Work Text:
Seokjin always knows when it’s time to come back. He feels it in the water, warmer now. He feels it in his heart, a draw to his home waters and the forest that keeps his loves safe. Seokjin knows sirens’ calls; the pull he feels when winter wanes into spring is stronger than that. The sea warms and the currents shift.
Seokjin is used to all of this. He’s used to sudden storms, too. A storm brought him to his cove originally. The waters had swelled high and forced him to land. It was a lucky storm, full of destiny.
Seokjin can feel a different kind of storm looming over the water’s surface, building up. He swims swiftly. That’s his mistake, he thinks. Merpeople know trying to outrun storms only angers the skies.
He hears the whistle of the wind before he gets whipped by a swirling current. His fin kicks fruitlessly forward, the muscles straining and tense. There are a few moments of suspension, where Seokjin doesn’t move forward and the current doesn’t push him back. Seokjin is stuck in one spot, eyes narrowed in concentration, fists tightened. This seems to upset the storm even more, and Seokjin is jettisoned backwards and around and in between and up.
Seokjin gasps when he breaks the surface. The storm sways the waves around him, a deadly rocking as bright and opaque as sea glass. Seokjin tries to readjust his barings, tries to feel for the direction of his cove, the direction of his loves. When he turns, he finds a skyreaching, angry green wave instead. Seokjin grits his teeth and steels his thoughts with images of rosy freckled fairy cheeks, mischievous imp giggles, steady orange beats of dragon’s wings, pretty purple flowers between dryad hands, sharp elf ears tucked under a cupule hat, and a wagging furry wolf’s tail. They’ll help him weather this storm. They’ll help him get home.
The wave crashes down on him and Seokjin sinks deep into the water.
🌊🌊🌊
Jungkook frowns at the distant dark clouds from the edge of the shore. The storm doesn’t seem like it’s coming their way, drifting deeper into the ocean instead. Something about it makes Jungkook’s chest tighten though, his tail sags behind him.
“Don’t worry, Jungkook-ah,” Namjoon says, slipping behind him and wrapping a strong arm around his shoulders, “It’s going away, see? The beach is safe.”
“He’s late, hyung,” Jungkook says, still looking out to the water. The beach is too quiet. It’s been quiet since Seokjin left for the winter. Jungkook spent most of the season holed up with Yoongi in his cave, coming out occasionally for more food and to make sure his other loves weren’t too lonely.
“He’ll get here,” Jimin says. Jungkook turns to find the fairy fretting over an arrangement of fresh blooms dug into the sand. Hoseok wanted to show Seokjin what he grew over the winter and dumped a large pile of blooms at Jimin’s feet earlier. Jimin’s spent the past few hours forcing the stems into carefully organized bouquets all around the beach. “This looks even, right?”
“It looks perfect.” Namjoon leaves Jungkook to pull Jimin into a sweet and distracting kiss. Jimin’s wings quiver happily.
Jungkook rolls his eyes. Jimin may be finicky about decorations, but redirecting his attention doesn’t take much. Taehyung is usually on Jimin distraction duty, but he had disappeared with Hoseok back to the eastern glen for more blooms. Yoongi catches Jungkook’s wary glances and waves him over to the forest edge.
“Wanna help me build a fire, pup?”
“A fire?”
Yoongi nods. “That storm will probably bring some cold winds after it. I’m still not completely warmed up from winter so—”
“I got it!” Jungkook scampers into the forest for logs large enough to build Yoongi a tall flame. He knows he’s just fallen for a distraction of his own, but making sure Yoongi is comfortable beats pouting at the ocean until Seokjin returns. Jungkook carries his pile of logs to the beach and starts building the fire. He’s quicker at it after a few months rekindling Yoongi’s cave fires. After Taehyung brought the fairysilk blanket, Yoongi only needed the fire for light and reassurance, and Jungkook was happy to indulge him.
“Looks great!” Taehyung says a few hours later. He and Hoseok return with wicker baskets of fruit and nuts. Hoseok sits near Yoongi, handing him tangerines as he sorts through the other fruit for what needs to be cut and what needs to be peeled.
“I think I should make it bigger,” Jungkook says.
“Don’t burn down the beach before Jimin can throw his party.” Taehyung laughs. “This should be big enough to keep our lizard warm.”
“I’m not a lizard!” Yoongi calls. Taehyung blows him a kiss with a wink and Yoongi is reduced to a blush and a petty grumble. Hoseok laughs, ruffling his pale hair and handing him another tangerine.
“I thought it could help bring Seokjin home.” Jungkook points to the sea where the dark clouds have become just a speck in the glow of the setting sun. It’ll be dark soon. “I just want to light his way.”
“It is getting late, isn’t it?” Taehyung turns to the water, too, frowning. “The storm was pretty bad. I can still feel it from here.”
“Do you think he’s okay?”
Taehyung smiles and nuzzles his nose into Jungkook’s cheek. Jungkook sags into Taehyung’s hug, releasing his worry for a moment. “The moon’s gonna be up soon,” Taehyung whispers, “maybe that’s why you’re feeling all wound up.”
Seokjin always returns for the first full moon of spring. He usually arrives before moonrise, but now the moon has started peeking over the leafy horizon of the forest. Jungkook watches the line where sun and ocean kiss, worry back in his chest.
“There’s something wrong.” He lifts his head up, sniffing the air. He can smell Taehyung, soft sandalwood musk and sweet apple blossom. The scents of the others linger behind the firewood, safe and secure. And the sea... The salt in the air is stark, refreshing in Jungkook’s nose. He can smell the lingering sunlight, burning warm onto the idle waves. There are remnants of the storm—rainwater and dust—slowly fading away with each rock of the ocean’s surface.
Jungkook stiffens at the scent underneath the surface. It’s even fainter than the storm’s smell and buried under all the water and salt, but it’s Seokjin. Salty-sweet and familiar . Jungkook bolts for the water. He dives in, ignoring Taehyung’s yell.
Jungkook is a quick swimmer. When they were first courting, Seokjin liked to challenge him to races. He never let Jungkook win, and Jungkook fell in love with him for that. The others give him some leeway as the youngest, but as much as Jungkook enjoys it, he loves the equal play with Seokjin, too. Now Jungkook’s grown stronger and longer, and he can keep pace with Seokjin easily. The speed helps him make it to the edge of the cove only minutes after catching Seokjin’s scent.
Jungkook’s nose is strong. He can smell his loves from the other side of the forest, and though the sea muddles most of the scents around Jungkook now, he hones in on Seokjin’s sweet smell and swims straight for him. There's no metallic blood scent, Jungkook is relieved to notice. The last of the sun's rays light up the water, clear Jungkook’s path to the edge of the land, where the coastal cliffs drop off to open ocean. Jungkook lifts back up for a hurried gasp of air and dives back in to continue his search.
He finds Seokjin with a sluggish, tired flick of his coral purple tail. Jungkook kicks lower into the water, waving his hands to catch Seokjin’s attention. He wants to yell his excited relief, to scream for Seokjin’s return, but a sudden change in the current slams him down into the sand, reminds him how out of place a wolf can be in the water. Seokjin is always careful to steer Jungkook away from the waters outside the cove when they play. He’s told Jungkook how dangerous the ocean can turn. That’s why it withers Jungkook’s heart to watch Seokjin swim away for winter.
Jungkook flips around in the water, his knees tucked up into his chest. The whistle and click of Seokjin’s mer-language ignites a flutter in Jungkook’s chest. Seokjin floats before him, smiling softly and waving his hands. The music of his language rings in Jungkook’s ear, and like a flower opening up after the release of winter, Jungkook’s heart soars at the sound. Sunlight filters through the water. It glistens around Seokjin’s plush smile, his floaty black hair, his perfect purple tail, like twinkling stars.
Jungkook laughs before he can think, and chokes on seawater right after.
Seokjin chirps, his underwater laughter, and grabs Jungkook’s arm. He hauls Jungkook to the surface, his strong tail kicking them up in moments. Seokjin lets him take a breath when they breach the water before he drags Jungkook into a swift kiss. Jungkook can feel Seokjin’s smile against his lips. When they break apart, Jungkook shakes his head roughly, sending water droplets all over Seokjin.
“Yah! You’ll drown me!” Seokjin laughs.
“That’s impossible, hyung.” Jungkook giggles along. He smashes his forehead into Seokjin’s breathing in his scent. He’s safe. He’s here . He’s home. “I missed you.” Jungkook whispers.
Seokjin pecks his cheeks. “I missed you, too. Did you take care of Yoongi-chi while I was gone?”
Jungkook nods.
“Good.” Seokjin scratches at Jungkook’s hairline at the nape of his neck, cooing. “Wanna race to the beach?”
Jungkook pulls away, takes in the tired shade of Seokjin’s irises, the lethargic sway of his tail under the water. “Were you in the storm?”
Seokjin stiffens, his smile slips for a moment before he shakes his head and pats Jungkook’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about it, Jungkook-ah. Let’s go see the others, hm?”
Jungkook narrows his eyes, unconvinced.
“Come on! I know Jiminie’s planning something, right? He always makes a party for me.”
“Spoiled.” Jungkook scoffs.
“Don’t I deserve to be?” Seokjin’s eyes go wide, and he blinks with an innocence Jungkook knows is mostly feigned. Still, Jungkook is reminded of when he first met Seokjin, who was so clueless about the world outside of the water. He used to watch Jungkook and the others with the same, unguarded gaze, absorbing everything he saw. He embedded himself in Jungkook’s life that way—in the lives of the others, too—until it didn’t matter that he couldn’t leave the water. Seokjin is as much a part of the forest, of Jungkook’s heart, as anyone else on land. The ocean can’t limit their connection.
“Yes,” Jungkook says.
Seokjin smiles. “Good!” He spins Jungkook around toward the beach and wraps his arms around Jungkook’s shoulders, leaning against his back. “Then swim me to the beach.”
“You’re a mermaid! You don’t need me to.”
“I’m so tired. What if I don’t make it back on my own? You’re strong enough to help me, aren’t you, Jungkook-ah? You need to work up your muscles again for summer.”
“You’re so obvious, hyung.” Jungkook sighs, already kicking his legs and swimming for the shore. Seokjin laughs until they can start making out the figures of their loves on the edge of the beach.
Seokjin’s breath hitches and he waves, laughing and chirping. Jimin and Yoongi shoot into the air and fly above Jungkook and Seokjin, circling and cheering down at Jungkook.
“So strong, pup.” Yoongi praises.
“You’re really shameless, Seokjin.” Jimin laughs. “You know you can swim faster.”
“He can not ! I can beat him in a race, easy.” Jungkook yells, kicking harder and faster to prove his point. Jimin laughs from above and swoops down to ruffle Jungkook’s hair.
“Don’t tire yourself out too much,” he says.
Jungkook huffs, pretending to be offended. He feels fine when they finally reach the beach. Namjoon lends him a hand and lifts Jungkook out of the water. Jungkook lets himself marvel at the stretch and pull of Namjoon’s muscles, a blush burning his cheeks.
“So obvious, Jungkook-ah.” Seokjin echoes. Jungkook shakes himself again, sending water everywhere. Hoseok yelps, whipping his cheeks with a frown.
“I knew we should have brought drying cloths,” Hoseok says.
“Sit him by the fire, he’ll dry up,” Yoongi says, landing in the sand and kneeling to give Seokjin a kiss. He kisses the pearl pendant on Seokin’s forehead, too, happy rumbles rolling out of his chest. “Welcome back.”
“Yoongi-chi.” Seokjin sighs, leaning out of the water to nuzzle his face into Yoongi’s neck. “You survived the cold, too.”
“Yeah. I had a little wolf to help me.” Yoongi turns to Jungkook, smiling warmly. Jungkook feels tears start to tingle his eyes.
Seokjin and Yoongi suffer the most with the change of seasons. They have to isolate themselves from the cold to survive, which often means leaving their loves behind. Jungkook tries to convince Seokjin to let him tag along every winter. Namjoon knows the dwarves of the mountains; they could build Jungkook a boat to follow Seokjin for the winter. But who will look after Yoongi? Seokjin always asks. And Jungkook knows he’s right. There’s only so much Jungkook can do in the water, but on land, he can keep the rest of their loves safe and warm. Jungkook can make sure they all weather the cold to welcome Seokjin back each spring.
Taehyung crashes between Seokjin and Yoongi, ignoring Yoongi’s disgruntled squawk and beaming down at Seokjin. He drops flat on his stomach so he’s at level with Seokjin, resting his chin over his crossed arms. His thin tail flicks, pleased and lazy as a cat’s. “Did you bring presents?”
Seokjin’s smile immediately drops. His frown breaks through the conversation of the beach. Jungkook can feel the others’ focus draw in on Seokjin.
“I lost them.” Seokjin’s voice wobbles.
“Oh no. It’s okay!” Jimin lies down next to Taehyung and cards his hand through Seokjin’s hair. “We don’t need presents. Right, Taehyung-ah?”
Taehyung doesn’t miss a beat. “You’re the best present, hyung.”
“I am?” Seokjin’s eyes go wide again, genuinely surprised.
“Of course,” Hoseok says. “I brought you presents this time. Look at my blooms!”
Seokjin trails after Hoseok at the edge of the beach, listening as the elf introduces each flower. Jimin follows behind them, gleaming with pride at his bouquets. Namjoon eventually calls Jungkook back toward the fire, tutting at his drenched clothes.
“You’ll catch a cold, pup.” Namjoon shucks off his cardigan and drapes it over Jungkook’s shoulders. “Sit here and dry up, okay? How are you feeling? The moon’s almost up.”
Jungkook smiles. “I’m fine. You know I just get a little more hungry.”
“Hungry?” Seokjin pops up from the water nearby, tilting his head curiously. “Jungkookie’s hungry?”
“I’m okay, hyung,” Jungkook says.
Seokjin shakes his head. “Hyung will catch something for you. Don’t worry. I’ll be right back with a big fish for Jungkookie.”
He’s gone before Jungkook can protest. He would follow after, but Namjoon slips an arm around his waist and pins him down.
“Let him take care of you,” Namjoon says, leaning his forehead against Jungkook’s temple. Jungkook watches the leaves on Namjoon’s branches sway with the wind. “You know how he gets when he comes back.”
Jungkook nods. He knows. Seokjin likes taking care of them, even if it’s from the water. That’s why he brings presents back from his winter travels, trinkets he picked up when he thought of them. Usually he returns with full seaweed bags of sunken human items or fish he caught in his magic bubbles. Each comes with a small story, an idle thought.
I saw this fish and it made me think of Hoseokie.
Namjoon-ah can drink tea from this cup, right? I saw humans do it.
Look at this shiny mirror I found, Taehyung-ah!
I strung these pearls by myself. You’ll wear them, right, Jiminie?
Yoongi, look! This fish has fins like your wings. They flow so pretty.
Hyung brough Jungkook-ah these shells. Do you like them? I had to fight off fifty sharks to get them. Yes, fifty! It’s true!
Seokjin returns with a fish between his teeth and some more in a quickly made bag. “Yoongi can cook these for you.”
“I can,” Yoongi says, untangling himself out of his cuddle between Taehyung and Hoseok.
“I can cook, hyung.” Jungkook protests. Yoongi waves him away, already taking the fish from Seokjin.
“I’m hungry, too. We can share.”
Jungkook lingers around Yoongi as he cooks. He waits for Yoongi to ask for help, but Yoongi’s fine on his own now that the air is warmer. Jungkook tries not to pout about it. The rising moon pulls at his emotions and exposes his worries like delicate petals. He sits at the edge of the beach, turning away from Yoongi before he gets too overwhelmed. He knows Yoongi’s just trying to show his gratitude for the last few months. This isn’t a rejection of Jungkook’s help, just a return of it. So he takes deep breaths and watches the full moon paint the waves a glowing silver.
“Are you okay?”
Jungkook startles when Seokjin pops out of the water. His eyes glow with concern and he slowly draws his hand out of the water and laces his fingers with Jungkook’s.
“What’s wrong?” He asks.
Jungkook thinks about deflecting, pretending he’s fine. But Seokjin looks so tired and travel worn and it’s been months since they’ve seen each other, Jungkook can’t deny him anything tonight.
“It’s just the moon. It makes me more sensitive.”
Seokjin hums, pulling Jungkook’s hand to kiss his knuckles. “Our Jungkookie is always sensitive.”
“I guess.”
“That’s why we love you,” Seokjin says. “You take care of us with your sensitive heart and we take care of it in return. That’s why I don’t feel sad when I leave. I know Jungkookie is watching over my loves and he’ll keep them safe while I’m gone.”
His words are supposed to soothe Jungkook, to remind him of the balance that makes their relationship work. And yet...
“What about you? Who will keep you safe?” Jungkook snaps. “You’re all alone out there. If anything happened to you, we’d never know. You’d just be— You’d be gone.”
Seokjin bites his lip, turning back to the horizon. The water is dark and endless, with only the moon to illuminate a single dissecting path over the waves. “You do keep me safe. You may not be right next to me when I’m out of these waters, but I carry you in my heart. You’re always with me, all of you. I was...” Seokjin sighs, shutting his eyes tightly like he’s in pain. “I got caught in that storm before. It was very scary. I’ve been in storms before. The ocean isn’t a predictable creature. Merpeople have learned to lean into its motions so we don’t get hurt. We’re taught to let the waves and currents move us, but I tried to swim against the current for the first time in my life. I wanted to get back to all of you. I thought the ocean would take me for my resistance but then... I wouldn’t have let it.”
“That’s dangerous, hyung.” Jungkook whispers, tightening his hand around Seokjin’s. Seokjin opens his eyes gazing up at Jungkook with a moonlight glitter.
“It’s worth trying to get home to you,” Seokjin says. “I’m sorry I lost your presents though.”
“Those don’t matter.”
“They do! I caught a puffer fish for Jiminie this time. He would have gone all pinch faced. How cute.” Seokjin smiles fondly. “And I found you this really cool orb! It had sparkles in it that floated around and a little castle inside. You would have loved it.”
Jungkook laughs. “It sounds cool.”
“I’ll swim back out to find it.”
“Only if you take me with you,” Jungkook says. “You have to promise to take me with you this time.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“Hyung!”
Seokjin laughs, patting the back of Jungkook’s hand with his other. There’s love in his eyes and Jungkook knows he’s wearing the same expression. Jungkook leans down to kiss Seokjin’s cheeks and the band on his forehead. Seokjin says the pearl is a reflection of his soul and it’s the closest Jungkook can get to actually embracing Seokjin’s heart.
“I’m glad you’re home,” Jungkook says.
“Me, too.” Seokjin releases his hands to cradle Jungkook’s cheeks and pull him in for a fuller kiss. Jungkook hums into the motion. Seokjin pulls away, smiling playfully. “I’ll let you swim out with me tomorrow.”
“But?” Jungkook raises his eyebrow. Ever since Taehyung taught Seokjin about pranks and jokes, the merman has become as fiendish as the imp. He just can’t hide it as well. Jungkook knows he’s in for some trick with Seokjin’s smile.
“I’ll only take you if you sing for me.”
“Sing?”
Seokjin’s smile broadens. “Sing your full moon song.”
“My...?” Jungkook tries to track the logic of Seokjin’s request. Jungkook can sing. He likes to mimic the sounds of Seokjin’s mersongs, which delights Seokjin, but Seokjin’s never asked for a full moon song. Just as he’s trying to pull together some lyrics about the full moon, he realizes what Seokjin must mean and a blush blooms over Jungkook’s ears. “You mean my howl?”
“That’s what you sing on the cliffs when the moon is full, right?” Seokjin’s tail lifts from the water, wagging excitedly. “I want to hear it up close.”
Jungkook looks away, covering his ears to hide his blush. His howl rips out of him when the moon is full and his emotions overwhelm him. It’s not a bad sound. Jimin says his heart is too big sometimes and the howl just lets the excess find release. So, Jungkook lets himself feel. He feels through the rest of his fear for Seokjin’s late return, the joy of finding him, the calm settling after seeing all of his loves together again. He remembers his worry for Yoongi over the winter, how he cradled the dragon close under fairysilk. He opens his senses to the sounds of his loves’ talk and laughter, to the scent of their forest home. A scent that is finally complete with Seokjin here. Jungkook is full of love when he opens his mouth to howl at the moon.
He pauses for a breath, silence settling on the beach.
“Beautiful,” Seokjin says.
“I wanna try, too.” Taehyung drops down next to Jungkook. He purses his lips and imitates a howl. “How was that?”
“It was great, hyung.” Jungkook laughs.
“Don’t say that just to make him feel better,” Yoongi says from behind them. He sits between Jungkook and Seokjin and hands Jungkook a roasted fish on a stick. “Your howl was way better, Jungkook-ah.”
“Thanks.”
“That’s not fair. You’re being mean. Jimin-ah! Yoongi’s being mean to me again!” Taehyung whines. Jungkook hears the rapid flap of Jimin’s wings before he hovers and lands next to Taehyung.
“You know it’s because he loves you,” Jimin says.
“He was nicer about it before.” Taehyung pouts.
“Wait for next winter then,” Yoongi says around a bite of fish. Jungkook rolls his eyes. He knows Yoongi will end up falling asleep with Taehyung later tonight. Yoongi’s found it easier to be affectionate with Taehyung after the imp spent a night in his cave with them. That doesn’t stop him from playing stoic.
“What did I say about you two?” Hoseok nudges Yoongi with his foot. “You’ve got to stop bickering like this.”
“It’s from a place of love, Hob-ah,” Yoongi says.
“Prove it!” Seokjin claps. “Hold hands for the rest of the night!”
“What?” Taehyung yelps.
Yoongi snorts, holding his hand out to Taehyung. “Come on.”
“For the whole night?” Taehyung leans away, wrinkling his nose. “No way!”
Hoseok clears his throat, crossing his arms. Taehyung flinches at the subtle downturn of Hoseok’s eyebrows.
“ Fine .” Taheyung scrapes over the sand to take Yoongi’s hand. His head drops onto Yoongi’s shoulder in embarrassment. “Hide me, hyung.”
Yoongi chuckles, one of his wings wrapping around Taehyung to cover him.
“Look at all of you.” Namjoon beams down at them from Jimin’s side. Jungkook’s still wearing his cardigan and he pulls the edges tighter around his body, warmth filling his body. “We’re all together again. Finally.”
“We’re always together,” Jungkook says, sharing a look with Seokjin. The merman’s eyes water and he swims around Yoongi and Taehyung to take Jungkook’s hand again. “Even when we’re apart, we’ll always be together.”
“Of course,” Namjoon says. “That’s what it means to love.”