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jimin strolled throughout the abandoned building, his head held high, shoulders back, and lips curled into a permanent smirk.
“something you want, park?” a gruff voice asks from a tiny wooden table in the back room.
“wanna know where my money is, kang.”
“and why would i have your money?” the man chuckles.
“don't play dumb with me, m’not in the mood for your bullshit today,” jimin replies.
“we both know you're the only thief here. i don't got your money.”
“and that's where you're wrong mr. kang. i’m leaving here with my money, don't care how.”
jimin’s eyes gleamed with mischief before he took mr. kang by his matted hair and slammed his head into the table, a horrid crack resonating around the room as jimin lifts the man's head up once again.
“you sure you don't know where that money is?”
“p-park, i swear i don't have your money and fuuuuck i think you just broke my fucking nose,” the man whimpers.
“sucks for you.”
jimin once again moves to slam mr. kang’s head into the table, but freezes once he hears the muffled sounds of someone's screams.
“gotta guest?” jimin inquires.
“n-no,” mr. kang sutters.
“let’s take a look why don't we. then you can give me my money, yeah?”
“i told you i don’t-” mr. kang’s head shoots up right before jimin gets a hold of him again.
“nuh uh uh.” jimin taunts before slamming the man’s face into the table once more. “ouuuu that's definitely more than just a broken nose.”
jimin drops the unmoving mr. kang’s head, turning to venture deeper into the room. /wonder who the poor bastard has all tied up now,/ he thought. jimin opened the door to reveal a man in a …. tank?
the man’s eyes grew wide, his face showing desperation as he banged on the tank with his hands and … tail? fin? not legs? /well this is not how i expected today to go./
jimin rushes over to open the tank, allowing the man to free his upper body from the tight space. the man-mermaid-thing had long black hair, that stuck to the sides of his head as water dripped from his hair to his shoulders. his face was flawless and his eyes shimmered gold. his body was decorated with thin gold chains, adorned with shimmering sapphires cascading from his neck to his wrists.
“thank you so much!” he spoke.
“um no problem?” jimin replied.
“could you help me outta here please? i need to stretch my legs,” the mermaid questioned.
“what legs?” jimin scoffed.
this caused the leg-less man to furrow his eyebrows, a pout crossing his features as he made grabby hands towards the other. “help me.”
jimin cautiously walked towards the creature, slow careful steps approaching the tank before placing his hands underneath the arms of the stranger to free him.
“thank you-”
“jimin. i’m park jimin.”
“thank you park jimin. i'm jungkook. jeon jungkook.” jungkook said as jimin tried his best to hold him up without getting the water from the boy all over himself.
“so you do have legs right? i don't really wanna spend my whole day holding you up,” he states.
“give it a second,” jungkook said before his tail-fin-thing transformed into a long pair of tan legs.
“this is really fucking weird,” jimin whispered.
“i know. you get used to it though,” the mermaid shrugs.
“how exactly does that whole thing work? why don't you have any clothes on? why were you in a tank? and what the hell are you gonna do now that you're out?” jimin rambled.
the now taller man placed his hands upon jimin’s shoulders, giving them a tight squeeze before answering the questions.
“you ever seen h2o just add water?” he inquired.
“no?”
“figured, but it kind of works like that but way less dramatic and none of the awful accents!” jungkook explained.
“i’m not following,” jimin admits.
“if i am submerged in water then my tail appears. that’s it though nothing else really happens,” jungkook shrugged before placing his hands on his hips.
“we seriously need to get you some clothes, take this,” jimin said as he took off his jacket with a hand over his eyes and pushed it into the arms of the taller.
“thank you!” jungkook giggled.
“um yeah so what about the other questions?”
“well i can’t just create clothes or anything after i change or whatever. i don’t have any powers or anything like that. not like h2o remember?”
“yeah.”
“for the tank thing, that guy literally took me from the ocean! i was just swimming with the baby dolphins and then i saw his boat. knew i had to get him away from them so i showed my tail just a little. wanted to keep them safe,” jungkook pouts.
“that’s noble and all, but seriously what are you going to do now? now that people know there’s some weird golden creature scouring earth’s oceans, i don’t think they’ll forget anytime soon, jungkook.”
“well i can wait it out up here. i just have to hide and keep quiet,” jungkook whispered.
“well you’re gonna need proper clothes for that, doll.”
“can i borrow some of yours? i don’t really have money. wasn’t planning on coming here,” jungkook mumbled.
“sure but just- zip up the jacket, pull it as far down as possible, and stay behind me,” jimin instructs.
“okay! thank you jiminie! you’re a very good human.”
“wouldn’t bet on that.”
the pair leave the abandoned building, jungkook tightly gripping jimin’s shirt as he follows him closely from behind. as they walk down the street jungkook shrinks in on himself, trying his best not to draw attention despite his lack of clothing.
once they reach jimin’s place, jungkook’s eyes widen and his jaw drops.
“it’s so pretty, jiminie!” he exclaims.
“it’s not much really, but thanks kook.”
“kook!” the taller gasps. “you gave me a nickname?!”
“i guess? you have one for me so i figured-“
“i love it! but can you hurry up with the clothes please? it’s freezing in here,” jungkook asks.
“yeah, of course.”
once jungkook was fully clothed, the pair sat on the sofa criss crossed and faced each other.
“so what now?” jimin began.
“can i stay here?”
“um wait what? like here with me?” jimin’s eyes widened.
“yeah, i don’t know anyone else here and you’ve been really nice,” jungkook mumbles.
“i mean i guess so? i can’t just put you out, but i’m not exactly the best person to hide with. everyone here knows me, kook.”
“i saw what you did to that guy. the one who captured me,” the mermaid admitted. “you can protect me.”
“are you sure you want to stay here? there’s plenty of other people i’m sure are willing to help you out.”
“no, i already trust you. can i stay here please?”
“sure, yeah okay. you can take the guest room i guess.”
:)
weeks consisted of jungkook being totally enamored by completely mundane things. watching tv for hours, hiding in fear after putting something in the toaster, and asking almost too many questions about jimin’s day as they cling onto each other once he returns home.
jimin stumbled through the door, his eyes lidded and his steps staggering. he looked completely drained. his lack of sleep had obviously been affecting him.
“You look tired, hyung. what happened today?” jungkook inquired as he opened his arms from where he sat on the couch.
“nothing much, baby. just a regular day. did you sleep well last night?” jimin questions as he straddles the younger's lap. jimin kisses koo’s jaw and wraps his arms around his torso.
“yeah. missed you though,” jungkook replied.
“m’sorry, doll. there was something i had to look into last night.”
“what was it? did you find out anything?”
“let’s talk about it after dinner, yeah? gotta make sure you eat, baby.”
“okay hyung,” jungkook giggled.
after dinner, the two laid back on the couch. jimin laying between the tallers legs so he could run his fingers through his hair.
“so what did you wanna tell me?” jungkook mumbles into jimin’s hair
“you know that guy who took you from the sea?” he began.
“yeah,” the taller answers.
“he has some people looking for you. they keep following me, i think they’re waiting for me to lead them to you,” jimin explained with a shaky breath.
jungkook’s hands stilled in the olders silky silver hair, his form stiffening under the weight of the other.
“it’ll be fine though, i know what we have to do,” jimin continued.
“and what is that?”
jimin turns around to lay on his stomach so he can look the other in the eyes. his features twist in concern when he finds jungkook’s eyes glossed over with tears.
“you mean a lot to me koo, you know that right?” jungkook nods. “well i need you to trust me, yeah? you have to go back. gotta get you there secretly, i’ll meet you somewhere else. we can move, i have nothing here to stay for anyway. I don’t want anything you don’t want.”
“t-to the ocean? i have to go back without you?” jungkook sniffles.
jimin cradles the mermaid's face in his hands, caressing his face with his thumbs before rushing to explain further. “we’ll meet up real soon. as soon as you leave i’ll leave and we’ll meet somewhere else. we can find a private beach so you can come out of the ocean without being seen. then we can be together again, koo. everything will be fine.”
“then what? you won’t leave me will you? i don’t know anyone else here. when are we supposed to do this, hyung? i’m not ready to leave yet. i don’t wanna leave.”
“and i don’t want you to leave, but i can’t protect you as well as the ocean can. me suddenly leaving town with an unknown man will put targets on our back. on your back, baby. i swear i’ll find you no matter what. we can get a better apartment, decorate it just the way you want. i’ve been needing a roommate anyway.”
“you promise you’ll come?”
“i promise, doll.”
“hyung?” jungkook nervously says.
“yeah?”
“i really like you.”
“i like you too, koo.”
“good,” jungkook smiles before pressing soft kisses onto jimin’s head over and over again.
:)
when jungkook woke up this morning, he had decided he hated today. he had tossed and turned all night, failing to get more than an hour of sleep at a time. jimin had woken up each time to comfort him. whispering sweet nothings in his ear and holding him tight. every loving touch sent goosebumps up jungkook’s arms. shivers wracking through his body as he thought about leaving this comfort and the possibility of him never finding it again.
said man turned around in jimin’s arms, moving to rest his head on his chest.
“good morning, baby,” jimin said in his raspy morning voice.
“it's not a good morning, hyungie,” jungkook retorted.
“it will be, i promise. we both get to live freely in a little town close to a private beach. we can go down all the time to take a swim, meet your friends and everything. we'll be so happy, baby.”
“what if the plan doesn’t work? what if we’re doing exactly what they expect us to?” the younger questioned.
“it's been over a month, koo. i’m sure they’re not looking as closely now. we have the perfect opportunity today. we're gonna make this work no matter what. i’m gonna find you, baby. i'll buy a boat if i have to.”
jungkook stared at the olders face. the sunlight adorning his soft skin somehow making him look even prettier.
“hyung, i really really like you. like really like you,” jungkook whispered.
“guess what baby,” jimin teased.
“what?”
“i really really really really really like you too. wanna take you somewhere nice when we get there. maybe a date on the beach, or a nice resteraunt, i bet you’d love the arcade! you'd like that, yeah? a date with me?” jimin whispered in return.
“i'd love that hyung. wanna date you.”
“all the more reason to find you then.”
:)
hours later jungkook was wearing jimin’s favorite hoodie. jimin had told him repeatedly that it was too hot to wear any kind of jacket, but jungkook was relentless.
“it's just in case. i don’t want to forget you,” he had said with his head hanging low and shoulders hunched.
“you won’t, koo. i’m going to come for you, remember? At dawn we’re going to meet again, then go to our new home. we can eventually start unpacking and buying more furniture, going on dates, falling in love maybe. we get to be happy once all this is over.”
despite the sad look in his eyes, jungkook gave jimin a smile. he let go of the hand that had always brought him so much comfort and took a deep breath before they had to leave. jimin left first, a hat on his head and mask on his face as he walked the same way he had when jungkook first saw him. cocky, overconfident, and unstoppable.
the only people who ever spoke to jimin were the elders, and today was no different. they told him of everything that was going on in town, and invited him in for food as he walked down the street. they informed him of the normal chaos that ensued in the neighbourhood. fighting, rude drunks, and the occasional theft.
“thank you for everything, i’ll see you tomorrow,” jimin waved before making his way back to the beach.
not long after jimin had left, jungkook exited the apartment as well. he had a tight grip on the phone jimin had gotten him, jimin’s number on speed dial in case anything happened. he tried to walk in the same way jimin had. he pushed his shoulders back, but could not bring himself to hold his head high.
he took main roads like jimin told him to, all the bystanders around preventing anyone from taking him. jungkook wanted to call jimin, his hand burned like he had stuck it in boiling water. something didn’t feel right. he didn’t feel right.
his breathing quickened, the lack of air to his longs becoming unbearable. he took one hand in the other and anxiously began to pull on his fingers, hoping that focusing on that will prevent him from freaking out and ruining his and jimin’s only chance at a peaceful life together. eventually the mermaid couldn’t help it. jungkook had made it to the sea. few people were on the beach, but he made sure to go far away enough to where he had some privacy but stayed close enough, so people could see him. he took out the phone jimin gave him, sat on the sand and called him.
“h-hey hyungie?”
“yeah baby, it’s me. you okay? i miss you already. i'm here. i can see you, just know i’m here.”
silent sobs began to wrack through jungkook’s body, the dread of leaving jimin hanging over him.
“please don’t cry, love. i’m so sorry about all this, baby, but we don’t have much time. you have to go. take the hoodie and please be safe. I love you.”
“i love you too hyung. so much. i can’t wait to see you again. at dawn, okay?” jungkook whispered through his cries.
“i'll see you then baby. as soon as you go i’ll be ready to leave too. how about we race there? see who gets there first, yeah? can't wait to see you again.”
“me neither,” jungkook said before hanging up and running into the water.
the mermaid went as fast as he could to fully submerge himself beneath the sea. he was eager to see jimin again. eager to win the race. the dolphins, the fish, the whales, and the jellyfish all made way for him. separating to give the man a clear path to get back to jimin. the trip wasn’t too long, but it would be tiring, and despite that jungkook was willing to do anything.
jimin took long steps, following a maze-like path he had planned to follow not too long before. he had the entire day committed to memory, knew how everything had to go for them to be successful and this was something he had to do. the man sprinted to the abandoned warehouse he had entered what seemed like so long ago.
jimin had asked his friends to keep an eye on mr. kang in return for the people who were watching him. they were loyal so he knew he could trust them. well that and the death threat jimin loomed over their head if they betrayed him. jimin saw two of them outside the warehouse. he gave them a nod before entering alone, quietly making his way to the back room he had once found jungkook in.
jimin was met with mr. kang’s hunched form. jimin cleared his throat, and as soon as the man turned around jimin had him on his knees. jimin kicked the man in the middle of his chest causing him to topple onto the floor before standing over him and forcing his knee into his neck. the man writhed and gasped as his airways were blocked by the force jimin exerted on him.
“maybe i should put you in the tank next, huh? i never did get my money, fucking prick,” jimin spat as mr. kang’s body stopped moving, the color draining from his face.
jimin quickly got up, dusting himself off as he shook his shoulders and once again walked as if he owned the world. he left the building, seeing his two friends still there, just as loyal as always.
“thanks for everything guys, i’ll see you again,” he stated.
:)
after hours of swimming, jungkook had arrived at the private beach he and Jimin had agreed to meet at. it was not yet dawn so he pushed down the bile he felt rising up in his throat at the thought of jimin not making it. he's seen what jimin can do. has seen him come home with bloodied knuckles and torn clothes. he trusts jimin, and he will wait.
once the sky lit up just the slightest bit, jungkook began to twiddle his fingers. he was too scared to exit the water without knowing jimin was there. he was in a completely unfamiliar place with completely unfamiliar people and he trusted jimin. it's not like he is late or anything. not yet at least. /i’m just overreacting,/ jungkook thought.
jungkook eventually decided to rest near the shoreline, but far enough that no one could tell he was there. his eyes closed as he waited, the extent of his journey leaving him exhausted.
“koo?” a voice called. “koo, baby I’m here!”
jungkook heard a concerned but comforting voice calling him. he immediately swam to shore once he heard it’s cries. his cries. his jimin's cries.
“jimin? hyungie? i’m here, just wait. i can’t run yet just wait!”
“k-koo? hey. hey baby. i missed you so much. couldn't even go a hour without you baby, it was breaking my heart,” jimin sniffled as he hid his face in his arm and crouched down to touch the gleaming golden scales of jungkook’s tail and feel the chains and sapphires that adorned him in this beautiful form.
once jungkook’s legs had returned he jumped onto jimin, his arms around his neck and his face hidden in his chest. the two fell backwards, laughing on the sand.
“here i brought you some clothes. put these on and let’s go home, baby,” jimin stated.
jungkook’s eyes welled up at the comfort jimin had once again enveloped him in. his hands around his waist, his eyes staring in his, his soft voice inducing jungkook to love him even more.
“m’so ready to kiss you,” jungkook admitted.
both men’s faces grew red at the confession. “let's get you into some clothes and then i’ll give you all the kisses you want, doll.”
“i’m gonna take one now.”
“wha-”
jungkook slammed himself into jimin, their teeth clashing together almost painfully. jungkook kissed jimin messily, pushing against him as hard as he could to keep them together. jimin licked jungkook’s bottom lip in return, causing jungkook to let out the tiniest gasp. despite his surprise, jungkook opened his mouth, allowing jimin’s tongue to lick against his.
jungkook began panting at the feeling, a warmth spreading in his tummy, until he noticed jimin’s body shaking.
“are you okay?” he questioned.
all he got were watery giggles in return as jimin’s glazed eyes became beautiful crescents and he pressed his forehead against jungkook’s.
“you got your kiss, now we have to go home. we can’t get arrested for public indecency on our first day here, can we?” he teased.
“can't have that,” jungkook agreed.