flicker ; taekook ❅

❅ twenty-two

Jeon Jeongguk

I pulled myself up onto the platform without hesitation, despite General Seunghyun's shouting. In fact, it was hard to hear him, over all the screams and occasional gunshots.
I raised my hands above me, forming a thick layer of water over the platform and the recruits below before I slid over to Taehyung, he who cradled his Mother.

"Your Majesty," I stumbled over my words as she gently took my hand and his. "I-"

"Listen to me carefully," she said, blood dripping from her pale lips. Beside me, Taehyung could only stare in shock, tears streaming down his face as his eyes glowed a dark red. "you need to find out the truth, Jeongguk...I-"

"No, your Majesty, save your energy. We'll get you out of here to the infirmary."

"There is no use," she sighed. "my soulmate is dead. It's only natural that I do too. Now listen....in the library..my memoirs. Tell them all the truth, you deserve that much from me," she turned to Taehyung, Prince Seokjin and Princess Haneul. "and my beautiful children. I love you so much-"

"Mom, no- you're going to pull through," she whispered shakily. "you have to."

"Never be afraid, and never let anybody make you question your self worth," her hands reached for Taehyung's face. "my love. I'll always be watching over you."

"Mom!" He cried painfully.

"My precious Taehyung, my wonderful Seokjin and my beautiful Haneul," her words became more and more spaced out, eyes slowly losing focus. "be strong. I love you...I.."

The grip she had on Taehyung's hand loosened, his crying quickly becoming more desperate. I felt a sharp pain in my back, the water wall losing strength.
He hunched over her body, hugging her desperately as he wailed for her to come back. I blinked back my tears, touching his shoulder. "Taehyung. We have to do something before the wall fully loses strength."

Slowly, he looked up. "They took my Mother. They took everything from me. For what, Jeongguk? What could I have possibly done to make them so angry?"

"Make them pay," I said. "show them that you do not go down with a fight. It's what your Mother and Father would have wanted you to do."

"He's right, Tae," Prince Seokjin touched his shoulder. "we can't let them win. We can't let them live."

"Taehyung," Jooheon said, all recruits with their arms pointed at the several Dynasty members before us. "when you're ready."

I turned back to him, staring at his eyes as there was a change in emotion so strong I could feel it. It was the shift of wrecking sadness to explosive, uncontrollable wrath, given by the fact his eyes were no longer glowing red but a bright white.
In that same moment, the wall of water collapsed upon us, and with a powerful scream he aimed fireballs in every direction, strategically missing those loyal to the crown.