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here4theheartbreak · 4 years

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Lost & Found (NamJinSeok)

AO3 Link Here!

Relationships: Hoseok x Jin x Namjoon

Genre(s): fluff

Rating: General Audiences

Written for @btspolyshipbingo

Square Filled: Lost

Tags: fluff, getting together, no sex, mutual pining, first kiss, faerie AU, faerie!Jin

Summary: Hoseok and Namjoon get caught in a flash flood while hiking. A mysterious man saves them, claiming to be a supernatural creature. He’s crazy, right?

Word Count: ~5.8k

It was not Hoseok’s idea of a good time to go hiking in the wilderness during the rainy season. Not that that stopped him from going along with the idea when it was Namjoon that suggested it. They had been friends since childhood, and Hoseok had been sporting the most maddening crush on the beautiful, big brained man for almost as long. Though they’d both had their fair share of attempts at relationships outside of their own friendship, Hoseok knew that he was simply not Namjoon’s type. He had settled on that understanding and had made his peace with it. As long as Namjoon was his friend, hopefully that would remain enough.

But here they were, miles away from civilization, off the mapped paths, with one broken phone and the other lacking service. And the downpour had only increased in the last hour, washing away any possibility of following their own footprints back the way they came.

The two were huddled under a tree that offered little protection from the torrents of icy cold rain. Namjoon was digging in his bag, searching for something.

“Would you be still!” Hoseok snapped, a little surprised at his own sharpness. He normally remained patient with Namjoon; a side effect of the crush he supposed, but this was his last straw. He was wet, cold, starving, and starting to seriously fear that they weren’t going to make it out of this alive.

Namjoon went still, looking at Hoseok. Though the night was dark, moon barely shining light down with the clouds and rain, Hoseok could see guilt written all over his face. His shoulders slumped. “We need to find some place more out of the rain!” He shouted over the downpour. “Do you know where we are at all?”

Namjoon shook his head. “I was looking for the map I’d put in the bag but it’s been soaked, I couldn’t look at it even if we had enough light to!”

“The water is rising, we have to move!” Hoseok warned, pointing toward the stream they’d been hiking along. Sure enough, the water was rising steadily, widening the stream and rising to the outcropping they’d taken refuge on.

Namjoon nodded. He pointed toward another large tree up a small hill.

“We can’t make that, it’s a wall of mud!”

“We have to try or drown!” Namjoon shouted. He grabbed Hoseok’s hand. “I won’t let you fall!”

Hoseok nodded, trying to swallow his fear down. They dove out from under the shoddy cover of the tree, both shouting into the darkness as the water pelted them full force with large, stinging drops. Namjoon nearly dragged Hoseok toward the hill, snagging a low hanging branch and using it to begin pulling himself up. Hoseok followed, their hands still locked as they struggled up the embankment.

A roar from above them made Hoseok’s blood run cold. He opened his mouth to shout to Namjoon when the sound reached a crescendo. A blanket of water rocketed over the top of the hill they were working their way up, knocking loose the mud they were using to climb and sending them tumbling down the embankment toward the already raging river.

Namjoon’s hand tightened on his, their fingers twining together. Hoseok screwed his eyes shut, afraid to open his mouth or breathe with the water splashing over his face. Rocks and sticks were pummeling his body, his bones screaming for relief. His lungs began to burn for oxygen, but there was no chance to breathe now, submerged under the water.

Namjoon’s hand loosened and then slipped from Hoseok’s grip. He wanted to scream; he couldn’t make it out of this without Namjoon. Spots danced against his eyelids, consciousness slipping. It was becoming so much harder to not breathe. It would be so easy to just let go, let the darkness take over. Especially now without Namjoon…

Something caught the back of Hoseok’s coat, stopping him from flowing further down the river. It yanked upward, and he was pulled from the water. He dragged in a desperate breath, opening his eyes. Lightheadedness clouded his vision, but he could have sworn the last thing he saw before passing out was a beautiful man with a glowing golden aura… And crimson red wings jutting from his broad back.

Hoseok’s stomach was what woke him first, if he was being honest. The gnawing hunger in the pit of his stomach reminding him the last thing he remembered eating was a quick breakfast and a shared granola bar with Namjoon on the trail. Namjoon—

Hoseok’s eyes shot open. He sat up, a rush of nausea making him sway.

“Whoa, whoa, take it slow, Hobi,” Namjoon’s voice was warm and soothing. Hoseok looked over, tears welling in his eyes. Namjoon was sitting next to him, dry and in one piece, save for a small scratch across his cheek. A fire crackled next to him. Hoseok flung his arms around Namjoon’s neck, nuzzling against him.

“I thought you were dead,” he whispered.

“Almost… But I’m here.”

“How? I felt you let go of my hand and then something… Pulled. I was losing my mind, I saw—I thought I saw a man with wings. I must have been hallucinating.”

The clearing of a throat drew Hoseok’s attention toward the fire. Sitting on the other side of it was a tall man. He was dressed in pure white, his black hair a stark contrast, hanging down almost over his eyes. His shoulders were broad and firm.

“You! I saw you!” Hoseok cried. “But—You had… Wings.”

“Well…” The man chuckled a little, tilting his head. “I still have them, I suppose. You just can’t quite see them.”

Hoseok looked at Namjoon, who shrugged sheepishly. “I thought he was a lunatic.”

“It’s been said.” The man rose and leaned over the fire, sticking his hand out. “My name is Jin.”

“H—Hoseok.”

“Nice to meet you. It was me that saved you, yes. Are you okay? Are you hungry?” Jin sat back and turned, grabbing a basket of fruits and vegetables. “I’m afraid the rain has destroyed all chance of catching some meat, but I do have this.” He passed the basket to Hoseok, who picked up an apple and turned it in his hand.

“Why did you think he was a lunatic?” He asked hesitantly, looking at Namjoon.

“Because I’m a faerie.”

Hoseok froze with the apple poised to bite. He glanced at it and set it back in the basket. “Excuse me?”

Jin smiled broadly. “I’m a faerie. The wings were real.”

“How many mushrooms have you eaten?” Hoseok asked. Jin laughed then, an abrasive squeaking noise echoing through the cave. Hoseok winced visibly.

“I know you think I’m crazy. Ask your boyfriend though.”

“Oh, he’s not—”

“We’re not—” They both started at the same time, raising their hands in defense. Jin cocked one eyebrow, a small smile curving his lips.

“That so?”

Namjoon cleared his throat and turned to Hoseok. “It’s crazy but he… Is. I woke up when he was… Bringing us back here, this is his home. I saw his wings,” he said in a hushed tone as if Jin wasn’t there and couldn’t hear everything.

“His wings… Namjoonie, did you hit your head?”

“You know me, Hobi. You know I don’t believe this crap. He’s telling the truth.”

“So where are your wings now?” Hoseok challenged, chin jutting defiantly.

“That’s where it gets complicated. I’m not really… A full faerie. Not anymore,” Jin said softly, his smile drooping from his face. He sat up straighter and stripped out of his shirt, turning around. His back was covered in an intricate tribal tattoo. It ran in jagged lines from his shoulders downward to his lower back in the shape of wings. The majority of the tattoo was black, dotted with blood red points at various junctures of the design.

“It is hard for me to display my wings as… They should be. Saving you two, carrying you back in flight – It wore me out. I can’t, even if I wanted to.” He sat back down, tossing his shirt aside.

“What do you mean you’re not full faerie anymore?” Hoseok pressed.

“I was disowned. My family. But when a fae clan disowns one of their own, it breaks us. We’re pack animals, I guess. It weakens us and makes us more human-like.”

“You don’t really believe this, do you?” Hoseok asked Namjoon.

“I didn’t want to. But I woke up and I was being carried. Six feet above a rushing flood of water, by a man flying. You and me in his arms. He set me down in the cave, just like this and I—I saw it, Hoseok. I know it seems nuts but I saw it. He’s not a human.”

Hoseok scowled, still wondering how possible it was that Namjoon had some sort of head injury.

“Say I believe this crazy… And I can’t believe you believe it, Namjoon. You’re the most rational of our friend group. But say I believe it… Why were you disowned?”

“I broke one of our rules.”

“Which was?”

Jin lowered his gaze to the fire. “I fell in love with a human. And showed him what I was. There are legends of our kind, sure… But to give a human definitive proof – that’s a cardinal sin. Most of the stories humans tell about us are from those like me that were brazen enough to share ourselves with humans… And they usually paid with their lives or their magic.”

“But you?” Namjoon asked.

“I paid with the blood of my lover. Many years ago… I’ve been alone, hiding, since.”

“How old are you?” Hoseok asked. “You look our age.”

“Hundreds of years old. But I am more rapidly aging now. I would gather I have about the lifespan of a human left – sixty years maybe? Seventy?” He shrugged. “When you’ve existed in solitude as long as I have now, time doesn’t matter. Maybe that’s why I saved you two. You were quite lost.”

“Yeah, the raging river really helped with that.”

Jin laughed again. “You’re a fighter. I mean before the rain though. I was watching you two.” He smiled almost shyly, hiding his mouth under his hand.

“You were watching us?” Namjoon clarified.

“I wanted to make sure you didn’t stumbled on my cave. You were close before you got turned around. And… I was bored. Curious. I haven’t seen humans in many years.”

“You talk like we’re so foreign, but you look exactly like us, except the wing tattoo.”

“Hm… I do. Or do you look like my kind?” Jin flashed a playful smile and hopped to his feet, lithe despite his imposing size. “Want to play a game?”

“A game?” Hoseok glanced up toward the top of the cave where the rain could still be heard audibly coming down in torrents. “Not sure this is a good time to play.”

“Oh no, in the caves. Come on.” Jin held out his hands for the two of them. Hoseok looked over at Namjoon, who shrugged.

“You’re shrugging? At a strange man who says he’s a faerie… Wanting to lead us through a cave system?”

“He did save us. And there’s nothing better to do. Let’s go.” Namjoon took Jin’s hand and rose. Hoseok frowned a little, a little twist forming in the pit of his stomach when Namjoon smiled over at Jin. He was all too familiar with that feeling after this many years, and that look from Namjoon. Namjoon was interested in Jin, and he’d end up being a third wheel by the end of the night. Still, Hoseok rose, following after the two as Jin led them down a winding passageway.

The trio stopped in a wide area with four different tunnels, not including the one that they had come from.

“Hide and seek,” Jin said, a gleeful lilt in his tone.

“Are you kidding? We’re gonna get lost,” Namjoon argued.

“No you won’t, trust me. I’ve lived in these caves for years. I know every way in and out. Who wants to be the seeker first?”

Hoseok and Namjoon shared a glance. Jin beamed. “I’ll sweeten the deal… If you find me you get a kiss.”

“What?” Hoseok spluttered. Namjoon’s entire face went red.

“It’s lucky. Kiss from a faerie and you’ll have luck to spare.”

He winked. “Find me. Call my name if you need help… You can even both work together, if you’d like… But I might ask for something if you do.”

“What?” Namjoon asked. Jin beamed and thumbed his nose. “Guess you’ll have to find out when you find me. Close your eyes and count to twenty.”

Namjoon shrugged and shut his eyes. Hoseok followed suit, listening for any sound of Jin’s movement as they began to count aloud to twenty.

“Which way?” Namjoon asked when they’d reached the right number.

“Honestly, I’m not sure. I have good ears, but I didn’t even hear him move.”

“Should we just pick a random way?”

Hoseok scowled, looking at each of the openings. They were all lit by some sort of glow that Hoseok assumed was fire.

“Which way would you go?”

“This one.” Namjoon pointed to the path directly opposite to the route they took to reach the divide. “We didn’t feel him walk past us so he probably just backed up.”

“Logical… But I don’t think so. That’s too obvious.”

“Wanna split up?”

“What if we get lost?”

Namjoon shrugged. “He said he’d make sure we didn’t.”

“Do you really trust him, Namjoon? I mean… You’re so rational but it’s like you’re in complete belief of this guy.”

Namjoon shrugged. “I am the rational one… But maybe... What if my rationale has caused me to miss all of this magic in the world? Then what is it for? I know what I saw. He’s not human. Can’t you feel it? The… Power coming off him?”

Hoseok snorted, turning and heading down the leftmost branch. “I think that’s pheromones, Joonie.”

“What?” Namjoon jogged to catch up with him. He stumbled over a ridge in the path and Hoseok turned, catching him without thought.

“Thanks…” Namjoon looked up at Hoseok, smiling sheepishly.

That old familiar double rapid pounding off his heart picked up when he realized Namjoon’s lips were so close to his. Just a shift… Easy… Hoseok cleared his throat and straighten up, helping right Namjoon. He dusted off his shirt and kept walking.

“What did you mean by pheromones?” Namjoon pushed.

“He wants to fuck you.” Hoseok’s tone was flat and simple, but something in his words must have startled Namjoon, because he stopped. It took Hoseok a moment to realize he wasn’t following him anymore. He looked back, raising an eyebrow.

“What?”

“Did you just… Say he wants to fuck me?”

“Did I stutter?”

Namjoon shook his head. “He’s been flirting with you since you woke up, Hobi.”

Hoseok snorted. “You must have hit your head.”

Namjoon frowned, tilting his head a little. “Not that I recall.”

“Come on, let’s just find him and be done with this. Who decides to play hide and seek in a damn cave in a rainstorm?” “Well, if he is a faerie, they’re known to be mischievous, even to the point of being troublesome and poltergeist like. A game of hide and seek in a potentially dangerous location qualifies as that, I think.”

“Since when are you the Tinkerbell expert?” Hoseok asked, his shoulders hunched as he started down the path again.

“Well, I mean - just because I don’t… Didn’t… Believe, doesn’t mean I didn’t find mythical creatures interesting. I mean sure, trolls and goblins aren’t real but their mythology is interesting. Wait…”

“What?” Hoseok asked, glancing back. Namjoon was still following behind him, scowling. “If faeries actually are real… Does that mean other myths are too? Trolls, goblins, dragons, unicorns…”

“Sure, Namjoonie. Yoongi has a unicorn in his backyard, didn’t you know?” Hoseok teased. Namjoon scowled, his eyes narrowing.

“Not funny.”

“Kinda funny. You’re cracking up, Namjoon. Fantasy creatures aren’t real.”

“Look, you know me, Hobi.” Namjoon grabbed his wrist to stop him and make him face him. “You know I’m logical and clever and I think things though, right?”

“Yeah.”

“So, please… This guy isn’t… He’s not human, Hoseok. Please believe me. You said you saw his wings too.”

“I don’t know what I saw.”

Namjoon stayed silent a moment, just watching Hoseok. Though he was saying nothing, Hoseok’s resolve began to crumble, and he shifted from foot to foot. “Okay. Fine. I admit… There’s something weird about him. I don’t know if it’s… Magic… But he’s not quite…”

“Human.” Namjoon filled in. Hoseok shrugged.

“Yeah, I guess so.”

Namjoon nodded, seemingly satisfied with Hoseok’s admittance, and headed back down the path they were going.

The two reached the end of the path without finding any sign of Jin. They turned back, discussing softly which route to take next.

“I mean… What do you think? What would you do to really try to trick someone?” Hoseok asked.

“Well…” Namjoon looked around at each of the branches of the cave. Hoseok wasn’t sure exactly what he was looking for; they all looked the same. Namjoon’s brows furrowed.

“Well…”

“What are you thinking with that big old brain of yours?” Hoseok half joked.

“Well…” Namjoon turned back the way they came. “If I wanted to fuck with someone and play a really good trick… I’d go back the way we came and sit by the nice warm fire while they searched all these dead ends.”

Hoseok’s brows shot up. “That’s a good point… Think he did?”

“Maybe. But wait… Didn’t he say when we found him he’d have us do something if we worked together?”

“What do you think that means?” Hoseok asked.

“I guess there’s only one way to find out.” Namjoon headed down the path they had originally taken, back toward the entrance of the cave and the warm fire.

To neither of their surprise, when they entered the cavern that they had started in, Jin was stretched out beside the fire, still bare chested, munching on a handful of berries. He beamed at the two brightly, eyes shining in the firelight. “You found me.”

“You’re a trickster,” Hoseok teased. Jin’s grin widened.

“Not really. Tricksters are so much more mean. I just have fun. I guess you two earned your kisses.” He winked.

“You said if we worked together we’d need to do something for you. What is it?” Namjoon asked.

“Right! I did. Come sit over here with me.” He shifted and moved back onto a soft pile of bedding, criss-crossing his legs. Namjoon and Hoseok crossed over, sitting on the bedding with him. He turned and faced them, still smiling. He held out his hand. In his palm were two pieces of fruit, small and berry like. They were both a shade of orange so vibrant they looked fake.

“What’s this?”

“Take them. Don’t eat them yet, I need to tell you what they are.”

The two obeyed, examining the berries up close.

“These aren’t normal fruit. They’re from my realm. I mean -- So fae and humans live in the same realm technically, but we have passageways into different worlds. One of which these came from.”

“And what are these?” Namjoon asked.

“Have you ever heard of sodium pentothal?”

Hoseok shook his head but Namjoon nodded. “Yeah, truth serum, right? It’s not really, but they used to think it was.”

“Right. Do you know how it came into being?”

Namjoon shook his head.

“Supposedly an American chemist in the 1930’s discovered it. It was really useful as an anesthesia, but he was searching for something else.” Jin pointed to the berries in their hands. “His family was from Germany. They’d met fae and learned about - experienced, what these fruits do. He was obsessed with finding an equivalent to these in this world. Sodium thiopental - pentothal - was the closest thing he could find. But it wasn’t real.”

“Are you saying these are like a truth serum?” Namjoon asked. Jin nodded.

“Yes. They’re short acting. One berry for one or two questions. Entirely safe in small doses, but I wouldn’t take more than two or three max.”

“So why are you showing us these?”

“Because, you worked together to find me, so what I want is one answer from each of you. Eat it, I ask a question, you answer.”

“How do we know this is what you say it is?” Hoseok worried.

“If you’re afraid it’s poison, I’ll eat one too.” He plucked the berry from Hoseok’s fingers and popped it into his mouth, chewing. His nose scrunched as he swallowed. “Sour. Go ahead. Ask a question.”

“Are you really a mythological creature?” Hoseok asked.

“Grey area. To you, yes. Fae are myths. To me, no, I’m just a faerie.”

“What are you going to do with us?” Namjoon asked next, quickly.

“Keep you safe through the storm. Then I’ll help you find your path when it’s over so you can go home.”

Namjoon and Hoseok exchanged a glance. Hoseok shrugged. Jin held out another berry to Hoseok.

“Your turn.”

“Who first?”

“Hm… You.” Jin jutted his chin toward Hoseok. He nodded and took a deep breath before popping the berry into his mouth. He grimaced while chewing it.

“Too sour,” he complained.

“Sorry, they’re kinda bitter. I only have one question for you. How do you feel about Namjoon?”

Hoseok’s eyebrows shot up as he swallowed. “He’s my best friend,” he said without hesitation.

“But there’s more,” Jin pressed.

“Well, of course. I’ve been in love with him since we were young.” Hoseok’s eyes bulged and he slapped his hand over his mouth, looking over at the wide eyed Namjoon.

“You have?” Namjoon spluttered.

“Tell me more,” Jin pressed. “Why doesn’t he know?” Hoseok’s shoulders slumped. He let his hands fall to his lap, refusing to look at either of them as he spoke.

“Well, he’s my friend. He’s my closest friend and I didn’t want to lose him because he’s not interested in me. His type is… Well, guys like you. Not guys like me. So I just figured that if I was his friend that would be good enough… It’d be all I’d ever get.”

“Hobi,” Namjoon whispered.

“Your turn, Namjoon,” Jin said, motioning to the berry. He ate it without hesitation.

“Ask.”

“What do you feel about Hoseok?”

“I didn’t need the berry for this… I love the guy. He’s my world. He’s the only person who’s been there consistently for me since we were little. He’s held me up through every heartbreak and he’s the only person I trust with my whole heart.”

“So why haven’t you asked him to date you?”

“Because I didn’t think he was interested in me. For as smart as I am, I’m an idiot and I’m not very good looking and I’m kinda clumsy and dumb sometimes. He deserves so much more.”

“What?” Hoseok shouted, startling Namjoon. “You think I deserve more? I’ve been pining over you for years!”

Jin smirked a little. “Here’s where you apologize and kiss him, Namjoon,” he whispered. Namjoon looked over, his eyes going a little wide. Hoseok’s shoulders slumped.

“I mean… I wouldn’t mind that… If you wanted to…” He mumbled, feeling a little shy at Jin’s blatant suggestion.

“Wait… Before anything..” Namjoon pointed to Jin. “Why? You’ve been flirting with Hobi all night.”

“Was I?”

“No he was flirting with you,” Hoseok argued. “Question still stands but…”

“Oh, was I?”

Jin smiled a little. “Does it occur to either of you I might have been flirting with both of you?”

“Why still?” Namjoon asked. “We were dumb to our feelings… You could’ve had either one of us.”

“Most humans won’t date faeries, even if I did want you. Plus, I could see you liked each other. Just because I like you doesn’t mean I get to take you from someone who clearly has your heart.”

“Who says my heart is only big enough for one person?” Namjoon shot back.

Hoseok’s heart leapt into his throat. He looked over at Jin as well, noticing the softness in his beautiful features, and the almost sad depth of his dark eyes.

“You also promised us a kiss.”

“Oh, I did,” Jin said, meeting Hoseok’s gaze. “The kiss of a faerie is good luck… If you want it.”

“Kiss him first,” Hoseok whispered, motioning to Namjoon.

“Why?”

“I…” Hoseok frowned a little, his brows furrowed in thought. “I’m not sure. I just want to see it.”

“Of course.” Jin looked to Namjoon, eyebrows raised. Namjoon looked over at Hoseok. He leaned forward, pressing his lips lightly against Jin’s. Jin cupped his cheeks, deepening the kiss.

Hoseok gasped softly. He was sure it was just a trick of his eyes, but he was sure he saw a shimmer of something when their lips met.

Jin pulled back and brushed his nose over Namjoon’s. “There you go… Though with how unlucky you tend to be, you might need more than one kiss to counteract that.”

Namjoon chuckled. “How do you know I’m unlucky?”

“Call it a hunch.” He leaned forward and pressed another chaste kiss to Namjoon’s mouth before looking over at Hoseok. “Your turn.”

Hoseok shifted forward, knowing he probably looked terrified. Jin smiled patiently. “Haven’t done this much, hm?”

“Kissed strange men who claim they’re mythical beings with wings? No, can’t say I have… What was that… Spark that I saw?”

“Spark?” Namjoon asked.

“Hm… I don’t know. Guess we’ll have to see if Namjoon sees it when I kiss you,” Jin said, his mouth quirking up further to make his smile more mischievous. He closed the gap between their mouths quicky, earning a surprised squeak from Hoseok.

Jin tasted of watermelon and citrus, his lips smooth and steady. Hoseok’s heart skipped a beat when Jin touched his cheek. He deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue along Jin’s soft bottom lip. Jin gave in, their tongues brushing together. Hoseok could feel Namjoon staring, but he didn’t feel embarrassed. If anything, he enjoyed it. And the knowledge that he’d soon be kissing Namjoon’s mouth was just as exciting.

Hoseok broke the kiss only when he couldn’t catch his breath, pulling back just enough to gasp in a quick breath. Namjoon swore softly.

“That was… Hot as hell,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “I almost don’t wanna ask you to kiss me.”

“Why not?” Hoseok asked.

“You two… Look so good.”

“And you two will as well,” Jin assured him.

“Namjoonie.” Hoseok grabbed Namjoon’s shirt and dragged him close, their mouths slotting together perfectly. Namjoon relaxed against Hoseok’s body and his heart did a little flip of joy. He cupped Namjoon’s face, deepening the kiss. He wasn’t sure what would happen once they left this cave, and he wanted to remember this moment forever.

When they separated, Namjoon’s cheeks were beautifully mottled. He laughed a nervous little laugh and rubbed the back of his neck before looking over at Jin.

“May I kiss you again?” Jin asked softly.

“Wh-- Yeah.”

Jin leaned forward, starting slow but deepening the kiss quickly. Hoseok wet his lips, unable to tear his eyes away. Instead of the jealousy he had felt prior, he now felt an arousal all the way to his core. He reached out, running the tips of his fingers over Jin’s broad, bare shoulder and down his chest. Jin gasped lightly into Namjoon’s mouth when Hoseok brushed over his nipple.

Feeling brazen, Hoseok repeated the action and moved a little closer, sliding his hand lower. He circled the tip of his finger around Jin’s belly button before brushing over the waistband of his pants. He broke the kiss with Namjoon, meeting Hoseok’s gaze.

“Are you coming onto me, Hoseok?” He panted. Hoseok smirked.

“Maybe.”

“What’s gotten into you?” Namjoon asked, just as breathless. He was smiling as he spoke.

“I don’t know, honestly,” Hoseok admitted. “You didn’t… Do anything to us, did you?” He worried.

“Not at all. Sometimes being… Sometimes our magic can enhance a feeling, but it doesn’t put anything there that wasn’t already. I promise you that, I would do nothing without your complete consent.”

Hoseok nodded. “I believe you.”

“You do? What happened to, we must have hit our heads and he can’t be magical?” Namjoon teased, sliding his hand over Hoseok’s thigh.

Hoseok shrugged. “I guess he made a believer out of me.”

Namjoon licked his lips. He looked down at his hands. “So… What now?”

“You should rest,” Jin said. He took one of their hands in each of his. “Tomorrow it should stop raining. I’ll lead you to the right path home. And you two can start your lives together.” He released their hands and touched their jaws, smiling brightly.

Despite his comforting words, Hoseok felt uneasy. There was something wrong about this, he just couldn’t put his finger on what it was.

“Lay with us?” Namjoon asked.

“You want me to?”

Namjoon nodded. Jin looked over at Hoseok, who nodded quickly as well. “Please.”

“Alright.” Jin rose and pulled over the other mat of blankets that Hoseok had woken up on. He laid them side by side and stretched out, worming his way under one of the blankets. “Come on then.”

Namjoon pressed himself against Jin, and Hoseok slid in behind him, brushing his lips over Namjoon’s shoulder.

“Hey, Jin…” He began. “Th—“

Jin reached out, placing two fingers over Hoseok’s mouth, silencing him.

“Don’t.”

“Why?” Hoseok asked.

“Because you never thank a fae. Do that and they’ll stay with you forever. At least… Until they have to call in thag debt.” He winked. “I know it. You don’t need to say it.”

Hoseok smiled a little and nodded. “As long as you know.”

Jin leaned over Namjoon and pressed a chaste kiss to Hoseok’s mouth.

“Rest.”

The three snuggled further under the blanket. The torrent of rain and crackling of the fire soothed them as they slipped to sleep in one another’s arms.

The next morning, after a breakfast of fruits, Jin led the two out of the cave. The trees were sagging with water and the ground was squishy with mud piled inches high. Hoseok held Namjoon’s hand as Jin led them without words. He reached out when they’d been walking a bit, touching Jin’s hand.

“Hey… Last night.”

“Don’t mention it,” Jin said. He glanced back and nodded toward their linked hands. “Meant to be.” Hoseok didn’t miss the small, sad smile, or the squeeze before he dropped his hands.

“The path!” Namjoon cried in surprise when Jin led them around a small cluster of trees nearly an hour later. “We were so lost.”

“You wandered a long way from the path,” Jin agreed, stopping at the side of the rock paved path. A lot of it had been washed away or otherwise destroyed by the flooding, but it was still visible, winding down the hill and toward where Hoseok hoped their car was still parked.

Jin turned around and smiled at them. “I am glad I could help you find your way. Both… To the path and to each other.” He pressed a kiss to Namjoon’s cheek and then Hoseok’s before circling around them and heading back into the woods.

Hoseok glanced at Namjoon before calling out. “Jin, wait!”

Jin turned back. “What?”

Hoseok rushed up to him, pressing a kiss to his mouth. He held Jin’s cheeks. “Thank you.” He said firmly.

Jin’s eyes widened a little. “Hoseok--”

“I know. I remember what you said last night. Thank you, Jin.” He kissed him again before walking back to Namjoon. They both looked back at Jin, who was still standing in the same place, his cheeks mottled pink and his expression unreadable.

“Let’s go home,” Namjoon whispered, still looking at Jin. They turned back and headed down the path toward their freedom.

Once in the car, Hoseok slumped in the seat. “Why do you think he stayed?”

“I’m not sure. Maybe he didn’t want to be around us.”

“It felt…” Hoseok shrugged. He started the car and headed toward their home. “So what do we do?”

“I want to take you on a legit date… For real. I’m sorry I didn’t see it before.”

“Guess I’m just a good actor.” Hoseok chuckled without much humor.

“I can’t stop thinking about Jin,” Namjoon admitted after a few minutes of silence.

“Me neither. All alone in the woods… He said his family had left him… He’s got no one… Why didn’t he understand what we meant when I thanked him?”

Namjoon shrugged softly. “I don’t know. I wish he would have… I didn’t mean to… Fall for him.”

“Neither did I. I thought he was nuts.” Hoseok chuckled. He reached over, taking Namjoon’s hand. “But I’m glad he led us to each other.”

“You wanna come in for a while?” Namjoon asked when they arrived at his small apartment.

“I’d love to.”

The two entered, still walking close enough to bump shoulders. “Water?”

“Dying of thirst.”

The two walked into the kitchen. Namjoon shouted and Hoseok swore.

Jin was perched on the kitchen counter, a pair of stone-washed white jeans and a nice white button up. His hair was combed neatly, and his bright red and black wings were on proud display. He beamed at the two.

“You know what happens when you give thanks to a fae, guys?” He asked, hopping off the counter. His wings folded behind him, disappearing as easily as if they had never been there. It took a moment for the two to answer.

“Wh-- You don’t leave them alone?” Hoseok stuttered.

“Mm. Better yet… You let us in. We can stick around, pester you…” He circled around the two. He brushed his lips over Namjoon’s neck and then Hoseok’s ear. “Fuck around with you… Make your life a living hell… Or heaven… Depending on how you treat us.”

“And what if we treat you like you’re a part of our relationship?” Namjoon asked.

“Then you might be getting more of those lucky kisses than you know what to do with.”

Hoseok turned, cupping Jin’s cheek with one hand. “Tell me, faerie boy… If your kisses are lucky… What do more intimate things do for us humans?” He slid his hand up Jin’s thigh.

Jin’s eyes fluttered shut. “Not sure… But I’d love to find out.”

Namjoon went forward, nosing his way over to kiss Jin’s mouth. Hoseok kissed over his neck.

“My bedroom,” Namjoon mumbled. Hoseok nodded. He grabbed Jin’s hand and Namjoon’s smiling softly at them both.

As they made their way to the bedroom, stealing kisses, Hoseok’s heart swelled. When he’d started in on that stupid hike with Namjoon it was just to appease his friend, his secret crush that he never had a chance in hell with. Now he was going to bed with not only the man he’d wanted for years, but the man… Sort of man, that had brought them together, and that he’d possibly fallen for in the process. He’d never been happier. Maybe losing their way that night was the only way to find the right path to their destinies.

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