#siren!jungkook

[inkjam-moon]

Red Sky - Part One

Summary: After the death of your uncle, you make friends with his estranged roommate, a handsome young man, around your age that disappears for days at a time. When you find out something you're not supposed to, you learn exactly why the locals aren't particularly welcoming towards him. You want to help Jeongguk, but will he trust you enough to let you in?

Pairing: Siren!Jeongguk x Reader

Genre: Fluff, Smut, Angst

Word Count: 18k (I have nothing to say...)

TW: Sexually explicit content, mentions of suicide/death, physical altercation, drowning mentions, near death experience, drinking, verbal altercation, panic attack

A/N: tumblr literally won't let me post this in one part it's so long so part 2 will be up immediately!

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"Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky in the morning, sailor's warning..."

.

It’s overcast and misty where the boat finally stops. The late winter sun has just started to sink below the horizon, not that you can tell with all the clouds, but they are a slightly darker shade of grey. You wake yourself, stretching after the long trip from Busan, and grab your things, thanking the captain as you step onto the creaking wood of the old dock. The pungent smells of salt and low tide immediately assault your nose, your raincoat doing little to keep the relentless mist off your face, but you tug it closer nonetheless. You pull the paper out of your pocket and double check the hastily scribbled address that’s starting to smear. Honestly, you don’t even know if you’re in the right place. 

You look to your left and see nothing but the ocean, as far as the horizon. You can’t help but stare out at the crashing white foam of the waves, wondering how you ended up here on this miserable island. Well, you know how you ended up here, but you begin to think about what life choices you could’ve made to bring you to this point.

When you say island, you don’t mean a tropical paradise with palm trees and coconuts everywhere. You mean the North Pacific; a small fishing village off the coast of Korea that means little to the world. Honestly, if it sank into the sea one day, you don’t think anyone would mind too terribly.

You scan the surroundings to your right and see a row of dismal buildings. You tuck into the closest one that you can enter, jumping when the door slams shut behind you, causing everyone in the place to look up at you.

You seem to be in some sort of a bar, a small number of people scattered at tables, having probably just got back from being out at sea; a hot bowl of some sort of stew, and a beer in front of each of them. You walk up to the counter where a man stands on the opposite side, cleaning a glass.

“Excuse me?”

The man, older, rather large, and a bit scary looking, turns to you. “Yeah?”

“Uh-um, sorry to bother you, I was wondering if you knew this address?” You hold the paper out to him. 

He takes it from your hand and squints at it for a moment before looking up at you in surprise. “Hogeun’s place, huh?” He questions, his voice thick with the island’s harsh satoori. 

“Yes, I’m here to collect his things.” You explain. “I’m his niece.” 

"Y/N?"

"Um, yes?" Does this man know you?

"Wow, I can't believe it’s you. You're all grown up now.” He laughs. “Last time I saw you was maybe 20 years ago."

"We’ve met?"

He nods. "You don't remember?"

"No." You shake your head.

"You were pretty young, maybe four or five? But I guess when your mom stopped coming around you did too. I'm Donghyun." He reaches his hand across the counter and you shake it. "I was friends with your uncle, so if you need anything let me know, yeah?"

You nod. "Thank you. Um, his house is...?"

"Right, sorry." He hands you back the piece of paper. "Follow the road east to the cliffs. When you get to the fork go right and follow that to the lighthouse. His place is the only one down there.”

“Thank you.” You nod politely as you take your leave, thanking him once more as you head out the door. 

As you step outside, pulling your coat tighter around you, you look around to see there’s only one road in this town, so you set off to follow in the opposite direction of the setting sun, but just as you step off the curb, a voice startles you, making you jump as you nearly miss your step. 

“Hey there missy!” An old man you hadn’t noticed before is sitting in a chair next to the door of the bar. He seems to revel in the fact that he scared you. “Not often do we get travelers here. What brings you to Gageodo?”

“I’m here to settle my uncle’s estate.” 

“You Hogeun’s niece, eh?” He raises an eyebrow. You only nod, not sure how much information you want to give to him. “Old Hogeun kept some strange company. Some a them is monsters out there in the sea.” He points out toward the ocean. “You best read up on how to deal with ‘em.”

“Um, right.” You nod again before trying to turn away, but the old man stops you with a yell. 

“You best heed my words! They can be dangerous!”

“Are you saying there’s… mermaids? In the ocean here?” You scoff.

“I didn’t say it…” He looks around to make sure no one else is listening before whispering. “But I ain’t denying it either.”

“Right. I have to go.” You turn and head toward the road, ignoring the man as he continues calling to you, hurrying yourself along until you’re out of earshot. 

It’s about twenty minutes before you reach the eastern cliffs, finally seeing your uncle’s home emerge from the shadows of the heavy forest that covers the island. You recognize it from the picture he sent you. With the ocean to the front, and the forest to the back, the house sits modestly between them with the old rundown lighthouse in the distance. A grand view for a one story uh... house? Can you even call it a house? It looks more like a shack. You sigh and dig the spare key out of your pocket, walking up to the door and unlocking it, letting yourself in.

You fumble for a light switch, but can’t seem to find one so you turn on the flashlight on your phone to aid you. When you find the switch, you flick it on and the whole place seems to whirr to life. 

You have to admit, it’s bigger on the inside, sparse, but somehow cozy. There’s hardly any furniture; a table, and two old wooden chairs, a small, very worn couch in front of a large television, which is probably the newest thing in here, but that’s it for this room. You take your time exploring the rest of the house; two bedrooms, one bathroom, a decent kitchen, and a creepy basement.

In a normal house, you’d expect to see pictures hanging, things on the walls, little adornments that make a house a home, but this… this is just a house. It isn’t until you nearly trip over a dresser drawer that you find a picture inside. It’s in a simple dark green frame with a stand on the back of it, and when you look on top of the dresser, you can see the square where it once stood, the only spot not covered in dust, but what gets you is that it’s not a picture of his late wife, or friends, it’s a picture of your mom, his sister, leaning over your much younger uncle as he holds an even younger tiny baby you. She must’ve sent it to him before the fight they had. It warms your heart that he kept the picture after all these years. 

You were very close to your uncle. Back when you were little, he got into a fight with your mother, his older sister by about twenty years, that alienated him from the rest of the family and cut off any contact you had with him. When you got older, you took matters into your own hands and contacted him. The two of you became close as you kept him updated on the rest of your family. You’d always get a card on your birthday from him with some money in it; the older you were the more money you’d receive, he even sent you a spare key to his house, asking you to come visit; unfortunately, you never had the chance. That’s why you were the one that got called out here when he passed away; your number was the only one they could find. 

You place the picture frame back up on the dresser where it belongs, wondering why he put it away. Maybe he was afraid your mother would be the one to empty his place? You shrug, and walk into the spare bedroom, lifting your suitcase on the bed to unpack it, knowing you’ll be here at least a week to sort through his things. 

You head to the kitchen, deciding to start sorting tomorrow as you open the fridge to see what kind of food there might be. You’re disappointed as you only see a few wilting vegetables, some eggs, an assortment of sauces and pastes, and a few other scattered foods in take-out containers that have probably been in here longer than you want to think about. There’s also an entire case of beer, and half a container of orange juice. You’ll have to go get some groceries tomorrow.

Your stomach rumbles as you crack open a beer, taking a swig as you search the pantries for anything edible. Instant oatmeal. Well, it’s better than nothing. You grab a packet and toss it into a bowl, adding hot water from the kettle and waiting for it to set. When it’s ready, you grab it and your beer and head over to the couch, turning on the tv to find something to waste the time. 

It isn’t long after you eat that you find yourself dozing on the couch, the trip here from home having taken its toll on you. You turn the tv off, placing your dishes in the sink before locking the front door and then heading into the guest room. You put on your pajamas and climb under the sheets, the bed squeaking as you get comfortable, and then quickly drifting off into sleep. 

.

You’re startled awake by a loud banging noise, trying to wake yourself up enough to get your bearings before you realize it’s coming from the living room. Did someone break in? You check your phone to see it’s about three in the morning. What on earth? You slip a sweatshirt over your pajamas and grab the baseball bat from the corner of the room you stashed earlier before very quietly opening the door to the room to investigate. You don’t see anything, but you still hear the banging. You walk further into the living room to hear someone knocking rapidly on the front door. You’ve only met two people, who could be bothering you at this ungodly hour? The banging continues until you hear a voice above it.

“Hyung! Hyung let me in, please!”

You stand in front of the door, slightly terrified. Should you answer it?

“Hogeun hyung, please!”

At the mention of your uncle’s name, you lean the bat against the wall, step forward and unlock the door, opening it to see something you never thought you’d see. In front of you stands a soaking wet young man with dark hair that just barely covers his wide eyes. He looks like a stunned deer as he takes you in just as you do him, searching for something, his breathing ragged as if he ran here.

“Can I help you?” You ask.

“Are you…? Are you Y/N?”

You look at him surprised as your name leaves his lips. You’re starting to get tired of people knowing you before you know them. “Um, yes?”

“W-where’s Hogeun?”

You look at him, confused. Does he not know? “He’s not here. He’s-”

“Oh, can I come in?”

“I-”

“Please?” He pleads, his voice desperate. You step to the side and allow him to enter; he does so quickly and shuts the door behind him, locking it and relaxing a bit.

“How did you-”

“Hyung told me you might be coming to visit soon. Where is he? Is he sleeping?”

“Who are you?”

“Oh! Sorry. My name is Jeongguk.” He bows politely. “I’m a friend of your uncles.”

“A friend?” You ask in disbelief. Your uncle never mentioned Jeongguk which immediately makes you suspicious… But on the other hand, your uncle told Jeongguk about you.

“I know this sounds ironic since he’s your actual uncle, but he’s like an uncle to me. Or like a brother. He helped me out of a pretty bad situation once and I’ve been helping him ever since.”

That reminds you. “Right, um speaking of bad situations, were you running from something?” You ask, remembering his frantic entrance. 

“Running? Um…” He hesitates obviously not wanting to discuss the matter.

“Yeah, you seemed to be in a hurry to get in here. Like you were in trouble.”

“Let’s just say the people in this town don’t like me very much, okay? Now, where’s Hogeun?”

“You really don’t know?”

“Know what?”

You sigh, walking over to the sofa and taking a seat on it. Jeongguk follows close behind, taking a seat next to you, obviously comfortable in this home, by the way he tucks his feet under himself. “I'm sorry to be the one to tell you, but he…” You pause, taking a deep breath. “Hogeun is dead.” You whisper. It still hurts to admit it.

“W-what?” You look up to see Jeongguk’s doe eyes go even wider in shock. “What are you talking about?”

“They-” You take a deep breath, holding back your tears before continuing. “They found his body at the bottom of the cliffs a few days ago; the police said he must’ve jumped. They called me to come get his stuff sorted out, that’s why I’m here.”

The room goes silent. You look at Jeongguk to see his face twisted in what seems to be rage before he speaks, so low you almost can’t hear him. “Hyung didn’t jump.”

“Jeongguk-”

“He didn’t!” Jeongguk suddenly yells. “He-” Jeongguk stops and looks at you, seeming to contemplate something before continuing. “I know hyung. He didn’t jump.”

“I’m sorry, Jeongguk but there isn’t really any other explanation…” You sigh. “How come you didn’t know? It happened almost a week ago now. Where have you been?”

“I-” Jeongguk stops, closing his mouth and looking at the floor. He’s silent for a few moments before he suddenly gets up and walks toward the kitchen.

“What are you doing?” You ask, watching as he rummages around on the table and in drawers, looking for something, ignoring you. You get up and walk over to him. “Look, I’m sorry you had to find out like this, but I don’t really know who you are or why you’re here and it’s very late, so I’m going to have to ask you to-”

“Here.” He suddenly shoves an envelope in your face.

“What is this?” You take the envelope from his outstretched hand.

“Read it. I’m going to sleep.”

“What?” You turn as he walks away from you toward your uncle’s room. “You can’t just- this isn’t your house!” But it’s too late, Jeongguk has already disappeared into the room and shut the door behind him. Before you can huff off after him, you feel the envelope in your hand and sigh, lifting it to see what it says. 

In case of Emergency: For Y/N

That’s your uncle’s handwriting. You take one last look over at the closed door before tearing open the envelope to find one of your uncle’s letters inside, addressed to you.

Y/N, I wish I was writing to you under better circumstances, but unfortunately if you’re reading this, it’s likely something has happened to me and I’m sorry that you have to be the one to pick up after my mess. You’ve already met Jeongguk, I hope; he’s a good kid. I hope you two become friends and show him the same kindness you showed me. He’ll watch over the house so you don’t have to go through the hassle of selling it. Take anything you need; the account numbers for my bank are written below. Everything in them is for you as a thank you for letting me back into your life. Hopefully it’ll help. I hope you get things sorted out quickly, ask Jeongguk for help if you need any. He’s a little strange, but he’ll be good to you. Give the family my love and apologies, especially your mother. Hogeun

Well, at least that’s one thing you don’t have to worry about. You turn and walk over to the door Jeongguk disappeared behind and knock lightly, when there’s no response, you open the door just a crack and peek inside to see Jeongguk fast asleep on the bed. You sigh and close the door again, there’s no use waking him. You head back into your room and shut the door, crawling back under the covers and closing your eyes to drift off.

.

You wake up to a loud clap of thunder, startled as you shoot up in bed. Man, are you always going to wake up to loud noises when you’re here? You stretch, checking your phone to see it’s a little after ten in the morning. You sit up, shivering. It got cold here last night. You’ll have to look at the thermostat after you eat something.

You grab your sweatshirt and slip it back on, remembering the intruder you had last night as you stand and make your way out to the kitchen. You manage to find some rice, grab the eggs, and a few vegetables that still look edible. You shrug and slice them up before throwing everything in a pan with some soy sauce, and sesame oil, making a very sad looking fried rice. Well, it’s better than nothing. As you dump about a quarter of it into a bowl, you hear a door open behind you and Jeongguk comes stumbling out, still half asleep.

“Is that food?” He asks, running up to your side.

“It’s not much, just some fried rice.”

"Can I have some?" He asks hopefully.

"Sure, there’s plenty. Take what you want."

Jeongguk grabs a bowl and dumps the rest of the rice into it before grabbing a spoon and walking over to the table, sitting down as he immediately begins stuffing his face.

"This is amazing." He groans.

You can’t help but giggle at his enthusiasm. "Thanks, it would've been better with fresh veggies, but-"

His eyes widen as he looks at you. "You can make it taste better?"

"Well, yeah. I'll just have to get some things at the grocery store."

"What else can you make?" He asks, scooting closer.

"Uh, pretty much anything as long as I have a recipe. What do you like?"

"Everything! I love food! I used to love when Hogeun cooked!"

"Oh? What did he cook for you?"

"Mostly seafood stuff. He'd tell me what he'd want and I'd pick it up fresh for him. Crab, tuna, shrimp, mackerel, whatever he needed."

"Is there a fish market nearby? Do they have a lot of variety? I thought they sold everything to the mainland?"

"Oh, um..." Jeongguk hesitates. "I have a friend... One that fishes and stuff."

"Oh, if I give you a list can you get some stuff for me?"

"I can get anything from the sea that you need."

"Okay. Um, thank you. How- uh, how old are you anyway?”

“Twenty-seven.”

“Oh, okay, I’m twenty-eight.”

Jeongguk simply nods as he goes back to eating like he's starved. When he's finished, he puts his bowl down and looks back at you. "Okay, I'm ready." He states.

"For what?" You ask as you continue to eat.

"To go to the store."

You chuckle again. “After I eat. And I’m going to shower first.”

"How long will that take?" Jeongguk tilts his head in what seems to be confusion.

“Maybe fifteen or twenty minutes?”

“Hm.” Jeongguk seems to pout at this.

“I’ll try to be quick.” You take another bite of your breakfast. "So, where are you from? If you don’t mind me asking."

"I'm from... Uh... The island."

"This Island?"

"N-no, the big one, to the south."

"Jeju?"

"That's the one." He nods satisfactorily.

"Right..." You shake your head.

After you eat, you excuse yourself to jump in the shower, wanting to wash the bus and boat feeling off of you. You wash yourself quickly, not entirely sure if you trust the lock on the bathroom door. When you’re finished and clothed, you grab your hair dryer and plug it in, starting to dry your hair when you see Jeongguk poke his head around the corner, observing you closely through the open door.

“Can I help you?” You ask over the whirr of the dryer. He mumbles something, but you don’t catch it, turning the dryer off to hear him better. “Hm?”

“What… What is that? It’s loud.”

“My hair dryer?” You wiggle it at him and he nods. “It’s for drying your hair faster when it’s wet. Your mom didn’t have one?” 

He shakes his head. “I never met my mom.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

He shrugs, tossing your sympathy away with his shoulders. “She died when I was born. It’s not a big deal.”

You don’t know how to respond to that so you turn back to the mirror. “I should be done in a few minutes, okay?”

Jeongguk nods, heading back to sit on the couch and wait as you finish drying your hair. When you’re done, you throw on your rain jacket and boots and grab the keys to your uncle’s old rusted, red truck. You and Jeongguk climb in head back toward town to buy some food.

Jeongguk also does not know where the grocery store is, so you drive around for a bit until you find it. It’s about as big as you expected, which is to say not at all, but it’s the only one on the island. You pull into a parking space and lead Jeongguk inside, watching his eyes go wide in amazement at all the food. 

You putter around the store, grabbing this and that every so often to add to the baskets you and Jeongguk are carrying, trying to think of meals Jeongguk might enjoy. You occasionally ask him his opinion, but he just says yes to everything, following you around like a lost puppy. Surprisingly enough, as you're rounding the corner where the meats sit, you nearly run right into Donghyun.

"Y/N!" He smiles brightly at you.

"Ah, hello!" You smile back. "Fancy meeting you here."

He shrugs, "Picking up groceries for the bar on my day off."

"Oh, are you closed on Sundays?"

He nods, eyeing the nearly filled basket in your arms. "I guess you don't have much food at the house?"

"Ah, no not really. Plus Jeongguk eats like he's starved."

"Jeongguk? Do you have a dog or something?"

"No, he's my uncle's friend.” You explain. “Do you not know him?"

"No, I can't say I've ever heard the name before. His friend you say?"

"Yeah. He’s right-” You turn around to see Jeongguk is no longer behind you. “He was just here… Well, he's about my age, tall, brown hair, big eyes."

Donghyun's eyes go wide as though he knows who you're describing, but he doesn't say anything further, he simply shrugs again and shakes his head. "Oh, I saw Hajoon stopped you yesterday?"

"Hajoon?"

"Crazy old man, sits outside of the bar."

"Oh, right yeah. He was talking about mermaids or something." You laugh. "Can you imagine?"

"Yeah that's what I figured. He’s a nice guy, but I think all those years on the ocean turned his brain to seawater. So just... Don't pay attention to the things he says."

"Alright. I mean, I figured with the mermaids and all."

Donghyun smiles and nods. "Hey, why don’t you come by my house tomorrow? My wife and I would be happy to have some company to cook for.”

“Really? That’s so kind of you.”

“Absolutely. Our house is the one right behind the bar. Come by around seven, and bring your friend if you can find him!"

"Thank you, I'll see you then." And with that he walks off.

As soon as Donghyun disappears down the next aisle, Jeongguk’s voice startles you from behind. “Who was that?”

“Where did you go?”

“Hm? I was just around the corner. I found this.” Jeongguk holds up a box of sweet cakes. “Hyung always had these.”

“Alright.” You grab the box from him and stick it in his basket. “Come on, I think we have enough.”

After your shopping, you head back home, walking in the door to find you forgot to change the thermostat. You put everything down in the kitchen and then walk over to check it. 

“Holy shit, why is this only set to 60 in March?” You ask out loud, quickly turning the temperature up to 70. “Haven’t you been cold?” You ask Jeongguk as you put your groceries away.

“Cold? Not really.” He shrugs.

You shake your head and whip up some quick sandwiches for lunch before you begin organizing your uncle's belongings. Keep, donate, and trash are the three labelled boxes that sit adjacent to you on the floor. Keep- photographs, letters, money left in sock drawers; Donate- old clothes, out of date electronics, anything Jeongguk doesn’t want to keep; Trash - ashtray, empty cigarette cartons, beer bottles, shoes with holes in them.

It feels strange to you, compartmentalizing someone's life like this. Especially someone you knew. Someone you loved. You think about your own important things, what would someone keep of yours? Some clothes, maybe jewelry, probably your camera once they found it where it’s stuffed in the back of your closet, shelved with your dreams.

You sigh as you throw the last shirt in the closet into the donation box, finished with the guest room. You look at the time and realize you've been doing this for seven hours. No wonder you're hungry, it's nearly nine o'clock. You pick yourself up and make your way to the kitchen, cooking a simple stew for dinner to help stave off the cold outside.

You earn several grunts of happiness from Jeongguk as he continues to tell you how amazing everything tastes. When you’re finished eating, you do the dishes quickly before joining Jeongguk on the couch, grabbing the remote control and turning on the tv. "What do you want to watch?"

"Watch?" He questions again.

"Yeah, you know, watch. On tv? Like a show, or a movie?"

"I don't know. I never had one." He points at the tv. 

"Okay." You pull up Netflix , and start scrolling. "Stop me if you see something interesting." You scroll, not really focusing on the screen, but more on Jeongguk's reaction to it. It looks like he's really never seen a tv before; his eyes are blown wide in awe as he stares at it.

"That one!" He suddenly shouts, causing you to refocus on the screen.

"Boys over Flowers? Really?"

He nods. "I wanna watch that one."

"Okay, if you really want to." You click on the show and the first episode starts up.

You watch Jeongguk as he stares at the screen, enraptured by the scenes in front of him, and you take the time to study him. His hair is long, down to his shoulders, and a dark chocolate brown, almost black. His eyes are a lighter shade of brown, but sometimes you swear they shimmer like golden topaz when he gets excited. He’s on the taller side, his tan body toned and muscular beneath the clothes he borrows from your uncle’s closet. His nose is a little big, but it suits him, especially when he smiles, his eyes crinkling up and his lips pulling back to reveal his cute smile, reminding you of a rabbit.

There’s something about him… Something almost inhumanly beautiful as your eyes follow the lines of his body. Once he looks over and catches you staring, causing you to blush and pull your focus back to the tv. After the first three episodes, you decide to go to bed, the day's events finally catching up to you.

"Jeongguk, I'm going to bed." You state. He only nods, watching the final scene of the episode intently until the credits begin to roll. As you get up, the 'are you still watching' screen appears and Jeongguk panics.

"What happened?" He whines.

"Nothing, it just wants to make sure you're still watching." You hand him the remote. "Just press the 'okay' button and it'll keep going."

Jeongguk presses the button and is relieved when the show starts to play again. Knowing he's content, you take your leave and head off to bed, shutting the door behind you.

As you settle in, you have to admit that Jeongguk is slightly amusing, but he's a bit strange. Especially with all the things he doesn’t seem to know about. Is living on this island really that different than living on the mainland? Something about him feels off to you, but you can't seem to put your finger on it. Hogeun trusted him, so he can't be bad, right?

.

When you wake up the next morning, you have to check your phone for the time because it's so dark out it might still be night. 10:33 am. You get up and stretch, walking over to the window and peeking through the blinds to see it's pouring down rain again. Or is it, ‘still’? You see a bright flash of lightning in the distance. What a miserable place. You miss the sun. You sigh as you slip some pants on and walk out into the hall to see your uncle's bedroom door is open. Jeongguk must already be awake. You head towards the main room to see the tv is still on and is currently displaying the "More you might enjoy" screen from after you finish watching something in its entirety.

"Jeongguk, did you watch that whole show last night?" You call out, but there's no response. "Jeongguk?" You call again as you search the kitchen and bathroom, but Jeongguk is nowhere to be found. "That's weird…" You comment to yourself as you walk into the kitchen. Well, maybe if you make some breakfast, the smell of food will summon him. You cook up some eggs for a delicious egg sammy, but surprisingly, Jeongguk doesn’t crawl out of wherever he’s disappeared to, and you eat by yourself. 

As the day goes on, you continue sorting through your uncle’s things, wondering if maybe the stress of all of this made you hallucinate Jeongguk for some company. Was he really a dream? You shake your head, taping up the last box and carrying it out to the truck. You figure Donghyun might know where you can donate the clothes, so you’re bringing them with you to dinner tonight. At half past six you ready yourself for dinner, brushing your hair, and pulling on a warm flannel over your grey shirt and jeans, adjusting the necklace your uncle gave you in the mirror before hiding it under the collar of your shirt, slipping on your rain gear and heading out to the truck. 

You drive through the rain, up the road and into town, pulling in behind the bar to find Donghyun’s house. It’s not quite attached to the bar, but it might as well be. You park on the street and walk up to the door, knocking lightly. Donghyun answers the door with a wide smile. 

“Y/N! So glad you could make it.” He moves to the side and lets you in, taking your coat and hanging it up as you slip off your boots. He leads you into the small kitchen where a woman stands over the stove, cooking something. “This is my wife, Saki.”

“It’s nice to meet you!” She offers you a warm smile and you hear a lilt in her words.

“You too! Thank you for having me over.”

“Oh of course!” She puts down the spoon she was holding, wiping her hands on her apron. “Any excuse to cook for someone other than him.” Saki teases. “Why don’t you two sit, dinner will be ready in just a second!”

You thank her again before following Donghyun to the adjacent dining room, surprised to find a kotatsu as the main piece of furniture. You sit down on the pillow across from your host, pulling the blanket over your lap and feeling the warmth of the heater greet your chilled legs. 

“I hope you don’t mind the table, Saki’s from Japan originally. She insists she can’t live without it.”

That explains the accent. “Not at all! It’s delightful, I might have to invest in one for my apartment.”

“It’s good for those rainy days.” He agrees. “Which is almost every day here.”

“Time for dinner!” Saki exclaims as she walks into the room carrying two trays. She sets them both on the table and you see three large bowls of curry and rice, along with several side dishes, and cups of steaming hot tea. 

“Wow, it smells amazing.” You state as she places a bowl in front of you, the smell dancing through the air as you pick up your spoon. 

“Dig in!”

The three of you eat, sharing stories and laughs in the low lighting of the room. Donghyun tells you stories about your uncle; they both got jobs on the same fishing boat when they were eighteen and became close friends, your uncle eventually buying his own boat, and Donghyun taking over the bar for his father’s friend. They remained friends up until his passing, and the memory seems to hurt him as he tells you about how Hogeun used to join them for dinner just like you are now. Saki’s curry was his favorite.

“He always spoke so highly of you. He couldn’t wait for you to come visit.”

A pang of sorrow rings through your chest. “I wish I could’ve come sooner…” 

Donghyun smiles bittersweetly, placing a hand on your shoulder. “He knows you were busy.”

You’re thankful for the comforting gesture, nodding in acknowledgment. After the meal is finished, Donghyun brings out old photo albums and shows you the years of your uncle’s life that you missed, showing you what he was like without the stress of your family’s ideals weighing on him. He looked so happy. 

So why did he end his life? The question nags in the back of your mind, but you don’t want to bring it up right now. 

“So could your friend not make it tonight?” Saki questions. “Dongie said you might be bringing one.”

You shake your head. “Unfortunately not.”

“Too busy?”

“I’m not really sure.” You shrug. “I couldn’t find him.”

“You don’t know where he is?” Donghyun asks. 

“This probably sounds terrible, but I don't really know that much about him.” Donghyun and Saki exchange a concerned glance. “Hogeun told me about him in a letter. Said he could be trusted. I guess they were pretty close. He said Hogeun was like a brother to him. Hogeun even left the house to him so I don’t have to sell it.”

“What’s his name again?”

“Jeongguk.”

Saki thinks on this for a moment. “What’s his family name?”

“I… I don’t know. I never asked.”

Donghyun shakes his head. “I can’t say I’ve ever heard that name, not even in passing at the bar.”

“He’s harmless, honestly. I swear all he does is eat.” You explain. Another glance exchanged. It’s pointless to try and make them understand.

After a few more conversations, you bid goodbye, thanking them again for the meal before slipping your coat back on and heading out to the truck. You wave as you pull away, driving up the dark road back toward the lighthouse. When you pull into your uncle’s driveway, the house is dark. Jeongguk must not be back. As you unlock the front door, you can’t help but think once more, did he ever really exist? Or Was he something your mind made up due to the stress.

You close and lock the door behind you, walking into the kitchen and placing your leftovers in the fridge along with some assorted banchan they gifted you. You slide off your flannel tossing it on the back of the couch before settling down onto the cushions, running your hands through your hair as you take it down and then turning on the tv. You take off your necklace and twirl the medallion in your fingers.

A few hours later, there’s a bang against the front door that scares the shit out of you, causing you to jump out of the sleep you had fallen into. Just when you start to think you imagined it, you hear light knocking, getting up and walking over to investigate. You can’t see anything through the peephole, so you open the door a crack, peeking out to find Jeongguk standing there in the dark.

“Jeongguk? What the hell?” You open the door and he pushes past you, waltzing into the house, seemingly unbothered, though he is absolutely drenched from head to toe. “Are you alright?”

“Hm?” He barely turns toward you as he walks to the kitchen, tracking water across the floor. “I’m starving, do we have anything to eat?”

“Where have- Eugh, Jeongguk…” Your sentence is interrupted as you move to cover your nose, catching a whiff of him, the strong scents of salt and sea wafting off of his body in waves. “You smell like low tide.”

You watch him lift his arm up to sniff himself before shrugging. “It’s not that bad.”

“Yes it is.” You disagree, walking over to him and grabbing his arm. “You’re dripping all over the floor! And is this…?” You grab something off of the back of his shirt. “Seaweed?” You hold the green plant up between the two of you to show him. “What the hell have you been doing?” 

“N-nothing, I was just-”

“Come on.” You start dragging him toward the bathroom.

“What? Hey-”

You open the bathroom and pull him inside with you. “You’re not eating until you shower.”

“A shower?”

“Yeah you know, when you wash yourself with soap and water?”

He groans. “Do I have to?”

“Yes. Jeongguk, you stink.” You explain, turning the shower on for him. “Please.”

Jeongguk rolls his eyes. “Fine.” He states, grabbing his shirt and pulling the wet fabric off over his head, allowing you full visual access to his toned torso. You blush, only allowing yourself a quick glimpse before turning your head to look away.

“I-I’ll have something ready for you to eat when you’re done.” You mumble, immediately leaving the bathroom and shutting the door behind you.

Pausing for a moment against the door to slow your heart rate, the image flashes in your mind again; was that a tattoo you saw? You shake your head in an attempt to clear it. Why couldn’t your uncle have befriended some weird old man instead of a hot guy your age? And why was he so goddamn weird?

You sigh to yourself as you walk to the kitchen, flicking on the lights and taking your leftover curry out of the fridge, putting it in a bowl and then sticking it in the microwave to warm up. You grab a towel and use it to mop up the puddles of water Jeongguk leaked all over the floor. When you finish that, you realize Jeongguk will need a change of clothes so you walk into your uncle’s room, or you suppose it’s Jeongguk’s room now… You walk into the room, and grab Jeongguk some sweatpants, boxers, and a shirt. You can hear the microwave start to beep back in the kitchen, so you walk back out to shut it off, but as you pass by the bathroom, you hear the most beautiful sound you’ve ever heard. 

It’s low, but melodious, immediately catching your attention. You don’t know what it is, it almost sounds like the distant crashing waves, the lull of the open sea, a sweet word on the wind, filling your heart with so much emotion you feel like it might burst, and yet, you feel nothing at all, only a deep want, a voracious need in your chest that has you turning toward the bathroom and opening the door before you can stop yourself. 

Your vision goes blurry as you open the door, the sweet sound hitting your ears at a higher volume, echoing off the round acoustics of the bathroom walls and bouncing right back into your brain. As you walk toward the source, the shower curtain pulls back and the final barrier between you and the voice is removed, your reach for it when suddenly the sound stops. Your eyes focus to find Jeongguk standing before you, a terrified expression on his face as he takes in your drugged-like state. 

“Y/N?”

“J-Jeongguk? What-” You suddenly notice Jeongguk is still standing in the tub, naked as he’ll ever be and you turn away. “Oh god! I’m sorry I was, uh-” What were you doing? You look around for clues and see the pile of clean clothes you dropped to the floor. “Ah!” You bend over and pick them up. “I was just bringing you some dry clothes.” You place the clothes on the sink counter. “You can use my towel to dry off, I’ll wash it tomorrow.” You mumble before quickly leaving and shutting the door behind you.

What the hell was that? You don’t remember anything, it’s like you blacked out as soon as you came out of Jeongguk’s room. Weird. Maybe it’s just because you’re tired? Despite the odd feeling creeping up the back of your neck, you walk back into the kitchen, pulling Jeongguk’s food out of the microwave and setting it on the table for him just as he walks out of the bathroom. 

You’re still a bit too flushed to face him, looking down at your lap as you sit down at the table, watching out of the corner of your eye as he takes a seat next to you. He seems oblivious to your embarrassment as he immediately digs into the food, shoveling mouthfuls past his lips, making you wonder if he breathes when he eats. When he finally starts to slow down, nearing the end of his meal, you lift your head, still unable to meet his gaze as you mumble an apology. 

“I-I’m sorry for, you know, walking in on you. Like that.”

“It’s alright.” He says between bites.

“I don’t even know why I did that. Honestly, I don’t remember doing it.”

“You don't?” He quirks an eyebrow, eyeing you under the hair that falls across his face. 

“It’s the weirdest thing, right? I must be really tired or something.”

“Hm. Maybe…” He stretches and yawns, his spoon clinking against the bowl as he stretches his arms above his head. “Thanks for the food.” He smiles, taking his dishes to the sink and washing them quickly. 

“So, where did you go, if you don’t mind me asking.”

He shrugs, “Just had a couple things I had to do.”

“In the rain? Without a jacket? Or shoes?” You question, having noticed his footprints in the water he left on the floor. 

“Shoes are uncomfortable.”

“Right…” you watch him as he places his dishes in the rack to dry before turning and walking towards his room. “Jeongguk-” You call out to stop him. 

“Hm?” He stops, spinning back around to face you, his doe eyes wide in question. 

“N-nothing, never mind. I’ll talk to you in the morning I guess. If you’ll be here?”

“Sure.” He simply nods before walking away into his room and shutting the door. 

You sit at the table, temporarily stunned at the interaction you just had. God he’s strange. You get up, grabbing your necklace where it fell on the floor, shutting off the tv, and flicking the lights off on your way to your own room. You place the necklace on your nightstand, slip into some pajamas, and crawl into bed.

Just a few more days. You think to yourself. And then you can go back to your normal life. Or… at least what’s left of it.

.

Jeongguk quickly shuts the door behind him, glad to finally be alone as he takes a deep breath. Damn. He’s going to have to be more careful. He didn’t think he was being loud enough for you to hear him over the sound of the shower, that could’ve been a disaster if he hadn’t opened the curtain and seen you. Jeongguk drags his hand over his face, trying to wipe away the worry as he strips out of his clothes and flops down into bed with an exasperated sigh.

Jeongguk appreciates you. He’s grateful that you let him into your home, or, well, his home he guesses. You don’t ask too many questions. And you’re nice. You’re so much nicer than he ever thought you would be for some reason. Most people, especially in this town, aren’t particularly welcoming when it comes to him. He wishes Hogeun was here. It would make things so much easier…

He wishes he could tell you something.

He wishes he could tell you everything.

He wants to tell you everything, but Hogeun specifically told him to keep you out of it. He already hid all of their research in his room, hoping you won’t find it. Jeongguk pulls the letter addressed to him out of the bedside table, the one he found with yours, reading over it again.

Figure out what happened to me. Hide the research. And most importantly, make sure Y/N gets out of here as soon as possible. I would only blame myself if she got caught up in this mess that I made…

 Hogeun didn’t want you anywhere near the Ineo, so being near Jeongguk while you sorted things out was as close as you were going to get. Jeongguk has put up a firm wall, and tonight was too close for comfort. Jeongguk has to continue like this, sneaking away in the early hours to do what he needs to do. To find the answers. Jeongguk is determined to find a way to lift this curse.

.

When you wake up the next morning, it’s cold again. It’s early, you check your phone, unable to sleep because of the cold; it’s only just turning to eight o’clock. It takes everything in you to get out from underneath the warmth of the blankets; wanting to stay cocooned in them for the rest of the day, but you have things to sort. You shiver as your bare feet hit the cold wood of the floor, quickly reaching for warmer clothes; socks, a sweater and sweatpants, and slipping them onto your body.

You open your door and walk out to the living room to check the thermostat again. 60 degrees. What the hell? You turn the temperature back up to 70, feeling the heat immediately pouring out of the vent beneath your feet. Much better. But how did it get turned down? There isn't an automatic adjustment feature on it, it’s too old. Did Jeongguk…?

You huff, walking over to his room and knocking while you open the door to see Jeongguk sprawled across the mattress in nothing but shorts, blissfully unaware of the temperature. You walk over to him and are about to wake him when you see the tattoo etched into his skin, swirls of dark blue ink surrounding hands as they sink into the depths of color. You swear you’ve seen this before, but you can’t place where. Oh well, back to the task at hand. 

“Hey!” You smack Jeongguk in his bare chest, startling him awake. His eyes dart around the room until they land on you standing over him. 

“Y-Y/N?”

“Did you mess with the thermostat?”

“The what?” He sits up.

“The thing that changes the temperature. Did you turn it back down?”

“Hm? Oh, yeah.” He nods, unbothered. “I’m used to cold weather.”

“Aren’t you from Jeju?” He tilts his head as though he doesn’t understand why that matters. You pinch the bridge of your nose. “Okay, normal people get cold at this temperature, so I’m going to turn it up. Can you leave it alone until I’m gone please?”

He shrugs. “Sure.” 

You’re about to say more, but decide against it. He doesn’t talk much anyway. “Thank you.” You state as you turn and walk out, closing his door behind you. You barely make it three steps before the door opens again and Jeongguk follows behind you, he reminds you of a lost puppy sometimes. 

“Are you… going to make food?” He asks, pulling a shirt on. 

You chuckle, should’ve known that was coming. “I can, what would you like?”

He thinks for a moment before his eyes light up. “Hyung used to make these things,” He forms a circle with his hands. “Like little cakes? They were sweet.”

Sweet cakes? “Like, rice cakes?”

“No. Um… fluffy?”

“Hotteok?”

“Hotteok!” He points at you as he says it, clearly excited.

“Okay,” You giggle, turning to fish ingredients out of the cabinets. “I can make Hotteok, but you’ll have to wait for the dough to rise.”

Jeongguk nods, taking a seat on the couch and watching closely as you mix up the dough, putting it in a bowl and covering it before joining him. You set a timer for an hour and turn on the tv. You put on something mindless, dozing off as you watch until the timer goes off and jolts you awake. You get up and check the dough, kneading it before covering it for another 20 minutes or so. When that times up, you get the skillet ready, turning the heat on, and Jeongguk watches you carefully.

You look at him over your shoulder. How is he going to take care of himself after you leave? “Do you… want to help?”

His eyes go wide. “Can I?”

“Sure.” You wave him over. “It’s easy once you have the dough.”

You turn the dough out onto a floured cutting board and instruct Jeongguk how to separate it into balls while you mix cinnamon and sugar for the filling. You show him how to add the filling to the dough balls and then have him watch as you fry one up, waiting until it turns a golden brown before flipping it, squishing it down with the spatula, and then covering the pan with a lid so the sugar melts into a syrup. When it’s done, you scoop the pastry up out of the pan and place it on a plate.

“Voila.” You hold the plate out to him. “Hotteok.”

Jeongguk takes the plate, smiling. “Amazing.”

“It’s hot, be careful.” You scold when he picks it up immediately, burning the tips of his fingers. 

“Hot. Right.” He nods, blowing on it carefully.

He waits for you to cook a few more before you both sit down at the table together and eat. You can’t help but watch him, fascinated by the way everything seems new to him. He carefully eats the hot pastries, focused on nothing but the food in front of him the entire time. If anything, at least he’s amusing to spend time with. You smile as you observe him and his odd mannerisms. 

“So what are you going to do today?” He asks as he licks the remains off his fingers, you barely hear him, entranced by the flick of his pink tongue. No. You scold yourself. You can’t start thinking about him like that.

“Um, I’m going to try and bring some things up from the basement to go through.” You state, leaning back in your chair. “I didn’t realize how much was down there until yesterday. It’s going to take me a while to get through it all.”

“Can I help?”

“You want to spend all day going through boxes of junk with me?”

He shrugs. “I don’t really have much else to do.”

“Sure. I could use your muscles.” You nod. It’ll be easier to have Jeongguk lug everything up the stairs for you since you don’t want to do anything in that creepy basement. 

As you do the dishes, Jeongguk carries up box after box for you, covering most of the floor in the kitchen. You tell him that should be enough for now, and the two of you get to work sifting through the miscellaneous items your uncle collected over the years. One box has old movies on VHS and a video camera that doesn’t work anymore. Another is full of old fishing ledgers that he never got rid of. Jeongguk opens a third box and pulls out a series of old CD’s and vinyl albums. 

“What are these?”

“Hm?” You look up from the notebook you’re skimming through. “Oh those are just CD’s. You know. Music?”

“Music?” He takes one out and turns it over in his hands. “Who is Sonyeo Sidae?”

“Did you really just ask me that?” You scoff. He looks up at you with wide eyes. “You’ve never heard of Girl’s Generation? The nation’s girl group?” He shakes his head. “God have you been living under a rock?” You mumble, grabbing your phone and crawling over to Jeongguk, sitting down at his side and pulling up youtube. “Here,” You hand the phone to him. “This is their debut song. It’s one of their most iconic.”

The intro to Into the New World plays, and you immediately feel nostalgic, reminded of all the times you listened to this very song with your uncle when you were younger. His favorite was Gee. You watch Jeongguk, his head nodding along to the beat of the song as it plays, enraptured by the scene on the screen.

Several hours later, you and Jeongguk are dancing around the living room, having just taught him the moves to I Got a Boy, the two of you scream-singing along as the song blasts from the tv. 

“Ayo stop! Lemme put it down another way!”

The two of you dance like crazy until at some point during the last chorus you both crash into each other and fall to the floor in a heap, laughing until you can’t breathe. As the song fades out, the two of you catch your breath, both of you sweating from the unprompted exercise. 

“I didn’t know dancing could be so much fun.” Jeongguk smiles as he sits up, his breath heavy. 

“Would you believe me if I told you Hogeun knows every step to that song by heart?”

“Hyung? No.”

“Oh yeah, he is… well, was the biggest SNSD fan.”

“Really?” 

“Yeah…” You nod softly, pulling your knees into your chest. 

Jeongguk studies you for a moment, taking in your suddenly silent state. “You miss him.” It’s not a question, but a statement. An observation. 

You sigh. “I do miss him.” Jeongguk opens his mouth to say something, but before he can, you stand up, stretching. “Wow, four o clock already?” You look at the mess on the floor, realizing that you didn’t get much done as your stomach rumbles. “Hey, why don’t we have seafood tonight?” Jeongguk’s head perks up at this. “Would you be able to get stuff from your friend this late?”

“Of course.” Jeongguk stands with you. “What do you need?”

“Hmm, mussels and shrimp if he has them. Maybe some clams? Oh, and squid! I have everything for the stock, I just need to run to the store and get some noodles and veggies.”

“Okay, I’ll bring everything back here.”

“How much?”

“Hm?” He turns back to you. 

“You know, money? How much will it cost?”

Jeongguk shakes his head, smirking. “Don’t worry about it.” And with that he walks out into the rain, barefoot. You watch him walk down the path toward the lighthouse and disappear into the mist. 

.

About an hour later, you come back from the store with a bag full of ingredients as you hurry to the kitchen and start on the stock. Just as the stock is finishing, Jeongguk comes back through the front door, a bag of his own in hand, once again, soaking wet from head to toe. 

“What the-”

“Here!” He walks over and hands you the bag, shaking his hair as he does and sprinkling you with salty droplets. 

“Jeongguk!” You squeak, wiping some of the drops off your face. You open the bag and look inside to see everything you asked for. It’s all extremely fresh, so fresh that some of it is still moving. “Did you just dive into the ocean and pluck these out?” You ask incredulously.

“What? N-no, my friend had them.”

You eye him suspiciously, giggling. “I was joking, but you sound defensive.”

He looks anywhere but at you. “I’m going to go shower!” He runs off before you can ask him any more questions. 

“Clean up the floor when you’re done!” You call after him as the bathroom door closes. 

You quickly clean and prepare your seafood, chop up the veggies and stir fry the pork while your noodles cook. You add the pork and veggies together and pour in some broth before adding your seafood and noodles and covering the pot, letting everything marinate together for a few minutes until your mussels all open up. 

Jeongguk strides out of the bathroom just as you pull the lid off, filling the house with the warm scent of salty broth and seafood. He quickly mops up the floor as you divvy out two large servings into bowls, placing them on the table and waiting for Jeongguk to join you before you both dig in. 

It's delicious; the freshness of the seafood only adds to the delectability of the broth. The table is silent aside from the sounds of slurping broth and noodles, occasionally a groan or grunt of contentment slipping into the mix. When you’re done, you lean back in your chair, lifting your arms and resting your hands on your forehead to help you get a full breath. 

“That was so good.” Jeongguk states, putting his bowl back down from slurping up the extra liquid, the shells from the mussels clanking together against the porcelain as it hits the table. 

You smile, letting your hands drop back down into your lap. “I'm glad you enjoyed it.” You look back over at the living room and the mess you left before checking the time with a sigh. Only seven? God it feels like midnight. It’s hard to keep track of the time when the sky’s always dark. You suppose you should sort a few more things before bed. 

Jeongguk insists on keeping the entirety of Hogeun’s album collection, stashing them all away in his room. You pick through a few more boxes of clothes, as well as old books; text books that don’t even look like they were cracked, almanac’s where the pages are worn thin, and a few cookbooks with recipes missing; separating everything into sell, donate, and toss piles. When you finish it’s about ten pm, and decide to shower before heading to bed, wanting to wipe some of the feeling of dust off of yourself.

You grab a change of clothes from your room before heading into the bathroom and locking the door. You start up the shower, letting it get warm before you strip down and hop in, letting the water wash over you. As you wash your hair, you can’t help but let your mind wander to Jeongguk, thinking about him licking his fingers clean this morning.

You sigh in frustration; you know it’s been a while since you’ve had sex, but thinking about him like this… Your mind flashes to the glimpse of his nude form that you saw in this very shower. God he looked so good with the water trailing over his muscles. Stop it. You’re not going to be here long enough for it to be worth starting any sort of situationship, and a one night stand feels like it wouldn’t be… enough. You need to focus on finishing what you came here to do, and then get back home to… To fix the mess you made when you left. 

When you’re done, you turn off the water, stepping out to grab your towel and dry yourself off. You dress and then /dry your hair. After that, you come back out to the living room to see Jeongguk sprawled out on the couch watching tv. You smile at the way he reacts to the scene on screen; some sort of horror drama.

Damn. He really is handsome.

You turn into your room and shut the door behind you, heaving out another heavy breath before flopping down onto your bed and checking your phone to find a text. It’s from Donghyun.

Donghyun (11:03pm): Hey, how’s the sorting going? Listen, we’re having a memorial tomorrow night at the bar for Hogeun if you want to come. There will be food and drinks and friends!

A memorial? That’s so nice of them. You deserve a drink or two.

You (11:07pm): What time? Donghyun (11:07pm): 8pm! You (11:08pm): I’ll be there!

And with that you close your phone and set it on the nightstand before the energy you spent today catches up to you, and you fall asleep. 

.

The next morning you wake up to the sound of birds chirping. That’s weird. You don’t think you’ve heard a single bird since you arrived here five days ago… Your eyes flutter awake to see a bright beam of light streaming in through the slits in the blinds. You’re so used to the gloomy weather, the sight of light confuses you as you sit up and reach a hand out, turning it around in the beam where it lands on the bed. Sunlight. You jump out of bed and race to the window, immediately opening the blinds to see that sure enough, the clouds have dispersed enough to let the sun poke through above the trees as it starts its journey across the sky. 

You practically sprint to the front door, sliding into your slippers and throwing the door open to feel a warm breeze immediately caress your face as you step onto the front porch. You inhale deeply, the warm mix of early spring and late winter air filling your lungs. 

“Noona…?” 

You turn around to see Jeongguk walking groggily out of his room, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. “Jeongguk, the sun’s out!” You don’t know why you whisper it like a secret the island isn’t supposed to know; feeling like if you say it too loud, the sun might disappear and then the rain will come back, but as you look outside again, it rises steadily from the horizon, showing more and more of itself every minute, a few rays landing on your face where you stand, warming your skin. 

“Wow…” Jeongguk breathes, walking up behind you and observing the sky as it lightens. “Hey, why don’t I show you around the island a little bit todau?”

Hope springs in your chest, but you stuff it back down. “You- You don’t have to do anything else?”

He shakes his head. “Not on a day like this.”

You smile. “Breakfast first?”

.`

You make breakfast and you both eat before getting dressed. You pack a quick lunch for the both of you which Jeongguk offers to carry, not knowing how long you’ll be out. He slings the backpack over his shoulder and you both put on your sneakers before Jeongguk leads you out of the house and up the road.

Jeongguk shows you around the island, everything feeling vaguely familiar from long ago when you spent time here as a child. You walk around town on the south side of the island before making your way up the eastern coast, following along the pathway as you chase the sun, over rocky outcroppings and through dense forests, talking casually the whole way about nothing.

You stop to take pictures, showing Jeongguk how your phone works and having him take some for you, as well as selfies of the two of you together and taking pictures of him alone as well. For someone who’s never used a camera, he’s surprisingly photogenic. No matter how many you take, Jeongguk doesn’t seem to have a bad angle. In more than one, he stares wistfully out at the ocean, and you wonder what he’s thinking about. 

You and Jeongguk cut across the island to the west side, settling down to eat your lunch on one of the rocky outcroppings in the sea that Jeongguk convinces you to jump to, laughing every time a large wave comes and mists you both as you munch on your sandwiches. 

After you’re finished, you both wander along the coast back toward the house, enjoying the scenery as you arrive back at the dilapidated lighthouse. You stroll up to the side of the old white building, looking up at the glass paneling at the top, wondering what this must’ve looked like in its prime. 

“I guess ships don’t come to this side of the island anymore.” You think out loud. 

“Not really. Most of them try to avoid it.”

“Why?” You ask, continuing to walk forward until you’re on the cliffs in front of the building, taking a seat in the grass. 

Jeongguk shrugs as he walks over and takes a seat next to you. “Rumors.”

“Rumors?” You repeat. “What kind of rumors?”

“Mermaids mostly.” Jeongguk chuckles. 

“Mermaids? Mermaids put an entire lighthouse out of service?”

“You know how superstitious sailors are.” Jeongguk explains. “One or two ‘sightings’ and suddenly this side of the island was basically deserted.”

“Mermaids…” You scoff. “Well, I guess if they can cause a rift in my family, they can stop boats.”

Jeongguk scoots closer to you. “Hyung never told me why you stopped visiting him.”

“It was my mother.” You sigh. “When I was little, she used to bring me here all the time to visit her parents; this is where my family is from originally.” You begin. “Since Hogeun was so much younger, he still lived here with them. The two of them never really got along, they were constantly fighting with each other.

“One day when we were visiting, Hogeun took me out to sightsee, and my mother, not trusting him, tagged along. We were walking along the low cliffs, when my mother suddenly fell into the water. My uncle followed to make sure she was okay, and ended up saving her. When she came to, she was convinced that Hogeun had pushed her in. She claimed she heard someone tell him to do it and she never forgave him.”

“What… What does that have to do with mermaids?”

“Well, mother doesn’t remember anything from after she fell, but Hogeun… When he jumped in to save her, he claims he saw… something. It looked like a human, but their teeth were razor sharp, and their skin was painted with swirls of blue. They had grabbed hold of mother, and he had to fight them off of her. I don’t know if you ever noticed the scar on his face.”

“The one on his eye?”

You nod. “That was from them, they cut him with something during the fight. Hogeun became obsessed with finding it again, convinced the island was home to these mermaid-like creatures, but no one wanted to hear it. My mother’s parents moved to Busan a few years later to be closer to my parents and me, but Hogeun stayed behind here, saying he wasn’t finished. My mother never took me here again, still convinced that Hogeun had tried to kill her that day.”

It’s quiet for a moment before Jeongguk repeats a phrase he’s already said to you. “You miss him.” Another observation, but this time, it’s an invitation to talk about it.

“I reached out to him a few years ago without my mother knowing and we became like family again.” You mumble, looking down at your lap. “I… I regret not coming here sooner to see him… And now it’s too late.”

“He talked about you a lot.” Jeongguk states.

“Really?” You look to see Jeongguk’s focus on you. 

He nods. “Every time he got a letter or message from you, he got so excited. He was really proud of you.”

“Thanks, Jeongguk.”

“Did you ever figure out what you wanted to do?”

“What do you mean?”

Jeongguk looks out at the ocean again before looking back at you. “Well, he always said you didn’t seem happy. He said you needed to figure out what you wanted to do. Did you?”

You shake your head, pulling at the grass under you. “No, I… I Didn't. And sometimes I think it’s too late for me to change my mind.”

“It’s not too late.” 

You chuckle as you lay back against the grass. “Jeongguk, no offense, but I don’t think you know enough about the world outside of this island to decide that.”

“Maybe not.” Jeongguk lays down next to you as you both watch the sinking sun begin to paint the sky with bright streaks of oranges and pinks. “But I know he was right, you’re not happy.”

You smile bittersweetly. “I don’t have to be. As long as I’m doing what I’m supposed to do.”

“Why do that, when you could do what you want to do instead? You could do that picture stuff he talked about. He said you loved doing that.”

“Photography?”

“Yeah!” Jeongguk smiles. “He said you were good at it.”

Hogeun was the only one you ever told about photography; how it was what you really wanted to do, but you never had the nerve to tell your parents, so you shoved your want down, and settled for something realistic that they would approve of; taking over your father’s business. “I could’ve been. But it was just a silly dream… It doesn’t matter anymore.” You sigh. 

“Why not?”

“I’m almost done with school for business, I’m learning how to operate the shop, I did what I had to do and I have what I need, nothing… Nothing more.”

“But is that what you want?”

“I don’t know what I want…”

The two of you lay there in silence for a long minute, nothing but the sound of the wind through the grass, and the crashing waves far below. You can feel Jeongguk’s gaze flick towards you on occasion, but you can’t bring yourself to meet it. As the sun finally dips below the horizon, you sit up, taking one last look out at the ocean before standing and walking up the path back toward the house. You hear Jeongguk’s footsteps behind you, and you slow down, allowing him to fall into step beside you. As you reach the front door, you pull out your phone to check the time; seven thirty. The memorial starts soon. As Jeongguk walks into the house ahead of you, you stop in the entryway to grab your keys.

“Jeongguk,” You catch his attention and he stops in his tracks and turns to you. “They’re having a memorial for Hogeun tonight at the bar if you want to come.”

“A memorial?”

“Yeah, it’ll probably just be a few people; mostly drinking and telling old stories about him.”

“And you want me to come?” He checks.

“Of course. I feel like you were the closest to him.” You remind him. “You should be there. To help honor his memory.”

“Okay.” He nods, walking back over to stand in front of you. “I’d be happy to.”

.

Thirty two minutes later, you park the truck in front of the bar and the two of you hop out. It’s dark as you and Jeongguk walk up to the front door, a chill settling in the air now that the sun has disappeared. You tug your jacket closer as you open the door, stepping foot into the bar. 

“Y/N!” It’s Saki. “You made it.” She walks over and gives you a tight hug. 

“Hi Saki.” You return the embrace and as you step back she notices Jeongguk next to you, her eyes going wide as her demeanor suddenly changes, she seems almost nervous.

“A-and who’s this?” She questions, looking him over. 

“This is Jeongguk, the friend I told you about.” 

Jeongguk nods shyly in greeting. “Hello.” 

“Nice to finally meet you.” Saki smiles politely. “I’m glad you could come.” And with that she walks away behind the counter where Donghyun stands talking to someone. You watch as she tugs his arm, grabbing his attention to whisper something in his ear and then nod in your direction.  Donghyun looks up and meets your gaze, offering a small smile as he walks over. 

“Y/N! You’re here!” He places a hand on your shoulder as he gives Jeongguk a once over. “And this is Jeongguk?” You nod and Donghyun sticks out his hand. “I’m glad you’re here to help us honor Hogeun.”

“Of course.” Jeongguk shakes his hand. “Anything for Hogeun hyung.”

“Great, well, there’s food on the table, and if you want a drink just come ask, they’re on me tonight.”

“Thank you, that’s very kind of you.” You smile warmly at him.

“Feel free to walk around, we hung up some pictures of your uncle. We’ll do a toast in a bit.” Donghyun nods again before walking away back behind the bar.

You turn to Jeongguk. “Hungry?”

You walk over to the food table and pile some warm food onto your plate before finding an empty table where you have Jeongguk sit as you grab drinks. Hogeun pours you both ‘something strong’ as he calls it, and you take the drinks back to the table, handing one to Jeongguk, his plate already halfway empty. He takes a drink and lets out a harsh cough as he sets the glass back down. 

“What is that?” He asks, his face twisted in disgust.

“Alcohol.” You explain. “You’ve never had it before?”

Jeongguk shakes his head. “Hyung used to share his beer, but they didn’t taste like this.”

“This is a stronger kind. It’s more concentrated.” You take your own swig, your face matching his at the taste. 

“What's the point of drinking something you don’t like the taste of?”

“It helps.”

“Helps with what?”

“It helps with this.” You gesture to the sad faces around you. “It dulls your senses. Makes it so it doesn’t hurt as bad.”

Jeongguk looks around the room before drinking the rest of the glass in one go. You stare at him in surprise, watching as he goes back to eating. After you finish what’s on your plate, Jeongguk goes back for seconds, and you take your time strolling around the room, looking at the different photos of your uncle that have been temporarily hung along the walls.

Mostly the pictures are of him with a blank expression as he holds various sizes of the catch of the day. There’s one of him mid-wrangling a very large fish, shock and surprise on his features as the fish attempts to wiggle out of his grasp. You chuckle, closing your eyes you can almost imagine yourself standing on the deck of the boat, drenched by sea spray as you watch the scene unfold; Hogeun yelling in surprise as you cackle at him, trying to take the picture before the fish escapes. 

When you open your eyes, you feel a presence next to you and turn to see Jeongguk laughing at the image in front of you, a sad fondness on his face as he’s reminded of the brother he lost. You circle around to the last photo, the big one they chose as the centerpiece on the small altar they built, a few envelopes on the table in front of it with words of condolences written on the front. The picture is of Hogeun when he was younger, in his prime, and in his lap sits a small child.

It’s you.

You’ve never seen this picture before, but the sight of it has a tear slipping down your cheek. Mostly because he’s smiling. Your uncle wasn’t known to smile in pictures, like shown in the rest of the photos around the room, but in this one, he’s beaming at the camera and you realize you know why. 

This was taken when he still had a family that loved him…

“Is that you?” Jeongguk walks up behind you, pointing at the picture.  He looks at you and sees you crying. “Noona? What’s wrong?”

“Hm? Nothing.” You turn away from him and wipe away your tears before standing upright again. “He just looks so happy.”

Jeongguk nods as if he didn’t realize it before. “He does.”

Just then Donghyun walks up to the two of you with two more drinks. “Another round?”

You nod, taking the drink from him and taking a long sip from it. “Where um, where did you get this picture?”

“I took it!” Donghyun explains, handing Jeongguk his drink and watching as the younger boy downs it in one go. “Hogeun brought you down to the dock one day, he said you wanted to see what he did. I was still working on a boat with him back then. I found it in one of our albums.”

“It’s perfect.” You state. 

“Are you ready to toast?” Donghyun asks. 

You shake your head. “You go ahead and do it.”

“Are you sure?”

You only nod, turning to watch as Donghyun grabs the attention of the room. He thanks everyone for coming before starting in on his speech. He talks about how he met Hogeun, and how they became friends working on the same boat. He tells several stories about Hogeun, getting several laughs from the other sailors in the room. When he’s finished, he raises his glass and toasts to the memory of his beloved friend. 

“To Hogeun!”

“To Hogeun!” The crowd repeats, and then you all take a drink. 

As you turn back to look at the picture again, out of the corner of your eye you see someone enter the bar.  His eyes immediately scan the room, searching for something until they finally land on it: Jeongguk. He starts walking over to you and something inside you is screaming to run away. Instead, you stand your ground and nudge Donghyun who turns to see what you need as you nod your head at the stranger. 

Donghyun’s eyes go wide before he moves to stand in front of you, blocking the stranger's path to Jeongguk. As he gets closer you see that he’s tall, his hair has greyed with age, and his beard has the same salt and pepper look. His eyes are different, one dark brown, and one cloudy grey with an unknown blindness. 

“Hwan, what are you doing here? Bar’s closed tonight for a private party.”

“Private party?” Hwan looks around at the tables. “Over half the town’s here.”

“And you still didn’t get the hint that maybe you’re not invited?” Saki spits as she walks over to stand beside her husband. 

Hwan scoffs. “I heard the prince of the Ineo himself was here. I simply wanted to come pay my respects. Ask him to stop crashing my ships.” He pushes Donghyun and Saki out of the way and stalks up to where you stand in front of Jeongguk. 

“I don’t know who you are, but you’re being extremely disrespectful disturbing the memorial service of my-”

“Protecting them just like your uncle, huh?” Hwan glowers down at you, his blind eye shining in the low light, before elbowing you aside, effectively shoving you to the ground.

“Y/N!” Jeongguk immediately bends down to check on you, but he’s pulled back up by the back of his shirt as Hwan yanks him upright, standing toe to toe with the younger boy, a perpetual frown plastered to his face. You see anger flash across Jeongguk’s features as Saki and Donghyun help you to your feet. 

“Hwan-” Donghyun tries to interrupt, but Hwan ignores him.

“It’s nice to see you up close. Now I know who to look for in my nets.” Hwan hisses. 

“What do you want?” Jeongguk stares down at the shorter man, suddenly seeming much more intimidating than you’ve ever thought with his tall, muscular stature. 

“To remind your kind that you’re not supposed to be here.”

His kind? He called Jeongguk an Ineo. Does he think Jeongguk is a mermaid? What the hell is this crazy guy talking about? Jeongguk only rolls his eyes. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“You know exactly what I mean.” Hwan inches closer to Jeongguk’s face, cracking his knuckles. If it comes to a fight, you're sure Jeongguk could handle himself, but you don’t want it to get that far. 

“Stop!” You yell, grabbing Jeongguk’s arm and tugging him away from Hwan. “We’re leaving.”

“Y/N, don’t-” Saki tries to protest, but you shake your head.

“It’s alright.” You turn to Hwan. “Listen, I don’t know who you think you are, but you need to back the hell off. Jeongguk is a good person. You’ve got salt in your brain. Ineo don’t exist.” And with that, you drag Jeongguk with you as you walk toward the door.

“Be careful young miss. I may have salt in my brain, but you’re sleeping with the enemy!”

“Bye Donghyun, Saki, thank you for tonight!” You call as you open the door.

“What do you think happened to your uncle?” Hwan yells after you. You can still hear him as the door shuts behind Jeongguk. “It’s only a matter of time before he kills you too-”

You huff as you drag Jeongguk over to the truck, both of you climbing in. “What the fuck was that guy’s problem?” You mumble as you start the truck up, quickly pulling out of the spot and driving up the road back towards the house. “He was crazy, right?” You flash a glance at Jeongguk who laughs. 

“Very crazy.”

“God, just because you’re not from this god-forsaken island.” You curse. “Obviously you have to be evil, right?” You didn’t realize how upset that encounter made you, but now that you’re outside it, you realize your heart is racing, and your hands are gripping the steering wheel tightly as you drive. 

Jeongguk seems to notice this as he puts a hand on your arm. “Are you alright, noona? He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

You take a deep breath, trying to calm yourself down. “No, he just knocked me off balance. I’m alright…”

Jeongguk squeezes your arm in understanding, and the small gesture comforts you. You pull into the drive, parking before you both get out and walk into the house. You both slip off your shoes, but as you go to move further inside, Jeongguk slides in front of you, cupping your chin out of nowhere.

“W-what are-”

“Are you sure you’re okay?” He asks again, concern evident in his big brown eyes as he gazes down at you. 

You get caught in his stare for only a moment before you shake him off. “I’m fine. I promise.” You assure him before walking into the kitchen and grabbing a beer out of the fridge, cracking it open before taking a long swig. Jeongguk watches as you kick the fridge closed with your foot before walking towards your room. “Goodnight Jeongguk.” You nod at him before shutting the door, leaning against it for good measure as you take a deep breath. You chug the rest of your beer before changing into some pajamas and flopping onto the mattress, face first, with a long sigh. 

You lay there for several hours, unable to sleep as your thoughts churn like the sea itself. Mermaids. Mermaids? There’s no way they exist, but at the same time, it can’t be a coincidence how many times you’ve been warned about them since you arrived. The crazy old man outside the bar when you arrived, the north side of the island being shut down, your own uncle having seen one, and now this Hwan character… 

You toss and turn as your brain attempts to put the pieces of an incomprehensible puzzle together without a guide. You check the time on your phone, groaning when you see it’s already 4:03 in the morning and you aren’t the least bit tired. You huff as you get up, tugging on a sweatshirt as you quietly walk back out to the living room, looking around for something to do. You decide you might as well sort through some more things while you have the time. The faster you’re done, the faster you can get off this island. 

.

You flick on the basement light, heading down into the murky room to grab a box before quickly bringing it back up the stairs. It only takes you about twenty minutes to get through this box, and when you’re done you head down to grab another. This one is full of old picture albums, and you take your time paging through it, but it’s mostly just pictures of fish from when he still worked on boats.

When you reach the bottom of the second box, you head back down the stairs to grab a third full of books, but as you pick this one up, an old worn book falls off the top of the pile and onto the ground. You put the box back down and pick the book up, dusting it off when you notice the single word stamped on the spine. Ineo. Your heartbeat thumps at the sight and you turn the book over in your hands. The front cover is dull, bleached from the sun, but you can still see the faint outline of words: Legends of the Ineo. You roll your eyes as you flip through the pages. Of course your uncle would have something like this lying around. How could anyone ever-

You nearly miss it, but the splay of blue ink across the page catches your eye, causing you to flip back, wanting to make sure you didn’t just see what you thought you saw. But sure enough, as you flatten the page with your palm, there it sits. 

A drawing identical to the tattoo adorning Jeongguk’s ribs.

You hurry upstairs, needing better light to read the faded words on the page. You sit on the couch and grab your phone flashlight, shining it on the book as you read: 

The Drowning Mark – A dark, swirling tattoo resembling water pulling downward, hands dragging the wearer into the depths. It slowly spreads over time, symbolizing the fate of the Ineo, the blue becoming more pronounced the more lives they take; until eventually they lose their soul completely, along with their human nature. Their skin then turns a deep cerulean, matching the color of the waters they inhabit.

Your breathing suddenly feels heavy. There’s no possible way that Jeongguk could be… He couldn’t…

Right?

It has to be a coincidence.

A million thoughts rush through your mind at light speed, not giving you a chance to focus on any one thing. You shake your head in an attempt to clear it as you slip back to the start of the book, wanting to learn as much as you can.

As the hours tick on and you make your way through the book, your incomprehensible puzzle starts to become, unfortunately, comprehensible. He eats and sleeps so much because using their human form takes more energy. He’s ethereally beautiful like they’re all said to be. He doesn’t know a lot about how the human world works. His general disdain for shoes. They way that he’s never cold. Piece by piece things slot into place and the thought you didn’t want starts to form in the back of your mind. 

Is Jeongguk… an Ineo?

You run your hands through your hair as you flip back to the page with the tattoo and stare down at it. It taunts you, the blue swirls seeming to come off the page and twirl in the air directly in front of you, and yet just out of your reach. You’re going crazy, right? It’s just because you haven’t slept. You need air.

The book falls to the floor as you get up off the couch, rushing to slip on some shoes and fumbling as you unlock the door, quickly rushing out of the house so fast that you don’t even close the door behind you. It’s not enough. As the sun rises behind the low clouds, mist hanging in the air, you race to the edge of the cliffs, gasping for breath as you stand at the edge. Your eyes flick over the scenery, from the overcast skies, to the roiling waves far below you as you attempt to breathe.

Could everything you’ve ever known be a lie? Could creatures like Ineo really be out there? You stare down at the rocks, the very same place where they found your uncle’s body. Could this have been the reason? Did he know? Did he feel this too? This feeling of betrayal, like nothing is actually real. You gasp, trying to force air to your lungs as you fall to your knees, everything feeling like it’s just too much.

“Noona!”

It comes from the direction of the house, but you can’t bear to turn and look, still trying to ground yourself. You can hear him running through the dirt and grass until he skids to a halt beside you, crouching down next to you.

“Noona? You left the door open, I was worried.”

It doesn’t hit you until he touches you. Until this creature you thought was your friend rests his hand on your shoulder, his breath ghosting your face as he tries to get you to look at him. You throw him off with surprising force, causing him to fall back on his behind as you scramble a few inches away from him. 

“Don’t touch me!” You hiss, lifting your foot with an obvious threat to kick his gorgeous face. 

“N-noona?” His eyes are wide with concern as he takes in your semi-rabid state. “What’s going on?”

“You lied to me!” You cry, tears suddenly streaming down your face as you grab a handful of dirt and chuck it in his direction. “Did you do it? Did you really kill him?”

Jeongguk’s hands are out in front of him like he’s corralling a feral animal as he gets back up on his knees. “What are you talking about? Come on, it’s not safe out here.”

Looking into Jeongguk’s eyes, for some reason, you are no longer afraid of what he is, you’re no longer afraid of him, only angry, furious with him. “I want you to tell me the truth.” You state, trying to calm the shake in your voice. He nods. “Are you an Ineo?”

“Noona I-”

“The truth!” You remind him. “Only the truth.”

Jeongguk sighs, glancing out over the water before looking back down at the ground between you. “I will tell you everything if you come back inside.”

You hesitate. Could this be a trick? Although, you suppose if he wanted to hurt you, he could just push you off the cliffs right now. You sniffle, wiping your face as you nod. He tries to help you to your feet but you smack his hands away, standing by yourself and cautiously leading him back toward the house. 

You both walk in, slipping off your shoes as you walk over to the living room. Jeongguk sits down on the couch and pats the cushion next to him, but you ignore him, choosing to pace in front of the tv instead. Jeongguk runs an exasperated hand through his hair, looking down at the floor, and that’s when he sees it; the book. He chuckles to himself as he picks it up.

“Where did you get this?”

You see what he’s holding and immediately snatch it out of his grip. “In the basement.” You state, flipping through it until you find the page with the drawing. “I didn’t think anything of it until I saw this.” You turn the book toward him and show him the picture. His hand immediately moves to his ribcage, his thumb rubbing over the fabric of his shirt. 

“Ah, I see…”

“Tell me.” You slam the book shut and put it down on the table in front of you. 

Jeongguk takes a deep breath as he looks up at you, his hands folded neatly in his lap. “It’s true.”

“And you?”

“I am.” He nods. “An Ineo.”

A lump forms in your throat but you force yourself to swallow it back down. “And Hogeun?”

Jeongguk’s face twists in anger. “I didn’t do that.”

“But you kill people.”

“No.” 

“No?”

“It’s… complicated.” He shakes his head. You simply cross your arms, waiting for him to explain and he sighs again. “Ineo are more like mythological sirens than mermaids. We are born of trauma, of death, and accidents. We’re made to lure humans to their deaths, to crash their ships, or tangle them in their nets. When a human dies by the ocean, some of them are given a second life as an Ineo; a slave to the sea, forced to do her bidding for her. We are given human features to help our purpose, but meant to spend our lives beneath the waves. Sometimes, Ineo can be born the natural way. It’s rare, but it happens.

“That’s what it was for me. My mother, like me, was born of another Ineo. She mated with another Ineo.” Jeongguk pauses. “She died of complications during my birth, so Yeongsu, my birth father, was left in charge. Something you have to understand, not all Ineo want to be what we are, we resist it, we fight it; and then there are some that give themselves over to the ocean fully, those are the true monsters.

“That’s what happened to Yeongsu. After my mother died, he became inconsolable. And went on a rampage. He is the reason the north side of this island isn’t inhabited. He set up just off shore, killing anyone he could get his hands on. He claimed so many lives that day…” Jeongguk trails off. “In the book, did you read about our marks? And how they spread?”

You nod. “It spreads with every life you take, eventually turning your skin blue as you lose your soul.”

“Right. And it does.” Jeongguk confirms. “My father… He killed enough people that his mark spread instantly. So much so that his mark had covered him completely in a matter of seconds.”

You walk over and sit next to Jeongguk on the couch as you process everything he’s said. “Why… Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because Hogeun, he didn’t want you anywhere near this. Humans aren’t supposed to know about us. It’s dangerous.”

“Then why did he know?”

“He was helping me. Which is even more dangerous.”

“Helping with what?”

Jeongguk looks down at his feet for the first time. “He was helping me find a way out of this. To not be what I am.”

This surprises you. “Like a cure? Why?”

“I don’t want to be a monster…” Jeongguk holds his head with his hands.

You’re afraid to ask it, but your curiosity gets the best of you. “How many have you…?”

“One. But it was an accident.” He explains. “I was young. I didn’t know what I was capable of. I was just by the shore singing and someone heard my song. He jumped from the cliffs on the east side of the island and hit the rocks. I was a mess for days… I-I didn’t understand what had happened until I went back home and someone explained it to me.”

“Then my uncle…”

“If any Ineo knew he was helping me, or that he even knew about me, they would have tried everything in their power to kill him. ”

“Jeongguk-”

“Y/N, you can’t let anyone know what you know. Hyung’s death is on my hands, but I won’t let yours be too. Please.” He pleads, grabbing your hands and looking at you with a certain desperate sadness in his eyes, the feeling nearly tangible. 

“I won’t. I promise, but Jeongguk I need you to know that Hogeun’s death was not your fault. If someone killed him or not, it will never be your fault.”

Jeongguk offers you a weak smile. “Thank you…”

It’s silent for a long moment before you stand up. “I should get some sleep.”

“You were up all night, weren’t you?”

“Yeah…” You admit, walking toward your room. “If you need anything just wake me, okay?”

“I’ll be alright, noona, sleep well.”

You give him one last nod before disappearing behind your closed door, tossing your sweatshirt to the ground before crawling under the covers. Images of scaly tails and gills flash in your mind until sleep overtakes you.

.

When you wake up next, it’s some time in the afternoon. The house is quiet except for the pitter-pat of rain against the roof. Still tired, you get up, stretching your arms as you stand and change out of your pajamas, into some jeans and a t-shirt and securing your necklace around your neck. It was a long morning, but you have things you need to do anyway; like go to the grocery store. With the way Jeongguk eats, it’s no surprise you’re already running low on food. 

When you walk out of your room, you still don’t hear anything. When you check Jeongguk’s room, it’s empty. You hope he doesn’t disappear for too long this time… You grab your wallet and keys before heading out to the truck and making your way to town. 

You decide to stop in at the bar and grab some lunch since you haven’t eaten yet today. You park and head inside the dimly lit building to find it mostly empty, with Donghyun wiping down the bar. He looks up as the door jangles, his eyes widening when he spots you. 

“Y/N!”

“Hey,” You walk over to him and take a seat at the bar in front of him. “Is the kitchen open?”

“For you? Always.” He offers you a warm smile. “What’re ya having?”

Donghyun quickly whips you up a spectacular lunch as the two of you chat. It isn’t until you’re finished your meal and go to pay that he finally brings up the previous day.

“Nonsense, it’s on the house. An apology for last night.”

You wave your hand at him. “There’s nothing for you to apologize for. I know better than anyone that new people in a small town aren’t the most welcome; and Jeongguk is no exception.” You place a handful of small bills on the counter. 

“Y/N-”

“Please, it’s the least I can do to thank you and Saki for everything you’ve done for me already.” You push the money toward him until you’re sure he’s going to take it before taking your hand off the counter. 

“At least take this.” Donghyun slides something across the counter for you. You pick it up to find the original picture of you and your uncle used to make the larger copy from last night. “He’d want you to have it.”

You offer him a smile. “Thank you. I’m still in town for a few more days, so I’ll see you around.”

“Alright, we’ll have to have dinner again before you leave!” He calls as you start to walk to the door. 

“Of course!” You wave one last time before walking back out to the truck. 

You drive the short trip to the grocery store and grab a basket as you head in. You take your time shopping, perusing the aisles as you think of things Jeongguk might enjoy, even though he’s never had a bad thing to say about anything you’ve made. You grab the box of sweet cakes he likes as you wander over to the meat section. They have some fresh seafood options, but nothing can compare to the fresh seafood Jeongguk brought you. You wonder if he actually just went out into the ocean and caught it himself. You suppose that would make sense…

You stop in your tracks as you realize just how much you’re thinking about him during this simple trip to the grocery store. You begin to wonder when exactly your mind became a whirlwind of all things Jeongguk. You shake your head. You have been living with him for the last week, so it’s only natural that he’s become the focus of your thoughts, right? You start to wonder about what he and your uncle were working on, if they had actually found anything worthwhile about a cure. Or if there even is one…

You finish your shopping, packing everything in the seat next to you so it doesn’t get wet. As you start the truck, a light dings on the dashboard and tells you that you’re almost out of gasoline. You drive to the gas station by the docks to stop and get some gas. As you’re pumping, you start to hear the strangest noise.

It sounds like singing, but you’re the only one in sight. It almost sounds like it’s coming from offshore somewhere. You hold your hand up to block the relentless drizzle from falling in your eyes as you search the waves around the dock. It sounds… familiar. Like you’ve heard it before, but you can’t place it, the song sounding too similar to the crashing waves against the cliffs nearby.

You look around one more time, and when your gaze passes by one of the rocky outcroppings, you swear you see something moving. A shadow of some sort. Is that a person? You run over to the edge of the gas station where the cliff drops off, thinking they might need help, but when you look again, the shadow is gone. 

The sound of the gas nozzle clanking as it shuts off brings your attention back to your truck. You look out over the waves one more time, but there’s nothing there. You have a strange feeling in your gut as you walk back over and put the gas nozzle back in its place, screwing the gas cap back on the truck before climbing back into the cab. As you pull out of the gas  station and drive back up the road, you hear the sound again, but it fades into the distance as you drive away. 

.

Jeongguk comes home as you’re putting groceries away and you watch him out of the corner of your eye as he kicks his shoes off and walks over to you, smelling of salt. His eyes go wide when he sees the snack cakes, immediately ripping into the box and pulling one out, making you giggle at how excited he seems. He offers you one and you take it, observing him as you both munch on the cakes. You take in the sight of his strong jawline and soft eyes, wondering what he might look like underwater.

“So where’d you go today?”

He looks up at you as he unwraps another cake. “Nowhere, just around.”

“Jeongguk, you don’t have to lie to me anymore, remember?”

“I was just asking around about some stuff.”

“Stuff?”

“Stuff.” He repeats.

Suddenly it clicks inside you, the final piece of the puzzle. “You’re looking into Hogeun’s death, aren’t you?”

He avoids your gaze, guilt on his features. “Noona, I told you, you shouldn’t get involved in this.”

“But-”

“Trust me, the less you know, the better.” He shoves the cake in his mouth and then turns away, walking toward the bathroom. 

“Hey,” You grab his arm, forcing him to turn back. “Listen, I know it’s risky, but-”

He shakes his head. “No, you really don’t know.”

“Jeongguk if you’re looking into my uncle’s death I want to help.”

“No.” His voice is firm as he shakes you off of him. “This is exactly why I didn’t want to tell you.”

“But if you’re still looking for a cure-”

“Noona!” Jeongguk spins and pins you against the fridge, his hands on either side of your head as he stares at you. You’re caught in his gaze, unable to look away; he’s so close, too close; the smell of sweet cakes on his breath ghosting across your face. “Hyung said no. Please, just let it go.”

“I won’t.” You can’t stop the words before they’re out of your mouth. He drops one arm, moving back a bit in surprise at your stubbornness. “Jeongguk, he’s gone. And I could be next, but even if I am, you’re my friend. As long as you’re searching for a cure, I’m going to want to help you. No matter how dangerous it is.”

Jeongguk sighs, taking another step back as he rubs his hands over his face. “Noona-”

“You said you guys had research. At least let me look at what you have already.” You offer. “I might see something you didn’t.”

“Fine.” Jeongguk nods, starting to walk away again as he strips his shirt off over his head. “After dinner.” And with that he disappears into the bathroom.

.

Just as you finish cooking, Jeongguk emerges from the bathroom wrapped in a towel and heads to his room, coming back out a few minutes later in a change of clothes. You can feel his eyes on you as you put everything on the table. You sneak your own glances as you sit down and eat. His hair’s still wet, all of it pushed back off of his face, small droplets falling onto his shirt as he eats. God, you can’t stand how beautiful he is. Couldn’t he have been average looking? Once he glances up at you at the same time and you both panic, nearly choking as you immediately avert your gazes. You want to try to fix the awkward silence, but you can’t think of anything to say. 

After you eat, Jeongguk gets up and disappears into his room. You hear him rooting around in there while you put dishes in the sink, and as you finish packing away the leftovers, Jeongguk comes back out with a box. He places it on the table in front of the couch with a loud thunk and then turns to you. 

“Here you go.” He sits on the couch as you walk over to investigate. “This is everything we had.”

You look in the box to see papers with notes scribbled haphazardly on them on top. You begin pulling things out and sorting them, a stack of loose-leaf papers, several large books, and even more notebooks with notes and pictures all taped inside with no sense of order or organization in sight.

Jeongguk turns on the tv and you eye him closely. You run to your room and grab a spare notebook and a pen before heading back out to the living room and sitting down next to him, beginning to read through things. You take notes as you read, writing down what you think might be important, or things you want to come back to or look up later. 

You read into the early hours of the morning, quietly going over everything you can get your hands on, and Jeongguk sits beside you as you do. He watches you, mumbling to yourself, but you can feel his eyes on you as you turn page after page. 

At some point, you must fall asleep, because you wake up to the feeling of Jeongguk’s arms around you and you stir just enough to feel your bed underneath you as he sets you down on it, pulling the covers up over you. You relax back against the mattress when you feel him brush his fingers over your cheek. The touch is fleeting, and you’re not entirely sure it was real, but as quickly as it’s there, it’s gone. And then you hear your door shut. You touch your cheek where you felt his fingers only moments ago, humming pleasantly as you are pulled back into slumber.

.

.

Part 2 ->

Copyright © Inkjam-Moon 2025

[i6corais]

⠀⠀⠀ ̥࣪ㅤ𝅄🤿ㅤ۪ㅤ۫🕯⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀𝗌𝗂𝗋𝖾𝗇⠀𝗏𝗈𝗂𝖼𝖾𝗌.⠀⭒

⠀⠀⠀🪞 ა࣪⠀𔓕ㅤ𓈒ㅤׂ𝓜⠀⠀⠀⠀𓇼⠀𖡼⠀🪩⺌⠀𓆜

⠀⠀⭒⠀잃⠀🪼 ᜊ⠀✣⠀⠀⠀⊹⠀♡⠀𝅄🪸⠀ᨳ⠀𓈒✨️

[neptunexd]

⠀𝅭⠀📿⠀𓇼 ' a riqueza é ilusão ⠀𝄳⠀ֵ⠀

⠀𝃣᳞⠀݁⠀⠀e só pode consolar-me, meu marujo𝄲 ⠀ ⠀⠀ݢ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀alegre e bom⠀ֵ⠀⠀🧿יִיִ⠀𝂅

📌 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗈𝗋 𝗿𝗲𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗴 𝗂𝖿 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗌𝖺𝗏𝖾

[btssunnyboy]

Tides of Deception - PJ, JJ - Part 1

-The water was always somethings townsfolks talked about. What's happens when you find out the myths were a whole lot more than what you had been told?

-Use of curse words, hyperventilating and being tormented by a demon.

-Word count - 4.3K

-Jimin x reader Jungkook x reader

-Request open!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The crystal blue waters were always something that mesmerized you, almost as if the water itself was sending you into a trance. Shining as bright as a diamond in the sunlight, the moon seemed to bounce itself off the small waves that crashed against the beach's shore. Memories like this were rare nowadays thanks to the merciless creatures that lurked in the shadows of the oceans. Thoughtless actions were the only things that they seemed to understand, no matter how much damage it did along the way. As long as they got the creatures to live a live moment they didn't care whether the humans lived or died in the path. 

“You know they say the closer you stand to the edge of the water the more tranced you'll become,” His voice held a hint of mischief as his eyes darted between your curious face and the dark waters that seemed as if they went on for miles. “But this town is littered with myths. Old wives tales about the things that lurk in those waters as we speak.” The way his eyes mimicked  the light bouncing off the waters it made your stomach churn. Why was he all the sudden worried about things that lurked below? For as long as you've known Jimin, curiosity was something he never even dipped his finger into, the old saying curiosity killed the cat was something that he definitely took to heart. So why was the water something that intrigued him now, of all the times you two have lived in this small town. 

‘Don’t tell me you're actually thinking about going on a late night swim.” Your voice came out in more of a mocking tone than you had planned. His head tilted the left slightly as he stared at you. For a second there you could have sworn they went almost dead like, all the color drained from his iris. When he saw your eyes widen he quickly shook his head , trying his best to cover it up with a cough. “I'm just joking you know, I'm glad you're beginning to have adventures, but do you really want your first brave moment to be facing the sirens or whatever they're called face to face?” 

A small laugh that sounded almost robotic came from the depths of his throat, it was odd to say the least. Before you even had a chance to say another word you saw him take slow steps towards the small waves that were crashing on the beach. Almost as if he had an invisible rope tied around your waist you began to mimic his steps. Left and right until the cool water had touched your knees. As much as you didnt want to admit it, the cool water was a wonderful contrast from the heated night that was making sweat beads form on your forehead. “It's nice isn't it.” 

There it was, the soft, velvet voice you remembered him having. All the worries that were filling your head slowly washed away with the tide. His arms wrapped around yours as he pulled his body closer to yours. Those eyes were his again, they were your best friends eyes. You've seen them a thousand times, but something still felt off. That hand that was wrapped around yours didn't hold you with a delicate touch, now you could feel his fingertips beginning to break the skin on your forearm. 

“Jimin, I want to go back to the shore.” it was a desperate plea, and you wanted to leave the waters. The waves were beginning to get rougher almost as if the waves themselves had million tiny fingertips that were gripping you and pulling you further out into the current. “I'm not messing around, I want to go back now.”  

“I don't know what youre talking talking about y/s, you've always told me you loved the water. What makes this time any different.” His head tilted again and you could've sworn his body glitched as the moonlight started shining upon him. Small jerks of his head were highlighted in the light. Fear felt as if it was running through your bloodstream at this point. This point it wasnt Jimin, you were that. Yet he seemed real, he didn't seem like a holograph of your best friend. He was touching you, his skin was warm, how could he not be real? 

“Y/n get out of the water!” that voice, you know that voice. Before you could snap your head in that direction the other jimin gripped your chin so hard you could feel his now shaper nails dig deeper and deeper into your skin. Those dark dead eyes were back, but the person standing in front of you wasn't jimin. His height has changed, his hair has changed, everything about him has changed. Those sharp fangs were prominent as the thing in front of you gave the most devious smile. 

“He's not real and you know that, doll. The only thing that is real to you right now is me. Can you feel my warmth?” His other arm that wasn't gripping your chin wrapped around your waist again. Those dark eyes were intriguing, but sirens were going off in your head. None of this could be real right now. The man standing in front of you, his warmth, anything. “You know this is real, but do you want me to show you how real this actually is?” 

It didn't seem like a question when it fell from his lips, it seemed like a statement. You needed to know this was real, the creature standing in front of you needed this. The thing leaned his head down towards yours. Those cold lips blowing his breath against them. “All you gotta do is say yes, and I can show you my world.” A sharp and rough material had draped itselfs over you, with sharp tugs you were suddenly under the shallow water. You could feel your skin rubbing against it in fast motion, the burns mixed with the salty sea water brought you back to reality. He was real, but that wasn't the real jimin. Once again sharp nails dug into your forearms as you were finally pulled from the ocean. 

Sharp breaths entered your ;lungs as you stared into the dark night his figure glitched again as he went back to his true form. The moonlight lit his devious smile up one more time before he turned around and drove back into the dark waters that were about to take your last breath away. “Oh my god, I think you're the stupidest person I have ever met!” 

“I'm the stupidest person you have ever met! Jimin you threw a dam fishing net at me, did you even think that plan through!” You huffed as you tugged at the mesh wire that still had you enclosed. A sharp huffed pushed itself out of your mouth as you finally freed yourself. “And don't call me stupid i didn't know that it wasn't the real you!”  

“Now I know you're stupid, you know I don't even like coming to the ocean in the daylight, do you really think I'd be willing to come here at night!” Jimin exclaimed as he helped you up to your feet so you could dust off the sand that cling to your wet body. “I'm only here right now because you sent that stupid picture of the full moon!” 

The moon was always a fascination of yours, even if you knew how dangerous it was. Those creatures are powerful anytime of night, but during the full moon everyone knows their powers become almost more unearthly than they already are. You knew better, but the beach was so pretty at night and you knew to never get that close to the water. “Look, I'm sorry, but it felt real. It really felt like it was you.” 

“That's how they get you, they are able to shapeshift, if you ever listened to me i told you that. They can take the form of anyone they have never seen before, so do you know what that means?” Sudden realization hit you, those things have been watching you for god knows how long. Long enough to pick up on details specifically about you! Your fascination with the moon and the water, even the idea that you know about them. You've been coming to the beach for a long time so it's untelling just how much these things know about the two of you. “Y/s when i ask you this you have to be completely honest with me, alright” 

You sucked your teeth as you shook your head slightly, “What jimin? Can't we talk about this on the walk back home?” you didn't want to spend another minute next to that water right now. That thing almost got you, it almost lured you into the deep waters never to be seen again. 

“Did you let it kiss you, hell y?n, did it get any of your blood on it?” you stared at him dumbfounded, of course it didn't kiss you he threw a fishing net around your body and drug you back to shore before it could even get its lips a centimeter closer to yours. “You gotta tell me the truth.” 

“Of course it didn't kiss me, the only thing I got is rope burns from you tangling me up like I was the damn catch of the day!” You threw your hands up defeated, the only thing on your mind was that you wanted to go home and rest. Forget this night ever happened. Jiomin eyebrow raised as he swiped his rough thumb across your chin, it felt like sandpaper was rubbing on an open wound. He held his finger up and showed the crimson liquid that was fainting staining his fingertips. “Oh god,” 

“Oh god is right dumbass, that thing knows the scent of your blood now, And if you ever go back to that water it's gonna make sure you end up on the bottom of the ocean floor.” Jimin wiped the blood on his shots as he wrapped you up in his jacket. “I need to go ask my dad what can they do know that it has the scent of your blood.: 

“As long as I don't go near the water it can't do much can it?” The worry was evident in your voice and it made Jimin's features soften. The hair on the back of you next was started to stand up as if it knew you were still on that things radar. “You're not answering me and it's really starting to freak me out!” 

“I wanna say it should freak you out, because i told you a thousand times you needed to stay away from the water but as usual you never want to listen! Bit i'm just worried because my dad told me along time ago if so called merfolk get your blood it's like a blood tie,” 

You rubbed a rough hand down your face as you stared at him. He can call it a blood tie all he wants, but that doesn't do anything when you want him to explain whatever the hell that is. “How about you stop treating this like a big" I told you so” moment and tell me what the hell is gonna happen to me!” 

His paced quicken as he wanted up the start of the house and he ushered you in, “it's like a soul bond now, that thing is gonna torture you psychology until it compels you to go back to the water. It's gonna make you see things that aren't there, and it can manipulate water so anytime you're around it it's gonna know. It’s almost gonna be jealous that you're not in the water with it.” 

“Your dad has studied these things since we were little kids, he has to know of a way to stop it, or at least make it so that i'm not compelled to go on anymore late night walks to my doom!” 

“I swear i'll call him, but for right now go take a shower, and before you get scared im gonna stay right down the hall so i'll hear you, but that sand is killing me.” Jimin gave you a soft shove through the bathroom door, he left it open with just a crack so he'd be there in a heartbeat if he heard anything. This was all new to him no matter how much he didn't want to admit that. The countless times his father would set him down and describe the dangers of the water, Jimin having only one thought on his mind, would let all the information flow through one ear and out the other. A heavy sigh passed through his li[ps as he stared at the worn out books on the shelf. Each chapter is filled with his father's annotations on all the subjects. Everything was colored coded, as his father was still figuring out all of the information that he could on the topic. 

Green, he knows anything and everything there is to know about that subject, Yellow, his grasp was not as good on those concepts as they were with the green color coded notes. Finally, red for the things that are still not in his realm of knowledge at this time. Thankfully the color red was scary, but that does not mean the color was not used. Jimin just prayed whatever knowledge that was unlearned was not the answers to the questions he has racing through his mind right now. The thought of going to his father was heavy on his mind, but he knew that it would come down to a lecture that Jimin was not prepared for. He could have been helping you this whole time had he just listened for a few minutes when he was first getting told all of the information that filled these books. Now in order to help you he has to sit down and make sure that he learns all he can before he could potentially lose his best friend. The heavy thud of the book etched in the house as he slammed it against the wooden table, time is not on his side and he might have bitten off more than he can chew. 

Steam filled the small bathroom as you let the warm water wash away the sand that still littered your body. It was all a stupid mistake you should've never made, and you know that. But for some reason it doesn't feel like a mistake. Going to that beach felt like the right thing to do, seeing that thing was the only thing on your mind. With so many questions racing through your troubled mind, you tried to think of reasonable answers for them. How the hell did he look just like jimin, how did the thing even talk like him? Standing on the shore it felt like you two belonged there, he was warm and counting almost. In the water it was a different story, h8e turned cold and demonic almost, but that was where most of the dangerous creatures lurk. In the dark and cold there was almost no one willing to go, yet you went. You were vulnerable and it knows that. Maybe you were just an easy target, standing at the edge of the shoreline,hypnotized by the moon's beautiful glow. You were the perfect target. 

“Why am I so stupid?” You huffed as you dragged the soap down your body. The sweet smelling bubbles gave your mind something else to wonder too. The rose scent soap was a nice change from the salty air that was lingering in your nostril. Even in the warmth of the steamy shower something felt odd, like a cold hand smoothly gliding itself up your spine. Those nails felt familiar and before you knew itr it felt like daggers were digging into the base of your spine. The nails themselves felt like they pierced through the skin and hooked themselves directly to your bones. Sharp shooting pain made you drop to your knees in the bathtub. The soon warm water was slowly gaining heat, Steam was filling the room making it even harder to breathe with hook like fingernails keeping you trapped against the floor. Your mouth opened to scream fro jimin in the kitchen, but nothing was coming out, 

Even with all your strength mustered up, your body physically couldn't release any sound. The skin on your back was burning hot as the water continued to beat down upon it. They felt like razor blades digging deeper and deeper into your skin. The skin on your back was becoming raw with all the scoldering heat that was being thrown at it. Soft whispers were heard over the booming sound of the water. The voice was slowly getting louder and louder in your ear. 

“Go back to the water with me” You tried to keep your breathing slowly, but it wasn't working. You were hyperventilated and there was no sound. No one could hear you, but you could hear everything. The voice sounded as if it was echoing out of the tiled walls. It felt like it was getting closer and closer to the point that you felt like you could feel the things lips against the shell of your ear. Just as you felt like you were about to pass out from heat exhaustion the curtain of the shower ripped open. At that moment you felt like your world was ending. The creature was back. 

There it was standing tall as it stared at your pitiful form at the bottom of the floor. Its head tilted once more and he leaned in eye to eye with you. Those dark eyes once again staring holes right through yours. Its sharp teeth grinning and glowing just like it in the moonlight. Just as it was standing in the light you could see all around you the lights themselves were starting to dim, the dimmer they got the closer the creature came to you. The slower it bent down to its knees you could feel your heart start racing even more. 

The tension in the air was slowly suffocating you, what was it about to do? You couldn't do anything besides shut your eyes and pray this was all a nightmare, but you were helpless. “Don't you wish you had listened to me?” That soft sweet voice held a tint of malice that made your stomach churn with uneasiness. You knew it was mimicking Jimin, and all of the sudden realization struck within your core. That thing was listening all along, from the moment you left the beach to the moment you stepped one foot into the house. Everything in your body was telling you to run, get help, but you couldn't. You were paralyzed with fear and the piercing pain in your back that made you unable to move. 

You clenched your eyes shut as hard as they would go, and you felt the bathroom air grow cold. The steam was dissipating as if any warmth was being sucked by the creature, but the pain was growing more unbearable the longer you resisted to look into its eyes. You could feel the creature's hungry smile as he leaned his head down, its lips brushing against your ear. 

“All you had to do was stay away from the water tonight, but I knew you wouldn’t.” 

That sentence made everything crystal clear, this thing knew you. It knew you would go to see just how beautiful the moon looked at night. It acted as if it knew every little detail about you. It's like it was lurking in not only the dark part of the water, but the dark parts of your mind. This is what jimin warned you about, the blood tie effects were starting. But just as the dark presence felt as if it was about to swallow you whole there was a sudden burst of light. It was Jimin standing in the doorway with a flashlight shining at you. Within a second he was rushing to your side kneeling at the tub. The creature hissed loudly as its body glitched and construed in the lights. Disappearing within the same instant that it had appeared. 

“Y/n are you okay!” That wasn't his voice, but the other worldly voice that was just with you. The creature was still with you, lurking in your mind. Its hold on you still stood firmly as you were unable to move from your current state. You could still hear the faint whispers faint but unmistakable as it loomed around.  

“Y/n! Answer me!” there it was, that soft voice you knew was his. His hand merely touching your shoulder made you flinch as you were still disoriented from the encounter. 

“im..im fine,” You gave a half hearted smile to your best friend. His brow was raised in question as he was wondering what was going on. Truth be told you didn't know what was going on, but if the creature was willing to do all of this to scare you, you knew the game had just begun. It had tasted your blood and you knew deep down it wasn't going to stop until it finally had you back within its grasp.  

You gripped Jimin's shoulder tightly as he held a firm yet gentle grasp on your arm. After all of this you knew this wasn't about the water anymore, this was simile about surviving and finally the key to breaking the bond between you and the creature. 

“From now on you need to stay away from the water.” Jimin tried to state it firmly, but you could still hear the fear in his voice, “I'm being serious, this thing is playing games, but i don't know exactly what game it's playing.” 

You nodded as you nudged your head towards the towel behind him. Jimin doesn't understand, but you do. That creature has its hooks within you, if anything you know the compelling urge to get back to the water is gonna be stronger than ever. And you know until you find the answers you're looking for that thing is going to wait, and watch for the perfect time to strike, and you're scared you're not gonna be ready for air. What if at the end of all of this that creature gets its wish? 

“Should I even ask what those marks are on your back?” 

It was an innocent question and you knew that, but you couldn't help but flinch at it. It was making your heart pound as Jimin's voice sliced through  the thick tensen. All of these marks on your body were not just physical mounds but remnants reminding you just how much of a hold that creature had on you. After everything you had hoped the water would wash away any remnants if the creature, but you could know seen the bonded was forged deeper than you expected it to be. 

“It's nothing,” You lied through your teeth and you knew Jimin always knew when you were lying. The mark from the creatures, and the burns from the creature were more than just marks, but you knew the impression they had left was something deeper than you could explain to him. You were ready to admit that these were something real, no matter how much you didn't want to. Letting Jimin know that you were terrified was not something you could bring yourself to do right now.  

“I can see it in your eyes, y/n, i know you're lying,” His hesitant hand brushed the small of your back where the marks were embedded into your skin. Out of shock your body flinched and you felt him tract his hand within the second. Your skin was still raw and tender from what happened. “I promise i'm not going to hurt you.” 

You didn't mean to scare him, but this was becoming too real. Your mind was in a constant turmoil. Everything felt as if it was amplified, the hushed whispered from before, to the robotic voice that sounded like Jimin. “I promise it's nothing, but let's just focus on figuring out how to fix this.” 

Jimin knew he didn't want to push any further, but he was just worried. He pushed a heavy sigh from his lips as he rubbed the back of his neck nervously, “I know..but I just don't know what to do right now.” His hands rubbed small circles on your shoulders and he pulled you into a hug, “Y/n you're my best friends, i just can't stand the thought of losing you.” 

You sighed as you squeezed him tight, you don't know what to do either. That creature had physically marked you, taste for your blood seemingly growing at this point. This was all beginning to get too real, and you didn't know if you were gonna be able to protect yourself alone. 

“You've known me my whole life, I'm not backing down without a fight,” You playfully patted his back as you tried to lighten the mood. You needed to seem reassuring to both of you. “But you have to promise me that you're going to help me beat this.” 

You pulled back from the hug and you could see the determination, with a hint of worry in Jimin’s eyes. “I promise we will get through this together. No matter what.” 

His hopeful tone felt like a  drastic difference from the horrific situation, but you knew deep down this wasn't going to be easy. That creature was already plotting its next move, and you two had to be ready. No matter what.

[minxmut-cafe]

9. Whispers and Shadows

Pairing: Jimin x Reader

Word count: 5.6k

Genre: Fantasy Au.

Authors note: HERE is the 9th chapter! I've also opened a KOFI page so if you're interested in my writing your support would be appreciated.

General Warning: (eventual) Smut, crude language, angst, fluffy, gorey themes, lil bit of torture,

Summary: In the kingdom of Solaria, Prince Jimin is caught in a web of secrets, darkness, and ancient power. When a mysterious maid enters his life, he's drawn into an intricate tale of betrayal, loss, and a curse that binds a forgotten princess to the depths of the ocean. As tensions rise between the five powerful tribes, Jimin discovers a hidden connection between the princess, a siren, and his own fate-one that could unravel the balance of the entire world.

With the Abyss calling, and the truth slipping just beyond his reach, Jimin must navigate treacherous waters, confront his past, and uncover the secrets that tie him to the ocean's depths. But the more he learns, the deeper the darkness becomes, threatening to pull him under.

Will Jimin uncover the truth before it's too late? Or will the ocean's power drown them all

MASTERLIST

The Festival of Unity transformed Solaria into a vibrant mosaic of colors and sounds. Tribes from all corners of the realm mingled, their banners rippling in the breeze, their traditions blending in a delicate dance of harmony. Yet, beneath the laughter and the feasting, tensions simmered. Ignis Solari and Nerithal stood at the heart of it, their leaders exchanging pleasantries that barely masked the cracks in their fragile alliance.

Jimin moved through the bustling courtyard, helping the citizens set up decorations and carry supplies. The simple work gave him a fleeting sense of normalcy, a chance to forget the secrets he carried. He even managed a faint smile as children ran past him, their excitement infectious. For the first time in what felt like ages, he felt princely—like someone his people could rely on.

But the sensation didn’t last long.

As he helped a group of elders arrange a ceremonial garland, he felt the weight of a gaze. He turned his head, his heart sinking as his eyes locked with Queen Althea’s.

She sat among the visiting kings, her regal posture impeccable, her expression cold. Her gaze wasn’t casual or indifferent; it was sharp, probing, as though she could see straight through him.

Jimin swallowed hard, quickly averting his eyes. She didn’t know the full truth—she couldn’t—but her suspicion was palpable. She knew there was something, some connection between him and the princess.

He needed to leave.

---

Jimin slipped away from the courtyard, weaving through the palace halls until he reached the kitchens. The warm air and comforting aroma of baked goods did little to ease his nerves. He scanned the room until his eyes landed on her.

The maid was moving quietly among the chaos, arranging platters and garnishing dishes with an efficiency that bordered on grace. But Jimin knew better. The maid was no ordinary servant. She was the shadow of the princess, tethered to her in ways he still didn’t fully understand.

Without hesitation, he crossed the room. “Come with me,” he said in a low voice, careful not to draw attention.

She looked up, her expression neutral, but something flickered in her eyes—amusement, perhaps? She said nothing, simply nodding and following him out of the kitchen.

They walked quickly, Jimin taking the lead as they navigated the palace halls. He moved with purpose, glancing over his shoulder every so often to ensure they weren’t being followed. When they reached his chambers, he pushed the door open and stepped inside, ushering her in before locking the door behind them.

He turned to face her, ready to speak—but the air in the room shifted.

The temperature dropped, and a faint chill seeped into his skin. It was subtle, but unmistakable. The same cold he had felt in the bathing chambers.

Jimin’s breath hitched as he looked at the maid standing before him. Or rather, the princess.

Her disguise was flawless, her uniform and demeanor identical to that of the shadow he had come to recognize. But there was no mistaking the presence she carried now, an aura that felt deeper, more alive.

“You’re not the maid,” he said, his voice soft but steady.

The princess’s lips curved into a playful smile. “Took you long enough to notice,” she teased.

Jimin narrowed his eyes. “One of you is supposed to stay submerged while the other roams. If you’re here, then—”

“She’s probably drowning somewhere in the ocean,” the princess interrupted, her tone nonchalant. She tilted her head, as if to study his reaction. “But don’t worry too much. She doesn’t mind.”

Jimin ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply. “Do you have any idea how dangerous this is?” he said, his voice rising slightly. “Your mother is here, along with the leaders of every tribe. If anyone recognizes you—”

“Oh, come now,” the princess interrupted, pouting playfully. “Is it so wrong of me to want to visit my dearest?” She stepped closer, her tone turning teasing. “Besides, don’t you like it when I visit?”

Jimin’s jaw tightened. As a fae, he couldn’t lie, but that didn’t mean he had to admit the truth outright. Instead, he clicked his tongue, looking away.

Her laughter was soft and melodic, filling the space between them. “That’s what I thought,” she said, her voice laced with satisfaction.

Jimin glanced back at her, his frustration warring with something he couldn’t quite name. She was infuriating, reckless—but he couldn’t deny the strange comfort her presence brought him.

“You’re impossible,” he muttered.

The princess smiled, a touch of mischief in her eyes. “And yet, here we are.”

She moved closer still, her gaze softening as she studied him. “You look different today,” she said, her voice quieter now. “More... alive.”

Jimin blinked, caught off guard by the sudden shift in her tone. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

The princess shrugged, her playful demeanor slipping away to reveal something more earnest. “You’ve been so weighed down lately. It’s nice to see you like this. Helping your people. Being a part of something.”

Jimin’s chest tightened. Her words shouldn’t have affected him the way they did, but they struck a chord deep within him.

Before he could respond, she reached up, brushing a stray strand of hair from his face. The gesture was brief, almost casual, but it sent a shiver down his spine.

“Thank you for letting me stay,” she said softly.

Before he could respond, she suddenly grabbed him by the shoulders, pulling him toward her with surprising strength.

"Hey!" Jimin exclaimed, caught off guard. His balance faltered as she yanked him closer. In one fluid motion, she flung him onto his bed, her laughter ringing in the air.

Jimin landed with a soft thud, his breath knocked out of him for a moment. He blinked up at her, incredulous, but she was already sitting next to him, her playful grin never leaving her face.

"Well, now that we're comfy..." she said, settling herself beside him, "tell me, Jimin, how does it feel to be the keeper of such a little secret?"

Jimin, still processing how he’d been so easily overpowered, tried to sit up, but she leaned over, pressing him back down onto the bed.

“Are you having fun?” she asked, her voice light but with an edge of teasing. “Keeping your connection to me a secret? I know it must be so thrilling. A little forbidden rendezvous between the two of us.”

Jimin’s chest tightened, a mixture of confusion and frustration swirling inside him. His mind was racing—why was she so carefree, so full of teasing energy, when the world around them was in turmoil?

“You’re impossible,” Jimin muttered, trying to regain some semblance of control.

The princess’s eyes sparkled as she leaned closer, her lips curling into a sly smile. “Impossible?” she repeated, as if savoring the word. “I’m just having a little fun. But, tell me, Jimin... Do you like it? Do you like keeping secrets?”

She rested her chin on her hand, her eyes searching his face as if she were reading a book. She was close enough now that Jimin could feel her breath on his skin, and the air between them was charged.

Jimin swallowed, trying to steady his breathing. “You’re making this a lot harder than it has to be,” he said, though his voice faltered slightly.

She raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. “Harder, hmm? I’m just keeping you company. Besides... We both know you're enjoying this more than you'd care to admit.”

Jimin let out a frustrated sigh, his hands running through his hair again, but his words faltered. He couldn't lie—not as a fae—and it was becoming clear to him that part of him didn't want to.

The princess’s playful expression softened for a brief moment, and her tone took on something more sincere. “Don’t worry, Jimin. I’m not going to force you into anything.”

She leaned back slightly, gazing at him with an almost tender look, but then, in the next breath, she added with a wicked grin, “Of course, I wouldn’t mind fulfilling some of your... fantasies.”

Her eyes gleamed with mischief, and she gave him a look that was both suggestive and teasing.

Jimin’s face immediately flushed a deep crimson. His heart raced, and he scrambled to sit up, flustered. “C-Cut it out!” he stammered, hands pushing at her, though she was already leaning back, clearly enjoying his reaction.

His mind was in a whirl, and he couldn’t get the words out fast enough. “You—you can’t just—what are you—”

She laughed at his reaction, her expression full of amusement and a hint of something more mischievous. “Oh? I thought fae were known for being bold and unashamed. How cute. I didn’t lrealize you were so shy.”

Jimin tried to push himself further away, his face still burning. “I-I’m not shy! I just... you can’t say stuff like that!”

She just watched him, a smirk playing on her lips as she leaned back, hands behind her head. “Well, I think you secretly do like it, Jimin.”

Jimin shot her a glare, but it only made her smile wider. He couldn’t deny the embarrassment that was still making his cheeks flush with heat. "You're impossible," he muttered under his breath.

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” she said, her voice light and teasing.

Jimin still couldn’t shake the warmth in his cheeks as he shifted away, trying to compose himself. The princess watched him for a moment, her eyes glinting with amusement, before she finally spoke again, her voice softer but with an edge of curiosity.

“So, tell me, Prince Jimin,” she began, propping herself up on her elbows, her gaze now more direct. “What’s this festival I keep hearing about? The one where all the tribes come together, united for a day?”

Jimin let out a breath, trying to regain his composure as he leaned back against the bed, still not entirely used to the way her presence affected him. He thought about the festival for a moment. It was supposed to be a celebration of unity—an opportunity for peace between the tribes, a day when everyone could set aside their differences. But Jimin wasn’t blind to the tensions that simmered beneath the surface.

“It’s a tradition,” he started, his voice a little more even now. “A celebration of unity. Every year, the tribes gather to commemorate the moment the first king brought us all together.” He paused, eyes drifting to the window where the sunlight was beginning to fade. “But it’s not as peaceful as it sounds.”

The princess raised an eyebrow, intrigued. She shifted, moving closer to him again with the same silent grace, her every movement like water flowing over rocks. "What do you mean?" she asked softly.

Jimin sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "The tensions between the tribes are high. The Ignis Solari King, my father, and the others—they don’t trust each other. Not anymore. The festival is supposed to be a moment for peace, but... well, it’s just as much about posturing as it is about celebration."

The princess didn’t seem surprised, but her lips curled into a small, knowing smile. “People and their pride. You’d think centuries of history would teach them something, wouldn’t you?”

Jimin couldn’t help but chuckle lightly. “You’d think.”

There was a long pause as the two of them sat in the quiet of his chamber, the tension from their earlier exchange still lingering in the air. The princess’s gaze softened, and she studied him for a moment, her dark eyes gleaming with an unreadable expression.

"You seem… different, Jimin. Tired, maybe, but also something else." She tilted her head slightly, a smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Worried?"

Jimin shifted uncomfortably, not sure how to answer.

“The festival… it feels like it’s building to something. Everyone’s on edge. I have to keep up appearances, but I can feel it in the air. Something’s coming. I don’t know if it’s the festival itself, or something else…”

She looked at him with an intensity that made him feel exposed, almost as if she could see into his very thoughts. “You’re afraid, aren’t you? Afraid of what might happen, afraid of the future you can’t control.”

Jimin’s breath caught in his throat, and for a moment, he didn’t know how to respond. He’d never spoken about his fears to anyone, let alone someone like her. His thoughts about the festival, his role as a prince, and his own personal worries collided in a wave of uncertainty.

But before he could answer, the princess’s voice cut through the silence again, light and teasing. “Well, if you’re so worried, maybe I could help you with that.”

Jimin raised an eyebrow, slightly thrown off by her sudden shift in tone. “Help me? How?”

The princess leaned closer, her voice lowering to a whisper. “I’m very good at sensing what people need, Jimin. Especially people like you... trapped between duty and desire, honor and your own truth.”

Jimin's heart skipped a beat, and for a moment, he wasn’t sure if it was the festival, the weight of his responsibilities, or something else entirely that was making him feel this way. “You think you can help me?” he asked, voice low, almost a challenge.

The princess smirked, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Oh, I think I already have."

Before Jimin could respond, a sharp knock echoed on the door, followed by a deep voice. "Your Highness, the King requests your presence immediately."

Jimin hesitated for a moment, the weight of his thoughts pulling at him as he turned toward the door. The princess—no, the maid—was still close, lingering in the shadows as if watching him closely. She gave him a teasing smile, almost as if she knew what his next move would be.

"I suppose duty calls," Jimin muttered under his breath, trying to mask the frustration he felt at having to leave this conversation unresolved.

With one last lingering glance at her, he stepped toward the door, where the guard stood waiting. "The King has requested your presence in the council hall, Your Highness," the guard stated formally.

Jimin gave a small nod, acknowledging the command. He didn’t need to be told twice, not with the weight of his father’s authority hanging over him. But as he stepped past the doorframe, he paused and looked back at the princess. She was standing there still, her gaze fixed on him, though her expression was playful.

"You’ll be fine," she said, her voice light. "I’ll be around." The way she said it—soft, but with an undercurrent of something more—made his pulse quicken. There was a mix of confidence and mischief in her smile, and for a brief moment, Jimin wondered just how much she truly knew about the chaos she was stirring.

Turning away from her, he walked toward the council hall, each step heavier than the last. His mind raced, torn between the growing responsibilities of his title and the mystery surrounding the princess. What was she truly after? And how was she connected to everything that was happening?

Jimin made his way through the grand hall, each step echoing on the stone floor as he approached the door to the summoning hall. The weight of the moment hung heavily in the air, and for a brief second, he felt a pang of unease. The strange events of the past days—his encounters with the princess, the growing tension between the tribes—had left him restless. Now, the king had summoned him, and there was no avoiding it.

He pushed the door open.

Inside, the atmosphere was thick with tension. His father, King Hyukjin, sat at the head of the room, his stern gaze immediately falling on Jimin as he entered. The Queen of Nerithal, the mother of the princess, stood at his side. Her presence, always regal and composed, now held an almost unsettling edge. It wasn’t just her cold beauty, but the quiet, calculating look in her eyes that seemed to pierce through him.

Around them, the seers and tide callers stood in a circle, their presence almost ethereal, as though they were attuned to forces beyond the realm of ordinary mortals. Their eyes were closed, but their senses were heightened, channeling the power of the ocean through their words and movements.

The air was thick with whispers—murmurs of prophecies, of warnings, of ancient magic long buried beneath the tides. The seers had gathered for this, as they had for countless generations. But today, something felt different. There was a sense of urgency in the room, a feeling of something stirring beneath the surface.

"Jimin," his father’s voice cut through the tension, deep and commanding. "You’ve arrived."

Jimin nodded, his eyes briefly meeting his father’s before flicking to the Queen of Nerithal. She studied him with that unnerving gaze, but he didn’t flinch. He’d long grown accustomed to her cold demeanor, even if it unsettled him.

"We have gathered here," King Hyukjin continued, "because the southern waters have grown restless. The tide callers speak of strange activity—an increase in abyssal forces. The creatures of the deep are stirring."

Jimin’s heart skipped a beat at his father’s words. Abyssal forces? That could only mean one thing. The princess—the siren who now walked freely among them—was tied to the disturbances. He forced himself to remain calm, to keep his face unreadable. But inside, his mind raced.

The Queen of Nerithal finally spoke, her voice smooth as the ocean’s surface, but with an underlying current of something darker. "The time has come for us to act. We can no longer ignore the changes happening within our waters."

Jimin felt the eyes of the room turn toward him. He stood at the edge of the circle, trying to keep his composure as he met the gaze of each person, feeling their weight pressing down on him. The tide callers, with their mystic robes and sacred symbols, seemed to be waiting for him to speak, their presence silent but heavy.

King Hyukjin’s voice broke the silence. "Jimin, we need you to go to the southern shores. We need to understand what is happening out there. The rise in abyssal activity could be a sign of something far worse. And you, as the heir to the throne, must investigate."

Jimin nodded slowly, his thoughts churning. The southern shores. The very place where the princess had once been sealed away, where the ocean's darkness seemed to pulse with its own heartbeat. If the tide callers were sensing something, then it was likely tied to her. But he couldn’t show his hand. Not yet. The less they knew about his connection to the princess, the better.

The Queen of Nerithal's gaze never wavered. "I trust you understand the gravity of this situation," she said softly, her voice filled with hidden meaning.

Jimin bowed his head in deference. "Of course, Your Majesty."

The room fell into silence again as the seers and tide callers chanted softly, their words like an ancient language, their movements graceful but unsettling. Jimin could feel the weight of their power swirling around him, the air thick with magic and tension.

He couldn’t ignore the nagging feeling in the back of his mind. The princess—the siren—was at the heart of this. He had to be careful. Whatever was happening in the southern waters, it was connected to her, and he had a feeling that this mission would uncover more than he was ready for.

King Hyukjin stood, signaling the end of the meeting. "We will send a ship tomorrow at first light. Jimin, prepare yourself. You leave at dawn."

Jimin bowed once more, turning to leave. As he stepped back toward the door, the Queen’s voice stopped him.

"You’ll be careful, won’t you, Prince Jimin?" she asked, her tone sweet but laced with something far more dangerous. It was a warning, though he couldn’t quite place it.

Jimin hesitated, feeling the weight of her gaze on him. "Of course," he replied, his voice steady, though inside, he was anything but.

As the door shut behind him, he let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. The room had been suffocating, the pressure of the council’s expectations pressing down on him. But now that he was alone, his thoughts returned to the princess. To the siren. What was her true role in all of this? What secrets did the southern shores hold?

He had more questions than answers

[simp4eshal]

ocean's laments

taehyung x reader

taehyung oneshot

warning: none really ? idk, it is taehyung x reader, but their interaction is very very short. reader's a siren and is most likely evil.

"My heart is pierced by Cupid,

I disdain all glittering gold,

There is nothing can console me,

But my jolly sailor bold."

It was 3am. He was in Greece. What was he doing out, alone, on a beach at 3am in Greece ?

Taehyung didn't know. He never knew.

It often happens. He was a lost soul, one of those that craves adventures, yearns for knowledge, for love. And if God wanted him to find all of these above at the beach at 3am, then who was he to say no ?

It was really without reason, or maybe only guided by a small and luring voice inside his head that Taehyung decided that he needed to leave the comfort of his 5 star hotel room with a view on the waves to actually go meet the waves.

So here he was, staring at the infinite dark blue, seeming gloomy and overwhelming under the pale light of the moon. It was almost scary to him, like it could swallow his secrets, his desires, his confessions, like it could swallow him whole, fill his lungs and tear them apart, feeding him to whatever mystical creature was lurking around.

And as his mind wandered and his eyes searched around for any signs of a possible tsunami, he spotted a glittery, frail yet gracious figure in front of the ocean, between two rocks.

He looked with more concentration this time, thinking it was merely an hallucination. But no, there really was, in front of his bewildered eyes, the naked body of a woman (if the large hips and long hair were anything to go by) glowing under the moon's light, looking with deep melancholy at the unforgivable ocean.

And then he heard it. A sultry, quiet, ensorcelling, almost terrifyingly beautiful voice singing out a story. The story of a lost sailor.

He never truly realized when he started making his way over her, over her beautiful laments, until she dipped in the ocean and he screamed. An heartbreaking, heart shattering scream that made him realize he was not even 3 steps away from jumping into the ocean himself.

And she turned around, with a questionably calm demeanor. Her beauty was uncomparable. Taehyung was sure that she was somehow designed by Aphrodite herself, and he just knew that her beauty will lead him to the grave. For the first time, he spoke.

"Who are you ?"

A sly smirk took over her angelic features, and she only graced him with 4 little words, his name rolling off her tongue like it belonged there.

"You know me, Taehyung"

As she disappeared into the ocean's abyss, Taehyung felt a madenning pain and longing overtake him, and he knew, he knew deep down that he craved for her, for her voice, for her touch.

He sat on the sand, clutching his aching heart as voices made themselves known in his head.

The millions of voices of the men before him that suffered the same sight, the same love and the same longing for that angelic women who left a trace on their hearts, and ended up swallowed by the earth's wildest element.

As he felt himself slip into unconsciousness, his broken heart crying out her name, he wondered if she was indeed real, if she was only the fruit of his imagination or if this devil-like lady will forever remain a misty memory.

[jjkrkives]

희망이 있는 곳엔 반드시 시련이 있네

wherever there’s hope, there’s a trial

희망이 있는 곳엔 반드시 절망이 있네

wherever there’s hope, there’s a despair

[xanni-devito]

Witch Seokjin

Dragon Hoseok

Siren Yoongi

Dragon Namjoon

Fae Jungkook

Dragon Taehyung

Fae Jimin

—————

Moodboards for a VERY long running RP, Summer Thunder, where dragon coven Joon, Hobi, and Tae kidnap for ransom in order to survive as the last living dragons. They fall in love with their most recent catch, though, and a whooooole lot of shit happens, including but not limited to, Yoongi reaching maturity via soulmate bond, Taehyung becoming consort of a fairy kingdom, and Jin and Joon reviving a dead language. Also, a fuck ton of heinous smut.

[staykookedsuga]

Jungkook’s adlibs in ‘letter’ are so heavenly

[pronoixa]

[miniminimermaid]

2023 Jungkook was such a blessing with all his lives, I miss my silly lil guy :((((

[inkjam-moon]

Red Sky (M) - Part Two

Summary: Jeongguk finally decides to let you help him search for a cure, but could it create more trouble than it's worth?

Pairing: Siren!Jeongguk x Reader

Genre: Fluff, Smut, Angst

Word Count: 14.5k (I STILL have nothing to say...)

TW: Sexually explicit content, mentions of suicide/death, physical altercation, drowning mentions, near death experience, drinking, verbal altercation, panic attack

.

.

.

The next morning when you wake up, you faintly remember Jeongguk carrying you to bed last night, and touch your cheek again as you think of it, smiling. You get up and change into clean clothes before heading out. As you open the door to your room, you smell… something? You look up to see Jeongguk standing in the kitchen and walk over to find out what he’s doing; surprised to find him cooking.

“Morning noona.” He greets without looking up. 

“Morning. You’re cooking?” It’s more an observation than a question.

He nods. “Hyung taught me how to make a few things, it’s not much, but I figured rice and eggs would be okay?” He finally looks up at you and your stomach flutters for some reason at his smile. You beat the feeling down inside you before returning the smile. 

“Sounds great.” You walk back over to the living room, wanting to pick up where you left off last night as you sit on the couch and pick up a few loose papers. 

After a few minutes, Jeongguk walks over and places a plate full of food in front of you before sitting on the floor next to you. He watches you carefully for a few minutes as he eats before speaking. 

“So, have you found anything yet?”

“Um, well, there’s about a million mentions of this cave? Someplace called… ‘Antrum Ventis’. Have you heard of it?”

“The Cave of the Wind? Of course.”

“Right, there’s supposed to be all kinds of things in there that might be able to help. We could start there?”

“I’ve already checked there.”

You purse your lips. “Well, maybe you didn’t know what to look for. We should try anyway.”

“There’s just one problem.”

“What now?” You sigh, thinking Jeongguk is being intentionally difficult. 

“It’s at the bottom of a cave system, the entrance is in the ocean, and last time I checked, you can’t breathe underwater.”

“No, I can’t…” You admit, but perk up when you remember something. “But maybe I can.”

Jeongguk tilts his head in confusion. “How?”

.

Two hours later, you pull back up in front of the house where Jeongguk is waiting for you. The sun peeks rays through the cloud cover as you open the tailgate of the truck to show Jeongguk what you’ve got. 

“Ta da!” You pull the equipment toward you.

“What… What is this?” He asks, reaching out to touch the tubes attached to the backpack. 

“Scuba gear!” You explain. “Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus. It hooks up to these oxygen tanks,” You tap the tanks, “and it’ll let me breathe underwater for a few hours.”

“Really?” His eyes go wide and you nod enthusiastically. “Okay, let’s go.”

.

After you change into your bathing suit, Jeongguk helps you lug the equipment down past the lighthouse to a narrow staircase that heads down the cliffside. It leads you to a dock where a small boat with an electric motor is tied. Jeongguk loads your equipment into the boat before jumping in and making himself comfortable next to the motor. You climb in with him, sitting down on the seat in front of him. When you’re situated, Jeongguk starts the motor.

“Are you ready?” He asks. You nod and Jeongguk unties the boat from the dock before you both begin to zip away into the water. 

As Jeongguk drives the boat to the cave entrance, you busy yourself with readying the equipment you borrowed from Donghyun. You slide on the scuba jacket that you borrowed from Saki before setting up your tanks and checking your regulator.  When everything is ready to go, you finally look up to see the island sinking away into the distance.

“How far out is it?” You turn and ask as the wind whips your hair around your face.

“About two miles. You’ll see the marker when we get closer.” Jeongguk states, his eyes focused on the horizon as he navigates without any equipment.

“How do you know where you’re going?” 

Jeongguk smiles at this and points upwards. “The same way the sailors used to. The sky.” You look up at the cloud cover, your eyes drawn to the few rays that poke through, beaming down into the deep blue waves.

After a few more minutes, you start to see a shape sticking out of the sea in the distance, and as you get closer, you see it’s a large outcropping of rock. You point at it in question and Jeongguk nods. He was right; he knew exactly where he was going.

You pull up next to the outcropping, and Jeongguk anchors the boat before tying it to a hook jutting out from the rocks to secure it. Small waves lap at the boat as Jeongguk helps you into your scuba gear, clicking all the buckles shut and tightening them before securing your goggles on your forehead and testing your regulator to make sure the oxygen is flowing. 

“Okay, everything’s good.” You state.

“Are you ready?” Jeongguk asks.

“Let’s go.” You nod. 

Jeongguk stands and whips his shirt off over his head, dropping it into the boat. Your eyes go wide as he hooks his thumbs in the waistband of his shorts.

“Wait!” You exclaim, causing him to stop and look up at you before he can pull them down. “A-are you going to pop a tail or something?”

He smirks at this. “Are you afraid?”

“No.” You roll your eyes. “I just want to be prepared.”

“Guess you’ll have to wait and see.” With that, he turns away from you, exposing his ass to you as he slides down his shorts before diving head first into the water, splashing you lightly. 

“Jeongguk?” You lean over the side of the boat, searching the water for him until he pops up right in front of your face, nearly scaring you half to death as you fall back into the boat. “Fuck!”

Jeongguk giggles, resting his arms on the side of the boat. “Are you coming?”

You smack him in the head with one of your flippers before perching yourself on the edge of the boat, pulling your goggles down over your eyes and sticking your regulator into your mouth before allowing yourself to fall backwards into the water. 

It takes a second for you to orient yourself, pushing away from the boat as you look around. It’s pretty shallow here, maybe only 12 or so feet. You feel a hand on your arm and turn to see Jeongguk next to you. His hair floats in the water around him, his smile bright. Your eyes trail down his toned chest out of curiosity, and sure enough when you get to his waist, you see the beginning of it; Jeongguk’s tail. It looks to be a dark shimmery copper color with highlights of deep gold and amber fading into a dark brown and black towards the rather large tailfin. His tail looks absurdly strong, pure muscle rippling in the light of the waters.

“Is everything okay?” He questions, trying to get your intense gaze on his face instead of his body. 

You nod, giving him the okay sign with your fingers. He motions for you to swim with him and you follow along past a large school of fish and over to a large gaping hole in the ocean floor.

“This is the entrance.” He holds out his hand to you. “It gets dark, and the current can be pretty strong. I’ll be able to see, but I don’t want you to get separated from me.” 

You take his hand, nodding your readiness. 

“Stay close, noona.”

You squeeze his hand in assurance, taking out your flashlight with the other and flicking it on as Jeongguk leads you into the darkness. 

Jeongguk was right, the cave system is dark, and if Jeongguk wasn’t holding your hand, swimming against the strong currents, you would never be able to make it down here. You keep going deeper and deeper, turning several corners, you’re having a hard time getting your bearings, and you’re not sure how Jeongguk knows where he’s going as you start to feel a little claustrophobic, but he assures you that if it was easy to get to, it wouldn’t have what you need. You keep an eye on your air level, trying to calm yourself, knowing that if you start to panic you’ll use up your air a lot faster and you only brought two tanks. You’re already at only 50 bar; you’re going to have to surface, or change tanks soon.

How long have you been swimming? As you go to check your watch, your flashlight goes out. You squeeze Jeongguk’s hand twice, signaling a problem and he stops, you feel him grab your shoulders.

“What is it?”

You wave the flashlight in front of his face. 

He smiles, “Close your eyes.” You give him the hand signal for Why? “Just trust me.” You do as he says quickly, not having much time to waste, and close your eyes. After a few moments he speaks again. “Okay, open.”

You open your eyes and realize there’s some sort of dim light illuminating the cave around you. It takes you a moment before you notice, it’s coming from Jeongguk. He’s… He’s glowing? His tail has some sort of bioluminescence that lights up the water around you. It’s so… beautiful, like the soft glow of fireflies at dusk. You float there, temporarily awestruck by him; amazed at the moment you’re in; the two of you swimming in a cave underground, practically chest to chest as Jeongguk lights up the area around you. “Come on, we’re almost there.” He grabs your hand again, wrenching you out of the moment as he pulls you further in.

Suddenly as you swim, you’re moving up, and up, the area around you growing lighter and wider. The walls of the cave are a dark grey now, and small fish flit about the corals that grow here, everything suddenly bright and colorful, strikingly beautiful the farther up you go until suddenly you pop up out of a hole and into what looks like a picturesque fish bowl, aquatic plants waving gently in some invisible current, sunlight streaming down through the water and shining on colored fish as they dash between plants. Jeongguk points up and you follow him, swimming upwards and finally breaking through the surface.

You spit out your regulator and breathe in the fresh air, taking off your goggles as Jeongguk’s head erupts from the water, his hair slicked back off his face. 

“Welcome to Antrum Ventis.” Jeongguk smiles at you.

“Wow,” You gasp, looking around. There are several holes in the roof of the cave where sunlight shines in. The water leads to a small rocky shore, and on that shore, filling the cave from wall to wall, are piles and piles of treasures. It looks straight out of a pirate movie. Gold, silver, books, chests, furniture, paintings; anything you can imagine sits in front of you. 

Jeongguk swims over to the shore and sits himself on the rocky edge, his tail dangling into the water below as small waves lap at him. You swim over, taking off your gear and handing it to him before hoisting yourself up on the ledge next to him, looking around the cave. 

“What is this place?” You ask as you stand up.

“It’s sort of a… special place for Ineo.” Jeongguk explains. “It’s where they hide their treasure; old relics, things from the ships they sink, things they find.” You walk up to an old mirror and run your hands over the jewels hanging from it, listening to the way they clink against the glass. 

“What if someone finds us here?”

“Impossible.” Jeongguk shakes his head, his tail flicking in the water.

“What do you mean impossible, if this place is so special-”

“I’m kind of the only one who knows where it is…” Jeongguk admits.

You turn and stare at him, blinking in confusion. “What?”

He sighs. “When Yeongsu went on his rampage, it wasn’t just humans he killed. He killed Ineo first. When he ran out of Ineo, that’s when he turned to humans. Aside from the elders, who are protected and never leave their thrones, I was the only one that was spared. New Ineo aren’t told where this cave is for at least twenty years, and those who lose their humanity forget about it, so I’m the only one who knows where it is.”

“Right… Well, are you going to come help me look?”

“You want me to get out of the water? I didn’t bring any clothes…”

Your face flushes hot at the thought of having to keep Jeongguk’s naked form out of view. You look around, finding a cloth tapestry and tossing it at him. “Use this, come on.”

You turn away, listening to Jeongguk get out of the water and waiting for him to wrap the tapestry around himself so you aren’t tempted to look as you begin searching for something that might help cure him. 

“So what exactly are we looking for?” Jeongguk asks, strolling past you to dig through some chests. “Some sort of magical item?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.” You wave him off. “One of the books said that there are written records. Records from the beginnings of the Ineo. They could have a cure in them.”

“So a magic book?” Jeongguk teases. You offer him only the most scalding side-eye you can muster before continuing to search the pile of books in front of you.

The two of you search for what feels like hours, but you’re unsure how much time actually passes. You dig through chests, trunks, piles of books, behind furniture, under piles of jewels, inside vases, and behind paintings. After a while, you sit down in a huff, worried that you won't find anything, and Jeongguk might be stuck like this, but as you push your hair out of your face and look up, you notice a hole in the wall, just above your standing eyeline, and if you tilt your head just right, you think you can see something inside it. 

“Jeongguk,”

“Hm?” He pops up from behind a pile of gold coins. He watches as you stand and make your way over to the wall. 

“Grab me something to stand on.”

Jeongguk grabs one of the now empty chests and drags it over to you. “What is it?”

“There’s something in there.” You point at the hole before climbing up on the trunk.

You stretch and stretch, but it’s still out of your reach. Jeongguk jumps up next to you and tries as well, but he can’t get to it either. 

“Let me lift you.” He says, holding his arms out to you.

“What? Are you crazy?”

“Do you want to see what it is or not? Don’t you trust me?”

“Fine.” You spin toward the wall and Jeongguk grabs your hips, lifting you into the air with ease. You reach your arms up again. “Just a little higher…” He puts you down again, this time wrapping his arms around your legs and then lifting you higher than before. Your fingers are just able to graze what’s inside, quickly dragging everything you can to the edge of the hole and grabbing hold of it all. “Got it!”

Jeongguk carefully lowers you until your feet are on the trunk with him again, and then you both jump down onto the floor. You take everything over to the table and spread it out; two scrolls, a hand mirror, and a book. Jeongguk opens the scrolls to find both are paintings, and you blow the dust of the book to reveal an old, handwritten title; Ineo:  Oceani Immortalitate. 

“The Ocean’s Immortality. Jeongguk,” You look up at him. “This is it.” You walk over to one of the beams of sunlight and sit on the ground, cracking the book open as Jeongguk looks over your shoulder. You skim through page after page, telling tales of the Ineo’s beginnings and why the ocean created them, until about halfway through the book you get to the section you’re looking for titled Oceanum Maledictionem. The Ocean’s Curse. There’s only half a page of scrawled handwriting beneath the title and you take a deep breath, hoping it will tell you something useful. 

Though the ocean’s curse is strong, there is a way to defy her gift. One must find that which we Ineo do not naturally come by. Though the allure of our voices is irresistible, in order to return from whence we came, an Ineo must find someone to redeem them of their sins; someone that wants them beyond their enchanting voice. That is to say, an Ineo could fully regain their humanity, if a human were to truly love them, but aside from the fact that human fraternization is forbidden by the elders, no matter how we’ve tried, no one can see beyond our voices. It is a useless venture for any Ineo to take upon themselves. It will only end in the despair we are so used to…

“What does it say?”

“It says… love.”

“What?”

You read him the words. “An Ineo could fully regain their humanity if a human were to truly love them.” You point to it and Jeongguk takes the book from you, reading over the paragraph for himself. 

“It says it doesn’t work.”

“We don’t know that-”

“It says it right here! It will only end in despair!” Jeongguk slams the book shut and stands up. “I knew it was too good to be true.”

“It wouldn’t hurt to try.” You point out.

He scoffs. “Who? Hm? Who on this fucking island is going to love me, huh? Name one person who doesn’t already hate me for being what I am!”

“Well, maybe we can go to the mainland and-”

“I can’t leave the island. It’s part of the curse, I can’t leave the water for that long I’ll die.”

“But we can try and find another way. W-we could always-”

“Just face it, Y/N.” Jeongguk stops you, standing on the edge of the rock. “I’m stuck like this.” And with that he jumps into the water, the tapestry floating up to the surface where he dove in. You stand and walk over to the edge, searching for him. As you retrieve the tapestry.

“Come on,” He pops his head back up above the surface. “We should head back.”

“Jeongguk-”

“Please.” Jeongguk says softly. “Let’s just go home.”

You nod. “Okay…”

You grab your waterproof bag and stuff the book, the mirror, and a few other things into it before sealing it back up. Jeongguk floats in the water, staring up at the holes in the roof as you switch out your oxygen tanks. When you’re done, you slip the tanks on and jump back into the water, tightening the buckles before sliding on your goggles and checking your regulator. You take one last look at the cave for your memories and then signal to Jeongguk. “Let’s go.”

Jeongguk takes your hand and you head back down into the entrance to the labyrinth below. Jeongguk’s bioluminescence is dim this time, making it much harder for you to see, so you allow Jeongguk to just tug you along with him as he navigates the tunnels. Your mind is preoccupied anyway, thinking of ways you could break Jeongguk’s curse. 

It isn’t until your oxygen meter beeps at you, signaling that you’re low on air, that you’re pulled out of your thoughts. You must be traveling a lot slower than you were on the way in. You squeeze Jeongguk’s hand twice and he stops. You show him you’re already at 30 bar and signal to him; that’s less than ten minutes of air.

Jeongguk’s eyes go wide, seeing the panic on your face, he grabs you with both arms, wrapping them around you as his tail whips behind you, sending the two of you off faster than you’ve seen him swim before. He holds you tightly as he navigates the tight corners of the tunnels, hurrying to get you to the surface. You can only sit, your face tucked into Jeongguk’s shoulder as you watch your oxygen meter slowly decrease. 

25… 

20… 

15… 

10… 

Soon the readout just says ‘low’; you take short, measured breaths, trying to conserve your oxygen. You take your last breath before you run out of air, squeezing Jeongguk tightly.

“Noona! Hold on!” Jeongguk swims as fast as he can, the tunnel growing lighter as things start to go fuzzy.

Suddenly Jeongguk erupts from the entrance to the caves, rushing to the surface as you start to go limp in his arms, your regulator floating beside you. He bursts up through the water, holding you against him as you gasp, inhaling deeply and filling your lungs with sweet, sweet oxygen. 

“Are you alright?” you nod, slipping out of Jeongguk’s grip and sinking back below the waves for a moment until he catches you and holds you out of the water again. He carries you over to the boat as you splutter, helping you into it. You close your eyes as you lay in between the seats, trying to calm your breathing as you hear Jeongguk climb in beside you. “Noona, I’m sorry.” You open your eyes to see Jeongguk leaning over you, tugging his shirt on. “I wasn’t paying attention to the time.”

“It’s okay.” You wave him off as you sit up.

“No, it’s not. I was careless, you could’ve died!”

“Hey, I’m right here.” You put your hands on his shoulders to help calm him down. “It’s alright.” You unbuckle your tanks and let them fall into the boat before unzipping your scuba jacket. “But let’s not do that again.” You add.

Jeongguk nods as he moves back towards the motor. You twirl the medallion of your necklace in your fingers as Jeongguk pulls up the anchor and unties you from the rocks, starting the boat and steering you back towards shore.

.

You’re exhausted as you walk back up the steps of the cliff, trudging your way back to the house. Jeongguk leaves your gear on the front porch as you unlock the front door. You grab the waterproof bag with your new items in it and are just about to cross the threshold when you hear something.

It’s that voice again. The melodious song fills your ears and Jeongguk’s eyes go wide as you look at him. 

“You hear it too?”

“Get inside.” Jeongguk shoves you over the threshold and slams the door shut behind you.

“Hey, what the hell?” You rub your shoulder where he pushed you. He doesn’t respond. He’s too busy turning on the tv and increasing the volume to drown out the singing. “Jeongguk, what is that?”

“It’s bad news.”

“Wait, is that another Ineo?” You ask as you kick off your shoes.

“Don’t listen to it!” He exclaims, dragging you away from the front door. 

“I don’t think-”

“Just go to the bathroom. I’ll let you know when it’s safe to come out.” He starts pushing you toward the bathroom.

“But I already-” You turn to face him, forcing him to stop pushing you. 

“Y/N- you can’t ever listen to it. You can’t ever speak to them. They’ll kill you.”

“Will you listen to me for a second?” You smack his shoulder. “I’m trying to tell you I've already heard this.”

He’s listening now. “When?”

“Yesterday, I was down at the docks getting gas and-”

“You were alone??”

You roll your eyes. “Yes, and look, nothing happened.”

“Wait,” He pauses, looking you over. “You remember it?”

“Um, yes?”

 “Noona,” He leans closer to you, now looking very obviously at your chest.

“Um-”

“Where did you get this?”  His hand reaches out and he grabs the necklace nestled between your décolletage, rubbing the medallion between his fingers. 

“Hogeun sent it to me.” You explain. “A few weeks before he died. He told me he found it when he was fishing one day.”

“I gave this to him.” Jeongguk states, his thumb twirling the gold metal. 

“You did?”

“It was my mother’s. It’s from the Cave of the Wind too; it’s like an Ineo relic. ” Jeongguk lets it go. 

“Really?”

“Were you wearing this yesterday?”

“Of course.” You nod. “I always have it on.”

“That doesn’t make sense…” He whispers, dropping the necklace as he thinks out loud. “Then you shouldn’t have…”

“I shouldn’t have what?”

He looks back up at you. “The other night, when you walked in on me in the shower, were you wearing it then?”

“Hm? Oh, um…” You think back. “No, I took it off and it fell on the floor. I remember picking it up before I went to bed.”

“So it really does work.”

“Will you tell me what’s going on?”

Jeongguk sighs. “That singing you heard just now, and yesterday, that’s an Ineo. They were trying to lure you into the water.”

“W-why didn’t it work?”

Jeongguk points at your chest. “The necklace. It’s meant for protection. It’s supposed to make it so the wearer isn’t affected by an Ineo’s song.”

Your hand moves to grab the necklace automatically. “I-it is?”

“If it didn’t work and you really did hear that yesterday, you… You would be dead right now.”

You swallow hard. You hadn’t realized how much danger you were in already. “Wait, so that night in the shower?”

Jeongguk hangs his head. “I didn’t think you could hear me. I thought I was being quiet enough.”

“What would have happened…?”

“Nothing!” Jeongguk moves to reassure you. “I wouldn't have done anything, I promise.”

You eye him with caution, but you see the sincerity in his gaze, and above all else, after today; you really do trust him. You place the waterproof bag in his hands. “I’m going to take a shower, add this stuff to our collection and see if you can find anything else out of that book.”

“Right.”

“I’ll make dinner when I get out.” You call over your shoulder before shutting the bathroom door behind you. 

You take a second to rest back against the door, letting out a long sigh before you start up the shower. As the water heats up, you look at yourself in the mirror; hair waved from the combination of salt and wind, skin slightly tanned from being out in the sun; necklace dangling from your neck. You lift the necklace and study it, knowing now the origins of such a beautiful piece. It’s a gold chain, a golden medallion with the imprint of a mermaid, or you suppose an Ineo, hangs from it, and a single large pearl dangles from the medallion. It belongs with the rest of the jewelry inside that cave and yet here it rests in your hands.

You leave it on, stripping out of your swimsuit before stepping into the tub and under the warm water of the shower. He said it belonged to his mother. You wonder what she was like. If she meant to bring a child into such a harsh world, if she knew what would happen to her mate. Would she like you? Would she agree with what Jeongguk was trying to do in finding a cure?  What would she think? You can only imagine what your own mother would think if she found out everything your uncle talked about was real. You know exactly how she would react to Jeongguk, and what she would say if she found out you had been living alone with a strange man since you arrived here. 

You find your mind wandering to Jeongguk today; how he trusted you enough to show you his true form, tail and all. He was even more graceful and beautiful in the water than you could’ve imagined. Your mind flashes to the image of him jumping out of the boat, his bare ass facing you, and you giggle. Even like that, he was gorgeous. 

You’re torn. You know you’re going to have to leave the island eventually and go back to your real life, no matter how much you don’t want to, but even then, Jeongguk can’t leave the waters around this island for very long. What will he do once you leave? Will he be able to find another cure? Will he be able to survive out here on his own? On land? Will the islanders be kind to him? You can’t help but think of the night of your uncle’s memorial, how cruel that man was to Jeongguk. Even Donghyun and Saki, while they’re kind to him, you can tell they don’t really know what to do about him.

And honesty, neither do you…

When you’re finished you turn off the water, stepping out of the tub and drying yourself off. You dry your hair quickly before wrapping a towel tightly around you and leaving the bathroom. You see Jeongguk on the couch as you walk to your room; shutting the door and changing into some comfortable clothes before heading back out. You hang the towel up in the bathroom before padding into the kitchen, trying to decide what you want to eat, but you notice the stove is hot, and something smells like cooked food.

“Jeongguk did you-” You stop short when you look over at him to see he has two warm bowls of stew set on the table in front of the tv as he waits for you. “What- You cooked again?”

He nods. “I used one of hyung’s old recipes. He taught me how to make it.”

“Really?” You ask, taking your seat next to him on the couch to see what looks like kimchi stew in the bowls. 

“I wanted to apologize again, for being so careless today.”

“Jeongguk please-”

“I really am sorry.” He takes your hands in his. “I was just so upset about what we found.”

“I know, Jeongguk. But thanks to you, I’m still here.” You point out. He smiles softly in acknowledgment before picking up his bowl. 

The two of you eat, silent except for the sounds of the tv in front of you. When you’re finished, you place your bowl back on the table and notice the book and the hand mirror laid out next to your bowl.

“Did you find anything else in the book?” You ask, grabbing it off the table and cracking it open in your lap.

“Not much, just some stuff about this mirror.”

“Oh? Is it special?”

He nods. “It’s supposed to show you your future, but I think it’s broken.” He picks the mirror up. “I can’t get it to work.”

“Wait, it shows you the future?”

“No, just specifically tailored to you. Here,” He puts the mirror back down before taking the book from you. He flips through several pages until he finds what he’s looking for. He points to the paragraph and reads, “The Mirror of Sinjike is intended to show the user that which they cannot see. The mirror is enabled to describe the near or far future pertaining specifically to the lifeline of the user, they need only ask the right question.”

“What’s the question?”

“I’m not sure… It doesn’t say anything else about it.”

“Huh…” You pick the mirror up and turn it over in your hands. It looks like an ordinary mirror to you. “Well, we can look at it more tomorrow. I’m exhausted.” You stand up, grabbing your bowl and taking it over to the sink and Jeongguk follows. You rinse it out before heading back towards your room.

“Goodnight, noona.”

You turn and smile as you move to close your door. “Sweet dreams Kook. Thank you for saving me today.” And before he can apologize again, you shut the door.

.

You went to bed super early last night, so it's no surprise that you wake up before the sun rises. You sigh, knowing you won’t be able to fall back asleep with how wide awake you feel, and sit up, checking your phone to see a text from your mother, asking when you’ll be returning home. You don’t open it, not wanting her to know you’ve seen it, or she’ll just keep bothering you. Instead, you put your phone face down on the nightstand and climb out of bed, slipping into some clothes and heading out to the living room.

You don’t feel like watching tv… or anything really. You spot the book where you left it last night and walk over to grab it and the mirror, deciding to go for a walk. 

You stuff both items into your bag and slip on some shoes, grabbing a flashlight and a sweatshirt before walking outside. It’s dark as you shut the door behind you, the dawn still a ways off. Just below the cloud cover, between that and the horizon, you can see a layer of stars shining brightly. You slide the sweatshirt over your head as you begin to walk towards the lighthouse, taking your time and enjoying the early morning sounds of crickets and birds just waking up. 

You walk along the cliffs for a bit, following the path down through the forest, listening to the waves crash below you as you wander. You should’ve brought your phone so you could take pictures, but you didn’t think about it. You feel the weight of the book in your bag and take it out, flipping aimlessly through the pages. You circle back to the lighthouse just as dawn begins to break over the sea, casting a bright orange glow over the grass as it rises. You climb the lighthouse stairs to the very top, seating yourself on the observation deck as you take out the mirror.

It’s a simple round mirror, laid in silver filigree that traces over the backside and then down along the handle. You study it closely in the dim light of the rising sun; searching for any sort of word or clue as to how it’s supposed to work, but nothing catches your eye. 

You open the book once more, searching for the page Jeongguk showed you last night. You finally find it and delicately flatten the frail page with your palm. It shows a detailed drawing of the mirror at the top, with the name printed in a script different from that of the curse page, showing that this was added by a different person. Unfortunately, the words Jeongguk read to you are the only other thing on the page.

“they need only ask the right question…” You mumble to yourself. It’s supposed to show you the future, right? It can’t be that simple, can it? You pick up the mirror and hold it in front of you, to look inside it. “Can you show me the future?”

Nothing. Figures. You try all kinds of questions, changing the vernacular around to try and get it to work. “Will you show me the future? What does my future look like? Can I see my future?” Nothing seems to be working. You reread the passage over and over, searching for some sort of clue in the wording as the sun finally begins to peek over the horizon. 

The Mirror of Sinjike is intended to show the user that which they cannot see.

Wait a second. Hmm… You wonder. 

You hold the mirror up again, taking a deep breath. “Sinjike, will you show me that which I cannot see?”

Suddenly, your reflection changes in the glass, turning into fog that swirls around in a circle, as if it’s waiting for you to say something else. You read the passage again.

The mirror is enabled to describe the near or far future pertaining specifically to the lifeline of the user, they need only ask the right question.

“Near.” You say to the mirror. 

The fog vanishes, and it’s replaced by an image.

It shows you, sitting in the lighthouse where you are now, but it zooms out, showing someone else climbing the stairs to the observation deck to join you as the sun fully crests the horizon; Jeongguk. And then the image fades away, and you’re staring at your reflection again.

You’re ecstatic. You finally got it to work. You want to try it again, to make sure it wasn’t just a fluke, but you don’t know if there’s a limit to how many times per person, or per day, that it works. That’s when you hear the soft crunch of bare feet on grass. You look to the horizon to see the sun cresting over the sea, bathing the sky in bloody shades of red. Your heart thunks in your chest, you know that a red sky has an ominous, foreboding meaning behind it. Those who live on the sea have always agreed that skies that turn red in the morning hours are sure signs of impending troubles. 

You hear Jeongguk behind you and turn to greet him, but his eyes are also trained on the warning signs of the sky. 

“Red sky…” He comments, turning to look at you. “Storm’s coming.”

You nod, “I have good news though.”

“Oh?” He sits down next to you, observing the things in your hands and perks up. “Wait, did you figure out the mirror?”

“Mhm! Here,” You hand it to him. “You have to ask to be shown what you can’t see, and then you have to choose the near or far future.”

“What did you see?”

You chuckle. “I chose near, and it showed me you just now walking up here to find me. You should try now!”

“Right, right okay.” He holds the mirror up in front of him, taking a deep breath much like you did  before. “Show me what I cannot see, far.”

The mirror swirls again, fading quickly this time into an image of Jeongguk what looks to be a few years from now; out on a boat with someone. He’s smiling and laughing. He jumps in the water without taking his clothes off, and a few moments later, he pops up, floating in water, swimsuit still intact, no tail in sight. 

“Oh my god…” He whispers. “I-I’m cured?”

“It looks like it.” You agree. The image stays on him playing in the water for a few moments before it swirls away and shows his reflection again. “See, I told you we’d find a cure.”

Jeongguk smiles before suddenly wrapping you in his arms, squeezing you tightly. “I can’t believe I’m going to be normal; finally. Thank you, noona.”

“Of course.”

“Did you look at your far future?” He asks, pulling back.

“No, not yet.”

“Don’t you want to know?”

You do, but you’re also afraid. Afraid it will show you working under your father for the rest of your life.

“I won’t watch if it makes you feel better.”

Might as well know now. “Thanks.” Jeongguk hands you the mirror, and then looks away as you repeat the phrase. “Show me what I cannot see. Far.”

The mirror swirls before showing a picturesque scene on top of a hill. It shows you running, laughing in the light of a summer sunset as you hold up your camera to face what’s coming after you, then in the corner of the frame it shows a familiar frame chasing after you with bare feet.

Jeongguk.

You gasp, watching intently as he catches up to you, the lighthouse you’re sitting on appearing in the frame as he wraps you in his arms, picking you up and swinging you around as you squeal in delight. He places you back on the ground, and leans down, capturing your lips with his when suddenly a child appears in the image, walking up to both of you, arms open wide. Jeongguk picks her up, and you both place a kiss on her cheeks as you walk back toward the house. The child, a spitting image of Jeongguk. 

And then your reflection is staring back at you, a tear running down your cheek. You quickly move to wipe the evidence of tears away as you put the mirror down. 

“Well?” Jeongguk waits impatiently for you to tell him what you saw, but you can’t look at him, staring out at the sky as it fades from red to oranges and pinks. “Noona? Is everything alright?”

You nod. “Of course, just something I wasn’t expecting.”

“A happy ending at least?”

“Very happy.”

“Good. I’m glad we both get what we want.” He smiles at you and your heart flutters. “Are you hungry?”

.

The two of you make your way back to the house and Jeongguk makes you a quick breakfast while the images from the mirror shine in the forefront of your mind. Was the mirror trying to tell you something? Do you need to actually admit the feelings that have been growing that you’ve been repressing for several days now? Are you… the one that can free Jeongguk of his curse? But how? Do you really end up together?

So many questions run through your mind that when Jeongguk places a plate in front of you on the table, it makes you jump. He eyes you suspiciously, but doesn’t say anything, choosing to simply sit down and eat instead. 

After breakfast, Jeongguk sits himself down in front of the tv. You try doing the same, picking up the book to read through it again, but you can’t sit still, too much on your mind. You decide to busy yourself with sorting, but that doesn’t do anything to soothe you either. You decide you need to get out of the house. You tell Jeongguk you have to run out for a bit, and he offers to come, but you tell him he should stay this time. He seems hurt, but listens, waving as you walk out the door and asking you to pick up more sweet cakes if you go to the store. 

Dark clouds are gathering out over the ocean, still a ways off as you haul your borrowed scuba gear into the truck before climbing in the driver's seat and starting it. Might as well bring this stuff back while you have the chance. 

You pull up in front of Donghyun and Saki’s house, putting the truck in park before grabbing the gear out the back. The rain is looming closer as you walk up to the door and knock, but no one seems to be home. You leave the gear on the porch and start to walk back to the truck when someone calls after you. 

“Evening missy!”

You look across the street to see a figure walking toward you. Oh god, not the crazy guy from the bar. “Hello.” You wave politely as you open the door to your truck, trying to get away from him as quickly as you can. 

“How the fish boy treatin’ ya?”

Wait a minute. He might not actually be crazy. You wonder if he could know anything helpful. “You’re, Hajoon, right?” You ask, turning toward him. 

“Aye, that’s me.” He nods as he walks up, leaning against the bed of the truck. “You heard stories ‘bout how crazy I be yet?”

You rub the back of your neck, light shame dusting your cheeks pink. “Something like that…”

He chuckles. “It’s alright missy, ain’t nothing I ain’t already heard.”

“My name’s Y/N.”

“Oh I know. Hogeun used to talk ‘bout ‘cha all the time.”

“Did you know my uncle well?”

“Of course. I was the first one to hire him. Worked on my boat fer five years.”

This is news to you. “Did you guys ever talk about… uh, well…” It’s still strange for you to say it outloud. 

“The merfolk? Who do ya think gave him all them books?”

“How do you know so much about them?”

Hajoon takes off his hat and holds it over his heart, smiling fondly at some sort of memory. “I fell in love with one once, a long time ago.”

“Really?”

He nods. “She meant the worl’ to me.”

“What happened?”

His eyes go dark. “Her people found out she was seein’ me, they took things into their own hands, an’ had ‘er killed fer meetin’ a human.”

“I’m so sorry.” You bow your head, your mind immediately moving to Jeongguk; what if he’s next?

“You best hold that boy tight missy.” He puts a hand on your shoulder. “Don’t let ‘em take him from ya.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“I read something the other day that said ‘an Ineo could fully regain their humanity, if a human were to truly love them’. Do you know how to do that? To… to make him human? Did you ever try it?”

He smiles bittersweetly. “I do, but ya don’t want the answer.”

“Please, I do. I want to help him.”

He looks down at the ground before looking off into the distance, avoiding your gaze. “I’ll give ya a hint. The ultimate show of love for one of ‘em… Is a sacrifice.”

“Sacrifice? What-”

“Think of what you would give up to be with him. That’s your answer.” He starts to walk away. “Better spend as much time with him as ya can, missy. I seen ‘em around the docks; they’ll be after ya’s soon enough.” 

It’s silent as you mull over his words, wondering what exactly he means as you watch him turn the corner and head to the bar. You climb into your truck, sitting for a moment before his last words hit you like a brick to the face. They already know. It’s only a matter of time before they try to take him away. 

It’s time to admit your feelings to Jeongguk.

It’s just started to rain as you start the truck up, driving a little bit faster than you probably should as you head back to the house, working up the courage and thinking of what you’re going to say as you drive. The tires skid as you pull up and park, the rain falling in sheets as you yank the keys out, rushing out of the truck to get to the front door, the downpour soaking you in the short walk to the house. 

“Jeongguk!” You call out as you open the door and kick off your shoes, searching for the only person you want to see as you shut the door behind you. 

He emerges from his room, his eyes widening at your soaked state. “Noona, you’re back already?”

You forget every single word you thought about in the car as you hurry over to him. You gaze up into his warm brown eyes, as wide as the sea is vast, before you lean forward, wrapping your arms around his neck as you press your lips against his for the first time.

He’s unsure how to react for a solid minute until he relaxes into your hold, grabbing your waist and pulling you closer to him as he finally returns the kiss. You’re greedy, hands finding his hair and tugging gently, eliciting the most delicious sounds from the back of his throat. You push him backwards, guiding him into his room until his knees hit the bed and he falls back. You waste no time climbing on top of him, pulling your sweatshirt off over your head and tossing it to the side as you straddle his waist.

Jeongguk sits up, pulling you back to his mouth, he tilts his head this time, deepening the kiss as you flick your tongue against his bottom lip, begging for access, which he grants, surprised by how eager you are as your tongue finds its way into his mouth, flicking against his own as he groans softly against you. 

His hands slide along your back up under your shirt, caressing your skin gently as you pull him closer to you, loving the way his lips feel on yours, your body growing hotter by the second. You slide your hands under his shirt, tugging on it until he helps you slide it off of his body and onto the floor. Before he can return to your lips, you yank your own shirt off with haste, wanting to feel his bare skin against yours as soon as possible. You pull him back to you, your lips latching onto his neck before tracing their way up to his jaw, pressing light kisses against him as you find your way back to his mouth. 

Jeongguk’s kiss is more aggressive now; he pulls your hips down against him as his tongue slips past your defenses, making your body shiver with pleasure as you feel the beginnings of his erection against you. You press your torso against his, feeling the unusual coolness of his skin against your feverish, desperate warmth. 

His hands follow the curve of your spine up to the clasp of your bra, fumbling with it for a moment until it comes undone, he moves his mouth to follow the strap down your shoulder, leaving hot kisses in his wake as he tugs the garment off of your body. He deposits it on the floor, your bodies still pressed together as he looks up at you, his hands squeezing your waist again. 

“Noona, I-”

“Shhh…” You quiet him with another simple kiss before mumbling against his lips. “You don’t have to say anything.”

His mouth returns to yours as he flips you underneath him, and then it begins to wander, across to your jaw, down your neck and shoulder, before sliding down your chest to your breasts. Jeongguk’s hands move up to cup them, rubbing his thumbs over them gently and then leaning down, flicking his tongue across each nipple, gauging your reaction as you moan softly in response to his touch. His kisses continue south, across your abdomen until he comes to the waistband of your jeans. You watch him, breathless as he pops open the button and then tugs the zipper down.

He grabs your jeans and underwear, slowly tugging them both down your legs, kissing them all the way down, before dropping the clothing on the floor with the rest. His mouth traces back up your legs, just barely brushing the insides of your thighs as he slides one of his hands up and around the backs of them, squeezing your ass tightly as he gently spreads your legs with the other, situating himself between them as he climbs back up your body, kiss by kiss, touch by touch, until he finds your lips again, connecting to them with a sort of urgency. 

You’re already a mess, you can feel yourself dripping onto the sheets beneath you as you wait. His teeth graze the spot beneath your ear, and your hips buck up into his waiting hand. He cups you gently, his long, slender fingers sliding between your folds in an exploration, wanting to know what spots have you coming undone the fastest. Your hands grab onto his shoulders as he circles your clit clumsily, constantly rubbing across it when his fingers slip in your wetness with inexperience, causing you to whimper into his hair. 

Finally, finally you feel his fingers wander lower, searching for more spots. He traces over your entrance, collecting your juices before the tips of his two fingers slide into you. He quickly pulls them out when you moan, checking to make sure he didn’t hurt you, but when he sees the flush adorning your face, he quickly understands, finding your entrance again and purposely slipping his index and middle fingers back inside you, as deep as they will go, following the curve of your core. 

“Fuck…” You whine, gripping his arm and trying to move it. “L-like this.”

He learns quickly, but moves slowly, pumping his fingers in and out of you at an agonizing pace, but even so, it feels so good, too good. He watches your face twist with pleasure, relishing in the sounds you make as he presses his hips against your side, searching for relief of his own. You slide a hand down his body, brushing against his hard length to locate it and then squeezing the tip.

The sound that leaves Jeongguk’s mouth has you tightening around his fingers as he buries his face in your neck. You can feel the desperation in his movements as he thrusts faster inside you, but it’s not enough. Your body aches to feel him fill you. 

“J-Jeongguk~” You whine, pawing at his sweatpants, silently begging him to take them off. He sits up in question, his hand stilling between your legs. You smile up at him, grabbing his arm and pulling his fingers out of you, bringing them up to your face and sucking them into your mouth so you can clean up your mess. 

He can’t resist, leaning down and kissing you, fingers and all, both of your tongues flicking out to grab a taste of you. You tug at his pants again, and he seems to get the message, using his now clean fingers to remove his sweats. You’re surprised to see he has no boxers on, watching his cock spring free as soon as his sweats drop to his knees. Your mouth waters at the sight of his pleasant thickness. 

When his pants hit the ground, he looks back up at you, suddenly shy as his hands move to cover his indecency. You smile warmly, guiding him back between your legs and pulling him down for a soft kiss as you reach a hand between your bodies. Your fingers brush against him, making him gasp softly in your ear as you hold his dripping tip, lining it up with your entrance.

“N-noona-”

“Just push your hips forward.” You guide him.

You feel his heat press against you and use your free hand to press his lower back, urging him forward until he slowly slips inside you, the most delectable moan falling from his lips as he inches further in, wanting nothing more than to feel your warmth fully envelop him. He’s a stretch, that’s for sure, but your body doesn’t show it, greedily pulling Jeongguk in, begging for more.

He keeps pushing until he realizes he can’t go any further, pulling his face out of your shoulder to look down at your flushed cheeks, the way your lips part as soft pants leave them. Very tentatively, he pulls back, groaning at the feeling of your walls squeezing him before he pushes back in. 

“Y-yes~” You whimper. “Just like that~”

Jeongguk huffs, repeating the motion over and over, setting a slow rhythm. The pulse of your walls is steady around him. He feels so good, but you need more. 

“Faster…” You mumble in his ear, wrapping your legs around his waist and encouraging him to go deeper. Jeongguk grunts in agreement, thankful for the permission as his hips increase their pace, thrust by thrust, the new angle allowing him to fill you entirely, his hips slapping against you with a satisfying smack.

“Oh god~” Jeogguk whines. “I- Fuck…” His eyes are fixed on your face, watching it closely as pleasure fills your body in waves, your chest burning red with embarrassment. You pull him down and lock your lips with his, anything to get away from the intensity of his gaze. Jeongguk pants heavily against your mouth as he thrusts into you harder, your head spinning from the pleasure, but he’s still lacking experience, and his increase in pace causes him to slip out.

The second time it happens, you kiss him again before pushing him away. As he begins to protest, you silence him by flipping him onto his back and crawling on top of him, straddling his waist once more. He watches, enraptured by you as you slide back down onto his length, letting him fill you to the hilt and holding yourself there for a moment to adjust, satiating the burning need between your legs. When you’re ready, you brace one hand on his abdomen before slowly lifting your hips and then dropping back down onto his length. 

Jeongguk groans, his head falling back against the pillows, but his eyes once again stay focused on you as you bounce yourself in his lap, setting a quick, but heavy pace, allowing him to fill you completely each time before lifting your hips again and again. When he grabs your hips, you lean forward, bracing both of your hands on his chest as you move faster, the feeling of your high bubbling up inside you more easily than you thought it would. You can tell he’s getting close too; the way his eyes seem a bit unfocused, the way his chest heaves beneath your touch, and the way his hips have started to chase  after yours. 

You’re so close you can practically taste it, you just need that final push. You take one of Jeongguk’s hands off your hips and bring his fingers to your mouth, wetting them for him before guiding his hand between your legs. He looks up at you, intrigued by your movements.

“Touch me~ Like this…” You move your fingers against his in the way that you desperately need him to, showing him how to take you over the edge. He follows your instructions to the tee, deftly circling your clit again before squeezing the bud between his knuckles and dragging the pads of his fingers across it in turn. 

“Ah~ Yes!” You throw your head back, your high rapidly rising to the surface. Jeongguk’s fingers slide along your folds in sync with his thrusts, and before you know it, your walls clamp down on him, earning a strangled moan from his throat as you fall off the edge and into bliss. “Jeongguk~!” You cry out his name as your core contracts wildly around him, seeing stars burst behind your eyelids as the sensation overflows into your every nerve ending, pulsing with satisfaction, unlike anything you’ve ever felt before.

Jeongguk doesn’t fare much better, the spasming of your center too much for him to handle as he buries himself as deep inside you as he can, milking the feeling of his own high as long as he can. He whimpers beneath you, his eyes squeezed shut with ecstasy as he fills you with spurts of his hot release. 

Your body gives out and you collapse against his chest, your breathing coming in shallow pants, his cock still inside you as your skin sticks to his with sweat. The two of you lay entwined together for a bit, neither of you wanting to disturb the moment you’ve created.

You press soft kisses all over Jeongguk’s face, watching as he smiles before you get off of him, grabbing tissues off of his nightstand to clean the both of you up. When you’re finished you lay back down with him, slipping under the blankets as you lay your head on his chest, listening to the sounds of rain and distant rolling thunder coming from his open window, enjoying the occasional breeze blowing through the room. Jeongguk holds you close, not seeming to want to let you go now that he has you. 

And boy, does he have you. 

Jeongguk takes the chance to admire you up close, watching your fingers absentmindedly tracing shapes across his skin while you hum to yourself. He brushes your hair out of your face, enraptured by the way you look, the way you smell, the way you taste. He didn’t know it was possible to feel like this, but looking at you here, now, in this moment, he’s captured by you. He is nothing but a terrified creature, tangled in your nets as you smile up at him in a way that makes his chest flutter with excitement and agony and desire all at the same time. 

“Is this what you saw?” He breaks the serene silence, his curiosity getting the best of him. “In the mirror?”

You giggle, sending vibrations through his body as goosebumps erupt on his arms. “Not exactly.” Your eyes flash up to meet his before you look away, a light blush adorning your cheeks as you think of the future that played out on that mirror. God you hope that mirror was right. “But something like that. It encouraged me to finally tell you.”

“Tell me what?” He cups your cheek, rubbing his thumb across it gently, as if afraid he’s going to break you. 

You scoot up his body, pressing your lips to his in the softest kiss, resting your forehead against his for a moment before answering. “How I feel about you, silly.”

“How do you feel?” He tilts his head, waiting expectantly.

He’s going to make you say it out loud. He can’t just read between the lines? You take a deep breath, steadying the nerves rolling in the pit of your stomach. “Jeongguk I-I really like you. And I think I might… I think I’m falling in love with you.”

Jeongguk’s eyes light up and he breaks into a wide smile, his nose crinkling up. “Is that what this feeling is? Is it love?”

“It’s different for everyone, but it could be.”

“I like you so much; I think I love you too, noona.”

Your heart swells at his words as he wraps his arms around you, pulling you close. He seals your exchange with a peck on your forehead, and the two of you lay together in Jeongguk’s bed, tangled in each other’s limbs, exchanging soft kisses and caresses until you drift off, safe in his embrace.

.

The next day you wake up to the sound of Jeongguk snoring softly in your ear. You smile to yourself, shifting back into his arms. You think back to yesterday; after the two of you woke up, you made dinner and then quickly jumped back into bed, too wrapped up in each other to keep your hands off of the other’s body for longer than a few minutes. Jeongguk is eager to learn how to pleasure you, and you have no problem teaching him exactly how to do just that.

You turn over in his hold, reaching a hand up to run your fingers along his cheek, enjoying how serene he looks when he sleeps. Your touch must disturb him, because it isn’t long before you feel his hand squeeze your waist, his eyes fluttering open as he stirs. 

“Noona…?” He gazes at you in awe, still half asleep. “You’re still here.” He smiles at the observation. 

“Of course I’m still here.” You giggle. “Where else would I be?”

He presses his lips to yours as his hand wanders down lower, finding your ass and grabbing it roughly. He pulls your body flush against his as he buries his face in your neck, inhaling deeply. 

You both crawl out of bed; Jeongguk throws on some sweatpants and you slip into your discarded underwear and shirt before heading out to the kitchen to make breakfast together. Jeongguk is practically attached to your hip the entire time, his hands never really leaving your waist unless it’s to reach over and help you hold something; his face in the crook of your neck and shoulder, pressing light kisses to your skin. 

After you eat, you both settle down on the couch in each other’s arms, turning on something mindless as you enjoy just being together. Thunder rolls long and loud outside, carrying a warm spring breeze through the house as rain falls in spurts. You lay with your back against Jeongguk’s chest, settled comfortably between his legs as his hands trace over your exposed skin.

After a few hours, Jeongguk gives your waist a squeeze. “Noona?” 

“Hm?” You look back at him over your shoulder. 

“Does this mean… Are you going to stay here?”

“Stay?”

“With me?”

“Oh, um, I haven’t really thought about it.” You admit. It’s true, the only thing you’ve thought about was telling Jeongguk, not what would happen after you did.

“Do you want to?” The hope in his eyes has your heart stuttering.

“W-well, I do, but-”

“But?”

You think about your life back in Busan; your friends, your family, your job, all the things you would be leaving behind. “It’s complicated.”

“How? We want to be together, so we should be together.”

“I know, but my entire life is back in Busan. I can’t just drop everything because of how I feel.”

“Why not?”

“Because,” You sigh. “The human world is… things are harder. I can’t just disappear.”

“It can’t be that hard.”

“Jeongguk,” You sit up in his lap, turning your body to face him. “I’d have to quit my job, and leave my family and friends behind. I’d need to quit school, get out of my apartment lease and move all of my stuff here. Not to mention finding a job here, or all the paperwork I’d have to do if I wanted to move. Plus my father’s business… He’s counting on me to take over for him.”

“Noona, you know I can’t leave this island, right? Not as long as I’m still this. Besides, you told me you didn’t want any of that.”

“I know, but just because I’d rather be here doesn't mean I can just uproot my life. That’s not how things work.”

“But you’d be with me.” He offers. “Isn’t that enough?”

You know what he wants to hear, he wants this to be a fairytale, and so do you, but you don’t know how to explain to him that real life isn’t like that. Yes, every fiber of your being wants to stay on this island for the rest of your life and spend every waking moment you have with Jeongguk, just like the mirror told you that you would, but is it really that simple? “I…” You hesitate, and he takes your hesitation the wrong way. You know he does. You can see the shift in his eyes the moment it takes you too long to respond. 

He chuckles; for a moment you think he’s going to brush it all off, but he stares at you with a dark gaze, hurt evident on his beautiful features; not exactly the reaction you were hoping for. “I see.” He lets go of you and stands, walking over to look out the window in the kitchen. 

“Jeongguk, please.” You follow close behind. “I love you. I want to be here with you, it’s just-”

He shakes his head. “Y/N, I-” He sighs. “I want to believe you, but how do I know you aren’t just saying that because it’s supposed to be the cure.”

“What?” You haven’t shown him any reason to doubt your feelings until now, and the distrust stings. “Jeongguk, I've never lied to you.”

He takes a deep breath before turning to face you. “If you hadn’t learned what the cure was, would we even be here? Would you have said you liked me?”

“Of course!”

“Really?”

You scoff. “Eventually.”

“Right.” He just shakes his head, walking away from you toward the bathroom. “How am I supposed to know you really love me?”

“Until last night you didn’t even know what love was!” You point out, trailing him. “And I’m supposed to believe that you love me? How do I even know you’re capable of love?”

“Capable?” He whips around, his eyes ablaze with fury at your words. “Because monsters like me couldn’t possibly have feelings. That’s all I am to you, right? A horror story?”

“You’re everything to me! Can’t you see that?” You raise your voice, you don’t want to but it’s all bubbling up over the sides, erupting out of you with force. “Why do you think I’ve stayed here as long as I have?”

“And now you want to throw all of that away!”

“I didn’t say that! I said it’s going to be complicated! We can’t all just run away from our lives when things get hard!”

“You know exactly why I left… And now I’m supposed to believe you?

“I’ve never given you a reason not to trust me! I’m not the one who lied about who I am!”

“I lied because I knew this would happen!” He finally yells back. The house is silent for a moment before he takes a deep breath. “I knew this was too good to be true. It always is.”

“I don’t know how to make you believe me…” You whisper, trying to force back the tears that have started streaming down your face. 

There’s a long pause. “I don’t know if I can…”

You look up at him, meeting the gaze you had fallen so hard for, before turning and walking away, crossing the threshold to your room in a huff.

“Y/N…” He calls after you, but you ignore him, tugging on some jeans before slipping right past him to the front door, sliding into your shoes and raincoat before grabbing your keys. “Where are you going?”

“Anywhere but here.” You hiss, opening the front door and stepping out into the rain. 

“Noona, don’t leave!” He runs after you, grabbing your arm, but you shake him off, hopping into the truck and starting it, giving him one last look before backing out.

“Fine, now who’s the one running away!” He calls after you as you begin to drive away.

You manage to make it all the way to town before you shatter, having to pull over into an empty parking lot, not able to see the road through your tears. This is so dumb; a stupid thing to fight over, and yet here you are.

Alone.

After a solid half hour, your tears begin to subside. You feel as though your heart has been rubbed raw inside of you as you try to figure out what to do next. You look up to see the bar and decide it’s better than sitting alone in your truck. You drive the short distance and park in front of the bar, hopping out and striding up to the door. 

The bell jingles a familiar ding as you open the door and you look around to see there’s no one in here, which isn’t surprising seeing as it’s only about two in the afternoon. Even the bar counter is empty as you walk up and plop yourself in a chair, desolation obvious on your face as you lay your head down on the counter. You hear the shuffling of feet, and then something heavy is placed on the counter next to you before you hear a familiar voice.

“Y/N?”

You barely lift your head to look up, seeing Saki standing in front of you, a crate of beer next to her on the counter. “Hi Saki.” You mumble, laying your head back down.

“Thought that was you.” Her lilting accent soothes you immediately. “What’s brought you in here honey? Are you alright?”

You sigh, forcing yourself to sit up and make eye contact. “I’ve been better.”

“Hm, I know that look.” She takes a clean glass out from under the counter and pours a generous amount of brown liquid in it before placing it in front of you. “Relationship problems?”

You take the glass, happily swigging the drink, your face twisting from the strong burn of the alcohol. “How could you tell?” You grumble, placing the empty glass back on the counter. She shrugs, refilling your glass. You sigh, quickly downing the second drink before pushing the glass away from you. “Saki, what would you do if you knew you had the power to change someone’s life. Like, permanently.”

“It depends.” She takes your glass and puts it in the sink before handing you a small bag of chips to even out the liquor now swirling in your stomach. “What does this person mean to you?”

“Everything…”

She watches you as you crunch down on a handful of chips. “Then I think I'd do anything I could to help them.”

You mull over her words. You know you would do anything to help Jeongguk, you just don’t know what the ‘anything’ is that he needs. “How much do you know… about Jeongguk?”

She shoots you a knowing glance and you raise your eyebrows in surprise. “So it’s the local fish giving you trouble, then?” 

“You know?”

“I know a lot of things.”

“He doesn’t want to be… well, that anymore.”

“Your uncle used to come in here all the time, talking about that with Donghyun after a few drinks.” She nods, looking around as if to assure you both the bar is still empty and you can speak freely, yet leans on the counter to get closer to you anyway, whispering. “Have you found anything out?”

You run your hands through your hair, frustrated. “The only cure we found is ‘love’.”

“Love?” 

“It said he could fully regain his humanity, if a human were to truly love him.”

“And you…?”

You nod. “I confessed.”

“And nothing happened?”

“Nothing.” You confirm. “And we got into this huge fight this morning about it. He said he doesn’t believe me, that I just said it to try and lift the curse.” She smiles softly at you, placing a hand over yours in comfort as you shake your head. “If I don't love him, then why does this hurt so much?”

“I’m not the one you have to convince.” She reminds you. 

“He doesn’t want to talk to me.”

“Aw honey. If only you could see how much he loves you.”

You sniffle, looking up at her. “What do you mean?”

“The way he looked at you the other night at the memorial? Anyone could see the way he felt.”

You were so focused on everything else that night, you didn’t stop to focus on Jeongguk. “Saki, when did you know you were in love with Donghyun?”

“Hmm…” She pauses to think. “The first night he took me fishing.”

“What?” You snort, that wasn’t the answer you were expecting.

She laughs with you. “I fell out of the boat that night. He jumped in after me, sacrificing his life for mine. It was the first time he saw me as I truly was, and seeing me like that… It didn’t change how he felt.”

You think over her words before you realize something. “Wait, Saki are you…?”

She only smiles. “Go find Jeongguk before it’s too late. You’ll figure it out, honey.”

You nod, standing up and saying goodbye before heading back out to your truck. You make the drive back, parking the truck and running toward the house. 

“Jeongguk!” You call out as you open the door, but the house is dark. Is he gone? You search every room, but there’s no sign of him. You head back outside, and are about to walk to the lighthouse when you hear that low melodious sound ringing in your ears once more. It’s coming from the cliffs. Could it be him trying to get your attention?

You walk over to the edge of the cliffs, rain pelting your face as you look out into the ocean and see a face. It’s familiar and yet unfamiliar at the same time, like something you’ve seen in a dream you can’t quite remember. Suddenly there’s a voice right in your ear.

“You want to save him…” It’s like a whisper in the wind. You look around to see that there’s no one around you before looking back down at the face to see it’s moved closer, now in the water directly underneath your feet. You watch their lips move as they repeat. “You want to save him?” It’s a question this time. 

You think back to Jeongguk’s words of warning; You can’t ever speak to them. They’ll kill you. Though every nerve ending in your body is screaming at you to run away, you can’t bring yourself to listen. What if they know something you don’t?

“Yes.” You reply. “I want to save him.”

“Even if you will lose everything?” The voice is grating and beautiful at the same time, as if two people are speaking.

You nod, getting down on your knees and leaning over the cliff to look at them. “What do I have to do?”

“Love requires sacrifice.” The Ineo hisses in your ear.

“What’s the cost?”

“One human life for another.”

“One life…” Your eyes widen in understanding. “I have to-” You swallow hard, staring down at the swirling waters below. The same waters that took the life of your uncle. “But the mirror-”

“The mirror of Sinjike’s predictions can differ if the future is altered. You only have one choice left: his life, or your own.”

“I…” You stop, sitting back on your heels. Could this really be the only way? Can you give up the beautiful life you would have with Jeongguk just to give him his humanity back? You can’t imagine a life without him, and you need him to know how much you love him. You need him to believe you. He should be coming back from the lighthouse any minute now…

“His.” You whisper. “I choose his.”

“Take off the necklace when you are ready. You won’t feel a thing under the trance of my song.”

The Ineo begins to sing again, their voice filling the air, loudly and clearly as you stand up, looking once more at the ocean below you. You think of the life you’ve had; your mother and father waiting back home for you in Busan. How they’ll react when they receive the news. The way that they’ll have to compartmentalize your life into boxes after all, going through all of your things, and thinking of everything you could’ve been, everything you tried so hard to be.

You think of your friends back home, of Donghyun and Saki here, how kind they were to you, of them holding another memorial in their bar, this time for you. Who would show up?

You think of your uncle, how he stood here in this same spot, contemplating the same things you are now before he made that final leap of the edge, seeing the world one last time before he stopped breathing. Was it painless? Did he regret it as he jumped? Did he know, somehow, that you would be right here with him, committing the same act purposefully. 

Mostly you think of Jeongguk. You think of how much you love him, how full your heart feels when you’re with him. No matter what, at the end of every road, he was good to you. You’ve always been afraid of growing old, of being alone, you've been worried for your soul, where it would end up; but Jeongguk, he puts all those fears to rest. You’re closing every door you’ve ever opened, sick of always wanting something more, something different. He’ll understand, right? He’ll know that you’re sorry. That you did this for him, so he could live the life he’s always wanted. You feel so scattered, not wanting to leave Jeongguk on such a sour note, but even an apology can’t save you now. You can only hope he’ll get to you in time…

Thunder cracks above your head, rain falling harder as you faintly hear your name being called from behind you. You turn to see Jeongguk emerging from the treeline by the lighthouse. You see it on his face, the exact moment he hears the song echoing through the air around you, as though the ocean herself is calling to you. 

“Y/N, what are you doing?” He starts to run towards you.

Your heart aches as you look at him, but all the same, you reach up and unclasp the necklace from around your neck, letting it drop to the ground as you make peace with your  decision; tonight you’ll make your bed at the bottom of the sea. Your senses are immediately taken over by the Ineo’s song, your vision going black as you’re filled with a desperate need, your body turning toward the cliffs.

Jeongguk sprints with all his might, desperate to reach your side in time as he watches you step closer and closer to the edge of the cliffs like it’s happening in slow motion. He’s so close, he can smell your perfume on the wind, his legs carrying him as fast as they can in his panic induced rush. Not again. He can’t lose you; not here, not now, not ever. He’s loved you since day one; you are everything to him, and he’ll be damned if he lets another Ineo take that away from him. Your toes dangle over the edge as you pick up your right foot, taking one final step and not finding anything to catch your body as you begin to drop through the air. Jeongguk lunges, using everything in him to push his body forward as he leaps, grabbing for you. 

“No!” He screams, feeling your shirt slip through his fingers.

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By a breadth of skin, he manages to grab your wrist, landing harshly on his stomach as he grips you tightly, the momentum of your body falling yanks him forward through the dirt, but he digs his feet in, using his other hand to grip the edge of the cliff as he attempts to support you. 

“Jeongguk, let me go.” He hears your voice, but he knows it isn’t really your voice. He looks down at you to see your eyes have gone black. “It’s okay.”

“No!” He yells again. Sensing Jeongguk’s stubbornness, the Ineo makes you wriggle in his grasp, the song filling your head telling you to do everything you can to plunge yourself into the dark water below where a clash of teeth awaits you. Jeongguk struggles against you, but manages to ignore the scratches you dig into his skin with your free hand as he tugs you up over the ledge. He pulls you back with him, away from the edge as he pushes you face down into the dirt, ignoring your cries and pleas as he grabs your arms together with one hand, reaching for your necklace with the other. 

Jeongguk takes the chain, holding the ends together, and drapes it over your head, letting it sit on your neck as he prays to whoever is listening, begging them to bring you back to him.

After a few moments, you stop struggling. He remains on top of you, holding his breath as he waits,

“J-Jeongguk…?” You mumble, face still half in the dirt. 

“Noona?” You lift your head and he tilts your chin toward him, seeing your beautiful, familiar soft eyes once more. He lets your arms go, taking a second to fasten the necklace around your neck before he crawls off you, allowing you to sit up.

“What… What happened?” You rub your head, looking around to see you’re sitting on the edge of the cliff. “You saved me?”

“Y/N!” Jeongguk tackles you back to the ground, wrapping his arms tightly around you as he begins to sob softly. “I thought I was going to lose you! Noona, why? Why would you do that?”

“Love requires sacrifice.” You repeat the words the Ineo told you. “And I love you, Jeongguk.”

“I-” Before Jeongguk can say anything, a ray of sunlight suddenly breaks through the clouds, shining down through the rain and landing directly on where the two of you sit.

A rainbow reflects from the raindrops and you watch as the rays seem to pierce Jeongguk directly as he clutches his chest. His body emits a faint glow as the rain and clouds suddenly disperse all together, leaving just that single ray of light, shining brighter than the rest. You watch closely as Jeongguk’s breathing slows, his body shining in the light as all the raindrops evaporate from his skin and clothes, his body warming from the inside out. 

When it’s done, the light recedes with the rapidly moving clouds, leaving you and Jeongguk sitting on the cliff, staring after it. 

“What the-”

“Jeongguk,” You reach out a hand to test your theory, placing it on his arm to feel his normally cold skin is replaced by a warmth you can only describe as being distinctly human. “You’re warm…”

“I am?” He looks down and touches his chest, feeling the warmth of blood circulating through his body. “I am.” His hands shoot up to his face, feeling himself with ecstatic anticipation of what this means.

“You’re human.”

He looks up at you, his eyes wide with wonder. “Y/N… You did it. You- You cured me. You saved my life.”

“And you saved mine.” You stand, pulling him up with you. “Like I knew you would.”

“Noona… Don’t ever do that again.” He scolds. He wraps his arms around you, pulling you into a sweet, warm kiss. “I don’t know what I'd do without you.”

“I love you, Jeongguk.”

“I love you too, Y/N.”

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“Hey! Wait up!”

You hold your camera up, snapping a quick picture of him as he chases after you, wanting to capture the beauty of the setting sun reflecting off his features. He reaches you just as you pass the lighthouse, quickly wrapping his arms around you, picking you up and spinning you around as you squeal with delight. He puts you back on the ground and pulls you close, leaning down to place a soft kiss against your lips. 

“I told you to wait for us.” He chides. 

“You were going too slow!” You point out playfully as you start to get lost in his eyes. “Can’t take pictures of the sunset if the sun has already set.” You hold your camera up, snapping shots of the sun bouncing off the windows of the lighthouse.

“Appa!” Yumi’s voice rings out, her arms open wide as she toddles into your husband’s arms. 

“There’s my girl.” Jeongguk smiles, and you both lean in, planting kisses on her cheeks, making her giggle before he turns to you. “Are we still going to Donghyun and Saki’s tonight for dinner?”

“Oh! That’s right I almost forgot!” You nod as you both begin walking back toward the house. “We should probably get going soon.”

Jeongguk puts Yumi down when you reach the front steps. “Go get dressed sweetie!” He encourages, watching her toddle off to her room. “God, I can’t believe she’s four already.” He sighs, wrapping his arms around your waist from behind.

“Time’s moving fast now that you’re not immortal, huh?” You tease.

He spins you around in his embrace. “Time always stands still when I’m with you, my love.” He smiles before leaning down, pressing the sweetest of kisses to your lips.

“You know,” You whisper, leaning back against the door frame. “This is it.”

He tilts his head in confusion. “This is what?”

“This,” You point towards the lighthouse and the sun as it sets the sky on fire in shades of red. “This is what I saw in the mirror that day.”

“This?” He repeats. “You… You saw Yumi?”

You nod. “I saw all of us. That’s how I knew you’d save me in time.”

Jeongguk smiles brightly, pressing another kiss to your forehead. “I’m so glad you did.”

“Me too.”

“I love you, noona.”

“I love you too, Jeongguk.”

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Copyright © Inkjam-Moon 2025

[i6corais]

⠀🪞⠀⠀ ೀ⠀⠀𓆝⠀⠀𝖻𝗎𝖻𝖻𝒍𝖾𝗌⠀⠀🪩워요⠀⠀⊹

[lilprincegoo]

Drown in me by CassiaVioletBlue, softjeon

yoongi/jungkook

Alternate Universe - Pirate, Sirens, siren!jungkook, Pirate!Yoongi, Treasure Hunting, Angst, Smut, Fluff, Mermaids, Yoongi calling Jungkook fishboy awfully a lot, Falling In Love, pirate tales

51.8k words

rating: M

“When I sing…people do weird things. Strange things happen.” Yoongi laughed awkwardly but stopped right away when he realized that Jungkook was serious about what he had said. This wasn’t a scared little boy trying to make use of some fairytale to scare the captain of the ship he’s been brought on into submission. He believed what he said.

[wannaghostbts]

Another fic that I don't think will ever get completed but still won my heart!~

drown for you | series masterlist

there was something in that enormous tank, hidden in the murky water. all you knew was that you weren’t allowed inside the room and that it used to hold something dangerous.

pairing: siren!jk x f reader

genre: sci-fi, merman/siren au, fluff, angst, smut

main masterlist

jjk masterlist

fic tag

art

illustrations

originally posted: february 2020>

rewritten: january 2021>

this fic is currently being re-written, but it’s low on my list of priorities so it’s going to take a while. the old version is available on my patreon as a pdf, but the fic will be updated here as well in the future

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[minxmut-cafe]

7. The Depths Revealed

Pairing: Jimin x Reader

Word count: 1.8k

Genre: Fantasy Au.

Authors note: HERE is the 7th chapter! I've also opened a Kofi page so if you're interested in my writing your support would be appreciated.

General Warning: Smut, crude language, angst, fluffy, gorey themes, lil bit of torture,

Summary: In the kingdom of Solaria, Prince Jimin is caught in a web of secrets, darkness, and ancient power. When a mysterious maid enters his life, he's drawn into an intricate tale of betrayal, loss, and a curse that binds a forgotten princess to the depths of the ocean. As tensions rise between the five powerful tribes, Jimin discovers a hidden connection between the princess, a siren, and his own fate-one that could unravel the balance of the entire world.

With the Abyss calling, and the truth slipping just beyond his reach, Jimin must navigate treacherous waters, confront his past, and uncover the secrets that tie him to the ocean's depths. But the more he learns, the deeper the darkness becomes, threatening to pull him under.

Will Jimin uncover the truth before it's too late? Or will the ocean's power drown them all

MASTERLIST

Jimin left the royal chambers with his mind clouded by more questions than answers. The king's words had filled the gaps in his understanding but left new mysteries in their place. Who was the princess, truly? What was she now—a creature of the abyss, a siren haunting the waters? And the maid, with her cryptic presence and strange knowledge—what was her connection to all this?

The shadowy figure he’d seen in the bathing chambers haunted his thoughts. Was it an embodiment of the princess, or something else entirely? Every detail, every word from the king, swirled in his mind like a storm. He felt trapped in the web of secrets, desperate to untangle the threads and understand the truth.

His footsteps echoed down the silent corridors as he made his way to the bathing chambers. The space, usually a haven of peace, called to him now as a place to sort his thoughts. He dismissed the servants with a wave of his hand, their bows and curtsies barely registering in his mind.

“Leave me,” he said, his voice firmer than he felt. “I wish to be alone.”

The maids exchanged glances but obeyed, filing out quietly until he was the only one left.

He undressed and stepped into the warm water, letting it lap against his skin. The heat eased the tension in his muscles, but it did little to calm the storm within. He leaned back, closing his eyes and breathing deeply, willing his mind to still.

But the calm didn’t last.

The atmosphere shifted subtly at first, like the air growing heavier. A faint ripple disturbed the water, its source invisible. The warmth of the bath seemed to seep away, replaced by a chilling cold that made his skin prickle. His breath hitched, his senses on edge.

Opening his eyes, he glanced around the chamber, half-expecting to find someone watching him. Instead, he saw the water darkening, the once-clear surface now murky and shadowed. His heart raced as unease crept through him.

The ripples grew stronger, and in the dim light, he saw it—the shadow. It moved beneath the surface, graceful and predatory, circling closer with each pass. His chest tightened as the familiar figure began to emerge.

The siren.

She rose from the depths like a specter, her form both alluring and terrifying. Her long, flowing hair shimmered like liquid midnight, and her dark eyes held a depth that seemed to pull him in, threatening to drown him. She was breathtaking, a perfect embodiment of the ocean's beauty and its danger.

It was as if the abyss itself had created her, pausing only to make her flawless. She fit the description of the princess perfectly, and yet there was something darker, something primal and untamed about her presence.

“Prince Jimin,” she said, her voice a melody laced with both sweetness and something far more sinister. “You look troubled.”

Jimin’s breath caught as she swam closer, her movements fluid and hypnotic. Her gaze never left him, and he felt like a deer caught in the eyes of a predator.

“Are you...” he began, his voice faltering before he gathered his courage. “Are you the princess?”

The siren tilted her head, a coy smile playing on her lips. “Am I?” she replied, her tone teasing and noncommittal. “Would it change anything if I were?”

Jimin frowned, frustration flaring in his chest. “How are you here? You’re supposed to be trapped beneath the ocean.”

Her smile deepened, and she swam closer, her proximity making the air around him feel heavier. “Ah,” she said, her voice lilting, “I am both here and not. You see, I didn’t escape... not entirely.”

He stared at her, confused. “What does that mean?”

She giggled, the sound light yet chilling. “I created a shadow of myself,” she explained, her gaze holding his. “A reflection, if you will. The maid, as you call her, is me. She’s there to keep you company until you find me.”

Jimin’s mind reeled at the revelation. “If the maid is you, then how are you both here and there?”

She swirled around him, her movements slow and deliberate. “It’s simple,” she said, her voice like silk. “As long as one of us is submerged in water, the other can walk the land. But only one of us at a time.”

Jimin’s brows furrowed. “Where is the maid now?”

The siren smirked, her tone mockingly casual. “Drowning somewhere, probably. But don’t worry; she’ll be fine. We’re one and the same, after all.”

He exhaled sharply, exasperated by her cryptic demeanor. She was testing him, toying with him like a predator playing with its prey.

The siren drew closer, her gaze intense as she studied him. “You are to Ignis Solari,” she said softly, “what I was to Nerithal.”

Her fingers brushed his collarbone, sending a shiver down his spine. Slowly, she let her hand trail to his neck, her touch feather-light yet impossibly cold.

“You were chosen by fire,” she whispered, her eyes gleaming. “Just as I was chosen by the abyss. The darkness calls to you, Jimin. It always has.”

Her hand moved to his jawline, her thumb brushing against his skin. “But are you strong enough to answer?”

Jimin’s breath hitched as her fingers traced the curve of his lips, her touch lingering. His heart raced, a mixture of fear, fascination, and something he couldn’t quite name. She was testing his resolve, pushing him to the edge of his composure.

“You’re an enigma,” he said quietly, his voice unsteady.

Her smile widened, her dark eyes glittering with amusement. “And you, Prince Jimin, are a flame dancing on the edge of shadow. Perhaps we’re not so different after all.”

She lingered, her presence overwhelming, as though she were daring him to fall into the abyss with her. The water around them rippled softly, the silence stretching as the tension between them grew.

And Jimin, caught between his fear and his fascination, could do nothing but watch as the siren—the princess—continued to blur the lines between reality and the abyss.

Jimin’s pulse quickened as the siren—no, the princess—lingered closer. Her words, cryptic and teasing, wound around his thoughts like vines, pulling him deeper into the mystery of her existence. The chill in the water seemed to seep into his very bones, but he found himself unable to pull away.

“Not so different,” he repeated softly, his voice laced with doubt. “You say that as if you know me.”

The siren tilted her head, her dark eyes gleaming with a knowing glint. “Don’t I?” she asked, her voice like a melody laced with mischief. “You’ve been searching, haven’t you? Searching for something you couldn’t name. A purpose. A truth. The abyss calls to those who seek, Jimin. And you—”

Her fingers trailed lightly across his jaw, her touch cold and deliberate. “—you are already listening.”

Jimin flinched at her touch, his skin prickling with unease and a strange, reluctant pull. He stared into her eyes, trying to resist the strange spell she seemed to weave around him. “If the abyss is calling me,” he said, his voice firmer now, “then tell me why. What does it want from me?”

The siren’s smile widened, her sharp teeth glinting faintly in the dim light. “Why does fire burn?” she countered, her tone both mocking and profound. “Why does the tide rise and fall? The abyss does not want—it simply is. And you, dear prince, are caught in its current.”

Her words frustrated him, their meaning slipping through his grasp like sand through his fingers. “Enough of this cryptic nonsense,” he snapped, his voice rising. “If you are the princess, if you are more than just a creature of the depths, then tell me. Who are you truly? What are you?”

The siren’s playful demeanor faltered for a moment, her gaze sharpening. The water around them rippled, as if reflecting her sudden change in mood.

“I am the abyss,” she said softly, her voice carrying a gravity that sent a shiver down his spine. “I am its voice, its form, its prisoner. And I am the princess of Nerithal, cursed to its depths.”

The revelation hung in the air like a weight, the truth pressing down on him. The siren—the princess—was not just a creature born of the ocean; she was the ocean, or at least some fragment of its eternal, consuming power.

Jimin’s breath caught as her fingers traced his collarbone once more, her touch lingering as she studied him with an almost predatory curiosity. “And you,” she continued, her voice softening into something almost tender, “are its answer.”

He frowned, the weight of her words pressing heavily on him. “Answer? To what?”

“To me,” she whispered, her lips curling into a faint smile.

Her response unsettled him, but before he could question further, she leaned closer, her face mere inches from his. He could feel the cold of her presence, the darkness that clung to her like a shroud. Her gaze bore into his, as if searching for something hidden deep within him.

“Do you remember,” she asked suddenly, her tone shifting to something more playful, “our first encounter?”

Jimin blinked, confusion knitting his brow. “What first encounter?”

The siren’s lips formed a pout, mocking and exaggerated. “Oh, dear prince,” she said, her voice dripping with amusement. “Have you already forgotten? I’m wounded.”

He opened his mouth to respond, but her sudden laughter—rich and echoing—cut him off. The sound filled the chamber, reverberating through the water like a song. It was haunting, beautiful, and laced with a hint of danger.

“I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised,” she mused, her tone turning almost contemplative. “You were young. So fragile. But you felt the call even then.”

Jimin’s mind raced, her words tugging at something deep within him—a memory buried beneath layers of time and silence. But before he could grasp it, the siren leaned closer, her hand rising to rest lightly against his chest, just above his heart.

“You’ll remember,” she murmured, her voice a soft promise. “When the time is right, you’ll remember everything.”

Her touch sent a jolt through him, and for a moment, the chamber seemed to fade away. The world around him felt distant, as if he were being pulled into another reality, another time. But just as quickly as the sensation came, it was gone, leaving him breathless and disoriented.

The siren smiled, satisfied, as she began to retreat, her form dissolving into the dark water like mist. “Until then, my prince,” she said, her voice lingering even as her presence faded. “I’ll be waiting.”

The water stilled, the oppressive weight in the air lifting as the chamber returned to its previous calm. Jimin was left alone, his heart pounding and his mind reeling.

Whatever this was—whatever she was—it was far from over.