The King's Pet

Chapter 13: Morning After

Hyunjin's P.O.V

"My King..."

"My King."

"My King, wake up..." Makita's soft voice woke me up from the first restful night of sleep I'd had since his disappearance. I hummed contently as I opened my eyes to see him safely in my arms. "My King, you're holding me too tight." He pointed out with his usual politeness. "Can you blame me, Kita? Last time I woke up after a night with you, you were gone." I joked but he didn't laugh which is when I noticed the tears in his eyes. I sat up with him, hugging him immediately. "I'm so sorry for leaving!" He cried, not holding anything back. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that, its okay my Love." I cooed as I rubbed circles on his back but it didn't help much. His crying was worse than when he found out which lead me to connect his disappearance to the sole source of his trauma.

"Makita...did you go back to the South-West Kingdom?" I asked him and he nodded, still crying into my chest. "I...I was so a-angry..." He tried to speak but couldn't make it through his overwhelming sobs. "It's okay, it's okay. Let's go bathe and we can talk about it when you're ready, is that fine?" I suggested, continuing to rub circles into his back and managing to calm him down a little more. He nodded in response and with that I ran the bath for him before running my own.

When we were done we got back into bed at his request. He didn't seem to want to do anything and if I didn't know any better I would've thought he was still upset about finding out about the jester breeding. But I did know better and I knew he'd gone back, that much I could tell, and I was fairly certain he found something out too I just didn't know what exactly. As was my usual, instead of pushing him to tell me what happened, I just cuddled with him and let him cry, waiting for him to open up to me. Though he did take a while to gather himself, he even fell asleep in the midst of his soft sniffling. It wasn't a bother to me, he looked the most peaceful I'd seen him since the day he found out and the mere idea that he was, even though I knew he wasn't, made me feel better.

He was just so adorable and I couldn't get enough as I just watched him sleep. During my admiring him I noticed the subtle changes to his appearance that'd occurred during the near three months he was gone. He had bags under his eyes, no doubt from sleepless nights and days during his journey, a darker shade to his skin from the sunlight, slightly longer hair and a moderately slimmer physique For better or for worse, the trip—and maybe what happened when he made it to the South-West—had definitely taken a toll on him. But it was okay because he was back and I was more than willing to nurse him back to full mental and physical health.

"Ah, I fell asleep?" He questioned softly as he woke up. "I think you needed it, you'd just been living out of a carriage for almost three months and you've been crying all day today." I mentioned and he sighed softly. "Are you really not upset with me? You've been so nice to me despite me leaving without permission." He mumbled, hiding away from me by cuddling into me. "I could never be upset with you and, remember, I don't own you Makita. Yes, I would've preferred it if you told me your plan and took me with you but I'm not upset. I'm relieved if anything, you're back in one piece." I responded, kissing his hair to reassure him.

He stopped hiding and sat up against the head board, making me do the same. He played with his fingers nervously, glaring into his lap silently—probably finding his words. "I stabbed him..." He spoke finally, barely above a whisper and I almost let my shock express itself. "You stabbed Jian?" I asked gently, trying not to make him feel bad. He nodded, still not looking at me. I held his chin and lifted his head gently so he'd look me in the eyes. "Did it feel good?" I asked next and he nodded. I smiled and kissed his cheek. "I'm glad then...is he...?" I wanted to ask but hesitated because I wasn't so sure if it was an appropriate question, thankfully it didn't set him off.

"No, I stabbed him in the thigh. He wasn't taking me seriously so I...did it...to make him answer me truthfully." He began, holding my gaze as he prepared to tell me the story. As he did I couldn't believe his anger had carried him so far out of his usual character but I was so happy that it did. To me, all he was telling me sounded like evidence of self-actualisation, which was all I had wanted for him since the day he came to me. And even though what he did could be considered objectively wrong, I didn't see it that way because I understood.

"Hyunjin...does what I did make me like Jian?" Makita questioned timidly when he'd finished telling me the story. "It makes you better. I'm sure if I was in your shoes I would've been out for more than answers..." I started, thinking about my next words carefully. "Truthfully, I would've killed him and I'm sure that if he was in them, even he would've." I shared, levelling with him completely. "Do you think my parents loved each other...?" He questioned next, looking at me desperately. I felt sorry for him, I really did, he was so deserving of a normal and love-filled life but got one fraught with abuse and trauma instead. If I could've taken all that had happened to him and bare the weight of it all on my own shoulders, I would have in a heartbeat.

"I can't speak to their feelings for each other, but I think if they were alive to raise you, they would've shown you the love and warmth you deserve." I responded and that seemed to console him. "Thank you, Hyunjin." He smiled at me preciously. "Do you want some breakfast?" I asked and he nodded happily, getting out of bed with a new found energy. I was glad to see him doing a better but I could tell all of what he'd just told me wouldn't end with us having breakfast that day.

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