The thorns and thick vines surrounding the dilapidated castle made sure passersby and even visitors have difficulty in passing through the narrow passage to the once rose laden chamber.

 

Now, only one rose remains. And it lies on the chest of its sole occupant.

 

Red hair that shimmered under the light of the silver moon, everyone used to call him the Rose Prince. Beautiful but prickly. A pretty flower no one could get to lest they bleed from the thorns.

 

The vines seemed to shudder as another visitor, the only visitor who was consistent in his visits, passed them by.

 

Choi Seunghyun, Tabi as he was affectionately called, patted the thorn-filled vine crawling up the door. He looked immaculate yet casual in his black jeans and cashmere turtleneck (he had made sure to discard his coat at the entrance, knowing the vines were quite adamant he not wear coats).

 

"Jiyong ah. How long are you gonna rest?"

 

Those seven words were always what Seunghyun greeted the sleeping prince. Kwon Jiyong, the Red Dragon of the Black Cosmos, continued sleeping. Never responding.

 

Seunghyun knew the reason why Jiyong asked for eternal sleep. Dara wasn't so forgiving as to quickly kill him.

 

"You’re an idiot if you think I’d give you eternal sleep."

 

Seunghyun could only chuckle as Dara had tricked Jiyong into a deep sleep of who knows how long ("He'll wake up when he has forgiven himself. Until then, Seunghyun ah, you're in charge of him").

 

Daesung and Youngbae had laughed at that. Seungri was with Minzy and Bom at that time. He was still the youngest after all (even when Daesung was always getting mistaken for the youngest).

 

Seunghyun, who was always the one aware of how much time had passed (perks of being one of the gods of time. he still can't believe Zhou Mi and the tiny fox bred a time god in a panda cub), could still count how much time had elapsed since the Rose Prince had slept.

 

He once asked Dara if Jiyong was this stubborn and Dara could only reply, "He’s more stubborn than an . It’s up to you to convince him that you're more stubborn."

 

And now here he was, a millennia and a century after. He had grown tired of counting the weeks, the days, the hours, the minutes down to the last nano second after 500 years went by.

 

There used to be roses of all kinds decorating the sleeping chambers of the Rose Prince. Now, only Seunghyun's rose remains.

 

He makes sure he replaces the rose before it withers (just in case Jiyong woke up and finds a withered rose on his chest and he'd be devastated again. Jiyong acts tough but Seunghyun knew how much he'd suffered and how sensitive he was).

 

Seunghyun sighs and began the arduous task of cleaning the ancient chamber. Stray weeds still grew despite the vines making sure to up all the nutrients they could get from the rich soil surrounding the once lofty castle of Veritas.

 

He never truly noticed the rose prince's eyes slowly opening.

 

---

 

"Seunghyun ah! It’s for you."

 

Dara, clad in her blackest gown, handed a crudely sealed letter with a rose petal encased in amber. Seunghyun looked taken aback.

 

Dara only shrugged, "Chaerin had a difficult time rearing Moni. Not to mention, Yoongi staying as a toddler was difficult as it already was. That kid loves sleeping," shaking her head, she made sure Seunghyun had clasped the letter before continuing, "we didn't do spring cleaning until Minzy came back from Japan. Bom was the one who found that. It’s from Jiyong, if the rose petal didn't give him away."

 

Seunghyun had thanked Dara. It was the 900th year of Jiyong's sleep. He had just gotten back from visiting him when Dara had ambushed him. They were mourning the "death" of Bom for the nth number of time. Who knows what reason Dara and Chaerin had made up for her so-called death this time (Bom had “died” from the Black Plague 500 years ago along with Daesung and Youngbae. Now they made sure Bom “died” of natural means just so it wasn't as eventful as that time Bom, Minzy, Jia, Aiden and Seungri “died” due to a bandit ambush. There were lots of mourning parties, Chaerin nearly killed everyone due to her frustration).

 

It was probably the reason why the whole Blackjack line decided to do spring cleaning, in the middle of a slightly stifling April in the Grecian countryside.

 

Seunghyun had hurried to his airy study (just so he didn't choke from the heat if he had locked himself in his room). Opening the letter, Seunghyun could only sigh. The eldest of the Time gods was known to be quite stoic but was only lost in his thoughts (kind of like how everyone mistakes Leo to be harmless, only to end up being hissed at, sometimes literally, and left to piece their ego back) and now, Seunghyun felt like hurling himself off the highest point in Greece.

 

"Ah, Jiyong, really."

 

Three words that weighed quite heavily could only be heard by the books in the room. Seunghyun read the letter again (it was in Sanskrit and he has to admit, sometimes he wished Sanskrit wasn't as difficult to read as it was easier to speak. Chaerin's children, Moni and Yoongi used Sanskrit quite beautifully that Seunghyun would always be reminded of how Jiyong weaved words so intricately in the language of spells).

 

The letter had been an apology but had been written in the ways of old poetry. Seunghyun slowly caressed the flowing words on the crude version of a wooden scroll, as if he could see and feel what Jiyong had felt while writing this letter.

 

It had read like this:

 

"I know it’s hard and difficult

To come into me

I know you’re afraid and don’t wanna be hurt anymore

Even on the day I left you

I made you cry with cruel words

But I regretted it as soon as I turned around, I’m sorry

 

Please, just once more

If I could see you again

I don’t care if I lose my everything

I wish I could meet you in my dreams

And love you again

Just like this

 

It might be easier to die

Than to receive your forgiveness

I’m singing this song

But I don’t know if my true feelings will reach you

I hope you’ll be happy

I couldn’t even say those common lies

I’m only praying that you’ll come back, I’m sorry

 

Please, just once more

If I could see you again

I don’t care if I lose my everything

I wish I could meet you in my dreams

And love you again

Just like this

 

Now it’s over, it’s the last time

I can’t believe it

I can’t let go

Cuz you never know

Someone like you for me

Someone like me for you

There won’t ever be a love like that again

Nobody knows…

We always know

 

Please, just once more

If I could see you again

I don’t care if I lose my everything

I wish I could meet you in my dreams

And love you again

Just like this

 

After this time passes

And I only I can forget everything

Those memories, those happy memories

Or in the next life

I hope I can meet you and love you again

Just like before"

 

Slowly, droplets of water appeared on the wood and Seunghyun realized too late that he was crying.

 

"You do know I was in the wrong, too. Really, Jiyong."

 

Seunghyun wished he could hear his bonded's reply. But what he wished more was for his bonded to be there, right beside him (as was what they had promised each other) and being able to hold him and listen to him speak.

 

Seunghyun missed Jiyong. More than any words any poet could write.

 

---

 

"I told you not to interfere, Jiyong!"

 

"I had the power to do what I could!"

 

"We agreed that we would never interfere with the lives of mortals!"

 

"I PROMISED TO KEEP YOU SAFE, SEUNGHYUN!"

 

---

 

Seunghyun had finished uprooting the weeds in the chamber. He had also talked to the vines guarding his bonded (he had never really thanked Daesung in words but he knows Daesung knows how he grateful he was when he gave him the timepiece of Daesung's mortal apprentice filled with the memories of Daesung and him).

 

He still had not notice that the once sleeping rose had woken up and was observing the quiet sole visitor of his chamber.

 

"Tabi?"

 

Seunghyun blinked. He must be hallucinating again. Dammit, he thought hallucinations were over and done with.

 

"Seunghyun ah?"

 

Right. Still hallucinating. Seunghyun shook his head to dispel the hallucination but...

 

"Seunghyun?"

 

Third time's the charm and Seunghyun turned.

 

Clad in his reddest robes, Kwon Jiyong held the stem of the thornless rose as he stared at the shocked visage of his other half.

 

"Jiyong?"

 

Jiyong cracked a smile. He could feel his lips bleeding from his body waking up to the knowledge that they have slept for over a 1000 years but it was worth to see Seunghyun’s awestruck expression.

 

"Hi, Tabi."

 

Seunghyun had dropped the uprooted weeds and ran to Jiyong’s side to immediately hold him in his arms.

 

"Never ever do that again, please."

 

"I’m sorry. I was just-"

 

"Protecting me. I know, Jiyongie."

 

Seunghyun peppered kisses on his bonded's forehead.

 

"I missed you."

 

Jiyong withdrew from the embrace, enough to see his bonded's face. Seunghyun stayed still as Jiyong took to looking at him, as if to memorize and to get to know the changes in his beloved's face (which wasn't much, Jiyong noticed, only a silver stud pierced his love's left ear).

 

"I missed you too."

 

Seunghyun huffed a laugh and kissed him.

 

"Dara tricked me, didn't she."

 

Seunghyun’s deep laugh was a comfort to Jiyong. He could still make Seunghyun laugh.

 

"She loves you and she knows when you're being an idiot."

 

"She still calls bull on everyone?"

 

"Everyone, especially Chaerin."

 

Jiyong chuckles at that, "I’m glad little has changed."

 

"Yes but you've slept for quite a long time."

 

Jiyong tilts his head in curiosity (Seunghyun can't help but squeal inside at how adorable he is), "How long?"

 

"1100 years."

 

"Oh."

 

As much as Jiyong’s lost expression was a delight on Seunghyun’s part, he began to assure him, "Don't worry. I’ll be here. Not to mention, Chaerin, Dara and the others."

 

Jiyong’s smile had swept the rest of the sorrow in Seunghyun’s heart. He knew he and Jiyong would need a lot of time to make the latter accustomed to the modern era but for now, he'll enjoy the presence of his bonded.

 

"We have all the time in the world now."

 

"I know. Thank you, Seunghyun."

 

"You are always welcome, प्रिय."

 

---

 

A/N: Yes, I got inspired by GD's Untitled 2014 song. I needed a fluff fic because I cried while listening to it. Anyways, I used a Sanskrit word in the last part. I got it translated from a Sanskrit dictionary online so idk if it's the actual word but...

प्रिय - beloved