Archive of Our Own ^beta

[Prologue]

It is past midnight. The moon is standing alone in the dark abyss that’s known as the sky and it is raining lightly almost as if it’s crying. The moon is lonely with only its tears and reflection in the sea keeping it company.

But that’s only until Kim Taehyung (equally as lonely) arrives, standing near the stairs that enter the beach. Taehyung is at the beach when it’s nearing 1am all because he’s feeling alone.

It’s silent too, he realises, as he starts walking towards the sea. Well that’s a lie, not entirely silent since the waves are crashing in at the shore, more aggressive than Taehyung has ever heard them be. ‘Must be a storm coming,’ he thinks.

Then he hears it.

“You were the shadow to my light, did you feel us? Another star, you fade away.”

The voice is beautiful.

“Afraid our aim is out of sight, want to see us alight.”

Taehyung can’t help but follow.

“Where are you now?”

It feels as if something is tugging at his heart. Something has wrapped around his heart so tight that he can’t help but latch onto it as he, too, tugs. Just to get closer. Just to be able to feel that voice, closer.

“Where are you now?”

Now, Taehyung is walking along the beach and he knows he’s getting closer.

“Where are you now?”

It’s almost as if the voice is calling out to him. Only him.

“Was it all in my fantasy?”

Is this just a fantasy of his? Is he imagining this intoxicating voice? Taehyung starts to run. He can feel the waves striking at his ankles and the rain crashing onto his body clad in only loose joggers and a hoodie. He sees the lightning and he knows there’s thunder too even though he can’t hear it since the humming is way too distracting. He’s running faster, this time straight into the sea. He needs to get closer.

“Where are you now?”

“I’m here!” he screams, struggling to stay afloat in the water as it almost engulfs him.

The humming gets louder.

Taehyung coughs as his head re-emerges after being pushed down into the freezing water for a second.

Louder.

Taehyung can feel his blood turning cold.

Louder.

He’s finding it difficult to breathe now.

Louder.

And the humming stops.

The shore seems so far away and Taehyung wants nothing more than to be back at home in his warm bed. Why is he even in the sea? Why is he flailing around in ice cold water when he should be-

They appear out of nowhere. Two piercing scarlet eyes accompanied by a pale white face and flowing, purple hair.

“Who are y-“

“Were you only imaginary?”

And then he can’t see anything as he’s smashed down into the water by forceful hands. He hates the fact that he doesn’t hate it because the singing continues and for some reason hating that voice doesn’t even seem like an option.

“Where are you now?”

He holds his breath.

“Atlantis, under the sea,”

Taehyung doesn’t know how much longer he can keep his breath.

“under the sea.”

The force gets stronger and now he can’t even feel the floor.

“Where are you now? Another dream.”

This has to be a dream. This can’t be real. Taehyung’s eyes are forced open and he’s faced with a woman. Red eyes.

Inhuman.

“The monster’s running wild inside of me.”

The voice seems to get softer, more emotional and Taehyung is frozen, stuck staring at this... creature as it sings to him. His throat feels so constricted, so tight, that he just wants the pain to stop. He wants it to just be over and done with. Things are starting to get blurrier though. Darker even.

“I’m faded.”

Slowly, Taehyung’s panicked flailing is stopped as his eyes slide shut. He lets his body relax, even though he can’t breathe; his lungs may even be filling with water but he just lets himself be. He’s finally starting to feel peace.

“I’m faded.”

‘Fuck you, Jeon Jungkook,’ is the last thing Kim Taehyung thinks before his life on land comes to a sudden pause.

“So lost, I’m faded.”

☾

[Present - September 1st, 2019, 12:45am]

“Bloody hell, it’s pouring out there.”

Jimin is soaking wet as he steps into Jungkook’s apartment. He stands in the middle of the living room, letting the puddle form around him, obviously having no care in the world for Jungkook’s wooden floorboards that could very easily start lifting right about now.

“At least take off your shoes, you asshole,” Jungkook snaps, without much bite to his voice. “I can see the sea going crazy from here.”

There are obviously perks of living right near the beach. A beautiful view twenty-four-seven and an even more beautiful sunset to look forward to every evening. Jungkook has always made sure to watch it at least once a week and has even often found himself just sitting there staring at the newly emerged moon, hours after the sun has disappeared. He does love sunsets but there’s something about the moon that he’s just drawn to, probably being a certain necklace owned by a certain person.

But living near the beach has one downside. Whenever there’s a storm, Jungkook-along with his neighbours-always get the worst of it. Everything from power cuts to not being able to leave the house, as grey clouds and lightning fill the normally clear sky. There had been one time where it was so dangerous to leave his house that he had been locked in for nearly an entire week.

Today’s storm is different though. The day had been somewhat sunny and no one was expecting this storm. It’s weird, Jungkook thinks, because in the whole two years he’s lived here no storm has ever struck without prior notice from weather forecasters. It’s almost as if this storm wasn’t even meant to happen, almost as if it has been pushed off track and has subsequently hit their area of the city.

“You’re sat there looking out of the window, when your best friend’s just walked in drenched,” Jimin states, shoving Jungkook further into his seat.

“Shut up, it’s my birthday.”

“Wow, it’s Jeon Jungkook’s birthday which means he’s allowed to be a total brat.” Jungkook frowns. “I’m joking, happy birthday!” Jimin pauses for a second before adding, “how are you feeling?” with clear worry in his voice.

“You know, the usual,” Jungkook smiles, though it probably appears as a grimace. “I thought I was fine, thought I was good enough to go practice a bit more with Taehyung but then I fucked up.”

“Did the apology not work?”

“I really fucked up Jimin,” Jungkook says, dodging the question.

“It doesn’t matter right now!” Jimin exclaims, tripping towards Jungkook and hugging him close. “It’s my boy’s birthday.”

“Get your wet ass off me,” Jungkook groans, but he’s happy to find that there’s a chuckle pushing to escape his throat. Jimin has always been able to cheer Jungkook up.

And with that, their annual celebration begins. Just the two of them. Even if it hadn’t always been that way.

Don’t get them wrong. Jungkook and Jimin have other friends, very close ones at that. But ever since they were kids, back in Busan, they would always have a small party to celebrate each other’s birthday which always consisted of cake and a small present.

[Rewind - 13 Years]

It had first started on Jungkook’s 7th birthday. His parents-as always-were too busy working, being in a high end company and all, and Jungkook was at home with his carer and Jimin as well as Jimin’s mother. Jimin’s mother being that lovely woman, someone Jungkook saw, still sees, as practically his own mother. It wasn’t surprising that Jungkook’s mother hadn’t taken the day off; she probably had forgotten anyway.

“Mrs Park, you really don’t have to be here,” Jungkook’s - Minji - noona had said. “I can look after them both, so you can go to work.”

Minji was Jungkook’s carer. A young, pretty girl, only in her early 20’s, that would give up everything in order to properly take care of him. She may have only been doing the babysitting job to help with university costs, being the normal broke student struggling with things like food, but to Jungkook she wasn’t in it just for the job. She was the best big sister Jungkook never had and even to this day he loved and missed her dearly.

“Nonsense Minji-ah,” Mrs Park had said, brushing her words off. “A little birdie,” she smirked, eyeing Jimin, “told me that it’s Jungkookie’s 7th birthday today. You’re growing up too quickly!” she said, then proceeded to pinch Jungkook’s chubby, baby fat filled cheeks.

“Eomma, can we give Jungkook his present now? Can we? Please?” Jimin had squealed, bouncing up and down with Jungkook trapped in his arms. He had always been the clingy type, no matter how shy and reluctant Jungkook was.

“A present?” Jungkook had asked, equally as excited as Jimin. The last time he had gotten a present was the year before when the surprise was that his father was staying home for his birthday weekend (even if it only had been because he had injured himself and needed time to heal). They may have not done anything for Jungkook’s 6th birthday, but having at least one of his parents home was more than he could ever wish for.

“It’s not very big and I’m sure it’ll be gone in a few minutes but yes, a present,” Mrs Park said, as Minji went off to the kitchen to get something. “Jungkook, honey, close your eyes.”

Jungkook did as he was told and let his eyes slip shut as he felt himself being pushed down to sit on the sofa. He heard some scuffling around and what felt like eternities later, he was told to open his eyes again, only to find the room dark, except for the little flickers of yellow and orange coming from candles atop of a cake.

His three closest family members had been staring at him from the other side of the birthday cake, watching his reaction carefully. Mrs Park’s eyes looked proud, almost like a mother who was seeing her child take steps for the first time. Beside her, Jimin’s eyes were showing signs of excitement as he barely contained himself, trying to stop himself from jumping up and down again. Minji’s eyes were the shiniest, though, as her eyes brimmed with unshed tears. The flickering from the candles were reflected picture perfectly in not only those eyes but also the necklace that hung loosely around her neck. Jungkook watched as her necklace ominously flickered for just a millisecond before the tears started to freely fall down Minji’s cheeks, a pained expression gracing her pretty features.

“N-noona, why are you- why are you crying?” were Jungkook’s first words. Jungkook didn’t even realise he was crying until Minji came to sit right next to him, wiping the fat tears off of his cheeks.

“It’s okay baby,” Mrs Park interjected. “She’s only crying happy tears because this cake was all her idea and she’s just so excited to see that you like it.”

Jungkook turned back to face Minji and Mrs Park’s words were confirmed when his big sister nodded, smiling softly.

(He had missed Mrs Park’s sigh of relief.)

The tears didn’t stop running down 7 year old Jungkook’s face though, even with Minji smiling by his side, because he had been so overwhelmed and happy just like her. A birthday cake! Something Jungkook had never gotten in his entire life. Something that all the kids in school bragged about getting. Minji knew all about this.

“Baby, don’t cry,” Minji had said, squeezing him close. Jungkook could hear the waver in her voice and the last thing he wanted was to make his big sister cry even more then she already was. So, again, he did as he was told, forcing away anymore tears. “Make a wish baby.”

There’s only one thing in his life that Jungkook regrets. He should have wished for something else. He should have wished for something that he actually wanted or something that would actually come in handy in the future. Maybe a wish about keeping his loved ones safe forever. Keeping Minji safe forever.

But Jungkook had been selfish.

‘I wish that my parents would be here more often.’

And then the flickering orange lights from the three little candles were gone.

[Present]

“Can we go out onto the balcony and do the cake and present?” Jungkook asks Jimin, as he snaps himself out of the memory, willing himself not to cry. The memory comes back every single bloody year and still, Jungkook isn’t over it.

“But it’s crazy out there,” Jimin replies, peeking up and out of the window from where he’s sticking candles into the cake. He’s in a fresh set of clothes now, always having spare clothes at Jungkook’s, having come in handy. “Plus, it’s like almost 1am. Are you sure?”

“I mean my balcony has a cover over it so we’d probably only get a bit wet,” Jungkook reasons, giving Jimin one of his pleading looks. “Please, you know how much I love the rain. And moon.”

“Okay fine, but if we get struck by lightning you’re paying for our hospital fees,” Jimin laughs, standing up with the cake in hand.

They get wet, obviously. But luckily the large size of the balcony allows them to step back a bit when a particularly strong gust of wind brings even more rain towards them. In the end, though, that doesn’t stop them from sitting there and just letting it happen, letting themselves slowly get soaked, watching as the sea’s waves are crashing in at the beach.

“Make a wish,” Jimin says, holding the cake up to Jungkook’s face. Two of the three candles have lost their flame, only one remaining. “Hurry, before this one goes as well!”

Jungkook closes his eyes and makes the same wish he’s been making for the past 13 years.

‘I wish that all the people that I love are kept safe forever.’

And he blows the candle out.

“Same wish as always?” Jimin asks-wiping the single tear away from Jungkook’s jaw-to which he nods. He doesn’t even know how Jimin knows he’s crying since his whole face is already wet from the rain, but it’s probably just because he’s used to doing the same thing every year. “Enough of this,” Jimin frowns. “Open the present!”

Jungkook smiles at his best friend, taking the small box into his own hands. It’s a black velvet box, simple yet strikingly beautiful. Just as he’s about to open the box, there’s a loud clap of thunder, startling the both of them. The lightning doesn’t help either.

Jungkook weakly laughs at Jimin’s threatening look. “Okay, we’ll go inside after I open this,” he says understanding him just by looking at his murderous face. Jimin isn’t the biggest fan of the rain, never has been, probably never will be.

Gently, Jungkook places the box on top of the wide railing of the balcony, making sure to keep a tight grip on it. He flips the top open and the necklace he finds almost blinds him by its beauty. It looks so familiar that Jungkook immediately feels his eyes start to sting once again.

The tiny round stone is mostly a pearly white but is also iridescent, letting off hues of blue, pink and green, and is completely surrounded in gold wire connected to a gold chain. The light from the full moon in the sky only seems to heighten it’s beauty.

“It’s moonstone,” Jimin says, ironically, as he watches Jungkook stare down at it in awe. At this point they’re both leaking out of their eyes. “Just like how noona used to tell us her one was. I did some research and just like she told us, it’s said to bring good fortune and success in love as well as protection while on land or in the sea. It’s perfect since you live right near the beach.”

“Jimin, its beautiful.”

“It’s also said to help you foretell future events. Just like the magic power she always bragged about having,” Jimin chuckles, weakly, sounding like he’s just barely holding back a sob. “I tried to match it as best as I could to Minji noona’s one. I guess her one was more peachy though,” he adds, quietly. Jungkook’s breath hitches.

“Thank you so much hyung,” Jungkook says angling the box more towards himself, so the necklace doesn’t get wet. “I love it s-“

The strike of lightning happens right in front of them. Jungkook jumps back with Jimin, leaving the box on the railing and they watch as the necklace is somehow lit up for less than a second. But after that second, the fire is gone, the box seems to be completely fine and the necklace is-by the looks of it-still in tact.

Jungkook turns to face his best friend, only to find Jimin already staring back at him in complete shock. Jimin’s eyes are wider than Mingyu’s bellybutton and let me tell you something, Mingyu has a really wide bellybutton. Jungkook knows he’s mirroring Jimin.

“Okay, shit,” Jungkook huffs, hurrying forward to pick the box up again. “Lets go inside.”

They step back into the flat, immediately shutting the door behind them and are surprised to find that the rain picks up even more. The raindrops hit Jungkook’s windows so harshly he’s worried he’ll have to deal with shattered glass soon.

“Lucky for us,” Jimin mutters. “If we were out there for another second we probably would have drowned.”

Jungkook plops down onto his sofa, not caring about his wet clothes, and holds the box up to his face to inspect the necklace better. He’s all but forcing his eyes to stay open, as the coffee he drank starts to wear away and his tiredness makes itself known once again.

“How was that possible?” Jungkook asks, completely ignoring Jimin, though he might not even be doing it on purpose. “You saw that too, right hyung? How is this necklace completely fine after being hit by lightning?”

“I don’t know and to be honest I’m too freaked out to think about it,” Jimin says, eyes still wide(r than Mingyu’s bellybutton). “Here, let me put it on for you.”

Jungkook stands again, facing away from Jimin and lets his best friend clip the necklace into place on his neck. The first time it touches his skin he feels a shiver, not just a normal shiver of the cold metal suddenly touching his warm skin, but a shiver that he weirdly feels deeper inside him. Almost as if something is running through his veins and has become a physical part of him. It’s strange, he thinks.

“Woah, are you okay?” Jimin asks worriedly, noticing the sudden jolt of Jungkook’s body.

“Yeah, that just felt a bit weird,” Jungkook says, bending his neck awkwardly to look at the necklace. “It’s like I felt a-“

“Fuck you, Jeon Jungkook.”

“What the fuck?”

“What’s wrong, Jungkook?” Jimin looks really worried now.

“Did you hear that?”

“Hear what?”

“You didn’t hear that voice?”

“What voice Jungkook?” Jimin asks, looking at him cautiously. “It’s only us two here.”

“It just said ‘Fuck you Jungkook’ when I didn’t even do anything,” Jungkook says, as he sits down again, rubbing at his forehead.

“How much sleep did you get last night?” Jimin asks, probably thinking this is all some kind of joke.

“I don’t know,” Jungkook replies. He’s still in shock because what actually was that? “You know I hardly ever sleep the night before my birthday,” he adds and of course Jimin knows. Jungkook is always too busy thinking and worrying the night before his birthday, just something he’s picked up over the years. “I came back from drama practice late as well. Had so much on my mind with Kim.”

Jimin sighs. “I think it’s time for you to go to sleep then,” he says, ushering him to stand up and head to his room. And Jungkook is still too shocked to say no so he does just that, goes to his room and immediately flops down onto the bed without changing his clothes.

Jimin seems to have followed him, Jungkook notices, as he lets himself be tucked in by the other. He suddenly starts to feel really drowsy and the last thing he hears is the door softly clicking shut as Jimin leaves.

Then Jungkook is sent of into a deep sleep, having a dream about a voice so strangled and in pain that he can’t help but think it’s a nightmare instead.

☾

Taehyung is awoken to the sound of dripping. It’s loud and sounds as if it’s echoing in his head.

The hardness underneath him doesn’t help either and it’s weird because it’s way harder than what he’s normally used to. And that’s not to say his bed isn’t super hard and lumpy (because it is), just that what he’s laying on right now is probably not even a bed.

He forces his eyes open, blinking away the remnants of sleep and is surprised to find that the ceiling is grey and, well, rocks.

He sits up quicker than he planned to, causing himself to feel a bit lightheaded but that goes away soon enough leaving Taehyung to only feel confusion. Slowly, he turns his head, looking all around him only to find that he’s in what looks to be a cave. The walls are mostly dark grey, rising around him and forming a curve at the top. The floor is pretty much the same, just more pebbly and slightly sandy. Taehyung really is in a cave. That doesn’t make sense at all.

Taehyung shifts to stand but immediately regrets moving at all because that one little sound of his bare feet jostling a few pebbles, seems to echo throughout the entire cave. It’s way too loud, disturbing the previous calmness of occasional dripping water. So he stays where he is and continues to look around. This must be some sort of dream.

Pretty much everything is dark, especially if Taehyung looks further into the cave. It’s so dark that Taehyung can’t even see the end of the cave, only a black pathway leading to seemingly nothingness. One of the only bits of light he sees is to his left, a large opening in the cave that’s letting in a deep orange hue, probably from the sunrise. Sunrise? How long has he been here for?

Taking a deep breath, Taehyung stands up as carefully as he can, trying his best to make the smallest amount of noise possible. Once he’s up, he looks down at himself and notices he’s still wearing the same clothes he remembers putting on the morning before; the only difference is that his joggers and hoodie are uncomfortably damp and slightly gritty.

Forgetting about his clothes for the time being, Taehyung tiptoes closer to the opening of the cave and to his surprise, all he can see out of it is the sky and the sea, stretching out for miles and miles, until they meet one another as a deep blue horizon.

“I wouldn’t go there if I were you.” Taehyung jumps, physically feeling his heart jump out of it’s place in his chest. He whips around to find a woman, no, a creature walking out of the black walkway of nothingness, coming right towards him. She has the longest hair Taehyung has ever seen, silky and reaching just below her knees. The odd thing about it is that it’s an unnatural shade of violet, dark and mysterious; then again, it could just be a trick of the light. Taehyung tries not to look down because she’s completely naked, deathly white skin on full display, apart from having a sheer silk cloth falling off her arms, reaching the floor. That’s when everything comes back to Taehyung. The singing, the storm, the sea. “It’s shark infested and you wouldn’t last a second.”

Taehyung can only stare in shock, in fear, in all these other emotions that he can’t quite pick point. He’s about to step back when he remembers the long drop waiting behind him, so he stays put. No words seem to be coming out of his mouth and he feels so lost.

“My name is Maeve,” the woman intones. “It means ‘she who intoxicates’ which is quite fitting if you ask me,” she adds, seeming like she couldn’t be more proud. “I’m sure you’re wondering why you’re here.” Maeve takes a few steps towards him and Taehyung is so frightened that the idea of jumping into the water, does cross his mind. “Why do you look so scared, little one?” she cackles and before Taehyung can do anything else, an icy cold hand is placed on his face, caressing his cheek. The shiver that runs through his body is like a shiver he’s never felt in his entire life. His bones shake and his blood runs cold, almost as cold as the hand that seems to be making his face home.

Taehyung doesn’t even realise he’s crying until Maeve raises her other hand to swat the tears away. “I love seeing you humans cry; your tears are salty, just like my sea,” Maeve whispers with a raise of her brows. Her red eyes pierce into Taehyung’s own and he just can’t help but stare back, wide eyed, because there’s no denying that this creature is beautiful, as frightening as she is. There’s something so enticing in those eyes, something so alluring, that Taehyung finds it difficult to avert his own tear brimmed eyes.

“Wh-what a-are you?” Taehyung stutters out, voice croaky and weak from lack of use. This creature cannot be human, not with what she’s doing to him and his insides.

The laugh that fills the air is terrifying, with Maeve throwing her head back harshly and pulling completely away from Taehyung.

“Well, I’m a Siren of the sea, of course!” she exclaims, both hands flying up. “And you’re mine now.” The huge smile on her face is out of place, with this situation being anything but amusing.

Taehyung bites his bottom lip, forcing himself not to let out the sob that’s stuck in his throat. In his head, Sirens (and other creatures of such) are myths, or in other words, not real. Children’s stories that you read to your little cousin before bedtime. Characters that girls dress up as for Halloween, each one slightly different from the last. But obviously that’s just not true because here he is in a cave, enthralled by just that, a Siren. A mythical creature.

“Oh darling,” Maeve smirks, “now’s not the time to cry! Don’t you worry, because you’re not going to die just yet. I have some things to do before it’s time for you to die, so if I were you I’d enjoy my last few hours of living.” Maeve pauses. “Actually, I’ll be nice and make that days rather than hours. You should enjoy your last days.”

Taehyung lets the sobs rip through his throat, having no more control. “Please,” he begs, “please just let me go, please.”

“What the fuck?”

Taehyung ignores the sudden voice in his head, taking it as a sign of going crazy.

“Please, I’ll do anything if you just please let me go home to my brother,” Taehyung cries, eyes stinging as his cheeks get soaked. His eyes are surely red and puffy by now, something Namjoon would worry about. It pains him to think the last time he had seen his brother, Taehyung had been crying.

Maeve just laughs again, unbothered by Taehyung’s state. “Darling, you’re never going to be going back home,” she smiles, tilting her head to the side. “I’ll be back before midnight, to see how you’re doing.”

Before Taehyung can say anything else, Maeve dives off the ledge, landing gracefully into the water, more than 15 feet below, with barely a splash. Taehyung can make out a few bubbles and a faint glow of purple, which he follows with his eyes. He sees it for less that 10 seconds though, because soon Maeve is gone, leaving no trace of herself behind apart from the cold spot on Taehyung’s cheek.

Taehyung has no strength left anymore, he realises, as his legs give out and his knees buckle. Taehyung cries out loud as he lays down on the cold, uncomfortable surface and feels as his body begins to shake uncontrollably.

“What the fuck?” he hears the oddly familiar voice again. “Shut up, what the fuck?”

“I think I’m going crazy,” Taehyung mumbles to himself, breaths coming out unevenly. He feels like he’s close to not being able to breathe at all when suddenly he remembers something.

“When you’re upset or angry count to ten,” Namjoon had told him back when he was only 7 years old. It had been for a silly reason when another child in his class stole the pencil he wanted to write with, leading to him going home all grumpy. Namjoon had been the only one there for him.

“One,” Taehyung says, already feeling himself calm down. “Two. Three.”

“Who are you?”

“Four,” Taehyung says much louder, trying to drown the voice out. “Five. Six. Sev-”

“Wait, Taehyung?”

Taehyung pauses, his tears having stopped, and listens carefully. The voice just said his name.

“What the fuck?” Taehyung asks, sitting back up, quickly, feeling a bit of vertigo.

“What the fuck is going on? Is that really you, Kim?”

Taehyung furrows his brows. That voice. He’s definitely heard it before.

Then he remembers.

“What the fuck are you wearing, Kim?”

“What the fuck do you want, Kim?”

“What the fuck is your problem, Kim?”

Jeon Jungkook.

“Jungkook?” Taehyung blurts.

“Oh hell no, I don’t have time for this,” the voice-Jungkook-announces.

Suddenly, a strange feeling rushes through Taehyung’s body, almost as if something is crawling under his skin, inside his veins. The goosebumps appear, then disappear, just as quickly.

“Jungkook?” Taehyung asks. “Jungkook!”

But there’s no reply.

☾

“Wh-what a-are you?”

Jungkook jolts awake to the sound of that voice. The same one that had been haunting him throughout his whole sleep.

He’s quick to sit himself up, rubbing at his eyes as the morning light spills in through the crack in his curtains. All is still. All is quiet.

‘That’s weird,’ he thinks. ‘Must have imagined it.’

Jungkook swings his legs out of bed and glances at the clock, to see it’s almost time for him to leave for class. Obviously, he had forgotten to set an alarm last night but it’s to be expected since it was his birthday, the day he was always too tired for. Well, technically it’s his birthday today but he and Jimin never count the day as ‘the day’ and prefer to do celebrations just after midnight, like they had just a few hours ago. Right now, is just a normal day. In a way, that voice has been his wake up call to go and-

“Please, please just let me go, please.”

“What the fuck?” Jungkook mutters, out loud because that voice. It’s crying.

“Please, I’ll do anything if you just please let me go home to my brother.”

Jungkook’s breath hitches because what is happening? The voice is different to what you would normally hear when you are alone in your thoughts; it’s almost like there’s a whole other tiny person in his head, talking to him.

Jungkook thinks that maybe he’s imagining all of this (no matter how real it sounds) because the voice is gone now. Maybe it’s just the remnants of his dream filled night. He shakes his head as he makes his way to the bathroom.

The bathroom mirror is really dirty, little specks of toothpaste sitting atop of the surface of glass. Jungkook has been putting off wiping it for weeks and today is no different.

Jungkook tugs off his t-shirt and smiles at the sight of the moonstone necklace resting against his neck. It’s, surprisingly, glistening in the bathroom light even though the bulb is old and dimming.

The sound of sobbing rips Jungkook out of his daze.

“What the fuck?” Jungkook groans, bashing at his own head. “Shut up, what the fuck?”

“I think I’m going crazy.”

Jungkook has no idea what to do. I mean, who would know what to do when they have a crying man in their head? What makes it even weirder is that the voice sounds familiar. A voice Jungkook has definitely heard before. Many times.

“One. Two. Three,” the voice starts.

Jungkook can’t help himself, even if he looks crazy, when he asks, “who are you?”

But the voice ignores him. “Four. Five. Six. Sev-“

And then it clicks.

“Wait, Taehyung?”

“What the fuck?”

“What the fuck is going on? Is that really you, Kim?”

“Jungkook?” the voice-Taehyung-asks, sounding so confused that Jungkook just decides he can’t deal with this anymore. He knows that he will turn crazy if he continues to imagine Kim Taehyung speaking to him, in his head.

(Something bad could happen, something really bad.)

Jungkook shakes his head, clutching at his own hair.

(Regret. He’ll feel regret if this continues.)

Oh hell no.

“Oh hell no, I don’t have time for this.”

Jungkook rushes towards his shower, turning the water on full blast.

“Jung-“

He unclips his necklace, placing it neatly back into the box, and tucks it into his rucksack. He rips off his trousers and hops straight into the burning water. But something is out of place. The chilling shiver that runs down his body feels unnatural, the same feeling he had felt the night before. It feels as though his veins are tingling but before Jungkook can think more into it, the odd sensation is gone.

‘What’s going on?’ he thinks, eyes shutting as he relishes the feeling of the water cascading down his face. Luckily, Taehyung’s voice is gone but that’s not the only weird thing.

As soon as he had put the necklace on he felt ‘The Feeling’ (as he oh so creatively names it) and had felt it again upon taking it off. There’s got to be a reason for that.

But Jungkook’s thoughts meet a dead end and before he knows it, he’s walking down the stony pathway of campus, heading to class. But something’s odd about the atmosphere and Jungkook notices.

The usual hustle and bustle is nowhere to be seen or heard, students walking mostly alone, staring downwards as they drag their feet along. However, what catches Jungkook’s eye the most is the fact that at the sides of the pathway there’s no sign of the usual stalls run by the nerds selling ‘I <3 University Life!’ t-shirts and way too sugary cupcakes. Instead there’s one small table with stacks and stacks of paper piled on top; at the front of the table stands Kim Namjoon.

Jungkook stops right in front of him, ignoring the content of the leaflets. “Not busy babysitting your brother today, I see,” he smirks. He doesn’t know why he feels the need to annoy Taehyung’s brother when over the course of a few months they haven’t been too hostile with each other. But something tells Jungkook that Namjoon knows what had happened yesterday and in a way, he’s putting his guard back up, protecting himself.

Suddenly, Jungkook freezes. He doesn’t know exactly what it is, but there’s something on Namjoon’s face that wipes the smirk away almost immediately. It could be the downturn of his lips, the furrow of his brows or even the swelling and redness of his eyes.

“Taehyung’s gone missing,” Namjoon speaks, voice weak, something Jungkook has never heard from the elder before. Namjoon carefully lifts a paper off the table and hands it to Jungkook with shaky fingers, revealing a relatively large picture of Taehyung, smiling that odd boxy smile of his.

“I-I don’t understand,” Jungkook stutters, lifting the paper to inspect the small writing at the bottom.

Kim Taehyung
1.78m tall
Skinny figured
Brown eyes
Dyed silver hair
Last seen wearing dark hoodie and wide legged joggers

“Of course you don’t understand,” Namjoon scoffs, shaking his head. “I bet you’re too busy thinking about an insult that you can spit out at my brother the next time you see him, rather than trying to understand the situation right now. Let me tell you something, you might never get to see him and insult him ever again because we don’t know where the fuck he’s gone!”

“Wait, no Namjoon,” Jungkook tries. “It’s not-“

“You’ve always been so obsessed with him, so obsessed with making him feel like shit, that you never even stopped to think about how he must actually be feeling deep down inside. I only know bits of what happened yesterday but I could tell how miserable you made him feel Jungkook! Do you have any idea about what you do? What problems you cause?” Namjoon’s voice is shaking and his eyes are welling up, weirdly sending a pang through Jungkook’s body. “Now my brother is fucking gone, I have no idea where he is, where he could have gone, if he’s done anything stupid-“

“Namjoon, calm dow-“

“How can I be fucking calm?” Namjoon shouts, tears spilling down his cheeks. Jungkook hardly feels the shoves until people are getting in between him and Namjoon, seizing the latter’s arms and pulling him back. “Wh-why did you push him away? Why Jungkook?” he chokes out, sounding defeated, as he’s pulled away.

Min Yoongi, Namjoon’s boyfriend and Jungkook’s beloved hyung, is suddenly all up in his face. “Jungkook leave,” is all he says, and Jungkook easily complies, rushing past the crowd and straight towards the bathrooms.

Jungkook’s heart is racing and it’s not only because he’s running.

Fear.

Jungkook hasn’t felt fear in a long time.

The bathroom is silent, eerily so, and Jungkook just doesn’t know what to do. He all but slams the door shut and immediately catches a glimpse of those vandalised walls, popping with colour. The graffiti is different from the usual vandalisation you would see in a school bathroom because rather than phrases like ‘Soojin is a slut’ or ‘I love H’, there are inspiring quotes colouring the wall.

[Rewind - 2 Years, June]

‘Your life is your story. Write well. Edit often.’

Jungkook had caught Taehyung writing it among all the other phrases; weirdly it stood out more than the brightly painted words even though he had been writing it using a simple black fine liner. But Jungkook would never admit it aloud.

He had given himself a few seconds to watch from the door frame before properly walking into the bathroom and towards Taehyung. “That’s fucking cheesy,” he had scoffed, shouldering past the, then, brunet boy, “and dumb.”

“Watch where you’re fucking going, Jeon,” Taehyung had sneered back. The push from Jungkook had caused Taehyung to make a slight mistake but apparently that wasn’t his only problem. “I didn’t even ask for your opinion, your opinion literally doesn’t matter to me one single bit.”

“Well, too bad because I just told you it.”

Jungkook had stopped dead in his tracks and turned to face Taehyung. It just seemed to run in his blood to be ready to fight Kim Taehyung at any time of any day. Something about the other boy’s constant brightness didn’t sit well with him, especially as it was always directed at other people, but never him. But again, nothing Jungkook would ever even think about saying out loud.

“You know what?” Taehyung announced, stepping forward and into Jungkook’s personal bubble. “You’re insufferable,” he said, poking a finger at Jungkook’s chest.

“What a fucking fancy word, Kim!” Jungkook applauded, exasperatedly in Taehyung’s face. “Didn’t think I would hear it from someone as dumb as you.”

“I bet you don’t even know what it means.”

“And you do?”

“Why would I use a word if I don’t even know what it means?”

Something about Taehyung’s snarky tone of voice, had had Jungkook’s blood boiling with anger.

“You better watch how you speak to me, Kim,” he snarled. “Because if I remember correctly, the last time you spoke like that to me, you were on the floor with blood dripping down your face and my fist on your nose.”

Jungkook didn’t even realise that he had backed Taehyung up against the graffiti filled wall; they were practically chest to chest. It’s weird to think that before, they had only ever been in close proximity of each other when they were fighting.

“I’m not fucking scared of you, Jeon.”

Just then the bathroom door had slammed open and students filled the room, probably having heard their ruckus from outside. The entrance of said students was enough for Jungkook to turn his head slightly, distracted for a moment.

The punch came as a shock.

Jungkook’s jaw tingled in an unusual sort of pain as his head was struck to one side but it didn’t stop him from throwing his own punch back at Taehyung in an instant, knocking him to the floor.

Taehyung had been quick to get back up, egged on by the cheering coming from the boys surrounding them. Seeing the two of them fight had become somewhat of a form of entertainment for many students in the university. People would often gather around as if they were in a colosseum and would watch and cheer until someone responsible stepped in. This fight was no different.

The rest had been a blur because the last thing Jungkook remembers about that incident is seeing Taehyung on the other side of a glass door, blood covering his face and a brutal black eye. Jungkook remembers sitting outside the university’s A&E room waiting for his turn, nursing his own cuts and bruises.

[Present]

Jungkook glances down and notices his hands are shaking, for reasons he doesn’t quite understand. The small blood stain is still there in the corner of the bathroom, the caretakers known to never properly mop the floors. Even if it’s an ugly shade of brown and is beginning to fully wear away, it’s there and it’s reminding Jungkook.

It takes a few minutes for Jungkook to calm down because all he can think about is Namjoon’s pained expression, Yoongi’s frightening persistence, and Taehyung’s voice.

His voice from this morning.

Jungkook rips his rucksack off his back and immediately pulls out the little velvet box. What? Why would he leave such a precious gift at home? And this early after getting it?

It feels cool in his hands, as he carefully (as carefully as shaking hands can) takes the necklace out and clips it into place around his throat. It dangles for a while, nothing too peculiar happening but then Jungkook catches a barely there flicker being reflected onto the wall opposite him.

The Feeling is especially strong this time; he thinks it’s probably because of the amount of emotion he’s feeling right now. Jungkook’s body is hit with a rack of shivers and the goosebumps prickle all over his skin. But then, just like that, it’s gone.

‘This is so fucking stupid,’ Jungkook thinks.

He takes a deep breath in, then exhales again, shaking his hands out in front of him. What he’s about to do would be deemed as crazy by a bystander. They’d probably send him to a mental asylum. But here’s the thing. Jungkook is in this bathroom, alone.

“Taehyung?”

☾

Taehyung really did hear Jungkook’s voice, right? He’s not just going crazy? It had felt so real, Taehyung thinks as he rubs at his forehead, trying to ease the pain that has suddenly appeared. It was Jungkook for sure.

“Snap out of it,” Taehyung scolds himself, smacking at his head, then immediately regrets it when the pain becomes more prominent.

Taehyung forces himself to get up and off the pebbly floor and he stalks over to the edge of the cave. Maeve is nowhere to be seen and for that Taehyung is the slightest bit happy even though without her he probably won’t be able to get out of this place. The ledge is crumbling, tiny little rocks falling every time he shifts closer, as if to tell him he’s not allowed to come closer or he’ll meet his end, just like the rocks.

Cautiously, Taehyung looks over the edge and finds that the sea is really far away, about a 20 foot drop. The water is calm today, every so often splashing against the huge rocks and boulders at the base of where he is, the cliff.

Well, it’s quite obvious that Taehyung can’t leave right now. Taehyung will admit, he’s an amazing swimmer, can hold his breath underwater for longer than a minute, but right now the skill is of no help. Maeve did say the water is shark infested in this area and Taehyung doesn’t really feel like being breakfast.

Taehyung feels oddly calm.

He’s stuck in a cave with a Siren on his tail (no ocean pun intended) and he’s going to die soon. But Taehyung can’t help but wonder, maybe it’s better if he does just die. It would end the suffering, wouldn’t it? So maybe it isn’t so bad of an idea to jump into the water where the sharks swim. But then he thinks of his brother’s face, thinks about how alone he would be if Taehyung left him. He thinks about Yoongi’s face and how pained it would be to see his boyfriend so upset.

Taehyung walks back the way he came, away from the opening, and heads towards the black area, deeper inside the cave. It’s completely silent at this end of the cave with no distant noise of the ocean and there’s a slight glow coming from a rock that’s wedged into the ceiling.

It’s ironically kind of Maeve to have left a bit of light in here, Taehyung thinks, as he sits right under where the magic stone is shining down, almost like a spotlight.

It reminds him of the time he had sat, cross-legged, under the spotlight during drama practice back at home. It had been almost a year ago yet it felt so crisp clear in his mind.

[Rewind - 1 Year, September]

“Taehyung,” the teacher trainer, Seokjin had started. “This is great. Exactly what I was picturing in my head!”

They had been at the first practice for the play that Seokjin had written and was directing as part of his training, allowing Mrs Choi (the usual teacher) to have a bit of a breather. Only a few people were present since most drama students weren’t interested in doing this play whatsoever, and instead opted for the showcase of the modern spinoff of Romeo And Juliet that was sure to have a large amount of watchers.

“So, after you say your line,” Seokjin continued from his seat in front of the stage, “Sana enters and says hers.” Seokjin pointed to the right of the stage with his pen, as passionate about drama as ever. Seokjin was wearing a crisp dress shirt, that clung to him like a second skin. He had had his sleeves rolled up to his forearms, exposing the gold Rolex watch on his wrist. Everyone knew of the new teacher trainer, knew how handsome he was, but also how modern he was compared to other teachers. His play seemed to reflect his modernity perfectly.

Taehyung had been lucky enough to land himself one of the main roles, playing a young boy going through a sexuality dilemma. The main plot was about him having a crush on two people at the same time, one being the most popular girl at school and the other being his best friend who just so happened to be a boy too. After hearing about the plot Taehyung had been quick to sign up for the auditions, being the proud gay man he is. He just hadn’t expected to be given a main.

“Sir, not to bug you or anything,” Taehyung had said with his arms crossed in his lap. “But who will be playing the honey to my bun? I have a right to know since I will be kissing him at the end of the play.” Taehyung huffed, blowing the hair out of his face. The amount of times he had asked the question throughout the session was starting to get repetitive, but Seokjin remained silent on the matter.

Seokjin had sighed while others-scattered around the stage and theatre-laughed. “You’ll find out soon. It’s not something I’m rushing to tell y-“

“Sorry I’m late,” came a voice from the back of the theatre as the door slammed open. It was a voice Taehyung knew all too well, a voice he didn’t want to hear.

Jeon Jungkook didn’t sound sorry at all as he casually strolled down the middle of the theatre and jumped onto the stage (obviously forgetting the stairs he could have easily walked up). Taehyung glared up at him from his spot on the floor. That day, Jungkook’s hair was looking rather long, falling over his brows in fluffy black curls. Taehyung hated that the thought came to his head, but Jungkook looked hot, even if he did look like he had just rolled out of bed.

“Jeon, get out of my spotlight would you?” Taehyung spat, noticing how other students on the stage slowly moved away. It happened a lot when Taehyung and Jungkook were at least a metre away from each other, most people assuming they would start having a fist fight right then and there.

“Funny, Kim,” Jungkook scoffed. “This is my spotlight.” Jungkook had his arms crossed too and Taehyung tried his best to not look at the strain on his leather jacket around the bicep area.

Taehyung stood up quickly, going to stand right in Jungkook’s face, something they did often when it came to arguments in public. A face off was better than a physical fight, wasn’t it? These face offs had saved the both of them many broken noses. Though, they didn’t always work.

“What the fuck do you mean? I’m playing the main.” Taehyung knew he sounded like a petulant child but he continued anyway, knowing Jungkook sounded like one too. “I’m playing Jaemin so move your ass.”

The look on Jungkook’s face confused Taehyung the slightest bit, as the other’s glare faltered.

“Oh fuck no,” Jungkook cursed, his face going that bit more red in frustration. “I’m playing Jisu.”

Taehyung felt his face drop at that, his stance got stiffer and his face had started heating up. Not just because of anger, as people around the theatre started snickering knowingly.

“Hell no.”

“Guys!” Seokjin clapped as he hurried up the stairs and onto the stage. “Surprise! You’re going to be playing the best friends in love!” Seokjin had done jazz hands to go with his ‘surprise’ but anyone could see the fear on his face. “Sana and Mingyu have told me about why it’s not the best idea but-“

“Sir, I can’t,” Taehyung had stated, turning to face the teacher. He felt betrayed because most people, if not all people, on campus knew how much Taehyung and Jungkook disliked one another. This is a play that would take almost a year to prepare (just like the Romeo and Juliet one) and Taehyung couldn’t help but think about how long Seokjin had been planning to hide it. “Not with him,” he added, giving Jungkook a pointed look.

“I’ll fucking gauge your eyes out if you look at me like that again,” Jungkook spat aggressively, shoving Taehyung back, earning a scream from one of the other students.

Their fights would happen so abruptly that sometimes even Taehyung would get shocked. But that little shove had been enough for Taehyung to barge past Seokjin and let the adrenaline take over.

His fist was stinging like a bitch as it made contact with Jungkook’s left cheek. The moment Jungkook had recovered from the punch, Taehyung saw the switch happen right inside his eyes and from that moment Taehyung knew the other saw red.

Taehyung can’t remember what had happened after but he does remember waking up to a sharp pain on his nose and the bright stage lights shining down on him, as he lay there, bleeding from his nose. He should have thought this through properly, especially since he knew that the fucker had recently started boxing training.

“Taehyung?” came a fellow student’s worried voice, as she shook him back to consciousness.

[Present]

“Taehyung?”

The voice brings Taehyung back to reality. It’s Jungkook’s voice again.

Taehyung shakes his head. He really is going insane. Obviously, thinking about Jungkook has caused him to hear Jungkook too. It’s all just part of his imagination. His twisted, hopeful imagination.

“Kim? Are you there?”

Taehyung can’t help but shoot up from his seat on the rocky ground, as he starts pacing around. The light from the stone still shines down on him, illuminating, just like one of the dramatic scenes from the play. Taehyung can’t help but hope that maybe this is all just a play, made cleverly and unethically to ensure the best performance out of him. But again, that’s just a hope.

“Taehyung, please say you’re there,” Jungkook’s voice says. Taehyung’s hands reach up to clutch at his silver locks and he shakes his head a few times, trying anything to get rid of this voice that’s beginning to haunt him. “Just any sign, please. Any sound.”

Taehyung is so confused because this sounds like Jungkook is pleading, begging to know that Taehyung is safe. He sounds so real. It doesn’t make sense. Since when has Jeon Jungkook cared about him. That’s how Taehyung knows this is all part of his imagination.

(That’s a lie and Taehyung knows it. He also knows that recently Jungkook had changed, compared to a year ago.)

“No, no this isn’t real,” Taehyung mutters, pulling at strands of his hair to stop his hands from shaking. But it’s not working, only making them shake more, and with that adding more pain to his headache. “I’m just imagin-“

“Taehyung?” No. No. It’s not going away. “Taehyung, listen to me. This is going to sound fucking cra-“

“Shut up!” Taehyung shouts, his grip on his own hair tightening to the point where he’s actually worried it’s all going to rip out soon. “Shut up! This isn’t real.”

“It’s me, Jungkook. Listen to me, Taehyung, just listen to my voice and try to calm-“

“Shut the fuck up! Shut up.” Taehyung is screaming now and Maeve can probably hear him from wherever she’s disappeared off too, but he doesn’t care. He just needs this to stop. He’s not crazy. He’s not going insane. “You’re not real. It’s not you. It’s not.”

“Taehyung. It’s okay. It’s really me, you’re fine-”

“No it’s not, I’m going crazy.”

“Taehyung, calm down. Breathe,” Jungkook says, almost whispering. Taehyung decides to listen but it doesn’t help because soon all that’s coming out of his mouth and nose are fast and loud puffs of air, as his heart pace picks up. “I can prove that I really am Jungkook.”

Taehyung doesn’t reply with anything, just focuses on breathing properly.

“Just listen to me Taehyung. That day, in the music room,” Jungkook starts. And that’s all Taehyung needs to hear, for his breathing to completely even out and for the memories to fade in.

[Rewind - 1 Year, November]

November 19th. The day of the year that Taehyung hated, still hates, the most.

Taehyung had discovered-a few years back-that no other place could make him happier than a place with a piano. So he had sat at the worn out bench in the aged music room (like he did every year since the discovery) and started to play. Started to play the song his mother often played. The song his mother had taught him.

Taehyung was only 8 years old when his parents died. He hated himself for not being able to remember them that well but he had come to accept it. Nevertheless, he still did remember parts of his mother and father. Like the fact that his father was the tallest man in the world to him, with broad shoulders and always a cleanly shaven face. He was always there to play with Taehyung, teach him new things like how to ride a two wheeler bike and he always reminded Taehyung of when it was mother’s day, as he did have a habit of forgetting exactly what date it was on. Taehyung remembered always admiring his father, especially when he saw how in love with his mother he was. At the ripe age of 7 and a half, Taehyung remembered wishing that when he grew up he could find somebody to look at the way his father looked at his mother. And possibly have someone look at him the same way too.

Oh, his mother. He still remembered his mother being his favourite, no matter how much he loved his dad. She may not have been the tallest, but she was the most beautiful woman Taehyung had ever seen and the way she waltzed around the house was always enchanting to watch. She would turn on the record player-some sort of classical music-and would dance around the living room, her long flowing dress trailing behind her as well as a young Taehyung, trying his very best to copy her moves. She would sing along to the song or just come up with her own lyrics, beautiful voice floating around the room and just inspiring Taehyung’s young mind to become just like her. Other times, when she had less energy, she would prop up the lid of the grand piano and start to play the same song. Though, no matter how many times she played it, she, Taehyung nor (occasionally) Namjoon would ever get bored of it.

Taehyung doesn’t remember what exactly made him snap but after only a few minutes of playing in the dusty music room, he broke down, loud sobs escaping his lips and filling the room.

Taehyung had tried to quieten down but he wasn’t successful as he only started crying harder and louder. He thought about how she would hate to see him cry like this but it only made him cry even more.

“Eomma,” was the word that kept escaping his lips as the tears just spilled out faster, each time becoming more and more harsh. The stream of salt water along with the raggedy breathing just wouldn’t stop.

The sound of a metal music stand falling, coming from the entrance of the room, did little to calm him down as he tried to keep his back to the person at the door. But Taehyung couldn’t hold it in for longer than a second when he felt a hand clutching at the back of his head as his face was squished into someone’s shoulder.

That was all Taehyung had needed because soon after, he was balling his eyes out, little whimpers of “eomma” and “appa” being let out of his wobbling lips. Taehyung doesn’t remember how long he had cried for but he does remember the soreness of both his eyes and throat afterwards. He also remembers the comfort and warmness of this person’s shoulder.

As soon as Taehyung’s cries had died out, a sudden feeling of panic rose. He didn’t even know who this person holding him tight was, who’s t-shirt he was clutching onto, who’s shoulder he had just been crying on. The shoulder his face was still nestled in.

The panic wasn’t the thing that made Taehyung get up and sneak a glance at this person, but it was the tentative kiss he had felt being placed at the temple of his forehead and the silence of the room being filled with a quiet smack of lips. Taehyung quickly pulled away and was completely and utterly dumbstruck to find wide-eyed Jeon Jungkook staring back at him, looking to be just as shocked.

[Present]

“I think only the two of us would know that I kissed your head that day, don’t you think?” Jungkook asks. Taehyung loosens his grip on his hair.

“Why did you do it? Did you know it was me?” Taehyung murmurs, talking more to himself than Jungkook. Well, it has to be Jungkook right? That day in the music room didn’t happen that long ago and Taehyung still remembers being left to watch Jungkook’s back as he ran out, hands clasped at his lips. They had never talked about it or even mentioned it, until this moment.

“Of course I knew it was you!” Jungkook exclaims. “And to be honest, I don’t know exactly why I did it but it felt right in the moment.”

Taehyung scoffs-or at least tries to with his cracking voice. “It felt like the right thing to do? You don’t normally think that when you punch me in the nose.”

“Taehyung, me and you both know we haven’t had a physical fight in months, basically a year.”

Taehyung is surprised to find Jungkook has been counting (too), but he doesn’t voice that thought. Something else he won’t voice is that having Jungkook be somewhat nice to him over the past few months has been great, even if it had been because he felt sorry for him. Even if he had ruined it all just hours ago. “So why did you want to comfort me? Why didn’t you just leave me?”

“What the fuck else was I supposed to do?” Jungkook sounds exasperated as he speaks, almost shouting. “I could feel your pain from where I was standing at the door. Besides, I guess I kind of know how it feels to not have a mum and dad.”

Taehyung sighs. “You wouldn’t understand.”

It’s quiet for a few minutes after that, none of them breaking the silence. To Taehyung it’s not awkward at all; he guesses that’s the perks of not actually being face to face. Taehyung is leant up against a wall now and from here he can’t even hear the ocean, the only sound being the everlasting dripping coming from somewhere in the cave.

When the silence breaks, it’s Jungkook, finally letting the topic go. “This is fucking crazy, but this is real. It’s really me and you.”

“How is this happening right now?”

“I think my necklace is magic, just like noona always said,” Jungkook replies, confusing Taehyung the slightest bit because he didn’t know Jungkook had an older sister. “I’m going to sound fucking crazy when I say this, but the first time I put it on yesterday, I felt this weird tingling feeling, like all up inside my veins and shit and I got all these goosebumps and then I heard your voice.”

Taehyung feels his eyes widen at that. “I felt that too,” he says as the realisation that this actually could be real dawns on him. “It felt so weird,” he adds, to which Jungkook hums in agreement.

He is much more calm now, listening to Jungkook speak, as weird as it sounds. Something about having another person to talk to, even if it’s Jeon Jungkook, makes Taehyung feel grateful.

Taehyung stalks back over to the edge of the cave and sits down right at the entrance, looking out at the sea. He lets his feet dangle over the ledge and watches as tiny stone fall every so often, landing in the water with small ringlets surrounding them.

“So it’s really you then?” Taehyung asks, scratching at his head as he appreciates the beauty the ocean holds.

“Why do you sound so calm and normal about all this?”

“Well, it’s not very surprising to me,” Taehyung counters back. “A magic necklace is nothing compared to what I’ve seen.”

“Taehyung, where exactly are you?” Jungkook sounds genuinely curious, worried even, but Taehyung decides to ignore that. It’s something that comes as a second nature to him, ignoring Jungkook. Something that’s been the cause of quite a few mild arguments during drama practice over the past few months. Though, he’s never done it with malicious intent, as unbelievable as it sounds. He just always seems to have so much on his mind that he can’t help but ignore others’ words sometimes.

“I don’t know, Jungkook,” he says, leaning back and laying down on the cold floor.

“Kim, you’re really not helping,” Jungkook huffs. “Your brother is so worried about you. The whole fucking uni is dead because you’ve suddenly disappeared and-“

“Fuck off Jeon. Stop acting like you give a shit, Mr I never could, I never should,” Taehyung snaps, sitting back up and rubbing at his forehead. He doesn’t mean to let those last words slip out but they do, bringing back the memories of last night. He tries his best to distract. “I have no fucking idea where I am and you think you can help me?”

Jungkook scoffs. “This isn’t going to work, is it?” Taehyung hears the double meaning behind those words; they could be directed at this situation or just them - Taehyung and Jungkook - in general.

Taehyung ignores Jungkook once again as he squints at a spot far away in the sea. He really wishes he had his glasses right now even though he knows there’s no point wishing for anything when it hasn’t worked his entire life. But soon Taehyung doesn’t need his glasses anymore as the thing gets closer, faster and Taehyung gasps at the sight of a glow of deep purple speeding towards the cave. Maeve.

“Jungkook!” he cries without thinking, shooting up from his seat. “She’s coming. She’s coming back!”

“What?” Jungkook suddenly sounds more panicked than snarky. “Who’s coming? Where the fuck are you?”

“Jungkook, she’s coming. I can see the purple!” Taehyung screams, his hands going back up to clasp at his hair. He starts to walk backwards, further into the cave, but keeps his eyes zoned right where he had been sitting. Waiting. “Maeve. She’s coming to kill me Jungkook.”

“Wait, slow down,” Jungkook worries. “Who’s Maeve? Why does she want to kill you?”

“She took me from the beach. She wants to kill me Jungkook!”

“Okay, listen to me. You need to calm down.”

“I can’t fucking calm down!” Taehyung shouts but he immediately regrets it when he sees the look of disapproval on Maeve’s face, as she jumps up onto the ledge of the cave effortlessly. Taehyung doesn’t understand how that’s possible for her to do but he decides not to pay any mind to that when he’s got a bigger problem at hand.

“Honey, you shouldn’t be shouting,” she laughs, swaying towards him. Her laugh sounds anything but amused. Taehyung shivers harshly as she places an ice cold hand at his throat, wrapping her fingers around his neck in a choke hold. “You’ll ruin your beautiful voice if you do that. I think you should apologise to me for that.”

“I’m-I’m s-sorry,” Taehyung says immediately, feeling his lip quiver. “I’m sorry, Maeve.”

“No,” comes Jungkook’s voice.

“I don’t know if I should accept that apology or not,” Maeve whispers, sliding both her hands up to caress at his hair. “You didn’t sound very apologetic. Maybe I should just kill you now and get this over and done with.”

“I’m sorry, Maeve. I w-won’t shout again.”

“No Taehyung. You have to show her you’re not afraid.”

Taehyung can’t. How can he show Maeve he isn’t afraid when he’s scared for his life? He’s thought about how it would be easier to just die now, he’s wished it too, but now that it’s happening, he feels different. He doesn’t want to die. God, he just wants to get out of here. With death just a hair’s breadth away from his fingertips, he’s finding it difficult to reach that bit forward. All he wants to do right now, is pull away, never come this close to it again, at least not now at his nearing age of 22.

“I can’t.”

“What was that?” Maeve chuckles. “If I didn’t know any better, I would think you’re in here with someone else.” What she doesn’t know is that Taehyung isn’t in here alone, to say the least.

Taehyung sucks in a breath of air and tries his best to calm the shaking of his bones. Maeve just continues to stare at him contently, like she’s enjoying this way too much.

“When will y-you let me out of h-here?” Taehyung asks, cautiously taking a step back from her. Her hands drop back to her sides at the loss of his hair between her fingertips and the insensitive look on her face falters.

“Why ask questions? Be straight to the point.”

Taehyung clears his throat. He’ll listen to Jungkook. Just this once. “I want you to l-let me out of here.”

At his words, Maeve seems to completely freeze and Taehyung thinks he sees a flash of something human in her scarlet eyes. It looks as if she’s finally thinking about things and Taehyung can practically see the cogs moving in her head. But just like that the look is gone and Maeve only laughs a prolonged laugh, hands clutching at her tummy. “You’re funny,” she says in between fits of laughter. In the time it takes for one to light a match, the fire is back in her eyes and any sign of amusement is gone as she suddenly stands up straight, an evil glare directed Taehyung’s way. It makes his heart stutter, even though he does notice the slight weakness in her eyes, presumably because Taehyung had just stood up to her. “You’re never getting out of here, Taehyung. You’ll never be able to leave. In fact, you’re going to die in here.”

“W-why are you doing this? Why don’t you just let me go? Or end this now?”

“Taehyung.” Jungkook sounds commanding. He sounds like if he could, he would put a hand over Taehyung’s mouth right now, just to shut him up. Just to stop him saying shit like that. “You’re not going to fucking die.”

Almost as if she heard Jungkook, Maeve laughs again but this time it’s somewhat distantly as she completely dissociates. The red eyes that were once piercing and frightening, are now filled to the brim with emotion. Surprisingly, they very quickly begin to water too. Taehyung can only imagine what is capable of making a creature like this, completely human.

“I can’t end you now.” Maeve is no longer looking into his eyes, but at the ground as she seemingly remembers something. “Not when I have yet to meet him in person, tell him exactly how I feel. Not when I still have yet to have him all to myself. You see, a Siren’s duty is to collect her chosen sailor, lure him in with her enticing voice and kill him. Straight after that her duty is over, and therefore so is her life. After killing you Taehyung, my life will come to an end and I will return to my darling father Achelous.” Taehyung watches as Maeve pads towards the cave entrance with her bare feet dragging along the pebbles. She stops right at the ledge, staring off into the distance, taking in the view. “But I was a fool, you see. I let that stupid, human emotion take over me and all I found myself longing for, was him, that mere mundane. I would go close to shore everyday, watch him as he taught those other sickly mundanes how to play those odd water sports with the blasted wooden boards that always seem to leave a weird taste in my sea.”

“Surfing.” Taehyung doesn’t mean to say it but it just slips out. Luckily, Maeve seems to take no notice in him or his voice or his slip up.

“Surfing?” Jungkook asks. “Taehyung, has Hoseok got something to do with this?”

“I wish I could just kill each and every one of those humans that are allowed to get close to him as he helps them stand and balance, with those gentle looking hands of his. Oh, how I wish those hands would be touching me instead. I’ve never been one to feel jealousy, after all I am a beautiful Siren. Why would I need to feel jealousy? But they get to have him while I can only watch on from my place in the rocks, wishing. And his smile. His smile that, to me, looks better than any lightning I could ever conjure, his smile that’s the only brightness I have ever felt in my entire life, his smile that radiates the sun and much more.”

“Smile radiating the sun?” Taehyung whispers, and it all starts to make sense.

“I only know one person who’s smile is compared to the sun apart from yours, Taehyung.”

“Every single day, I go there to see him,” Maeve continues her monologue. “Even though I know I shouldn’t, I’m so deeply in love with him that I just can’t help myself. I need to see him everyday, I need to hear him laugh. I need to see that blinding smile, even if it’s never directed at me. I’m a fool for letting love get the better of me, I mean, I don’t even know his name!” Maeve abruptly turns back to face Taehyung and any show of emotion has completely gone, disappeared, vanished like a teardrop getting lost in the sea. “My final wish is to confess my love to him, possibly get him to love me back, even though I know that last one is quite impossible. Confessing my love is enough for me though, and so Taehyung, you, oh you sweet, sweet boy, you are my sacrifice. You are here to wait for your definite demise.”

“N-no,” Taehyung says, shaking his head. He can feel the tears leaving tracks on his cheeks but he pays no attention to them. It doesn’t help that a certain surf instructor’s face keeps popping up in his mind. “Please, l-let me g-go. Please.”

“Taehyung, what’s going on?” Jungkook sounds almost as frantic as Taehyung does.

“I’ll be back at sundown with your dinner,” Maeve says, completely unaffected. “Need to fatten you up a bit.”

“No please,” Taehyung cries. But it’s no use because before Taehyung can blink, Maeve is jumping back into the sea and zooming away leaving a trail of purple glow.

Taehyung doesn’t even try to stop the sobs ripping from his throat as he falls to the ground. He hardly registers the call of his name in his head as Jungkook gets more and more worried. Why is he even worried? Jungkook said he never could, never wou-

“I’m going to get you out of there, Taehyung.”

☾

Jungkook is sitting on the bathroom floor, staring at the dry blood patch that he and Taehyung had left behind, years ago. Gross.

Jungkook feels helpless as he listens to Taehyung’s wails and screams. He feels the stinging in his eyes as tears of his own fight to escape. But he won’t let them. He has to be strong. For him.

Jungkook rushes to stand up as the bathroom door flies opens, revealing a few boys he hardly recognises. They all look at him wide-eyed, then simultaneously look away with polite nods. Jungkook can’t help but wonder if maybe the tears have already been shed and if these strangers are worried about him.

Outside is just as unusually quiet as it had been an hour ago. But for Jungkook it isn’t quiet at all with all the sobbing he can hear in his head. Taehyung’s voice seems to be going hoarse now and he can only imagine how much the man’s throat must be hurting.

Jungkook doesn’t understand why he feels so much pain hearing his worst enemy cry. He feels useless as he glances around, walking through campus like nothing is going on in his head. There are a lot more students walking around now, but still, people are keeping their eyes downcast as they shuffle along.

The tables outside the main drama theatre are old, paint chipping away and benches worn out. But that never stopped Taehyung from sitting there every morning before drama practice with a cup of coffee and a snack that was different everyday. Of course Jungkook noticed him and saw as he usually got crowded by his friends after a while of waiting. Now the benches are completely empty.

The huge oak tree is still standing at the side of the pathway. The tree Jungkook had caught Taehyung sitting under on multiple occasions as he basked in the sunlight with a book or work in hand. He had even once caught Taehyung making out with Jung Hoseok under the tree, opting for not getting involved. Now the grass is damp and the spot under the tree is void of anyone or any sunlight.

The stalls that students normally have set up throughout campus grounds aren’t there today. It was only yesterday, that they had been selling cupcakes.

[Rewind - 10 hours before disappearance, 3:00pm]

Jungkook had been on his way to drama practice and by the looks of it, so had Taehyung. They had been part of this play for months now, and the performance date was getting closer and closer, with it being only one month away. Drama practice for hours on end had created a different atmosphere around the two of them, as they did what they loved to do. Act. They had mutually decided to keep a clear mind and ‘act like an actor’ as Seokjin had told them to, rather than let personal matters get to their work.

Jungkook knew that Taehyung knew he was walking right behind him, seeing it as only a coincidence that they had both been walking to the auditorium at the same time. In the past Taehyung probably would have stopped in his tracks and started a fight, asking Jungkook something stupid like why he’d been following him, but it was different now. Taehyung merely turned around for a second, making eye contact with Jungkook, then turned back around again as he continued with his trek to class.

Jungkook remembers seeing Taehyung stop walking as he caught sight of cupcakes, rushing straight over towards the queue. Jungkook stayed put, watching as Taehyung got to the front of the line and saw as the smile on his face dropped because there, manning the stall, was Hoseok. It was odd to see Hoseok using his free time to sell cupcakes rather than working his usual shift at the beach, teaching people to surf, but Jungkook thought nothing of it. Instead he focused on the look on Taehyung’s face. Taehyung and Hoseok had been known to have had some history and so it didn’t surprise Jungkook to see the hostility between them as Taehyung pointed to the cupcake he wanted.

“Sorry Taehyung, but we don’t have enough change for you to pay with a 10,000 won note,” Hoseok had smirked, handing Taehyung back his money.

“But I have no change. Aren’t all stalls supposed to have float money?” Taehyung asked, pout starting to appear at his lips.

“I mean, we do have change but just not enough for you.” The look on Hoseok’s face had made Jungkook feel somewhat unsettled. “Either buy more that one cupcake or leave.”

Tapping Taehyung on the shoulder, a girl emerged from behind him as she smiled softly at Hoseok, pointing at a cupcake. Jungkook squinted as he made out the 10,000 won note in her hand that Hoseok accepted, handing over her change along with the one chocolate cupcake. Taehyung glared for a while more before giving up, pout sill evident at his lips.

“You dick,” Taehyung scoffed, turning swiftly and walking away, without his cupcake.

“Bigger than yours,” Hoseok retorted, throwing up the middle finger at Taehyung’s back.

Even thinking about it now, Jungkook has no clue as to why he did it but it very well could have been the flare of anger surging through his body that had pushed him to go and stand in the line for the cupcake stall. None of this had been part of his apology plan but it seemed like a good idea.

“Hey Jungkook,” Hoseok chirped. “What can I get for you today?” Jungkook could only wonder how Hoseok managed to live with himself, knowing he was the cause of Taehyung’s pouty lips. Jungkook knows, okay? Hypocritical of him to think so, but still.

“One of each,” he had replied bluntly, eyeing the package boxes, stacked near the table. “Actually, make that two of each.”

Hoseok had laughed but started to pack a box anyway. “Why does muscle pig Jeon Jungkook want so many calorie filled cupcakes?”

“Not for me,” Jungkook had answered, hating how casual Hoseok sounded after what he had just done to Taehyung. Don’t get him wrong, Jungkook has done a lot more and worse to Taehyung but it just didn’t sit right with him to see other people acting that way with him too. He too had recently started acting differently with his ‘enemy’ after spending time with him for this goddamn play and seeing him break down in the music room.

Taehyung had been crying for his parents and Jungkook couldn’t help but think about how much they had in common, as he watched Hoseok continue to pack the cupcake box. They both loved to act. They both were assholes. They both didn’t have parents. Even if Jungkook technically did still have his parent, though to him they were anything but alive.

Jungkook took the box from Hoseok, thrusting over his money. He had just been about to leave when the image of an angry and somewhat disappointed Taehyung had re-entered his mind. “Oh and Hoseok?” he started, leaning into the guy’s personal space. “Next time I see you treating Taehyung the way you just did I won’t hesitate to go all muscle pig on you.”

To say Jungkook had felt satisfied after taking in Hoseok’s panicked and apologetic expression, would be the understatement of the century.

Hurrying along the path, Jungkook ended up stood outside the auditorium with a box full of cupcakes. Now, he may have thought this was an okay idea in the moment but standing right outside the door that he knew Taehyung was behind, had him feeling like a dumbass. Surely, Taehyung would never accept cupcakes, let alone an apology, from him.

“Jungkook! It’s great to see you here on time for once,” Seokjin’s voice came, interrupting his inner turmoil. “I hate to break your staring contest with the door, but aren’t you going inside?”

“Sir, I need a favour,” Jungkook explained, ignoring his teacher’s words. “Can you give this to Taehyung for me?”

“So my advice worked? You two have finally made a truce?” An amused grin graced Seokjin’s face as he took the box. “I’m guessing you would like it to be kept anonymous?” he smirked.

Jungkook thought about it for a second. If Seokjin gave the cupcakes to Taehyung, saying they were from Jungkook, he would have to face the consequences of talking to Taehyung, apologising like he had planned. But if Seokjin gave the cupcakes to Taehyung without saying who they were from, there would surely be word going around in the campus; rumours about how the handsome teacher trainer Seokjin and school sunshine Taehyung must be dating, would undoubtedly spread like wildfire. That didn’t sound good to Jungkook.

“No, say it’s from me,” Jungkook finally replied, stepping back to allow Seokjin to enter the theatre.

Jungkook remembers going into the room a few minutes after Seokjin and having all eyes on him, including Taehyung’s very wide ones. The silver haired boy had the box of cupcakes in hand and Jungkook had felt something inside him flutter at the small smile directed his way. Taehyung had never smiled at him before.

[Present]

Now Jungkook wouldn’t be able to see Taehyung smile or buy him cupcakes even if he wanted to because not only are there no stalls, there’s no Taehyung.

“I’m going to get you out of there, Taehyung,” Jungkook says, coming to a stand still a few metres away from the table piled with Taehyung’s picture. Jungkook listens for a second and feels his heart break a little when he only gets more of Taehyung’s sobs in return.

He had heard things about Hoseok obviously, when Taehyung had been muttering things about surfing and the sun and there’s no doubt in Jungkook’s mind that he’s going to be paying Hoseok a little visit. But for now, he has something to do.

Namjoon is sat down now, still right next to the table, and he has a worried Yoongi tending to his teary eyes with a folded napkin. Jungkook takes in the dark half moons under Namjoon’s eyes, looking like they’ve been smudged there with chalk. He sees them reflected under Yoongi’s eyes too. They both look so damn tired.

Jungkook takes a deep breath, then gently nudges past the few people crowded around the table.

“Namjoon,” he starts, adding as much sympathy in his voice as he can, and it’s easy because all Jungkook feels right now is despair. “I’m sorry.”

“Namjoonie hyung?” Taehyung suddenly says, voice hoarse and hopeful. But Jungkook decides to keep quiet for now.

Namjoon hardly acknowledges Jungkook, turning his head slightly to wipe at his eyes. It’s Yoongi who speaks up, sounding not hostile, but so exhausted. “Jungkook, I think it’s best if you just leave Joonie alone for now. We really aren’t doing so good.”

Jungkook’s quick to deny. “No. I want to help.”

“Look Jungkook,” Namjoon speaks up. Jungkook looks straight into his eyes and notices just how dead they are, how much pain he’s going through. Namjoon really has always been someone to wear his emotions entirely in his eyes. “I’m sorry for fighting with you earlier, okay? That’s what you wanted right? An apology. So now you can just leave.” His voice is harsh, his words straight to the point.

“No Namjoon. I’m sorry, I had no right to come up to you and talk to you like-“

“What did you do to my brother?”

“that and I was an absolute asshole. I had no idea what was going on with you and I shouldn’t have said the shit I did.” Namjoon looks at him pensively, almost as if he’s trying to read him. “I want to help you find Taehyung and I think I have a pretty good lead.”

At the mention of Taehyung, Namjoon seems to sit straighter, looking Jungkook properly in the eye.

“If this is some sort of joke, Jungkook...” Namjoon says, almost pleading.

“What’s he saying? Tell him I love him, I’ll miss him.”

“I can speak to him,” Jungkook states. He knows it sounds like he’s psychotic but it’s worth a try. “I can hear him in my head and he can hear me.”

Taehyung’s hopeful voice has faded to stuttered sobs again, pushing Jungkook that little bit further. He needs to find Taehyung.

“This isn’t fucking funny,” Namjoon suddenly bursts out, pushing up from his chair. “If you know where Tae is, you better fucking tell me right now!” Namjoon’s cheeks are covered in tears again as he springs towards Jungkook, Yoongi immediately coming in between them.

“Jungkook,” Yoongi warns but Jungkook decides not to listen, stepping aside to be in front of Namjoon again. His face is red and Jungkook can practically see the smoke coming out of his nose.

He gives Yoongi a look, telling him it’s okay, before moving to take Namjoon’s hands into his own. Namjoon’s hands are trembling, sweating, but even through his fear and anger towards Jungkook, he clutches onto Jungkook’s hands like he’s trying so hard to ground himself.

“We’ll find him.”

“How?” Namjoon sighs, pleading Jungkook with not only his voice but his eyes.

Jungkook looks away from Namjoon’s eyes for a second, glancing around at other people that are near them. Nobody seems to be interested in their little confrontation, only two girls left looking at Taehyung’s missing posters. Carefully, Jungkook brings out the necklace from under his t-shirt and holds it up in front of him. He can see the reflection of it in Namjoon’s glistening, wide eyes as the latter stares at it in awe.

“This is a moonstone necklace,” Jungkook starts, glancing over at Yoongi who listens just as intently as Namjoon. “I think it’s what’s letting me speak with Taehyung.” Namjoon’s eyes get impossibly wider at that. His hands that were previously squeezing Jungkook’s own, loosen in their hold then drop off to rest at his sides.

Jungkook keeps quiet as he watches Yoongi clutch at Namjoon’s hand, his eyes equally as wide as his boyfriend’s. “Jeon, this better not be-“

“I’m telling the truth,” Jungkook interrupts as he sees Namjoon’s hands tighten around Yoongi’s, as if to tell his boyfriend to calm down. “I can prove it to both of you.”

☾

Namjoon doesn’t remember much from the day Taehyung was born. Then again, he was only a little over the age of one, still toddling around with a dummy in his mouth.

But the memories that followed that are ones that Namjoon will remember for the rest of his life. Growing up with Taehyung has been one of the best things to happen to Namjoon and he can’t help but wonder what good he did in his past life to deserve a brother like him.

Although he and Taehyung came from different fathers, Namjoon has always and will always consider his baby brother to be his full brother, even if their official status is half brothers. Namjoon remembers promising Taehyung to protect him and be there for him for the rest of their lives just like full brothers should; Taehyung did the same to him. It was their agreement, had a contract that had to be signed and all.

They had both needed to be there for each other when one got bad grades on an exam, even after countless hours of revision. They had to be there for each other through their first heartbreaks, while one cried in bed with a tub of chocolate ice cream. They both had to be there for each other when one late night, their parents hadn’t come home from their date night. They had to be there for each other when their parents still hadn’t arrived the morning after. They had to be there for each other when they had gotten the call from someone, confirming that their parents had died in a car crash and that a carer was on their way to pick them up.

So, when Taehyung came home with a look of utter pain on his face and tears streaming out of his eyes, he couldn’t help but feel useless. And murderous. It didn’t help that he knew exactly who had made Taehyung feel this way.

[Rewind - 45 minutes before disappearance, 12:15am]

“Hyung,” Taehyung cried, wrapping his arms tightly around Namjoon’s neck. Namjoon didn’t say anything, waiting for his brother to tell him when he was ready, as he slipped his arms around him, holding him tight, being there for him. He knew Taehyung would tell him sooner or later.

“It’s okay, Tae,” Namjoon said, rubbing Taehyung’s back, softly.

“I-I h-hate him so m-much, hyung,” Taehyung finally mumbled out in between cries. “H-he was the one who-who wanted to k-kiss me first!”

“It’s okay, baby,” Namjoon could only repeat, not wanting to ask questions and further upset Taehyung. It’s always been like this from his part, waiting for Taehyung to speak first rather than cause even bigger problems by asking the wrong things. It’s happened multiple times in the past and Namjoon didn’t want the same thing to happen tonight.

“Then he pushed me away!” Taehyung started to sound more and more angry as more words tumbled out of his mouth. “We just had to practice this one fucking kiss that should have only lasted 3 seconds at most. Why the fuck did he push me away? It was fucking him!”

“Tae, calm down,” Namjoon tried but it just seemed to egg Taehyung on more.

“What’s the point of him being nice to me for a while only to suddenly switch it back up?” Taehyung shouted, stepping away from Namjoon. “Do you know how fucking stupid I felt? Like an actual idiot, because I kissed him back!”

“Taehyung, it’s okay. Maybe he was just shocked.”

“He told me he didn’t like me, never could, never should. And I don’t know why that makes me so upset because why would Jeon Jungkook ever like me?” Taehyung started to become a bit breathless, but still he continued. “He lends me notes from class, voluntarily sits next to me to quote unquote, get to know me better for this stupid play. Hyung, he fucking bought me a whole box of cupcakes today. Or yesterday or whatever! Then he borderline makes out with me then tells me he doesn’t like me?”

Taehyung stared at Namjoon, expectantly with his wide, glassy eyes, probably waiting for words of comfort. But Namjoon was stupid.

“Taehyung, do you perhaps, like Jungkook?”

It was the wrong thing for Namjoon to say, judging by the way Taehyung had completely stiffened up, stepping further away than ever.

“Tae-“

“I’m going to the beach,” Taehyung had announced before storming straight back out of the apartment. And he was gone, just like that.

[Present]

Namjoon doesn’t know what to do because standing right in front of him, looking dishevelled and worried, is none other than Jeon Jungkook, otherwise known as the main reason Taehyung has disappeared in the first place.

“I can prove it to both of you,” Jungkook says, as he lightly strokes over the stone on his necklace.

Namjoon knows what moonstone is. He’s read all about how it’s been used in Roman jewellery for nearly two thousand years, and about how it’s seen to have all these magical powers that influences behaviour, emotions and spiritual growth. It’s never something Namjoon has entirely believed.

Namjoon isn’t surprised when he finds himself on the way to Jeon Jungkook’s flat, with only his boyfriend at his side keeping him sane. The walk there is spent in silence for Namjoon and Yoongi as they listen to Jungkook muttering words of comfort to seemingly himself, but who he insists is Taehyung. It’s crazy to see Jungkook acting like this, his usual aloof self replaced by a frightened bunny as he continues to talk to himself, glancing around every so often. He looks agitated, worried, and it seems like he doesn’t know what to do with himself.

Jungkook quietens a bit when they get to the apartment block, muscles looking a little less tense and sighs of relief escaping his lips every so often.

Namjoon doesn’t know what to feel anymore, his eyes numb and tears run dry. Even if what Jungkook is saying sounds absolutely psychotic he can’t help himself when he asks, “what’s Tae doing?”

Jungkook pauses, then goes back to opening his flat door, stepping inside and allowing Namjoon and Yoongi to enter. “He’s singing. I figured it would calm him down at least a little.”

Namjoon remains silent as he clutches onto Yoongi’s hand, taking a seat on Jungkook’s sofa. Taehyung loves singing. It’s a secret that not a lot of people know and he can’t help but wonder how Jungkook, out of all people, would know. It’s something their mother would often do and Taehyung was the chosen one, blessed with the beautiful voice, while Namjoon could hardly speak three words without a voice crack.

“Taehyung, how are you feeling now?” Jungkook asks, staring down at his twiddling fingers. Namjoon’s heart skips a beat at the thought of being able to ask his brother himself. Jungkook nods before saying, “I’m with Namjoon and Yoongi right now, but they don’t believe that I can talk to you.”

Jungkook’s quiet for a few seconds as he seemingly listens to Taehyung’s reply. Namjoon can feel his heart rate increasing as the seconds that feel more like lifetimes pass by; luckily for him Yoongi notices.

Yoongi clears his throat, squeezing Namjoon’s hand the slightest bit more. “Jungkook, you’re actually being serious right? It’s just, you do realise this sounds crazy? Right?”

But of course Jungkook ignores him. “I’ll be gone for a few seconds while I give the necklace to Namjoon, okay?” he asks, looking straight at Namjoon.

Namjoon stiffens up as he watches Jungkook hesitate for a second, before carefully removing the necklace. Jungkook shivers uncontrollably for a second and Namjoon’s almost worried, but the former just brushes it off as soon as the shaking stops just a few seconds after it starts. He takes the piece of metal cautiously when Jungkook passes it over, placing it around his own neck.

All is silent because the other two wait for his reaction.

All is silent. Because he can’t hear Taehyung.

☾

All of Taehyung’s tears are completely dried out at this point. Not to mention his voice that’s hardly even understandable to himself. Hours of sobbing has done him no good and he’s still stuck in this cave, just waiting to die.

But something Taehyung has to admit is that the one person who he would have never expected this from is the person that’s been comforting him. Jungkook’s words of comfort have been a constant since he had heard Taehyung worry about Maeve.

It’s all very confusing because it both surprises Taehyung and also kind of doesn’t. It isn’t surprising that Jungkook is helping him, no matter how much they hate each other, because Taehyung knows their ‘relationship’ has changed after spending almost every day together, preparing for the play. However, it is surprising that someone he’s very strongly disliked since the beginning of time is the one person he’s allowed to speak with in this prison. There must be a reason for it.

One of Taehyung’s theories is that it’s all because of that agreement they had made, months back.

[Rewind - 9 Months, December]

“Jaemin?” Jungkook spoke, softly and Taehyung could feel the warm air of his breath hitting the back of his neck. They were practicing one of the last scenes for the play, even though they had only started a few months before. Seokjin had a tendency to pick and choose any scene he wanted, whether it be the beginning, middle or end, because ‘it’s satisfying to put the puzzle pieces together at the end’ or something along those lines. “You have to to tell me what’s going on with you nowadays, Min. We’re supposed to be best friends, but I can tell you’re hiding things from me.”

“It’s not even that important,” Taehyung replied, keeping his back to Jungkook. In this part of the play they were in an alleyway, outside a party. Jaemin had run out after kissing Lia, the most popular girl in school, (other wise known as one of his love interests) in a game of truth and dare.

Taehyung involuntarily flinched as Jungkook wrapped his calloused hand around his wrist, swiftly turning him around to face him.

“If you’re acting like this, it’s obviously important,” Jungkook murmured, a deep whisper, but still loud enough for the rest of the people to hear through his mic. “Lia must really be doing things to your insides if you’re being like this.”

Taehyung looked up at Jungkook, their faces only inches apart. He could feel as their breaths intermingled with one another’s and he could feel the hand around his wrist tighten the slightest bit. “Oh for God’s sake Jisu,” Taehyung spoke, noticing the way Jungkook’s expression changed to one of confusion. He’d never admit it aloud, but Jungkook’s acting skills were top notch. “It’s you! It’s always been you!” he shouted, right in Jungkook’s face, though he heard the slight crack in his own voice. It was awkward, okay? It had been their first time performing this scene and it probably showed in the way the both of them immediately stepped back and away from each other, Jungkook’s hand lingering on Taehyung’s skin for all but a second. The next part was supposed to be a sudden kiss, with Jaemin leaning in before he could stop himself. But Seokjin had allowed them to not have to perform any kissing scenes until the very last practice before the showcase.

“Okay, cut!” Seokjin shouted, standing up from his seat and making his way over to the stage.

A small applause filled the room as the few students scattered around started gathering their belongings, ready to leave for the evening. Seokjin climbed up on stage and held one of their shoulders in each one of his hands, a clear indication that they weren’t allowed to leave just yet.

“I appreciate that the two of you don’t fight on stage anymore,” Seokjin had said, looking between the two of them, after everyone had finally left. “But for this performance to work, we need to see the chemistry. If not between Taehyung and Jungkook, we need to see it between Jaemin and Jisu.” It was odd, getting scolded at this age, especially for Taehyung as he was turning 21 in a week, but it’s something they had both brought upon themselves.

“Sir, we really do try but-“

“This play is very important to me,” Seokjin had interrupted Taehyung, “and if you two don’t want to do it anymore, fine. I’ll find other people to play the parts.”

“That’s not it,” Jungkook had spoken, lightly nudging Taehyung with his elbow.

“Yeah, that’s not it,” Taehyung added. “I want to do this, sir.”

Seokjin looked at the two of them, almost thankfully, before speaking again. “For Jaemin and Jisu to work, I need you two to act like actors. Forget whatever it is that’s going on between you two or just sort it out for God’s sake. For all I know this is all just some weird sexual tension.” The words had made Taehyung embarrassed, not just because of the idea but the context behind it, when all Taehyung could remember was the small kiss Jungkook had placed at his forehead two months prior. He couldn’t help but think this was all something more than just sexual tension. Still, they had both been too quick to deny, but Seokjin continued, ignoring their protests. “Play the part. Become your characters.”

“So I guess we’re calling a truce?” Jungkook asked as they were left with only the sound of the heavy theatre door slamming shut.

Taehyung remembers feeling weird about it. It was all happening too easily, but still he shrugged, putting out a hand. “Truce,” he said, shaking Jungkook’s hand.

The feeling of touching Jungkook, without it being aggressive was like a breath of fresh air. It was odd that Taehyung had felt a sort of tingle where their hands met but it hadn’t been something he put deep thought into.

[Present]

Taehyung feels a sudden tingle then, shivering as he sits straight up on the floor. He has yet to hear his brother’s voice like Jungkook had said he would if he gave the necklace over. Instead he hears Jungkook again, this time determined.

“It didn’t work, but I have another plan,” Jungkook mutters. “Namjoon, ask me any questions that only Taehyung would know the answers to.”

Taehyung listens for a while but it remains so quiet that he’s worried he’s lost Jungkook and that hearing him in the first place had just been a dream. A terribly hopeful dream. Taehyung just can’t help but sigh in relief when he hears Jungkook’s voice again.

“What was the name of Namjoon’s first girlfriend?”

Taehyung doesn’t even need to think about his answer. “That’s a trick question. Hyung’s never had a girlfriend, he’s gay as fuck.”

He hears Jungkook chuckle before repeating his answer to Namjoon. Then he’s asking another question. “Why did Namjoon need to get a job at such a young age?”

Taehyung shivers at that question as he remembers the time his brother had to work to earn for the both of them, as soon as he had turned of age. “Because no one else was there for us,” he says, shortly.

Jungkook seems to hesitate before rattling off the answer to Namjoon. The next question takes a while to come but when it does, Taehyung feels his heart drop. “Um, what, um, sorry,” Jungkook stutters. After a cough he speaks again. “What was the date when your- when your parents passed away?”

“It was November 19th,” Taehyung says, heart clenching ever so slightly. You would think that he’d have gotten over his parents’ death after nearly 14 years, but it’s something that he still has to think about every year. And he knows the same applies for Namjoon.

Jungkook quickly repeats the date and Taehyung waits patiently for another question. But it never comes. Instead Jungkook is saying, “he says he loves you, that he’ll find you, that you’ll be fine.”

Taehyung lets out a heavy breath and he feels his heart rate pick up in pace. “I love him so much. I miss him. Tell him that Jungkook! I’ll miss him and I’ll always be there in his heart. Yoongi hyung too. I love them both so much. I’m sorry for leaving them behind just like eomma and appa but unlike them, I’m saying goodbye before I go. Please tell them I love them so much, Jungkook!” Taehyung speaks without giving himself time to breathe.

“Tae, you’re not going to die,” comes Jungkook’s voice and he almost doesn’t realise the use of his nickname. “We’re going to find you and-“

“It’s no use Jungkook,” Taehyung mutters. “I’m out here, basically in the middle of the ocean. I might not even still be in Korea for all I know.”

“You’re in the ocean? How is that even possible?” Jungkook sounds genuinely concerned. “Look, I’m going to go and speak with Hoseok. He’s got to know something.”

Taehyung ignores Jungkook’s questions to ask his own, after a few minutes of silence. “What did Namjoon and Yoongi say? Are they okay? Tell them not to worry, that they should carry on with their lives normally and take care of themselves.” Taehyung can hear how casual his own voice sounds and he should probably be worried that he’s so nonchalant while in a situation like his. He decides to let that worry go but he’s surprised to hear it in Jungkook’s voice.

“They left as soon as I mentioned the part about you being in the ocean. Namjoon said something about finding Jung Hoseok. Seems like he’s figured out our one and only lead.” Oddly, Jungkook sounds frustrated at the mention of Hoseok and if Taehyung’s being honest, he feels the frustration too. Jungkook knows all about Maeve’s little love story, something Taehyung had tried to relay to him as accurately as he could, while he had been taking Namjoon and Yoongi to his apartment. As if after some thought, Jungkook speaks again. “Am I the only one you can hear?”

“I mean apart from the Siren that’s out to get me, yes, you’re the only one I can hear and speak to.”

Jungkook gasps. “A Siren? I mean I guess that explains the fact that she would watch her love from the shore but still. I’m finding it harder and harder to believe that this isn’t all just a complex mythological dream I’m having.” Even in the situation that he’s in, Taehyung manages to let out a laugh at that. Jungkook seems to have a way with calming him down, oddly enough. “Seriously, I’m half expecting to wake up to the sound of Jimin shouting in my living room, telling me to get my ass up and to drama practice.”

“He still treats you like a baby?” Taehyung chuckles, going to lean up against the wall with the glowing stone shining from above. Taehyung remembers being in the middle of running through a scene with Jungkook and having Jimin storm into the theatre with a container of food. On multiple occasions.

“To him, I am a baby,” Jungkook replies, before changing the topic. Come to think of it, Jungkook is really good at that. “Our showcase is next month,” he starts, “you better be back home before then.”

Taehyung feels his mouth twitch into a small smile at the sound of how quietly Jungkook says it. “Why don’t you just say you miss me and go?” He hears Jungkook splutter, and he almost regrets saying it when the thought of last night and the kiss comes back. “Anyway, it’s impossible. I’m going to die here, just like Maeve said.”

Jungkook sighs. “Do you really have no idea where you are?”

“I’m in a cave, 20 feet above the sea, inside a cliff. That’s about all I know.”

“Okay, so you said you were taken from the beach?” Jungkook asks. He sounds like he’s ready for something, determined.

“Yeah?” Taehyung replies. “I don’t see how this-“

“So I’m going to the beach then.”

“What? Why?”

“To find you.”

“That literally doesn’t help. What are you going to do? Swim the seven seas?”

Taehyung hears Jungkook laugh, a loud, boisterous laugh, that he’s never been able to pull out of him before. It’s somewhat refreshing, accomplishing.

“I’m going to summon Maeve.”

☾

“That’s the stupidest thing you’ve ever said,” Taehyung exclaims and Jungkook chooses to ignore him as he slips on some comfy clothes. “And you’ve said a lot of stupid things Jungkook. First of all how are you going to summon a Siren? Second of all, even if you did summon her what the hell are you going to do? You’d just get taken too. Third of all, summoning a siren will not only put you in danger, but everyone else at the beach too. Fourth-“

“Okay, I understand. I’m an idiot. Are you done?”

But obviously Taehyung isn’t done and that’s what Jungkook has to deal with on his way to the beach. The entire walk is filled with scolding and criticisms on Jungkook’s plan, even if Taehyung has no idea what the plan is. That’s not to say Jungkook himself knows the plan but... hey, he’s trying okay? Anyway, someone wise had once told Jungkook that the best things happen unexpectedly.

[Rewind - 13 Years, September]

The day after Jungkook’s birthday was when he actually realised how amazing it felt to finally be 7 years old. It wasn’t only because Jimin could no longer tease him about being “only 6 years old”, or because he had finally gotten a birthday cake like every other kid in school, but it was also because it now meant he was allowed to go outside with his Minji noona.

It felt like it had only been a few days since she had said, “Jungkookie, I promise I’ll take you with me when you’re a big boy,” while she was on her way out.

Jungkook’s mother had just arrived home, sparing not a single glance at her son before dismissing his babysitter and making her way to the bathroom to start her night time routine. It always did seem odd that that was what she did everyday, the exact same thing, the exact same way.

“How about when I’m 7?” Jungkook had exclaimed, hopping up to hook his arms around Minji’s neck in a goodbye hug. With his face squished into her neck, he had missed the look of reluctance on her face and the slight sigh she had let out.

“Okay,” she had finally huffed out, “okay, when you’re 7, I’ll take you with me.”

“You’ll take me away from here forever?” he had asked, hopeful. It was at those words that she pulled away, more forcefully than Jungkook’s ever felt her be, especially with him. She had looked him straight in the eyes with her own shining ones.

“Jungkook!” she whisper yelled, a warning glint in her eyes, as she held him an arm’s length away, staying crouched down in front of him. “Don’t you dare say anything like that in front of your parents. I don’t care if none of them are in this room right now but if I hear those words coming out of your mouth again, especially while either one of your parents are home, you’ll be banned from having banana milk before nap time.”

It may seem stupid now but at the time that was a lot for Jungkook to take in. He couldn’t help but let his lip quiver and his nose twitch ever so slightly as he urged himself not to cry. It wasn’t often that Minji would be the reason that Jungkook cried but when it was her fault, she would always realise. This time wasn’t any different.

“No baby, don’t cry,” she had tried, reaching forward to ruffle his hair. But it was no use as Jungkook felt big, fat tears start to drip down his cheeks. “I’m sorry, I was a bit harsh,” she admitted and Jungkook nodded, agreeing with her statement. “But, I still mean what I said. I just love you too much and noona doesn’t want anything bad happening to you, okay? Don’t say things like that in front of your eomma, yeah? She might get upset or angry and we don’t want that, do we?”

“No,” Jungkook murmured, looking down at the way Minji had clasped her hands around both of his tiny ones. “I love you too, noona.”

He heard Minji chuckle lightly. “And anyway, maybe one day I will be able to take you away from here forever,” she had whispered, leaning in further in order not to be heard. In that moment Jungkook had caught an out of place glimmer in her necklace, the moonstone one that she often bragged about to him and Jimin, telling them all about it’s magical powers. The glimmer was weird and unexpected in the dark lighting of the hallway, a blinking almost like an alarm. Jungkook noticed the sudden alertness in her face as her eyes widened and tears slowly escaped down them. But just like that, the look was gone and she smiled a wobbly smile at him, before croaking out, “but life is too short for us to plan things out and live the same day twice. The best things always happen unexpectedly.”

So yes, Jungkook was glad to finally be 7 years old. Even if he had forgotten about this memory while Minji was still here the evening before with the cake in her hand and Mrs Park at her side, at least he remembered now. Plus, he only had to wait a few more hours before Minji was back for a new day, while eomma and appa were off to work.

But even if Minji did say the best things always happen unexpectedly, who was to say the worst things didn’t happen unexpectedly too?

[Present]

“Jungkook, are you even listening to me?” Taehyung groans and to be honest all the groaning and whining is making Jungkook’s ears (head?) ring. “I’m making some really good points about how you shouldn’t do this, how you should just come up with another plan or even better, just leave me because I’ll end up dying any-“

“For the last time, shut up about dying,” Jungkook snaps, hoping the couple sunbathing haven’t heard him. The beach is mostly empty, save for the very few people scattered around. It’s to be expected since they did just have a major storm the night before. But honestly, if Jungkook didn’t know better he would think they haven’t had rain, let alone a storm, in at least a few months, judging by the sun and the blue, slightly cloudy, sky. “Just stop with that already. We’re getting closer and closer to finding you and bringing you home. I’ve already told you, you’re not going to fucking-“

Jungkook stops himself from continuing, both with his words and his steps, as he comes to a halt. He squints, kind of wishing he had his glasses right now, trying to make out the small group of people standing close to where the tide is coming in. They look to be in some sort of an argument.

“Jungkook?”

“Yeah?”

“You okay? You just stopped talking suddenly.”

“Yeah, just. What, um, what did you say Meave looks like?”

“I’ve already told you Jungkook,” Taehyung groans. “Don’t do this.”

“Just please. Like how does her hair look? I remember you saying something about purple.”

Taehyung sighs. “Long deep purple hair, going up to just below her knees. Skin so pale she could be dead.”

At that the anger takes full control. Most people would see red slowly swimming through their vision in a moment like this but Jungkook doesn’t only see red, he sees a burst of raging red, and he feels sparks of immediate resentment as it floods his veins.

Jungkook doesn’t even think, just follows where his feet are leading him, through the sand and towards the... the creature, where she stands beside Jung fucking Hoseok.

“Where the fuck is he?” Jungkook shouts before he’s even anywhere near the group. He catches a quick change in Hoseok’s expression before the surf instructor is jumping to stand in front of the woman with the long purple hair. It’s also then that Jungkook notices Namjoon and Yoongi are the other two members of the group, as the two turn to face where the shouting is coming from.

“Jungkook! Stop!” Yoongi rushes forward but it’s of no use as Jungkook barrels past and towards Hoseok.

“You’ve got something to do with this,” Jungkook seethes, shoving Hoseok back hard.

“I don’t know what you’re-“

“And you,” Jungkook glares, pointing a finger towards the woman who looks to have moved to the side, staying as far from Jungkook as possible.

“Mavi? What’s she don-“

“Mavi?” Jungkook laughs. “Is that what she’s calling herself?”

“What’s going on? Where are you?”

“Jungkook, what do you-“

“I would’ve thought you’d be smart enough to at least use a Korean name,” Jungkook smirks but he can feel how hostile the quirk of his lips are. “Where the fuck is Taehyung, Maeve?”

Jungkook doesn’t even spare a glance at Hoseok and he misses the confusion morphed into his usually bright features.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Maeve replies and Jungkook thinks he’s the only one catching onto her returned smirk.

“What? How did you find her?” Taehyung worries, voice beginning to shake once again.

“No, don’t cry,” Jungkook mutters, softening his voice and looking away from the creature. “We’re getting you out of there. You’re going to be fine.”

“What the fuck Jeon? Are you crazy?” It’s Hoseok’s voice this time and Jungkook makes eye contact with him again. He’s surprised to find the guy looking worried as he slowly inches towards Jungkook. “Who are you talking to?”

“Does it matter?” Maeve interjects, moving to place a hand on Hoseok’s bicep. “He must be psycho if he’s talking to himself like that. Don’t listen to him.”

Jungkook forces his eyes back up to her face and he’s terrified at the look of calmness in her piercing eyes. The eyes that seem brown but glisten with flashes of scarlet red every so often, trying to let their natural colour come through.

“And these two as well,” she continues. “You don’t know anything about some random guy’s disappearance like they’re saying you do, do you?”

“I have no idea who you are,” Namjoon warns, finally coming out of shock, “but I’m not going to stand here and let you disrespect my brother like that. Hoseok works on the beach. My brother disappeared from the beach. I’m just trying to put two and two together so don’t you dare stand there and act like my baby brother going missing means nothing.”

“Hoseok, what do you know?” Yoongi asks, calmer than his boyfriend had just been.

Hoseok sighs, pulling his arm away from the woman. “Look Yoongi, Namjoon,” he starts, “I promise if I knew something, I would have told you the moment I found out Tae went missing.”

“But how the hell would you not know? You work on this beach everyday!” Namjoon exclaims. Then the memory comes back to Jungkook.

“But,” he starts, glancing over at Namjoon, “yesterday he was selling cupcakes on campus.”

“Exactly! I was selling cupcakes up until around 5 and by then I was too late to go to work anyway. I always tell myself, if I know I’m gonna be late I might as well not show up at all!” It’s sort of unsettling at how Hoseok is able to laugh in a moment like this. But it’s obvious he’s only trying to lighten the mood a bit.

“See, I knew you had no idea about this disappearance, my love,” Maeve insists, reaching back to grasp at Hoseok’s arm, immediately getting rid of his slightly forced smile. At the drop in his expression Jungkook is almost certain the surf instructor is telling the truth.

“Can you please get off me?” Hoseok mutters uncomfortably, pushing her arm away once again. “I literally just met you, how are you calling me that? Fucking creepy.”

Jungkook looks straight at Maeve’s face after Hoseok speaks his words. The sun is slowly beginning to set now, as the early winter night drawls closer, and it seems to reflect in her eyes as any ounce of happiness she had in them is now being wiped away, disappointment replacing it. She’s looking up at Hoseok while the man has his eyes directed at Namjoon and Yoongi, and for a second, Jungkook sees the eyes of a heartbroken woman, a woman in so much pain that she can’t seem to bring her eyes away. It’s not even surprising when he sees her eyes begin to well up.

“So if you, who literally works here, don’t know where he is, who does?” Namjoon mumbles, voice shaking, sounding eerily similar to his brother’s.

“Namjoon, I’m sorry about all of this. I really am,” Hoseok consoles, stepping away from Maeve and closer to the couple. “Me and Tae didn’t end on the best of terms but I want you to know that there was a time that I loved him. Even now, even if I hate to admit it, a small part of me does still love a small part of him and I hope you know that I want to find Tae just as much as you do.” Jungkook watches as Maeve’s expression becomes impossibly more pained, tears openly dripping down her face, but even then, Jungkook feels no sympathy towards her. Not one bit.

“You love him?” she asks, lip quivering. Jungkook physically can’t remove his eyes from her. And it seems like she takes no notice in anything but Hoseok, even when all four pairs of eyes are directed at her.

“Look, I’m really sorry,” Hoseok starts, staying put where he is beside Yoongi, “but who are you?”

“Do you really love him?” Maeve asks, ignoring his question. Her eyes have visibly turned red now but there’s still no sense of evil in them, just dejection and heartache.

“Woah,” Hoseok huffs, “your eyes are- they’ve turned-“

“Answer my question,” Maeve sighs, letting her head hang low, hiding her eyes. Jungkook can see teardrops falling into the sand beneath her as she hides her face from her surroundings.

Jungkook turns to look at Hoseok who just looks like he’d rather be anywhere else than here. His brows are furrowed and his mouth is twisted into a weird shape, showcasing just how confused he actually is. Jungkook decides to just shrug when Hoseok looks at him, seemingly asking for answers.

“I mean,” Hoseok speaks slowly, “I mean, yeah I love him. I did just say that.” Maeve’s head snaps straight back up at his words and she lets out a heavy breath. “But maybe not like, you know, love love, just love.”

“But you love him?” she asks yet again, seeming like she just can’t believe what she’s hearing.

Hoseok simply nods in reply.

“And you want to find him? You want him back?”

This time Hoseok seemingly accepts the weirdness of the situation when he side glances at Jungkook. “I mean, yeah, that’s the dream.”

“It’s your dream to have Taehyung back?” Maeve’s words come out choked and it looks like she’ll start sobbing any second now.

“I didn’t mean it like, like literally, just that, you know, like it would be great to have him back. I mean, it’d make me happy if he came back, safe.”

Maeve is the one to nod now as a silence settles around them, with all four men waiting for whatever she’s about to say. Maeve has her mouth slightly opened and she looks at nobody but Hoseok, maintaining eye contact with him. Then she does the unthinkable.

Jungkook’s feet are glued to the ground so he can’t do anything but stare from his place as Maeve strides the few steps forward, towards Hoseok and brings her hands up to gently hold his face. Hoseok looks to be just as shocked as Jungkook probably does when she leans in and places a quick peck at his lips, so lightly that’s it barely even there. Hoseok’s eyes are so wide, Jungkook worries his eyeballs will pop out of their sockets if he isn’t careful.

“I love you,” Maeve says, stepping back from Hoseok. “So much. I love you so much.” And with that, she turns and starts the short walk back towards the sea.

“Wait, what the fuck is she doing?” Yoongi exclaims, being the first one to come out of shock.

Hoseok’s next and he’s about to run towards the lady walking into the sea when Jungkook reaches out to stop him. “She’ll be fine.”

“What the fuck?” Hoseok shouts, pulling his arm out of Jungkook’s grip. “Is she- wait is she- does she know how to swim?”

“She’s a Siren,” Jungkook states, taking in the falter in all three of the men in front of him. Yoongi looks pensive, Namjoon looks worried and Hoseok looks straight up gobsmacked.

Almost like they’re connected, all three of them turn to look at the sea and when they see nothing, not a single soul, Jungkook knows they believe him.

“I just kissed a Siren?”

“Where is she going?” Namjoon says, ignoring Hoseok who’s now clutching at his lips. And then it clicks.

Jungkook doesn’t know what to do. “Oh shit,” is his response, as he starts to pace around. “Tae? Taehyung are you there?”

“What’s wrong? What’s going on Jungkook?”

“What’s going on?” Hoseok repeats, almost as if he had heard Taehyung.

“Shut up,” Yoongi mutters, nudging him softly. “He’s speaking to Taehyung.” Hoseok promptly shuts his mouth, closing his lips into a straight line. His eyes remain wide.

“Tae, Maeve is coming.”

“What?”

“She’s coming. Is there anywhere you can hide?”

“No there isn’t. I’m in a fucking tiny cave! What’s going on?”

“She was here,” Jungkook says, taking a seat in the slightly damp sand. He doesn’t even realise, until he looks down, that his fists are clenched, his nails leaving painful crescent shaped dips in the palm of his hands. “She said some weird things, kissed Hoseok, almost like some sort of goodbye.”

“Oh shit! Fuck! Jungkook,” Taehyung curses and his voice is yet again coming out wobbly, “this is it Jungkook, she’s coming to kill me.”

“No,” Jungkook states, “no, you don’t know that.” He looks up for a split second to see all eyes fixed solely on him as he talks to Taehyung. At this point, Jungkook doesn’t even care if he looks crazy. He needs to carry on talking to Taehyung, needs to be here for him because he honestly has no idea what’s going to happen next. Though he still tries to reassure Taehyung by saying, “you’re going to be fine, I know you’re going to be fine.” He doesn’t quite believe himself.

“No you don’t understand! She said after she kills me, she’ll die as well. Why else would she say goodbye to the love of her life?” Taehyung speaks almost erotically and at hearing him sob, Jungkook forces himself to hold back his own that threaten to shoot through his throat.

“Jungkook, what’s he saying. What’s happening?” Namjoon cries, as he paces in the sand. Yoongi is of little help in this moment because he too looks to be silently crying, with a hand over his mouth.

“Hoseok! Where’s the nearest place to get boats? We need a fucking boat!” Jungkook almost shouts, shooting up from his seat.

“I- I don’t know,” Hoseok stutters as he finally starts taking things seriously, judging by his features. “Whenever there’s a storm they don’t allow boats for at least a- a week.”

“So you’re telling me we can’t find a boat anywhere?” Jungkook seethes. “You don’t know anywhere that-“

“Jungkook, stop,” Taehyung interrupts. “It’s no use,” he adds, voice wobblier than Jungkook has ever heard. He’s surprisingly not crying anymore, and Jungkook hates that he’s calm. That he’s accepting what’s about to happen. “I see her. She’s coming. You were right.”

“No, Taehyung, listen to me.” Jungkook is literally sobbing now and that only get’s Namjoon more hysterical. If Jungkook is feeling how he is right now, he can only imagine how Namjoon, Taehyung’s own brother, must be feeling. “You’re going to be- you’re going to be alright. Okay? You’re going to be-“

“M-Maeve,” Taehyung whispers in greeting and there’s something in his voice at that moment that’s makes Jungkook realise.

It’s all over.

Jungkook has no idea what to do at this point. With Namjoon, Yoongi and even Hoseok crying out loud under the darkening sky, Jungkook can only follow them, just momentarily stopping to think about anyone who could be watching on. Anyone who could help them in any way.

“I’m sorry, Taehyung. I’m so sorry,” are the words he utters out in between fits of choked cries. All he can hope is that Taehyung understands. Understands that that apology isn’t just because Jungkook couldn’t save him, but for every other fucked up thing he has done to him, whether it be all the punches, the arguments or the snide remarks. He hopes Taehyung understands from that one small apology that Jungkook regrets everything, regrets not getting to know him better, sooner. Regrets pushing him away.

Just as Jungkook’s about to repeat the simple words, he feels a tingle running from the middle of his chest, where the moonstone necklace rests, to the entirety of his body. The Feeling comes stronger than ever and it doesn’t make sense because Jungkook hasn’t taken the necklace off. But then the goosebumps rise up to his cheeks and almost instinctively, Jungkook’s eyes widen as his vision begins to cloud. Then, he can’t see Namjoon crouched down in the sand, he can’t see Yoongi’s red rimmed eyes, he can’t see Hoseok pacing around with his hands clutching at his hair. All he can see is the sea, as the waves come crashing in leaving layers of sea foam behind.

Jungkook stares on and he ignores the tears he still feels pouring out of his wide eyes, when he sees a darker patch in the new wave. It’s quite a big dark patch and as it gets closer to shore Jungkook can start to make out the shape of a body, so still, so fragile. It looks real but it also doesn’t in the way it flickers slightly, almost like it’s a simulation. Then he catches the sight of dyed grey hair as the body fully emerges from the salt water, being left in place of the sea foam. It’s Taehyung.

“No!” Jungkook shouts and he all but rips the necklace off of his neck, dumping it onto the sand. He watches as it blinks rapidly at him, just like an alarm. Just like Minji’s necklace had.

And then it all makes sense in Jungkook’s head.

She had known all along.

(It’s also said to help you foretell future events. Just like the magic power she always bragged about having.)

[Rewind - 13 Years, September]

At the time, Jungkook had never thought about how bad things could happen just as unexpectedly as good things. He had always tried to be a positive child because Minji did tell him he looked the cutest when he had a genuine smile on his face. And Jungkook figured the only way he could keep the real smile on his face was if he thought about only good things.

So, as he watched Minji getting spoken to by his mother in the kitchen, the day after his birthday, he tried to only think of positives. Even if his eomma was shouting, even if Minji looked so frightened that she might run out of the house.

“Who the fuck gave you the permission to celebrate his birthday?” Jungkook peered his head over the side of the door and tried his very best to ignore the bad word that had just come out of his mother’s mouth. “And you thought you could hide that cake from me? And that bitch Park Sujin is always busy trying to get involved.”

“No, no. Mrs Park didn’t mean anything bad,” Minji rushed to explain. “Ma’am we just- I just thought that maybe he would enjoy it since he’s never had-“

“How do you know?” his mother seethed back. “You don’t know anything about him! You’re just a babysitter, okay? You mean nothing to him and he shouldn’t mean anything but a job to you!”

Minji seemed to hesitate for a while as her face started to turn red. Jungkook felt his heart beating faster than the clicking and clacking of his toy train and it made him feel scared, just like his noona looked to be; he still tried his best to push that fear aside.

“It’s just that,” Minji finally spoke, with a waver in her voice, “he looked so happy.”

Jungkook could suddenly no longer hold onto himself as he watched his eomma’s hand connect hard with Minji’s cheek, filling the silence with a loud slap sound of skin against skin. He felt his bottom lip wobble and his eyes start to sting and before he knew it he was crying, though he remained as silent as possible.

“You listen to me Minji,” his mother threatened, stepping closer towards Minji and almost caging her in against the table top, as the young girl held a hand to her injured cheek. “Jungkook is my son. Mine. You have no right to tell me what makes him happy and what doesn’t. He doesn’t need all this baby treatment and stupid birthday parties okay? The only way to make him strong and capable of running our business is if he’s taught to not care about the smallest, stupidest things like birthdays. All these toys he plays with are unnecessary enough, makes him look crazy when he’s pretending to be one of those dolls. I don’t need you, of all people, to start something that me and Mr. Jeon have put off for years.”

Jungkook knew his parents ran a huge business and that that was the reason they were never home to play with him. But hearing his mother talk about how he was crazy to be putting on shows with his favourite dolls and action figures was enough to make his little heart break.

“If you continue to worry about my son the way you have been, something bad will happen. Mark my words. If you disobey my rules and commands one more time, Minji, something bad will happen and I will make sure of it,” Jungkook’s mother warned. What did she mean by something bad? How was Jungkook supposed to think of good things when she said that? “And I know you know this Minji. I’m a very powerful woman. I can make anything happen with no trace leading back to me and my family.”

“Mrs. Jeon,” Minji said and Jungkook could see as she was openly crying now. “Are you- are you saying you could have me k-killed? For caring for your son?” At those words Jungkook could no longer hold back. He let the sound of his sobs fill the room as he ran towards Minji, clutching at her leg where he smushed his face.

“No!” Jungkook cried, shamelessly wiping his snotty nose against Minji’s tights. “No, eomma! You’re bad! No.”

“Jungkookie, it’s okay, noona’s alright,” came Minji’s calming voice but it did little to help.

“Eomma, you’re bad!” Jungkook shouted, turning to face his mother. “You’re very bad! It’s not good to kill people. Only the evil villains do that. You’re bad, eomma. Something bad will happen to you because you’re bad!”

“Jungkookie-“

“See what you’ve done to him?” his mother asked, seemingly choosing to ignore Jungkook as she stared straight above him. “You’ve made him weak.”

“Mrs. Jeon, with all due respects, I don’t think you should be-“

“Are you telling me what to do again? After everything I’ve just said to you.” Jungkook was shocked to hear the authority in his mother’s voice, so assertive and strong that it was frightening. He looked down at his pudgy hands for just a second and noticed how much they were shaking. “Say goodbye to Jungkook now.”

And with those words, almost as if by magic, two of his mother’s big scary men appeared, dress shoes’ heels clacking against the kitchen floor. Jungkook tried with all his might to push away but it was no use, as he was lifted up by the bald one.

“No. No!” he wailed. “Something bad. No! Something bad will happen. Some-something bad. Something b-bad!” It was the first time Jungkook had had a breakdown, though at the time he had no idea it was happening.

As he was kicking and flailing about, he could only watch as Minji stood still, trapped in the arms of the other security guard. It made Jungkook even more mad because his noona looked calm, like she saw all of this coming. Like she didn’t care that she’d be leaving Jungkook behind. Even when she promised to take him with her.

“Noona! Noona, no. Something bad!” he sobbed, eyesight becoming too blurry to even see her face. But he could make out the way she was being pulled back towards the door, only struggling slightly to utter her last words to him.

“Jungkookie,” she shouted from across the room, voice unbearably wobbly and croaky, as she pushed at the guard’s arms. Her feet slid on the tiles as the man continued to pull her, struggling to keep her going the right way. “Baby, noona loves you so much, okay? Noona will be fine. Don’t cry anymore baby. It’s alri-“ But she couldn’t even finish her last sentence because, right in front of Jungkook’s innocent little eyes, she was pulled tight by the angry guard, a hand smacked to her mouth and nose, shutting her up completely. It was then that the guard also got full control over her as her air started to run out.

Jungkook screamed, a loud, shrill noise, almost bursting his own eardrums. “Noona!” He screamed again, this time kicking and kicking at the guard’s knee as his tears flooded out. “Something-something very very bad. Something bad,” he repeated like a mantra when the guard didn’t let go.

“You see Jungkook,” came his mother’s voice as she stepped right in front of him, blocking the view of Minji being carried out of the room. “This is why you need to be careful. You need to be eomma’s strong boy. Otherwise bad things will happen. Tell me that you don’t like her as much as you like me,” she demanded, pointing her thumb behind her. “Because you never could, never should.” And with that she turned her back and walked out, straight after Minji, leaving Jungkook balling his eyes out.

[Present]

“She was right!” Jungkook cries, staring down at his necklace as the flickering comes to a halt. “Eomma was right. Something bad will happen. I should have listened. I should have fucking listened! I didn’t think I could have, I never should have.”

“What?” Hoseok speaks up in between his own cries. “What’s going on Jungkook?”

“Taehyung’s going to die.”

Jungkook doesn’t see it coming, rather he feels it as the back of his head slams down into the sand and a heavy weight is forced on top of him. He doesn’t even need to think about who it is because he just knows. He also knows he can easily switch their positions and take the upper hand. Yet, he lets Namjoon pin him down by the shoulders and he lets him shake him around like a rag doll.

“Shut the fuck up!” Namjoon booms from above him and Jungkook can feel the droplets from his eyes splatter onto his own face. “Shut up. Shut up!”

“I saw him,” Jungkook mumbles, looking right into Namjoon’s tell tale eyes. There’s surprisingly no anger in them at all, contrasting with his aggressive words and actions, but instead they’re just filled with heartbreak. Namjoon looks completely broken. “Washed up at shore. Saw it. My necklace.” Jungkook can’t even properly form sentences at this point. “Something bad’s going to happen. I shouldn’t ever have liked him. Should have listened.”

Namjoon’s hands stop with the shaking of Jungkook’s shoulders but stay where they are, holding tight, grounding himself. He blinks down at Jungkook. “W-what?” he stutters out, voice barely above a whisper. Jungkook just feels so defeated that he hardly explains himself, letting his head relax into the sand.

“I should have listened.”

☾

“M-Maeve.”

Taehyung’s surprised to see the lack of eye contact, when usually Maeve would be looking him dead in the eye right now. Her eyes are downcast and she stays still in her place on the ledge of the cave, just about inside enough to not totter over the edge. Though it probably wouldn’t even matter if she did fall.

“I’m sorry, Taehyung. I’m so sorry.”

Taehyung’s heard those words come from Jungkook’s mouth already. And the fact that it was less than 24 hours ago, makes Taehyung’s heart actually ache.

[Rewind - 2 hours before disappearance, 11:00pm]

“Sorry boys, you need to leave for the evening,” came a booming voice from the back of the theatre. From Taehyung’s spot on the stage, he watched as the caretaker strolled in with his cleaning cart, whistling a light tune.

Taehyung looked up at Jungkook from his seat on the stage floor and was only met with a look of astonishment.

“Shit, it’s already 11!” Jungkook exclaimed, slipping his phone back into his pocket. “How have we been here for 6 hours?”

Apparently, Taehyung and Jungkook had spent the last 6 hours going over different scenes of the play, taking long breaks every so often which consisted of munching on the leftover cupcakes Jungkook had bought and just chatting about nothing. Everyone had left hours back, with confused looks on their faces as the both of them insisted on staying for a while just to polish up some scenes. Seokjin especially, who was the most reluctant to leave them alone.

“I mean,” Taehyung replied, nonchalantly, “we did have food and water. What more would we need? Obviously we didn’t notice.” He was hoping he came off as calm and nonchalant even though on the inside all he was feeling was dumbfounded because how the hell did he and Jeon Jungkook manage to lose track of time in each other’s-and only each other’s for that matter-company.

“Food that you didn’t clean up,” the caretaker added, scoffing slightly as he picked up the empty cupcake box and stuffed it into the bin bag.

The two of them had shared glances as they watched the caretaker continue to mutter curses as he, quite harshly, cleaned up the auditorium. That had been enough to send them flying out of the room, only just managing to bring all their belongings with them, in complete silence, trying their best not to be noticed by the grumpy man.

As soon as they were outside though, the silence was gone in an instant and was instead filled with loud laughter as both of them doubled over. Taehyung tried his best to stop laughing but every time he looked up and made eye contact with Jungkook, the laughter (on both ends) just got even more difficult to stop.

It had been weird, obviously, since that day had been the first day they had ever gone without arguing, whether it a be a small argument that led to an awkward atmosphere throughout the rest of practice or a loud, unstoppable argument that usually ended in one of them storming out of the room. Going through a normal day with Jungkook, just like how any of his friends probably go through everyday, had felt good.

To add to Taehyung’s problematic thoughts, Jungkook had a terribly endearing laugh. It radiated nothing but happiness and sounded somewhat goofy. His cheeks got weirdly bigger and with his abnormally large front teeth on display, Taehyung couldn’t help but think Jungkook looked exactly like a bunny.

Taehyung didn’t really know what to feel and he really hoped that he was just biased because of the fact that Jungkook had bought him cupcakes, but to him, his supposed worst enemy looked kind of adorable with his eyes crinkled up and his hair blowing around messily as he rocked forwards and backwards from the force of his laughter. Taehyung had long since stopped laughing as he could only stare.

“Did you- did you hear the way he was swearing?” Jungkook breathed out in between fits of laughter, with a hand clutched at his tummy. “Oh god, I’ve got stitches.”

Taehyung seriously had no idea what to feel. At all. Here he was at almost midnight, standing outside the theatre building, staring at Jeon Jungkook laughing.

There had been an out of place flutter in his stomach when he noticed that Jungkook had a really prominent mole beneath his plush bottom lip, because how did he not see that before? At the time he had thought it was kind of crazy because Taehyung had a tiny one on his bottom lip too though not as noticeable as Jungkook’s. Taehyung let his eyes follow up from the wide smile to the tip of Jungkook’s very big nose. It’s always been something that Taehyung had thrown insults to him about, riling Jungkook up in the process. But in that moment Taehyung couldn’t help but think his nose was perfect and fit his face perfectly. Then he caught sight of it, finding it crazy that, again, they shared a mole because there on the tip of Jungkook’s nose was a tiny little mark, just barely there compared to Taehyung’s very dark one. Interesting, he thought. Taehyung doubted Jungkook had a beauty mark on his lower lash line like he did because that would just be creepy. But he couldn’t stop himself from looking just in case it was there. Luckily, Jungkook didn’t seem to have any around his eye vicinity meaning this was all just a very crazy coincidence. Taehyung tried not to smile because even if he hated to admit it, it was sort of heart fluttering to think that he and Jungkook shared in common something as insignificant as moles. Not only was that making his heart flutter, but also the fact that it looked cute on Jungkook, made him look charming even if he hardly ever acted like Cinderella’s husband. Though, as the memory of Seokjin giving him cupcakes, saying they were from Jungkook, and the latter walking in with red cheeks earlier on in the day came to mind, Taehyung couldn’t help but think maybe Jeon Jungkook could be Prince Charming if he tried hard enough. That was enough to force the smile onto Taehyung’s face no matter how hard he was trying to hold it back. He continued his eyes up just that bit more and was surprised to find long, wispy lashes that casted spindly shadows at Jungkook’s cheeks in the moonlight, and glistening eyes that seemed to hold stars and entire galaxies. Endearingly wide eyes. Eyes that were looking right at him. Shit. Right. Taehyung had forgotten he was in the middle of staring.

“What?” Jungkook chuckled awkwardly and apparently he had stopped laughing a while ago too, judging by how straight he was standing. “Do I have something on my face?” he asked, a hand unconsciously going up to feel around his face.

Oh shit.

“Oh, um no,” Taehyung rushed out, feeling a surge of heat rise up his face to his cheeks. Shit. He hoped that there wasn’t any pink visible. “No um I was just. Yeah no um. It’s just, I was just um. No. All those moles so um, I was just thinking about. Um me too. Um no, yeah no, there’s nothing on your face. No.”

Jungkook’s brows had furrowed in confusion though Taehyung could see the annoying smirk making its way onto his lips. “Taehyung, Korean. Our language. Speak it,” he teased, only causing Taehyung to feel even more iffy. What was going on?

Well, Taehyung didn’t really want to find out so he turned his back to Jungkook and started walking; anything to get his face away from Jungkook’s amused eyes. “I meant,” he started, listening as Jungkook caught up in slow steps beside him, “I just noticed your moles and realised that they’re exactly where I have them too.” It felt easier talking without having to look Jungkook in the eye and to be honest Taehyung didn’t want to know why it had been so difficult to get those words out in the first place. Why he had even been staring. Why was Jungkook making him feel nervous?

“My moles?” Jungkook asked, shuffling his feet along with him.

Taehyung cleared his throat, taking in how silent the university was at a time like this. It felt as though he and Jungkook were the only ones left in the world and he couldn’t say he disliked it in the moment. “Yeah,” Taehyung confirmed, glancing at Jungkook for just a second only to make direct eye contact. Why did he have to be listening so attentively? “Like, you got one on your nose and so do I. You got one under your um, your bottom lip, and I’ve got one on my bottom lip so.”

“My lips? You admit you were looking at my lips?” Jungkook looked more amused than ever, but it was a good kind of amused. “Did my cupcakes work that well?”

Taehyung stopped dead in his tracks, turning to face Jungkook.

“What? No! That’s not- I meant it like wow look at us and our matching moles! The lips weren’t even the important part.”

“If you’re acting like this, it’s obviously important,” Jungkook smirked and Taehyung immediately recognised the line. This wasn’t going where he thought it was. Right?

“Really Jungkook? Right here? Outside?”

“Lia must really be doing things to your insides if you’re being like this,” Jungkook continued, ignoring Taehyung’s words as his smirk got impossibly wider. It made Taehyung’s heart beat faster.

“Jungkook,” he warned.

“That’s not your line, Taehyung.”

“What?”

“We have to practice this sooner or later.”

At that, Jungkook had taken a step forward, straight into his personal space and Taehyung heard as his own breath audibly hitched. Yet he chose not to take a step back.

“What are you doing?”

“Lia must really be doing things to your insides if you’re being like this,” Jungkook repeated, clasping a hand around Taehyung’s wrist.

Taehyung gulped, looking down at their hands. “Oh for G-god’s sake J-jisu,” Taehyung stuttered out, despite himself. He looked back up to find Jungkook’s eyes boring into him, practically digging holes into his face and he just couldn’t continue. There had been something in those eyes that Taehyung couldn’t quite pick point but he could guess as Jungkook started leaning closer.

Want.

Taehyung stayed statue still as Jungkook’s face got closer and closer. His eyes were half-lidded and Taehyung watched as his gaze went straight down towards his lips, forcing him to lick them.

“I’m going to kiss you now,” Jungkook whispered, so quietly the words were barely there. That wasn’t part of the script. It was odd because Taehyung played Jaemin and Jaemin was the one that was supposed to initiate the kiss.

Taehyung gulped one more time and felt his stomach fill with butterflies as Jungkook stayed put just millimetres away, waiting for the permission. Cute, Taehyung thought.

“It’s you. It’s always been you,” Taehyung whispered back, pulling a chuckle out of Jungkook. The both of them knew that that line was supposed to be shouted, yet here they were, surrounded by only light breaths of air and the occasional whistle of the wind.

Taehyung was stark still as he watched Jungkook close the distance and before he knew it there was a pair of lips pressed to his own. He was stood there, not reacting for a few seconds because he was kissing Jeon Jungkook! That was until the movement of lips became apparent and he couldn’t help but let his eyes fully slide shut as he reached up to wrap his arms around Jungkook’s neck. In the scene of the play this was supposed to be a short kiss, hardly a kiss, basically a peck, but Jungkook seemed to have other plans as he tilted his head, deepening the kiss.

It was as if Taehyung had no mind, no worry in that moment, as weird as it sounded. Jungkook was kissing him sweetly instead of punching him in the nose. He was placing a hand at Taehyung’s hip rather then keeping it clenched out of anger at his side. He was smiling slightly by what Taehyung could feel instead of scowling. It seemed to be all Teahyung could think about. Jungkook. Jungkook. Jungkook.

But everyone’s heard that cliché saying about how all good things must come to an end. In the moment, that hadn’t even crossed Taehyung’s mind, since all he could imagine was kissing Jungkook like that for eternity, no care for how unhealthy that would be and how sore his lips would probably be. Because Jungkook was an amazing kisser. Yeah. That was the only reason, of course.

As Taehyung pulled Jungkook impossibly closer, arms around the latter’s neck becoming more secure, he had felt a shift in Jungkook’s muscles. Along with Taehyung’s arms, they too suddenly seemed to tighten and before he could pull back to ask if Jungkook was okay, he was being pushed back instead, just about stopping himself from falling flat on his bum.

“W-wha-“

“I’m sorry, Taehyung. I’m so sorry,” Jungkook interrupted and he had this sort of look in his face that could only be described as distress.

“What do you me-“

“I can’t!” he continued, moving so far away from Taehyung that he couldn’t even see the moles anymore. “Something bad- no, I can’t. I can’t like you. I never could. I never should. No.” Jungkook seemed to be agitated, as he paced around a little bit. Taehyung felt his heart stutter at his words, as a stinging sensation in his eyes made itself known.

“What the fuck, Jeon?” he cursed, as he too took a few steps back. “You can’t- you can’t just fucking do that!”

“No, I can’t. You’re right.” For once Taehyung hated that Jungkook agreed with him. “I can’t. I can’t like you, otherwise something b-“

“You fucking kissed me Jungkook!” Taehyung exclaimed, jabbing a harsh finger at his own chest; he hated the way his voice came out wobbly. “I thought we were getting better. I thought that maybe you...” Taehyung trailed off not wanting to embarrass himself further. “You know what? Fuck you Jungkook.”

Jungkook looked at anything but into Taehyung’s eyes and it just made him realise that Jungkook really had just made a mistake and none of this was supposed to happen. Though the glassiness of his eyes said otherwise. “Taehyung, I’m sor-“

“Save it,” Taehyung interrupted, turning around and walking away. And as the traitorous tears started pouring down Taehyung’s face he knew exactly what he wanted. Needed. He needed Namjoon.

[Present]

“Save it,” Taehyung whispers, smiling to himself like an idiot, just as his body jolts and starts to shake. That’s when he knows that Jungkook hasn’t heard him, probably won’t ever hear him again.

He finally sees some movement in front of him, as Maeve begins to come closer, having gotten out of her trance. Taehyung may have been balling his eyes out earlier but right now he’s at peace. It been almost a day since he’s been trapped here but he’s so done with it. He wants this all to end. He just can’t take it any longer.

“I never thought that old myth was actually true,” Maeve speaks up, twirling a piece of purple hair around her long, bony index finger. “Of course I’ve heard it over and over again from many of my sisters but never once did I believe them.”

That catches Taehyung’s complete attention and he decides to chance it and looks straight at her face. Maeve’s face is even paler than he last remembers it being and her eyes seem to have sunken in with dark rings around them. He knows her eyes have been a striking red colour since he met her, but he’s surprised to find that the whites of her eyes are also tinted red, looking to be very bloodshot. She’s been crying, he realises. Odd.

“What do you mean?” he mumbles, thinking about how he doesn’t even need to be afraid anymore if he knows he’s going to die. Just as before, Maeve completely ignores him, too invested in her own monologue to even notice Taehyung has spoken.

“It’s quite perplexing actually. Who would’ve thought something as unbelievable as that actually existed?” Ironic, Taehyung thinks. “I didn’t even believe them when they went on and on about love and how if we ever felt it, we wouldn’t be able to do our job. I never believed it because I thought I was stronger than that, thought I could withstand something as weak yet dangerous as love.”

Maeve continues to talk as she paces around in the pebbles and sand, long hair trailing behind her like a murky waterfall. “But obviously, as soon as I started to feel the blasted emotion, I was finally able to believe it. I admit, it’s nice to see that you, Taehyung, have all those people who love you as much as they do.” Taehyung is drawled in completely at those words as he feels his heart drop. “That really tall man with the awkward holes in his cheeks, his little partner with the skin almost as pale as my own, my Hoseok as well,” she pauses there, before continuing after a few seconds, “and that boy with the necklace.”

“Pl-please don’t hurt them, please Maeve,” Taehyung stutters out, his traitorous voice beginning to shake once again. “Just, please, just get rid of me and leave them all alone. Please.”

“That necklace,” Maeve interjects, “was always, to me, a myth. Moonstone. Apparently a Siren’s biggest enemy. It has the power to not only protect its owner from me and my beautiful voice, but it could kill me too, if pierced through my skin. If it’s powers entered my bloodstream I would die a terrible, torturous death without even getting to fulfil my duty.” Taehyung’s heart begins to shake as he thinks about the tingle he had felt because he knows Jungkook has taken the necklace off. That means Jungkook is now unsafe. “No matter how many times my sisters told me to watch out for this so called Siren repellent, I ignored them, taking it as a lie. I was stupid. Stupid for not believing them, even after I was proven right with the love that I now feel. It only made me less believing when I was told about Moonstone’s most treasured power. The ability to speak through minds.”

If Taehyung’s heart had dropped before it has now completely left the vicinity of his chest. Maeve knows everything, which makes Jungkook the most vulnerable.

“It was said to me that the last person the victim thinks of, while being taken, is the person they’d be able to speak to through their mind. Well, not entirely, just little bits with words cutting off. Moonstone is said to heighten the power and allow complete access to it. But as you are probably aware, this is highly uncommon considering you’d need both the stone and the thought of the person. But most of the time, nobody would think of someone else while they’re being drowned to death,” Maeve chuckles rather dryly, “so I guess you’re an anomaly. You must really love him if he’s the last person you thought of,” Maeve says, turning to finally look Taehyung in the eye.

“What?” he replies, dumbly.

“The boy with the necklace? He’s the one you can talk to right?”

Taehyung forces his brain to think back on when he was being abducted, as much as he hates to do so. The moon that was shining so brightly in the dark sky, the rain that had very abruptly started to spill from the night clouds, the violent waves crashing in at shore. The voice. Maeve’s enticing voice and striking red eyes. Then he thinks back on his last thought before he had blacked out.

Fuck you, Jeon Jungkook.

That’s right. He had last thought about Jungkook. Although not the nicest thought, it had sprouted from deep down in his heart, a thought that came with pain and heartbreak.

Taehyung blinks away the tears that are threatening to fall out of his eyes and he looks at Maeve, nodding twice.

“Well, from what I could tell, he loves you very much too,” Maeve says, nonchalantly, with a shrug of her shoulders.

“That’s impossible. None of us even like each other let alone love.”

“Judging by that look in your eyes, my sweet boy, that is very untrue on your part. And judging by the way he almost killed me in the middle of the beach today, it’s untrue for him also.” Maeve turns away from him again, this time with a little more force in her step. “But he’s not the only one that loves you, as I said before.”

Taehyung watches as Maeve runs a frustrated hand through her purple hair, pulling so hard he thinks her hair may rip off. She suddenly seems annoyed and that scares Taehyung more than it should. “I met the love of my life today,” she continues, “and I finally know his name too. Hoseok is such a lovely man, lovelier than I could have ever imagined and trust me when I say I’ve imagined. He just is even more breathtaking up close too and his eyes. Oh, his eyes sparkle like my sea does at the hour just before sunset. I can’t even put into words the things I would do to make that man mine. But I can’t.” Maeve abruptly turns to once again look at Taehyung and that’s when he sees it. The glimmer in her eyes as tears brim in them. “He loves you.”

Taehyung starts to shake his head no, holding a protective hand in front of him as Maeve starts to move closer. “N-no. Maeve, you-you’ve got it wrong.”

“He wants you home safe. He said that it’d make him happy if you were allowed back, away from harm,” Maeve speaks in a low tone, both hands coming up to hold Taehyung’s face. Just as every other time that she had touched him, her hands are ice cold but there’s something different about them this time. They’re trembling. “But why would I give that to him? Why is love making me feel like I have to do everything I can, just to make him happy, even if it means giving up my duty? All I want is to see him smile forever, never face hardships. If I let you go, those hardships will be gone but he’ll only love you more, Taehyung, and never love me. So why should I let you go?”

“B-because,” Taehyung croaks out, “because, like you said, you love him. If you really love him, you-you’d want him to be happy.”

Taehyung sees the sudden flash in Maeve’s eyes. “You don’t get it!” she shouts, loud voice echoing throughout the tiny cave. Taehyung flinches, practically feels any colour that was left, drain from his face. “If I let you go, I lose him! You hear me?”

Taehyung swallows, probably audible to Maeve, and he cowers under her strong gaze. He can barely look her in the eye, let alone speak to her. So he remains silent.

“Sweetie, I didn’t mean to scare you,” Maeve speaks, weirdly softer than before. “It’s just that, I don’t know what to do. I’ve never felt like this before. I was supposed to get rid of you within the first hour that I captured you but now it’s nearing almost 24 hours and I’m just so stuck. So confused.” Taehyung sees the way Maeve’s bottom lip quivers and he knows she’s going to start crying now but he doesn’t get to see because she turns away. “I know it’s not going to work with my love, even if I tried, because he loves you-“

“Hoseok doesn’t love me,” Taehyung states, suddenly gaining confidence. Maeve is weak right now which should make it easier to unravel her. “We dated, sure, but we broke up months ago. We didn’t even end on good terms okay? All we ever did was argue and we said some pretty nasty shit to one another. So I can assure you. He doesn’t love me, Maeve.”

“But, he’s told me-“

“Even if he did love me, I wouldn’t go near him again. Besides, you’re the one who noticed that I’m in love with Jungkook, the boy with the moonstone, not Hoseok.” Taehyung obviously doesn’t mean that. Obviously. It’s just a way of getting it into Maeve’s head quicker. Yeah. It definitely isn’t true. Definitely.

At his words, Maeve whips around and Taehyung can finally see the raw emotion on her face. She is well and truly heartbroken. Her eyes are so red they look sore at this point and the tears that roll down her cheeks don’t stop for even a second.

“How am I supposed to believe you? Why shouldn’t I just kill you right now and get this over and done with?” Maeve croaks out, shaking uncontrollably now. Taehyung knows his pushing is slowly, but surely, working.

“You said yourself, Hoseok would feel happy if I were to come back safe. Imagine how he’d see you if you just forgot about your duty and did this one nice thing.” Taehyung pauses for a second, deep in thought, before deciding to add on, “imagine the chance you’d have with him, if you made him happy.”

“You don’t understand,” she sobs, “even if I do make him happy, he’d still hate me for taking you in the first place. He won’t ever love me.” Taehyung agrees with her on that one, considering the fact that Hoseok is openly (and proudly for that matter) very gay. In other words, Hoseok likes men. But just to keep her hopes up, just to keep his plan going the right way, he doesn’t voice his opinion.

“Hoseok has always been one to forgive and forget,”-another lie-“so I’m sure if you just spoke to him, he’d understand. Maeve, this is your one chance to prove yourself. I know a Siren isn’t supposed to be as emotional as you are being right now, so maybe this duty of yours just isn’t who you are. It isn’t who you want to be, is it?”

Maeve lets out a shuddered breath at that, closing her eyes for a second. “I just want to be normal,” she finally admits. “I hate this love feeling but I want to continue feeling it if it means I can stay with Hoseok.” Suddenly Maeve’s long arms are wrapping around Taehyung’s neck, the impact of her action pushing him back the slightest bit. He stands stock still as she shoves her face into his neck, crying out loud. “I just want to be normal!”

“Th-then maybe,” Taehyung stutters, inwardly worrying about the proximity, “maybe you should just do the normal thing. Let me go home. Maybe he’d love you back if you just. Let me go.”

Then, Maeve stops moving completely, keeping her arms wrapped tightly around Taehyung’s neck. Taehyung’s heart beat picks up its pace at that and he’s sure Maeve can feel it. He can’t deny that he’s frightened, no matter how confident he had just been.

It’s silent for a couple of minutes with the both of them in the same position. Maeve barely moves at all, only moving to readjust her grip on his neck every so often; every time she does so, Taehyung can’t help the falter in his breathing. When she finally moves away a bit, her eyes are closed and it just causes Taehyung’s heart beat to get faster and louder. It’s like a clock ticking, getting closer to the zero when he knows the bomb will explode.

It happens in a flash. One second Taehyung is staring at Maeve’s relaxed face, the next second her eyes are snapping open and the next second he’s being dragged with her as she heads closer to the edge of the cave.

“N-no. N-no p-please,” he begs as Maeve pulls him to a standstill, her hands clutching onto his t-shirt. “Please.”

“I’m sorry, Taehyung,” is all she says before they’re plummeting down and off the ledge.

They fall for what feels like ages and all Taehyung wants is for all of this to just be over and done with. People normally say that when you know you’re about to die, your whole life flashes before your eyes but in that moment all Taehyung can think about is the people that were in his life.

How’s Namjoon going to cope? His dear brother that’s going to have to put up with another loss. Taehyung hates that he’s going to have to break their pact because he won’t be able to be there for Namjoon anymore. He just hopes his brother stays happy, continues to live his life normally.

He thinks about how Yoongi is going to be the one who’s going to have to take the emotion that Namjoon will surely feel, as well as his own, and help them through it. Keep everything running smooth. Happy.

He even thinks about Hoseok and how that one man caused so much heartbreak in Taehyung’s life, both in the past and even now. He thinks about how much he still cares for Hoseok, despite everything he’s ever done. He hopes Hoseok can find love, the type Taehyung was unable to give him.

Lastly, he thinks of Jungkook. The boy with the attitude issues, the hurtful words, the hateful eyes. But also the boy with the caring soul who would do anything to not see Taehyung hurt in the hands of others, even if it’s with a lousy box of cupcakes. Also the boy with the kind words of comfort, trying anything to get Taehyung through whatever all of this was. The boy with the eyes that hold galaxies and so much emotion, that Taehyung knows one day he would have definitely fallen in love with them.

The moment his body slaps against the top of the water, Taehyung knows it’s all over. Just like that, any energy he had had is drained from him and he feels himself go limp for a while. Maeve is in front of him, staring straight into his eyes with her own red ones as she holds his head down and below the water. It’s funny, Taehyung thinks, because she looks genuinely apologetic.

In contrast to the first time Maeve had him, where Taehyung was kicking and flailing about, he hardly moves at all now, doesn’t even try to fight back. The feeling of his breath running out hurts less this time and it’s at that moment that Taehyung lets his eyes slide shut.

It’s as he feels himself falling unconscious that he thinks about it.

At least he knows he tried. Anyway, maybe it’s better if he did just get lost in the sea.

Faded away without a trace.

☾

Jungkook sits in the cooling sand with his head in his hands. He honestly feels absolutely useless right now as he simply just stares down and in between his legs at the necklace getting engulfed by the sand. The only thing keeping him sane right now is the presence of Namjoon, Yoongi and Hoseok although the three of them seem to be doing just as bad as Jungkook.

None of them speak, haven’t been speaking for the past half hour. They’re waiting for the inevitable, or what Jungkook thinks is the inevitable of Taehyung’s lifeless body floating in at shore. It could be seen as masochistic by some as the four of them wait to see his dead body but to Jungkook it’s closure. And to Namjoon, he thinks it’s probably relief to see his little brother away from anymore suffering.

Hoseok is the one to break the silence. “Maybe this is,” he starts, then stops to clear his throat before continuing. “This is what all of us need. It’s the only way we’ll be able to accept.” He seems to be saying all of this to prove to himself why exactly he needs to be here and not at home in bed. He seems to be contemplating between staying and just leaving.

“I agree,” Yoongi murmurs from his place near Namjoon where he’s clinging to his arm. Even while he’s sat with his boyfriend he sounds broken and like he’s holding back sobs. “We can-we can get him to someplace safe where they can fix him up, dry him up. We can go and-and get his best clothes, get rid of his wet ones. Warm him up.”

“I j-just,” Namjoon suddenly chokes out. Jungkook turns to see him push his face into Yoongi’s neck at an awkward-surely uncomfortable-angle considering their height difference. Even while sitting down, Namjoon towers over Yoongi but in this moment he somehow makes himself look so much smaller. “I just hate that I couldn’t-couldn’t h-help him. H-he had to s-suffer all-“

“Babe, it’s not your fault,” Yoongi cries, harshly rubbing at his own cheeks to get rid of the tears. “It’s n-nobody’s fault. We tried everything we could.”

Jungkook sighs, trying to ignore the stinging of his eyes and the shaking of his hands. “It’s my fault.” That’s all he needs to say to have all watery eyes directed at him. “That night I did some bad shit, probably worse than giving him a black eye.”

“No,” Yoongi tries but he’s interrupted by his boyfriend.

“He’s right,” Namjoon says through gritted teeth as he sniffles loudly. “Tae was upset about you pushing him away after you kissed him, Jungkook.” Namjoon is looking straight at Jungkook now with an unwavering look of not anger, but disappointment. There’s the sound of a gasp and Jungkook doesn’t even need to guess who it is when he knows it’s Hoseok. “You’re the one who kissed him! Why did you do it in the first place if you just... if you didn’t even want it.”

“That’s the thing,” Jungkook exclaims, trying his best not to shout. “I did want it. That’s why I had to push him away.”

Namjoon sighs loudly, as if to say ‘I knew that’. He turns to look off into the distance and Jungkook lets his own eyes follow. The sun has completely set and the waves are harshly crashing in at shore, way too dangerous to even go for a little feet dipping. The moon shines above them and is surrounded by little pinpricks of light, yet the light in both the moon and stars are weak tonight, flickering so often that Jungkook’s afraid they could blow out like a lightbulb, leaving them in pitch darkness.

Instead of looking out at sea, Jungkook keeps his eyes fixated on shore where he can just barely make out the sea foam being left behind after every wave. He’s waiting.

“It was my fault too,” Namjoon suddenly speaks up again, so quiet that it’s barely loud enough to be heard over the waves. “I asked him something I knew I shouldn’t have.”

“Okay, that’s enough,” Hoseok interjects, trying to sound happy yet his voice wobbles. “Tae was hands down one of the nicest people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting, even if I did do some bad shit to him and ruined our relationship. We should be celebrating that we got to have him with us rather than mourning. Isn’t that what he’d want?”

“He was always the one adding light to campus, even on a rainy day,” Yoongi says to no one in particular. Jungkook nods, keeping his eyes trained on the wet sand.

“He was, still is, the best brother I could have ever asked for,” Namjoon whimpers.

“He had the nicest soul, not a single bad bone in his body,” Hoseok adds, before letting out a weak laugh. “Except with you, Jungkook.”

They all share a small laugh then as they reminisce through the many times where Taehyung and Jungkook just couldn’t get on. But then just like that, silence settles around them again, only the sound of the ocean filling it.

“He was so pretty,” Jungkook says.

Jungkook’s not sure how, but it get’s even quieter at his words. It could be because he can’t hear his heart anymore since it has suddenly decided to skip multiple beats, as he waits for anyone’s reply. In the end, surprisingly in his state, it’s Namjoon.

“Funny,” he scoffs. “I just think it’s funny and cowardly that you couldn’t tell him that when he was here.” Jungkook can feel Namjoon’s eyes boring into the side of his head but he still keeps his own eyes glued in front of him. The hostility in his voice makes something snap in Jungkook.

“Namjoon you’re not the only one suffering here and you don’t have the right to take it out on others.” Jungkook is angry but he doesn’t mean to growl those words.

“I don’t have the right?” Namjoon sneers. “You’re saying I don’t have the right? He’s my fucking brother Jungkook!” Jungkook watches in his peripheral as Namjoon stands, though still he keeps his distance as to not start an actual fight. Not that Jungkook would ever physically fight Namjoon in a moment like this.

“It doesn’t matter that you’re his brother! I feel like fucking shit too. I’m going to miss him just as much as you,” Jungkook shouts back, finally turning to look Namjoon in the eye. “You know, it’s hard for me too?”

“I can’t believe you’re saying this right now,” Namjoon laughs, though there’s no amusement in the sound. “Little Jungkook who get’s all the money he can ask for from his eomma and appa is finding it hard to cope with the death of a mere poor kid like Taehyung? Funny.”

“That’s too far, Namjoon,” Jungkook says, voice gone down to a murmur. “That went too fucking far. Not the shit about my parents but about Taehyung. I may have done some shit to him in the past but things are different now. He isn’t just some ‘mere poor kid’ to me, okay?”

Namjoon doesn’t reply. He has this look on his face that tells Jungkook he doesn’t believe a word of what he just said, which makes Jungkook feel pissed. He and Taehyung may have had a horrible past but Jungkook would admit, loud and proud, that he would do anything to have Taehyung back, alive, right now. He’s sure his emotions are expressed on his face, judging by the way Namjoon’s face softens ever so slightly before he averts his glassy eyes.

“Guys,” comes Yoongi’s broken voice, sounding so defeated that Jungkook knows what’s happening. He doesn’t even need to ask what, just turns around to face the shore again, only to find a body curled into the foetal position and silver hair, looking almost charcoal grey in the light.

Jungkook can’t help the gasp that escapes his mouth as he watches Hoseok and Yoongi sprint towards Taehyung. He feels the presence of Namjoon at his side as the other man walks closer, to probably get a better look at his brother. Jungkook feels the hand that comes to hold at his arm, feels the light squeeze and he just lets it be, lets Namjoon ground himself.

“F-fuck,” Namjoon whispers, “it’s him. It’s actually... it’s really him.”

Jungkook nods and continues to look on as Hoseok carries Taehyung completely out of the water and places him gently in dry sand. Yoongi lags behind but soon enough both Yoongi and Hoseok are at Taehyung’s side, just staring down at him in shock. Hoseok is the one who snaps out of the trance first and he immediately begins pressing down at his chest, hard and fast. Jungkook can’t stand to watch Taehyung getting CPR because something in his gut tells him that it may just not work. So he looks away.

“He’s at peace now,” Jungkook replies with a shaky voice that he tries to control with no success. “Away from anymore-“

“Fuck!” Hoseok shouts and the hope in his voice is all Jungkook needs to hear for his head to snap back towards the scene. “He’s breathing!” Jungkook feels his eyes widen and everything he does next is out of his control.

Jungkook grabs Namjoon’s hand and runs as fast as he can, towards where Taehyung is coughing out water. He can’t control his heavy breathing and by the sound of it, Namjoon can’t either. Letting go of Namjoon’s hand, Jungkook skids to a stop then plops down right beside Taehyung. He looks so frail, so weak that Jungkook hesitates before letting his hand reach out to clasp at Taehyung’s own cold one. It’s oddly soft and Jungkook finds himself stroking at it as he waits for Taehyung to come back to his senses.

When Taehyung’s eyes fully open and his vision seems to become normal, his eyes meet Jungkook’s. They’re wide and he looks like he doesn’t believe what he’s seeing right now as they begin to well up.

“It’s okay,” Jungkook whispers, leaning closer to where Taehyung’s head lays in the sand. “You’re okay.” Taehyung doesn’t answer, just continues staring straight into Jungkook’s eyes as tears begin to fall silently down his cheeks. Jungkook can’t help as he gently eases Taehyung’s hand away from his own-with a little difficulty at Taehyung’s tight grip-to reach up and swipe the tears away. Though it’s really no help as they continue to fall anyway.

“T-Tae,” Jungkook hears from behind him, “I’m so s-sorry.” Namjoon sounds completely broken.

Taehyung’s eyes suddenly snap away from Jungkook’s and they get impossibly more wet. This time Taehyung sobs out loud when his eyes land on his brother, arms shakily going up to reach out like a baby. Namjoon is quick to fall to the ground beside him and wrap his arms around him in a tight embrace as they both cry into one another’s necks.

It’s not the best scene to be witnessing but Jungkook decides it’s better than nothing. Taehyung is back. And as weird and unbelievable as it sounds, because this is Kim Taehyung we’re talking about, Jungkook couldn’t be happier.

☾

Taehyung has this weird feeling in his gut. It’s hard to explain exactly what it is, but he feels odd, feels as if something’s going to happen because all this is just too good to be true.

It’s been almost a week since he got back home and he’ll admit that it feels amazing. Namjoon is being a little more protective than he had been before but it’s a good protective, keeping Taehyung feeling safe and wanted. He’s basically been locked in the house for the past six days but it’s not bad at all. Not when he has Namjoon, Yoongi and occasionally Hoseok (oddly enough) keeping him company.

There’s only one person who hasn’t visited since the day he got back and Taehyung is slightly pissed about that if he’s being honest. Jungkook had just given Taehyung a weak hug before leaving him and Namjoon at the flat, never to be seen again. Taehyung knows he’s being over-dramatic, a bit of a drama queen, but you have to give him some credit. He did just almost die at the hands of a Siren.

Taehyung is currently sat in his bed, swaddled into his blankets like a baby (thanks to one Min Yoongi), with Hoseok at his side. They’re watching some shitty anime on Hoseok’s laptop and to say the atmosphere is awkward would be an understatement. Hoseok knows everything about how Taehyung had kind of thrown him under the bus while speaking to Maeve but the man seems to be completely fine with it. He insists that it’s great to have Taehyung back and that he hasn’t seen Maeve since the night he got back so there’s nothing to worry about.

“What are you thinking about,” Hoseok speaks into the quietness. He’s got a crisp in his hand, held just centimetres away from his mouth.

“Oh, what?” Taehyung asks dumbly, shifting away from him a bit.

“Look, Tae,” Hoseok says, crunching down on his snack, “I know we didn’t end on the best terms but I do still care about you. I’m here for you.”

“We didn’t end on the best terms?” Taehyung scoffs. “Funny. You cheated on me Hoseok.”

“For the last time Tae, I was drunk. It was an accident and should have never happened.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that you treated me like shit after, made yourself out to be the victim, not me.” Taehyung doesn’t know why but he’s starting to raise his voice. He doesn’t even feel anything for Hoseok anymore so he has no idea why he’s being this agitated. “You were a dick to me when it should have been the other way around. I should have been the one making noises of disgust while walking past you. I should have been the one giving you glares. Hell, I should have been the one to deny you cupcakes. Fucking cupcakes Hoseok!”

“I’ll admit I shouldn’t have done any of that but-“

“Why are you here, Hoseok? You honestly don’t have to force yourself to be here with me. I’m fine.”

“Namjoon and Yoongi have classes so I thought maybe-“

“I said I’m fine. I don’t need to be with them or you or anyone else during every hour of every day of the week.”

“It’s Jungkook, isn’t it?”

“What does Jungkook have to do with any of this?” Taehyung looks away completely, hating the feeling of heat rising up his cheeks at the mere mention of Jungkook’s name.

“Well,” Hoseok starts, shifting so that he’s sitting up straight, seemingly getting straight to business, “it sounds like you’re frustrated. Sexually.” Taehyung doesn’t laugh like he knows Hoseok wants him to. With an awkward chuckle and a slight huff Hoseok continues. “Jungkook was going mad looking for you. I’m sure whatever you’re feeling for him is mutual, to be honest.”

“And what exactly is this feeling?” Taehyung’s just trying to drag it along at this point.

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”

Taehyung huffs, going to pick up a crisp as he listens to Hoseok munch away. Luckily for him, Hoseok doesn’t push anymore but the silence signifies that he’s waiting for an answer, knows he’s going to get one sooner or later.

Taehyung takes that time to think back on the old times. And by the old times, he means the old, old times. Like when he and Jungkook had first met. To Taehyung, Jungkook looked like a bunny, still does to this day, and he wanted to be nothing but helpful to the new boy in class. But one thing led to another and they had had their first physical fight in the canteen, the reason being anything from pushing in in the queue to teenage boy hormones.

Then cutting a few years later to the start of university where Taehyung had been happy to start fresh, without Jeon Jungkook. But low and behold, there in the middle of campus surrounded by dozens of people as always, was a newly muscled Jungkook who seemed to have finally gotten his growth spurt, turning from a bunny looking boy into a broad shouldered man. At the time Taehyung had realised just how attracted he was to Jungkook but that didn’t take away the fact that they still hated one another.

Then, after a few more fights and a lot more arguments, came Seokjin’s play. The game changer. After hours and hours spent together, Taehyung had realised just how nice Jungkook could actually be. Taehyung can also now openly admit that he felt a slight bit of jealousy at the fact that seemingly everybody else got to see the ‘nice’ side of Jungkook while he was stuck with the snarky one. And in all the times spent alone with Jungkook, even if they were just practicing scenes of the play, Taehyung had felt more content than he had ever felt. He got to see the funny sides of Jungkook like the time he had accidentally sat on a script, poking his bum with a sticking out staple. Or the time he had tried acting cool by yet again climbing onto the stage instead of using the stairs, consequently falling and landing flat on his face. Though that hadn’t been the funny part. Taehyung remembers as he and the rest of his cast mates had spent the rest of the session laughing at Jungkook, causing the latter to sit in almost complete silence with a pout on his lips.

Jungkook could be hilarious at times but Taehyung was lucky enough to also see the soft side of him. And this could be backed up by the things he’s done for Taehyung like the cupcakes or the music room comforting. But the memory that stands out to Taehyung the most had been not too long ago when they had all volunteered to do an acting session for a group of 7 year old orphans, over the summer break.

[Rewind - 1 Month, August]

“Okay, guys,” Sana said, clapping her hands to get the children’s attention. “Now that we’re in our groups with our mentors, let’s get started on practicing these performances!”

Each drama student, as pairs, had been assigned to a small group of children, their job being to guide the little ones through the script and add any special touches where thought necessary. Obviously Taehyung and Jungkook had been put to mentor a group together, with Sana insisting it could help with their chemistry, and it had been so normal to them that they hadn’t even reacted. After all, they had had their truce meaning being professional was their only option.

They had gotten through the practicing quite efficiently with hardly any arguing and best of all, it was apparent that the kids were enjoying themselves. It was getting close to their final performance where the groups would be performing their short plays in front of the other orphanage residents as well as the carers and workers.

“Guys, we’re going to win, aren’t we?” Jungkook exclaimed, ruffling Mihee’s hair. “Mihee, how about you do the opening with that little wink you showed us earlier,” Jungkook cooed at the little girl, with Yongjin and Daeho clinging to each of his legs. It was clear to Taehyung that Jungkook had taken quite the liking to the young girl as he very obviously showed his favouritism off. Though, Taehyung couldn’t blame him because not only was Mihee absolutely adorable, but she was so passionate about acting that even he saw himself in her, despite being years and years older.

“But,” Mihee pouted, “I’m not sure if I want to do it anymore.” Mihee stayed put as her friends ran off to get juice boxes and snacks.

Taehyung immediately turned to look at Jungkook as he seemed to do the same with very wide eyes. They bent down in front of her and Taehyung couldn’t help but feel slightly heartbroken at the glossiness of her eyes.

“Why Mihee? Is something wrong?” Taehyung asked the little girl, fixing her bangs into place.

“Yeah Mihee, what’s wrong?” Jungkook added, sounding kind of worried.

“It’s just that... well all the kids from home are going to be here watching. Including the older girls. And they always make fun of me for liking acting so what will they say about this?”

Taehyung turned to look at Jungkook but his eyes seemed to only be attached on Mihee. Taehyung watched as Jungkook brought the girl into his arms, hugging her tight and softly caressing her short black hair.

“Mihee, listen to me,” Jungkook spoke suddenly, pushing the girl to be an arm’s length away. “Don’t listen to them. You don’t have to do what they say just to please them, okay? You do what you want to do.”

“But,” the little girl pouted, “they’re my unnies. Shouldn’t I be listening to them?”

Jungkook sighed. “Just because they’re older than you, doesn’t mean they’re right. Age is just a number and has absolutely nothing to do with maturity or intelligence. If you’re good at acting and you find joy in acting, or anything in life for that matter, go for it. Do it because you want to do it.”

Taehyung watched on with his mouth wide open as the two of them hugged again before going off, hand in hand, to get Mihee a juice box. He had never seen this side of Jungkook.

He had been so passionate, so truthful, and all for making sure a little girl could follow her dreams. During his speech Taehyung could see the pain in his eyes almost as if he had been through the same thing or at least something very similar.

Jungkook had inspired Taehyung.

[Present]

“I think I...” Taehyung starts then almost immediately stops, trailing off.

Hoseok nods, encouragingly. “Go on, Tae. Let it out.”

“Fuck,” Taehyung curses, wiping his crumb covered hands on the duvet rather harshly. “I’m fucking in love with him.”

Taehyung hates the fact that Hoseok’s expression doesn’t even falter. He just smiles softly, urging him to continue.

“I’ve known it for ages now. But every fucking time the thought enters my head, it’s like I build the walls back up, blocking myself from myself.” Taehyung huffs, blowing his long bangs out of his eyes. “I don’t even know why I love him but I really fucking do Hoseok. I love everything about him. He’s a dickhead, especially to me, but he couldn’t hold that dickhead facade for any longer. I got to see different sides of him, Hoseok, and I saw so much more than I could have ever imagined. He’s so sweet and I can promise you that I never imagined myself to be thinking something like that. Not about him.”

“It’s good that you’re admitting it,” Hoseok chimes in. “It probably feels more real now.”

“It’s always felt real. I’m in love with him, fallen head over heals, and I have no idea how to get rid of it,” Taehyung pouts, glancing down at his sweaty hands. “And the fact that he did everything he could to save me makes it worse. Did I tell you that he was this close to finding a way to summon Maeve without any form of protection? He was willing to risk his own life for mine.”

“I mean he was ready to fight Maeve right then and there,” Hoseok chuckles. “I saw his face. Literally had not one bit of fear in his eyes while looking at her.”

Taehyung smiles. “His eyes.”

“What?”

“His eyes,” Taehyung repeats.

“What about them?”

“Have you ever seen them up close?” Taehyung looks up at Hoseok as the latter shakes his head negatively, a curious look on his face. “His eyes are beautiful. Look like they hold galaxies. Did you know that? They’re unreal.”

“You’re whipped.”

“And his lashes. They’re so wispy and long. I remember this one day where he had caught me staring. You know, Hoseok,” Taehyung laughs, “he has the exact same moles as me. I’ve seen elephant moles on his thighs as well. Can you believe that?”

“Oh, not the elephant moles.”

“It’s true! That time in the summer when he was wearing those red shorts he loves so much. Right there just above his knees were elephant moles. I can’t even tell you how much I wanted to go and pinch.” Taehyung smiles away to himself, not paying attention to anything going on around him. So when Hoseok nudges him gently he ignores it and continues with his monologue. “There’s a mole on the tip of his nose too, just like mine. I just want to boop it; it’s so cute. On his bottom lip too. Can you believe that I’ve kissed it before? Shit, I want to kiss him again. So bad.”

“Tae-“

“I’m so in love with Jungkook, Hoseok. Oh, his galaxy filled eyes. It’s fucking crazy how in love I am. Literally all it took to fall in love with him was seeing his true side.”

“Wait Tae-“

“Letting this all out makes me feel like I’m floating. Anyway, why do you think he hasn’t come to visit me?”

When Hoseok doesn’t reply Taehyung glances up at him but it’s not Hoseok’s eyes he’s met with. Taehyung physically can’t stop the gasp escaping his lips when two wide doe eyes come into contact with his own. Two wide galaxies.

“Jung-“

“Um, we got some takeout,” Jungkook interrupts, holding up two bags and elbowing Yoongi, who is beside him, urging him to do the same with the bags in his hands.

“Yeah, um, yeah,” Yoongi coughs, “your favourite Tae.”

☾

Jungkook has never been this much at a loss for words before.

And it’s stupid because he had been the one to call Jimin over, not Jimin showing up unannounced as he usually did.

“You know, Kook,” he starts, “avoiding Taehyung isn’t going to help or solve anything. You love him-“

“Hyung! Don’t say it aloud!”

“Okay, you really like him?” Jungkook nods. “You really like him so why don’t you show it. Go and see him.”

“But hyung,” Jungkook whines. He really can’t help it at this point. “If I go and see him, I see his face. And if I see his face, I see his lips. And if I see his lips, I want to kiss him. I can’t let that happen because it just makes everything real. And if it’s real something bad will happen and I won’t be able to stop it.”

Jimin sighs. He leans over to grab at Jungkook’s cheeks and for once he lets it happen. “Listen to me Jungkook,” he says, shaking Jungkook’s head side to side. “Nothing bad can happen anymore. Okay? Your mother can’t get to you anymore. We may not know where Minji noona is, but don’t you think she’d be happy to see her little Jungkookie grow up into the tall handsome man that you are today and fall in love just like you’re supposed to? Don’t you think she’d be so proud? Proud that you’re going against all these fears you have and going for what your heart wants.”

Jungkook sighs, leaning slightly into Jimin’s tiny hands. “I miss her. So much.”

Jimin lets go of his face at that as his own face scrunches up into that look that Jungkook knows is his ‘trying not to cry’ look. His eyes begin to water but he ultimately blinks it all away, letting out a light laugh. “Don’t you think I do too?” Jungkook chuckles as Jimin shoves him back into the sofa. “But wherever she is, if she’s still with us, she wants us to be happy. That’s all she ever wanted.”

And that’s how Jungkook finds himself walking side by side with Yoongi as they walk towards Taehyung’s flat, carrying bags stuffed with takeaway. Yoongi’s just asked a question that sits freshly in the front of his mind but he almost doesn’t want to answer, though he knows it would be best for him if he did just do it. Admit it.

“I said,” Yoongi huffs, probably taking his silence as an indicator that Jungkook hasn’t heard the question, “what exactly do you feel for Tae?”

“I heard it the first time,” Jungkook retorts, speeding up his steps the slightest bit.

“Then answer me, damn it,” Yoongi snaps, easily keeping up with him. His voice sounds harsher now. “Tae might as well be my brother in law and I hope you know that I’d do anything for my family.”

“Okay? So?”

“So, you better not hurt him anymore.”

“Hyung, what’s that even supposed to mean?” Jungkook stops in his tracks, turning to fully face Yoongi.

“I mean, I saw that look on your face when you were looking for him. It was not the face of someone who had found out their biggest enemy had been taken by some evil mythical creature.”

“Tae isn’t my enemy,” Jungkook states, looking down at his feet.

“Funny,” Yoongi laughs, actually laughs. “So I’ll ask again. What exactly do you feel for him?”

“And why do I have to tell you?” Jungkook shouts. He looks up again making eye contact with Yoongi and he can see the spark of anger in those eyes. He knows for a fact his own eyes mirror Yoongi’s.

“Well you fucking have to tell someone!” Yoongi seethes back. “You won’t even fucking tell yourself.”

“I kissed him! Isn’t that enough?”

“Yeah you kissed him then pushed him away!”

“You know this isn’t exactly easy for me? I’ve hurt him so much and he’s hurt me too!”

“Jungkook that’s the past! You know that and so does Tae. I thought you two would have the guts after spending months together.” Yoongi looks at Jungkook pointedly with his face an angry shade of red and fists very obviously clenched. “You haven’t seen him in almost a week for fuck’s sake. Like, for what? He almost died!”

“Don’t you think I know that? Don’t you think it makes me feel like shit just the same as you?”

“No actually,” Yoongi says. “I don’t think that. Because you won’t tell anyone how you feel. You keep running away. You know, the longer you keep this shit inside, the more you hurt not only yourself, but Tae too, right? But look at you,” Yoongi scoffs, “you don’t give a crap. You’d rather just hurt him even more. I bet if he was gone right now you’d feel better.”

“That’s not fucking true!”

“Why?”

“Because I’m in love with him!” Jungkook shouts, voice coming out raspy. “I fucking love Taehyung! There. I said it. Are you happy?”

Jungkook storms away from Yoongi, breathing heavy as he tries to keep the tears back. He’ll admit that it feels great to let it all out but the situation isn’t what Jungkook had imagined.

He’s walking alone for a few minutes which Jungkook very much appreciates, before he feels the bag Yoongi’s carrying rustle against his. They remain silent with only the sound of their footsteps on the concrete and the rustle of their bags in the wind filling the quiet. That is until Jungkook decides to speak.

“I stayed away for a week to get my thoughts together,” he admits, glancing at Yoongi whose eyes stay fixed forward. “Make myself realise that I really am feeling this. Realise that if I hadn’t pushed him away-“

“Jungkook I didn’t say all that to blame you,” Yoongi interrupts, “because it’s not your fault. When I said I’d do anything for my family, I meant it. You’re my family too and I said everything I did to protect you, not just Taehyung. We both know it happened because stuff just built up and there’s nothing we could have done differently to change it. Tae would have gone on his weekly beach stroll sooner or later.”

“Yeah, but if I just told him how I felt that time on that day we could have been happy right now. And I’m confident we could have been happy because when I kissed him, he kissed me back.”

“And what makes you think you can’t be happy now?” Jungkook shrugs in response. “Jungkook, Taehyung is a very needy person. And I don’t mean that in a bad way. He’s gone through lots in life and all he needs to keep going is affection. Care. Love. And I’ll have you know, I wouldn’t be telling you any of this if I didn’t think you were perfect for him. You’ve proven yourself to not only me, but Namjoon too.”

Jungkook chuckles at Yoongi’s words, mildly surprised to be hearing such kind words coming out of the usually stoic man. The smile stays on his face after that too as they walk up the apartment building stairs because all he can think about is how similar he and Taehyung are. He’s been through lots in life just like Taehyung and he hates to admit it but Jungkook feels the best when affection is being directed at him.

They stop in front of the door and Jungkook waits as Yoongi takes out the keys that probably belong to Namjoon. He’s about to walk in first but Jungkook stops him with a hand at his upper arm.

“I’m going to tell him today hyung,” Jungkook whispers only to receive a soft smile before Yoongi tiptoes in, making hardly any noise in the quiet of the flat. Jungkook’s about to ask where to put the bags but the sound of a low voice stops him and he just follows behind Yoongi as quietly as he can.

“-mole on the tip of his nose too, just like mine. I just want to boop it; it’s so cute,” Taehyung says to which Hoseok nods along, looking like it’s been like this for quite a while. Taehyung talking while Hoseok listens. “On his bottom lip too,” he continues and it’s at those words that Hoseok looks up and sees them standing at the door to the bedroom, eyes widening comically. “Can you believe that I’ve kissed it before? Shit, I want to kiss him again. So bad.”

“Tae-“ Hoseok tries but Taehyung just continues with no care in the world. Jungkook is curious as to what Hoseok is so desperately trying to hide so even as Yoongi subtly tries to push him away from the door, he stays put.

“I’m so in love with Jungkook, Hoseok. Oh, his galaxy filled eyes. It’s fucking crazy how in love I am,” Taehyung speaks almost blissfully. And Jungkook can’t hear anything else because just like that, in the blink of an eye, all the blood in Jungkook’s body is rushing to his ears and all he can hear is his own heartbeat. It feels as though anything and everything he does next is just him on autopilot because for the next hour or so all Jungkook can focus on is his heartbeat and Taehyung’s words.

When Jungkook finally comes back to his senses, Yoongi is standing up from the table, clearing away all the leftovers and empty containers. Jungkook has no idea what they were talking about during dinner or if they had been talking at all and after glancing at Taehyung he thinks it’s probably the same thoughts in his head. He’s got his head tilted down and there seems to be a permanent pink stain at his cheeks which for some reason gets Jungkook way too excited.

“I think I should go home now,” Hoseok announces glancing between the two of them. “It’s getting quite late.” Jungkook watches as Taehyung’s head immediately snaps up to look at Hoseok who’s now stood up, pushing his chair under the table. He has a betrayed look in his eye. “And before you protest Tae, I need to finish my anime which you obviously were hating.”

Jungkook feels his lips involuntarily quirk up as Taehyung’s face tilts back down again, with a prominent pout at his plush lips. When Hoseok leaves, Jungkook’s worried Taehyung has fallen asleep judging by how still he is but his nervous tick of shuffling his feet around every so often is what reassures Jungkook that he’s wide awake.

“Should we um,” Jungkook starts, clears his throat, then continues, “should we, maybe, get out of here?”

Taehyung looks up at that and his entire demeanour seems to shift at his words as his eyes narrow ever so slightly and a small smirk forms at his lips. “So, you don’t come see me for a week and now you want to take me out, Jeon Jungkook?” Jungkook hates the fact that he splutters. “Sure, lets go.”

“Huh?” Jungkook asks dumbly.

“I said let’s go,” Taehyung says, standing up from his seat. “Where are we going big guy?”

It takes Jungkook an embarrassing second to collect himself, before he’s standing up and following Taehyung to the door.

“I was thinking the auditorium? For old time’s-“

“Woah woah woah,” Yoongi interrupts, coming to stand in between the two of them. “Where are we going?” Interrupting seems to be his forte.

“I’m just taking-“

“Jungkook and I are off to have some fun, hyung,” Taehyung teases. He reaches a hand out around Yoongi and Jungkook stares at it for a second before taking it into his own. What? If Taehyung’s going to tease Yoongi, what makes you think he’s not going to play along?

“This late at night?” Yoongi asks, raising a brow.

“It’s not even 10 yet hyung,” Taehyung laughs, squeezing Jungkook’s hand slightly as he pulls him past Yoongi. Jungkook doesn’t feel his heart flutter, he feels it fly away.

Yoongi sighs but ends up nodding reluctantly, watching as they head towards the front door. Jungkook is about to step past the threshold when he feels a hand wrap around his wrist, not strongly but with a bit of a demand. “No funny business Jeon,” Yoongi mutters. “He needs to be back home before midnight.” At those words Jungkook laughs in Yoongi’s face.

“Hyung!” Taehyung cries and the whole situation just makes Jungkook laugh even more because it’s obvious Yoongi hadn’t meant for any of that to be heard by Taehyung.

“I mean it Tae!” Yoongi argues, though there’s a smile threatening to slip past his lips. “If Namjoon comes back to find you gone, you know he’ll freak.”

“Hyung! It’s fi-“

“Don’t worry hyung,” Jungkook interjects, softly pushing Taehyung further down the hallway. “I’ll make sure to use protection.” And before Jungkook can hear another word from Yoongi, or worse, feel a punch from the tiny yet strong man, he runs past Taehyung and down the hallway, all while tugging the silver haired boy with him.

They run for a while, hand in hand and out of breath, and it probably looks ridiculous to anyone watching. But Jungkook doesn’t care because even if they don’t really need to be running anymore, losing breath, the feeling of his and Taehyung’s fingers intertwined is like a breath of fresh air.

“I can’t believe you said that!” Taehyung pants out in between fits of laughter as they slowly come to a stop outside the auditorium. “Now he’ll think we’re banging.”

“Tae, if that’s what you want to do,” Jungkook breathes out with a not so subtle wink, “then I’d be happy to.”

“Shut up,” Taehyung giggles, pushing Jungkook back by resting a hand at his shoulder. In the process he lets go of Jungkook’s hand and the latter hates the loss of contact.

It’s silent then with only the rustle of the leaves of the very few evergreen trees filling the atmosphere. Sure, there’s the distant noise of blaring music coming from presumably a party near by but that’s so muffled that right now, all Jungkook can hear is Taehyung’s giggle that seems to echo in his head. All he can hear is Taehyung and all he can see is Taehyung.

“So, you think my eyes are like galaxies,” Jungkook says, trying his best to sound snarky but he knows he probably sounds flustered because hell, that’s exactly how he feels.

Taehyung immediately looks down, trying to avoid eye contact as his cheeks flood with pink, that Jungkook can see, even in the dim light coming from the moon above.

“And you’re truly, madly, deeply in love with-“

“And so what?” Taehyung snaps. His eyes come back to meet Jungkook’s with his brows furrowed. Somehow they have gotten impossibly closer to one another and Jungkook can almost feel Taehyung’s lashes brush against his own as the latter’s eyes widen at the proximity.

Jungkook doesn’t even have the time to stop himself from reaching up to gently smooth his index finger over the space between Taehyung’s brows, trying to rid of the wrinkles.

“So,” Jungkook whispers, “there’s nothing you need to worry about anymore. Because the feelings are mutual.”

Jungkook hears Taehyung’s breath hitch as he takes a small step back and all Jungkook can think is ‘no, this isn’t it, don’t go’. So it’s almost as if on reflex that he reaches out both hands to grab Taehyung’s, stopping him from going anywhere.

Taehyung looks down at their hands then back up again at Jungkook’s eyes. Jungkook’s heart rate picks up in pace as soon as Taehyung’s eyes start to crinkle up into little crescents and his mouth widens into a boxy smile. He looks beautiful and Jungkook can’t even begin to imagine himself being this enthralled for anyone else. Ever.

“Tae,” Jungkook starts, “we haven’t had the best start in our relationship. Or whatever you would call this.” Taehyung giggles at the words.

“Association? Bond? Alliance?” Taehyung jokes.

“I prefer entanglement.”

“I like love affair.”

“Okay, love affair then. So we both love each other.”

“I guess so.”

Jungkook clears his throat, taking a step closer to Taehyung so that they’re basically in the same bubble again. “I’m sorry Taehyung.”

“I forgive you,” Taehyung replies before Jungkook even finishes the sentence.

“You don’t even-“

“The arguments where you were a cocky bastard, the fights where you almost broke my nose every single time, the fact that you didn’t get to know me sooner because turns out we’re a perfect match. Also the fact that you thought you lost me, thought that I was dead. I know all this because it’s the same for me Jungkook.” Jungkook can only stare as Taehyung finally takes a breath after letting all that tumble out. He’s in shock that Taehyung was able to keep his breath that long and also in shock that Taehyung has gotten everything spot on. Except-

“You actually forgot-“

“You’re sorry that you pushed me away.”

“Wow,” Jungkook breathes out, taking Taehyung’s face in his hands. “I’m so in love with you Kim Taehyung. I mean, it’s fucking crazy how in love I am.”

“And I’m truly, madly, deeply in love with you, Jeon Jungkook.”

Then, it’s just the two of them staring into one another’s eyes with smiles bigger than the vast ocean at their lips.

“I’m sorry it took me almost losing you to realise I love you, Kim.”

“I said I forgive you, Jeon,” Taehyung chuckles, reaching his arms up to wind around Jungkook’s neck.

“This feels familiar,” Jungkook says. “Except we don’t need to pretend to be Jaemin and Jisu. Because we’re Jungkook and Tae-“

“That’s enough, lover boy. Kiss me already, would you?”

That’s all Jungkook needs to hear before he’s leaning in and slotting their lips together. It all feels oddly natural considering they’ve only kissed once before, but everything happens so smoothly that Jungkook can’t help but think that maybe their lips were made for one another. The sigh of relief that Taehyung lets out just urges Jungkook to push it further so he pulls him closer by gripping tightly at his hips. He hopes the tightness of his hold shows Taehyung just how much he wants this. Wants him.

Taehyung leans away for a second before tilting his head to get a better angle, diving straight back into Jungkook’s lips almost like he’s been starving for them. It makes Jungkook breathless. It makes Jungkook needy. So he swipes his tongue at Taehyung’s bottom lip, gaining entrance into his mouth almost immediately. After that their tongues seem to intertwine as they dance together in perfect synchronisation.

When they both finally pull away, with a string of saliva holding them together, they both seem to be out of breath, breathing way too loud and heavy. Jungkook stares at Taehyung’s content face as his eyes remain closed. Luckily he seems to be enjoying the moment just as much as Jungkook and when he opens his eyes again the thought reinforces in Jungkook’s mind. Because Taehyung stares straight into Jungkook’s eyes with his own blissed out ones. There’s also a very obvious hint of lust in there and Jungkook knows his own eyes probably look exactly the same to Taehyung.

Jungkook loves this. Loves Taehyung. So much. And maybe it’s just the environment that has memories floating back to Jungkook but he finds himself wishing this moment would never end. So he voices just that.

“I feel the same Jungkook,” Taehyung whispers right against his lips as he places a few prolonged pecks there. It’s so soft yet so intoxicating. “I’ve been wanting to kiss you-properly-for longer than I can remember. I’ve been wanting to look into your eyes like this and see if the star filled galaxies are only a trick of the light.” Taehyung smiles softly and chuckles slightly before continuing. “Now I know I haven’t imagined it.”

Jungkook’s heard about these galaxies quite a few times at this point but he still feels his face heat up in embarrassment at how straight forward Taehyung is. But he overcomes that quickly, as he takes Taehyung’s face back in his hands.

“You know Tae,” he starts, loving the way Taehyung seems to perk up at his name. He for sure knows he’s about to get complimented and Jungkook’s altruist self can’t help but feel satisfaction at knowing he’s about to make Taehyung even happier. “You keep saying that my eyes are like a galaxy to you. But when I look into your eyes, I feel like I’m getting lost, I feel like I’m fading away because your eyes hold my entire universe and much more. And I find that I don’t mind getting lost.” Taehyung smiles a huge smile at that and visibly gets flustered. He lets out a giggle before tucking his face into Jungkook’s neck, to which the latter whole-heartedly accepts, reaching behind Taehyung’s head to stroke at his silver locks. “And if I’m the galaxy and you’re the universe, we must make a pretty good team.”

☾

[Present - October 30th]

“Babe, if you’re going to take three fucking hours in the toilet, how are the rest of us meant to take pre-show pees?” Taehyung hears Jungkook shout from outside the door, along with very obnoxious knocking which would probably be better described as bashing.

“Shut the fuck up!” he shouts back, clutching at both sides of the sink as he stares at himself deeply in the mirror. “I’m nervous. I pee then flush then I need to fucking pee again!”

It’s the night of their showcase and for some reason this damn theatre’s backstage area seems to only have one bathroom consisting of one toilet and one sink. Needless to say, it’s pretty inconvenient when you’ve got twenty plus university students who are just about shitting themselves in fear. One of them being Taehyung, who’s decided to hog the whole bathroom because he doesn’t want anyone to see him like this.

“Babe, hurry the fuck up!” Jungkook mutters through the crack between the closed door and wall. What an absolute child.

Taehyung and Jungkook are still pretty much the same, not having gone through a honeymoon phase as most new couples usually do. Instead, they still bicker. A lot. Though they are never hurtful to one another anymore and more often than not, said arguments end in whispered apologies followed by lots of making out, sometimes more that just making out. Taehyung will happily admit that he loves their new dynamic. More than anything he’s ever experienced in life.

Taehyung sighs, ruffling his hair a little. “I’ll be out in a sec,” he says, hopefully loud enough for only Jungkook to hear since by the sound of it he’s glued to the door. To Taehyung’s surprise and relief it seems to go quiet at that and he’s left to stare at himself in peace. He’s been like this for the past 15 minutes now and all he’s been doing is looking himself in the eye and telling himself everything is going to be okay. Everything is going to be just fine and he’s going to do amazing at his lead role. His lead role. Taehyung’s got the lead role. Any little mistake and it could ruin the entire play. He’s got the whole audience’s eyes on him. Namjoon’s going to be there, Yoongi, Hoseok, even Jungkook’s friends, like Jimin. He’s only recently met Jimin and the guy happens to be the same age as him. In other words they get on like two peas in a pea pod and he knows Jimin would never laugh at him for making a mistake. But there’s going to be people he’s never met in his life watching him and if he messes up, their first impression of him will be klutz. He’ll be seen as an absolute klutz, a fool, an idiot, a-

“I knew you weren’t peeing,” comes a voice from behind him and he watches in the mirror as Jungkook gently shuts the door behind him before locking it too.

“How did you...”

“Sana had a few spare hair clips,” Jungkook shrugs nonchalantly, making his way towards Taehyung.

Taehyung can’t help the sigh of contentment that escapes his lips as Jungkook wraps his arms around his waist from the back, leaning his chin on Taehyung’s shoulder. Softly, he places his hands at Jungkook’s arms, leaning into his boyfriend’s back hug as he lets his eyes slip shut.

“What’s wrong Tae?” Jungkook whispers, placing a few sweet kisses at Taehyung’s hair and ear. It’s really comforting and for a second Taehyung completely forgets what is wrong.

Taehyung sighs then turns around in Jungkook’s arms, reaching up to wrap his arms around his neck. He’s got a newly found obsession of playing with the back of his boyfriend’s undercut, finding a great amount of comfort in scratching his nails over the stubbly hair. Plus Jungkook likes it too. “I’m so fucking scared babe,” he murmurs into Jungkook’s neck. “If I mess up, they all see and I embarrass myself.”

In Taehyung’s opinion, Jungkook is far too quick at reacting to his words. It’s almost like he already knew how Taehyung was feeling. He reaches up and holds Taehyung’s face in his hands, forcing him to look into his eyes, and to be honest, Taehyung doesn’t hate it. At all. He could stare into those eyes all day.

“You know,” Jungkook starts, “when I was younger I used to play with dolls and action figures, doing voice overs for each character and coming up with my own storyline, which by the way, was different every single time. And you know my Minji noona-“

“I pretty much know everything about her at this point.”

“My Minji noona,” Jungkook repeats, accentuating the words, “used to tell me that I could be a great actor. That she’d love to see me acting on the big stage. And that’s one of the main reasons I became one. Of course I love acting but it’s also what my noona wanted from me and I wanted to make her proud. She believed in me when no one else did.”

Taehyung smiles, reaching up to pinch his boyfriend’s cheeks. “She sounds so lovely. I wish I could have met her.”

“She would have loved you,” Jungkook smiles back, leaning in to place a peck at Taehyung’s lips. “Why did you become an actor?”

Taehyung doesn’t even need to think about his answer. “When I was little and I was playing around, acting, my mother would come in and talk to me as if I wasn’t Taehyung. Then she’d act all surprised and say she didn’t even recognise her own son because he’d become someone else completely. Obviously at the time I believed her and in turn I believed in myself.” Taehyung smiles as the memories flood his mind. He misses her so bad. “I became an actor because I liked the idea of becoming someone else. Living as someone else for a while who might have had a better life than me or sometimes a worse one. I like to pretend to be someone I’m not.”

Jungkook smiles a cheeky smile, so big that it reaches his eyes, turning them into such tiny crescents that Taehyung can’t see the galaxies anymore. “You see Tae, that’s all you have to remember. When you’re on that stage, you’re not my pretty baby Kim Taehyung anymore.”

Taehyung scoffs, shoving Jungkook back.

“You’re Jaemin. So if Jaemin messes up on stage it won’t affect you. And even then, people probably wouldn’t realise because you’re such an amazing actor; you’d easily be able to cover it up.” Jungkook takes a few steps backwards, heading back to the door. “But I know you won’t make any mistakes anyway. I’ll be right there with you. I believe in you.”

“I believe in you too,” Taehyung says, giving him a wink before walking through the bathroom door that Jungkook holds open. It’s not even a second later that he feels his boyfriend’s very familiar touch on the small of his back, guiding him back to the dressing room.

“You two are finally out of that stupid bathroom,” Seokjin exclaims in all his red faced glory. He’s not even going to be in the play yet he seems to be the most nervous, sweating heaps and ruining his pinstriped dress shirt. It’s awfully entertaining for Taehyung to watch and it just about gets rid of any nerves that were still left in his body, after Jungkook’s very helpful talk. “Whatever you two were doing in there, no one wants to know. We don’t need another detailed explanation. Not after Jooheon threw up last week!”

“Sir, for the last time,” Jungkook huffs out, pulling Taehyung closer to his side by curling an arm around his waist. Even after this long month, Taehyung still gets flutters. “He only threw up because he ate a nine day old tuna sandwich. Not because we talked about how Tae really enjoyed riding-“

Seokjin gags. “God, when I said make up and have sex, I didn’t think it’d actually lead to this disgustingly lovey-dovey couple shit. I don’t want to fucking know!” he cries, throwing defeated hands up in the air. “Now, I’ll give you two only three more minutes together before it’s stage time.”

And with that, the very agitated teacher trainer is gone.

”Joke’s on him,” Jungkook laughs, “we’ll be together throughout the whole play.”

Taehyung looks around at his cast mates, all ready with their costumes on and hair and makeup done. Everyone’s hugging, wishing one another luck and Taehyung thinks he even sees a couple making out against the wall in the corner. Obviously some people are more excited for this play than they really should be.

Come to think of it, Taehyung needs physical contact right now and the hand on his waist isn’t enough. What? He’s needy. Leave him alone.

So he spins around and whines, raising his arms above his head in a childish manner, asking to be picked up. And Jungkook being the ever so pliant boyfriend reaches down to grip at the backs of Taehyung’s thighs, lifting him with ease into a koala like hug, and spinning the both of them around in circles a few times. Taehyung’s pretty sure he hears someone else gag as well as Sana groaning but he doesn’t care as he briefly throws a middle finger behind his head. They’re just jealous.

Taehyung nuzzles his face into Jungkook’s dark hair, taking in the comforting smell of- wait, his own strawberry scented shampoo?

“Babe!” Taehyung exclaims, backing himself away a bit, but still keeping his legs wrapped tightly around Jungkook’s waist. “Is that my shampoo?”

“I ran out of mine okay? I’m sorry!”

Taehyung doesn’t know what forces him to say it. Maybe it’s the way Jungkook has made him feel better. Or the way he’s holding him close. Or maybe it’s the fact that Jungkook smells like Taehyung himself probably does on a daily basis. But he says it. Because it’s not like he needs a reason anyway.

“I love you.”

“I love you too,” Jungkook replies, barely missing a beat. “So much.”

Taehyung feels heat rise up his cheeks just like it does every single time Jungkook says the words. He’s really not used to it yet and in some ways, hopes he never will get used to it. Because the butterflies in his tummy and the skip of his heartbeat makes it all feel genuine. It makes him realise that yes, he really does love this man. Probably will for a very long time.

Taehyung laughs into the curls of Jungkook’s hair. He places a few kisses there too, just for good luck, feeling light kisses at his own clavicle.

“You ready, Jisu?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be, Jaemin.”

☾

[Epilogue]

Somewhere in an apartment, right next to the beach, is a chest of drawers, the top messy with old action figures and a brand new bottle of strawberry scented shampoo.

In the first drawer, sits a tiny, black velvet box, holding a single Moonstone necklace.

The necklace lights up with a blinding white light for a contented second as it looks into the future of its owner. After that second, the light is fading away and it rests. Because it’s helped its owner succeed in love. Because it’s bought its owner to the person he needs.

Its job is complete.