.
o-o-o
He’d lost track of time, but Jaejoong assumed that it’d been at least two months since he’d started living in Yunho’s tent. It was lonely during the mornings because all he did was sleep due to Yunho’s absence, but the nights more than made up for the terrible mornings.
Because at night, Yunho would keep him company.
He was gentler than Jaejoong had thought he would be. He was nothing like the ruthless military commander that he had heard of, and his heart fluttered each time Yunho would look at him.
It was not difficult for him to grow a soft spot for Yunho - after all, no one had been as kind to him before in his many years of existence. He’d never felt accepted in his own family, and he found it easy to bask in the warmth of Yunho’s small showered bits of affection.
“Your hair’s getting long,” Yunho mused one night as he poured over a map that was much too complicated for Jaejoong to understand. He sat down and rested his chin on his palm, “Would you like me to cut it?”
“I like it right now,” Jaejoong said in reply. He raised his head to look at Yunho and smiled radiantly, “Perhaps another time?”
Yunho nodded and looked at his map again. Jaejoong glanced down at his hands and raised his knees to his chest. He looked at Yunho again, and the other man looked back at him in amusement.
“Is something the matter?”
“Not really,” Jaejoong replied as he rested his chin on his knees. “Will you be moving camp soon? I did not think you would be residing here for much longer.”
Yunho turned his eyes back to his map, “We are still planning our best movement out of this territory. The weather is quite difficult to deal with here. It is much colder and harsher than I had expected.”
Jaejoong stood up and walked over to where Yunho was. He noticed that Yunho was dressed lightly, “You say that, yet you are still dressed so lightly.” He wrapped his arms around Yunho and buried his face into his back.
Yunho was still, and he said nothing for a few seconds, “What are you doing?”
“I’m keeping you warm,” Jaejoong mumbled softly as Yunho turned around to lift his chin up. He looked up at Yunho, “I think…I think you cannot be blind to how I feel towards you at this moment.”
“You need not repay my generosity through physical means,” Yunho said slowly as he looked into Jaejoong’s eyes for an answer, “It has been my pleasure to have kept your company and to have saved your life.”
“I wish to be your lover,” Jaejoong confessed, the words tumbling out of his mouth before he could hold himself back and try to make use of flowery speech which would conceal his desires. His cheeks turned scarlet, and he looked down at the ground, “A person has not warmed your heart or your bed since I have kept you company. I wish to do that for you so that you may not leave me behind.”
Yunho removed Jaejoong’s hands from his waist and gently tilted his chin up to press a soft kiss to his lips, “I wouldn’t leave you behind,” he murmured as his hands moved down to Jaejoong’s waist only to work up underneath his shirt and caress Jaejoong’s soft skin, “Not when I’ve come to love you so. You do not know how much my heart soars when I see you look at me every time I return to you.”
Jaejoong blushed and pulled at Yunho’s pants, “You have not touched me since our first meeting,” he drawled suggestively as he leaned closer to Yunho and pressed their lower bodies together, “As…the situation has changed, I offer myself to you willingly and lovingly now. Do you accept?”
Yunho’s answer came in the form of him taking Jaejoong into his arms and unceremoniously dumping him onto the makeshift bed made of furs. He pinned Jaejoong down and began to ravage his mouth, sucking his tongue into his and exploring every inch of the other’s mouth.
His kisses were filled with such feral want and underlying desire that Jaejoong felt himself weaken in Yunho’s grip. Although he’d always been gentle to him, he very much enjoyed the lack of propriety Yunho was displaying.
His clothes were pulled off unceremoniously, and Jaejoong mewled appreciatively as Yunho took a nipple into his mouth. He carded his fingers through Yunho’s hair and fisted the locks as Yunho bit him, and he let out a loud whine as soon as he felt rough fingers wrap around his aching cock.
He rocked loudly and wantonly against Yunho, purring against him encouragingly as he stripped Yunho of his own shirt. Jaejoong helped Yunho remove the last of his clothes, and as soon as they were both fully naked, Yunho pulled away.
“On your knees,” he ordered, huskily as he pulled away from Jaejoong.
Jaejoong looked at him in surprise, and he slowly sat up before he moved onto his knees. He felt himself harden from the way Yunho was staring at him intensely, and he wanted nothing more but for Yunho to touch him again.
After seconds spent achingly alone, Yunho moved to him and molded his body over Jaejoong’s. Jaejoong let out a whimper as he felt Yunho’s hard cock press against him, and he bucked against Yunho.
Yunho began to suck and bite at spot on his neck, and Jaejoong whimpered. He moaned softly, “Yunho, I -“
Before another word could be said, a slick finger coated with pleasant smelling oil pushed through his tight entrance. Jaejoong grasped the furs tightly, and he let out a pained moan. He breathed heavily, and Yunho left gentle kisses on his back.
Yunho soon added more fingers, and Jaejoong could hardly hold himself up. The pain was gradually fading away, and he only felt immense pleasure as Yunho prepared him for something larger.
Jaejoong let out a gasp as soon as he felt Yunho’s tongue run up the length of his erection, and his knees weakened. His eyes screwed shut, and he let out a pleading whine as Yunho sucked briefly at the tip.
“Did you like that?” Yunho questioned as he gripped Jaejoong’s cock and began to pump it slowly, “Did you?” he pressed, his voice husky and teasing. He played with the tip of Jaejoong’s erection, “Tell me. You do know I love your voice.”
“Yes,” Jaejoong mumbled into his arm, his face heating up with embarrassment and hidden excitement.
Yunho pushed Jaejoong onto his back, and his dark eyes studied Jaejoong, “You must tell me louder,” he lowered his head and took the tip of Jaejoong’s cock into his mouth, sucking only just a bit before he pulled his head away, “Tell me now.”
“Please continue,” Jaejoong pleaded softly, “Please. I like it. I like it so much, please, don’t stop -“
He broke off into a moan due to Yunho completely enveloping his erection into his mouth. The wet warmth made him forget everything else, and he moaned unabashedly, his hands looking for something to grip onto before he eventually decided to grip onto Yunho’s hair.
His moans filled the room, and he squirmed as Yunho’s tongue wrapped around him, licked him, and pulled him deeper into his mouth. Yunho’s hands kept him firmly onto the floor, and just as he felt himself nearing release, Yunho drew away.
“Knees,” Yunho urged, and Jaejoong felt his eyes widen when he noticed Yunho’s large cock in the darkness. He felt a large thrill of desire, and when he looked down and noticed a large amount of liquid leak onto the fur from his erection, he gripped the furs tighter.
Jaejoong let out a shaky breath, and Yunho left gentle kisses on his back as his hands moved southwards. He tightened his hold on the coverings, and Jaejoong felt his heart beat faster.
“Be gentle,” he pleaded nervously, “Please.”
Yunho said nothing, and just as Jaejoong was about to repeat his plea, Yunho entered him slowly. Jaejoong’s knees weakened at the feeling, and he cried out at the pain that he felt as Yunho began to push into him deeper.
It hurt, and tears pooled at the corners of his eyes as Yunho began to push impossibly further into him. He did not complain, and as soon as Yunho was buried completely to the hilt, he let out a loud groan.
“I cannot promise to be gentle,” Yunho hissed as he slowly began to pull out before thrusting in Jaejoong, going at a leisurely pace, “I do not make promises I have no intention of keeping. I promise to make you feel good.”
Jaejoong let out a shaky breath as Yunho began to thrust in and out, and he noticed that the pain was gradually diminishing with each thrust. He pushed back against Yunho, and Yunho grunted slightly.
“I take that as permission to go faster?”
“Yes.”
Yunho gripped Jaejoong’s waist tightly, and he began to rock faster into Jaejoong. He pounded into him rougher and faster as seconds flew by, and Jaejoong mewled underneath him, the pleasure almost too much to bear. His eyes were scrunched shut, and he could barely catch his breath.
“I can’t, Yunho,” Jaejoong groaned as he felt his limbs weaken. Yunho paused and drew back momentarily, setting Jaejoong onto his back before he resumed their activities. He thrust hard into Jaejoong and reached forward to lick at a nipple before biting it.
Jaejoong arched his back, and the burning sensation caused by his back rubbing against the furs was forgotten as Yunho pounded into him. He moaned loudly and wildly until Yunho moved up and ravaged his mouth, dominating him and sending even more pleasure throughout his body.
“Faster, please, faster!” Jaejoong begged, the words spilling out of his mouth wantonly.
He could soon feel a familiar tightness, and as Yunho continued to thrust into the spot in his body that made him wildly lose control, he knew he was going to come soon. Jaejoong buried his nails into Yunho’s tanned back, and came all over between their bodies, coating them both with his release.
Yunho was still unsatisfied, and Jaejoong mewled as Yunho continued to thrust into him roughly until he found his own release moments later. The scent of sex flooded the room, and the cold was completely forgotten due to the warmth of their entangled bodies.
Jaejoong let out a content sigh, and Yunho kissed him gently on the lips. He smiled happily against Yunho’s kiss, but as soon as he’d pulled Yunho down to deepen their kiss, someone slipped into the tent.
His eyes met Jaejoong’s and widened in surprise, and Jaejoong blushed in embarrassment before he pulled Yunho’s body down in order to bury his face into the other’s chest.
Yunho moved, and it was only then that Jaejoong realized that Yunho was still inside of him. His blush darkened, and his grip only tightened, his finger nails digging into Yunho’s tanned skin.
“Perhaps it is better for me to come at another time,” the man spoke, a hint of amusement in his voice.
“Yes, that would be best.”
The person exited, and Yunho laughed, “There’s no need to be embarrassed,” he whispered, “You are my lover now, it is only normal for -“
“He saw us naked!”
Yunho raised an eyebrow and gently pulled out of Jaejoong. He laughed and slowly moved to pick up his pants, “How would you suggest that I make love to you next time? It would make things difficult for us if both of us were to remain clothed -“
Jaejoong pouted, “You are mocking me.”
“No, I am only teasing,” Yunho replied as he pulled his pants on and smiled down at Jaejoong, “You are a beauty with an interesting mind. It amuses me to know that one could act like such an innocent person when your behavior was anything but innocent only moments prior.”
Jaejoong sat up and pulled the furs up to cover his body, “You are wicked,” he muttered irritably, “I did no such -“
“I do not think encouraging me to thrust into you faster would be considered as innocent, nor would the way you moaned when I -“
Jaejoong glared, “Wicked man.”
“I never said I wasn’t,” Yunho said gently as he moved to Jaejoong and stole a kiss off his lips, “I shall speak to Yoochun and then I shall return to you. Will you stay awake and wait for me?”
“I’m tired,” Jaejoong muttered as he buried himself into the bed and fluttered his eyes at Yunho, “I cannot promise you anything. I am tired.”
“But I am also tired,” Yunho whispered gently and teasingly as he traced spirals onto Jaejoong’s pale skin. His callused hand settled at Jaejoong’s waist, and he leaned down to whisper into his lover’s ear, “I am so very tired.”
“If you are so tired, then you should remain with me in bed and not leave me alone in this cold.”
Yunho chuckled and drew the covers over the bodies, “Then I shall not leave you,” he murmured before he placed his arm over Jaejoong’s frame and pulled him close, eventually settling his head into the crook of Jaejoong’s neck before they both drifted off to sleep.
o-o-o
“I think…you may leave the tent with me now,” Yunho said as he dressed himself for the coming day, “It is for the best that you see the camp properly, and I do not wish to keep you trapped in my tent for much longer.”
Jaejoong shot Yunho a small smile, “Is that so?”
“Yes, that is so,” Yunho replied before he pulled Jaejoong out of the tent and began to lead him past his men. He introduced a few of them to Jaejoong - his secondary commanders, Yoochun and Changmin, as well as others, but most of them were a blur of faces to Jaejoong.
All he could truly was enjoy was Yunho’s presence.
They spent the day together, and as soon as the sun was about to set, Yunho led Jaejoong away from the camp and brought him to a frozen lake. They walked in silence, and it was only when they were inches away from the lake’s edges that Yunho finally spoke.
“I received word that my country and your country have signed a peace treaty,” Yunho murmured as he crossed his arms and studied the frozen depths of the lake in front of them, “I shall be leaving soon - my work here is done.”
“What was your work exactly? You did not fight, and while I am glad of that, I am wondering why your presence was needed in a battle that was never fought.”
Yunho glanced at Jaejoong, “Wars are not all about bloodshed. There are battles that take place in the psyche, and I was assigned here to ensure that the army of your country did not misbehave.”
“What army? We are people not made for fighting,” Jaejoong murmured as he leaned in closer to Yunho for warmth, “We are about as harmful in war as a child with a sword made of grass.”
Yunho chuckled, “You put them down so harshly.”
“I know of men that control armies, and I know they are terrible creatures,” Jaejoong spat as he glared at the snow, “They offer people like animals and -“
“You do realize that I am one of those men that control armies, correct?”
Jaejoong glanced at Yunho, “Yes, I do recognize that fact, but you are not like them, and I have…I have heard that the present king of your country has desires to appoint you as his heir.”
“That…that may be true,” Yunho said as the wind blew past, “Our system is different from yours after all. Kings are appointed by choice and not by birth.” He sighed calmly and looked at Jaejoong, “What would you do if I were to be chosen as my king’s heir?”
“I suppose I would have to follow you. There is nowhere I would rather be than at your side.”
“You have no home?”
Jaejoong shook his head, “The moment a child is chosen as a candidate to be the oracle, he or she lives a life of seclusion from most people and is only allowed visits from family. As the youngest child of nine, my parents were happy to see me go so that they would not have to pay the costs of caring for me.”
“Well then, I would be glad enough to be considered as your home,” Yunho said as he drew Jaejoong into his arms and kissed his cheek, “What’s mine is yours, and if I were to be king, then you would be my queen.”
The shorter man snorted and elbowed the other man lightly, “The cold has gotten to your head. One cannot make a man a queen.”
“Yes, but he can love another man like one and cherish him like one,” Yunho insisted as he tugged at Jaejoong and refused to let him leave his side, “My people are not like yours, they are less judging and relationships like ours are almost the norm. What is the point of titles anyway? You shall stay at my side.”
“Your optimism and devotion is unusual.”
“I am a loyal man.”
Jaejoong was silent and studied Yunho for a few seconds before he leaned up to kiss him gently, “Yes, you are. You are also possibly the finest man I have ever met.”
Yunho chuckled lowly and brushed Jaejoong’s collarbone with his thumb, “I should not worry about anyone coming to reclaim you, should I?”
“They will not come for me,” Jaejoong murmured as he leaned into Yunho and shut his eyes while the other man left light kisses upon the skin of his neck, “I am not wanted, and I am an outcast to them by now.”
“Good,” Yunho muttered as he pulled Jaejoong closer, “Because I do not think that I would be able to let you go. Now let’s go back to the camp - it is cold, and your skin is freezing.”
Jaejoong murmured a reply against Yunho’s lips, “Keep me warm.”
Yunho growled and lifted Jaejoong off the snow, “Gladly.”
o-o-o
The sound of movement caused Jaejoong to wake up from his slumber. He moved drowsily, but as he caught sight of the flap of the moving, Jaejoong sat up and noticed Yunho’s presence slipping out of the tent. He pushed aside the furs and got out of bed so that he could carefully follow Yunho to wherever he was going.
He made his way thought the darkness and followed the sound of the voices he could hear. It was easy enough for him to make his way through because almost everyone was asleep, but as he neared the origin of the noise, he became more wary of his surroundings and made sure to move slower and quieter. He paused as soon as he caught sight of Yunho’s silhouette and pressed his body closely against the nearby tent frame.
“What are your men doing here?” Yunho asked as he stepped closer to the cloaked party.
The man at the front of the group pulled back his hood and Jaejoong gasped softly as soon as he recognized the person to be Seunghyun - one of the few people that had been against his offering to Yunho.
“We are here to reclaim Jaejoong.”
“What? I think that is more than just a bold request to make,” Yunho argued, “It was your people that offered Jaejoong to me -“
“It was a mistake, a move of desperation that our people made in a time of crisis. Now that the situation has changed due to the peace treaty between our nations, Jaejoong must be returned.”
“I refuse.”
Seunghyun stood up straighter, and he took a step forward, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword in an aggressive stance, “I do not think that you would be so foolish as to ignore a peace treaty.”
“The treaty told us to return prisoners of war, since we have kept none -“
“Jaejoong, he is a prisoner of war.”
“You cannot call him that when he stays of his own volition!” Yunho argued, his hand at his sword immediately, “Why would he return to your people, the same ones who offered him to me heartlessly?”
Jaejoong decided to come out of hiding, and as soon as he was seen, Seunghyun moved to approach him, but Yunho stepped in his path. “You would do well to remember that this is our territory, and not yours.”
“This land belongs to our people, and you all are merely trespassers -“
“Stop fighting,” Jaejoong demanded as he moved over to his place at Yunho’s side. He felt Seunghyun’s judging gaze on him and glanced away briefly before he dared to meet the older man’s gaze, “I did not think our people required me any longer.”
Seunghyun let go of his sword, and he shook his head, “The decision to send you here was a grave mistake, and the council have only just realized that now. You know that I argued against what happened to you -“
“Argued and failed -“
Jaejoong glared at Yunho and sighed, “He has accepted me into his camp, and he has offered to -“
“Keep you as a whore?” Seunghyun spat, “You shouldn’t lower yourself to that position, can you remember what kind of life you had before? You were about to become oracle, and -“
Before Seunghyun could finish his sentence, Yunho launched himself at him and began to attack him. All of the men rushed to the scene, and Yunho was quickly pulled off Seunghyun, who bled onto the pristine white snow.
“I will behead you myself if you step back onto this camp!” Yunho shouted as he broke free from Yoochun and Changmin’s grasp. He reached for his sword and drew it out of its scabbard, “Do not dare insult my honor and call my lover a whore!”
Seunghyun reached for his own sword, but before he could come any closer, Jaejoong stepped between them and held his hands out. He turned to Yunho, “I…I appreciate what you’ve said for me, but I must speak to him.”
Before Yunho could protest, Jaejoong led Seunghyun away from the area and ignored Yunho’s shouts for him to stay.
o-o-o
As soon as they were in a clearing by the frozen lake, Jaejoong turned to Seunghyun and crossed his arms, “They wish me to return? After the council had abandoned our traditions due to their cowardice, I did not think they would have any use for me.”
“Of the nine oracle candidates, four have died due to sickness and the other four have been proven to be unworthy and false. You are the only one left to succeed the position since the current oracle is dying.”
Jaejoong held Seunghyun’s gaze and talked calmly, “What is required of an oracle is purity of both mind and body. I am the general’s lover, and I am no longer a virgin.”
Seunghyun’s jaw stiffened, and he glanced at the men that stood a distance away from the two of them. He exhaled and turned his attention back to Jaejoong, “The council said they would be willing to instate you despite your…deficiency.”
“I do not think I can return to those that have betrayed me -“
“Your efforts have proven to be fruitful. If we had not offered you to that monster, who knows what could have occurred. You have distracted his attention, and it was because of his inaction that the peace treaty was signed in time to avoid any pillaging or ransacking of our lands.”
Jaejoong narrowed his eyes, “He is a good man, and he does not act like a monster. While he is indeed a soldier, that does not mean he is a savage.”
“Your heart is soft for him.”
“It is…I love him,” Jaejoong replied softly, “I cannot return to our people. I am willing to give up my previous life for a future with him. He provides me with more than I could ever ask for from another person, and -“
Seunghyun leaned back and studied Jaejoong. He crossed his arms and tilted his head to the side, “So, for your own profit, you would be willing for more than a hundred years’ worth of tradition to die? Are you willing to abandon all of your people?”
“They have -“
“No Jaejoong, only the selfish men on the council and the power hungry members of your family have abandoned you. What about the peasants who turn to the oracle’s readings for help in their daily lives? What shall happen to them? Who shall tell the farmers when to start their planting, and who shall advise the healing of the sick? Are you willing to abandon thousands because of what the few did to you?”
Jaejoong stood still, and he swallowed hard, “I love him.”
“You were not meant for that life,” Seunghyun replied harshly, “Your vow was to dedicate your life for the people. Are you willing to abandon all those that turn to you for help and guidance just for that one man?”
They stared at each other in silence, and Seunghyun called over his men before he turned back to Jaejoong.
“You have two days to make your decision. I will return at sunset on the second day.”
He turned away, and Jaejoong stood alone in the snow as he watched them leave. As soon as they were gone, he fell to his knees and buried his face in his hands. The chill of winter wrapped around his body and bit at his skin, freezing him to the core.
Duty called for him.
o-o-o
The moment he was inside the tent, Jaejoong knew Yunho was angry with him. He walked to Yunho slowly and just as he was about to kneel down next to him, Yunho sat up and stared down at him.
“You disobeyed me.”
“You do not own me.”
“I could have.”
“I would not love you if you treated me like an object.” A tense silence fell between them, and Yunho sharply turned to move away from Jaejoong. Jaejoong watched him silently, and he waited for Yunho to speak what was on his mind.
“What did you two talk about?”
“We discussed my circumstances, and Seunghyun made me an offer to return back to my people and serve them as their oracle.”
Yunho laughed bitterly, “Their oracle? Is that what you want? If you wish to be revered and loved Jaejoong, I do not understand why I am not enough for you.” He strode to Jaejoong and cupped his face roughly, “Your people abandoned you and left you to what could’ve been a most terrible fate. Are they truly worth returning to?”
Despite Yunho’s fury, Jaejoong remained calm and gently placed his hands over Yunho’s. He exhaled slowly and stroked Yunho’s cheek, “Your temper and jealousy are overwhelming.”
“Your calm is unnerving.”
Jaejoong breathed out calmly and looked up at Yunho, “I…I wish to look at your future.” He held onto Yunho’s wrist and grazed the skin with his thumb, “It shall help me determine my next decision.”
“I do not believe in omens and tricks.”
“Yunho, I -“
Jaejoong froze, and while his mind was awake, it was almost like he’d completely lost all control of his body. He could hear Yunho shouting and speaking to him, but he could not reply.
Blurred pictures raced through his mind, and they were all of Yunho. He could barely make out pictures of victory and glory, and as the pictures moved faster in his mind, it eventually settled to an image of Yunho standing with a shadow of a person next to him, the two turned to one another, and Yunho smiled lovingly.
The vision ended immediately, and Jaejoong jerked back from Yunho. He exhaled anxiously and pushed away Yunho’s attempts at comforting him. While his heart tried to convince himself that the person Yunho had smiled at had been him, Jaejoong’s mind knew better.
The last thing he’d thought of before the vision was the possibility of leaving Yunho, and he’d been provided an answer.
Without him, Yunho would still be able to achieve everything he’d ever desired, and he would be able to find a love to replace him as well.
“Jaejoong, what did you see?” Yunho questioned as he finally reached forward and shook Jaejoong’s shoulders, “Jaejoong!”
Jaejoong fell into Yunho’s arms, unconscious and barely breathing.
o-o-o
When Jaejoong woke up, he was alone in the tent. He sat up and breathed out uneasily. He had not had any dreams, and he presumed it was because of his vision. He did not know what day it was or how much time had passed, but his heart immediately sought out Yunho.
They did not have much time left together.
Jaejoong stood up shakily and as soon as he was on his feet, Yunho came into the room looking tired and uneasy.
“I have asked the most superstitious of my men, and they have all come to the conclusion that you had a vision of the future,” Yunho said as he approached Jaejoong cautiously.
“It is true,” Jaejoong replied as he allowed himself to be pulled closer to Yunho, “I have seen what is to happen to you in the future.”
Yunho shut his eyes tiredly before he opened them and studied Jaejoong, “And what do you know of your own future?”
“I can’t read my own future, I don’t know what will happen to me -” Jaejoong murmured sadly as he pulled away from Yunho’s grip.
Yunho took hold of his hand, “But you determine it.”
He brought Jaejoong close and cupped his face gently, “I do not care for visions. Do not leave me. The peace treaty has been signed, and I cannot stay for much longer -“
“You will find love again in the future,” Jaejoong whispered softly as he placed his hands over Yunho’s and slowly removed them, “You will love again.”
“Don’t do this to me! I do not care if you are an oracle or what you supposedly see! This is our life Jaejoong, and you are talking about my heart! Do not promise me that I will love again, and do not try to push me away with such words -“
“Do you think that I wish to part from you?” Jaejoong cried, withdrawing from Yunho completely, “Do you think that leaving you will be easy for me? I do this not for myself, but for a culture that has existed longer than our love ever has and for the benefit of my people -“
Yunho shut his eyes and moved away from Jaejoong. He withdrew to the other side of the tent, and he let out a shuddering breath, “You leave at sunset with them while our army moves for the West.”
“I know.”
“We head to a city, and I have been charged to make sure that it is conquered. Perhaps I shall not live to see that happen but know that I shall think of you.”
Jaejoong shook his head and let out a breath, “No, I have seen and read the signs presented to me, and they have pointed to your success and glory.” He took a step closer to Yunho but maintained their distance, “You will become even greater than you are now.”
“Your words do nothing to bring me comfort,” Yunho spoke coldly before he picked up his fur cloak and draped it around his body, “But…I cannot have our last hours together spent in tension.”
They stared at each other with looks filled with sadness and longing, both of them resigned to the fate that had been presented.
Jaejoong approached Yunho and slowly untied his cloak before he pushed it off of his shoulders. He rested his palms on Yunho’s chest, and he looked up at his candle lit face, “Do not worry for me, breathe.”
Yunho’s eyes fell shut, and Jaejoong kissed his jaw tenderly before he worked on removing the rest of Yunho’s clothes. He slipped off the layers of fabric carefully and slowly, and it was not long before he had Yunho lay down so that he could crawl over him.
Jaejoong ran his hands through Yunho’s hair, and he kissed his brow, “I will miss you,” he whispered as he placed his hand over Yunho’s heart, “I will miss you so much.”
“Don’t leave,” Yunho pleaded, his eyes finally open. He pinned Jaejoong onto the bed of furs and slowly began to work on divesting him of his clothing, “They will not love you as much as I do, and they will not care for you as well as I do.”
“I don’t do this for myself Yunho,” Jaejoong replied as Yunho removed the last of his clothing and looked at him, “I do this for my nation, and I do this for their future.”
“And what of our future?”
Jaejoong bit his lip and looked up at Yunho with teary eyes, “It was not meant to be,” he choked out, tears slipping past his eyes and rolling down his cheeks, “We have duties and roles that we are meant to fill. We will always have our past and can only make the most of what is left of our present.”
Yunho fell silent and wiped away Jaejoong’s tears gently with his hand. He said nothing for a few minutes, simply touching Jaejoong and kissing him softly, until he finally drew away and tilted Jaejoong’s chin up.
“I love you.”
Jaejoong felt himself tear up again, and he smiled back sadly at Yunho, “I love you too,” he whispered, before he pulled Yunho down so that they could kiss and consummate their passion for one last night.
o-o-o
The air was especially cold the following morning, and Jaejoong shivered as he exited Yunho’s tent and began to make his way to where he would be meeting Seunghyun and the rest of his party.
He could feel the eyes of Yunho’s men upon him, and when he noticed Yoochun staring at him worriedly, he forced a smile and continued to make his way forward. Yunho was a few steps behind him, and as soon as they reached the edge of camp, Jaejoong’s heart pounded painfully in his chest.
Before he could take a step closer to Seunghyun, Yunho pulled him close and drew him to his chest. Jaejoong cried out softly and grasped onto Yunho tightly, wishing to never let him go.
The harsh winds blew against them, and Jaejoong knew that their time together was over - the beloved spring of their love was gone, and winter had arrived.
There was nothing left for their love to grow on.
He pulled away with teary eyes, and he let Seunghyun pull him away. Jaejoong followed with heavy footsteps, and just as the pain in his chest had become too unbearable to deal with, he turned to look at Yunho.
He was there, regal and handsome in the snow although it looked like his whole world had been destroyed and crushed to pieces. His expression was cold and desolate like the harsh winter.
Jaejoong shot him a weak smile and turned away, the tears flowing down his cheeks.
The only thought that brought comfort in Jaejoong’s heart was that winter would eventually pass - Yunho would one day know spring and love once again.
Author’s Note: …what? This wasn’t depressing. I love you all! XD I hope you all enjoyed this, a product of watching Game of Thrones episodes. Hahaha. :3 *hands tissues if necessary, then runs away from pitchforks and angry readers*