Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

In a world full of magic and wonder there's almost nothing Taehyung hasn't seen already. A world full of humans and magical beings makes amazement bloom in his chest every time he sees something new. There’s everything you could think of. Vampires, fairies, sirens - everything. No matter where you look - you’re most likely to find something new. But nothing beats the view of Min Yoongi.

You'd catch Taehyung staring at him every time the elder is in his view. But that's because Min Yoongi is a sight no one could really look away from. He’s enticing, commanding everyone’s attention wherever he goes. Taehyung has seen a lot of magical and mystical beings but the beauty of every siren pales against the sight of Min Yoongi.

The forest spirit is the most ethereal being Taehyung has ever seen with his own two eyes - and his best friend is literally Park Jimin, the university's prettiest siren. But the beauty of Yoongi and Jimin is different. Where Jimin is naturally alluring, pulling everyone in with his sultry eyes, plump lips, and the mysterious aura around him, Yoongi’s beauty is more - soft. He’s all pretty, shy smiles, blushing cheeks, and silent beauty.

Taehyung unconsciously lets his hand rest under his chin, supporting his head as he tunes the voice of his professor out and continues staring straight at Yoongi, who’s sitting a few tables to his left. Despite really hating this class it’s somehow still one of his favorites - only because of the forest spirit though. It’s the only class they share. The other is following along to the lecture, eyes set on the board at the front of the classroom.

Yoongi has always been smart. He doesn’t raise any negative attention, works very hard and he’s just so unbelievably pretty. Eyes so focused, his pen moving over his paper as he writes down every word that Taehyung just tunes out.

He’s just sitting there but Taehyung couldn’t look away. It is fascinating.

Everything about him.

Yoongi is a forest spirit. There are a lot of different spirits, a lot of subspecies and so many mixed versions that you sometimes couldn’t really tell what kind of spirit a person is but they’re all so uniquely beautiful. Yoongi is a part of nature and as a part of it, nature has taken residence on his body. That actually was the thing that first caught Taehyung’s attention. The colorful flowers sprouting from his head, building a huge crown.

The first time he saw him, he thought the other was only wearing a flower crown. He was too fascinated by the bright colors and soft cheeks of Yoongi to notice that nature isn’t only sitting on his head but on his whole body as well. Taehyung spent days staring at Yoongi from afar, mapping the way nature is easily incorporated in his body.

The flowers don’t only trail around his head, they grow all over his body. Vines wrap around his arms and his legs while moss covers parts of his skin. It’s beautiful.

Yoongi is the most beautiful being he has ever seen.

The plants move around him, grow depending on his mood and the amount of sun they get. When Yoongi’s laughing it seems like the flowers are too, their color intensifies, the petals stretch up to the sky and Taehyung falls a little bit more in love. Most of the time you’re able to tell Yoongi’s mood by the color of the flowers on his body. If he’s happy they’re exploding in color, the green of the plants so intense that it almost seems like they’re glowing. But when he’s down the plants seem weak, the leaves are thin, some of them turning brown. As if it’s autumn all over his body.

Taehyung loves it the most when Yoongi blooms like spring itself. The other is a breath of fresh air whenever Taehyung sees him. He’s the first day of spring after a long, hard winter. The first green peeking through a thick blanket of snow.

His eyes catch on the way some of the vines peek out of Yoongi’s sock, they curl around the leg of his chair, small green leaves begin to sprout from them. He follows how they grow further and further, almost swallowing the whole leg of the chair. As soon as Yoongi shifts in his seat the plants do too. They’re one. Yoongi and nature. One and the same. God - Yoongi is just so beautiful. So soft, so pretty - Taehyung can’t believe he’s real.

He’s so lost in his thoughts that he doesn’t notice the heat running through his body. It prickles under his skin, beats with a heart of its own as it takes over Taehyung’s body. And even if he would be focusing on it, heat is something constant in his life. He often doesn’t notice when the fire burns too hot inside of him. Too hot for him to control it. So hot that it breaks out of him at random times.

“Tae -” Jimin shakes his shoulder violently and his gaze falls on the paper he held in his hand. The paper that’s now on fire - the flames still lick against his palm as he drops it on the floor. It burns to ashes down there.

“Shit!” He curses loudly, making everyone in the room turn towards him. Including Yoongi. Taehyung could feel his gaze on his skin and the heat of the fire inside of him is nothing against the heat coloring his cheeks in embarrassment.

He knows everyone is looking at him with a mix of different emotions. But there is one most of them have in common - fear.

It wasn’t the first time that Taehyung lost control of his power. Fire is one of the most unpredictable elements planet earth has to offer. It’s a power that seems so simple when compared to some things others have to deal with in this world but it’s actually one of the most dangerous ones.

Fire burns hot - it destroys life wherever it goes. The heat can be searing - even the smoke can be deadly. There are a lot of dangerous powers but almost none of them are as unpredictable as fire. Almost none of them can be so destructive when the person wielding them loses control. That’s why the people who carry these powers used to be feared - now they’re respected. Or should be… If they manage to actually control the fire.

Taehyung comes from a family of shifters. Dragon shifters to be precise. Centuries ago his ancestors were able to completely shift into the mystical creatures, breathing waves of fire that could light up a whole city with one exhale. He saw the drawings, the pictures of dragons and they were breathtaking.

And deadly. They were scary monsters that almost everyone was afraid of. But with time, even their powers lessened. Once mighty creatures slowly started to blend in with the rest as they learned how to shift between different forms and now, even that is not possible anymore.

Their powers subsided with time - they got lost somewhere along the line and Taehyung’s family is now the only dragon descended one in Seoul. They aren’t able to shift into dragons anymore but the traces of their ancestors are still there. Scales cover part of Taehyung’s body, the back of his hands, they run over his shoulders and his back. They bleed into his skin seamlessly.

It’s something he never got really used to. Every time he lets his fingertips travel over his own skin and comes across a patch of scales it feels foreign. Like they aren’t really a part of him. They should be but to Taehyung everything about the dragon living inside of him feels like an intruder and not a part of himself.

The most prominent scales grow on the left side of his face. The red scales frame his one reptile eye and get lost once they reach his hairline, blending into his tan skin.

After one too many kids started crying at the sight of him, Taehyung started wearing sunglasses wherever he went. They cover his abnormal eye and the biggest part of the scales in his face. It shouldn’t be something he’s ashamed of but somehow it still is. He’d rather hide himself than scare other people.

Dragons aren’t all monsters but they are dangerous creatures. And looking like one can often be a problem. People are scared of him, especially because the fire that lives within him is something he can’t easily control. Sometimes it just breaks out of him. It overpowers him and the flames lick at his skin before he could stop them. Taehyung doesn’t understand it, doesn’t get why he seems to be the only one of his family who is not able to control his inner dragon. Everyone else has their fire under control but Taehyung doesn’t even know where to start.

Sometimes it’s just a normal exhale and the flames roll off his tongue. Other times he reads a book and suddenly the pages catch on fire. And it mostly happens when he’s focusing on Yoongi - because then he’s unable to concentrate on keeping his powers in check.

Taehyung is a monster with uncontrollable power.

And Yoongi… He looks up from his lunch, letting his eyes stray towards the forest spirit and his group of friends once more. Yoongi is beautiful while Taehyung hides his face. He hides his face and has never once dared to speak a word to the elder.

His love has always been one lived from afar and he’s okay with that. Seriously - he’s okay with it. They wouldn’t fit together. And Taehyung is never going to speak to him anyway. He’s content with it. He is. Really - he doesn’t have a problem hiding in the shadows and watching Yoongi from afar, loving him from afar. He does not have a problem with that. He’s content with the way he lives.

But his friends aren’t.

It’s not like they would understand. No one really understands him - at least Taehyung has never met anyone. Of course, he knows that there are other beings unable to control their powers or connect with their mystical part but these cases are rare. Rare and frowned upon in the eyes of the general public. That’s why people like Taehyung hide, they hide that they’re different and hope no one would find out.

His friends would never be able to understand what it’s like walking his steps. While Taehyung is a dark creature that brings death and destruction his best friends are beautiful beings. Beings that are admired, sometimes even worshipped. At least in the past.

Jimin, a siren, has everyone falling for his natural alluring aura and Hoseok brings joy and laughter wherever he goes. The fae always wears a smile, laughter tinkling like bells and when he enters a room it feels like he brought the sun with him. They don’t understand what it’s like being feared. Not many do. But even in a world full of magic, beings like Taehyung still evoke fear in almost everyone.

There’s no way someone like Yoongi, someone who stands for everything Taehyung so easily burns to ashes, would even spare him a glance.

“You just have to talk to him,” Jimin interrupts his thoughts.

The siren is lounging on the other side of the table, blue hair moving - not with the wind. No, his hair is moving like it’s underwater even when he isn’t swimming. His skin seems to sparkle in the sunlight, plump lips forming a beautiful pout. There’s always a thin sheen of water covering his skin and making him almost glow.

Taehyung can see why everyone is enchanted by Jimin’s beauty. And if they aren’t completely enthralled by his looks, the melodic sound of his voice will draw them in. Even Taehyung finds himself in some kind of trance when his friend decides to sing.

But right now, his voice is just annoying. Well, the words he’s saying to him are. “Just say ‘hi’. He’s not gonna bite your head off.”

“Easy for you to say,” Taehyung mumbles, eyes still locked on Yoongi. The other is sitting with his friends but his nose is stuck in a book. The plants on his arms have grown further, slowly covering the back of the book the longer he holds it. Moss connects his fingers to the paper while vines hold the pages down, preventing them from moving in the wind and letting Yoongi read comfortably.

“No really - Yoongi is so nice, I think,” Hoseok adds with a smile, “I mean, I’ve never spoken to him before but he’s always so - soft. Just strike up a conversation.”

Taehyung glances at the fae, his delicate wings seem to sparkle under the sun as they flap in excitement. It’s so unfair. Unfair that some people never have to experience the pain of having to prove they aren’t a threat all the time, that they aren’t a monster. Taehyung wishes no one would be feared - but perfect worlds don’t exist.

“And watch him get scared of me?” He huffs, “No thanks.”

“Tae…” He doesn’t have to look at Jimin to know that the pity in his voice is mirrored on his best friend’s face as well. He refuses to look into his eyes and watch how the blue of them slowly gets darker, tinged with sadness and pity.

It’s okay.

He’s used to this, to feeling like this. It’s nothing new. It’s always been like this and just loving Yoongi doesn’t change a single thing about the reality he has to face every single day.

He’s used to fighting to be accepted and loved. He’s used to having people avoid him - sometimes he can’t even believe how he got lucky enough to have such wonderful best friends. Jimin and Hoseok might not understand how it’s like to be him but they do everything to try and make him feel normal. That’s more than most people do. And Taehyung would be forever thankful to them because of that.

“No, I get it,” He sighs, “I get it - it’s okay. People are usually afraid of me." His heart squeezes and he digs his fingernails in the tender flesh of his thighs.

Ah. He wishes things could work out for him. But they never do.

"Yoongi won’t be any different and he won’t be different from my other crushes. I’ll just admire him from afar.”

The air around him immediately feels a little bit warmer when Hoseok sits closer to him, one of his delicate wings wraps around his shoulder, hugging him close. Taehyung is glad for the sunglasses that hide the way his eyes glaze over. The fire in his chest simmers down a little, the constant heat he feels suddenly not that overwhelming.

This topic, no matter how often it comes up, will remain sensitive for him.

Jimin’s hand curls around his wrist tightly before he scratches over his scales, digging his nails between them and a shiver runs down Taehyung’s spine. Usually, he doesn’t let anyone touch his scales. Not that anyone dares to ask but even if they would - he’d deny them. It’s hard for himself to touch his own scales, so why would he let other people do that?

But his friends always had a special place. Especially Jimin who’d been with him for the longest time now. Something is comforting about the other’s gentle strokes over his scales while Hoseok rubs his back.

“You know you deserve someone to love you too, right?” Hoseok says as he leans his head on his shoulder, “If people would just look past all of -”

“Well, they usually don’t,” Taehyung interrupts him, “It doesn’t matter. We don’t really fit together anyway.”

Saying that hurts. No matter how often Taehyung tells himself those words they always hurt. Every single letter bores itself in his chest, in his heart as they rip his insides apart. It's hopeless - nothing that was meant to be. But the pain of it all never lessens.

A broken heart. How can he have a broken heart without even trying anything?

He tunes the voices of his friends out as he looks back at Yoongi and his friends. There is no way they would ever fit together because everything that Taehyung touches turns to ashes. Because Yoongi is life. He’s nature, he’s everything beautiful around them and Taehyung is death. He’s destruction and desolation.

Nature heals and fire burns - that’s how it is and how it’ll always be.

“He’s staring at you again.”

Yoongi doesn’t even look up from the book he’s reading. And he doesn’t have to. He notices those burning eyes on him without needing Seokjin to point it out for everyone. They’re always on him even if he often can’t see them. Hidden behind the sunglasses that Taehyung even wears inside.

But just because they’re hidden doesn’t mean that Yoongi couldn’t feel them pierce right through his soul. It’s impossible to ignore the stare of the other. And Taehyung is always staring at him as soon as they’re close.

“And why are you staring at them?” He retorts with a sigh. The rest of his friends immediately latch onto his words. Seokjin should really know better than to start with a conversation like this when he’s so susceptible to teasing as well.

No one hasn’t even said anything yet and the tips of the human’s ears are already red.

Yoongi is just glad that the attention is off him and Taehyung’s staring now. He hasn’t admitted it to any of his friends yet but knowing that Taehyung’s eyes are on him most of the time makes a giddy warmth bloom in his chest. Every time he feels the tingle of his stare the flowers all over his body preen. The blossoms open wide while the color of the petals intensifies.

It’s like Taehyung’s eyes light a fire in his chest, warmth bleeds into his veins and he has to fight against the smile that tries to spread over his lips. He fails often, lips twitching up when the tingles spread all over his body.

“Yeah,” Jungkook laughs and his fangs are on full display as he leans over the table - eyes twinkling with mischief as he focuses on Seokjin who looks like he regrets ever opening his mouth, “Why are you staring, huh?”

Even Namjoon, who doesn’t normally partake in teasing others, joins. The other is the voice of reason - most of the time. He stops them all from going too far with their teasing, helps them apologize to each other when they crossed a line. But sometimes he joins the teasing - mostly when they’re all ganging up on Seokjin who has the best reactions to being teased.

Namjoon is twirling his wand between his fingers as he laughs with the others. Suddenly, everyone’s attention is on the tip of the wand, laughter a little more strained as they all tense. Yoongi moves a little further away from the wizard.

One too many times has the other accidentally cast a spell because he unconsciously played with his wand. And Yoongi doesn’t want to be on the receiving end of an accidental spell. Those never end well. Namjoon smirks at the blush that’s already spreading over the Seokjin’s cheeks, having come down from his ears. “Has it something to do with the very cute fae, hm?”

“Traitors,” Seokjin hisses lowly, “We’re supposed to clown Yoongi here - not me.”

“I don’t understand why we have to clown anyone at all.” Yoongi closes his book, briefly glancing in the direction of Taehyung. The red-haired boy immediately drops his head as if he’s been caught doing something illegal. It’s cute. “Just let Taehyung be.”

Cute, cute, cute. The word echoes in his mind like a broken record. Yoongi has never understood why he’d been so intrigued by the dragon when he hasn’t even said a single word to him yet. But somehow… Taehyung makes him feel all kinds of weird emotions just by looking at him.

“Oh, on a first name basis already, huh?” Seokjin suggestively wiggles his eyebrows. Childish. It’s childish but Yoongi could feel his traitorous cheeks starting to tint red. The color of embarrassment. The warmth spreading through his body isn’t pleasant this time, it doesn’t make him feel all giddy and fluttery like the way Taehyung’s gaze makes him feel. He doesn’t like that.

The vines around his wrists curl tighter, the flowers all over his body moving in sync as they close their blossoms as if they want to hide their embarrassment too. He unconsciously tangles his fingers in the leaves that almost reassuringly brush against his wrist. The plants flatten themselves against his skin and he could feel how the heavy flowers on top of his head almost seem to want to hide under his hair.

“Can we just drop this?”

“Well, he’s still staring,” Jungkook states.

Yoongi rolls his eyes, watching as Jungkook pulls his dark hoodie over the long strands of black hair covering part of his forehead. Either he has to start putting his hair up in a ponytail soon or he needs to trim it.

But he seems committed to the vampire aesthetic.

‘I’m just too lazy to get a haircut,’ Jungkook says all the time but Yoongi knows better. It’s the aesthetic. And yes, Jungkook does look more like a vampire prince with these long black strands - it gives his look that edge that makes every girl swoon. Too bad he’s not really interested in girls.

What he’s definitely interested in though, is teasing Seokjin. That’s what he does best. Both of them though - you can never catch a break when you’re together with them. Neither of them could pass up a chance of teasing the other or starting to bicker. And at the same time, they almost seem like they’re the closest out of all of them. Despite the huge age difference between them they just get each other.

Jungkook bumps his elbow into Seokjin’s ribs with a mischievous smirk. “And that fae guy is staring at Seokjin too.”

“What?! Really?” The way Seokjin immediately whips his head around, almost falling from his chair just to get a glance at the pretty fae is hilarious.

Yoongi knows the fae was staring before but not now. Jungkook knew that too - he just likes teasing Seokjin. Maybe a little bit more since the human snuck some garlic into Jungkook’s room and made it impossible for the vampire to go in there for the whole day. Jungkook takes his revenge in the form of teasing. And those two never get tired of teasing each other - they might look like adults but they’re overgrown children.

“Don’t get your hopes up,” He the vampire laughs.

“Oh, shut up you wannabe Dracula,” Seokjin pulls at the strings of his hoodie, the hood closes around Jungkook’s head until only his nose pokes out. Yoongi couldn’t stop the laughter from falling from his lips. Amidst the slight chaos that follows - mainly Jungkook yelling - Namjoon reaches over the table. He coles as he boops Jungkook’s nose gently with the tip of his finger.

“I have people at my feet, lining up to date me and I don’t have an ounce of magical being in me,” Seokjin pouts, “I don’t need the fae’s attention.”

And yet, Yoongi saw how Seokjin has been especially interested in the topic of love potions when those were taught in his alchemy class. He’s also not the most subtle when it comes to staring - he might not be as obvious and intense as Taehyung could be but he’s pretty damn close.

“Keep talking and maybe you’ll convince yourself one day,” Namjoon snickers.

His friends really are a weird bunch. Yoongi admits that but they fit together. All of them in their own weird way - they’ve found and completed each other. A spirit, a vampire, a wizard, and an alchemist. Well, an alchemist in training but Seokjin hates it when someone mentions the state of his studies.

The thing is, the human is crazily talented in the field of alchemy even though he doesn’t have a natural advantage that a wizard like Namjoon might have. You don’t need magic running through your veins to become an alchemist but it gives you a certain kind of advantage.

Seokjin doesn’t care about that though.

What he does care about though, is having the last word in any kind of argument.

The human is still arguing with Jungkook. He’s the youngest out of all of them, a wannabe goth vampire. No matter how hot it is outside, Jungkook is never seen without his dark clothes - rotating the same black skinny jeans and sweatpants paired with different variations of black hoodies. If he wears a color it’s mostly a wine like red.

Always dark. (That one time he came to school with an oversized yellow hoodie they all thought it was just a lookalike. Because their Jungkook only likes dark colors, a ton of earrings, boots that already look dangerous - the only color he wears are the vibrant nail polishes he collects.)

Most vampires are very well respected - even feared at times.

The red eyes, long fangs, and thirst for blood are the things that make a lot of other beings uncomfortable. But Jungkook is one of the most harmless guys you will ever meet. He might look big and scary at times but after all, he’s just a softie. Don’t anger him though - then he will take you apart in the blink of an eye. Seriously… just never - get him mad. Never. If you don’t speak badly about his family or his hyungs he’s usually quite soft.

The softest of them all though is Namjoon.

The tall, dimpled wizard is a genius but sometimes forgets about his powers, casting spells on accident. Yoongi will never forget the day Namjoon turned Seokjin’s skin purple and took a few days to figure out how to turn him back. He remembers it clearly - the conversation they had that day.

Seokjin had complained about having to bleach his hair to color it purple and how afraid he was it would get too dry and break. And Namjoon - helpful as always - offered an easy and safe way to permanently dye his hair without damaging it. He said it was an easy spell, nothing to worry about. In the end, everything on Seokjin was purple but his hair.

Yoongi glances back at the table where Taehyung sits with his two friends. He’s never seen the other with anyone but those two but he’s seen how everyone tries to stay out of his way. He has never seen someone go up to Taehyung on their own accord. Taehyung has never talked to him either. He’s a loner. He would probably be by himself all the time if it weren’t for the fae and the siren.

Yoongi understands the fear some people might have. It’s the same fear people might have of other species similar to him. Like Jungkook for example.

But the image of vampires has changed a lot and Jungkook – well, Jungkook is a softie. Everyone knows that, everyone can see that. No one really sees him as a threat when he sips his coconut water. For these instances, he always carries his purple metal straw with him - using it to pretend to be a wizard when he's bored.

No one is scared of Jungkook. Not really. But they're all scared of Taehyung.

As soon as Yoongi’s eyes are on him the other looks away again. Not like he could be sure that Taehyung was even looking at him in the first place, the sunglasses cover his eyes almost all the time. Maybe he never really is looking at him.

That would be awkward then. Here he is, getting flustered about being stared at by Taehyung all the time - or rather thinking he’s being observed while Taehyung hasn’t even looked at him. A shudder runs through his body - that would be so humiliating.

That’s why he doesn't entertain that thought for long.

Yoongi doesn’t look away from Taehyung, he keeps his gaze on him. Just a little bit longer. He often wishes Taehyung would take the glasses off. He wishes he could see him completely.

All of him.

Every little thing.

Because Taehyung - Yoongi clenches his fist and the skin on the back of his hand tingles. Tiny buds grow out of the moss, blossoming quickly into pink flowers. The small blossoms bloom brightly, reflecting the feelings that make his heart skip a beat every time he looks at Taehyung.

Something melts in his chest again, molten gold dripping into the pit of his stomach and warming him up from the inside. The fluttery feeling in his stomach makes him a little dizzy and he involuntarily starts to smile. That happens every time he looks at the younger - every single time and he doesn’t even really know him.

There’s an air of mystery around Taehyung all the time. Something that pulls Yoongi in, something that makes it impossible for him to ignore the burning stares. It intrigues him and he wants - needs to find out more about him. (He just doesn’t have any idea how to approach the other guy.)

Maybe it’s just curiosity but somehow Yoongi knows that it’s something more.

There were many occasions where he wanted to just go up to Taehyung and talk to him. But he never found the actual courage to. Until now, he has always backed out in the last second. So many moments where he almost did it, words already on his tongue but then he swallowed them again despite the bitter taste of disappointment.

The sun hits the visible scales on Taehyung’s arms and neck just right. They reflect the light beautifully but that’s not the only pretty thing.

Taehyung is - he’s just very beautiful. That’s it.

Just - beautiful.

Yoongi wishes he could see all of that beauty.

Taehyung hates Mondays.

Not because it’s the first day of the week. Or because it’s the first day after the break the weekend gives everyone. He hates Mondays because his classes start later than the ones of his friends which means he arrives alone at the campus and he walks alone. He has to face everyone around him on his own.

When he was younger that feeling was easier for him. Alone was his norm until he met Jimin and the siren wormed his way into his heart and life without regrets. Taehyung had taken a long time to realize that Jimin was here to stay, that he wouldn’t leave, that he wasn’t scared. And when Hoseok came too Taehyung was over the moon.

Those two took the loneliness out of his life but now, whenever they aren’t around he feels extra empty.

Being alone though is something he’s usually supposed to be quite used to. But on campus, he’s normally around at least one of his friends. They’re always there. Just being with them makes a lot of things easier for him. It makes him feel a little bit better, distracts him from the stares he gets. And it takes his attention off the people that go out of their way to avoid him.

When he's with his friends he doesn't listen to the whispers, to the comments that are being shared once he passes. He doesn’t notice the fear that spreads wherever he steps and for a little time he could pretend he’s just like everyone else. Just a normal being with his friends. Not a monster that everyone’s afraid of.

Of course, some people don’t believe that he’s actually dangerous.

Until they witness how he accidentally lights something on fire. They might still not be on board with the whole ‘he’s intentionally bad and dangerous’ thing but they see him as a potential threat - because he obviously can’t control his fire all the time.

It's not only that he's dangerous - but he's also weak. Weak for not being able to do what everyone already learns during their childhood. Weak because he can't control his powers. His family members all naturally connected with their dragon, their fire - Taehyung isn’t normal. It’s not normal to not be in tune with your powers. He knows that.

The many appointments Taehyung already had with the head of the university, campus security - he couldn’t count them all. But beings like him have to get used to always being reduced to a potential threat. Beings that are out of the norm. Beings that are different. Beings that should not be trusted with the powers they possess.

That’s the sad reality they have to face every single day.

Taehyung wishes he could be more like his parents or his cousins. They’re all well respected. Some people might still be scared upon meeting them for the first time but they aren’t seen as a real threat.

The rest of his family can control the dragon inside of them.

They’re all able to control their flames but Taehyung isn’t.

Since he burned one of the kids on the playground when he was younger, he hasn’t been able to stop the sudden bursts of fire. Usually, kids learn to control their powers - if they have any - when they get older but Taehyung was never able to. Most of them master them even as children but Taehyung has never felt any real connection to his fire.

He just doesn’t know why.

With a sigh he keeps walking, pressing close to the wall to his right to mostly keep out of the way of everyone. He keeps his gaze low, hoping to reach his class soon.

This sucks.

Sometimes he lays awake at night, staring up at his dark ceiling and wishing he were born human. Or as a fae like Hoseok. Even a siren like Jimin. Anything but a dragon descendant.

He often wishes it wouldn’t live inside of him - the fire, the dragon. He wishes he could just give his powers away, rip out his scales, and live without being seen as a monster. But sadly that’s not possible. No matter how much he wishes for it to be true - to be possible. There’s nothing he could do. There is no way to give his powers up, no way to deny his heritage.

As a kid he often waited at his window, staring up into the sky and hoping for a shooting star. A shooting star that would grant him the wish of being anything but this.

It never happened. But the wish stayed - deeply rooted in his heart. It's mostly hidden but sometimes, yeah, sometimes it comes back and digs its claws into his soul.

His steps get a little bit faster.

He’s late today.

His class is going to start soon and he doesn’t really want to draw any more attention to himself by being late. Bad enough that people stare at him for just being him - he doesn’t need to give them another reason to look back at him. He just wants to quietly slip into the classroom and hope that no one will turn around. That they would all just ignore his presence.

He rounds one of the last corners a little bit too fast. Everything around him seems darker due to the sunglasses on his nose and he wasn't looking where he's going. Not really. But maybe he should have. He definitely should have.

With a yelp he collides with a body slightly smaller than his own - the smell of a whole flower shop invades his senses and his heart sinks.

The person he ran into stumbles back with a small ‘oof’. (An adorable sound but that doesn’t matter at the moment. Taehyung doesn’t even have time to appreciate the sound - panic already running through his veins.)

He doesn’t have to look to know who it is. The smell, the small sound. It already gave it away.

And still, when he opens his eyes and sees flowers over flowers he gasps in surprise. Dread slowly starts to settle in his body, it curls around his legs like the vines that grow around Yoongi. It roots him to the ground, winding around his lungs and squeezing tightly. Stealing his breath. He avoids looking at the other directly, gaze focused on his own hands that play with the sunglasses which got knocked off his nose when they collided.

This is not good.

This isn’t good at all. It’s dangerous territory and Taehyung wants to leave. But his feet stay rooted to the ground - held in place. It's impossible to leave, no matter how much he wants to. Just Yoongi's presence pulls him in.

This is not going to end well, is it?

“Oh sorry,” The forest spirit apologizes.

He apologizes! He does - even though it was Taehyung who almost knocked him off his feet. His eyes catch on the large flowers around the other’s head, building a pretty crown and he watches how the blossoms seem to grow under his gaze. Slightly at least. “I didn’t see you there.”

Well, obviously. How could he if Taehyung literally ran into him?

He shakes his head, glancing down at Yoongi’s eyes but doesn’t dare to look at him for longer than a second. But that second is enough to make his heart race a thousand miles per second. It hammers against his ribs like it wants to break out of them and jump right at Yoongi. Taehyung just hopes it stays inside until this conversation is over.

He forgot his class already.

“No -” He stutters - god, can he be even more awkward? This is not how the conversations he fantasized about usually went. Actually, it was never supposed to be more than a fantasy. “No problem - really.”

Yoongi laughs and - shit. That sound is like music to his ears. This time Taehyung couldn’t help but look up, shyly letting his gaze travel over Yoongi’s face.

The flowers all over his body seem to have lightened up, the colors brighter than ever as they perk up. They move slightly, like a gust of wind is making them dance. Moss slowly spreads over the hand Yoongi uses to cover his mouth. It couldn't cover all of his beautiful smile though. Taehyung swears that there isn’t a more beautiful sight in the whole world than watching how Yoongi laughs. It’s not even the adorable sound that keeps falling from his lips that pulls him in.

It’s everything.

Everything from the way Yoongi’s eyes vanish into crescents to the wide smile that exposes his gums. From the sudden explosion of open blossoms all over his body to the tips of his ears that slightly turn red.

Taehyung loves it all. It makes him forget everything else for a moment. The world stopped spinning just for these short seconds that he watches how happiness lights up the forest spirit’s body. There’s nothing else important at the moment - only Yoongi right in front of him. The sound of his giggles echo in his mind and the smell of flowers - the smell of spring surrounds them like a comforting blanket.

He’s so focused on the way Yoongi’s lips move that he doesn’t even realize words have come out of the other’s mouth. Not until there’s a hand shoved right in front of him. There’s a vine curling around Yoongi’s fingers, flowers sprouting around his thumb like a ring.

“I’m Min Yoongi,” The spirit introduces himself.

No shit, Taehyung thinks. And he doesn’t know if Yoongi is clowning him now or not. It’s not like he would think that Taehyung doesn’t know him, right? Not after he caught him staring so many times - yes, Taehuyng noticed that. Noticed that Yoongi seemed to sense his eyes on him most of the time but that hasn’t stopped him from continuing to look, trying to not be as obvious. No one stares at a stranger all the time - it’s obvious that Taehyung knows who he is. They do share a class as well and it’s not a very big class.

So, why is he introducing himself now?

It’s strange. Taehyung shakes his head slightly, focusing back on the hand in front of his body. Just take it, a voice screams in his mind but he’s frozen. Dread is back in his veins again, rendering him motionless. He doesn’t know if it’s normal to feel like his blood is rushing towards his feet right now - it probably isn’t. The sudden wave of lightheadedness makes his vision swim for a second.

There’s one ivy tendril wrapping around Yoongi’s pointer finger, it moves forwards carefully and extends towards Taehyung as well. As if it wants to reach out to him, touch him even before Yoongi does. It wants to pull him in and Taehyung gulps. His hand is still by his side, fist clenched tightly.

This is his chance. This might be his only chance to ever talk to Yoongi and he is not going to screw this up. So far, everything has been going well.

He holds onto these words like they’re a lifeline. He keeps repeating them over and over again. Like a mantra. It’s going to be okay. Everything is going to be okay. Yoongi hasn’t run away yet. He hasn’t screamed in fear upon running into him. There was just a flicker of shock on his face but only because they literally ran into each other. He doesn’t look scared right now.

That’s what he has to concentrate on right now. Nothing else.

His heart skips a beat and he could feel the fire in his chest roaring to life. It’s nothing uncommon though. Every time something makes him react strongly, the fire intensifies. It feels like lava is running through his veins instead of blood. It drips down his chest, gathers in his lungs and he finds it hard to breathe normally. His hands shake slightly, sweat breaking out on his back and he hopes that his panic isn’t too obvious. He draws in a shuddering breath, keeping the heat inside. Trying to calm the flames in his chest.

He can do this. He totally can.

“Kim,” He stutters, forcing his hand to cooperate and reach for Yoongi’s. Gosh - he’s a failure. He can’t even shake someone’s hand properly. “Kim Taehyung.”

The ivy brushes against the back of his hand, wrapping around his thumb and his heart stops when he feels the warmth of Yoongi’s skin against his own. For a second, he feels nothing but joy. Euphoria exploding in his chest as he watches how his hand fits against Yoongi’s.

And that’s where it all goes downhill.

Just as he closes his hand around Yoongi’s. That’s when it happens. The moment couldn’t have lasted for longer than a second but it felt like an eternity. Time slows down around them and it feels like everything’s happening in slow motion. Taehyung’s skin prickles and horror leaves him breathless even before the fire materializes.

As if they appear out of thin air, orange flames lick against his skin, breaking out of his pores in the blink of an eye. Without being able to do anything he watches how the flames engulf Yoongi’s hand as well. They lick against his skin, catch on the moss and flowers on the back of his hand. The smell of burnt plants hangs in the air. The ivy tendril that has reached out to his hand recoils but it’s too late.

The flames are already burning it to ashes.

Yoongi drops his hand with a pained cry and the whole world crashes down around Taehyung. It breaks apart, tearing everything down and tears are already making his vision blurry. He couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. The sound that left Yoongi’s lips – the broken cry of pain rips right through Taehyung’s chest. It pierces through his heart with the intent to destroy him. The whole world stands still for a few seconds and the sound claws his chest open.

The pain as the realization of what just happened hits him is enough to make him dizzy, to make him want to throw up. Taehyung could do nothing but stand there. Frozen in place as dread and horror dig their teeth into his flesh. Flames still dance around his own fingers as he stares down at Yoongi who has sunken to the floor, cradling his burnt hand to his chest as he tries to save the flowers that have already caught fire.

When Yoongi glances up at him Taehyung sees the tears running down his cheeks. They glisten on his cheeks, a million stars that fall down his eyes. But the tears aren’t what tears him to pieces. He sees the fear on his face. The horror. The expression he's used to seeing on others. Fuck. He can’t do this. He really can’t. He’s going to throw up.

“I’m so sorry,” He gasps and his own lips tremble. His vision glazes over and he couldn’t bear looking at Yoongi a second longer. Without waiting for a reply, without waiting for anything else he turns around and runs. Runs as fast as his feet could carry him.

With each step the guilt weighs heavier on his chest, taking away the air to breathe. It’s not only the guilt of having hurt Yoongi, but it’s also the guilt of leaving him like this. He should have made sure that he’s okay - no. Stupid. He obviously isn’t fine. And it’s Taehyung’s fault.

It’s his fault.

But the guilt that’s already tearing his insides apart is nothing against having to endure Yoongi’s teary eyes. Knowing that he’s scared of him - just like everyone else. Taehyung could see it in his mind. The image is burned into it forever now. He sees the expression on Yoongi’s face, sees how the pain washes over his face. Then comes the fear. A mix of pain and fear as he stares up at Taehyung as if he would hurt him again.

As if he’d done this on purpose.

As if Taehyung would be able to hurt him on purpose.

It tears his heart apart.

He almost trips over his feet as he finally reaches the exit of the building. Out in the open, he lets the tears freely run down his cheeks. With shaking hands he puts his glasses back on and tries to hide his face as he curls up against the brick wall.

This is all his fault.

He hurt Yoongi.

He hurt him.

Taehyung wishes the image would leave his head, wishes he could instantly forget the expression on Yoongi’s face. Maybe he wishes he could go back in time, wishes he could undo everything that happened. But none of his wishes have ever come true - wishes don’t get granted for monsters.

His heart stutters in his chest as he chokes on another sob. Seeing the person you love with your whole heart look at you like you’re a monster hurts more than anything else ever could. Through his haze of tears, he looks down at his hand, the hand that held Yoongi’s for a second. There, still slightly wrapped around his thumb, is part of the ivy tendril. It must have gotten torn and Taehyung barely suppresses another sob as he stares at the dead plant.

It’s not green anymore, barely holding itself together. The leaves are nothing more than ashes and the rest of it doesn’t look good either.

He did that. It was all him.

Maybe they’re all right and he really is a monster. The tears taste salty on his tongue and the pain in his chest intensifies at the thought.

A monster.

It seems like everyone around him is right after all. It was stupid of him - stupid to believe that they weren’t saying the truth all this time. He really is nothing more than a monster. Only a monster could hurt someone as soft and precious as Yoongi. Someone who only showed him kindness - someone he loves.

With shaking fingers he manages to get his phone. It doesn’t take more than two rings for the other person to pick up the call.

“Hey, Tae - don’t you have class right now?” Jimin’s voice sounds far away, it barely gets through the cotton over his ears. The blood rushing in his ears is almost louder than everything else. But maybe it’s also the crushing weight that makes everything around him irrelevant.

“Can you get me please?” He cries, stumbling over his own words. “Please - I really - just come, please. I’m in front of the science building.”

He doesn’t hear what Jimin’s saying next. He doesn’t care either. Sobs shake his body as he sits there, pressed against the wall while tears continuously roll down his cheeks. His phone is still pressed against his ears, he could hear Jimin’s gentle voice trying to calm him but he doesn’t understand the words.

Why did he get these powers? Why couldn't he have been born as something else? Something less dangerous? And to think that he ever dared to fantasize about having a chance with Yoongi...

It would be a miracle if he wouldn’t get suspended right now - maybe he’d even get expelled? Okay, that might be a little crass because he really didn’t mean to burn the other. (He believes in Yoongi’s kindness because he’s sure a lot of other people would instantly throw him under the bus, would claim he did do it on purpose. He doubts Yoongi would do that - the pained expression of the spirit flashes through his mind again… Maybe the other would still do that though.)

There’s gotta be consequences. Especially, because he just left him there. He hurt him and then left him – just because he felt like he would fall apart if he had to see the fear on his face for a second longer.

Ah.

He really did it.

He hurt him.

And that is going to haunt him forever.

When he was a little kid Yoongi accidentally spilled almost boiling water over his lap.

It burned his skin pretty bad, left him in aching pain for a week. He remembers the stinging sensation, the redness, and piercing pain that didn’t let him sleep. He didn’t take long-term damage (luckily) - it was nothing more than a minor burn. And it still felt like hell. Felt like someone ripped his skin right off his flesh.

Back then he thought this was one of the most painful things he would ever experience.

But he’d been wrong.

Yoongi knows about burns.

He’s heard Seokjin talk about the treatment of different kinds of burns when they covered this field in his alchemy class. And he’s been very annoyed with the topic. To be honest, he’s often annoyed when the human just starts talking to himself about all the things he has to remember and do. Sometimes Seokjin just talks, talks, and talks. But he knows it helps the human when he hears himself talk so Yoongi never says anything.

Yoongi likes silence a lot and Seokjin gets that most of the time. But when he’s anxious - he never shuts up. Yoongi understands that, so he keeps his annoyance to himself. It’s something he can ignore easily, tuning out noises around him has easily become a habit for him. But sometimes he remembers bits and pieces and this time - yeah, this time this knowledge that Yoongi didn’t want to hear could be his saving grace.

Because there is no way he’s going to the nurse, not if Seokjin could help him as well. He’d do anything to try and not get Taehyung in trouble for this. For something that must have been an accident.

Tears still pool in his eyes as he stands in one of the university’s restrooms. Cold water runs down his burning skin but it doesn’t soothe the pain as much as he would like it to. It hurts even more but the slight comfort of the cold water makes it impossible for him to stop this. Under the running water, he could see the bright redness of his skin. The parts on his hand where Taehyung’s fingertips touched him hurt the most - they are the most affected area of the burns.

As he ran towards the bathroom the pain was almost unbearable. The air movement, the slightest difference in temperature around his hand made him want to cry out. A thousand needles pierce through his skin with every movement of his hand. It’s overwhelming - almost stealing his breath away.

When he ran into Taehyung he didn’t expect this to be the outcome.

He doesn’t know what he expected but it definitely wasn’t this.

A quiet sob falls from his lips when he accidentally touches one of the few blisters that started to grow on his hand. They popped up in the areas where Taehyung pressed his fingers into his skin. He could still feel the heat - the burning sensation. The plants all over his body are tightly pressed against his skin, as far away from his burnt hand as possible.

The smell of it. It still sits in his nose. The smell of burnt flesh and ashes. It has something sweet to it.

Disturbingly.

The sweet but biting scent of burning flowers and flesh.

All Yoongi wanted to do was talk to him. That’s it. That’s what he’s been too shy to do for a long time now, choosing to stare from a distance instead. Returning Taehyung’s insistent stares but having the younger look away every single time. But running into him - literally running into him - felt like a push of fate. Like it said, Yoongi, go and do what you’ve been wanting to do.

So, he took his chance.

He took his chance and it didn’t even feel bad at first. It was the first time he saw Taehyung’s face without sunglasses from this close. A few seconds, that’s how much time he needed to decide that he loves him without the glasses the most. Just a few seconds and he found a thousand reasons for him to show his face because -

Because it’s gorgeous.

Every mole perfectly placed on his skin, the small blemishes here and there sprinkled to complete the image. Carefully crafted so that he looks even more real - they somehow add to his beauty and Yoongi couldn’t explain how or why.

They just do.

Especially the scales. Even though he wouldn’t exactly call them blemishes. Yoongi is thankful that Taehyung hasn’t looked at his face a lot and mostly kept his gaze down. It made things way easier for him. Because if Taehyung would have looked at him he would just find Yoongi intensely staring at his face.

That would have been awkward - and embarrassing.

While he had been watching him, his fingers twitched with the want to touch the red scales bleeding into Taehyung’s skin. They seemingly seamlessly blend into his skin and Yoongi just wants to touch them once. One single time. They fascinated him. The way light reflected off their smooth surface, sharp edges but somehow soft looking at the same time. Yoongi doesn’t get it - he wants to touch them. So bad.

He imagines how they would feel against his fingertips. Rough? Sleek? Cold? Would they be sharp? Sharp edges that would cut into the tips of his fingers? Or are they more like leather? Smooth to the touch. Are they hard like armor or light like the scales of a snake?

And the eye - the eye Taehyung keeps hidden. It seemed to convey even more emotion than his human one could. A green iris and a slit pupil that couldn’t stay focused on one thing for more than a second. It flickers from one place to another.

Beautiful. Taehyung is beautiful and fascinating.

With his free hand, he brushes the tears off his cheek - his hand burns but he knows the injuries wouldn’t actually be that bad. The blisters are the worst thing that happened. He got lucky. Lucky because Taehyung’s fire could have done way more damage than it actually did. It still hurts, hurts so bad.

Yoongi doesn’t know why it happened. But at the same time, Taehyung probably doesn’t know it either. At least judging from all the other stuff the other accidentally set on fire - Yoongi doubts Taehyung wanted to hurt him intentionally.

That wouldn't be possible.

Not at all. He might not know Taehyung that well (or at all, his mind supplies) but he’s sure the other wouldn’t be capable of intentionally hurting anyone. Not like this. But during the moment it happened - when the flames engulfed his hand and pierced through his skin - right there, Yoongi couldn’t think about that. Those seconds where it felt like his skin was getting peeled off his hand, where he felt the pain shooting up his arm as the plants burned to ashes… In those seconds, Yoongi really was scared.

He didn’t feel anything but fear and pain.

In these seconds, he was really scared of Taehyung. Terrified even. For a few seconds, he couldn’t think rationally and was scared the other would hurt him again. Now, that it’s over and he has the time and mental capacity to think rationally about it all, he knows that Taehyung couldn’t have done it on purpose. But back then, he was scared of him. He was so scared.

And he wishes he wasn’t.

Because he remembers the exact moment, Taehyung saw the fear on his face.

He saw how his eyes glazed over, how his lips trembled and he saw the expression - seeing that almost hurt more than his hand at that moment. But he couldn’t do anything. He watched how Taehyung broke apart right in front of him and he couldn’t do anything because he knew the other would drown in the crushing guilt of unintentionally hurting him. He wishes he could have told him that everything would be fine but Taehyung...

Taehyung ran away.

Yoongi huffs, he would have probably done the same thing if he were in that situation.

Carefully, he pulls his hand out from under the cold water. Immediately pain shoots up his arm, bringing fresh tears back to his eyes. Every tiny movement of his fingers hurt. The sensitive skin of the inside of his hand burns the most and he tries to keep still as much as possible. The pain is so bad that his whole hand clamps up and he couldn’t move it anymore. He tries to breathe through the pain but he couldn’t stop the tiny whimper falling from his lips.

“Shit - Yoongi,” Seokjin’s sudden voice startles him and he almost closes his hand on reflex. He couldn’t though - not only because of the pain. His skin feels a little like leather making his hand too stiff to move it normally. It feels like someone forced his hand in a glove of acid that’s way too tight, hindering him to move his fingers freely and burning with every move he makes.

His eyes immediately fall on the vial Seokjin holds between his fingers. It’s the tincture he asked the other to bring. Seokjin isn’t focusing on that though - his eyes are still set on Yoongi’s obviously injured hand.

“You should let the nurse see that,” He shakes his head in disbelief, carefully reaching out to examine the damage, “I thought you meant a tiny burn but this is -”

“Not that bad,” Yoongi interrupts him because he knows it’s not. Those are all minor burns - the only thing that might throw Seokjin off is that it’s his whole hand that’s affected and not just a small part. The blisters are the worst thing - it would be okay. It’s not too bad. It’s not.

“You can help me, right?” He still asks.

“I mean, yes,” Seokjin sighs before maneuvering him into one of the stalls. There’s something on his face that Yoongi doesn’t understand - something strained. They sit down in their makeshift privacy (away from prying eyes that could interrupt them) and Seokjin gets out a few bandages and cotton pads.

Yoongi tries not to think about the pain when Seokjin carefully dabs the tincture all over his skin but it’s almost impossible with the heightened burning the liquid induces. He hisses, a tear rolling down his cheek again as he resists the urge to tear his hand out of the other’s grasp. “Just wait a little,” The human whispers into the silence that only gets interrupted by Yoongi’s pained whimpers.

At least the other stays true to his words and it doesn’t take very long until a cooling sensation spreads over his skin. Where the tincture has already soaked his skin it feels like ice is slowly freezing over his hand and the throbbing pain instantly starts to lessen. The relief flooding his body doesn’t last too long.

With his focus off his skin, Yoongi turns his attention towards the plants that used to grow right there. A little bit of moss is still left, clinging onto his skin. But the rest is almost completely gone - burned to ashes. His fingers tremble a little as he gently rips the dead flower stems out of his skin and a lonely tear rolls down his cheek.

His plants are a part of him.

Or to say it better, he is a part of the plants. Of nature. They’re alive on his body, connected to him in more ways than one. That’s why he could feel the pain of them too. That’s why he felt the overwhelming pain, the agony of them as Taehyung’s fire burned them to ashes. And even now - he rips dead parts of himself away. The plants that remain, he could feel them mourn as they slowly… very slowly reach out towards his injured hands

He could feel how the vines carefully move towards the burns, leaves gently, carefully brushing over the injuries. It’s so light that he doesn’t even feel it over the icy sensation of Seokjin’s tincture.

“How the hell did this even happen?” Seokjin asks as he starts wrapping the bandage around the wounds.

Yoongi hisses before relaxing back against the wall of the stall. Seokjin’s tincture hopefully makes his hand heal in no time - just a few days and he would be good to go. At least that’s what the human told him. A few days and some scars. For now, he has to endure the burning pain though - waiting for the tincture to work completely. Just waiting, that’s what he has to do.

And explain himself, apparently. “It was…” He couldn’t bring himself to say it yet.

Even though it’s obvious.

He knows what would happen if he told everyone it was Taehyung who burned him. They would fear him even more. He’d probably be suspended. That’s not what he wants. All he wants is to talk to him again - to tell him that he’s fine. That he isn’t angry. That he isn’t that hurt after all and that he knows that it wasn’t on purpose.

But what he wants to tell him the most is that he isn’t scared. He isn’t.

He is not scared of Taehyung even after all of this. He couldn’t be. No way.

“What - it was what?” Seokjin keeps pushing and there is that expression again. Eyebrows pinched together, lips set in a thin line. But Yoongi trusts him. His friend certainly wouldn’t tell anyone, right?

Yoongi sighs, closing his eyes as if that would make his words less heavy. “The question should be who.”

“Someone set you on fire?” The disbelief is clear in his exclamation and Yoongi winces. That’s not - it kinda is what happened but then it isn’t. No one set him on fire intentionally. It was an accident. Just an accident.

"No -,” He quickly tries to clear things up, “It was - Taehyung.”

“Taehyung?!”

“I - fuck, warn me,” Yoongi hisses as Seokjin pulls the bandage tighter around the blisters on his skin, “I just said ‘hi’ to him and Taehyung, his hand just caught fire. It was an accident.”

The skeptical expression on the human’s face is definitely understandable. Yoongi couldn’t blame him for his confusion and disbelief. But there is the sharpness in his eyes again - something angry maybe. “It just caught fire?” He asks.

“Yes, he took my hand and it suddenly lit up. Just like that.”

Seokjin hums, finishing up the bandage and tying it at his wrist. “Well, we know that Taehyung is a dragon descendant, right?”

Yoongi nods. “He sets things on fire accidentally all the time, right? So, that’s what probably happened… Did he just leave you like that - after he burned you?”

“Not really,” Yoongi mumbles. He remembers the pain on Taehyung’s face, the tears in his eyes like he’d been the one that got hurt. And maybe he was. Deep inside, it was him who got hurt. Yoongi got burned but the thing that hurt Taehyung went way deeper than a few flames ever could.

He couldn’t see inside of him, couldn’t read his mind but Yoongi has been watching him for a long time now. And he sees the pain on Taehyung’s face a lot of times. The fear he saw in Yoongi’s eyes while he looked up at him - that was what hurt him.

Being feared.

Of course, he couldn’t be completely sure about that but he has his suspicions.

No one wants to be feared for what they can’t control. No one deserves to be feared just because they belong to a species that seems far more dangerous than others. But that’s the sad reality they live in.

Yoongi would never be able to understand what Taehyung has to deal with every day but that doesn’t stop him from wanting to make the other feel better. If he could just show him that not everyone is scared of him. That he isn’t scared of him…

He sighs.

Being a dragon that couldn’t control his fire makes it easy for everyone to be scared of you. During the first few seconds they met, Yoongi dares to say that he saw a little bit of relief in Taehyung’s eyes when he treated him like he would treat everyone else. Like Taehyung is normal - not anyone to be afraid of.

Because Yoongi really isn’t scared of him. Just - the fire overwhelmed him. And at that moment, he had been scared.

Just for a few seconds.

And those seemed to have broken Taehyung.

Seokjin is still waiting for him to elaborate and with a final sigh, Yoongi does just that. He stares at the human, sees the way his eyes darken as he explains the whole story.

“He apologized and then ran away.” He looked like he was crying, Yoongi adds in his head.

“That’s pretty rude,” The human says slowly as if he’s testing the waters - gauging Yoongi’s reaction to his words. But the expression on his face isn’t as careful as his words. It’s dark.

It’s like he knows Yoongi isn’t blaming Taehyung for anything, isn’t mad at him at all. And that’s why he doesn’t say what he‘s really thinking. Yoongi could see it in his eyes. Seokjin does blame Taehyung - maybe not completely but he is mad about the whole thing. “He burned you, he should have made sure that you’re fine.”

“It’s okay,” He shrugs, knowing that it normally isn’t.

But this is Taehyung they're talking about.

And he knows the other couldn’t stay, couldn’t help. He saw the pain in his eyes, the horror on his face - he saw the guilt wrapping around the other’s neck like a noose ready to strangle him. Yoongi doesn’t have to blame Taehyung because the other is already blaming himself enough.

“It’s just a small wound."

“It’s a burn,” Seokjin insists a little harshly, “And it’s not just a small one - he should have taken you to the nurse.”

“Well, it’s just my luck that I know an alchemist who specializes in healing, right?” Yoongi smiles up at the human. Chuckling slightly when Seokjin just rolls his eyes at him.

With a huff he gets off the floor, offering the vial to Yoongi. “Put that on for at least the next few days, yeah? I will help you change the bandage for now.”

Yoongi nods, closing his hand around the cold glass. Their conversation isn’t even over yet but his thoughts are already filled with red scales and green eyes. He knows that Taehyung would probably avoid him like the plague now.

That doesn’t stop him from wanting to talk to him again.

He has to tell him.

Yoongi has to show him that he’s not afraid of him.

Taehyung expected it but it still felt like a punch to the gut when he got suspended. The news arrived just two days later - to be honest, he even expected to be faced with the dean sooner. And with a punishment that was way harder than just being suspended. He caused so much trouble already - he thought this might be the thing that would get himself expelled.

It wasn’t the first time he sat in this office.

It’s still stuffy in there, bookshelves lining the walls and barely any light falling through the window. The few rays of sunshine that do make it in just barely manage to crawl past the thick curtains. Taehyung sat on the same creaking leather armchair he did so many times before, heart hammering somewhere in his throat as he avoided the heavy gaze of the satyr in front of him.

“You know I try to help you as best as I can, right?” The dean had asked and Taehyung nodded.

He knew. He knew that.

Contrary to almost everyone else that finds out that Taehyung isn’t able to control his fire the dean of his university has always tried to support him the most. Right from the start even. The satyr had never treated him differently. They saw each other a lot - every time Taehyung accidentally set something on fire and damaged the property of the university. That’s when he has to go and see the dean. And, despite satyrs not really being seen as dangerous or threatening, the older man has been one of the only people who could understand where he’s coming from at least a little.

A lot of people are scared of the dean. Not only because he’s pretty strict - it’s his appearance as well. Even Taehyung gulped the first time he walked into the office - instantly chilled by the whole atmosphere too.

Satyrs are often very gentle people, always a smile on their lips but the dean always looked very grim. Dark eyes that pierced through your soul and the horns that grow right above his forehead curl so far that the sharp tips end next to his mouth. He’s got long dark hair and a bushy beard that frames his face that’s always set in a frown. His giant build also intimidates a lot of people. They go out of his way, afraid to interact with him.

But Taehyung had been more afraid of being expelled than of the man when he came here for the first time.

Luckily, the other seemed to have a soft spot for him, always trying to make everything a little easier for Taehyung. This is the first time he actually got suspended. Before, he only had to pay for the damage he did - it was never intentional. The satyr believed him even when most of the others didn’t. Without him, his life at university would have been way more complicated and probably already over too.

“I’m sorry,” The man had apologized and Taehyung felt like crying once more. “This time I can’t do anything for you. You hurt another student - even if it wasn’t on purpose.” Taehyung had nodded slowly, images of Yoongi’s teary eyes flashing in his mind, his cry of pain echoing in his head.

“You are lucky that Min Yoongi didn’t want to report you –“ Taehyung had perked up with disbelief. It couldn’t be… why would Yoongi… He’s too nice. Too nice for his own good. That’s it. “I heard about the incident from other students. Min Yoongi could have even pressed charges against you but he didn’t want you to get punished at all.”

That couldn’t be true.

Taehyung heard the man loud and clear but even now - days later, he still couldn’t believe what the other had said.

He doesn’t get it.

Doesn’t understand why Yoongi wouldn’t report him. What he did wasn’t something minor – even if the injury might not be too bad, it’s still strictly forbidden to hurt another being with your powers. Even if it was an accident – Taehyung is getting away so lucky. And it’s only because the harmed person doesn’t want to get him punished.

He doesn’t get it.

Days later – and he still couldn’t think of a reason why Yoongi, someone he’s not close to, someone who doesn’t even know him, would protect him like this. The only explanation could be that he’s too nice. Way too nice. A kindness that Taehyung doesn’t deserve.

“I still can’t look over the issue - you’re suspended for the next week.”

Taehyung understood the suspension. Of course, he did.

And he spent the following week holed up in his room, crying more often than not and refusing to talk to his parents or anyone else. He knows they’re worried about him - his friends are too - but he just couldn’t talk to any of them. The simple thought of it makes him want to throw up. He couldn’t talk to them.

Not when none of them would even understand a tiny bit of what he’s going through.

No one in his family ever hurt anyone. He knows of no one who doesn’t have their fire under control. But there’s always the odd one out - every family has one.

And Taehyung is the one in his.

The only one who isn’t one with their dragon - the only one who couldn’t control the fire burning inside of them. The only one who ever hurt another being. It’s hard - it’s a weight that constantly pushes down on him. The knowledge that he’s a failure, that he isn’t normal - isn’t really a part of his own family - that tears him down. It weighs heavy on his shoulders and his heart, it makes it hard to breathe for him.

He pulls his jacket tighter around the middle of his body. Keeping his head low as he sets foot on campus for the first time since he’s been suspended. As much as he tries to hide and avoid people there are two who he can never escape from. (Not that he really wanted to.)

“You’re an idiot!” Taehyung flinches when there’s a weight jumping on his back. He stumbles a bit but couldn’t hold the smile back when he recognizes the familiar voice of Hoseok right next to his ear. Fragile wings brush against his cheek.

A stark contrast to the gentle caress of the wing is the sharp pain shooting up his arm when Jimin pinches him before even saying anything. “You know I hate it when you ignore me,” The siren whines and then - finally - hugs him. He knows Jimin said it with a joking undertone but he saw the worry in his eyes. Guilt eats away at him because he knows how much he worries his friends when he decides to push them away, decides to isolate himself again.

It’s not like he doesn’t like them, or doesn’t trust them - he just needs time to himself sometimes. Sometimes he needs to be alone because no one could really understand him apart from himself. But he missed them so much. Trapped between his best friends Taehyung feels a little lighter already. A little bit better. Less scared and -

Oh shit. His heart stops when he spots the tall guy walking around a corner.

That’s the wizard Yoongi is always with and right next to him is this kid always dressed in black. His eyes immediately scan the area around them, spotting the other tall guy that’s always staring at Hoseok.

Where those three are, Yoongi isn’t far.

He is not going to face him first thing in the morning. If he has any say in this, he’d like to never face him ever again. And that’s why he unceremoniously pulls his friends with him as he flees.

He ignores Jimin’s protests as he forces his friends to hide with him behind a group of tall bushes. With a pounding heart, he observes the three guys conversing among themselves and it doesn’t take more than a few seconds until the vampire suddenly perks up. Taehyung’s heart stutters in his chest when he sees him. He doesn’t even hear Jimin’s hisses near his ear. Yoongi has his full attention.

Like always. The forest spirit draws him in, demanding his full attention.

It’s been a week since he saw him the last time but it doesn’t feel like it’s been that long. The image of the other’s scared face is burned into his mind. It comes up every time he closes his eyes, guilt eating away at him with every single beat of his heart. It gets driven deeper in his chest like a knife that’s slowly killing him with each passing second.

The spirit looks like he remembers him. A million flowers are blooming on him but they somehow don’t look as bright as they usually do. The blossoms are all tinted in dark colors, deep reds, purples, and black roses around his head. The plants look less… less lively than usual? But Yoongi still looks - good.

Who is he kidding? The other always looks good.

“You know you can’t run away from him forever,” Hoseok whispers on the other side of him.

Taehyung huffs, eyes still on Yoongi’s form. “I can try.”

The other is standing so that he couldn’t see his hand. The hand he injured. He’s not sure if he actually wants to see it though. Maybe that would only make the guilt weigh heavier. But that might be what he deserves. He deserves to be hurt after burning Yoongi, deserves to be seen as a monster by everyone.

So, he’s decided it right now - he’s never going to speak to Min Yoongi ever again. He couldn’t. No way. He doesn’t deserve it either. As if reading his mind - or maybe just as a continuation to their previous conversation - Jimin pinches him again. “And that’s why you’ll die alone,” He hisses.

Taehyung grimaces as he faces him. “Aren’t you supposed to be my best friend?”

“That just means I’m brutally honest with you,” Jimin shrugs, leaning back on his feet.

“Emphasis on ‘brutally’,” Hoseok adds with a snicker.

Yoongi and his friends are finally leaving, walking out of their sight but Taehyung stays crouched down a little longer. The forest spirit is gone now, vanished behind a door but Taehyung is still staring as if he’s going to suddenly pop up there again. He sighs. He’s really pathetic.

Guilt eats him up like a sickness that’s slowly crawling in. Poisoning his insides step by step. And it’s not only the guilt of actually doing it - hurting him. It’s also the way he left him. He knows it was wrong. He knows he should have checked up on him, should have made sure that he’s alright. Anything could have happened. He should have had the decency to take responsibility for his mistakes.

But he couldn’t. He really couldn’t.

If it were anyone else – maybe he’d been able to do it. Maybe he’d been able to stay, to apologize properly, to take them to the nurse. But this was Yoongi.

Min Yoongi.

And the scared expression on his face keeps him up at night. Taehyung already dreads his next class with the elder. Dreads those long minutes that they would have to spend in the same room. He’s scared of it. Scared to face the forest spirit. Scared to see the other’s face, to see the same expression everyone else always wears around him.

Monsters are always feared.

Of course, everyone’s always against discrimination against certain species. You don’t choose what you’re born with and just because you belong to a certain species doesn’t always mean you’re dangerous or a ‘bad’ person. But stereotypes always remain – prejudice, no matter how small it is, will always be there.

Monsters stay monsters and monsters are feared. That’s how it is and how it’ll always be.

Some species are worshipped for their powers and some are feared. Taehyung belongs to the latter.

Yoongi loves how Jungkook is such a soft person but also so very dedicated to his gothic vampire aesthetic. It’s very apparent in his room. Thick, black curtains keep the sun out at all times of the day, grey walls making the room seem smaller than it is. Dark really is the prevalent color scheme in here. Dark furniture, dark clothes strewn around and the black fluffy carpet Yoongi absolutely loves to bury his toes in.

But despite the darkness that swallows you as soon as you enter the room Jungkook’s soft side peeks through here and there. It’s in the anime figurines that seem randomly placed around the room, colorful specks in such a monochrome room. In the far left corner, Jungkook has his art supplies stacked up, colorful paints, and canvases filled with a million different things on top of each other. And of course, there’s the shelf covering a whole wall and filled with different types of perfumes.

It’s quite the collection.

Namjoon enters the room after Yoongi and glances at the shelf for nothing more than a second before he shakes his head with a sigh. “You have an addiction.”

“I just love to smell good,” Jungkook argues with a pout, pushing past them quickly to throw himself into his unmade bed. His form gets swallowed by the millions of black pillows and surprisingly a few stuffed animals he still keeps there. But - to keep the vampire aesthetic - they’re all various types of bats.

He peeks up behind his blanket, doe eyes sparkling in the colorful, changing lights of the LED’s he has taped to the ceiling of his room. “You know I have a sensitive nose,” He pouts. His fangs peek out slightly.

“You’re pretty sensitive apart from that as well,” Namjoon chuckles, setting his things down on the floor.

Jungkook just sticks his tongue out. The other does seem pretty tough, the whole dark aesthetic and countless trips to the gym leave Jungkook looking a little - well, tough? Scary? But one look in his doe eyes and you know he would never hurt a fly.

“Would you two stop flirting?” Yoongi says, rolling his eyes as he wriggles his feet, trying to get his socks off so he could bury his toes in the fluffy carpet. His fingers are already holding onto the softness, the vines curling around his arms extending to bury themselves in the carpet as well.

Both of his friends tense for a second as Yoongi’s words leave his tongue. It’s funny - Jungkook’s eyes just go impossibly wider while Namjoon starts to blush. A red shade dusting over his nose first and then spreading to his cheeks.

“We aren’t flirting,” Namjoon coughs, hiding his face behind the textbook he just got out of his bag. Yoongi shakes his head, eyes traveling towards Jungkook who has also started to blush slightly. His hands are clenched around the blanket, bottom lip stuck between his teeth and he blinks very fast, large eyes focused on anything but the other two people in the room.

Yoongi almost sighs again. If Namjoon wouldn’t be so dense then he wouldn’t have to sit through these awkward moments all the time. It’s obvious that those two have some kind of - thing. He doesn’t know what to call it but it is something.

But with Namjoon never acknowledging it - well, hope seems to be lost for them. Namjoon is usually so very smart but when it comes to his own emotions then… well… Yoongi focuses on his own school stuff he brought over. This is supposed to be a study session after all.

“Seokjin’s still busy?” He asks, breaking the slightly awkward silence around them.

“Yeah,” Namjoon nods, “He’s busy with his alchemy test that’s coming up and says we won’t end up studying anyway so he’d rather do it alone -” That’s true and rude at the same time. But Yoongi knows the other is right. They always manage to stray from the topic of studying after an hour or so. “- But don’t ask him about his test or he’ll freak. He’s really anxious.”

“No, I won’t,” Yoongi laughs, flinching slightly when Jungkook suddenly appears right next to him. It’s always a little scary, the way the vampire can pop up anywhere like he just materialized out of thin air. Jungkook moves so silently and effortlessly that he startles them on a daily basis.

“He told me I should change your bandages today though,” He says right next to him and Yoongi’s eyes immediately fall on his bandaged hand.

It’s only been like a day since he got burned. Almost two days now. Seokjin changed the bandage for him yesterday and Yoongi wanted to do it himself today - he’s more than capable of doing it. He flexes his hand slightly, biting back a hiss when it starts to burn, the prickly feeling of a thousand needles on his skin washing over his hand.

“I can do that myself,” He says, snatching his hand out of Jungkook’s grip. But the younger is insistent, reaching for his wrist again with a determined expression on his face.

“He said I should do it because he told me how to do it properly.”

“So, he doesn’t trust me to do it on my own?” Yoongi chuckles, twisting his wrist out of Jungkook’s grips as he turns away from him. A pang of irritation runs through him. Seokjin might be older than him but that doesn’t mean he has to baby him all the time. It’s bad enough that Jin is a very protective friend but sometimes he overdoes it. “Typical. And then he asks you - no offense - as if you’re the most responsible of us.”

Yoongi doesn’t even notice the way Jungkook’s face falls before the younger composes himself again, leaving the vial he had for Yoongi’s hand on the carpet next to him as he turns away. Slightly trembling fingers rummaging through his things as if he’s actually looking for something and doesn’t try to hide the way his eyes have turned glassy.

Ah. Maybe the last part was a bit harsh. They said it before - Jungkook is a very sensitive and emotional person. He always takes everything to the heart. Way too easily and way too quickly. He’s soft.

“That wasn’t very nice,” Namjoon speaks up and when Yoongi glances at him he has that disapproving look in his eyes that makes him shrink a little. It’s his ‘you better apologize to my Koo right now’ look. Jungkook has a similar look when anyone says something bad about Namjoon. But his is more like an ‘I will hunt you down and haunt even your grandkids if you don’t apologize to my Namu-hyung this instant’ look. Namjoon looks disapproving while Jungkook looks like he’s going to tear your head right off.

But both of them basically say the same thing. “Just because he’s the youngest doesn’t mean you can be mean to him.”

“I wasn’t - Kook,” Yoongi turns around to face the younger, “Was I mean to you?”

He only sees his back, slightly shaking shoulders and a quiet sniff. “A little…” The younger admits quietly, curling in on himself.

Oh.

Sometimes Yoongi says stuff without thinking. Everyone does. But Jungkook takes something like that very seriously - the only person who can actually joke with him about everything is Seokjin. The human has the weird talent to never accidentally say something that makes Jungkook sad.

Yoongi carefully shuffles closer to the vampire, letting his hands rub over his shoulder blades before he engulfs him in a back hug. His plants gently wrap around the younger as well. “I’m sorry,” Yoongi whispers into his hair. It faintly smells of coconut and Yoongi wonders if the younger put coconut oil into it again - probably. “I didn’t mean to snap at you. I know you’re sensitive about the age stuff…”

The vampire turns in his arms, wiping over his eyes before he smiles brightly at Yoongi. It’s really one of the most adorable sights that exist on planet earth. His eyes always seem to smile before the rest of his face follows, a sparkle in them as he exposes his bunny teeth and long fangs right next to them.

Without resisting Yoongi lets the vampire change his bandage this time. Hissing in pain as the cloth clings a little too the hurt skin. It’s still fiery red, a little wet, and prickles with every move of his hand but Seokjin’s tincture really helps to numb the pain. As soon as the cooling drops fall on his skin Yoongi sighs in bliss.

It’s almost instant relief and he’s forever thankful for the fact that Seokjin does specialize in healing.

“What’s this?” Jungkook suddenly asks, eyes set somewhere around Yoongi’s forehead. Namjoon perks up as well, coming closer to them as he examines Yoongi’s head as well.

“What? What do you mean?” Yoongi curses the fact that Jungkook does not own a mirror. Stupid vampires that don’t have stupid reflections hence not owning any stupid mirrors.

Namjoon carefully reaches out and a shiver runs down Yoongi’s spine when his fingers come in contact with the flowers on top of his head. But this is different, the flower he touches feels… a little different. Yoongi doesn’t - he doesn’t feel as connected to that one as he feels to the rest of the plants all over his body.

His own fingers touch the closed blossom - it doesn’t react to his touch at all. Which is… weird. That has never happened before. “I have no idea…” He replies quietly, “I don’t know what kind of flower that it - It feels weird… I can’t really - feel it…”

Obviously, his friends couldn’t give him an answer to his confusion. They must be as confused as him about the whole thing. He never had a flower that didn’t start to bloom when he touched it. Never had a flower that didn’t react to his touch. He never experienced something like this. This… this flower - it grows out of him, it is a part of him but he can’t connect to it the same way he does the rest. It’s not normal, right? It feels like it doesn’t belong there but at the same time… at the same time, it seems to be rooted deeper than all the other plants over his body.

It couldn’t be. He would have to talk with his parents about that. They would know, right? Hopefully, they would.

He’s still busy staring at the closed blossom through his phone camera, trying to figure out why it’s there and why it’s different. The closed petals are light pink and every time he touches them a shiver runs through his body. He doesn’t understand. Not at all. He’s so focused that he almost doesn’t hear the wizard talking behind him.

“Have you talked to the dragon again?” Namjoon asks absentmindedly. He has moved into Jungkook’s bed while they were busy rewrapping Yoongi’s hand.

“His name is Taehyung,” Yoongi reminds him once again - he’s sure his friends call Taehyung ‘the dragon’ solely to tease him now. “And sadly no - he’s still avoiding me.”

Namjoon hums, glancing over the top of his book. “Maybe you should just give up…”

“I can’t.”