Chapter Text
Yoongi is trapped.
How he became this way, he couldn’t tell. One moment he was resting peacefully upon a large lily pad and the next… he was forced into a crystal prison. He’d always thought of himself as a person with a keen sense of awareness and yet, at this time, it seemed to have failed him, for now he sat, encased in this crystal ball, surrounded by the rivers flowers that he had always had some fond attachment to. He was glad at least for that, the flowers gave of a clean, calming odour and their vibrance held him at ease. At least his captor had been kind enough to give him this, perhaps there was hope of negotiating his release. Although he was loathe to start praising the Being that put him here against his will. As a nymph, he had an urge to travel, to find all the small places of beauty in the world and to care for them, to leave a part of his soul in all these places of nature to perhaps give some comfort to those lost mortals with his divine spirit.
It seemed those days were over for now, instead replaced with this stasis.
He couldn’t help but feel as though he should’ve been more careful. He had heard of too many nymphs who had been sought and captured by other Beings of power. There was something about the elusive creatures, with their beauty stemming from nature and their usually free and wild spirits, many a nymph’s purpose was captivation, they found their kicks in playing with mortals but Yoongi was not one of that variety. He simply cared for the nature and gained energy from the blooming spirit of the forests and rivers around him. In fact, as nymphs go, Yoongi was considered of the incredibly shy variety, he merged with that nature around him - as was in every nymph’s skillset - as soon as any sort of Being came by. He valued his privacy, and found comfort only in the silent souls of the nature around him. He didn’t know how anyone could have even seen him to become captivated by him, let alone come to capture him.
Admittedly, now that he has time for thought, the places he has roamed recently have been devoid of any other animate Beings and so, he supposes he was lulled into some false sense of security where he was less careful. He wonders if his captor had orchestrated that too or if they had simply monopolised on a good situation. Perhaps, Yoongi was even overthinking it.
He had assured himself that capture would be less likely to befall him many a time before anyhow. Most nymphs took the form of maidens, and he was not such. He knew he carried an air of beauty to him, it was in the very essence of his being to have such, but he often thought his own to be inferior to the other nymphs of his knowing. Apparently these were careless thoughts, proven by his capture.
A pale hand is carefully extended to be placed against the smooth inside of the crystal ball, fingers lingering, splayed and feeling for the strength of it, keen cat-like eyes tracing it in some hopes of finding a possible escape. Perhaps if there was a weak spot he could crack the thing open? Though, such thoughts were bleak for him. His strengths lay in his speed and small stature and definitely not in any form of brute strength. The ball, much to his displeasure (but also slight amazement) is perfect. A sphere of equal thickness at all parts and not a crack or joining part in sight.
It is amongst his thoughts of potential escape when his captor surprises him. By emerging from the ground before him as if by magic, no less. He can only stare in awe for a moment, his conscience forgetting that this is probably the person who has entrapped him in such a cruel way in favour of staring at the beautiful man before him. How could such a Being find satisfaction in capturing him? With that perfectly symmetrical face, long pink wisps of hair falling over a tanned forehead and neck as the male (he thinks the Being is male due to the strong features but, its sheer beauty speaks of androgyny to its core) steps towards him, long elegant legs spanning up a lean torso with broad shoulders that splay to willowy, but undoubtedly strong, arms on either side. The Being is clad in white and Yoongi can’t help but think this Being may be the very embodiment of the sunlight that gives life to the woods. The male smiles down at him, and for a moment Yoongi is sure that his smile can make flowers grow - a thought that is encouraged when he feels a softness on his palms and looks to see those pretty flowers growing ever further.
It is only then that he snaps out of his stupor, settling back on his haunches and tilting his head, causing his own maroon tendrils to uncover a pointed elven-like ear with his eyes narrowing some at the male.
“Are you the one who put me in this pretty prison?” he finds it within himself to ask, the sound echoing like the babble of a creek, as was usual for a creature of his ilk. He was born of the lilies of water after all.
The male smiles once more and he feels a flower twine itself around his wrist. A pretty pale thing, but it’s stem is far from delicate as it encases his wrist like a steel trap, reminding him of his captured state and the magnitude of power this male must have at his fingertips. “No.” the male answers but his eyes are still deeply enamoured, “... well, I am the one who made it so pretty, I may have lent some of my power to the one who constructed your little cage.” and, oh, a part of Yoongi wants to revel in that deep timbre, if sounds could make the grass greener, could liven wilted flowers, he is sure it would be the sound of this voice.
“I could not help but agree when Kookie asked this of me, you see, pretty nymph, I’ve watched you for a while now.”
Yoongi cannot help but blink at him, feeling a strange mix of emotions flood within him. This beautiful Being was watching him? Without him noticing at that? The very thought of it seems preposterous, but he cannot very well voice such things in this situation and, instead opts for; “Who and what are you and this ‘Kookie’ you speak of?” he had planned to stop at such, but his curiosity is overbearing and so he cannot stop the questions slipping out “And why do you have interest in me? I am not a particularly strong nymph, my power is clearly not as vast as yours or your companions, so why find interest in me?”
He loathes how pathetic he sounds in the last question, his insecurity seeming like a flashing signal light to him.
“Hmph.. he sure has a lot of questions.” interrupts a new voice, it’s sudden arrival causing Yoongi to jump and snap his head to the other side where another beautiful man stands. Unlike the Being who seemed to make flowers grow, this man is shrouded in darkness, and Yoongi can hear the magic crackling in his aura. He wears clothes of black materials and his indigo hair is pushed back to reveal an eyebrow, which he lifts at the nymph stuck in the crystal prison. It strikes him odd that the gesture doesn’t actually seem mocking as he was expecting, instead it seems just deeply curious. Even with the dark energy surrounding him, there is a lingering softness in his wide, doe eyes, a telling adoration that mirrors the other captor of his.
“I don’t know why you need an answer to all of those, but I am who Tae called Kookie, and I crafted that crystal ball, I do hope it’s comfortable enough for you, my little nymph.” and he smiles then, a surprising innocence in the way he scrunches his nose and reveals his front teeth to Yoongi that leaves the captive with mixed feelings stirring in his chest. For one, he isn’t sure how to feel about this boy’s possessiveness, but he supposes it is to be expected of his kidnapper, surely the male must be obsessed to reach such a point as this. Once more he thinks it odd that he’s supposedly been watched by these two, even though he is sure he would’ve noticed men like these.
“It better be, Kookie.” the smooth timbre of the lighter Being feels long gone now, a threat heavy in the air, literally adding a weight to it with the words “I didn’t help you so you could make him uncomfortable.” ‘Tae’ chimes in, lips losing their smile and a glare reaching his other free companion before softening once more as he settles again on Yoongi’s startled eyes.
“Oh, pretty nymph ! Don’t look so frightened, I’ll make sure Kookie doesn’t hurt you~” he coos, winking at the end of his statement as he approaches the crystal prison, a hand placing itself on the outside as he smiles down at him. “I only helped him so I could see you up close like this, you’re quite a jumpy nymph aren’t you? But so pretty too.” His lips stretch wide into a boxy smile, and Yoongi feels his traitorous heart become enamoured with such a look, even under the circumstances. He comforts himself with thoughts of simply admiring their beauty, he is not blind nor is he stupid and he cannot deny such facts and still claim to be neither.
“Don’t talk to him like I plan to be cruel.” The purple haired male moves closer too, a sharpness to his words that cuts through the air like a knife, clearly competitive. He moves until he is standing beside his conspirator and looking in on his captive. “He stole my heart, how was I supposed to simply watch as he ran all over the place, someone else was going to take him sooner or later, don’t you think?”
A part of his sours at how they talk as if he isn’t there and he can’t help but remark bitterly after considering those words, “I think this is a rather counterproductive plot, if this is some elaborate plan to have me fall for you.” he frowns at the two, and, admittedly, he probably would’ve disappeared into the river at the sight of either of them but he cannot let them know that if he wants to maintain a point.
“Ooh, he isn’t just a pretty face, huh?” the tallest of them all coos, “I like your attitude, nymph, care to give me a name?”
A huff leaves pouted lips in reply to such a comment, eyes leaving the beautiful males to fall on his flowers instead -- he really thinks he ought not to call them his just yet, but he has always had trouble not attaching himself to flowers, they had never done him wrong, after all -- and he fingers over one of the soft petals. “If you think I’ll cooperate with you while you have me trapped, you are sorely mistaken.” and he loathes the fact that his voice has a tinge of a whine to it, as it always does when he gets haughty in this way.
There’s a brief pause but, before he has a chance to revel in it, a muffled ‘oomf’ sounds, something that distinctly sounds as though one of them has elbowed the other in the ribs.
“Don’t mind him, pretty nymph, but know that we don’t plan on releasing you so easily. You’ll surely run away from us and I cannot lose you now, no matter if you hate me for keeping you here.” and the nymph tries to ignore the genuinely regretful tone of voice the other uses, keeping his eyes firmly on his hands which he wills to stop shaking so. The enormity of the situation has hit him and he cannot help but let his shoulders slump, he had never imagined being stuck like this, made into a pretty viewing doll like the nymphs of legend. He couldn’t help but beat himself up for not being more careful with himself. His self-deprecation, which he had once viewed as humbling, was now his downfall. How tragically ironic.
The silence stretches on as he refuses to reply. He hopes that they will leave him be for now, but knows he isn’t that lucky, he can feel the piercing stares of both of the men before him still. He is glad at least that they don’t say anything for a while. Not until he sees a flash of pink in his peripheries, as the tallest kneels down (in an attempt to see his face perhaps?) before speaking up in a soothing tone of voice.
“... He is right, pretty nymph. Feel free not to inform me but… I am Taehyung.” Taehyung admits, and Yoongi allows his eyes to flicker up and meet those soft eyes momentarily, before falling back to his shaking palms, “... and you wanted to know what I was so… I am a… God of Nature, you could call it, I suppose…”
The information does make him feel the slightest better - he had no hope of fending of a God alone - and he finds himself unable to be shocked at the information either, it makes too much sense. It isn’t out of the realm of possibility either, nymphs are thought to be the offspring of gods and nature together, although much less powerful.
It is then that the last male still standing finds his way to his knees too, scowling briefly at Taehyung before turning his gaze on the shaken male. “I suppose I should tell you too now, I am Jungkook and I’m a Sorcerer, or a Witch if you’d prefer.”
This information, too, makes sense. The aura of magic around Jungkook being exactly that and judging by the craftsmanship of his prison, Jungkook is incredibly talented too. He certainly stood no chance against a powerful Sorcerer and a God. The thought is both reassuring and harrowing. He cannot be blamed for this truly but, he also has very little chance of escape without them simply letting him go - which they have both made clear will not happen.
The urge to thank them for this knowledge arises but he quickly tamps down upon it, lips sealed tightly in his determination not to reply to the two Beings of power. He has nothing to say to them yet. He feels too empty inside, too hollow, each time he catches the shine on this crystal bubble, this reminder of his isolation. His free spirit tamped down into this tiny ball of energy and flowers. He cannot act friendly with them yet, he cannot overcome this deep seated feeling in his chest at the prospect of eternity in this cage. His soul will surely wither away under the isolation. He will not be able to flow like the creek of his birth or scatter like the seeds of the flowers and fruits he so adores.
He is trapped, completely and utterly.
He never stood a chance.
He doesn’t speak to Taehyung or Jungkook for a while after that. They left him be on that first day, allowing him some time to let the news settle in. That didn’t mean they were gone for long, returning the very next day. From then the week would progress as such, the two men coming to visit him both alone and together, attempting some form of interaction with their captured nymph to not get a single word of reply in return.
His only interactions with them being the flickering of his gaze over their forms before settling firmly on the only joy he had in this prison, the beautiful flowers that surround him.
He can hear how they become irritated at his lack of response at times. Jungkook’s harsh steps echo in the plane around him and Taehyung’s irritated huffs of breath still cut through the air but, to their credit, they haven’t let their rage fill any of the words they use towards him. They still sound so adoring, so attached. Yoongi still doesn’t know how to feel about that.
It takes a week before he realises his hope of them getting bored with him is ineffective. The God still sounds so infatuated and the softness lining the Sorcerer’s words still speaks of affection. He is wasting his time trying to bore them into giving him his freedom and he is growing increasingly restless in his cage, the stagnant nature of it causing him to tick.
It is then that he decides to speak with them too.
On the day, he is still startled by their appearance. This time it is Jungkook who seems to materialise from the shadows in the corner of his vision. He allows his eyes to settle on the man, the assurance in those steps as he approaches - the way in which he carries himself practically screams of confidence - and yet, when he finally allows himself to make eye contact there is something surprisingly vulnerable in those dark depths. He struggles with being annoyed with that - what right does the Sorcerer have of vulnerability when he is the kidnapper?- but, his softer, sweeter and ever so caring side aches at seeing such a beautiful, powerful Being seem so lost in those eyes. He has always been too caring a fool deep down.
So he tilts his head up at the purple-haired boy, and he forces his eyes not to narrow in aggression, instead allows his lips to part and that voice of running water to leave his throat. “You’re early today.” he settles on the neutral words, for he is curious of that as Jungkook usually seems to prefer his company at the darker hours of life.
“... Would you believe me if I said I missed you too much to wait until evening?” He is smart in his decision not to comment on Yoongi’s more verbal status, but he cannot help but test the limits of this, his yearning has been overwhelming him in the passing days of no responses after all.
“You did kidnap me.” Yoongi swiftly replies, unamused, “so, that does not seem out of the realm of your obsession.”
Jungkook cannot help but wince at the cutting words, but he cannot fault the dealer of them.
“Do not call my love ‘obsession’ please, I do not want you thinking this feeling is so twisted but also so finite.” He manages to reply settling down onto his bottom just outside of the crystal ball, lips pulled down somewhat in a frown, eyes darkening to match the attire he still wears.
“... I am sorry but I cannot see this as anything but.” Yoongi replies, and he had not meant for his voice to soften so, but he can hardly control such things, “You do not know me, Sorcerer.”
“But I wish to, pretty nymph!”
“You do not even know my name” the nymph cannot help but scoff, tone becoming harsh once more, “You think that you are in love with me? I cannot see such as reality at all.”
“... Perhaps this is not love yet.” Jungkook slowly allows, lips twisted into a frown, wounded by the words of truth that attack his mentality, “... but I know it could be and I want that so very badly.”
Yoongi hates how his heart aches at the crackling in those last words, he cannot(should not?) empathise with the sorcerer after what he’s done, but the words have such a tinge of desperation to them, he cannot help but compare it to his own desire for his freedom although such thoughts are forcefully shaken from his head before he allows them to bloom fully.
“Then do not have me call it love until you are sure.” and with that, his gaze becomes fixed onto the flowers below his once more, he has returned to his previously silent state, having no interest in furthering the conversation. Although, to the nymph’s surprise the sorcerer makes no attempt in trying to continue their conversation. Instead, they sit in silence for a long while, until their shadows have changed sides and it is only then that the taller leaves, sending a look of longing which the nymph does not see.
He is visited again that night, this time it is the God that steps up to his pretty prison, smiling down at him as the moon reflects against his pink hair. Yoongi feels already tired of social interaction from earlier that day but decides he ought to say something to the God as he had with Jungkook earlier that day.
“Pretty nymph, it is a pleasure to see you again.” comes the smooth words as the God kneels beside him, Yoongi’s eyes flicker away and he frowns slightly, doll like lips curving downwards of their own accord. He’s feeling bitter, the words echoing in his ears reminding him of his only worth to these people. The nymph is nothing more than a beauty to them and he hates the shallowness of such.
“If you expect me to say the same then you are going to be very disappointed.” the voice once of fresh water is laden with tiredness, eyes regarding the Being beside him. He gets some amusement from the shock that colours Taehyung’s features for a moment upon hearing him speak but keeps the chuckle to himself, lest the God think that he actually likes him at the moment.
“... I suppose I deserved that.”
“You did.” He allows, fingers curling around the stem of a flower, focusing his eyes downward so he cannot be distracted by the soft remorse that colours those dark eyes. “You deserve many more choice words of mine.”
“... Why not say them then?” the question is coloured in curiosity and for a moment, he cannot help but ask himself that very question. Why hasn’t he acted particularly aggressive to his captors? Why hasn’t he cursed them out with all of the anger he feels?
The only answer he finds leaves him feeling awfully pathetic in this situation.
“I am simply not that sort of person.”
Little does he know, the phrase simply endears the God to the nymph ever further.
“Won’t you tell me your name?” Jungkook asks.
“Won’t you set me free?” Yoongi replies.
It has almost been a month since his capture, and the conversations have evolved some. He does not shut down after a few minutes of talking, in fact, as much as he begrudges it, their interactions do grow to be the better parts of his now boring life trapped in the prison.
It is another day when they both come, and his eyes flicker across them both as they sink to their knees before him, a sort of satisfaction filling him at that. The days of them talking down at his from standing are over now.
“My most favourite nymph~” Taehyung greets, lips stretching into a boxy smile as he places his hand against the glass encasing him. “Would you like some different flowers today? I’ve been thinking you must be growing bored with those, hm?”
Yoongi cannot help but blink, eyes dropping to aforementioned flowers before skittering back up to meet Taehyung’s gaze. Hesitantly, he nods his head, more than a little curious to see what would happen. Since the start, Taehyung seemed to calm down playing with nature in front of him(a fact he’d never admit disappointed him) and so he is the slightest bit eager to see this.
Then with a glint in those eyes, Taehyung lets out a chuckle, eyes focused onto the nymph’s even as Yoongi’s drops to stare in barely concealed wonder as the light pink and deep red carnations bloom, taking the place of the previous blooms. His lips part and he breathes a little deeper to inhale their scent, a part of him gaining energy from such - his life force being tied to the surrounding nature.
“They are beautiful.” he allows, fingers skimming petals, and lips quirking in the slightest. He had to take the small pleasures now.
“They are…” Jungkook finally speaks up and when the nymph’s eyes skitter upwards both of the Being’s eyes are stuck on him instead of the flowers. He hates how the cheesy action actually affects him, a part of him preening under such attention from such beautiful people.
“I am glad you can find some happiness here.” Jungkook continues, a sincerity to his voice that shocks both other parties. It only takes a moment before Yoongi sees that tortured, regretful look reflect in his eyes, and the next words leave him as a soft murmur “... despite what has happened.”
Yoongi doesn’t know what to say to that, doesn’t know how to react as his heart fights over feeling some petty amount of joy at Jungkook’s misery and the larger part of him aching to see the boy look so downtrodden. Another fact he would never admit.
“... Would you mind telling me what you are a nymph of?” Taehyung eventually speaks up, an attempt to ward of the heavy atmosphere that had settled between them all.
“I suppose.” He allows, lips pursing briefly, “I am a nymph of river lilies.”
“Ah, so you have the spirits of waters and flowers in you… That makes an awful lot of sense.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
“Never” Taehyung grins once more, “You simply have the beauty of the flowers and the spirit of rivers, it makes sense how alluring you are now…”
“Is this justification to you for my capture?” Yoongi cannot help but shoot back, something about the compliment setting him off, it sounding too much like the God is busy assuring himself rather than an effort to give affection to him.
“... No.” That grin is nowhere in sight, but Yoongi cannot find happiness in such a fact much to his own chagrin. Those eyes that are usually so firm in holding contact are lowered, and the flawless face carries a frown that somehow manages to carry beauty in it too. The only thing he can read on that usually carelessly happy face is regret. “You do not deserve this, I will admit that.”
And that… that wasn’t what Yoongi expected from this. He had thought them both so mad with obsession that they found their actions completely justifiable but, the way they had both been acting spoke volumes for that not being true at all. Yoongi isn’t sure what to do with this information.
He quenches the urge to ask more on this, satisfied for now with what he has. He supposes he can give them a normal conversation now.
“... What sort of magic do you do, Jungkook?”
He ignores the way that causes a smile to crawl onto the Sorcerer’s face, ignores how this is the first time he calls him by his actual name, instead busies his mind with focusing on the Witch’s eyes, that seem to light up as he begins to speak of his craft.
“I can do many kinds of magic. I mostly create charms or potions however, to aid both mortals and mystic Beings alike. It was how I met Taehyung, when he needed a potion to help the forest he’d created when it fell under a dark plague.”
“He is very powerful, and despite the gloomy appearance he uses his magic to help people.” The God adds on, nodding with his eyes still down turned, there’s something that speaks of fondness in his voice.
“... and you, Taehyung? What can you do?”
That causes the God in question to blink at him for a moment, eyes finally back onto him (which he refuses to believe comforts him some), before he speaks up, hesitance slowly slipping from his voice with each word, “Well… other than making the flowers grow, I can make just about any plants grow, I can usually rejuvenate failing plants too, the plants… they speak to me, and I try to do what they want.”
“.... Really?” he can only imagine what that is like, he has always wanted to speak to the flowers he so adores, but has had to settle for the connection he feels spiritually to them instead.
“Yes… They… well, I shouldn’t speak of what they say but… the flowers, grass and trees love you… They told me about you and how kind you are… They appreciate what you’ve done for them.”
The nymph’s heart softens immensely at that, he cannot help but melt to hear such things. It makes his trifling existence feel as though it has some meaning, he can even forget about his current situation for a moment to bask in the happiness reaching such a goal brings to him.
“... If you can speak to them, tell them thank you. They will surely know what it means.” and he offers a smile with those words, his first smile he has shown to either Beings.
“I will.”
The silence that ensues is for once not tense or awkward. All three feel some sort of surprise at how comfortable it actually feels. They sit together saying nothing for some time after that before the two outside make a move to leave as the sun sets and the moon makes a move to greet the world.
“Wait.” even Yoongi doesn’t expect his own outburst, but both free Beings pause and turn to him with hope shining clear in their eyes, practically forcing the next words from his mouth.
“My… My name is Yoongi.”