#further note to self: follow up on this whole 'hat's a hood' business

[socialitesleuth]

no maybe yes.

but, y’know…

you’re super duper smart n’ stuff.

you know the answer. you know everything.

So you know what’s high? Thunderbird Five is high. Soooo high.

helovesyou

Btw, Hat’s a Hood. Ask Scoot.

Okay.

Okay

Bye.

Well, I'm not sure I'm that smart. I don't think I know everything. I don't think anyone does, for that matter.

Thunderbird Five is high, yes... but I'd wager you're metaphorically higher.

'Hat's a Hood?' I'm afraid I don't follow you. Why don't you try and get some sleep? Everything will feel better in the morning.

[jimlingss]

Worshipers of the Sea

Part of the Worshiper Series

➜ Words: 16.3k

➜ Genres: 98% Fluff, 2% Angst, Pirate!AU, Mermaid!AU, God!AU

➜ Summary: You are the greatest pirate to set sail across the ocean and self-proclaimed ruler of the ocean. But when the true God of the Sea catches wind of your hubris, he punishes you — taking your legs and turning it into a tail.

➜ Notes: This story shares the same universe as Worshipers of the Sky. They are companion pieces, but it is not necessary to read one before the other. Each can be read as a stand-alone piece. Enjoy!

The ocean shrinks at the sight of you.   It’s pathetic, the tides retracting, waves quieting, not at all as fearsome as some ignorant folks make it out to be. It’s less daunting and mysterious than all the tales told on shores, the rumours that are whispered to children not to go near it during the night and to be careful lest the waters swallow them whole and take them to places unknown. They’re afraid but maybe it’s because they don’t have the privilege of knowing what you do, of having the powers you do, of being God of the Sea.   “To another successful voyage!”   The noisy clanks of glasses fill the tavern, golden liquid spilling over the rims from the reckless movements, splashing onto the tables, but no one has any regard. You’re all too busy downing the rum that runs dry in your mouth, but smooth down your throat. It quenches your thirst and drunken laughter heaves out of your bodies.   “Drinks are on me,” one of your crewmen lifts his glass over, nearly falling off his stool, and there are more cheers, disrupting the conversations of the locals.   “Oh, please.” The only other female pirate rolls her eyes. “You don’t have to act so gracious. With the amount of gold we have, you could buy drinks for us for the rest of your life and then some! Shiver me timbers, even buy this whole goddamn fucking place!”   There’s more laughter exchanged, and you savour the moment surrounded in your crew. It’s been yet another successful expedition that makes your shoulders light and your pockets heavy with riches still yet to be sold off.    “You got that right!”   It feels good to be on land again, even though you breathe the salt air of the open waters, it’s a pleasant change after months of endless journeys. It’s nice to eat something other than salted meat, sea biscuits, sauerkraut, and bone soup. You don’t have to sleep in a hammock either. Though, you still enjoy the rum off-shore more than you do onshore.   “Hey, hey.” A male pirate, ex-sailor, drunkenly calls out. His face reddened with rum, voice slurring almost beyond coherence as he waves his hands. “We couldn’t have done this without one of the best captains in the whole damn world! To our captain, Y/N!”   For the hundredth time, cheers erupt, this time in the form of a toast and you chuckle. “I’m glad you know the privilege of having the best navigators in the entire damn ocean. They don’t call me the God of the Sea for nothin’.”   You dominate the ocean, seated on the throne as the superior. You know the ocean better than it knows itself to the point that it’s afraid of you. No beasts or storms dare to stand in your way and people on land, peasants and nobles alike, whisper their tales on your adventures, regarding you with both fear and respect. You’ve traded with kings, queens, merchants. Nothing can stop or prevent you from reaching further greatness.    You’ve become immortal.   “Careful ‘bout your boasting.” There’s a curt whisper that makes the whole table go quiet. “Your pride’s gonna get you in trouble, girl.”   Your neck cranes, eyes narrowed into slits, lips curling in feigned amusement. “If you got somethin’ to say, old hag, dare to say it louder?”   The old woman sitting at the other table is draped in a black cloak, hood covering her face and shielding her features. But her wrinkled skin and shaking, bony hands are obvious in view. Her eyes lock into yours, irises deep.    “You should be careful what that tongue speaks. It’s terribly foolish to do otherwise,” she scolds in a raspy voice. “It’s never pleasant when the real gods are angered.”   You scoff. “Let me tell you somethin, ol’ lady. There is no god.” Behind you, the crew snickers at your boldness. “There are no gods that you speak of. They won’t come to save you when you beg or die. They won’t damn you if you do bad things. Your god is a tale to make people afraid. In this world, you either eat or get eaten, take or get taken from. It’s terribly foolish to believe otherwise,” you mock her tone, rousing more intoxicated laughter.   You turn back to your crewmen, drinking down the rest of your rum before being passed another full bubbling glass. You choose to brush off the stranger in exchange for celebrating. It’s not a night for fights, but a night of fun.    And you don’t notice the old lady sighing and shaking her head, warnings going unheard. There’s nothing more she can do if you refuse to heed her cautionary words.   //   You stand near the stern of The Divinity, overlooking the blue sea that seems to shimmer like the jewels you have prepared in the chest. Your white linen shirt is tucked into your trousers, matching the black, wide brimmed hat you have and your dark coat — a favourite of yours that was stolen right from a noble in front of his screaming lady. Gold decorates your arms in the form of rings and necklaces, contrasting the bright red sash around your waist.   You’re dressed as the queen of the ocean, overlooking your entire kingdom.   As rough as it can get living out here, you love being on adventures and exploring the world. You can’t stand the thought of staying in one small village all your life to marry some bastard and take care of screaming babies at home as he goes off to get drunk. It’s not the life you would ever want for yourself.   “Where to now, captain?” A male crewman approaches. He’s short and stubby, but has proven reliable in assisting with navigation. The barrels of rum have been loaded onto the deck, food prepared and nets being drawn in — everything’s ready.   You march across to the captain’s cabin, opening the door and pulling out the rolled map from the bucket. You spread the paper on the table, leaning over to stare as your fingers tap. “There aren’t any plans for any voyages any time soon. I think it’s best if we travel to the next port at Henesys. There are merchants I know who want to do a trade deal.” You nod, standing straight. “We set sail by afternoon.”   “Aye, aye, captain.” He goes off running to deliver the news and you glance back at the map with a smile. There’s so many uncharted territories, so many lands and spaces unknown. You’re excited to see them all, satiate your curiosity of what else is out there.   Eventually, The Divinity’s anchor is pulled in, ropes tugged back onto the deck. The ship leaves the docks, ocean town disappearing behind you. The sheets are billowing in the wind as the route is followed. For once, it’s a smooth and relaxed journey with each going about their own duties, dinner being prepared for consumption in a few hours time. You pace around to monitor and observe before stopping at the poop deck to look over the horizon to the clouds gathering.   If things go according to plan, you should arrive there in a day’s time….   “Captain!” A female pirate runs up to you, her voice bringing back your attention. “There’s a storm approaching. Should we prepare and release the anchor?”   “Not yet,” you tell her. A measly storm’s not going to affect your journey and you’d rather not be delayed. Those merchants are tricky and you won’t leave room for them to bargain because of your late arrival. “We’ll skirt the edge of it and pass in time.”   “Aye, aye.”   As if to mock your arrogance, the waves roughen and The Divinity rocks back and forth with more force as the hour passes. You look over with hands behind your back as thunder crackles in the approaching gray sky, lightning flashing to brighten the dark colours. And you openly challenge it.   No god could beat you. Your biggest enemies are humans with greed which no know bounds and itchy palms that find slimy ways to disrespect the code you’re all bound by. But the supernatural? Gods?    They’re all tales of trickery.   You won’t succumb to the religion of worshiping unseen gods out of unreasonable fear or to confide in when things go astray and pray with false hope. The only thing that has helped you in this lifetime were your own abilities, your own skills, and your potential. When expeditions went awry, you were the one that saved yourself — when treasures were found, you were the one who indulged.   There’s nothing above you or below you, nothing after death that you need to live in restraint for. Your life is the only thing that counts. And you will never cower or bow down to anything else, even when the sea threatens to pull you down with it.   “Batten down the hatches!” your voice bellows above the crackling lightning and rumbling thunder. “Raise the main top yard!” The helm is in your grasp and you steer straight, keeping your eyes on the horizon that is no longer horizontal. Your crewmen run with your commands, doused from head to toe.   “Man the capstan! Steer clear of breaking water!”   The cold rain violently pummels on top of your skull, falling down into sheets to blind your vision. Your crew members are filling buckets of water from the deck and throwing it overboard, but the effort is obviously futile. The ocean is angered, sky booming as if it were screaming, unleashing their wrath. The salt-water smashes onto the side of The Divinity.    “Brace up yards!”   There is total darkness with no end in sight, as if the sea wants something, someone.   The ship rises with the swell and another intense wave comes crashing down. It engulfs you and pulls you away from the helm, your grip on it lost. The surge tries to grab at you, knocking you to the ground. As you struggle to stand, shouting out instructions, your voice is drowned and your mouth fills with saltwater, wheezing after you swallow it. You’re shoved onto the deck floorboards again and The Divinity threatens to flip, tilting on an angle.   You’re knocked to the side of the wall, completely lost control, dangling on the edge.   “Captain!”   And just like that, you’re pulled under.

It is black.    With your eyes peeled back, a muffled scream coming out in the form of tiny bubbles, you try to spin yourself around to see where you are. But the surface is out of reach, too far, and no matter how you flail your arms, kick your legs to swim, it seems as if the ocean is purposely pushing you down to its depths.    You realize the sea was never afraid of you — it was merely indulging in you for the sake of entertainment like dangling a toy in front of a tiny cat. It was playing with you until it got bored, sick of your hubris and pride. But you can’t die like this. You won’t accept it.   A great pirate does not die so easily.   You won’t—!   Your vision is clouded in pitch darkness. Your fight and struggle to the surface dwindle as your limbs seize and your body begins to sink deeper into the black, afloat in the depths of the ocean like a piece of dust with no mind, no purpose, no strength.    The last air bubbles leave your lips….   But as your consciousness fully slips under against your will, you feel palms graze against your cheeks. Your lips graze against something before they’re being parted by a spongy but warm texture. It’s soft and plush, and then air is inhaled into your lungs, reigniting your senses.

When you come to, you aren’t dead.   You’re on your knees.   Rope bounds your arms behind your back and your ankles together, digging into your skin and rendering you immobile. Your limbs are heavy like lead, as if you’re being held down or surrounded by water — struggling would prove futile any other way. But what takes your focus isn’t to fight the compromised position you’re in, it’s the man sitting on the golden throne.   His thighs are spread, but unwelcoming, and the trident grasped in his left hand proves so. But what is most strange is how his jaw, facial features are chiseled to perfection, reminiscent of stone statues that you’ve destroyed many times over. The long strands of his hair are swept back, in the colour of magenta berries that are seldom in your reaches. And the drapes adorn that falls to his knees are distinct with the thin cloak draped over his side that’s blue-black in a shade as deep as the ocean.    Never have you seen such a blinding person in existence before, despite having traveled far and wide.   The man is otherworldly.   “W-who are you?”   The overwhelming scent of the ocean radiates off of him. He smells intensely of the fresh sea breeze, the salted air and foaming bubbles on the surface that you can already taste in your mouth. But as familiar as it is, you don’t let up. Not with the way his thick brows are furrowed when he stares.   “Who am I?” The voice booms, echoing all along the bottom floor of the sea to the very surface where bubbles float. It drops into a menacing tone, a ripple that morphs into waves as he announces his place in the chaotic universe.    “I am the God of the Sea. He who rules all oceans and waters, who commands all creatures beneath the surface of your eye, far and wide. I am seated at the throne with rains and storms at my feet, protector and destroyer all of all seafarers true or hungry. I give to you the vital living force to which you can survive. Kneel and bow to your god!”   You stare, unsure of where you are when the walls are white, when the stone floor digs into your knees as your eyes reflect the gold decor surrounding the room. There are riches untold in this space, jewels and antiquities you can only imagine where they came from. But as you mull over your position, refusing to move, there is a force upon your back that shoves you to the ground.   You wheeze, gasping and water enters your mouth, causing you to cough it out.   There’s water all around you that can be swallowed, but unable to be breathed in. Your eyes open in shock, bulging at the tiny humans with their downcast heads. They are dwarves, ones of which you’ve seen paintings of, but their bottom halves are of octopuses, tentacles for legs. Those creatures refuse to look at you or at the male on the throne.   “I know your name.” Your teeth grit. You don’t know where you are, if this is all a nightmare or if you’ve been sent to damnation, but you grasp onto the only thing you’ve ever had — pride.    You’ve heard stories and tales of his bravery since young, from sailors and fishermen who sung his name in relief and cried it out as their last lifeline. While you never believed it, you might start changing your mind. “Jungkook.”   The half-humans and half-octopus holding you down with the bottom of his spear sharply inhales. “How dare you call your god by name, mortal.”   Jungkook waves the guard away, and you use your remaining strength to pull your torso up from the floor. Your eyes are narrowed in to stare at him. You won’t be scared when you have nothing to fear. There’s no reason to be afraid of a great god who cannot even save his own people. “If you know my name then you know who I am.”   “You must know mine too.”   His brow cocks, head tipping to the side. “Even in the face of your god—”   “—I have no god.”   The servants, only three feet tall, flinch. He bellows deeper, louder, ignoring your blatant disrespect. “—you are still, but a dirty human with a foolish arrogance. A hamartia that will kill you quicker than you can cry. Should’ve never soiled my mouth on you,” he spits and you frown, not knowing what he means. “But allowing you to drown would’ve been too easy of a punishment.”   “Punishment?” you scoff, challenging him openly, “And why am I deserving of punishment?”   “Your hubris is deserving of damnation in the underworld for eternity. To claim that you are the god of sea, of the ocean bowing to you, that you are equal to a god is an absurdity I have not faced for millennials. Your blatant disrespect and contempt is neither courageous nor gallant. It is foolish,” he curses.   “I only speak truths. And you are no god to me,” you bite back, refusing to allow him to speak down to you on his high horse. “I don’t put my faith in gods I do not see, in gods that don’t help in times of need, of gods that do not answer prayer.”   “I am seated before you and you….dare to reject me?”   “You take me because of my hubris and punish me so, but where were you when sailors were dying at sea? Where were you when the fishermen cried out to help? The men who were lost on passages to their families? I will never bow down out of my own will to a god who is more concerned about arrogance than saving his people.”   Jungkook’s jaw clenches, but after a second, he relaxes into a smirk. “You dare question my will and principals when all you have done is stolen? You have earned nothing that you have.”   “I steal and pillage to survive. Some of us don’t have the choice of sitting on thrones with a bunch of servants at our feet. Do not try to divert the blame to me.”   “Enough.” His voice draws deep from the pit of his stomach, walls seeming to rumble. “I will not sit here and argue with a mere mortal. I would rip that mouth off your face and take your voice if not for the fact that it’s the only amusing thing about you.” He smirks again, a rush of air leaving his nostrils in a snort. “Instead, I have chosen your rightful punishment. Your legs will be the price of your arrogance and pride.”   “My legs?”   “I command you to never walk upon the lands of treasure to satisfy your thirst of greed nor set sail amongst the sea to claim you are a god again. If the ocean is which you treasure, then you will live in it for the rest of eternity,” he bestows to you, a curse, a penalty for your sins. Jungkook sits at the top of his throne, but you never stop staring him down, unrelenting with your jaw clenched. “Your legs for a tail. Half-human, half-fish.”   “Half-fish?!” you shout in exasperation, struggling to get to your feet. The servants gasp at your blasphemy, of daring to interrupt and scream. The guards threaten to push you down, but you’re still agile and quick, slipping out of their grasps. You stumble against your binds, managing to get halfway up the steps to his throne, closer, and you catch the way he flinches.   “How fucking dare you? You are no god to me. You are a coward who is scared of others standing up and taking your place. You—!”   A shriek tears from your throat. You flop to the ground. Your legs burn, immobile, limp and heavy. Jungkook stares at you and the corner of his mouth curls. “Careful. The monsters and beasts of the sea love to eat humans.”

You don’t know how long it’s been.   You can breathe as much as you’d like, the water like air. Your skin is no longer bothered by the temperatures of the waters or when it freezes during the night. Your hair doesn’t become soaked like seaweed and heavy on your scalp when it flows freely.    It’s become easier to swim, fluid as if you are a part of the waves. And it’s as if you were born with a fish tail instead of legs, that your bottom half has always been filled with colourful scales. Pink and blue, glistening in the lights and shining like jewels you’ve once stolen. It flickers behind you like a good friend, slimy and coarse at some part, smooth at others.   It feels like you’ve always been like this.   But you know exactly how long it’s been.   You’ve been counting, tracking the stars and seeing how they align. What feels like an eternity has been but a single day. One sunrise. One sunfall.   Within the second hour of your transformation, you found The Divinity. It’s set back in its course after a small delay. But there was no way you can contact your crewmen now. They would never believe you.   You know better than that after being a pirate for so long. They’d think you’re a mythical creature trying to lure them into a trap to capture them.   So you’re left with watching from afar. Once they make it to shore, they’ll wait for you for three days — as stated in pirate code for members gone missing — and then they’ll go on without you.   You stay away from the surface after watching your ship leave, aware that other fishermen and sailors would jump at the chance to spear you and show your corpse off at circuses. Thus, with no other direction to swim to, you head to the depths of the ocean.   “You’re a….cecaelia?”   “Yes, half-human, half-octopus.” The young female bows her head reverently in greeting, tentacles holder her in place. “We are under the domain of the Gracious Jungkook, blessed is he who is brave and courageous and protects us all.”   You hold back from rolling your eyes.   But it was amazing how there were towns and civilizations under the water like this, life forces you’ve never known, practically a kingdom beneath your nose.    As you gaze around, you disregard the stares from the creatures — they’ve never seen anything quite like you before. Half-fishes like you aren’t so frequent, you’d like to assume.   “You are…?” she asks politely.   “I am Y/N,” you state honestly. She was kind enough to stop when you blocked her way. Not many wanted to speak to you. Each seemed to lower their heads and go on about their day quietly. “I don’t know what I am.”   “Oh.” The female cecaelia quirks her head to the side as a fish squirms by. “Are you lost? Do you need assistance?”   “No, well, yes. I’m looking for Jungkook,” you say plainly. “I was cursed by that scoundrel and fucking turned into this. So where is he?”   “The Great Jungkook?” she whispers in shock but doesn’t question it. If anything, she is more scandalized by your blatant disrespect and tries to divert the subject. “You must be a mortal...a maid, perhaps? Then that makes you a maid of the sea, a mermayde. I-I’ve never met a mortal before. It’s nice pleasant waters today, isn’t it?”   “Mermaid?” You’ve never heard of such a thing before, but you quickly shake your head, not entertaining the idea. You won’t allow her to evade the subject. “Where is he.”   “Y-You cannot search for our Great Jungkook. He only comes to you through prayer and sacrifice.” She bows her head and tries to swim away but you block her.   “Bullshit. Where does that bilge rat live?”   You’re not going down without a fight, demanding that she tell you. And once cornered, the creature’s trembling bottom lip is bitten into by her teeth.   You’re going to spear that bad-tempered rat with a pole when you can get your hands on him.

Jungkook walks along the carpeted corridor, glancing out the windows to where bubbles are slowly floating and making their way to the surface.   He hums a low note. “That human….have you heard any news about her?”   “The half-fish?” His servant, Sungdeuk, squeaks and yelps when Jungkook graces him with a glance. He bows his head even more. “L-Last I heard, there was news on the south shore that she traveled to the surface.”   “Hm.”    The Water God wonders passingly if you’re stupid enough to get noticed by sailors or fishermen. It would be a death sentence.   “Would you like to meet her?”   “No.” He continues walking again and the servants behind him tottle quicker after his shadow.   Jungkook couldn’t care less about your existence at this point. He’s asserted dominance by punishing you. But he’ll admit…..you’re terribly entertaining. 

His place is fucking massive. It’s unnecessary and excessive, but you wonder if that’s just your jealousy speaking. You’re rather self-aware.   You also know that given the chance, you’ll swipe and pillage the entirety of his home. You’d throw it onto any human boat just to get his precious antiquities onto land and out of his damn reach. But that might not even be enough to satisfy the anger you have boiling beneath your skin.   You want to see him — and kill him.   “Let me into the palace.”   The half-human, half-octopus guards ignore your presence completely.    “Let me in, scoundrels! Do you know who I am?! I demand an audience with your god!”   They allow themselves to be pushed and shoved and shaken, but never do they once inch away from their posts, still always blocking the entrance way.   There’s no other way in that you can see. You can’t swim up or down or crash into the stone walls. There’s little you can do but scream.   It’s fine by you. You still have at least forty years left to live. You’ll spend all those decades out here if need be. Your anger is enough to last that long and beyond.   “He’s a scalawag! I bet his mother was a wrench! Probably died in grief giving birth to a boy like him! A god?! Pft! More like a bilge rat!”   Your insults garner no reaction but glares.    Little do you know the impact inside the palace.   “Gods, what is that ruckus?!” Jungkook stands up from his throne chair, thumping the bottom of his trident as he demands an answer from his servants.   “Y-Your majesty,” Sungdeuk pipes up in a pathetic cry. “I-It’s the mortal you cursed.”   His expression falls. His lips pull in a straight line, eyes dimming. He is unimpressed and sighs, sitting back down and waving exhaustingly to his attendant.   “Continue reading the report.”   It takes three full days.   Three days of eating seaweed, of screaming and yelling and throwing insults, of throwing a massive tantrum and garnering the stares of servants and guards alike, in front of the entrance of his magnificent palace.   And unbeknownst to you, Jungkook can’t get rest whatsoever. He cannot lay down or even sit with a moment of peace. Not when you’re out there blatantly disrespecting him and soiling his home with your yells of letting you in and declares that he’s a rat or scoundrel — he’s unsure what the last one even means.   It gets to the point where his servants are on their tip-toes, afraid of his mood swings.    And Jungkook breaks.   “Get her in here!” He suddenly screams during a morning feast.   And when one guard comes rushing out, saying to the other that the god will entertain you, you are absolutely delighted.   This time, you’re able to swim through his palace, water surrounding you, but weightless and breathable. You’re no longer using your feet, but at least you’re not tied up in ropes like a sick present.   You hover over the lapis lazuli tiles, marveling at the magnificent decor and columns spiraling upwards infinitely. The servants stare, though you pay no mind, looking on with a sort of observation that holds less fear and more of an interest in what's possible to steal. But before you can even swipe something for later, you’re led into the familiar throne room and come face to face with the god you scorn and who’s cursed you for eternity.    There’s a nymph perched on his lap, a creature you recognize from mystical tales told in the moonlight. She is mystical, gorgeous with flowers decorating her hair and a sheet for a dress loosely draped over her frail frame. But she stares at you with a certain disdain, eyes narrowed in like a feline prepared to pounce.   “You can go, Jieun.”   Jungkook dismisses her and she sneers at you, turning her nose before hopping off his lap and strutting off with a servant stumbling behind her. You’re not amused in the least bit.   The god is lazy, exhausted as he slumps and diverts his attention to his fingernails like you are not even worthy of him looking at. “What is that you want this time?”   “My legs,” you demand, much to the mortification of his reverent servants. Your hands are digging into where your hips should be, but instead where slimy scales begin. “Now. Give it back to me.”   He scoffs with a grin and finally looks at you, arrogant in his gaze. “Absolutely not. You obviously have not learnt anything or suffered enough to speak to me in such a disrespectful tone. But, I’ll make an exception since you’re such a pretty, little thing. If you beg hard enough and bow down before your god, I’ll let you stay at my palace.”   Your brow twitches. It’s enough to set you off.   “Fuck you, you bilege rat, ya honourless scum.” There’s a sea of gasps, guards lurching forward to drag you out, but you continue to cuss him out with the temper of a pirate captain, “Come here ‘n fight me like a real man! Aren’t you supposed to be a god?! How dare you sit atop your throne and speak to me that way! You know what you are?! A hogshead barnacle! Rotten to the core—!”   The guards throw you out and you scream echoes throughout the room.   The doors shut with a deafening bang.   Jungkook sighs and resorts to rubbing at his temples with his fingers to lessen the onset of the headache. “Your majesty,” Sungdeuk pipes up by his side and when he turns to look, they all duck their heads. “W-why won’t you silence her? Her rudeness is quite….hard on the ears.”   “Let me teach you something…” The Water God stands and walks away as the parade of servants and guards begin to follow. “You don't kill your jesters unless you want to die of boredom.”

How dare he.   That damned scabby sea bass son of a sea witch.   In retrospect, you probably should’ve contained your anger. After days and nights of demanding to see him, you blew it and got thrown out without even a full minute of contact. But it’s outrageous and there’s no holding back your anger. More importantly, you’re in full disbelief that no one’s ever stood up to him — they’ve all backed down, looked on in fear and it’s ridiculous.   “—water’s quite nice today, isn’t it?”   “Indeed. I—”   “Did you hear?” You interrupt the cecaelias’ conversation, swimming up to their side with a wide eyed expression. “Jungkook’s fallen in love with a human.”   “A mortal?!” They whip their heads over, mouths drawing open to catch the small fishes swimming by, eyeballs nearly floating away from their sockets.    “Our Water God, the Great and Gracious Jungkook?!” The female half-octopus gasps and shakes her head, scandalized to no end. “Never.”   You try to hide the smirk tickling up on your lips. “Not as great as you think he is, huh?”   But the left one frowns and bows her head in spite of the rumour. “Even so, we shall not speak ill of our god. He knows what is best and protects us from all evil.”   Upon hearing it, the right one follows suit, also lowering her head. You roll your eyes blatantly in disdain, though with a little admiration with how loyal his subjects are. “Oh, there’s no reason to be afraid of him. He doesn’t hold as much power as everyone thinks he does. He’s just like us.”   They exchange expressions with one another.   It’s working.   You’ll get back at him one way or another. You can destory his kingdom from the inside out, illegitimize the fucking throne that he sits on. You know more tricks than just brute strength — you’re one of the greatest pirates the world’s ever seen after all.   “Did you know? The Water God isn’t as tall as he makes himself out to be. His throne sits high up but he’s really just five foot two. A tiny twerp, that fellow.” — “He’s very bad at counting. Has to rely on his servants to keep track of his belongings. Not as smart as he comes across.” — “He’s a skirt chaser. All day long he’s got different nymphs sitting on top of his lap. He’s a rather….lustful god.”   There are snickers and whispers, murmurs of his name that are spoken softly. And you continue to taint his title with every opportunity that presents itself.   “He’s fearful of seaweed.”   “Seaweed?” A smile threatens to tug on the creature’s mouth, a laugh held back. You hum while nonchalantly grabbing the clam drink that’s passed on the counter. It’s rather salty for your liking. But the atmosphere of the underwater tavern isn’t half bad and the creatures occupying the space are open ears desperate for secrets.   “It’s too slimy for his liking.”   The rumours spread far and wide. The sound of your voice echoes through others, rippling amongst the sea and tumbling into waves. You can see it, hear it when you swim through the underwater caverns — they’ve become less afraid to murmur the name of their god, excited even to have a change from the peaceful kingdom that brought boredom with its silence.   It’s perfect. If you’re forced to stay stuck here, you’ll make sure to find a way to rise above the tide, to maybe even claim his place. There’s no one to stop you.

There’s muttering in the palace, behind him, by his side, all around. They’re whispers that he can’t pick up on, not when they’re transpiring across the corridor and when the servants see him, they duck their heads and shut their mouths tightly. One thing is for certain…   They’re speaking about him.   “Sungduek.”   “Y-Yes, your majesty?”   “What are they saying about me?”   “I-I...uh...um...well...your majesty….n-nothing...of-of..of importance, I-I...c-can...ass...assure...you that.”   “Sungduek!” Jungkook shouts and spins around, stopping in his spot, his robes fluttering. The servant nearly begins sobbing with how harshly he’s called. “I asked you a question. I expect a proper answer. What are they saying about me.”   “Well…” He swallows hard, ducking his head low enough that his neck almost snaps off. “There’s been false rumours going around lately….”   “Rumours?” His thick brows furrow and his confusion is replaced with intrigue. The Water God knows only good things are spoken about him — perhaps this time it’s about how he’s brought more prosperity to the nation or maybe it’s about how there’s been less disturbance to the sea lately. Whatever the case may be, he wants to know, wants to satisfy his ego. “What kind of rumours?”   “Ummm….”   “Sungdeuk…..” Jungkook sighs. “I am getting quite tired of your mumbling and stuttering. You know how I feel about it, right?”   “Yes, sire.”   “Would you like to get blasted with thunder?”   “N-no, sire.”   “Then get on with it! Tell me!”   The half-octopus, half-human glances at his fellow servants beside him, but no one spares a glimpse of sympathy or of willing assistance. “T-that you’re short, your majesty.”   There’s a long silence.   The Water God doubts he heard properly.   “Excuse me?”   Sungdeuk rushes to save face. “O-of course, it’s all untrue! All of it! Even the fact that you’re scared of seaweed and pufferfish, that you’re allergic to flowers, that you’re afraid of seafarers setting sail across the ocean, that you’re in love with a mortal—”   His timbre booms across the land. “What?!”   “I promise you, anyone who speaks ill of these rumours again will be brought outside of the palace and suffer the appropriate punishment.”   “Oh, gods.” Jungkook turns around, headache worsening. He rubs at his temples, not wanting to start.   He doesn’t know where these speculations and scandals came from. It’s sudden.   But Jungkook also knows what else was a sudden change to this land — you.

It’s fun in the ocean.   At first, you were reluctant to come to terms with it. It’s not your home, not the place you wanted to be in. You rather set sail on the surface, chase after buried treasure and relish in the rewards of solving mysteries, make a name for yourself that people can bow to. But you’ve come to realize that there were plenty of secrets and gold in the depths of the sea too, places you’d never see if you still had your two legs.   There’s also a new sense of enjoyment of talking trash about that treacherous, boot-licker, sea-dog, Jungkook. No matter what you say about him, you haven’t gotten smote yet. And what’s he to do with you if he knew. You’re not afraid of death. And so, you swim far and wide with your tail, ruining his reputation while surrounded by the sea you love.   It’s not too bad.   “I don’t get why everyone’s so scared of ‘im.” Your tongue rolls casually, poor enunciation that doesn’t care for being proper. You’re rested against a rock, arm propped up on it with your chin in your hand as the scales of your tail shimmer with the light cascading down from above.   The young cecaelia hums, blonde hair clipped back with shells. “I wouldn’t say we’re scared of him! It’s called respect! At least that’s what daddy tells me.”   “Respect isn’t being afraid of talking. Respect isn’t being so reverent that you’re shaking in fear. I know what respect is, girl. Don’t try to fool me,” you counter with a bite to your words.   The child doesn’t understand half of what you say, but she continues anyways, tentacles flipping and playing with the kelp floating around, “But Mommy said that Water God’s done a lot for us! The least we can do is respect and pray to him. He protects us!”   “Darling, you protect yourself. Your parents protect you. The people you care about protect you. When has Jungkook ever protected you?”   “Well…” The female quirks her head to the side. “He….helps by putting food on the table.”   Your brow lifts. “Does he actually put food on the table for you? Have you seen him do it?”   “No.” Her voice weakens and she pouts. “But without him, we wouldn’t have food in the first place!”   “You would,” you tell while leaning closer, like a siren with a song that’s mystical and captivating. Her eyes are wide as she listens to you. All that you’re saying is new and she will sing your melody for others to hear as well. “See, the world works naturally with or without gods. There’s a balance. Without Jungkook, there would be food too. Your parents would catch it, they would cook it, and they’d put it on the table. It’s them, not your Water God.”   “But what about when bad things happen?” she whines, trying to understand. “Aren’t we supposed to pray and make sacrifices so things are better again?”   “When bad things happen, there’s nothing you can do to control it. It just happens. We try our best to overcome it ourselves, to become stronger ourselves. There’s no need for gods. You don’t need it. You can live perfectly fine without them. All you need is you and the people you care about.”   “Huh.” The child cecaelia slowly nods. “I never thought about it that way.”   What started off as petty revenge and a personal vendetta is quickly forming into something that tests your leadership skills. But you can feel it deep in your bones and you can see the way they look at you — less like you’re a foreign creature in their ocean, more like the door to a new world.   A revolution. A rebellion.   It’s your new goal.   “Has he ever helped you in times of need?” — “What has he ever done for you?” — “If he was so gracious, why doesn’t he stop death from happening? Why is there suffering in the first place?”   “Your ideas are dangerous, fish,” An older cecaelia interrupts your conversation as he lifts his glass of what you assume to be the underwater version of rum. If it weren’t so unbearably salty, you’d have a drink too.   “Aren’t you tired of being helpless?”   “We’ve been living fine for the past decades. Speaking ill of gods brings nothing but chaos and disaster.”   “We should be able to speak freely instead of being afraid of chaos and disaster,” you argue. “And sure, life here is fine. But fine? Fine. Is that all you want? Don’t you want to achieve greatness?”   “I do not want greed.” The creatures inside the tavern watch closely, heads flopping back and forth between both sides. The bartender’s hands move slow in cleaning the glass and even the souls hidden in the corners are oddly quiet. “I know when I have enough. I do not desire better or worse.”   “You do not desire better for your children? For the future?”   “My children will understand that this is best.”   You scoff loudly. “This ain't best. The person keeping you from best is sitting atop that throne of ‘is. Making all the decisions and benefiting from them the most. But who pulls the weight? Who’s all working while he’s sitting there enjoying it all? You.”   “Aren’t you worried that your courage is foolish, girl?”   “No.” You take your stand, voice loud and clear. “I’d rather die for my own dignity and honour than live being stepped on and being forced into silence. My voice is important. I want to be heard. I’m living here now, and I should be able to say what I want, have what I want and control what I need.”   There are nods, murmurs that agree. The older man smiles gently with a kind of condescending wisdom that isn’t appreciated. “And you think denying your god will bring you the freedom you seek?”   “I will fight need be. There is no god when there are no people to rule over.”   There’s shouting, the crowd roused up. Power tingles the tips of your fingers. You’re stronger than you’ve ever been before.

He can feel it.   Jungkook looks out the rounded window to his capital, the city that stands tall amidst the water. But while pride usually runs through his veins, this time he’s unable to relish in such emotion. Not when the waters are moving faster and the sea is unresting.   The walls continue to talk, servants that murmur as he strides past, whispers that seem to carry from the outside in. But this time, he pays mind to it. He notices. And he especially notices how it’s silent inside his head, how prayers are seldom echoing, less than what they used to be. The peace is unsettling. His people haven’t become less selfish in their begging and pleas. His people aren’t muttering about his great achievements.   He knows what’s going on. Jungkook isn’t a blind god.   “Sungdeuk.”   “Y-yes, your majesty?”   He shuts his eyes, jaw tight. He traces the noises back to a human that’s easy on the eyes and who’s fishtail glistens in the sunlight. But whose sharp tongue and jarring words seem to mar the unpolished beauty that the God of Spring would be jealous of. You — the most bottom layer of these seductive and infectious rumours. Your voice that is almost soundless, but still present.   “Get that human.”   “Certainly, sire.” The three feet servant dashes off, tentacles sweeping the waters until he disappears down the corridor.   And soon, Jungkook comes face to face with you who still dares to challenge him with an arrogant expression and your nose raised high in the air, never once cowering in his presence. His headache pounds inside his skull as he regards you, but his face remains impassive not to give away his fascination and amusement.    How could it be possible that someone like you, a mere mortal turned half-fish, can cause so much damn trouble in his kingdom. He couldn’t have ever fathom it. It’s intriguing.   “I know what you’ve been up to.” He lifelessly waves his hand, dismissing the guards and servants from the throne room. It’s just you and him, but you don’t seem the least bit intimidated.   “And what have I been up to, your majesty.” There’s a bite to your words, spoken straight from spite.   He gets up from his golden chair, arms behind his back as he walks slowly down the stairs to meet you at the bottom. He paces around, circling you as if you were prey, allowing the silence to increase the tension. Jungkook wonders what it takes to truly scare you.   “Trying to cause unrest in my kingdom. Lead my people foolishly astray and against me. You’re really something, aren’t you?”   “They’re not being led foolishly astray. They follow me by choice. They have their own will.”   “Your ignorance isn’t admirable. You bring forth chaos and destruction to my kingdom.” He fights back, stopping to face you and stepping forward. But you don’t back down, don’t back away, unwavering even when your bodies are pressed against one another’s. “I ought to just spear you and put you in my museum, you troublemaker.”   Your chin lifts, eyes narrowed into slits, lips a millimeter away as you taunt him. “Go ahead. I’ll become a symbol, a sacrifice, a martyr.”   “You view yourself highly, don’t you?” Jungkook scoffs lightly and steps back. “I’ve said it before but killing you would be a waste. You obviously haven’t been punished hard enough. No matter. I have other solutions.”   “What are you going to do?” you ask, not out of fear and more of morbid curiosity.   The Great Jungkook turns, so that you’re only able to see the profile of his face and the smirk that pulls on his mouth. “I have no choice but to keep you right by my side and keep a close watch on you.”

Maybe they were right — Jungkook, that bilge swine rat, isn’t a force to be reckoned with. Turning your legs into a tail was something. But being made to stay with him was the real punishment.    That ill-tempered bootlicker knows how to get under your skin.   “You-your majesty!” Sungdeuk throws the door open without warning, stumbling in on his tentacles like a mindless octopus.    “What?”   The Water God sighs at the rudeness, arm perched on his arm rest as Jieun rests on his lap. She twiddles with the thread gone loose at the hem of his cape collected at his shoulders. The nymph cozies up to him, but he pays no mind.    He’s bored.    Until he realizes that it’s you who’s imprudently entering into his throne room right after.   “When are we eating? I’m hungry.”   The corner of his mouth pulls. You’re dressed in servant clothing, simple blue robes deep in hue and that billow down. It’s simple attire meant to show the division of classes of the divine and commoners, but somehow there’s an unrefined beauty to it when it’s on you.    But where your two feet should be, it’s your fishtail peeks out, flickering to keep yourself a few centimeters above the floor, a reminder of the punishment he’s given you.    “Who says you get to eat?”   “Are you going to let your prisoner die?”   He laughs, the sound oddly melodic to your ears and not at all imposing. “You’re right. What kind of god would I be if wasn’t merciful and let the poor starve.”   “How gracious of you.” Your eyes roll to the back of your skull.   The respected Water God is about to rise from his seat before he realizes there’s still a nymph on his lap. His expression glazes over at once and he motions to her languidly. “You can leave now.”   You don’t fail to notice the way the nymph glares at you in spite. She lets out a ‘hmph’ before marching off but you’re not amused. “Hurry up before I cook one of your servants.”   Sungdeuk audibly squeaks.   Jungkook’s never dined with someone of lower status before, but you set yourself right across from him without asking and you begin eating without a moment’s notice, not even to spare a glance at him once. You consume the food ravenously, not caring if it’s poisoned or there’s a bound curse that’ll make you stay stuck in his kingdom forever. You’ve heard tales of such things before — but you’re sure it’s Jungkook who should be afraid that you’ll be present for eternity, and not the other way around.    Jungkook watches you eat and holds back a smile of amusement. “Is the food any good?”    You make a disgruntled noise and speak with your mouthful. “It may be the only thin’ good about this place.”   He gives a sound of a half-scoff and half-laugh. You’ve never witnessed the Water God in such a relaxed mood before, but perhaps this is the first time that you’ve even held a proper conversation with him that wasn’t filled with animosity on both sides. “I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself. But please, don’t talk with your mouth full.”   You look up with a brow cocked, ripping into a chicken leg with your teeth on purpose and opening your mouth again. “Bite me.”   Jungkook gives a disgusted expression. He drops his silver spoon, appetite lost.   He watches you smear your dirty hands on your robes. “Use a napkin for gods’ sake, you uncultured barbarian.”   You glare, forgoing your utensil and just to mock him, you dip your entire hand into his cooled chowder, cocking your head to one side as you feed yourself with your palm. His jaw clenches.   “You’re imprudent to an impressive degree. Your ignorance will kill you someday, mortal.”   “Hasn’t killed me yet,” you say sharply, unintentionally spitting at his cheek. At once, Jungkook freezes and then he wipes it off with his sleeve. He holds in the urge to smite you with lightning or take away your underwater breathing abilities to watch you drown. “Wha’ do ye want me to do now that I’m your captive?”   “First off, fix that poor language skills of yours. It’s uncivilized.”   “Fine,” you enunciate sharply once more, spitting at him again. Jungkook physically flinches this time and a muscle in his face twitches. “What. are. you. going. to. do. to. me.”   He wipes at where you spat at him and sits back, not touching his food at all. “Nothing. But I’m starting to think you should have a teacher to teach you some proper manners since you obviously didn’t learn any above the surface.”   “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”    You swipe two chicken legs off of his golden platter, one in each hand to eat. The tip of your fishtail flicks at his knees underneath the table. Your articulation is now proper but still foreign, and it causes you to spit accidentally at his face for the third time.   Jungkook takes a deep inhale to regain composure.   “You are not to leave the palace without my permission. My guards are already aware, so don’t try any tricks. But you’re free to roam as you please within limits. There are the gardens and the library. Maybe you can educate yourself in the meantime.”   “That’s it?”   “That’s it.” He smirks, clasping his hands together with his elbows on the table. “You’re stuck with me for eternity. Maybe you can learn to view me as your god someday.”   You scoff, almost vomiting at how disgusting the future prospect is. But while you’d love to soil his dinner table with puke, you can’t show your weaknesses to the enemy, so you challenge him instead, “Fine. We’ll see how long you can bear it for.”   //   Jungkook strides down the hall, his robes swishing slowly as he moves. They’re silk fabrics that are pitch black at the shoulders before bleeding like watercolours into an ocean blue, fading into a sea foam white at the bottom where it pools. He appears majestic, but certainly doesn’t feel so.   “The Goddess of the Sky has yet to respond to—”   He stops. He looks down. He lifts his foot. “Why is there mud here?”   His beautiful garments are now stained with brown. If he didn’t know better, he’d assume Victoria, Goddess of Agriculture, has a vendetta against him and sent cow manure in his path.   “O-oh, uh…” Sungdeuk dips his head, pausing from reading the report. The other servants notice and immediately rush over with a bucket and mop. “Lady Y/N brought it in from the gardens.”   Jungkook sighs.   //   His bleary eyes travel across the script, reading it over before finishing and handing the roll over to Sungdeuk. With a second of rest at hand, he muses how gods should relish in luxury, not slave away like peasants. But alas, being a ruler of people and being worshiped does not come easy.   His neck is sore. His legs are asleep. His head aches.   He wishes he could rest, but goes for the second best option he has.   Jungkook roars, “Can someone get me sea biscuits?”   The three feet tall maid comes tumbling from the side. “Y-your majesty, we don’t have any more sea biscuits.”   The Water God’s pupils flicker upwards. “Excuse me?”   “L-Lady Y/N’s eaten them all.” Her voice is small, barely heard in her squeal. “She’s taken quite a liking to them….”   It seems to be that you’ve made yourself right at home in his palace….   Jungkook sighs.    //   The doors open to his private quarters. While sleeping isn’t necessary for deities and may even be regarded as a weakness, in secret he desires the indulgence of a few hours of peace and quiet as he’s sure many other gods do as well….   But before he can step inside and retire, he notices his golden chalice on his vanity missing and the vase in the corner pushed to the wrong spot.    “Who was in my room without permission?!” Jungkook barks, loud enough for the ground to rumble.   The guard standing with his downcast head shivers. “Lady Y/N was in here earlier, your m-majesty. We tried to stop her, but, but, but she said you allowed her…”   Jungkook sighs. Long enough for his lungs to squeeze and hurt.   //   There hasn’t been a single day of serenity in the ocean since your arrival into his home.   When he sees you, there’s always a mouth full of things you have to spit at him, nagging and insulting, always undermining his power and authority to make him look bad in front of his own people. The only reason he hasn’t stolen your vocal cords is due to the fact that he has to admit it’s a little amusing. He’s never bored when you’re being noisy and defiant.   And it’s definitely more unsettling when it’s finally quiet.   Jungkook puts down the scroll.   It hits him and he doesn’t show it, but he’s even fearful.    “Sungdeuk…”   “Yes, sire?”   “Where…..is the mortal?”   “L-Lady Y/N is in the East Pavilion.”   The Water God’s thick brows furrow deep. “East Pavillion…?” The place where his harem of nymphs reside in preparation for his beckon and call, the ones that he doesn’t bother seeing these days. Nonetheless, what reason could you have to possibly be there?   Jungkook finds himself standing up, nearly falling over with how fast he does so.   He strides off and then stops mid-step, spinning around to his attendant. “Since when did she become a lady?”   “W-well, if she isn’t a lady, your majesty, then what is she?” Sungdeuk asks in genuine curiosity, blinking twice.   Jungkook sighs yet again.   …   You’re a prisoner of the palace, a captive that’s free to do whatever you please, and so you do what you do best — be yourself and wreck absolute havoc.   “What are you doing here?”   “What’s wrong with me being here?”    The nymphs gasp as you flop down onto one of their straw beds. They’re huddled in the corner like you’re a frightening creature, ironic considering they’re the ones odd to you. But rather than being frightened, you admit their beauty would easily seduce sailors and fishermen, perhaps even your crew members. Their skin seems to glow, hair made of flowers, captivating by nature. Though you figure they don’t have that high of a status since they’re essentially Jungkook’s concubines.    “It’s a disgrace!” Their leader shrieks, a particularly magnifying divine spirit that you recognize, having been perched on Jungkook’s thigh. “You can’t go wherever you please!”   “Jungkook let me.” Your head lolls to the side.   “How dare you call his majesty so rudely without any titles,” Jieun spazzes, “Y-You are undeserving of his attention, mortal.”   Your eyes roll to the back of your skull. “Believe me, I don’t desire his attention.”   “W-wha—”   “Tell me something.” You rise to your feet to pace around her, exactly like how her god had once done to you. “Your name is Jieun, am I wrong? Did you ever choose to come here, Jieun?”   The nymph is caught off guard as she stares at you. “I—..uh..it’s an honour to serve the Gracious Water God. I was lucky to be chosen.”   “But you didn’t choose to come here and serve Jungkook, right? You, yourself, didn’t choose to be here?”   “I am happy to be here. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” She continues to hold her head up high and the other nymphs are easily swayed with her, becoming more self-assured.   You smirk with an understanding nod. “Do you ever wonder what’s above the surface?”   “Above the surface?” one of them pipes up, curiously asking despite the sharp look Jieun passes her.   You answer her question happily, recalling it as if they were old days out of reach. “I used to live above the surface as a mortal. I set sail across the ocean, and saw treasures and lands unknown. I had choices. Above the surface, you don’t have to be afraid of anyone. You can decide what kind of life you want for yourself. You can choose where to go, what to do, who to love.” You look back upon them with a softer smile. “You get to live one life. Why would you spend it chasing after the sea God’s tail?”   The nymph frowns. “It’s an honour.”   “But is it what you want?”   There’s a ripple, murmurs that break through them. Jieun becomes disgruntled, but speechless at your dreamy description and the promise of possibilities that doesn’t seem so frightening.   “To serve Jungkook is exactly what I want,” she mumbles, mustering composure.   “But does he even love and appreciate you?” Your hand grazes against her shoulder, touch tender and gentle as you gaze into her eyes. “You’re worth so much more than this, than serving a god who never looks at you twice, who barely remembers your name, who just wants you because you’re here. Men are undeserving of beautiful creatures like you. You deserve so much more.”   “If I wasn’t here, where else would I be?”   Your smile has never been warmer and it doesn’t crack under the concentration of your forced persuasion that comes too naturally. “There are countless places to be. Underneath the ocean, above the surface on land. There’s so many things to do and see. You don’t have to be afraid.”   She turns away from you, hands clasped together. “Leaving isn’t easy.”   “It is now that I’m here,” you whisper. “I can help you….”   The nymphs exchange expressions. Jieun is lost. Her lips part. “I—”   “Y/N!”   There’s a roar of your name in a way you’ve never heard before. It reverberates across the land to the deepest caverns, stirring to the bottom of the sea floor. The enunciation imprints into your mind, drawing your attention and focus.   You turn around to find him striding in, dark blue robes swishing against the water, raspberry hair strands sprawled across his forehead. His palm opens and wraps around your wrist, pulling you towards his chest. You almost lose your steady footing and stumbling into him. Almost.   “What are you doing?”   “Nothing,” you say coyly.    Jungkook doesn’t bat an eyelash. “Really? I find that hard to believe.”   “Your majesty.” Everyone scrambles and bows, lowering themselves onto one knee except for you. You remain, intrigued at how deeply the Water God stares at you.   “Go to your room,” he barks out. And as irritated as you would be from his command, his disorientation only means that you’ve successfully gotten under his skin.    It’s an overwhelming victory on your end.   “You can’t stop the will of the people,” you tell with a smirk, tugging free of his grasps and leaving.   Jungkook sighs.    In the meanwhile, Jieun lifts her head, her pupils following your shadow without a shred of jealousy. Instead, it’s newfound admiration.   //   No matter where you are, the earth quakes beneath you. Jungkook’s beginning to question who’s the one with the real power and influence here — if he’s even deserving of his title and throne anymore. He’ll never tell you or anyone living that he’s re-examining his capabilities, but he’s certainly contemplating it with his harem shaken and Jieun bowed in front of him.   He doesn’t listen to her careful explanation of what she’s been thinking as of recently. He merely waves his hand.    “I won’t stop you. It’s not my wish to force those into positions that they do not desire to be in.”   “Thank you, your majesty, for your graciousness and kindness. It is a favour I will make sure future generations will know of and my children’s children will know of this tale. It was an honour to serve by your side and be put in this palace in the first place. I will never forget your mercy and benevolence.”   He nods several times, holding in yet another sigh. “I’m glad that someone knows how to show gratitude. You may be dismissed from your service.”   They follow her, one after another, the nymphs pack their bags. They leave the empire in search for a new life, causing the East Pavilion to be empty. Jungkook’s entertainment gone. All because of you.   He’s not as angry as he should be. After all, you’re his best source of entertainment.   “Are you proud of yourself?”   He joins your side, looking out the rounded windows to the garden of his water hyacinths and lotuses that are blooming in season. “I am.”   “You don’t care about the will of the people. You don’t care about freedom and justice or even integrity. You just want to bring chaos to my kingdom and make everyone defy me.”   “That’s right.” You laugh, turning to him and even bumping into him playfully as you would do to a crewmember after finding secret treasure. “And you’re surprised that it’s actually working.”   The Water God exhales shallowly, at a loss of what to do with you. “My people are innocent and easily swayed. They don’t know a criminal when they see one.”   “I’m not the one holding the other person as a prisoner.” You scoff lightly. “It’s not my fault that I’m naturally talented to be a ruler. People follow me wherever I go.”   “Tch, your arrogance. You never learn, do you?”   “You just don’t want to see the truth that I mesmerize people. I got a love letter from Jieun, did you know that? Before she left.”   Jungkook stares. “And will you accept her feelings?”   Your shoulder shrugs, not paying mind when your eyes are set at the golden painting in the corridor hall that’s held shape underwater. You ponder how much it’s worth. “Perhaps. She’s got good prospects. I’ve never thought I’d ever marry, but she’s a beauty. A treasure in her own way. Would get ‘em jealous on land.”   “I have better prospects.”   The corner of your eye watches him. It’s come out of nowhere. “Are you suggesting that I wed to you instead?”   The male god beside you doesn’t stop to chuckle or sneer at your question. He merely hums, not taking more than a second to reconsider his instinctive answer, “Maybe if you weren’t so insolent, I might’ve even had a thought or two to make you my queen.”   Your head swivels over in surprise, for once fully caught off guard. And he smirks at your reaction, looking down at you. “Don’t you know how merciful I am? If the other gods had their hands on you, they would’ve strangled you right away with their pinky.”   “Oh really?” Your brow lifts and your arms open wide, face knocking back. At the top of your lungs, you challenge Heaven to destroy you. “I welcome the gods too! Come get me! Do it! Kill me!”   There’s a sudden rumble of earth beneath your feet, the noise of lightning sounding over your head. But it halts the moment Jungkook slaps his hand over your mouth. He leans in close to whisper in your ear, breath hot against your skin, “Don’t fucking do that, you insolent idiot.”   You throw his palm off of you, sneering, “Bootlicker.”   He scoffs in sheer disbelief. “Excuse me?”   “Nothing.” You shrug mischievously with a laugh that sounds more like a giggle. An innocent noise that hasn’t been audible since you were a child. “I didn’t say anything, your majesty.”   Jungkook shakes his head and sighs. “I can’t save you if you anger the other gods. That’s out of my domain, so be wary.”   You pat his shoulder condescendingly with vigorous nods. “I’m sure you’ll find some way to save me, oh Great God of Water and Slimy Fishes.”   With the last word, you swim off, purposely flicking your tail at his knees and he watches as a tiny smile tickles at his lips. “What a troublemaker.”   “Only the best,” you chime without looking back, and he’ll admit that you aren’t wrong. He’s never had a handful quite like you before.   //   The longer you stay in the underwater kingdom, stuck in his palace and wandering in the same halls and rooms, the more things you come to realize. For one, this place isn’t as grandiose as it was first glance. When everything comes in porcelain and gold, those things aren’t rare as it used to be — you realize these treasures are rather boring and dull.    And the second thing that you mull over with so much time on your hands is how Jungkook is less like a fearful god and more like a capable man you’d meet on the shore.   He’s as ordinary as someone arrogant like him could be — at least that’s what you consider while staring at the obnoxious painting he has of himself hung at the front of the courtyard.   One of the attendants approach timidly, hands folded together and polite smile painted on her features. “Are you admiring his majesty’s splendor?”   “No,” you mutter as your eyes trace the slope of his nose to the dip of his cupid’s bow. You’re not sure if you like the way his portrait stares at you, wearing such a stern but gentle expression at the same time. “I have an urge to punch him.”   The servant is shocked, eyes wide. Your contempt is always surprising as it is refreshing, but she still clears her throat. “If I may speak out of line, Lady Y/N, your ridicule for the Water God may be excessive at times.” You shift towards the short cecaelia. “He’s cursed me. Look at my tail.”   “Yes, well, he is just and doesn’t deliver punishment without reason.”   “You don’t have to suck up to him. He’s not here.”   She adorns a reserved smile. “The Water God is at times cruel and prideful, but he protects his people and yours too. You used to be adrift at sea, right? He looks after seafarers. He’s probably looked after you as well.”   You remain quiet for a second after tearing your eyes away from his painting. “Then why are there storms? Why do sailors die at sea?”   “The Water God is not the only god in this world,” the cecaelia tells while wearing a look ridden with wisdom. No matter how much you try to lead his people astray and convince them otherwise of his supreme powers, most are loyal to the core. They only sway on the surface — a detail you’ve longed notice and don’t bother telling Jungkook. “There are many others that fight for control, that influence the winds and sea. But he tries his best to protect us against them.”   Your lashes flutter and you turn back to his portrait.   ….   Half across the palace, Jungkook sits on his golden throne, lap no longer warmed by a nymph. But beauty isn’t far out of his reach. Just a few meters away, there are sirens perched on their stools, playing stringed instruments with their lips parted as beautiful voices stream out.   Yet it’s the same seductive melody.   He sighs in exhaustion. Sungdeuk immediately notices. “Your majesty, is this not to your liking? There is another caravan of creatures—”   “It’s all the same.” He waves them away and the music stops at once. The sirens lower their heads and scatter from the center of his throne room.   “There’s still time until the next task. Do you wish to rest, your majesty?”   The Water God stands on his feet. It was his time for fun, to relax and enjoy his kingdom, a seldom occurrence. Yet, there was nothing to entertain him. There may be countless things to do, but they don’t matter if there is no desirable company…   Except, someone comes to mind—   “Where is the mortal?”   //   A smile tickles at his lips, one he’ll never show to the sunlight. Jungkook’s secretly pleased that you’re here and even more pleased when he finds you staring at his portrait.   “Thinking about how grand I am?” He tries to sneak up on you, but you don’t give him the satisfaction of being frightened.    The servant speaking to you dismisses herself while you scoff. “I don’t think I’m the one who has a foolish amount of hubris and pride.”   If only he was courageous enough to show, you’d see him sulking.   “Half of being a god is putting on a good show. If I was humble, I’d be underestimated. Heaven is built on statues, not just paintings.”   “Good to know the worshiped figures of the world spend their time wisely.”   Jungkook smiles and shakes his head. “We aren’t the only conceited ones. You humans, especially those who claim they’re kings and queens, have a taste for luxury.”   “Why don’t you don’t punish them?”   “Well, none of them go around claiming they’re the God of the Sea.” His ears perk as you laugh, finding his statement true. His gaze becomes imploring as he leans in closer. “I’m sure you know. You’ve stolen their paintings before haven’t you?”   “Paintings of kings and queens? I suppose. But they’re not memorable,” you hum before considering it carefully. “Oh. We once did a heist on Emperor Shang’s ship. That’s something to remember,” you tell as pride beams off your skin. “It wasn’t planned but we saw his ship from the distance and in the dead of the night, my crew and I jumped onto his deck and raided it. I almost got killed, but it was worth it. I’ve never had an emperor bow to me and beg me for mercy before.”   There’s something frightening in the way your eyes glisten, how your hands are curled in a triumphant fist. You’re power hungry and proud of such an accomplishment. It makes Jungkook muse that humans are so entirely fickle in their emotions. Yet, their enthusiasm is contagious.   “You never got punished for it?”   “Nope. We went on our way,” you boast. “I’ve set sail across the sea with my ship The Divinity, found dead men’s treasure, evaded execution, done everything a pirate could ever wish for. It was really tough, but worth it.”   You tell tales of your adventures while Jungkook listens in with curiosity. He doesn’t let you know that he’s already heard most of these stories from his own observation, from rumours that somehow were whispered to the underwater kingdom of his, and from what Sungdeuk’s read from reports of the mortal realm.   “You’re greedy,” he breathes out after ten minutes.   You scoff. “You are too.”   It’s blasphemous and he should be offended, but he strangely isn’t. Your defiance is almost expected at this point. “How?”   “Look around. Everything you have is made of gold.”   Little do you know that everything is merely surface level. Jungkook doesn’t care about his palace decor or what there’s plastered on the walls. Though he makes no effort to argue with you because he is greedy.    Deep down, Jungkook is aware that any other god would’ve punished your sacreligious behaviour by plummeting you to the deepest ravines of the ocean with a ball and chain attached to your ankle. They’d watch you drown, make an example out of you. But he can’t let you go.   Jungkook’s greedy — he wants more and more of you.   “If you think this is beautiful, there are many other places in this vast ocean that you haven’t seen.”   “Like what?” You’re genuinely curious, eyes boring into his, a gaze that’s ignorant as it is unwavering.   “The caverns. During dawn, it’s the most beautiful—”   “Take me there,” you demand. But after a second of silence and his heavy staring, you withdraw into yourself, muttering, “...please, your majesty.”   You’re too caught up in your own head to know that you didn’t need to ask. He would’ve happily shown you either way.   //   “Are we allowed to just leave?”   “Do you know who I am? I’m the Great and Brave God of the Sea, he who rules all waters. My domain lies in the most vital living force to which all can survive—”   “You’re slow, that’s what you are.” Your tail flicks in front of his face, swimming off.    Jungkook quickly catches up, and he doesn’t need to flail his limbs whatsoever or make an effort to swim. There’s a force underneath his feet that moves him, water currents that help to transport his body as he effortlessly folds his arms behind his back, standing tall and majestic.    Your eyes could not roll hard enough at his smug expression. But you brush it off, peeking at him again. “Can I ask you something?”   “Whether I give you permission or not, you’re still going to ask me.”   “If you have unlimited powers as a god and you’re supposed to protect seafarers, then why do they die out in the ocean?”   “Are you asking if I purposely call forth storms to harm mortals?” He turns his head. “Or are you asking about your parents?”   You’re caught off guard. Your parents were dead before you could even remember their faces, but you were told that the ocean dragged them out, that they simply never came back. You hated the sea for so long, was afraid of it, until you got out yourself in an attempt to understand.   The God of the Sea that people spoke about was something you never believed in. Up till now.   “I’m afraid their bodies are at the bottom of the ocean. My condolences.” Jungkook is straightforward and blunt, painfully so. “I may be the God of the Sea, but there’s a whole kingdom of gods and goddesses. A structure even I cannot fight against. My powers are affected by them. Namely...the Goddess of the Sky.” He grimaces, jaw clenched tight.   You’ve never heard of her, of such a goddess. But you don’t dwell when you’re suffocated in the tension. In an attempt to alleviate it, you tease, “Guess you’re not the almighty after all.” There’s silence that follows and you stare, voice softening. “It’s okay. It isn’t your fault.”   Jungkook shifts his gaze towards you, searching your expression. After a moment, he tears his eyes away and clears his throat. “Come along. It’s up here.”   The surface is close enough that you can see where the light meets the water, how the ripples shimmer and the world around you is a rich azure hue. You don’t ask questions as you come up for air gasping, having forgotten what the open world was like.   The entrance opening is far away and the water here seems to glow with the reflection of the crystals hanging from the ceiling. Every splash and splatter seems to echo throughout as you prop yourself up halfway. Your tail still flickers in the water while Jungkook stands fully. His legs work on land and it makes you look on in envy.   “Why did you give me a fishtail? Why not….tentacles or even flippers?”   “Would you have preferred that?”   “No, but—”   “It was the first thing I thought of,” Jungkook admits while staring at the way your colourful scales glimmer, catching the light and shining in every shade of the rainbow. “Sometimes, I don’t think it’s much of a punishment.”    He inhales and looks around, continuing, “What do you think of the place?”   “It’s beautiful.” Your voice reverberates against the cave walls and you watch your tail ripple your own reflection and Jungkook’s. He takes a seat beside you, propping his legs up to rest.   “You can’t get to this place without going underwater.”   “So it’s like a secret hideout.”   “Something of that sort.” He hasn’t shown anyone before, but he’s glad he could present it to someone who has much of an appreciation for the sea as he does. He can tell with the way you look around his world. “You love the ocean, don’t you?”   “Course I do.” Your tail splashes harder against the water, getting the side of his face wet and he flinches. Your giggle goes unappreciated. “No one can be out at sea for as long as I have without loving it. You’d drive yourself mad otherwise.”   There’s no place you’d rather be. You’ve grown accustomed to the breeze, the smell of the saltwater, the endless blue and the adventure of discovering lands unknown on the horizon. The rocking of The Divinity has become your lullaby to make you sleep easy, and the scenery of stars at night is something you wouldn’t trade for the best of treasures.   “How’s it like being in it?”   You hum a low note. “It’s nice. I get to see things I would never, but there’s something about setting sail that’s better to me. Maybe because it’s so exhilarating. When you’re deep in the ocean, it’s beautiful and mysterious, but also kind of peaceful. It’s quiet. But on the surface, it’s louder and unpredictable. I think that’s half the fun.”   “Aren’t you afraid of the danger?” Jungkook asks with an inquisitive gaze.   “No.” You twist towards him. “You’d be protecting me, right?”   The Water God scoffs, but is unable to look away from you. Instead, his hand wanders to the inside of his dark robes and your brows lift, automatically shifting backwards. “Why are you undressing?”   “What? I’m not, stupid mortal. I’m giving you a gift.” He reaches inside his pocket and takes your hand, opening your palm up to place something cool to the touch inside of it.    Your eyes drop down. There are ridges against your hand, a vivid tint of pink and orange that reminds you of coral, but a smooth and iridescent side facing up. “A shell?”   “It’s not an ordinary shell, mortal. There’s only two in the entire universe.”   “Who has the other one?”   “I do.” He flashes his own and clears his throat. “We can see each other if we hold it up at the same time.” Your eyes flicker over and true to his word, you find a reflection of him. “Whether you’re on ocean or land…”   “Why?” You blink, genuinely not understanding the purpose of his present.   “You’re a troublemaker,” Jungkook states indifferently while he diverts his eyes elsewhere. “You might need my help sooner or later. Take it as a present from your merciful god. Unless you don’t want it? I’ll take it back.”   “Uh, no thanks,” you scoff and grasp it tightly into your lap before he can take it away. “You can’t take back a gift once you’ve given it away. I know a prized possession when I see one.” The gentle smile he has isn’t hidden from your sight and your voice softens once more. “T-Thank you.”   The God of the Sea makes a disgruntled noise at the back of his throat and he nudges you towards the tiny opening of the cave. “Look, the sun’s rising. Seokjin still has it in him, huh?”   “Who?”   “Nevermind,” he hushes quickly and the two of you observe as the luminescent rays pierce through the horizon, shedding the darkness away from the sky. The light hits the water and bleeds through to make the blue a richer hue. It travels and soon fills the cavern walls in a shade of gold that twinkles.   You gasp and Jungkook smiles, stealing a glance of you.   You don’t notice how the waters become a bit warmer and the turquoise threatens to turn into a rose tint.   //   The ocean is calm, but the tides are playful — reaching out to soak children’s toes standing on the sandy shore. The fishermen are having better luck this season, catching nets filled with fish. The temperature too is pleasant for a swim, to play in. And Jungkook is happier than usual.   His eyes are glassy, faraway, and he pays little attention to the tasks at hand. Instead, a satisfied smile is constantly plastered on his face, glued to his visage, and quickly his servants become concerned. Especially Sungdeuk.   “—Goddess of the Underworld and her—” His voice drowns in and out. “Y-Your majesty? Your majesty!”   “What?” The God of the Sea snaps back into attention, wearing a stern expression that has his attendant dipping his head.   “Pardon me. I was just reading the daily report.”   “Yes? Continue.”   “Well, I asked a question, your majesty.”   “Right, right.” His brows furrow deep as he massages his temples. “What was it again?”   Jungkook’s thinking about you, mind too preoccupied. He’s trying to complete his duties as the Water God, to look over his entire kingdom. But somehow, his mind always strays towards you, what you could possibly be doing, if you’re causing trouble again, and what you think of him. If you still resent him for punishing you and keeping you here, if you’re grateful for that gift of his….   And Jungkook’s mind only seems to be satisfied when he sees you, when he joins you for dinner or breakfast or lunch, when he finds you wandering the courtyard or trying to steal his decor for your secret stash of gold underneath your bed you think no one knows about.   Jungkook’s grinning from the thought.   Sungdeuk glances up at his god and smiles. “Your majesty, you must be quite fond of Lady Y/N.”   At once, Jungkook’s expression wipes. His mouth draws into a straight line as he looks down. “What makes you say that?”   “W-well, you were just mumbling her name and I just noticed that your….mood improves when she is present.”   “Are you trying to say my mood is bad when she isn’t?”   “N-no. That isn’t what I meant exactly,” his voice is quieting until it’s an incoherent mumble. “If I may speak out of line—”   “You may not.”   “Understood.” Sungdeuk shuts up.   But after an excruciating long silence, Jungkook slams down the parchment and waves his hand lifelessly. “Fine. What do you have to say, you nosy servant?”   He stays in a reverent posture with his head bowed. “I-I think Lady Y/N is quite pleasing. I’ve only held one or two conversations with her, but she is very bright and bold.”   “Yes, she is.”   “And it appears that she eases your worries. Her perspective on many issues is rather refreshing. Her mind is brilliant too. She...would make a fantastic ruler beside you, your majesty.”   “Did she put you up to this?” He mutters while flipping through the pages of a book on the table in front of him.   “No.”   “Then are you suggesting that I marry her? A mortal?” The god barks out laughter in his servant’s ignorant and irritating face. It’s an absurd proposition, outrageous even. “Do you know what that would do to my reputation? A mortal is not worth my time, not to mention the creation of an everlasting union, you idiot servant.”   Sungdeuk squeaks, nearly bursting into pathetic tears at the insult. “But if-if you love her….”   “I don’t love her,” Jungkook scoffs instinctively.    There’s silence.   More silence.   It’s agonizing, drawn out to be utterly suffocating. But the truth dawns upon his shoulders and it’s still there even after he tries shaking it off.    Jungkook feels himself go pale. His throat dries. Perspiration begins to drip from his hairline.    “S-Sungdeuk.”   “Yes, your majesty?”   “A glass of drinking water, please.”   “Of course, your majesty.”   It’s true that Jungkook’s taken a liking to you. He’s fond even. But it can’t go deeper than that. There’s a rebellion on the horizon that you’ve created and that hasn’t completely died down yet. He shouldn’t allow Seokjin to get a whiff of it lest he wants a scolding of a lifetime or to get called in front of the council which would be a disaster in itself. Then again, Seokjin’s the God of the Sun and probably knows everything anyways, maybe even Jungkook’s affection for you.   But his pride aside, it’s dangerous here. There are too many issues that you don’t know of, too many headaches around. To stay in the palace is one thing, but to be with him is another…   Jungkook’s in the middle of contemplation when there’s a sudden CRASH!   “What’s going on?” He throws the doors of your bedroom open and you’re stranded in the middle, hands in mid-air. His precious vase is broken on the ground, smashed into smithereens.   “Oops.” You have the audacity to smile and even look pretty doing it. “I swear I was just borrowing it.”   Jungkook sighs.   It’s dangerous when you’re around. You’re a hazard to yourself, to the palace, and to himself. He can’t focus on anything — you’re too distracting. Not to mention, he thinks he’s finally found something he’s afraid of. You. What you do to him.   And a Great God like him shouldn’t be afraid of anything. Which makes it even more frightening.   //   “Why’d you call me here?” You gaze around his throne room, the servants and guards, and the intimidating atmosphere that doesn’t make you particularly scared. “If you wanted to talk to me, you didn’t have to bring me here.”   He feigns exhaustion, massaging his temples with one hand and waving the other. He tries to knit his brows together. “I’m here to dismiss you from my court and tell you to go away.”   “Excuse me?”   “Your majesty!” Sungdeuk steps up, equally offended and shocked.   “Silence. I’ve made my decision.” Jungkook signals to your form halfheartedly. “Frankly, I’m sick and tired of you. So you can get your legs back, and get out of my ocean. You’re dirtying the waters.”   “You’re….making me leave?”   You’re appalled. It’s so sudden, out of nowhere. It’s what you wanted — to be granted back your freedom and legs — but when it’s presented to you on a silver platter, it seems crueler than it is merciful. And right when this place was becoming your new home….   “Must I repeat myself more than once, mortal?” Jungkook releases a staggering exhale. “You are hereby excommunicated from my kingdom on grounds of treason and blasphemy and because I’m tired of you. Don’t come back.”   A scoff befalls your lips. “No.”   “Excuse me?”   “You can’t make me leave.”   “Guards!” He shouts, yet no one moves or even flinches. All of them are simply staring straight ahead with their eyes shaking, but refusing to drag you out. They stand in silent defiance. “Guards!”   Sungdeuk shakes his head with a sigh, but the Water God pays no mind.   “I’m not going” — it’s your simple rebuttal before you leave, swimming away from his throne room.   “Wait! Y/N!” Jungkook stands up in frustration as if you’re the deity and he’s a consort begging for your attention. “Gods, does no one listen to me anymore?! Y/N!” He stumbles on the steps leading down his throne and chases after you to the outside.   His servants are at a complete loss, but he leaves them behind, running through the twisting corridors. Once you’re in reach again, Jungkook grabs your arm and pulls you back into his firm chest.    “Where do you think you’re going?”   “Nowhere.” You stand your ground and shove his hands off of you. “I’m going nowhere. I get to decide when I go or stay and—”   “And you want to stay?” he asks with an imploring look, perhaps knowing you better than you know yourself. “I thought you wanted to leave.”   “You can’t make me go just because you’re sick and tired of me—” You exhale in a shaking breath. “I just don’t get why. Why? I thought you wanted me to be in your kingdom for eternity. Why did you change your mind so suddenly? And right when I thought we…”   “We?”   “We were getting along,” you spit. “What’s the matter with you?”   He sighs and calms himself down to explain, “There’s a lot you don’t understand about Heaven, The Underworld, my own underwater kingdom. It’s not safe for a living mortal like you to be with me. It just isn’t, and it’s not like this place offers you anything. You’re meant to be sailing far away, on your ship The Dingy—”   “The Divinity,” you correctly softly.   A small smile spreads into his face. “You should be free, sailing across the sea, doing it is whatever you want to do. Listen to your god for once. And stop making it harder for me, mortal. I’m trying my best to be less greedy, alright?”   This isn’t the end. You know that for a fact.   If he’s the ruler of the ocean and you’re a traveler of it, the pair of you will constantly be near each other. You’re sure he’s aware of it too — but whether you like it or not, he still insists on using his authority to officially banish you from his kingdom. Of course, a god like him could never revoke a punishment given to a mortal. He has to find excuses. He has to send you off on a sour note.   He’s a stubborn mule. A bilge rat. You have reason to curse and damn him for the rest of your life now.   You’d sulk if not for your immense pride.    “Fine. I wanted my legs back anyways.”    It’s technically a victory. You knew he’d break at some point. The whole goal was to wear him down and get what you want. Though, it’s a lot more bittersweet than you thought was possible.    “But let me tell you something, Jungkook.” You tug him in roughly by the collar of his robes, whispering against his mouth, “Even if I’m on land again, you won’t be able to get rid of me.”   The God of the Sea grins, surprisingly boyish as he does so. “Yeah, yeah, I’m sure you’ll find ways to give me headaches and make me worry.”   You watch him carefully through narrowed eyes. “I wish you could be more honest with yourself.”   Before he can question your ambiguous desire, you seal his mouth with your own. It smacks roughly together and he’s caught off guard by your dominating touch before he quickly reciprocates. His lips are soft, cool against your own and it makes you nostalgic of the ocean breeze.   You return the favour he once gave to you when you first encountered him. Before you knew him, the world he existed in, and everything that led you to this moment. When all you were aware of was that you were thrown off board into the sea and someone saved you with a kiss.   After a handful of seconds, the both of you break apart and you glare into his eyes, never once backing down. “This isn’t the last you’ll see of me.”   Jungkook smiles, teeth showing, nose scrunching. You’ve learnt nothing. You’re still as arrogant as the first time he laid eyes on you. But somehow, he doesn’t mind much anymore if you want to share his title with him and call yourself the Goddess of the Sea.

The ocean turns lively at the sight of you.   It’s mischievous and playful, tides trying to tickle your toes, waves always splashing onto your face to tease. It’s not at all as fearsome as some ignorant folks make it out to be. It’s less daunting and mysterious than all the tales told on shores, the rumours that are whispered to children not to go near it during the night and to be careful lest the waters swallow them whole and take them to places unknown. They’re afraid but maybe it’s because they don’t have the privilege of knowing who rules beneath it, the bad-tempered idiot that is the God of the Sea.

“Captain! The crew’s ready to set sail.”   “Good. We’ll be heading east until dawn.”   “Aye-aye.”   You walk across the deck, feeling several eyes pinned on you. It’s no surprise they’re still stunned. To them, you’ve risen back from the dead, a corpse still walking and leading. You’ve long become more than a legendary pirate. There are whispers that you’re godly, rumours of immortality.   While you don’t outright reject the idea, you don’t dare confirm it out loud either to relish in the glory of your infamous name. Lest you want an angry visit from someone with raspberry-coloured hair and who smells like the ocean you hold close to your heart. He’s materialized enough times in your private cabin at night to scare you half to death….   Though sometimes, you miss him enough to purposely piss him off during the day.   “Ahoy.” A young boy with bright eyes and blushing cheeks stops the navigator. He pauses from scrubbing the deck. He’s new to the whole scene, mop still in his hand, bucket by his foot. “Are we really going tonight? Isn’t there a prediction of a storm?”   “Oh.” The navigator laughs mockingly. “You don’t have to worry about such a thing.”   “Why?” The new recruit watches the way you hop on the bowsprit without hesitation. You’re free-spirited, courageous. While the new pirate’s admiration is no secret, he wonders if those rumours were right.   Were you immortal?   “Our captain’s the Goddess of the Sea.” The experienced navigator beams with pride. “For some reason the waves always work with her — it’s almost as if the sea is protecting her.”   “Protecting her?”   He shrugs. “Ask ‘er if you’re really that curious. She’ll tell you some crazy stories. But believe it or not, she’s under the protection o’ some otherworldly folks.”   “And you believe her?” The newbie’s pupils flicker around and he harshly whispers, “You don’t think she’s gone….mad?”   He smirks, patting the young boy on the back. “You have a lot of things to learn here, seadog. You gotta see it for your eyes to believe it. But best you don’t go aroun’ speaking recklessly when you don’t know.”   The navigator walks off, leaving the other pirate utterly confused. Nevertheless, the ropes get pulled in, the anchor is lifted and The Divinity is slowly pushed out to the sea, beginning yet another expedition.   You man the main deck as your men and women continue their tasks at ease. You’re busy pacing around with your eyes on the horizon, pinned to what could be new lands and new treasure.   “The water’s look clear today, don’t they?”   “Y-Yes, they do, captain.” The new recruit is caught off guard that you’re speaking to him and vigorously nods.   You smile at him, passingly reminded of Sungdeuk and hoping that the servant is bumbling less these days. You peer down to the waves created by the force of The Divinity moving. “Looks warm too. Think it would be good for a swim?”   He frowns. “A swim? Wh— Captain!”   The pirate screams bloody murder as you jump ship, diving straight in at a perfect arch. He leans to look over the edge, searching the waters. He doesn’t see you, but he hears your crazy laughter and concludes that yes….you are absolutely insane, and now he’s trapped on a boat with you as the leader…...   He doesn’t notice that when you go under, someone’s arms are instantly wrapped around your waist and they’re hastily pressing their mouths to yours, giving you air before you drown.    You kiss Jungkook back deeply, inhaling as he exhales, greedily probing your tongue past the seams of his soft lips. When the two of you break apart, your giggles make air bubbles rise to the surface.   He clicks his tongue in feigned annoyance. “Brat.”   The ocean’s your favourite place. The scent of salt, sight of blue have been imprinted into memory. It’s filled with endless possible voyages, and there you’d always find Jungkook.

[theboyz-engup]

To All The Boyz I’ve Loved Before; Letter Six

Summary- It was wonderful what a few little letters could do; they could make or break a friendship, cause someone to laugh or smile, make someone remember the time of their life or that moment they wanted to forget. Just some words on paper and poof, everyone knew the way your heart beat and workings of your brain. High school really did wonders on you, as did those twelve boys. Maybe they didn’t know it, but they changed your whole life with each smile, each wave, and each word you typed into paper. You made them permanent, and now they had to know why.

Word Count- 8.8k

a/n: i legit cannot believe i’m halfway through this story hnngghfgjd i hope you guys all enjoy this, thank you all for sticking with me through it xx

Previous Letter - Next Letter

Coming home to an empty house wasn’t necessarily surprising at this point but the disappointment in his chest didn’t go away. He’d specifically told his parents that this was his only week off and he would be home only for a while if they wanted to see him and still, nothing. He should’ve figured from the train station when neither of them had come to pick him up but, as it turns out, he never learns.

Frowning, Jaehyun knocked his shoes off and placed them to the side, listening for the sound of Honey but realizing she wasn’t here either. He missed her too, almost most of all, and of course they’d taken her too. Bitterly, he made his way to the kitchen and found a few letters stacked up on the counter. Reading the note left by him mom about making his own dinner, he sighed and scoured through the rest of the mail if some was his. Catching his name in typewriter print, he felt a bit excited and, as he walked over to the freezer for some easily made food, he began his read.

Dear Lee Jaehyun,

What you’re about to read has been the best part of my grade ten year. I hope you aren’t upset by the fact that you’re what made it so great.

Early February, 2016

“Did you guys hear?” Amalia was loud, as usual, but this time with something urgent on her lips. She rushed into your little study room, flinging her bag off her back and plopping it on the table with a rush of words following her. As she took out her books and sat down, she rambled, “there was a robbery earlier this morning. Apparently, they hit like four houses down your street, y/n. It’s super weird and dangerous for down here since we all like know each other. I can’t even imagine-”

“Did you just say near y/n’s house?” Shankeri sat up in her seat, taking her boots off the table and suddenly becoming serious.

Amalia nodded, though she didn’t seem worried. “Yeah like a few houses up from her. Police and stuff came before they could loot more so you’re safe but yeah.”

“You sound insane,” Sunwoo stated, not looking up from his paper. He’d taken to keeping his hat on around school, hood on over it and withdrawing into his paper and pen for some quality lyrics. Jace smacked the board Sunwoo had in hand, looking serious as well.

“How are you so calm right now?”

Sunwoo shrugged, pointing the end of his pen at you. Before he returned to his work, he gave Jace a bitter look and muttered, “do you see y/n freaking out? No? Then why should you?”

“Y/n wouldn’t scream if they were about to get hit by a bus,” Amalia hummed, countering Sunwoo. “Their fight or flight instinct doesn’t work. It’s just freeze.”

You had to admit she was right there. You would hardly ever scream, recalling how hard it was to imitate a scream when you were doing a play in grade four. The thought made you cringe and you retreated back to your work.

“Well, it’s no big deal,” you started, picking up your pencil to stare at some numbers that made absolutely no sense to you, “as long as I still have my fridge and microwave, I think I’m good.”

“See,” Sunwoo chimed, drawing the word out. “Now hush, I’m trying to think.”

Hyunjoon from across your little table met your eyes as you looked around. He was the only one who noticed, and he gave you a little smile.

As much as you pretended you were okay with it, the thought of a crime happening in your neighbourhood- so close to you, really- it scared you a lot. You wanted some support or just someone to walk home with you and stay so you wouldn’t be alone. You doubted a robbery would happen again, there were police staggered up and down the streets surrounding your house but you couldn’t help but feel like something ominous was about to happen. It was like there was this ghost floating just paces behind you and you couldn’t see it but you could feel it. That night, luckily, everyone was home. Tomorrow was another issue, seeing as Haymond had an away game for the weekend and your parents needed to visit someone in the city.

Amalia took long strides beside you as you travelled from class to the cafeteria. Her fingers were in the loops of her backpack and she was wearing more makeup than her usual eyebrows and lashes. Her lips pouted out as she spoke, genuinely upset.

“My parents said I’m not allowed to keep you company this weekend while your parents and Haymond are away. They offered for you to come over but my sister’s allergic to dogs.”

Linking arms with her, you only shrugged, trying to play it cool. “That’s fine.”

Panic set in soon after as you realized nobody else was available this weekend. Sunwoo was in the city, far away and training this weekend. Hyunjoon was out for his grandmother’s birthday, and Jace and Shankeri weren’t your closest friends. You could’ve asked them but felt like that was probably more awkward than being alone.

Slowly, on your walk home, you began to realize you really didn’t have any other option. You trusted him, he took care of your dog, he was nice. You went on walks together often enough and texted sometimes. Your mum had even ordered you and Haymond over to dinner with him whenever his parents weren’t home and she wanted a nice date night with dad. It wasn’t the worst idea you had, you admitted; but, maybe if your parents hadn’t left by the time you got home, you could change your mind. Doing some homework on the road wouldn’t be so bad.

Steadily, you rounded the corner to your street and squinted to see further, hoping to see your car in your driveway. There was no such luck and your great idea turned sour in your mouth. You liked Jaehyun, you did, it was just that this was supposed to be a different kind of weekend. You were supposed to relax and study for your classes with Amalia, paint each other’s nails, watch romantic comedies and then break into Haymond’s room and play his video games. Now, you would spend it being entirely nervous but not out of fear; Jaehyun just made you nervous with each look he gave you and each smile. He made your stomach tie in knots and it was so hard to untangle them the more you got to know him. He went from being this quiet and observant boy to a loud and boisterous man, someone who would text you over and over just to pay attention to him and then leave you on read whenever he was busy.

He was so weird and complex and yet, so fun and happy when you caught him on his good days. Sometimes he got really upset though and he caved into himself. He would become so quiet not because he was reading his crowd but because he wasn’t even there. He was thinking and forming a mass of nervousness and self doubt in the pit of his heart. You never knew what to say to him when he got like that, this man who was three years older than you was still just so fragile. Maybe he’s afraid of being alone too, you thought, taking your phone out of your pocket once you got inside and sending him a quick text. It was just a hello but you hoped it would warrant a response.

After a few hours, you figured it wasn’t. You sent one more and then two and then five more messages, all saying the same thing- all just saying hello. The moment you were about to send another, just as the sun dipped over the hill and darkness was holding the world still, your phone rang. The picture of him and your dog showed up, the one you used for his contact photo, with two little buttons for ignoring or answering the call. Quickly, you swiped and brought your phone up to your ear.

You didn’t even have time to say hello. He just went straight into his sentence, deadpanning, “you know, I’ve figured out that if you just stop responding to people then they stop texting.”

Not knowing what to say, you simply stood silent, mouth opening and closing but finding no air for words. Jaehyun didn’t have a problem continuing his thought, voice lighter and more teasing.

“You’re clearly an exception. What’s up, why did you spam me?”

The idea of you hearing your request out loud made your throat swell. Did it sound like you were asking him over because you wanted something from him? You just wanted company- not to be alone and sleep easy knowing someone else would also be there to protect you against the imaginary burglar that could show up. He didn’t even have to interact with you, in fact, you’d prefer it that way. You could just be in the same house and that was enough.

“C- can you like come over or something?” The question took a bit of effort but you made it out. Your eyes were on the ground, watching your feet carry you from tile to tile in your kitchen. The silence made you anxious and you were so close to explaining yourself but decided against it. If he took it the wrong way, that was his fault.

All he did was hang up, the dial tone loud in your ear. With your lips parted, you took your phone from your ear and looked at it. The audacity, you thought, absolutely beside yourself. Jaehyun, the person who’d told you to always call him if you needed something, had just ignored your request. To be fair, he said that with reference to Barly but still, it hurt your feelings.

Barly rounded the corner, his collar creating small chimes as he came closer and closer. He looked up at you in the kitchen and then sat, expectant. You would’ve forgotten to feed him if he hadn’t come to see you, tilting his head towards his food bin.

“Right, I’ll get some dinner for us both, yeah?”

Slowly, you worked around the kitchen and got the meal your mom had written out for Barly. He needed to lose some weight so he was on a strict diet for now and your parent shad been careful enough to list exactly what was needed for each meal and tape it onto the fridge for you to see. As you set the bowl down, telling Barly to wait, you murmured, “guess it’s just me and you tonight.”

He barked in response and you took it as a sign of solidarity. If anything, you could watch some bad movies together. Sure, you wouldn’t have anyone to direct your comments at but it would still feel like you weren’t alone.

“Here you go, buddy,” you hummed before a grown slipped past your teeth. Why did it hurt so much just to bend over. As you walked towards your door to put your extra lock on, rubbing the small of your back, you heard Barly bark again.

He didn’t like to bark and hardly did so it was an odd occurrence. Despite yourself, a chill creeped under your skin and you hurried to your door, knowing the extra lock would give you peace of mind, though the fear wouldn’t really go away. Barly followed after you and got there first, sitting quietly. His tail wagged back and forth slowly and then, one final bark. You couldn’t help yourself and you ran to the door, really just wanting that one final lock on but-

A shriek slipped past your lips and you nearly fell over, your eyes trained on a shadow that appeared before the window of your door. A soft knock fell through and the figure became slightly recognizable, though you didn’t really believe it. Barly came over to you, knocking his nose against your leg almost as if to ask if you were okay.

Jaehyun’s voice followed suit, coming through the door. “Y/n? Did you just scream, what’s wrong?”

“Lee Jaehyun!” you nearly yelled, rushing to the door and ripping it open to be faced with such a casual looking boy. He was wearing joggers and a pair of sneakers with the thinnest hoodie on. A little cap was atop his head and, over his shoulder, he’d strung a bag and a windbreaker.

“You scared the living crap out of me,” you said rather loudly, though your voice shook and wavered near the end of your sentence. His pouted lips formed themselves into a smile as he looked down at you and laughed lightly.

“How? By showing up when you asked me to?”

Puffing your cheeks up, you tried to think of a response but he was right. You did ask for him to come over and he did as was told, only he didn’t tell you he was coming. With a great big sigh, you let him know that he could’ve said he was coming over instead of hanging up because then you wouldn’t have been so worried. Jaehyun was much too preoccupied though, having come in and squatting to rub at Barly’s ears.

“Who’s a good boy? You, yes, you,” he crooned, using his baby voice quietly. When he grinned, his eyes became long and nearly closed, matching Barly’s eyes as he moved his head into Jae’s hands. His lips came forwards as he made ridiculous sounds at your dog, acting so sweet with him. Barly was a second away from falling in love when you called him over to finish his dinner. Swiftly, he left Jaehyun’s hands to come and rub his head under one of yours and then went to his food.

Jaehyun, abandoned, was now forced to take his shoes off and borrow one of your dad’s pairs of slippers, seeing as Haymond’s didn’t fit him. As he got settled in, he asked teasingly, “are you jealous because your dog likes me better? Hmm?”

“He does not,” you protested, crossing your arms as Jae made his way to your living room. He was now holding his bag straight, looking around the place before settling on you.

“I’ll prove it tomorrow,” he seemed to promise. There was something about his eyes that made it feel like he was the son of Hermes. They flashed and glittered like he had secrets and jokes hidden in unorganized piles of papers. Sometimes, you could swear he had figures dancing across them, like he was telling a great story without saying much of anything.

“So,” he started, clearly excited but equally exhausted, “where am I sleeping?”

Leaving Jaehyun to get settled in the living room let you have some time alone for the time being. He promised he’d stay only if you watched movies with him and made him some popcorn. About three times in your little negotiation, he threatened to leave but he was already so comfortable on the couch. The blanket that was thrown over an arm of your sofa was hanging off his shoulders as you played rock, paper, scissors to decide on your final terms, which was the flavour of popcorn. Luckily, it landed on plain popcorn and, while he got ready for movie night, you went to get ready for bed.

You took a shower and got changed, even washed your face and primed it for a face mask, which you were going to force Hyun to do with you. Grinning as you walked downstairs in your winter pyjamas, just a pair of long, plaid pants, and a long sleeved shirt of your father’s, you caught sight of Hyun changing and paused. Dashing back up the few steps so he was out of sight, you whined quietly to yourself, hating the way your heart raced at seeing his shoulder blade. You mean, really? Who cares about a shoulder? You had a shoulder and nobody fawned over yours.

Shaking your head quickly, wishing for the nervousness to disappear and trying hard to manually shove it down your throat, you finished your walk down the stairs. He was now just sitting on the couch, eyes on the television screen and flipping through channels. He perked up seeing you, eyebrows raising and eyes settling on you. He looked so soft, hair now settled so it dared to fall into his eyes and clothes just the slightest bit bigger than they should be to fit. He looked like he had rushed to pack which, honestly, you figured he probably did. He wasn’t wearing the most flattering clothes and yet, he still managed to make you feel all knotted up.

“I brought face masks,” you mused, lifting them up in the air. Hyun clapped, the remote between his hands as he did so.

“Popcorn?” His ears perked up almost as if he were a dog himself, legs crossed and chest leaning forwards expectantly.

“After,” you drew out, sitting on the couch beside him and handing him the one labelled ‘pore control’. Clicking his tongue, he gaped at you as he read the description and tapped your shoulder.

“Excuse me!”

The laugh that slipped past your teeth was calming enough, even though he did complain as he took his out of the sleeve. You were putting yours on without a mirror so you hoped it would turn out fine, your hands smoothing over the bubbles you felt on your cheeks.

“But it’s necessary, have you seen your pores? So open,” you giggled, animated as you explained to him why he was getting his mask. He looked at you incredulous and with his lips parted like a fish’s out of water.

“Okay, I repeat, excuse me, I have great skin, thank you very much,” he huffed, trying hard to put the mask on without his hair getting in the way. He was bending forwards, figuring that gravity would be enough to get his hair out of the way and he wasn’t necessarily wrong. You were chuckling lightly, watching him struggle as you turned the hair tie you had round your wrist around and around.

“You’re just jealous,” he finished, giving up and letting his hair fall on the damp mask.

“No,” you hummed, looking down at your hair tie and deciding to be nice as you beckoned him forwards. “I’m sorry you can’t admit the truth, Hyun.”

His eyes watched you as you got on your knees, hoping the extra height would help you tie a better knot to keep his bangs out of the way. Your fingers grasped as much hair as possible and you tied a knot carefully so that it wouldn’t hurt him but also so he would look like a little pineapple sprout.

Giggling as you pulled away, you sat back down on your legs and announced, “there. You look perfect.”

“I hate it when you laugh like that,” he said worriedly, bringing up his phone to check what he looked like in his camera, “that always means you did something ev- y/n!”

“Take the picture,” you demanded, getting in so your face was in the frame and making a silly face. He took the picture with him looking stern, though he did crack a smile at it after.

“Told you that you look great,” you chimed, sitting down in your spot next to him. You were cross legged with your hands placed in the hole in front of you and your smile was ridiculously easy. Jaehyun just looked at you and scoffed, though he was laughing himself.

Quietly, he reached out and fixed a part of your mask, smoothing out a bubble there before turning his gaze back to the screen.

“Now can we get popcorn?”

You had to pretend like the touch of his skin meant nothing to you as you nodded, suddenly silent as you paced to the kitchen. Unknowingly, you reached to cup the part of your mask he’d fixed and smiled to yourself. All the while, as the popcorn popped and the movie went on, your little smile never faded.

That night was so sweet. It was almost unimaginable that you would be this kind to me. I remember you looking up at me from your spot on the floor (which you said was more comfortable for you but I have my suspicions that you were just trying to make me more comfortable) and asking me so seriously why my parents left me at home that weekend. I don’t think I would’ve had it any other way. You were so nice to me but not because you had to be. You were just a kind person and it felt so good to just be myself with someone who wasn’t going to judge me. Even when I made stupid jokes, you would just look back at me and laugh as if you couldn’t believe I was real. You made me really happy that night and I held onto it for a while. I expect I’ll be holding on for a very long time.

Early March, 2016

“Hey, y/n,” Jaehyun called, shuffling past people in the hallways to catch up with you. Hardly hearing it, you tried to keep going forwards but Amalia stuck her foot out in front of you, stopping you in your tracks.

He was right behind you when you turned to face him and you had to stumble backwards so you weren’t craning your neck up to meet his gaze. Sunwoo’s little story was interrupted as Hyun began his speech, though he was really only talking to you.

With his hands pressing down on the straps of his bag, he asked, “can I take Barly out after school today?”

You blinked. He would usually text you to ask you this, seeing as your classes weren’t close to each others at all- and that he was a senior. There was no sound between you two, which seemed to go for too long since Amalia’s elbow poked your side. From the corner of your eye, you could see her staring you down, eyes wide as if to convey a message.

“Uh, uhh, yeah? Yes,” you decided on saying, snapping out of your head for a moment. Regretfully, you replayed your answer in your head and winced internally, hating the way you sounded. It was like your brain was made of air.

Peaking a smile, Jae straightened, clearly glad. As his face softened, he pushed another question. Somehow, it seemed so calculated, like he was gauging how and when he should say what. Is this what people called feeling someone out?

“Do you want to come with? I want to train Honey near the river and I think you could try it with Barly too. It could be fun.”

Once again, you had nothing to say. The whole situation was entirely overwhelming and you didn’t understand what he wanted. Why he was asking you this, where he wanted to go, why he wanted to go with you: all of it went over your head. All you knew was that your breath could hardly make it past your throat.

Noticing another quiet spell, Amalia took it upon herself to answer, confidently saying, “they’ll think about it and text you? We’re preparing for a test so they’re kind of out of it right now.”

Sunwoo nodded to that, though he didn’t seem quite interested in Jaehyun. His eyes were on your face, carefully drifting between you two. Picking up the ends of what Amalia said, you quickly added, “I’ll let you know. Promise.”

Jaehyun’s smile never wavered, though you noticed how a glitter in his eyes seemed to fall away. He nodded, saying he’d see you later, turned on his heel and walked away. Dumbfounded, you couldn’t move from your spot until Amalia nicked you in the side again. You were so lost in your head, wondering what exactly he meant to do with all of that. The interaction seemed stale and directed, like he came talking with a purpose but not a malicious one. Did he really want to hang out with you, without Haymond or your parents in the way? What his intentions were, you couldn’t even begin to imagine. Your final thought was that maybe… maybe he felt the same flutter in his heart when you tied his hair that you did when he fixed your face mask.

Thinking about it dared for heat to rush up your cheeks but you quickly pushed it down with the elbow in your side, trying to return to reality. Slowly, you looked up at your friend and murmured, “do we really have a test today?”

“N- no, you idiot.” Amalia began somewhat serious but broke into a giggle. With her arm strung around your shoulder, she turned you round and you continued on your way to the cafeteria. Sunwoo was unusually quiet.

“Think you’re going to go?”

“Why wouldn’t they?” Sunwoo spoke up, somewhat sullen but clearly trying to force his point. “Y/n’s been into him since they first moved in.”

“Hey,” you tried to protest, raising your voice the slightest but knowing you had no response. Then, quietly, you just nodded your head and said, “I mean, that’s not wrong.”

Amalia giggled, musing as she continued taking the group to your table where Hyunjoon was already waiting, “you don’t even know. He was all she talked about until she found Sangyeon. Do you remember that? No, never mind, we weren’t friends back then. Wow… time really flies, huh?”

And so, she continued rambling, letting people in for interjections but laughing loud and leading the conversation nonetheless. You loved seeing her like this, so carefree and happy. You wanted to really bask in it but in the back of your mind, all you could see was Jaehyun.

Apparently, he was all you would see for the next few months. You would go everywhere together, under the excuse of taking your dogs out for walks. Haymond joined often, saying he didn’t want to eat dinner at home or that Juyeon was busy, so it felt like it was the three of you against the world. Whenever work allowed it, or you were feeling particularly lazy, you’d knock on Haymond’s door and asked him if he wanted to come out with you and Barly. Hyun almost always followed, bringing Honey around. You would risk eating in dog parks or near the river as the weather warmed up. Soon, you felt like you had your own separate friend group. It was your school friends on the weekend but, on weekdays, it was your brother and Jaehyun. You had to admit, you rather loved it.

Your parents seemed to adore it too, happy you and Haymond were spending time together. They would see you two leaving together and beam at each other. It wasn’t that you and Haymond weren’t close before but hanging out together did seem weird at times. Except now, you were practically the same age. One year between you seemed to mean less and less. He wasn’t weird about your crushes and you could talk openly about more things. He didn’t really mind driving you around either, teaching you the ropes before you got your learner’s license.

It felt like being around Jaehyun gave you so many good things in your life besides his time and company. You felt yourself starting to become more of a person and less of a child. While you loved your friends, you wanted to be more mature. You wanted to be respected and to be seen as an equal to Haymond or even Jaehyun. Being with them taught you just slightly how to grow up, despite the fact that they were both absolutely insane when it was just the two of them. Though it wasn’t simple or expected, you were happier, and you couldn’t wait to tell Eric about every day that made you lighter.

“So, then we were walking along the river and Haymond was already covered in mud, like dripping, and Juyeon came along so he dared him to go into the water and as if on cue,” you giggled, harder now that you stopped to really replay the scene you were painting for Eric, “Bartholomew comes up behind Haymond and like pushes against his leg with his nose for Haym falls in.”

At this point, you’ve already given into laughing about the scene, it being the final stretch of a series of ridiculous stories you were subjecting Eric to. You were laid out flat on your bed, stomach down with a pillow underneath your chest as you spoke, absentmindedly scrolling through an app on your laptop. Eric’s chuckles came through, almost in perfect harmony with yours as he came around to responding.

“You sound like you’re actually having fun, y/n. It’s really nice.”

You hummed a note, nodding as you jokingly asked, “am I less sad and depressed, as you liked to put it?”

“To use the word lightly, yeah,” he mused before stopping for a bit. Once he figured out what he wanted to say, he was much softer. “When are we going to hang out again?”

You shrugged, feeling the way the air changed and frowning. “I don’t know.”

“I just- I have something to tell you, is all. I want to do it in person.”

Blinking, completely unknowing, you attempted to ask what it was but Haymond cut you off. With a brief knock, he swung your door open and motioned with his head to come downstairs. “We’re studying, right?”

“Oh, right, shoot,” you muttered, hating how sudden it had to be that you’d leave. Visibly pained, you tried to explain to Eric that you had to go but his usual lightness appeared in his voice again.

“It’s fine, I heard. Good luck on your exams!”

“You too!” you tried to say but the dead tone hit your ears faster. Pouting slightly, you put your phone down and did your usual groan as you got up. Collecting your books as Haymond spoke, you tried to be as quick as possible.

“Was that Eric?”

You nodded, wanting to tell him that Eric said he had something to tell you, but Haymond sighed. With his hands in his pockets and his back against the door, he fixed you with a serious look.

“You know he likes you, right?” The question stung your ears and you hated how matter-of-fact he made it sound. He had no idea what he was talking about and yet it made you give pause.

With your notebooks and textbooks piled in your arms, pencil case the cherry on top, you looked at him seriously and shook your head. “Don’t say that. You don’t know what you’re talking about. We’re-”

“Just friends,” he finished with you, mockingly as he beckoned for you to hurry up into the living room. He shut your door behind you and followed, casual as he spoke. “Well, don’t say I didn’t tell you.”

“Mom and dad aren’t home?” you asked, quick to change the subject as you made your way down the stairs and into the living room where you set up your books. Haymond’s were already laid out on his side of the coffee table and couch. All that was left was Jaehyun and the few other people who were invited to come over to study.

It was agreed upon from all parties that afterwards, when you all finished studying by eight p.m. latest, you were all going to sit down and chat or play games or something. It was meant to be a rather relaxed get-together but the part where it was just going to be you three: you anticipated that the most.

Jaehyun got there moments later and took up residence on the couch beside you, closest to the table. It was a sofa made for two so you were very close- so close you could reach out and link your fingers together. The thought crossed your mind once or twice as you studied away at math and science, both courses you needed Amalia here for the help you with. She was going to be late though, so you switched over to history in hopes that it wouldn’t be too heavy for you. Yet, Jaehyun’s face kept surfacing in your mind and you couldn’t help but steal glances at him.

“What’s that face for?” Jae asked, breaking the silence as he looked over at you.

Your hands shot up to cover your cheeks, pencil laid flat against your skin as you asked, “what face?”

Haymond gave you a look over and chuckled. As he spoke, he returned to twirling his highlighter between his fingers, eyes trained on his work. “You looked like you were daydreaming just second ago.”

“What are you studying?” Jaehyun asked, leaning over to look at your work. Your lack of notes was embarrassing and you were sure he noticed but made no comment. Instead, he looked over at the textbook you had open and let out a small sound. His lips were formed in a perfect circle.

“Trotsky, huh?” he prodded, giving you a small wink. “That’s the kind of man you dream about? Interesting.”

“W-what, no!”

Yet, the laughs had already ensued. He was making a little joke and you were glad for his attention, even if it was a little embarrassing. Deciding against protesting, you tried to work with it but got cut off by the doorbell ringing.

“That’s probably Juyeon,” Haymond groaned, getting up and stretching as he walked to the door. Jaehyun gave you another look, lips soft and turned upwards before he returned to his work. The more he smiled, the more you wanted to leave your work behind and just look at him. It was hard to imagine that he was really right there next to you, just a fraction of an inch away. If you wanted to reach out, you could. You could just take his hand in yours, maybe make his eyes see you only. Maybe-

“I bought iced coffee,” Juyeon proclaimed, looking proud as he set down the tray of four on your coffee table. Instantly, you were pulled out of your stupor and your attention was on another boy, one who looked please with himself for doing something small like getting some coffee. You gave him a wave and told him thank you. The rest of the night felt like a blur.

You may not know it or care but you’re the main feature of my grade ten year. You’re part of almost every fun memory I’ve had in this stupid town. You don’t even know how happy you made me just by doing nothing. I would feel so sad and alone when I was home but then, in an instant, as you came over with some snacks and movies, I was the happiest person alive. I enjoyed being with you so much, through my exam season, in the halls, or just across our lawns when we were both doing nothing but still together. No matter how spontaneous, I

 was happy but I felt so weird too because I just wanted to tell you. I felt so bad not telling you just how much I liked you. I liked you so much it created a ball in my chest and weighed me down. All I wanted was for you to notice how I really feel about you but there wasn’t any chance for me to say it- not that I ever would. You know more than anyone else how scared I am of these things.

Late June, 2016

Happy to be done with school, you and your friends promised to do many things. Yet, the moment exams ended, everyone was too exhausted to do much. You couldn’t blame them necessarily, you were rather sleepy too, it was just that you felt so restless. You wanted to do something, even if it was playing monopoly in your backyard or walking around senselessly but there was no such luck. So, there you were, lying face up on your bed and staring at your ceiling hoping something to do would come to mind.

In the middle of your deep thinking, your phone buzzed once on the nightstand beside your bed. Groaning, you reached behind you and felt around until your fingers grasped the cold metal. Bringing it forwards, you muttered about someone disturbing you and how it was so disrespectful until you saw Jaehyun’s text and immediately bounced up.

Jaehyun, 3:26p.m: open your window

Doing as you were told, you went and propped open the window, hearing the glass squeak as rubber brought it forwards. Leaning forwards and out of it slightly, you caught sight of him on his lawn and he waved.

“Wanna go somewhere?”

You didn’t hesitate to say yes.

Swiftly, you put on a pair of shorts and a long-sleeved shirt, noticing the discrepancy but not necessarily caring in the moment. Your heart was in your throat, pounding like crazy as you kicked your sock drawer closed and bounded down the stairs to get to your shoes. Hearing the commotion, Barly came to the front door with his tail wagging. He looked between you and his leash expectantly. With a quick thought, you reached for his leash, placed it on quickly and slipped your shoes on, ready to go. Jaehyun was sitting on your lawn now, Honey between his hands as he rubbed small circles behind her ears. At the sound of your door opening, he looked behind him and smiled. Quick to get up, he turned on his spot to meet you face on, looking particularly light. He never wore shorts but his pants were of material and fitted well. Just a plain white shirt crossed his midsection, waving in the wind and pressing against his chest to outline lean muscle.

“That was fast,” he noted, but you didn’t have much to say about it.

Looking down and spreading your arms unceremoniously, you asked, “is it good enough for whatever we’re doing?”

“Perfect,” he chimed. Then, he started on his way ahead of you, probably noticing how he stunted you and grinning about it as he walked. Holding onto Barly, who was just happy to be outside, you paused and then began your jog to catch up with him.

As you neared his side, he began to answer the question on your lips. “I wanted to show you the summer fair. It’s kind of small with no rides but all the local shops have little carts where you can get food, there’s cotton candy, vendors and stuff. It’s nice.”

“How long has it been going on for?”

He shrugged, looking up to think. When he squinted because of the high sun, you noticed the slight crinkles in his skin. “I think about five or six years? It’s not new but it’s not old; and definitely not a place lots of people our age go.”

“Why not?” you mumbled, thinking it sounded kind of fun. The sun was also getting in your eyes too, forcing you to squint just as hard.

Looking down at you, he leaned his head so his hair fell just a tad to the side. His eyes were as wide as he could manage and he smiled lightly. “It’s boring unless you know where to go and what to get.”

The second you got there, you understood what he meant. It was on the far side of town which meant the walk was long but it was very calm. He made it easy to talk to him about anything. He felt so akin to Eric sometimes, just in the way his presence seemed to wrap around you and make you feel safe. A few instances, you would bump shoulders and you swore you could see him get just a bit tongue-tied, losing track of his sentence or shifting his feet when you were waiting at a crosswalk; but he recovered well. Keeping his composure, he led you right to the middle of the fair and looked around.

You could only see food vendors and shops for various things like hats, jewelry, and anything small or portable. One place was selling henna tattoos and you were intrigued but Hyun tugged you away, chuckling a bit as he shook his head.

“No, no, that place is really not good for henna.”

“How would you know?” was the question that launched him into a story of how he got dared to get a whole back tattoo in henna and how it was horrible. “I cried myself to sleep that night, no joke,” he finished, though he was laughing as he spoke. You couldn’t help but giggle with him, poking fun at him out of disbelief but also admiration.

Once you got to the other side, the quieter side of the fair, Hyun exhaled and smiled. The only really big line you could see was one for a lemonade stand, which he insisted was the best place to get lemonade from.

“But I don’t like lemonade,” you murmured softly, to which he gave you a really incredulous look before shaking his head at you.

“Well, now you will,” he promised, seeming very intent.

“Can I walk around while you wait in line? I don’t think Honey and Barly will take to being still for so long,” you pointed out, reaching down to pat Barly’s head. The sun was still so high in the sky that even he seemed to be squinting as he lifted his head to reach your touch. Reluctantly, Jaehyun agreed but asked you to stay in this area.

“It’ll be hard to find you afterwards.”

Assuring him you wouldn’t stray too far, you went and started to look at a few shops. There were some games like whack-a-mole that you were interested in and you made mental note of where it was to come back to it. Hopefully it doesn’t cost too much, you thought to yourself before your eyes landed on a psychic’s tent. It was purple and had stars attached to it, with small coins hanging from fabric all around the entrance and skirt of the tent. Without knowing why, you felt drawn towards the place and made you way. Honey and Barly barked a bit but quickly settled down once they reached the tent, being allowed to come inside with you. As you parted the silken material, your nose was exposed to a heavy scent of some type of herb you couldn’t place.

“Welcome,” the woman said sweetly. She was frail and old, sitting at a brown table with a white cloth laced with purple fabric. You found yourself sitting down and looking at her seriously. Presented with playing cards, you were made to exchange something of yours to influence the cards. Then, once she’d given your small ring back to you, she beckoned for you to pick some and she read what they meant to you.

Most of it went over your head but one thing you remembered very vividly. It seemed to even be written on your face as you exited the tent, heaviness in the lines by your mouth. Jaehyun hurried up next to you, extending a hat to you.

“I got these because I couldn’t see you and thought it’s sunny so… hey. You okay?”

Blinking, you glanced up at him and pushed a smile. Though your mind was on her words, you didn’t want to think about it anymore, or worry him. It felt too real to be there but, for the most part, you never believed in stuff like that. You wanted to go in as a joke. Looking behind you, Hyun smiled.

“Did you talk to Lady Enya? She scares a lot of people.”

Wrapping your fingers around the hat, all you did was murmur thank you and nod. Then, slowly, you managed, “she said some freaky shit.”

“Do you believe it?” His question was serious but you could tell he wanted to keep things light. After a shrug of yours, he extended the large lemonade bottle and hummed, “okay well here, have some. It’ll make you feel better.”

Gasping, trying to make a joke as you regained your grip on reality, you mused, “that’s exactly what she said you’d say.”

Laughing, though somewhat nervous, Jae said, “shut up.”

“Oh my god, that too!”

You pointed at him while your free hand grasped the lemonade to have a sip. He began laughing now, noticing how your skin lit up and laughed. Leading you and the dogs away, you began to talk about whack-a-mole and left the situation behind you.

Once the sun started to get low in the sky, Hyun suggested going home. He mentioned something about exhausting all his resources and you immediately apologized, offering to pay him back but he shook his head no.

“I told you to come out, so it’s fine.” He looked confident in his answer. Immediately, you wanted to point out that this wasn’t a date but something stopped you. Even if he did invite you out, he didn’t have to pay.

Chewing on this, you fell slightly silent on the way home. He didn’t seem to mind it, not needing to say much either. Instead, he stopped and let Barly and Honey off their leashes, calling them back every few moments to train them off-leash. You paid attention to him and the dogs, being soft but firm. They seemed to really listen. You once heard that someone who loves animals has to be kind-hearted. Silently, you thought of how much warmth was within his heart and who could possibly abandon him.

Thinking of his parents leaving him home often made you hurt. You wondered how often he felt like he wasn’t enough. He would text you and ask to come over and you thought it was just to hang out but maybe it was to fill a void he felt. Stepping a few paces behind him to watch him well, you felt like you could see him so much clearer. It made your heart well. With all this hurt, he was still as kind as ever. It was hard to imagine. You doubted you would be as nice as him in his circumstances.

“You okay?” he asked, turning his head to see you stopped in your tracks. Your jaw, which had dropped slightly, came back into place as you tried to compose yourself. With a nod, you hurried up beside him and murmured about something being on your mind. When he asked what, you felt it might be inappropriate so you said something else, trying to cover it all up.

“Well, I was just thinking about what the psychic would have said to you. You’re really good with dogs and all, it might have some supernatural reason.” The fib was easy enough to make, though you did feel a bit bad about it. Maybe you shouldn’t have lied and let the opportunity to talk about something genuinely serious slip but you had to. It wasn’t your place to ask him. Deep down, you felt this was the right choice.

Thinking hard, though letting his laughs get the most of him as he spoke, he began, “she’d probably be like ‘oh, you are one with the dog. Your ancestors lived in caves and were werewolves. You were grown up on the soil and a natural hunter.”

As he continued his little schpiel, he became more and more dramatic, and it made you laugh. With your elbow, you touched his side and told him to be quiet. His eyes became the biggest crescents as he giggled; he was so perfect, he looked almost drawn. Once that subsided, he asked if you still had the cotton candy which he’d got earlier on. It was in a plastic bag which you pressed into your small backpack and you struggled to get out.

Without hesitation, you both began to share the bag and talked as you did so, his voice not letting you slip into your mind again. He enjoyed to share things, even if they were meaningless, but you loved to listen to what he said. Slowly, you stopped eating and just let him talk, watching as he kept his animated voice all throughout a story or listened to your small responses.

“Can you hold this for a second?” he mumbled, looking ahead and calling for the dogs to stop. Doing as you were asked, you came to a pause as he handed you the bag. Your houses were beginning to show just behind him and you nearly asked why he’d stopped but then his fingers curled around your sleeves and began cuffing them.

“They’ll get dirty from the sugar,” he said so absentmindedly. Then, he quickly dropped your hands and plucked the bag from your fingers. Entirely embarrassed, you brought one hand up to your face and felt the heat there. This time, you couldn’t blame it on the sun, since the bill of your cap stretched far enough to cover most of your cheeks and nose.

“W-what did you do that for?” The question was asked even though you knew the answer he gave. From the side of your eye, you saw his face turn to see you, his smile so soft. Though most of his face was shrouded from the cap, the sun hardly any help as it rested its cheeks against the hills of your little town, you could tell there was something changed in his eyes.

Softly, his fingers came to twist with yours, fitting in the spaces between yours. He was so light, so careful to not make you do anything you didn’t want to do. You didn’t know how to say that this was what you wanted to do the whole day, how you’d thought of holding his hand and bringing him closer almost everyday you spent together. So, you didn’t say anything at all. You simply closed your fingers around his. At this, he brought you the slightest bit closer and you walked home together, blind to how silly and large your smile was.

I truly cherish every moment we’ve spent together. We would walk around doing nothing and feel like we were doing the most daring things. We were alive but I felt like we were really existing.  I sound like a stupid romance novel but it was hard not to romanticize everything about you. You were and are so present in my mind that I have to write this to let you go. I can’t be with you and we both know that. When you let go of my hand, I could see it in your eyes. You couldn’t do it again and neither could I. I can’t sit there and fall for you more and more. God, is this even love?

I don’t know the answer to that. All I know is you overwhelm me and make me so nervous. I’m glad for everything we’ve done but I don’t think I can take anymore. I want to be free of it. I like you so much that I can’t take it. Please take it away from me. Please.

From y/n y/l/n. On June 28th, 2016.

The oven beeping snapped Jaehyun out of his head. Quickly, he moved to take the chicken strips out, nearly forgetting to put on oven mitts. He was so wrapped up in what you’d written. He was sure you’d done this at the time yo’d written it. It was so fresh in your mind then that every moment you described- he could feel them. He was there, watching you watch him. He could imagine it all, reading how you felt and pairing it with his heart.

Two years ago. It was so confusing back then. He had so many emotions but he didn’t know what they meant only that he liked you too; but then there was age and college. He wasn’t going to be here and you were going to forget. You were right and he hated that. He hated that, in his eyes, it was over before it started. He wished it wasn’t like that. He wanted to see you but  it wasn’t that easy now, was it? You were dating someone now and he couldn’t get between that. He even saw you at Christmas. You seemed so happy.

Frustrated, Jaehyun practically tossed the tray onto his counter, the metal shaking in its spot. The sound resonated through his empty house.

[kohakuhime]

The Reluctant Guardian, Ch. 10

Takes place post canon, and this refers to events that take place in an alternate verse. Michael, Isabel, Mikomi, and Kazuo belong to @mpuzzlegirl; Darien, Alana, Rowen, Sylvie, and the twins belong to me; and YGO and its associated characters belong to Kazuki Takahashi. 

This update is longer to accommodate for the fact I was a week behind. Thank you for your patience!

                                            +++++++++++++++++++

Brock Turner was many things. Ex-military, extraction specialist, security detail, and he even fancied himself decent looking and a good cook if someone asked (not many did).

He also knew that he was decidedly nervous about reporting to his employer. Not scared, but definitely feeling an edge of anxiety.

He and two other men stepped off the elevator in the executive wing, and Brock noticed the secretary sitting at her desk. He caught a glimpse of a black business suit and a matching black hat that her hair was tucked beneath.

That wasn’t the only thing that matched. He repressed a shudder as she turned dark, dead eyes on him. She gave him the heeby-jeebies whenever she looked at him. He wondered if she had always been so creepy—maybe that was why his boss had hired her. To intimidate those coming in.

Well, it sure was working.

“Brock Turner to speak to the boss about this afternoon,” he said.

She did not move immediately, and then after a moment to process she pushed a button. “Mr. Turner to see you,” she said. It gave Brock goosebumps at how flat and dead her voice was.

“Ah, yes. Be a dear and show him in, won’t you?”

“Yes sir.” She stood slowly, moving carefully and almost as if she was made of glass. She turned her attention to the men. “This way.”

Brock grimaced. Yep, definitely something off about her.  

The three of them followed her into the spacious office. Lots of white leather and splashes of color in the tiles, and against one wall a large mosaic. His attention was more focused on the oak desk, however. The corner of Brock’s mouth turned down as he noticed the leather armchair turned away to face the panel windows. “You are dismissed, my dear.”

“Yes sir.” The secretary turned and softly closed the door behind her.

An uncomfortable silence fell after she had left. Brock cleared his throat, and after exchanging looks with his co-workers he spoke. “Hello, sir,” he said, biting back the ‘boss’ that had nearly slipped out. You always addressed him as sir, no exceptions.

“I trust this afternoon’s errands went well, yes? You have our new guests settled in comfortably?” The question was asked with a good degree of jovialness.

Brock hesitated. “No, sir,” he said at last. “The kids got away from us.”

Another pause, followed by a soft exhalation. “Ah. That’s terribly disappointing, Mr. Turner. I so looked forward to meeting with them. How did this come about?”

Despite the mild and genuinely disappointed tone his employer had adopted, Brock caught the undercurrent of displeasure and menace.

“There was a factor we did not originally include in the plan—“

“You were trained specifically for extracting people in your former line of work. You should account for anything to go wrong, shouldn’t you?” The rebuke was not spoken particularly harshly, but there was a definite edge in his voice now.

“Sir, we had everything planned. Tracking apps placed on their phones, finding their common areas to hang out or their so-called ‘safe point’, and any other way they had of escaping us. The only thing we did not account for was for a literal white knight to show up.”

“That sounds an awful lot like an excuse, Mr. Turner.”

“With all due respect, sir, this man was able to disappear and reappear at will. According to the team leader that went after the Gayle-Corazón boy, this stranger was able to even shoot green lightning at them. We can’t plan for someone who can teleport.”

A long pause followed, but this time the tension was gone. “Dressed in all white and could shoot green lightning, you say?” came the reply, and something close to real interest was in his voice. “And he could disappear and reappear at will?”

“Yes, sir,” said Brock, trying to keep the relief out of his voice.

Another pause, and then a gentle clap of the hands. His boss still had not turned in the chair, so Brock could only guess that it was a good sort of clap.

“Ha, so he’s here at last then,” said his employer warmly. “You are correct, Mr. Turner—there’s no amount of planning that will cover for him. I do not lay the blame on your teams. In fact, this little exercise did exactly what I wanted it to do.”

“Sir?”

“It got his attention. He’s going to start looking for us.”

“Is that a good thing, sir?” Brock asked uncertainly.

“In my book, I believe it is. We will worry more about him when the time comes—I do feel he would start looking for us the first chance allowed for him. I want all cameras in the city watching for him, and I want to be notified when he comes into the city.”

“Yes sir,” said Brock, inclining his head.

“In the meantime, I can imagine one Noa Kaiba will be exceptionally displeased that his family was endangered. Please let our cyber security division know that we need to tighten down security on any and all files we have regarding our current line of work. I want any such attempts to log in to our system shut down.”

The man on his left cleared his throat. “So far we’ve been able to shut down all outside investigations into our business. The Kaibas have so far not made a connection to us in regards to the latest expansions, but already this afternoon we’ve had to redirect and work overtime to divert Noa Kaiba’s intrusions into our mainframe.”

“Are you suggesting you are not up for the task, Mr. Carter?” There was something soft and dangerous in the question.

“N-No sir! Not at all!”

“Good. It should not be a problem then to cover our tracks for the day?”

“We already have our malware program uploaded into the city servers. All activity for the past four hours is being scrubbed even as we speak.”

“Wonderful! It seems you have it under control, so you’re dismissed.” A hand rose from the chair and pushed a button. “All right, my dear, please escort these gentlemen out.”

“Yes sir.”

The door opened behind them and the secretary stepped inside. “Come with me.”

Brock was never happier when he left the office and was back in the elevator heading back downstairs. That whole floor gave him nothing but the creeps.

                                        +++++++++++++++++++

Darien was frightened.

The phone call had come in while he had been repairing the kitchen sink. One of Ellie’s friends, a Mai Valentine, had been on the line. Her voice had been calm but with an edge, carrying a sense of urgency.  His grandchildren were missing and very likely in danger, she had told him grimly. They were trying to locate Rowen and Sylvie, but so far no one had found them.

Darien’s first instinct, his gut reaction, was to immediately return to Domino. He should have never left them alone. How could he have known, though? There was no way to prepare for a threat to the children, especially if he hadn’t known, and now…

There would be time for self-berating later. Now he had to get Alana and go back. Mai had assured him that those who knew the children were searching for him, but Darien did not intend to stay where he was while his grandchildren’s lives were in danger. Alana certainly didn’t—she was already searching in Ellie’s old bedroom for their daughter’s spare can of mace.

He had not even gotten his car keys when there was a movement from behind him. He had been expecting Alana to come find him, to let him know she was ready to go.

He had not expected the man in white standing in the doorframe.

Darien gave a soft gasp and staggered backwards. The other man’s hands rose in a placating gesture, gold eyes flickering under the hood. “I am not a threat,” he said quietly. The hands lifted the hood from his head, long teal hair framing his face. “I am here on behalf of your grandson. He requested that I notify you of his safety—he is not in any further danger from those seeking to harm him.”

Darien paused, eyes flitting towards the doorway behind the stranger.

“She isn’t downstairs yet and I’d rather not get a face full of mace. Please—a moment of your time.”

Darien studied the newcomer with a frown. The other man watched him patiently, his expression unreadable. Perhaps this man was not a danger after all.

“I’m listening,” Darien said slowly. “You said Rowen was safe.”

“Yes. He and his younger sister are now under my protection. The little girl is quite ill, but her fever was already starting to come down when I left them.”

Darien felt something loosen in his chest. There was a note of sincerity in the last sentence he couldn’t ignore; he wondered if perhaps this stranger understood the need for proof. “It would seem Rowen and Sylvie have a powerful friend looking out for them,” he said quietly, unable to hold the relief from his voice.

“Most would not consider me a friend,” said the man after a brief pause. “But I do not consider myself an enemy to them, either.”

There was a subtle weariness in his voice, and the man seemed…older in that one moment. He could not explain it if he was asked how, but Darien felt that this man was so much older than him in spite of his physical appearance. He looked as if he was from another time—and perhaps he was. A nagging thought was there at the peripheral of his mind, something Ellie had once told him.

It was not until he met the golden eyes, sharp and fierce and yet world-weary and knowledgeable, that Darien suddenly placed him. A name from a lifetime ago, from a story he’d only heard second-hand, reached him. “You’re Dartz.”

The stranger—no, Dartz—seemed surprised for a brief moment at being recognized. “I am,” he said at last, a question in his voice.

“Raphael,” Darien said simply.

“Ah. I should not be so surprised.”

“He never told me about what happened, not directly. He only ever spoke about it in detail with my daughter, and even then it wasn’t a topic of conversation that he brought up often.”

“I’d imagine not. Stealing souls is hardly a decent topic of conversation at the dinner table.” There was something wry in Dartz’s voice now. “You do not sound so upset at seeing me now.”

“I think there was a part of me that wondered if you would show up one day, especially now that he’s dead,” Darien admitted. “He was never sure if you had truly died after being defeated, though he never said as much. I could tell he thought about it.”

At the mention of Raphael’s death Dartz’s face spasmed the briefest of moments. Something clouded the gold eyes, and he looked so much older in that one moment. His expression cleared and he looked away. “I heard about his passing,” he said. “I had hoped he would live longer than this. Your daughter as well, though I never met her. No parent should have to bury their child—I apologize for your loss.”

A long pause followed.

“Rowen and Sylvie will be under my care until the matter of their safety is assured,” Dartz said at last, sounding brisk. “You need not worry about legal ramifications. Those have been settled for now. When it is safe for them to be returned, I will bring them back to you—no sooner, no later.”

“…If you aren’t their enemy, Dartz, who is?”

“That,” Dartz said after another pause, “is what I intend to find out. For now, I ask that you remain here. It would be safer away from Domino—“

“I don’t want to sit this out on the sidelines,” Darien said, interrupting Dartz. His own voice was calm and measured, but there was a hint of steel beneath the calm. “Those are my daughter’s children, Dartz. I won’t press you to return them if it isn’t safe, but I won’t stay out of this either.”

“It is ultimately your decision when it comes to your actions,” Dartz said quietly. “All I ask is that you do nothing that would leave your grandchildren orphans.”

There was a noise from behind Darien and he started. He turned to the kitchen sink, which was dripping water from the faucet still. He had not finished fixing it yet.

When he turned back to the doorway, Dartz was gone and Alana was in his place. “Darien?” she asked hesitantly. “I heard you talking…was someone on the phone?”

“…Alana, we need to talk.”

                                        +++++++++++++++++++

Noa was beyond angry.

Isabel could tell even without asking. His lips were pressed together so tightly that it was an angry slash against his pale face. Twin spots of color in his cheeks, the dark flashing blue eyes, and the way his fingers viciously jabbed each key on the keyboard were the only other clues to his current emotional state.

She could not blame him. Any subject involving Dartz was a sore point for Noa.

He had been this way for nearly three hours, long enough for the sun to start going down outside. The moment Isabel had called him about the incident at the mall, her husband had cleared his schedule and shut everything down to start the search for his nephew. Mikomi had missed her recital, but given the circumstances Isabel knew her daughter could care less over a missed concert—she was more worried for both her brother and her cousin.

“Anything?” she asked, her own voice controlled and curt.

“Not a thing,” he replied, eyes never leaving the screen. “They turned all security monitors off in that quadrant of the mall for four hours—routine maintenance, apparently,” he added, voice rich with disgust. “As for the security guards, nothing extraordinary about them so far. I’m having custom search engines running for any common history between them, so we’ll see if anything turns up.

“Interestingly enough, it’s not just the mall that was down. More than half of the city’s surveillance cameras weren’t recording during those four hours—all cameras in areas where Sora, Claire, Michael, Rowen, and Sylvie were. That’s just a touch interesting in my books, so I’m running virus and malware checks through the city systems too.”

Isabel felt that it might be more than slightly illegal for Noa to be looking through their personnel files, and for him to be searching through the city’s surveillance cameras. She also found that, given the circumstances, she did not particularly care.

“What about the men who took Michael?”

“Kazuo identified one of them in this shot right before the cameras went down,” he said, and with another click a picture came up. Noa zoomed in on the picture and the man was brought into sharp relief. “Nothing outstanding about him. Close cut brown hair, shades and turtleneck, and what looks like an earpiece. Facial recognition software can’t place him.”

“Why not?”

“See the way he’s ducking away from the camera? He knows where it is, so he’s keeping his face turned. I can maybe pull a partial result, but not enough to identify him. Still, I have the most up-to-date software and programming—I’ll keep trying.”

Isabel’s phone started buzzing and she looked down at the screen. “Joey’s calling.”

Noa actually looked away from the monitor as Isabel answered the phone. “Joey?”

“Mai and I checked the workshop, and then the center in the park. There’s no sign of any of them. We found Rowen’s phone on a bus that runs the park circuit—the bus company called us since we were the most recent number outside of the twin’s.”

“Rowen’s phone was on a bus?” she repeated aloud. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Noa turn in his seat to face the computer, fingers flying across the keyboard. “What about Sora and Claire?”

“Alleyway by their workshop was covered from ground to roof with pink paint and glitter, and it smells like strawberries—nearly made me pass out because it was so strong.”

One of their smoke bombs, Isabel knew. The twins had been barred from using any of those except for absolute emergencies—it seemed they had deemed it a situation to use one. “Is there any other place the kids would go that you know of?”

“No. I’ve got Tristan and Ryou helping me look for them, and Duke’s looking too. Mai reached out to Rowen’s grandparents and they’re on their way. I’ve been trying to reach Yugi, but no dice. I’ve gone to voicemail every time I’ve tried to call him.”

“We aren’t having any luck reaching Seto, either,” Isabel said, frowning. “Same problem, except we shouldn’t be having it.”

Isabel heard Noa’s sharp inhalation and a triumphant noise from behind her. “Got you, Rowen,” she heard.

“Joey, I’ll call you back as soon as I know more—Noa’s got something. Keep trying to get a hold of Yugi.” Isabel hung up and came back to the monitor. “What did you find?”

Noa pulled up two separate windows across the monitors. “Whatever’s going on with the cameras must have missed the bus cameras. Here’s the bus stop nearest Rowen’s house,” he said, and he tapped the screen as Rowen came into view. Isabel’s stomach clenched at the blanket in his arms, a brief glimpse of Sylvie’s hair visible through the blanket. On camera, the teenager crossed the bus and sat down, attention going between the windows and his sister.

“He got on and he stayed on…fast forward a bit…and there, he’s getting off at the park stop across from the museum. He goes—hold on, pulling up park footage—nope, that’s where we lose the cameras. We know at least he got off in the park, but after that…nothing.”

Isabel frowned, leaning forward. “Noa, rewind back to where Rowen was on the bus,” she said. As the footage rewound she held up a hand. “What’s he looking at?” she asked, pointing to the screen. Rowen was looking over his shoulder and peering forward through the window.

“Likely at the vehicle that had been tailing him, Miss Corazón.”

Isabel froze at the voice. Noa stiffened in his seat, color receding from his face. Then, at the same time, they slowly turned to face the entrance of the office.

Dartz stood silently in the doorway, his hood pulled away to fully reveal his features. There were a few lines to his face that had not been there years ago, drawn features that showed the start of age, but it was the same man they had encountered years before—the same one who had caused so much misery in their lives.

Isabel had not realized she had moved until her fist was colliding with Dartz’s cheek and the man toppled backwards to the floor. She stood over him, fists clenched impossibly tight at her sides. Noa came up behind her, one hand on her shoulder as he too glowered at their unwelcome guest.

“I suppose I deserved that,” Dartz said quietly after a moment’s pause, one hand rising to his cheek.

“I’m so glad you’ve deigned that you warrant a punch to the face. How gracious of you,” she retorted. Isabel thought she could see blood in the corner of his mouth. Good. “And for the record, I’m married now.”

Something flashed in Dartz’s eyes, his gaze flickering as he put two and two together. “Apologies then.”

“You’re either really brave or really stupid to come here,” Noa said at last, ice in his voice. “I’m leaning more towards stupid, since your track record shows a distinct cowardice streak.”

The man at their feet slowly rose, taking a step back. Maybe it was out of caution, or maybe it was to respect the boundaries between them. “You look healthier,” he replied simply. His expression was neutral and composed, even as the blood pooled in the corner of his mouth and his cheek grew red. “The last time I saw you, Noa—“

“—I was yet another pawn in your gambit to take over the world.” Noa’s reply was hard and held an edge. “You brought me back from the dead simply to run I2 in Pegasus’s absence, maybe even to attack Seto and Mokuba if Alister failed. I wouldn’t know, since it never progressed to that point and Isabel thankfully stopped me.”

“Noa—“

“You’re the second man in my life who’s manipulated me, and the first was my father.” His voice was a venomous hiss. “Neither of you hold a particularly good place in my book, so you’d best have a damn good reason for coming back now of all times.”

Isabel heard the pain in his voice and her hand moved to squeeze her husband’s gently. Noa shot her a glance, returning the squeeze gently.

Dartz had not missed the subtle exchange and for the briefest of moments his expression softened, exhaustion and understanding visible in his gaze. It was gone as soon as it had come when Isabel turned a hard look on him.

“Where’s Michael, Dartz?” she asked. “What did you do with my nephew?”

“I believe your son gave you a message in that regard—“

“That is not an answer,” Noa snarled almost at the same time as Isabel said it.

Dartz’s eyebrows rose. “He said something similar earlier today, when he woke up,” he said. “I was surprised to see he has golden eyes, rather than his father’s.”

The last comment came without context or asking, but something in Isabel’s stomach unknotted. Dartz had done that deliberately—Michael was conscious, had to be conscious if Dartz could note her nephew’s features and behavior. “My sister,” she said quietly.

Something close to surprise lit his gaze. It was gone again, buried beneath the neutral mask. “I hadn’t known she was the boy’s mother.”

“For someone who appears to be all-knowing, you’re remarkably unobservant,” Noa said flatly.

Dartz’s expression closed. “I will be brief, as my presence is clearly an unwelcome one,” he said. “I came because I was asked by the children to tell you they are safe. They are no happier at their situation than you or I am.”

“Okay, so give them back then,” Isabel said coolly. “It sounds like it’s such a burden to watch after poor defenseless children.”

“When it is safe to do so, I will return them to their proper guardians. I have no desire for custody of the children, but at this time it is unsafe to return them to the city.”

Not safe to return the children? Isabel and Noa exchanged glances. “And why would that be?” Noa challenged angrily. “Give us one good reason why you can’t bring them back.”

Dartz did not look away from them. His eyes were dark and there was a flicker of exhaustion in his gaze. “There is only one reason I would have to return to Domino and risk your ire.”

Ice dropped down Isabel’s spine. “I thought it was gone, Dartz,” she said slowly. “There shouldn’t be any of it left.”

“That is why I am here—to find out what exactly is going on.” Dartz’s voice was very hard and dangerous, a threat hidden in his voice. “Until I know more, until the safety of those children is guaranteed, they will remain with me.”

“Oh, right, because leaving children in the vicinity of a viper is a great idea,” Noa said coldly. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

“And you clearly can protect them, since the children were either attacked in broad daylight or forced to flee their homes,” Dartz retorted, and this time there was an edge in his voice. “If this enemy is the same one that’s brought me here, they are better off where they cannot be found.”

“What do you want us to do? If you’re asking us to just twiddle our thumbs and do nothing—“

“It will be the same warning I delivered earlier tonight: do not do anything that would leave those children orphans,” Dartz cut over her smoothly. “That would mean doing any investigative work into the ones responsible. I will not have anyone else targeted,” he added, interrupting the starts of Isabel’s and Noa’s reply. “If someone must be a target, it will be the one they cannot catch.”

“Look, buddy, I’ve already got the ball rolling in multiple areas. Whoever this is probably already knows we’re onto them, so at this point there’s no point in stopping what I’m doing just because you say so.”

“I know I do not have that right, and I also know that I cannot ultimately stop you from proceeding with what you are doing. I need at least forty-eight hours, Noa,” Dartz said quietly. “Give me enough time to handle this on my own, or to at least gauge the situation.”

“Riiiight. Uh huh. And you are a fantastic one man army, aren’t you?” Noa asked.

Isabel felt the pressure in the room drop as the familiar rush of magic filled the air around them. Noa’s computer screens flickered wildly and the lights dimmed drastically. Dartz’s own expression remained mild, but the gold eyes were flecked with aquamarine.

“Do not forget who I am,” he said, his voice carrying a thrum of power that had not been there before. “I am perfectly capable of handling this on my own.”

The magic died away and the atmosphere calmed.

“Twenty four hours, Dartz.” Isabel’s voice was hard. “I’m giving it twenty-four hours where we do nothing, and then whether you want it or not we’re going right back to doing what we were before.”

Dartz studied them for a long moment and then sighed softly. “All right. In twenty four hours I will let you know what I have found. If you do any further investigations, I recommend you do them as quietly as you can. Do not draw attention to yourselves. You can protect against a physical threat, but not a magical one.”

Dartz started to turn from them. “I trust you will notify the remaining relatives of the twin’s whereabouts,” he said.

“Joey and Mai? Why don’t you do that yourself?” Noa asked testily. “We aren’t your servants.”

Dartz paused. “Because the last time Miss Valentine spoke of me, it was in Paradius before it fell and she promised castration with a rusted fork. I for one am inclined to believe her.”

He turned the corner before either of them could react. Isabel felt the familiar pulse of magic and she hurried out of the office—only to be greeted by an empty hallway. Dartz had gone.

“Noa…I think I know why we can’t reach Yugi or Seto,” she said grimly. “I think Dartz might be deliberately blocking any attempt to reach them.”

“You’d think that after he lost his source of magic he wouldn’t be able to keep up any kind of spell or magic. But of course he can.” Noa shook his head. “Give me technology over magic that can just BS everything any day.”

“It just means that he’s serious about keeping us out of this,” said Isabel with a sigh, hands going on her hips.

“And that is really going to stop us from getting involved?” Noa asked, a smirk on his face.

Isabel’s smile mirrored Noa’s. “Not even for a second.”

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