#tatawrites

[tae-cup]

je te laisserai des mots | KTH Oneshot

Pairing: Kim Taehyung x Reader

Summary: You go back to where it all began...

Genre: Post-death, Angst, Fluff (it’s hard to explain but it’ll make sense)

Word Count: 4.8k

Rating: PG

Warnings: Mentions of major character death (It’s what it’s about)

A/N: I got all up in my feels listening to je te laisserai des mots and thus this fic was born....

Other: Masterlist

Kiss me

Whenever you want

 Kiss me

Whenever you want

           10 years later and standing beside his open casket of wood and dust was not the way you thought you would see him again. And he was so young. Only 28. The high arches of the wooden church taunted you, alluding to a higher place, one you may not reach, one where he was resting. Because Taehyung was always an angel. 

         The gray clouds outside were the only sign that one should be sad at this moment. The strangers passing by were not to know of your grief; the loss of a lover, the future plans slipping away. 

         10 years. You were supposed to meet him in 10 years and plan your lives together from there. They had cleaned him up well. His body smelled of roses, the blood was wiped from his forehead. You had met him 10 summers ago. 

Ten Summers Ago

          Under an oak wood tree you had rested, a leather bound book in hand. The hazy summer afternoon sky heated the air and your eyes were weary. The days of sitting, reading, and sleeping were just starting.

          You had left your home in the big city of Seoul to reside in the country for a few months. It was always quiet. It felt like the slightest noise was a thunderous clap. So, you sat, still as a mouse, while you read. The wind running through the trees and rustling the wheat crops were your only company. 

        Peaceful. It was peaceful, perhaps a little boring, but relaxing nonetheless. You rested your back against the wood and pressed your book to your chest as you began drifting off. Your eyelids were heavy, the heat of the day taking over. 

“Hey, don’t fall asleep yet! I haven’t been able to introduce myself!” A deep voice shouted, startling you out of your stupor. 

         You jolted upright, coming face to face with a boy hanging upside down above you. He twisted and landed on the ground with a light thump. 

“H-how long have you been up there?!” You sputtered, standing and clutching your book. The boy grinned childishly, though you were sure he was your age. 

“Long enough.” He said vaguely. “My family just came here this summer and I haven’t seen anyone my age. I was gonna ask if you wanted to hang out, but if you would rather nap, then be my guest.” 

          The boy had a twinkle in his eye, a youthful gleam that seemed to be lost on you. For the longest time, you’d had to be a grown up. Being an only child, your parents expected a lot from you, wanted you to be successful. It was this that resulted in you maturing a lot quicker than your peers. You turned away, tilting your nose slightly. 

“I don’t know if I want to talk to a boy who hasn’t even introduced himself.” You declared, crossing your arms. “I mean, isn’t that how you’re supposed to woo a lady?” 

“Who says I’m trying to woo you?” His expression softened. 

“Every boy I’ve ever met just wants to get in my pants. What else do I need to know?”

“Well, I’m not like that.” The corners of his lips tilted into a soft smile.

      The dark curls of his hair hung down and framed his face wonderfully. You found him to be quite handsome, actually. It had been a long while since anyone had made you nervous, or flustered. 

“How am I supposed to believe that?” You asked, turning back to face him with a questioning look. “You were just watching me for god knows how long without introducing yourself.”

“You sat under my tree.” 

“I’m sure I’ve been here longer, Mister.” You huffed. 

“Right you are.” He relented. Then his lips lifted into a boxy smile. “I’m Taehyung.” 

“Y/N.” You smiled back. 

      The grass shifted under the breeze and the shade of the tree covered yours and Taehyung’s hands as they shook. 

“I can tell this is going to be a summer like no other already.” 

You chuckled at his declaration and nodded along. “We’ll see about that.”

Present 

          You stood under the oak tree. It’s branches still hung overhead, tall and proud. A part of you was expecting him to pop out from above, swinging upside down, but that would never come to pass. The cold air blew through your hair, the sun covered by the gray of the sky. The tree was losing its leaves, the barren branches reminding you of what was gone. 

         You sighed and pulled yourself from your thoughts, turning to search through the overgrown bramble. Your eyes caught onto a tattered red ribbon under the bushes. You fell to your hands and knees, hands reaching through to pull on the small square of fabric. 

         The old bush scraped at your hands, but you managed to get a hand on the ribbon. Then you pulled, the weathered material stretched and then up came an old shovel. The shovel was rusted, buried long ago. Dirt clung to the rotting wood handle. 

          You took a deep breath and turned back to the tree. The dirt was covered in grass and wildflowers. Your fingers traced the seams of the trunk, searching for the initials that were carved long ago. Frowning, you ran over it again. Your fingertips caught on the slightest of cracks, the unnatural curvatures catching your attention. 

           You bent and scanned your eyes over the mark. There it was. A heart with your initials and KTH. It brought a sad smile to your face. You gripped the shovel tighter, the old wood giving slightly under your touch. 

 Ten Summers Ago

“May I have this dance?” 

You pushed him away with a laugh. “No way, weirdo.”

“Aw c’mon, Y/N, you’re no fun.” Taehyung cried, crossing his arms. 

         The local town was holding the annual summer festival. The roofs were connected through colorful streamers and red lanterns. The aroma was of baked goods and cooking meats. Children ran by with kites and there was a warm glow to the air as it fell to dark. 

         Loud music of drums and guitar floated down the street. In the center square, you stood with Taehyung. Your parents were exploring and left you with him to go off and shop around. There was somewhat of a dance party in the city center and Taehyung had dragged you along. 

“I’m a lot of fun!” You protested. “Why else have you been hanging around me for the past month, lover boy?”

“Fine, fine. Where do you want to go?” He deflated, looking less than happy. Your stomach twisted uncomfortably.

        You glanced between his disappointed gaze, the band playing, and the bright lights of the vendors down the street. With a small smile, you took his hand. 

“Let’s dance.” You said softly, dragging him behind you to the dance floor. 

         There was a crush of people, some slow dancing, others grinding, and everything in between. You placed one hand on his shoulder and the other in his hand. Then he lifted his arm to your waist, tugging you closer. 

“I love this song.” He murmured in your ear, before he was off. 

        The beat was lively and he started quickly maneuvering between the crowds of people, leaving you racing to keep up with his feet. You laughed, heart racing as the lights and people blurred around you. 

       He swooped you low and then threw you back up. The only person in focus was Taehyung, and you were drunk on his boxy smile. The boy spun you around and then clasped his hand back at your waist. The heat of his hand burned through your clothing. 

“Taehyung, this is crazy.” You shrieked as he skirted around the poor couples who were moving slower. 

“I know, isn’t it fun?” He chuckled, slowing slightly. 

       You stumbled, stepping harshly on his foot. He let out an oomph and lost his footing. You tripped over him, bringing you both to the ground. You rushed to place your hands on the concrete, halting your movement and wincing as the gravel dug into your palms. You heard him suck in a breath and you glanced down. Your heart raced, the music becoming muffled as the blood rushed to your ears. 

        You were hovering inches above him, his face a short distance away, his lips tantalizingly close. You cleared your throat, rolling to the side and standing up, dusting yourself off. Get a grip. There was an unreadable look in his eyes. Then he slowly stood as well. 

“You alright?” He asked hesitantly. 

“Yeah, I’m fine, are you...are you okay?” 

“Perfectly,” He cleared his throat a couple times. “Perfectly fine.” 

        You nodded stiffly. Your cheeks were still rosy, the exhilaration and adrenaline still coursing through your veins. 

“Wanna...wanna check out something else?” 

Present

         You were shaking. Your hands were shaking as you traced his initials in the tree with your fingertip. The memory of what once was, haunted you. With a shuddering breath in, you penetrated the dirt with the shovel. The metal creaked against the wood of the handle. You continued to dig, piles of dirt thrown over your shoulder. 

         You were sweating, but you continued to dig with a tenacity that could only be described as obsession. The brown dirt turned to mud as you dug deeper. You swiped at the sweat as it dripped down your temple. Then, you hit it. The familiar clang of metal on metal met your ears. You bent and pulled the box out, sharpied initials on the top. 

Memories...Y/N & Tae

                 Were written on the metal cover. A wave of grief rolled over your body and as much as you shook, you still opened the lid. You pushed the heavy metal to the side, dusting the dirt off. 

       Inside were two neatly folded letters, one with the words, To Taehyung and another with the words To Y/N. You already knew what was written in the To Taehyung letter, after all, you had written it. And you had dreamed for many nights, of watching him open and read the words you had written on those cream colored pages. Sadly, fate would not have it that way. 

        Your fingers brushed the envelope entitled To Y/N. Your voice caught in your throat, afraid of making a further movement lest the tears watering your eyes were to fall. You took a breath, re-covering the box for a moment, and closed your eyes. You didn’t know if you could stand it anymore; the flood that threatened to overwhelm your body. 

 Ten Summers Ago

         The cafe smelled like coffee and sugar. The small shop was almost empty despite it being the morning. You waited for Taehyung, the morning sun just gleaming over the horizon. The bell at the door rang and you glanced up to see Taehyung rushing in. His hair was windswept, curly bangs falling in a heap on his forehead. 

        You waved him over and his eyes lit up as he made his way to the table. He pulled out a chair, the legs scraping loudly against the ground. He winced at the screeching sound it made and you hid a chuckled behind your hand. 

“What did you order?” He asked. 

“Just a coffee and bagel. I ordered you a tea and cookie.” You answered, staring idly out the window. The street was quiet, barely anyone walking by. 

“Ah, you always know what I like.” 

“You talk like we’ve known each other for years.” You rolled your eyes. 

“A couple months? A year? It’s all the same.” He waved it off with a shrug. 

“I suppose so.” You smiled, turning to face him. 

“Hey, there’s this place I wanted to show you today and it’s best if we go early.” He reached out and grasped your hand. You shivered at the way his palm caressed your skin. 

“Is that the reason you got me up before the sun rose and then arrived late?” 

       He flushed a bright red, shaking his head fervently. 

“No-no!” He stuttered. 

      Then he dropped your hand and you found yourself missing his skin on yours. The dark haired boy scratched the back of his head sheepishly.

 “I just...I just needed to get some things ready.” 

“Alright.” You shrugged. He stood and held his hand out. 

“Let’s go, it’s not too far.” 

-

         The lake was serene, not a single breeze appearing to disturb it. Your eyes traced the water’s edge and then to the forest of trees lining it. There was an old wooden dock at one side, where you were standing. Your arms were crossed, the sun beating down. 

“I wanted to come here because the water is still cold and it’s hot now.” He explained. Then he started to lift his shirt overhead. 

“Oh my god, you can’t be serious!” You hissed. 

“What? No one is around.” Taehyung shrugged and threw off his shirt to reveal his well shaped abdomen. You averted your eyes respectfully. 

“I don’t know, Tae.” You murmured. “What if I don’t want you to see me in my bra, huh?” You complained. 

“Whatever you want, Y/N, but know I wouldn’t mind.” He wiggled his eyebrows. You playfully shoved him. 

“That’s the problem!”

       He chuckled and turned around, placing his hands behind his back. 

“I won’t look.” 

        After a moment of staring at his back incredulously, you sighed and stripped. First was your shirt, which revealed the black bra underneath, you kept your shorts on, however. Then you tugged his arm. 

“Slow poke!” You shouted, racing to the edge of the dock and jumping in. 

        It was deeper than you thought, the cool water surrounding you instantly. The only warmth was your body and it was slowly being sucked away. The chill took your breath away, but you opened your eyes to look around. It was a murky blue, almost calming. 

        The kelp reached up from the bottom, the inky black of the depths drew you closer. Your eyes flicked upwards. The world was blurry from the water, but your eyes didn’t sting. The sunlight streamed through the waters. 

        You smiled and kicked upwards. Breaking the surface and peaceful quiet of the underwater, you saw Taehyung. He had backed up and ran off the dock with a shout. Water splashed over you and you let out a shriek, swimming away from him as the impact rippled the water. He resurfaced and shook out the wet locks on his head. 

“Hah, nice try, Y/N, but you’re not getting rid of me that easily.” He chided. 

“Maybe you should just keep up better.” You shot back. 

        The grin on his face widened. He remained silent, just watching you. Your hair floated around you. It was silent, the only noise being that of the swaying trees. 

“Stop staring at me like that.” You giggled. 

“Like what?” He answered dumbly, he moved ever so slightly closer to you. 

“Like...like…” You studied his expression.

        His features faded into something softer, more caressing. You’d only ever seen your father look at your mother like that. The realization hit you and you found the words slipping out of your mouth without a second thought. 

“...Like you love me.” 

His lips twitched upwards slightly. “Maybe I do.” 

Present

          You opened the box and grasped the cool pages into one hand. You fingered through the crisp paper, unsure if you should open it. With a deep breath, you pushed your fingernail through the old tape.

        The familiar handwriting hit you, the ink still dry as if it were written yesterday. If yesterday was 10 years ago. You carefully read through the letter, letting his words pull you back to a hazy summer afternoon. To ink drying and melting popsicles. 

My dearest, Y/N,

         Wow, 10 years is a long time, huh? I wonder who I’ll be by then, I wonder what we will be. You know, I’m writing this, but I don’t really know what will happen; whether I’ll be with you, or without you. But I don’t think I’ll ever forget you, Y/N. Anyway, laugh now and pretend I’ve written something funny, because I got nothing. Haha. You know I’ll never forget this summer, or spending late nights with you out at the tree, I won’t forget your lips. 

         Oh, I was absolutely floored when you kissed me back! Seriously! You’re probably laughing now, I know it’s cringey. Okay, but hear me out, I have ZERO experience. Stop laughing! I know you’re laughing, stop it! Listen, it was like my world had opened and I could see the stars for the first time. It’s like the clouds split open and I could see the night sky; and in that galaxy of stars, I see you. You shine brighter than the rest. You’re my star, my galaxy, and I am, but the lonely Earth. 

                                                                                        Love,

                                                                     Kim Taehyung (Tae Bear)

      Under the last page was a small note. You took the note out, the wind whistling in your ears. 

“Follow the trail…” You murmured to yourself, reading the paper. “Stumbling feet and sugary air, here, is the place we had our true first dance.” 

       You turned the paper, brain turning as you searched your memories. If Taehyung was here, like he should have been, he would be able to help you out. 

“The festival.” You whispered. 

Ten Summers Ago

“You know that idea I had, last night?” Taehyung browsed the jewelry shop. 

“I don’t recall, it was late.” You said, distracted as you felt the cool metal of a ring between your fingers. 

“It was about a time capsule. We could write letters to each other for ten years in the future.” 

“Ten years?” You set the ring down and turned to him, tilting your head slightly. “Ten years is a long time.” 

“Then hopefully we’ll still be in touch.” He shrugged and looked through some necklaces. 

“That’s assuring.” You grumbled, moving to look at the rack he was browsing. 

“I like this one.” He held up a necklace with a dainty rose gold chain and an opal butterfly charm front and center.

       You admired the piece of jewelry as it glimmered in the sunlight that streamed through the windows of the shop. The bored shopkeeper glanced up for a moment before returning to her phone. 

“I don’t know, not my thing.” You said casually, but you did. You liked the shiny gold and pristine white stone. 

He shot you a boxy smile, white teeth revealing themselves. “Well it’s not for you, is it?” He teased, marching up to the cash register and paying the ten dollars for it. 

        You flushed a bright red, sheepishly looking away. 

“I wasn’t suggesting that.” You said quietly. His features softened. 

“How about this, I’ll give it to you on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.” 

“I don’t want it.” You frowned. “Anyway, I have some promise rings here.”

       You picked up two metal bands. They were a shiny silver metal with a thin strip of gold that wrapped around them. 

“We should get those, and let’s get two boxes, waterproof.” 

“Why two?”

“Just cuz.” He said vaguely, paying what he owed. You eyed him. 

“Okay, Mr. Mysterious.” The corners of your lips tipped upwards. 

      You couldn’t help it, every time you saw him, it was like the room lit up. 

-

       You swiped the sweat from your brow and felt it trickle down your temple. The droplet traced its way down your cheek and fell to the dirt. 

“Was this really necessary?” You complained, as you stuck your shovel into the ground. 

“Just trust me, it’ll all be worth it.” Taehyung huffed, shoveling one last scoop of dirt behind him. He then turned and dragged the metal box into the hole. 

“I hope so, Tae bear.” You sighed, collapsing onto the ground as the sunlight poked through the thick leaves of the oak tree. He patted the remaining box next to him and sat next to you, leaning against the trunk. 

“What’re you going to do with that?” You nodded towards the other metal box. 

“Something.” He answered, again, vaguely. 

“Mysterious once again.” You frowned. You glanced to his neck, noting the missing necklace. 

“I guess, but you just have to trust me.” He shrugged and you just sighed and nodded to his words. 

“Fine.” You huffed, letting yourself relax. Taehyung wrapped an arm around your shoulder and you leaned into his hold. 

“One sec.” He murmured into your ear, pulling away a little. In his hand was a rock and he leaned in between the two of you. The boy slowly started to carve your initials and his into the tree. 

“There, now we’ll always know where to find it.” He whispered. You watched him. 

            The shadow of the leaves covered his face, but he still shined bright. His skin was a golden hue from the days spent running around in the sun with you. His hair was wild, curly bangs splaying across his forward and spread on the tree trunk behind him. 

            You admired him. He, who was so vibrant and lively, so beautiful and so...human, had fallen for you. You, a faulty human being, a disgruntled girl, someone seemingly so plain, yet here you were. It was like comparing the sun to the dirt of the earth, but between the two, there was...life. 

Present

         You stood at the town center. But this time there was no celebration, no festival, and you were alone. You stood, watching the fall leaves skitter across the gravel. You dropped to your knees, searching the ground for some sort of sign. 

        After finding no sign of a note in the loose gravel, you searched the fountain. You ran your fingers gently along the edges of the fountain. Each tile was a different piece of art made by local artists and anyone who wanted to join the contest at the time. You admired the art as you continued along. 

        An hour passed and you were at an impasse. You just kept thinking about how if he was here with you, you would have found it. You groaned, lying down on the ground and staring up at the gray sky. It was overcast, looking like a blank canvas in the air. 

         You’re my star, my galaxy, and I am, but the lonely Earth. You turned over, eyes spotting a tile. There. It was of an Earth, the carefully crafted lines making a neat and simple design. At the side, there was a neat scribble of handwriting. The paint was faded, but the glaze had kept it mostly intact. You crawled over, tilting your head to get a better look. 

The cafe of tea and coffee cake. What a small world. 

         You chuckled at his clue and then sighed melancholically. He isn’t here anymore. You made your way across town to visit the coffee shop. You took the table that you had always sat at. It was still quiet. The hum of coffee machines and ovens whirred in the background. You ordered a coffee and searched the table. 

          The bell rang and the door opened. On instinct, you glanced upwards. The flash of black hair set your heart alight, but alas, it was not him. No, he was never going to walk through those doors again. 

        You bit your lip and went back to surveying the table. You found this one quite easily this time. There, scratched underneath the table, were a few words. 

“And to the lake we go, under the dock, you will find my hidden treasure chest.” You whispered as you read over the note. 

         You squeezed your eyes shut, just taking in the moment. You would need to retrace your steps all the way to the beginning...and you didn’t know if you wanted to feel the same pain all over again. 

         You gasped to the surface, choking on water and clinging desperately onto the dock. You threw the metal box, which was sealed with a massive amount of plastic encasing it, onto the old wood. You summoned the last of your energy and pulled yourself onto the rotting wood. God, did Tae want you to drown to try and get this box? 

         You sat up, ringing out your hair, and shivering. Your clothes were soaked through, the wetness gathering in a puddle around where you sat. The metal box looked so clean, it was like it was taunting you. With a deep breath, you began to unpack the box. 

“Oh...tae.” You sighed to yourself. Inside were three familiar items. 

         The first two were metal circles, metal rings with a faded golden strip twisting around the band. You held them up to the sky and then slowly slipped one onto your finger. You felt yourself choking up, unsure of whether to continue, but you forged onwards. You held the other ring tightly in your hands.

        The next item was a rose gold chain with an opal butterfly at the end. If you held it close enough, you could almost feel his beating heart still resting against the cool metal. 

       You smiled at the necklace, the piece of jewelry that was so close to your heart. 

“You know, Tae, I was lying before.” You said out loud, loud enough for the quiet lake to hear. “I really love this necklace.” You managed, your voice softer, before your vision started blurring. 

        The tears fell, rolling in waves down your cheeks and glistening like diamonds. It was at this moment that the aching cavity in your chest grew. The hollowness felt like it was about to swallow you whole. With shaking fingers, you unclasped the necklace and placed it around your neck, the piece of him now resting above your heart. 

        You gathered the box and papers together, your clothes soaked, and unsure if the wetness on your cheeks was because of the water or your tears. You made your way to the car and, shivering, started to drive. You knew where you needed to go. 

“Dear dummy, best friend, and of course, Tae Bear.” You began.

      The yellowed pages of your letter rested in your hands as you sat next to his gravestone. You weren’t much of a spiritual person, but you could feel a presence. You hoped it was him. 

       You cleared your throat once more. You had changed clothes and pulled your hair up as the breeze had kicked in. Still, baby wisps of hair floated across your forehead every so often. 

Dear dummy, best friend, and of course, Tae Bear. 

        Ten years, huh? It’s been ten years since we’ve met. I wish I could say how I’ve seen you grown, but the truth is, I’m writing this in the past. Crazy, right? I hope you’re still the same goofy kid I know now, and I want you to know that...you’ll always have a place in my heart. When I first saw you, I thought you were some creepy kid watching me from a tree, hah! It turns out...you’re so much more than that. You are...my inspiration. Tae, you’re so good natured and fun loving it hurts. Also, you’re just waaaaay too beautiful, it’s intimidating, please...my heart…

         I wish I could stay in this summer afternoon forever. I wish I could hold onto this moment, with you, with this little village in the middle of nowhere. Because what happens here, between us, no one else will know or understand. I want to stay with you, Tae. In the span of a few months, you’ve consumed my thoughts. I can’t think of spending my time with anyone else. And yet...reality is a cruel master, and all good things must come to an end. 

                                                                                       Love, 

                                                                                  Y/N (Y/N-ie)

         You read him the letter, the letter you had dreamed of reading to him 10 years ago. You took in a deep breath of crisp autumn air. The cold ground didn’t bother you. Instead, you just sat, letter in hand, metal ring on your finger, and opal necklace around your neck. 

          You couldn’t cry, you didn’t have it in you, but it wasn’t because you were too sad to cry, no. No, you felt a sense of relief. This letter hadn’t been written as a goodbye, it had been written to signal the beginning of something new, something you wanted to explore with him by your side. Him being in the ground and you above it, kept you apart. 

         It’s like the clouds split open and I could see the night sky; and in that galaxy of stars, I see you. You inhaled, feeling his words washing over you, letting them consume you, the mementos of everything you knew of him. The pieces were slowly pulling together. You pulled him in close, you whispered words of love, and then you let him go. 

        You stood, placing your letter to him under a rock on his grave, then you gently placed his promise ring on top. You bent down and kissed the ring. 

“Thank you, Taehyung.” 

I’ll leave you words Underneath your door

Underneath the singing moon Near the place where your feet pass by

Hidden in the holes of wintertime And when you’re alone for a moment

#bts #bts x reader #Kim Taehyung #Taehyung #Taehyung x reader #V #angst #fluff #tatawrites #PG #je te laisserai des mots #castlebangtan #ficswithluv #bangtanuniversity

[tae-cup]

Down With The Ship | One

Pairing: Jeon Jungkook x Female!Reader

Summary: Captain Jeon Jungkook; a beautiful mess of blood and gold. His greatest treasure, may also be his greatest downfall.

Genre: Pirate!au

Warnings: Mild mild mild sexism, talks of arranged marriage, people being asses and some people being nice

Rating: T for Teens

A/N: I’m so impatient asdfkhslkfh Cross posted to AO3

Let me know if you’d like to be tagged!

 Word Count: 8.2k Words

Network Tag: @castlebangtan

Other: Masterlist

Previous (teaser) | Next 

          The ship had been sitting in the harbor for exactly two days, three hours, 30 minutes, and 41 seconds. You timed it, tapping your foot against the tiles of the hallway. The moon was still in the sky and wouldn’t be rising for another three hours. You had three hours to convince the crew of that ship to take you in. Why? Well, you didn’t want to get married, that’s why. 

         The gold band around your ring finger was more of a shackle than any chain or handcuff. You snuck out of the backdoor. It was...easier than you thought it. You wore a pair of baggy pants that you stole from your brother and a nightshirt with the end result being a tragic mess. 

          On your way, you ran into a young guard. His face looked new, so he was likely in training. He looked startled to see you there and you could almost feel the nerves rolling off of him. You smiled and he looked hesitantly from you to the backdoor. 

“Hey aren’t you-?” He started, but you swiftly kneed him where the sun didn't shine and sprinted. He groaned in pain, falling down with a loud thud and probably waking up half the household. You didn’t have much time. 

          The wind ran through your hair as you hurried down the darkened streets. You tried your best to take the back routes, the smell of the sea drawing you nearer. You had always felt a connection to the sea, you couldn’t stay away from it. The crystal waters, the froth of a storm, the salt that tinged the air. You fell in love with it and fell out of love with your home. Ever since...You shook your head, trying to forget the past. 

         Your skin longed for the cool water to lap over it, to caress your body, and take you away from the awful life you had. Well, it wasn’t that awful, but it was certainly no way to live. Yes, you had luxurious items, but that wasn’t what you wished for. Adventure called to you as you neared the docks. The distant shouts of men and the sound of metal clanking against metal invaded your senses. In your hand was a small bag of necessities; a change of clothes, undergarments, a pen, and a notebook of papers. You made your way to the ship you had been watching for the past three days. 

         The ship was tall and proud, the mast reaching high into the sky. The sails were drawn in, the anchor weighing down the wood. The ship looked weathered but sturdy. There was a dim candle flame flickering in the round window of the ship. You took a deep breath and stood outside the hull. The walkway was drawn up so you weren’t left with many options. You checked your watch. You had two hours to sunrise. Two hours until everyone would begin looking for you, maybe less. You looked around the dock, searching for and gathering stones. You took a deep breath, returning to your spot. 

         Five chances. You held the other four rocks in your arm and then with your dominant hand, you gripped one of the stones. You winded up and threw. Clank. It hit the hull. No movement. You sighed and moved to aim for the window. Clank. It missed by a few feet. Three more chances. Your hands clenched and unclenched nervously. You had never been...the most athletic. Clank. Closer. Clank. Right on the money. 

        You held your breath, waiting as the candlelight suddenly disappeared from the window and the small circle popped open. The candle stuck out, now attached to an arm. The dawn was fast arriving, the sky lighting up into a gray sky, the clouds still overcast. 

“Who goes there?” A deep voice barked out. 

“I was wondering if you had any, uh, any openings on your ship for one more?” You called out, your voice traveling easily in the quiet. Upon hearing your voice, the hand withdrew, and instead, a face popped out of the hole. 

“Little girl, do you know who we are?” The man had very defining features, his nose prominent and his lips wide. 

“No, but I really just want to get out of here, you have to let me on.” You could almost hear your mother calling for you. 

“There’s a merchant ship coming in the morning, you can hop on their ship.” You saw him look you over. 

“Achem, sir, you don’t understand I...I need to go now.” 

“You being chased or something?” The man narrowed his eyes. 

“Something like that.” You smiled weakly. 

        Surprisingly, he laughed loudly and disappeared from the window. A few moments later he appeared on deck, a coat hastily thrown on as he lowered the stairs for you. 

“Climb aboard.” He held out his hand and you hurried forward heart pounding. “I’m Taehyung, the gunner on this here crew.” He explained as he redrew the walkway. “Let’s just say this isn’t the first time we’ve helped a runaway.” 

“Thank you.” You said breathlessly. 

“Though, we’ve never helped one quite as pretty as you, maybe Jin?” He seemed to go off into his own tangent. 

“I think you’re very...pretty, sir?” You said awkwardly. 

“I’m glad you think so.” He laughed and slung his arm around your shoulder. “I think you’ll fit in just fine-”

“Kim Taehyung, who the hell is this.” A new voice barked. A tall man appeared from the shadows. 

“Ah, Jungkook, this is…” Taehyung turned to you expectantly. 

“Y/N.” You finished for him, summoning a smile despite wanting to turn around and run. 

        The man, Jungkook, was intimidating, his aura commanding attention. He had inky black hair and even darker eyes. The man looked like he had just gotten out of bed and yet he still looked handsome. 

“Y/N, this is Jungkook, our fearless captain.” Taehyung stood up straighter. 

“Nice to meet you.” You bowed your head. 

“Why are you here?” Jungkook wasted no time. 

“I’m running away.” You were apprehensive to tell him much else. What if he just delivered you back home after hearing your story? Would he think you were a stuck up brat? 

“From who?”

“My mother,” You started, he scoffed. “And an arranged marriage.” You continued quietly, shifting uneasily from foot to foot. The ring on your left finger felt heavier than ever as he scrutinized you. 

“Fine. You can stay, but you need to pull your weight.” He turned on his heel. “Follow me.” 

Taehyung rushed forward, shoving you along as well. 

“Exciting! He’s never this quick in his judgment, though he’s always had a soft spot for young ladies such as yourself.” He whispered. 

“Y/N?!” Your mother’s distinct voice called. “Is that you?!” 

“Shit.” You muttered. Of course, that guard went and tattled on you! What happened to the scout’s honor?  Taehyung turned, along with Jungkook. 

“I suppose that’s your people?” Jungkook raised an eyebrow and walked purposefully past you. He was at the side of the ship in four strides. “Who goes there?”

“Lady Y/LN. I request my daughter to be returned immediately!” Your mother’s shrill voice shot through the harbor. You winced at her tone, eyes meeting Jungkook’s. You begged him not to tell her, but he didn’t seem to register you at all. 

“I’m sorry, we have no woman on this ship, Lady Y/L/N.” Jungkook responded curtly and walked away from the side, ignoring your mother’s protests. You watched him, confusion and shock written on your face. Did he just...defend you? No one had ever done that before, taken your side. It had always been you versus the world. 

“Get ready to set sail. It seems we can’t stay here much longer and Ms. Y/N, I need to speak with you immediately.” Jungkook clasped his hands behind his back, walking forward. 

          You hurried after him, falling into step just a pace or two behind. You weren’t well versed in crew behaviors, but if he was the captain, he was much like a nobleman. And you always had to fall a step behind a nobleman, regardless if you were a man or woman, but especially if you were a woman. 

           There were shouts as Taehyung wrestled his crewmates out of bed. As you sat in, what you assumed to be, Jungkook’s office, you could hear the footsteps of several other people. They all scurried to the demands of a new muffled voice. 

          Jungkook took a seat, propping his legs up on the desk and crossing them. You realized he was, in fact, no nobleman at all. He watched you carefully as you sat across from him. 

“So, you’re going to tell me all about yourself, little miss, and then I’m going to give you two options, got it?” He rested one arm on the back of his chair, the other hanging over the armrest. 

“Right.” You cleared your throat, still trying to take in all that had happened. His eyes appraised you, flickering from your eyes to your lips to your neckline. 

“Well, I’m Y/N, as you know. I ran away because I’m being forced to marry someone I don’t love, simple.” You explained dryly. You flashed your engagement ring and then slid it off, pocketing it. “Haneul isn’t a bad guy, but we don’t mix at all and I don’t think I’d survive a day married to him.” 

“Alright.” That seemed to be a good enough excuse. The captain pursed his lips in thought. “I’ll give you two options. Option one; you join my crew full time. Option two: we drop you off at the next town and you’ll be on your own.” 

“Both sound...not so bad.” You thought for a moment. He seemed amused. You wanted adventure, you didn’t want to be dumped off on your own again. “I’ll join your crew.”

“Do you know who we are?” 

“No, I just saw your ship, and, well, I’ve always loved the sea.” Your eyes went distant as you thought about it. 

       Jungkook smirked, letting out a chuckle of laughter. He took his feet off the desk and leaned on the desk, chin resting on his interlaced fingers. 

“Welcome to the crew of the Bulletproof Boy Scouts.” 

Shit.

           Okay, so jumping aboard the most feared pirate crew of the decade was not the best decision you had ever made. It was right up there with agreeing to an engagement you knew you would never follow through with and stealing your mother’s jewelry. 

“You can’t fish, you can’t wield a sword, and you can’t even cook. So what can you do, little lady.” Jungkook frowned, drumming his fingers impatiently on the desk. 

         The slight swaying of the ship was making you nauseous and it didn’t help that you were below decks and not up above. It felt extremely stuffy, borderline claustrophobic. 

“I can draw. I’ll help you navigate and write out maps.” You cleared your throat, trying to settle your stomach. 

“Hm…” His eyes were cold, calculating, as he seemed to think it over. “I suppose so, but you’ll need to help Jimin with his chores as well.” 

            Jungkook stood and motioned for you to follow him. He opened the wooden door and led you down a series of halls. They were short and thin. Your shoulders almost brushed the sides if you walked straight. You didn’t feel...scared of Jungkook. He was definitely intimidating, but you didn’t fear for your life. You had heard the tales of his crew being merciless and cutthroat, not sparing a single person on a ship if they happened to raid it. 

“There are some things we need to go over.” He stopped and turned to you. 

      You stopped short, trying not to bump into him, but a wave of dizziness washed over you. You were definitely feeling a bit seasick, but you had enough pride not to tell him. 

“Which are?” You stared at him, your expression confused. 

“In order to become a full-fledged crew member, you need to go through our trials.” He explained. 

        You waited for him to continue, your attention still on him. You were very good at following orders, you had been doing so your entire life. Reading social cues and understanding another’s position were all things you had been taught at a young age. It was mostly to prepare you for a valuable suitor, but you never had any intention of following through on that part. 

“The trials are three things that you should be able to get through easily.” The dark-haired male turned back around, beckoning you to follow him. You fell into step once more. He stopped outside of a door. 

“In here are your quarters. Now, before you go in, I’ll tell you about the trials. First, you need to spend a night in the holding cell below deck. Second, eating Jin’s carrot soup. It sounds innocent, but there’s always been something off about it. Third, you need to walk the plank.” 

“Walk the plank?” Your eyebrows shot up. 

         Yes, you could float in the water, even keep yourself upright, but you had never been a strong swimmer.

         “If this is your ploy to get rid of me, it won’t work, captain.” You gave him a mocking salute, before remembering your place. 

He chuckled darkly. “Don’t worry, I’ll wait for you, Little miss.” You ignored the shiver that rolled down your spine. 

“Y/N.” You interrupted, getting tired of being referred to as ‘Little Miss’. 

“You earn your name here, darling.” He tilted his head and then turned around. “Meet at the jail tonight for your first trial.” He then proceeded to stride into the hallway and disappear around the corner. 

            You sighed and took a glance around the hall. It was completely silent except for the creaks and groans of the ship. You carefully opened the door. Inside, there was a desk pushed to the corner of the right wall. The left wall had a bed and on the wall farthest from you was a small round window. 

          You rushed forward and unlatched the window, letting the night air into your tiny room. You curled your fingers around the cold edge of the window, taking in a deep breath to settle your nerves. You swayed slightly, still trying to get a hang of walking on a ship. Five deep breaths later and you resigned yourself to shut the window. You quite liked the fresh air, but it was starting to get chilly.

            The morning sun had finally graced its golden hue across the shimmering ocean. The waves skipped by, nothing more than a blur as the ship sailed away from the port. You opened your small bag and organized your things. You placed the notebook and pen in the desk drawer and stored your spare change of clothes under the bed. 

           It wasn’t anything too fancy, just a summery yellow dress that you knew would come in handy as it got warmer.  There was a soft knock at the door and you would have missed it if it weren’t for you already standing near the door. 

         You pulled out a string of white lace and tied your hair up with it. Then you shoved the rest of your belongings haphazardly under the bed. 

“Hello? Is our little sea artist in there?” A voice you didn’t recognize called out to you. 

“Yes, coming!” You knocked into the bed frame, hissing and cursing under your breath.

          Being on the ship was already reversing years of properly trained manners. It wasn’t like the principles of dance and etiquette had ever really stuck in your mind anyway. You had only been on the ship known as BTS for about two hours and you had already grown attached.

         You threw open the door, nursing your smarting elbow. A man with broad shoulders and the most perfectly shaped face you had ever seen stood in the doorway. He had an eyebrow raised, his hand frozen mid knock. You cleared your throat awkwardly. 

“I’m sorry have we already met? I’m pretty bad with names.” It was a lie, but to be fair, the morning had been hectic. He just let out a laugh at your antics. 

“No, I don’t believe so. I’m Kim Seokjin, but please, just call me Jin.” He said, dipping his head. 

“Y/N.” You responded in turn and followed his gesture. 

“Nice to meet you! I’m the boatswain here on this fine ship.” He grasped your arm and dragged you above deck. “The Captain asked me to give you a tour and introduce you to our crew.” 

“Oh my god, I’m supposed to eat your soup later.” 

He seemed deeply offended and he crossed his arms. “I don’t know why that’s still on the stupid trials. I don’t add any weird ingredients, it’s just carrot!” 

           Jin was the opposite of any rumors you had heard while Jungkook hit the mark perfectly. The contrast was astonishing.

           The wind whipped around the loose strands of your hair as you stepped into the blinding sunlight. Waves flickered by, splashing harmlessly against the hull. Jin led you over to the bow of the ship where a young man was standing at a large steering wheel. He was accompanied by a shorter man and they were giggling about something. The picture was pretty adorable. 

“Hoseok!” Jin shouted over the wind, pulling you until you were right in front of them. The young man flashed a dazzling smile, handing the wheel over to the man next to him. 

“Hello! I’m Hoseok, everyone just calls me hobi, except for the Captain, but he’s a little grouchy.” The man, Hoseok, winked. You chuckled a little, Jungkook’s scowling face coming to mind. 

“That’s Jimin, he’s the cabin boy and a little shy, but he’s right up there with the best of us.” He hitched his thumb over his shoulder, pointing to the man behind him. 

         Hoseok had dark brown hair and chocolate eyes that put you at ease. Jimin had light blonde hair and chubby cheeks. He sent you a shy little wave that made you want to coo. 

“Alright, now get back to work, Hoseok. You can’t trust Jimin with the wheel for too long.” Jin rolled his eyes as Hoseok mumbled something under his breath. Then you were swept away to the other side of the ship. 

          A tall man wearing a loose white top and black pants stood at the railing, clearly deep in thought. Jin cleared his throat loudly, causing the man to startle. He turned around, his mouth open to scold the older man when he noticed you. 

“H-hello.” The man seemed quiet. His voice wasn’t soft-spoken, just a little timid about the words he chose. 

“Aish, snap out of it. Where’s our fearless first mate, yeah?” Jin patted his back hard, making him cough a little. 

“That’s enough! That’s enough! You just startled me.” His voice was husky and low, but not as deep as Taehyung’s. “I’m Namjoon, first mate. You must be the new little miss.” There was a look of disdain in Namjoon’s eyes. “It’s been a while since we’ve had fresh meat.” 

“Ah ha...right.” You subconsciously pulled your hair back tighter. 

“Someone should go wake up Yoongi, he’s probably still sleeping and we need more fish.” Namjoon instructed, his voice firm without a hint of the timidness displayed a few moments prior. You could see why he was the first mate. Even Jin straightened slightly in his presence. 

“Well, looks like there’s no one else around to do it.” The man beside you placed his hands on his hips, a frown was evident. “Come along, missy. You get to have the pleasure of waking him up.”

“I have a bad feeling about this.” You mumbled, following him below deck anyway. 

          You immediately wanted to go back up. Once you had experienced the freedom of standing on the deck, you couldn’t imagine electing to stay below deck for long periods of time. On another note, your parents would never allow you to sleep past 8:00 A.M. Yet another reason you were an opposite to this sleeping man. Jin took a right and stopped outside of a door. 

“I just need to wake him up?” 

“Sh!” He put a finger to his lips, then nodded frantically and pointed towards the door. 

        Then he bolted. He turned the corner, heavy footsteps pounding against the wood floorboards, a creak every now and then. 

        You sighed as you watched him go. You crossed your arms, pondering what to do. Why did no one want to wake this man up? He was probably harmless, but then again, this was the Bulletproof Boy Scouts who were known for being merciless. Suddenly, the hairs on the back of your neck stood tall. He’s standing behind me, isn’t he? 

        You turned around, halting a shriek from exiting your throat as you came face to face with a very pale man. You assumed he was Yoongi. Yoongi had very pale, bleached blonde hair and dark eyes. His face didn’t change when you met his gaze. The only sign he wasn’t a mannequin was his eyes moving to take you in. Then, his lips quirked into a smile. 

“So I see the others didn’t have the balls to wake me up and instead sent the new girl?” He scoffed. “As if that would change anything, anyway, I’m up now so whatever, you’ve done your job. Now shoo.” 

        The interaction ended so quickly you got whiplash. The door shut in your face with a loud slam. 

“Ah, it’s okay, miss, it’s a real skill to wake him up.” Jimin stood at the end of the hallway, a small smile on his face. 

“Oh no, he’s awake, just rude.” You said, emphasizing the last part. 

          You really should be more thankful, but after meeting the crew, they didn’t seem so bad and you felt yourself quickly easing into the groove of things. There was a muffled crash from inside the room and a string of curses made their way through the door. You let out a breath. 

“Anything else I need to do?” You asked, stepping closer. 

           Jimin seemed to ponder this before wildly shaking his head. His lips were pressed together and you weren’t sure if he was shy or staring at you with distaste. Considering his previous actions, you decided on the former. All the men on the ship held an intimidating presence, but Jimin felt timid. His aura was shy and withdrawn, yet he never seemed bothered by teasing. 

“I’m just the cabin boy. If you want a specific job, ask Jungk-I mean the captain.” 

“Right.” You nodded your head. Then the two of you fell silent. 

           You reflected on the men you’d met so far. Hoseok was kind with a warm face and sunny smile, you couldn’t imagine him being as vicious as people claimed. Jimin, who stood before you, had a quiet way about him, but he had the cutest gestures. Jin had a very motherly presence, warm, welcoming, and much like someone who you could depend on. Yoongi, who you’d just met, was, as you called him, rude. He seemed grumpy, a little rough around the edges, but was most likely a good guy. Taehyung was odd. He had this energetic way of conducting himself, yet his personality shifted so drastically when he spoke to Jungkook. 

            Namjoon held a look of disdain in his eyes when you introduced yourself to him. You chalked it up to him being apprehensive about suddenly have a new person on board. Jungkook was quiet and a bit of an enigma, but he always seemed to have a rage simmering just below the surface. His face floated into your mind and you had to stop yourself from blushing at the thought. Jungkook was one of the most handsome and shockingly beautiful men you had met in a long time. Which was saying a lot since you mostly spoke to nobility in your time at home. 

“Right, well,” you stuttered awkwardly. “I guess I should get going.” You brushed past him as you made your way upstairs. He didn’t move, still a little dazed it seemed. 

            The ocean air was a welcome breeze. You made your way to the nearest railing and leaned over the edge, watching the land grow farther away. The winds were in your favor. The day was clear and the sun glinted off the ocean, making it shine like a diamond. Yes, a diamond that you wanted to spend your entire life polishing and sailing over. 

“You might fall in if you lean too far over, little miss.” The unmistakable voice of the captain himself came from your right. You turned to look at him, ponytail flying around your neck as you faced away from the wind. 

“Yeah? And who says I don’t want to?” 

“The little miss has quite the sharp tongue already.” He watched you carefully, his eyes flicking over your body. 

            You knew these men had likely never worked with a woman before, but they all acted like you were the first meal they’d seen in ages. It was as if they’d never even seen a woman and that was factually untrue because Taehyung and Jungkook spoke with your mother. Though, you wouldn’t blame them for mistaking that screeching owl for some animal instead of a noblewoman. 

“Must be the effect of being around you, lover boy.” You said without thinking, then suddenly halted. He raised an eyebrow and then barked out a laugh. 

“You are a funny one, miss.” His eyes crinkled in amusement, his lips curling to show off a bunny smile. You huffed a little and turned back to look at the ocean skidding by. 

“It’s beautiful out here. I thought I’d never see it.” You said after a brief pause. He just nodded, looking out over the deep cerulean blue of the sea. 

“Despite all differences, everyone on this ship shares one thing in common.” He began, taking in a sharp inhale of salty air. “We all hold a deep love for the sea.” 

             The jail door slammed shut, keys locking it into place. It was dark, damp, and cramped down in the holding rooms. They weren’t so much rooms and more like little jail cells, metal bars, and all. You groaned, trying to reason with Taehyung. 

“Taehyung, it’s so cold, could I at least have a blanket?” You pleaded. Sure, you sounded spoiled as fuck, but it was pretty chilly and you were probably going to catch a cold. 

“No can do.” He stated simply, brushing his fingers through his long dirty blonde hair. In his other hand, he swung the keys around on the ring. 

“What if the ship starts sinking, will you just let me drown?”

“The ship won’t sink.” His words did little to ease your worries. 

        Your teachers had always called you a worry wart, impulsive, and you had the habit of then freaking out when those impulsive decisions led to a bad situation. Just like now. You crossed your legs, leaning back against the wooden boards. 

“Are you going to stand there all night?”

“Nope.” Taehyung smiled, or at least you thought he did. It was dark and the candle he held was on its last legs. “When the candle runs out, we switch places.” He explained. “I have the hard job of waiting until you’re asleep.”

“Oh boo hoo, you have to talk to me.” You rolled your eyes. 

         Your tutors would be horrified if they could see you now. There was a steady drip from the ceiling, which you didn’t want to know was from, and the wall you leaned against was slightly damp from the ocean crashing against it. 

On the bright side, the ship was rocking so steadily it was quick to make you drowsy. 

“Goodnight, little miss. Tomorrow I hope to call you Y/N.” 

-

         You came to around midnight. That’s what you thought at least. The jail was pitch black and you couldn’t help the little flutter of panic that crawled up your throat. Then there was a heavy stomping up the stairs that led to the jail and another set of stomping as someone descended. A flicker of light bounced over to you. The pale face illuminated made you wish you had woken up at a different time. Yoongi didn’t seem pleased to be awake either. You warily raked your fingers through your hair. 

“What do you want?” You said, but your words lacked their usual bite. You were tired and the darkness weighing at the edges of your eye was honestly terrifying.  

“Not sure, but I know I don’t want to be here.” Was all he said before falling silent, his eyes watching you like you were prey in the dark. The lull of the ship swept you up in its arms and carried you into dreamland once more. 

-

         The next time you awoke, you assumed it was before the dawn. You were met with a snoozing Jimin, the candle hanging limply out of his hand. The wax dripped steadily onto the floor. 

“Jimin.” You reached through the bars, hand landing on his foot. He jolted awake, rubbing his eyes. 

“Oh no, I fell asleep.” He mumbled, carding his fingers through his hair. 

“It’s fine. It’s not like I’m going anywhere.” You smiled sympathetically. 

         Jimin seemed like the type to rethink things a lot, to regret or feel guilt unnecessarily. You were like that in a lot of ways and in all honesty, you saw in him the woman you were trying to break out off. 

          You had been taught all your life to be a simple woman. Simple-minded, not outspoken, and certainly no self-confidence. While you never took the subliminal messaging to heart, you always knew your place in society, and sometimes you could see that messaging shining through.  

          They did this using a lot of guilt. You remembered once asking to play with the boys instead of playing tea party, but the others screamed ‘what would your mother think? Your parents work hard for the money for your pretty dresses only for you to ruin it.’. He had never cared...Your mind drifted back to your guard from a few years ago. 

“Captain will kill me, though.” Jimin took a breath and slapped his cheeks to wake up. 

“My back is so sore.” You groaned, hand going to massage your lower back. 

“The beds upstairs aren’t much better.” The man snorted. “Captain says that it’s a deterrent to slacking off. That doesn’t stop Yoongi, though.” 

You watched him carefully, a small smile on your lips. Jimin came across very meek, but he had survived for a seemingly long time, so he must be strong in some capacity. 

“Tell me about yourself, Jimin.” You kneeled next to the bars, wrapping your cold hands around the metal. 

He tilted his head, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. 

“About...myself?” He asked. “Hm, people usually don’t ask me that.” He took a moment to think. His hand patted his non existent facial hair. You waited patiently, it wasn’t like you had anywhere to be. It was sort of calming. 

“Well, when they say you’re not the first runaway they’ve helped, they mean me.”

“You ran away too?”

“Sort of. My father always pushed me to sail the sea, to grow some chest hair.” He scoffed. “That didn’t help much, but at the time BTS was disguised as a simple merchant ship. So I took up a job working as the cabin boy under Jungk-the captain.” He straightened, patting down the front of his t-shirt. 

“I think the captain felt bad for me when he revealed what they actually were, but he didn’t expect me to want to stay. I became a runaway. You and I are both wanted people.” He smiled wistfully at you. “But it’s been years and people stopped searching for a boy from a small town. Actually, we’re going to dock at my hometown, so I’m not allowed to leave. I usually do the supply runs, but people would recognize me.” He explained. 

          You thought over his words. A runaway, huh? You and I are both wanted people. Right, you probably had a bounty on your head, but you didn’t want the journey to end so soon. 

“What is the name of the town?” 

“Krestleven.” His face revealed a pain long hidden away. Your breath halted, the town triggering your hidden memories. 

           He stood against the wall as you surveyed the crowd for a suitable guard. His eyes were as blue as the sky, as deep as the ocean itself. And you found yourself drowning. You pulled yourself from your thoughts.

“Do you miss home?”

           His eyes held a far away look. He seemed frozen, eyes moving slightly as he thought. You wished you could see how his mind worked. Then he looked you in the eyes, his face void of emotion. 

“BTS is my home now.” 

           You stretched out your limbs, releasing a sigh of relief as your bones cracked. It was nice to breathe the fresh air. Down below, you had gotten a tad seasick and nausea wasn’t the best when you were in close quarters with yourself. The day was gray, heavy clouds rolling over the sea like an omen. Hoseok and Jimin looked tense as the ship came into view of the settlement. Jungkook, who stood next to Namjoon at the side, was frowning. 

“Tell Yoongi that Jimin can’t go.”

“It’s been years, Jungkook, they won’t recognize him.” 

“We don’t know that.”

“My word is final, Namjoon.” 

             Namjoon stiffened, gave a curt nod, and strode toward the stairs that led below deck. You hesitantly took a place next to the captain. Unlike the real world, in this fantasy, you had no idea what your place was. You didn’t know what boundaries could be crossed, but one night on the open sea had already opened so many doors for you. The captain barely registered your presence.

“Did you sleep well?” You asked. 

“Well enough.” He said, but the dark circles under his eyes said otherwise. 

You didn’t pry, simply nodding and turning back to watching the land come back into view. 

“I can go.” You stated. His eyes turned to watch the side of your face, but you seemed serious. 

“And why should I let you do that?”

“I’ve actually...I’ve been to Krestleven before.” 

“Oh?” 

“Yeah, we get a lot of our guards from there.” You shrugged. “I picked out a guard a while ago, a personal guard.” You bit your lip. “But he died one night, protecting me, so I tried to avoid going back.” 

             You remembered the screaming, the crying. Days you spent inside, remembering his touch. So you swore to never love again, or that the next person you loved would truly be the one. You could only afford yourself one heartbreak and you planned on throwing yourself deep into it if you were to ever fall in love again. Jungkook seemed to read you well, because he remained silent. He didn’t comment on the noticeable shift in your aura, the slightest tension in your shoulders. 

“You don’t have to go.” He said after a while, his hand suddenly coming up to rest on your shoulder and you tried not to notice the wince on his face when his fingers accidentally brushed the open skin of your neck. It was a touching gesture, the proximity seemingly intimate. You felt your heart flutter, but you pushed it away. 

“No, I want to go.” 

            Krestleven was as beautiful as you remembered it. Despite the cloudy sky, the sea was calm. The mountains in the distance towered over the cold town and all the houses were pushed together like penguins huddling for warmth. You had learned about penguins from one of your tutors. She had been a little...nutty as your mother would have said. She had been very enthusiastic about animals, but you always liked her best. 

            BTS had anchored out a little ways away and Jin took the rowboat with you and Yoongi to shore. Yoongi was quiet company, but Jin explained to you that it was in his nature. A man of few words. He had said. This had earned a glare from the shorter man. 

            Yoongi, being the striker, had extensive knowledge on the plant and marine life in the surrounding area. He claimed he needed to pick up some supplies in the town and then he’d be all set for the next voyage across the sea. 

              Stepping foot onto land was an odd experience after just gaining your sea legs. Your legs wobbled and you almost fell, almost. Yoongi, surprisingly, held out a hand to steady you, but you refused it. He raised an eyebrow, but then just dropped his hand and placed his hands behind his back. 

“You two better behave!” Jin called, crossing his arms. He had to stay and watch the rowboat while you were gone. 

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on him.” You joked. 

             You decided to wear your yellow sundress today. The weather might not be perfect, but you’d fit in more with the crowd if you dressed like a ‘lady’. Here on land, you had to conform. You had to act like a lady and wear pretty dresses to appease the male eye. 

“Over here.” He said gruffly, slipping into the crowd, and you found yourself chasing after him. 

             He was taller than you, but still shorter than most men so you were having trouble seeing him in the crowd. The market was crowded as people tried to get the first batch of goods from each vendor. Low stalls held vendors of all kinds. From jewelry to fish and fine art. 

            You caught a glimpse of his blonde hair every now and then as he easily wove through the crowd. You finally caught up to him at a bait and tackle store. The place had the putrid smell of fish and salt. You scrunched up your nose at the intoxicating scent. 

“Hey, I’m just going to wait outside.” You poked his arm and he gave you a stiff nod of acknowledgement.

          You went to stand outside, enjoying watching the people rush by you. Everyone was in a hurry to be somewhere, but you weren’t. You were completely calm. 

          It all shattered when you spotted a familiar bar across the way. You could still see him leaning against the side, his arms crossed around his chest. You wanted to drown in the depths of his eyes again. You could have sworn you saw him, a twinkle in his eyes as he beckoned you closer. But before you could take the first step, the crowd rushed by and he was gone, just like the wind. 

            You rubbed your eyes, cursing. Now is not the time to be seeing ghosts. There was still that twinge of regret, of melancholy. I should have run away with him the first time he offered. Suddenly, someone bumped into you, flinging you into the rush of traffic. Your breath quickened as you found yourself pushed farther away. You planted your feet into the ground after a while, forcing the crowd to part around you. 

“Y/N?” You whipped around to see a familiar face. It’s the soldier. What did you say? Sorry for kicking you in the balls? Shit, wait, he’s probably here to take you in. So of course you bolted. 

“Y/N! Come back! You’re mother,” He squeezed past the people, huffing out words between breaths as you fled. “Is really,” He reached out for you. “Worried.” He finished finally, his hand grasping your arm tightly. You spun around. 

“What’s your name, soldier?” You said fiercely, your tone like a commander to quell your shaking legs. 

“Myung-Suk.” He answered quickly, dropping your arm like he’d been burned. 

“Good, I’ll remember that.” You narrowed your eyes, trying not to give away the trembling of your hands and the fear in your heart. With freedom comes fear. And suddenly you weren’t so sure you wanted to live life on the run. Wouldn’t that get exhausting? To always have your guard up? 

“Is there a problem?” Yoongi’s low drawl interrupted your thoughts. 

          Myung-Suk eyed the shorter man warily before shaking his head quickly. He backed off and ran. You turned and grabbed Yoongi’s arm, pulling him towards the docks. 

“What’s the rush?” He quirked an eyebrow, but you ignored him. 

          Your breath was labored as you tried to control the panic flooding your system. He dug his heels in, effectively stopping you. Your chest rose and fell, eyes darting from the dock to Yoongi to the market. You were getting paranoid and you swore you kept seeing figures watching you. You swore you kept seeing him. 

“That was Myung-Suk, a guard for my mother.” You said quickly. “They’re probably going to come for us next.” You continued, your breath getting shallower. 

“Woah, woah, take a deep breath.” Yoongi held your arms and took a deep breath to show you. You followed his lead and soon enough your heart rate was calming. 

“Listen, this isn’t the first time we’ve been on the run with a wanted person. We also are smart and strong enough not to get caught. Have some faith in us.” He smiled gently, gracing you with his gummy smile that put you at ease instantly. 

“Alright, I see what you mean.” You murmured. He released your arms and you shivered as the wind blew in. 

“We should probably get going.” The blonde haired man looked at the sky. “It might rain and Jin needs to start making that carrot soup for you.” His voice was gruff, as if he hadn’t used it in a while. 

          You had noticed that he seemed quiet, almost silent, when around the other crew members. You weren’t sure if there was a reason for this, as he seemed very observant and to have strong opinions of his crew; good opinions mostly, but he still never shared them. You studied his side profile as he focused on helping Jin row the boat. 

           He was handsome, quiet, a little too quiet for your tastes. But the silence was nice. 

 “I should’ve known you were going to be trouble.” Jungkook tsked as Jin set the bowl in front of you.

“Now, now, captain, she hasn’t been nearly as much trouble as Jimin was.” Jin chided the younger man. Jimin flushed a bright pink and you sent him a sympathetic look. 

“Yeah, but once again we’re all being forced to eat Jin’s carrot soup.” Taehyung sighed, picking up a spoon. 

“Yah! You don’t have to eat it, Taehyung!” Jin shouted, causing the table to ripple with laughter. Taehyung’s ears burned as Jin continued the rant. 

“Sheesh okay okay I’ll eat it.” Taehyung groaned and took a large spoonful to placate the older man. The others just pushed it around, their gazes moving to you, then Jin, then the soup. 

         You stared at the bowl before you. It looked harmless; a simple chicken broth and carrots floating around. You narrowed your eyes suspiciously. 

“What did you put in here?” You asked. 

“Nothing!” Jin cried, taking a big spoonful of soup and then coughing loudly. You turned back to the concoction. The room held their breath when you took a sip. 

“Well?” Jungkook’s lips were twitching into a small smile. 

        It tasted earthy and the carrots added a weird texture. You moved it around your mouth before swallowing. 

“Oh, it’s not too bad-” You started and then it hit you. 

It felt like your mouth was on fire. You gagged, coughing and taking a huge gulp of water. 

“Jin! What the hell did you put in here?!” You choked, fanning your reddening face. Jin huffed and looked away. 

“I didn’t put anything in there.” He crossed his arms like a child. 

“You obviously did! My mouth is on fire.” You gasped, finishing the water. 

          The crew chuckled at your red face. Namjoon, despite having acted so cold to you previously, let a smile slip onto his face. He had dimples that you thought were quite cute. You could feel the captain’s stare piercing your profile so you turned to face him, patting your cheeks in an attempt to cool them down. He had an odd look on his face, his eyes bouncing between you and Namjoon. Then he casually stood. 

“Well, since that is over, I’ll see you nice and early for the last trial.” Jungkook dipped his head and promptly left the room. 

        You pressed your lips together, eyes trailing as he walked away. The group tensed as the door to the galley shut loudly. Then Taehyung started choking on his soup and the atmosphere returned to normal. 

         It was too early to be dragged out of bed and all your limbs were sore from the hard bed in your quarters. The chilly wind made your hair hit your face like a whip. The clouds were still dark and the waves looked choppy. You leaned over the railing. 

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” You called over your shoulder. Jin peered over the side. 

“Yeah, it’ll be a little chilly but I’m sure it’s fine.” He shouted back. 

         Jungkook was holding up a map and pointing out into the distance while muttering something to Namjoon. The first mate nodded, paying close attention to his counterpart. 

“Jin, this might not be the right time to say it but-”

“Little lady, are you ready?” Jungkook barked, his boots thumping loudly against the boards. The words ‘I can’t actually swim very well’ died on your lips. 

        The captain was wearing a loose black top and tight black pants. He wore a black coat that fell to his ankles with golden buttons lining the sides. On his head was a velvet black hate that was embroidered with gold stitching. You caught yourself staring and glanced away. 

“Uh...yeah.” You said quietly, giving a slight nod of your head. 

      He scooted you towards the plank. 

“I said, are you ready?” His voice was loud against the wind. 

“Yes!” You shouted. 

“Louder.” He commanded. 

“Yes, I am, Captain!” You turned to face him, shouting with all your might.

         It sounded more like a scream and oh, how you wanted to scream. You wanted to scream at him to stop calling you little miss. You wanted to scream about your engagement, you wanted to scream until you couldn’t any longer.

         As the wind swept away the words on your lips, there was a freedom to screaming and no one being around to hear. There was a freedom in knowing your loudest thoughts could still be yours and only yours. You took a step back and then hesitated, turning to see the drop below. 

“Then go.” His voice was suddenly low in your ear and you knew he was right behind you. 

“I don’t know-”

        Then there was a hard shove on your back and you lost your footing. 

         You were falling, the wind whipping your hair out of its ponytail, obscuring your vision. All you could see were the faces of your crew members peering at you from the railing, but Jungkook’s smirk was imprinted in your mind. 

           The world rotated as you twisted in the air. Streaks of gray and inky blue. You gasped in a breath, only to lose it as you hit the water. The splash was tiny compared to the unrest of the sea. 

            You could feel yourself getting lost, sinking deeper, the cold seeping into your bones. You could be at peace, resting here. Who knew that such a simple thing, such as stepping off a plank, could give you such a catharsis. No, you need to go back up, breathe, and live. It was a soft hum in the back of your mind, growing bigger as you sunk deeper.

            Then your eyes flew open to see a figure jumping into the water, their dark shadow passing over you. Only then did you want something to live for; for the adventures you were yet to have, for the people you had yet to meet. The shadow reached out for you and pulled you up, yanking you to the surface faster than you thought possible. You gasped for air, breaking the surface. 

The captain’s furious face met your blurry vision. “You idiot, why didn’t you say you couldn’t swim?” 

-

“Why isn’t she resurfacing?” Jungkook gripped the railing.

          A few more moments passed and the crew looked at each other, worry evident. He was angry. Angry you didn’t tell him you couldn’t swim, angry he pushed you, angry he didn’t understand your limits. 

        You had looked so afraid in the last few moments. And he wasn’t one to usually care about pushing too far beyond limits or to really care about anyone. His crew came first and he couldn’t understand if you were a part of that crew yet. Someone inside, he considered you a part of the crew, but you still needed to do the trials, it was tradition. He was frustrated. Why am I feeling this way for some stuck up noble girl?

         Scowling, he shrugged off his coat and rolled up his sleeves, revealing his strong forearms. He threw his coat over Jin’s shoulder, who was still watching the water with worry. The man jumped at the sudden action.

“Captain what are you-CAPTAIN!” Jin rushed forward to see Jungkook clasp his hands above his head and dive right into the frigid waters. 

Taglist: @lovelyseomin​ 

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#bts #bts x reader #angst #fluff #pirate au #Jeon Jungkook #Jungkook x reader #Jungkook #tatawrites #Down With The Ship #castlebangtan #JK

[tae-cup]

A Mile in My Shoes | KSJ Oneshot

Pairing: Platonic!Seokjin x Reader

Summary: You hate Kim Seokjin, that arrogant bastard, and he hates you just as much...right?

Genre: Body swap!au, enemies to friends, Fluff, angst, Solo artist!Seokjin, Solo Artist!Reader

Warnings: N/A 

Rating: PG, content wise, teen for language

Word Count: 9k words

Network: @castlebangtan​

A/N: Yay! 100 followers celebration finale!!! Thank you everyone! I’ve got some other stuff cooking as well so hopefully I’ll be more active! 

Other: Masterlist

Kim Seokjin. You hate Kim Seokjin. Why? Well, it was sort of his fault. 

           The flashing lights of the award ceremony, the buzz of the crowd, the packed audience, did nothing to subtract your attention from the person on stage. With a bedazzled white t-shirt and violet purple hair, Kim Seokjin sang on stage. His charisma was no doubt exquisite and his singing technique was divine...but he was a total ass. 

            It suited him, being the number one pop star in the past year; and he was still growing. He was a prideful creature and had been sweeping the award shows, your awards being stolen from right out under you. You were sure that he was out for you ever since the misunderstanding a few years ago. 

          You weren’t actually sure why he still hated you. You had worked your ass off to try and fix what was wrong, but he had ignored you. So, technically, the feud that continued was childish and completely his fault.

            Alright, maybe you fed into it a little, but you were still annoyed and quite honestly tired of it. Jin was a handsome man. His personality was anything but. 

           You rolled your eyes as Jin did a hip thrust, to the screams of his fans. The cameras were still focusing on you throughout the experience, your feud well known. He came right up to the edge of the stage and looked you in the eyes as he spoke.

“Did you see my bag? Did you see my bag? My bag’s filled with trophies. How you think bout that? How you think bout that? Haters are already giving up. My success is already so golden-”

            You tuned him out, a small fire of rage boiling in the pit of your stomach. Why was he still holding onto this stupid feud? If anything was clear, Kim Seokjin hated you, and you hated Kim Seokjin. 

             The after party was a nightmare. You sat at the bar, drink sloshing around lazily in the glass. Heavy bass drummed against your frame. Kim Seokjin was the center of attention, his broad shoulders and puffy lips high above the crowd. 

“How are you feeling, Y/N?” A reporter shoved a microphone into your face. 

              You groaned, not responding. You had a terrible conscience. If someone asked you a question, you felt obligated to answer truthfully, maybe that’s what got you into this mess. It was just easier if you kept quiet. The last thing you wanted was to add onto the feud even more. 

              Seokjin surveyed you out of the corner of his eyes. You always stole the spotlight, even when he had swept the awards. You were still the one getting interviewed the most, getting the most press. They all wanted to know your reaction. He hated you for that. At the same time, he admired your self restraint. 

“Jin, what do you think about winning all the awards you were nominated for?” A reporter appeared. The broad shouldered man waved to the security. 

“Who let paparazzi in?” He muttered under his breath as the reporters were escorted out. 

               A part of Jin really missed being a newer artist, like you. He couldn’t just write and produce his own songs anymore, he had a team for that. Everything needed to be approved by the higher ups and he always had to be happy. Meanwhile, you had made a name for yourself by saying what you wanted and making the music you wanted. Sure, you didn’t win awards, but at least you had that freedom. And he was jealous of that. 

               He brushed away the revelation and weaved his way through the crowd. The party had died down a little and his little posse had trickled out. His little gang of friends had left or were doing something else. 

               Taehyung was with Jungkook ordering and consuming copious amounts of food. Namjoon and Yoongi, well known producers, were huddled over a notebook and whispering lyrics to each other. Hoseok and Jimin had each gone home early.

              Hoseok claimed he needed to practice, being the main dancer for Taehyung, and Jimin claimed he needed to check on his pets. You were sitting alone at the bar, ready to fall asleep, but your night wouldn’t be complete if you didn’t have a run in with Jin. 

“Drowning your sorrows?” Jin plopped into a seat, leaning against the bar with a smug smile. 

“Who says I’m drowning? I’m doing just fine.” You threw back the last sips of the drink. 

              He eyed the empty glasses littering the counter. The bartender was slowly going through and cleaning them up. Jin was a little worried, but he...he didn’t like you, as a person. You were self centered and hypocritical, but perhaps he was the same. 

“How many of those have you had?”

“Unimportant.” You gestured for the bartender to pour another and the man looked warily at you. 

“I think you should stick to water, miss.” The bartender smiled gently. 

“Nah.” You shouted, not realizing how loud your voice was. “Just do your job and pour another.” 

           Jin sighed and put a hand over your glass, gently peeling your fingers back. “No, he’s right.” He said sternly and handed the glass back to the bartender, who looked thankful. 

“You’re an asshole, Jin. Just let me be sad without gloating for once.” You deflated, slouching in your seat. He scoffed and looked away. 

“You’re just being a sore loser. I won every category I was nominated for. How many categories did you even get nominated for, let alone win?” He bit back, drumming his fingers on the table. 

“Fuck you.” You pointed at him, finger pressed hard against his chest.

          Then you stood from your seat, shouldering your bag, and stormed out. Your phone pinged with unseen messages, all from your manager. 

           Jin rolled his eyes, but he did regret his words slightly. It had been so long, he wasn’t even sure why he was mad at you anymore. Why were you in a feud with him anyway? The man checked his phone. Three schedule reminders popped up and he grimaced. It was already 1 A.M. and he needed to be awake in five hours. He stood and bowed, saying his goodbyes to his friends, and leaving the bar. 

             He waited outside for his driver to pull around the block. It was quiet, the muffled pounding of the bass inside the bar leaked out. He wished he had your guts once in a while, to just say what he wanted. He wished he could be like you, just for a moment.

             A light streaked across the sky, a comet passing by. His eyes widened in awe as the meteor shower began. It was...beautiful. 

-

             Meanwhile, you were lazing drunkenly over the window sill in your living room. The house was dark, the curtains open to allow for moonlight to trickle through. Some may be scared of the dark, but you always liked it. The peace of being alone, surrounded by nothing to distract you except your mind was appealing to you. Why? Who knew. You ran your finger along the dusty window sill. 

You glanced at your phone. Your agent had messaged several times. 

Why didn’t you win anything, huh?

Next time, you better win an award or…

They’re going to pull you from the label. 

They thought you were going to be big, Y/N. It’s such a shame.

So many people were rooting for you. Maybe in another life.

            You groaned and powered off your phone. How annoying. Your career was going down the drain, you had followers, but your music wasn’t getting the right platforms. It seemed that no matter how much you tried to get recognized, no one else cared. Your only worth was your feud with Seokjin. 

“Goddamnit, Jin. Would you lend me just a bit of fame? Just a little? Let me breathe, give me a break.” You hissed under your breath.

            You took a few steps back and collapsed onto your mattress. The meteor shower began, the brilliant streaks of white lit up the sky. It felt like the world was laughing at you, blessing you with such a beautiful sky on the worst night of your life. 

             This was not his house. Jin sat up straight. He felt different for sure, but then again, he did drink a bit last night. The man stood, wobbling slightly. How much did I drink? He thought, stumbling to the bathroom. Did he catch a ride with someone? He didn’t remember much. What did he do? 

“Hello?” He called out hoarsely, only to yelp in surprise. 

             His voice was high. High and female, definitely not his voice. It was also...familiar. Jin threw open the door to the bathroom hurriedly. He rushed to the mirror, only to shriek in surprise. 

              That’s not my face….OH MY GOD THAT’S NOT MY FACE. He internally screamed, stumbling back. You were staring back at him. He rubbed his arms and looked down at his body. He felt his cheeks heating up. Yup, this was...this was a woman’s body. But how?

                He slapped his hands over his cheeks. His face, his beautiful face! Okay, so that was a little vain. Jin studied himself. No, You were certainly...not hard to look at, that was for sure. He patted down his body. Then there was a ring from the bedside table and he vaulted over to pick it up. Your phone was ringing, his number flashing boldly. 

“Y/N?” He whispered. 

“Oh my fucking god, seokjin, what did you do this time?” His voice hissed over the line. 

“This has to be a nightmare. Oh god, please wake up.” He cried slapping his face. 

“Hey! Don’t ruin the merchandise!” You shouted. 

                 Then another realization hit him. You could ruin his career. He needed to accept that this was happening and get his priorities straight. You were in his body. You had all the power...and you hated him. 

“Nice clothes, Jin.” Your sarcastic drawl crackled through the speaker. Even he could hear it, despite it being his own voice. 

“They’re all custom fit.” He bragged, marching over to your closet. “What do you have in here? Trash? Oh, this could easily pass as a paper bag. Was beige in style when you picked it out?” He said snarkily, throwing some clothing behind him and onto the bed. He ignored your protests. 

“Jin! Get! Out! Of! My! Closet! Also you better not have touched my body you perv!” You shouted so loud that your voice broke off. 

“What? I’m just doing some reorganizing. Besides, you think I want to touch your body? You flatter yourself.” He said, throwing another beige item out of the closet. He pretended he didn’t hear you scolding him from over the phone. 

 “It’s like you only shop during fall and then go into hibernation.” He commented. “Which is likely, considering how many albums you’ve released.” He muttered, but oh boy had you heard him. 

“At this point, I don’t care, Jin.” You grumbled over the line. “I’m about to be dropped anyway.” 

              The beige sweater in his hands tumbled to the ground. Sure, he knew you had been struggling, but was it really that bad? He was at a loss for words. The man took a deep breath in. 

“Why?” He asked, concern evident. He slowly put down a pair of blue jeans. 

“I’m not as successful as they thought I would be.” You explained, defeat in your voice. “If I don’t win an award at the next show, I’ll be dropped. Also, why is Taehyung crashed on the couch?”

              His eyes widened. A lot of the group crashed at his mansion after a long night out. It was easier than driving them all to six different locations. 

“Shit.” He muttered. “Okay, just, just act normal, alright? I’ll be there soon and maybe we can explain this to them.” He whispered, hanging up and searching through your closet for a decent outfit. 

            This was not how you wanted your morning to go. You stood, dressed casually and waiting by the front door anxiously. Your arms were crossed and you tapped your foot. Taehyung stumbled around behind you. 

“So you’re telling me that you’re Y/N and not Jin?” He asked. 

“Yes.” You said shortly, having already explained it a million times. “You’ll see when he gets here.”

Taehyung took a seat at the counter, his blonde hair falling in waves around his face. He drummed his fingers on the marble surface. His dark eyes glanced you over. 

“How much did you drink last night, Jin? Are you feeling alright?”

“For the thousandth time, I’m Y/N, not Jin!” You huffed angrily. 

“Okay, okay, you’re Y/N then.” He held his hands up. “But just let me know when your little act is over, okay?” He winked. 

               You resisted the urge to scream in rage at his lack of understanding. With the twinkle in his eye and the mischievous look on his lips, you couldn’t tell if he was messing with you or genuinely not believing your story. Your lips twisted into a deep frown and you stalked over to him, ready to talk some sense into him when the door flung open. You turned around, face shifting. 

“Aish, a frown really doesn’t look pretty on my face.” A voice came from the doorway. Your voice. You were used to looking up at Jin, now you looked down. Was that really how you looked? You felt self conscious suddenly. 

“Are you trying to give me wrinkles before 30 or something?” Jin sighed, leaning against the door. “Besides, why didn’t you lock the door?”

“That’s my fault.” taehyung piped up, suspiciously looking between you. 

“Yah! Taehyung you really need to be more careful about that! What if someone tries to break in while I’m asleep! And technically, you’re breaking in.” Jin huffed. 

Taehyung’s eyes widened. “No way, that’s totally something Jin would say. Are you shitting me?” 

“I’ve been trying to explain this to you for the past 30 minutes, Taehyung.” You paced angrily. 

“It’s not breaking in if I have a key.” Taehyung smiled lazily, flashing the golden piece of metal. “But are you being serious? That you’ve...switched?” 

“Why else would I be talking to him.” You gestured to Jin with your head, annoyance staining your features. 

“This is why I don’t scowl.” Jin chimed in, walking over to you and smoothing out your face. “It looks awful.” His fingers brushed against your cheek. 

“Awful? I’m offended. This is my body you’re talking about.”

“Technically it’s mine. So don’t go commit arson or something while you’re in there.” Jin crossed his arms. 

“Trust me, I have bigger things to worry about and do.” You shot back. 

“Will you guys just shut up?” Taehyung slapped the counter, causing your attention to shift once more. “How the fuck are you guys going to change back? Jin, you have a million interviews this week about the awards show and Y/N has, I don’t know, songwriting to get to?” 

“Ah, fuck you to, Tae.” You frowned. 

“Am I wrong?”

“No.” You mumbled in response. 

“Anyway, I think I can fake it until we can figure this out.” You said, lifting your chin. “It won’t be too hard to act like a narcissistic ass who pretends not to be.” 

“Hey!” Jin shouted his protests. A ping from a cellphone caused you to jump. Jin recognized it and began to search his pockets before realizing he was you. 

              You seemed to get the memo and you pulled out the phone in your pocket. It buzzed with a calendar reminder. 

“An interview in an hour?” You said quietly. Then you dropped the phone onto the counter. “Oh my god, there’s an interview in an hour.” 

“It’s really weird to see such expressions on Jin’s face.” Taehyung mused. 

“Shit shit shit.” You, wait no, Jin said. “That’s the one to discuss the music in my album and talk about the awards show. Since it doesn’t seem like we’re going to solve this in an hour, don’t fuck it up.”

“Excuse me, it’s my album now and I will say what I like.” You pursed your lips. 

“I don’t expect you to understand the lyrics and songs in my album.”

“The lyrics written by your team of lyricists? Yeah, I won’t think twice about the meaning of ‘girl you look so fire’.” You air quoted. 

“You think you’re so much better because you write your own lyrics, huh? Well, it’s ridiculous. Stop trying to be an outsider when you’re very much in the public eye.” Jin stated, but his words held a ring of truth. 

                You were, indeed, very popular, why did you feel the need to be ‘special’ and pretend to be all unique and weird? It drove him mad and he counted it as another reason he disliked you. You didn’t respond to his statement, instead remaining silent. 

                Yes, you were fuming inside, but it was only because you felt like kicking yourself. There were so many times you had been offered premium spots, but you had turned it down, thinking it was too mainstream or times when you could have made a chart topping song and instead you chose the more casual songs. 

“Fine.” You admitted defeat. “I understand where you’re coming from. I’ll try my best not to fuck this up.” You said earnestly. “But in return, please just...don’t look through my desk.” 

“Why not?”

“It’s personal. Should there be another reason?” 

“Fine.”

“Do we have a deal?”

“Deal.”

            The interviewer was an idiot. He only ever asked you the most obvious of questions. There’s no depth or deeper meaning he’s looking for other than for you to gloat and cause more drama with...yourself. 

“You completely swept the show this year.” The man lightly clapped and you mimicked it. 

             You were already sweating under the pressure of the lights and the knowledge that you had to sound like Seokjin. Not only did you have to sound like Seokjin, but you also had to give the right answers. 

“That’s amazing. You’re one of the fastest growing artists of the century. It’s incredible, really. How does it feel, knowing that millions have their eyes on you?” 

              Suffocating. It’s so hard to breathe. Was this what it was like all the time? You almost felt bad for Jin, but at the same time you wanted to roll your eyes. The interviewer was just trying to butter you up so that you could spill any juicy secrets.

               Sadly, you don’t think he would buy the ‘I switched bodies with my arch nemesis and now we’re here.’ secret. 

                 Speaking of which, how did you get into this mess in the first place? And how were you going to get out of it? Was it something to do with your wish the other night? The meteor shower? But according to all the body swap movies you’d seen before, he must have wished for your life as well. Which seemed absurd. Why would the Kim Seokjin want to forfeit his life to body swap for some nobody artist like you? 

“It’s honestly such an honor, you know?” You tried your best to respond like him. You could almost see him face palming. “It’s surreal. I still can’t believe it’s happening.” You continued. “Everyone remember to stream Dynamite!” You plugged, flashing a dazzling smile. 

              It seemed to be the right move because the crowd went wild. 

“Now, Jin, you haven’t mentioned Awake, your latest song. I know Dynamite and Mic Drop have been huge successes, really, but Awake you rarely mention. Maybe you can give some insight into your thoughts behind the song? I know I want to know.” 

               Okay, maybe you were wrong. The interviewer was smart as shit. And now you had to analyze Jin’s lyrics. You had heard the song a couple times and it honestly wasn’t that bad. You could make something up and continue on with the interview. You remembered he mentioned once a while ago that it was completely written by himself, no lyricists, nada. So you supposed you should honor that. 

“As you know,” you started carefully. “Awake is one of the few songs completely written by me.” You kicked yourself for your wording, but forged onward. You took a deep breath, thinking for a moment.

 “It’s about...it’s about struggling with insecurities. I’ve always felt like my voice wasn’t good enough, my music would never make it, that I don’t cut it in the industry. I feared I would just be another pretty face stuck onto generic pop music.” You found yourself rambling, releasing some inner frustration you had in yourself. 

“Awake was my form of release. I pushed all my negative thoughts and energy into the song. My doubts, my fears, and what I long for. It speaks of my...my desperation to continue, even when I felt like things were bleak for me. Something inside told me to keep running, keep creating, and I did. That’s why I’m thankful I’m able to be where I am now.” You concluded. “And that’s why Awake is such a personal song to me.” 

               Obviously, a full lyrical and psychological breakdown of the song had not been what the interviewer was expecting, but he seemed pleased nonetheless. 

“Wow, so it must mean a lot to you?”

“Yeah.” You answered half heartedly, feeling emotionally drained from that speech. 

“So I heard from the daily idol that-”

                  His words muffled and you answered his questions monotonously. Why had you gone into so much detail? It was like a switch had been flipped. The lyrics weren’t bad. In fact, the song was good and you could see yourself easily sobbing over it, but it just had to be written by Jin. It was such a shame, yet at the same time, it showed that Jin could write meaningful lyrics if he wanted to.

                    The only reason he needed a lyricist team, you concluded, was pure greed and laziness. That only gave you more reason to dislike him, but, as the song said: My happy times asked me this question; You, are you really okay? it asked me. And after all of that, were you really okay with hating Kim Seokjin? 

Your phone pinged. You glanced down at the screen to see one text from Jin. 

Did you mean what you said?

                Jin was really hoping you hadn’t completely fucked his career. He was also hoping that your agent would stop texting you for one minute. Instead, he was bombarded with questions like ‘are you writing?’ ‘What are you doing to improve?’ ‘You better win more at the Grammys, got it?’ ‘Are you going to lose to Seokjin again?’ ‘Why aren’t you answering?’ 

                  He wanted to slam his head into a wall. Why would you ever put up with this? He mindlessly scrolled through earlier texts. At first, it seemed the relationship started off alright, but every now and then toxicity would come through on the agent’s part.

                   Soon enough, it just devolved into you not answering her texts and her berating you. From your attitude, however, her berating was as good as yelling at a wall. Even he knew that you wouldn’t budge. But...you loved your career. That was obvious enough. You loved your job, you loved making music. What would happen if that got taken away? 

                 Well, it wasn’t happening on his watch. He refused to be the reason you lost your job. So he did what he promised we wouldn’t. Jin searched your desk drawers. He had a feeling he knew what it was you were hiding, but he wanted to make sure. It was better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission in this case.

                 He rummaged around before he pulled out an old and tattered, leather bound, notebook. Inside were songs and lyrics dating all the way back to when you would have been in middle school. The handwriting got progressively messier, but your lyrics were...beautiful. 

                  As he read over them, he was swept into another world. From cloudy skies to hazy summer afternoons, he read through your journey. The songs were cheesy at first, but then they slowly delved into darker subjects. 

                 You wrote your mental health struggles, your relationship issues, your anger, everything was placed in this one leather notebook. It felt wrong to hold this much power, this much information, in his hands. Yet, they were technically your hands. Did he feel bad? Yes. Was he ever going to bring it up? No, because he valued his life. 

“Y/N? Open up, I’ve got to brief you on the photoshoot!” A voice shouted from the front door.

                 Jin looked up, startled, and gently placed the journal where he found it. Then he rushed to the door. 

“Who are you?” He barked. 

“It’s Lisa, who else? Now open the door, we don’t have a ton of time!” Her voice was hurried, so he reluctantly opened the door. 

“A photoshoot?” He breathed, confused. 

“Yes, the big photoshoot for your comeback. Did you hit your head or something? This is all you’ve been talking about for the past month.” The girl, Lisa, rolled her eyes. 

“More like switched bodies with my worst enemy.” He grumbled. 

                The blonde haired girl narrowed her eyes and he remembered his place. You were doing a good job at pretending to be him and it hadn’t even occurred to you, it seemed, to try and ruin his career. So the least he could do was to return the favor. 

“What?”

“Sorry, nevermind.” He waved it off. How did you usually act with people? He never could tell. You were always snarky with him, but after reading your lyrics and walking around in your body, you didn’t seem to carry yourself that way. 

“Well, as your agent, I really need you to get it together, alright?”

“You’re my agent?” He gaped. After seeing the way she treated you, it was all he could do to stop himself from rushing at her. 

               But he wouldn’t have the same strength he had when he was in his usual body. It was a little concerning how casual and easy it felt to be in another person’s body. It was like it was growing on him and he didn’t like it one bit. Jin was getting comfortable and the feeling of unease had been lost on him. 

“Indeed I am. Y/N, are you sure you’re alright?” 

“I’m fine. Really.” He managed. The man settled himself on the couch while Lisa went over the requirements. 

“So we’re looking here for a more mystical approach. I know it’s a lot different from your usual no nonsense approach, but this could be good in repainting your image and getting you into more drama. A little birdy told me Jin is doing the same concept, so hopefully you’ll attract some buzz.” 

“Shouldn’t I…” He wasn’t sure how you spoke or treated your agent, so he fought for the right words. “Shouldn’t I look into distancing myself from the Jin drama?”

             To his surprise, your agent furrowed her eyebrows. Lisa seemed appalled by this. 

“Y/N. We’ve been over this. Jin is keeping you relevant, keeping you in the public eye. Your feud causes people to draw sides and therefore, we get more publicity. So don’t you understand? Jin is the reason you’re anybody.” the woman sniffed. “Focus on getting as many followers as possible before I set up the formal meeting to settle it, okay? Trust me, this is a mutually beneficial feud.” 

              Jin frowned. You had all these beautiful lyrics, songs that meant something. Was the feud really that important? 

“So I’ve got some reference photos here.” Lisa threw a pile of photos onto the table. Jin just stared. How did they get these? They weren’t even released yet.

“Where did you get these?” He still had to get used to the higher tone of your voice and it was quite honestly disconcerting. It felt like he was nervous all the time. 

“You know I have my connections.” She winked. 

             Jin picked up a laminated photo and turned it over in his hands. He didn’t know what to say, this was all insane. 

“Hello?” The woman snapped her fingers several times. “You okay? It’s like you’ve been replaced or something. Hellooooo? Y/N? Are you in there?” 

“You don’t know how right you are.” He mumbled. 

“What?”

                Jin blinked rapidly, trying to regain your sense of personality. Right, right, how did you usually act? He hoped he hadn’t just royally fucked you over. Sure, this may not be his body, but he felt a sense of responsibility, being the temporary caretaker. 

“Ah, nevermind, nevermind.” He waved it off with a little laugh. The woman narrowed her eyes at him, but continued on. 

“You’ll arrive on set at least two hours prior in order to get you all set up. Then we’ll shoot. You’ll have a fifteen minute break and then we’ll do it again. Then you’re free. I know it’s a lot harsher than you’re used to but-”

“That’s all?” He was happy to be in your place at this moment. You had it so easy! 

“Yeah, as I said, it’s a little intense but-”

“Pshhh I’ll be fine.” He reassured her and though she looked skeptical, she just nodded and gathered her things. 

“Be there, 6:00 P.M. Goodbye, Y/N.” She dipped her head and slipped out the door, slamming the wood behind her. The wall shook. 

“What a sourpuss.” He let out a sigh of relief and deflated, leaning against the couch. His phone buzzed. 

            Taehyung’s number flashed on screen. He mentally prepared himself and then picked up the call. 

“Hello Y/N, or should I say...Jin!” Taehyung’s mischievous voice crackled through the speaker. 

“God, I don’t need another reminder.” He grumbled.

            He had successfully pulled off the ‘I hate everything about this’ look. But in truth, he didn’t hate this. It wasn’t so bad and it was a nice vacation. 

“Yeah, yeah, anyway, I did some research and well, the truth is, I found nothing.” Taehyung admitted. Before Jin could register this reality, the man on the other side continued. “But there’s gotta be a time limit. Maybe some other kind of limit. I’ll look into it.” 

“Get on it, Kim.” Jin barked, growing tired of the conversation. “If you have nothing else important to say, just hang up.”

“Wow, so mean, Jin, to one of your closest friends too! Maybe Y/N was right about all that asshole stuff.”

“See!” You echoed from the background of the call. 

“Is that Y/N? Y/N! Get on the phone right now, we need to have a talk about this!” 

“Don’t you have a photoshoot in a bit?”

“Yeah, so?”

“Aw man,” Your voice came through clearer as Taehyung passed you the device. “I was really looking forward to it.” 

“Looking forward to stealing my concept?!” 

                 There was a long pause and you let out a long sigh. “I’m sorry, Jin. I didn’t know until last week and it was too late to change.” Your voice was soft, gentle, and, dare he say, guilty? 

                 He smoothed the wrinkles between his brows and paced between the couch and coffee table. 

“It’s fine. You obviously don’t control your life.” 

                  You actually felt hurt by that. Your expression went stony and cold, your grip on the device tightened. 

“Yet you’re the one with every single part of your day scheduled down to the second.” You pulled the phone away bitterly to look at the piling notifications. 

“It helps keep me on task.” He defended lamely. 

“Why? It just seems...stressful. You have no free time. Honestly, it’s reckless, that’s what it is. One day you’re just going to collapse. You’re such an idiotic ass, you know? And don’t think I can’t feel the soreness in your muscles, Jin, because I can-” 

                 His hands clenched into fists. Who were you to judge his lifestyle? Sure, he’d made fun of your wardrobe, but he hadn’t tried to insult you as...a person. 

“-If I stop moving, I feel restless. It’s better to just wake up and gogo go until I can’t, then fall asleep. Do it all again. If I stop moving, it feels like death. Was that what you wanted?” 

“No Jin, I didn’t mean to pry I-”

“Just stop talking. I never thought I’d see the day I was sick of hearing my own goddamn voice.” He said coldly and hung up.

              You didn’t understand at all. And how could you? Sure, you were in his body, but it wasn’t like you had the years of training instilled in your brain or the knowledge that he accumulated through the time he’d been a star. He checked the time. The photoshoot was soon, and he planned to be there right on time. 

  “Why did you give me the stupidest smile.” You groaned, arm falling over your eyes in embarrassment. 

“Hey, I work with what I got and I worked you hard. This just must be all you got.” Jin huffed, leaning back in his chair. “And what was up with that speech about Awake?” 

“I meant every word.” You said firmly.

            He was quiet for a moment, not having a retort. You didn’t like dragging things out and it was bound to come out sooner or later. 

              What terrified you was how easy it was to be Jin. It was like trying on clothes, but these fit better than anything you’d ever worn. Sure, it had been disorienting in the beginning, but now you’d learned so much about Jin. How he liked his coffee, what shoes he wore for which events, what his favorite shirt was, how he treated his staff, etc. The more you found out about Jin, the less you had to hate about him. Still, his ego was insufferable. 

                The whir of the fan in the room rotated and filled the silence. The greenery of his house was nice, but you preferred the ‘I’m poor and want to be fashionable’ feel your apartment had. Thus, you had agreed to meet with Seokjin to discuss the situation at his, your, place. You didn’t want to think about him rooting around your things, but honestly at this point, you might as well be naked around each other. It wasn’t like you hadn’t seen it by now. 

“I keep thinking about that night, Y/N.” Jin mumbled. “Why were we switched that night?” 

                  You remained silent, pulling your arm away from your face and staring at the white ceiling. There was a crack in it that ran all the down the hallway. The paint was fading as well, giving away to the garish blue you had covered a year ago. There was still a stain in the left corner because Jennie had once projectile vomited up there when she had too much to drink. You shuddered at the memory. 

“Maybe it had to do with the meteor shower.” You shrugged. 

              The new depth of your voice wasn’t disconcerting anymore and seeing him walking around in your body was fine, as long as he wasn’t screwing anything up, you could care less. 

“Maybe.” He hummed in response. 

“You know I still hate you.” You said, but you weren’t sure. 

               You wanted it to be that way, desperately, but nothing could be the same after whatever this was, was over. You wanted to go back to hating Seokjin’s guts. 

“I do too.” He responded, but there was a lack of bite. 

“I hate you. I hate your arrogant ass, your ego, and your guts.” You rolled over, locking eyes with him.

               He was gazing at you, amusement in his features. You thought that you should look amused more often. Since the feud broke out, you usually wore a scowl or frown. 

“But I hate myself more for being jealous of you.” You pointed at him. “Don’t you understand? Having an ego is a blessing. Being arrogant is a privilege. Normal people don’t get to just go around, brag about their accomplishments and be rewarded for that.” 

                   He laughed softly, the high pitched noise tingling your ears. There were parts of him that showed through, even when he was in your body. 

                 The first was his mannerisms. They were always more egotistical than what you usually went for. It was like he physically couldn’t choose wording that sounded humble. 

                 The second was his smile. He still smiled the same way, lips peeling back to reveal pearly white teeth. It looked so unnatural on your face, but it suited him, always had. 

                 The third and final one was his laugh. He would still laugh the same squeaky windshield wiper laugh. It was contagious. 

                   The man stood and took your finger, which was still pointed at him, and slowly lowered it. He wrapped his hands around your own and held on tightly. 

“Now why would you be jealous of me?” 

                You forgot his eyes. Despite them being yours, his eyes did not change. In his eyes, you saw sincerity, an emotion you once thought too complex for him. 

“I’ve lived in your body for well over a week, Jin. You have a busy schedule and I’m exhausted at the end of every day, but...there’s security in that. You don’t have to feel like you’re hanging onto the end of a string that’s about to break 24/7.” 

                He nodded, seemingly mulling over your words. 

“I’m jealous of you, Y/N.” The man said. It was so odd seeing words forming from your lips that you had not made. “I’m jealous of the way you can do what you like, the way you can speak your mind and no one cares. I’m jealous that you can make the music you want. Y/N, I’m jealous because your lyrics are beautiful, meaningful, and you’re allowed to sing them.” He continued on gently. 

“You saw my lyrics?” Your throat went dry. 

             Those lyrics were your safe haven. They had been invaded by foreign eyes, yet you didn’t really mind it. He was in your body, living your life. He would have found it sooner or later. 

“Yes, I did.” He dropped your hands. “I’m sorry, I know I said I wouldn’t-”

“No, Jin, it’s...it’s okay.” You smiled. Your gaze wandered, trying to looked anywhere but him.

“Now where do we go from here?”

“We just do our best, I think, roll with the punches.”

“The awards show is only a week away.”

“Then we do our best.”

“And if we don’t ever change back?”

“Jin,” You caught him firmly in your gaze. He froze and you wondered if that’s really what you looked like when you blushed. “We’ll do our best and everything will work itself out, I’m sure of it.” 

“I trust you, then.” 

              The makeup artist brushed another streak of gold across your cheekbones. You held perfectly still. 

“Almost done!” The artist squeaked, brushing over your chin now. The fine tips of the brush tickled your face and the gold dust floating through the air made you want to sneeze. 

               The roar of the crowd was a dull thud in the background next to your heartbeat. You were up next, the act before you just finished up. You could see the stage and the lights set for your turn.

               You had spent the past week memorizing every detail, memorizing the lyrics, practicing your instrument of choice. It had been hectic, but it would be worth it. You were going to show the world you were a changed person. You took a deep breath, shaking out your arms and legs as the makeup artist drifted away. 

                 You tried not to sweat or breathe too heavily as the large screens lit up to announce the next artist. As much as you wished it was your name showing up on that screen, it was not. Your name would be later in the program. No, right now, you were Kim Seokjin, superstar, worldwide handsome, and the most awaited performance of the night. 

“Kim. Seok. Jin.” The announcer said, letting the stadium fill with cheers. You could only ever dream of this success and you thanked Jin for lending you his body. 

                     On the stage, a grand piano rose to the top. It was empty, just waiting for someone to play it. You knew he was watching in the audience, waiting for his song to play, waiting to see how you sang it. You were thankful his vocal capabilities carried over to you through his body. You walked on stage and it was so quiet, you could have heard a pin drop. The audience was rightfully confused. 

                   The past week, you had been brainstorming a way to make his piece stand out against the generic pop songs of the others. Blaring music just didn’t seem...it didn’t seem right for this song. It deserved a slower, more subtle production. So you set about learning it on piano. You had practiced until well into the morning every night and you were exhausted, but you knew it by heart. 

                   You sat on the bench, the wood creaking loudly. It was like the audience had faded away and you were alone, practicing over and over, singing until you couldn’t any more. You smoothed out your pants and took a deep breath, hands hovering above the keys. Then you looked at the camera and gave his signature wink. Which led to a roll of laughter and shrieks from the crowd. Then it went quiet once more. You could have sworn you heard his laugh. 

                   You played the first chord. Then the next. No going back now. Contrary to the audience’s belief, no dancers would come out halfway through, the music wouldn’t suddenly kick in. No, this would be the breather, the quiet song amidst the chaos. You took a deep breath, begging and praying for his godly stable vocals. 

“It’s not that I believe it, but that I want to try holding out. Because this is all that I can do.” You began to sing Awake. 

                  The song that helped bring you closer to its creator, the song that reminded you of the beginning of this mess. Yet, it no longer felt like a mess and more like a blessing. You had never thought it would be going on this long, though. Maybe Jin was right, maybe this would be forever? You played the next notes, hands dancing over the keys in a practiced and steady rhythm.

Three Years Ago

“Oh, Jennie, please can you grab my lyrics? I left them on the desk, they’re really messy so you should recognize them!” You called to your friend. She nodded and hurried back inside to fetch the papers. 

                  At BigHit Entertainment, you planned to be a producer, nothing else. You wanted to produce music, make tons of money off royalties, and retire early. That was the plan, until they suggest you try out to be an idol. 

                  You didn’t work well in a group, far too stubborn, so they set you on the solo track. You were currently writing your first album and your debut was coming up fast. 

                   The entirety of your body ached. Your legs were sore from running and your feet hurt from standing all day. Your arms screamed in pain when you tried to lift anything due to the amount of dance practice you’d been in.

                    The thing that was the worst, was your throat. You weren’t a singer, okay. You sang a bit, but not a ton, and even with vocal lessons, singing for upwards of four hours a day was taxing on your body. The things that really helped were your friends and sleep. 

                     Sadly you got neither of those things. Without being in a girl group, you barely knew anyone and you had maybe four hours of sleep a night with studying and practice. Besides, you had maybe one person you could consider a friend; Jennie. And you had another you could consider a rival.

                       Kim Seokjin. Multi-talented, sculpted like the gods, and arrogant as shit. He only ever rolled his eyes when you were around and he never had anything nice to say to you or anyone else. He kissed ass as well. Just another thing you hated about him. 

Okay, so hate was a strong word, but you very much disliked him. He just never seemed to like your guts, no matter what you did. At first, it had been intimidating, but now it was just annoying. 

“Well, well, well, Y/N.” Speak of the devil. 

“Just get it over with.” You groaned, turning to face the handsome prick. “What do you want?” 

“Just some company.” He said innocently. “I’m waiting for the bus to the dorms as well.” He explained, brushing a hand through his hair. 

“Sure. Well, I hope you enjoy silence, because that’s what I love best.” You dug around your bag and withdrew your earbuds. 

                  You plugged in your phone and popped in one bud just as Jennie came running back. She was barely sweating, even after running up and down the stairs for your notes. Cardio was intense for the more dance based girl groups. 

“Here you go!” She said, oblivious to the tension around you and Jin.

“Oh thank you.” You shot her a weak smile. 

“Bye!” She waved, rushing out the door to her waiting members. 

                    You watched her leave, begging her to stay with your eyes. Once her van was pulling out, you sighed. Great, now you were stuck with Jin. You glanced down at the papers. Oh shit. These are not your papers. You cursed under your breath. 

“Whatcha got there, Y/N?” He broke the silence, peering over your shoulder. 

                      You immediately slapped the papers to your chest. What if he thought you were stealing? When could you sneak back and put them away? 

“Let me see.” He whined, craning over your shoulder before finally stepping in front of you. “Is it lyrics? It’s okay, I just want to hear!” 

“N-no!” You stuttered, folding up the papers. “Just schoolwork I forgot.”

            He narrowed his eyes, the playful look gone. Maybe you should have just told the truth. 

“Show me what you have in your hands, Y/N.” He said darkly, his voice smooth and monotone.

             You felt like a child about to be scolded. When you didn’t respond, he reached forward and plucked it out of your hands. 

“Oh I see. So now you’re just stealing from me.” 

“What? No!”

“Then why do you have my lyrics in your hands?!”

“I was going to return them I swear!” 

“Yeah, right.” 

Before you could explain yourself, he strutted outside. “I won’t forget this, Y/N.” 

              A paper fluttered to the ground and you rushed to pick it up, but he was already gone. The paper was in a puddle and you hurriedly scooped it up. The ink was already ruined. At the top of the page, the words Awake by Kim Seokjin were bleeding down the page. 

               The audience was hushed, confused by the somber tone. Still, many people had smiles on their faces or perhaps a little tear in their eyes. You continued the song to the end. The melody carried over the quiet stadium like a ghost. The haunting appeal drew more in every second. Televisions from around the world tuned in to watch, eyes glued to the screen. So this is what it feels like to have the world’s eyes on you. 

                 Backstage, Jin watched the performance silently. His eyes remained on the screen, even through his makeup and wardrobe. His own sweet voice pierced the room. Was that how he sounded? He always joked that he was ‘the best singer’ but in his heart, he never believed it. The man smoothed down the dress. It complimented your body well, and he was reminded that this was indeed your body and not his. 

                 Whenever someone called ‘Jin’ or ‘Y/N’, both of you would turn around. It was actually pretty funny to watch. Your agent cursed. 

“He’s going to sweep the awards again with a ballsy performance like that.” Lisa muttered. 

“I never knew my song could be sung like that.” He murmured. Then he straightened up, playing your part dutifully. “It’s too slow, honestly.” he rolled his eyes and Lisa snickered along with him. 

“Half of the staff are sleeping.” Lisa mused, before turning back to check over her list. 

Jin took a deep breath. “Lisa.” He turned to the woman, who didn’t even look up. “I want to end the feud with Jin. It’s unnecessary and hurting my career and reputation beyond repair.” 

              The woman blinked a few times. Then she laughed. 

“That’s hilarious. If you can somehow convince Jin to let that happen, then by all means, be my guest, but I’m sure he also realizes how necessary you are to building his career.” 

“I’m sure he’ll agree.” He said coldly, lacing his fingers together. Lisa narrowed her eyes before turning back to her list. 

“Like I said, only if you can convince him, because I won’t.” 

-

              The piano slowly faded to silence. You held your breath, standing and bowing. It was quiet for a moment, then a roll of applause fell over the audience. It felt like waves crashing over your body. You smiled sheepishly, blowing a kiss to the camera for fanservice points. Then you exited the stage where Jin, I mean, you, were getting ready to go on next. 

                 He eyed you as you stepped out. Then, just as you were about to slip by, he grasped your arm. 

“Good job.” His voice was quiet. You nodded at his words, taken off guard. He dropped his hand and you softly whispered back.

“I never stole your music, you know.” You said, saying what had been on your mind for the past three years. 

“I know.” He said, his grin fading. 

“Good.” You said stiffly. “Good luck out there, Y/N.”

He shot you a cocky smile and strutted out on stage. 

 “For best artist of the year, the nominees are…” The announcer stood on stage, a golden envelope in hand. “Kim Seokjin.”

                A roar of applause came from the crowd and fangirls squealed loudly. You winked at the camera and then face forward. A short montage of Jin played on screen. 

“Y/L/N Y/N.” 

              You watched a compilation of yourself and applauded their work. They made you look pretty nice. There was a similar ripple of applause. 

“Kim Taehyung.” 

               The same occurred, but he remained stoic throughout the montage. His eyes flicked warily over between you and Jin. 

“And Jeon Jungkook.” 

                   Rinse and repeat. 

                   You held your breath. 

“And the winner is…”

                    You made eye contact with Jin across the way. You were seated directly in front of the stage and he was seated further to the left. He smiled and nodded. You felt your heart rate accelerate. Was it you? It was the last award of the night, it had to be you. And yet, you would never feel that rush of applause, never get to make that speech, because of this stupid curse. Maybe it was your fault for wishing it. 

“Y/L/N Y/N!” The announcer shouted and you watched Jin stand from his place. 

                       You watched him step up the stairs careful not to trip on the dress, and take a stand at the microphone. In his hands was a trophy, it’s cool metal gleaming. How many times had you wished to hold that trophy? To feel the weight of it in your hands. 

“Hello.” He spoke, the mic rang a little and he chuckled. “It is such an honor to be receiving this award. I would like to thank my parents, for supporting me,” Now that was a bold faced lie, but you let him off the hook. 

“My agent, for helping to boost me to success, and all the hardworking staff at BigHit for making this dream come true.” 

                        It was the usual speech. Boring. You would have made it far more memorable. You tried your best not to let jealousy blind you in this moment. 

“But my real speech here is for anyone who feels they can’t do what they like. You see, I know a girl who writes beautiful lyrics, lyrics that take you to another dimension and music that does the same.”

“Yet, our industry does not reward simply passion for the craft, it rewards your dedication to your company and the ability to follow directions.”

“We, as artists, need to learn how to inspire confidence in ourselves and others, so that we can make the music we want to.” He took a deep breath. “Your greatest fear...maybe even your greatest enemy,” He found your eyes in the crowd. 

“May be your greatest weapon.” 

                 And in that moment, he took a step forward towards the mic and you felt a tugging sensation. You blinked and you were standing at the mic, your eyes trained to the crowd. 

                     You were you again. And you got to enjoy the standing ovation, the swell of the crowd like a rising tide. Yet, your eyes still went to him. You didn’t hate Kim Seokjin anymore. 

                     You admired him, you were jealous of him, but you found yourself liking him. That laugh of his, which you would have thought annoying, was now a tally mark of reasons why you enjoyed his company. 

                      You found him in the crowd, despite the dimness of the lights. He was still seated, getting his bearings. A smile easily made its way onto your face and you met eyes. The man simply smiled at you and raised his glass. 

Maybe I, I can never fly I can’t fly like the flower petals over there Or as though I have wings Maybe I, I can’t touch the sky Still, I want to stretch my hand out I want to run Just a bit more

 Some people I wanted to tag! @youarejesting​ @moccahobi​ @yoongi-sugaglider​

#kim seokjin #bts #bts x reader #seokjin #jin #jin x reader #enemies to friends #fluff #angst #A Mile in My Shoes #Platonic!Seokjin #tatawrites #castlebangtan #100 followers celebration #body swap au

[tae-cup]

Down With The Ship | FINALE

Pairing: Jeon Jungkook x Female!Reader

Summary: Captain Jeon Jungkook; a beautiful mess of blood and gold. His greatest treasure, may also be his greatest downfall.

Genre: Pirate!au

Warnings: Angst, some fluffy stuff, panic attacks, blood

Rating: T for Teens

A/N: Alexa, play Roslyn by Bon Iver and St. Vincent. aaaaaaand that’s a wrap! I’m honestly in love with this series and kind of want to make some spin offs, but I need to focus on like...my big series now XD 

Thanks for sticking around!

Word Count: 8k Words

Other: Masterlist

Previous 

Up with your turret Aren't we just terrified? Shale, screen your worry From what you won't ever find

           Him had a face. Him had a name. Eun-kyung haunted your dreams. The deep blue of his irises visited you at night and his soft hands touched your waist, your arms, and legs. The most innocent of touches giving you the fluttering of butterflies in your stomach. 

          You were broken out of your trance by a hand waving in front of your face. You blinked, startled. 

“Oh, sorry.” You murmured, brushing back a strand of hair as you met the gaze of the frowning captain. 

“Are you sick? Tired?” The genuine concern that tinged his voice was new to you. 

            You smiled softly and shook your head, turning back to sketching out the map before you. It was so nice above deck where you and Jungkook sat on the planks. He dictated anything interesting he saw and you sketched the coastline. 

“I’m alright, Jungk-Captain.” 

        He paused, looking at you for a moment. Then he turned back to observing the land mass ahead. “You can call me Jungkook. I don’t mind.” 

        His words made you smile a little and you didn’t know how his heart quickened when you smiled. 

“I see a large mountain in the distance. It seems to be of cold climate.” 

“That explains the wind.” You rubbed at the pinkened end of your nose. He noticed you shivering and, in an action that surprised both you and him, he shrugged off his coat and handed it to you. 

“Stay warm, Y/N. And head inside soon before you catch a cold.” He then wandered back below deck without another word. 

             You liked the way your name rolled off his tongue. His mouth moved around it harshly, like a command, while Eun-kyung always spoke it like a soft prayer on his lips. The callous nature of the man did not surprise you, he was a pirate after all and Eun-kyung had simply been your guard. But he was so much more than that. If Eun-kyung was the sturdy land, Jungkook was the crashing sea. And you had always loved the sea more than the land. 

              You stood at the side, biting your lip in concentration. The murky water below reminded you of the day you walked the plank almost a year ago. It had been terrifying and calming at the time, but now it just gave you fond memories. You still weren’t allowed off the boat since you were a wanted woman. The thought sent you back to the weight that had been hanging on your shoulders. Were they still looking for you? Was Haneul getting closer? Every day it felt like you could turn a corner and he would be right there. 

             You gripped the pen tighter as you traced the coast. The air was chill and your ears were freezing, but Jungkook’s coat was wrapped tightly around you, the sleeves rolled up to keep from dragging on the page. You hummed a little to yourself, just admiring the sights before you. 

             It was odd how the ocean, so vast and oppressive at times, could fill you with such joy. The emptiness of the sea, no soul within miles, would put a normal person on edge, but when you loved the salt in the air as much as the crew of BTS, the loneliness didn’t seem all that bad. 

               Jungkook was on his daily rounds to make sure people were on task. He checked in on Jin who was cooking lunch. The older man quickly shooed him out of the kitchen, waving a wooden spoon as the captain shouted his protests. 

           Then he visited Namjoon, his trusty second, but he was busy reading a book. When he had entered the man’s cabin, he had simply peered up at him unamused and went back to reading. Who knew the captain of his own ship could be so easily rejected by his crewmates? He didn’t even bother with Yoongi, fully knowing the man was asleep.

            Surely Jimin will need my help with something? So he went to visit the blonde haired man. But he was busy cleaning and claimed he didn’t need the help. Hoseok was quite obviously steering the ship and Jungkook didn’t really need to help there. So he ended up standing beside you, thoroughly tired of his crew. 

“It’s like every time I try to do something nice for my crewmates, the universe rejects me.” He sighed, feeling a little more melancholic than usual.

          It was nearing the anniversary of the mutiny and though the blood was long washed away, he didn’t really want to spend it on the boat. You made a noise of acknowledgement, still focused on your drawing. 

“Words would be nice, little miss.”

You rolled your eyes at the nickname, but smiled nonetheless. “Oh boo hoo. No one wants to babysit the captain.” You turned to face him, a smirk on your face. 

            His cheeks grew red and he opened and closed his mouth. He didn’t know if he wanted to kiss or slap that smirk off your mouth. Was it scary that the urge to kiss you was stronger? To him it was terrifying. He already had six weaknesses composed of his crewmates, but having a lover? That would be his downfall, he just knew it. So at what point did the pros outweigh the cons? He would see to it that they never did. For his and your own sake. 

             The captain still couldn’t help tracing his eyes over your profile. From the slope of your nose to the outline of your lips. Then he studied your hands, the way you held your pen, the way you focused on the paper. 

“How long are you going to stare at me, lover boy?” You teased, having grown comfortable with the captain.

             You spent most of your time with him to help him navigate and work on the various maps. It was sort of exhausting to have one way conversations with him, but you were okay with it; it was like home. 

“Sorry.” His response made you frown slightly, but you returned to your work. 

“Does Namjoon dislike me, or something?” You asked cautiously, not looking up from your sketch. 

“No...I think he just...has trouble trusting people.” Jungkook huffed, blowing a strand of hair out of his face. 

        The door that led below deck flung open with a crash and Taehyung stumbled out, looking out of sorts. He immediately went to the side and hurled out his lunch. 

“Taehyung, are you alright? You look like you’ve seen a ghost!” You dropped your pad and pencil onto the deck and ran over to look at him. He was pale and wide eyed. 

“Just a nightmare.” He choked out, squeezing his eyes shut.

            You caught the glistening in his eyes before he left to sit against the wooden siding of the ship. He leaned his head back, brown hair splaying out in all directions, and pulled his knees in close to his chest. The man took deep breaths. 

“Must have been one hell of a nightmare.” You murmured, your tone concerned, and you were. You had never seen the man so disoriented. He was often a wild card between serious and loving, but never had you seen him off guard. 

The man didn’t respond. His hands gripped his knees. The captain watched his crewmate in sympathy. With a sad expression, he tugged on your arm. 

“Y/N, we should leave him be. There are some things you don’t have to know about.” 

“His name was Sam.” Taehyung whispered. Jungkook stopped, glancing back at the gunner with curiosity. When he didn’t continue, Jungkook took that as his cue to leave. He dragged you away, disappearing below deck. 

           His mind was spinning. He went in circles, memories playing on repeat like a video. Taehyung could feel Sam’s warm breath on his neck, the way his hands held his, the way he brushed against him. The man would always claim it was an accident, but Taehyung knew it wasn’t. 

            While the lull of the sea usually brought him peace, today it reminded him of everything he’d done wrong. 

“Aish, you need to let it go already.” Sam sat next to him, his ethereal form hovering above the deck. 

“You died right in my arms, Sam. It was my fault for not shooting the man before he shot you.”

“You were processing, it’s okay.”

“Why did I hesitate the one time it mattered?” 

“Because you’re human.” 

         Taehyung bumped his head against the side several times, trying to make the ghostly spirit go away. It was taunting him with a love he could no longer have.

“How can you forgive me?”

“You did all you could.” 

“Why aren’t you mad?”

             The ghost stood and crouched in front of him, body passing through Taehyung’s knees. He could almost feel the man’s touch, his ghostly fingertips tracing his cheek. Then the wind blew and reminded him of the simple chill that caused it. 

“I could never be mad at you Taehyung.”

              The man swallowed, watching the specter lean in, his ghost lips brushing over his warm ones. 

“How can you say that, Sam?” He said weakly. “When you’re the one with a bullet in your chest.” 

 “If you weren’t a pirate, Hoseok, what would you be doing?” You sat on the railing that overlooked the main deck. Your legs swung back and forth. The pilot thought over your question, his eyes still set on the horizon. 

            Hoseok, despite his sunny personality, could look rather serious, possibly angry, when he thought hard enough. He twisted the wheel, sending the boat closer to the mainland. 

“I think I would be a dancer.” 

“You dance?”

“I wanted to.” He corrected you. Then he released a sigh and placed a pole through one the rungs to hold the steering wheel while he took a break. “It wouldn’t have worked out. It wouldn’t have been a living.” 

“Can you show me?” You asked. He raised an eyebrow. 

“You want to see?” There was hope in his eyes as he spoke, his words holding an excitement. 

“Yeah, for sure!” You smiled widely, eager to see your crewmate either wow you or make you laugh. 

“Alright! But you’re getting in on it too, okay?” 

“That wasn’t the deal.” You crossed your arms. “Besides, I only know some ballroom dancing.”

“I’ll show you!” He exclaimed excitedly, taking your hand and leading you out to the main deck. 

           He bowed lowly, pecking your hand with his lips. You instantly flushed bright red and he looked up at you with a sly smile. 

“May I have this dance?” He asked.

“Most certainly, kind sir.” You played along, curtsying. 

            He chuckled and took your arm in his so you were facing opposite directions. Then he began skipping around in a circle, humming out a beat and melody. You laughed, forced to follow along with his antics. He then switched arms and continued the dance. Then he unhooked his arm, spinning you around in a circle. 

          You fought to regain your balance, the world spinning as you let out more squeals of excitement. He then held up his arm, intertwining his arm with yours. Your hands touched, fingers pointing upwards as he took a step forward, leading you in the new dance move. You both laughed in delight, dancing to the rhythm of the sea and humming a tune only you two knew. 

           There was a loud cough. The entire crew stood there, even Yoongi, watching you with varying expressions. Jimin looked eagerly between the two of you. Yoongi just sighed, but he didn’t move back below deck as he usually would. Jin was holding back a laugh and even Namjoon let his lips twitch into a smile. Jungkook looked the least pleased. 

“Hoseok, don’t you have a job to do?” The captain barked. 

“Sorry, captain.” Hoseok bowed and started leaving. You quickly grasped his arm, pulling him back. 

“Stop it, Jungkook.” You hissed, not bothering with the title. “You’re always trying to ruin the fun, loosen up and live a little.” 

           The crew stood still, glancing between the two of you. Jungkook turned on his heel, letting out a huff of air, his nostrils flaring. The rest of the crew awkwardly shuffled from foot to foot. 

“Jimin! Get over here, I can see you want to get in on it.” You winked, moving around to push the male towards Hoseok. 

         The older man easily took the younger in and started showing him the steps. You then shoved Namjoon and Jin together. Yoongi glanced at Taehyung who smirked. 

“No way.” Yoongi scoffed, ready to go back down below. 

          The others were already getting into the swing of things, switching partners and letting playful banter slip in between the melody they all started singing. 

“As I was a-walking down Paradise Street.” Jin sang, his voice clean without a warble. 

“To me way-aye, blow the man down.” The others chorused.

“A pretty young damsel I chanced for to meet.” Jimin rang out next, his voice like a bell and just as beautiful. 

“Give me some time to blow the man down!” They all sang back, erupting into laughter. 

         Taehyung reached out and grasped the older man’s sleeve. 

“Yoongi, I think it’s about time you joined the world of the living.” He stated firmly and dragged him out to dance with the others.

           It was soon a mess of laughter and drunken singing, although no one was drunk; they acted like it pretty well. Hoseok was clapping in time to the beat. You wanted to throw yourself into the mix, but you didn’t have a partner. The most eligible man was pissed off below deck, most likely brooding. 

           You wouldn’t have it. You marched down below, despite how much you hated the claustrophobic feeling of being below deck. You pounded on the captain’s office door and he responded with a stern come in. 

           You marched inside. 

“Captain Jeon Jungkook if you don’t go out there and dance right now, I’m going to drag you out. You can spend all your life hiding from your crew and holding up in your office when everyone is bonding. And you also need to stop brooding like some edgy man baby! Seriously! Loosen up!” You paced, ranting to the captain who sat looking amused at you. His arms were crossed and his eyebrows shot up at the words ‘man baby’. 

“Excuse me, is that anyway to speak to your captain?” He frowned, effectively cutting you off. “Maybe I have been too lenient with you and the crew.” 

           Then he caught himself in the mirror and sagged, suddenly lost in thought. That was something Captain Rogers would say. Except, when he looked at you, you weren’t shaking and crying, you weren’t flinching at his gaze. Instead, you stood straighter. 

“You need to be more lenient to yourself, Jungkook.” You stepped around the desk and he swiveled his chair around to face you. 

           Jungkook had such a youthful face, it was a shame he spoiled it so often with frowns. You could almost see the stress wrinkles already forming. You reached forward, harmlessly brushing your hands with his. He pulled his hand away like you’d burned him. 

“Is everything...is everything alright Jungkook?” You asked quietly. 

          He couldn’t think. The world was spinning. Being in that office, being touched, watching himself in the mirror, it was already painful enough. When he looked at you, it wasn’t you that stared back, he only saw Captain Rogers. His breaths came out hurried and short. 

“Look, I’m sorry if I’m pushing you to do something you don’t want to do, but going outside your comfort zone is good sometimes, okay?” You reached out once again and firmly held his hand in yours. 

           The brush of skin on skin made him nauseous. Your grip was suffocating. He felt like he was drowning. The room felt stuffy, his breaths came shorter and shorter. His eyes wildly gazed around your face, begging to see you and not Captain Rogers. But he only saw the old man’s yellowed grin staring back at him, his lips spewing your words. The anger was back, a simmering pot of rage. 

“Don’t touch me.” He said softly. 

“What?” You tilted your head, trying to understand what was happening. 

“I said don’t touch me!” He ripped his hand away and stood, staggering back a couple of steps. “You don’t know anything about me!” He barked. 

          His hands trembled and he held his stomach, trying to hold onto its contents. The ghost touches were still there, making him bend over as he tried his best to keep down his lunch. 

“Get out!” He shouted. Then his voice went quiet as he trembled. “Just get out.” 

         He pointed weakly towards the door and you simply nodded and left, as much as you wanted to help him. 

         He crumpled to the floor, taking in deep breaths as he ran his hands over his arms. I am in control. I am in control now. It was a soft chant in his head as he sat in his little office; his cage. 

             You couldn’t sleep. The memory of Jungkook tainted your mind. Your heart had been racing since you left his office. He hadn’t arrived for dinner, but Jin delivered it to his office. He didn’t say his usual goodnights to the rest of the crew and so the day ended bitterly. Everyone knew something was wrong with the captain and you didn’t want to pry, but you knew it had something to do with what happened today. 

              The utter terror he had stared at you with had made your heart drop instantly. The way he flinched when you touched him sent you tumbling into a spiral of self doubt. What mattered was no longer how he made you feel, but how you had made him feel. Was he okay? Did he eat his dinner?

               You took a deep breath. With both Eun-kyung and Jungkook haunting your sleep, you could no longer rest. You stood and made your way out to the main deck. There was no wind tonight. The air was still and the ocean eerily calm. The stars twinkled brightly like a blanket of holes in the dark night. The moon was a perfect circle, providing ample light. You leaned against the side. The waves lapped playfully against the wood of the ship. There was a gentle breeze that blew through your hair every so often. 

              Your nightgown wasn’t the warmest thing to wear, but you didn’t plan on being out for long. It was so quiet your ears rang. There wasn’t a single soul for miles and miles. The peace was nice. 

“Can’t sleep?’ The familiar rumble of the captain’s voice met you in the silence. \

              His soft steps made their way to stand beside you. He leaned against the railing. Your heart thumped. You shook your head in response to his question. Jungkook let out a soft sigh. 

“Yeah, me neither.” He agreed, eyes trained on the dark sea below. 

              You shifted awkwardly, making sure to keep your distance. You turned to him, admiring the way the shadows fell on his face in the moonlight. 

“Look, I’m sorry about earlier, I didn’t know what was happening and I pushed you. It was wrong. I’m really really sorry.” You said earnestly, hands clenched. He inhaled sharply, shutting his eyes and nodding. 

“I know. It wasn’t your fault. You couldn’t have known. I’m not a very open person.” He confessed. “It was just...something that happened in the past.” 

          You didn’t want to pry so you nodded and left it at that. He scooted closer to you. You took a step back. He snorted. 

“I’m not fragile. I just had a moment there.” The captain said, but his tone was a little saddened. 

            You fell silent. He shifted toward you and you didn’t move a muscle. 

“Y/N?” 

“Hm?” Your hair was ruffled by the wind again. He was mesmerized by your beauty. Pros and cons be damned. 

“You make me feel...things I didn’t think were possible.” He admitted. “I think I like you...a lot, but I was never taught love or really kindness at all growing up. So I would probably never be able to love you the way you want because I just don’t know how but-”

“Wait, you...like me?” You froze, eyes widening at the captain. 

          He looked more like a stuttering school boy, clearly having never matured much in the love department. You let a smile break out on your face at his almost nonexistent nod. You resisted the urge to grab his hands. 

“Good, because I like you too.” You confessed, your face heating up. He grinned, then tentatively reached for your hands. 

“I want to learn. I want to try, but you’ll have to be patient with me, Y/N.” He explained cautiously.

          Then he carefully took your hands in his, ignoring the way his skin crawled at the contact. Your wrists. Wrists that had never had a bruise on them. His wrists. Wrists that were a permanent shade of purple and blue. He could try. For you he could try. 

           You returned to your room that night, your heart thumping wildly. The simplest of touches, holding hands, had sent your heart soaring. Your mind was running wild with the picture. That night, you dug the gold wedding ring out of your bag. You held it up to the moonlight, watching it shine and glint of the metal. Then you unlatched the cabin window, letting the cool air infiltrate your room. 

           You stuck your hand out and let go, watching as the golden ring that acted as your chain went tumbling all the way down into the water. It’s impact was a mere ripple in the dark waters. 

            It had been months since you set foot on land. You hadn’t missed it, not really. The swaying of the ship you had become accustomed to and as long as you had your crew, you were happy anywhere. 

          The dashing captain set foot next to you and you released a breath you didn’t know you were holding. Being off the ship gave you a sense of dread. The shackles of social norms and manners were shackles to weigh on you. 

“Hey, you’ll be okay.” Jungkook said calmly and you took that as a sign you should move. The other members accompanying you were Yoongi and Jin. 

           You were paranoid and that was only made a little better by Jungkook being there. You browsed the shops, full well knowing Jungkook could buy the whole town with his money and still have enough left over to last a lifetime. You picked up a necklace, the silver chain was made of delicate links. There was a yellow amulet attached.

         Jungkook leaned over you, his skin still never touching yours. He had revealed very little about his past and even then it was rather cryptic. All you could do was assure him that whatever happened when he was growing up was wrong. From the scars on his back and arms, you could piece together a little bit of his story at least. And it wasn’t a story you wanted to read. 

           Jungkook fingered the jewel for a moment, turning it over in his hands. He then held it up to the sunlight and sucked in a breath. It’s genuine. He thought to himself. Then he handed it back over to you. 

“You should get it.” He said quietly, his breath hot against your ear. “It suits you.” 

             Heat crawled up your neck and he smirked as you paid for the necklace without a second thought. The feeling of being watched didn’t disappear as you continued shopping. 

“Y/N?” An all too familiar voice called. It caught you off guard, your breath hitching. 

             You had always thought Haneul had a similar voice to Eun-kyung. The resemblance was uncanny as your supposed fiance appeared. Jungkook immediately stood on guard, hand moving to his waistband where his gun was holstered. Haneul was not a bad guy. He was stuck in a similar predicament as you. 

“Y/N, I can’t believe it’s you.” The man breathed. “Everyone thinks you died!”

“Good!” You spat, standing firmly next to Jungkook. The crowd had yet to notice the scuffle breaking out. “So where’s your back up, huh?” 

“I don’t have any. I seriously didn’t expect you to be here.” Haneul held up his hands as a sign of mercy. 

          Jungkook didn’t loosen. It was like something bad always happened to you when you went on land. It was a little exhausting at this point. 

“Please, you and I both didn’t want this, but if I don’t bring you back and marry you, I’m going to be disowned. My parents can’t have a bachelor son who couldn’t even keep track of his fiance in their image.” 

           You almost felt bad for him. You had both been forced into the situation and while you fled and started a new life, he was forced to bear the brunt of your actions. And for that I’m sorry. You thought, but you didn’t have the decency to voice your thoughts. 

“There’s no way she’s going to marry you.” Jungkook’s eyes were wild. 

            He began playing the part of the maddened captain everyone saw him as. And you saw it too, just for a moment. Was there any way out of this predicament without violence? Surely Haneul would not let you simply walk away. He had been waiting a little over a year to find you and keep his head from being disowned. There was no way he was about to let you go. 

“If she doesn’t, It’ll cause a massive uproar in the houses!”

“Good.” Jungkook spat. 

            You knew how chaotic that would be. While you were technically a pirate who cause chaos all the time, you were not a crew who did so ‘just because’. This just didn’t have a good reason. Besides, the noble houses were still a part of the hierarchy of society. What would happen if they were thrown into such unrest? 

“You still have a search warrant out for you, Y/N. The prices have been upping since your departure.” Haneul spoke. You frowned in response. “It’s at 500,000 gold shillings. That’s enough to last a man most of his lifetime in comfort.” 

“Yes, I know how many shillings that is.” You said bitterly. 

            You thought over your options. Running was out of the question. There were two of you and one of him. Your disadvantage would be running through the crowd and Haneul was always a fast runner. The second option was to stay and talk to him, but that gave him ample time to call for backup. The third option...was not one that would please Jungkook, but it was also the best way to get Haneul to stand down. 

What can ya say? If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. 

         Jungkook was reaching his breaking point. Your lightest touches were reversing years of mental and physical torture. While he’d never be whole ever again, you filled the space well enough. You were humming softly to yourself, a tune only you knew, as you filled in the key for the newest map. 

          “Y/N?” He called, watching you look up. Your eyes were curious as you stared at him. He felt his breath hitch at the way your hair fell perfectly around your face. 

           “What is it, Jungkook?” You asked. 

           “Thank you.” He said. 

           You tilted your head, eyebrows knitting together in the cutest expression. You set your pen down and reached out, brushing a strand of hair behind his ear. You made sure not to brush your hand against his cheek. 

            “For what?” 

            “Everything.” He said vaguely, years of practiced poise coming in between him speaking earnestly with you. 

             “Are you alright?” You stared intently into his eyes. You placed your hand on his forehead without thinking to check his temperature. Yet, his skin didn’t crawl at your contact. His forehead was warm, but normal, which meant he wasn’t sick. 

              Jungkook had a dam. It was a high wall and it built itself higher every time he held back his emotions. Behind was a swirling tide of tears and pain waiting to be released. The waters swelled once more. He bit his lip and started building the wall higher. His doe eyes widened as he tried to keep the tears at bay. When he looked into your eyes, you seemed to genuinely wonder if he was okay. When was he ever okay? 

             He inhaled shakily. 

            “Do you really want to know?” 

             “Yes.” You said without hesitation, shoving the papers in front of you to the side. The ink rolled onto the floor. He laced his fingers together, knees bouncing as he pondered what to say. 

              “Okay.” He released a breath. “I need to start at the beginning.” 

-

               When his story was told through and through, no detail spared no matter how gruesome, he finally met your gaze. In your eyes were...tears. You looked devastated and as much as you wanted to reach out and hold him, you knew how much he disliked skin on skin. 

                “What they did to you was wrong, Jungkook.” You said firmly, though your voice shook at the very last word. He closed his eyes, leaning back in his chair. 

               “I’ve been trying to convince myself of that since I was 18. But it’s easier said than done.” He felt the dam breaking. The wall was old, cracks letting out small streams of water. 

              “We can help you. We’ll be with you every step of the way.” You cleared your throat. “I will be with you every step of the way.” 

             The captain felt like a small child under your warm gaze. He was once again a vulnerable boy, one who couldn’t understand the evils befalling him. He threw his hands over his face, scooting his chair back and curling over in his lap. His head hit his thighs to avoid your eyes. The dam broke. 

          Haneul was tired. Tired and angry. A year of berating, pitied looks, and whispers behind his back had let the rage build up. He let it brew, blaming it all on you. You were the reason he was being disowned. You were selfish. You put him through this. Yet, he sat next to you, a bowl of soup in front of him and an anxious crew watching. 

           He carefully picked it up, examining the contents. Broth. Carrots. What else was in there? It couldn’t be too bad. You watched him with a smile, knowing he was probably going through the same thought process as you had.

“And there’s nothing else in this?” He said skeptically. 

“Just carrots and soup!” Jin defended. You snickered behind your hand. Jin turned and slapped your arm. “It is!” 

“If that’s just carrots and soup, then I’m just a brain on wheels.” You chuckled. 

“Seriously!” Jin shouted. Haneul sighed and took a sip. 

           He swallowed. The crew held their breaths. Then he went and took another bite. You gaped. 

“Oh it’s not too bad, Jin!” Haneul smiled, but his ears were growing red. “It had a little, achem, kick.” 

Jin puffed out his chest and crossed his arms. “See! You all underestimate me. Or maybe…”

“Don’t say it.” Yoongi groaned. 

“I’m just saying you might just be wusses and Haneul here can actually stomach it because he has the balls.” Jin clapped the young man on his back. 

The captain sputtered at that. “Excuse me?” 

“You heard me.” The older man pointed at the captain. “You don’t have the balls to drink the soup, all of you. You just complain.” 

“I bet I can drink more than you!” Taehyung pointed at Yoongi. The pale man’s face dropped, his expression of neutral impassivity. 

“You’re going to lose that bet.” 

         Haneul watched the crew, still trying to get out of his habits as a nobleman. He needed to blend in, get you to trust him. He cleared his throat, which was still burning. 

“I’m going to get a bit of fresh air.” He declared, his body still sore from spending a night in the jail. You nodded at him and he hated the happy look on your face. 

           Why did you get to be happy when he was miserable? Weren’t you the one who ran away from the problem? He glanced at your ring finger, but there was no glint of gold. The captain had several rings and earrings, but nothing on his ring finger. You and the captain were speaking quietly to each other. Haneul saw the captain smile when he spoke with you. 

          He dropped the message off the ship and prayed the tide would take it where it needed to go. Then he breathed in the sea air. He hated the ocean, always preferred land. He heard footsteps and knew it was you. You stood there, observing him for a moment. 

“What are you doing?” 

“Missing home.” 

            You narrowed your eyes. He had yet to walk the plank, he wasn’t a true crew member yet and you were allowed your reservations. You remembered Jungkook’s words. We all hold a deep love for the sea. Yet, here Haneul was moaning about home. It only helped to set in more of your suspicions. 

“I get that.” You said quietly. You took a place next to him. 

“I don’t understand the universe, Y/N.” He started slowly. You faced him, confusion written on your face, but he didn’t turn to face you. “You’re so happy, so free. You get to do the things you’ve always wanted to do while I’m still constrained.” 

“I followed what I wanted to do. If you don’t want to live a life at sea, then we should drop you off at the nearest village and you can be on your way.” You said softly. 

“You don’t understand! Y/N! You ran away from your problems! Why do I have to be punished for your mistakes?” He trembled with rage, the powerful emotion pulling at him from all edges and bursting at the seams. 

“I’m sorry, Haneul.” you said, seeing how he truly felt. The anger that was dripping off of him like honey had a bittersweet taste. “I’m doing what I love and you should too.”

“I can’t be a nobleman if I’m disowned. There’s not a suitable girl within the houses for another five years.” He bit his lip and looked to the night sky. “Which is why I need to bring you back.” 

          You took a step away from him, itching to go back below deck. 

“You can’t be serious, Haneul?”

“You had your little adventure, you got to be a pirate, yay. Now let’s go back and maybe we can salvage your reputation.” 

“Reputation?” You sputtered. “This has nothing to do with that. I’m never going to go back with you.” You said furiously. “We’ll be dropping you off at the nearest village first thing.”

        He turned to look at you finally. A haunting look was in his eyes. 

“And how far away is the nearest village?”

“A day and night away.” 

“And you really think our parents wouldn’t have sent a ship with both of us missing?” He chuckled darkly. You backed away. 

“What did you do? Haneul what did you do?” You screeched, racing away as he laughed. You flung open the door to the lower deck where the crew was still eating happily. 

           They all stopped talking, taking in your ragged form. Immediately, Jungkook stood and went to you. He didn’t touch you, but he had concern written on his face. His gaze was steely, but you didn’t cower. 

“What’s wrong, love?” He asked, his voice hoarse. 

“Where’s Haneul?” Jimin piped up. 

“He tricked us.” You took a deep breath and met your lover’s gaze. “Haneul tricked us.” 

         Taehyung yawned, his guns resting on his lap. The ghost of Sam hovered nearby. 

“You should get some sleep.” He chided. 

“I know, Sam.” Taehyung grumbled. “But I have night watch and I won’t let my crew down.” 

“Will a ship really attack? I think Haneul may have been bluffing.” Taehyung could almost feel his breath. The gunner shook his head. 

“No can do.” He replied, fiddling with his guns. 

“Then let me rest, Tae, so I don’t have to watch you do this to yourself.” The ghost pleaded. Taehyung smiled a little.

“Nope. You’re staying right here, Sam.” He murmured. The man watched the horizon. No one was in sight for miles. Maybe he would just shut his eyes for one minute. 

        One minute too late. 

        The sound of hushed voices woke him up. He knew those voices were not his crew’s. Then his eyes traveled to the brooding black ship sidled up next to them. Taehyung flung himself up, lurching towards his guns. Sam was gone. How many crews were going to be slaughtered on his watch? His heart quickened. Taehyung didn’t have time to feel the guilt of this information, he needed to act. 

          The gunner opened the door to the lower deck and quietly shut it behind him. Then he raced to the captain’s office. 

“Come in.”

“Captain, they’re here. They’re on the upper decks, we need to attack while we still can.” Taehyung said breathlessly. Jungkook’s eyes widened. 

“How did they board? Nevermind, what matters is that they’re on the ship already.” He stood and opened his drawer that had a gun in it. Then he flung open his office door. “Gather the men. We’re going to battle.” 

-

          BTS had never really been in a battle. They often had the upper hand in a situation and crews went down without a fight. But it was at this moment that you remembered that everyone in the crew could hold their own.

          Yoongi held a harpoon and he was tangoing with an invader. Their figures were mere shadows in the moonlight. You had taken a knife from the kitchen, but you didn’t want to attack in case they were your men. The only sounds were the rhythmic pounding of the sea and the grunts of the men wrestling on the deck. 

           There were a few cracks of light as gunpowder fizzed in the air and stung your nose. It was like an awful hellscape. You stepped in a liquid and prayed it was water and not a puddle of blood. Lifting up your foot to examine, your fears were confirmed. 

            You sidestepped a body that was flung off the side. You knew the man to be an enemy because Jin’s face lit up in the moonlight in front of you. He was breathing heavily, a dried streak of rusty blood down his face. 

“Y/N, get the rowboat ready. We need to leave, they’ve brought too many men and we’re only seven.” He shouted over the commotion. 

         The crack and pop of several guns went off at once, lighting the sky up with gray smoke. 

            Hoseok ran over, looking a little worse for wear. He had a bruise forming on his cheek and a painful gash on his arm. 

“We’ve got to go, now.” He grasped your arm, trying to pull you away.

            His face was serious, angry, pained. All emotions you never expected to attribute to the man. Jungkook. You turned to watch the figures. You recognized Jimin’s blonde hair. 

“Jimin!” You shouted as an enemy approached him with a knife.

          Jimin turned, the sweet boy looking at you with wide eyes. The cabin boy was never meant for battle. 

            A guttural scream of rage came from the side and the hiss of a gun going off lit up the deck. Taehyung’s face was illuminated, thoroughly pissed. He refused to hesitate again. He wouldn’t let another crew member die on his watch. He shot at the would be attacker, but you assumed it must have been adrenaline making his hand shaky. 

           He missed. In all your time on the ship, Kim Taehyung had never missed a shot. Everything was working against you. Taehyung jumped in front of Jimin, resulting in him getting punched in the nose, blood instantly spurting.

            You tore your grasp away from Hoseok. 

“Y/N, stop!”

“Hobi! The crew needs me!” You shouted, racing towards Jimin. 

        You pulled Taehyung up and grabbed Jimin’s arm as Jungkook shot the enemy dead. 

“Tae, get up, Jimin, help him.” You wrapped a dazed Taehyung’s arm around Jimin’s shoulder. 

          The cabin boy nodded at you and you could see the steel behind his eyes. The timid boy was anything but timid. Jungkook ran towards you. 

“Y/N, you need to get off the ship. The others are already going to the rowboat.” He said, his voice hurried and his eyes wide. 

         Your eyes trailed to six familiar shapes climbing into the rowboat. 

“But someone needs to stay behind to release it.” You said quietly. Jungkook nodded.

“I know.” 

“You can’t really be suggesting yourself, you self-sacrificing bastard?!” You shouted, feeling tears pricking at your eyes. His face was sculpted perfectly in the moonlight, a white spotlight beaming down just for him. 

“Please, Y/N, I don’t have any other choice. A captain always goes down with the ship.” 

“No.” You stood firmly, tired of being pushed around finally. You inhaled sharply. “I have nothing to return to. I won’t let you do this alone.” 

“Y/N…I love you” He sighed and then, out of character, he drew you into a hug. Your breath hitched. His skin didn’t crawl at the touch. “Please don’t do this.” He whispered.

“I love you too, Jungkook, but-” You started, rubbing his back. You looked over his shoulder. “Jungkook!” You screeched. The man tensed in your hold, turning around just in time to see the figure coming towards him. 

         Everything slowed. 

         The captain pushed you away, and faced the man. There was this terrible high pitched noise in the background. The last enemy had found you and you recognized him. Myung-suk. And there were more coming. The glint of steel meeting flesh flashed in your eyes. You reached out for him, your lover. His face went pale. 

        His inky black hair glistened in the moonlight. His blood stained the floorboards and there was still the screeching sound. You met his eyes one last time. His lips mouthed ‘it’s okay’.The man threw the captain’s lifeless body off the side of the ship. The screeching sound, you’d come to realize, were your own screams. His body was nothing more than a ripple in the sea. 

        The world went back into motion. You immediately kicked the young soldier in the chest, effectively winding him like you’d seen Namjoon do once or twice. Then you took a big fistful of his shirt and pushed him off the side of the ship, not hearing his cries over your own. You whispered a prayer for Jungkook and cursed Myung-suk.

            May Jungkook become one with the sea and may Poseidon have no mercy on the man with the bloodied knife. Your hands shook, pain overtaking your mind. You didn’t have time to sob. The ship was headed towards the rocks. The crew was still in the rowboat, waiting for someone to release them.

            Mourning would get you nowhere. Despite the aching cavity in your chest, your crew needed you. He would have wanted that. So you refused the urge to dive right into the sea after him. You just wanted to be one with the sea, to let it wash over your wounds. Instead, you ran down the decks you had spent the last year of your life on. The ghostly memories of your crewmates flooded back to you. 

            You saw Namjoon first, his memory turning to look at you. 

Ah, you’re the new crew member, I see? Welcome to the family. 

             You swiped at your eyes. Yoongi’s ghostly form stood, his harpoon in hand, the memory reminding you of sunny days.

Y/N, stop looking at me like that. If you want to know how to fish, I’ll show you. Here, c’mere. 

               You let another teardrop fall. The wheel sat empty as you passed it. Hoseok’s memory stood there, turning the ship, whispering with Jimin.

Y/N! Want to dance? 

             Jimin smiled, his eyes crinkling wonderfully. 

Y/N, I’m sorry for sleeping on the job last night. Thanks for covering for me!

              His chuckle was beautiful. Seokjin had his hands on his hips.

I didn’t put anything in that soup, you wusses. He argued. 

            Taehyung leaned his head on the side of the ship. 

It’s nothing, just a nightmare.  

             You tried to breathe, but the worst memory was next. 

             The sky seemed to clear as you went through it once more. A well built man stood on the end of the ship. The night of gunpowder fell away. His hair ruffled in the wind. He turned to you, a smile on his face, doe eyes crinkling in delight. Jungkook held out his hand, his captain attire as crisp as ever.

 Are you ready, little miss? 

               And you almost took his hand. 

              You tore your eyes away, turning to where the crew now rested. Six in the boat, one at the bottom of the sea, one staying on the ship. You started lowering the ropes, ignoring the shouts of the crew. You felt a ghostly presence and you just knew it was him. Jungkook placed a hand on your back, guiding you through the motions. 

“Sh, it’s going to be alright. Stop shaking, love. You’re doing so well.” He whispered words of praise. 

“Y/N, stop, just climb aboard.” Namjoon’s words suddenly hit you. You stared incredulously at the man. 

“So we can all die?” You shouted. Tears traced their way down your cheeks. “Namjoon, do you trust me?”

         The man looked unsure, a pain behind his eyes. He looked down at the sea, his eyes drifting to the place his oldest friend perished. He looked devastated. And he was. His heart was breaking open for the young boy who deserved better, the boy who despite all odds, worked to make a name for himself. But above all, he was glad that his body was resting in the waves of the place he loved the most; The sea. He couldn’t mourn, he had to do his job as a first mate. He had to become the leader the crew needed. He couldn’t hesitate and let them all perish. You weren’t budging either. 

          Did he trust you? 

          “Yes.” He responded softly. You nodded and let the ropes fall, placing the boat gently into the water. 

              You couldn’t stop the tremble of your hands. All you wanted to do was cry, fall to the floor and let the sobs overtake your body. The boat drifted into the ocean and the rope fell away. The other ship blasted a hole into the side of BTS. You tumbled to the ground, sobs finally wracking your body. You watched the rowboat headed toward the shore. 

“Get up.” Jungkook urged. “Y/N, get up.” His voice was firm, his ghost as clear as day. 

“Jungkook, I-”

“You shouldn’t have, love. I should’ve been there.” He whispered. “You should find another way out. Don’t sacrifice yourself for a foolish captain like me.” You could almost hear his sheepish smile.  

             You stood, placing your hands on the side of the ship and watching the water come closer. You sniffled, letting your stomach drop as the ship sunk farther. Your eyes were glossy with tears, your heart shattered, so with all the courage left in your body, you turned to face his ghost. You hair flew in the breeze and the moment was of peaceful contrast to moments before. 

“No, I’m going down with the ship.” 

               You were falling. The world seemed to slow, going still as if you had halted in mid air. The waves welcomed you home, embracing you to your bones. Taehyung’s smile, Jin’s laugh, Yoongi’s quiet nods, Hoseok’s dancing, Jimin’s eyes, Namjoon’s voice, Jungkook’s face.

           They held you close, but Jungkook’s ghost held you the tightest as the rest faded away. When you looked up, there was no shadowy figure diving in to save you. It was just dark, the light of the sinking BTS illuminating the water. 

            The ghost of his lips hovered over yours as the sky sank farther out of reach. Your lungs filled with water, body finally being overtaken with the sea. Black ink fell across your vision as Jungkook’s ghost whispered words of praise. A bittersweet ending to the ship of the Bulletproof Boy Scouts. 

             You glimpsed his face, his ethereal body hovering above you, now one with the ocean. The crew had always been a mess, a tragically beautiful mess, but him, most of all.  

Sea and the rock below Cocked to the undertow Bones, blood and teeth erode With every crashing node

Taglist: @lovelyseomin​ @yoongi-sugaglider​  @merakiiverse​ 

#bts #bts x reader #Jeon Jungkook #Jungkook x reader #Jungkook #JK #tatawrites #pirate au #fluff #angst #Down With The Ship #major character death

[tae-cup]

The Chief | Night Terrors (1)

Pairing: OT7 x Reader

Summary: The prestigious department of police and investigations in Seoul, Korea, is called to the small town of Cape Springs in rural California. Nothing is quite what it seems here.

Warnings: Blood, violence, you know crime stuff? Fluffy stuff somehow

Genre: Mystery, Crime, Angst, a lil humor, sexual innuendos, BUT I DON’T WRITE SMUT OKAY

Word Count: 7.2k Words (Holy guacamole. This took forever to write.)

A/N: Let me know your thoughts! Any suspects? Just message me if you want to be tagged! I’m sorry there’s literally no Reader in here, but she’s coming in next chapter, I swear. No, you did not stumble upon an x OC fic, and no I did not tag this wrong, just bear with me XD. Please please read this one, it sets up some good background. 

 Thank you so much to @seokjinsultimatesimp / @kingbewwy for helping with my story planning and ideas!!

Beautiful header by the wonder @dee-ehn / @dnrequests

Other:

Series Masterlist

Normal Masterlist

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       The flight was long. Long, tiring, and utterly boring. Jungkook knew he should have packed something to do on the plane. He had been dependent on the movies in first class and reclining chairs to pass the time. Well, now he was halfway through his fourth movie and sleep was nowhere in sight. Yoongi was quiet across the aisle from him and Taehyung was watching a movie next to him with some snacks he raided from the service cart. Not wanting to bother either of them for entertainment, especially Yoongi, he decided to sit in silence. The movie was getting boring so he turned it off and prayed sleep would arrive. 

It did not. 

He arrived, jet lagged and lacking 13 hours of sleep. 

“Did you sleep?” Taehyung tilted his head as they stood to collect their belongings from the baggage claim. The boy just tiredly shook his head. 

“Hah, guess we’ll have to be getting you coffee!” Seokjin chuckled, having slept most of the flight in peace. Yoongi, despite sleeping for the entire 13 hours, still looked exhausted.  The others just seemed focused on getting their luggage and leaving. They had a lot of suitcases to store their equipment. Jungkook rolled his eyes at his older counterpart.

“I’m fine.” But as he said it, a huge yawn ripped from his chest. Jin grinned, but didn’t mention it as Jungkook’s ears started turning red with embarrassment. 

“Guys, we have to get going.” Namjoon announced. 

“Aye aye, chief.” Jimin saluted cheekily. Namjoon just pressed his lips into a thin line, not amused. The younger male just sighed and nudged the police chief. “You really need to loosen up.”

“And you need to remember that we’re here to solve a murder.” 

“Even better! It’s several murders!” Taehyung chirped, earning a glare from his superior, Yoongi. 

“Aish, you kids.” Hoseok scratched his head. “You shouldn’t be excited that a bunch of people are dead.” He muttered. 

“Sorry, hyung, we just rarely get cases that Joonie agrees to investigate. How else am I supposed to keep up with Yoongi if I never get any experience?” Taehyung glared right back at Yoongi. The older man muttered something under his breath and dragged the younger away by his collar. 

“Where are they going?” Jungkook raised an eyebrow. He was still trying to get used to the group dynamics and while he wasn’t entirely innocent, he tried to fill up that role in the meantime. The other members looked at each other, sharing a knowing smile. 

“Oh, don’t worry about it, Kookie.” Jimin winked. “He’s probably...teaching Taehyung his place.” 

“Oh…” Jungkook tilted his head, trying to make the connections. “So like yelling? Hyung could’ve just done it here. I mean, he does that all the time!” 

Jimin exchanged a look with Jin. Jin shook his head, Jimin smiled. 

“Kookie, no, Yoongi’s going to-”

“Oh my god, he’s too innocent.” Jin cried, rushing to cover the maknae’s ears. 

“Too innocent for what?” A lazy drawl came across the group, making Jin and Jimin jump. Namjoon chuckled and Hoseok pretended to be distracted on his phone, only stealing a quick glance up. 

     Yoongi’s hair was messy, as if hands ran through them several times. His lips were swollen and he had a large dark spot on his neck, which he quickly covered with his shirt collar when he saw them staring. Taehyung trailed behind him, dazed. He looked relatively the same. Jungkook jumped into action, shoving Jin away. 

“Oi! Yoongi-hyung, I know you wanted to teach Tae a lesson, but isn’t that too rough?!” He shouted pointing at the other’s ‘bruise’. Hoseok began giggling and Yoongi turned impossibly red. 

“Oh yeah, he taught me a lesson for sure.” Taehyung chuckled. Jungkook gaped, eyes flicking between the two. 

“But he didn’t need to beat you up! Why are your lips swollen and there’s obviously a bruise on your neck!” 

      Yoongi began laughing softly and Taehyung’s ears went red. Namjoon sighed and dragged Jin over to help load the car. Hoseok was quick to follow, leaving Jimin to watch the scene unfold. 

“We didn’t beat each other up.” Yoongi explained with a grin. 

“So someone else did?!” Jungkook’s nostrils flared with anger. “Where?!” 

“Slow down, coffee boy.” Taehyung said, amused by his younger friend. “You wouldn’t be able to fight anyone off.” 

“Okay fine, but I could hold my own!” 

The two began to open their mouths to respond when Namjoon shouted at the remaining four. 

“Get over here! We’ve got a long ride.” 

Jungkook rubbed his temples, scrunching his eyebrows up in distress. “Fine, I’ll drop it, but you better tell me soon.” He said in a huff and stomped off to the van, leaving Jimin, Yoongi, and Taehyung to burst out laughing while the youngest pretended not to hear them.

       The town of Cape Springs was old. Old as in ‘stuck in a total time warp’ old. It looked like nothing had been updated since 1950. The van felt out of place, despite the various modern vehicles littering the road. Main street was all one story, one street. The boys looked peered curiously out the windows. The town could be considered charming if it weren’t for the murders happening every Saturday. 

        A stomach growled from somewhere in the van and it set everyone else off. 

“You know, I’m kinda hungry, Joonie.” Taehyung said. “I missed breakfast on the plane.” He complained. 

“Yeah, me too.” Yoongi agreed reluctantly. 

“You slept the entire time, you lazy ass. What are you even using all that energy for?” Hoseok snorted. 

“Thinking, you dumbass.” Yoongi retorted. “Unlike what you do all day, I actually use my brain.” 

“Sure thing, Mr. Head Investigator.” Hoseok said, clearly annoyed by his comments. 

“Yoongi and Taehyung aren’t the only ones.” Namjoon finally gave in, tired of listening to them bicker. It often felt like babysitting children and not a team of well trained detectives, investigators, and policemen.

       Then there was the actual child of the group, 24 year old Jungkook. He was far too innocent for someone of that age, to his hyungs, having grown up around the protective nature of the other boys. Jin pulled into an open spot and parked the car. Taehyung and Jimin threw open the door, rushing to get outside and tumbling out in a heap. The other men chuckled at their antics. 

“You clumsy idiots!” Yoongi reprimanded, climbing out and helping them up nonetheless. Taehyung rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. Jimin just pouted. The townspeople passing by were quiet, eyes trying not to stare at the obvious newcomers. 

“Let’s go to this diner.” Namjoon said, pointing to a faded sign that read Betty’s Diner. Jin’s eyes surveyed the street. Despite their being people with modern clothing and devices, it still felt like they were transported back to the 1950s. 

“It’s not like there’s much of an option.” Jungkook pointed out, gesturing around the small mainstreet. It was either Betty’s Diner or Isabella’s Ice Cream Parlour and there was only one that held savory food. Jimin, Taehyung, Jungkook, and Hoseok fought to get through the doorway at the same time, earning an annoyed look from the locals inside. 

“Great, we’re making such a nice first impression.” Yoongi mused, gazing at the four men arguing at the door. Namjoon tried to soothe the wrinkles between his brow as he nodded along. 

“You guys are going to give me wrinkles before I’m 40.” The police chief sighed. 

         When they could finally sit, they were put at a table in the back. The diner had to move several tables and chairs together in order to accommodate. As they ordered, they didn’t even notice the dirty looks they were getting. Seven new, rowdy, men have arrived in town. That could only mean trouble. 

“I do not snore.” Namjoon said, offended. 

“You do too!” Jin fired back. “I sat next to you for 13 hours and god knows how many nights I’ve spent in your-” 

“That’s enough!” He cried, exasperated. The poor man was always under scrutiny from his partners. He loved them all dearly, but dear god it could be a lot to handle. Jin frowned and huffed, looking away. 

“One order of french toast and orange juice.” A waiter interrupted, tone harsh. The group turned to him, surprised. The name tag read ‘Hak-kun’. 

“Here.” Taehyung raised his hand awkwardly after a brief silence. The waiter let out an annoyed sigh and practically threw the plate down with the glass. 

     Taehyung cautiously pulled the plate toward him and the other men eyed Hak-kun. The waiter stormed away without another word. The cook was watching him, everyone in the diner was watching him. There was muffled shouting and next thing they see is Hak-kun is when he’s leaving, throwing his uniform apron onto the ground in frustration. The locals stared before going into a muttering frenzy. Anger issues….always fired...psycho...etc etc.

“Should I have gotten pancakes instead?” Taehyung asked after a tense silence. Yoongi narrowed his eyes. 

“Obviously. Who eats french toast for lunch?” He scoffed. 

“Pancakes aren’t exactly a lunch food either.” Jin piped up. 

“But at least they fit into a category.” Yoongi started, ready to rant. “They know their place. They’re a breakfast food! French toast is like in mealtime limbo. Nobody ever wants french toast just for breakfast; they can also have it for lunch and dinner!” 

     Jimin was in a fit of laughter at the usually subdued man’s outburst. 

“Think they poisoned it?” Jungkook playfully nudged Taehyung who grumbled something under his breath. It sounded an awful lot like ‘They might’ve’. Lunch continued as normal. Yoongi sat in silence for the rest of the time while Taehyung, Jungkook, and Jimin made the group laugh with their antics. 

        The police station was dusty. Old and dusty, looking like a ghost town. Namjoon peered inside, glancing around to see a bored desk attendant. He waved, but the attendant even spare him a glance. Jin cleared his throat. The attendant jumped, looking up with dazed eyes. 

“Oh, hello? Has there been an emergency?” He asked with a questioning gaze. The seven men shifted awkwardly. 

“Uh, hello, we’re from the Bangtan police department. Were you not expecting us? We can come back at another time-” Namjoon began and the man quickly stood. 

“No! Not at all! Sorry, it’s been slow recently.” 

The men exchanged glances. 

“But...there have been a lot of murders recently, have there not?” Yoongi tilted his head. The man was sweating and they couldn’t tell if it was because it was hot or because he was guilty of something. Of course, Yoongi and Taehyung tended to intimidate people, it was part of their job, so that could also be the issue. 

“Yes! That’s why you’re here. Uh, I’ll grab the chief.” The man quickly left, rushing into the back. He opened a door into the backroom and loud talking could be heard before it was muffled once more by the door. 

      Namjoon looked lazily down at his watch, Jungkook tapped his foot nervously, Yoongi was whispering with Taehyung, Jimin was giggling about something with Hoseok, and Jin kept his eyes trained on the door. 

      A pudgy man walked through the door, a faded blue officer uniform on. He took in the men standing in his station, then looked uneasily back at the attendant. They exchanged looks and then the attendant scurried back to the desk, shrinking in his seat. The chief smiled at the men. 

“Hello boys!” He said cheerfully. “Welcome, welcome! When did you get in?” He ushered them into the back where there were empty desks lined up next to each other. Dust hung in the air, only seen in the thin streams of light coming through the slats in the windows. 

“We arrived a few hours ago, we ate at Betty’s Diner.” Namjoon said. The others nodded along with the statement. The police chief’s eyes sparkled. 

“Ah, great food yeah?” 

“Definitely!” Taehyung piped up, only to be nudged hard by Yoongi. Despite being part of Yoongi’s investigative team, he had trouble reading the room. The chief seemed cheerful but there was an odd cloud of tension. 

“What’s your name, sir?” Namjoon cut in. 

“Oh right, you can call me Officer Nam.” He held out his hand and Jin reached forward, shaking it. 

“Officer Kim Seokjin, but I go by Jin.” Jin introduced himself. 

“You can call me Namjoon.” The younger man smiled, taking Officer Nam’s hand after Jin and gave him a firm shake. Before the office could respond, the other men were taking his hand, shaking it and introducing themselves. 

“Officer Min, head of investigations.” 

“Oh don’t mind the grump, I’m Officer Kim, but just call me Taehyung. This dumbo is Yoongi.” The energetic man shook Officer Nam’s hand several times excitedly. 

“Hoseok.” The other officer was formally trained. He gave Nam a firm handshake, his grip like iron. 

“I’m Jimin, pleasure to meet you sir.” The smaller man smiled widely. Officer Nam returned the smile warily. “That’s Jungkook.” He nodded towards the younger boy who had fallen silent. “He’s training with us, he’s mostly here to observe the process.” 

“Sorry, we can be a bit much in the beginning.” Jin said. It didn’t take a detective to see that Officer Nam was overwhelmed. 

“Oh it’s quite alright. There hasn’t been much we’ve been able to figure out much information with these murders. People are on edge, ya know? They clam up, won’t talk much.” Officer Nam explained. “We often leave it to our intern to handle public affairs, she’s more versed in...talkin’ to people.” 

“Intern?” Jungkook raised an eyebrow, speaking for the first time. The officer seemed surprised to see him standing there, but nodded nonetheless. 

“She’s studyin’ to be an interrogation officer and needs some experience with a more experienced crew than us. The town is usually quiet.” 

“I see.” Namjoon murmured. 

“She won’t get in yer way!” Nam exclaimed, shaking his head. “She’s just a little shy.” 

“Where is she?” Yoongi furrowed his eyebrows. 

“Well, she should be clocking in right about...now.” The office glanced at his watch. As if on cue, the door squeaked open. 

“Officer Nam? I’m here!” A soft voice called into the station. The men whirled around to see a small girl. She looked almost fragile with dark hair and a lithe frame. She looked startled to see the seven brooding men. “Sorry!” She squeaked, ready to flee the room. 

“Actually!” Officer Nam interrupted, halting her in her tracks. “Come here, I want to introduce you to Bangtan Police.” 

       She tentatively walked in. She looked like prey walking into a lion’s den; and she could’ve been with the way they were looking at her.

“Yes?” She shakily pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. 

“This is Namjoon, Jin, Yoongi, Taehyung, Hoseok, Jimin, and Jungkook. They’re from The Bangtan Police Department and I’d like you to spend the remaining time in your work study with them to help solve this case.”

“W-why?” She turned, alarmed, to look at her superior. 

“Because they have much more experience and you haven’t gotten much experience with us here.” He explained, his gaze filled with something akin to fatherly love. “Now, introduce yourself.” He nudged her towards them. 

      The girl looked up hesitantly. Her gaze flickered away quickly, despite the encouraging smiles on their faces. 

“I’m Hae-won.” She murmured. “It’s a pleasure to meet you and I hope we can work well together.” 

     The boys were already swooning, hearts beating loudly. Once the chief left to discuss details with Namjoon, the boys split off to look around. Jungkook immediately took a place next to Hae-won. 

“Hey, Hae-won.” He grinned. She flushed and looked away. He was reminded of Y/N, but Hae-won was 10x shyer it seemed. “Wanna show me around?” 

“Uh, yeah, sure.” Her voice was barely a whisper. 

“Now come on, how are you going to be an interrogation officer if people can barely hear you? Speak up.” He teased. Hae-won looked up startled, eyes wide. 

“Oh right, yeah, that.” She murmured, more to herself than anything, but Jungkook heard it. 

“Do you not want to be an interrogation officer? That’s perfectly fine, y’know?” Jungkook paid no mind to her confused expression. “It’s not perfect for everyone.” 

“Hm.” She didn’t seem amused, just lost in thought. She seemed to notice the awkward pause, however, because she tugged on his arm. “Right, let me show you my favorite part of this station!” 

        As Jungkook was dragged away, Yoongi spoke with Jin. 

“The people here are...odd.” the paler man spoke. 

“It’s a small town, Yoongles.” Jin said.

“I guess...and don’t call me that.” 

“What?”

“Yoongles.” The man scoffed. Jin swatted his arm. 

“Now, is that anyway to talk to your hyung?” The older man teased. 

    In the corner, Taehyung and Jimin were looking around the empty station. 

“Where is everyone?” Taehyung scrunched his nose, trying not to sneeze as a plume of dust flew into his face. Jimin ran his finger along the edge of a desk, tilting his head as he looked at the fine layer of grime on his finger. 

“Not sure. Maybe it’s just an off day.” Jimin shrugged, wiping his finger off on his pants. 

“I mean, why have all these desks if you don’t use them?” 

“Hae-won suggested we get them.” Officer Nam said, arms crossed as he appeared in the doorway. Taehyung jumped, goosebumps running up his arms as Jimin tapped his foot nervously. 

“Why?” The detective asked. 

“She said ‘just in case’.” The officer mimicked the young girl. They surveyed the room. Eight desks. 

“Hm. Interesting.” 

Officer Nam just shrugged nonchalantly. “That girl can be a little weird sometimes. She’s too eager, too soft for this line of work.”

“I’m sure she’ll get the hang of it.” Taehyung suddenly felt the need to defend the poor girl. Officer Nam’s lips slid into a sleazy grin. 

“I see.” He said. 

“Let’s split up.” Namjoon announced upon arrival. The alleyway was in a rather shady part of the town. There was fresh blood on the stones, a smear on the pavement, an arc of blood across the wall. None of them even flinched, not even Hae-won. 

“I’ll take Yoongi, Taehyung, and Jimin.” Jin said. “Let’s look over the crime scene.” 

        Taehyung nodded, pulling out his camera to take pictures. Yoongi crouched near the blood smear on the pavement and Jimin wandered around, handing them gloves and then running his hands over every seam in the wall. 

        Namjoon took Hae-won, Hoseok, and Jungkook to interview witnesses and the surrounding townspeople. 

        Jimin knelt on the ground, hand running over a soft texture. Curious, he carefully picked up the object. In his hand was a soft tie, one that looked oddly familiar. He lifted it to the air, examining it in the fading sunlight. It looked new, not exactly a week old. It was possible that it was planted there, but he needed to bring it in nonetheless. The pink haired man took out a ziploc bag and placed the tie inside of it before sealing it up once more. 

“Who was the victim and how was she found?” Hoseok asked, holding a notepad and pen. Officer Nam scratched his head for a minute before walking over to the spot. 

“Right here.” He gestured to where a pool of blood was at the end of the blood streak. “She was leanin’ up against this wall, throat slit as y’know.” 

“Mhm.” There was the scratch of the cheap pen against the notepad as Hoseok wrote down his words. “What was her name?” 

“Mun-hee.” 

“Great. Thank you for your cooperation, if you have any further information, please do tell us.” Hoseok dipped his head. Hae-won observed from a distance, standing next to Namjoon as he explained the process to her. 

“So Hoseok here is going to ask the most important question first and then go on to specifics. Pleasantries aren’t too necessary until the end. He’ll close with a polite statement and leave.” The chief said as they watched the interaction. “In fact, here he comes now.” 

Hoseok waved at the two and winked at Hae-won. “Didya learn anything?” 

“Uh, yeah.” Hae-won smiled anxiously under his gaze and he laughed. Namjoon pulled at them to regroup with the others as night drew nearer. 

     The next day, they decided to have a formal meeting to discuss the situation. 

“So, we have Mun-hee, killed and placed in the exact same way as Jane Doe.” Jin laid out the facts. “She even looked a bit like Jane Doe. Were they relatives?” 

“No.” Hoseok shook his head. 

“I found a tie at the scene.” Jimin held up the plastic bag. Hae-won looked on curiously. Now Jimin had their attention. “It looks familiar, I just can’t put my finger on it.” 

“That’s from Betty’s Diner.” Hae-won interrupted. “I recognize it and I think it’s Hak-kun’s.” 

“Why?” Namjoon turned to look at the small girl. She pressed her lips into a thin line. 

“Well, he didn’t show up for work so I’m guessing he quit. He called me before that to say he lost his tie and broke down because his boss scolded him for forgetting to wear it.” She mused to herself before straightening again. “Those are just speculations.” 

       The chief of Bangtan smiled at her with a nod of approval. Even Yoongi quirked an eyebrow, Taehyung mimicked his expression. She was wary of the two of them. It always felt like they could see right through her. 

“Listen, it’s Friday. The killer strikes again tomorrow and if it’s Hak-kun, then we need to bring him into custody.” Yoongi said factually. 

“Are you seriously going to gamble people’s lives? What if it’s not him? Then we have no one watching out for the killer because we’re all trying to watch him.” Hoseok looked appalled at the suggestion. 

“Listen, I’m fine with that. We could see if there’s a pattern.” Yoongi shrugged. 

“There are people’s lives at risk here!” Hoseok shouted, slamming a fist onto the table. The other members jumped, surprised to see Hoseok so worked up.

“Jeez, you cops always get so worked up about people’s lives.” Yoongi said with a groan. 

“You’re technically a cop too, ya know?” The man sighed and slouched in his chair, defeated. 

“He has a point.” Taehyung piped up, earning a glare from his mentor. Instead of cowering back, as per usual, he jutted out his chin and continued. “Besides, don’t you think these murders are just too...delicate? Too well thought out for someone who’s doing this simply out of a moment of anger.” 

“We still can’t discount the fact that his tie was found at the crime scene. That’s damning evidence.” Jin jumped in. 

         There was a tense silence, Yoongi and Taehyung exchanging warring glares and Jin now staring intensely at Hoseok. A muscle in Taehyung’s jaw twitched uncontrollably. Namjoon’s gaze swept the room before he slowly stood, hands pressing to the table. 

“I say we bring him in for questioning. We don’t have to guard him if we just put him in a cell overnight.” He said, trying to reach a conclusion both sides would agree with. Jimin, who hadn’t spoken his opinion, just watched as the team was already divided. 

“Doesn’t it feel like the killer is toying with us?” He murmured, but with the silence in the room, everyone heard. 

“What do you mean by that, Jiminie?” Hoseok turned his attention away from Jin. His movement stirred the other members to look at him, Hae-won remained silent. 

“Mun-hee is found in the exact same situation as Jane Doe, as if the killer expected us and wanted to put on a show. A show of power. They’re saying ‘look, I did it once, I can do it again, and stump you every time.’ A subtle fuck you.” Jimin’s eyes darkened. The other men visibly stiffened, looking around nervously. 

“But how would they know?” Namjoon asked. 

“Small town, word spreads fast.” Taehyung said dryly. 

“That doesn’t narrow anything down.” Jin sighed, running a hand down his face in exasperation. 

“Well, actually,” Jungkook piped up. The attention turned to him and he swallowed, suddenly nervous. “Eye witness accounts say they saw a ‘strange man’ walking around.” He spoke, tapping his pen against the notepad in front of him. They pondered over this discovery. 

“Hak-kun fits that.” Taehyung muttered, saying what was on the others’ minds. 

“Just because he’s a man?” Hae-won scoffed, a sudden hard tone to her voice that had Jungkook turning to look at her, surprised. She quickly cleared her throat, returning to the quiet voice she usually had. “I mean, I just, I don’t know if that’s enough information, but with his tie, I think it’s a good idea to investigate him.”

“Right.” Namjoon nodded, rubbing his chin with his fingers. “Well, we’ll bring him in, get a warrant for his arrest, there’s substantial evidence, and interview him. Any objections?” 

       The six men’s eyes scanned the room before they all nodded. They waited, staring expectantly at Hae-won. She flushed a bright red from being thrusted into the spotlight. 

“Y-yeah. That sounds great.” She said, her voice barely above a whisper. They all smiled fondly at her.

“Saturday, the countdown begins.” Jin mused, picking up his watch from his bedside table. 

“You’re setting a bad example, joking about these murders.” Namjoon sighed, rolling over, throwing an arm around the older man. The tips of Jin’s ears went red, goosebumps rolling up and down his body. 

“Joonie, some people have a sense of humor.” He snorted, turning over to face the man next to him. He placed his hands on either side of Namjoon’s face and slowly leaned in. The chief met the distance, lips brushing Jin’s. Then the chief smiled, pulling away to look at his second in command. He loved this man. 

“I have a great sense of humor, I fell in love with you after all.” 

“I don’t know if I should be offended or touched by your proclamation of love.” Jin huffed, shifting to sit up, hotel blankets pooling around his waist. 

“You’re unfair, Jin.” Namjoon murmured. “So handsome and, fuck.” He sighed, obviously conflicted. 

“We already know I’m the handsomest, Joonie.” 

“But how did you end up with a mess like me? Sometimes you handle the children better than me, and I’m supposed to be the police chief!” 

“They just need a little mothering. And don’t underestimate yourself, I’m sure a person like Y/N would throw herself at you if she got the chance, if that’s what you’re concerned about.” Jin laughed, getting up and pulling on his suit. 

        It was sort of a uniform, black linen pants and a white button up. This was paired with a navy blue suit jacket that had his badge in the pocket. He went to the bathroom to comb his hair and brush his teeth, mumbling something about there being a lack of room service at this motel. Namjoon just chuckled at his grumbling and got dressed as well. He wore black pants, like Jin, and a white button up shirt, except his suit jacket was a faded brown. 

“You always bring up Y/N, it’s almost like you like her too.” Namjoon pointed an accusing finger at his partner. 

“And what if I did?” 

“Well it would be unfair because I met her first.” 

“You can’t just claim women, Joonie.” He rolled his eyes and opened the heavy hotel room door. 

“I’ll do what I want.”

“You say that now, but we all know she has you whipped.” 

“Who has who whipped?” Jungkook’s curious voice echoed through the hallway. Jin spun on his heel to face the maknae. 

“Now look what you’ve done.” Jin glared at Namjoon who just shrugged innocently. 

“I’m just kidding.” Jungkook sighed. “I’m not as innocent as you guys think I am.” He wandered down the stairs, finally getting tired of acting dumb, the Chief and Second in Command now following him. 

“Elaborate.” Namjoon demanded. 

“Oh please, you guys actually bought that I was that oblivious?” He sat down, ignoring the other men at the table whose conversation came to a halt at the sight of them. 

“Well, I-” Jin’s face was red. 

“Come on, I know Taehyung and Yoongi are practically eye fucking each other every minute and quite literally fucking each other every night. Please keep it down guys.” The youngest pointed a finger at the two men sitting next to each other. They looked away with a huff, but their faces were red. 

“And You two.” He turned to Namjoon and Jin. “You make me sick, really. You’re so cute and reliable. Then you go and flaunt your cuteness to everyone. We all see it! Hoseok and Jimin-guys, just ask each other out already!” 

      There was a long silence. Jungkook shrunk back in his seat, bravado gone, now worried he took it a little too far. 

“Kookie, you’re not aware of the full story here.” Namjoon chuckled after a tense moment, the noise echoed by the other men at the table.

“You really want to tell him?” Jin eyed Joon warily. 

“It’s time he knows.” Taehyung sighed. 

“What? Know what?” Jungkook felt the bubble of envy in his stomach. They kept so many things from him; little secret, jokes. One time they forgot to invite Jungkook to his own surprise party. 

“Well,” Jimin reached out and grabbed Namjoon’s hand. “We’re actually...all together already.” 

“Oh.” The younger’s voice was soft, trying not to betray the emotions flowing through him. They were all dating? And without him? Was he fucking seventh wheeling??? “Without me?” He furrowed his eyebrows. 

      Jin started laughing his windshield wiper laugh as Hoseok smiled. Taehyung and Yoongi exchanged glances. 

“That was an unexpected answer.” Yoongi muttered under his breath. 

“That’s what we wanted to talk about this morning.” Jimin said soothingly, touch relaxing Jungkook easily. “We want you to join us.” 

“R-really?” 

“Yes.” Taehyung nodded quickly. 

“Is that a yes?” Hoseok asked, watching Jungkook’s mouth open and close. The sounds of the guests around him went underwater. He couldn’t hear anything, emotions spiraling out of control. All six of them? It was insane. But then he couldn’t imagine himself anywhere else. 

“Yes.” He said quietly. “Yes!” He said again, louder. Namjoon smiled, cupping his chin with his slender fingers. 

“Then, may I?” He asked for permission softly. 

        Jungkook simply nodded and Namjoon tentatively placed his lips against his. It was quick, brief, one might even think it was an accident if it hadn’t been for Namjoon’s hand on his chin. 

“Did I do something wrong?” 

“No, baby, it’s just that...this is a small town. That’s why we’re trying not to be very open.” 

“Oh, I see.” Jungkook refused to pout. He wanted to have some big romantic story, but that would have to wait. They were trying to solve a series of murders, dammit. 

“We should get going.” Yoongi glanced at his watch and the others agreed, standing and taking their suit jackets off the backs of their chairs. 

    The morning breakfast rush had dissipated, now only the metal containers of bacon and eggs left. The place was just as dusty as the police station and it made Jungkook’s nose twitch with the urge to sneeze. 

“Why is everything so dusty here?” Jimin complained, rubbing his nose with his sleeve. 

“Yeah, it’s making me-” Taehyung was interrupted by the loud sneeze that escaped his mouth. 

“Bless you.” Yoongi responded immediately, rubbing Taehyung’s back caringly.

     It was the first sign of affection Yoongi had openly given Taehyung. They were alone, for one, and for two, Taehyung seemed a little down today, just a little sad. 

“Let’s get going, Hak-kun should be in his apartment still, according to the schedule Hae-won gave us.” Jin checked his phone to pull up the screenshot. 

“Why does she have his schedule?” Jimin asked innocently. 

“It’s a small town, who knows?” Yoongi pressed his lips into a thin line. 

Knock knock knock. Namjoon waited patiently, his partners waiting near the car so as to not scare Hak-kun off. There was the sound of footsteps and a loud groan. The door opened a crack, stopped by the chain inside. 

“Who are you?” The voice was gruff. 

“I’m Kim Namjoon from the Bangtan Police Department. I’d like to ask you a few questions regarding the murders of Jane Doe, Mun-hee, and others.” 

“Okay one second.” The voice was more awake this time as he shut the door. The chain rattled on the other side and then the door opened fully. A man stood in clothes that looked like he’d slept in them. Namjoon immediately recognized him as their rude waiter. 

“Had a rough night?” He tried to be pleasant. 

“Yeah, slept in the car again. The damn heater broke in my apartment.” The man grumbled, stepping aside to let him in. When Namjoon walked in, already tense, his eyes had to adjust to the darkness. 

      Despite the thin streams of light shining through the slats in his windows, the room was in utter darkness. As he adjusted, he could make out piles of clothing on the floor, dishes in the sink, unwashed, and cups littering the floor. There was also an odd assortment of broken items in the corner of the room, hidden in the darkness. 

      It looked like someone threw a rager in this house and then left. The brown haired police chief was surprised anyone could be this messy. Like, he was messy, yes, but he would never let himself degenerate to this state. 

“What do you need to know?” Hak-kun somehow found a place to sit on the couch, but it had a dent carved in it and Namjoon was sure that was the only place you could sit on that couch. 

“Actually, we have a warrant for your arrest due to substantial evidence implicating you in the murder of Mun-hee.” Namjoon dug around his pockets and took out the papers. 

“Oh, I see.” Hak-kun’s eyes didn’t quite meet Namjoon’s. He looked around, jaw clenching in signs of annoyance. 

“What’s that?” The chief asked, pointing to the broken objects in the corner of the room. The man’s nostrils flared in anger. 

“I just get mad sometimes and things happen, okay?” He snapped. “I’ll go with you willingly, I have nothing to hide.” Hak-kun stood and dusted off his pants, though they were already dirty with food stains. 

Namjoon grimaced and nodded, in a hurry to leave the dirty apartment. 

Audio recording #1:

MYG: Is it alright if we record this?

HK: Yeah, it’s fine. 

MYG: Great, okay, please tell us how you are connected to Mun-hee. 

HK: Mun-hee...ah, Mun-hee. We went to school together. Wait, can I get a glass of water or something? I have a splitting headache. 

MYG: Of course. 

KTH: So you knew her?

HK: Hah, well, we grew up together.  It was often just us, this stupid town, the old schools. A lot of kids come here because it’s the closest school around these parts, but only a couple actually live here. 

MYG: Who else lives here?

HK: Hm, there was me, Mun-hee, Joo-Eun, and another girl, her name is slipping my mind. 

KTH: You grew up with these people, though, how do you not know their names?

HK: She was always easily forgettable. She’s not much trouble though, I remember her being a nice girl...until, nevermind.

MYG: Until what?

HK: It’s not my place to say. 

KTH: Well it would do you good to say it.

MYG (muffled): Taehyung get it together. 

HK: I don’t want to talk about it. 

MYG: That’s alright, Hak-kun, I can call you that, right?

HK: Yeah. 

MYG: What do you remember about last saturday? 

HK: Not much. I remember I drank some weird shit at the party-

MYG: The same one Mun-hee went to?

HK: Yes. 

MYG: And why were you there, Hak-kun. 

HK: Mun-hee is, was, my friend, sir. I would never do anything to hurt her, if that’s what you’re wondering. Listen, I know you guys are trying your best, but just drop it. I have nothing to do with it. That tie went missing long before Mun-hee’s body was found. I’ve obviously been framed and you stupid ass-

MYG: Okay, I think that’s enough for today. Thank you for coming, Sir. Please calm down or we’ll be forced to detain you. 

HK: DON’T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN, ASSHO-

Beep. 

“Well that was certainly insightful.” Yoongi mumbled, glancing over to where Hak-kun sat, dejected, in his cell. Taehyung sighed and played the tape again, taking more notes of the important information along with his personal thoughts. 

“I thought you guys were supposed to be good at this.” Namjoon eyed the two with a raised eyebrow. 

“Joonie, he was a difficult person to interview. I could tell he was annoyed the entire time except when he spoke of Mun-hee.” Taehyung frowned, flipping through his notes. “Here, I wrote down ‘aggressively making eye contact and frowning.’”

“Are those seriously your notes?” Yoongi looked through his notes which were pages longer. “Do I need to train you in note taking as well?” 

“No! I just, I don’t notice as much as you, oh wise Yoongles.” Taehyung crossed his arms, pouting. Yoongi just softened his expression. 

“You can always tell me what’s wrong.” He placed a tentative hand on Taehyung’s arm. 

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything.” Hae-won’s soft voice hovered in the air. She was closing the door of the security room behind her. 

     Jin often handled the security room, but he trusted her to watch Hak-kun while he went to the bathroom. Jin slipped back in as she stepped into the room with the others. 

      Yoongi immediately dropped his hand, to the disappointment of Taehyung, and straightened. A cold look once again cast over his face. “I’m sorry, I just wanted to let you know that I have to head back early to finish up some school work.” She explained with a gentle smile. 

“Okay, rest up and study well.” Namjoon nodded and she dipped her head, heading out the door. They all stared fondly at her retreating form. “The same goes for the rest of you.” 

       They had spent all day just interviewing and wrestling answers out of Hak-kun and yet they came up empty every time. Maybe he was truly innocent and they were trying to convict a good man. This was the kind of case where things could get really messy if they kept going on intuition instead of hard facts. 

“Let’s wrap it up and head back to the hotel. Jin, are you coming?” Namjoon called as the others filed out of the station. 

“Yeah, I’m just gonna check some things and then I’ll be back in no time.” 

Trusting his second in command, Namjoon left. 

      The first sunlight was filtering through the windows of an empty cell. A glass of water was on the ground next to the cot, tipped over, the ground wet beneath it. 

“How could he have escaped? Where did he go?” 

-

Hands reached out to the unsuspecting man. 

“Do you have a headache? You look in pain.” The voice said, hiding the glinting blade in the moonlight. 

“Who are you?”

“Just a nice person. I have something that could really help.” 

“What is it?”

“Oh, just some medication for headaches. It works wonders.” 

“Pass it here.” 

The man is passed out soon enough and the shadowy figure grabs the keys off one of the hooks in the back and unlocks his cell. Then the figure dragged him out, put him in his car, slit his throat, and placed his face down at the dashboard. They were back home in 10 minutes, bloodlust satisfied. 

-

“The feed is just looping. How did I not notice this before?” Jin mumbled, head in his hands. 

“Hey, it’s okay, the killer was...tricky.” Namjoon comforted his lover. 

“Boss.” Jungkook piped up, holding a phone in the air. “It’s for you.” 

     The chief of police stood and walked over with purposeful steps. It was easy to see why he was the chief. He was sure of himself, walked with purpose, passion, and he always looked like he had a mission. 

“Mhm?” He murmured. “This is he. What? How did it get there? Okay, okay, I’ll send my best men out to investigate. Please hang in there and don’t touch anything.” He hung up, rushing to throw on his suit jacket. “Hak-kun’s body was just found.”

“Where?” Jimin stood as well and the others followed suit. 

“In his car. No one disturbed him, claimed he slept in his car all the time and no one thought much of it. It’s just...so odd.” Namjoon sighed. 

“Why?” Yoongi tilted his head. Their fearless leader wasn’t usually thrown by anything, always keeping a cool facade. But here he seemed to be cracking. 

“His car was found across town.” He raced out the door, watching the others pile in and Jin took the driver’s seat. “I just feel like this case is getting away from us. We’re obviously missing something.” The chief stared out the window, thinking intensely. The other members knew not to make too much noise. 

“Do you think...it’s time to bring someone else in?” Taehyung asked quietly. 

“What do you mean by that?” Jungkook said defensively. 

“I mean,” Taehyung shot the younger boy a look that shut him up. “That we may need more of a specialist in here. There’s one thing we haven’t been able to look at.”

“And that is?” Yoongi closed his eyes lazily as he leaned back in his seat. 

“Blood. We haven’t been able to test the blood.” 

“Well, we only know one reliable person who can do that and she’s probably very busy.” Jin scolded the younger males. “But it’s a good idea.” 

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. Let’s just take a look and then we can decide.” 

      The street they pulled up to was quiet, not a person in sight. The leaves shifted in the breeze, skittering across the ground. It made for an uneasy sight. They stepped out and Jin locked the car. 

     Jimin handed out gloves and then he went around, feeling over the creases of the blue car, completely ignoring the dead body inside. 

“Found anything interesting?” Jungkook called. 

“Nope.” Jimin responded flatly, concentrated. He peered inside, seeing the blood pooling on the dashboard and dripping into Hak-kun’s lap.

 “I think it’s definitely the same killer. He has the same neck slice.” He felt over the windows. Not a single scratch. “No signs of forced entry or struggle with the car.” He dictated as Hoseok took careful notes. 

“I see no bruising visible on the victim, wait.” He crawled onto the back of the car, peering through the back window. “I see some purple markings on the back of the victim.” 

    The shadowy figure dragged Hak-kun, his back bumping over every curve, spine taking the brunt of the blows. He moaned in pain, starting to stir. The figure panicked. They need to get this over with quickly. 

“Anything else?” Hoseok asked. 

“No, I’d have to see the inside.” Jimin sighed, brushing some hair out of his face. 

“We’ll see what we can do to get the keys.” Namjoon nodded at Hoseok to write that down. 

“This case has me stumped, Namjoon. Obviously, the killer must be drugging them, how else can they get away with all this with no struggle?” Jimin stretched his arms. 

“It’s confusing to me too, but I’m sure we’ll find out something soon enough.” 

“Namjoon, I think we all know who we need to call.” Yoongi set a firm hand on Namjoon’s shoulder and the police chief’s shoulders drooped. 

“But I don’t want to bother her, besides I think we can figure it out, right?” 

“This is her job, It’s time to man up and call Y/N.”

A/N p.2: Hey guys! Let me know if you’d like to be tagged!! Any predictions yet? I’m sorry this took so long, I was in a creative block

Other: 

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#bts #bts x reader #kim namjoon #kim seokjin #min yoongi #jung hoseok #park jimin #kim taehyung #jeon jungkook #OT7 x reader #Jin x reader #namjoon x reader #yoongi x reader #hoseok x reader #jimin x reader #taehyung x reader #jungkook x reader #murder mystery #mystery #tatawrites #Night Terrors #angst #fluff

[tae-cup]

Down With The Ship | Two

Pairing: Jeon Jungkook x Female!Reader

Summary: Captain Jeon Jungkook; a beautiful mess of blood and gold. His greatest treasure, may also be his greatest downfall.

Genre: Pirate!au

Warnings: Mentions of abuse, nothing explicit, violence?, Blood, Guns, pirates being pirates

Rating: T for Teens

A/N: I’m sorry to the entire crew of bangtan, but most importantly Jungkook and Taehyung. Thank you and goodnight. This chapter is all backstory and nothing else. 

Let me know if you’d like to be tagged!

Word Count: 9.2k Words

Other: Masterlist

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         The 18 year old looked out over the deck washed in blood. The putrid smell of rotting fish and burning flesh tinged the air. He didn’t gag. The smell was commonplace to him. He gripped the railing, watching as the last of his old crew was thrown overboard, bound and gagged. Then he turned to the old captain. 

“Do you enjoy watching your own crew being tied and thrown overboard?” He asked the older man. “Because you certainly had no qualms about it a few moments ago. I am in control, now.” He surveyed the tear streaked face of the man. Then he laughed a cold, merciless, laugh. “Goodbye, sir.” 

          He planted his foot on the old man’s back and kicked him off the ship. The new captain’s first mate turned to him. 

“What should we do now, Namjoon?” The man asked. Namjoon’s eyes looked over the blood as passively as his counterpart. Then he turned to his new captain. 

“I think we have some cleaning up to do, Jungkook.” 

         Captain Rogers was not a kind man and most certainly not to any cabin boy who was to be his glorified slave.

“Jeon!” The captain barked to the 12 year old. The young boy had learned to be silent, to let his rage simmer and harden, for the past 2 years. 

“Yes, sir?” Jungkook straightened his back, wide eyes giving him an innocent look. The kind of look that made Captain Rogers pissed off. 

“Go clean the galley.” 

         Jungkook nodded and turned to leave, instantly regretting the decision. The captain leered over the desk and grabbed his wrist tight enough to leave bruises. The child didn’t even flinch. 

“What do you say?”

“Yes, sir.” He said, his voice unwavering. 

“Good boy. Now go pull your weight, you should be lucky that I even took you in. Especially after your parents tried to run, isn’t that right?” The captain let out a loud laugh. “You should be thankful I spared your pitiful life. Now show some respect.”

“Yes, sir.” The heat of rage flamed up again, but Jungkook remained silent. 

           He scrubbed the deck and the galley, then he went ahead and made everyone lunch. No one thanked him, but it was alright, he never expected it. His hair was light brown after spending days in the sun. Jungkook kept his eyes down as a crew member was thrown overboard, the splash, his life, a mere ripple in the tide as the ship carried on. 

           He was quiet in his work, never complaining, never protesting. Jungkook never really believed he was lower than anyone else. He still held onto the hope that one day he could be acknowledged. 

          The boy spent another year, and then another, bending to every whim of Captain Rogers. His back was scarred, his wrists a permanent shade of purple, his nerves keeping him awake until early in the morning. Then he’d get up, work, and do it all over again. 

          Yes, it weighed on him, yes, the passing time felt like a death sentence, but he forged onward. At first he just planned on escaping, disappearing one night while the crew was docked, but it never felt like the right time. Being on the crew, he was now a wanted man. He would never be able to live a normal life, and maybe that was his curse. 

           He could stage a mutiny. He sat upright in bed, bumping his head on the ceiling as he was on the top bunk. Is it possible? Jungkook was just one boy and he had no friends on the ship. Everyone he’d originally met were now thrown overboard, dead, or long gone. He had been on the ship the longest and he knew the least amount of people. His only home was the ship, his only family was Captain Rogers. So how could he stage a mutiny? He had no one. 

            His 18th birthday was spent without much fanfare. He got a big clap on the back by the captain and a couple muttered ‘happy birthdays’. Unlike his other birthdays, he was ecstatic. Now he was an adult, he could make the choices he wanted. However, years of training had taught him that his actions would always have consequences. And if he went through with this plan...he would have a lot of consequences. 

         The ship was docked at Krestleven, a small town that was wealthier than people gave it credit for. Jungkook was given a day of freedom by Captain Rogers, which was the nicest thing he’d done for him in eight years. Nothing could ever really make up for the scars that marked him physically and mentally, but he appreciated it. 

         A couple kids ran by as he strolled the streets. The man pondered his fate, how the mutiny could work. He needed a right hand man, but the crew was loyal to a fault, even if they were terrified. Jungkook had long given up seeking Captain Rogers’ appreciation.

         Someone bumped into him, causing his heart to race and his skin to crawl. The brush of skin on skin causing him to flinch and feel nauseous. He hated that feeling, the touch of another human against him. There was nothing but pain in the touch of other humans. 

“Hey man, are you okay?” The man who bumped into him was now standing in front. Jungkook blinked a few times. 

“W-what?” 

“I asked if you were alright.” The man’s eyebrows furrowed in concern. “I said sorry for bumping into you but you seemed frazzled and I know I’m clumsy so if you’ve been injured or anything, I can pay for it.” The man rambled on. He had brown hair and hazel eyes, a lean frame and dimples when he smiled. 

“No, it’s fine.” Jungkook said. He was always fine. “I wasn’t watching where I was going. My name is Jungkook, today is my birthday.” He said shyly. 

“Oh?” The man straightened, letting his dimples show. “I’m Namjoon and happy birthday my good man.” He didn’t reach out to pat Jungkook on the back like he usually would for one’s birthday. He could tell this kid was skittish. “How old are you turning?”

“18.” The younger man mumbled, shuffling his feet. 

“Ah, still young.” Namjoon nodded. “I’m 21. Would you like to head out for a drink?” 

         Jungkook tilted his head at that. Was this man voluntarily asking to hang out with him? Captain Rogers always acted like he was the slime of the Earth, as if no one could want him except the captain. The 18 year old pointed to his chest. 

“Me?” He asked in disbelief. 

“Of course you!” Namjoon motioned to his left. “Just a little ways that way there’s this great bar. If ya tell ‘em it’s your birthday, you just might get a free pint.” The man winked playfully. Jungkook looked expectantly at the older man before realizing that he was motioning for him to take the first step. 

            Jungkook had never led anything, never made a name for himself. The first step ignited the passion to be someone other than the cabin boy for Captain Rogers. And the deep rage that had settled to a buzz in his bones now crackled with renewed energy. 

            He thought back to his life before Captain Rogers. He had always wanted to be a pirate, to sail the sea, and throughout the years, his hope in himself may have diminished, but his love for the sea had not. And how dare Captain Rogers spoil such a beauty for him. Yes, he decided in that moment that Captain Rogers was a blight to the sea, a blight to the shimmering paradise of the blue waves. 

          Captain Rogers was a man who treated the sea like a conquest instead of journey, a beast instead of an adventure. As he made his way to the bar, he found himself lost in thought. 

“So where are you from, Jungkook?” Namjoon stopped him outside of a door. 

         Warmth flooded through the windows of the tavern, golden light growing brighter as the sun sunk lower. What if he never went back? It was a question he asked himself a lot when he was allowed off the ship. And just like a dog, he always came back. 

“I’m not sure anymore.” The man shrugged in response. “My home was pillaged, but I was spared and taken in as the cabin boy.” He said vaguely, skipping over the more gruesome parts. “Been on that ship since I was 10.” He gestured to the tall ship in the distance. 

“Ah, I see.” Namjoon opened the door and the two men stepped inside. The older man took the lead and sat at the counter where the barkeep was polishing glasses. “One pint of your best stuff, please.” Namjoon ordered. “And it’s this lad’s 18th birthday.” He patted the man’s back. Jungkook almost choked. 

“Happy birthday, man!” The barkeep’s smile put him at ease and he realized how warm total strangers could be.

       He passed him a beer, free of charge, and Namjoon was passed a drink. The foam sloshed over the rim every now and then. 

       The room heated up as more people flooded the bar and the night grew darker. Namjoon and Jungkook found themselves having to shout over the crowd. The younger man kept pulling down his sleeves and Namjoon certainly noticed. But the brown haired male wasn’t one to pry. Jungkook seemed to be a very private man and Namjoon could respect that. 

“Ah, you’re so lucky, Jungkook.” Namjoon said, a tired tone to his voice. “I moved here a while ago for a job, but now I wish I could just sail around the world with no cares. Like you.” His eyes twinkled in the glow of the bar. 

        Jungkook felt his heart racing. It was getting dark and the captain was surely looking for him. 

“It’s not all great.” He said, prying himself out of his carefully protected shell. Namjoon put him at ease, made him feel safe in a way the captain could never provide. 

“Yeah, it must be tough sometimes, but at least you never have to be in one place for too long.” He shrugged in response. He eyed Jungkook’s wrists as the young man once again pulled down his sleeves. 

“You should join us, Captain Rogers is always looking for people and he’s strict, but a good person.” Jungkook blurted. 

          He was fibbing only a bit, but Namjoon fit perfectly into his plan. He could see him as a good first mate. Of course, he wasn’t sure if he could see himself as a captain, but he supposed that all came with due time.

 “You’re strong, I can tell.” He continued. “You’d make a great addition.” 

         The man thought it over, fingers tapping his glass hesitantly. His gaze flickered to the counter and then back to Jungkook. He scratched the back of his neck. 

“I’m not sure, Jungkook. It’s hard to just drop everything and leave.” 

“But everything would be provided.” except maybe comfort and security. “We leave tomorrow night, so please think about it.” 

“I will.” Namjoon stood, paying what he owed. 

          Then the two men stepped outside the bar. Jungkook took a deep breath in of the night air. It had cooled significantly and there was a slight chill to the air. The clouds had cleared and the sky was splattered with stars, the moon like a white dot in a swirl of inky black. 

          He needed to head back to the ship and give himself time to prepare for punishment. It was way past when he should be out. He was an adult now, but old habits die hard. 

“Jungkook, wait.” Namjoon stopped the man in his tracks. 

          The hazel eyed man gingerly reached for the young man’s wrist. He held it up and slowly peeled back the long sleeved top. Jungkook wanted to scream, to pull away, to stop him from revealing his scars. Instead, he stood still and squeezed his eyes shut. Then he heard Namjoon inhale sharply. He carefully rolled back up the younger man’s sleeve and let go. Jungkook dropped his wrist. 

“Who did that to you?” The man’s voice was soft, like a gentle tide. “Was it Captain Rogers?” Yes. 

“No.” He shook his head quickly, his voice suddenly little more than a squeak. “No, Captain Rogers is a good man, he would never hurt me.” 

             It was a lie, even he knew it. Why was it his gut reaction to defend this man? Maybe because he was his only home, his only family. Captain Rogers was all he’d ever known. Death and pillaging and blood was all he’d ever known. Yet Namjoon, who stood before him, offered him the knowledge of compassion and kindness; maybe even love. 

“If you say so.” The older man clearly didn’t believe him. 

            Namjoon knew he shouldn’t join whatever mess Jungkook was in, he shouldn’t, but it wasn’t like anything was tying him down to Krestleven. A pale man walked by carrying a few fish traps. His low whistle interrupted the static air between the two men. He looked over at the couple, shrugged, and then moved on. 

“Please, Captain Rogers will give you the adventure of a lifetime if you join our crew.” Jungkook tried his best to sound confident. 

“I’ll think about it. I’ll meet you at the docks tomorrow morning if I choose to join you. Please, just give me some time.” Namjoon sighed.

             He saw himself coming to a crossroad in the woods. One path led him to a stable future, perhaps a family, a simple life. The other held adventure and the future was foggier. He deeply inhaled. The scent of salt and fish, the scent of adventure, hit him. He smiled to himself, having already decided his choice. Still, he needed to get his things together and he had a few hours until morning. 

“Goodnight, Jungkook. Rest well and don’t get into too much trouble, alright?” Namjoon bid his new friend farewell. 

           As Jungkook arrived on the ship, he tiptoed past the captain’s office. He had long since learned the creaks in the floorboards and the right places to stop. He cracked open the door to his bunkroom, being very careful as to not make much noise. 

         He climbed up to his bunk, only to see another body there. The captain grasped his wrist from his bunk bed. Jungkook resisted the urge to scream. The skin Namjoon had just touched, was now being dirtied by the captain’s dirty hands. 

        And while he took the beatings, for every one he cursed the captain’s name to the gods and swore vengeance for all the sailors thrown overboard. 

           Namjoon was an early riser. Well, he didn’t like it, per say, but he was a light sleeper. So when the sun woke up, so did he. He didn’t have much practice being on his toes 24/7, but Jungkook did. The younger man helped him throughout the first month get acclimated to the environment. As a result the older man never saw any beatings to himself. Jungkook taught him the safe practices from the beginning, knowing full well that Namjoon had the capabilities of fleeing at the first sign of distress. 

          It was almost twice as exhausting to pretend everything was alright. To pretend this was the most idyllic crew you could ever encounter. Jungkook often took Namjoon’s punishments, should it ever befall his beloved friend. Jungkook was a bit too self sacrificing. He would die for any of his crew members, except maybe Captain Rogers. 

        He saw to it that Namjoon would never have a finger laid on him. If the older man knew this, it would surely damage his pride, so he simply never mentioned it.

         The black eye? Oh, just a scuffle he had with another crew member, it was an accident. The bruised arm? Oh, he was just clumsy and bumped into something. The busted lip? The limp? The fingerprints on his neck? Accidents. Simple accidents. And while Jungkook faded, Namjoon began to shine. 

         One night, he was sneaking back to his bunk when he accidentally bumped into a corner right in the new bruise. He couldn’t help hissing out in pain. The bed next to him moved and Namjoon sat up, being a light sleeper. He rubbed his eyes and blinked a couple times. Jungkook froze, caught. 

“Uh, this is just a dream, go back to sleep.” Jungkook said quietly. 

“I’m not that stupid, kookie. What are you doing awake?” Namjoon swiped at the drool running down his chin. 

“It’s nothing.” 

Namjoon crawled out of bed and stood, standing taller than his younger counterpart. “Tell me.” 

         Jungkook looked away, not meeting his gaze. Then, with a sigh, he rolled up his sleeves. Even in the moonlight, Namjoon could see the dark outlines of bruises. 

“Who did this to you?” The man demanded, his voice hushed as to not bother the cabin next door. 

        The ship creaked uneasily, its swaying rhythm not doing much to quell his thumping heart. 

“Captain Rogers.” He said quietly, after having an internal battle. Namjoon’s eyes darkened, his lips pressing into a thin line. 

“I knew it.” He said after a while. “But why?” 

“I didn’t want you to get hurt.” 

         The pieces were clicking together in his mind, gears turning like a well oiled machine.

 “Who told you to take beatings for me?” He said furiously. “I know you don’t want me hurt, but do you think I feel any better watching you sacrifice yourself?” He shook the man’s shoulders, not caring about how he flinched. 

“It was the right thing to do.” Jungkook tried to reason. 

“No it wasn’t.” He crossed his arms. There was a long pause. Namjoon looked the young boy up and down, making note of every scratch, every bruise. He let out a breath, Jungkook’s head hung low in shame. “Now what are you going to do about it?” 

The young man’s head whipped up to look at his friend. “What?” He said breathlessly. 

“I said, Now what are you going to do about it?” 

           Jungkook’s heart thumped loudly in his chest, he worried that the whole ship could hear it. The waves were a dull thud outside, a beat that his chest yearned to sing, only held down by the sharp nails and hard fists of Captain Rogers. The anger simmering below was a volcano just waiting to explode. He wanted that man gone. 

“We’re going to stage a mutiny.” 

           The deck was a battlefield. Even the smell of the sea could not mask the pungent smell of blood on wood. Yet, the sight before him did not bother Jungkook. He had seen blood, smelt it, even tasted it. He’s seen war, he’d seen the merciful and the merciless. And he considered himself merciful as he kicked Captain Rogers deep into the sea. 

          Namjoon stood beside him, the last two souls on the ship. The ship was haunted with memories and Jungkook was sure every inch of it had been covered by his blood at some point in the last eight years. 

“Get some rest, we’ll clean up later.” Jungkook waved off a tired looking Namjoon. “Oh and Namjoon?” 

“Yes?” The man turned to look at his new captain. 

“You’re going to be my first mate.”

“I’m your only ‘mate’.” The older man chuckled before turning and heading back downstairs. 

         Jungkook then turned to the mess. He wasn’t the cleanest person, but for some reason he felt the urge to scrub the deck. So he did. He scrubbed away every inch of blood splattered on the light oak wood. It didn’t stop it from being stained a deep cherry red. 

          He longed for his bunk, but instead he went to the right. And there he stood, paused in front of the oak door that held his worst nightmares. The dark haired man pushed down his anxiety. He’s not going to be in there. You just pushed him off the ship. He’s gone. That’s what his mind said, but his body was shaking. He hesitantly opened the door. Ghosts flew past him. 

          Memories of nails clawing into a locked wooden door, screams no man should make leaving his throat. He trembled, unable to move. The office was the same as it had been a few hours ago and he intended for it to stay that way. He didn’t want to touch Captain Rogers’ things, the idea repulsed him. He took a deep breath. But a little look can’t hurt right? You’ve seen every inch of this room, why not see if you can find another? Jungkook shut his eyes, thinking it over, before taking a step into the room. 

          He walked around the desk, keeping the door open. The room smelled like the captain; cigarettes and blood. The tall man flipped through the stacks of papers with the confidence of a mouse in a lion’s den. He was the captain now. He looked up, catching himself in the mirror across the desk. His breath hitched. I am in control now. He thought, trying to calm his stomach. All he could see was a spitting image of Captain Rogers. 

       Captain Jeon Jungkook was 19, working under the guise of a harmless merchant, when he met a mister Park Jimin. 

“My boy here is a strong, hardworking, 21 year old man. He would make a fine addition to your crew.” The pudgy man before him smiled.

        Jungkook did a good job at pretending he wasn’t as calloused and cold inside as he really was. He often got these propositions, but he didn’t want to put people in unnecessary danger. Once the cover of being a merchant vessel was blown, everyone on the ship would be criminals. 

“I’m Park Jimin, but please just call me Jimin, sir.” The blonde haired boy smiled sweetly.

          He would never get used to older people referring to him as sir. The word brought up bad memories. Swallowing the distaste in his mouth, Jungkook pulled his lips into a tight smile. Yes, they could always use a helping hand, but this man looked too sweet to be on a pirate ship. He could always be the cabin boy. He shuddered at the thought. He would never put someone through that. 

“Why do you want to join my crew?” 

“Adventure, sir.” Jimin responded curtly. Then he paused, thinking it over. There was a mountain of thoughts behind the swirl of his eyes. “And freedom. Being a part of a crew brings you freedom.” 

          Jungkook knew right then that Jimin would fit in perfectly. They had the same ideals, and though he held himself with a rather timid aura, he still held himself up. Now, technically a cabin boy should be younger than him, but Jungkook could make an exception. He was a pirate for god’s sake, what’s a little bend in the rules? Jimin’s father looked like he wanted to stop his son from speaking when Jungkook started. 

“Correction, Park,” He said formally. “A crew does not grant you freedom,” He knew this first hand. His crew had been invisible shackles on his skin. “The sea grants you freedom.” 

             And Jimin smiled, his eyes crinkling in delight. Jimin reminded him of what he could have been, had he not been taken. Would his parents have supported his choice to sail the sea? Would his parents tell him to get some sea legs and journey half way across the world? There were so many questions regarding his parents, holes that would never be filled. The scariest part was that he could barely remember their faces. 

He cleared his throat. “Park Jimin, on behalf of my crew and myself, we would like to formally extend an invitation to join us on our journeys. You can study under me as a cabin boy.” He held out his hand. 

        Jimin took it in his easily and shook. The hands of Park Jimin were soft, uncalloused. He had obviously never worked a day in his life and he overflowed with a childlike innocence that Jungkook would never have again. 

           The captain covered his eyes, groaning. Open sea had never felt more claustrophobic. Despite having more than enough space for three of them to wander without bumping into each other, the knowledge that they were around was enough to keep him from relaxing.

          His mind had been running since Jimin came aboard. The cabin boy had been more than happy to follow around Namjoon like a puppy. Jungkook blamed it on the fact that the older man did not trust the word of his younger crew member as much as Namjoon. Even if he was the captain. 

“What’s wrong, captain?” Namjoon leaned over him, blocking the sun. Jungkook squinted up at his old friend. 

“Am I going about this wrong?” He sighed. 

“Aish, so hard on yourself all the time, Jungkook.” Namjoon moved over to lie next to him on the deck. The young man shut his eyes instinctively as the sun beat down. “What’s on your mind?”

“I mean, I don’t want to end up like him. What if Jimin ends up being scared of me?” He felt his heart sink at the feeling. 

        He didn’t even know the man that well, but the thought of becoming anything more like the monster he feared made him nauseous. Namjoon released a breath, as if he were tired of the conversation already. 

“Then you have to make sure he isn’t.” 

           Kim Seokjin had trained to be a carpenter for exactly three years. Three years since he’d been pulled off the streets and into the kind arms of a hardworking man. Three years of grueling work where callouses gathered on his hands and grime covered every inch of his body after a day of work. It wasn’t his passion in the beginning, but it was his passion now. It was all he had. He only prayed someone would come around and give him the opportunity to work for them, to sail around the world. 

           He often spent his time watching the horizon, watching the waves beat back and forth against the rocks. Then one day he spotted a tall ship coming into view. It was thin, meant for speed. It’s sails were completely unrolled, taking advantage of the wind. 

          Soon enough, a small rowboat was making its way through the water loaded with goods and two people. One had brown hair, the other had pitch black hair. The one with black hair was clearly the captain. He wore all black right down to his boots. 

“Achem, is there a Kim Seokjin, here?” The captain spoke. 

“I am Kim Seokjin.” Jin squared his shoulders. The captain lit up at this revelation. 

“Ah! We’ve been looking for a good boatswain.” 

The older man deadpanned. “Sir, I am a carpenter, not a boatswain.” 

“You can be both, I won’t tell.” Jungkook pushed his best smile forward, despite how little emotion he felt inside. In fact, the only emotion Jungkook felt lately was blind rage and he really needed a better outlet than ranting to Namjoon for hours. 

          Jin watched the man with eyes narrowing in suspicion. He clasped his hands together, still unconvinced. 

“I suppose you’ll have to look somewhere else.” He tutted, turning to head back up the gravel path to the workshop. 

“We can pay you!” The handsome captain called. “We can pay you a lot, but you just have to hang in there.” 

              Jin scoffed, shaking his head. “I don’t look for money. I just want something new.” 

 “That’s it?” Jungkook raised an eyebrow.

          The Captain was growing restless. His crew was content with sailing around pretending to be merchants. We are merchants, Namjoon would say. But Jungkook had only ever known blood and violence. He felt trapped trying to hide that part of him; the anger he feared would never be sated. 

“Seokjin, you ask the simplest of things from a guy like me.” Jungkook said slyly, his demeanor doing a 180.

          Though Jungkook cared about his crew far more than Captain Rogers and he would never lay a hand on them, he still wondered if he learned cruelty from the Captain or if it was in his blood. It was unfair how the ghost of Captain Rogers still haunted him. 

“You can sail the world with us, just trust me, it won’t be so bad.” He smiled. Jin frowned. 

“What could you possibly offer me, merchant?” He eyed the man. The captain was definitely more than a simple merchant. Even Jin could understand that. The older man was having trouble decoding the captain’s true intentions. 

“I’m Jungkook. This is my first mate Namjoon.” The captain, Jungkook, introduced. “We have a cabin boy named Jimin back on the ship. We could really use someone like you on our journey.” 

Jin sighed and shook his head. “No thank you.” 

-

“Are you sure?” The old carpenter was like a father to Jin. He placed his weathered hand over his apprentice’s. 

“I don’t think that life is cut out for me.” The apprentice shrugged in response. “They want a boatswain, not a carpenter.” 

“They can be one in the same. Trust me, I know that, boy.” He chuckled, then coughed harshly. Jin furrowed his eyebrows in worry. 

“Are you alright, Chung-ho?” He squeezed the old man’s hand. 

“Jin, my boy,” Chung-ho coughed again and swallowed. “I am 80 years old. I have lived 50 of those years here, in the same place. The one thing I regret is not following my dream of adventure. I would not wish the same fate to befall you. Take your chance while you can.” The old man often had a youthful attitude, making him forget about his age. 

         It was moments like these, sitting in his humble abode listening to the creak of the wood, and looking into his aged eyes did he realize how old Chung-ho was growing. But out of all the things he’d seen, this was the first time he saw regret and pain flash across the old man’s face. 

“Go.” The man shooed him out the door, handing him a small bag of goods. “Now I won’t have someone to talk my ear off in the morning.” He joked, but Jin knew it held sadness. 

          Jin softened, letting his lips tug into a smile. Then he drew the sturdy old man into a hug. 

“Take care of yourself, I’ll visit you soon.” 

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, lad. Now hurry on.” He chuckled as Jin made his way down the path. 

          Jungkook and Namjoon waited at the bottom, Jungkook pacing impatiently. They were murmuring back and forth. 

“I guess we should get going, Captain.” Jin’s lips parted into a bright smile to mask the tug of his heart at leaving Chung-ho. Three years of living with the old man did something to you. 

          Jungkook’s face split into a smile that reminded Jin of a bunny. His face looked oddly innocent, but there was something dead behind his eyes.

“I’m going to give it to you straight.” Jungkook clasped his hands together on the table. 

          Jin had made lunch and being the oldest, he fell into a motherly parental figure role quite easily. He filled a small gap that Jungkook was missing. It put him at ease. 

“I want to go back to pirating.” He said, letting his words sink in. 

Namjoon was the first to speak, hesitation in his voice. “Are you sure?” 

           Namjoon and Jungkook had been through a lot together. There were just some things that they didn’t talk about with the others. The things they went through they always explained away vaguely, never going into detail about how they procured the ship or where the other crew went. Jin let his spoon clatter to the floor loudly. The others turned to look at him. 

“You want to be pirates? Aish, you kids don’t know what you’re getting yourselves into.” He had this hardened gaze as if he remembered something. 

“I know all too well. That’s the thing, pirating is all I’ve ever known and I will never be happy until I can go back to it.” Jungkook tried to reason. 

“Have you tried cooking? Or maybe sewing? I’ve heard knitting is gaining popularity.” Jin rambled before frowning. “Pirating ruins lives, it ruined my life.” 

            There was a long pause. Everyone stared at each other. The captain swallowed thickly and looked away from the intensity of Jin’s gaze. 

“Then you can make your life again.” Namjoon said, breaking the silence. “If you become a pirate, wouldn’t that be like a bit of vengeance?”

“I don’t sail for vengeance.” Jin sighed. “Chung-ho would never have liked me to go around terrorizing people.”

“Then don’t.” Jungkook stood and leveled with Jin. “You can just stay on the ship. I don’t mind.” 

           The older man thought it over, still uncomfortable with becoming someone who he disliked. He tapped his foot nervously. Then, he released a deep breath. 

“Fine. Have it your way.” The words lacked the punch. Instead, he just sounded really tired. 

 “Well, Jimin, it appears you’re officially a wanted man.” Jungkook slapped a yellowed piece of paper in front of the cabin boy. The man picked it up, crinkling his nose as he spotted his face plastered on the paper. 

“I didn’t think anyone would care.” Jimin said quietly. 

“They think we’ve kidnapped you.” The captain scoffed. 

“They aren’t in the wrong for thinking that.” Namjoon crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. 

“Fine. Jimin, you need to stay low. You are not to leave the boat for the next few months so get comfortable.” He ordered. The blonde haired boy nodded at the command. 

           The captain was quite honestly worried for his crewmate, but he often reminded himself that Jimin was a grown man, older than himself. Jungkook then motioned to Namjoon and Jin. 

“Namjoon, head out with Jin to get the supplies. I’ll stay with Jimin.” 

            The other men nodded and went to get the rowboat ready. Jimin stayed silent, staring at the wall just behind Jungkook. The captain shifted awkwardly in his seat. 

“Are you alright? It’s not everyday that you become a wanted man.” Jungkook tried his best to reach out to the timid man. Jimin jumped, seemingly having forgotten that he was still there. 

“I’m sorry, what did you say?” Jimin blinked a couple times. 

“I asked if you were alright?” Jungkook wasn’t one to be emotional, besides perhaps anger. 

         He had a hard time connecting to others, which was why he left that job to Namjoon, the first mate. Sadly, that resulted in Jungkook feeling like a stranger on his own ship and Namjoon had a deeper bond to the others than he would ever have. 

“I’m fine. I’ve been through worse and at least I have you guys now.” Jimin smiled shyly. Jungkook nodded and they fell into silence once more. 

           The captain clenched his fingers and unclenched them over and over in an attempt to loosen his nerves. This man was his crewmate, why was he so nervous?

“Are you afraid of me, Jimin?” 

            The older man looked startled at the question, yet he still shook his head. “No, I don’t think I can be. You’re younger than me and you’ve probably been through a lot. I respect you for how far you’ve come in so little time.” 

            Jungkook felt something inside him break open, just slightly. The crew was beginning to peel away at the chest he kept locked inside. Its contents were not ones that he wanted people to see. Inside was a small boy who used anger to keep himself trapped, to keep himself safe. And he longed to be angry at someone, anyone, but the crew was making it increasingly hard. 

“Why are you so nice to me? I don’t treat you well.” 

“Yes you do. You think I don’t know how other captains treat their cabin boys?” Jimin raised an eyebrow. “You just let me do whatever I want and I worry that I’m not doing enough.” 

“I was a cabin boy.” He said vaguely. 

           He didn’t want to unlock that whole other side of himself all over again; not after he spent the last year keeping it locked shut so he would never have to think about it again. But at night...at night he got nightmares. And insomnia swept him up in its arms until he couldn’t breathe. 

“Really? What was that like?” 

Jungkook ignored the man’s question. “That’s not important. I just wanted to make sure you know...you have no reason to be so timid around me.”

       Jimin’s face was blank for a moment, but then he started smiling. A small laugh left him. 

“I’m just like that with everyone, captain, no need to feel insecure.” He teased and Jungkook glared at the cabin boy. 

-

        Namjoon wasn’t one to be impulsive, but just this once he was. He was looking around the market when he heard a loud shout and clang from somewhere nearby. The man was curious, as one should be, and he walked towards the area where people were fleeing. 

“I’ll shoot your brains out right now if you say one more word.” The low rumble of a man echoed off the cobblestones. 

        Namjoon froze, taking in the scene before him. He really shouldn’t get himself in more trouble than necessary considering he was a wanted criminal now. 

“Listen man, I wasn’t trying to steal from you.” A dark haired man lay on the ground, a gun to his head. 

“Then why did you have your hand in my pocket?!” The man growled. The dark haired man laughed and pushed the gun off his forehead. 

“A simple misunderstanding?” The other man smirked. 

         He then proceeded to kick out the legs of the man holding the gun. The gun flew across the pavement and the dark haired man easily picked it up. He pointed it at the other man and, without even flinching, shot him in the forehead. It was a clean shot, the man was dead in an instant. The dark haired man pocketed the gun and looked up. The only person left at the scene was Namjoon.

“You want to pick a fight too?” The man furrowed his eyebrows, hand going to his pocket. 

“Actually, I was wondering if you want to grab a drink.” Namjoon smiled. “I hear that if you say it’s your birthday, you’ll get a free pint.” 

           Kim Taehyung was an easy addition to the crew. His aim was impeccable, but his personality was something else. He had this way of changing his mood like changing clothes. The man never revealed too much information about himself, like how he learned to wield a gun so well or why he was on the run, but the captain knew it had something to do with the royal navy. In many aspects, he was like the captain. He hid many parts of himself. 

“Taehyung,” Jungkook leaned against the wall, watching the older man shiver after having just walked the plank. “Do you like the sea?” 

“I wouldn’t be sailing around with you if I didn’t.” Said man smiled a little. He used a towel to dry off his hair. The sea brought him pain, but he knew he needed to begin healing. 

“I’ve got this grand idea to visit the queen and steal some of her fine jewelry.” Jungkook said nonchalantly. “What do you think?” He tried to nudge the man to open up to him. Which was rather hypocritical as Jungkook was not one to open up to his crew. 

“Oh?” At the mention of her highness, Taehyung stiffened.

         In his mind he remembered holding up his right hand and pledging his allegiance to her majesty. He remembered the smile she wore as she wished them a safe journey. A journey he would not return from. Words he could never take back. Taehyung was a man of his word and that oath still hung in his mind like an old sweater. 

“Taehyung.” Jungkook stood straighter, causing the gunner to do the same. “You’re an excellent shot. Why did you leave the navy?” 

           The man frowned, his entire demeanor changing. Tension buzzed in the air. The pain from somewhere in his chest gave a tug once more. Taehyung swallowed thickly and finally backed down. He turned to fold the towel and put it away. 

“It was more about conquest and less about adventure. The sailors simply didn’t care for the waters they skidded across.” He spoke softly, as if remembering a distant memory. 

             He was thinking of the orange sunset, the calloused hands, the hushed words spoken at night that he could tell no one. He thought of the sailor who died in his arms. The sailor who was set adrift to become one with the sea. The sailor who taught him all he knew and loved him. It was like a separate part of him that he had hidden away. 

“And I lost someone who meant a lot to me. I couldn’t go near the sea again without thinking of him-them.” He cleared his throat. “It took some time, but I think I’ve healed enough to love the sea once more.” 

          Jungkook let the pieces click into place. And like a lightbulb, his eyes lit up in recognition. He hesitantly reached out and took Taehyung’s hand in his. The brush of skin on skin caused him to wince slightly in discomfort. 

“Taehyung, I don’t care about who you are or who you love.” He said quietly. “BTS is happy to have you. All of you.” 

           Tha captain sucked in a breath, ready for the inevitable nausea as he hugged him, the tears began to wet his face. 

         The sky was gray. He wasn’t even allowed to see the sun the day his eyes went dark. It was like a cruel trick that he must undergo. The softest of hands touched Taehyung’s rough ones. 

“Why did you let this happen? You saw the person aiming at me and yet you did nothing. Are you a coward?” The words slipped out of the mouth of his dead lover like gasoline. And suddenly his world was ablaze. 

           Taehyung jolted awake, heaving himself up from his bed and tumbling out into the hallway. It was gray, the color bringing a foul taste to his mouth. He made his way out to the deck, still in a hazy stupor. There was a salty tinge to the wind. The sea was restless today, it’s waves tinged a gray.

            Gray like his lover’s eyes. Gray like his uniform, gray like his hair. The pounding of the sea rocked the ship back and forth. To his surprise, he found his captain laying on the deck, arms and legs splayed out and just staring at the sky. 

“Captain? Are you alright?” 

“Taehyung? Ah, you’re awake so early.” Jungkook sat up and crossed his legs. He tilted his head back and let the wind ruffle through his hair. 

“What are you doing up so early?” He countered, plopping next to him. 

“I haven’t been able to sleep in years, Tae.” The nickname slipped out easily. Taehyung pressed his lips into a line. The last time he heard that was when he lost him. 

“Me neither. Being a deserter doesn’t stir pity.” Taehyung responded coldly, eyes glued to the rough sea. Jungkook didn’t make a fuss about this new information. He simply nodded and looked up to the sky. 

“So how did you become captain?” The gunner asked, seeing if he could pry open any piece of the mysterious captain’s life. The man stiffened noticeably, gaze flickering between Taehyung and the deck. 

“Hey, what’s that?” A new voice joined the mix. 

         They both turned to see Jimin pointing out into the sea. Jungkook immediately stood, eyes narrowing as he spotted the object in the distance. Another ship was headed full speed towards them. It would be a matter of minutes before they were next to each other. 

Jungkook cursed and pulled on a coat. He gestured to Taehyung. “You, go grab your guns and you,” He pointed at Jimin. “Go wake up the others and tell them to bring weapons.” He turned towards the railing, his fingers clutching the sides. “We have guests.” 

             Hoseok loved his ship. He would never imagine leaving it and his crew were never the kindest people. Still, he did feel bad about running off with the ship and leaving them stranded. Being lost in his own thoughts was a common occurrence. He often hummed or sometimes spoke. 

“Okay, Hoseok. There’s another ship over there, all you need to do is sidle right on up and ask to join the crew!” A few weeks of living alone really had done something to his drive for human companionship. 

            Maybe he should have paid more attention to the local papers when he was in Krestleven because then he would have heard about the rogue pirate crew known as BTS and how one of their men shot and killed someone point blank, another got drunk off his ass and started a fight, and another had an insatiable thirst for blood. Maybe that would have deterred him. Maybe. He was still very much deprived. 

           What he hadn’t expected when he arrived, was ropes thrown over the deck and a gun pointed to his head. The man felt sweat gathering on his forehead. 

“Who are you and why have you approached our vessel?” The man said, his voice low. 

“Taehyung, it’s all clear below deck. It seems that this guy’s the only one on board.” A timid voice echoed from below deck. Then the head the voice belonged to popped out into the doorway. He had blonde hair and a cheeky smile. 

“See, I told you.” Hoseok said wearily. “I just wanted to say that I need a crew and I would be honored if you let me on yours.” 

“Do you even know who we are?” The captain spoke, motioning for Taehyung to lower his gun. The man obliged, if a bit hesitant. 

“No? Should I?” Hoseok smiled sheepishly. 

“Do you know BTS?” The broad shouldered man said. 

          Oh. Oh no. Hoseok had definitely chosen the wrong ship to approach. The wind combed through his hair and they were at a stand still. 

“Well, I still need a crew. Do you guys have a pilot?” 

“No, Jin has been doing that so far.” The captain quirked his head towards the broad shouldered man. 

“And I’m doing a fine job!” Jin shouted, facing growing red. 

“You almost crashed us into the rocks. Twice.” Taehyung growled. The man was silent after that. 

“See! I’m a trained pilot, I can do it!” Hoseok said hurriedly, an excited expression taking over his face. 

“We’ll see about that.” The captain said darkly. “I’ll give you one week to prove yourself and if you cause any issues, I won’t hesitate to drop you. You mean nothing to this crew until you earn it, got it?” 

“Yes, sir.” 

“And don’t call me sir.” The captain visibly bristled. “Just call me Captain.” 

           Hoseok was far too energetic for this early in the morning. Jungkook felt his eye twitch as he bounced around, talking excitedly from person to person. Only Jin seemed to humor him while Namjoon just frowned. Jimin tried his best, but even the slightest bit of annoyance came from the man. Taehyung remained silent as Hoseok pestered him. Therefore, that left Jungkook having to entertain the man. 

“Why are you so hyper so early in the morning.” Jungkook glared at the older man, but that did little to dampen his shine. 

“Well, I haven’t seen or spoken to anyone in about a month!” Hoseok said, far too cheerily. His smile seemed a little strained. 

“Right…” Jungkook just laid his head back down on the table. “Go steer the ship, Pilot. We’re stopping at Lamit today. It’s a small fishing town off the coast of the british isles.” 

“Alright!” He then hopped off to steer the ship and Jungkook was suddenly afraid that this man was now in charge of their lives.

            For some reason, Jimin had been very taken with this energetic personality, though he didn’t seem pleased in the morning. The cabin boy trailed after the pilot like a puppy. 

“Namjoon.” The captain barked hoarsely, his voice still waking up. “Go make sure they’re doing their jobs.” 

            The first mate just nodded and left to follow after them, shouting something about staying on task. Jungkook groaned and rubbed his temples, but even if his crew gave him a headache in the morning, they were still his responsibility and he wouldn’t give them up for the world. 

              Yoongi wanted adventure. He craved it. He was restless, always drawn to the water that seemed to understand him better than any person. The ever changing tide and choppy waters spoke to him. The man was short of stature, yet he held himself with pride. 

              He fished, he delivered, he traveled every now and then, but he never had any adventure. Most who met the man would not describe him as a risky thrill seeker, but he was so much more than that. His insides felt like a whirlpool, churning water, and shimmering gold. 

              When the ship came into view at the small town of Lamit, he needed to take his chance. He was well versed in other cultures from his travels as a fisherman and he was knowledgeable on the sea’s creatures. He could pass off as a striker well enough. 

              But Yoongi wasn’t stupid, he knew that the ship belonged to BTS. He kept up with the papers enough to know they had maybe six members and none of them seemed like a striker. It may have been the riskiest decision he had ever made, but he still ran towards the ship as the captain stepped off. 

             The man seemed to instantly know what he was going to say and just sighed heavily. 

“No.” The captain stated. Yoongi was taken aback. This man was quite a bit younger than him and yet...yet he had knocked him out of place with just one word. 

“I just wanted to-”

“No. We don’t have the need for another crew member.” 

“Yoongi?!” The shrill voice of another man hit him. The pale man winced, recognizing the voice instantly. 

“Hoseok, I didn’t know you were the sixth member.” Yoongi stated coolly as he tried to regain his footing in the conversation. 

           He knew Hoseok from the few times he’d gone to Krestleven. They had interacted a couple times and while Yoongi found Hoseok exhausting, Hoseok enjoyed his company far too much. 

“Fine, what can you do… Yoongi?” The captain looked him over, cold gaze flashing over his features. 

“I can be a fine striker, sir.” Yoongi said, placing his hands behind his back. 

“Yes! Yoongi is very knowledgeable. He knows all about fish and crust-crust-” 

“Crustaceans.”

“Yes! Those!” Hoseok tugged on the captain’s coat like a child. 

The captain sighed, prying Hoseok’s fingers off his coat with a look of disgust. “Watch it, you’re still on trial.” 

            Hoseok backed away quickly, but they both knew the captain wouldn’t get rid of him. Then the captain turned back to Yoongi. 

“I’ll put you on a trial period that is only over when I say so.” The captain’s nostrils flared. “You want adventure, you want the sea? Then you’ve come to the right place. If you want to settle down and litter the ocean with your shit, you’re in the wrong place.” 

“I love the ocean.” He said earnestly. “I can’t live so far from it all the time. I need to be near it.” yoongi said desperately. “So please, let me join your crew.”

          Dignity be damned, he was going to be a pirate. 

                   It was the night before their biggest heist yet. Namjoon settled into the bunk across from his captain. The two hadn’t spoken specifically on the subject, but it was agreed that they were more comfortable in each other’s presence at the end of the day. 

          The exhausted captain flung himself into his bed, landing with a loud thump and an oomph. The first mate rolled over as the captain blew out the candle. It was quiet, but he knew the younger man was looking at him. 

           “What’s wrong, Namjoon?” Jungkook sighed after a moment. 

           The truth? Namjoon was insecure. Putting his faith into six other men was a huge stretch after only being able to trust Jungkook for a year. The man was also supposed to be a role model for the crew, after all, Jungkook felt like a crazed captain sometimes. And when those times came, people looked to him to lead. Trust was so tricky.

          “Can we trust these men?” Namjoon frowned, thinking about the meal from earlier that night. Jin had made a recipe and named it his ‘secret recipe’, but it just made everyone waste the water supply by drinking gallons trying to cool the heat. 

           “Of course.” Jungkook pulled the covers up to his chin, fingers peeking out. 

           “How do you know?”

            “It’s this gut feeling.” He responded simply. 

           “We can’t keep working off your gut feelings, Kookie.” Namjoon let out a breath and turned away. 

           “I know.” The captain said quietly to the other man’s back. “But I would gladly die for these men. I can feel it in my bones.” 

            The haunting tone of his voice reminded the first mate of the night before the mutiny. The night before everything changed. It made him shiver, but he trusted his captain. He had to learn to trust the others too.

          Jungkook gripped the side, his crew watching his back. He laughed a little, letting the breeze carry his voice as far as it could. He overlooked the british mainland’s harbor. A mess of smoke and cobblestone laid out before him. 

“Men, we’re about to be…” He gritted his teeth and whipped around to face his crew. “Notorious.” 

           Namjoon straightened, chest puffing out with pride as he watched his old friend lead so confidently. Jimin shivered as the wind bit at his hands and cheeks. Taehyung was lazily spinning his guns in his hands. Jin had his arms crossed, foot tapping anxiously against the planks. 

             Hoseok had the biggest grin on his face and Jungkook couldn’t even be annoyed anymore. Yoongi remained silent, stoically staring ahead. He had yet to say a single word to many members and the longest conversation he’d had with him was the day he met him a year ago. Still, this was a fine crew. His crew. And Jungkook would die for his crew, which surprised him as he had never thought that way before. 

              Perhaps his heart was swelling with an unknown emotion towards the men that barged into his life unannounced. Yet, he didn’t really mind. 

“Let’s be strong and stick together. Have each other’s backs. By the end of the night, we should be as rich as kings and just as known.” Jungkook grinned, the adrenaline already pounding in his ears. 

“Do you hear me, men?” He stomped his boot harshly against the planks to gain their attention. 

          They all straightened out and chorused the words he had long awaited to hear. 

“Yes, captain!” 

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Taglist: @lovelyseomin​ @yoongi-sugaglider​

#bts #bts x reader #Jeon Jungkook #jungkook x reader #jungkook #JK #Pirate au #angst #fluff #tatawrites #Down With The Ship

[tae-cup]

The Last Great American Dynasty | KTH Oneshot

Inspired by: Taylor Swift’s “The Last Great American Dynasty”

Pairing: Kim Taehyung x Reader

Summary: A successful businessman meets a woman he never should have met.

Warnings: N/A, ANGST, but also lots of fluff!

Word Count: 5.8k (I really did get carried away with this one. And for what?)

A/N: I just got inspired-anywho, how’s everyone doing today?? Stay safe and wash your hands haha also I’m sorry about the end...

Other: Masterlist

There goes the last great American dynasty Who knows, if she never showed up, what could've been There goes the maddest woman this town has ever seen She had a marvelous time ruining everything

-

-

“Mr. Kim! Mr. Kim!” Dozens of reporters shouted as a handsome man made his way to his car. “Mr. Kim!” When he took a second to look back at the crowd, the reporters went into a frenzy. 

“Mr. Kim! Where are you going?”

“Mr. Kim! Is it true that your marriage with Jennie is two months away?” 

“Mr. Kim!” 

And on and on it went. The flashing lights and clicking of cameras wasn’t anything new to him. Taehyung simply smiled at the questions before stepping into his car. The driver started maneuvering through the mob of people. Inside, his stomach turned, disgusted at the thought of his arranged marriage with Jennie. He wanted to choose someone for himself, shouldn’t he be allowed that? The dark haired man was off on a short trip to somewhere secluded to enjoy his freedom. Then he would return a month before the wedding. As the scenery of buildings turned to green, he leaned back. The quiet in the car was a sound he missed. 

-

-

You walked over to the next table, carefully balancing a tray of plates and drinks on one arm. The other held the order number. Your hair was tied up in a messy bun. It hadn’t been messy when you started, it had just been hectic. Now, the lunch rush was dying down and this was your last table. You expected it would be the last table all day. You lived in a small town. Everyone knew everyone. 

“Mr. and Mrs. Jung, I have your food here.” You smiled and placed the plates in front of the married couple. They gave you warm smiles and went back to their conversation. You decided you would clean up your area early and head out. After all, every day was the same. The same residents came in and out. You knew there wouldn’t be anyone coming around. 

“Hey, Jisoo, I’m gonna clean up and then clock out. Want to go to the movies later?” You called back to your pretty friend who was manning the register and finishing up some order receipts. 

“Uh, sorry, Y/N,” She responded in a distracted voice as she focused on the totals. “I have a date.” 

“Oh, right! I completely forgot. How is he?” You wiggled your eyebrows. 

“Oh...He’s alright.” She smiled sheepishly, suddenly focused on the ground. 

“Just alright? Jisoo, he’s the catch of the town. Namjoon should be blessed to be in your presence.” 

She rolled her eyes, turning back to the register. You didn’t have much of a love life so you spent your time at home, at the diner, or wanting to know all the dirty secrets of Jisoo’s love life. Jisoo was classically beautiful. Full lips, long hair. and big eyes. It was no wonder she got the prettiest boy in town. Jisoo could have anyone in town. 

“Anyway, I’m sorry about the movies. I know you want to go see that new one.” 

“Live action Mulan can wait.” You chuckled. You walked into the back to grab a rag from the storage closet. You didn’t even hear the bell ring from the front that signaled someone entering the diner. “I mean, it’s just the most kick ass story of the 20th century and forever, am I right, Jisoo?” You found a rag and dunked it in the bucket of water nearby. Ringing it out, you started walking toward the front, damp rag in hand. “Jisoo?” 

Then you spotted what made her stop. It halted you in your tracks. 

“Oh.” You whispered to yourself. 

There stood a tall man with tan skin, beautiful full lips, and dark curly hair. Jisoo was nervously taking his order, but he didn’t seem to mind the wait. Your friend made a quick gesture under the counter. It said stop gaping you idiot. Then he looked at you. And oh, wasn’t the right word to describe your reaction. It was more like ohmygodwhoisthatwhyishesohandsomeshortcircuitinghelpme. When he shot you a small smile, you felt your heart flutter and start beating at an unusually fast pace. 

“Right this way, sir.” Jisoo hurried past you, carrying a napkin and silverware. She hadn’t expected anyone else either and had put away all the napkins and silverware. When she bumped past you, it was like the world went back to normal. You quickly went about cleaning the counters, trying to resist the urge to look at the handsome stranger a few tables away. 

He looked out the window idly as if he had all the time in the world. One hand tapped the table and he rested his chin in the other. His eyes just watched the treeline as if it could change at any moment. There was a distant look on his face. 

The bell rung at the kitchen and you jumped at the intrusion. It had been quiet. If it wasn’t for the tapping of his fingers, it would seem as if no one was there. You hurried to the back and carefully put his plate on a tray along with his drink. Then you made your way out where he sat. You didn’t want to break the lovely quiet, but you had to. 

“Hello!” You said cheerily, flashing him a winning smile. “I have your order of noodles and a coke.” You put down the plate and cool drink in front of him. 

The man watched you intently. You pushed a strand of hair behind your ear as you turned around to head back to cleaning tables. 

“What’s your name?” He said, his voice a deep rumble. 

“Ah, I’m Y/L/N Y/F/N.” You dipped your head in greeting, turning to face him again. 

“I’m Kim Taehyung.” His mouth twitched into a smile. 

“It’s nice to meet you.” 

Before you could go back again, he spoke, “Do you live here, in this town?” 

“Yes, sir.” You responded politely. 

“Here, come sit with me. I want to know more about this town.” He patted the seat next to him. You looked at him with hesitation. Finally, you found the courage to move forward. Instead of sitting beside him, you slid onto the seat across from him in the booth. 

“You’re new around here.” You pointed out, feeling dumb. Of course he’s not from around here.

“What gave it away?” He chuckled. You felt your tense shoulders relaxing. Taehyung was devilishly handsome. The name was familiar to you, but you couldn’t place your finger on it. 

“The suit. The car.” You gestured outside to the porsche. “Plus, I don’t recognize you and everyone knows everyone here.” You explained. 

The dark haired man looked pleased at your observations. “Tell me more about this town.” 

“Oh, okay, well, it used to be a mining and trading town. Settlers came from all over to find gold and trade silk.” You listed the history you remembered from your class. “But then we ran out and...” You sighed, thinking of the sad history of your dead beat town. “...and everyone left. My family stayed. We’ve been here since the beginning. I’ve always wanted to leave this place.” You whispered the last part. 

Then you turned to him, surprised as if just seeing him there. Did you just really pour out your thoughts with no filter to a stranger? He made you feel comfortable. He didn’t seem to judge you. You remembered the first person you told about wanting to leave. Your older sister had practically sobbed how unfair it would be if you left and not her. How you had to stay because it was family tradition. How you’d break your parents’ hearts. 

Well now your mother was dead, your father never home, and you had no college education. That didn’t stop you from trying and you were in no way stupid. You just didn’t have the means to get out of this town. Your sister had health complications and you felt obligated to stay. You were only 20. 

“I know how you feel.” Taehyung’s voice ripped you from your thoughts. “I wanted to get away from my life for a while. That’s why I’m here.” 

You tilted your head, taking in his words. What was so bad in his life that he needed to escape to the middle of nowhere? 

“I hope you can find something important in this town, then.” Your voice was tired. People came and went, but no one ever stayed. 

“Yes...hopefully.” When he looked at you, there was something in his eyes that you couldn’t quite read. 

He was fascinated by you. You didn’t ask too many questions and he was having a genuine conversation with someone for the first time in...years. I miss this. He thought to himself. 

“What do you do for work?” You asked, genuine curiosity tingeing your voice. You couldn’t help wondering about the newcomer in town. 

“Business.” He replied vaguely. You had a feeling he didn’t want you to pry, so you switched subjects. 

“This place used to be busy, you know?” You began. He looked at you, encouraging you to continue so you did. “I mean, when I was in high school I would have to try not to run into people at the shopping center.” You shook your head slightly at the memory. “Now I have trouble finding people.” 

“Where did everyone go?” 

The words struck a chord in you. You’d had those words ringing in your head since you graduated high school. It was lonely in this town. Your sister was in the hospital miles outside of town and your friends were merely ghosts besides Jisoo. He must have sense the atmosphere changed as he cleared his throat. Your eyes darted around his face, looking for any ulterior motives. Once deciding there were none, you sighed and gave in to the question. 

“I’m not entirely sure. Jisoo and I don’t talk about it usually.” You shifted uncomfortably in your seat. “But I think everyone left as fast as possible once high school ended and no one bothered looking back. This town will just be ghosts in a few years.” You admitted, clasping your hands together on the table. The thought of this town dying so easily always made you feel a tad emotional. You gave up your future for this. 

He nodded along. A muscle in his jaw twitched. “That’s what happened to my town.” 

That caught you off guard. Your expression must have said exactly that because he continued.

“I came from a small town just like this one. I guess this place gives me nostalgia. Now I live in Seoul. I was one of those teens who left and never came back. But I went to visit a few years ago and I knew there was nothing left for me in that town.” He shrugged nonchalantly, but it clearly still bothered him. You found yourself placing a hand on his and giving it a quit squeeze. 

“I’m sorry that happened to you.” You peered into his dark gaze. His breath hitched. Then he looked away, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. 

“Well, the past is past.” It barely came out as a whisper. You quickly withdrew your hand, realizing how intimate it seemed. You supposed you were just used to that kind of intimacy living in such a small town. 

“Achem, right. Well, I have to close up.” You excused yourself and slid out of the booth. Golden rays of sunlight painted the diner in a soft hue. His face practically glowed in this lighting. 

“Of course, of course.” He murmured, suddenly distant again. His eyes watched the trees that now cast long shadows on the road. 

You hurried to grab the long forgotten rag and started scrubbing at the counters. Jisoo looked at you, an amused grin on her face. You knew instantly that she’d seen the entire thing. 

“I see you two are getting along.” She teased. 

“Oh shush.” You huffed, heat crawling up your face. 

“Come on, Y/N, would it be so terrible to fall in love and leave this town? When Namjoon feels ready, he said he’d be willing to leave as well.” She said. Your head whipped around to face her. 

“W-what?” 

Her gaze softened at you. She came over and put a hand on your shoulder. “I’d never leave you behind here, but please at least consider it.” You tore your body away in disgust. 

“Jisoo, You know I can’t just up and leave, even if I did find someone. I have to look after Lisa and make sure my father isn’t dead by the side of the road every night.” You hissed. 

“I know-”

You two were cut off by a sudden presence. Taehyung placed the money owed on the table and smoothed out his suit. He dipped his head to the both of you. 

“Thank you, Jisoo, Y/N.” He said politely. 

The way your name sounded on his tongue made you shiver. Your conversation was abruptly halted and you felt tongue-tied, all anger forgotten. 

“Y/N, care to go to the movies with me sometime this week?” He casually stated, shaking you from your stupor. You pointed bleakly at yourself while mouthing me? He smiled softly at your confusion. 

“Y-Yes, I’d love to.” Your shock came across. He loved the open display of emotions on your face, on everyone around here. It was so unlike the poker face everyone gave him in the business world. 

“Does...does Friday work?” You asked cautiously. Jisoo looked between the two of you, a smirk on her face. 

“I’ll do whatever works best for you, I have an open schedule.” 

“Great, then how about I meet you after my shift on Friday. I finish up at 6 P.M. then.” You said, your voice not quite timid, but not quite sure either. 

“Sounds great.” He then turned and left. Taehyung found himself smiling at the obvious nervousness on your face. He found your face invading his mind as he got into the car. You were an open book and he wanted to read everything he could. 

-

-

“Hey, I’m clocking out early!” You called to Jisoo. It had been four days since your mini fight with her and you two acted as if it didn’t happen. Jisoo just smiled as you grabbed your car keys and raced out the glass front door. 

“Have fun!” She shouted at you, hoping you heard her. You had only lied a little when you said your shift ended at 6 P.M. You actually got off around 5:30 P.M., but you decided to leave at 5 instead to get ready for your date. 

Was it a date? Some part of you hoped it was. Taehyung had shown up every day for lunch since that Monday. Then after the rush was over, you would sit and talk with him or you would clean tables and talk. You hadn’t found someone who matched your speed of dialogue since forever. Jisoo was alright, but she usually gushed about Namjoon or about the crowds that came through. You two never went out together outside of work. 

You started up your car and soon enough you were at your apartment. It was a small one bedroom flat that was on top of the barber shop in town. Inside, there was fading paint from when you first moved in and a small kitchenette in the corner. You doubted it could even be called a kitchen. There wasn’t even an oven. You had a toaster oven, but it wasn’t fancy or anything. There was a microwave, a small fridge wedged between two small cabinets, and, thank god, a dishwasher. You hurried past the mess in the sink and towards the small room in the back. The bedroom held a queen sized bed, you had insisted, and that left hardly any space. After a shower, you surveyed your options for outfits. You finally decided on a simple combination of blue jeans, a soft tan turtleneck sweater, and brown heeled boots. You brushed your hair thoroughly and pulled out your limited makeup supplies. You didn’t have much time to do anything besides be at the diner. Dates were nonexistent. 

It’s not that you thought yourself ugly, you just didn’t seem to catch anyone’s eye. You carefully applied light foundation and lip gloss. Then you attached a pair of hoop earrings to your ears. Your hands gripped the edge of the sink as you had a mini crisis. To put your hair up or not. Well, you decided to leave it down. After all, he saw you in your messy bun everyday. Your hair fell in waves a smile gracing your lips as you stared at your reflection. You had put effort into your appearance for the first time in months and...you felt pretty. Your hands unclenched themselves from the sink and now went to smooth the nonexistent wrinkles in your sweater. 

You checked the time, cursing as you realized it was almost 6 P.M. You grabbed your purse and flew out the door. Your heels clicked against the concrete stairs as you made your way downstairs. Then you saw him. 

He was leaning against his car, arms crossed as he waited for you. 

“Taehyung!” You called, waving to get his attention. His eyes flicked up to you, his face instantly lighting up at your appearance. 

“Y/N! You look stunning.” He complimented. It was true. Even in your waitress outfit you were stunning to him. Everyday he got to know you more and he was completely infatuated with you. He stepped to the side and opened the passenger door, holding your hand and helping you in. You chuckled at his princely behavior. Or maybe this was what it was supposed to be like? The last boy you tried with was in high school and he had been far from dashing or a prince charming. Very unlike Taehyung. 

“You look quite ravishing yourself.” You said teasingly. He shut the door and went around to the driver’s side. 

“Now, uh, I don’t actually know where the movie theater is.” He confessed, turning to you with a hesitant smile. You couldn’t help but giggle. The drive was then spent giving him directions to the movie theater which was on the outskirts of town. When he asked why, you shrugged and claimed it was the only building available at the time. 

As he pulled into the small parking lot of the theater, he glanced at your form beside him. You were looking out the window, no doubt surveying surroundings you’ve seen most of your life. 

“How’s your sister?” He asked gently. You let out a deep breath. Ever since you’d admitted your situation to him, he’d been careful about the subject. Maybe it was a downer, but you never spoke of your sister. 

In all honesty, you loved your sister, but you also held a certain anger toward her. You tense, at his question. Then you turned to him. He killed the engine and you sat in darkness and silence. The moon shone overhead. Your mind reeled back in time as you told him about your past visit. 

-

You opened the door quietly, not wanting to disturb Lisa. She could never sleep because of the pain. No one could figure out what was wrong with her. One day she just woke up with an unbearable pain and it spread throughout her body. When the doctors told you she was sleeping, you almost wanted to turn back around, not wanting to wake her, but they insisted that she would be happy you came. 

So now you sat next to her, holding her hand. Her eyes blinked open, but they didn’t register your presence. 

“Lisa, I’m here, your little sister is here.” You whispered, brushing a strand of hair off her forehead. “I miss you. I miss your smile. I won’t leave this town until you can leave with me. I’ve been...I’ve been saving money. Once you’re better you and I can get out of here.” You gripped her hand. “But you just got to get better before that. We can leave and never look back.” 

There was no response. She didn’t even stir. You felt tears gathering at the corners of your eyes. 

“You know, I’m still so angry with you. You forced me to stay here with you, then you left me.” Your voice broke. You were sure she couldn’t even hear you. “But, Lisa, please don’t leave me here alone.” you started sobbing. “Who will I be?” 

You swiped at your eyes, still not letting go of her hand. “I’m sorry I’m being so selfish right now. I love you so much. Just keep fighting.” You felt tired, your body was heavy. There was the smallest twitch of her hand in yours. It would be imperceptible to most people, but you felt it. You gasped and stood, leaning over her glossy eyes. “Lisa! Lisa can you hear me? I felt your-I felt your hand move. I know you can hear me. I love you, you have to know that. It doesn’t matter if I’m mad at you or who I’ll be, because I’m no one without you. I’ll always love you.” 

You watched, looking for a sign of movement. But there was none. Just the quiet beeping of the heart monitor. 

-

You repeated the event, stopping before your long monologue. “So basically, she moved. I felt it. But she didn’t after that.” You frowned. “Sorry, this is too depressing for a first date.”

He held a hand up, looking guilty. “No, no, I asked the question, so...” Then he smiled widely. “And this is a date?” He was just messing with you. Of course he knew this was a date, but he loved watching you flush a deep red. 

“I-I mean it doesn’t have to be!” You stuttered out nervously. “I just thought, you know, because movies, and and and-” You rambled. 

“Do you want it to be?” He tilted his head slightly, leaning across the barrier between you two. A few inches and his lips could be on yours. 

“Yes.” You breathed softly. You wanted to desperately close the distance, even he seemed to falter for a moment. He took note of the distance and then the look in your eye. His gaze flickered to your lips and you thought he just might lean in to kiss you, but he pulled away with a smirk instead. You felt your heart drop and then flutter. 

“Then it is.” He opened the door and went around to help you out. You were still shocked. What just happened? Taehyung was a mystery to you. You stepped out of the car, trying to stop your legs from shaking. You were nervous, but you hoped he would think it was because of the cold. Before you could take another step, he took your hand in his and led the way. You felt your heart stop and your cheeks flushed red once again. Why couldn’t you get your act together around him? He made you feel both comfortable and nervous. 

You followed behind him as he went up to the ticket booth. A very bored looking teenage boy who looked to be asleep. Taehyung dropped your hand and you instantly missed his warmth as he pulled out his wallet. 

“Two, please, for Mulan.” He said to the ticket boy. The boy nodded lazily, pulling out two tickets. As he went to pay you suddenly shot your hand out. 

“Wait, I can pay for my ticket.” You said hurriedly. You didn’t want him paying for you because you always felt bad when people paid for your things. It made you feel guilty. 

“It’s okay, Y/N.” He raised an eyebrow. 

“I know, but Tae, I just feel guilty otherwise.” Tae. The name had slipped out of your mouth before you could even think. His gaze softened and he nodded, understanding your words.

“Okay.” He relented. “How about I pay for the tickets and you pay for concessions?” He spoke like a businessman. Then you remembered that he was a businessman. He must have caught his tone as well. It was a tone he used when bargaining with clients and partners. There was a certain kindness to it, but also something that said and that’s that. 

You nodded furiously to his suggestion and he shot you a smile before turning around and paying. Once inside, you ordered a large popcorn and a soda. Taehyung ordered a soda. 

“Are you sure you don’t want anything else?” You questioned. 

“No, it’s okay.” He said, placing his hands in his pockets. 

“How much were the tickets?” You narrowed your eyes. 

“$18. It’s really not a big deal.” 

“But Tae, This all only adds up to $15.” You gestured to the sodas and popcorn. Concessions in a small town will always be cheap. 

“And?”

“I’m not really holding up my end of the deal.” You protested. He sighed. 

“Y/N, it’s three dollars.” Taehyung held your soda as you handed it to him to find your wallet. 

“I know, I just,” You bit your lip and dug out $15, placing it on the counter before turning back around. “You know how I am.” 

You took back your drink and placed the popcorn under your arm as you made your way into the theater. There was...quite literally no one there except you two. It made you feel nervous, not because of him, but because of what he did to you without realizing it. He made your heart race, your legs shake, and you couldn’t get him out of your head. What would happen in a darkened room with just the two of you? 

Well, nothing really happened. The movie started up and you both seemed very intent on watching it, though about half way through, his arm went around your shoulder. And now you could no long focus on the movie. You could only focus on his warm arm around you and how you wanted it to stay there. You barely moved, worried he might move his arm then. Taehyung looked focused on the movie, but little did you know that he snuck glances at you when you weren’t looking at him. Yes, he wasn’t an idiot, he could feel you gawking at him. He found it endearing. He was honestly surprised you still hadn’t figured out who he was. Maybe tales of billionaire CEOs didn’t make it this far. Then he remembered his tale involved an arranged marriage to a woman that would not be you. He stiffened thinking of it. It wasn’t that he didn’t think Jennie was lovely, no, he had met her, she seemed fine, but he felt she would always regard him as a business partner. You talked to him like a normal person. What happens when she finds out? He thought to himself. 

Taehyung could feel the movie was ending soon. So he took a moment to study you once more, your face illuminated by the screen. You happened to look towards him as well. Your eyes connected and it felt like time stopped. You could get lost in those eyes. He leaned forward. 

“ Y/N.” He breathed, voice deep and husky. 

“Yes?” You whispered, leaning in as well. 

“You’re absolutely stunning.” He murmured. Then you closed the small space between you and him. Your lips moved against him, needy and soft. You stood from your seat moving to straddle him. 

“Tae.” You moaned against his lips. His hands placed themselves on your hips, keeping you in place. When you broke away, he had this devilish grin on his face. 

“Be mine, Y/N.” 

That took you off guard. Yes, he was an excellent kisser, but you felt like you barely knew him. He must have seen doubt flash across your face because he carefully placed a kiss on your cheek. 

“Please?” His lips moved against your skin. You found yourself pulling away. no matter how much you longed for his lips. 

“I barely know you.” You muttered. “Tell me one truthful thing about you.” You looked at him with doubt in your eyes. 

His smile seemed forced. “Alright. I’m Kim Taehyung. The billionaire CEO to Bangtan Inc.” 

Your face became pale. You had heard his name before. You remembered him from somewhere. You could have easily fallen in love with him, but how had he kept this secret from you? You could understand it in the beginning, but you had gotten to know him so well. He knew everything about your life, you knew nothing about his. You were strangers. You jumped up, smoothing down your rumpled sweater. Panic raced through your veins. What had you done? You weren’t supposed to be anyone and you didn’t want to be caught up in a scandal. You found yourself rushing out the door. That’s the thing with everyone in your family. When you have a conflict, you run. The only constant in your life had been this goddamn town. 

“Y/N wait!” He ran after you. He grasped your wrist, halting you. No man had ever run after you once you’d run away. “You asked me, a long time ago, that you hoped I found something important here. Well, I did. I found you.” He breathed. The sight of his lips so close to yours drove you crazy. You craved his touch, despite your better judgement. 

“So what? You make out with me once and think I’ll be yours? I didn’t even know you were a billionaire, not that that changes anything, but Tae, jesus, this was important information. It’s terrifying how easily you hid it from me. What other things do I not know?” Then you remembered where you heard his name before and you felt your stomach drop. He stopped himself from moving towards you, know you had just realized what he didn’t want you to. You remembered him as the title of an article. An article that talks about his new fiance. You felt sick. You wanted to get his touch off your skin, wipe his kiss from your lips. “You’re engaged.”

His face instantly dropped. “No, Y/N, I don’t want to be engaged with her, it’s arranged.” He pleaded, trying to explain. 

“That doesn’t change anything! You may not like it, but you need to be faithful to her!” You were keeping yourself from hyperventilating. “I refuse to be a homewrecker. I’m just some girl from a ghost town.” You turned around, ripping your arm from his grasp and crossing your arms as you walked away down the street. Your head bent down, heels clicking on the pavement, as you tried not to cry. “Please just forget about me and go back home to your fiance.”

“You make me feel normal. Please, I don’t love her, Y/N.”

“And you think I love you?!” You practically screeched before sprinting away as fast as possible in your boots. 

-

-

There was a soft knock on your door. Your apartment was dark save for the TV which was currently airing the wedding preparations for Kim Taehyung and Kim Jennie. You felt your heart falter seeing his face for the first time in a while. He looked so unhappy, but you shooed away the possibility that it was about you. You couldn’t get him out of your mind and it only became harder every day. 

“Go away!” You said hoarsely, pulling another tissue out for your unending stream of tears. You still couldn’t believe that had happened to you. 

“It’s me, Jisoo. I just wanted to know if you’re coming for your shift today? It’s okay if you’re not, I understand it’s hard.” Jisoo had been extraordinarily kind to you since the incident and she had no reason to be. “I tried to text, but you’re not answering your phone.” 

You checked your phone. Indeed, there were three missed calls and a couple texts from her all dated to an hour ago. 

“Ah, Sorry, Jisoo.” You called, slowly getting up and opening the door a crack. “I don’t think I have the strength.” You admitted weakly. You felt like you had no strength. Like when Taehyung left, he took a huge chunk of you with him. 

“Listen, Y/N.” She gently peered into your face, studying your tear streaked cheeks. “There’s someone you might want to see. He’s at the diner.” 

Your heart stopped and you knew it must be him. You slowly nodded. “I’ll be there.”

-

-

It was busy, as always. At least with the crowds you could keep your mind off of who you were really waiting to see come through that door. As you helped the last customer of the rush out the door, you spotted a familiar black porsche pull up. You felt your breath quicken and your eyes stayed locked on the car. The man you had been waiting to see stepped out and it almost broke your heart all over again. He made eye contact with you and you could tell he was just as shocked. He visibly stiffened, eyes widening. You felt tears brimming, threatening to pour out. You couldn’t bring yourself to look away. You wish you had. Those eyes, like galaxies and pools of obsidian you could get lost in, turned and opened the passenger door. 

And out came a beautiful woman you could only guess was Jennie. You were moving before you could even think. You threw down the menus in your hand, eyes flicking over to the booth he used to sit at, and pulled your hair out of your bun. Without saying anything to Jisoo, you ran out the back door. You could hear two people calling your name. Jisoo. And Taehyung. 

You rushed out the back door, hyperventilating. Those eyes, those hands, that mouth. You couldn’t bear to see them again. He made you fall in love with him and then he left. 

“Y/N!” That deep voice had the hairs on the back of your neck stand tall. 

“Taehyung.” Your voice sounded weak and bitter. 

“Long time no see.” He offered painfully. 

“A long time indeed.” You whispered, facing him full on. He was just as handsome as you remembered him to be a few months ago. His eyes peered into yours, trying to convey a million words. I need you. I miss you. I love you. And you felt that piercing stare. 

“Tae, I never told you but-” You were cut off by another female voice. Her tone was laced with concern, but her eyes looked suspiciously between you and Taehyung. 

“Tae.” She said sweetly. “What’s wrong?” Then she turned to fully take you in. “And who’s this?” Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly. 

Taehyung looked at you, then his gaze flickered over to Jennie. “She’s no one important, Love.” He turned and grabbed her hand, dragging her back into the store and breaking you in two once more. 

There goes the last great American dynasty Who knows, if she never showed up, what could've been?

...... She had a marvelous time ruining everything

#bts #bts x reader #kim taehyung #taehyung #taehyung x reader #The last great american dynasty #tatawrites #business!au #Oneshot #Angst #Fluff #proof reading? I don't know her

[tae-cup]

Night Terrors | TEASER

Pairing: OT7 x Reader

Summary: The prestigious department of police and investigations in Seoul, Korea, is called to the small town of Cape Springs in rural California. Nothing is quite what it seems here.

Warnings: Blood, violence, you know crime stuff?

Genre: Mystery, Crime, Angst

A/N: Hope you enjoy. I have to do some more planning but this is a general idea. Thank you so much to @seokjinsultimatesimp / @kingbewwy for helping with my story planning and ideas!!

Beautiful header by the wonder @dee-ehn / @dnrequests

Other: 

Series Masterlist 

Normal Masterlist

Part 1

“Let’s review the information we know so far.”

A lone girl makes her way down the darkened path. It’s night. There’s a single street light flickering on and off. The woods surrounding the town are quiet. There’s a light breeze. 

“Jane Doe makes her way back home last Saturday. She’s alone, or she should be. Perhaps she’s a little dizzy from the alcohol we found in her system when we ran the autopsy.” 

She blinks, the pavement wiggling in front of her for a moment. She continues on. Her breaths are short, hurried. Her heels are uselessly painful. There’s a snap behind her like a twig breaking. 

“She hears something behind her. When she looks, there’s no one there. Neighbors claim they heard her running.” 

The girl looks behind her, heart beating quicker. Her eyes scan her surroundings. Another snap. She runs. Footsteps loudly slam against the pavement behind her.

“A little while into the chase, she discards her heels.” The detective holds up a pair of black heels, clasp undone and velvet dirtied. 

She throws her heels off, not wasting any precious time. She pants. She’s not the best runner and her push up bra is limiting her breathing.

“The trail we followed led us to a dead end alleyway. That’s where we found her.”

Heavy breathing. Her steps are quick, adrenaline overtaking the alcohol. She looks to find herself at a dead end. With a deep breath, she turns around to face her attacker. Her eyes widened as she sees-

“Yes, Kim?” The police chief’s eyes narrow at the young boy. 

“Sir, why didn’t any neighbors come out when they heard running? It’s a small town, surely someone should have been worried.” The dark haired male leaned forward intently. The police chief smiled wickedly. 

“Asking all the right questions once again, Taehyung.” The head of investigations responded. the pale man leaned back in his chair, happy to see the fruits of his training. Taehyung grinned at the compliment. 

“I’m not sure if this case is worth our time.” A broad shouldered man pursed his lips in thought. “It’s just one measly murder.” 

The coffee boy burst into the room, startling the six men. They all turned the youngest recruit; he was brimming with excitement for some reason. 

“Here’s your coffee.” He said quickly, setting down the holder. Then he went on with the news of the day. “Mr. Kim.” He nodded towards the police chief. “There’s been another murder. Cape Springs, same one as this Jane Doe was from.” 

Namjoon tilted his head to the side in thought. Then Jimin shot up, eyes widening. 

“When was the last murder?” He asked, drumming his fingers on the table. 

“Saturday.” The police chief furrowed his eyebrows, piecing things together slowly.

“And when was the murder before that?”

“Saturday.” He murmured.

“And what day is it today?”

“...Saturday.” 

The boys in the room shift nervously. It had been a while since they’d had a case like this. Maybe it was a coincidence that the first two were both on Saturdays. Two murders weren’t enough for them to draw out the most prestigious investigators around. But Three? And all on the same day? Now that was odd.

“You know what this means, right?” The pink haired boy swept his eyes around the room. Namjoon nodded grimly. 

“We have a serial killer on our hands.” 

#bts #OT7 x reader #bts x reader #kim namjoon #kim seokjin #min yoongi #jung hoseok #park jimin #kim taehyung #jeon jungkook #jungkook x reader #yoongi x reader #namjoon x reader #taehyung x reader #jimin x reader #jin x reader #hoseok x reader #mystery #murder mystery #tatawrites #Night Terrors #angst #fluff

[tae-cup]

The Analyst | Night Terrors (2)

Pairing: OT7 x Reader

Summary: The prestigious department of police and investigations in Seoul, Korea, is called to the small town of Cape Springs in rural California. Nothing is quite what it seems here.

Warnings: Blood, violence, you know crime stuff? Fluffy stuff somehow

Genre: Mystery, Crime, Angst, a lil humor, sexual innuendos, BUT I S W E AR DON’T WRITE SMUT OKAY

Word Count: 8k Words (they just keep getting longer omg)

A/N: Let me know your thoughts! Any suspects? Just message me if you want to be tagged! 

Thank you so much to @kingbewwy for helping with my story planning and ideas!!

Beautiful header by the wonderful @dnrequests

Other:

Series Masterlist

Normal Masterlist

Previous | Next

    You were leaving class, head down, trying to stay out of the way of the students in front of you. Blending into the background was something that you wanted, but you also couldn’t hide your passion for forensic analysis. The entire process fascinated you, plus it was a job that had you easily disappearing from the public eye. You were taking biochemistry, toxicology, and criminal justice to bolster your dreams. 

      It was a normal day. Normal as it could be for you, anyway. You were currently interning at the local police station on a work study permit. You would go and observe how things worked in your free time, often shadowing the forensic analyst of the team. Jae-hwa was an older man with years of experience, yet no cases to use that experience on. The man would often grumble about the slowness of the town as he showed you how to work the equipment. 

     Today, you made your way to the station, shoulders drooping under the weight of your backpack. 

“Y/N!” Your mentor called. “Come here, we want to introduce you to somebody.”

“Okay?” You dropped your bag in the office lounge and made your way to where you could hear his voice. He stood, a younger man next to him. 

“This is Namjoon, he’s interning here as well now.” 

     You smiled warmly, Namjoon did the same. He had dimples, which you couldn’t help thinking were adorable. 

“Nice to meet you, I’m Y/N, I hope we work well together.” You held out your hand and he shook it. His grip was firm, but not tight. 

“Nice to meet you as well, and same to you.” He dipped his head in acknowledgement. He seemed cool, calm, and collected. He would make a great police chief. If it weren’t for that hair.You thought to yourself. His bright blue hair might be a little too...funky?

“I’ll let you two get acquainted.” The forensic autopsy technician passed you some money. “Here, go out to lunch or something.” 

“Oh, it’s fine, I can pay.” You smiled, offering the cash back to him. You may be a broke college student, but you still refused handouts. The man sighed. 

“Just take it, Y/N.” Then he left. 

    There was an awkward silence as you and the other intern stared at each other. He swallowed, you blinked a couple times. Finally, you cleared your throat. 

“I guess we should get going, then I’ll show you around the station.” You announced, headed towards the exit. The blue haired male snapped out of his daze and raced after you. 

“So what brings you here?” You asked, turning the corner and scanning the street before quickly crossing the road. 

“You just jaywalked.” He brushed past your question. For some reason, his tone made you feel as if you’d just been convicted of murder. Your eyes darted around the block before turning to face him. 

“And you have bright blue hair. Don’t point out the obvious. Besides, I don’t see any cops. What are you going to do, arrest me?” You rolled your eyes. 

“My hair is perfectly fine- it was just a stupid dare, and anyway aren’t you supposed to be representing the station?” 

“It’s not like I’m wearing a uniform or holding a sign screaming that I intern at the police department.” You pursed your lips. Why did he make you so nervous? 

“Maybe not, but I am about to be a police chief.” He raised an eyebrow. 

Your face went pale. 

“What?” 

“Yeah, I’m assembling the best of the best to create Bangtan Police Department. We’re going to take the police world by storm.” His chest puffed slightly in pride. You only laughed, watching his expression deflate. 

“Namjoon you are hilarious. You’re so young. Just get through this internship and think over it again.” You patted his arm and continued walking down the street. He gaped, once again having to catch up to you. 

“Excuse me, I’m sure you’re actually younger than me! And it’s true, it’s going to be great!” 

“What are you going to do? Call out every person who jaywalks?” A small smile slid onto your face. He was not as amused. 

“I’m going to help with solving murder cases, cold cases, help the poor, anything.” 

“Uh huh.” You opened the door to the cafe. “Got any people in mind?” 

“I have a couple friends. Yoongi is already known as a top notch investigator and he’s training a rookie named Taehyung, but they’re on board with joining.” 

“Min Yoongi? The person who helped solve the murders of Hyun and In-sun?” You tilted your head in interest. 

      The murders of Hyun and In-sun were a famous case in Korea. The case itself was filled with weird holes and inconsistencies, along with the fact that the local police had been bribed. In the end, the case had gone cold until Min Yoongi came in and solved it within a month. It was...extraordinary. There was something different in the way that man’s mind worked. 

“Yeah!” Namjoon nodded enthusiastically. “My father trained him.” 

You narrowed your eyes, not believing his story. 

“Okay, okay, who else?” 

“Well, my second in command will be my long term partner and friend, Kim Seokjin. He’s a reasonable man with experience in the field as a police officer and investigative reporter.” 

“Interesting, continue.” 

The drinks arrived, condensation dripping off the glasses. 

“Well, that’s all I have so far. I’m planning on recruiting more once we get more well known.” 

You pinched the bridge of your nose. 

“Okay, let me get this straight, lover boy.” You ignored his flushed his face at the nickname you just appointed. “You have four people and you want to start the world’s best investigative slash police team.” 

“Yes.” He said, his voice softer and you could tell he was losing his energy. “But I still need an analyst.” He gave you a pointed look. 

        With a sigh, you studied the man. He had potential, he just needed to cultivate it. With a little growing and pushing, he’d make a great police chief. You sipped your water, mulling over the idea. It was definitely enticing, to offer yourself to him once you were done with your studies, but he was looking for the best of the best. 

“You should ask Mr. Jae-hwa.” You decided. 

“Who?”

“My mentor. Surely he introduced himself.” 

“Well yeah, I remember him I-” He sheepishly ran his fingers through his hair. “Okay, he’s your mentor, right? So why don’t you just...join?” 

“I’m inexperienced.” You frowned. “I’ve only been an intern for a year and studying for two.” 

“Once you graduate.” He amended. “I think we’d work well together.” 

      You chuckled, thinking over the opportunity. It was a risk. Every police department was looking for a good forensic analyst, you could find a good job at an established department if you wanted. Still, the offer he was giving you was enticing. Being partners with him didn’t even seem so bad. Namjoon had a hunger inside him. A hunger to prove himself and you could see him going the distance. You picked up your menu, a little smile gracing your lips. You shook your head with amusement.

“You’re too hungry, Namjoon.” 

           You had been busy. You were already working on several cases and had traveled out to Daegu to personally investigate a case. It was about a head found in a car, the body found a few days later in a house. There was lots of blood. You placed the cotton swab into a tube and sealed it up to test later. Then you maneuvered around the crime scene, trying to avoid all the police doing their jobs. You had a habit of trying to shrink, to stay out of everyone’s way as much as possible. 

      That’s when Namjoon called you. You frowned. Isn’t he in America? You glanced at the time. 4:15 P.M. You sighed, picking it up. Typical, for him to call in the middle of the night. 

“Namjoon, why the fuck are you calling me? You know I’m busy, as I said, you could just send your samples to the forensic analyst back at Bangtan….are you doubting my team’s capabilities?” You scoffed at his urgent tone. “There’s no reason for an ‘on site’ analyst.” 

       You put him onto speaker phone and stepped into your car. 

“Yeah, we also have murders over here, what makes you so special?” 

“And here I remembered you being so nice.” His muffled voice came through the speaker.

“Excuse me! I am nice! I just don’t enjoy being pulled away, I have an important job to do here too.” You complained to him, indicating and turning left. 

“Please!” A new voice came through the phone, audio cracking and popping from bad connection. 

“Taehyung, is that you?” Your eyebrows furrowed. “The connection is so poor here.” You glanced at your samples. 

      You could send these to your team and join Namjoon and the others. It had been a little under a week since you last saw them and your skin was just itching to be near them again. Perhaps it was a silly little crush, or crushes if you factored in the fact that there were seven of them. You didn’t think it possible, but here you were, pining after seven of your coworkers. 

“Fine!” You cried over their voices shouting into the phone. You parked in front of your hotel. You were already clearing your schedule and arranging for the samples to be sent to your team of analysts. “I’ll be there in two days, just please grab some blood swabs for me.” You huffed, hanging up. 

         You pressed your forehead to the wheel of the car, a sigh escaping your lips as you pressed your eyes shut. These boys were already giving you a headache and you weren’t even with them yet. 

           Two days later, a Tuesday, you set your bags down in the empty lobby of the Cape Springs police station. You arrived like the plague doctor, briefcase and everything, the fading sun behind you. The dust made you want to sneeze, your nose scrunching up as you fought the urge. You decided to go straight to the police station, y’know, for funsies; and also to surprise them. The hard suitcase that held your equipment was in hand as you sneakily made your way through the building. 

        You could hear the murmur of their voices and you turned right down a short hallway. There was an open door that led to a conference room with a large round table. Eight chairs were pulled up, one empty, a ninth chair in the corner occupied by a small looking girl. She was eagerly taking notes of the conversation. 

“Once Y/N arrives, we can finally look over the samples. My best guess is Rohypnol but you never know, it could be something less traceable, like oxygen injected into the bloodstream.” Namjoon declared. 

“But we’ve never found any discarded needles, that seems nonsensical.” Jimin pointed out. 

“Rohypnol is a good guess, based on the reports you sent in.” You leaned against the door frame, arms crossed. A sly smile graced your lips. 

     Startled, eight heads turned to face you. Seven smiles broke out. 

“Y/N! You’re finally here!” Taehyung jumped up, Jungkook following suit. You opened your arms, used to their tag team hugs. 

        You peer over the taller men’s shoulders, just barely, to catch Namjoon smiling with, perhaps, relief. Jin was observing the sight, amusement evident in his posture, Hoseok was quick to wait behind Jimin who was also awaiting your hug. Then there was Yoongi who didn’t seem bothered at all, yielding no reaction. 

        You weren’t exactly disappointed, this was his usual behavior, but it was surprising. Time to fix that attitude. You had always been a motherly figure, despite your lack of interest in having children. The two younger ones pulled away and before Jimin and Hoseok could launch forward, you put up a hand to stop them. 

“Yoongi.” You barked harshly, placing your hands on your hips. He groaned loudly, like a reluctant teenager. “Is that any way to greet your mother?” You frowned in mock disapproval. “Come give me a hug.” You opened your arms up to him and made a grabbing motion with your fingers. 

“You’re not my mother, I’m way older than you.” He grumbled, standing and giving you a quick hug. You flushed proudly. Everyone, you included, knew Yoongi would follow your orders, begrudgingly, yes, but he would still follow them no matter what. He held a deep respect for you, despite being four years older. You never knew where it came from, but it was there. 

       After the awkward hug, Jimin and Hoseok embraced you. They giggled and easily snitched on the misbehavior of their friends, receiving annoyed shouts from the other boys. 

“Taehyung!” You cried, horrified. “Is it true you’ve only been eating french toast for all your meals?!” 

“That’s not completely true. I ate regular toast once when they were out of ingredients for french toast.” Taehyung said grimly, his face without a trace of humor. You just huffed and turned to the remaining people. 

       The girl was visibly startled by all the commotion and she stood next to Jin and Namjoon. A little too close. Your eyes narrowed, but you shook your head. You needed to focus on the task at hand. 

      There was still a twinge of jealousy. You were the only female in the inner circle, the best of the best. The eight wonders of the crime world. Each specializing in a different area, constantly called upon for the biggest of mysteries. Every single one, without fail, ended with a stamp on the file; Case solved. 

“And who is this?” You tried to hide the slightest twinge of jealousy in your gut. She seemed to be a perfectly nice girl, a bit fragile looking, but someone with the face of an angel. She looks like she wouldn’t hurt a fly. 

“This is Hae-won.” Jungkook grinned. “She’s my age and she’s here to study the process!” He explained excitedly. 

“That’s great, Jungkook. Lovely to meet you, Hae-won.” You passed off her slight narrowing of eyes to a trick of the light. After all, the sun was coming in low at this hour and it could have been shining in her eyes. You held up the hard suitcase that had your heavy equipment. “Where can I set up my equipment?” 

“O-over here.” Hae-won stuttered, rushing ahead to show you the old forensic room. “We haven’t had the need for it in a while, I’m sorry it’s so dusty.” She apologized, dipping her head in embarrassment. 

“It’s perfect, thank you.” You bowed to her and she left the room to leave you to set up. 

       You took out your plastic test tubes, ziplocs, microscope, and petri dishes. Then you checked to make sure your camera wasn’t scratched before throwing open the blinds. The window was facing the opposite direction from the sun so all you could see was a long shadow hitting the building next door. 

“Joonie?” You barked from your room. You made a note to pick up wipes to clean up the place. 

“Yes?” His footsteps pounded down the hallway and then skidded to a halt outside the door. 

“Did you get the blood samples like I asked?” You asked, a cheery tone to your voice. 

“Yes, but can’t you wait? I know you’re a workaholic, but we’re heading out to the diner for some dinner.” 

“No wonder you guys haven’t been able to solve anything.” You rolled your eyes. 

“First of all!” Namjoon sputtered, “Betty’s diner has excellent food and second of all, we need to eat, unlike you. You’re like a vampire, you only need blood to survive.” 

“I enjoy my work.” You said dryly, giving him a hard look, fingertips pressed together. 

“Yeah, yeah, just a little too much.” 

“If this is your way of asking me to live a little, I will have you know that my work is very fulfilling.” Especially when I get to work 24/7 with you guys. 

Namjoon sighed and crossed his arms. “You will only get the samples once we go out for food. You will eat at all mealtimes and that’s an order.” 

“Fine.” You grumbled, turning around to take out the last lense. “Who else is going to supervise that Tae gets a balanced diet?” 

“That’s the spirit.” 

        He turned to leave, but he lingered in the doorway. His hand rested on the wooden door frame, tethering him to the room. You admired the way his smooth brown hair looked as it became dusk. 

       It had taken forever, but you had convinced him to stop dying it blue in college. It’s damaging the hell out of your roots and how is anyone going to take you seriously with vibrant blue hair? That’s what you had said. He had relented after some push back and now you were blessed to see his beautiful hazel brown hair. 

“By the way, we missed you.” Namjoon murmured softly, you almost didn’t catch it. It was a surprise, but the fearless police chief had a soft voice, one that could easily be missed if you weren’t listening. 

“I was gone for under a week before you needed my help.” 

       His lips quirked into a smile, hand slipping from the door frame as he retreated back to the meeting room. 

        You decided Hae-won didn’t talk much. You tried to engage her in conversation, but she had responded half-heartedly several times and you gave up trying to push it. A part of you had hoped you would become friends, maybe talk about something other than the murders. Because contrary to popular belief, you weren’t a complete workaholic. Which, now that you thought about it, Namjoon was being a huge ass hypocrite. 

        Whenever you were on a job with the other seven men, all they could talk about was the case and if they were going to drag you out to dinner, you didn’t want to be regaled with tales of disembodied heads and people being cut open. It just wasn’t polite. 

“Hae-won, what did you order?” You asked, trying to include the girl who seemed to shrink with every passing minute. 

      She avoided your gaze, mumbling something to the table, or it may have been to you. You couldn’t tell because she refused to look anywhere except the ground. 

“She said she ordered a burger.” Jungkook nodded at you. You raised an eyebrow. 

“She can tell me that herself, yeah?” You didn’t mean it so harshly, it just came out that way. 

“Hae-won is just a little shy!” Taehyung interjected, rushing to the girl’s defense. You just narrowed your eyes further. 

“And what did you say she was studying to be?” You weren’t an interrogator or investigator by any means, but you had seen Yoongi and Taehyung at work before. 

“An interrogation officer.” Yoongi drawled, taking a sip of his water and looking like he wished it were alcohol instead. 

“Interesting.” You murmured. Maybe she was just nervous about meeting new people, but she would have to get over that quickly if she wanted to last. 

“Oh yeah, I found something at the crime scene yesterday. I wanted to check again.” Jimin said, bringing the conversation back. 

“And?” Namjoon looked expectantly at him. 

“Well it was after we went to retrieve the samples for Y/N and…” He shook his head. “I think it’s better to discuss it in detail in the meeting tomorrow.” He sighed. “I just wanted to give you a heads up.” 

“Too bad we didn’t bring in a forensic autopsy technician.” Taehyung sighed, head resting on Jimin’s shoulder. 

      It made the man tense, but Taehyung had never been good at reading the room. Namjoon kicked the poor boy under the table, making him jolt upright with an awkward chuckle. Small town, things are different here. It was like the token red dot in a sea of blue. 

“I interned under a forensic autopsy technician. I don’t know much, but I understand the process.” You cracked your knuckles, already trying to recall the steps you’d seen Jae-hwa, your mentor, go through. Namjoon nodded along with your statement, having worked alongside you. 

“Of course our very own specialist isn’t just experienced in one area.” Jungkook puffed his chest out and you tried to hide the flutter in your heart and the heat crawling up your neck. 

“Can I visit the crime scene tomorrow?” You asked, though you would even if they told you no. 

“Yes, of course. Do it before the meeting so you can discuss your findings.” Jin nodded. 

“When is the meeting?” You were exhausted, jetlag wearing you down. 

“2:00 P.M. tomorrow.” 

“Okay.” You made a mental note of it. “I’ll be there. Would anyone like to join me?” 

“Uh, yeah.” Jimin quickly raised his hand. “I’d like to check it out more.” 

“I’ll go too.” Hoseok said, having not spoken much, which was odd for the hyper police officer. 

          He had spent the time whispering things to Hae-won. It looked like they were in their own little fantasy, their own fan club. For some reason, your blood began to boil at the thought. Calm down. It’s nothing. There’s nothing going on here. You’ve known these boys forever. If anyone is going to be with them, it’ll be you. The last sentence in your mental monologue made you internally slap yourself. How can you think like that? Just shut up and do your job. 

         Right, maybe your job could distract you from whatever feelings you had towards your incredibly handsome coworkers. Besides, they had a job to do too. The last thing on their minds should be their love life, so the same should apply to you. 

“I have french toast?” The waiter asked. You turned your head to face Taehyung so fast you almost got whiplash. 

“You bastard, you said you were getting the hamburger.” 

He just grinned evilly and leaned over the table to take his plate. 

          You had seen plenty of dead bodies before, but usually it was easier when they were cleaned up. God, it was like no one understood how autopsies worked in this place. You couldn’t just deal with this bloodied corpse, you need to be able to see and analyse the wound. 

         Having Namjoon there helped you with your frustration as you swiped at the blood staining the victim’s, Hak-kun, neck. You ignored the goosebumps that broke out when your finger brushed over his very cold and very dead skin. Namjoon looked more disturbed while you held a calm facade. 

        Right, he’d seen Hak-kun alive and breathing just days prior. The man had seen him warm and full of blood pumping through his heart. The contrast must be disconcerting. 

“Namjoon, you really don’t have to be here.” You said softly. You may be a dumb ass sometimes when it came to emotions, but you weren’t heartless. Besides, you could feel the waves of anxiety rolling off him. 

Ever the brave chief, he shook his head and took a step closer. 

“It’s fine, really.” He swallowed thickly in a way that screamed definitely not fine. “I want to help.” 

He could be a real help, you knew that, but your guilt won out. “No it’s okay, I insist. Actually, it would be better if you left while I examined the body.” 

“I don’t believe you.” There wasn’t a hint of amusement in his voice. 

“Okay, fine, but just stand where you won’t be in the way and take note of everything I say.” You quickly amend. Once Namjoon pulls the ‘I don’t believe you’ card, there’s no escaping his words. 

“Alright.” He seemed content with that. 

       You picked up your scissors to get ready to cut away at the dirtied fabric. You took another moment to look at him. He was standing dutifully, a pen and notepad in hand. He waited expectantly. 

“If this becomes too much for you to watch, I won’t fault you for leaving.” Your eyes clouded over in sympathy. He scoffed. 

“You underestimate your chief.” 

“If you say so.” You then set to cutting away the strips of cloth that covered the abdomen. You took a moment to search for bruising. You found none. “No bruising visible on abdomen, though I speculate there are some on the back, according to Jimin’s description.” Your voice was monotone, calm, without a single waver. 

“The neck has been cut deep. I can guess that the killer is experienced. It’s a clean cut, straight down and cutting through the sternocleidomastoid.” You leaned down, surveying for any other nicks. 

“I see no other points of contact, the neck being the only surface bloodied. No extra cuts, it’s not messy.” You rolled the body over and cut away the back. Your eyebrows furrowed together. Your lack of speaking caused Namjoon to look up. 

     He eyed the bruises warily as you moved more cloth aside. 

“There is severe bruising along the vertebrae.” You dictated, eyeing the dark spots along the spine. “Most likely caused by dragging. There are other bruises, they look roughly the size of fingerprints.” 

      You took out the tape set on the tray beside you and pressed a strip to one of the dark spots. “I’ll analyse this, see if there’s any fingerprints. From where they’re located and from the bruising, I can guess that the killer is smaller in stature. Most likely having to drag the victim to his final resting place, unable to support his weight.” You thought for a moment. “That’s enough for now.” 

       You cut some fabric and placed them in ziploc bags. Then you wheeled the body back into a cold storage unit. You cleaned up your workstation and then left Namjoon trailing behind you. 

“How did you figure all that out?” He asked after a moment. 

“Those are just my guesses, they aren’t the law.” You smiled gently. “I’m trained to give my best guesses.” You walked ahead. “Now, let’s go visit that crime scene.” 

           The ground was free of blood. You had even gotten on your stomach to check and found nothing. This could only mean that Hak-kun was murdered in his car. That also made little sense and his positioning was confusing as well. He had been resting against the dashboard, looking peacefully asleep. It was also odd how he even managed to get into his car. A small town like this didn’t have security cameras up and around so that could give no answers. 

          The only traces of blood were in the car. Drugs must have played a part in this, why else didn’t he fight back? Your stomach turned. This was definitely an odd case. The murders were cold, calculated, well thought out and tracks well covered. It was exceptionally easy to get away with these in such a small town. 

         You arrived back at the police station to see if your samples were done. They were, and the results were not surprising. Rohypnol. Most commonly known as the date rape drug, it acted fast to immobilize an unsuspecting person. You printed out the results, because thank god they had wifi here at least, and left for the meeting. 

The meeting room wasn’t big and with nine of you in it, the walls were suffocatingly close. 

“Okay, let’s begin.” Namjoon said as everyone settled into their seats. Hae-won took the seat in the corner. “Jimin, start.” 

        The detective nodded to his superior and turned to grab his briefcase off the floor. He placed it on the table with a thump. Everyone in the room waited with bated breath. The pink haired man pulled on blue plastic gloves and took out a plastic bag. Inside of it was a beret. It was black with a little gold button in the center. It could be considered cute if it wasn’t found at a murder sight. 

“I was looking around and I accidentally bumped open the glove compartment. I found this.” He explained, pulling it out with a gloved hand and turning it to show everyone. Hae-won let out a small gasp.

“That’s mine!” She squeaked. “It went missing a few days ago.” 

          You exchanged a worried look with your coworkers. Carefully, you placed your files on the table and stood. You crouched in front of her, the men watching you. You placed your hands on hers; she was trembling. 

“Hae-won, love.” You smiled softly. “You realize this incriminates you, yes?” 

         She shook her head violently and pulled her hands away from you. In her eyes, you didn’t see any sign of a killer. You only saw a scared girl, a shaking, terrified out of her mind, girl. 

“I-I didn’t-didn’t-” She stuttered, breathless. 

        Jungkook quickly jumped up, rushing over to comfort the girl. You were pushed aside and you tried your best to keep a frown off your face. You settled for an impassive look. 

“Y/N! How could you suggest such a thing, can’t you see Hae-won wouldn’t even hurt a fly. She’s scared of walking home alone at night, you think she’s going to murder five people?” Jungkook seethed. You ignored the rage boiling in your stomach. 

“It’s proper procedure, she needs to know.” You tutted. 

“And you’re being heartless.” Jungkook hissed. You were taken aback, lips pressing into a thin line. 

“I’m doing my job, Jeon.” You said coldly. “Listen, I read the case file, I know you found Hak-kun’s tie and then he was murdered, so there’s a possibility that these talismans are a sign of who is next.” You pointed to the beret as you spoke, trying to shrug off your pain. 

“In that case, we need Hae-won under constant surveillance when Saturday rolls around.” Jin said. Instantly they all looked to Hoseok. 

“What? Why me?” The man furrowed his eyebrows. 

“Have you forgotten? You’re one of the only formally trained and active police officers we have. Jin is too old.” Yoongi smirked. 

“Excuse me!” Jin gaped, mouth opening and closing to find a response. 

“And if she is the murderer, then we can watch her carefully.” Namjoon turned to you, seeing if this placated you. It wasn’t like you needed to be satisfied by any agreement. You were just doing your damn job, why couldn’t they? 

“I have no problem with that.” You sat down in your chair. “Anyway,” You opened your file as the room went back to order. “I found, very obviously, traces of Rohypnol. The victim was definitely drugged, the question is how.” 

“All the evidence we have is the glass of spilt water we found. I can only guess he took it voluntarily.” Jin pointed out. 

“Well, didn’t he mention having a headache in that tape? He could have easily been convinced.” Jimin leaned back, crossing his arms. There was a tense silence as everyone worked to put pieces together. 

“There has to be a motive, there hasn’t to be a reason these people are connected.” You drummed your fingers on the table restlessly.

          You didn’t want to be suspicious of Jin, but you were. If he wasn’t the murderer, was it possible he was involved with them? He was the last one in the surveillance room. You didn’t want to accuse him and you were busy denying it to yourself, but it was a possibility. Surely, Yoongi and Taehyung had thought of it as well and brushed it off. 

“Hyung, don’t you think that it’s odd that the footage was looping.” Jungkook turned to Jin. “Isn’t security footage one of your specialties? You stayed late, you didn’t notice that he was looping?” 

The second in command narrowed his eyes at the young male. “Are you suggesting I have something to do with this?” 

        There was an intense stare off as they glared at each other. Namjoon reached up to put a hand on his partner��s shoulder and Taehyung frowned at Jungkook. These seven men were the only ones you could trust in a case, what happens when that comes into question? The distrust would run rampant. Namjoon must have been on the same thought line as you because he broke the stare off by clearing his throat. 

“Absolutely not, it would make no sense and Seokjin has been nothing but loyal all these years. He has no motive and he’s a trustworthy man.” 

“I just think it’s something to ponder over.” The glorified coffee boy said. 

“No. We don’t throw accusations around like that, Jeon.” Yoongi turned to scold the maknae. The boy simply shrugged, swiping his bangs off his face. 

“It’s odd, that’s all.” He shrugged nonchalantly, ignoring the redness of Seokjin’s face. 

        Your eyes surveyed the room, noting the tense posture of Jin, the frown still plastered on Taehyung’s lips, the laid back nature of Yoongi, Hoseok’s arm around Jimin, and you decided to break it up. 

“Okay, that’s enough. Apologize, Jeon.” You said sternly. The young man, who had been so confident a second before, now looked like a kicked puppy. 

“I’m doing my job.”

“You don’t have a job here.” Namjoon drawled. 

Jungkook’s face lit up red, embarrassment taking over. 

“Yah! We let you sit here and then you go and accuse our second!” Taehyung shouted, jumping up. Jungkook scrambled back as the tall man stalked over to him. 

“Kim Taehyung, sit the fuck back down.” You hissed. “And you too, Jungkook.” 

They both halted immediately and sat back down. Taehyung swallowed. 

“You guys are acting like children.” You huffed. “Now, let me continue.” You took out some papers and shuffled them. “First, it was a clean job. The stroke was purposeful along the jugular. There were no other signs of struggle except the bruises on his back, which could be attributed to being dragged along the pavement. I found no other DNA except Hak-kun’s.” You read. 

“The killer was very clean indeed.” Namjoon responded, everyone remained silent. The tensions falling over the room like a thick blanket. 

“Okay, I can’t think in this tension. You guys work your shit out, I’m going to look over the tapes again.” Yoongi stood and promptly left. 

        Your eyes trailed his figure as he stormed down the hall. The door to the room currently dubbed the ‘investigator’s nest’ slammed shut. Taehyung sighed and some of the tension left the room when he stood as well. 

“I better go check up on him and work through some files.” He announced, not waiting for Namjoon to dismiss him before he left. You could hear him padding softly down the hall and knocking on the door. 

         The others gradually stood, making up some excuse or another before it was just you, sitting dumbfounded along with Namjoon, and Hae-won. There was a long, drawn out, silence that stretched between you three. You were an unlikely trio with no Jungkook to bridge the gap. You just stood and left, no further words needed. Besides, you wanted to test for fingerprints on the fabric. 

          Down the hallway, to the left, the Investigator’s Nest was closed to prying eyes. Taehyung sat on the floor, surrounded by old case files and manila folders. Yoongi sat at the desk, earbuds in as he listened to the tapes once more. 

“You know, hyung, no matter how many times you listen to those tapes, nothing new is going to come up. Hak-kun obviously isn’t guilty.” Taehyung said, picking up a paper and reading it. The head investigator didn’t look up from the screen, but he did take an earbud out. 

“I don’t think he’s guilty, I’m just wondering if he knew who it was. Maybe that’s why he so willingly took the drugs, maybe he recognized them.” 

“You and I have both listened to those tapes so many times I could recite every line from memory.” Taehyung grumbled. He stretched out his legs, avoiding the neat stacks he had littered around. 

“I know, I know.” Yoongi sighed and lightly slapped his face to stay awake. His eyes hurt. 

“And we both know that he doesn’t mention anyone other than Mun-hee.” 

“Maybe he was working with the killer?”

“Why would he be dead now then?” 

“I. Don’t. Know.” Yoongi said through gritted teeth. 

“Hyung…” The younger male stood and walked over standing behind him. His slender fingers started kneading Yoongi’s shoulders. 

        Taehyung had been feeling lonely, just a little. Though Yoongi and him slept together, the older man rarely showed his affections. It was the opposite to Taehyung’s openly affectionate personality. Now that they were in a small town, the prejudice was palpable everytime they hugged so Yoongi had basically cut him off from that as well. 

“What’s wrong, Tae?” Of course he knew something was up with his young lover. 

          Yoongi had learned over the years how Taehyung ticked, how he functioned. He knew he had been somewhat neglectful, but he was more concerned about being beat up if the town found out about them. 

“You know you haven’t kissed me since we arrived at the airport?” Taehyung murmured in Yoongi’s ear. It would be seductive if Taehyung didn’t genuinely want a kiss. Instead, it came across more whiny. 

         The investigator sighed and turned around in his chair to look over the taller man. He placed his hands on his hips. 

“Is that really all you want?” He fought to keep the flush off his face. 

         Taehyung nodded wordlessly, leaning down, but Yoongi spotted an odd file on the ground. He moved his head, causing Taehyung to shout in anguish as he just missed his lips. 

“In a moment, Tae.” Yoongi stood abruptly, causing Taehyung to stumble back a few steps. 

         The other man looked hurt, opening his mouth to say something when he saw Yoongi bend down to pick up a file. The head investigator opened the file, flipping through it until he suddenly stopped. 

“What is it, Yoongs?” Taehyung peered over the man’s shoulder, but he turned the other way. With a huff, he stood back, studying Yoongi’s face. 

“I found something interesting.” His eyes were focused on one spot, one picture. 

           A girl, her throat slit, blood pooling on the dashboard. She looked like she fell asleep at the wheel. Her hair splayed around her head, soaked in her own red liquid. His eyes trailed up the page. It was dated two years before. The picture was labeled ‘People V.S. Paek Cho, exhibit A’. He flipped to the next page. There was a newspaper article cut out. He examined it, frowning. 

“Farmer Chung-hee’s daughter, Joo-Eun, found dead in her car, Rohypnol in her system. Officers claim there was no sign of sexual trauma, however. Paek Cho, an accomplished student and outstanding citizen is convicted of her murder…” Yoongi murmured, reading over the article. 

“....Father had to be dragged out of the room by officers once the sentence was read out. An anonymous friend of Joo-Eun testifies against Paek Cho, stating ‘he always gave them the creeps’. Paek Cho receives one year of community service after being convicted of collusion in the murder, but in the end there was not enough evidence to convict the young man of first degree murder or even manslaughter.” He stopped, reading the last sentence in his mind. It’s odd, considering the amount of indisputable evidence stacked against Mr. Paek. His mind was racing with possibilities. 

          These murders and the murder of Joo-Eun held a shocking resemblance. It could be a way to get back at the town, but the only person mentioned who would have such a motive would be Chung-hee, the farmer, and no one in town had even mentioned him. He threw the file onto the desk. 

“Taehyung, tell me what you see.” 

     The dark haired man picked up the file and flipped through it. “Oh.” was all he said. 

       His eyes were surveying the same picture, the article, everything. 

“Why is the file so empty?” He murmured. He then skipped to the last few pages. “Wait.” He took out the article and placed it carefully down. The paper was old and worn. 

“What is it?” Yoongi leaned over, placing his hands on the desk. 

“It says here that Mun-hee was a juror at the trial, so was our Jane Doe.” Taehyung pointed to their names. 

          Yoongi’s eyes snapped up to meet Taehyung’s. 

“Taehyung, we need those court documents, now.” 

           Slam. A thick binder of papers was dropped onto the desks. Jin looked up from his studies, Namjoon leaning over him as they spoke in hushed voices. Jimin was joking about something with Hoseok and Hae-won, who was now under 24/7 surveillance. You stood to the side, talking to Jungkook about your results and also trying to give him some pointers on holding his tongue. 

           Everyone’s eyes trailed to Taehyung and Yoongi’s panting forms in the doorway then to the binder on the desk. Dust flew from underneath, making Taehyung cough, the sound turning to a wheeze because of how out of breath he was. 

“Did you guys just run a marathon or something?” You raised an eyebrow. 

“Shut up, Y/N. You know I would never put myself through such torture.” Yoongi scoffed. 

“We went to town hall to retrieve some court documents.” Taehyung explained quickly. He then went on to explain their previous discussion in detail, Yoongi chiming in every so often. 

“Hae-won, are you alright?” Namjoon interrupted, looking at the trembling girl. She looked like she was panicking, sweat beading on her forehead. 

“It’s just not right! They let Cho off so easily, it’s not justice, it’s against everything the law stands for.” She cried out, literally shaking with rage as she spoke. You, along with everyone else, were surprised by her outburst. Hae-won was a curious creature, hm? 

“Were you a part of the case?” You prodded, subtly asking why she was so worked up. There would be no other reason for these emotions.

          She had such bitterness apparent in her eyes. You watched her carefully, eyes drinking in her movements. You took note of the slightest twitch in her fingers, the crescent prints she left in the palms of her hands, the way her lips tugged downwards. 

“N-no.” She said, her voice reverted to the quiet girl you all knew her as. She sat back down, taking in a shaky breath. “I just love this town, this is a sore spot for a lot of the good people in town.” She said sweetly. 

“But you knew the jury members?” Jin asked. 

“Yes, I...I went to school with them. We were seniors, a lot of us were 18 and the town is small, they don’t have a big pool of choices for jury members.” She explained. 

“Right.” Yoongi nodded, seemingly understanding. He then turned his attention to the file in front of him and you did the same. “It looks like, just as we suspected, Hak-kun, Mun-hee, Jane Doe, and the two previous murders were jury members.” 

“Poor Chung-hee was never the same after that trial.” Hae-won suddenly said, her voice ladened with pain. “He lives alone now, outside of town; doesn’t speak to anyone, refuses to even look the folks here in the eye.” 

      Once again, your attention drifted back to Hae-won. 

“Did you know her, Joo-Eun?” You asked the girl. 

“Yeah, but only a little. We went to the same high school, but she was always nice!” Hae-won said. “I just remember once she came out to meet me when I was about to head home. It was winter and the sun set early, you know? So anyway, it was getting dark and I remember how she grabbed my arm, her face pale. She said to me ‘I think someone is following me, please walk home with me.’ I didn’t think much of it. We don’t have any creepers, you know? But Paek Cho was always off.” She shrugged. Then suddenly she looked stricken, like she didn’t mean to say that much. The dark haired girl covered her face with her hands. 

“Can you tell us anything else?” You asked softly. 

“I’m sorry, I don’t-I don’t remember. I think she asked me to walk her home from a party once but I refused.” She sighed. “Then she was dead the next day. I was too busy studying for my finals.” 

           She may have been a harmless bystander, but it was obvious this weighed on her. “I often think about how I was the last person she contacted. I barely knew her and suddenly I was roped in.” She looked close to tears so you went over and hugged her. 

            The others remained silent, watching the interaction. Namjoon felt his heart flutter when you made eye contact with him. He couldn’t help imagining your arms wrapped around him. 

“You said Chung-hee remained outside of town?” Namjoon questioned, not daring to take a step. He was worried he would throw off the delicate balance of tension in the room. 

“Yes, but he’s not the murderer! He wouldn’t hurt anyone, he’s just a little grumpy, a real loner.” Hae-won cried. 

“How are you connected with him, Hae-won?” Yoongi asked, his voice gentle, but prying.

“I’ve just-I used to buy my produce fresh from him.” She answered easily. “He was always kind.” 

         Yoongi nodded at her response. 

“Jungkook, please take Hae-won out for some fresh air. It’s stuffy and dusty in here, it can’t be helping the situation.” Jin said factually. Jungkook nodded, despite their earlier differences, he still listened to his superior. 

         Once they were gone, you all stared at each other. 

“Okay, I’ll say it then.” Taehyung broke the silence. “Chung-hee is the most obvious suspect here. He fits all the descriptions, he has a motive, he doesn’t speak to anyone in town.” 

“But Hae-won said-” Hoseok began. 

“I don’t give a rats ass about what Hae-won said.” Yoongi interrupted. “We need to investigate him.” 

“It just doesn’t feel right. Something about it isn’t right, but it wouldn’t hurt to check it out, I suppose.” Hoseok relented. You noted that he spent a lot of time giving in to the others. It could be that he had an inferiority complex, being seen as your run of the mill police officer. 

“Hoseok, you have opinions too, we’re okay with hearing them out, right Yoongi?” Jimin seemed to follow your thoughts. 

“Uh, uh, right.” Hoseok murmured, suddenly bashful now that the spotlight was on him. 

            He realized that he so rarely was asked what he thought. The man spent a lot of time just following their orders; he trusted them wholly and completely. His faith had never wavered in his partners, his coworkers, his lovers. It felt unreasonable, rude, and downgrading if he tried to bring up his lowly opinions; as if he was tainting their genius by bringing his own stupidity into it. After all, he never finished college. He went straight to the police academy, deciding school just wasn’t for him. 

“I just, Chung-hee doesn’t seem like the kind of guy to-to do such a petty thing.” He tried to explain his gut feeling. 

“We don’t know what kind of person he is, yet, Hobi.” Jin narrowed his eyes, almost accusing him of colluding with the murderer. 

       Once again, Hoseok was reminded of his inferiority. Of course, of course. But then an angel sang and came to his defense. 

“I have to agree with Hobi.” You said firmly. “My mind is saying ‘it’s obviously him’, but my gut is telling me no.” 

          Hoseok was...shocked. No one really defended him in these sorts of discussions. It felt out of character for you to do such a thing, often found laughing alongside the others. 

“As much as I respect your gut, Y/N.” Taehyung began, a condescending tone dripping from his words, “This is our job. We can’t just not investigate people who are obviously linked to a crime.” 

“But in what way? Because this poor man’s daughter was murdered two years ago? You think that’s enough to implicate him in a crime today?” 

“No! But you’re missing the point!” Taehyung hissed, running a hand through his hair. “It wouldn’t be a big deal if the crime wasn’t exactly the same.” 

         You sighed, giving up your fight as your gut twisted. Poor Chung-hee, a farmer who probably just wanted to live his life and get far away from the law, was about to be dragged into another mess. 

“Hoseok, go get Kookie and Hae-won. We leave tomorrow.” Namjoon’s eyes were cold, not a hint of emotion betrayed in his stance. “Dismissed.” 

      You turned away, taking Hoseok’s arm in yours. 

“I hope you’re doing the right thing, Namjoon.” Venom fell from your lips. You turned away and followed Hoseok out the door.

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Taglist: @lovelyseomin​

#bts #bts x reader #kim namjoon #kim seokjin #min yoongi #jung hoseok #park jimin #kim taehyung #jeon jungkook #OT7 x reader #Namjoon x reader #Jin x reader #yoongi x reader #hoseok x reader #jimin x reader #taehyung x reader #jungkook x reader #Murder Mystery #Mystery #tatawrites #Night Terrors #angst #fluff

[tae-cup]

Twin Flame | Of Eternity and Euphoria (1)

Pairing: God!Min Yoongi x Human!Reader sort of soulmate!au?

Summary: The god of the underworld hasn’t been whole for a millennium. Suddenly you came stumbling into his life...literally. 

Warnings: N/A Fluffy!

Word Count: 4.9K words

A/N: I like this. Yes. Let me know your thoughts and if you want more of this mini series!

Other: 

Series Masterlist

What Is A Twin Flame?

~ Sometimes discussed in terms of a “mirror soul” or “soul connection”, a twin flame is the other half of your soul. It is theorized that a soul can split into two after ascending to a high frequency. Thereafter, the soul lands in two different bodies.

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It had been disgustingly simple. You were just minding your business, on your phone scrolling through instagram, when you bumped into someone. This resulted in the ice vanilla latte in your hands finding a home on a stranger’s shirt. 

You looked up quickly to apologize, but you stopped mid-way through your sentence to gawk. The man standing before you had jet black hair and skin as pale as the moon. Even his eyes held a certain darkness and yet...to you he was absolutely stunning. You quickly shut your mouth and he quirked an eyebrow at you. 

“Ah! I’m so sorry! I wasn’t watching where I was going.” You dipped your head apologetically. The stranger didn’t say a word. He just tilted his head at you quizzically. “I’ll pay for your dry cleaning!” You exclaimed, feeling the need to fill the awkward gaps. You inwardly cursed at yourself, knowing you didn’t have much money. You continued to ramble, only stopping when he put a hand up. That effectively silenced you. You had a bad habit of rambling on and on when nervous. 

“Your name?” He said curtly. 

“Y/L/N Y/F/N.” You said immediately. 

“Interesting.” He looked around, eyes surveying the cars and streetlights. “The human world has changed quite a bit since I was last here.”

“Human...world?” You weren’t religious or really superstitious. The notion of there being an other world seemed silly to you. So, of course, you suddenly had your reservation when speaking to this mysterious, albeit devastatingly handsome, man. 

“Ah, sorry. You’re human, yes?” 

“Yeah...?” You found yourself taking a small step back from him, but the smile he gave you was fond and warm. It almost made you relax; almost. 

“I’m Min Yoongi.” He held a hand out to you. His fingers were slender and long, delicate, but not fragile. You met his hand with your own, giving it a good shake. Instantly, a warm tingling feeling spread from your hands to your body. It felt like your hand was made to hold his. It was comfortable. He seemed just as confused as you, but instead he cleared his throat and dropped your hand. “I’m very busy, I must be going.” 

You nodded quickly, still unsure of what just happened. 

“Oh and...don’t worry about the laundry. I’ve got it taken care of.” He said nonchalantly before moving past you. You waited until he was out of sight before sprinting back to your apartment which was only a couple blocks away. Something inside of you had ignited when you met. Now it felt cold. Almost dead. And your apartment seemed even lonelier, if that was possible. What you didn’t know was that, quite literally, below your feet, there was a being sharing your exact feelings. 

-

-

Yoongi ran a hand through his hair. 

“Listen, joon, I don’t fucking know how it works either. I’m telling you that something happened when I touched that mortal!” Yoongi paced in front of Namjoon. The god of wisdom was intrigued to see his usually cold friend of the underworld pacing frantically like a high schooler. 

“Now now, hyung, don’t get too caught up. After all, you’ve been in the underworld, alone, for a century. You never join us for cards anymore.” Namjoon spoke like a calming parent. 

“I don’t like unnecessarily messing with the lives of humans, namjoon.” The older male shot back. “That just means more clean up for me and I don’t enjoy having more work than I need to have.” 

“Right right, whatever.” Namjoon dismissed his bitter comment with a wave of his hand. “How can you be sure?” 

“That’s why I came to you, dumbass! Aren’t you supposed to know these things?” His words held the tiniest bit of contempt. 

“I know a lot of things, Yoongi, I’m just not sure if I’m allowed to tell you all of them. The fates have their own way of things, you know that.” 

“Fine. Fine. I’ll see for myself.”

“And just how do you plan on doing that?” The god of wisdom clasped his hands together, looking unamused.

“I’ll take her home.” 

-

-

You ran through the material one last time. Friday was the big final for the year and you had to pass. There was no other option unless you planned on working at McDonalds for the rest of your life. You rubbed the space between your eyebrows, looking for comfort from the oncoming headache. Papers upon papers were sprawled in front of you. Your little apartment was overwhelmed with clutter. Books, stray magazines, and plates littered the living room. Your bedroom wasn’t much better. Let’s just say you weren’t exactly a clean person. 

There was a sudden knock at the door. You couldn’t help but wonder if it was that odd man you had met the other day. You didn’t want to open the door, but something drew you in. Lately, that man had been on your mind more and more. You didn’t really know why. There was something about him. It felt like...like he had completed you for a fraction of a second. 

“Hello?” You slowly opened your door. You only had a moment to take in the man in front of you, dark suit and pale skin, until the wind blew open your door wider. You nearly shrieked, jumping back quickly. 

“Y/N.” His voice drawled, low and almost bored. “You need to come with me.” 

He looked at your terrified expression. A man in a dark suit who you’d met once was now standing in the doorway of your apartment...like a fucking weirdo. Who could blame him? He had spent thousands of years alone. Hesitantly, Yoongi stepped through the doorway. You only took another step back. No matter how handsome or how right this man was, you weren’t going to just let a stranger take you away!

“What do you want? I don’t-I don’t have any money on me right now.” You said, cursing yourself for stuttering. At this, Yoongi softened his expression. 

“Sorry, let me try again.” He quietly stepped out of the room and closed the door. Then he knocked. 

This absolute fool. You thought, shaking your head and then deciding to humor him. You cautiously opened the door. He stood there, smiling. 

“I’m the god of the underworld and I believe you’re my twin flame. So, I’m going to have to have you come with me.” 

You blinked once, looked around your apartment, then at him like he’d grown two heads. Of course, this was just another lunatic who thought himself some sort of God. You scoffed, stepping forward to close the door. Panicked, the man quickly stepped inside. 

“You’re insane.” You mumbled, but when he grasped your hand, you froze. The sensation was back, but it was sudden this time, spreading throughout your body like a wildfire. Your heart raced like a hundred horses running. His other hand on your arm snapped you out of it. You shook your head, trying to clear your mind which had become increasingly foggy. 

“I’m not insane. You can feel it too, can’t you?” He insisted, those his face didn’t give away the same emotion his voice did. His voice screamed panicked teenager, his face said hello, I’m a fucking god. When you slowly nodded, he grinned. You couldn’t help but admire his smile. It put you at ease. 

“No, wait.” You stopped yourself from moving toward the door, heels digging in and fighting your instinct. “I barely know you. For all I know, you’re about to sell me into some underground prostitution ring.” Your voice was hurried, not knowing if you should run after trotting horses or stay behind. To take a leap or not? He interrupted your train of thought by pulling you close to his chest. When you were chest to chest, his head bowed down to stare intently into your eys. 

“We’ll have all of eternity to learn about each other, love.” His words dripped honey and elegance. Against your better judgement, you found yourself following him. “See? You can’t escape fate.” 

You looked at him, still questioning his motives. You didn’t believe in gods, there was surely no way he was telling the truth. But there was also no explanation to the feelings coursing through your veins. It was like your skin ignited under his touch. It was a tingling feeling that you wanted to keep. 

“Apologies, this may be a little...weird at first.” He scratched the back of his head awkwardly as he walked you from your apartment all the way to the park across the street. 

“A little weird?”

“Getting to the underworld.”

“I’m sorry, come again?” You immediately took a step back. once again broken from your trance. 

“Uh...Yeah. Don’t worry, it’s not a big deal.” 

“I’m not sure how I feel about spending eternity with dead people.” You frowned. Yoongi sighed, squeezing your hand tightly. 

“You’re not trapped down there forever. We can go to the surface any time you want. I just need to make sure you’re really my twin flame. Once we get through to the underworld, if things go well, our souls will merge as they should be.” He explained calmly, as if this was the most normal thing. You opened your mouth to respond, when a hand reach from the ground and grabbed your ankle. 

“Yoongi! What is going on?!” You screeched, only to be met with an inky black. 

-

-

You opened your eyes, blinking to adjust to the darkness. The room was dark, you assumed from the lights being off, but something about this place just felt...dark. Then everything came rushing back to you. You quickly rushed out of bed, looking outside the window only to see a black abyss. 

Panic was the first emotion. Your heart clenched. Was this really the underworld? You checked your pulse, sighing in relief when you felt your pulse still beating. Then you tentatively moved around the room, exploring your surroundings. 

This was impossible. Gods are real? You couldn’t believe it, yet here you were. 

Yoongi knew you were awake. He knew your whereabouts since you came to the underworld. It had been intense, the feeling of two halves of a soul finally coming together. He felt warm for the first time in years. He was finally complete. He wanted to leave you to your own devices for a while, suspecting that this may be all too much for a mortal. 

You were wandering around the castle. There was no one in sight. It was cold and there was something missing from yourself. You felt whole and well, but you were missing something, maybe someone. Yoongi. 

Immediately, you started sprinting, bare feet treading softly across the tile floors. Where is that god?! You searched every corner, every room on your way. Then you made a magnificent discovery. 

Large doors made of a wood so dark it was almost black and covered with rot iron decor. It was menacing, but having spent an hour or more exploring, you needed answers. You also felt oddly accustom to the drafty halls and the silence. You never had silence like this back home. Your apartment was always noisy with traffic and shouting from the neighbors down the hall. The quiet that so comfortably filled this place was...nice. 

“You can go in, you know?” A kind voice said behind you. You jumped, startled, before turning to take in the man. He wore a blue suit and black dress shoes. 

“Oh, oh, okay.” You said, your nervousness coming to the forefront again. The man before you was unfairly handsome. He had full lips, unmarred skin, and broad shoulders. 

“Ah, mortals, always so nervous. Come on then.” He gently placed a hand on your back and gave you a small push towards the door. 

“Mortals? Does that mean you’re also-”

“Yes.” He smiled gently. “I’m Kim Seokjin, god of the sky, but you can call me Jin.” 

You mutely mouth oh. That explained the outfit. You carefully opened the door. Inside was a large throne room. Two thrones were at the end of the long hall that was to your left and right. You must have entered through the side door as you spotted a long runner spanning the length of the room in front of you. You glanced from side to side, taking note of the high pillars and floating lights. The thrones sat empty and in the middle of the room was a large table with six men sitting at it like it was nothing. You could hear them chatting happily, laughter rising out of them. 

“We’re here!” Seokjin’s voice rang out, echoing in the large room. The chatter didn’t die down as the men turned to look at you two. You wanted to shrink away under their gazes. They’re all so unfairly handsome. As you walked over, falling a few steps behind Jin, you felt like shrinking away. Jin was met with cheers and claps on the back. 

“Ah, hyung you’re always late when we meet in the underworld.” A man with pink hair complained. 

“Yah! You know it takes me longer to go from the heavens down to the underworld.” Jin protested. 

“It’s only a minute from where I live.” A deep voice piped up. 

“But Taehyung, you live right above Yoongi.” Jin huffed. 

“Who’s this?” A voice said. 

All heads turned your way, watching you as you shifted uneasily. 

“Hello, I’m Y/N.” You dipped your head. Yoongi resisted the urge to smile. After all, he was supposed to be the cold one in the group. The guys would tease him endlessly if they saw him being soft. 

“Y/N. Come here.” Yoongi commanded and you did as you were told, not finding the strength in you to throw back a sassy remark. The invasive stares of the other men bit into you. 

“Y/N?” Mused a man that seemed far too bright for the underworld. “So you’re the one Yoongi has been going on about.” 

That made both of you flush a bright red. 

“R-really?” You looked awkwardly at Yoongi where he just simply put an arm around your waist. He softly tugged you closer. 

“I think you guys should introduce yourselves to my lover.” Yoongi declared. 

Okay that was a lot to take in. Lover? Who were these men? Obviously they were gods but who was what? You already knew Jin. They chuckled at the confusion that must be evident on your face. 

“Are you sure you passed that over with her?” A man in a crisp brown suit raised an eyebrow. 

“We’re two of the same soul, of course we’re lovers.” Yoongi scoffed, his grip on your waist tightening. “Isn’t that right, darling?” 

You found yourself nodding. “Yes, yes, of course.” You firmly agreed, your heart still racing at the thought of being this close to him. 

“Right. Well, I’m Namjoon.” The man in the brown suit, Namjoon, introduced himself. “I’m the god of wisdom and knowledge.” 

“Hello, I’m Hoseok, god of the sun.” The bright man from earlier chimed in. 

“Jimin,” The pink haired man held a hand out to you. For some reason, your pulse quickened looking at him. He was definitely attractive. “I’m the god of love and passion.” 

You shook his hand, ignoring the redness creeping back onto your face. He winked, to which Yoongi took to intertwining his freehand with yours. 

“I’m Taehyung.” The deep voiced man leaned back in his chair, studying you. “And I’m the god of the sea.” 

You nodded in acknowledgement. Then you quickly blurted out, “I think you saved me when I was eight.” 

Taehyung looked quizzically at you. “I may have. I save a lot of people.” He shrugged. There was something about him you didn’t trust. 

You remembered that day clearly. You hadn’t heeded your parents’ warning and you had gone out into the ocean way farther than you should have. 

-

-

Your boogey board floated helplessly in the water. At least it was keeping you afloat. There was a gust of wind and the water started to pick up more, becoming choppier. Salt water drenched your small form as you desperately tried to swim back to shore. You believed in gods back then. You believed maybe just maybe a god would have mercy on you. 

But no one came to your aid as you thrashed in the cold water. 

“HELP!” You screamed into the wind. You realized you were doomed. There was no one on the beach. There was no beach in sight. There was no lifeguard. There were no gods. 

“PLEASE, PLEASE ANYONE?!” You cried, salt water leaving you gagging. When the ocean swallowed you whole, you didn’t even bother struggling. You took a deep breath and let yourself go under. Just as the darkness pulled at you, a hand grasped your arm. 

“Now is not your time.” A voice whispered, which seemed impossible since you were in water. Then everything went dark and you were coughing up sea water on the beach surrounded by worried bystanders. 

“Are you okay?” A gentle woman’s voice called to you. But you felt too dazed, staring out at the water. Your hand went to the spot where you had felt the touch of someone. Who was it? Who had saved you? You decided it must have been a kind person, because why would the gods have thrown you in that situation in the first place? 

-

-

When you had explained the story, the other gods gave each other a knowing look. 

“Right...I definitely saved you. I think I remember now.” Taehyung smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. There was something dark in his gaze. 

Yoongi didn’t move, seemingly frozen. He frowned at Taehyung before turning away, looking at Jungkook introduce himself as the god of war. Then Seokjin said hello once more and the chatter continued. 

You dazed off, feeling overwhelmed at what was happening. Maybe you would wake up and realize this was some crazy complicated dream. You looked at each man, memorizing their features. If this was a dream...you wanted to remember them the best you could. Looking around at the seven of them laughing and acting as if they were normal beings, it made you desperately wish this wasn’t a dream. You wanted to see Taehyung smile again. You wanted to see Jungkook’s bunny smile, hear Jin’s laugh, Hoseok’s dance moves, Namjoon’s smart comebacks, and Jimin’s wink. You wanted to feel Yoongi’s arm around you again. Just once more. 

-

-

You were drowning again. water entered your lungs. You screamed and no one heard. People watched from the beach and they laughed at your pitiful attempts to survive against the strength of the ocean. 

“You need to tell her, Taehyung.” An annoyed voice shook your from your far from peaceful sleep. You identified the voice to be Yoongi’s. He was speaking to, probably Taehyung, out in the hallway. 

You smiled softly, remembering his tight grip on you last night. The way he whispered sweet words in your ear. 

“Why? She’s going to be your downfall, Yoongi, we all knew it. I care about you. I didn’t want you to have to go through that!” Taehyung argued, voice hushed.

“You tried to kill her! I saved her.” Yoongi hissed. 

“You would rather fall from grace, like the prophets said, huh?” 

“I’m already in the underworld, how much farther can I go?” Yoongi said dryly. 

“You’re out of your mind.” 

You carefully thought back on that day. The darkness, the hand, the voice. It all screamed Yoongi. And Taehyung had tried...tried to kill you. 

“No, You’re out of your fucking mind, Tae. You can’t fuck around with fate!” His voice had risen significantly. 

“You’re going to wake her up!” 

“As if I didn’t know she’s been awake listening to us this entire time. Isn’t that right, love?” Yoongi opened the door to see you standing there, shaking. 

“Taehyung...” You spoke softly, looking up at him with wide eyes. “You tried to kill me?” 

Taehyung didn’t meet your eyes, looking away uncomfortably. 

“It’s funny how scared you are of a mere mortal.” You suddenly sneered, a certain anger possessing your body. “Don’t come near me again. I’ll stay out of your way and you stay out of mine. I’ll try my best not to be the downfall of Yoongi, but it’s like he said...you can’t fuck around with fate.” You had been wanting to curse the gods for ages. Who knew you would have the chance to do it in person? “And if you fucking touch me or even think of it, I will be sure to be the downfall of you.” 

Taehyung gawked at you. Here was a mortal, dressed in a white nightgown with slippers, and he felt the need to bow to you. It was so stupid. He was scared of a mortal. 

“If you care about Yoongi, you would do well to leave here.” He said, a hint of malice in his voice. 

“I’ll make that choice.” 

“Very well. Good day.” Taehyung carefully stepped back before breaking into a fast paced walk down the hall. 

Two arms wrapped themselves around your middle, pulling you close to a warm body. Who knew the god of the underworld was so comfortable? He rested his chin on your shoulder. 

“That was amazing, love.” Yoongi whispered, his breath fanning across your neck and causing goosebumps to raise. 

“I may be stuck here-”

“You’re not trapped, we can always visit the surface if you want-”

You held a hand up that stopped him from continuing. You unwrapped yourself from his embrace and took his hands in your own, facing him. 

“-but I won’t be pushed around. I have a life and I need to tie things up before I come here permanently.” 

“Permanently-?” Yoongi felt his cheeks heat up. The thought of you belonging to him, that he would finally be happy for eternity, made him overjoyed. 

“Yes.” You squeezed his hands, the ones that fit so perfectly in yours. Your gaze was unadulterated love. He could get lost in that gaze. 

“After you finish...will you tell me more about yourself?” He said, his voice quiet. 

“Of course, but I need to tie up the loose ends of my life.” 

“As you wish.”

-

-

Waking up in your old apartment, sunlight filtering through the curtains you’d had for years, had you wondering if it all was a dream. Was Yoongi even real? You slowly got up from bed, rubbing the sleep from your eyes. 

“Yoongi?” You called out, knowing in your heart that he wasn’t there. He was somewhere in the underworld, just awaiting your return. Your other half. With a sigh, you got dressed and called into work. “Yeah, I’m sorry this is so sudden, but I’d like to quit. No, no, it was nothing anyone did. I just got offered another job across the country.” 

“That’s an interesting lie.” A deep voice said behind you. You froze. 

“Yeah, yeah. Okay, thank you for your time. Yes, I wish you luck as well.” You quickly hung up. Without turning around, you gritted your teeth. “Taehyung, I told you not to come near me again.” 

“I’m a god, you can’t stop me.” He chuckled. 

“I’ll tell Yoongi.” You murmured, spinning around to face the god of the sea. 

He merely laughed. 

“I do enjoy you, Y/N. You’re fiery. Perhaps one day we may be friends.” 

“And we have forever and ever to decide that, I suppose.” You nodded. “But I don’t plan on it being soon.” 

You went to the kitchen, the god trailing behind you. You couldn’t help looking behind you every now and then. 

“Listen, I’m sorry about what happened earlier. I’m worried for my hyung. I’ve known him since we were new gods.” Taehyung said sheepishly. If you were dumb, you might even mistake it for genuine concern. “Can we start over? I would like to be friends. Especially since we’re going to be around each other a bit.” 

You didn’t look up, searching through your drawers for the check book. You found it, taking it out and signing the rent amount on it. Then you looked for an envelope. 

“Taehyung, I’d love to, but what changed your mind?” You raised an eyebrow, looking toward him as you sealed the check in an envelope for your landlord. 

“It’s nothing you need to worry about right now.” He glanced away, suddenly seeming bashful. You tilted your head at him before turning back to find your mailbox. 

“Right.” You decided not to pry. “I guess I need to pack everything up now...” You blanched looking at the clutter. Why hadn’t you bothered to clean up? Taehyung followed your eye line, finally acknowledging the mess. He’s a god and you’re here showing him your messy apartment. Taehyung smiled a boxy smile. 

“It’s okay, the mess, I mean. Yoongi hyung is just as messy if not more.” He patted your arm and this time you didn’t shrink back. “You guys are meant for each other.” 

“Well, thanks for your blessing.” You rolled your eyes. Despite having been so angry with him earlier, you found that he seemed the easiest to talk to now. You could tell that if you had gotten off to a better start, he and you would have been best friends. However, now you held your reservations and you tried not to get too close to him. 

“I’ll help you pack.” He knew that Yoongi could easily snap and have all your things transported, but you didn’t need to know that. 

“Oh? Okay.” You shrugged. Then you took out the moving boxes stored in your closet from where you moved in a few months ago, and got to work. 

-

-

Yoongi raised an eyebrow at all the boxes currently in the throne room. A long line of souls had begun piling up and he needed to get to work, but he wanted an explanation first. 

“Taehyung and I decided to pack up the apartment, I didn’t want to trouble you too much.” You shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. 

“Taehyung?” Yoongi narrowed his eyes. “Taehyung is dangerous, jagi.” 

“I know, I know. But he showed up at my apartment-” 

That made his eyebrows shoot up.

“-And we sort of worked through our problems and now I think it’s okay.” Your smile caught him off guard. He couldn’t help smiling back, it was infectious. 

“If that’s what you say, I trust you.” He snapped his fingers and the boxes disappeared. “I’ve moved them to our private quarters. The maids can unpack them.” 

“Maids? I’ve never seen any around.” You pondered. 

“Oh they’re around. I just instructed them to stay out of your way.” Yoongi pointed to the throne next to his. “Come join me.” 

You hesitantly walked forward. “Really?” 

“Really.” 

As you made your way down the long hall, he continued speaking. 

“You remind me of my mother. She has the same grace and elegance. You hold yourself in a similar manner. I find it charming.” 

“Tell me about yourself.” You lifted your chin, trying to pry information out of him instead of the other way around. 

“Impatient, are we? Well, I’m the god of the underworld. I make sure souls that deserve it pass on safely and souls that don’t deserve it, suffer.” He said casually. “I do enjoy music.”

“What kind?” You had a certain look in your eyes, one that made him want to lose control and kiss you on the spot. You seemed so genuinely interested in him, quite unlike any goddess who had tried to seduce him. 

“Any. I play piano.” 

“Oh?”

“I have eternity. I might as well learn something new.” He chuckled, then held his hand out to you. “And you can spend it with me, all you need to do is take my hand.” 

You walked forward, not hesitating to take his hand. With that, he pulled you in and pressed his lips with yours. Your mouth felt like it was made to be on his. His lips were perfect for yours, like a missing puzzle piece. Warmth spread through your body and you glowed an ethereal light. It was a light that was too bright for this dark underworld. When you broke away, you were still glowing ever so slightly. 

“Now you can stay with me forever.” He smiled. 

“You don’t know how long I’ve been waiting for that.” You whispered, pressing your forehead to his. He placed his hands on the back of your neck, closing his eyes and breathing in your scent. 

“Would you like that, Y/N? Will you spend eternity with me?” 

You looked him in the eye, moving apart slightly to look at him better. 

“Yes. I’ll spend eternity with you, Yoongi.” 

The missing piece in your life. The hand that saved your life. The man that held your heart in his hands. You loved this man. 

“I love you, Y/N.” He breathed. 

“I love you too.” Then you hugged him, throwing your arms around his waist. And he held you tight. You were made for him. He couldn’t imagine letting you go, not for an eternity. 

#bts #min yoongi #yoongi #yoongi x reader #bts x reader #twin flame #of eternity and euphoria #God!Yoongi #fluff #tatawrites #i didn't proof read this. whoops

[tae-cup]

Down With The Ship | Teaser

Pairing: Jeon Jungkook x Female!Reader

Summary: Captain Jeon Jungkook; a beautiful mess of blood and gold. His greatest treasure, may also be his greatest downfall.

Genre: Pirate!au

Warnings: These will change per chapter, so it’s N/A for this teaser. It really doesn’t get bad though. I guess there’s just some dashes of sexism that go with the time period so-

Rating: T for Teens 

A/N: I am so excited for this series, seriously!!! It’s going to be so good you guys, just trust me :D 

Let me know if you’d like to be tagged!

Current Word Count: Around 12k, however I’m still writing so it will most likely be longer. 

Network Tag: @castlebangtan​

Other: Masterlist 

Previous | Next

         Okay, so jumping aboard the most feared pirate crew of the decade was not the best decision you had ever made. It was right up there with agreeing to an engagement you knew you would never follow through with and stealing your mother’s jewelry. 

“You can’t fish, you can’t wield a sword, and you can’t even cook. So what can you do, little lady?” Jungkook frowned, drumming his fingers impatiently on the desk. 

        The slight swaying of the ship was making you nauseous and it didn’t help that you were below decks and not up above. It felt extremely stuffy, borderline claustrophobic. 

“I can draw. I’ll help you navigate and write out maps.” You cleared your throat, trying to settle your stomach. 

“Hm…” His eyes were cold, calculating, as he seemed to think it over. “I suppose so, but you’ll need to help Jimin with his chores as well.” 

         Jungkook stood and motioned for you to follow him. He opened the wooden door and led you down a series of halls. They were short and thin. Your shoulders almost brushed the sides if you walked straight. You didn’t feel...scared of Jungkook. He was definitely intimidating, but you didn’t fear for your life. You had heard the tales of his crew being merciless and cutthroat, not sparing a single person on a ship if they happened to raid it. 

“There are some things we need to go over.” He stopped and turned to you. You stopped short, trying not to bump into him, but a wave of dizziness washed over you. You were definitely feeling a bit seasick, but you had enough pride not to tell him. 

“Which are?” You stared at him, your expression confused. 

“In order to become a full-fledged crew member, you need to go through our trials.” He explained.

           You waited for him to continue, your attention still on him. You were very good at following orders, you had been doing so your entire life. Reading social cues and understanding another’s position were all things you had been taught at a young age. It was mostly to prepare you for a valuable suitor, but you never had any intention of following through on that part. 

“The trials are three things that you should be able to get through easily.” The dark-haired male turned back around, beckoning you to follow him. You fell into step once more. He stopped outside of a door. 

“In here are your quarters. Now, before you go in, I’ll tell you about the trials. First, you need to spend a night in the holding cell below deck. Second, eating Jin’s carrot soup. It sounds innocent, but there’s always been something off about it. Third, you need to walk the plank.” 

“Walk the plank?” Your eyebrows shot up. 

       Yes, you could float in the water, even keep yourself upright, but you had never been a strong swimmer.

 “If this is your ploy to get rid of me, it won’t work, captain.” You gave him a mocking salute, before remembering your place. 

He chuckled darkly. “Don’t worry, I’ll wait for you, Little miss.” You ignored the shiver that rolled down your spine. 

“Y/N.” You interrupted, getting tired of being referred to as ‘Little Miss’. 

“You earn your name here, darling.” He tilted his head and then turned around. “Meet me at the jail tonight for your first trial.” He then proceeded to stride into the hallway and disappear around the corner. 

#bts #bts x reader #Jeon Jungkook #Jungkook x reader #Jungkook #JK #Pirate au #Teaser #tatawrites #Down With The Ship #castlebangtan

[tae-cup]

Run | JJK Oneshot

Inspired by: BTS’ “Run”

Pairing: non-Idol!Jeon Jungkook x Runner!Reader

Summary: He never enjoyed running until he met you, sadly, life has a way of taking a turn for the worst.

Warnings: Mentions of disease/illness, ANGST, but also lots of fluff!

Word Count: 3.3K Words

A/N: We all need a little Jungkook in our lives. Alternative Song Alive (acoustic) by Dabin & RUNN

Other: Masterlist

Make me run Make me run more Let my feet rip apart with wounds At least I can smile when I see you

Sweat beaded on your forehead as you paced yourself through the streets of Seoul. The annual Seoul Marathon. You had been dreaming of this for a while. The burning in your lungs, the strain on your legs, the crowd. You loved it. 

Running made you feel alive. It reminded you that you were breathing, that your feet knew the way. Step after step. Just one more step and you’ll be closer. Your water bottle was crushed in your hand, wrist coming up to swipe at the sweat. Training your body wasn’t an issue, you wanted to do this. It started small; around the block and back. Then it became ‘to the end of the neighborhood and back’ and finally, across the city and back. It was quite the feat. You may have almost passed out once or twice. 

That’s how you stumbled into a man that would change your life. Jungkook. He smiled beside you, trying to hold back his competitive spirit. The finish line was in sight, unbroken. How easy it would be for him to cross it before you, but you had been dreaming of this moment; to cross the white line and call yourself The winner. 

So he slowed down, pretending to be worn out. You glanced behind you, but you didn’t slow. The crowd cheered so loud, it was like thunder in your ears. One more step. The next step was fine, and so was the one after it. Then that third step felt...wrong. You couldn’t tell why it felt that way, so you continued to run, step after step. The moment passed, but you couldn’t rid yourself of the uneasy feeling. 

The white band made contact with your stomach and you fell to your knees, gasping for air. Cameras flashed, white ribbons were strewn across the pavement. A water bottle was shoved into your hand and you took it gladly, downing half of it before handing it back. It was a cold day, perfect for a marathon, yet you felt your cheeks flush with heat when Jungkook fell, panting, beside you. 

“Kookie, we did it.” You said, wonder in your voice, as your back hit the pavement next to him. 

“Yeah, we did.” He stared blankly into the sky and you missed the small smile on his face. 

Two Months Ago

The world’s a little blurry. Billie Eilish sung into your ears. You blinked, trying to get rid of the black spots in your vision. Yeah, the world is pretty fucking blurry. You thought to yourself. You would have laughed had it not been for the pain in your chest. You swerved to the side, peripheral catching sight of a wall. You reached out, vision getting dizzier. This is what you get for pushing yourself. 

As you stumbled over, your hands flailed around crazily. A couple people looked concerned, but most minded their own business. Your hands found the wall and you collapsed against it. Except the wall let out an Oomph and was warm. You blinked wearily, not as bothered about mistaking a human for a wall as you should have been. He seemed more surprised than anything. His face was youthful and he looked around your age. You grasped his arms to steady yourself. Oh, so he works out? You thought, wanting to slap yourself. 

“Are you-are you okay? Do you need me to call 911?” His voice was panicked, seeing your face scrunched up. Actually, you did sort of need medical attention, but you weren’t going to admit it to this handsome stranger. You would look like a fool anyway. 

“It’s fine, fine. I think I’m just dehydrated.” You muttered, reining back in your consciousness. The man grinned widely. 

“Then how about you come out for a drink with me?” He asked slyly. You frowned, sighing. 

“Fine.” Why not? 

“Great! But seriously, are you alright? You don’t look too great.” 

“And I’m seriously fine.” You retort stubbornly. “I mistook you for a wall.” 

He chuckled at that and gripped your arm, keeping you steady. 

“I think you should rest a bit. Why are you running so hard anyway? The only time I run is when I’m in danger.” He quirked an eyebrow at you. 

“I’m...” You pulled away, laughing uneasily. You had never been a runner, but you always enjoyed it. When you told people of your dream to win the Seoul Annual Marathon, most laughed. You didn’t exactly fit into the typical ‘fit’ person lifestyle. You liked to bum around your house, eat whatever, and binge T.V. “I’m training for the Seoul Annual Marathon.” You carefully explained. “I want to win it.” 

Instead of a scoff, a sigh of disapproval, or a pitying look, he smiled impossibly wider. 

“That’s so awesome!” He cried. “I’ve never been much of a runner, I hate it.” He held out his hand to shake and your vision had gone somewhat normal. “I’m Jungkook.” 

You took his hand in yours, shaking it firmly. “I’m Y/N.” 

A runner. He basically called you a runner. You found yourself grinning like a crazy person, completely pulled into his carefree and open nature. 

“About that drink...” Jungkook wiggled his eyebrows, drawing a chuckle from you. You probably looked like a mess and you could appreciate a man that had no regard for that and still asked you out. 

“I’m free any time.” Your schedule was flexible. Work as a graphic designer was never consistent. 

“Okay!” His eyes lit up. “Is tomorrow at 2, good?” When you nodded, he sheepishly scratched his neck. “I mean, I’m sorry to just spring it on you, I’ve got a busy schedule with my company.” He said. 

Jungkook so far was proving to be the opposite of you entirely. Carefree, happy, consistent, reliable. You had none of those things, often doing things on a whim. The only thing that could be counted on was your perseverance. Once you decided on something, you saw it to the end. Every. Time. 

“No, it’s fine.” You waved him off. “I don’t mind. Like I said, I’m free any time. My schedule is flexible.” 

He tilted his head, thinking over your words. You couldn’t help thinking he looked like a bunny, or maybe a dog. 

“Oh, what do you do for a living?” He questioned. 

“I’m a graphic designer.” You grimaced and you noticed he caught your bitter expression. 

“Not what you wanted?” Jungkook sighed as you nodded your head a little. “Yeah, I feel the same.”

“Well, It’s not that I didn’t want to become a graphic designer...I just wish I had kept it as a side project and let my parents talk me into business.” You shut yourself up after that, not wanting to pour out any more of your damaged soul to a stranger. Sometimes strangers are the best listeners. 

“I let my parents talk me into business.” He mumbled, lively energy dissipating. “It’s so stuffy just sitting inside all the time.” 

“That’s why I run.” you answered immediately. “It relieves stress.” 

He smiled softly, clearly trying to lighten the mood. “Of course.” 

It was silent after that. He wordlessly wrote his number onto a scrap of paper and handed it to you. You murmured a thank you and called for someone to pick you up. There was no way you were going to run back, you were dehydrated enough. He waved as you pulled away and you couldn’t help but wave back. 

“So why do you want to do this marathon anyway?” Jungkook tapped the coffee mug with his fingers. 

You thought for a moment, taking a sip of your drink before answering. 

“I just want to feel like I’ve finally accomplished something in my life.” You shrugged, though there was an air of sadness to your tone. People had always thought low of you. To them, you were just...average. You looked average, you did well in school, you spoke to your parents once a day. Average. Becoming a runner, indulging in your silly fantasies, made you above average. Not great, but just a bit above the normal standards. Yes, you’d been studying in school and passing all your exams, but you didn’t have any other passion. Well, you did, but they were never nurtured to their full extent. So you picked up running. 

“Yeah, I get it.” He looked out the window distantly, seemingly lost in his own thoughts. 

“What do you do?”

“Well, I’m a manager at Bangtan inc.-” 

“Bangtan inc?!” You almost spit out your coffee. “You mean the Bangtan inc.? The one that owns every billboard in the city and invests in companies with a 99% success rate? That Bangtan inc.?” You gaped. This man was successful. Way more successful than you. 

“Hah, yeah, but I mean, that’s not my passion.” He explained. “I’ve always wanted to be a singer, maybe an idol. What I’m trying to say is that I’ve accomplished things, yes, but nothing I particularly care about.” 

You nodded slowly, a small smile creeping onto your face. He was blushing. Blushing! He seemed way too young to be so stressed all the time. 

“You should join me on my runs, they’re really stress reducing.” You reached over and poked his hand. He jumped, dazed expression returning to his usual happy expression. 

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“What time?” 

“6:00 A.M. everyday.” 

“Yeah, no.”

You frowned, sipping at the last drops of coffee in your cup. You set down the cup and sighed loudly. 

“Come on, it’s not like you don’t work out.” You said pointedly. His ears burned bright red. 

“How did you know?” He said softly. 

“You think it’s hard to dismiss your abs? It’s like you’re blatantly shoving them in my face with that shirt.” You huffed, pointing to his white dress shirt underneath his suit jacket. He raised an eyebrow, confused by your upfront personality. It was so unlike his coworkers who hid behind carefully practiced smiles. 

“Would you like me to?” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and you pouted, crossing your arms and tossing your hair. 

“You’re so unfair.” 

“Fine how about this.” He propositioned, fingers pressing together on the table. “If I go running with you, will you let me take you on another date?”

“Date? I would hardly call this a date.” You said playfully. “And you didn’t need to bargain with me, I would have said yes either way.” 

“So that’s a yes?”

“Of course it is, dumbo.” You chuckled. “See you tomorrow, 6:00 A.M. sharp, you hear?” 

You were definitely surprised to see him, hair tied back and a sweatband on his forehead, the next day. The dark haired boy was wearing gray sweatpants and a black t-shirt. You smiled at his appearance as you stepped out your front door. 

“Now what are you doing here?” You slyly smiled. 

“Here to run.” 

“And why is that?” 

“Some old crazy lady said it was good for me.” He grinned. You pretended to be shocked, placing a hand over your heart. 

“How dare you call me old! I am not that old at all!” You shouted. 

“Yeah? How old are you, granny?” 

“24!” You defended yourself. 

“Hey! Me too!” He shouted back, though more excited. You grinned. 

“What month?”

“What?” He looked at you, bewildered. You stepped down the concrete stairs of your apartment. 

“What month were you born, lover boy?” You said smoothly. 

He noticeably swallowed, a little taken aback. 

“September.” 

“Year?”

“1997.” He mumbled, now clenching the fabric of his shirt awkwardly. 

“Hah! So you’re the granny here!” You exclaimed, laughing. “I was born December 1997. Now keep up!” 

You started jogging ahead. He muttered a curse under his breath and then easily caught up. He began running a little faster, getting ahead of you to your dismay. 

“This isn’t a race, Jungkook! Conserve your energy.” You called, trying to subdue his competitive nature. He just laughed. 

-

Well you were the one laughing now. He was gasping for air not three blocks later as you continued on. 

“Please, Jungkook, you are a fit 24 year old man. You can do better.” You chided as he wheezed. 

“You’ve been training for what, a month?!” He gasped for air. 

“And?” You rolled your eyes, jogging in place beside him. 

“Obviously you’re better than me!” 

You grinned and slowed to a stand still. 

“I know. We’ll get you there, Kookie.” 

He glanced up at you through his sweat soaked bangs. His slender fingers brushed them aside and he stood, stretching his back. 

“Say it again.”

“What?” You furrowed your eyebrows. 

“My name. Say it again.”

“Jungkook?”

“No, no, the other one!”

“Kookie?” 

Jungkook smiled brightly, his gaze a little more than innocent. “I like it when you call me that.” 

He chuckled as you blushed furiously and swatted at his arm. 

Present

You stiffened, willing your legs to move. Jungkook gazed at you as he stood and you pretended to still be resting. 

“Hey, let’s go, people want to talk to you.” He smiled, offering a hand. The issue? You couldn’t get your legs to cooperate. You just chalked it up to being exhausted, but it was worrying nonetheless. Usually they felt like jelly, but not like...like nothing. It was a numbness. 

“Sorry, just give me a moment.” You murmured. He tilted his head, sensing something wrong. Then he sat down next to you. 

“What’s wrong? Aren’t you happy?”

“Extremely.” You smiled weakly. You really were happy, truly, but your mind was focused on your legs right now. 

“Then why do you look so...worried?” He gently placed his hand on yours. 

“I just, I think my legs are a little exhausted.” You admitted, trying not to get too much into it. “I don’t know if I can stand.” You said it lightly, but you couldn’t bring it in yourself to chuckle. Luckily, Jungkook did it for you. 

“You’ll be fine, come on.” He stood, smiling his bunny smile. 

“Kookie, you don’t understand.” You sighed, covering your eyes with your arm, not wanting to see his expression. “I can’t. My legs won’t move.” 

One Week Later

He did the same thing as you; chalked it up to exhaustion. You even convinced yourself of it because after a moment’s rest, you could walk perfectly fine. Now you stood swung your legs, sitting at the kitchen counter while Jungkook prepared his breakfast of cereal that was mostly cornflakes with a couple drops of milk. 

“Where are we going today?” You asked. You had long since come to an agreement with him that you would only run during the week. Weekends were time spent sleeping in and spending time together. Besides your morning runs, you rarely saw him. His job with Bangtan was booming and becoming more stressful to manage. This meant long nights waiting up for him to come stumbling tiredly through the door and early mornings rising to see him before he left. 

“I was thinking we should go to the movies.” He smiled warmly at you. You liked that idea. It had been a while since you last went. 

“That sounds great! I’ll go get dressed!” You hopped from your place at the counter and left for the bedroom. That wasn’t without being dragged backwards and receiving a loving kiss on your forehead beforehand. 

You fumbled for the light switch and then set to work to create the perfect outfit. Black jeans, a button up white blouse, and a pair of black flats. You placed a gray cardigan next to a yellow one, wondering which one to choose. Your outfit was already dark enough so you settled on the yellow one. It was easy to slip into the jeans, zipping and buttoning the brass button at the top. You slipped into a bra and then tugged the blouse over each arm, moving to the full body mirror to button up the shirt. 

Then panic seized you. Why can’t I button this? It was as if you physically could not remember how to button your shirt. It had been fine just moments ago. You felt a bubble of anxiety pushing up your throat in the form of a sob. 

“No, how can this be.” You croaked to yourself and you couldn’t help but remember the scene from a week ago. It was as if you’d been transported back into that moment. The panic. The futile nature of the situation as you begged for your legs to work. To move as they should for a healthy 24 year old. You shakily brushed a hair from your face and tried again. No luck. Your fingers clumsily moved over the buttons, not able to make the right configuration to button up. You let out a cry of anguish and within moments, Jungkook appeared in the doorway. 

“What’s wrong?” He asked, staring at your reflection in the mirror. He glanced to your red eyes. You spun around, open shirt whipping around you. 

“Kookie.” You said miserably. “I can’t button this.” 

“Oh? Is that all?” He raised an eyebrow, obviously still concerned. He stood in front of you and his gentle fingers buttoned up the blouse. 

“I don’t know what went wrong.” Your tears dripped onto your shirt. “I just-It’s like my fingers forgot.” 

“It happens to the best of us.” He suggested, but even he knew there was something wrong. 

“No, you don’t understand!” You took a shuddering breath in. “Why won’t my body cooperate anymore?!” You hyperventilated. 

“Ah, Jagi, you should probably go get it checked out.” He murmured, looking at you with a soft gaze. You nodded numbly, clutching your hands around your arms and rubbing as if you were freezing. 

“I know, I know.” You said pathetically. “I’m just scared of what they’ll tell me.” 

You had looked up your symptoms. Google said you were going to die. You had scoffed at the time, but now you really felt like it might be right. 

“I’ll go with you, love.” He said carefully. He then pulled you into a hug, letting you breathe in his scent. It was safe, in his embrace. You wanted to stay in it forever. 

The doctor entered with a serious expression and your heart dropped, mouth instantly going dry. He sighed deeply, sitting on his rolling chair. 

Jungkook squeezed your hand, seeming even more nervous than you. 

“How long has this been occurring?” He asked, peering up from his glasses. 

“Two weeks.” You answered. 

“Uh huh.” He said automatically, writing down the symptoms. The doctor didn’t look like he was about to give good news. “Well, you’re definitely on the young side, but I think you have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.” 

“What?” Your head was spinning. How? You were so young. Everything went underwater, noises blurring out. Jungkook was madly inquiring what could be done, only to have his hopes dashed when the doctor explained it’s not exactly curable. 

“Well, there are treatments that can prolong life, but it’s not curable.” The doctor tried to tell him. It was obvious that Jungkook was distressed and you were in a state of shock. 

-

Leaving the doctor’s office was grim. Jungkook placed a soft hand on your arm. 

“Are you okay?” 

You wrapped your hand around his, a small smile on your lips. “Yeah. I saw it coming.” You breathed. “Google was right for once.” You tried to joke. 

He didn’t seem in the mood, shoulders tense. “I don’t want your days to be numbered.” He shook with...anger? Sadness? You couldn’t tell. “I want to be with for longer than, than, than-” He stuttered. “than five years!” 

“Well five years is what you get.” You said gently, oddly calm. You had purpose to your life. To live as much as you could. “So spend them well.” 

“What do you want to do?” His gaze immediately softened, his hands came up to caress your face. You leaned in and kissed him passionately. He made a noise, caught off guard before wrapping his arms around you. You moved your mouths together in a well practiced dance. You slowly pulled away, leaving a little space, your noses almost touching. 

“Right now?” You chuckled a little. “Right now I just want to run. I want to run until I can’t anymore.” 

“Then let’s run.” 

I run, run, run I can’t stop Run, run, run again I can’t help it This is all I can do anyway All I know is how to love you Run, run, run again It’s okay to fall Run, run. Run, again It’s okay to get hurt I’m alright, even if I can’t have you Pitiful destiny, point your finger at me (Run) Don’t tell me bye bye (Run) You make me cry cry (Run) Love is a lie lie Don’t tell me, don’t tell me Don’t tell me bye bye

#bts #bts x reader #jungkook #jeon jungkook #jungkook x reader #angst #fluff #Oneshot #tatawrites #JJK #Run #non idol au

[tae-cup]

Answer: Love Myself | The Pact (4) FINALE

Pairing: Taehyung x Reader

Summary: It was simple. If you weren’t married by 26, you’d get married to each other. Well, it was supposed to be simple.

Warnings: N/A

Genre: ANGST, Fluff???, Non-Idol!Au, Business!Au-ish

Word Count: 2.4k Words

A/N: Thank you for sticking around to read this series. The support was absolutely amazing and I hope you enjoy this last part! Stay safe everyone and remember to love yourself. 

Other:

Series Masterlist

Normal Masterlist

         A meaningless exchange of words. That’s all this was. Jennie was sitting across from you at the park, Taehyung next to her. His arm was wrapped protectively around her shoulder. You resisted the urge to graze your shoulder with your hand; if only to mimic the contact. 

“So I said to her, ‘Miss, you have a little something right here.’” He pointed to his cheek. “But-”

       Jennie cut in, finishing the story she’d heard a million times before. “-But then she stared incredulously at him and pointed to his hair, which was also covered in the dye.” She chuckled as Taehyung looked shocked. 

“You remembered that story?!” He cried. 

“Of course I did, silly.” The girl poked his cheek. You smiled at them, they looked like they got along better now. Maybe this was how it always was before you came around. 

“I wish you would have told me that before I repeated myself a thousand times.” He grumbled, playing with her hair in his fingers. 

       You were happy for them. Truly happy. Taehyung glanced at you, something in his eyes wavering. His gaze flicked between the two of you, but only one was sitting under his arm, beside him. Jennie and you had found a way to get along somehow in the past few days and you could tell Taehyung was happy you were friends now. 

“Ah, I remember those color wars.” You added, trying to find some way to contribute to the banter. Instead, it did the opposite. The two were obviously pulled away from their little world and you cursed yourself for interrupting. The relationship between you and the two of them would have been normal if it wasn’t for that pact. 

“Right, because you always lost.” Taehyung teased, a small smile on his face. Even Jennie shot you a smile. It felt more sympathetic, maybe pitying, than genuine. It made your face heat up. Desperate for love and attention, yes, but you weren’t one for going after something you couldn’t have. 

“Yah! That’s a bit harsh.” You cried. Taehyung laughed loudly, hand rubbing Jennie’s arm. “I think I won color wars at least once.” You pouted. 

“At my school, the same grade always won the dye round because the student council favored them.” Jennie rolled her eyes. “We never got as much dye as them.”

“Or maybe you were just bad at conserving the dye.” Taehyung chided, booping her nose. Her features twisted to a frown, eyes looking up at him. 

“How dare you accuse me of such an atrocity! I blame the system!” Jennie declared. The two giggle. You’re happy for them. You’re happy for Taehyung. No matter how much you long for his touch, or anyone’s touch in fact. This outing was overshadowed by the bitterness approaching around the corner. Tomorrow. Tomorrow The Pact’s anniversary would take place and you were sure he had dropped it by now. You and Jennie had come to a conclusion, but it was clear Taehyung had not. 

         Taehyung watched you carefully out of the corner of his eyes. You looked much more confident than when you first met. You had grown into a beautiful and charming woman. He wanted to want you, but his heart beat with another. Still, he was a man of his word. He would propose to you. That’s what you wanted, right? If you had asked him if he wanted to marry you a week ago, he would have said yes. But things had been getting better between Jennie and him. He was torn. 

         He was noticing things about Jennie that he’d been blind to before. Her smile, how she waited for him when he got home from work, the way she caressed his cheek. How painful it must have been to see him slipping away. Two years. He looked over to the woman beside him. He had been with her for two years, that must mean something. Maybe it took you blatantly rejecting him for him to get his head out of his ass. He chuckled at the thought, to the confusion of the two women in his company. They were blissfully unaware of his inner struggle. 

         Is this the right decision? You found yourself thinking. You could still get lost in his gaze, you could still long for his fingertips against your skin, but it was different. Your heart didn’t flutter seeing him. You found yourself becoming truly happy for him, pushing away jealousy and resentment. You could forgive him for those words 10 years ago. A smart girl like you shouldn’t have agreed to such a foolish thing. Now you found yourself smiling at the words. They felt like a distant dream. You watched the two snuggle close and you couldn’t help thinking that they fit each other perfectly, like puzzle pieces. Why would you even dream of ripping them apart?

       The day had come. Taehyung had invited you out and you stood at the curb outside your apartment, waiting. Your heart was beating, but not out of nerves. No, you were actually feeling ill. You didn’t want to go through with this. When you had asked him where you were going, he had winked and said ‘it’s a surprise’. 

        You froze as he pulled up to the curb. It was just him, his car, and a nice suit. You gulped, glancing down at your attire. With a deep breath, you knew what you needed to do. You smiled and walked to his car. He jumped out and rushed to the other side, opening the door for you. The warmth of his hand on your back made you shiver as he helped you in. 

“Y/N, I’m so glad you could make it.” He rambled as he drove. 

“Hah, well, I didn’t have much else to do.” Your eyes flickered over to him for a moment before looking back out at the streetlights that whizzed by. In truth, you had cleared your schedule for this day ages ago. However, you had expected the day to be joyous.

     Now, you had a pit of guilt in your gut. You have to go through with it. He seems so excited, Y/N. Then you remembered your words to Jennie. I won’t take him away from you. You swallowed thickly as you pulled up to your old school. Your mouth went dry. You knew what he was doing and you almost didn’t need him to lead you around the side and to the gardens. 

     Your school was always nicer than most. You recognized the faded classroom numbers and pristine halls. In the back was a small garden and in that small garden was a grove. In that grove was a stone bench and a cherry tree. He took your hand, swinging it as if you were a couple. 

“You recognize this place, right?” 

    You nodded slowly, gnawing at your bottom lip. Regret filled you to the brim. 

“This is the place where we-” You cut yourself off, not wanting to finish the sentence. He looked hesitantly at you before nodding. 

“Yeah…” He looked over at the bench. You could see it clear as day. Your 15 year old self sitting next to him, a laptop in hand. You’re laughing, he’s smiling. It’s happy. Then you’re brought to the present. You stood side by side, not a couple, but soon to be engaged. 

“It’s been a while.” You murmured. “Listen I-” You turned to him but he grasped both of your hands, making your heart stop. He still had that effect on you. You could almost lose yourself in this moment, pretend he was yours, that you could kiss those lips, hold these hands, without guilt. 

      He took a deep breath and you trail off, not wanting to interrupt him. Was he going to go through with this? His gaze seemed distant and his brow furrowed for a moment, as if having an internal war. Finally, he stepped back. 

“Y/N. I have loved you for 10 years. 10 years and I haven’t stopped. You and I are right for each other.” Despite his words, He looked so uncertain, unlike the dead gaze he gave you in the library. That night seemed like it was ages ago. You wanted to stop him, to tell him this was a mistake, but he continued. “Let’s make good on this pact, love.” 

      He reached into his suit pocket and opened the velvet ring box and bent on one knee. 

“Will you marry me?”

           You walked down the aisle, a pretty arrangement of flowers in your hands, Jennie had helped you pick them out and you had been surprised by her generosity. You looked beautiful, hair in an updo, arm linked with a man. You smiled at Taehyung and he gazed back at you. You were sure you could see him tear up, but you played it off as the lighting. You nodded reassuringly at him, then you looked up at the high arching ceiling. The wedding bells chimed. Friends and family surrounded you. But they weren’t your friends and family. You took a right. The man holding your arm wasn’t your father and your father wasn’t here to give you away. 

         You part ways with the groomsman and take your place across the way from Taehyung. He didn’t spare you a glance, instead looking eagerly from where you came from. Then you turn, taking a deep breath, to watch the bride walk down the aisle. All rise. You smiled genuinely at Jennie. She looked overjoyed, even her father didn’t seem that bothered. 

        Watching Taehyung be truly happy had been the most fulfilling thing you’d watched in a while. Your heart tugged painfully as the two exchanged their vows, but you still cried with joy when they kissed. Moving on had been hard, but we all grow up someday. Taehyung peered over the bride’s shoulder as the crowd cheered. He winked and then held Jennie’s hand, giving her a look of unadulterated love. 

One month ago

“No.” 

       He quirked his head to the side, confusion flashing across his face. He didn’t rise, as if staying on one knee could convince you more. You smiled softly and stepped forward, falling to your knees in front of him and taking his hands in yours. You gently caressed his hands and closed the box. 

“This is meant for someone else, Taehyung.”

“W-who?”

“You know who.” Your voice is gentle, aching to take him in your arms, to scream yes. One tear. Then another. You watched him slowly unravel in front of you.  

“Y/N, I’ve loved you so long. I just hoped you would love me the same way, but when we met, I knew, I knew you had changed. I have changed. And I missed her, Y/N. She was right in front of me. I was so caught up in you, Y/N.” 

      You nodded, your eyebrows furrowing. Your hands fell into your lap, feeling remorseful, but you also had the urge to make things right.

“I love you, but...but I love her more than just a friend. And I don’t want to lose her.” He confessed.

       Your heart broke, only focused on this man, Taehyung, your best friend, sobbing in front of you. You threw your arms around him, hugging him tightly, letting his tears stain your dress. You rubbed his back, then pulled away once his tears had subsided to sniffles. You looked him the eye, determination coloring your face. 

“Then go to her.”

Present

           You stood in front of the mirror. Your eyes ran over your bug bites scars, skin discoloration, body fat. With a smile, you found yourself rubbing over your features gladly. This was you. This was who you were, this body, this skin, this face. You no longer scrutinized yourself, instead finding yourself loving the person in front of you. She was confident, sure of herself, and...and she loved herself. You stared. Was this really you? 

          You had been waiting for so long, just praying for someone to complete you, to love the faults in yourself. You had been waiting for yourself. You were the missing piece. After all, how can you love someone else if you can’t love yourself?  

           A grin broke out onto your face and you were sure if anyone else was here you would seem like a maniac. You hugged your arms, complimenting your appearance. Those scars were yours. That discoloration showed you spent time outside, enjoying your life. The fat meant you ate well, that you were healthy. Acceptance felt nice. 

         You brushed your hands through your hair, trying to contain the frizz that came with humidity combined with wind. The wedding was certainly taking place on a hot night. You could feel yourself sweating as you stepped out of the bathroom. 

“Y/N!” Jennie shouted, immediately noticing you. She drew you into a hug. “I’m so grateful to you. You know, you came at just the right time.” The two of you weren’t worried about talking about what happened, now it was more of a joke. 

          You were basically inseparable now, becoming close friends with the couple. It was silly to think you ever had a feud as heated as it seemed. Taehyung had laughed and told you guys that he had always thought the feud was unnecessary. That had earned two wary stares from the both of you. ‘You can’t blame me! You had me worried there for a bit.’ Jennie had pouted, earning a kiss from Taehyung and a laugh from you. 

“Ah, it’s no problem, call it fate.” You winked. 

“I mean, I spent so much time thinking I was being a fool for loving him, knowing he must love someone else.” She rambled and her eyes fell ever so slightly. You brushed your fingers under her chin, making her look up from her downcast eyes on the floor. 

“A bride shouldn’t look so down on her wedding day. And you were never foolish for thinking that. A smart girl doesn’t do foolish things, love.” You smiled at her. 

       You watched her eyes brighten and she rushed off to talk to her other friends. Your eyes slid over to Taehyung, sitting alone at the wedding table. You missed his smile. You missed his eyes. But you knew that this was right. Your phone buzzed in your pocket. 

Movie night, next Saturday? - Taehyung

You chuckled, making eye contact with him.

Pay attention to your wife.

But She’s busy with her friends and I’m alone at the wedding table.

Yeah?

       You saw him scoff, almost heard it too. You had heard his voice so many times, it didn’t matter that the music was pounding in your ears.

So is it a deal?

      You rolled your eyes, suddenly reminded of when you first made the pact. Deal? Deal. A shaking of hands. Now you looked up at him, a small smile on your face. 

Deal

Curtain fall, end scene. 

Taglist: @tangledsparkles​  @rjsmochii @bonnyskies @imluckybitches​

A/N: Thank you for sticking around! Love yourself!!

#bts #bts x reader #taehyung #taehyung x reader #angst #fluff #The Pact #tatawrites #non idol au #business!au #Kim Taehyung

[tae-cup]

Serendipity | The Pact (2)

Pairing: Taehyung x Reader

Summary: It was simple. If you weren’t married by 26, you’d get married to each other. Well, it was supposed to be simple.

Warnings: N/A

Genre: ANGST, Fluff???, Non Idol!Au, Business!Au-ish

Word Count: 2.7k Words (again?? I swear I don’t p l a n for them to be the same length)

A/N: I’m sorry the angst... Let me know if you want to be tagged!

Other:

Series Masterlist

Normal Masterlist

“Y/N, please, I just really need you right now.” His somber voice rang through the phone. 

       You ran. You ran through the pouring rain like in some movie. It almost made you want to laugh. The pavement was soaked through, you were soaked through. It felt like a cruel joke. The library was so close when you saw it on your way in, so why didn’t it feel like it was miles away now? 

       When you finally arrived, the warmth of the building drawing you in, you were shivering uncontrollably. I guess that’s what I get for running in the rain like a lunatic. The streets had thick streams of water coursing down the sides and the rain was pelting down heavier than before. You pushed into the quiet library. 

       The library was old, having been around longer than you had been alive. It reeked of dust and mold. Still, the inside managed to look semi-decent, for the 1950s. The place was retro and you were sure they hadn’t changed the furniture since when your parents were your age. You carefully maneuvered your way through the aisles, trying to find him. It felt like you were in a museum and you didn’t want to bump into anything. 

You found him sitting, leaning against a wall in the back. 

“Taehyung?” No response. “Tae?” 

       He looked up at you and his appearance almost made you gasp. He had dried tear streaks on his cheeks and red eyes, he looked downtrodden, his hair going every which way. You rushed to his side, crouching in front of him. 

“Taehyung, are you...are you alright?” 

“You’re soaked.” He looked at you, a worried expression on his face. 

“I’m more worried about you, Tae.”

    He didn’t respond, swallowing and avoiding your gaze. You waited, letting him know that you’re here for him to talk. 

“Y/N, I really didn’t want our next meeting to be like this, but I just didn’t know who else to call.” He laughed shakily. You placed your hands on his, squeezing them tightly. 

“What happened?” 

He had this broken gaze, like something was missing. 

“I tried to break up with her, Y/N.” 

The statement had your head spinning. Break up? Why? What does he mean ‘try’? Instead, you just nodded and circled your thumb on his. 

“Why?” You murmured, falling into a seated position. Your legs crossed. You could see the dust particles fly up as you sat. 

“Because...because I want you, Y/N.” 

I want you. I want you. The words shot around your head. Those words you had wanted to hear for years. You stumbled back, standing quickly and dusting yourself off. 

“You can’t have me, Taehyung.” You said harshly, your gut twisting and your heart screamed at you to stop talking. “I won’t be the reason you break up with her. I won’t do that. Do you love her?”

“Yes, but never as much as...as I love you.” There was no hesitation in his eyes.

You shook your head, crossing your arms. “You don’t love me, Taehyung. You love 15 year old me, you love an old me that isn’t coming back.” 

       So much had changed in the past years. You weren’t the same and you doubted he was the same boy you had loved. He was more mature, had an air of certainty, reliability. It was so unlike the spontaneous and fun loving boy you had first met. You watched his eyes fall, shoulders dropping. He slowly stood walking towards you. You didn’t move away. He took your hands in his and rubbed small circles with his thumb. 

“I’ve loved you for 10 years, Y/N. Even when we didn’t speak to each other, I always wished you well.” He drew backwards, unclasping your hands all too quick. “Do you know what it’s like to love someone for 10 years who never once thought about contacting you?” 

You frowned, of course you had thought about him. Did he know the countless nights you sobbed over him? The way you missed his touch? You bit your lip, deciding not to say anything, but your heart beat a little faster. 

 “I was hurt, I was looking for love. And Jennie was too. I never loved her like you, though, as much as I tried.” He looked defeated.

          You could tell he was conflicted. Deep down, maybe he did love her. Maybe he was just pushing it away. Maybe if you ended it now, took away his hopes for this to work out, then he could finally see what was in front of him. Jennie may be...clingy, possessive, and manipulative, but you wouldn’t be a place for him to escape to. He needed to deal with this on his own. Whatever was going on with them was not your problem. 

       The boy you loved, past tense, stood in front of you, now a man. And you weren’t sure if you liked what you were seeing. Not to doubt that he was incredibly handsome, that was obvious, but the brokenness in his gaze made your skin crawl. You felt ashamed knowing that you had been a cause to this, this crave for love. 

“Taehyung, I can’t give you that love, I can’t fill it.” You had so much love inside, just waiting for someone, but something about this didn’t feel right either. You had thought maybe he was the missing piece, you spent 10 years testing the theory, but now that he was here, he didn’t seem to fit. It wasn’t that it wasn’t right, no, he still fit okay, but there was an edge missing, a piece that didn’t quite click into place. 

“She asked me to marry her, Y/N.” 

       Your heart skipped a beat. You were frozen in place. What? 

“That-That’s great, Taehyung.” You resisted the urge to frown. You just told him you didn’t love him like he loves you, so shouldn’t you be happy that he’s gone ahead and gotten engaged? 

“I laughed and ran away. Like a coward.” He murmured, head dipping low in shame. You tilted your head, confused. 

“Why?”

“I couldn’t go through with it, not with the pact drawing so near.”

“And do you want to go through with the pact?”

“Yes.” 

      You watched him carefully, a small smile on your face. “Okay, well, just think about it. I don’t want you making any rash decisions.” This is what you wanted. Why do you still care for Jennie’s feelings? Because if you had been in her position, you would have broken. He nodded numbly, staring aimlessly at his empty ring finger. 

      A call from Taehyung wasn’t what you had expected. It had been a few days and you had avoided him at all costs. It was just like what happened 10 years ago. No, I don’t want that to happen again. I value our friendship a lot more than I did when I was a dumb 16 year old. You were 26, dammit, why couldn’t you just talk to him like an adult? You bit your lip, finger hovering hesitantly over the accept button. On the fourth ring, you picked up. 

“Tae?” 

“Hey,” His voice lacked emotion and it felt like a slap to the face. “Would you like to go to dinner with Jennie and I?”

“When?” Your heart raced. Did you want to see him again? 

“This coming Thursday.” 

     You looked at the date. It was currently Tuesday. You sighed, running a hand through your hair. Your eyes looked around your apartment, searching for a reason to say no. You found none. 

“Sounds great, see you then.” You replied, trying to sound happier than you were. 

“See you.” 

Click. 

      The restaurant was crowded. Not in the way too overcrowded way, but more in the noisy and loud way. It made your ears hurt. You looked at the two empty seats in front of you and then anxiously glanced at your phone for the time. It wasn’t a fancy restaurant by any means, but you had looked up the menu online and it seemed like quality food. You busied yourself on your phone, trying to distract from the oncoming problem ahead. 

“Y/N, lovely to see you again.” Jennie’s voice said from your right. You quickly looked up, locking your phone and hastily putting it in your purse. She looked dazzling, truly. You pushed a smile forward and went to hug her and Taehyung. Then you sat down with them as they opened their menus. You had already looked and decided what to order, but you didn’t want to seem out of place so you picked up a menu as well. 

“Jennie, you are looking quite stunning, as per usual.” You complimented. In another life you prayed you and her could be friends, maybe even acquaintances, but instead there was this silent and bitter feud. 

“Thank you, Y/N.” Usually it’s customary to return the compliment, but Jennie went back to looking at her menu. You pursed your lips. 

“And I think you look gorgeous as well.” The deep timber of Taehyung’s voice made your heart skip a beat. How long had you been waiting for someone to call you gorgeous? Ages. You caught the way Jennie frowned ever so slightly. 

“Thank you, Taehyung, you’re looking quite ravishing.” You chuckled. You were only half joking, he did look very handsome. His hair was swept over and he wore black jeans with a loose fitting white shirt. He smiled, flashing his dazzling white teeth. 

“So how have you two been?” You continued. 

“Well, I’ve been mostly doing work and spending some quality time with Jennie.” His hand rested on hers. Jennie looked to him with a wide smile. You were struck by how lovely her smile was. She never smiled when she spoke to you or when she was with you at all for that matter. You suddenly felt like the other woman. It wasn’t a comfortable feeling. 

“That’s great.” You mustered a smile. You didn’t want to ask him what that quality time involved. 

“How have you been?” He asked, leading the conversation. 

“I’ve been..alright.” You failed to mention the hours spent at home in the dark, curled in a ball and cursing yourself for being foolish. You didn’t mention the lingering pain in your heart, the cold sweat when you woke up from a nightmare. You didn’t mention how many times he had lingered on your mind, his red eyes, his broken state. You blinked, as you replaced that image with the well put together man in front of you. He looked every part the businessman he was supposed to be. Taehyung watched you carefully. 

“Right well-” As he started on, you found yourself zoning out, drifting off into your mind. You nodded along with him every now and then, tuning in to make sure you weren’t missing anything important. “Y/N? Earth to Y/N.” 

You jolted upright, blinking. “Yes, yes, sorry I zoned out for a moment.” You said quickly. 

“That’s alright, business can be boring.” He chuckled. “But I was asking if you were going to let your soup go cold or if you wanted a to-go container.” 

   You furrowed your eyebrows. You barely remembered ordering. 

“Right, right, sorry. Yes, a to-go container would be lovely.” You watched Jennie squeeze Taehyung’s arm tightly. In your haste to grab your wallet, you accidentally knocked your silverware onto the ground. Jennie stared at you incredulously as you bent to grab the items off the floor. Taehyung bent at the same time. You glanced up at him. He was staring at you, his expression unreadable. You both had your hands on the utensils. A muscle in his jaw twitched, then he let go of them, not breaking eye contact. 

 “Tae tae, this is such a cute wedding dress, don’t you think?” You eyed him with a mischievous smirk. He rolled his eyes. Ever since you’d made the pact, you couldn’t stop thinking about it. As much as you’d love to just date him now, you wanted to wait. After all, you were always a more slow burn romance kind of gal. 

“Sure.” He said, sounding uncommitted. You eyed him warily, the mood changing. 

“Are you alright?” You asked softly, placing a hand over his. 

“Yeah.” He grumbled, avoiding your gaze. He slowly retracted his hand, the movement feeling giving you more anxiety. Your heart raced. Is he alright? Did something happen? 

“Are you sure?”

“God, would you just cut it out already?” He whispered harshly. His eyes followed a girl walking by, someone far prettier than you. You felt your heart sink as you followed his eyeline. “I just, fuck, sorry, I just don’t want to talk about the future that much.”

      You nodded, trying to understand. You had always lived in the future, thinking about where you wanted to go in life, who you wanted to be with. It was in your nature to talk about this. 

“Oh, sorry, I’ll...I’ll try not to.” Your fingers curled in anxiously. “But isn’t that sort of part of being married? Talking about the future?”

“We’re not married”

“Oh...right.” You wanted to run away. How naive you were. Just a stupid girl. 

“Look, I think we want different things now and I’m sick of being nice to you about it.” His words were a slap to the face. 

“Did you...did you only agree because you were being nice?” You managed to choke out. He had begged you to love him, to be with him. Of course, maybe marriage wasn’t something he wanted to talk about, but as his best friend, how could you have missed it?

“No, I love you, I just don’t think I want to marry you.”

    His words were valid, truthful, and they weighed you down. You had always been a bit of a dreamer, planning your dream life, everything for as far as you could see. Were you so undesirable? Who would love you? You felt empty, like there was something missing as you stood, metaphorically and literally tearing yourself away. 

“Is the pact over?” 

“Y/N...don’t do this-”

“I said is the pact over?” You interrupted him, a steel to your voice. He simply smiled faintly, not giving away the turmoil inside. 

“A smart girl like you shouldn’t have agreed to such a foolish thing.” 

    And you ran. You ran until you could no longer breath, until your legs burned and your tears were dry. The world was cracking beneath you. Had anything been real? Had anything been true? You inhaled deeply. Trying to take more air into your lungs. A wonderful friendship broken by thoughtless words, five minutes of anger, and 10 years of silence. 

      Taehyung was ripped away from your gaze. You both shot up. Jennie had her slender fingers wrapped around the collar of his shirt. She drew him in harshly and you could see the fire in her eyes. Taehyung’s surprised noise was drowned out by her lips on his. Your face went pale. Were they...were they making out right in front of you? 

      You gaped at the sight, unsure of what to do. Taehyung leaned into the kiss, after all, she’s his girlfriend, she obviously knows how to get him going. Your hands trembled as you held onto the edge of the table cloth. Jennie opened her eyes, smirking against his lips as she stared you down. 

       The level of anxiety in you had risen significantly. You rose quickly, throwing down the money you owed and bolted out of the restaurant, muttering something about feeling ill. Taehyung missed the little wave that Jennie gave you, but you certainly did not. Deep inside, you couldn’t blame her for wanting to stake her claim. Her man just ran out when she proposed a marriage, had a deal to marry a girl from high school, and didn’t seem the least bit interested in her at dinner. You would have made out with him too. 

       You frowned, fingers lightly brushing over your lips, imagining how his must feel. Maybe you should stop pining after him. You’re a 26 year old woman after all, not some girl head over heels in love. The pact was a silly idea, anyway. 

      As you drove away from the restaurant, you took deep breaths, suppressing the urge to scream in anguish. You can still keep him as a friend, that was supposed to be the point of not dating him before. You could stay away, right? A part of you felt bad for Jennie. It was sad that she felt so insecure in her relationship that she needed to do such things. If you saw past the mean words and simply looked at how Jennie behaved, the way she acted around Taehyung, and in public, you could see why she was perfect for him. Taehyung never liked a push over, and you weren’t exactly a push over, but you knew you would probably get on his nerves after a while. Jennie had the comfort, the love, the touch to heal whatever you left behind. You feared you would cause more damage. I should have never come out here. You pressed your lips into a thin line as you drove. You were so focused on making other people happy, did you not deserve to be happy too?

Taglist: @tangledsparkles​ @bonnyskies​ @rjsmochii​

#bts #bts x reader #taehyung x reader #taehyung #angst #fluff #The Pact #tatawrites #non idol au #business!au

[tae-cup]

When The Earth Met The Sea | Of Eternity and Euphoria (2)

Pairing: Kim Taehyung x Reader

Summary: You had been playing this game with the god of the sea for far too long. He decided to finally put an end to it. 

Warnings: N/A

Word Count: 4.7k Words

A/N: Ideas are just-flowing. Let me know your thoughts, they help motivate me a lot! 

Other: 

Series Masterlist

Normal Masterlist

-

-

The god of the sea, with dark eyes like the depths of the ocean and luminescent skin like the fish below, met her when she was just a new god. A goddess meant to manage Earth long after the original god had worn himself out. 

You were the newest addition to the collection of gods and goddesses. Everyday seemed to have a newcomer. It was bad enough that they need a welcome booth for where they all seemed to pop out of nowhere. The Earth was changing and so were the gods. When the god who brought the continents of the Earth together discovered that his apprentice, you, had accidentally triggered fault lines to break them apart, he was rightfully angry. 

“I can’t believe this. A million years of work to be broken like this.” He had hissed at you. You smiled, still young and hopeful, open to change. That’s what the new gods held against the old gods. They were more open and adaptable. They broke tradition. 

-

You met while you were busy arranging Iceland. You sat puzzled at your desk. It was glass with a large Earth in the middle. You could rotate it with a wave of your hand. For a long time most gods called you the insane ruler of Earth. The goddess that was always in her head. You spent most of your days alone, but you had your thoughts distracting you anyway. 

There was a soft knock on your office doors. You looked up quickly, hesitating to open the door. Maybe you could pretend you weren’t here? You shoved Iceland towards the top of the globe hastily, telling yourself you’d move it soon enough. 

“I know you’re in there.” A low voice announced. You knew that voice, everyone did. The god of the sea often complained to the other gods if they encroached on his territory. You had simply been waiting until he got around to you. After all, you were the reason for so much distress in the oceans with continents sliding everywhere. 

“Come in.” You sighed, not wanting to deal with the annoyed god. Taehyung always looked calm on the surface, but he had a swirling vortex of emotions below. You just didn’t feel like being dragged under right now. 

“Pardon my intrusion,” He started off, to which you held back rolling your eyes. “But there are important matters we need to discuss.” 

“Ever the polite gentlemen.” You drawled. “Well, I suppose I have some time. Please, sit.” You gestured to the chairs at the other side of the desk. You then waved your hand, shooing away the globe. 

“First of all,” He sat carefully, making sure not to wrinkle his suit. “I would like to request you slow down your innovations to the modern world. The continents are stirring up the sea floor and causing thousands of species to become endangered or extinct.” A muscle twitched in his jaw, giving away his frustration. 

You simply smiled, clasping your fingers together at the other end of the desk. “Of course, I understand your anger. However, Mr. Kim, there will always be change. Perhaps you just need to adapt?” Your words held a fire that so contrasted your innocent look. 

You may be considered innocent, lost in your own world, and fragile, but in reality you were anything but. You held a fire in your soul, a down to Earth nature, and you quipped back impeccably well. Taehyung had never met a goddess like you, much less a god. Usually gods and goddesses alike would bow to the whims of one of the oldest gods. He may have let the power get to him. He was taken aback. 

“While that, uh,” He swallowed thickly, not sure how to string together the right words. “While that is true, water adapts easily, I can as well. The issue here is the rate at which change is happening. It’s too fast to adapt. I’m asking for your compassion in this to understand my concerns.” 

“I’ll think on it.” You said vaguely. “I want to get the continents settled. After all, I have my own people to take care of.” 

He dipped his head slightly in acknowledgement before standing. The tension in the air thickened. 

“Well, then, I must be going. Thank you for your...consideration.” His voice was steel, but there was a hint of warmth. You couldn’t deny that you had enjoyed the snappy conversation. 

“Good day.” You smiled as you watched him leave in a hurry. It would take more than good looks or witty dialogue to change your mind on things. 

-

-

“Ah, Ms. Y/N.” A familiar voice reached your ears. Oh no. You slowly turned around, a forced smile on your face. 

“Taehyung, how lovely to see you again.” You greeted, looking past him to view the other gods he had arrived with. “I didn’t expect you to actually come.” Your face didn’t give away any emotion, staying on a stagnant smile. 

“Of course I would come, it’s your 1000th birthday.” His lips twitched into a smile. 

“And I will have many more.” You shot back. 

“The first millennia is always special. Soon enough you’ll be considered a proper goddess yourself.” 

“I’m not considered a proper goddess already?” You quirked an eyebrow. He let out a loud laugh that would seem natural if you didn’t know him. He casually ruffled your hair. 

“You’re new yet, don’t be in such a rush to grow old.” His voice had a touch of affection and you weren’t quite sure what to do with that information. He walked away to grab a drink and socialize with the other gods and goddesses at your party. 

It wasn’t a grand party, in god terms. You had a large ballroom in your home, though you rarely held any parties. Humans were tiresome and always needed something from you. That reminded you of another encounter you had with the old sea god. 

-

-

“What’s got you so agitated?” Taehyung leaned casually against the wall in your office. You didn’t need to look up to know it was him. That voice was iconic enough. 

“These humans.” You muttered, running a hand through your hair. “They always want more. It seems Jin has created a very greedy species.” 

“But Jin loves them nonetheless. He admires there tenacity.” 

“They’re like weeds.” 

The dark eyed god laughed genuinely. “You are correct, my darling goddess.” 

You rolled your eyes. “First they thought the world was flat and now they’re begging for a better harvest as if I have nothing better to do.” You massaged your forehead, holding your head in your hands. You sunk miserably into your chair. “What makes it worse is that I don’t.” You practically threw your hands up in frustration. “Why couldn’t I have gotten assigned to the stars or moon?” 

Taehyung’s gaze softened seeing you struggle so hard. He carefully approached you, looking around uncomfortably. What could he do? He lifted his hand and slowly patted your back. It was a mixture of being comforting and annoying. 

“Hey, it’ll be okay. You’ll learn soon enough that you don’t have to do everything they want. Yes, they’ll worship you, but they love you even more if they experience what’s it’s like without your guidance. They’ll appreciate you more.” He said, his voice deep and soothing. You sighed, back moving up and down under his touch. 

“You’re right, I guess.” When you looked up, you met his eyes. And it was like you were drowning. The orbs of his eyes weren’t obsidian at all, they were a deep, glittering blue. You felt like you were losing your grip, so you quickly pulled away. “Thank you, but I’m very busy.” 

He simply nodded and made his way toward the door. “Try not to be so hard on yourself.”

-

-

Even now, your eyes trailed him around the room. You shook your head and decided to distract yourself with greeting the endless sea of new guests. The temperature of the room rose with the amount of bodies piling in. You hadn’t expected so many to show up. You weren’t much of a crowds person, again, you were known as the looney goddess up in her head all day. 

“I hope we can get along well.” Seokjin smiled, placing a kiss on your hand. You smiled gently. 

“I, too, hope we can work together. Though, your humans are troublesome creatures.” 

He chuckled and moved to the side, making way for the last god you expected to see. The god of the underworld stood there, his presence seemingly dropping the room’s temperature in itself. He frowned, looking awfully out of place next to the bright colors of the night. 

“Mr. Min, lovely to see you.” You smiled pleasantly. He waved you off, eyes lazily surveying the room. 

“I just came to wish you well. I believe we’ll be in touch very shortly.” He whispered so only you could hear him. You froze. No god or goddess who was in charge of living things wanted to hear that they would be meeting the god of the dead any time soon. 

“What do you mean? What do you know?” You murmured back, fighting the urge to run to your office and check on the troublesome humans. Jin had left them in your care after he was done perfecting them. He claimed they were the perfect inhabitants for your lonely continents. 

“You’ll have to talk to Jungkook about it.” He shook his head, moving to the side. You realized you had been talking far too long and people were throwing you suspicious stares, especially Taehyung. You excused yourself from the long line and made your way to the bar. You practically stumbled into a seat, like you were already drunk. You must have looked physically paler than ever before because the bartender poured you a glass of something strong without question. 

Jungkook was a new god, like you. He had been made when humans were made. A very select few gods knew his reason for being here. That included the big three (Yoongi, Taehyung, and Seokjin), Jungkook, and Namjoon. The five of them didn’t seem very happy about him being there and they refused to tell you his reason for inhabiting this world. Taehyung would just shake his head, a soft look on his face, and say that he prayed you never found out. 

“What happened?” Taehyung slid into a seat next to you. 

“Tell me, Tae.” You turned to him, hand tightly gripping the glass. “What is Jungkook’s purpose here?” Your jaw clenched. 

“Why do you need to know?” He looked bewildered. 

“It pertains to the safety of my inhabitants.” You hissed. 

“You really shouldn’t worry about it.” 

“Why did Yoongi claim I would be meeting with not only him, but also Jungkook, very soon?” 

Taehyung’s gaze searched your face. He had a distant look on his face. Then he brushed his hands through his hair. He forced a kind smile onto his face, but his eyes were cold. 

“War. Y/N. War. He’s the god of war.” 

-

-

You rushed out of your room to empty the contents of your stomach out once more. You truly were the most human of all the gods and goddesses. You took on a certain amount of pain your little humans possessed, but this was getting ridiculous. How many times can a god throw up on an empty stomach? 

You were not well, everyone knew this. When you could stand, other gods sent you sympathetic looks. Your little humans. Your dreaded companions that plagued themselves with hatred for each other for centuries. 

You gasped for air, flushing the toilet. Your eyes closed, trying to hold onto your stomach. You couldn’t eat, you couldn’t sleep. You had to constantly survey the Earth to make sure they didn’t completely destroy it with any of their fancy new weapons. You fell to the floor, feeling like you’d just been punched in the gut. Gods, what had they done to your beautiful creation this time? 

You stumbled down the halls and towards your office, feeling more dizzy by the minute. Then you saw it, the news reports that flashed onto your screen, the carnage. 

“No.” Your voice was so quiet in disbelief. Then it rose. “No! No! No!” You banged your fist against the table, your other hand clutching your stomach. You felt sick, sicker than before, like you’d been poisoned. All you could see were the words atomic bomb and Japan. You wanted to scream in pain and frustration. You had no lively energy, no color in your cheeks. Your eyes were hollow. Your hands shakily grabbed the table as you pulled yourself to a standing position. Quiet tears streaked down your cheeks. 

“Jungkook.” You yelled hoarsely. “Jungkook!” 

Finally, the young god appeared in a shimmering light, an astral projection to your office. Unlike you, he seemed to be glowing, basking in the violence. Now he radiated energy and pure rage. 

“Please.” You choked, squeezing your eyes shut. “Please, stop this.” You cried out, voice breaking. He just tilted his head, seemingly reveling in your tears. 

“Why? I’m thriving, Y/N.” He chuckled darkly. 

“You’re killing me.” Your voice was flat, stating a simple truth. If the reason for a god’s existence disappeared, then the god would be forgotten as well. He smiled a little. 

“Fine, but you can’t expect me to hold back next time.” He disappeared and you collapsed on the floor, unable to stand any longer. 

Pain was all you felt, saw, heard, smelled. His sadistic smile forever burned in your vision. 

“Y/N?” A concerned voice came through. You heard a tray drop and the hurried footsteps of someone. “Oh my gods, what happened?” 

You didn’t have the energy to respond. 

“See, this is why I told you not to get so invested in your little humans.” He murmured, the low voice giving you a sense of peace. Inside, Taehyung was furious. Seeing you laying there helpless broke something in him. And when he picked you up, you were so frail, all bones. Your immortality would not allow you to starve to death, but you could feel that pain. 

“You idiot.” His voice didn’t wobble, though he felt like breaking down seeing you like this. Maybe he cared more about you than he should. Maybe he was the idiot for falling in love with you. 

“I just-I just wanted to help.” You murmured softly against his shirt. He just clutched you tighter, laying you down onto the large bed. 

“I know, love, I know.” He whispered, brushing a few strands of hair from your forehead. He couldn’t handle seeing you in this feverish state. This is not what a god should look like. 

Your ethereal light was faded significantly, now a dim glow. 

“I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have to take care of me. You have the sea to handle.” 

“I’d choose you over the sea any day.” He murmured, hoping you hadn’t heard, but you had. You just didn’t react, knowing he would feel awkward if you acknowledged it. Your heart beat quickly, and not because of the fever. 

You tugged on his hand. “Stay.”

And he did. 

-

-

“What’s the prophecy?” Taehyung tilted his head, looking at the pale god before him. Yoongi sighed and took a deep breath, ready to repeat the entire thing again. “No, no,” Taehyung held up a hand. “I’ve already heard that version. Just sum up the important points.” 

“Alright.” The older god grumbled. It wasn’t unusual for Taehyung to talk brashly. “Basically, I’ll meet my soulmate and they will lead me down a path that will end in my demise.” 

“Anything else that could lead to your demise?” Hoseok raised an eyebrow. 

The seven men all sat rather uncomfortably around a table in the throne room. They all looked around, trying to avoid the topic. Finally, Jungkook banged his fist on the table. 

“Can we all stop acting like idiots, we’re gods! Why can’t we utter his name? It’s pathetic!” He shouted. Namjoon shot him a glare and Taehyung eyed him warily. He still hadn’t forgiven the younger god for putting you through so much pain. 

“Kronos is not a titan to be trifled with.” Namjoon muttered, barely making out the name. 

“We all know he’s coming back, hell, even Y/N can feel the growing tension.” Jungkook continued his rant, though a little more subdued. It was true, you had been complaining of this tension in your chest for ages now. 

“Don’t talk about her.” Taehyung crossed his arms, leaning back in his seat. 

“What? You worried for your girlfriend?” Jungkook sneered. “You’ve grown soft for that insane goddess.”

His fists clenched under the table and Namjoon eyed him carefully. 

“Alright, alright, settle down.” Namjoon glared harshly at the two gods. “Jin?”

“Yes?” The sky god straightened. 

“Keep an eye on Kronos and Taehyung, please stay behind. I need to speak to you about something.” 

Taehyung simply nodded as the others filed out of the room. Now alone, he sagged in his seat. “What do you want, Joon?” 

Namjoon raised his eyebrows. “Is that any way to speak to me? Now, I need you to watch Yoongi. I don’t...I don’t want his love to be the downfall of us.”

The sea god scoffed at the other. “You really think Yoongi would fall in love with anyone?” 

Namjoon’s eyes softened, looking Taehyung over. “I mean you fell in love, it’s not impossible.” 

Taehyung gaped at Namjoon. “What-what? No!” He sputtered. The elder god gave him a knowing smile. “And what are you suggesting! I’m not that hard to love.” He mumbled the last part.

“Listen, you just need to take care of whoever it is.”

Taehyung’s face fell. “Take...care of?” 

“Make it look like an accident.” 

“I thought you didn’t believe that stuff?” Taehyung argued. The thought of destroying someone’s soulmate made his heart ache. 

“Of course I believe the fates. I just didn’t want to worry Yoongi too much. Now, Tae, you’ve found your soulmate, yes?”

The dark haired god tilted his head. “Really?”

“Oh come on, Tae. You can’t be that stupid. It’s obviously Y/N.” Namjoon rolled his eyes. Taehyung swallowed. 

“Why does this matter?”

“Well, I love you like a brother, but if you can’t follow through on this...” Namjoon looked into Taehyung’s eyes, a dangerous smile reaching his lips. “...I won’t hold off Jungkook next time.” 

Taehyung’s eyes widened. “But, hyung, this is too cruel.” Argued the restless god. 

“I have no issue with being cruel. I have an issue with Olympus falling to Kronos once more.” 

“Do you know who it is?” 

“Yes, a mortal.” 

Taehyung froze, swallowing thickly. “A...mortal? Hyung this is too easy.” 

“Mortals are easily curious and attracted to evil, you know this better than anyone...Y/N knows this better than anyone.”

“And yet she stays good on her word to Jin. She still defends them and helps them tirelessly.” Taehyung had even grown a soft spot, seeing how much you cared about those pitiful creatures. 

“She’s a bit odd,” Namjoon watched a muscle in Taehyung’s jaw twitch at that. “But she will understand, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“She’ll hate me, hyung.”

“Thousands are lost to the sea every year.”

“But never on purpose!”

“She won’t hate you. Y/N is your soulmate, she’ll understand it’s for the better of all gods.”

Though the sea god doubted this, he still nodded. “Fine. I’ll do it. But if I get kicked out of the house, I’m staying with you.”

-

-

You did not understand. 

“Tae! You can’t just do this to an innocent person!” Once she had overheard the plan, she ran straight to Yoongi to warn him. “She’s eight. EIGHT!” You felt distraught, feeling sympathy for this poor child who was almost killed for no fault of her own. 

“I can’t believe you went and told Yoongi.” Taehyung cried, slamming his hands on the desk. You flinched slightly, but that didn’t deter him. “I did what I had to! Don’t you understand that? Do you want to die? You’re part of the original gods who put Kronos down there. He won’t be kind to you.” 

“That was the original god, not me.” You defended yourself. “I’m sorry I went to Yoongi, but I can’t do that to him. I know I would feel absolutely heartbroken if my soulmate died.” 

Taehyung frowned, ignoring your statement. “Did you know?”

“Know? That you wanted to kill a child?” 

“No,” He stepped around the desk and took your hands in his. “That we’re soulmates.” 

Your face got visibly pale and you instantly dropped his hands. You tried to ignore the hurt that flashed across his face. “You’re mistaken.” 

“Namjoon told me.” 

“He could be wrong.”

“Would it really be so bad, to be soulmates with me? To live together, forever?” He peered into your eyes. You softened your facial features. 

“I mean, no, I don’t know.” You sighed, tugging at your hair. “I just didn’t expect this.” 

“I wouldn’t mind.” 

You stopped your worrying, glancing over his features. You searched for a sign of sarcasm, but you found none. 

“I think I love you.” You suddenly said, your voice quiet. He resisted the urge to kiss you right there, the look on your face was so pure. 

“You think?” He teased. He took a step forward and this time you didn’t move away. “I think I love you too.” 

He leaned forward, lips brushing yours, teasing you almost. You leaned up, planting a soft kiss on his lips timidly. It was all over then. He grasped your waist, pulling you impossibly closer. You ran your hands through his hair. His tongue begged for entrance to your mouth and you gladly let him in. Taehyung’s breath fanned over your face as he pulled away, leaning down to pepper kisses down your jawline and neck. You gasped, surprised at the neediness he displayed. His hands ran up and down your waist. 

“You know I’ll protect you no matter what, right?” He said breathlessly. You nodded, shifting under him. “You drive me crazy, Y/N. You make me want to ruin you.” 

You felt your cheeks heat up. You buried your face in the crook of his neck, the centuries of being alone slowly fading away. It had been so long since you’d touched anyone intimately. You were sure you were that last virgin goddess in this town. You nudged him away softly. 

“Not yet.” Your voice was firm but rang sweet. 

He whined ever so slightly when he pulled away, taking in your flushed face. 

“Gods, I’m so in love with you.” He declared. 

You were speechless. You were so madly in love with him too. But how could you say it? It almost embarrassed you to be so open in your affections. So you simply nodded, pulling him into your lips once more. 

-

-

You had long forgotten the little eight year old you and Yoongi had saved. Then she stumbled into the underworld, every god could feel the disturbance, no longer a little girl. She held herself with a lovely confidence. You couldn’t help watching her. After all, she was under your jurisdiction. You left your bed early in the morning, wiggling out from under Taehyung. 

You watched him slowly shift, not noticing the lack of warmth. You smiled at his sleeping figure. He looked so peaceful, no sign of the whirlpool underneath. You had long been swept under, but you didn’t mind. He never overwhelmed you. 

“Little human, what are you doing here?” You murmured to yourself, watching her wander through the halls. Then you remembered the meeting the gods had in a bit. You carefully flicked through the latest news, though you, of course, knew all of it first. You enjoyed the simple views of these papers, just trying to grab the attention of consumers. 

“You’re up early.” Taehyung stood in the doorway, watching you with such love in his eyes, you just wanted to melt. You were still emotionally unstable since World War II, unable to think about war without wanting to break down again. Taehyung hated that he never stepped in. He hated that Jungkook allowed you to go through that. You felt like a ghost, often drifting off during conversation, but Taehyung was always gentle and patient with you. It seemed you were the only one he had patience for. 

“Oh, yeah.” You scratched your head awkwardly. “Don’t you have a meeting to get to?” 

“Yeah. Yoongi said it was important.” 

“You didn’t kill the girl.” 

“I know.”

“What will happen to you?” 

I’m more worried about you. He thought to himself. “Nothing, love.” He opened his arms and you didn’t hesitate to hug him. “You don’t need to worry about me.” He murmured into your hair. 

“Just don’t do anything stupid.” You mumbled. 

“Of course.” 

You patted his arm lovingly. “And try to give her a chance, okay? You intimidate most gods, what can you expect from a mortal?” 

Taehyung chuckled, but he didn’t respond. You sighed and gave him a chaste kiss. “Be safe, love.” 

-

-

Your face blanched, watching Taehyung get dressed. His hands shook. 

“Where are you going?” You asked, voice small. He jumped, looking back to see you standing in the doorway. Taehyung fastened his necktie, swallowing. 

“Namjoon wants me to finish the job.” 

You froze, eyes widening. “What?” 

“I know.” He groaned, hurriedly putting on his shoes. “but it should be easy since she’s traveling to the surface to pack up.” He went to move past you, but you planted yourself in the doorway. 

“No.” You said firmly, crossing your arms. He looked at you, bewildered. 

“I know you don’t like this, but at this point I have no choice. It’s you or her.” 

“I’m a goddess, Taehyung. I’m not a fragile flower. I can handle pain. A mortal cannot!” You cried out. “If it’s me versus her, choose her.” 

His gaze hardened and he stepped forward. He place his hands on your shoulders. “No.” Then he moved you aside like you were nothing. 

“Kim Taehyung.” You were shaking, hatred pouring through you. “If you do not turn back around right now, I can promise you I will leave. I will leave and you won’t see me again.” 

“I can’t believe this.” He whispered menacingly. He turned on his heel, facing you, pain in his eyes. But he knew the terror and pain you were displaying on your face would be engraved in his mind forever. “A human over yourself? You truly are the most selfless goddess I know.” 

“They are my fish.” You gestured grandly. “If they die, I die. If the Earth dies because of them, then that’s my fault for loving them too much.” 

“You always love people too much. Including me.” He took your hands in his, giving them a soft squeeze, all anger from before was gone. “But you’re lucky I’m absolutely, madly, in love with you.” 

Then he turned around, leaving you frozen in place, heart beating wildly. “Taehyung!” You cried, dress flowing behind you as you chased after him. Too late. He was gone. “No, no, no.” You sank to the ground, holding your head in your hands. The pain you felt for that poor girl. 

-

“Lift your head, Y/N.” His gentle voice called to you. And when you looked up, there stood Taehyung in all his glory. Not a hair out of place. You scrambled up, immediately backing away. 

“That was fast.” You said bitterly. 

“How long have you been sitting there?” His eyes met yours. You glanced away. 

“Since you left.” 

“That was hours ago.”

“So you did it?” You answered harshly, already feeling the tears ready to spill over. 

“No.” 

You looked up at him, eyes blinking back the tears in surprise. “No?”

“I couldn’t. Not to you. Not to her.” 

A grin broke out onto your face. 

“So you do have a heart after all, Mr. Kim Taehyung.” 

He grimaced, “I didn’t like you using my name like that. I prefer you calling me Tae.” 

You chuckled at his forlorn expression. You walked forward and embraced him. His arms enveloped you in warmth and you felt completely safe. Completely normal. Now you understood why humans went to war for such trivial things. Before you couldn’t understand why they hated each other, why they hurt each other, and by default, you. It’s because they love something else that’s worth fighting for. And as you sank into his embrace, you knew you would go to war for him, even if Kronos ate you like your ancestors, you wouldn’t regret it one bit. 

#bts #bts x reader #tatawrites #taehyung #kim taehyung #taehyung x reader #of eternity and euphoria #fluff #angst #God!Taehyung #God!BTS #proof reading is not a thing here lol

[tae-cup]

The Pact | Teaser - I’m Fine

Pairing: Taehyung x Reader

Summary: It was simple. If you weren’t married by 26, you’d get married to each other. Well, it was supposed to be simple. 

Warnings: N/A 

Genre: ANGST, Fluff???, Non Idol!Au, Business!Au-ish

A/N: I did some quality planning for this...

Other:

Series Masterlist

Normal Masterlist

EXCERPT

You watched him as he got out of the car. He was as handsome as ever. He took your breath away. You raised your hand to wave as he moved to the other side of his car. Confusion was an understatement as he helped out a girl from his car. She was beautiful. Full lips, big eyes, a thin face with just the right proportions. You suddenly felt self conscious, gnawing away at your bottom lip. Of course, of course, Taehyung would have a beautiful girlfriend. And you didn’t even need to guess they were dating, you could tell from the way he smiled at her, the way he rested his hand on her lower back. You refused to let the strands of jealousy overtake your stomach. You stood politely as they arrived. 

“Ah, hello!” You greeted warmly, plastering a smile on your face. No, you couldn’t talk about this with her here. 

“Hello.” Taehyung’s deep voice made you shiver. It had been 10 years since you’d heard it last. It reminded you of late summer afternoons, lazy mornings, and the most secret moments at night. You were almost lost in your memories when the girl beside him dipped her head.

“Hello.” The young girl smiled back at you. She seemed nice, and that only made your gut twist more. 

“I’m Y/N.” You introduced yourself, sitting down and taking care not to crumple your dress. 

“Jennie.” The girl said curtly. You couldn’t tell if she wanted to be here or not. 

“I believe we’ve already met, but I’m Taehyung.” The handsome man chuckled. You only managed a weak smile. Was he not nervous at all? Did he not fret over what to wear or what to say like you did? Why would he? He has a girlfriend, Y/N. You mentally slapped yourself. 

“Right, long time no see.” You said quietly. There was a long pause. Jennie busied herself with looking at the menu, her hand always somewhere on Taehyung. You could tell she felt uncomfortable and you understood. You would also feel immensely uncomfortable if your boyfriend’s long lost best friend suddenly reappeared out of the blue. If she knew what you were  supposed to be here for, Jennie didn’t show any sign. She may just be a wonderful actor. 

“This is my girlfriend.” He said after the pause. His eyes never left yours. It would be unnerving if you hadn’t known him for so long. Somehow, him saying it out loud made it 10x worse. You almost wanted to puke. This was bad, very bad. Why did you even think this was a good idea? You watched his hand squeeze her hand reassuringly. 

“Ah, you’re very beautiful Jennie.” You couldn’t even lie, it was just the truth. “I just wanted to catch up, it’s been a while.” 

Taehyung nodded slowly, swallowing. 

“Indeed it has.” 

You missed the way Jennie’s eyes flicked suspiciously between you two. You missed the way she held onto Taehyung’s hand even tighter, the way her knee brushed against his. 

“Well, surely you could have reached out sooner.” Jennie smiled, her tone kind, but her words portraying something harsher. You refused to wince. That was a sort of jab you had expected from Taehyung, not his girlfriend. Had he told her about you? About what happened between you two? At least when it came from Jennie, you could let it roll off. 

“You’re right, my apologies. Things have been hectic.” The lie came so easily. Even Taehyung narrowed his eyes slightly. 

You had almost wanted Taehyung to be resentful towards you as much as you were towards him. But then you saw his smile and the way he laughed at whatever you said and you decided no, I don’t want that bad feeling anymore. So you tried to let it go. 

Sadly, resentment’s roots are strong and you had only managed to forget it until halfway through lunch. Jennie hadn’t spoken much after your brief exchange and you began to get more comfortable. You reminisced about the old times, staying dutifully away from the time period beyond 14. 

“Oh my god, then Jin went NO! And practically ran for the cake, but then it went shoooooooooop and landed straight on the floor.” Taehyung acted out, arms waving in exaggeration. “Poor man! He made that beautiful cake only for Namjoon to knock it over.” He tsked ruefully in mock pity. You stifled a laugh. 

“Ah, so that’s what happened to the cake. Ms. Wheeler wasn’t happy that we’d practically destroyed her birthday cake. She sent us to detention.” You giggled. “You guys should have known not to trust Namjoon near anything.”

Taehyung crossed his arms, almost pouting, and suddenly you’re reminded of the kid you fell in love with. You pulled yourself from going down that train as you continued on with the conversation. 

“What were we supposed to do? You had already kicked him out of the class decorating station!” 

“That was for his own safety! We had glue guns in there!” You cried out in defense. “You saw what he did to that nerf gun!”

Taehyung snorted and you both broke out into laughter. Jennie stirred her soup, looking quiet. This time you noticed her gripping his hand. Her knuckles were white and you glanced to see her fist shaking in her lap. You frowned ever so slightly, but continued on. 

“So, why did you call me up?” He raised a questioning eyebrow. Your gaze flicked to Jennie and then back to him. His eyes followed your movement. 

“Just to catch up. I have an...important event in a few weeks.” You murmured, the mood of the table shifting. He bit his lip and nodded. 

“Okay.” He stated simply. That word, so blunt, yet so telling. He remembered. He remembered and he didn’t want to talk about it with you. He’s moved on. 

#bts #bts x reader #Taehyung x reader #angst #fluff #The Pact #tatawrites #teaser #Non idol au #business!au