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Some people dream of change. To roll over in the morning and be greeted with more than just the beginnings of another mundane week, or to even feel a sliver of excitement about their interests that slowly lost its gleam over time. Others don’t even welcome it, opting to stick to the path that they are already accustomed to—because it’s easier to dance inside your comfort zone than to take a step of faith where you aren’t guaranteed a greater happiness than what you already know. There are always risks in the equation.
Taehyung certainly dreamed of change.
When the glass buildings that reflected the heart of Seoul’s bustling life lost its appeal and the midnight strolls in the alleys full of neon lights didn’t feel as intoxicating as it did before, Taehyung craved for a change in scenery. And so he sought after it. With his dog in the passenger seat and everything he owns in the trunk of his car, he drove past the outskirts of the city until the packed highways and looming skyscrapers turned into the untouched greens of fields and the vast blue sky.
The sight was like a breath of fresh air—but it wasn’t new. Taehyung wasn’t actually a city boy from the very beginning. He was born on a family farm that he doesn’t remember much of except for the river that rushed by the cottage and the field of strawberries next to it. He has experienced change before when he left the country to move to Seoul with his older brother, but it was at an age where it didn't quite affect him as much. When he thinks about it, moving to the country is a change from his recent lifestyle—sure—but more so, it’s like coming home .
So he didn’t account for the risks.
He remembers driving up a mountain on a path with scattered trees that did little to filter the sunlight, leading him straight to a dead-end where an abandoned clock tower stood. He recalls getting out of his car and his futile attempts to get some signal on his phone and figure out which wrong turn was the one he took—and how his dog, Yeontan, ran right into the tunnel entrance of the old building with the years evident in the cracks and chips of the red walls.
He remembers his feet against the concrete floors as he went after his tiny companion. That was the first risk he ran into headfirst. Taehyung could still feel the strain in his muscles when he ran through the building, scattered with benches and illuminated by the light pouring in from the stained glass windows—until he reached the exit on the other side, and into an open field. The soles of his shoes softly hit the lush grass as Yeontan continued to sprint as if his life depended on it and Taehyung eventually found himself in what looked like a small, empty village. His voice bounced off the cobblestone road and colorful buildings as he called out for his Pomeranian. But he had lost sight of him already.
Instead, his eyes saw things he wishes he never did. Taehyung wondered if they could even be called things —because they moved . They roamed the streets of the strange town as soon as the sun set and the darkness shrouded the area, coming alive as the streets were lit up and the lanterns strung across the buildings flickered on. Taehyung found himself surrounded by shadows and creatures of different shapes and sizes that he later came to learn that those things were called spirits—that he ventured to a place where he shouldn’t have.
Taehyung dreamed of change, but he forgot that lucid nightmares were dreams too.
On the verge of insanity from the mix of his sheer panic and feelings of delirium, there was a man that found him and offered help with an arm around Taehyung–shielding him from the views of whatever curses were walking around. “I’m not going to hurt you. I want to help you, Taehyung.” He had whispered it under his breath, catching Taehyung off guard because the stranger knew his name. The man held comfort in his soft, round eyes and he had this familiar gentleness that Taehyung couldn’t quite put his finger on. His soft, fluffy curls framed his face—jaw sharp and nose strong, creating a perfect balance with his pink lips and doe eyes. He was beautiful down to every detail.
“You know my name.” Taehyung pointed it out, but all he got in response was a finger against his lips, quieting him. Then the man was holding Taehyung against his firm chest in one of the alleyways as more spirits walked by, instructing him next to the shell of his ears to “match your breathing with mine.” Taehyung had felt the rise and fall of the stranger’s chest against his back, an indication to him that this was real and that it wasn’t a mere figment of his imagination.
When the stranger finally spun Taehyung around to face him, Taehyung saw the mellow look in his eyes that he missed at first glance. It was as if he were staring into a looking glass and Taehyung could tell that this man was a spirit too—a soul so seemingly soft yet forged by fire as his demeanor changed into something more serious. “You can’t be here, you have to leave.” It came out more like a command, but Taehyung only shook his head then.
He told the man about his dog, and that he couldn’t just simply leave without him. And so after a deep breath and several moments of contemplation, the man offered Taehyung another plan of action—the very plan that paved the change that happened in Taehyung’s life that night. It’s how he found himself among the spirits, working underneath the witch that oversaw the village in exchange for his surname and all the memories that he would gradually lose over time—because that’s the only way Taehyung could stay and find his small friend.
Taehyung put his trust into the only man that offered him a little bit of light in the city of shadows.
“You have to trust me, Taehyung.”
If voices had color, the man said his name in a heaven-yellow luster that was enough for Taehyung to believe that he was an angel in the midst of spirits. And so he did as he was told.
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Taehyung didn’t see him again after that night. He found out that the stranger he put his trust in was the witch’s right hand man—or her pet —Taehyung has heard both terms. The spirits in the palace had called him Master Jeongguk too and Taehyung began to feel as if he fell into a trap. He felt foolish because it never crossed his mind that looks can be deceiving and a pretty face could be leading him straight into a life of forever scrubbing the dirt off of the palace floors.
But Taehyung couldn’t shake the undeniable familiarity he felt around Jeongguk. Maybe it was some sort of magical spell—an illusion just like everything else—but it doesn’t feel right. Taehyung trembled with fear that first night. He had been given new cleaning clothes and a mentor to show him the reins—but he was never given a piece of mind.
He was thrown into a fast paced environment. Some spirits were wary of a real human working with them—others were just plain rude towards him. But then Taehyung met five other spirits that all took the form of humans and thankfully, they had an ounce of sympathy like one. Namjoon operates the boiler room of the palace, along with the help of the coal boys—Seokjin, Yoongi, and Hoseok. Taehyung had watched them work in harmony and they welcomed him (or rather, they let him stay and watch as long as he didn’t bother them) and he thought that maybe everything isn’t all as evil as it seems.
Taehyung’s mentor—another handsome man that looked out of place among the other creatures—goes by the name, Jimin. He is kind (much to Taehyung’s relief) and shorter too, with bright red hair and piercing eyes. But most of all, he was one hell of a worker. It’s no wonder why he was given to Taehyung to train under. He showed Taehyung everything with precision and soon enough, they worked side by side. Taehyung might even consider him as a friend.
“Do you know where Jeongguk is?” Taehyung asks Jimin as they walk the halls of the busy palace. It’s been a few days already and there has only been radio silence from Jeongguk, making Taehyung more anxious as the days turn over.
“Probably out running errands for the witch.” Jimin glances around, before lowering his voice and leaning into Taehyung’s ear. “I heard she makes him do all her dirty work.”
“Worse than cleaning,” Jimin adds as he hands a bucket of water to Taehyung who takes it with a small huff escaping his lips from the weight in his hands. Taehyung wonders what kind of dirty work Jimin was talking about—but he’s only left to ponder over it for the rest of the day.
When night falls, all the spirits designated to cleaning duties are lodged in the same room to sleep in. It’s uncomfortable and full of annoying snores, and it makes Taehyung miss the softness of his mattress and the quiet hum of his air conditioner—things that he took for granted. Sometimes you don’t realize the luxury of even the most trivial things.
Taehyung barely gets any sleep, always tossing and turning every night with a sick feeling in his stomach. Most of the time, he tries to replay his memories in his mind out of fear that he’s going to forget them soon. Other times, he tries to come up with a plan to find Jeongguk and confront him once and for all. But before he can finalize a foolproof plan—he wakes up at sunrise one morning to a light push on his shoulder. Taehyung stirs and when his eyes flutter open, he meets the face that he’s been searching for—it’s Jeongguk.
“Meet me at the bottom of the stairs.”
With that single whispered sentence, Jeongguk makes his way back outside the sliding doors of the packed room, avoiding the limbs of sleeping spirits sprawled on the floor. Taehyung doesn’t get to respond to him before he’s already out of his sight. So instead, he carefully gets out of the sleeping bag that was provided to him, freezing in place when Jimin mumbles incoherently next to him.
When the red haired boy doesn’t look like he’s going to wake up, Taehyung proceeds to tip toe out of the room. He finally steps outside and he’s met with the early rays of the sun that have a soft luminescence that makes the walls of the palace glow—like it isn’t as haunting as Taehyung makes it out to be. He starts to walk down the staircase attached to the side of the building and then he notices that at the end of it stands Jeongguk.
Taehyung met the other man in the dark, when fear creeped around them and the shadows of a twisted and spirited world blanketed his pretty features. But now, in the broad daylight, Jeongguk looks more boyish, younger—maybe younger than Taehyung by a year or two—and he looks like he belongs in the sunlight as his fair complexion radiates underneath it. When he makes eye contact with Jeongguk, Taehyung looks down at his feet and quickly rushes down the last few steps until Jeongguk’s shoes come into view too.
“Follow me.” Taehyung lifts his head to find that Jeongguk is already turning on his heels. Taehyung jogs a little, staying a few meters behind Jeongguk as if he’s too afraid to get too close. “Where are we going?” He asks Jeongguk.
“To see your dog.”
The mention of Yeontan has Taehyung’s heart thrumming in his chest—it’s been days since he last saw his small companion and worry coursed through his veins. He had no idea if his dog was ever found, or if he were still even alive—a thought that he refused to let linger in his mind.
“Where did you find him? Is he okay?”
“He was found eating spirit food at one of the restaurants. So the restaurant owner turned him in.” Jeongguk suddenly stops in his tracks and Taehyung slows down too. “But,” He turns around to face Taehyung, a stern look in his eyes. “You have to promise not to come here without me.”
Taehyung nods, “I-I promise.” The other man seems to be satisfied by that and his face softens once more. He steps closer to Taehyung who stays planted in his spot and he reaches out to grab Taehyung’s wrist. “Okay, let’s go.”
Taehyung gets dragged along with his eyes darting from their connected hands to the back of Jeongguk’s head. He feels the thrumming in his chest getting louder and he doesn’t know if it’s the anticipation of seeing his dog again or the burning sensation on his skin. The touch feels familiar and Taehyung still can’t pinpoint the source of his familiarity.
They go through the tall bushes of the palace garden, decorated in flowers and fruits of different colors. They are vibrant under the morning sun and Taehyung would like to stop and admire the flowers—camellias and azaleas, if Taehyung remembers correctly from his high school floral class—but Jeongguk continues to pull him along.
They finally break through the last of the bushes after a few more turns and then a large barn comes into view. Jeongguk takes them to the back of it, slipping through the wooden doors that were left ajar. “Tannie!” Taehyung yells out when they enter a small barn and he recognizes the ball of brown fur. They stand in front of one of the many gated pens that line the wall of the barn and Taehyung’s heart drops when he realizes that whatever that thing is—it isn’t the same Yeontan.
“Go ahead,” Jeongguk says when he sees Taehyung hesitating to get any closer. “What’s...what’s wrong with him?” Taehyung asks quietly, too afraid to listen to the answer. But Jeongguk doesn’t seem fazed by the dripping fear in his voice, answering him calmly.
“He’s asleep. He ate a lot of spirit food, which isn’t exactly healthy for non-spirits. That’s why he... grew a bit.”
Panic starts to rise in Taehyung’s chest and he begins to ramble as he asks, “Will he go back to normal? How do we get him out of here?”
“We’ll have to break the curse first if you don’t want him to completely turn into a spirit. That’s why you can’t just take him now.” Jeongguk gives Taehyung an apologetic smile. They only stayed for a few more minutes until they heard the sound of metal buckets and rustling hay under someone’s boots. Jeongguk says that it’s the keeper of the barn—the spirit that maintains all the creatures that aren’t capable of doing work. Taehyung glances at Yeontan one more time with a pang in his chest, “I’ll get you out of there, Tannie.”
The two men sneak back out from the same way they came from, and they safely run into the garden again without getting caught by the other spirits that have started to come out to do their daily duties. They are sitting on the grass by one of the tall oleander bushes adorned with red blossoms and Taehyung pulls his knees to his chest. He’s been bearing all his emotions for the past few days because in truth, he didn’t really have time to catch a break between the bustling work inside the palace—but now, in the serenity of the garden, he lets himself be vulnerable.
Jeongguk sits beside him in comfortable silence but after a few moments, Taehyung hears Jeongguk shifting beside him. Taehyung turns his head slightly at the movement and sees Jeongguk extending his hand towards him. In his palm are rolled rice balls.
“Here, eat some of this.” Jeongguk offers it to Taehyung who smiles at the gesture. “Thank you.” Jeongguk watches as Taehyung takes one from him and immediately eats it. The rice is soft and delicious—almost similar to the ones his mother used to make at home—and he lets out a small sigh. When he finishes the second one that Jeongguk gives him, he speaks up.
“Can I ask you something?”
“What is it?” Jeongguk says as he stretches his feet in front of him and leans against his arms. He looks out onto the field at the bottom of the hill that the garden is perched on. His features are calm and Taehyung wonders if he is letting his defenses down too, if he feels at peace in contrast to whatever ‘dirty’ work he has to do as the witch’s apprentice.
“How do you know my name?” Taehyung plays with the hem of his pants when Jeongguk hums in response. “I remember you. Well, I remember your name but I don’t know where I’ve met you before.” The confession makes Taehyung furrow his brows in confusion—he wants to know if Jeongguk feels the same kind of familiarity too.
“You see...I was also a human before. I had a life out there but I found myself here, with my memories and my surname stolen from me. Just like the witch did when you signed the contract to work for her. But somehow I remember you. You’re Kim Taehyung.” There’s sadness laced between Jeongguk’s words, his shoulders tensing and his feet pausing its sway. Taehyung wants to reach out and comfort him—and so he does without a second thought. He gently places his fingers on top of Jeongguk’s hand beside him. He feels the slight twitch in the other man’s hand but he doesn’t pull away.
Taehyung decides against prodding into Jeongguk’s previous life when he feels the tension hanging in the air. Instead, he asks, “So, how...how do we get out of here?” Jeongguk tips his head back just enough to meet Taehyung’s eyes—his gaze is warm and Taehyung boldly squeezes his fingers around Jeongguk’s palm.
“Well, remembering your surname is the key to leaving this spirited world,” Jeongguk says as he shifts until his whole body is fully facing Taehyung. “Luckily for you, I somehow know your name. So in your case, we just need to figure out how to turn your dog back to normal and break free of the witch’s spell from the contract. But...I haven’t worked out that part yet.”
Taehyung nods his head slowly, shoulders drooping just slightly. Because if Jeongguk hasn’t figured out that much, then Taehyung has less of a chance in figuring it out by himself. “But we’ll figure it out,” Jeongguk says reassuringly when he sees the change in the other’s expression.
“You feel it too, right?” Jeongguk suddenly adds. “This...familiarity.” Taehyung perks up at that. So he does feel it too. The fact gives him a tiny bit of hope and Taehyung nods his head in confirmation. His enthusiasm gets another smile out of Jeongguk—this time, it’s warm and resembles a bunny with the way his nose scrunches and his eyes turn into crescents. It’s cute, Taehyung thinks.
Taehyung feels a squeeze of his hand and Jeongguk says, “I think that’s something that could help us. I think we can help each other.”
And so the two of them stay close and continue to sneak out every morning just before the work day begins. Some days, they would even go out earlier so they could take Yeontan out of his pen to play with him before the other spirits came out. Taehyung starts his day at their rendezvous behind the garden with hushed laughter and they would watch the sunrise with breakfast that Jeongguk packs for the both of them—and if Taehyung weren’t stuck in a spirited world, he thinks that he could get used to this.
He could fall into their routine—spending the hours before dawn with Jeongguk and Yeontan, then rushing back to the dorms just in time to change into his work attire. He would spend the day cleaning and stopping by the coal room to chat with the new friends he has made, then he will come back to the dorms at the end of the day and have dinner with Jimin on their balcony that overlooks the ocean below. The crashing of the waves against the brick walls of the palace will distract Taehyung from his wandering thoughts.
Thoughts about Jeongguk’s whereabouts throughout the day—if his errands are too much to handle. Because Taehyung sees the cuts and bruises in the mornings after a night of errands and Jeongguk will brush it off as ‘rowdy spirits’ getting in his way when he goes off to do his job. When his explanations aren’t enough to wipe the worry off of Taehyung’s face—Jeongguk eventually tells him that he is actually a dragon hybrid.
“You’re a—what now?”
“A dragon hybrid,” Jeongguk says like it’s not the most bewildering thing that Taehyung has ever heard of—granted, Taehyung shouldn’t be surprised because he has quite literally seen spirits of all kinds in the past few weeks, but Jeongguk looked nothing more than a normal human on the surface. No traces of a dragon, maybe aside from the cuts and bruises.
“You look like you don’t believe me.”
Taehyung shakes his head with his eyes turning into slits, “I have to see it to believe it.”
Jeongguk chuckles lightly, “You saw spirits and didn’t believe it.” Taehyung snorts and he’s about to make a remark but Jeongguk leans closer to the other boy until their shoulders are brushing—both of them sitting on the grass, in the same place they sit at every morning. “I could show you,” Jeongguk says in a low voice by Taehyung’s ear.
“Then show me,” Taehyung says with a curious quirk of his brow.
And so Jeongguk does.
Right in front of his eyes, Taehyung watches as Jeongguk transforms into a breathtaking dragon—with radiant iridescent scales that reflect the light of dawn, seemingly catching it. His hair is a deep sea green, traveling down the expanse of his back all the way down to his tail that wraps around the grass surrounding Taehyung. He has sharp claws and tall, graceful horns that adorn his head—it’s intimidating and Taehyung’s eyes double in size as he takes in the creature in front of him.
But he can tell that it’s still very much Jeongguk—from the pink in the dragon's nose and ears to the way he nuzzles into Taehyung’s face gently, making the latter squeal with surprise.
“Jeongguk! Oh my god. You really are a dragon.” Taehyung laughs as he caresses the dragon’s face, admiration swelling in his heart when he sees the same, soft eyes staring back at him. Jeongguk lets out a small puff of air that sounds a lot like I told you so.
Taehyung shakes his head with a wide, boxy smile. If Jeongguk would have shown his dragon form to him earlier, Taehyung might have been terrified—but he felt anything but that. With Jeongguk, he forgets his fears and he just feels weightless—especially when Jeongguk lets Taehyung get on his back when he’s in his dragon form and he takes him flying across the clear sky.
Up in the air with the wind carding through his hair, Taehyung yells at the top of his lungs out of joy and pure adrenaline rushing through him. Far away from the palace and over the vast blue sea, they glide through the air in their own little world. An escape for the both of them when they face another day of not knowing how to really leave. And Taehyung wonders how long Jeongguk has been stuck here—it must have been long enough if he’s able to turn into a spirit. The thought saddens him and he runs his fingers through Jeongguk’s hair more gently—speaks to him more lovingly.
And somewhere along the way, Jeongguk leans into Taehyung’s touch more willingly, and he sneaks out more often just to see Taehyung and his rectangular smile waiting for him. They become each other’s peace of mind—the only form of freedom they have.
But there’s always risks. Taehyung knows that much is true.
The more you get attached to something—or, someone —the more it will hurt when something goes terribly wrong.
Taehyung is leaning against the balcony of their quarters by himself one morning, catching a break from his duties, when he sees Jeongguk in his dragon flying across the sky. At first glance, Taehyung smiles at the sight of the majestic dragon moving through the air—but his smile drops when he notices the flock of paper birds attacking him. They look like tiny spirits but the damage is noticeable in the way Jeongguk loses his composure, frantically trying to get away from the paper birds, and when the cuts begin to bleed.
Jeongguk is heading right towards the palace and Taehyung is calling out for him. “Jeongguk, watch out!” But his screams are useless, drowned out by the thrashing of paper against scales and suddenly—Jeongguk is crashing against the walls of the palace. A loud gasp escapes Taehyung’s lips and then his feet are moving. He opens the sliding doors of the room behind him and he calls out for Jeongguk who finally hears him this time.
The dragon flies towards Taehyung with the paper birds hot on his tail—hurling right past the sliding doors and falling into the room, the impact breaking the walls and creating an unpleasant banging noise. Taehyung’s heart is in his throat as he hurriedly shuts the sliding doors before the spirits could enter—one slipping in and cutting Taehyung on the cheek before it cascades to the ground from the loss of a paper wing.
Taehyung is breathing hard, but all he can hear is the whimpers from across the room and he rushes to the dragon's side. Tears prick at Taehyung’s eyes when he sees the state that Jeongguk is in—there’s blood tainting his scales and his eyes are sealed shut. He seems to be unconscious after the landing.
“Jeongguk, please stay with me. I’ll get us some help,” Taehyung says as the tears finally fall.
It takes all the energy that Taehyung has in him and the secret passageways in the palace, but he eventually gets Jeongguk to the boiler room where Namjoon, Jimin, and the coal boys are hanging around.
“This looks bad,” Namjoon says when he inspects the dragon more closely. “He looks like he might be cursed.” Hoseok nods beside him and he begins to explain for the other. “He has to be—a little birdie told me that the witch sent Jeongguk to her sister’s place to steal something from her. The witch’s sister probably cursed Jeongguk.” Hoseok takes a long sigh and Taehyung cocks his head to the side. He doesn’t like where this is going.
“I’m no doctor but...that curse looks fatal—he isn’t even conscious.”
Taehyung shakes his head, refusing to believe it. He opens his mouth to protest—though, he doesn’t have anything to back him up—but he’s interrupted. “Wait, I might have something that could help him,” Jimin speaks up and Taehyung watches as the red haired boy opens one of the drawers by Namjoon’s work space and he takes out a small pouch.
Jimin opens it and he takes out a small dumpling-like sphere—Taehyung immediately recognizes it. That is the same emetic dumpling that they fed one of the palace guests when they came in and created a ruckus. The witch realized that the guest was cursed and she fed him that dumpling to cleanse out the curse within the spirit.
“You really think he’s cursed?” Taehyung asks when Jimin hands the dumpling to him.
“There’s one way to find out,” Yoongi says as he lightly jerks his head towards Jeongguk’s sleeping dragon form. “Feed it to him, Tae.”
Taehyung nods, crouching beside Jeongguk. He can see the discomfort painted across Jeongguk’s features and Taehyung frowns. Hang in there. He carefully pries Jeongguk’s mouth open—avoiding the sharp edges of his dragon teeth—and he places the dumpling inside. Jeongguk stirs and much to everyone’s relief, he swallows the emetic food without a hitch.
They all hold their breaths as they wait for what comes next. They don’t have to wait very long, though, because the dragon begins to cough with a choking sound. Taehyung leans back in precaution but he stays beside Jeongguk.
“There!” Seokjin yells out.
Jeongguk spits out a golden seal in the shape of a small rectangle and Taehyung scrambles to grab it when he notices a dark spirit shrouding it—attempting to flee. Everyone blocks off the exits of the room as Taehyung chases after it. He corners the spirit and lunges forward, successfully catching it in his hands. But Taehyung panics when the spirit dies right when his skin comes in contact with it.
“I killed it, oh my god.”
“You killed it?” Someone behind him says.
“I killed it,” Taehyung repeats in horror. “Oh my god, how do we break the seal now? What if that spirit was our only hope. I’m so—” Taehyung is rambling again and Namjoon takes initiative in calming him down.
“Taehyung, it’s fine.”
“How is it fine? What are we supposed to do now?” Taehyung glances over at Jeongguk who is still lying unconscious on the mat that they spread out for him.
Namjoon puts up a single finger, gesturing for them to give him a minute. He walks over to his desk and starts rummaging through it. The anticipation is killing Taehyung and he looks down at the seal, heavy in his hands. It glimmers in gold and there’s an emblem at the top of it with the words Niba engraved onto it. Jimin speaks up beside him, “Niba is the witch’s sister. This seal definitely belongs to her and Jeongguk must have been ordered to steal it. She’s probably the only one who can break the curse.”
“Then I need to get to her,” Taehyung says firmly, ignoring the wary eyes of his friends. “Tell me how to get to—”
“Found them!”
Everyone turns their heads when Namjoon’s voice cuts through their conversation. He’s holding a ticket in his hand and he waves them in front of his face. Taehyung is confused at his sudden outburst—and Namjoon must have seen the questioning look on his face because he elaborates on it in the next breath. “This is a ticket to go on the one way train. I’ve been saving for emergencies, and I guess now is that situation.”
Namjoon explains to Taehyung that he can get to Niba’s place by using the train—but it’s up to him to find a way back because the train only goes one way. Taehyung doesn’t even hesitate when he tells all of them that he will go and find a way to break the curse—that he would do anything for the safety of Jeongguk. There are a few protests from his friends, warning him of the risks that are involved. But risks are all that Taehyung has been taking and now isn't the time for him to chicken out. He’s gotten this far because of all the chances he’s played—because of all the lengths that Jeongguk went to for him, and now it’s Taehyung’s turn to save him.
The train leaves at dawn and Taehyung doesn’t really need to pack anything, so he bids his friends a farewell—promising a tearful red head that he will come back—and he makes it to the train stop that is elevated above the ocean just a little. Seokjin is the one that takes Taehyung to the train stop on a small boat because he’s the only one who knows how to row one—he fishes as a hobby, Taehyung learns. Taehyung wishes to learn more about all his friends, so that’s why he is even more determined to come back to them.
The train arrives a few minutes after Seokjin drops him off and Taehyung gets on it with his ticket. The ride is a long one, giving Taehyung time to sit and think about everything that has culminated up to this point in his time here. He thinks about all the hardships in the castle, all the laughter he’s shared with his small circle of friends—and he thinks about Jeongguk.
He thinks about all the conversations that he’s had with him, and the trivial facts that he kept in the pockets of his mind like Jeongguk’s favorite spirit snacks and how many seconds he can hold his breath under water. Taehyung also thinks about how it feels to hold Jeongguk’s hand. It’s always soft and reassuring like an anchor that keeps Taehyung grounded. He’s grown fond of the other man, more than he has ever led on and he wonders how Jeongguk thinks of him too.
It’s nightfall when the train finally arrives at his stop and Taehyung walks for nearly twenty more minutes, deep into the forest, following the map to Niba’s palace that was given to him by Namjoon before he left. When Taehyung sees a small, humble home at the end of the path, he pauses in his tracks. “Did I go to the wrong place?” Taehyung whispers to himself as he walks closer. From the outside, nobody would be able to tell that witch resides in that house, but looking down at the address written across his map—he knows this is the right place.
So Taehyung knocks two times before the doors open, revealing a spirit who has the same features as the evil witch back at the palace. They’re definitely related. Before fear could eat Taehyung up from the inside, he bows down in front of her with his eyes shut and his voice loud.
“I’m here to apologize on Jeongguk’s behalf,” Taehyung extends his hand out without ever lifting his head—the golden seal sitting on his palm. “He stole your seal because he was ordered to do so by your sister, but I’m here to bring it back to you. I’m also sorry for—for killing the spirit that came with it.”
“Oh,” the witch says and Taehyung tilts his head up, opening one eye to look at her. “Please, come in first.”
Taehyung stands up straight but he doesn’t move from his spot right outside the door. The witch gives him a smile—there’s no trace of malice and Taehyung switches his weight between his feet in contemplation. It doesn't sound safe to walk inside a witch’s home—it sounds a lot like going into a lion’s den.
“Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you. I may look like my sister but I can assure you that I’m the nicer twin by a long shot.”
The witch turns on her heel, walking back inside her house with the door still open behind her. Taehyung takes a deep breath. Another risk. He steps past the threshold after a few seconds, closing the door behind him. When he walks inside, he’s greeted with a warm and welcoming environment. The interior of the witch’s house looks as humble as it does on the outside with normal wooden furniture and homely decor on tabletops and counters.
“Take a seat, I’ll make some tea.”
“Oh, I don’t plan to stick around. Thank you—“
“Please, I insist. Take a seat.”
“Okay.” Taehyung swallows hard—not wanting to possibly anger the witch. However, her tone is gentle, which is even more off putting to Taehyung. But he ends up taking a seat at the dining table and he watches as Niba boils tea in the kitchen, the only sounds in the house are from the whistling of the teapot. The weight of the golden seal is still heavy in Taehyung’s hand and his impatience gets the better of him when he thinks about the minutes he’s wasting—the pain that Jeongguk has to endure.
“I wanted to ask if you could help me break the spell to save Jeongguk,” Taehyung says, breaking his silence. The witch hums in acknowledgement, but she doesn’t answer him. Instead, she places a mug in front of Taehyung and pours tea from the steaming pot. It’s only once she’s settled across from him with her own cup of tea that she speaks again.
“The spell is already broken.”
“W-what?” His arm that was bringing the cup to his lips freezes. “But how?” Taehyung asks, setting his tea back down. The witch props her elbows on the table and rests her chin in her hands. There’s a small smile on her face and Taehyung is getting desperate for an answer. “Love,” the witch says simply before taking a sip of her tea. Taehyung’s brows knit in confusion.
“In a spirited world—especially when you work under an evil witch—love is rare. That strong emotion is the only thing capable of breaking spells. That spirit that you killed was the curse. It died when you touched it because you carry love in your fingertips.”
Love. A blush rises on Taehyung cheeks and he knows it’s not from the warmth of the tea. There have been times with Jeongguk that made Taehyung ask himself if this is what love feels like—if the way Jeongguk smiled at him as Taehyung made his way down those staircase and the warmth of Jeongguk’s hand in his during sunrise is what love felt like. He knows the answer now. He has proof of it too.
Jeongguk promised Taehyung that he would never let him fall when they would fly through the skies—but turns out, Taehyung would still fall. Not from great heights, but for a man with the bravest heart and a smile that could ward off everything evil around Taehyung. Love is synonymous to Jeongguk.
Taehyung clears his throat after his realization—the witch sporting a smirk on her face that doesn’t help the lingering redness in Taehyung’s cheeks. “So...the spell is broken? That means Jeongguk should be okay. But why was he still unconscious when I broke it?”
“Well, it’s only natural for him to be exhausted after fighting off the curse. But essentially, the curse is lifted so it’s only a matter of time that he regains his consciousness. He’s okay, I promise.”
With that reassurance, Taehyung gets up from his seat and bows down once more. “Thank you. I should get going then.”
“No, no. Sit back down, sweetie. He’s almost here.”
Taehyung gets up from the bow and looks back up at Niba. “Who...is almost here?” He asks.
“One more guest.”
Taehyung’s questions get shut down so he eventually gives in and just finishes his tea while watching the witch spin threads with a wheel. She’s able to create one bracelet before there’s a commotion heard from outside. Taehyung jumps in his seat but the witch doesn’t stop her spinning. “Sounds like Jeongguk is here.”
When his name slips from her lips, Taehyung is already out of his seat and making his way towards the front door. Is he really here? The beating of Taehyung’s heart is loud in his ears as he turns the handle of the door, bracing himself for what waits on the other side. It’s dark at first, but then he sees him. The moonlight reflects off of his scales—the traces of a bloodbath are gone.
“Jeongguk, you’re here,” Taehyung says as he takes one step closer. Then two. Then he’s running towards the dragon he’s come to love—a soft ‘oof’ is heard when Taehyung collides with Jeongguk. He feels safe once more when he holds him in his arms.
The witch watches the reunion with a smile, closing the door behind her after wishing them a safe trip back to the palace. The two men don’t waste any more time and Taehyung mounts himself up on Jeongguk’s back, a motion that comes naturally to him at this point. But the ride is different this time—as love is quite literally in the air.
“I love you,” Taehyung says under his breath. It’s probably not loud enough to reach the other’s ears but it’s strong enough for the last curse that binds Taehyung to this world to break. All his memories rush in as soon as he utters the three words and he remembers. He recalls the old cottage he used to live in by the river and the little boy who resided in the neighboring house. The little boy was Jeongguk—the same person who also saved Taehyung once.
“I remember. Jeongguk, I remember you,” Taehyung yells over the gusts of wind. “You saved me from drowning when I fell into the river beside my old house. Your name is Jeon Jeongguk.”
As soon as Taehyung voices the other’s surname, Jeongguk shifts underneath him. And before Taehyung knew it, the dragon scales slowly disappear and Jeongguk goes back to his human form and then, they’re free falling. They are facing each other with a smile on both their faces as they are suspended in the night sky amongst the stars that seem to glitter around them. Jeongguk reaches his hands out and Taehyung notices, so he does the same—until their fingertips meet and intertwine.
They tug each other closer until their foreheads are touching and their eyes reflect an intimacy. “Tae, you did it. I remember now,” Jeongguk says with a sparkle in his eyes. “We were both little and I saved you when you tried to fetch your shoe from the river but you got caught in the current.” Taehyung nods his head—he remembers too. He feels the tears lining his eyes that could easily be excused as the gust of air around them, but Taehyung knows it's not the case.
“You’ve really been saving me from the very start, huh.”
The mystery of the familiarity is finally solved and Taehyung didn’t think it was possible to feel a greater adoration for the other man but he guesses that anything is possible in a spirited world.
“How did you break the curse from earlier, by the way?” Jeongguk says over the sound of the breeze as they continue to free fall in a manner that wasn’t alarming. It feels almost as if time is slowed down for them—like a scene from a movie. But Taehyung isn’t acting when he says the next few lines.
“About that…” Taehyung lets out a small laugh as his cheeks are tinted pink once more. “I love you, Jeongguk. That...that’s how the curse was able to be broken.” The confession floats in the air with them and Jeongguk’s eyes grow wide—along with his smile.
“You—you love me?”
“I do,” Taehyung says without hesitation.
At that moment, they realize that the freedom that they both have been searching—craving—for, doesn’t come from breaking the chains of the curses and having the keys to leave this place. But freedom comes from the relief in each other’s eyes when they realize that they found their way back home. A home with starry eyes or boxy smiles—a safe haven in between the crook of each other’s neck where they can always escape to. Because freedom is taking flight in love—with all it’s risks and pleasures.
“Can I kiss you?” Jeongguk asks rather shyly, but there’s certainty in his eyes. Taehyung nods his head, closing his eyes as Jeongguk closes the gap between them. The first touch of their lips is gentle and welcoming and Taehyung might say that it feels like soaring—it wouldn’t be far from the literal truth. They part for a small breath, only to dive back into another kiss—and this time, there’s more passion. It’s a kiss that says more than words ever can. It’s a wordless, but much more beautiful, form of thank you, I love you.
Miraculously—at this point, Taehyung has stopped questioning every unusual happening—they make it back to the palace, landing with ease near the boiler room. When the rest of the gang sees the two of them, there are celebratory hollers and cries of relief. Then there are bittersweet smiles and ' good luck' and ' goodbye' uttered to them . Because Taehyung and Jeongguk can finally leave now that they know they have their surnames, breaking all the curses and contracts that bind them to this world. Even Yeontan is back to normal when they sneak him out of the barn. Taehyung cries again when he finally has Yeontan in his much more familiar state in his arms again.
“So where do we go from here?” Taehyung asks as they pause in front of the red clocktower that they both had entered from before. Jeongguk smiles at Taehyung but it doesn’t quite reach his ears and the latter tilts his head—Yeontan mimicking him.
“I don’t...really have a home to go back to. I have no family left.” When Jeongguk retrieved all his memories, he saw the worst of them too. He saw the reason why he had to run away—how he found himself in the spirit world in the first place. He had nowhere else to go.
“Jeongguk…” Taehyung steps towards him with a shake of his head. Jeongguk scratches the back of his neck and he starts, “I could probably make a home for myself here, far away from the palace it’s-”
“Come home with me,” Taehyung suggests, but there’s a hint of resolution in his voice.
“I-I don’t want to intrude. You have a life out there, Taehyung. I don’t want to be a burden.”
Taehyung rolls his eyes at that. “Jungkook, I quite literally just told you that I’m in love with you,” he says as he uses the arm that isn’t holding his dog to reach over and grab Jeongguk’s hand. “You...love me too, right?”
Jeongguk squeezes his hand, a gesture he oftens does to reassure the other. “So much, Taehyung.”
“Then I’m your home just as much as you are mine,” Taehyung gently tugs on Jeongguk’s arm so that they’re almost chest to chest, with Yeontan right in between their hearts. “So let’s leave together?”
“Okay,” Jeongguk breathes out, wrapping his other arm around Taehyung’s waist. “Let’s go home.”