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Yoongi woke up to the sound of the fire laughing. No, not cackling, not burning, laughing. He sat up from his mat on the floor, groaning at his aching back. He looked around him and sure enough, he was still inside the Moving Castle. None of it was a bad dream. He looked down at his hands and his heart fell to his stomach when he saw them skinny and wrinkled.
A loud burst of laughter came from the fireplace and Yoongi gave his infamous killer glares. “What in the donkey ass is so funny early in the morning, Jimin?” He angrily croaked.
Jimin, the flaming face on the hearth, continued to squeak giggles. Yoongi at first had a hard time trying to decipher the demon fire’s face but as he stared longer one day he could now draw out his squinty eyes and full mouth in just a blink. “Kookie--tickling--pfft--me--HAHAHA.” He said, brokenly and trying to catch his breath.
Yoongi then saw the young apprentice poking new logs against the giggly fire. The boy appeared short for his age, with fluffy brown hair that made him look even younger than he already was and his usual green cloak snuggly wrapped around his shoulders. Although, to be honest, Yoongi wasn’t even sure how old Jungkook- or as mentioned, ‘Kookie’ -really was. All he knew was that he had lived inside the castle way back before he had.
He grunted as he stood up with his umbrella slash cane and walked towards the squabbling two. “Step aside, kid, or you’ll kill him then kill all of us.” He said, taking the piece of cut wood from the boy’s hands.
Jungkook crossed his arms and pouted. “I’ve set Jimin ablaze for centuries, old man. I know what I’m doing.”
“Call me old man again and I’ll kick you off the hill.”
The young apprentice frowned at the fire demon who was now content with closed eyes. “I still don’t get why you would let a complete stranger into Master’s castle. It’s been a week and he’s already changing stuff around here. And not for the better either!”
“I guess I got tired of hearing you whine all the time.” Jimin mumbled, already half asleep.
Yoongi smirked and started fanning the hearth so that the fire would grow. Only he and the fire demon knew the actual reason he was here. They had made a deal that Jimin would break his curse if he somehow managed to find out how to set the demon free. So far, they had made no progress whatsoever and Yoongi wasn’t getting any younger.
“Sit down. I’ll cook breakfast.” He told Jungkook.
“But Master said we shouldn’t eat without hi--”
Suddenly the front door burst open, revealing only darkness. Then a man walked out, as if walking through liquid or ink. He brought light to the room with his blonde hair and his blue eyes sparkled as he searched the room. He was, in simpler words, beautiful. Like if a star were a human, this is what it would look like. His blue and pink patterned cloak ran down from his shoulders as majestically as the way he walked around the old run-down castle. He stood out from the mess all around him. It was both enticing and frightening to see. Just like how everyone in the country saw the great wizard.
Jimin woke up with wide eyes and lifted his head straight on the hearth. Jungkook clammed up and instantly bowed his head in greeting.
But Yoongi, well, the great man had no effect on him. Not anymore. He simply waved a lazy hand and said, “Morning, Taehyung.”
“Good morning, pumpkin.” Taehyung grinned, making him even more dashing if it were possible.
Yoongi slammed the pan on top of Jimin. “I told you not call me that.”
“And I told you,” the wizard said as he strode across the room, pressed himself against the old man’s back, and let the fingers brush as he took the pan’s handle from the other’s grasp, “that I’m the only who’s allowed to cook on Jiminnie.”
Yoongi was enveloped with the scent of roses and something equally endearing. Taehyung’s face was right next to his, chin almost resting on his old shoulder. Feeling suffocated, he ducked down the wizard’s arm and glared at him. “If that were the case, then why does he let me whenever I want to?”
“I don’t know,” he replied with his soothing baritone voice, “I guess you really are special, Mr. Min.” He gave him a soft smile. Yoongi hated that smile. It looked pitiful and he hated that most of all.
He stomped off and sat down on the table across from Jungkook who was balancing a spoon on his nose.
“Told you.” The boy said, dropping the spoon.
Yoongi picked it up and wiped the smudge off of it. “Shut up and wait for your eggs.”
Jungkook asked his master about his visit to King Hoseok and was immediately dismissed with a shrug saying the too-cheery king only wanted his help with reading his daughter's future. Taehyung went home early for he had flatly told Hoseok that he was a magician not a fortune-teller. Yoongi listened with an amused smile and Jimin only snored on his hearth.
When Taehyung distributed their food, Yoongi noticed a red blotch on his white collar. He leaned forward and pinched it closer to see it clearer. “What happened? Did you cut yourself?”
The wizard peered down to see what he was referring to and smirked. “Not at all.”
“It’s lipstick, you blind grandpa.” Jungkook grumbled as he nibbled on bacon.
That froze Yoongi up. He pulled away so fast that it felt like he almost broke his neck. He groaned in pain and clutched on to his nape. Taehyung’s brows furrowed together in worry. He gently pulled away his hand and blew on the searing pain. Yoongi almost shivered at the soothing gust of air. Then a thought came to his mind that made him shove the other away with his fierce glare. “Is that what she did to you, too? Whoever left that mark?”
The wizard looked confused then guilty for some reason. Why would he be guilty? He didn’t do anything wrong. And why was Yoongi making this such a big deal? He always does this. Taehyung wasn’t Taehyung if not going around the villages on his break to flirt around with beautiful, young people. This wasn’t anything new. This was normal. But why did it still hurt him this much.
He excused himself from the table and walked up to his room, ignoring the apologetic look on Jimin’s burning face. He locked the door and sprawled his body on the bed. He took a deep breath, finding it hard with his old lungs. He turned his head and was met with his desk mirror. He saw an old man with gray hair and a deep frown on his face that showed off all his wrinkles.
Yoongi was ugly. Even without the curse, he wasn’t anything special. Taehyung was wrong. There’s nothing special about him. If anything he just wanted to break the curse to return back to normal. He had gotten over blaming Taehyung for it.
He could still remember the day the wizard saved him from a gang on the streets. He remembered how beautiful Taehyung’s blue eyes were, sparkling with the sky. But his saving had a price and being involved with the most loved and adored magician of all the lands was a straight path to misery. One of Taehyung’s admirers came to Yoongi’s house and cursed him to live as an old man earlier than he should. It was said to be unbreakable until he met Jimin who picked him up with Taehyung’s Moving Castle and swore he could turn him back. If in the end he doesn’t, Yoongi would admit he wouldn’t mind anymore.
All because he had foolishly fallen in love with the great wizard, Taehyung. And he knew, with a heavy aged heart, that the other would never return his feelings in any form he takes. That in itself is already a curse.
He curled up into himself and closed his eyes. Dreaming of soft blonde hair and rectangular smiles.
*****
“Stop messing with my potions. When I allowed you to live in the castle and clean, I clearly said my room was off limits.”
Yoongi huffed as he sweeped the floor. “I will if you at least make an effort to tidy up a bit.”
“I’ve lived a hundred years without having to tidy up, pumpkin.” Taehyung scoffed, checking his appearance on one of the shiny cooking pans.
“Then live a hundred more to learn how to do so. And stop calling me that, you big slob.”
“You guys fight like an old married couple.” Jungkook piped up from his place on the table, a book of levitating spells open in front of him.
Taehyung hit him upside the head. “Call your master old again and I’ll turn you into a rabbit.”
Jungkook rubbed his head and grumbled, “You guys are starting to sound the same, too.”
“Don’t worry,” Jimin said, “he sucks at fable magic.”
*****
Yoongi didn’t know this, how could he, but when he sleeps his curse breaks off.
Taehyung had not meant to find out without the other’s knowledge but when Yoongi used to sleep downstairs, he had caught him in his original age. He saw him with his silky black hair and rosy cheeks. He was so different yet entirely the same. He had the same little nose and thin lips, although his eyelashes were more noticeably long. He looked just like the day they first met where he had saved him. The very first day he ever felt his heart beat. The wizard couldn’t help himself when he reached a crooked a finger and softly grazed it against his cheek.
Yoongi deserved better. The thought made Taehyung retract his hand like he was burned. Yoongi shouldn’t be with such a dangerous man like himself. He knew this. With all his lonely blue heart. But whenever the other would smile or nag at him or merely blink, Taehyung just wanted to tell him. Tell him everything and nothing all at once.
But Yoongi deserved so much better.
It was another night where the great wizard fell asleep with a broken heart.
*****
Yoongi limped down the stairs and he let out a surprised yelp when suddenly he was lifted off his feet. He turned his head and scowled. “Put me down, Taehyung.”
The wizard gave him a sly grin and started walking towards the door. “Don’t you want to see my present, pumpkin?”
“Seriously, enough with the pumpkin. And I don’t need a present.”
“Since when do we need presents? Don’t we give them because the other person wants it?”
“What makes you so sure I’ll like yours?”
Taehyung’s grin widened. “Trust me. You will.”
He was right. That bastard.
Right outside, the Moving Castle was walking pass a whole field of sunflowers. They faced the sun and bloomed in all their golden glory. Yoongi found he couldn’t breathe, and it wasn’t because of the strong gushes of wind. His eyes must be gleaming at the sight and he was smiling so wide that his cheeks ached.
“Taehyung, this is amazing!” He exclaimed excitedly turning to the man carrying him. Then he stopped when he saw the strange look on the wizard’s face. “What? What is it?”
Taehyung didn’t know what to say. He didn’t know how to tell Yoongi that he was young again. Although his hair was still silver but it was so soft that it shone. His cheeks were full and blushing under the harsh sun and his eyes were sparkling.
He was so beautiful. And Taehyung didn’t know how to tell him.
Instead, without thinking, he cupped Yoongi’s face. His thumb stroked right under his bottom lashes and he was overwhelmed at how soft the man was. His eyes were hooded, looking directly at the other’s lips. Slowly, he descended his head closer and closer and closer…
A loud resounding slap echoed throughout the castle.
Yoongi shoved the wizard away so that he could stand on his own two feet and stomped away. Before he went up, he gave Taehyung one last glance that was filled with hurt and disappointment.
Taehyung could only touch his stinging cheek and watched how the old man limped farther away from him. He told himself that this was for the best. He deserves someone better. He looked back at the sunflowers and somehow, they didn’t seem as bright and sunny anymore.
That night, Yoongi carefully went down the stairs and made his way to the hearth. He kneeled down, moaning at how his knees cracked, and lay his head right at the front of Jimin’s little flame.
“I’m sorry, Jiminnie,” he croaked, “but I really don’t think I can find out how to set you free.”
There was a long pause before Jimin spoke up with a small voice. “That’s because you never could.”
Yoongi raised his head, his chin still resting upon the stone, “What do you mean?”
“I can never be set free, Yoongi. Not until Taehyung dies. That’s the only way.”
He was taken aback by Jimin’s words and clutched on to his chest, feeling himself wheezing in panic. “Y-you’re not telling me to kill him are you--”
“No! God, no. I just...I needed a reason for you to stay.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I’m sorry for lying to you. I don’t know how to turn you back, Yoongi. I just wanted you to stay...for Taehyung.”
Yoongi knew he was crying now. Ugly sobs being let out with his old heart. “Why? Why would you let that happen when you knew I loved him? Why would you do that if you knew it would hurt this way?”
“Because...he’s in love with you, too.”
Yoongi let out a depressed cackle and covered his face with both his pruny hands. “You’re a good friend, Jimin. But a terrible, terrible liar.”
He walked back up to his room, ignoring the fire demon’s desperate calls.
But when he opened his bedroom door, he was struck with a blue bolt much stronger than lighting. Yoongi hit a wall and crumpled to the floor. He groaned in pain and his vision was blurring almost to nothing. The last thing he saw was a familiar velveteen cloak until it swallowed him whole.
*****
When Yoongi woke up, it was to a very fancy room complete with a chandelier above and priceless works of art around him. He then found that he was tied up to one, an enormous statue of an angel. His back ached and his throat was sandy as if he hadn’t drank anything for centuries.
“Still an old hag, I see.” A silky voice said, sounding like it was coming from all side of the room.
Yoongi knew that voice. He closed his eyes in resignation. “Seokjin.”
A tall man with a velveteen cloak and long pink hair stepped out from the darkness. A just as big person with green hair and a blue suit trailed behind him like a bodyguard. “Hello, Yoongi.”
“What could you possibly want from me now? Here to curse me of never-lasting bad breath?”
“I see you still have an annoying spat about you,” Seokjin said. “You know what I want, Min.”
“Uh...I really don’t.”
Seokjin sighed and and pinched the bridge of his nose. Then he looked straight at Yoongi’s eyes, the same way how he did just before he put the wretched spell on him. “I want his heart.”
“Whose heart?”
“Enough games!” The wizard exploded. “Give me Taehyung’s heart and maybe, just maybe, I’ll lift the curse.”
That shut Yoongi up. The pain on his entire torso was killing him and he’s pretty sure he was going to pass out again. It was messing with his brain and he just wished he had enough strength to say that all he wanted was Taehyung’s heart as well. His head was starting to nod off, falling limply to the side. He mumbled back weakly.
Seokjin lifted his head with two slender fingers. “What did you say?”
Yoongi opened his bleary eyes and gave his best scowl. “Fuck...off…”
The wizard was clearly not pleased with his answer and stepped back. He raised his hand with a shiny red ring as if to curse him again only to stop mid-air. His eyes were wide and his face pale. As if he had seen a ghost. “H-how are you--”
“Master,” his apprentice spoke for the first time, “the spell...it’s gone. How could he--”
“Silence, Namjoon!” Seokjin angrily hissed. He went back to focus to his original plan only to be sent flying off to another direction by an invisible force. Namjoon ran towards his master and Yoongi fell to the ground for the second time that night as Seokjin’s trap spell broke free. He sat up and was surprised to see how easily he did so. He reached out his hands in front of him and felt his stomach drop when he saw how they weren’t wrinkled or pruny. He felt his face and he gasped when he felt it was smooth and chubby.
The spell was...but that’s impossible...it was impossible.
“Yoongi!” He turned to the voice calling to him and saw Jungkook running towards him. The boy kneeled beside him with the skin on the middle of his brows wrinkled in worry. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
“I...I’m fi--”
A loud screeching scream sounded throughout the entire room. They looked to the side and saw Seokjin floating off the ground and clutching to his neck. Namjoon lay motionless below his feet. Then Yoongi saw Taehyung.
Taehyung looked mad. Furious even. Yoongi knew the dark look on his face wasn’t him at all. It was the eyes of someone ready to kill. And Taehyung certainly was not a killer.
Yoongi hurried to the wizard and clutched on to his cloak. “T-Taehyung stop! This isn’t you! S-stop!”
Seokjin’s chokes were louder and Taehyung’s eyes only became darker, almost completely black.
Desperate tears fell down Yoongi’s cheeks. “Stop! I don’t want this! You don’t want this! Please, Taehyung! Snap out of it! Come back to me! Please!”
Taehyung’s hand was almost at a closed fist.
“Tae!” Yoongi sobbed.
Seokjin’s eyes were almost closed. Namjoon was still unconscious, unknowing of his master’s near death. Jungkook stood helpless at the side, frightened for real of his own master. And Yoongi fell to his knees, sobbing against Taehyung’s cloak.
“I...I-I love you. P-please. Taehyung...come back t-to me.”
They all heard a loud thud as something fell to the marble floor. Yoongi was shaking when he turned his head, afraid of what he’ll see.
Seokjin lay on the floor...his chest rising up and down heavily catching for breath.
“Idiot.” His head snapped up and all weight fell of his shoulders when he saw a pair of bright blue eyes. Taehyung kneeled in front of him on one knee and took both of his still trembling hands. “You’re a real idiot, pumpkin.”
Yoongi let out a chuckle that sounded more like a strangled sob. “You’re the idiot. You bastard.”
Taehyung gave him a soft smile and his thumb rubbed his knuckles. “I am an idiot. An idiot to think someone as beautiful as you could ever accept my heart.”
“I will.” Yoongi croaked out, and for once it wasn’t because of his old cracky voice but because of his tears. “I mean, I do. Accept your heart. Always have. Always will.”
Taehyung shook his head and shut his eyes as if in pain. “You can’t. I’m a monster, Mr. Min.”
Yoongi pressed his forehead against the wizard’s. “I don’t care. That you’re a monster. I don’t.”
He let the blonde nuzzle their noses together. He brushed his hand through Yoongi’s scalp. “You should see your hair. It’s just like starlight.”
Then their lips pressed together softly, neither knowing who leaned in first.
Yoongi smiled into the kiss. “I know,” he murmured against his mouth, “isn’t it great?”