Chapter Text
Jungkook was a patient person, generally. He did not find it too difficult to wait for things or people but he was not having the easiest time waiting to ask Taehyung to be his partner. As much as he wanted to, Jungkook did not think it was fair or right for him to tell Taehyung that he was falling- or had fallen- in love with him. Taehyung was still new to being human and was grasping the basic concepts of that condition as well as a new language. It was unfair to ask him to tussle with something as complex as romantic love so soon. So Jungkook did his best to wait patiently, remembering that Taehyung had already said that he became human to remain with Jungkook.
He also had to be patient when Taehyung chose to learn about being human from others instead of asking him. With Jimin currently being monopolized by Yoongi, Taehyung did ask Jungkook about many things and Jungkook would be the first to admit that he was not the best teacher in all instances.
Taehyung had learned “time” from Namjoon- who was quite possibly the only person in the village who could have figured out how to explain it. Jungkook also walked in on Daisa, his mother, explaining “women” to Taehyung. Taehyung was listening calmly to the explanation and asking thoughtful questions- Jungkook blushed scarlet to the roots of his hair and when his mother invited him to join them, he turned on his heels and fled. His mother’s laughter chased after him.
“You are amused and Jungkook is em… em-bare… embarrassed?” Taehyung said. “Why?” He was curious to know why Jungkook would run from lessons- especially of something he already knew.
“Because it is not far from teaching you about women to teaching you about the biology of reproduction. And from there, teaching you about sex is an obvious step.”
Taehyung nodded. “I have understood that ‘sex’ is something people are embarrassed about because it is … private? But is it not simply if a person is man or woman?” He was genuinely confused.
Daisa smiled gently. “The confusion comes because the word ‘sex’ is used both to say that someone is a man or a woman and also describes the act between two people. The act is also called ‘making love’ and is an intimate act between a couple, performed in private.” Taehyung could see, vaguely, that her thoughts of sex were connected with Petior and had a sweet and rich flavour about them. It also seemed to involve kissing.
This piqued his interest and he asked “Teach me about sex, please?”
To his surprise, Daisa shook her head. “You have to get Jungkook to teach you about sex.” He could hear the amusement in her thoughts.
In spite of her answer, Taehyung stopped at the teaching building where Namjoon and Master Cho worked. He was unsurprised that Namjoon was there.
After he had greeted him, Taehyung asked “Teach me about sex, please.” And was surprised to feel how strongly Namjoon reacted to his request even though he only said, mildly, “That is something you should ask Jungkook to teach you.”
To change the subject, Namjoon continued “I’m glad you stopped by today. There is something I’ve been meaning to show you.” He went to the shelves where they stored books and took down a book, a very old book, and said “This is the legend of the beginnings of our village.”
Taehyung came over to the table where Namjoon laid the book down and when Namjoon reached the page he wanted, Taehyung gasped. In laid was a portrait, a bit faded but still bright enough, of a young woman who smiled at the artist. Taehyung reached out a hesitant hand and traced the curve of her cheek.
“You know her, don’t you?” asked Namjoon, already sure of the answer.
Taehyung nodded. “It is a…picture?… of my brother. After she became…. became human.”
“Sister, not brother.” Namjoon corrected gently. “She became a woman.”
“I did it wrong, didn’t I?” Taehyung asked Namjoon. “I didn’t understand about the two sexes, I made myself like him instead of the other way.” He didn’t have to specify which ‘him’ he meant. Namjoon knew. Probably everyone in the village except Jungkook could see how in love with Jungkook he was.
Namjoon shrugged. “I don’t know about wrong. You don’t have to be opposite sexes to fall in love and be together. I think Jungkook would want you to be yourself, no matter what. You should talk to him about what you feel for him.” Jungkook had been oh, so careful not to act more than friendly- albeit very close friends- with Taehyung but Namjoon had caught him once or twice looking at Taehyung with a longing that spoke of much deeper feelings.
Taehyung digested this for a moment then said “I… he… I can’t. If he does not feel the same, it could push him away. I can’t risk that.”
Namjoon resisted the urge to roll his eyes.
***
Brill saw them first. He’d sailed far out to sea for a single person boat and he saw Prunt’s ships coming towards him on the waves. It gave him a bad feeling although nothing on the surface was threatening. He sailed back as quickly as he could and ran to tell the elders that, not one but three, ships were approaching.
The elders listened to Brill and then Tarik said “They may be traders or seafarers who have lost their way. We need not assume ill intent.”
Aijala agreed but said “We can be wary. We do not know what they may want.”
“And they may be quite evil!” said Brill. “If we wait to find out, it may be too late!” He had not forgotten the people he had seen in Port Lowden. But the elders preferred to give the benefit of the doubt to the strangers. After all, they had already welcomed three strangers and the results had been nothing but positive.
Taehyung was waiting outside as Brill exited the elder’s building. “What is wrong?” he asked. “I can feel you are upset… and fearful.”
Brill told him of the three ships approaching. “The elders say we should wait and see and maybe they are right, But I am still afraid.”
Several people had gathered around, including Winna who put her arm around Brill. She asked “Taehyung? Could you swim out and check them out? Just to be safe?”
He shook his head. “I cannot. I am no longer able to swim so far or so fast or without air. But let me see what I can do…” He reached out with his thoughts- much further than he had attempted since his change- and found that he could hear an echo of them. It was not quite the contact he had been able to make before- but it was enough.
He began walking down to the beach- not the one they used as a harbor but the rocky, treacherous one he had pushed Yoongi ashore on.
“Taehyung?” called Brill.
“No.” Taehyung’s voice was flat and yet it echoed and layered eerily. “They come to conquer and enslave. I will not let them.” He walked out a little way into the water to a large rock that rose above the surf and sat down. Then he sang. He sang of longing- of missing his brothers, his desire to see them again. Into that he wove his longing for a companion- for one to return his love. And, though he had little knowledge of it, he sang of desire.
The sea became more tumultuous and the ships turned to his voice- racing to be the first to respond to that longing, to be the object of that desire.
The first ship reached close to the shore and the rocks tore the bottom of it away. Still Taehyung sang and the men who fell into the water fought to reach him. The sea reached up foamy arms and pulled them under. The second and third ships ran afoul of the rocks in turn and, one by one, the men aboard went to the bottom and became food for the sea creatures.
As the water calmed, Taehyung got up and stood, waist deep, in the water. Waves rose up surrounding him and caressing him and he opened his arms to them. “I miss you still.” he said simply, then turned and walked back up on the shore.
Most of the village had come down to the beach- either from the rumors of the ships or hearing the siren song. Jungkook said hesitantly “Taehyung?” He could hear the question in him and in the other villagers- how could he still command siren song if he were human?
“I am still a son of the sea- and at least two of my brothers are within it. One who became water, perhaps by accident, and one who followed him. They came to my voice, to greet me and protect me.” Taehyung told him. “We are protective of our own. I will let no ship of evil men enslave my brother’s children.” The peculiar layered quality of his voice was fading slowly.
“What do you mean- your brother’s children?” Jungkook asked. He had an idea he already knew but he wanted to be sure.
Taehyung nodded in answer to his thought. “All this village are children of my brother except a few- and those are loved by them.”
That explained why Taehyung had chosen to be human here and now. It had nothing to do with Jungkook… at least, those were the thoughts spinning around in his head. The beach was clearing, it would not look strange if Jungkook followed them. He had been a complete fool to think he ever had even a chance. Taehyung’s voice stopped him.
“I made myself… wrong… for you. I should have made myself to complement you instead of be like you- and now I cannot change it.” He had not moved but he sounded far away and his voice was filled with regret- one of the things Jungkook would have preferred he never learn. He took a step closer to Taehyung.
“You… should not want to change anything. You are the same no matter what form you wear- isn’t that what you taught me?” Jungkook asked.
“If I did not make myself wrong then how long will you make me wait to be with you?” Taehyung whispered. “How much must I learn, how human must I become before I can love you?”
Jungkook had not realized that in trying to keep himself from taking advantage of Taehyung, he had been hurting him. He put his arms around him. “No more. I didn’t mean to hurt you, only protect you.” he said… and had to laugh a little at the thought of Taehyung needing his protection from anything.
Sea coloured eyes met his. “Why would you protect me?” Taehyung asked, curiously.
Jungkook smiled “The same reason you protected the village. We protect our own- and you are mine.” He kissed Taehyung experimentally. There might be some challenges ahead but they’d manage to figure it out.
***
There is a legend, among the seafarers, of a village of sirens that live on the sunny south coast but none are able to approach it for the sirens take care of their own.
