Chapter Text
Dear Yoongi hyungie~
Today has been one week since you left the harbour. People are asking why I look sad lately at the hospital. I keep telling them not to worry that I'll be fine. It's only been a week!
It's a bit hard to work with energy knowing that I don't have a reason to go home early and see you again. I really miss your cuddles when I come home.
I have a calendar hanging against the wall I bought from my latest paycheck, I marked the date that you would come back on it and there are seven weeks left.
I hope that you're safe on the boat yourself and working hard there too as you always do. Please eat and rest well hyung, I hope to get a reply from you very soon and I will write you back soon.
Your Jungkookie~
Yoongi stood in the line impatiently as he always did. His mail had come in and he was eager to read the letter his boyfriend sent him. He nodded and greeted everyone around him politely as he slowly moved up the line and finally got his letter.
It felt like his cheeks would tear with how wide he was smiling. The first thing he did after gently ripping the envelope open was smell the paper of the letter. It smelt like vanilla and cinnamon, the smell he associated with Jungkook. He sighed gently as he opened it up and read it out loud. His lips turned downwards. His Jungkook missed him. He had about a day till they set sail again. He needed to reply soon.
He finished his chores on deck as soon as possible and raced down the stairs to his cabin. He was lucky he had been chosen as one of the main engineers. It allowed him to have his own cabin and didn’t have to share it with anyone. On his desk were scattered papers which had all the different plans of the machines in the ship as well as several other documents he needed for operating those machines. Pushing those away to a side while also making sure he didn’t mess it up, he created a space empty enough for a paper to fit on it comfortably.
Dearest Jungkookie,
I’m doing well, hope you’re eating on time and resting well. I know it’s hard to sleep alone after cuddling with your better half like we’ve been doing but just as I must brace the waves and the nausea it brings, so must you brave the stillness of the night.
Don’t overwork, you know I’m going to say that. If you look tired, maybe you are tired? Don’t force yourself to work even though I know you love your work. I don’t think I can take worrying about you if you were sick while I’m on a voyage. I’ll have to leave midway. So stay well.
Seeing the face of the same people for the whole day is really tiring, especially when half of them don’t cooperate with you while working.
I’ve been striking days off as well. So I can tell you that there’s exactly forty four days left till we meet again.
I miss you and you’re almost always in my thoughts unless I’m working particularly hard haha
Looking forward to your next letter.
Yoongi hyung
P.S. the letter smells like you, I have a feeling I will hug it to sleep tonight./
After folding it neatly and putting it inside an envelope with the address, he decorated it with small doodles. After deeming it good enough, he climbed back on deck and walked off the ship to post the letter at the post office on the port.
It was tough, staying away from home for months on end. He was going to go on smaller voyages till he gained more experience. He was glad because he already felt homesick on the constantly oscillating ship.
Jungkook smiled happily as the postman gave him Yoongi's letter two days later. Seeing the small heart next to the addressed person on the envelope he giggled softly and ran back inside his apartment. He happily read through the letter, tears appearing in his eyes as he read the last line and swiftly wiped his eyes. He couldn't cry, he had promised Yoongi that he wouldn't cry.
Jungkook smiled as he saw the small doodles on the paper and looked at the calendar again, seeing that tomorrow he had a day off.
The following day he worked hard on drawing an old polaroid they had taken once when they were on a small trip to Disneyland. He put the drawing together with the polaroid in a envelope adding his letter.
Dear Hyungie
I miss you so much, I wrote this letter two days after yours arrived and I noticed how the sweatshirt that you left that morning barely has any of your smell again.
Besides that, today was my free day so I hope this letter arrives with you soon including my drawing and the polaroid.
Also! Jin hyung came by yesterday and took me out to a cafe, which was really fun.
I hope to hear from you soon! Eat well and rest properly hyung!
Your Jungkookie~
p.s. I hugged this letter so it'll have my smell again <3
Jungkook sealed the letter with a small moon and some stars on the envelope and then walked to the post office where he sent the letter to the next harbour he knew that Yoongi's ship would stay.
While Yoongi waited for the next letter, he found himself reading and rereading the one he received. He was often asked, what it was that kept him holed up in his cabin. He always smiled and said, “my motivation.” Because it was true. Jungkook was nothing less than his motivation. The only reason he sailed was because he knew he'd always have someone waiting on the shore.
No one was allowed phones on the ship. It was a rule since the cellular networks interfered with the radio. So letters were the only way to communicate with land.
He was at sea for eleven more days before they anchored again at another port. He went to the shops by the harbour to shop for little trinkets. He packaged them in a parcel, adding one of his sweatshirts he had brought from home before shipping it home with a small note.
“ I haven't received your letter yet, we just anchored an hour ago. But I wanted to send this as soon as possible so here are some things I think you'll like as well as my sweatshirt so you can wear it to sleep and fall asleep better.
I also sent some chocolates because I liked them and wanted to share them with you. I hope work isn't too stressful now. Make sure to eat well and my next letter will come as a reply to yours, one I'm sure is waiting for me back on board.”
He smiled as he paid for the mail and bowed to them in thanks before making his way back to his ship, a few new clothes under his arm to wear back on board.
He found himself in the long line to collect his mail again. On receiving it, he made his way back on deck to sit exposed to the cool breeze of the sea as he read. His smile grew as did his blush. His Jungkookie sure knew what to say to make him smile. It pacified him, knowing Jungkook was taking care of himself and staying in contact with his friends while he wasn't there to watch over him.
Walking back to his cabin, he pulled up his writing utensils and went back to write a letter.
Dear Jungkookie,
I hope this reaches you after your parcel. I hope the parcel puts a smile on your face as persistent as the one your letter put on mine.
Work has been as monotonous as ever so I can't tell you much about adventures but we did see dolphins!! And we were finally, finally allowed to swim briefly in the pool we have on board.
Trade is going well so I'll be able to treat you to a lot of things once I get back.
Only three days over a month left till we see each other again! Stay strong, I'll be there soon.
Lots of love,
Yoongi hyung
Sealing it away, he ignored all the catcalls and wolf whistles as he made his way from the deck to the harbour's post office. The teasing he got for having a girlfriend waiting back home (since he didn't have a wedding band) fell on deaf ears.
He stayed on the wooden plank on the way to deck just to enjoy the breeze before his mates on deck could bother him with questions about his special someone.
The second letter arrived one day before the package did but as soon as Jungkook read the first sentence he put away the letter and waited patiently for the package. Jungkook immediately put on the sweatshirt, the familiar smell of Yoongi was mixed with the salty smell of the sea.
Jungkook read through the smaller three times before taking one of the chocolates and humming happily as the sweet taste spread through his mouth. He understood why Yoongi would pick these chocolates out.
Shortly after Jungkook opened the letter again and read it through. Jungkook couldn’t really help it, the tears that started to form in his eyes as he read through it. He was jealous of Yoongi, not because Yoongi was having fun, more because Yoongi was having fun without him. He was jealous of Yoongi’s boatmates who were with him constantly. Jungkook took short to wipe his desk empty and wrote a letter back.
Dear Hyungie
Thank you for your gifts. The chocolate is delicious and the sweatshirt smells like you mixed with the sea.
I’m really thankful for your letter. I miss you so much hyung. It’s like our lives blended together so well and now that’s gone I just can’t get used to it again. I miss you so much.
I hope you’re eating well and having enough rest while working hard.
Kisses
Your Jungkook
Jungkook then put on his coat and walked to the post office to ship it. He stopped at a small grocery store where he bought Yoongi’s favorite candy and put those with the letter.
The next five days at sea were very long. Some of the lower crew had managed to mess up some of the machines which meant Yoongi and his team had to spend hours on end in the engine room, in the hot room with temperatures above fifty celsius.
During these hours too, Yoongi had managed to hurt himself and was now nursing himself with a first degree burn and several cuts on his arms from the sharp metals that jutted out from the complicated machines littering the engine room.
The only thing that pushed him through were the two letters which he had pinned up on the wall of his cabin as well as the polaroid and the drawing. If there was one thing that helped him through the day, it was Jeon Jungkook.
He was restrained to his bed and the first mate had taken the responsibility to get him his letter and write the response as well as post it back home since Yoongi had been told to rest with all his injuries.
Yoongi smiled sadly. The letter he received from Jungkook made him yearn for home even more than before. With exactly 4 weeks left, he wanted to do as well as he could to go back to Jungkook and stay with him for days on end like he did before joining this voyage.
The first mate of the ship sat at his desk, pen at the ready for Yoongi to dictate his letter.
Kookie,
I will savour the candy as little as possible because it will make me miss you and home more than I already do.
I managed to hurt myself in several different ways and it made me wonder about you and your job as a nurse. Do you also have patients who are as careless as me and hurt themselves as strangely as I did? I hope not. You don't need that stupidity in your life (I'm an exception of course). But don't worry, I'm well on the way to healing completely so by the time we meet (in 28 days from when I'm writing this), I'll be as good as new.
I bought extra clothes from the last harbour so I can keep sending you clothes.
I know I don't need to tell you this but I love you and I miss you a lot. When I get back, you have to take time off because I will not let go of you till we blend together again.
Love,
Your Yoongi
He was pushed down to rest again after he handed his sweatshirt to the first mate for shipping along with the letter. After checking the address for a fifth time, Yoongi finally let the first mate leave his cabin to go to the harbour and post his letter and package to the one who was waiting at home.
He was still being teased incessantly about a girlfriend and he didn't know how the men on board would react if he said it was a man he was writing letters to and not a lady so he kept mum. But the thought of him and Jungkook together still made him smile bashfully whenever he was teased.
Jungkook was worried already when he saw a different handwriting on the envelope and immediately opened it. He read through the letter and immediately wrote back a letter, knowing that he’d have to tell Yoongi to be safer from now on.
Jungkook put in some hello kitty bandages he had lying around for his little niece and put those in the envelope first, then he took out his pen and started writing the letter to Yoongi.
Dear Idiot
I am writing because you need to be way more careful with yourself. What if you get hurt even more! I don’t want to see any scars on your skin when you return hyung!
But yes I do meet many stupid people, even more stupid than you. Recently this guy came in, he ate a tide pot. Jimin and I are still making jokes about it. Anyway here are some hello kitty bandaids we left for my niece. Put them on your cuts, they’re small kisses from me.
Also, if you go back to the harbour again, can you please call me? I really miss hearing your voice and I just really want to hear you okay? Please take care and stay in bed for me?
Eat well though!! Don’t skip any meals please!
Your Jungkookie
p.s. You’re really a big idiot for burning yourself and cutting yourself,,, I hope they have a nurse as good as me there
Jungkook shipped the letter ten minutes later, hoping for Yoongi to receive it as soon as possible. Later that day he spend his afternoon watching old videos he takes whenever Yoongi is there. He falls asleep on the couch, dried tears on his cheeks.
Yoongi sighed. His birthday was in ten days and he just realised he would be away from Jungkook. It was his first time away from him on his birthday. As the days passed, they got longer. No, the sun didn't linger in the skies for too long. The skies were overcast in his mind. It gave him chills, being away from Jungkook's warmth for so long. He tried to steel himself to keep working. His cuts had healed and his burns were slowly peeling away to give way to new unmarred skin.
He was given his letter at his room as he had been spending his day brooding under his blanket with his window open to let the chill in. He read it and smiled sadly, tears made their way down his cheeks unaware till a particularly cold breeze hit Yoongi and made him wonder what felt so cool on his cheeks.
He wanted to go back to the harbour and call his Jungkook up but he felt so drained, he just cried it out onto his pillow, holding the letter to his chest. He had put a bandaid on the inside of his wrist and it now rested against his nose, as he thought of Jungkook putting them gently on his cuts. It was a weird image but it calmed him down nonetheless.
It was not till the day after that he actually got up and left the ship to head to the harbour. He went to the nearest booth and paid them with what little local currency he had exchanged before ringing up his darling. It was the only reason his back was straight right now. He wanted to hear Jungkook's voice and just pull himself of this misery he was putting himself through because of his longing for Jungkook.
Jungkook jumped towards his phone as he heard the special ringtone for Yoongi and picked it up.
"Hyung?" Jungkook asked, he realized how his voice sounded broken. He waited for Yoongi to reply, biting his lip hard.
Yoongi let out a shaky breath as he sat down against the wall of an alley. Tears closed up his throat, making him choke on his words. He sniffled quietly, happy to hear Jungkook's voice after what seemed like years to him. And God did it do wonders. It washed over Yoongi like a breath of fresh air, it soothed him and smoothed down all the ruffled up thoughts he had. His heart grew lighter and heavier at the same time because he heard his Jungkook finally but he would only see him after a full 3 weeks and 4 days later. It was painful as much as it was elating.
"Jungkook..." Yoongi finally said, eyes scrunched close as he breathed deeply to keep the tears out of his voice. He held the phone tightly to his ear, hoping to hear his other half better, wishing that holding it tighter would somehow bring Jungkook closer to him.
"I miss you," Jungkook said, tears dwelling up in his eyes, slowly rolling over his cheeks. "Are you feeling better?" he said, trying to create a normal conversation that wasn't going to make both of them cry harder than they both already were.
Yoongi made a noise in the back of his throat which he hoped sounded like a sound of agreement. After a few more calming breaths, he nodded to himself a few times and swallowed the lump in his throat again. "Yeah... I'm better, yeah," he said because after hearing Jungkook, really did feel better, there was no lie there.
"What about you, Jungkookie? Are you doing alright? Don't spend your days inside alright? Go out with Jiminie and Jin hyung, get dinner and all that jazz. You know right?" he said, once he felt he had gained enough control over his voice. It was still shaky but mostly legible. Yoongi mentally patted his back.
"I'm doing well," Jungkook replied, his nails scratching at a stain of coffee on the couch. "Seokjin hyung wants me to have dinner at his place, he's afraid I'm not eating well," Jungkook said as he bit his lip. His voice was still shaking and high pitched.
Yoongi hummed, feeling slightly calmer with each word Jungkook utters. His eyes were closed and the only thing that mattered to him then were Jungkook's voice filtering through the phone to his ear. "I agree," he muttered after a while, having realised he probably had stayed quiet for a bit too long as he soaked in the warmth of just the honeyed voice.
"You should probably have dinner at his place. It saves you the hassle to prepare dinner as well. We both know how lazy you can be when it comes to cooking meals for yourself," he said slowly, feeling with satisfaction how his voice settles down to a low rumble he knows Jungkook likes falling asleep to.
"Yeah, I know," Jungkook mumbled in reply. He let out a deep sigh. He felt calmer as he heard Yoongi's voice now. "I've been eating well the last days," Jungkook said, he wasn't completely honest, he had missed lunch several times the past weeks.
"You really want me to believe that? When you sounded so so sad in your last letter? I know I probably worried you sick. Especially with the letter being written by the first mate of the crew rather than by me. Be honest Kookie, are you doing alright?" Yoongi asked, a small smile on his lips as he heard little movements on Jungkook's end, trying to imagine where he was and what he was doing. It brought a sense of grounding to Yoongi and after days at sea, it was definitely welcome.
"I'm fine hyung," Jungkook whined as he stood up and walked to the kitchen. "I just want you to return," Jungkook said, voice soft again.
Yoongi sighed, leaning his head back to rest it against the wall behind him. "I know... Kookie, I know, hyung wants to come home soon too. The days don't pass fast enough, I understand but I can't leave mid voyage no matter how much I want to," Yoongi said slowly as if the words pained him too. He chewed on his lower lip before voicing out his next thoughts.
"Only if I wasn't a sailor... I could get a normal job and stay by your side everyday."
"Can you get a normal job after you get home?" Jungkook asked, hesitating to ask the question. Yoongi loved travelling across the world, or at least Yoongi did before they met.
Yoongi gulped. Did he want to give up on travelling across the world for Jungkook? No. But did he want to continue staying away from Jungkook for so long? Definitely not. The answer was as clear as water to him.
"I will try. I might not be educated enough to stay in one place but I want to. For you. For us. This is too painful to be worth it," Yoongi confessed, hand clenching over his chest.
"I want to be with you every night, sleeping along hurts," he said, sighing painfully. "We can just save up money for travelling around the world. But we'll do it together, alright? We'll learn many languages and travel the world, eat different foods, speak with many people and Kookie, we'll be together. Just a few more days, I promise I won't leave your side after that," Yoongi said, voice getting thicker with emotion.
Jungkook broke down there. He wiped the tears with the sleeves of Yoongi's sweater and tried to calm his breathing down. "That sounds perfect," he said through his sobs.
"Hey Jungkook, Kookie, listen to me okay? I don't want you to cry. I don't like hearing you cry, you know it hurts my heart right?" Yoongi said hurriedly, shaking his head as he brought his knees closer to his chest and clenched his fist in his hair.
"Jungkookie, listen to me, alright? I will be sailing again tomorrow in early evening and we will reach another harbour three days from then and we'll talk on the phone every chance we get. I'm done waiting to hear your voice. I think I need to go back soon but can you promise me one thing? I need you to start going to Jin hyung's place for dinner and eat well every day," Yoongi rambled, thoughts muddling together as he realised how dark it had gotten out.
"Y-yes," Jungkook stuttered softly as he wiped the tears away from his eyes. "I p-promise hyung," he said as he bit his lip. He sat down on the couch and tried to stop the tears from forming in his eyes. "How many days until you return?"
Yoongi hummed, inhaling shaky breaths as he calculated the days. "Twenty.... Twenty five? It should be around that. If we can speed up our pace then we might reach earlier by a day or two," Yoongi said after a couple of minutes. "Jungkookie, you know I love you right?" he said suddenly after listening to just the breathing on the other side and the soft whimpers that accompanied them.
"I love you too hyung," Jungkook mumbled in reply. Biting his lip again, harder this time. "I want you to be here," he sobbed softly.
"I want to be with you too, Jungkookie please... Please don't cry. I will be back soon and you won't have to miss me anymore. I will keep sending you little things so please make me the reason of your smiles, not your tears. It makes me feel inadequate," Yoongi said quietly, nails digging into his skin as his heart clenched tightly from hearing Jungkook's sobs.
"I'm sorry hyung," Jungkook said as he dried his tears again and calmed his breathing down. "I don't want to stop the call," he said after a minute as he finally calmed himself down.
With his eyes closed, Yoongi winced slightly. "I would love to keep talking to you all night long but I need to get back to the ship. You know the protocol baby, I need to stick to it," Yoongi told him with a sigh. He didn't want to leave either. His heart was here, with Jungkook so of course he was reluctant to hang up.
"I will send you little trinkets from here too," he added with a lighter tone. "As well as some of my clothes with my perfume on them," he said slightly teasingly.
"I love you hyung," Jungkook said as he bit his lip. "We'll speak soon right?" he asked, he wanted to be sure.
"Of course, Jungkookie. I'll call you again tomorrow. I leave only in the evening, so I'm free till tomorrow afternoon. I need to do some basic checks right before we set sail to make sure we don't need anything from the port," Yoongi explained softly. "I love you too Kookie," he said after a while, a fond smile on his face.
"I love you more hyung," Jungkook said, trying to stretch the call for longer.
Yoongi suddenly remembered his crew back on board and chuckled. "You know, with all your little gifts, people think you're a she. I told them it's a nurse and you're immediately a she," he laughed heartily into the phone, ignoring Jungkook's little bait.
"Really? But my name," he said as he giggled softly with the idea of being a girl. He smiled brightly again and looked at a photo frame that stood on the coffee table, an old picture of him and Yoongi, taken almost three years ago.
"With how soft you look, you'd easily pass off as one. But it's your jaw which gives you away," Yoongi chuckled. "I'm not going to correct them. I don't know if they're homophobic. All they need to know is I love someone who is home to me," he shrugged though he knew Jungkook wouldn't be able to see it.
"I get that, but I'll still kiss you when you arrive in the port," Jungkook reassured Yoongi as he giggled softly. "You should go back to the boat, it's probably getting dark there," Jungkook mumbled.
Yoongi looked up at the sky at the prompt. It was absolutely black. "It's not getting dark," he answered lightly. It was true, it wasn't getting dark if it was already dark, right? "But you can do whatever you want to do when I'm back on port. Gotta satisfy your exhibitionistic urges right?" Yoongi chuckled, teasing Jungkook. He had made it clear when Yoongi was about to leave. Yoongi had called him an exhibitionist then so he decided to repeat it just for the heck of it.
Jungkook giggled softly in reply to Yoongi's teasing. Yoongi always teased him. "It's already dark there isn't it?" Jungkook asked, knowing Yoongi's way of talking all the time. "You should get back hyung, they'll get mad at you."
"They will not. They know I've been missing my little nurse back home. I got your letter yesterday but I had no energy to get off my bed so I couldn't come call you earlier. I'm sorry Jungkookie," Yoongi confessed, stretching his legs out, looking down at his hand. "I missed you so much I couldn't function. The only reason I got work done I've been neglecting is because I knew I'd get to hear you at the end of the day and everything would be alright," Yoongi said, huffing quietly in mild amusement at himself.
"Don't make me cry again please," Jungkook said as he bit his lip. "I miss you too, you said you would call me again tomorrow?" Jungkook asked eventually.
"Sorry, I'm sorry, yes. I will call you tomorrow. I should be free all of first half tomorrow so I'll call you then," Yoongi said, nodding into the night air. He inhaled and exhaled through his mouth, watching his breath fog out in the cool weather.
"Alright," Jungkook said as he yawned. "I'm getting tired," he mumbled softly.
"You should ask Jin hyung to come by with something for dinner. Do you want me to call him for you?" Yoongi asked, heart growing warm at his sleepy voice and the image that painted itself in Yoongi's mind.
"Please," Jungkook asked as he rested down on the couch. "I'm tired of missing you," he said.
"I'm tired of being at sea and I thought this was something I loved. I mean, I do love being at sea, there's a different thrill to it but at the same time, I just want you with me. What if we could sail together? We always travel with a doctor and nurse on board anyway," Yoongi said, feeling brilliant for coming up with an idea which would let them both enjoy their passion as well as keep them together.
"I wanted to try studying for that," Jungkook mumbled, he first wanted keep it a surprise for Yoongi but he just couldn't keep secrets for his boyfriend.
Yoongi grinned on his side. "I'm sure you'll work hard baby," he said reassuringly. "You'll pass with flying colours, I believe in you, your passion and your love," he said, feeling rather cringy at his own words. "That was a bit too much, wasn't it... I should hang up and call Jin hyung. Otherwise you'll fall asleep and end up skipping dinner," Yoongi said, scrunching his nose up, revolted by the thought of hanging up.
"Yeah, but I don't want you to leave," Jungkook said as he bit his lip. "I'll work hard on studying," he said, another yawn following his words.
"I know you will Kookie, I believe in you. Now be a darling and relax alright? I'll wait till you're asleep to call Jin hyung so he can disturb your sleep with dinner," Yoongi said, chuckling under his breath.
Jungkook 'tsk'-ed softly and chuckled again. "Goodnight Hyung, rest well okay? and don't forget to eat," Jungkook said as he smiled and rested his head on a pillow on the couch. "I love you Yoongi hyung," Jungkook said.
"Goodnight Jungkookie, I love you too. If I keep reminding you to eat, how strange would it be if I forget to eat myself," Yoongi chuckled, feeling slight relief as he heard shuffling on Jungkook's end which meant he was actually going to fall asleep while on the phone. It was the closest they could get to sleeping next to each other and he would take what he could get.
"Yeah that's right," Jungkook said, slurring a little as he put the phone next to his mouth, turning on the speaker.
"Do you remember the day we first met, Jungkookie?" Yoongi said softly, wanting his boyfriend to fall asleep to fond memories.
"Ye," Jungkook replied, his eyelids getting heavier. His lips parted as he relaxed his body.
Yoongi stifled his little chuckle at the slurred reply but continued. "It was Jimin's graduation, wasn't it. And he brought you along, his favourite junior from college to celebrate with him, promising you to a similar celebration two years later. I remember I had already started sailing then, fresh out of engineering college and then training. You looked at me like I was something amazing because I traveled the seas," Yoongi narrated, trying to be as soothing as possible with his voice.
Jungkook hummed softly in reply, his smile brightening his face. "You looked good that day, didn't Hoseok help you with your outfit?" Jungkook mumbled softly, his eyes closing.
"Yeah. You know how much of a disaster I am when I'm told to choose my own outfit. I was going to wear a Hawaiian shirt since Jimin said celebrate. But Hoseok took matter into his own hands and dressed me in the smart casual clothes you saw me in. You looked like a soft child. If you were any younger, I would honestly have asked to adopt you," Yoongi said now chuckling openly. He still found his boyfriend adorable with his mannerisms and soft nature. It was charming and part of the reason why Yoongi was head over heels. Jungkook giggled softly in reply and pulled the phone a little closer to him, breathing into the phone.
"Obviously I felt slightly strange sitting next to someone who was four years younger to me, looked even younger but was much taller," Yoongi continued. "But seeing you smile brightly just melted my heart on the spot. Of course I jumped on the opportunity when you said you thought it was cool that I was a sailor. I knew I wanted to get to know you better already and maybe take you out so what better way than to bribe you into it?" Yoongi said, recollecting his fondest memory.
Jungkook smiled even brighter with the happy memory he shared with Yoongi.
"The way your eyes sparkled, it was clear you had put me on a pedestal already. It was so cute and I wanted to crush you in a hug back then too. Of course, I didn't initiate contact till we went out together for the second time and I finally had the guts to call it a date," Yoongi said, ears perked to listen to his Jungkookie's even breathing.
"But damn was it hard to stay away from you. With your soft demeanour but confident posture, you were literally my type personified," Yoongi confessed for the first time since they started dating.
Jungkook slowly felt into a dream, his breath calming down into a relaxed pace. Dreaming of his first dates with Yoongi.
Yoongi smiled as he recognised the soft deep breathing of Jungkook, which meant he was asleep. After listening to him breathe on the phone for a few minutes and confirming he was asleep, Yoongi hung up and called Jin up, briefly telling him to get Jungkook dinner two hours later before he set off to go back to his ship.
He was reprimanded for staying out so late but the soft glow of his face told his captain and the first mate that Yoongi's condition had gotten better. Letting him off with a little warning, the captain asked Yoongi to join them for the feast they were having on board that night.
Jungkook later got woken up by the smell of food being made in his small kitchen. He stood up, rubbing his eyes to see Jin there and ate with the elder guy.
Yoongi ate with his mates, smiling knowing his boyfriend was being taken care of. He fell asleep in high spirits that night, wishing everyone a good night with a smile on his face.
Next morning, he reported to duty and ran through the schedule for the day before leaving the ship to go call his boyfriend again. This time, he chose to sit in a café, choosing the furthest table and sitting down with a sandwich and cup of latte.
Jungkook got a surprise call for work, they needed him at the hospital. Jungkook rushed there in one of Yoongi's sweatshirts. He texted Yoongi that he got called up at work.
Yoongi had eaten partly through his sandwich when he finally called Jungkook. He tapped his foot impatiently while he waited for him to pick up his phone. He didn't. Yoongi shrugged and put the phone down and finished eating his sandwich.
He called again, hoping that last time Jungkook hadn't heard his phone for some reason. But this time too, his call goes unanswered. Biting his lip, Yoongi wonders if he should call someone else but thinks better of it and puts his phone down to finish his coffee this time.
He called a third time after he's done with his coffee. It was getting closer to afternoon and he didn't have much time so he really hoped Jungkook would pick up the call this time. He waited, waited and waited while the phone rang, rang and kept ringing. But it beeped again to tell him it wasn't received.
Sighing, he put his phone down and decided he would write his letter here while he could.
My Kookie,
It's a sunny day and a week till my birthday. I do miss you still after the call last night, but it has gotten better because we reminisced happy memories together. I called you thrice today because I promised you I would call you but you didn't pick up.
It hurts to think I will not hear you for a few more days after this. That is, of course, if you pick up the next time I call you. I miss you, Jungkookie and I am talking to my captain about qualifications for a nurse to be on the ship and you're not far away!
I told him about you, and since I know you and he trusts me, if you applied to this company, he might hire you and then bring you on board once you're done with your exam for sailing!
I'll see you in 25 days.
Love,
Yoongi
Tired and sad, Yoongi trudged to the post office and speed posted the letter with another sweatshirt and a keychain he had bought there.
While walking back to the ship, he called Jungkook one last time. When the phone kept ringing this time too, he sighed sadly and switched his phone off. Climbing on board, he threw himself into work to push away his sadness to the back of his mind.
Jungkook took his phone out of his locked only an hour after Yoongi had called, unlocking the screen he saw that he had missed four calls from his boyfriend and felt the tears dwell up in his eyes already.
He checked the text and his breath got taken as he saw that it hadn't been send properly. Message not delivered stood in red letters below the message. Jungkook let out a choked sob as he walked back home. Jungkook threw himself on the couch and tried to call Yoongi back, just hoping that Yoongi would pick up. Jungkook knew that Yoongi wouldn't pick up, but nevertheless he was disappointed as Yoongi didn't.
He felt guilt creep into every thought about Yoongi. How worried was Yoongi now?
A little more than three days later Yoongi's letter arrived and Jungkook read it as the guilt ate his guts away. Tears rolled over his cheeks as he wanted to throw himself and the letter both away.
He felt so stupid that he didn't check if the text had sent to Yoongi, he knew that texts hardly arrived when Yoongi was on sea. He immediately took out his pen and wrote back a letter.
Dear Yoongi hyung,
I want to tell you that I was at work when you called me. I had sent a text telling you that, but it didn't arrive properly to your phone. I feel so stupid for not checking that properly.
And I'm working hard on those exams for you. I can't wait to sail the sea together with you and take care of you when you hurt yourself again, as you are very talented at that.
I hope I can call you soon and hear your voice again. I really miss you a lot hyung.
Kisses
Kookie
Jungkook's tears stained the paper and the last words became a bit blurry on the wet paper. Jungkook ignored it and put it in an envelope and sent the letter away immediately. Hoping it would arrive with Yoongi soon.
Yoongi spent his days keeping himself busy. He didn't want to think about how Jungkook was. He was too far away to help with anything. He couldn't help but worry of course but there was also no way he could contact anyone on land to check up on Jungkook.
He did try to ask his captain but he was refused, so he was left alone to worry on his own. He was sure though that if anything was wrong, Jin would help Jungkook. Jin had also gone to Jungkook's place after Yoongi had called that night. He would take care of Jungkook.
Pacifying himself repeatedly with that thought, Yoongi continued to work but their ship hit a storm the second night in and they were too far out at sea. The storm locked everyone inside and drained the fuel from the tank till they had barely any left to keep sailing.
Their ship was also too large and heavy to be carried by the tradewinds and currents. And so they didn't have sails either. The only way out was by waiting for another ship to come give them the fuel they needed. A tanker ship was to set out from the nearest dock in two days.
So for those two days, Yoongi's ship, Divine Child, was stuck at sea with just the waves and animals below the water to accompany them and then they sailed for another day and night before reaching their next port.
When Jungkook got no letter back he got afraid. Yoongi's ship should've been at the harbour almost four days ago and he walked around their apartment nervously. He really hoped that Yoongi was okay.
Jungkook was afraid, extremely afraid that something had happened to Yoongi and that nobody would write him a letter about Yoongi. He knew that the contact person on Yoongi's form was always him. Jungkook ignored it, or rather his anxiety did.
The speed at which Yoongi ran off the ship as soon as they anchored at the port and connected the ship with a bridge, could only be described as flying. With a loose jacket wrapped around him to keep himself warm, a wallet in his pocket and fully charged phone clutched in his hand, Yoongi raced to the nearest restaurant he could see, sitting down and barely ordering a drink before he dialled Jungkook's number, breath leaving him in little puffs as he tried to get his heart under control again.
Jungkook heard the ringtone and immediately had to bite his lip to stop him from crying at this point. He picked up the phone. "I'm so sorry, I was called in for work and I noticed too late that my text didn't send," Jungkook said immediately as he picked up the phone, he spoke extremely fast.
Yoongi closed his eyes and chuckled in relief. "Oh God, I was so worried. I thought something had happened. I knew you had Jin hyung though," Yoongi told Jungkook after letting him catch his breath.
"There was a bad storm and it stranded us at the sea," he explained, guessing Jungkook would want to know about his delay too. "I came out as soon as we docked to talk to you so if you sent a letter back, I haven't read it," he added quietly, nodding in thanks to the waiter before he was left alone again.
"I sent a letter back," Jungkook said as he bit his lip. "I was so worried hyung, your birthday is in how many days again?" Jungkook teased his boyfriend a little.
"You brat. It's the 7th of March today. How many days do you think are left?" Yoongi said, voice lowered slightly to try and sound angry. He knew his boyfriend would see through his facade but his giggles were worth everything Yoongi could give.
"Two," Jungkook giggled softly as he tried to hide his smile behind his hand that was covered by his sweatshirt now.
"Wow you remember, I'm so honoured my boyfriend remembers the birthday of a peasant like me," Yoongi rolled his eyes but laughed along anyway.
"Shut up I know it's 9th March 1993, grandpa," Jungkook giggled as he fell onto his couch. Being in a honeymoon state of love at this point.
"Who knew you were into older men, baby," Yoongi teased. He was a grandpa when it came to his habits and nature but he always teased Jungkook back when he called him as such.
Jungkook giggled softly. "I missed you, I was so worried about you hyung," Jungkook said as he let out a deep, happy sigh.
"If our ship did sink, you would get a call. You're not getting rid of me that easily," Yoongi grinned. He knew it was a dark topic they usually didn't breach but he also knew it was important to reassure his boyfriend.
"Yeah, I know," Jungkook mumbled as he bit his lip and sighed.
"Hey Kookie, I'm fine aren't I? Of course, this also means that our arrival back home will be two days later than before but what is two more days when we've stayed apart for more than a month, right?" Yoongi soothed, smiling sadly.
"Y-yeah," Jungkook said as he bit his lip again, trying to stop stuttering.
"Kookie, you're doing well. We're doing so well. Don't cry. We've come so far, right? We will make it to the end," Yoongi said trying to keep his voice leveled since he could tell Jungkook was close to breaking down.
"I know," Jungkook said as he calmed his breathing down.
"That's like my Kookie," Yoongi smiled. "I'm really proud of you," he added as an afterthought punctuating it with a small happy sigh.
"I was so worried for you," Jungkook said as he had finally calmed down. He rubbed his hand over his arm and let out a sigh. "I'm always so worried about you, you will be at sea on your birthday right?"
"Yeah I will. I'm too old to celebrate my birthday anyway," Yoongi said, feeling slightly guilty for choosing this voyage which not only kept him away from Jungkook for so long but also took away from him one of the few days in the year when he spent the whole day in his boyfriend's company.
"You're never too old!" Jungkook protested as he pouted, knowing that Yoongi couldn't see it. He let it get into his voice though, whining a little.
"You're only saying that because you love cutting cakes," Yoongi chuckled at his whine. He could imagine his boyfriend pout with his arms crossed across his chest stubbornly.
"I love spoiling you," Jungkook said as he giggled.
"I don't even like cakes, Kookie, that's you," Yoongi laughed. "I do like the cookies," he said after a while. "And the pizza. Definitely the pizza," he hummed.
"I'll buy you pizza hyung," Jungkook said as he smiled and chuckled softly. He felt something bite in his gut. Something that he had planned before, something that Yoongi couldn't know.
"On my birthday? How does that work? Only you'll get to eat it," Yoongi chuckled. He loved hearing Jungkook's smile in his voice, it made his boyfriend sound so much younger and so much more endearing.
"I'll but it once you return," Jungkook said as he chuckled again.
"Okay that's fine by me too," Yoongi laughed. "Hey did you have lunch yet? If not, let's have it together," he said, when he was urged to order again.
"I'll have lunch again for you," Jungkook said as he put the phone on speaker and walked to the kitchen where he prepared sandwiches for himself.
"You don't have to, I just wanted to make sure you had food," Yoongi said softly before excusing himself and ordering dishes for his own lunch.
"But I really want to have lunch with you," Jungkook whined softly.
"Do you want me to Skype you? I think there's free WiFi here," Yoongi proposed, pausing to slurp on his drink.
"Always," Jungkook replied as he smiled, not wanting to stop the call though.
"Hold on, I'll put you on speaker and check," Yoongi mumbled, pulling it away from his ear and switching on the speaker. "I'm gonna switch the WiFi on here," Yoongi said as he worked on the settings to get Skype to work. He missed Jungkook's face.
"Is it working?" Jungkook asked as he bit the inside of his cheek, he hoped it would work but at the same time he knew it wouldn't be too big of a problem if it didn't.
"No... Doesn't work..." Yoongi pouted. Switching off speaker, he sighed as he put the phone back to his ear. "Can't see your face yet apparently. The internet's not working," he said.
"I'll send you a selfie," Jungkook said as he looked at his sandwich and took the plate walking to the living room. "Do you have your lunch already? I'm about to eat mine."
"You can start, mine is yet to arrive. It's quite busy in here," Yoongi answered, looking down at his open palm. "So I suppose they'll take a while. But it shouldn't be too long. What did you make yourself?"
"I made two sandwiches with cheese and cucumber," Jungkook said before he took a bite from the sandwich. He hummed happily.
"I hope you're gonna have milk with that," Yoongi said in a warning tone. "You know by now that there aren't enough nutrients in just that, right?"
"Yes I'll get some banana milk with it hyung," Jungkook said as he picked up his phone again and walked to the kitchen getting his favorite drink from the fridge.
"Good boy," Yoongi praised. The waiter finally came by with his food and started serving it to him. "I guess we can start together then," Yoongi began. "My food is here too."
"Yay," Jungkook said as he took a bite from his own sandwich.
Yoongi chuckled. "You sound so happy," he said sarcastically. "But the food I'm having is actually good and nutritious, unlike yours," he snorted.
"What are you eating?" Jungkook asked before taking a bite from his sandwich.
It was like they were never apart at all. They had their normal daily conversation at lunch. Sure, their ears got heated up and sweaty with how long they spoke over the phone.
It surprised Yoongi too, how long he spoke with the phone stuck to his ear. But with Jungkook, time seemed to pass real fast. He was thankful for that but that also meant he wasn't too excited to leave when he needed to be back.
Luckily today, both of them had work to get to and with hesitant goodbyes, they hung up.
One day passed without a sign of the other. Yoongi's ship leaving the port. Jungkook working at the hospital as always.
But aside from that the shipmates from Yoongi acted like they were keeping a secret from him, they weren't very good at acting normal towards Yoongi.
Jungkook himself had taken the next day off. Knowing all what was going on on the ship. Jungkook had trouble falling asleep that night.
Yoongi had suspicions ever since he realised his crew mates were barely meeting his eyes. He had been sighing heavily all throughout the day because of how much he had been ignored and sidelined.
He spent a whole day like that and had a fitful sleep at night. He couldn't understand what made them behave that way.
On his birthday, he woke up as usual and headed out on deck after freshening up for the morning sea breeze.
As soon as Yoongi stepped on the deck he got wished a happy birthday from a couple of his mates. Some seemed to be missing, this including the captain of the ship.
Breakfast was served on the boat shortly after, nobody missing there. The rest of the day seemed to pass normal to Yoongi until lunch. It was a little before twelve when the captain stopped him from doing a task.
Yoongi took off his gloves and looked at the captain of the ship. "Are you here to tell me why nobody is meeting my eyes?" He deadpanned. The captain knew he lacked a filter and said things as they were, which is why he preferred him over several others.
"Yeah, come on follow me," The captain said as he walked towards Yoongi's cabin.
Jungkook meanwhile was sitting in front of his laptop. He was fiddling with his thumbs as he looked at the screen where he looked at the wall of Yoongi's cabin. There were Jungkook's letters stuck to the wall with tape, He also spotted the drawing he made from the polaroid in the corner.
"Why are we going to my cabin?" Yoongi asked, frowning as he followed his captain to his room. He didn't understand what about his room explained about the treatment he received since yesterday.
As soon as the door opened Jungkooks started singing Happy Birthday for Yoongi. He started out softly as he smiled happily as Yoongi appeared on the screen of his laptop. "Happy birthday Yoongi hyung," Jungkook said as he finished.
Jaw dropped and an expression of disbelief on his face, Yoongi sank down on the chair in front of the screen. "Jungkookie?" He rasped, voice thick with emotion, eyes blurring with tears.
"Hyung," Jungkook said as he smiled brightly. He studied Yoongi's face for a couple of seconds to make out tears on the pixelated screen. "Hyung don't cry please," he called out, feeling sad that he couldn't dry Yoongi's tears.
Yoongi choked out a laugh, his tears spilling over to his cheeks. "I can't believe this," he sniffled, rubbing his eyes with his fists to clear them of the tears that had been getting in the way of his vision. He put his hands under his legs because he subconsciously found himself reaching out for the screen before he realised that's all it was. A screen, an image he wouldn't be able to touch. "How long have you been planning this for, you brat?" Yoongi said, still sniffling and voice still shaky.
"The whole time, I felt so bad having to hide this from you," Jungkook said as he reached forward to give a kiss on the webcam camera. "I'm sorry I couldn't tell you hyung," Jungkook said as he smiled at Yoongi.
"I thought I was going to go for another few weeks without seeing your face," Yoongi complained in broken whispers, reaching out to stroke along the planes of Jungkook's currently pixelated face. He could imagine Jungkook sitting right in front of him right now and it hurt his heart knowing he's so far away.
"This is the best gift I could have gotten next to you flying to me," Yoongi added with a soft anime.
"I don't have the money to fly to you," Jungkook mumbled. "I would've done it." He looked at the screen and smiled before looking next to his laptop. His hand was lying on the paper as he bit his lip. "I have another surprise I kept secret from you," Jungkook said, feeling guilty.
"If you're going to ask me to marry you, Jungkook we're still young and I want to buy us a house before we can actually get married so that will have to wait," Yoongi grinned, using a tissue to dab at his face.
"No it's not that!" Jungkook said as he rolled his eyes and took the paper from the table. He showed it to the screen. "I finished the exams."
"What exams?" Yoongi asked incredulously as he got closer to the screen to read, eyes squinting to discern what was written on the paper held up for him to see.
"To be able to sail," He said as he smiled and put the paper a bit closer to the camera, so that it’d take the whole screen.
"No way... Jungkook what the fuck?" Yoongi gasped, hand coming up to cover his mouth. "Jungkook?"
"Yes?" Jungkook said as he took the paper away and looked at the screen. "Are you going to cry again?" He asked unsurely.
"Can you blame me if I did," Yoongi pouted, feeling his heart swell with love again. He sobbed against the table, head cushioned by his forearms.
"No," Jungkook giggled softly as he saw Yoongi's head dissapear from the camera. "Hyung please," Jungkook said as he smiled, knowing that these tears were from happiness made him feel so much better.
"No," Yoongi mumbled stubbornly. "I hate you. You hid so many things from me and then you make me love you even more. My heart hurts," he said, still nestled between his arms.
"Hyung!" Jungkook whined as he put the paper away. "I want to hug you now."
"Should've flown here," Yoongi mumbled again, finally lifting his head to let Jungkook see his pout and tear stained cheeks.
"Pay me for it," Jungkook said as he looked at the screen and felt guilty somehow. "Hyung, you make me feel guilty when you look like that."
"If you told me you weren't going to work today, I probably would have somehow made arrangements for you to come on board. And you should feel guilty, you're the cause," Yoongi huffed. "It's just that you're seeing me for the first time now. I often look like this when I go to sleep," Yoongi mumbled, fiddling with his fingers.
"Because you miss me?" Jungkook asked nervously, he didn't want that, he really didn't want that.
Yoongi nodded. "Yeah... That's why I... That's why I was ready to sacrifice it all." Yoongi shifted uncomfortably in his seat. It felt like betrayal since he was saying this while on a ship. "I just... I don't know, I just really miss you," he sighed. He knew if he made eye contact with Jungkook now, it would probably hurt his heart. So he trained his gaze on the mole below his lips instead, something to ground him.
"You won't have to miss me anymore, next time I'll be there," Jungkook said as he smiled and chuckled.
"Yeah," Yoongi let out a watery laugh. "Next time you'll be with me. I still can't believe it... I'm so happy," he said, bouncing on his seat again. "We can go on dates whenever we dock somewhere and we'll essentially have dates all over the world," he gushed excitedly.
"I will take the polaroid camera with me and we should start a photobook," Jungkook said as he looked at his laptop again. "Will we be able to have a cabin together?"
"Nasty. But I don't know, probably? I'm one of the three people who gets a cabin to themselves so I guess it wouldn't be impossible to stay together," Yoongi shrugged. "Instead of just a photo book, what if we start a blog together instead?" he proposed, grinning at Jungkook.
"Oh we should! Sailing The World or something," Jungkook giggled as he smiled brightly at Yoongi.
"Exactly! Across the seas or something would also work!" Yoongi felt good. This truly was the best birthday he could've gotten.
"Once you return we should start it," Jungkook said. He enjoyed this so much. Happy of their future together.
"Yeah, once I return... Just three more weeks till then," Yoongi sighed. "Sorry I'm being like this," he smiled sheepishly, hand rubbing the back of his neck.
"No, it's okay, I love you," he said as he blew a kiss to the camera.
"I love you too," Yoongi smiled, shaking his head at his boyfriend. "How did you manage to get the crew to set up internet and everything though?"
"I have no idea, I asked them and they just helped me," Jungkook said as he giggled happily.
Yoongi leaned his head on his hand and looked at the screen. "I'm glad," he sighed happily. "This is the best day since the voyage started. I wonder if we can keep talking like this everyday for a certain period of time till we get home?" He wondered.
"You should ask if you can keep this laptop here with the internet," Jungkook said.
"I brought my own laptop to work on... If we can connect that to internet, it'll be more than enough," Yoongi mused as he looked down at the laptop, wondering if the connection was wireless.
"Yeah, you should," Jungkook said happily as he looked at Yoongi and admired him.
"Why is Seokjin hyung not here to wish me though?" Yoongi said with a raised eyebrow after spotting the WiFi dongle.
"He's coming over in, like, ten," Jungkook said as he grinned and looked at his phone.
Accompanied by Jungkook's bright smile and Yoongi's gentle voice, the sun seemed to travel the skies faster as they found themselves bidding each other a farewell they knew was forced. But we a promise of 'soon', they finally hung up because after all, they did have other things to do.
Yoongi approached his captain, the laptop tucked under his arm. Putting it down on the table, he didn't even have to ask before the captain extended the WiFi dongle to him.
"At the next port we're going to get WiFi installed but till then you can use this. Everyone has seen how much you miss home and how much you miss Jungkook," the captain told Yoongi, making him flush embarrassedly. But it was all good. From then on, Yoongi and Jungkook spent hours at night after dinner catching up with each other before they fell asleep with each other. It was the next best thing to being home next to Jungkook, Yoongi thought.
The three remaining weeks passed by as fast as the winds in a storm and soon the ship was set to arrive at their last port, the home port, in a few hours. People were running about finalising everything, getting their reports done, packing up their belongings, etc.
Jungkook was nervous as he stood at the port. He had woken up early to get himself ready. But he had no idea why he was an hour early at the port. He had dragged Seokjin and Jimin along to welcome their friend at the port.
Yoongi had finished packing his suitcases last night while he was on the video call, excited to meet Jungkook for real after almost two months. He couldn't believe how needy he was acting but it was nice to know he wasn't the only one. His captain had also finished packing up. Her husband would be waiting at the harbour as well and even though she had to get off last as per protocol, she had packed up already to reduce any delay possible.
Right now, both of them were standing at the hull, watching as they got closer to land, slower than they wanted but consistently nonetheless.
Hearing the first mate call out through the walkie talkie, his captain pulled it out and asked him to repeat and they heard the news. With their current speed, they were going to anchor half an hour before their expected time of arrival. Yoongi and his captain, Hyuna, gave out collective sighs of excitement, leaning forward on the rail slightly.
Since it was his first voyage which lasted more than a month, Hyuna agreed to let him leave first.
Entering his cabin which was now bare, Yoongi pulled out all his pieces of luggage and put them by the cloak room by the exit. He didn't know how long he had just been staring at the horizon because soon he heard the familiar ringing of bells signifying the dropping of the anchor. The constant motion the ship was in stopped and it moved with the waves now, as heavy as it was.
Yoongi grabbed his luggage after hugging everyone a speedy farewell and stood by the railing, waiting for the deck to be connected with the dock. He could see Jungkook standing with Seokjin and Jimin, making his stomach bubble with excitement. As soon as the wooden plank connected them to land, Yoongi unlocked the gate with its elaborate lock and rushed out with his luggage down the plank.
Jungkook cried as he saw Yoongi. He really didn't want to but the tears streamed down his face. Still doing so as they connected their lips again. "I'll never have to miss you again," he said happily.
Yoongi felt laughter bubble up his throat as he wrapped his arms around Jungkook. "God I missed you so much," he breathed, burying his face in the crook of his neck.
Jungkook smiled happily as he kissed Yoongi's lips again and wiped his tears from his cheeks. "I love you so much Min Yoongi," Jungkook said as he gave the brightest smile.
Yoongi relished just running his hand through Jungkook's hair before pulling him in for a kiss again. He was so starved for his touch. "I love you too Jeon Jungkook," Yoongi said between pecks, smiling as he felt Jungkook giggle against him.
"Let's go home Hyung," Jungkook said as he took Yoongi's hand again and lifted up one of Yoongi's bags.
Yoongi smiled and kissed Jungkook's cheek, nuzzling into it. "I'm already home," he murmured against his skin before pulling away and grabbing his other bag, pulling Jungkook close to his side as they walked towards the exit with Jimin and Seokjin in tow for the celebration that was bound to happen at his house.