Trouble is the greatest aphrodisiac {Semi-hiatus}

When his ties were cut, he opened his eyes again, forked tongue flicking out to taste the air. water.

He lashed out, darting from the crate and curling around the bowl of water, his webbed feet clinging to the bowl and he stuck his face into the water. He let his body slide through the bowl, spilling most of it but wetting his scales. He hissed quietly. He was too weak to transform and ask for more water so he simply whined and left his nose in the small puddle that was left.

“No! Don...” He shouted when he saw the dragon mostly spill the water instead of drinking it. He sighed and palmed his face shaking his head.

Returning to the kitchen Sho picked up the second bowl, of the same size, and filled it before returning to the cage. Placing the bowl on top of the cage, right above the dragon, in the hopes it would attract it’s attention so he could take the carrier out of the cage before he would put the bowl there. As quickly as he could, he opened the door and took out the carrier and closed the door again. “Okay buddy, I’m going to put the bowl inside, please don’t attack me.” He said, more to reassure himself than knowing that the dragon could understand. 

The wolf was another matter. He was still wild and it was tougher to get it in its travel cage. When both were into their respective cages Sho showed them to the van that he was brought to transport the creature he had thought buying.

He tried to make their journey home as short as possible and when he reached there he moved to the back of the van and picked up a blanket big enough to cover the dragon’s carrier. “I’m sorry big guy but I’ll have to cover you. I don’t want my workers to know what I have at home.” He said as he threw the blanket over it. “And you too.” He said repeating the process towards the wolf’s carrier.

When that was finished he exited through the back door of the van and called out for some workers to take the carriers to his home, warning them to be very careful and not to dare peeking under the blanket.

Once they arrived into his home he indicated a big cage in a corner in the living-room for the workers to leave the bigger crate and the smaller crate he motioned towards his spare room. The furniture there could be destroyed if need be and the windows were bullet prof so there was no way the wolf would be able to escape through there. 

In the arena, Yoongi was coaxed into the holding pen again while the loser’s body was pretty much turned into feed for the other predators in the warehouse. Yoongi’s white fur was covered in crimson and he slipped back into his pen.

“But if you insist, he’s listed at 2.5 million because of his rarity, lifespan or not.”

He opened the blinds in the office, gesturing for Sho to look. “Ah there’s our winner tonight.”

Yoongi was walking back to his pen after having been hosed down. His jaws were tightly muzzled as a precaution as he walked behind his handler with a tug every now and then on the chain.

It was in fact a beautiful creature even if it was now completely soaked and seemed to have diminished in size a little bit. “I’ll take it as well.” He said motioning to the passing beast, but didn’t argue the price of it. 

In the arena, Yoongi was coaxed into the holding pen again while the loser’s body was pretty much turned into feed for the other predators in the warehouse. Yoongi’s white fur was covered in crimson and he slipped back into his pen.

There was a lot of noise. That meant they were provoking the carnivores. They always provoked them before fight night. Yoongi paced the length of his cage, long ears flattened back and a snarl resting on his lips as he waited to be released. The alpha didn’t necessarily dislike fighting but he damn sure didn’t like being forced to do so.

When they came to his cage, he snapped at them, earning him a lash across the back. He didn’t yelp. They didn’t deserve the satisfaction. The cage door was opened and he ran out into the barred tunnel that would lead him to the ring.

Even though he was thin, he was strong and gave no mercy when it came to his own well being. He paced at the edge of the tunnel entrance, waiting to be set free. His opponent tonight was a lynx. He could see the frightened feline on the other side of the arena, being shoved into the circular pen. The horn sounded and Yoongi was darting through the gap before the door was even all the way up.

Cheers from people who were betting on the fights sounded from all around the arena, already stained with blood. The wolf showed no mercy, his snarls echoing as he bit into the Lynx’s back.

—

In the back, Hanseong cowered in fear, the pale blue dragon curled in the back corner of his pen. He was on a chain to keep him from reaching the water bowl which was just out of his grasp. He looked dry and his scales flaked in some places. He panted softly, struggling to stay conscious. Just when he thought he would slip away, a small mist of water would coat his body and he would desperately whine for more only to have it cruelly yanked away from him. He could hear the fighting outside. He was next. He was the bait.

Sho had specific business to conduct with the one responsible with this. So after he announced his presence to one of the guards at the door he was led to the main area and asked to wait there. Not too long after one fight began. It was a wolf against a lynx. How did they get their hands on these kind of animals was Sho’s guess, but even so he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the bloody scene in front of him. The wolf was quick to tear the lynx apart even when the other was slightly bigger than him and that surprised the hitman. 

Soon after he was joined by the boss and after a couple of exchanged words he was guided to the office in the back. On their way there, they passed several cages. Some empty, others filled with all kinds of creatures and animals, but only one had him stop in his tracks. Where his eyes playing tricks on him? He accepted the possibility of creatures that were considered figments of someone’s imagination could be true but never those creatures. Never a dragon. He followed the other when he heard him clear out his throat and quickly they were inside of the other’s office.

When they were left alone, he sighed and lay down, resting his head on Sho’s knee. “I feel like I’ve been beaten and stabbed.” He groaned with a shallow laugh. “Are you okay? Did you get water? I drank yours…” He worried, looking up at him.

He wasn’t sure when, but he fell asleep, resting against Sho. He was jerked awake when they stopped to rest the horses and were given a moment to stretch, though Sho was kept seperate from him during this time.

After they were sent back to the carriage and they were back on the road some water was given to them, it wasn’t much, so Sho decided to give his share of the water to Hoseok in the hopes it would help the younger.

After swallowing a few times, he spoke. “Sire… Not to be crude, but I really gotta take care of something.” He groaned, carefully getting to his feet. He moved to the door and gripped the bars. “Either let me out or I’m pissing on your floor.” He growled. His body ached and he had little patience.

The door was opened and guards escorted them to a washroom. They were able to relieve themselves and Hoseok drank from the tap before splashing his face. His red hair was crusted with blood and sweat and stuck up at odd angles now that the braids were undone.

They were escorted back to the room only to be met with the king once more. Hoseok froze and backtracked, hiding behind Sho. “Your kingdom has fallen, you shall be escorted to the border.” It was all he said and the guards shoved the two prisoners towards the exit where a carriage would be waiting.

"Sure." He said letting go of the other and watching him get up and move to the door. To be honest Sho hadn’t been expected the younger's complaints to come to fruition but it did and it got them a go to the bathroom. When they were back and got face to face with the king, Sho instantly moved in front of Hoseok and put his arm aroundthe other, as a sign of protection.

The news squeezed his heart and his shoulders sagged. So it's done. Everything he knew was no more. He quietly followed the guards. As they guided them outside, Sho made sure Hoseok was very close to him, but the moment they were outside the guards instantly tied his hands and practically shoved him into the carriage and followed after them to make sure they wouldn't jump out before they took them where they wanted them to go. 

“The only regret I have is that I won’t be able to say goodbye to Yoongi and my family.” He smiled a bit sadly. “But you’re alive and I’m alive…. we can only hope for the best now right?” He really wished that they could tend to each other’s injuries but the king would not be that kind to them. Hoseok wrinkled his nose. They both smelled, but he was still glad that they were alive.

"They ran. You said your family ran so maybe you'll be able to find them some day." He said trying to give as much hope as he could to the other. "Right." He replied with a fake smile that he hoped the younger didn't notice it wasn't. 

He rested his head on Sho’s lap, soft sobs shaking his slender frame. His hair was messy, sticking out in odd directions and his blood was everywhere. “Sire I’m sorry…. if not for me being selfish, you wouldn’t lose your kingdom… or perhaps maybe if I wasn’t so weak, we could be rescued…” He untied Sho with some difficulty.

“Very well, but your documents will be destroyed and the two of you exiled. You will never see these lands again. Now…. tell me where every hidden entrance is. If our raid is successful, we will release the two of you on the country’s border.

He trembled slightly, his body betraying his fear. “Tougher than he looks in spirit perhaps, but the flesh is cut just as easily on anyone.”

Another scream ripped from Hoseok as he blade pierced him, no blood flowing due to the searing flesh. He shook violently, his body’s reaction to the pain. “Please…. please let us go. Just let us live in peace.” He choked back a sob, tears dripping from his nose and chin.

The exchange between the two was broken by another pained shriek when a newly heated rod was pressed against Hoseok’s shoulder blades. An angry, bloody burn mark showing on his tanned skin.

His gaze turned gentle when he looked at Hoseok. “Hold on, Hoseok. My father will be coming for us in no time.” He said wanting to instill hope in the younger, even if he didn’t feel it himself. 

It was amazing how his gaze could go from gentle to hard in a blink of an eye. The moment the king spoke, the prince’s gaze changed to him and then to the guard that moved to approach the fire with the sword. “He’s tougher than he looks.” He said raising his chin in a proud gesture, his regal upbringing clearly showing right then. He really was proud of Hoseok, he was the most loyal servant he had. Or more like, he was the most loyal friend he had. 

At the prince’s next outburst, Hoseok’s body tensed in fear. He was willing to stand by his word and die for his people, but having to face it potentially in moments had the young man terrified.

“It looks like your…. servant… doesn’t want to die just yet.” He continued and Hoseok shook his head as if to say that wasn’t true. He would rather die than to be responsible for Sho betraying his entire kingdom. He felt the tears start up. He had hoped against hope that he could somehow have a life with the prince, with his best friend. That was foolish and selfish. He couldn’t help but feel responsible for all of this.

He felt tears fall down his cheek as Sho was hit and he wondered if they were going to be killed or tortured or both. One of the guards stepped closer to Hoseok and his eyes widened seeing him holding a metal rod. He wasn’t stupid, he could put two and two together. The fire burning in the corner, the metal rods. One of them was about to be burned.

“Now, your highness.” It was said with a sneer. “If you want your little whore here to come out of this unscathed, you will cooperate with us and perhaps you both will escape with your lives. Now.” The guard raised the red hot metal to Hoseok’s injury, pressing the rod flat against his skin. It cauterized the wound and caused severe pain.

“You’re awake.” A military doctor came around the corner and Hoseok’s face paled. The uniform was not theirs. “Why am I here?” Was the first thing he asked, scooting back towards the end of the cot.

“You’re valuable to us. I’m one of the best medics around these parts so count yourself lucky. Being Prince Sho’s cock whore has its advantages even in battle it seems.” He sneered and Hoseok paled.

He looked into the mirror and saw that his red hair was no longer braided, the strands wavy as they lay loose on his head. “What’s gonna happen to me?” He said quietly.

As if on cue, the curtain was pulled back and Hoseok soon was haulted to his feet, a man on either side of him. He was taken to a room. Was he in the palace? He couldn’t be sure. His hands were shackled above his head, hung on a metal bar just high enough to become uncomfortable. His stitches pulled painfully and he had no shoes, the hard floor freezing cold.

Why hadn’t he been able to hold on for another couple of days? He was sure if he had his father's reinforcements would have arrived and they would have won the war. 

It was then that his mind took him back and the image of Hoseok, in the battlefield, bloody and with a dagger stuck into him. Panic had risen in him and he had tried to get a reply from the guards whenever they came by to give him his meal, but nothing came from their lips other than mocking laughs. Sho just hoped that whomever captured him had left Hoseok on the battlefield to be taken away by his own army and was now healing and safe. 

Remembering his injury from the horse fall he looked at his arm and could see that from elbow to shoulder it was wrapped in a way to stuck it to his body so he wouldn't move it as much as possible, confirming to the prince that he had a dislocated shoulder and not a broken arm like he had feared.

The cell he was being kept in, or more likely, the room he was being kept in was extremely baren with just a bed with a very thin matress on top and a bucket on the corner. He was left all alone for several days until a pair of guards came in, pulling him out of his slumber and guiding him to another room not too far from the one he had been kept in.

As he was basically pushed in, he could see the younger man hanging from his hands in the middle of the room. "Hoseok!" He exclaimed, in a way glad to see the other. Glad to see he was still alive. He couldn’t help to step towards the other, wanting to take him out of the bar he was hagging from, but the moment he walked around the guard in front of him a hand came barreling against his stomach, taking his breath away from him and pain to surge all over him. A pained groan and the sound of him trying to catch his breath again was the only sound that came from him, before he was dragged to a chair not too far away from where they were and strapped in.