Disclaimer: I do not own pics. Oooh, flowers.

Repost: 8/4/13

A Journey With You

“Ugh, training was so TOUGH today!” Xiumin complained at the top of his lungs. He continued to grumble as he wrung out his sweat-drenched hair. Dismissed from their power training, Suho, Yixing, Yifan, Luhan, and Xiumin dragged their dog-tired bodies to their rooms. At this time, the younger set of siblings—Chen, Tao, Baekhyun, Chanyeol, Kyungsoo, Kai, and Sehun—were beginning their training. The five older princes were fanning their flushed faces with their limp hands and dabbing at their sticky, sweaty skin with towels.

“Let’s just hurry up and take a hot bath,” Luhan insisted, disliking his disheveled appearance and smelly body odor. Why was the instructor so pushy (like a spoiled princess) when it came to exercises and sparring? He was too uptight. The princes were the ones with powers, not him.

“I wish I was at the garden,” Yixing murmured absently.

Suho chuckled lightly. “You and your love for the garden, brother...”

Yixing’s cheeks flushed a darker shade—and not from overexertion. “W-well, Mother l-likes h-how I organize everything and—”

Yifan peered at Yixing suspiciously. “Are you sure it doesn’t have to do with Aris’s love for flowers?” he teased.

This time Yixing blushed a bright crimson, as if someone painted his face with acrylic. The healer quickened his pace and nearly fled to his room. His brothers laughed when he escaped their teasing.

Entering their own respective rooms, the five princes hurried up with their baths and changed into cleaner sets of comfy, yet expensive garbs of clothing. The clothing of EXO was fashionable and travel-worthy, made of weather-resistant material of thick, woven fibers.

“Ah! I feel so much better!” Luhan hummed merrily as he fixed his dried hair, standing in front of a large mirror vanity. Hair prepped and tidy, he met his brothers outside in the hallway—all scrubbed squeaky clean and dressed in fine garments. They decided to stick together and preoccupy themselves with something productive until the younger princes were done with training.

“I want to go to the garden,” Yixing proposed sheepishly.

Suho raised a hand. “I want to go to the library.”

“Kitchen!” Xiumin piped in.

“Er...” Luhan darted his indecisive gaze between his opposing brothers, unsure who to side with. Yifan crossed his arms and sighed.

“EXCUSE ME, PRINCES!” exclaimed a shrill voice. Startled, the princes split apart to let a servant charge right through their midst, a polished tray of refreshments poised in her hands. Seeming to remember her manners, the servant abruptly turned around, bowed her head, and hastily added, “Pardon me, my princes!”

“Wait!” Xiumin halted the servant before she could scurry off. He pointed at the tray. “Who are those snacks for?”

“Minseok, you...” Luhan sighed, wanting to face-palm himself.

The servant eyed the princes for a brief second before smiling cheekily. “Oh, it’s for the queens’ special guest.”

The five brothers exchanged puzzled glances. “Our mothers invited a special guest?” Suho asked, a brow pinched down.

The servant giggled. “Actually, the guest appeared quite abruptly, but the queens welcomed her into the castle with open arms. I am to bring refreshments to her.”

“Her?” Yixing repeated, catching the pronoun.

The servant bowed her head again. “They expect me, so I must leave. Excuse me, princes.” The girl pranced off with a giddy smile.

“Well, that was odd,” muttered Yifan, cocking a stern brow, and Suho nodded, wide-eyed.

A minute later, Luhan held up a pondering finger. “Wait a second...” He surveyed his brothers with a thoughtful expression contrary to their bewildered ones. “Our mothers would only refer to someone as a ‘special guest’ if it was another royal, a gossiping lady, or...”

Putting on their thinking hats, they mulled it over until their lightbulbs (finally) lit up.

“ARIS!” they exclaimed and scrambled to hunt down the servant’s tracks.

...

“Um, my queens,” you spoke up tentatively in your soft, chiming voice. “The refreshments are not necessary. I ate before I left.”

Queen Kyungsoon dismissed your polite decline with a jaunty wave. “Nonsense, my dear! Look at you! Skinny as a twig and tired as a newborn baby! Please, you must eat! Have some tea!”

It was partly true—what Queen Kyungsoon said about your appearance. These past few days you haven’t been eating regularly and lost sleep from intensive...studying. Your eyes were half-lidded and underlined with lilac crescents. Your frame was as slim as ever, but the queen insisted feeding you so you could grow.

“I’ll pour it for you, dearie,” Queen Ming offered hospitably, delicately taking a teacup and pouring it with freshly brewed tea. She added a decent amount of cream and sugar to sweeten the taste and handed the cup over to you. With a small, grateful smile, you took the cup and sipped the warm concoction.

“Yummy,” you managed to say cheerfully. You weren’t parched, but you didn’t hesitate to take another sip.

A warm smile graced Queen Kyungsoon’s lips. She opened to say something before—

BANG! The doors bursted open and five hyperactive boys toppled over each other in a messy heap.

“OOF!”

“OUCH!”

“Ugh, you stepped on me!”

“Whoops.”

“Guys...”

“Boys!” gasped Queen Ming, shocked by their sudden, unruly entrance.

Setting the teacup down on the polished coffee table, you stood up to formally bow at the five eldest EXO princes who scrambled up to poise themselves in the presence of their mothers. “Good afternoon. It’s great to see you again, my princes.”

“Aris! You didn’t tell us you were visiting!” Xiumin blurted out, betrayed by your lack of communication.

You cracked a bashful smile. “Sorry, I forgo—”

As if he couldn’t help it, Luhan rushed forward and yanked you into a tight, yet tender embrace. The queens let out giddy squeals at the loving scene. You were shocked by the sudden contact, but then recovered and returned the heartwarming embrace.

“Oh, I missed you so much,” Luhan exhaled breathlessly, his warm breath tickling your ear. He didn’t want to let you go, but Yifan and Xiumin intervened and pried him off of you. Since Luhan received a hug, you also gave one to Yifan, Xiumin, Suho, and Yixing (all who clung onto you too long). Directing you to the couch, Yixing and Yifan snagged the spots on either side of you. Luhan pouted and sat next to Yixing. Xiumin and Suho occupied the adjacent couch, content with the unobstructed view of you. The queens were poised on the couch across from yours, admiring the scene of their lovestruck sons smitten for their fiancé.

“So, why are you over here in EXO, Princess?” Suho inquired pleasantly.

“Are your annoying brothers here?” Xiumin snapped his head around, searching for the SHINee princes as if they would suddenly appear and snatch you away. But you were only accompanied by four guards, dutifully stationed in the far corners of the room.

You smiled softly and inclined your head at the queens. “Your mothers insisted I eat before I ventured out to see you.” You drank your delicious tea and sighed. “And no, I traveled to EXO alone with only my guards. My father and the royal prophet approved of my trip.” You kind of shared the same feelings with your fiancés—relieved not to have your clingy brothers attached to your side every waking moment. Truth be told, your trip had been planned under your brothers’ snooping noses (that served them right!). They wouldn’t notice until lunch—sometime before noon—which had been two hours ago.

“How long will you be staying this time?” Yixing inquired in his soft, sweet voice. He savored the proximity between you two. Just your scent alone drove him mad with fantasies.

“I don’t know exactly,” you admitted. “I came here so I could...collect a few things. And your mothers suggested I should visit your territories. That will probably last a whole week at most.”

Yifan’s sharp, glinting eyes shone with anticipation. “You want to see where we govern?”

You nodded. “Yes, I haven’t seen your territories up close at all. I’m curious.”

“And what about the ‘things’ you wish to collect?” Luhan prodded, peering past Yixing’s shoulder to meet your gaze.

You didn’t want to, but you told a half-lie, “Oh, those? They’re just some materials you have here on EXO. Nothing important.” You swallowed. “Prophet Yesung requested of me to bring him back some stuff.”

They didn’t know how awful it was to lie to them. You felt like you drank acid instead of tea.

“Oh, so, it’s like a treasure hunt,” Suho summarized, not detecting your lies.

“Exactly,” you replied with a faint smile. Only Luhan noticed how your eyes flickered evasively, but when he blinked, it was gone, replaced with tender affection.

“When shall we start this journey?” Yifan asked, amped by the idea.

“After the little ones have finished and rested from their training,” inserted Queen Kyungsoon, without argument. She knew the older boys didn’t want to share you as much as they already had to, but they had to be fair amongst one another.

Queen Ming inclined her head thoughtfully. “Yes, how about, depending which area you visit, only that prince may accompany you while the others patiently wait their turn?” The queen thought it was a good way for each prince to individually bond with you without interruptions.

You exhaled in relief, glad for such a brilliant proposal. Having less attention pinpointed on you would make it an easier task to collect your ‘materials’. “I think that’s a great idea!” you enthused.

“Aww,” grumbled Xiumin. “She probably won’t like visiting the cold Northwest Mountains.” In a sulky mood, he snacked on a tart.

Journey confirmed, you all began chatting, snacking, and bonding to pass time. Eventually Queen Kyungsoon noted the time on the clock and remarked, “I guess the boys won’t mind if we cut their training an hour short.” She looked at her eldest son. “Joonmyun, be a dear and excuse your brothers from their lesson. Oh, here. Take this note just in case the instructor isn’t convinced.” She jotted down a few words on a slip of paper and handed it over to him.

Suho took the slip and nodded. His mother raised an amused brow when he only bowed at you. “I’ll be right back, Princess.” He breezed out the room.

Yixing found the courage to place his hand on yours. It sent sparks of electricity up his arm. “C-care to visit the royal gardens again, Princess Aris?”

You gave him your award winning eye-smile. The other princes were stricken with jealousy, but did not speak out. “I would love to,” you said wholeheartedly.

Yixing smiled widely, showing off his lovely trademark dimple. Fully grasping your hand, he helped you to your feet. Luhan immediately grabbed your free hand and grinned to himself giddily.

“Have fun, children! Do stay clean!” Queen Ming raised her voice as you and the princes left the tearoom. You were whisked away to the royal gardens, silently shadowed by your guards.

“Oh, my!” you gasped, amazed by Yixing’s bountiful collection of flowers. The beautiful view momentarily made you forget your worries. You were overwhelmed by the variety of eye-stunning colors and the pronounced blended fragrances. Each bushel and trellis was obviously tended to with so much care and love—something that could only be done by the gentle, dexterous hands of a marvelous, kind-hearted healer.

Your undisguised expression of approval and delight made Yixing blush to the roots of his hairs. He was naturally bashful, scratching the nape of his neck habitually, but on the inside, he felt proud. Proud of his success and hard work that received the expected response—which was the glorious shine in your eyes and awestruck speechlessness.

Xiumin rolled his eyes, unimpressed. “Yixing’s showing off.”

“We did promise to win her heart somehow,” Luhan muttered, lips unconsciously forming a displeased pout. “Without a fuss,” he added.

Yifan sighed. “Just let him entertain her. The garden is his sanctuary, afterall.”

“Which flower do you prefer the most, Princess?” Yixing asked gentlementally.

Surveying the various bushels and trellises of plants, you contemplated haltingly. “Hmm... I favor the blue rose...no! Maybe the white one!”

The flower-growing healer chuckled at your indecision. He solved your dilemma by suggesting, “How about both?” Standing close by your side, he reached out to pluck the two mentioned flowers from their bushes with his deft fingers. He wrapped the differently-colored roses in a spare handkerchief of his—careful not to prick his fingers—and presented them to you generously, albeit shyly.

A hand over your heart, you were deeply touched by his thoughtfulness. Yixing diligently spent his time and effort into the garden, gave you whatever you wanted, and, to top it off, even ensured your safety. You reached out to accept the small bouquet, your hands brushing against his. He shivered at the simple, pleasurable contact.

“Thank you so much,” you whispered softly. Yixing was captivated by your warm eyes and felt a surge of heat creep up his neck, but he couldn’t tear his eyes away. Luhan flickered his jealous gaze between you and his brother—the two of you standing too close for comfort. Yifan pointedly ignored the exchange and stared up at the sky to distract himself.

Xiumin leaned closer, peering at the rose-cheeked Yixing observantly. “Hm, you need to cool down, Xingie. Here.” The frost prince blew a cool breeze at the healer and he instantly dropped in temperature.

Yixing sighed in relief, broken from his trance. “Thank you, brother.”

...

The younger princes were absolutely jumping in unsuppressed joy over your sudden visit. They immediately cleaned up and changed into neater clothing so they could flock you, demanding for your attention. When the queens informed them about the idea to tour their territories, they agreed to be on their best behaviors so they could accompany you. Having already been informed, King Heechul prepared the transportation for the trip and everyone began packing traveling essentials. Since you planned to explore the princes’ valuable territories—places that were more rural than urban—the beginning of the trip would be embarked by plane, then convert to train to be able to arrive at your destination without delay. Of course, Kai insisted he could teleport everyone, but no one wanted to risk popping up in the wrong place, so he was overruled. The course was first set for the south—where it was considerably warmer—starting with Suho’s dominion: the Southern Sea.

Everything and everyone accounted for, all of you embarked, bidding King Heechul and his wives goodbye. This journey would be one to remember forever.

Beautiful, wonderful, prosperous EXO, which only belong to the Exotics.

...