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Like all the children in his town, Jungkook knows that he isn’t supposed to venture into the woods alone and like all children in general, Jungkook is very bad at listening. He can’t help it, really, he’s been told he was too curious for his own good since before he could even walk and there’s just something enticing about the woods, a force that has him walking into its clutches before he can even think twice about it. Maybe it’s because of the old lady that lives down the street from him. She’s always talking about the magical creatures that live in the woods, and even though everyone else one says they’re dangerous, the stories she tells Jungkook makes him think they’re a lot closer to wonderful. Jungkook knows, somewhere in the back of his mind, that people call them dangerous for a reason, but he can’t help but think that sometimes people forget that dangerous and unknown are not one in the same.
Jungkook stares at the dirt path that leads into the woods, eyes bright with curiosity and excitement. He’s walked this path to and from school countless times, his need to know slowly building up until it outweighed the possible consequence of getting caught in the woods.
Today was set up perfectly for this though, almost as if fate was determined to send him into the woods. Before he left that morning, Jungkook told his mother that he was going to go over his friend’s house after school and he really did plan on going there, but his friend cancelled because he wasn’t feeling well so Jungkook was left a lot of time, little to do and no supervision. A known recipe for disaster when it comes to children.
A quick glance at his iron man watch let’s Jungkook know that it’s only 3 o'clock and seeing as his mom won’t expect him home until around 6:30, he has about 4 hours open to adventure. With a determined look, Jungkook sets out. There’s nothing out of the ordinary at first, not that Jungkook really expected there to be, but still it’s a little… anti-climatic. He’s always imagined the forest to be this beautiful, magical place, but it’s just dirt and trees and after a half hour of walking with the most interesting thing he’s seen so far being an unusually fat bird, Jungkook begins wonder if the only thing magical about this forest is it’s ability to make his feet sore. But, Jungkook being anything but a quitter, is determined to find at least one magical thing in this forest before dinner time.
Over two hours into his search with nothing to show for it, Jungkook decides to take a break. He sits against a tree, munching away on some granola bar he found in his bookbag, but doesn’t remember ever packing and decides that the woods are stupid and so is the old lady that lives down the street from him. Then immediately feels bad for calling Mrs. Kim stupid and makes a mental note to be extra nice to her the next time he sees her. Even if her stories are phony.
Jungkook almost doesn’t hear it, had he been walking he certainly wouldn’t have, but sitting quietly against the tree he hears something. Singing . It’s incredibly faint, and at first Jungkook thinks he might be imagining it, but it gets louder and is so very undeniably real , that Jungkook has to stop himself from squealing in delight, lest he scare whatever it is off. And oh does he hope that it doesn’t turn out to be just some weirdo singing in the woods.
With renewed vigor, Jungkook begins making his way towards the noise, as stealthily as an 10 year old can manage. Which, turns out to not be very stealthy at all, good for him the singing creature happens to be very oblivious. He doesn’t spot it right away, as it happens to be on the smaller side, but there, sitting on a low hanging branch of a nearby tree is a fairy, singing in it’s angelic voice a song that Jungkook finds vaguely familiar. It’s breathtaking and exciting and Jungkook wishes more than anything that he would’ve thought to bring his spiderman camera. He’s not close enough to see the fairy’s face but he imagines it’s just as beautiful as it’s voice and just like how his curiosity led him into the woods, it leads him closer to the fairy.
He tries to approach quietly, he really does, but walking through the woods makes it a lot easier said than done and before Jungkook can stop himself, he’s stepping on a particularly loud leaf and startling the fairy. The fairy springs what must be several feet into the air, his pink butterfly wings fluttering and his eyes almost comically wide and even if the expression makes Jungkook want to laugh it’s still the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen (and Jungkook has watched several of IU’s music videos so that’s saying something).
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.” Jungkook holds up his hands in the universal sign of ‘I mean you no harm’ and offers the fairy a small smile. The fairy doesn’t come any closer, but it does look slightly less frightened, which Jungkook takes as a good sign. “I’m not gonna hurt you, I just… heard you singing. It was really pretty.” He says, and then because he’s 10 and has no filter adds, “you’re really pretty.” The fairy makes a noise that sounds suspiciously like a snort and flies a little closer, almost curiously. “My name’s Jungkook by the way.” He greets as the fairy eyes him up, trying to determine whether or not he should be afraid.
After a moment of inspection, the fairy seems to come to the conclusion that, no, Jungkook isn’t a threat and a dazzling smile spreads across his cheeks. “I’m Seokjin, but you can call me Jin.”
“It’s very nice to meet you, Jin!” Jungkook smiles from ear to ear, his rabbit teeth making an appearance and Seokjin let’s out a surprised gasp, flying closer to the boy. “What?” He questions, going cross eyed as Jin flies close to his face, inspecting him.
“You… look like a rabbit.” He replies, voice so soft and genuinely surprised that Jungkook can’t help but giggle. Jin’s face is the embodiment of intrigue as reaches out with his tiny hands to touch Jungkook’s face, it kind of tickles, but Jungkook does his best to stay still, at least until Jin tugs on a tuft of Jungkook’s hair, it doesn’t really hurt, but Jungkook still let’s out a whiny, “hey.”
Seokjin smiles sheepishly, and backs up a little bit. “Sorry, I haven’t seen a human in a long time.”
“That’s okay, I’ve never seen a fairy before.” Jin blinks and smiles at him, but it’s nothing like his dazzling smiles before, it looks a little sad actually and Jungkook decides that he never wants to see Jin upset again. “I’m sorry.” He says, even though he doesn’t know what for. Jin just shakes his head.
“Faerie actually.” Jin corrects and Jungkook furrows his brows, because that can’t be right.
“But faeries are bad and you’re not.”
“You just met me, you can’t possibly know that.” Jin says, though not cruelly and Jungkook frowns, because he does know that , regardless of just meeting him.
“I can tell.” Jungkook insists. Seokjin purses his lips like he’s going to argue, but Jungkook continues before he has the chance. “You’re voice is too pretty for you to be bad.” He says, like it’s sound logic and successfully sending Jin into a fit of giggles. The faerie is shaking with laughter and Jungkook watches in awe as what looks to be glitter starts sprinkling off of him, but disappears before it hits the ground.
“Wow,” Jin says after a moment, voice still shaky with laughter. “Kookie you’re so cute.” The faerie flies close, giving his cheek a gentle pinch and Jungkook tries to will away his blush. It doesn’t work. For a moment, Seokjin holds his gaze with a fond expression before he sighs and the sadness from earlier leaks in. Jungkook doesn’t like it any better the second time around. “You should probably head home soon, it’s starting to get dark.” Jin says sadly, reminding Jungkook that he does, in fact, have to return home at some point. He checks his watch, frowning when the lit up numbers show that it’s nearing 6.
“Yeah.” He says with a depressed huff, wanting to stay with Seokjin for so much longer, but knowing that if he wants to make it home on time he has to leave, like now . “Bye, Jin.”
“Bye, Kookie.” Jungkook turns to leave, but stops after a few steps.
“Wait, will you be here tomorrow?” Seokjin blinks in surprise, but nods. “Then I’ll visit you tomorrow, okay?”
Jin grins, so bright and pure that it’s almost hard to look at and practically flings himself at Jungkook, hugging his cheek. “I’m so excited!” He squeaks, squishing Jungkook’s cheek. “We’ll have so much fun!” Jungkook smiles and wishes he could hug back, but fear of crushing Jin keeps him from doing so.
“I’ll see you tomorrow!” Jungkook says, when Jin finally frees his cheek.
The faerie waves and flutters excitedly, “sleep well, Jungkook!”