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The sun beats down on Yoongi’s back from his perch in the branches of a tree. It’s warm, and his wings flutter a little against the heat, but he pays it no mind. His attention is focused elsewhere. Namely - on the pretty witch that lives nearby.
Namjoon.
He’s out in his herb garden again, tending to the plants with his huge, black wolf coiling around at his feet. Yoongi can tell he’s speaking to it - or maybe also to the plants, but he can’t make out the words. Maybe that’s his secret to how his plants flourish so well?
See, Yoongi’s a forest fairy, and fairies are supposed to naturally be good with plants, seeing as they are literally born of the nature deities. And yet, Yoongi has no such luck.
He’s been trying to cultivate flowers around his home, but no matter what he tries, everything just seems to end up wilting. Namjoon, on the other hand, has a thriving garden of flowers and herbs and vegetables and all sorts of plants. Yoongi guesses he might be using some witch powers to get them like that or something, but just in case, he hides and watches, too. Just to see if he can pick up any tips. It has nothing to do with just admiring the pretty witch, not at all. Nothing to do with the soft dimpled smile he shows to the plants as he’s watering them, or the gentle way he strokes the wolf, or how long his legs are and how pretty he looks draped in those long, flowy black fabrics, or how the crystals in his ears and around his neck sparkle in the light and glisten against his gorgeous tan skin - nothing at all.
Yoongi doesn’t even realise that he’d been leaning closer to get a better look at him until he loses his balance and tumbles out of the tree into the bushes below, wings not responding quick enough to catch him. Namjoon looks his way at the noise, and Yoongi holds his breath. The wolf is even quicker to turn, starting to prowl forward. Yoongi freezes in shock for a bit, heart racing as the huge wolf approaches. He should be hidden from view, still crouched among the thicket, but it seems like the wolf sees straight through. Yoongi struggles to break eye contact - even though that’s something he normally can’t even do. The wolf holds his gaze, though, dark eyes piercing and intense, brown rings inside them sprinkled with stars. Yoongi breathes heavily, the pace quickening the closer the wolf gets.
“Jungkook? What is it?”
It’s enough of a distraction for Yoongi to gather his bearings and quickly get away, creeping to safety behind a thick tree and then fluttering up into the treetops again. Once he’s finally safe away, he lets out a sigh of relief, placing a hand over his still racing heart.
It’s not like they would have hurt him or anything. He wasn’t even really doing anything wrong, but- well, he’s a little (a lot) intimidated by them.
Namjoon is very friendly. Everyone Yoongi knows loves him and sings his praises. He’s not only competent and smart, but he’s easygoing and gets on well with people, always does his best to help. The wolf - Jungkook, on the other hand… well, no one knows much about him. He usually stays as a wolf, prowling by Namjoon’s side, only occasionally seen as his human form. Yoongi has only briefly seen him from the back, big, broad - though not as tall as Namjoon - with black, shaggy hair and chunky black clothes, and an array of piercings across his ears, lip and eyebrow. He doesn’t know if he’s the witch’s familiar, or maybe a partner, even a friend or family? Though most assume he’s his familiar. They live together, run the shop together - at least, as far as Yoongi’s aware. Jungkook is definitely rather intimidating, but even without him, Yoongi can’t help that he’s scared to approach the witch, too.
He could easily go into the shop and ask him straight up for his help. Namjoon would probably help him happily, flashing him that knee-buckling dimpled smile of his. Would probably get excited and ramble on as he explains his tips. But… Yoongi is weak. And a coward.
Namjoon is too handsome and Yoongi is too embarrassed to go up to him. He’s shy, what can he say? How is he supposed to speak to someone that big and beautiful. He’s just a small, little fairy, with a weak gay heart…
He’s tried psyching himself up to go into his shop many times, but always chickens out at the last second, once again ending up in the trees nearby and just watching him from his perch instead.
He only finally does end up actually at the witch's doorstep because his friend, Taehyung, one day fed up with Yoongi's pining from afar, literally grabs him and pushes him all the way there, ignoring Yoongi’s whining and pouty complaints.
So now he’s left standing under the awning of the witch’s cute little cottage, clutching at his pale yellow dress as he silently panics while Taehyung abandons him there to face his (not) crushes.
Quicker than Yoongi can even debate bolting out of there before Taehyung can stop him from wherever he must be hiding watching him, the wolf catches sight of him.
He pads around the corner and stalks towards him, leaving Yoongi startled and frozen in his wake. His heart beats faster until it’s practically in his mouth when the wolf comes face to face with him. He comes up almost to Namjoon’s hip, but Yoongi is much smaller than Namjoon. He feels like the wolf barely even has to look up to meet his eyes. Yoongi clutches harder into the flowy yellow fabric of his dress, bunching it up slightly.
Logically, he knows Jungkook isn’t going to hurt him. Even still, his intense eyes and intimidating aura have Yoongi all but trembling. The way he sizes him up almost like he's prey.
But then Jungkook is quickly shifting, standing tall before him now as a human, draped in black. He tilts his head, tonguing at his lip ring, then flashes him a smirk.
Yoongi swallows, now the one to look up at him.
“If it isn’t our little fairy. Come in.”
Yoongi’s mouth falls open, staring after him as Jungkook opens the door to lead him inside. What does he mean our little fairy? Blood rushes to his face, surely colouring his cheeks and ears a bright pink. He hurriedly stumbles into the shop after the wolf, despite the part of him that wants to bail out of there in embarrassment.
“Look who’s here to see you.”
Yoongi’s gaze briefly scans over the quaint interior of the witch’s shop, watching as Jungkook nonchalantly leans against the counter - still regarding Yoongi with something like interest - before ultimately landing on the witch himself. He’s scouring the wooden shelves lining one wall of the shop, a sprig of lavender between his lips and several vials and bottles precariously held between his fingers. A small leaf spirit sits on his shoulder. At Jungkook’s voice, the witch looks over his shoulder, paused mid-way through his organising.
His eyebrows raise in surprise as he looks at Yoongi, his eyes lighting up.
He makes a noise as if trying to speak, but then remembers the flowers in his mouth. He flaps around a little momentarily, realising his hands are full, too, until he finally manages to put everything away without dropping anything. He turns back to Yoongi with a wide, dimpled smile.
“The little fairy! How nice to see you in here.”
Yoongi feels more heat rise to his cheeks. So they both know who he is? He always thought he was discreet, the way he hid in the trees to watch the witch at work. He ducks his head.
“What can I help you with?”
“I-I, um…”
Yoongi twists his fingers, glancing up briefly at the witch, only to blush under his unwavering gaze and gentle smile. His eyes flick to the wolf, but he’s even more difficult to make eye contact with. He stares down at the butterfly tattoo on the back of his hand instead, watching it twist as he wrings his hands together.
“I, um, just… w-wanted help with my f-flowers… your garden is so beautiful and I can’t get anything in mine to last…”
“Mm, is that all?” It’s Jungkook who speaks, a smirk on his lips.
“Hm? Y-yes, I just want help with my garden…”
Jungkook hums, a spark in his eye. He doesn’t look entirely convinced. Yoongi shrugs his shoulders up to his ears, trying to make himself small though he feels he must be glowing like a strawberry. With his mint-green hair on top, he really must look the part.
“Um… I’m sorry, that’s not really a good use of your time, it’s not really…”
“Nonsense! I’m sure I can help you with that,” Namjoon says, “And don’t mind him,” he glances at Jungkook who just shrugs, crossing his arms nonchalantly.
“Why don’t you walk me through what you’ve been doing and what goes wrong?”
Yoongi does, albeit very shyly. It is embarrassing after all, a forest fairy no good with plants. But Namjoon doesn’t make fun of him at all, he listens carefully. The little leaf spirit on his shoulder seems to as well.
He trails off uncertainly as he finishes telling him, looking up at the witch through his lashes. Namjoon taps his chin as he thinks for a moment, then says,
“I think you may just be trying too hard.”
“Hm?” Yoongi squeaks out.
Namjoon laughs. “I don’t mean- just, you have to let them breathe, you know? And make sure the care is right for the type of plant, you don’t want to smother them but you don’t want to neglect them either.”
“Well, I… I don’t think I over-look after them? I do forget sometimes but I don’t think it’s that much either! I- I thought I was looking after them okay, I don’t know…” Yoongi bites his lip, reaching up to play with his ear, then twist the flower earring hanging there.
“I’d like to take a look, then, I can’t really tell what’s wrong without seeing them so I can’t really give you anything or offer more advice. It does seem like you care about them, so that’s a good sign! Do you think you could take me after I close up shop?”
“O-oh, I,” Yoongi flounders. It’s just to see his flowers, sure, but taking Namjoon to his home? Spending even more time with him - especially after this whole awkward, embarrassing exchange…
Still, he nods.
Namjoon smiles his dazzling, dimpled smile. “Great!”
“O-okay, I’ll- I’ll come back then!”
Yoongi bows quickly and then just turns to flee, intending to return in a few hours when the shop closes. His cheeks are still flaming. He quickly flutters into the treetops to avoid potential prying eyes. He feels like the wolf’s are still on him. He stares so deeply.
Yoongi buries his face in his hands for a moment. His heart is too weak for this.
But it’s just about the flowers. Yes, that’s all this is for. He just wants his home to be dressed pretty with a blooming garden, so the outside can be as pretty as the inside he so meticulously crafted.
He ends up cleaning when he gets home, just in case. He’ll have to offer them food or something, of course, for coming all the way here to help him, so it’s not like it’s unnecessary. He doesn’t have enough time to bake something, but he does have some left over cakes he made the other day.
After checking everything inside is okay, he heads out to his garden again. Immediately, he pouts when he sees the way even some of the newly bloomed flowers have started drooping.
“Am I doing something wrong, hm? Am I not looking after you right?” he asks one of them pointlessly, sighing softly to himself. “Do you need more water, food? Light? Or am I being too overbearing? Hm, or would you grow for me if I was a beautiful witch?”
He pouts, trying to lift the flower up with the pad of his finger.
“Do you not like me?”
After a while, he just stands again. Namjoon is coming to help him with exactly this, after all. There’s no point in trying to figure out what’s not working for him now.
When the time comes, he heads back towards the witch’s cottage, a little apprehensively. He’s still nervous to talk to Namjoon again, and Jungkook, too. He smooths down his dress when he gets there, then tries to neaten his hair. He pats his cheeks and takes a breath in before knocking.
He can’t help the slight blush that immediately rises upon just seeing the two of them. But he does his best not to stutter or make a fool of himself, and just leads them to his place. That cute little leaf spirit still accompanies the witch on his shoulder, now shaded by the wide brim of Namjoon’s hat. He looks gorgeous as ever - even if Yoongi had already seen him earlier that day. The bright purple flowers decorating the hat bring out the faint pink-blonde of Namjoon’s hair, standing out against his otherwise all black attire.
Meanwhile, Jungkook shifts into his wolf form for the walk over to Yoongi’s place, only shifting back once they get there.
“Ah,” Namjoon lets out upon arriving.
“Yeah…” Yoongi scratches behind his ear. “I’m sure I did my research and I thought these ones should grow fine here and I thought I take care of them properly but they… and this is like, the third time I’ve tried…”
“I see.”
Namjoon crouches down to take a closer look, so Yoongi joins him. Jungkook stands a little further back, just watching. Yoongi brings his hand to his mouth, tracing his finger tip over his lower lip and slightly nibbling at it as he watches Namjoon assess his garden.
“So I think,” Namjoon starts, “Well, I will trust that you do take good care of them. It seems you do.”
Yoongi nods.
“That’s always good to see. Plants need love too, you know? They’re living things, too, and more often than not there’s more than just the flower inside. Too many people don’t treat them right… You have to be gentle and give them attention and love them well.”
Jungkook snorts softly, shaking his head. Namjoon reddens slightly, suddenly turning back to Yoongi.
“Right, yes, sorry. I just really love plants.” Namjoon stares at him for a pregnant moment. And then he states, “You look like a flower.”
Yoongi stares right back at him, his face slowly heating up.
“S-so, um, the problem with mine…?” he asks to deflect that comment.
He pretends he doesn’t hear Jungkook’s chuckle behind them, though his ears burn.
Namjoon clears his throat, turning to look at the plants again while rubbing his nape.
“Right. I think you actually… do you know if anything else lives around here? Pixies or spirits or anything?”
“Um… I’m not sure. I’ve never really noticed.”
“Okay, well it seems like something is draining your flowers. I’ll set you up with a ward to keep unwanted spirits away, so just let me know if that doesn’t help after a while.”
“Oh! Okay, thank you so much.”
Namjoon stands and smiles.
“No problem, little fairy. I’m happy to help. And to finally get to meet you.”
Yoongi’s gaze darts around, trying to look everywhere except at them.
“D-do you want to come in for some tea?” he ends up blurting out instead.
Namjoon laughs.
“That would be lovely, thank you.”
Yoongi quickly ushers them in, swiftly making them some tea. He plates up the cakes, too. Namjoon places his hat on the side, the little leaf spirit hopping up on to it and curling up to fall asleep. Yoongi smiles at it before handing the two their tea and cake.
“Oh, how sweet,” Jungkook smiles, “Sweet like you, huh?”
Yoongi’s eyelids flutter, blinking rapidly. He thinks he might melt. Instead, he just smiles softly again and tucks his hair behind his ear.
“You- you guys have seen me before?” he decides to just ask, despite his embarrassment about presumably being caught. He fixes his gaze at their feet to avoid their eyes.
“Of course we have, little fairy,” Jungkook replies.
“It’s Yoongi,” Yoongi says in a small voice.
“Hm, Yoongi,” Jungkook repeats. “Cute.”
“Jungkook noticed you first,” Namjoon says. “He saw you watching me, then noticed that you came by often. I didn’t mind, though. It was cute.”
Yoongi lets out a soft noise of embarrassment, ducking his head.
“Our little fairy.”
Jungkook tilts Yoongi’s head up from under his chin, regarding him amusedly as he sets aside his plate.
“Now was it really just Namjoonie’s garden you were admiring? Or is there something else, hm cutie?”
“I… I…”
Yoongi’s eyes flick between the witch and the wolf in panic. He swallows.
Is he really so obvious?
But he really wasn’t there just to- ogle them or something, it’s not like he’s a stalker… Namjoon’s shop is open and the herb garden is just out front; he only watched when he was there. He just hid because he’s shy… although apparently not well enough.
“Maybe a certain witch himself? Or perhaps his wolf, too?”
“Mm…” Yoongi whimpers softly.
Jungkook’s only touching him lightly, but he feels like putty under him, just at that. He thinks his knees might give out.
“If you go any more pink, sweet peach, I don’t think I can stop myself from eating you.”
Jungkook brushes his thumb along Yoongi’s round, heated cheek, leaning in altogether too close. Yoongi’s eyes widen. He lets out a squeak, his heart doing a somersault.
But then Namjoon shakes his head and gently puts his hand on Jungkook’s shoulder, pulling him back.
“Let him breathe, Kook-ah. Don’t mind him, Yoongi. He can be a little…” Namjoon glances at Jungkook who just crosses his arms and quirks a brow, lips pulled into a lazy smirk. “Forward.”
Yoongi nods dumbly.
“But if I may be a little forward, myself…” Namjoon subdues a smile. “We don’t want to pressure you or anything, but… if it wasn’t already obvious, we think you’re cute. I really like small, cute things…”
He reaches out, fingers hovering a fraction from Yoongi’s hair, but then he seems to catch himself and draws his hand up to rub at his own nape instead. Yoongi feels like he must be dreaming.
“Sorry, I, uh…” he shakes his head slightly.
“He’s been all gushy about you even before he saw you properly, so you can imagine how he’s feeling now that you’re finally really in front of him, all sweet and pretty.”
“Kook!”
Jungkook laughs loudly while the witch tints a shade that could rival Yoongi’s.
“What Joonie is trying to say, little fairy, is that we want you.”
“We’re interested in you,” Namjoon corrects. “If you would be, too. I want to get to know you.”
Yoongi nods without thinking, almost too aggressively so his earrings and fluffy hair bounce.
“I-I think you’re both really beautiful…” he admits quietly.
“Oh, thank you,” Namjoon says, while Jungkook chuckles.
“He really is such a sweet little thing,” he muses.
Yoongi can’t help it, he just buries his face in his hands to hide.
“Oh, how precious.”
Yoongi didn’t know Jungkook was so bold. He’d always heard he was rather quiet, and, well, it seemed like he preferred being a wolf. But clearly… he’s a big flirt, too. Or is it just for him? Either way, Yoongi can’t handle it.
He startles when he feels gentle hands on his own, carefully prying his hands down again. Namjoon smiles at him warmly.
“We’ll get going now, then, before our Jungkookie gets too carried away here.”
Jungkook rolls his eyes. Yoongi just nods faintly.
“Thank you for the tea and cake, it really was lovely. Come by the shop tomorrow and I’ll have everything sorted for your plants. And… why don’t you let us take you to dinner some time? You can let me know how the garden is going, too. Then we can see where we go from there.”
“O-okay, sounds good!” Yoongi nods again.
Namjoon’s smile deepens, dimple popping even more. He reaches up again, and this time, he does lightly pet Yoongi’s hair
He turns to leave, then, but Yoongi quickly speaks up again,
“Wait, h-how much do I owe you? For your help and the wards and stuff…”
“Oh, please don’t worry about that, it’s on me. It’s nothing, really.”
“A-are you sure?”
“For you, definitely. This was enough.” He gestures to the table where they left their dishes.
“And you, hopefully, next time,” Jungkook adds with a cheeky grin.
Namjoon smacks Jungkook’s arm at that, and it draws out a laugh from Yoongi, his gummy smile showing and shoulders shaking. That gets both of their awed attention right back on him.
“Oh, oh wow,” Namjoon breathes out. “Your smile is beautiful.”
Yoongi hides it behind his hand, ducking his head.
“Thank you. For everything.”
Namjoon nods, and then the two of them are finally actually leaving, and Yoongi’s left with a still racing heart and flaming, cherry cheeks.
And when Taehyung later asks him how it went, Yoongi shyly answers,
“I think they asked me on a date.”
Taehyung claps and grins widely, muttering something along the lines of “finally,” and “I knew they would.”
Yoongi smiles softly down into his lap, biting his lip against the excitement wanting to spill out, the jitters of having his two major crushes being interested in him. He thumbs at his butterfly tattoo, feeling the fluttering of more in his stomach.
He doesn’t know how he’ll survive spending more time with Namjoon and Jungkook, but he’s definitely happy that he will be.