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Coming back from a hunt bloodied and bruised was normal for Witcher’s. As were the sneers and slurs thrown at them as soon as they stepped foot in the towns needing their assistance. What was odd was the bar in this particular village. It looked like all the other places they’ve been. Rundown, muddy, foul smelling, and terrible people. Well, mostly terrible people.
“I swear to the gods above you say one more slur, I will personally shove your head in a horse's ass!”
Jungkook had a high doubt this man could, considering how much smaller he was than the man he was threatening. Surprisingly, the rancid customer who spat at them settled down immediately, mumbling into his drink.
“Say it loud, Namyeon-ssi, I can’t hear you,” the barhand snarled.
The grime covering the burly customer couldn’t hide how pale he went before tossing his coins on the table and leaving. Once he was gone, the barhand turned to greet them.
Jungkook had seen many beautiful people in his life, but this man put them all to shame. Even his Jin-hyung, who was considered a great beauty among the Witcher’s.
“What can I get you two?”
Oh gods, his smile! Jungkook had never believed in the gods but they had to exist if this man’s face existed. Plumb cheeks, rounded button nose, small teeth just poking past his lips, and sharp eyes that were so warm that Jungkook never wanted to look anywhere else.
A sharp elbow stabbed his ribs, “Rooms!”
Startled at his outburst, the barhand nodded before reaching under the counter, handing over two keys.
Jin took one, “We don’t need two rooms, just one is fine.”
Tilting his head, the bar hand glanced at Jungkook before looking back at Jin, “The rooms are free for you both. If you still wish for one room then I won’t argue.”
Jungkook felt Jin’s eyes bore into him as he watched the bar hand hesitate before putting away the key. Ears burning, he followed behind Jin as they went to their rented room. It took seconds after the door had been locked before Jin was rounding on Jungkook.
“You are a fool,” he deadpanned, “He was offering you a room, for free might I add, and you did nothing!”
“How do you know it wasn’t a trap? He could be trying to kill us,” it sounded dumb even to him.
The snort Jin let out was as unattractive as a striga, “Right. Because I look at things I wanna kill like I wanna ride them to the afterlife and back. Bet you one novigrad crown that if you go and take the offered room, he’s gonna visit you tonight.”
Jungkook was not going to take that bet. It was a pointless bet anyways, they shared an income. And Jin was in charge of said income.
Lighting a fire, Jungkook distracted himself by stripping from his armor. He needed a bath, the striga blood was everywhere. Before he could ask Jin where their water pouch was, there was a knock on the door. Before he could grab a weapon, Jin was opening the door with a smile.
“Hello,” Jin greeted, sounding confused.
A bright laugh followed, “Evening, I forgot to bring water to this room earlier. I hope it’s not an inconvenience that it’s this late?”
Jungkook watched as Jin took a step back, his ears a bright red, “No! Of course not.”
Another laugh followed before a man was walking in with a large bucket filled with water.
“Oh! You’ve got the fire going. That’s great,” Jungkook had never seen someone with a smile that bright, “It should heat up quickly. Would you like another bucket of water?”
“No, but thank you,” Jin rushed out, taking the obviously heavy bucket.
“Well, if you’re interested there’s a couple bards singing soon and your meals are free. Though, hyung said if you want soju then the first two bottles are free but then you have to pay.”
Understandable, Jungkook thought, alcohol’s expensive.
Once the man was gone, Jin turned to him.
“I need you to take the other room.”
Spluttering, Jungkook pointed at the door then at himself before giving up and going to heat the water. It was once he was clean, smelling of lavender and soap, that he had a rebuttal.
“How do you even know that man’s into other men?”
“For having a sensitive nose you can’t smell shit.”
“I had striga blood, horse shit, and mud up my nose. Excuse my lack of sniffing ability.”
Jin rolled his eyes, standing from the now black water. Screeching, Jungkook tried to shield his eyes.
“It’s nothing you haven’t seen.”
“I don’t wanna see it more than absolutely necessary. Back to my point. The man who delivered the water.”
“I could smell it, Kook. The looks also solidified his interest. I’m handsome, I’d be surprised if he didn’t want me.”
Rolling his eyes, he waited for his hyung to lace his boots before finally going to get food. The bards were already singing, their voices vastly different but no less beautiful. The tables were full with people eating and drinking, tossing coins to the bards performing. Jungkook could admit they were beautiful. They had to be in their profession, but he quickly looked away to find another face in the crowd. The man who delivered their water was flitting between tables, smiling as people handed over their coin in exchange for alcohol. Another bar hand was working. He was tall, tan and handsome. Jungkook saw him smile at the shorter bard, dimples prominent before turning to set down bowls of food. The bard continued to look at the dimpled man before his companion slung an arm around his waist, effectively returning to their performance. But the bar hand that greeted them wasn’t there. Looking around some more, Jungkook couldn’t see the man with the sharp eyes and round cheeks. Disappointed, he let Jin lead him to an empty table by the door. The chilled breeze blew over them as patrons entered and exited, but they were used to the cold. It didn’t bother them as it would regular humans.
In no time the tall dimpled man stopped by their table with bowls of rice, kimchi, and soup. He gave them a small smile and bow but kept silent as he moved quickly through the crowd. The rice and soup were warm and filling, the kimchi had just enough spice to not be overwhelming, but that was the confusing bit. Witcher’s lacked sensitive taste buds. They couldn’t be picky so they were given overly hot foods and poisons during the trials to kill off their taste buds. So either the kimchi was extraordinarily seasoned and terrible to a regular patron, or this batch had been made specifically for them. Glancing at the bar, Jungkook saw the beautiful man already looking at him. He gave a small smile before giving a thumbs up, tilting his head in question. Bowing his head a bit, he gave back a thumbs up. The smile that was awarded to him made the air feel punched from his lungs. A bright gummy smile adorned the man's face and Jungkook had never wanted to look away.
The night continued with the bards singing and patrons talking. It slowly dwindled before only the drunkards and whores were left. The pretty bar hand was picking up fallen chairs and ushering the drunks and whores to leave. A couple drunkards were a bit too handsy and loud.
“Come on, Yoongi-ssi! One night. Promise I’ll make it worth it,” a much older man leered, swaying unsteadily.
“Ajusshi, go home. I don’t feel like dealing with you tonight,” Yoongi, the gummy smile bar hand, rolled his eyes.
“You used to be easier,” the ajusshi whined, grabbing Yoongi’s arm, “I like how you ride-”
Before the ajusshi could finish the sentence, a knife was at his throat. Yoongi looked unimpressed as the man took a moment to realize his situation.
“I suggest you go home, ajusshi. Last warning.”
The ajusshi let go of his arm before stumbling back, rushing for the door. Hearing a sigh, Jungkook watched as Yoongi sheathed his knife back to his thigh before going to pick up the chairs the ajusshi knocked over. It wasn’t long before Yoongi was coming over to the table Jungkook was sitting at, crossing his arms.
“I think it’s past your bedtime.”
Jungkook huffed, “I would love to go, but it seems my companion has company and I am simply waiting for him to be done.”
Raising an eyebrow, Yoongi tilted his head. Jungkook tapped his ear before pointing up.
“Your friendly helper and the tall bard are coincidentally missing along with my hyung. I wonder how that happened,” Jungkook remarked dryly.
He was getting tired of the noises, to be honest.
“And what of the other bard and Namjoon?”
Jungkook knew that Yoongi knew the answer.
“Namjoon-ssi is a very expressive person. I believe the bard’s name is Jimin. If how often Namjoon-ssi says it makes a difference.”
“And what of your name?”
Jungkook smiled as Yoongi sat down, ignoring the whores who were convincing the last of the drunkards to follow them through the doors. Effectively emptying the tavern of patrons. Excluding Jungkook.
“What is it to you? Why do you have interest in my name?”
“Because I’m guessing you know my name, and my staff and the bards. You are the only name I don’t know.”
“How do you know my companion’s name?”
“Hoseok makes a mention to tell me the name of the bed he’s about to be in. Jin is an interesting name considering your profession.”
Jungkook had to agree. When they fought their first djinn, there had been too many jokes and Jungkook had come close to murdering his hyung that day. The jokes still haunt him some nights.
“Jungkook.”
There was a tilt to Yoongi’s lips. It made Jungkook think of a cat who caught a bird. Smug and satisfied.
“Well, Jungkook, would you like a room?”
He wasn’t a fool, as Jin had so caringly called him. He could smell the arousal that coated Yoongi. As he opened his mouth to answer, a loud groan echoed through the quiet room.
“That would be Taehyung,” Yoongi grimaced.
“Bards sure are…vocal.”
Yoongi raised an eyebrow before going to stand. Jungkook watched as he barred the door and started putting out lanterns. When it was dark enough for a regular human to be near blind, Jungkook made to stand.
“Yoongi-ssi?”
The human raised the last lit lantern.
“Is that room still available?”