Archive of Our Own

Jimin always knew he would end up back here. Seoul was great, really, but there’s something about the ocean that whispers you’re home in each strand of Jimin’s DNA. He had been born near the sea, and if he were to wager a bet, Park Jimin thinks he’ll die by the sea. It’s a part of him, as steady as his beating heart and as encompassing as his coursing blood.

When Namjoon noticed his boyfriend’s steadily declining happiness, his disillusionment with the flex culture and grandiosity of Seoul, he suggested they go back to Jimin’s roots. A move to the ocean seemed to be just what Jimin needed.

Jimin was surprised, of course, but Namjoon is a writer. He has the luxury of working anywhere, “Maybe a new setting will be helpful, Min. It could give me new inspiration,” he had said.

Jimin tried desperately to assure Namjoon that he loved their life in Seoul, that he would be okay. But as he stared out their window to the grey dreariness of the city, he knew it wasn’t true.

On the weekends, they took the train down south, toured cities, and visited vacant houses. They found a nice cottage, quaint but some room to grow into, and Jimin fell in love. It isn’t Busan. They chose a smaller city with a rich history and a slower feel.

A month later, they moved in.

Jimin giggles when his boyfriend’s sturdy arms wrap around his midsection. Namjoon presses his face against the side of Jimin’s, kissing his cheekbone and humming into his ear.

“I’m trying to make lunch,” Jimin mutters, and he can feel Namjoon’s smile, lips spreading against his own soft skin. He pulls back enough to roll his eyes and press a soft kiss to Jimin’s temple. He watches his boyfriend work.

“And it smells lovely, as always,” he muses, dipping to hook his chin over Jimin’s shoulder. He can make himself so small when he wants to, “I was thinking we could go for a walk along the shore? It’s nice out today.”

Jimin nods once, his attention focused on the task at hand. After a moment, he stops, shuffles around in Namjoon’s arms, and presses a chaste kiss to his lips, “Okay. After lunch.”

Namjoon grins, cheeks dimpling, and when he fully pulls away to let Jimin finish, he moves to set the table. They’ve been together long enough by now that they’ve settled into an easy routine. They can read each other, anticipate each other’s moods.

When Hoseok had introduced them during Jimin’s first year of university, Namjoon had been immediately smitten. He had tripped over himself, blurted out random facts that might amuse the younger, and tried valiantly to be the type of man he thought Jimin deserved.

Jimin had never met someone so kind, and they’ve been together ever since.

Jimin sets their meal on the table, slides into his seat and serves himself. They eat in companionable silence, the bluetooth speaker playing one of Namjoon’s many lo-fi playlists.

By the time they’re finished and pulling on jackets to head out into the early afternoon sun, Jimin feels sleepy. He tugs Namjoon toward the door, tangling their fingers together and smiling quietly.

The sea breeze is cold, refreshing, everything Jimin loves. He stands close to Namjoon, siphoning some of his body heat, “We should have moved in the summer.”

“No, the summer will be worse! It’s so hot here in the summer, hyung. Worse than Seoul could even dream of,” Jimin muses, smiling up at the blue sky.

The wind is biting, but Jimin just smiles at the water, listens to it lap at the shore, glimmering in the afternoon sunshine. It’s beautiful.

Namjoon starts rambling about beach ecosystems, chattering happily while they go. Jimin chimes in every so often to ask a question, prompting Namjoon on a new tangent.

He loves how much Namjoon knows.

They wander farther from their cottage, dip their toes in the frigid water, and watch a group of kids playing nearby.

They chase each other, splashing with ocean water and screaming out in excitement. Jimin sighs wistfully, leaning once again into Namjoon’s steady weight. They’re cute, squealing and tagging and jumping around. Jimin admires their wide eyes.

They continue on, pushing past the group and toward the dock. They’re doing construction, but the water is so blue nearby, looking almost alive while it splashes against the wood.

“Sir!” Jimin has just begun another question when the small voice cries out. Jimin spins around to see a young girl, who can't be older than six. She blinks up at them, “Stay away from the monster.”

Jimin frowns, taking a small step closer to the girl, crouching down so that they are eye level, “There’s no monster here. You don’t have to be afraid,” he assures her, but she shakes her head, holding her breath until her golden skin is tinged pink.

“He is. And he’s angry. He’ll eat you! Stay away,” she says, lower lip wobbling. They watch her run back to her friends, crashing into the incoming wave without fear.

Jimin doesn’t know what to say, staring after her in stunned silence until Namjoon’s broad hand rests against his shoulder, “Minie, c’mon. She’s fine, just caught up in local lore.”

Jimin stands, grabbing Namjoon’s hand and nodding. He knows he doesn’t need to be afraid. Their sleepy city isn’t dangerous. The little girl and her friends are safe so long as the ocean doesn’t swallow them up.

“You don’t have to worry about monsters,” Namjoon reminds him, knocking their shoulders together. Jimin nods, choosing to sit in silence for the rest of their walk.

Namjoon continues his lecture on ecosystems, and Jimin tries to listen. But he finds himself hung up on the warning of a small smile, his gaze locked on the lulling movement of the water.

When they reach the dock, Jimin stills, searching the water for a sign of something there. He remembers tales from his childhood, the warning of ocean beasts that want to steal you away, eat you for dinner. He shivers.

“Come on, let’s go home and have some tea,” Namjoon says. Jimin turns, but just before he looks away, he catches a spot of inky black from the corner of his eye, a suspicious flash, and then nothing.

When Jimin tries to sleep, he dreams of drowning.

It’s nearly a week later when Jimin is out on the beach again, walking barefoot along the shoreline, waves breaking against his delicate ankles, when he sees it.

Another flash of inkly black like midnight personified in the water. He blinks and it’s gone, but if he thinks hard enough, he can see pointed claws atop a blackened hand. He sucks in a sharp breath and stares, trying to figure out why his brain keeps playing tricks on him.

He sits down, shivers when the waves soak through his jeans, and he waits. He stares at the water, counting measured breaths and trying to slow his heart rate.

He sits there for a long time, long enough for the sun to crest and begin falling, long enough for his stomach to growl.

When he sees it again, he sucks in a sharp breath. It’s clear this time, a smooth, onyx color hand shooting up from the waves and disappearing again, shimmering in the sunlight. Jimin blinks once, standing and searching the water for another glimpse.

He makes his way home an hour later, shaken up and confused. As a child, the older boys told him to stay away from the water at night or alone. They told him the creatures that feast in the dark would tear him limb from limb and drink his blood.

He had nightmares for years before he finally understood that it was just a power grab. They enjoyed watching Jimin tremble, afraid to spend time too close to the waves.

He wonders if he’s lost his mind or if his childhood nightmares have appeared to haunt him.

Namjoon is singing in the shower when Jimin gets in, dripping his jeans off before he steps out of the shoe room. He slips into the shower behind Namjoon, appreciates the flex of his muscles, and plasters himself to his back.

“You were gone for a long time,” he notes, and Jimin hums noncommittally.

“I was searching for something,” he whispers, and Namjoon smiles.

“Did you find it?” he asks, and Jimin chews on his cheek, thinking about the flash of black against the sea-green hues of the water.

“I’m not sure what I found.”

“Holy shit, Jimin what is that ?” Namjoon demands, and Jimin whips around, eyes immediately settling on a body lying face down in the shallows of the ocean. Jimin blinks once. Then again before he takes a curious step forward.

At his movement, a head snaps up, a tired gaze going focused as his eyes narrow. They make eye contact, and Jimin’s head cocks to the side. The creature mirrors him, mimicking the movement in a way that makes Jimin feel a bit dizzy.

It’s beautiful in a weird, uncanny valley, sort of way. It’s just human enough to be alluring and just foreign enough to be frightening. But Jimin has been looking, keeping his gaze locked on the water for glimpses of something .

It looks about Jimin’s size but with broad, strong shoulders and lithe muscles. He isn’t big, but Jimin can see the corded muscle of his arms shift when it presses up to reveal more of itself. It blinks once, tilting its head the other way, and Jimin relaxes.

His hair and eyes are an inky black color. His hands and lower forearms look like they’ve been dipped in shimmering black paint that refracts in the sun. His nails come to sharp little points. Jimin wonders if his teeth do too.

The most off-putting thing is the tentacles. There are eight of them, thick and dark and unmistakable. Namjoon presses closer to Jimin.

“Sea monster?” Jimin offers, and Namjoon hisses, tugging at Jimin’s arm, trying to pull him away. Jimin digs his heels in, still making pointed eye contact with the creature.

“You aren’t helping, Jimin. Come on. Let’s go ,” he mutters, and Jimin pulls his arm free, shaking his head minutely.

If the thing wanted them dead, he could have done it already.

Namjoon opens his mouth to plead again when the creature jolts, scrambling back into the choppy water, ambling off until there’s nothing to see. Jimin would wonder if it were his imagination if Namjoon weren’t leaving crescent moon shaped marks with his nails.

Jimin turns away from the water after a drawn out moment, checks Namjoon over, pulls him in for a chaste kiss, “Come on. A storm is coming.

It’s not even a week later when they see him again. It’s evening this time, just before dusk. The setting sun is casting a bright glow across the water, and Namjoon holds Jimin’s hand tightly.

This time, Jimin sees him first. He’s sitting in the shallow water, staring at them intently. Jimin nudges Namjoon gently and nods in his direction. Their gazes have already locked, and Jimin can’t find it in himself to pull his gaze away.

The creature raises its darkened hand in what seems to be the vague approximation of a wave. Jimin blinks once, “is he saying hi?”

Namjoon huffs, grip tightening, “Jimin, stop looking! What if he wants to eat us?”

“Quit being a baby. He isn’t acting like he wants to eat us,” Jimin says, lifting his free hand to wave back.

The creature’s eyes widen, and he glances back as if to check that Jimin is really saying hello to him. When he turns forward again, he drops his gaze, worrying at his bottom lip with his gleaming white teeth. Jimin drops Namjoon’s hand and takes a step closer.

“I don’t think he’s dangerous,” Jimin says, looking at Namjoon with a reassuring smile.

"Jimin, he's a wild animal. You're not supposed to get close. It's a-"

"What if he's lost?" he demands, and Namjoon whines, grabbing Jimin's hand and tugging him back.

"What if he tries to drown you!?" he pleads, and Jimin turns to look at him.

"I acknowledge that the octopus man may want to drown me. There, you happy? I just want to make sure he's okay," Jimin promises, pulling Namjoon down for a soft kiss, "you can stay over here. I'll be back as soon as I-"

" No . I'm not going to let you get dragged out to sea alone. If you're drowning, I am too," he argues, and Jimin rolls his eyes.

"No one is drowning. You're being dramatic." When Jimin turns back to the creature, it's looking over at them from under his fringe, and Jimin smiles politely, taking another tentative step forward.

He moves slowly like that, not making any sudden movements while he creeps toward the creature who is sitting there in the sand, letting the low tide wash up and surround his many extremities.

"Hi there," Jimin says gently once he's a couple of meters away. He kneels down, feels the sand against his knees as he smiles kindly, "are you lost?"

The creature blinks at him, shaking his head and averting his gaze. Jimin beams, turning to look at Namjoon, "he understands me!"

Namjoon plops down gracelessly beside Jimin, muttering an apology when the creature flinches.

"I'm Jimin, and this is Namjoon," he says then, turning his attention back to the sea creature, "we've never noticed you out here before and wanted to make sure you didn't need any help."

The creature's cheeks tinged pink, and Jimin nearly coos, "neighbors," he mutters softly, and Jimin is surprised. His voice is low, gravelly, but surprisingly human. He sounds normal.

"Us? Oh! So you've seen us, then. We like to take walks. The water is nice here," he says, and the creature nods once.

"Home," the creature says softly, pointing towards the rocks to the west where they've just begun building an outlook. Jimin frowns.

"Your home? They're building over it?" he asks, and the creature looks sad, nodding his head, "Oh, that's horrible. I'm so sorry..."

"Yoongi," he says, and Jimin smiles.

"I'm so sorry, Yoongi. It's nice to meet you."

"You could drown them. That would halt any- ow! " Jimin elbows him in the ribs.

The creature’s shoulders shake, and Jimin’s eyes soften. He’s laughing. Jimin looks between Jimin and Namjoon.

“It really is nice to meet you, Yoongi. It’s always good to meet the neighbors,” he muses, and Yoongi’s cheeks dust a soft pink.

“Normally, we’d come with a gift, but we weren’t really expecting-” Jimin elbows him again, “ Ow , Minie Stop!”

Yoongi chuckles again, and Jimin would nudge Namjoon, again and again, to draw the happy sound out of Yoongi.

It’s getting dark, the sun has fallen below the horizon, and Jimin hums, “We have to go make dinner. It was lovely to run into you, Yoongi-ssi. Maybe we’ll see each other again?”

Yoongi nods, watching the couple stand and walk away into the pale light of dusk.

Jimin wakes in the early morning before the sun has found its way over the horizon. Namjoon is snoring beside him with his face smashed into his pillow. Jimin shivers, the dregs of his dream slipping through his fingers like sand.

A flash of black. The breaking waves. The beating sun. A set of sharp, gleaming teeth.

He was small in the dream, no bigger than the young girl he and Namjoon had met on the shore weeks earlier. He had been swimming in the water, his parents lounging in the sand while he pushed deeper into the ocean.

He could hear his Eomma calling him back, but he just wanted to go farther. The water was dark, and cold. He shivered into it, swimming again.

Something grabbed his ankle, tugged him down, bit at the flesh of his arm, and then pushed him away. He had screamed, drank up a lungful of water, and flailed his way back to the shoreline.

His appa had scooped him up, cradled the shaking boy in his arms.

Jimin’s fingers ghost over the unblemished skin of his bicep, wondering if it was more than a dream.

The next time they see him, he’s standing, backlit by the late afternoon sun, glittering onyx in the light. Jimin waves, tugging Namjoon over. Yoongi smiles softly, meeting Jimin’s eyes for a brief second before he looks away.

“Good afternoon, Yoongi-ssi,” Namjoon says softly. Jimin echoes the sentiment and Yoongi nods, glancing up at Namjoon.

He mumbles a quiet, “Wait,” before turning and disappearing into the water. They stare at the waves for a moment with their fingers loosely linked together.

"He's cute," Jimin muses, and Namjoon snorts.

"Slow down there, monster fucker," he teases, and Jimin elbows him again.

"Oh shut up! That's not what I mean. He’s shy! And sweet!" Jimin argues, but before he can continue, there's a splash, the creature appearing from the water, rivulets of water slipping down his skin as he comes back over, sitting back down in his previous spot.

He looks between them, nibbling at his bottom lip before he opens his hands. Namjoon's eyes widen. There's a small crab in his hand, probably a baby. He pushes it closer to Namjoon, setting it down in the sand and turning to put a small white pearl in front of Jimin

"Oh wow," Namjoon says, leaning closer to the crab and smiling.

"Eat," Yoongi says sagely, and Namjoon's eyes snap up.

"Oh, Namjoonie doesn't eat crabs," he says softly to Yoongi, "you must have heard him talking about crabs. He just likes them."

"They're... friends, not food," Namjoon explains, and Yoongi's brows furrow.

"Not food..." he says, watching the crab skitter away, "bad gift," he says solemnly before turning back to the water.

"No! It's a very thoughtful gift. I love crabs! I didn't even know we had crabs close by!" Namjoon says cheerfully. Yoongi turns back to them, his cheeks turn pink again, and Jimin picks up the pearl, rolling it around in his small hand.

"I feel bad, we didn't bring you a gift," Jimin says, and Yoongi shakes his head. When Jimin looks up, and they lock eyes, Yoongi looks away, “We even mentioned last time that we like to have gifts when we visit neighbors, and you went out of your way to-”

“I didn’t expect a gift,” Yoongi says, an amused glint in his eye when they dart up to Jimin again. It stuns Jimin into silence.

Namjoon leans down to press a kiss on Jimin's cheek, and Jimin holds the pearl up for Namjoon to see, "We could make a nice necklace with this," he says, and Jimin grins.

"I'd love that," he says softly before turning back to Yoongi who is watching them out of the corner of his eye, "Thank you. It's beautiful," he says, and Yoongi nods, his soft nose scrunching up.

When it starts raining, Jimin groans, looking up at the sky.

"We should get back home before it's pouring," Namjoon says gently, and Yoongi's face falls. He nods and presses himself closer to the water. It's getting choppier, sloshing against his pale back.

“Do you need somewhere to go? Will you be safe in the storm?” Jimin asks, and Yoongi is affronted, lip curling into a slight snarl. He nods.

“I’ve always lived in the water,” he reminds Jimin.

“Right, of course. Sorry, I just worry,” he explains, moving to stand. Namjoon and Yoongi stand as well. No one moves for a minute while the sprinkling turns into a downpour. Yoongi reaches over to nudge them in the direction of their house.

“Dry,” he says simply, and Jimin grins, his eyes slipping into crescent moons.

“Okay, thank you,” he says, waving once again while Namjoon pulls him clumsily toward home.

Days pass in a blurring haze. It’s steadily getting warmer as the weeks pass, but Jimin still finds himself burrowing into Namjoon’s jackets more often than not.

Jimin wakes in the late morning. He takes time to recuperate before beginning his job search while Namjoon holes up in his office and writes. Jimin makes lunch and they eat together. In the afternoon, Jimin does yoga, takes walks, and reads books.

If he could stay here, frozen in these refreshing days forever, he would.

Today, he’s walking down the shoreline in one of Namjoon’s oversized sweaters, the sleeves dipping past Jimin’s fingers. He hums to himself and stops to take a picture of the water. Time feels slower here.

When the docs get closer, he sees a familiar flash of black in the water, and he grins. Yoongi doesn’t always say hi, but Jimin sees him frequently. Jimin thinks that if Yoongi didn’t want him to see him, he wouldn’t. After all, the existence of his kind is touted as nothing more than an urban legend. He knows how to keep hidden.

Jimin is smiling softly when Yoongi’s head pops out of the water, and he coughs violently, curling in on himself. Jimin’s smile slips away as he walks closer. When Yoongi meets his gaze, Jimin squeaks, running the final bit and dropping to his knees in the water.

“Yoongi-yah, what happened?” he demands, reaching out with nimble fingers to assess the bleeding. Yoongi whines, squeezing his dark eyes shut and leaning into Jimin’s gentle touch.

Jimin clenches his jaw, “Yoongi!”

The other man blinks away the dizzy haze and looks toward the dock with narrowed eyes, a hiss crawling its way up his throat, “Evil humans. Vile. Attacked me for going home ,” he says, and Jimin reaches up to sweep Yoongi’s dark hair from his eyes.

“Okay, it’s okay. I’ve got you,” Jimin says surely, eyes studying Yoongi. Jimin is strong. He’s always danced, but the thought of carrying Yoongi all the way back to their house gives him pause. He slips his cellphone from his pocket, dialing Namjoon and begging for him to pick it up.

“Minie?”

“We need your help. I know you’re working, but Yoongi is hurt. I can’t carry him back to the house alone, and I don’t want to make it worse,” he says calmly, keeping his words measured. He doesn’t want to stress Yoongi out even more.

“Wait, what? Is he okay? What happened? I’ll be there in a minute. Should I call an ambulance? Should we take him to the hospital?”

“Namjoon, take a breath. Come help me get Yoongi home. Nothing looks deep, but we need to clean the wounds and let him rest,” he says and in a moment, he can see Namjoon sprinting across the sand until he’s beside them.

“May I pick you up?” Namjoon asks, scooping Yoongi into his arms as soon as he’s muttered his assent. They make their way home swiftly, thankful that the beach is empty.

Yoongi’s tentacles writhe, wriggling against Namjoon. Jimin speaks softly, rambles to give Yoongi something else to focus on until they’ve sat him on the couch. Namjoon fetches their first aid kit while Jimin asks Yoongi a few questions.

An hour later, Yoongi is fixed up. Half asleep and bandaged on the couch. When he falls asleep, Jimin sucks in a wavering breath, trying to blink away his tears.

Namjoon pulls him close, pressing one firm kiss to his temple, “He’s okay. You did good.”

Jimin nods, exhausted from taking care of their guest, “He can’t go back there,” Jimin says firmly, and Namjoon nods.

“He could stay?” Namjoon offers after a moment of silence, and Jimin turns to him with wide eyes.

“He can stay.”

Yoongi wakes, curled into a ball on their couch. He can hear someone puttering around behind him, and he groans. A moment later, Jimin is beside him.

“Yoongi-yah? Are you awake?” he asks quietly, smiling when Yoongi manages to peel his eyes open.

He nods his head mechanically, blinks into the light, and groans.

Jimin giggles, his eyes slipping into crescent moons, and Yoongi’s eyes widen. He’s so pretty, sitting here on the living room floor dwarfed in a big Jacket. There’s something so kind about him, unabashedly helpful and genuine.

Yoongi’s cheeks warm.

He glances down at himself, frowning when he catches sight of his dry tentacles. They’re uncomfortable without water, itchy and tight.

Jimin watches him patiently, watches as the color drains from his hands, tentacles retracting until he looks perfectly human, blinking his eyes back open. His irises are still so deep that his pupils disappear, but he's just a handsome man.

Jimin sucks in a sharp breath, eyes stuck on his. When Namjoon enters the living room, he squeaks.

“He’s naked,” the older man blurts out, tripping over his words. Jimin laughs, nodding once.

“And beautiful. Go find something for us to snack on? Or pour some tea and coffee? C’mon, Yoongi, let’s go find you some clothes,” Jimin muses, offering a hand.

Yoongi stares for a second before he laces their fingers together. Yoongi runs cold, his hands frigid against Jimin’s skin.

Then Jimin takes Yoongi through their home, closing the bedroom door behind him. Yoongi looks around curiously, taking in the warm colors and soft fabrics of their bedroom. Jimin taps his shoulder.

"Come on, let's get you rinsed off," he says, and Yoongi's head cocks to the side. He lets Jimin take him to the bathroom, turning on the shower and smiling. Yoongi's eyes narrow, and he leans closer, sticking out a hand and squeaking when it comes in contact with the water.

He leaps into the shower, feet lacking grip on the tile and flailing. Jimin grabs him around the waist, holding him up, "careful, Yoongi. The water isn't going anywhere," he assures, grimacing at his now-soaked clothes.

He shows Yoongi how to change the temperature before he strips his t-shirt off, tossing it in the sink and sauntering to the closet.

He pulls on one of Namjoon's shirts and a new pair of pants and grabs an outfit for Yoongi. When he heads back into the bathroom, he's sitting beneath the water stream, smiling up at the showerhead. Jimin chuckles.

"Okay, want to get dressed and come hang on the couch?" he asks, and Yoongi glances at the water.

"Come on," he says, offering a hand.

Yoongi lets Jimin pull him up. He turns off the water, rolling his eyes when Yoongi whines at the loss. Jimin grabs a towel, patting Yoongi dry while he hums.

"Alright, let's get you dressed," he says, offering the clothes to the dark-haired man. Yoongi's nose scrunched up, and he shakes his head.

"Don't want to," he says, and Jimin laughs, nodding.

"Yeah, I get it, They're not quite as comfy as being naked. But Namjoonie-hyung is a bit shy, so you're going to have to bear it for him," he says, tossing the sweatpants and t-shirt onto the counter, "how about a compromise? Put these on."

He leaves the boxer briefs with Yoongi and goes to grab his favorite robe, a satiny midnight blue, and brings it to drape over Yoongi's shoulders.

It looks stunning against his lighter skin, and Jimin nearly swoons. He drags Yoongi back to the living room where Namjoon is patiently waiting on the couch.

"You know, I never expected to have a sea monster in my house," he says casually, and Yoongi pouts.

"Not a monster," he mumbles while crossing his arms. Jimin tosses back his head when he laughs before guiding Yoongi to sit beside Namjoon, the robe falling away to reveal the smooth flesh of his thighs.

"When I went on a walk today, I wasn't expecting to end up with two pretty boys on my couch," Jimin muses, dropping down beside Yoongi and curling himself into the corner of the sofa, "but I can't say that I'm mad about it. We really don't mind if you stay. I know it must be heartbreaking to lose your home."

Yoongi glances at Namjoon and nods, “Thank you. It’s been hard. My Eomma passed away a year ago, so it’s just me now.”

They sit there in bated silence for a long while, staring at each other. What does one say to the handsome tentacle monster on the couch? What do you talk about?

Yoongi starts looking around, curiosity getting the better of him. He’s never been in a human house before. He doesn’t tend to like humans. They hurt his home and threaten his friends and cause ruin wherever they go.

These humans make something fluttery happen in the pit of Yoongi’s stomach. He doesn’t know what it is, but Jimin’s smile and Namjoon’s voice and their reassuring words make Yoongi feel soft.

He glances over at Jimin, blinking once. When Jimin meets his gaze, he looks away, cheeks warming just enough to send a slight flush across his cheeks.

“Namjoon, I like him. Can we keep him?” he says, and Yoongi makes a strangled noise, gaze snapping back to Jimin. Jimin just giggles, his eyes disappearing when he smiles. Yoongi kind of wants to lick him. Or bite him. Or squeeze him. He looks away again.

“He’s not a pet, Minie,” Namjoon says mildly, and Jimin rolls his eyes.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” he says, reaching over Yoongi to swat at his boyfriend, “I just think he’s cute and nice. And I’d like to keep him. I keep you .”

Namjoon rolls his eyes, arm stretching across the expanse of the couch’s back, palm up for Jimin to take.

Jimin laces their fingers together and leans into the back of the couch, letting his eyes fall closed. The afternoon’s adrenaline has bled away, leaving him exhausted.

“So, about that coffee,” Namjoon says, startling Jimin from his thoughts.

“Okay, let’s have some coffee.”

When Namjoon wakes the next morning, the couch is empty. He looks around the room, frantic. He searches the kitchen and the closets and when he comes up empty-handed, he starts pacing.

They’ve only had Yoongi for half a day, and they’ve already managed to lose him. Amidst his panic, he hears Jimin’s twinkling giggle coming from the bedroom. He pushes inside. When he rounds the corner, he sees Yoongi asleep on the bathroom floor, curled up beneath the showerhead.

He lets out a shaky breath, wrapping his arms around Jimin’s midsection. He presses a kiss to Jimin’s shoulder and watches Yoongi’s chest rise and fall with his easy breaths, “I almost had a panic attack when he wasn’t in the living room.”

Jimin rolls his eyes, swaying in Namjoon’s hold, “He likes the water,” Jimin muses, pressing closer into his boyfriend’s chest.

“He looks so peaceful,” Namjoon muses, sucking in a sharp breath when Yoongi’s dark eyes slide open. He scans the room, eyes locking on Jimin and Namjoon before he sits up, blinking into the bathroom light.

“Morning, Yoongi,” Jimin says, voice lilting with his smile, “What are you doing in the bathroom?” he asks.

Without answering, Yoongi extends his hand and turns on the shower, trilling happily when the water crashes over his head, wetting his hair and skin. He looks up into the showerhead with a content smile.

Namjoon chuckles, squeezing Jimin briefly before he speaks, “You don’t have to stay. Not if you don’t want to. I know we don’t have enough water for you here, and we won’t be offended if you want to go back to the ocean.”

Yoongi frowns, turning to look at Namjoon with narrowed eyes, “You have water,” he says, glancing up at the shower, “I like it here.”

Jimin laughs, walking over and plopping down beside Yoongi, shivering when the frigid shower wets his pajamas.

“I certainly don’t mind the larger water bill… but it can’t be comfortable to sleep in here.”

Yoongi sucks his bottom lip into his mouth, eyes wide and uncertain. Jimin reaches over tentatively, offering his hand. Yoongi takes it without a word, linking their fingers together. Namjoon joins them on the bathroom floor, knees pressed together.

“Maybe we should buy a tub,” Namjoon suggests casually, running a hand through his hair. Jimin hums, nodding slowly.

“Yeah, it’ll eat into our kitchen renovation budget, but I think a bath would be good,” he says, leaning his head on Namjoon’s shoulder. Yoongi is playing with his fingers, humming quietly to himself, and Jimin grins.

Jimin wakes late. The sun is already settled into the sky, and the bed beside him is cold. He groans, stretches out, and rolls out of the bed.

Namjoon is locked away in the spare bedroom, typing away, and Yoongi is sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee. His pale skin is on display, covered only by his underwear, and Jimin grins, plopping down beside him.

Yoongi leans into his side, humming low at the contact. He’s perpetually cold, trying to siphon their body heat, but Namjoon and Jimin can’t complain.

He fits like he was born to be there, slotting easily into their daily lives until it’s impossible to remember what it was like before him. He presses a soft kiss to Jimin’s cheek, and Jimin giggles.

“Morning, hyung,” he muses, letting his monster-hyung pull him close.

“Morning, Jagi-yah. Can we go for a swim today?” he asks, and Jimin nods immediately, eyes sliding to the back door.

It’s sunny today, perfect weather for a dip in the waves.

Yoongi grins, tugging Jimin until he’s seated in Yoongi’s lap. He hides his smile in the hair at the nape of Jimin’s neck.

“Have you had breakfast yet?” Jimin asks softly, and Yoongi shakes his head from his hiding place, “C’mon Hyung. Let’s go make breakfast.”

Jimin can’t help but watch him while they cook. Yoongi moves swiftly, now comfortable in this shared space they’ve all created together. Jimin jumps when arms wrap around his midsection.

“What’s for brunch?” Namjoon says gently, pressing a kiss to the nape of Jimin’s neck before he leans over and presses a second kiss to Yoongi’s cheek.

“Breakfast,” Jimin corrects, and Yoongi snorts.

“I agree with Joon. It’s brunch. Not all of us sleep in until eleven,” he points out. Jimin huffs, muttering to himself while he cooks.

“You’re so mean to me. Why are you so mean to me?” he demands, and Namjoon laughs, nipping at the skin of Jimin’s neck and shaking his head.

“I love you, Minie,” he muses.

“I love you too!” Yoongi chimes in, swooping over to press a firm kiss to Jimin’s soft pink lips.

“Yeah, yeah. You’re just trying to butter me up with kisses,” he mutters, and Namjoon laughs again, squeezing Jimin tight.

“You love our kisses.”

“I do. I love you both… and your kisses. Go make us some coffee while we finish the food.” Jimin nudges Namjoon in the rib with his elbow, sighing wistfully when his weight disappears.

They move like that, comfortable in silence while they prepare brunch together before they settle in on the couch thigh to thigh. They share food, stealing off of each others’ plates and laughing into the morning sun.

“Hyungs?” Jimin says softly after Yoongi has collected the plates. Namjoon hums in acknowledgement and Yoongi stops where he’s walking to the sink, “Thank you both. For everything.”

Yoongi’s face contorts, and he sets the plates aside before dropping gracelessly onto Jimin’s lap, “None of that. We haven’t done anything special,” he argues, and Jimin shakes his head.

“I was really sad before we moved here and met you. Joonie has always been perfect, but Seoul was… and now I’m here. With you both. I’m just really lucky, is all.”

Yoongi hums, leaning in to peck Jimin’s nose, “I’m the luckiest. You gave me a home and taught me to stay,” Yoongi reminds him. Namjoon sighs softly, pressing close and hugging them both.

“We’re all the luckiest. This is very cute. Can we go swimming now?”

“How are you this emotionally constipated!?” Jimin snaps, and Namjoon shoves his shoulder.

“I take it all back, I’m drowning you in the ocean.”

“Yoongi hyung will save me,” Jimin counters.

“Aish, you two are impossible. Go get your swim clothes on before I dive into the ocean and swim away without you.”

It was a joke, of course. Jimin giggles, and Namjoon rolls his eyes. And they do move to get changed for the water. While they’re gone, Yoongi thinks about his time before, alone and cold and scared. And now he’s here, surrounded by light and love and all the showers he could possibly want.

It can’t get better than this.

A month later, Yoongi is pulling Jimin through the water by his hand. The late spring sun is beating down on them, and Jimin wonders if he put on enough sunscreen before they came out.

They’re far from the shore, Yoongi trilling happily while they swim, and Jimin’s chest is heaving with exertion.

“Someday, we should get you a tank, so I can take you diving. I think you’d like it,” Yoongi muses, squeezing Jimin’s hand three times while he grins at him. Jimin nods, taking a deep breath and kicking his legs harder.

Without saying anything, Yoongi stops and pulls Jimin to his chest, encouraging him to wrap his legs around Yoongi’s midsection above his tentacles, “You’re tired,” he says softly, sweeping Jimin’s sopping hair from his eyes.

Jimin smiles, teeth chattering lightly, “Yeah, but it’s fun. I like swimming with you. And you’re so peaceful out here. I feel bad sometimes… like we took you away from your home.”

Yoongi frowns at Jimin’s confession, and he leans forward to slot their lips together, pressing gentle kisses to Jimin until he relaxes.

“Jiminie, you and Namjoon are it for me. Sure, I love the water… but I love you guys more.” He says it so simply that Jimin feels breathless. He smiles and leans in to pepper kisses across Yoongi’s cheeks.

Yoongi giggles, his nose scrunching up at the easy affection, “Could you hold your breath? I wanna take you under, just for a little,” Yoongi says, and Jimin nods, “Okay, remember to tap my shoulder or squeeze if you need to come up.”

It isn’t the first time they’ve done this. Yoongi knows that Jimin has a fascination with the water. He would stay out here in the deep blue sea if he could, but instead, he settles for dives with his boyfriend cradling him close.

Yoongi tells him when to take a breath before they’re sinking down. They move swiftly, stopping when Jimin’s ears pop, and he looks around.

The fish are beautiful, swimming freely in the open water. When he looks down, he feels a bit nauseous, pressing closer to Yoongi. It’s vast and dark and unending. Jimin can’t help but wonder about the world down here, untainted by human greed.

He feels one of Yoongi’s tentacles caress his calf, and he smiles, turning to look at Yoongi who is more ethereal underwater.

His dark hair fans out, and his eyes are the same unending darkness as the ocean. His pale skin looks translucent against the backdrop of water.

When Jimin’s lungs start to burn, he squeezes Yoongi’s shoulder twice and whisked back up for air.

He gasps, heart pounding in his chest, and he drops his head on Yoongi’s shoulder, panting into his wet skin, “It’s incredible. You’re incredible,” he rasps, and Yoongi presses a soft kiss to his head.

They don’t talk while Jimin carries him back to shore. When they’re standing, Yoongi shifts back, waiting for Jimin to run to their bag and grab him a pair of swim shorts to slip on.

They laze on the sand, hand in hand and watching the waves for a while. Yoongi is studying Jimin’s profile when he hears his name. Head perking up, he sees Namjoon sprinting toward them with a wide grin.

“Hyung! Jimin-ah!” He drops to his knees beside them, “I did it. I finished my draft,” he says, and Jimin is on him in a millisecond, tackling him into the sand with a raucous laugh.

“Oh my god, Joonie, you’re amazing!” He muses, moving over when he feels Yoongi behind him. They lay atop Namjoon, pressing kisses and compliments to his skin until he’s melted into the sand.

“I’m so proud of you, Joonie,” Jimin says, and Yoongi nods, lacing their fingers together.

“Me too. When do we get to read it?”

Namjoon blushes, looking between them and shrugging, “Whenever you want, I guess. It isn’t perfect yet. It’s still a bit of a shit show since it’s the first draft.”

Jimin shakes his head, “No, It’s incredible I’m sure. Yoongi-hyung and I better be on that dedication page, Kim Namjoon,” he says, and Namjoon leans up to kiss him softly, barely-there presses of lips together. When he moves to Yoongi, he repeats the gesture.

“You’re too kind. Come on, you’re both freezing, and I want to go out for dinner to celebrate! Put on nice clothes. I made a reservation,” he says, and Yoongi blushes.

“How’d I get so lucky?” he asks.

Whatever answer may have been said is lost when Jimin tackles him into the sand.