Work Text:
The thing is that Namjoon is his but not to keep; and Jungkook always remembers.
Jungkook finds Namjoon on every one of his lifetimes and he has never been more grateful for his immortality.
He's been around for so long and he can trace back so many centuries but he doesn't really count the first one hundred and twenty two years of his life becase he hadn't met Namjoon yet so it doesn't really matter to him.
Jungkook hyas seen his parents grow gray with time, htas lost lovers, friends and companions, had seen empires be born and be destroyed, had fought so many wars that they lost its meaning and he doesn't care at all because as long as he's concerned Namjoon was always there, in one way or another.
But the first time he noticed Namjoon was like his very existence finally made sense.
He remembers the first time perfectly, he remembers the sun in his breath, the flowers in his hair and the spring in his laugh. Jungkook had never felt so truly alive.
Namjoon was just a child then, barely twelve and with eyes full of wonder, they had bumped into eachother in a busy street market and Jungkook had made it his mission to see the young boy whenever he had the chance. Eventually Namjoon warmed up to him, enough to start calling him hyung and sitting with him by the river near his farm, listening to Jungkook ramble about the world's wonders until Namjoon's father shouted about dinner and Namjoon would leave.
But finding Namjoon meant watching him find Yoongi.
Every time.
The very first time they met Namjoon was very excited to introduce him to his new best friend. The fisherman's son.
Jungkook could feel that Min Yoongi was a quiet soul as old as his. He didn't say anything.
Jungkook stood in the sidelines and watched as the younger boys developed a strong bond, watched them laugh and cry and fight and love.
Watched them run away and never said a word.
The first centuries he felt pure, blinding rage towards the other man, he was envious and childish and afraid and hurt, because what did Min Yoongi had that he didn't, that fate saw him fit to spend every single one of his lifetimes with Namjoon? Was the Universe playing a cruel joke on him?
He had to sit back and watch them find eachother.
They would find eachother on the Lost&Found corner of the world every time and every time it damaged him like it was the first.
Sometimes, Yoongi would find Jungkook first, because they both knew that that meant finding Namjoon faster and they needed him.
Yoongi had lived and died and every single time Namjoon was by his side. He couldn't imagine what life would be like without him.
And Namjoon forgot about him every time the Universe birthed him. But Yoongi didn't care, he would wait for him forever, search to the end of world and more.
They were in Korea again, which was nice, because spending the 80s and the 90s in America had been a bitch.
There was so much going on and so many causes to die fighting for. And oh boy was Namjoon willing to die for his ideals.
Yoongi found Namjoon again in college. Between Marxists essays and shitty coffee.
From sharing dorm rooms to sharing an apartment. From roommates to friends. From friends to lovers.
An endless cycle that Yoongi didn't mind repeating us long as Namjoon was with him.
To Namjoon, kissing Yoongi felt a lot like coming back home.
They bumped into Jungkook on a busy street market and Yoongi introduced him as an old friend, because Jungkook looked tired and Yoongi took pity on him. He knew in how much pain he must've been.
But Jungkook was so scared all the time, scared that one day he wouldn't be able to feel Namjoon anymore. That one day he would piss off the Universe enough that it would punish him by taking Namjoon away from him.
So finding Namjoon again felt a lot like coming back home.
And he was growing fond of Yoongi, too.
Jungkook was soon a part of their lives. He would stay over for dinner and walk around the park photographing Namjoon because he was so beautiful now, he always was, but Jungkook hadn't seen him in so long that he wanted to keep the memory forever. Just in case.
To Namjoon, Jungkook was like finding a forgotten favourite book again.
Jungkook stopped being jealous of Yoongi long ago, had accepted the place the Universe had placed him in because seeing Namjoon happy with Yoongi meant more than seeing him miserable without the other.
He still remembers how devastated Namjoon had been back in the 60s when Yoongi's smart mouth sent him to an early grave. He stood by Namjoon's side even there. He buried Namjoon too.
But now, seeing Namjoon cuddled into Yoongi's side he felt almost like and intruder, so he did what he always did, he pretended not to see their kisses and concentrated on whatever was playing in the TV.
"Okay boys, I'm done here," Namjoon said stretching out "I'm off to bed." He said to Yoongi. "Are you staying the night, Kook?" Namjoon asked yawning and looking at him.
"Nah, I don't think so hyung." Jungkook said.
"Mm, okay goodnight then, I'll see you tomorrow?" Namjoon asked smiling from the kitchen.
Jungkook made a sound of affirmation and watched as Namjoon entered his and Yoongi's bedroom.
Yoongi and Jungkook sat in silence for a while.
"What took you so long this time?" Yoongi asked without taking his eyes away from the TV.
"I'm practicing." Jungkook admitted.
"Practicing what? Abstinence?" Yoongi snorted.
"Just in case the Universe is done doing me favours, you know man? I'm scared to wake up one day up and not finding him again so I guess I want to prepare myself for the worst." Jungkook said looking at Yoongi in the eyes.
Yoongi didn't say anything. He understood. He always did when it came to Namjoon.
"Here's to being prepared for the the worst." Yoongi said before chugging down Namjoon's half finished beer.
They talked for a while about unimportant stuff until it got too late and Jungkook was getting ready to leave.
"It's late man, stay the night." Yoongi said looking at him like he knew exactly how goddamn lonely Jungkook's apartment was.
"Okay." Jungkook said because he couldn't thank him for doing so much for him.
Yoongi and Jungkook shared a lot, they shared Namjoon and the fear of losing him. And they both knew how lonely life without him was. They were friends.
