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Yoongi floats, eyes unfocused on the distant ceiling above him. The only sound is the one of water in his ears, making everything dull and kind of downy. It’s nice. Those moments of intense quiet make his inner words flow better, smoothly. Water is always a good catalyst for his turmoil and despite long having been cast away from the oceans, Yoongi has never let go of this part of his heritage.
Mermaids were slowly but surely going extinct. It’s a fact Yoongi has accepted for as long as he can remember, most likely because his kind was already dwindling down when he was born. To the point he had never really met another one in a good two or three decades.
The next inhale sounds amplified to Yoongi and he likes that. The sound of his own breathing. Loud but only for himself to hear. But it also tugs the strings of his turmoil, this unrelenting voice inside him constantly screaming. Yoongi’s mind drifts toward the old myths for a while, reminding him that some versions of mermaids tales said they used to scream. He wonders how much of the myths are true. Not that it matters, really. He’s just curious.
A splash yanks him out of his languid state, shaking the smooth line of words inside his mind so Yoongi tilts his head out of the water. It’s a kid he’s used to seeing here, always swimming an insane amount of laps. Once, Yoongi stayed just to count. He stopped after reaching twenty-five.
This time Yoongi doesn’t stay though, it’s Thursday after all. Thursday is a working day and it’s almost 9pm. Yoongi slowly hauls himself out the pool once he gets to the edge. The kid notices him and salutes him with a nod of his head and a shy smile. Yoongi reciprocates the nod. He grabs his towel sitting on the bench and pads toward the locker room and showers.
_
The lights are dim, both in the room and on stage. A single low bass line adds to the dark and intimate atmosphere of the place. The decor is minimal, deep blue velvet draped all across the room, teal tablecloths and blue orbs as lampshades falling in uneven length from the quite high ceiling. Namjoon instantly likes the place. It somehow reminds him of home.
A waiter comes to him. Tall, elegant, his black hair reflecting the blue light. Jinyoung, the tag reads.
“Good evening, I’m Jinyoung, I’ll be your waiter.” he says with a curt nod.
“Good evening.” Namjoon smiles, mirroring him.
Jinyoung motions to the tables and Namjoon falls in behind him. The young man places him slightly at the right of the stage, not too close but not too far either. The bassist is alone and seems to be in his own world, not paying attention to his surrounding, head hanging low. Namjoon thanks Jinyoung as he brings him the menu then leaves him to choose his dinner.
Namjoon quickly peruses the menu, his attention hogged by the stage, the empty stool behind the only standing mic. When Jinyoung comes back, he nods with each piece of the menu jotted down his notepad. Namjoon follows his elegant shoulders until he disappears out of his sight line. He then focuses back on the small stage where the bassist still plays.
There are drums opposite to the man, the mic and stool slightly at the forefront. Grapes of spotlights from each side of the stage cast orange and purple glows on the whole corner. It’s the only place of the restaurant where blue velvet isn’t on the walls, replaced by white wallpaper with a growing ivy pattern, in blue and green tones.
The lights get even dimmer for a moment and the bass dies down. The people already at their tables clap softly and a small silhouette emerges from the shadow to climb the few steps to the stage. The man stands next to the stool, offers a bow toward the audience before sitting down, one leg on the bar and the other dangling.
The singer, Namjoon assumes, is of small stature, decked in black from head to toes with a touch of white here and there with the large lacy choker and the stripe along the side of his pants. The rest of his outfit is a loose black shirt with short sleeves, the neck plunging into a v large enough to reveal black mesh. Around his waist, a belt of shiny texture, silk maybe. The mesh continues on the man’s arms down to his elbows. One of his hand is encased in a mitten. The man wears his black hair in a perfectly shaved sidecut, hair falling on the right of his face, almost to shoulder length. Black stylized combat boots complete the look.
“Good evening.”
The voice is lower than what he expected. It’s not a bad surprise though, on the contrary. Namjoon sits closer to the edge of his chair, already loving the raspy low tone of the singer. Notices the very small lisp and he finds that it gives a softer touch to the whole of his voice. The spotlight aimed at him changes for a purple tone and the bass starts again, fast and strong, drums following suit. The man grabs the mic and Namjoon loses his breath. Oh . The words flow, or more like they fly like bullets, rapidly fired away at the audience, a deep frown marking his features.
Technically speaking, it’s not a song. Namjoon knows about rap, he’s learned about it long ago when he first set foot on land. He’s taken quite a like to it, to be frank. But he clearly recognises a song when he hears one. It resonates with his own inner lone song. Jinyoung arrives with his starter, discreet as ever, so much that Namjoon almost doesn’t catch sight of him. Or maybe he’s too entranced by the man’s voice, words wrapping naturally around his heart. Namjoon hasn’t been this captivated in a while and he suspects it might be due to the man’s nature. He doesn’t dwell on it though, willing to thoroughly enjoy the performance.
_
Yoongi stands up from the stool, feeling sweat trickling down his back and right under his knees. He’s used to intent gazes boring into him but something is different with this one guy. He’s a new client, Yoongi can tell, he’s never seen him before. True there are two nights a week he doesn’t perform but he’s fairly certain of that. This guy is… Yoongi doesn’t know where to begin. He’s been watching him almost the whole time, indecipherable, head tilted to the side, making him push long blueish grey hair behind his right ear. The biggest part of his hair seemed to be tied into a bun, the rest falling naturally into a cascade over his shoulders. When he wasn’t looking at Yoongi, he had his eyes closed, a barely visible frown creasing his brows. It almost looked like he was absorbing the words of his raps for his expression felt… intense. Yoongi has no other word for it.
Currently, the guy is thanking Jinyoung, smiling big and Yoongi likes the way he slightly hides his mouth behind long fingers. Yoongi sips his water, shaking absent-mindedly the bottle. The guy is intriguing to say the least. Beside from his attitude, Yoongi feels like something emanates from him. Something similar to himself, but different. Yoongi keeps his eyes on him as Jinyoung walks away with a bow, the guy turning his attention back to him. Apparently, he doesn’t expect Yoongi eyes on him as he accidentally knocks his glass over, spilling beer everywhere.
Yoongi chuckles, chugs down some more water then puts the bottle back before returning to his stool. He spots Jinyoung closer to the stage and he quickly waves him to catch his attention.
He’s a new customer?
His eyes shift to the guy occupied with napkins, probably to contain the beer catastrophe.
He is, yes. Jinyoung’s mouth turns up at one corner. Piqued your curiosity?
Kinda. Let’s say he has an aura.
Jinyoung briefly cuts eye contact with him to pile up plates from a table.
So you noticed too. He’s not a mermaid, I’m sure of that.
What can he be then?
Ooh. You’re clearly interested. Jinyoung smirks knowingly.
Shut up. Yoongi’s turn to break eye contact. I said kinda.
I don’t know what he is. He’s similar to us, though probably more ancient.
Ancient? Yoongi frowns. How can you tell?
Jinyoung looks pensive as he moves toward the next table. A feeling. Something in his eyes, maybe.
Yoongi stays silent, gaze pulled back toward the guy. He glances at the slim watch tucked under his mitten and clears his throat for the second half of his performance.
_
Namjoon looks up from the disaster he made on his dinner table, completely ashamed and guilty of being caught off guard by the man. Who clearly saw him sending all his beer over the tablecloth and he still feels his ears burning.
Jinyoung is few tables away, plates in his hands, and the man is still on stage, drinking from a bottle. They are looking at each other but no word is spoken. There is clearly a conversation though, from their expressions. Telepathy. Funny how he didn’t suspect Jinyoung. He probably had taken the habit to hide himself and the trick worked. But now Namjoon is sure of it, the man standing on the scene is a mermaid.
It’s not the first time Namjoon sees one, though they tend to get scarce these days. Humans had driven them away from the oceans, long before Namjoon settled on land. Mermaids didn’t scare humans, they were just nuisance to them. They needed the oceans so they got kicked out. Despite all the awful stories and all what he went through, Namjoon didn’t find it in him to resent them.
Namjoon goes back to his pile of paper napkins, dabbing them gently as if to apologise to the tablecloth for ruining it. When he looks up again, the conversation seems over, Jinyoung walking away. He wonders what they talked about but it definitely involved him in some type of way, given the insistent look from the man onstage.
The lights change again. Jinyoung is taking long strides, his dessert in front of him and there’s a brief stop in his stride when he passes next to the stage, looking above his shoulder. It’s barely a second or two but the rapper clearly said something to the waiter. It intrigues Namjoon even more.
“And your dessert, sir.” Jinyoung says politely, placing the plate expertly on the table. “Do you need anything else?”
Namjoon stares at the stage where the man is getting ready for a round two, and decides he can take a chance, after all.
“Yes. I’d like this person’s name, if possible.” he dares, scrutinising Jinyoung’s face.
Jinyoung who quirks a brow, followed by a smile. “I’m afraid I cannot tell you that, sir.”
A sense of blighted hope rings inside Namjoon who opens his mouth to reply something.
“He’ll probably tell you himself though.” Jinyoung interrupts, smiling even larger.
“Oh.” is all he can manage. “Thank you!” Namjoon hastily adds as Jinyoung turns his back.
The waiter simply nods. Namjoon goes back to the current object of his contemplations, groping around to find the spoon, unwilling to miss one second of the show.
_
Yoongi tugs himself in his bomber jacket. Not the greatest choice fashion wise to go with the rest of his outfit, he thinks as he once-overs himself in the mirror of the dressing room. Yoongi makes a small pout, shrugging as he leaves, turning off the light. He adjusts the strap of his bag on his shoulder.
His heart beats faster. Yoongi isn’t nervous, not really. It’s more anticipation than anything. Well, there is a bit of nervousness but that’s not the whole feeling. His footsteps are lighter than they’ve been in a while, as if every fibre of his whole being is excited to meet up with this guy. The thought makes him smile.
Yoongi pushes the back door, deeply breathing in the cold air of October. It’s burning but it’s good. Yoongi walks around the corner of the restaurant, reaching the front of it where the street lamps cast strong but bleak cones. Under one of them, his new admirer is there, face up toward the sky, seemingly stargazing, vapor flying in short volutes from his lips.
“Do you see anything worthwhile?”
The guy whips his head in Yoongi’s direction, a smile quick to pull his lips.
“Yeah. Right in front of me.” comes the reply.
Yoongi smiles in return. “So you’re the sappy type.”
The man fully turns to face him, chuckling as he hides a blush with a fakely interested look into his shoes.
“And you’re the mermaid type.”
Yoongi feels a bit thrown off by this comment. He isn’t exactly fond of hiding who he is, unlike Jinyoung, but then again they didn’t have the same experiences. But to be found out felt… strange. A bit scary.
“I didn’t mean to creep you.”
Yoongi looks up to the guy who’s chewing at his lower lip. He squints and it seems to do the trick, as the guy dances from one foot to the other.
“I have met mermaids before. I just recognised the patterns of signs indicating that you are one.”
After a moment, Yoongi makes an appreciative pout. “You seem to have nice observation skills.”
“Thank you.” the answer is hesitant.
“I mean it, don’t worry.” Yoongi extends his hand. “What’s your name, Mr Observation? I’m Yoongi by the way.”
The guy considers his hand for a few seconds, like he didn’t expect him to do that. Then he reciprocates and shakes his hand. The man’s palm is much warmer than Yoongi thought, a low wave curling inside him, like trying to get in sync with something.
“Nice to meet you, Yoongi. I’m Namjoon.”
“Namjoon.” Yoongi repeats.
“It’s late, I don’t want to monopolise your time.” Namjoon says softly.
“I’m a night creature.” Yoongi shrugs. “Don’t worry.”
“Should we walk? Maybe go drink something warm?”
“No alcohol?” Yoongi refrains from giggling.
Namjoon’s face instantly flushes pink, nervous laugh spilling from his mouth.
“I think I had my count of alcohol for the night, truthfully.”
Yoongi can’t help the smile from tugging his lips. He pats Namjoon on the shoulder as he walks past him, inviting him to follow with a nod. This is promising, he thinks.
_
Namjoon glances to his right side, catching a brief sight of Yoongi burrowing his face in the scarf he dug out from his backpack a bit earlier. Namjoon appreciates the fact that the sidecut is on the left side of Yoongi’s face, leaving him able to contemplate his face to his heart’s content. Until Yoongi’s gaze shifts to him, that it.
“Hum.” Namjoon looks away.
If Yoongi caught him, he doesn’t say anything of it.
“So, you come here often?”
Namjoon looks in front of him, looks at the city lights carpeting the view below them up to the horizon line. Then up to the dotted sky, the same he used to see from below the water.
“When I miss home.” Namjoon murmurs, eyes falling back on Yoongi.
Something passes on his features, fleeting, though Namjoon can’t tell exactly what it is.
“You’re strange, you know that?” Yoongi smiles softly.
“I know.”
Yoongi stares a little longer then around him. Namjoon sips his coffee, a bit unnerved by Yoongi’s presence next to him. He’s not used to having someone in this place that normally belongs to him alone. But bringing Yoongi here was the first thing that came to his mind so here they are now.
“You still haven’t told me what you are.”
Namjoon, startled, almost crushes his still very full paper cup. Yoongi smiles, only the gums showing above the scarf and Namjoon knows he’s caught.
“I can show you. If you want.”
Smiling still, Yoongi quirks a brow up, intrigued.
“I’m ready, go for it.”
_
The place is unusual but beautiful. Well, not that unusual, they’re in a park on the outskirts of town. Just well hidden. It’s high up a hill and the whole city unfurls at their feet, a sea of light right below them. Above, the dotted night sky, clear and dark. Yoongi turns around on himself to take a full look. Behind them, the track from where they came earlier, disappears into a thicket of willows, their branches hanging low and lulling slowly to the wind. It sort of reminds him of home. The ocean.
Yoongi casts his look toward the city, the warm coffee cup sending sweet electricity through his body. He glances at Namjoon who seems nervous, still, and lost in thoughts.
“You still haven’t told me what you are.”
Yoongi watches Namjoon on the verge of a mental breakdown and it makes him smile, seeing this tall guy being shy and losing his shit so easily.
“I can show you. If you want.”
Yoongi arches a brow, his interest piqued once again.
“I’m ready, go for it.” he replies, a bit of boldness in his words.
Namjoon puts his cup on the ground, does the same with Yoongi’s and takes a few steps back. Namjoon lifts his hands up and unties his hair, the long strands falling freely around his face. Yoongi takes note of how his heart skips a beat, or maybe two. Namjoon closes his eyes, turning his face to the night sky.
The wind around them seems to grow in intensity, forcing Yoongi to bury his face a little more into his scarf and squint. A soft pale halo appears around Namjoon’s silhouette as he opens his eyes. Yoongi gasps when he faces him, the color of Namjoon’s irises now azure. It’s a bit unsettling but so very captivating, making Yoongi almost forget the wind whirling around them.
Namjoon holds out his hand and the wind follows, a gust coming to Yoongi, warm and slightly humid, salty too. Yoongi inhales, it feels like he hasn’t breathed in years. This scent: the ocean!
“How?” Yoongi yells to cover the sound of the wind. “How do you do that? Who are you?!”
The flow inside himself feels chaotic, as if whatever Namjoon is doing has an influence on him and it should scare Yoongi, really. But it doesn’t. As Yoongi focuses to try and calm his inner flow, it hits him that somehow, it’s not a bad chaotic. It feels more like a hectic melee to try and adjust than just being overthrown. Yoongi lifts his face up to Namjoon, not remembering looking down.
“How?” he asks again.
Namjoon chuckles softly. “I’m ancient, I’ve mastered a few tricks.”
Yoongi pulls out his best unimpressed pout, even if he finds it hard to not marvel at Namjoon’s soft features, smiling gently at him.
“I’ll have you know I’m ancient too.”
Namjoon extends his hand again and Yoongi steps forward, literally pulled in. And for a split second, he swears he heard the backwash. With every step, the sound is louder, clearer and Yoongi is half convinced he’s dreaming by now. That or his coffee was drugged. Yoongi stops one step away from Namjoon who takes his hand with such gentleness that he could persuade Yoongi he’s made of porcelain. The feeling of his inner flow trying to adjust gets stronger for the briefest moment, until Namjoon tilts Yoongi’s face up, then it abruptly calms down.
“Who are you?” It’s just a whisper.
Yoongi isn’t even sure he pronounced the words, to be fair. Namjoon’s eyes are too entrancing for him to really be sure of anything else. He’s a mermaid and yet, the whole situation is reversed now.
“I am Namjoon.”
As he says this, the ground around them starts to glow from thousands of little dots and Yoongi lets out a gasp, turning on himself to watch the dots move and form a shape. Yoongi opens his mouth but no sound comes out.
“You’re…” is all he can manage.
Soft fingers touch his cheek, effectively pulling his attention away from the glowing ground. The washback sound has recessed, still there as an ever familiar and comforting background noise. Yoongi stares at Namjoon, his expression soft, tender even. Yet Yoongi reads something sad, far behind in his eyes.
“How long have you been alone?”
Yoongi isn’t sure why he asks that, because that’s probably one in the millions of questions swirling under his skull.
“A long time.”
Namjoon looks in the distance for a moment then smiles again when looking back at Yoongi.
“Do you want to listen to my song?”
“Your song?” Yoongi blinks.
“Close your eyes.”
Yoongi stares at him then complies.
“Is this a trick to kiss me?”
Yoongi feels the chuckles in Namjoon’s chest as he’s pulled close in his arms.
“Maybe.”
He can hear the smile in his voice and Yoongi hopes to god that his blushing isn’t too visible. He lets Namjoon turn his face and leans in naturally against his chest. At first, Yoongi doesn’t hear anything besides the backwash. He feels like he’s perceiving something, a sound. No words but it’s also a familiar sound, one that brings nostalgia whenever he’s alone in his apartment, watching documentaries in the dead of night, the room lit with the blue of the screen.
“That’s -”
Namjoon’s arms wrap around his shoulders, warm and heavy, and Yoongi likes that. Yoongi opens his eyes, very slightly, watching as the glow on the ground starts moving, taking a more distinct shape, still listening intently the song in Namjoon’s chest.
“This is who I am.”
The glowing dots are floating now, embracing them and swimming around them. A whale. Slow but steady, majestic and huge. Namjoon is a whale.
Throat tight, Yoongi pulls away from him a little, searching his eyes. Yoongi frowns, cups Namjoon’s face and breathes in deeply.
“It’s gonna sound stupid so I’m saying it just once.”
The wind blows softly, waving Namjoon’s hair.
“Alright.” Namjoon is smiling large and sunny.
“You feel like home.”
Namjoon’s smile widens as he leans to place a kiss on Yoongi’s forehead.
“I return the sentiment.”
There is a short silence as the whale dissipates in a rain of light and the wind dies down.
“Are you gonna kiss me or not?”
Namjoon laughs, drawing Yoongi closer. In Yoongi’s chest, there’s an echo, another flow and it feels right.