Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

[moodboard by cata]

~ ~ ~

Jeongguk called out of work the next morning for very obvious reasons, and Yoongi only chuckled over the phone and offered a few more days of vacation. Jeongguk accepted with haste and enthusiasm, and then he tossed his phone onto the bedside table like trash and rolled his head back to where it had been, setting his hand back on Jimin’s hip.

“You didn’t let me say hello,” Jimin said, blinking down at Jeongguk. He was still naked from the bath he had taken last night and seemed quite pleased that clothing now appeared optional. He was lying on top of Jeongguk, and Jeongguk was a weak man. He slipped his hand  behind Jimin’s neck and pulled him in for a kiss, swiping Jimin’s bottom lip with his tongue and pressing their hips together. Because Jeongguk, too, was still naked—Jimin’s request. Jeongguk was afraid that he was creating a monster in the best way possible.

Jimin had outright refused to detach from Jeongguk all night. In fact, Jeongguk had been in the bathtub with Jimin last night, and Jimin had hugged Jeongguk while they brushed their teeth. Not once had they separated, and whenever they had, Jimin had started to whine and panic. It wasn’t in an irritating manner—it was in a manner that broke Jeongguk’s heart. So, naturally, Jeongguk stuck with his mate.

“Sorry. I didn’t think you wanted to say hello,” Jeongguk apologized between kisses. “I just took off work for a few days so we could be together.”

“Thank you,” Jimin whispered, brushing his nose against Jeongguk’s. “I will stay for those days, and then I will have to go. You understand, right?”

“Of course I do,” Jeongguk murmured. “You need to be in the water and be with your pod.”

“There is a full moon coming, and it will be our first hunt since migrating back to warmer waters,” Jimin replied. “If I am not there, I will only spend all my time worrying. I…” Jimin frowned. “I only wish that I could take you with me. I want my mate with me during hunts. I feel sad that I have to leave you behind.”

“I’m so sorry,” Jeongguk whispered against Jimin’s lips, his heart aching. He could feel it in his chest, a physical sensation that he had never quite experienced before. It was surely the soul bond mark doing its job, because Jeongguk felt a strange sense of fear that he couldn’t quite pinpoint—fear of loss. Of abandonment. Of loneliness. “Baby, don’t be sad,” he added, quickly kissing Jimin’s waiting lips several times. “You won’t lose me. I’ll never leave you just because we can’t be together for things like that.”

“You knew,” Jimin breathed, his eyes fluttering shut, long eyelashes brushing his cheeks. He was so beautiful that it took Jeongguk’s breath away. “You knew what I was feeling.”

“Mm. I’m sad, too, but that emotion wasn’t mine,” Jeongguk murmured, ghosting his lips over Jimin’s as a pleasant shiver ran down his spine. “I can feel you everywhere.”

“I feel you, too,” Jimin whispered.

“I’m so sorry that I can’t be with you,” Jeongguk continued. “But I’d never leave you over something like that. I know I’m human, but I’m loyal. I’m yours. You said forever. I agreed. I love you, okay? Maybe one day we can figure out how to hunt together.”

“I’d like that,” Jimin said breathily.

“Can you believe it actually worked?” Jeongguk whispered. “That we actually soul bonded? Me, a human. Soul bonding to a merman.”

“I think you were right.” Jimin pressed up just a bit on Jeongguk’s chest. “I think that all it required was two creatures with souls. I don’t think being of a different species mattered. I also noticed that we did not have to kiss for the bond to form, Jeongguk. That means that we were always meant to be brought together, whether by the sea or the stars. Perhaps both. That means that it was fate.”

“I think so, too,” Jeongguk agreed. “And the fact that I can feel you? Even though I’m just a human? I can feel some of your emotions. When I was sleeping, I—I had dreams like I always do, but they weren’t nightmares. I could breathe. It’s—You don’t understand how crazy it is to me.”

“We will explore it all together,” Jimin declared, and then he crawled his fingers and traced over the mark on Jeongguk’s chest. Immediately, Jeongguk’s breath hitched, back arching slightly, eyes rolling back, his arms tightening around Jimin’s waist as the radiant mixture of love and pleasure overtook him. Jimin continued to gently trace and caress the mark, and Jeongguk felt like his soul was lifting from his body, the little whimpers escaping his mouth out of his control. He wanted nothing more than to melt right into Jimin until they were one person, to be part of him, to know every single cell that made up his body, every thought that was in his mind.

“Jimin,” he breathed out, eyes still closed, calling out for his mate. Jimin dove and pressed his lips to Jeongguk’s pulse, and stars exploded in Jeongguk’s eyes. He whined and arched slightly off the bed again, tears in his eyes, his skin on fire.

“Jeongguk? Jeongguk, what do I say when I want to have sex with you?”

“What?” Jeongguk said breathily, opening his eyes, Jimin’s hand and lips falling away and jolting Jeongguk back to reality.

“I’m aroused. So are you. I want to be close to you again. I want to have sex with you. How do I say it? How do I ask you?”

“Just like that,” Jeongguk laughed, still dizzy. “Just say it like that.”

“Okay. I want to have sex with you,” Jimin stated, and Jeongguk felt something inside him snap. He dragged Jimin up further and let their mouths collide, kissing him like he was starving, devouring him and lifting his hips to meet Jimin’s. He kissed Jimin fiercely, savoring the way that Jimin just fell right into step and responded so eagerly despite the learning curve, shivering when Jimin grinded back down on him when Jeongguk thrusted upward in desperation. Jeongguk ran his hands down Jimin’s smooth back, glided over his hips to feel the scales still lingering there, and damn near lost his mind. Mine, mine, mine, mine, mine. He couldn’t stop thinking about it, feeling it. Frantic, Jeongguk threw his arm out, grabbed the lube from where he had left it on the bedside table, and set it on the mattress.

“You won’t have to do much,” he gasped into Jimin’s mouth. “I-I’m already pretty—pretty good from last night. Jimin, please, please…”

Ever the fast learner, Jimin took the lube, and Jeongguk watched through hazy eyes as Jimin squeezed some onto his fingers. Intrigued, he used his thumb to spread it, and then he scooted down between Jeongguk’s legs. Eager, Jeongguk bent his knees and let his legs fall open, capturing his bottom lip between his teeth. Jimin just stared, and then he blinked up at Jeongguk.

“This is very different from other sexual encounters I have had in the past,” he said, and Jeongguk stifled a laugh, reaching down and wrapping a gentle hand around his hard cock, thumbing over the slit in a daze. “It is always so quick and mostly only to breed. I find it fascinating how much the human body craves such pleasure for longer durations. You want this a lot.”

“Yeah, I do,” Jeongguk breathed.

“And because I’m your mate, so do I,” Jimin said, bringing his hand between Jeongguk’s legs. “I feel what you are feeling, and I can feel your arousal. But I also feel it myself in my human body, and it’s very curious. I enjoy it, though.” And then he pressed one finger into Jeongguk as Jeongguk quietly moaned. There wasn’t much that had to be done. Jimin was able to add a second finger, all the while asking Jeongguk if he was okay, if it hurt. Jeongguk only reassured him, and then he shyly asked Jimin to add a third finger. Confused but determined, Jimin added another finger, and Jeongguk almost sobbed, fucking down onto Jimin’s fingers as Jimin just watched, surely absorbing and learning all of the complexities that came with sex and how humans responded to certain stimuli. Jeongguk, in particular, loved being fingered, so he was in heaven.

“Okay, stay there,” Jeongguk requested, breathing heavily. “S-Stay there, I want you to do it like this. Will you—Jimin, is this okay? Will you—baby, will you do it like this?”

“I will do whatever you want, as long as I can be close to you again,” Jimin responded. “I just need to be inside you. I need to feel you. Just tell me what to do.”

“Okay. Come here, love, just—put some lube on yourself, too, okay? That’s it, that’s good,” Jeongguk instructed, his heart slamming against his ribcage as he slid down to lie on the bed, one pillow behind his head, his knees still bent and open. “N-Now just—just line yourself up and push in. Good, just like that. That’s—fuck, yeah, keep going. Keep going, baby, keep going,” he encouraged as Jimin slowly pushed into Jeongguk with a few shallow thrusts, holding Jeongguk’s knees. Jeongguk’s eyes rolled back in his head the moment Jimin’s hips met the backs of his thighs, because absolutely nothing compared to this feeling. He was ruined for life. 

“O-Oh, it feels—this feels different,” Jimin said, brow furrowed, eyes closed. 

“Are you okay?” Jeongguk whispered.

“It feels so good, Jeongguk,” Jimin whispered back, and then his eyes opened as Jeongguk smiled, chest still heaving.

“Okay, now move. You’ll have to move, just—oh, oh, fuck, just like that. God, Jimin, just— ah,” Jeongguk gasped out when Jimin pulled halfway out and thrusted back in, watching Jeongguk’s reaction. When Jeongguk reacted positively, he repeated the same motion, absorbing the knowledge instantly, reading Jeongguk like an open book. Jeongguk wrapped his legs around Jimin’s waist, and that forced Jimin to fall forward, pressing his hands into the mattress above Jeongguk’s shoulders. He saw his opportunity and took it—he lowered his chest and rested it on Jeongguk’s, their soul bond marks coming into contact as Jimin continued to fuck into Jeongguk in slow motion. 

“Oh, oh my God, fuck, fuck, ah, Jimin,” Jeongguk gasped, his vision blurring from the sensation. He heard Jimin’s heartbeat in his own ears, felt all the overwhelming pleasure, and then he heard Jimin whimper and whisper Jeongguk’s name. Jeongguk’s eyes flew open in shock when he felt Jimin come inside him already, but Jimin didn’t stop. He was still just as hard only seconds after his first orgasm, and he pressed up, palms on the mattress again.

“Jeongguk, this feels so good,” he breathed, his pupils fully dilated, and Jeongguk almost passed out as he clenched around Jimin in anticipation. He was leaking onto his stomach helplessly, his skin buzzing, his mind racing. He was doomed if this was what sex was going to be like with Jimin every single time. It was a goddamn earth-shattering event, a cosmic force that rearranged the stars in Jimin’s eyes. Jimin listened to the way Jeongguk whimpered and felt the way Jeongguk lifted his hips, and he responded accordingly.

“...Is this okay? Am I doing it right? Does it feel good? You’re crying, are you okay?” Jimin asked a flurry of questions in between thrusts, going deeper and deeper as Jeongguk writhed in the throes of pleasure, tears in his eyes from how well he was being fucked but also how simple and easy it felt. He grabbed one of Jimin’s hands, and instead of bringing it down to his cock like he would usually demand of any other man on top of him, he brought Jimin’s hand to his chest.

“J-Jimin, please,” Jeongguk cried out. “Wanna come, just—God, please, just touch me, I’m—I’m so close…”

Whether or not Jimin understood the way Jeongguk was talking was irrelevant. Jimin didn’t cease his movements. He continued to fuck deeply, torturously slow into Jeongguk, rocking Jeongguk’s body against the mattress as he dragged his palm across the mark on Jeongguk’s chest. It was good, but when Jimin whispered, “mine” and bent down to press his lips to the mark, Jeongguk actually let out a broken sob. He moaned Jimin’s name loudly, almost shouting, choking back another sob as the orgasm began to build intensely. Jimin was steadfast, just watching it all unfold in interest, but when Jeongguk’s hand flew down so he could touch himself, Jimin let out a cry the moment Jeongguk began to jerk himself off. 

“J-Jeongguk, what’s happening?” he asked, his voice trembling. “Wh-What… I’m… Jeongguk? Jeongguk— oh, oh, oh.” That was all he managed to say, and then Jeongguk gasped as he felt Jimin come again, felt it leaking out of him onto the sheets, felt Jimin’s body trembling helplessly. He filled Jeongguk up until Jeongguk nearly blacked out, because he was right on the edge, so close, and his entire body was shaking.

“Jimin, please,” he almost sobbed. “P-Please, please, please—” Jeongguk almost choked on his next breath, because Jimin just said, “okay,” and then he started to fuck Jeongguk again. It was messy and sloppy and wet, and Jeongguk was sweating, dizzy, completely fucked out without an orgasm yet to satisfy him. He had been edged twice already, though not purposely, and he was at his breaking point.

“You make me feel so good, Jeongguk,” Jimin praised calmly. “I love watching you like this. It makes me feel so happy. I would have sex with you all the time just to see you feeling this kind of pleasure.”

Jeongguk moaned with a choked laugh and a hiccup, refusing to touch himself any further, and Jimin seemed to pick up on that. He remained kneeling on the bed between Jeongguk’s legs, and then his right hand rested on top of Jeongguk’s left knee, his left hand reaching forward to touch the mark. This time, he gently but purposely scratched his fingernails down it, and Jeongguk let out a sharp cry, bowing off the bed, eyes rolling back again. Panting, he gripped the sheets as Jimin used the heel of his palm to massage the mark, and that was all Jeongguk needed.

“Jimin, Jimin, Jimin, fuck—” His voice caught, and then the world seemed to end for just a split second. Jeongguk’s hips lifted off the bed, head tilting back, body rigid, vision black as he came untouched, painting himself from stomach to neck as he moaned and gasped, feeling like his soul had left his body for a moment, the pleasure so consuming that it was like he was being eaten alive by it. His legs began to shake, and he again felt Jimin’s grip slip as he came a third time, likely spurred by Jeongguk’s orgasm.

Jeongguk thought that he fainted, even though it was just the head rush and the high from the orgasm. When he came to, when his vision finally cleared, Jimin was just lying on top of him, their chests stuck together from the mess Jeongguk had made, and Jimin was repeatedly nuzzling his lips against Jeongguk’s pulse point on his neck. Jeongguk stared at the ceiling in shock, unsure if he could even move his limbs.

“...Jimin?”

“Yes?”

“Wh-What… What happened to my shark?” Jeongguk asked in a distant voice, forcing himself to blink. “The… The one you…”

“Taehyung and Seokjin brought it back to the pod,” Jimin replied. “I’m sure they are very pleased with it. Thank you for sharing it with them.”

“Y-Yeah. No problem.” Jeongguk’s voice was nothing more than a whisper as his legs fell from around Jimin’s waist with a thump against the mattress. “That… that was the best sex I’ve ever had in my life. I think you’re gonna kill me.”

“I would never kill you,” Jimin said matter-of-factly, and Jeongguk finally came to his senses and laughed, turning his head and kissing Jimin’s cheek.

“It’s a joke,” he murmured. “Come here, come take a shower with me.”

“Oh, I like showers. The water comes from the ceiling,” Jimin said, and Jeongguk stifled a laugh. Somehow, he managed to roll off the bed with Jimin in his arms, and he hobbled to the bathroom and turned on the shower. Jimin paid absolutely no mind to the temperature and stepped in right away, turning in a circle happily and tilting his head upward to watch the water pour out. Jeongguk, despite being on shaky knees with his own cum all over him, just watched the way Jimin smiled from being in the water. But it didn’t last long—Jimin suddenly whined and curled in on himself, and then he reached over and yanked on Jeongguk’s arm. Jeongguk hopped right into the shower and hugged Jimin close to him, kissing the top of his head and then spinning Jimin around to hug him from behind.

“Love you,” he murmured.

“I know.”

“You’re so beautiful,” Jeongguk added quietly, kissing Jimin’s wet shoulders and on his neck where his gills would be in halfway or true form. While running his hands up and down Jimin’s ribs, Jimin cupped both hands and gathered water from the shower stream, watching in amazement, and Jeongguk just stood present in the moment. Jimin was a miracle to him. Three different forms, all fully functional. Sometimes Jeongguk still wondered what would have happened that fateful night if someone else had found Jimin instead. He would have been a science experiment, but instead, he was the love of Jeongguk’s life.

Jeongguk rinsed off, but he stayed in close proximity to Jimin, marveling at his human body quietly. He looked so intensely human that without the scales, Jeongguk was certain Jimin would have been pulled off the streets to be an actor or an idol or a model some time ago. His beauty was utterly ethereal. His physical body presented exactly like Jeongguk’s without the blemishes or society-accepted imperfections. His human anatomy was the same minus the need for excreting waste. He could clearly produce sperm, and likely because in his true form he was meant to breed. He was toned with muscle but with soft edges. He was strong, deceivingly so. His eyes had a relentless sparkle to them that humans did not possess. And of all the humans in the world, he loved Jeongguk. 

Jimin refused to break away from Jeongguk all day, and Jeongguk was quite happy with that. He pulled Jimin into his lap countless times, so much that any average human would have been annoyed. To Jimin, though, it was hardly enough. He even went as far as to demand that he make Jeongguk food and feed it to him. Jeongguk didn’t even bother to protest. He let Jimin make some cold spicy noodles, and then he sat on the couch with Jimin’s legs over his lap while Jimin gave him bite after bite. It would have been humiliating, embarrassing in any other situation. But Jimin glowed just from being able to provide for his mate, and Jeongguk didn’t have the heart to deny him a single moment of it.

“Do Seokjin and Taehyung feed each other?” Jeongguk wondered as Jimin pinched half of a soft-boiled egg between the chopsticks and offered it to Jeongguk. Jeongguk munched on it happily.

“Yes. That is what soul bonded mates do,” Jimin replied, confirming Jeongguk’s suspicions. “Hunt for each other, feed one another, care for each other. You washed me in the shower. I—Well, I did not hunt for you, but I prepared food for you, which is close enough. And now I get to feed you.” Jimin offered another bite of noodles, and Jeongguk slurped them up, his hand massaging Jimin’s thigh.

“Thank you,” Jeongguk said, and Jimin beamed with pride.

At night, when they were lying in bed, Jimin demonstrated how he rested and meditating so that Jeongguk didn’t have to panic that he was wasting Jimin’s time. They curled up in each other’s arms, and in the morning, Jeongguk managed to get up and brush his teeth and use the toilet before Jimin came running in, panicking because he wasn’t with Jeongguk.

“Shh, it’s okay. I’m right here. I’m here,” he whispered as Jimin whined and grabbed Jeongguk’s hand, pressing it over the mark on his chest. Jeongguk soothed him quietly, kissing his neck and rubbing his hand over the soul bond mark until Jimin calmed down.

It became a regular occurrence over the next few days, though Jeongguk began to train the two of them to separate for more than a minute or two at a time. Jimin hated it, but he also commented on how he understood the need for it. Most of the time, it was Jimin who snapped and went running into Jeongguk’s arms. But when Jeongguk woke up in the middle of the night sobbing and feeling hopelessly empty, he stumbled out into the living room and grabbed Jimin from off the floor where he had been watching television, begging him to stay close. The moment Jimin’s hand had touched the mark on his chest, the burning sensation had stopped. The void had been filled, and Jeongguk’s crying had ceased.

On Wednesday, Jeongguk was set to go back to work, but he asked Jimin to accompany him, something Jimin hadn’t been expecting.

“Oh. But won’t other humans be there?” Jimin asked, wary.

“Yes. There will be a lot of other humans there that you haven’t met before,” Jeongguk said, shimmying into his clothes and hating that he had to even get dressed. He had been naked or barely clothed for the past five days. “But Yoongi and Hoseok and Namjoon will be there. You know them.”

“I do know them. I will come with you, then. And if I see other humans, I will not hiss at them or try to kill them,” Jimin said, on his best behavior. Jeongguk hid his laughter by rummaging for some socks.

“Alright. Then you’ll have to get dressed, sweetheart. Real clothes. Real shoes. Here, let me look.” Jeongguk scoured his drawers and his closet, and then he dressed Jimin in a pair of black shorts and a baby blue t-shirt that made him look so stunning that it took Jeongguk’s breath away. Jeongguk frowned slightly as he put the tinted glasses onto Jimin, but Jimin seemed to understand the necessity. Jeongguk debated, but then he shrugged.

“No hat?” Jimin wondered as he slipped on the shoes without argument this time.

“No. If anyone asks you about your hair, baby, you just tell them that you dyed it,” Jeongguk explained. “People dye their hair different colors all the time. They’ll believe it. You ready to drive in the truck again?”

“Yes, I am excited,” Jimin said, clutching Jeongguk’s hand. Jeongguk slung his backpack on one shoulder and kissed Jimin’s cheek, and the two of them walked out the door to his truck. He helped Jimin buckle into the passenger seat, and then Jeongguk drove a few minutes to the MMRC. Jimin kept fidgeting, and as they pulled into the parking lot, he blew out a breath.

“I am not going to be able to touch you all the time when you are at work,” Jimin said, disappointed. “But I am going to have to bear it.”

“I know. I’m sorry, love,” Jeongguk said, unbuckling his seatbelt and pressing a kiss to Jimin’s temple. “But I’ll still be with you. Come on. Let’s go introduce you to people.”

Jeongguk clutched Jimin’s hand firmly, and then he walked through the front door of the MMRC, his heart racing. Jimin huddled close to him, shrinking slightly as he looked around at everything in the daylight, soaking in the scene.

“YAH! JEONGGUK HYUNG! Hey, you’re back!”

“Hey,” Jeongguk greeted when he walked through the side door to the next room, watching as Yeonjun and Heeseung came tumbling forward. They both stopped in their tracks, though, when they saw that Jeongguk was hand-in-hand with Jimin.

“Oh, who’s this?” Yeonjun threw out his arm to stop Heeseung, and then they both bowed politely. “Hello, I’m Choi Yeonjun. This is Lee Heeseung. We work for Jeongguk.”

“This is my partner, Park Jimin,” Jeongguk introduced, using the fake surname he had drummed up on a moment’s notice last time he had brought Jimin to the MMRC. He didn’t want to call Jimin his boyfriend as a cover, because “boyfriend” was too tame. Jimin was so much more than that, and Jeongguk wanted it to be known.

“Nice to meet you, Jimin-ssi,” Heeseung said with another bow that Yeonjun mimicked. “Your hair is really cool. Um, Jeongguk hyung?”

“Yeah?”

“It’s actually good that you’re here, because we have to bring a newborn calf and an octopus back to the water,” Heeseung said as he shifted nervously from foot to foot. “Yeonjun hyung has something to do, and I’m supposed to be writing reports.”

“I’m happy to do it,” Jeongguk replied. “It’s Wednesday, so Namjoon is here. I’ll ask him to go out with me on the boat. Thanks. I’m going to show Jimin around and bring him with me. Jimin, babe, do you want to go out on the water?”

“Oh. Yes, I would like that a lot,” Jimin said eagerly, and then he looked back to Heeseung. “Thank you for the compliment on my hair. I dyed it.”

“Yeah, it’s cool,” Heeseung reiterated, and then he nudged Yeonjun, grinning. “We’ll let you work in peace.”

“Hyung, you never said you were seeing someone,” Yeonjun said, pressing his hand to his chest as if he was offended before grinning and running off with Heeseung trailing behind him. Jeongguk rolled his eyes good-naturedly, and then he turned his head and kissed Jimin’s hair.

“Come on, I’ll set you up in Yoongi’s office so I can get some work done.”

“Oh, that would be good. I like Yoongi,” Jimin said with a smile, still clutching Jeongguk’s hand.

“Yeah? What about Hoseok and Namjoon?” Jeongguk asked as they walked.

“Hoseok and Namjoon are very lovely. But Yoongi is your protector. I like him most of all,” Jimin said sincerely, and Jeongguk’s heart melted. As usual, Jimin lacked the ability to sugarcoat his words, so Jeongguk knew Jimin was being genuine. He had a knack for observing humans and picking out their habits, nuances, personality traits, or the most important thing about them. He often said that Hoseok was “bright” and that Namjoon was “young,” both perfect words to describe Jeongguk’s friends.

“Yoongi? Hello, Yoongi?” Jimin tugged Jeongguk’s hand towards Yoongi’s office without even being directed, so Jeongguk figured he was following the energy. 

“Who—oh, shit. Jimin, hey. Hey, it’s good to see you,” Yoongi said, hopping up from his chair and recovering from the initial shock quite quickly. “This is a surprise. Are you just here for the day?”

“I am here to spend time with you so Jeongguk can work,” Jimin said in a solemn tone. “I will warn you that I may be sad and perhaps inconsolable when separated from him for too long, though. I will try my best.”

“Oh, shit, this is the—” Yoongi promptly yanked Jimin and Jeongguk into his office, one arm each, and then he slammed the door shut and locked it. “Is this because of the soul bond?” he hissed. “It actually worked?”

“It worked.” Jeongguk grabbed the bottom hem of his shirt and lifted it up to show the mark on his chest to Yoongi, and Yoongi’s jaw dropped a little. Instinctively, he leaned in with his hand lifted to touch it, but Jimin hissed and lunged in front of Jeongguk, his entire body blocking Yoongi’s access as he wrapped himself around Jeongguk.

“Shit, sorry. I’m sorry,” Yoongi apologized as Jimin let out a low noise that sounded almost like a growl coming from the back of his throat. Jeongguk held up one hand to Yoongi, and then he wrapped his left arm around Jimin’s waist, slipping the other hand underneath Jimin’s shirt to press again his mark.

“Shh, stop it. It’s just Yoongi. It’s okay. I love you, I love you. I’m yours, I’m right here,” Jeongguk promised in a whisper. Jimin’s heavy breathing ceased almost immediately as he went limp in Jeongguk’s hold, and then he recovered quickly, turning around while taking Jeongguk’s hand again.

“I am sorry for hissing at you. I promised Jeongguk I wouldn’t hiss at anyone or kill anyone, but I have already failed,” Jimin said with a small frown, and Yoongi burst out laughing as Jeongguk grinned.

“Don’t worry about it,” Yoongi dismissed, and Jimin sighed.

“I suppose it’s good that I am not in the water, because you would be dead,” he lamented, and then he perked up. “Is that a shark?”

“What? Oh, it’s just a—yeah, it’s not real,” Yoongi said as Jimin lunged and plucked up the plush little shark with a ribbon around its neck from the aquarium. Jimin brought it right up to his face, nose-to-nose with it, brow furrowed in confusion.

“I do not understand. What is the function of this?” He shook it a few times, expecting a response, and then he realized that the plush shark had felt teeth. “Yoongi, what purpose does this shark serve? It isn’t real.”

“That’s the point,” Yoongi said as Jeongguk stood back, nearly in tears from trying to hide his laughter, one hand covering his face. “It’s fake. Humans can’t just have small sharks lying on their desks at work. Occupational hazard, you know?”

“Humans…” Jimin decisively set the plush shark down onto the desk again, “...are the weirdest breed of animal I have ever encountered.”

“Hey, you married one,” Yoongi teased, and then he waved Jeongguk away as Jeongguk sputtered in disapproval. “Go, go, get out of here. I’ll entertain Jimin and keep him from missing you too much. Or I’ll let him track you down.”

“Take care of him,” Jeongguk said quietly as Jimin sat down in the chair and realized that it spun. Shocked, he clutched the armrests, and Yoongi snickered and gently turned the chair in a circle as Jimin held on for dear life.

“This is amazing,” Jimin breathed. “Turn me again, Yoongi.”

“Oh, yeah. We’ll be just fine,” Yoongi promised. Disgustingly fond, Jeongguk pressed his hands into the armrest as Jimin glanced up, and then he kissed Jimin with all the love and adoration he could muster.

“You love me,” Jimin whispered, and Jeongguk smiled.

“I do love you.” Then he left the office, watching as Yoongi spun Jimin in the chair once more.

Jeongguk walked into his office and started to go through his own paperwork that had been piled up, happy that it wasn’t too overwhelming. Then he shimmied into his lab coat and poked his head into the lab, where Namjoon was seated alone on a metal stool at a worktable, bottom lip between his teeth, his eyes pressed to a scientific binocular microscope as he held a slide in place. Jeongguk glanced over at the screen, where the image was being projected.

“New sample?” he asked, and Namjoon nearly fell out of his chair.

“Jesus fuck, you gave me a heart attack,” he sighed, clutching his chest with one hand. “Hey. How are you? Yoongi said you took off because of the whole—what’d you say? Soul bonding? How’d it go?”

“I’m good. The soul bonding worked.” Jeongguk pulled the collar of his shirt down as far as it could go, and Namjoon gaped in awe.

“Holy shit, that’s amazing,” he commended. “Who would’ve thought? Is Jimin magical? Do you think he’d ever let me study him or get a DNA sample? Actually, scratch that—I’d never. If that gets into the wrong hands—”

“Exactly,” Jeongguk said with a chuckle, plopping down on the empty stool. “He’s here.”

“Huh?” Namjoon pulled away from the microscope again.

“Jimin. He’s here. He’s hanging out in Yoongi’s office for a little. Yeonjun and Heeseung said we have two animals to release today. I thought that maybe you could take the boat out with Jimin and me and we could do it together. I think Jimin would like to go for a swim,” Jeongguk reasoned, and he saw stars flash in Namjoon’s eyes.

“Oh my God, that would be amazing. I—You know we saw his friends, so if—if I could see Jimin as—okay, I’m in. What time? I’ll clear my entire schedule,” Namjoon declared, and Jeongguk grinned.

“After lunch.”

Namjoon did indeed clear his schedule. When a few people from another research center came around to ask if they could borrow him for some work, Namjoon flat-out refused and said he had important business that required his attention. Jeongguk, on the other hand, spent his morning caring for a very unhappy sea lion, trying to ignore the dull ache in his chest and the way that he felt a small pit of sadness in his stomach. In fact, he felt mildly ill, a bit queasy in the stomach with a small headache and phantom difficulties with breathing.

“Jimin?” he finally called out as he walked towards Yoongi’s office. The door flew open, ricocheting off the wall, and Jimin ran out as fast as his legs could carry him. He threw his arms and legs around Jeongguk completely, and Jeongguk caught him and immediately carried him back into Yoongi’s office for some privacy. Yoongi stepped aside quietly, watching in amazement as Jeongguk sat down in the chair.

mood: “ljósið” by ólafur arlands

“I’m here, I’m right here. I missed you, too,” Jeongguk whispered as Jimin pressed his lips hard into Jeongguk’s neck, his hand flying underneath Jeongguk’s shirt to find the mark so he could calm himself down. Jeongguk’s mind immediately hazed over the moment Jimin touched him, and he slumped in the chair with Jimin kneeling in his lap, face tucked in the crook of Jeongguk’s neck. Jimin let out a very obvious whine that sounded like a warning, so Jeongguk instinctively crawled his hand beneath Jimin’s shirt as well. The moment his fingers fluttered over Jimin’s soul bond mark, Jimin surrendered completely. He went limp in Jeongguk’s arms with a sigh, and Jeongguk turned and kissed the side of his head.

“He was really upset,” Yoongi said as Jeongguk rubbed Jimin’s back. “I thought he was going to be sick. He kept curling up in a ball asking where you were. Then he’d say he knew where you were, but he—yeah. He kept asking.”

“I knew where you were,” Jimin whispered, and Jeongguk closed his eyes, melting into the moment. “It was agony, Jeongguk, even though you were just in the next room doing your work. It hurt me.”

“I know. I felt it, too,” Jeongguk murmured. “I felt sad. Empty. Sick. I had a headache. It’s just because we were apart for three hours.”

“It will be difficult when I have to return to the sea,” Jimin said, still resting his head on Jeongguk’s shoulder as he gently caressed Jeongguk’s soul bond mark. “Being apart from you is terrible.”

“Do you feel better now, though?” Jeongguk asked, and Jimin pulled away and blinked down at him.

“Yes. Much better. Kiss me, please,” he requested, and Jeongguk smiled. He slipped his hand behind Jimin’s neck and pulled him in for a kiss that felt like a resuscitation breath. “Are we going to the water now? I have been looking forward to it since it was mentioned earlier. Please say that we are going to the water.”

“We’re going to the water,” Jeongguk confirmed, and Jimin beamed and crawled out of Jeongguk’s lap.

“Thank you for hugging me, Yoongi,” he said casually. “And for allowing me to hold your shark and watch videos on your computer.”

“Uh, yeah. Anytime,” Yoongi murmured, sounding embarrassed when Jeongguk looked over with his eyebrows raised in amusement. I like him most of all, Jimin had said, and it seemed that perhaps Yoongi was forming a soft spot for Jimin as well. If Jimin saw Yoongi as Jeongguk’s protector, then perhaps Jeongguk could see Yoongi as Jimin’s protector if ever Jeongguk could not be there.

Namjoon could not contain his excitement when Jeongguk and Jimin showed up, ready to head out to the boat. Jeongguk helped load two crates onto the boat—one newborn calf, one rather large octopus. It took some convincing to let the three of them go out without any assistance, but it was Yoongi who just nonchalantly waved them along and bid farewell to the trio like it was just another day, stating that Jeongguk could handle the release of the calf because he knew where to find the mother (which was true).

“Do I have to be on the boat?” Jimin asked as Namjoon began to steer the boat through shallow water. Jeongguk drew Jimin in by his waist and lost himself in the kiss that they then shared, his heart skipping happily.

“No, baby, you don’t. Do you want to dive off and follow the boat?” Jeongguk asked, and Namjoon almost choked on his own breath. Jimin nodded, and then he immediately began to remove his clothing. Namjoon politely turned away and covered the side of his face with one hand as he steered the boat, and Jeongguk shielded Jimin with a towel as Jimin stripped down. Jimin wrapped the towel around himself, and then he padded to the stern of the boat.

“Just be careful, sweetheart. Maybe dive to the side,” Jeongguk recommended. Jimin turned, and then he motioned to Namjoon. Namjoon immediately slowed the boat down, and Jimin called out his thanks. Jeongguk then held the towel, and Jimin dove off into the water, disappearing for a moment. Jeongguk peered over the edge, and when Jimin popped back up, he was in halfway form, swimming backwards. Grinning, Jeongguk motioned for Namjoon to stop the boat, and once they were stationary, Namjoon abandoned his post and nearly tripped over his own feet to get to the stern of the boat.

“Jimin? Ji—oh my God.” Namjoon dropped to his knees, mouth hanging open in amazement as Jimin swam up to the boat and grabbed the ladder, hoisting himself halfway up so Namjoon could see him. “You—You’re… wow. You have gills, you really just—oh my God, your tail.”

“Hyung, watch out.”

“Oh, sorry. Sorry, I just—sorry,” Namjoon rambled as Jeongguk shoved the first crate over so he could release the octopus.

“I will take it,” Jimin said, and Namjoon let out a noise of disbelief as Jeongguk sat down cross-legged near the ladder, his hand overtop the container.

“You’ll take it?” he repeated.

“Yes. The octopus. I will take it and bring it down to deeper water where it belongs,” Jimin said seriously. He then offered one arm, still holding the ladder with the other hand. Namjoon and Jeongguk exchanged a look, but then Jeongguk figured that if there was anyone to trust, it was Jimin. Fuck protocol. Jeongguk didn’t even bother to monitor himself. He popped the lid off the container, and immediately, an octopus leg crawled up the edge as the octopus desperately tried to find freedom. Jeongguk tilted the container to the side, and the octopus began to make its grand escape, but Jimin held out his arm and grabbed the octopus, letting its tentacles wrap around his entire arm and crawl up to his shoulder. Jeongguk’s jaw dropped. Jimin barely blinked.

“Holy shit,” Namjoon breathed, and Jeongguk watched in amazement as the octopus circled Jimin’s neck with a few tentacles, but not to do any harm. Jimin then emitted a rather loud clicking sound from the back of his throat, and he dove backwards off the ladder with the octopus latched onto him. 

“Wow,” Jeongguk whispered as Namjoon gripped his arm, eyes wide, breathing heavily.

“H-He just—he just manhandled an octopus. He just—he had the whole thing on his arm, the whole thing,” Namjoon hissed. “Oh my God. He’s a fucking merman, you’re married to a merman.”

“I’m not married, for fuck’s sake.”

“Might as well be. Holy shit, you saw that, right? You—We both saw the same thing. Was he talking to it?”

“Not talking, exactly,” Jeongguk said, rising to his feet shakily, his knees aching. “He communicates with other marine life. They may not speak the same language, but ask him when he comes back up. He was probably just letting it know what was going on.”

Jimin resurfaced moments later, and he didn’t even comment on the octopus. He held the ladder and looked up at them.

“The newborn, please,” he requested. “I have found the mother.”

“Are you serious?” Namjoon asked, shocked. “You—We don’t even have to search for her? You just found her? Just like that?”

“Yes. I called for her in the water. She’s just over there,” Jimin said, gesturing to his left. “She would like her calf back. Jeongguk?”

“On it.” Jeongguk walked over to the larger open container that they had dragged onto the boat, where the newborn calf was happily floating in the water, turning in a tight circle. Jeongguk first knelt down and stroked the calf’s smooth skin—Binnie, they had named her. Once she was relatively calm, Jeongguk reached into the water and scooped her up in both arms. She was still pretty small, but her nose and her tail were draped over Jeongguk’s arms. He carried her carefully towards the stern, and Jimin hoisted himself higher.

“Lower,” he directed. “Bring her lower. I can hold her with one arm.”

Jeongguk dropped to his knees with caution, and then he grunted as he leaned forward, scared that he would drop Binnie into the water. Jimin intervened, though, and slipped Binnie right out of Jeongguk’s arms and underneath his own arm, and then he dropped into the water. There was a moment where the two of them hovered in the water as Namjoon clutched the railing, watching in awe. Jimin had Binnie right in front of him, nose-to-nose, and he lifted a hand and stroked Binnie’s skin. Then he let out a series of clicks that sounded wildly close to what dolphins sounded like, and they both dove underneath the water.

“He’s talking to a dolphin. He’s talking to a fucking dolphin,” Namjoon said in a distant voice, pressing the knuckles of his interlaced hands against his forehead. “Oh my God, I’ve seen it all. I can’t believe this is real.”

Jeongguk had seen Jimin do many spectacular things. He had watched Jimin change forms right before his eyes before like the scientific miracle that he was. He had watched Jimin heal rapidly like an enhanced superhero. His soul was bonded to Jimin’s, and he had a mark to prove it. But seeing Jimin in his natural habitat, so comfortable, so capable of communicating with marine life… that was unlike anything Jeongguk had ever seen before. He would never tire of seeing Jimin where he belonged.

“She is with her mother.” Jimin popped up from the water and swam over, hovering and glancing up. “Are there any other creatures who require assistance?”

“Were you talking to a dolphin?” Namjoon asked, blunt as ever. 

“Communicating, yes. Not quite talking as you and I do,” Jimin replied. “I directed the calf to her mother. The mother’s distress was creating a heavy energy in the water. Both are happy now.”

“Think we should ask Yoongi to give Jimin a job?” Jeongguk joked, and Namjoon just let out a breath of disbelief that hinted at laughter as Jimin sank underneath the water to swim a little.

“Might as well,” he said softly, and then he stared down at the ripples in the water, white-knuckling the side of the boat. “I—Can I… I want to get in the water. Can I get in the water? I have to. Please, I have to get in the water.”

“At your own risk,” Jeongguk said. “Warn Jimin first, though.”

“He’s gone,” Namjoon said with a small frown, but Jeongguk just peered over the edge of the boat, watching the water slosh up against the edge, Jimin nowhere in sight. Jeongguk bit his bottom lip, but then he crouched down at the ladder, gripping it with one hand, and closed his eyes. He took a deep breath and focused on feeling his heartbeat.

Jimin.

All he did was think about Jimin’s name over and over again. It took no more than ten seconds. There was a small splash, and then Jimin was clinging to the ladder.

“My mate called for me,” he said in a hushed voice, sounding pleased. Jeongguk grinned and dropped down to his stomach, and then he leaned in and kissed Jimin’s wet lips.

“I didn’t think it would work,” Jeongguk admitted. “Babe, Namjoon really wants to get in the water and swim with you. Not like I do, but—yeah. He just wants to see you swim and maybe swim beside you. Would you do that for him? And protect him from harm?”

“He is your friend, so yes. I will protect him. Namjoon? Would you like to come in the water?” Jimin asked politely. Namjoon looked like he was going to faint, but he hastily began to grab what he needed, including a mask and a snorkel just in case. He hesitated, but then he tossed the flippers aside, clearly uninterested.

“Please keep him safe,” Jeongguk pleaded with Jimin again while Namjoon continued to prepare himself. Jimin pursed his lips for a moment.

“It is still difficult for me to trust other humans,” he admitted. “I am struggling with this. But Namjoon is your friend, and he has saved your life in the past. I cannot forget what he did for my mate. I must honor that. Please advise him to behave, Jeongguk. I do not want to cause you grief, but if he acts foolish, I will be tempted to kill him.”

“Please try very hard not to,” Jeongguk whispered. “I’ll tell him.” Jeongguk straightened up and approached Namjoon, who was fiddling with the mask nervously.

“Is this okay? I just—this is on my bucket list. I didn’t think this would ever be real, you know? I just—I have to swim with a merman before I die,” Namjoon rambled, and Jeongguk smiled.

“It’s okay. But bear in mind that he doesn’t trust humans. I’m the exception. He’s doing this for you because you helped save my life, and he’s honoring that. But he said that if you act foolish, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill you. So please just be calm.”

“Shit, okay. Yeah, sorry. Sorry, I understand. Of course he’d kill me if I acted like a moron,” Namjoon said as if it was obvious. “I’ll—yeah. I’ll be calm. I just want to observe him in his natural habitat, you know? Experience it for myself.”

“Then go.”

Grinning, Namjoon hurried over to the ladder, and then he quickly climbed down it and sank into the water, submerging for a moment. He popped back up and began to tread water, and Jimin swam right up to him, eyes narrowed. Namjoon continued to slowly tread water, ever the expert, and Jimin came closer, curious. Namjoon looked like he was holding his breath.

“Wow, you’re amazing,” he breathed. “Just—You’re really beautiful. It’s crazy, you just—wow. You— ah!”

Jeongguk snorted with laughter as Namjoon flailed, because Jimin had curled his long tail around Namjoon to drag him even closer, nearly lifting him out of the water. Namjoon struggled for a moment, but then he froze and nearly went rigid when Jimin leaned back, still staring, and lifted his tail out of the water horizontally. Namjoon was straddling it, and he looked so terrified that Jeongguk was in near tears from quietly laughing so hard.

“This is the most terrifying thing I’ve ever done in my life,” Namjoon said out loud as Jimin slowly lowered him back into the water.

“I will swim with you. Come,” Jimin commanded, and Namjoon’s eyes nearly popped out of his head as Jeongguk snickered. Namjoon took Jimin’s hand, though, and Jimin linked their elbows together. Then he dove, and Namjoon was pulled right along, dragged underneath the water. Jeongguk casually leaned his elbows on the edge of the boat, feeling like his heart was going to burst. It took a few minutes for Jimin and Namjoon to return, but when they did, Namjoon looked as though he had just had a religious experience. Jimin nudged Namjoon back towards the boat with his tail, and Namjoon cut through the water and gripped the ladder.

“Have you seen the light, hyung?” Jeongguk teased, but Namjoon just crawled up and collapsed onto the dock. He flopped onto his back, arms out, and then he laughed, staring up at the sky.

“Merpeople,” he said, grinning. “Merpeople!”

***

mood: “raein” by ólafur arnalds

Jeongguk had never been so sick in his life as when he was way from Jimin.

Jimin had left reluctantly one sunrise to go hunt with his pod, and Jeongguk had thought he would be okay. He could handle a bit of heartache, and he could handle feeling a bit empty. But absolutely nothing had prepared him for day three of being apart from his mate.

“Here, let me get you some more tea.”

“N-No, don’t leave me,” Jeongguk croaked out, hugging Hoseok tighter even though it wasn’t doing him any good. Logically, he knew that he was just experiencing all the symptoms of being separated from his mate with a brand new soul bond—it made sense. But even though Jeongguk could recognize that, he was still sick. He had vomited twice earlier in the morning, and now Hoseok was cuddling him on the couch as they watched a drama together.

“I’ll be in the kitchen, that’s all,” Hoseok said, because he had quickly learned how to navigate Jeongguk’s condition. Jeongguk could hardly be without physical touch because it made his chest ache. Hoseok had slept over last night, Yoongi the night before. “Give me a few minutes. Look, just turn this way. You can see me.”

“Fuck, I’m sorry,” Jeongguk said miserably, but Hoseok just kissed his hair.

“It’s fine. Don’t you worry.”

“You three are always taking care of me,” Jeongguk lamented, watching Hoseok’s every move like a hawk and trying to swallow down the lump in his throat that felt like abandonment. Hoseok glanced over his shoulder.

“Jeongguk, you’ve always taken care of the three of us,” he said as he filled the kettle with water. “You practically keep Namjoon alive when you two are in the water. You’re the one who knew Yoongi’s appendix had burst and took him to the hospital. Remember when I had the flu two years ago? Almost died, swear to God, but you spent an entire week at my apartment and made soup for me, like, every day.”

“So what?” Jeongguk grumbled, letting his head fall sideways onto the headrest of the couch.

“So shut your mouth, that’s what,” Hoseok laughed, pouring a cup of tea. Jeongguk sniffed, his eyes burning, and Hoseok returned to the couch. Without hesitation, Jeongguk flopped onto his side and curled up with his head on Hoseok’s lap, and Hoseok stroked Jeongguk’s messy hair with affection.

“Hyung, it hurts so much,” he whispered, tears leaking from the corners of his eyes. “I feel like I can’t breathe. I want to cry all the time. I’m—I’m so upset that it’s making me sick.”

“Didn’t you say that Jimin can feel your distress?” Hoseok wondered.

“Yeah, and I think I’m feeling his,” Jeongguk said, closing his eyes. “My whole body hurts. This is worse than the flu. This… oh.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I… I feel sick,” Jeongguk managed to say. His heart was speeding up, pulse rapid, and his body had broken out into a cold sweat again. “H-Hyung…”

“Come here, come on. Hurry up.” Hoseok yanked Jeongguk up, and the two of them stumbled into the bathroom together just in the nick of time. Hoseok rubbed Jeongguk’s back soothingly as Jeongguk vomited up mostly water, because he was barely eating. When he finished, Jeongguk slumped onto the floor, because Hoseok was running a bath, seemingly struck by inspiration.

“What…?”

“We haven’t tried a bath yet,” Hoseok said. “Let’s go, get undressed. I’ll help.”

With an unspoken sentiment of pure love floating between the two of them, Hoseok helped Jeongguk undressed and helped him into the bathtub. The moment Jeongguk was almost submerged, it was like a balm to his heart. It wasn’t the perfect solution, but he couldn’t deny that it made him feel better. Quietly, he slumped against the slope of the tub and closed his eyes, and then he lifted his hand and rubbed it over the mark on his chest, setting the other hand over the tattoo on his right side.

Agony. It was pure agony.

The water helped, but it wasn’t forever. Jeongguk struggled through the rest of the day, and he tossed and turned all night, clinging to Hoseok for dear life. When a new day dawned, Jeongguk still wasn’t well enough to go to work, but Hoseok had to go. Jeongguk cried silently with a blanket wrapped around him, and Hoseok kissed every inch of his face like it would help. While Jeongguk appreciated the gesture, he knew he was going to have a long day alone.

The first hour was okay. Jeongguk distracted himself with his drama and even tried to scroll through social media. When he was hit with an adrenaline rush, he got up and did some push-ups, but then he collapsed onto the couch and napped for two hours. He attempted to have some soup, and then he took a bath. Yoongi called him four times, Namjoon twice, and Hoseok sent him videos of the dolphins to keep Jeongguk sane. 

It wasn’t until around sunset that Jeongguk started to sob uncontrollably, because after eating dinner, his heart began to hurt so much that he was wheezing while trying to breathe. He tried to take deep, calming breaths, but it was difficult, and he wasn’t quite sure why the pain was increasing so suddenly.

“Jimin, Jimin, Jimin,” he sobbed, wrapped in his blanket, shirtless. “C-Come back. Please, please, just… Jimin. Jimin…” He trailed off, tears soaking the couch cushion, but then he sucked in a sharp breath and shot upright.

My mate is here.

Jeongguk wasn’t sure how he knew, but he could feel Jimin’s presence, could hear Jimin’s heartbeat again. Dazed, he rolled off the couch, and then he stumbled to the backdoor and yanked it open.

“JIMIN,” he shouted, and then he abandoned his blanket and went running. His knees were weak and his vision was blurred, but that was Jimin at the end of the dock. Jimin didn’t waste time, either—he ran towards Jeongguk, and when the two of them collided, Jeongguk burst into tears, nearly wailing as he embraced Jimin fully, Jimin’s arms and legs wrapped around him.

“Jeongguk, Jeongguk, Jeongguk,” Jimin gasped, gripping Jeongguk’s hair, pressing their chests together, roughly mouthing at Jeongguk’s neck until he found what he was looking for, settling against Jeongguk’s pulse point. The sickness was suddenly gone, and Jeongguk felt like he couldn’t quite get enough of Jimin, like they weren’t close enough. Jeongguk had the strength to carry Jimin right into the house, both of them breathing heavily, Jeongguk completely disregarding that Jimin was still wet and completely naked. His instincts led him right to the bathroom, where he cranked on the water in the bathtub and sat on the edge of the tub with Jimin in his lap.

“You’re here, you’re here,” he gasped out, and then he surged forward and pressed his lips to Jimin’s, kissing him like his life source came from Jimin’s lips. Jimin’s hand pressed to Jeongguk’s chest, and Jeongguk let out a cry, his entire body trembling, warmth and pleasure erupting through him all the way to his fingertips. He cried harder the more Jimin caressed the soul bond mark, and Jeongguk returned the favor, kissing along Jimin’s neck, and he fluttered his fingers over the mark on Jimin’s chest. Jimin let out a whine, trembling in Jeongguk’s arms.

“I f-felt you,” Jeongguk choked out. “I felt your sadness.”

“I felt yours, too,” Jimin whispered. “Being away from you was agony. I hunted with my pod, but I counted down every moment until I could return to you. I have never felt so lonely. I missed you so much. I felt so empty without you.”

“Me too,” Jeongguk breathed out, reaching behind him to turn off the water. “I felt so sick, but now—now you’re—you’re here, and I feel so much better. I—God, I love you so much. I love you, Jimin, I love you.”

“I know you do,” Jimin whispered, nuzzling into the crook of Jeongguk’s neck. “I know.”

Jeongguk quickly stepped out of the shorts he was wearing, and then he climbed into the bathtub with Jimin right behind him, neither of them able to keep their hands off each other. At first, Jimin thought to settle with his back pressed to Jeongguk’s front in a comfortable cuddling hold, but Jeongguk swapped them, letting Jimin sit with his back to the slope of the tub while Jeongguk straddled his lap. There was very little conversation that took place after that. Jeongguk wrapped his arms around Jimin’s neck and kissed him, losing himself in the feeling of soft lips, shuddering when Jimin’s hands began to roam. They kissed as the water sloshed around, and even then, they refused to relent. It took only a few minutes for Jeongguk to feel an all-consuming sense of need. He trailed his hand downward until he could touch himself, and then he continued to kiss Jimin as he fingered himself open, too desperate to think of anything else.

“My pretty mate,” Jimin cooed between kisses, dragging his hands down Jeongguk’s chest. “So beautiful, all mine. I missed you. I missed you so much—oh. Oh, that’s… oh. Keep going, please. Please, I—I need this, I…”

Jeongguk continued to sink down onto Jimin’s hard cock until he was settled comfortably in Jimin’s lap, and the moment he was, they both sighed in relief, Jeongguk slumping against Jimin’s chest. His lips picked up water droplets as he kissed along Jimin’s shoulder, rocking his hips slowly to adjust. Neither of them spoke a word. Jeongguk quietly rode Jimin as the water sloshed around even more, but that was the only sound in the room, save for Jeongguk’s constant, soft whimpers and Jimin’s little gasps of pleasure. Hands all over, fingers on each other’s soul bond marks, sweet nothings whispered back and forth, gentle kisses exchanged. The pain, sorrow, and distress seeped out of Jeongguk’s body the longer he had Jimin inside him, and Jimin couldn’t seem to stop whispering “mine” over and over again. The world outside fogged over and faded as the two of them made love in the water, Jeongguk’s eyes closed, all five of his senses overloaded. When the orgasm washed over him, it was so profoundly shattering and so beautiful that Jeongguk forgot how to breathe for a moment.

“...Jeongguk.”

“Yes,” Jeongguk whispered, thrilled at the sound of his name in his mate’s voice. He was starting to blur the habitual lines between humans and merpeople, starting to sink deeper into the headspace of having a soul bonded mate. He could feel it all, and he still couldn’t quite wrap his head around the idea that as a human, he could tap into the senses of a merman who had been alive for over three hundred years. He had yet to come to terms with being bonded to someone who loved him so purely, so completely, so fiercely, without even calling it “love.”

“Stay. Stay like this,” Jimin insisted, even though they were basking in the afterglow of an intense orgasm, Jimin still inside Jeongguk. “Please. I need this.”

“I know. Me too.” Jeongguk could feel Jimin softening inside him, could feel the cum leaking out of him, but it didn’t matter. Not when he felt like he was glowing from the inside out just from being with Jimin again. How had he been so sick earlier, and how had he healed so quickly? Surely if he cut himself and started bleeding, the wound wouldn’t heal at a rapid rate. Perhaps Jimin’s presence and their soul bond had the capability to heal emotional wounds, the ones that hurt the most.

“Jeongguk, I spoke to my pod about what happened between us upon my return. They saw my soul bond mark. I explained what I did. They now know that I’ve mated with a human.”

“Oh. Oh, God, what—what happened?” Jeongguk’s blood ran cold, but then he saw the corners of Jimin’s lips turn up in a hint of a smile.

“Because I had completed all of the rituals and now have you as my mate with no path to turn back, they could not provide much of a counter-argument,” Jimin said, slowly tracing his fingers up and down Jeongguk’s spine. “They expressed their surprise and initial displeasure, but Seokjin and Taehyung were very kind to provide their feedback in support of my decision. They are now all quite curious about you and wonder what it would be like to meet a human and speak to one.”

“Oh. Oh, that’s…”

“They would like to meet you.” Jimin confirmed Jeongguk’s suspicions about the origin of the conversation. “They want to meet my mate. They want to meet the human whose soul belongs to mine. I have assured them that I will bring you out to the water to meet them at the next new moon. Will you do that, Jeongguk? Will you meet them?”

“Of course I will.” Nerves plagued Jeongguk’s body, but he took a deep breath to regulate them. “But I’m… Jimin, I’m nervous. That makes me really… I don’t know. What if they don’t like me? What if they want to kill me?”

“They cannot kill you because you are my mate,” Jimin firmly said. “They cannot touch you, Jeongguk, unless I give my permission. You are my mate, and I am the leader. They will respect you.”

“What… What about… what did they say about you dying when I do?” Jeongguk asked meekly.

“They were unaffected,” Jimin replied. “They were able to witness my happiness, and they understood what fate had brought to me. Therefore, the others will begin to learn how to lead the pod when I am gone. There are many capable of doing so.”

“That’s… Okay. That’s a relief,” Jeongguk said with a small laugh. “But there are still so many of them, Jimin. What if they don’t like me?”

“They will like you because I do,” Jimin stated. 

Jeongguk gazed down at him in quiet adoration, and then he slipped both of his hands onto Jimin’s cheeks, fingers curling to the back of his neck, and kissed him. Jeongguk tilted his head just a little, gently taking Jimin’s bottom lip between both of his lips as Jimin’s hands settled on his thighs. Drowning in the feeling, Jeongguk licked into Jimin’s mouth and deepened the kiss, and Jimin let him do it. Months ago, Jeongguk never would have dreamed of being able to kiss Jimin like this, like humans did. But Jimin learned quickly, so quickly that he knew to nip at Jeongguk’s bottom lip, knew to massage Jeongguk’s thighs when they kissed, knew that Jeongguk liked to pause in between kisses to breathe the moment in. They kissed until the water became cold, and then they both climbed out and dressed, migrating right to the bed to cuddle.

“It’s going to be difficult,” Jeongguk said with Jimin lying on his chest. “Being apart is going to be hard. The last five days were fucking agony. I’ve never been that sick in my life.”

“We just have to adapt,” Jimin figured. “The sensations were strongest on the later days, not the first days. But if that feeling is going to linger, then I accept it. As long as I keep you as my mate, I am willing to experience that pain.”

“I am, too,” Jeongguk murmured. “As long as I can see you again.”

“Jeongguk, a few in my pod are worried,” Jimin said with honesty. “Mostly the elders. They are worried that you will expose our kind to the human world, and we will be hunted.”

“I would never. I’ll make sure they know that you’re safe, and that your kind is safe. I’ll never speak of it, and neither will my friends. They understand how important it is,” Jeongguk replied. “I actually just talked to Namjoon the other day about what would happen if the scientific community got a hold of you.”

“You told me long ago that I would be a science experiment,” Jimin recalled.

“You would be. They would take blood samples, DNA, you name it. They would run tests, lock you up, force you to do things, hunt your kind down. They would reduce you to nothing. They would say it was all in the name of science, all for the advancement of humankind. But that’s what they say whenever they destroy a rainforest or hunt an animal to extinction,” Jeongguk said with a bitter taste on his tongue. He hugged Jimin tighter. “I love you. I’ll never let them know who you are. I’ll protect you with my life.”

“Thank you, Jeongguk,” Jimin whispered. “I am not ready. My pod, my kind… we are not ready yet. I am not sure we ever will be.”

“That’s okay. It’ll be our little secret. We’ll take it to the grave,” Jeongguk murmured, smiling. 

“Together,” Jimin whispered, and Jeongguk shivered happily.

“Together.”

***

“I am relieved that the water isn’t too cold.”

“It’s a nice change,” Jeongguk said, still kissing along Jimin’s jaw and brushing his nose against Jimin’s gills affectionately. Jimin drummed his longer fingernails on Jeongguk’s back, knowing that Jeongguk had taken to the pleasant sensation when they were swimming together. They had just jumped off the dock, and now they were on their way out to meet Jimin’s pod, which Jimin had organized. He had spent another three days away before the new moon just to give them practice, and this time, Jeongguk had made it a day and a half before getting sick, which meant that he was improving—the feeling would fade eventually. The excitement, though, of seeing Jimin again would likely never fade.

“I will take you to the rocks that I took you to when we first met,” Jimin said, slowly swimming backwards with Jeongguk perched in his lap on his tail. Jeongguk was in a mood where he found Jimin’s existence to be phenomenal. He glanced behind him and looked at Jimin’s tail glittering in the water, and his heart cartwheeled happily. His soul was tethered to a merman. A merman. 

“I think I’ve mastered this whole swimming thing,” Jeongguk bragged with a grin. “I think you and I swim well together.”

“We do. We swim as mates would,” Jimin said with tenderness. “Perhaps it looks different, but I only grow fonder of you when we do.”

“Well, I’m flattered.” Jeongguk kissed Jimin firmly, and then he slipped to Jimin’s back and looped his arms through Jimin’s appropriately, gripping his right wrist in his left hand, resting his chin on Jimin’s shoulder. “I’m ready, babe.”

“Take a breath,” Jimin instructed, a habit he had gotten into the very first time they had gone swimming together when Jeongguk had requested it. Jeongguk drew in a breath, and then Jimin dove.

Over the months, Jimin seemed to have taken to swimming faster and more naturally with Jeongguk on his back or in his arms. Jeongguk had learned several ways to make his body rigid or easy to carry, and Jimin had adapted to the extra weight and had learned how to navigate the water accordingly. It was so natural to them now that they only have to communicate with a few hand gestures or taps. A year ago, Jeongguk would never have imagined that he would be adept at swimming through open water in the arms of a supposed mythical creature, but life was funny that way. His entire world had been flipped upside down.

“There it is,” Jeongguk said, out of breath but pleased as they broke the surface and Jimin slowed down. Immediately, Jimin reached around with one arm, grabbed Jeongguk by the waist, and twisted him to the front. Jeongguk naturally swung his legs and wrapped them around Jimin’s waist, locking his ankles together and draping his arms around Jimin’s neck.

“Are you okay?” Jimin asked, combing through Jeongguk’s wet hair with careful fingers a few times. His arm could circle Jeongguk’s waist fully, and Jeongguk knew that he had a relatively small waist, but it still made him feel flustered after all this time, made him feel one compliment away from blushing. No matter what form, he was so undeniably attracted to Jimin and everything Jimin could do.

“I’m okay,” Jeongguk replied, feeling like he needed to submit in a respectful way. The water was Jimin’s domain, and no matter what, Jeongguk knew that he had to listen. It was different now, as Jimin’s soul bonded mate, the way being in the water felt. As they swam, Jeongguk had been able to feel the water rippling against his skin in a heightened fashion, and he had felt Jimin’s heartbeat, had sworn he could feel Jimin breathing underwater. In a way that he could not explain, Jeongguk had been familiar with the route they had taken. He had recognized things that he hadn’t thought he would recall, and he knew that that was the bond doing its job. He knew that was all from Jimin.

“When they arrive, I will let you sit on the rocks if you want,” Jimin said. “I think it would be best so that they can see you and hear you.”

“But they can’t understand me,” Jeongguk whispered.

“Some of them do understand your language. Taehyung and Seokjin will know. A few of the elders may know. But it is important that I am with you to translate your words,” Jimin replied. “We are far enough out that wandering human eyes won’t see us, and we are close enough to where my pod has settled that we are not infringing on another pod.”

“Are other pods dangerous?” Jeongguk asked.

“Most of them are peaceful,” Jimin replied. “I feel you are asking me this because of Lee.”

“Yeah. I am.”

“Lee was from a southern pod, but he was rogue and seeking vengeance. That is a terrible combination. I know many merpeople from the southern pod. In fact, Seokjin came to us from the southern pod. He left to mate and bond with Taehyung and found more comfort with our pod. He did not know Lee, though. But you don’t have to worry.” Jimin used his knuckles to caress Jeongguk’s cheek. “I have handled the situation for you. My mate is safe. I will always protect you, my Jeongguk. Always.”

“I know. I love you,” Jeongguk said, kissing Jimin’s cheek and hugging him, using his fingernails to scratch at Jimin’s scalp gently. He felt Jimin’s tail flick happily, which made him smile, and he closed his eyes for a moment as they floated together in the water without a word spoken between them. This was peace. This was where Jeongguk could feel Jimin the most. This was where they understood each other on a level that required no speaking.

“...Jimin?” Jeongguk whispered suddenly, his eyes shooting open. “J-Jimin, what…?”

“Don’t be afraid,” Jimin said right away. “They are here to meet you, Jeongguk. Stay with me.”

Jeongguk sank a little lower until his lips were resting on Jimin’s shoulder, and he tightened his grip, feeling his pulse race. Jimin massaged his back soothingly, but Jeongguk’s eyes flicked back and forth at a rapid pace as he scanned the water. He saw movement, and his heart lurched, but then he exhaled slowly through his nose.

“Hi,” he whispered without moving his head. He stayed still with a small smile as Seokjin slowly swam a circle around them, and then Seokjin settled as Taehyung popped up and did the same. Jeongguk had studied animal behavior long enough to understand that whatever they were doing was surely just to size Jeongguk up and see him from all angles, seek comfort in the situation before approaching. Jimin had never done it, but Jeongguk figured that Jimin was the anomaly.

“Hello, Jeongguk,” Taehyung finally said, sticking by Seokjin’s side. Jeongguk wanted to respond, but then he held his breath and dug his fingers into Jimin’s skin, feeling himself tremble from the inside out as the water began to come alive around them.

“Shh, it’s okay. You’re safe with me,” Jimin soothed, rubbing Jeongguk’s back repeatedly as Jeongguk’s breathing quickened at the sight of a rippling mosaic of colors swirling around them—merpeople, dozens of them, circling Jeongguk like a predator to its prey, likely familiarizing themselves with Jeongguk’s presence and energy, surely wary of him. But in Jimin’s arms, Jeongguk was untouchable. Jimin held him tight as the water crested from the vortex of movement, and Jeongguk sucked in a breath and turned his head right into Jimin’s neck, closing his eyes as heads and eyes began to pop up to the surface. 

“Jimin, I’m scared.” He whispered his confession, but Jimin just lifted a hand and gently carded through Jeongguk’s hair, emitting a few soft clicking noises from the back of his throat. Jeongguk’s racing pulse calmed a bit, his body melting into Jimin’s as he accepted the comfort, feeling it amplified because of the soul bond.

“Don’t be scared. They’re here to see you. Look.”

Jeongguk opened his eyes, and his breath caught in his throat. Mermen and mermaids of all sizes had congregated around Seokjin and Taehyung at a decent distance, but close enough that they could get a good look at Jeongguk. Jeongguk knew now that he could not show fear, because that would make him look weak, and it would paint Jimin in an unfavorable light. At least, that was what his mind was telling him. So Jeongguk lifted his head with fake confidence, and Jimin noticed. He shifted Jeongguk to his right hip and faced the members of his pod.

They’re so beautiful. They’re absolutely stunning. I can’t believe what I’m seeing, Jeongguk thought to himself in awe. Different shapes, different sizes, different shades of blue, aqua, and turquoise on their scales in various places on their halfway form bodies… Jeongguk had never seen anything so extraordinary. He considered if his sense of wonder would increase if they were all in true form, but he knew they had chosen halfway form to accommodate for the presence of a human.

Jimin ran his palm along the surface of the water, and then he began to circle it counterclockwise. When he plunged his hand into the water, every single merman or mermaid came to attention, eyes trained on Jimin, and Jeongguk almost gasped at the wordless display of leadership.

“Jeongguk,” Jimin said loudly, gesturing to Jeongguk. “Jeongguk. Jeongguk.” He repeated Jeongguk’s name several times, introducing Jeongguk to the masses. Jeongguk heard his name in murmurs across the water, and he shivered, his heart still pounding. Jimin then said something in his own language that Jeongguk could not understand.

“What…?” Jeongguk whispered, watching as almost two dozen merpeople sank a little lower into the water, only their eyes and tops of their heads visible.

“They are showing their respect for you,” Jimin said. “I have just introduced you as my soul bonded mate. They understand that.”

“Th-They respect me?” Jeongguk whispered, stunned. “Why? Why would they…?”

“Because you are mine,” Jimin replied. “My mate is to be respected.” Then he turned and began to speak to his pod again, and Jeongguk closed his eyes to soak up the moment, wondering if it was possible for him to learn Jimin’s language someday. “They would like to speak to you and ask questions.”

“Oh. Yes, okay,” Jeongguk agreed, but then he froze. There was a mermaid swimming towards him. She was ethereal and looked quite young, her long sapphire hair disappearing into the water, her skin porcelain smooth, her face so perfectly symmetrical that she didn’t look real. Her eyes were bright blue like the daytime sky in summer, and she had scales scattered across her collarbone like a necklace. She stroked through the water and approached Jeongguk, stopping right in front of the two of them.

“This is Daeun,” Jimin whispered to Jeongguk. “I should scold her, but she is curious to a fault. I took a harpoon to my tail to save her. That is how I met you.”

“Oh,” Jeongguk breathed as Daeun slowly cocked her head to the side, staring at Jeongguk. Intrigued, Jeongguk glided his hand over the water, and then he flipped his palm up as water ran through his fingers. Daeun watched in fascination, so Jeongguk extended his hand further, silently encouraging her to come forward. Daeun swam forward and set her hand palm down on top of Jeongguk’s, inhaling sharply when they touched. Her fingers inched forward and settled right over the pulse point on his wrist, and she stared at Jeongguk in amazement.

“Hello,” Jeongguk said, and Daeun yanked her hand away, startled. They’re more scared of me than I am of them, Jeongguk thought to himself. Any one of the merpeople in front of him had the potential to rip Jeongguk’s throat out, but Jimin was his protector. That meant that these merpeople feared Jeongguk, not the other way around.

Daeun reached her hand out again, curious, and Jeongguk smiled and offered his hand. Immediately, Daeun grabbed him by the wrist, and Jimin hissed at her in warning. Daeun glanced at Jimin, but then she examined Jeongguk’s hand, her brow furrowed. And then, just as Jimin had done all those months ago, she reached between Jeongguk’s fingers and pinched the skin, looking for webbing that did not exist.

“Ouch,” Jeongguk said just for a reaction, and Daeun dove backwards and disappeared so quickly that Jeongguk stifled a laugh. Then, suddenly, there was a flurry of speaking. Jeongguk could not understand a single word, and it all sounded like hissing and clicking and throat noises. Jimin joined in, and then he began to swim with Jeongguk until they reached the rocks. Carefully, he hoisted Jeongguk up so that Jeongguk was sitting on the edge of the rocks, legs dangling into the water.

“I am right here,” Jimin assured Jeongguk, and Jeongguk gasped and pressed his palms into the rocks as all the merpeople soared forward in interest, gathering around the rock, some of them resting their elbows on it, tails swishing under the water. Jeongguk wanted nothing more than to capture the moment of film forever, because he had never witnessed anything so spectacular. He was on display for all to see, so he straightened up proudly, knowing that the soul bond mark on his chest was very visible and very prominent.

“Many of them would like to know what your intention is with a mate that is not human,” Jimin said to Jeongguk, elbows on the rocks between Jeongguk’s legs. Jeongguk swallowed the lump in his throat.

“I… I don’t really know what to say. My intention is to love you until the day we die. I’m not sure what else I can say,” he replied. “Um, I… yeah. My intention is to love you and care for you and be a part of your world and appreciate it, and to protect you from harm. That’s it.”

Jimin nodded, and then he turned and relayed the message. There seemed to be a general air of approval, because Jimin asked the next question.

“They know that you have healed me, and that you have healed Seokjin and Taehyung. They want to know where you received your knowledge and how you knew what to do.”

“I studied,” Jeongguk said, finding the courage to look away from Jimin as he spoke to address the masses. “I went to a special place to study marine life. I help heal animals every day. I didn’t know exactly what to do to heal Jimin or Taehyung or Seokjin. I only did the best I could.”

The questions continued along the same times, and the more Jeongguk spoke, the more the merpeople converged. Eventually, several of them asked Jimin if they could touch Jeongguk, and Jimin gave his permission only if Jeongguk agreed, which Jeongguk found endearing. So Jeongguk offered his hands, let one very tiny mermaid examine his feet, slipped into the water so he could show an elder (according to Jimin) his teeth. Jimin quietly said that this was the first time any of them had ever seen a human alive and up close without the intent to lure and kill.

“When we approach humans to lure them, our view is very different. We do not see peace or a potential conversation. We only see a meal,” Jimin explained as one young merman turned Jeongguk’s hand over in his own curiously, Jeongguk still floating in Jimin’s arms. “So to have a human so willing to be examined and so kind… it is new for us. You’re very special, Jeongguk. My heart feels so happy that I have you as my mate.”

“I love you,” Jeongguk whispered, and then he pressed a soft kiss to Jimin’s lips. Immediately, about five or six merpeople lunged with noises of interest, and Jeongguk stifled a laugh. “Is it interesting to them that we kiss?”

“Fascinating,” Jimin confirmed. “They have only ever seen kissing amongst soul bonded mates, and in our pod, that is just Seokjin and Taehyung and another bonded pair of elders. Kissing a human, though, is quite extraordinary.”

“I should kiss you more,” Jeongguk whispered with another little laugh, because he finally felt comfortable. Minutes ago, when he had shown them all that he could swim, they had all panicked, apparently demanding that Jimin save him, but Jimin had hissed at them to leave Jeongguk be so that Jeongguk could prove he was capable. They had been utterly amazed at the human capacity to float, swim, and dive in the water. But of course, there had been expected comments about how Jeongguk’s human body was ill-equipped to survive for long in the water, to which Jeongguk agreed.

So of course, that had led to requests to see how Jimin swam with Jeongguk, and once Jimin demonstrated, most of the young mermaids and mermen swarmed, asking if Jeongguk could swim with them. Jimin was not pleased and Jeongguk noticed, so Jeongguk recommended that perhaps he could swim alongside them for a little instead. This idea was pleasing for everyone, and Jeongguk played around with the younger ones, doing flips under the water for their entertainment. 

There was a general fascination with the soul bond and the soul bond mark, many members of the pod fascinated that the bond had worked. Some asked if Jeongguk had their blood or DNA flowing through his veins, which Jeongguk vehemently denied. Instead, he explained that he was certain it was simply because they both had souls and shared intentions. Jimin had searched the water for centuries with no luck, only finding the one his soul called for on land. Jeongguk did his best to explain the connection he felt with Jimin, but it didn’t take much—they understood quickly and showed their appreciation for it.

“They are pleased that they had the opportunity to meet you,” Jimin translated. “And many of them are hoping that they will get to see you again. They want you to join a hunt. I believe I can accommodate and bring you along one day soon. Several of the mermaids are curious as to whether or not you would help with the birthing process, seeing as you are a capable healer. I have said that I will allow you to decide.”

“That would be amazing,” Jeongguk breathed. “That—wow. Yeah, someday. That’s… Jimin, they really…” Jeongguk hugged Jimin tightly. “They really accepted me. They don’t want to kill me. Are you sure you’re translating all of this right? I—I can’t believe...”

“You are part of our pod now, Jeongguk,” Jimin said. “As my mate, you have earned your place. After becoming acquainted, they have all just sworn to protect you. You have me, but now you will always have your pod to look after you in the water now.”

“Will you tell them that I said thank you?” Jeongguk whispered. “Tell them that I’m grateful. Tell them I won’t let them down, that I’ll always protect you and protect them from harm.”

Jimin relayed the sentiment, and Jeongguk watched as it was received with the same gratitude with which it was given. When the members of the pod all began to sink underneath the water and vanish, Jeongguk rested his head on Jimin’s shoulder, blinking owlishly, trying to reason with what he had just experienced.

“Hello.”

“Oh. Hi,” Jeongguk said with a smile, opening his eyes to see Taehyung floating right in front of him.

“Jimin told us that you offered him eight fish,” Taehyung said. “And that you gave him the shark tooth that he wears around his neck.”

“I did. Thank you for your help,” Jeongguk said, glancing over at Seokjin as well. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you both.”

“The other humans you were with,” Seokjin started, and then his brow furrowed. “Interesting creatures. Their energy was… chaotic.”

“I wish you could understand how funny that is to me,” Jeongguk said with a grin. “But I know exactly what you mean, so yes. Chaotic is a good way to describe it. They’re really nice people, though. I would love for you to meet them properly someday. I think you would like them as much as you like me. That is, if you actually like me.”

Seokjin and Taehyung exchanged a look, and then they simultaneously turned back to Jeongguk.

“We like you,” Taehyung declared. “You are the exception. We cannot guarantee that we would like the other humans.”

“They are all pleasant company,” Jimin chimed in. “I will take Jeongguk back home now.”

“We will see you soon,” Taehyung said, surging forward. Even with Jeongguk in his arms, Jimin managed to turn his body and press his forehead to Taehyung’s, eyes closed, noses brushing affectionately. Taehyung then sank underneath the water, and Jeongguk saw him take Seokjin by the elbow in a flourish of shades of blue before they disappeared.

“I will take you home now,” Jimin said, and Jeongguk kissed his cheek, resting his forehead against Jimin’s temple for a moment and breathing in deeply. He felt Jimin’s tail flicking, and then he curled up and wrapped around the two of them protectively. Jeongguk dropped his head, eyes closed, and let the faint sound of Jimin’s heartbeat in his ears lull him as the water rocked the two of them steadily.

He was already home.

***

The soul bond settled, just like Jeongguk had expected. As spring began to fade into summer, Jimin began to learn how to split his time properly between land and sea, and the more they practiced, the more the agony disintegrated. Jeongguk had made the suggestion that Jimin try leaving at sunrise and returning at sunset, almost like he was going to work. And one day each week, Wednesdays, Jimin tagged along to the MMRC so that he could be with Jeongguk all day long. On Jeongguk’s day off, the first thing they did together upon waking up was get into the water, granting Jimin the chance to swim with his mate to satisfy the need for it. 

It was one warm, breezy day in July that Jeongguk had an idea while lying in bed contemplating the progress of his relationship. Jimin had just kissed him goodbye and the sun was rising, and the full moon was on its way. Jimin would be gone for a week, and Jeongguk already felt lonely. But then he scrolled through social media and saw Namjoon’s post—a picture of Namjoon and Yoongi with their two dogs, Holly and Monie. 

I should get a puppy.

Jeongguk had always considered a dog. Growing up, his parents had had a dog, but the dog had passed away several years ago, and though his parents had gotten a new dog a few months later, Jeongguk had never met it, since he didn’t communicate much with his parents. So now that he was in a committed and loving relationship with a stable job and steady income, a dog seemed like a good next step. It would also be a brand new experience for Jimin, something that Jeongguk was constantly seeking for his mate. So Jeongguk started doing his research, immersing himself in the idea for the entire day before deciding that a visit to the shelter was in order.

Two days later, Jeongguk was the proud owner of a two-week-old male maltese poodle with auburn fur, and he promptly named the puppy Nemo. Nemo enjoyed peeing around the house for about five days, but now he was getting the hang of using the little doggy door Jeongguk had installed with Yoongi’s help. Nemo was small enough for Jeongguk to hold in one hand, and he was excitable and loving, enjoyed being a lapdog already and often whined until he was lying on the bed while Jeongguk slept. Having Nemo around was a fantastic distraction for Jeongguk from the constant aching pain in his chest, and he had talked himself out of being sick in favor of taking Nemo for a walk last night.

Jimin would be back soon, and there was every chance that he had never seen a dog before in his life. Namjoon had already laughed at the thought of Jimin hating the dog, which Yoongi had echoed.

“But Nemo will grow on him. Watch—he’ll love Jimin more than you,” Yoongi said, and Jeongguk was thoroughly prepared for such an occurrence.

Jimin returned just before sunset on a Friday night.

“Jeongguk?”

“Hey, you’re back! I—oh. Look out, sorry,” Jeongguk said right away before he reached Jimin, who had just walked through the backdoor. Nemo beat him there, though, sprinting from his perch by the kitchen to greet the newcomer. Jimin didn’t yell or scream like any other human would. Instead, he dove for the couch, leapt onto it, and crouched in a ball, scooting back and away as far as he could. Luckily for him, Nemo was too small and could not jump onto the couch yet, so instead, Nemo resorted to rising up on his hind legs, paws pressed into the cushion, little tail wagging, tongue out as he barked excitedly at Jimin.

“What is that?” Jimin said, refusing to move, eyes round in shock. “What is that creature? How is it making that sound? What—Jeongguk? Jeongguk, what is this?”

“It’s a dog.” Jeongguk grinned.

“A what?”

“A dog. It’s a puppy, actually. He’s only eight weeks old,” Jeongguk explained, and then he scooped Nemo up in one hand easily. Jimin let out a low, guttural noise that hinted at a hiss, leaning away as Jeongguk sat down on the couch beside him. Nemo wiggled, but he couldn’t escape Jeongguk’s grip. “His name is Nemo. He’s our new puppy.”

“Our new puppy?” Jimin repeated faintly. “You—You own him?”

“Yes. He’s our pet,” Jeongguk replied, scratching Nemo’s head. “He was rescued at birth, brand new to the world, and I happened to go to the animal shelter at the right time. So Nemo will be living here now.”

“I don’t think I like him,” Jimin said, blunt as ever.

“Why not?”

“Because I do not understand what he is, and I do not understand his function.”

“He’s just a puppy, Jimin,” Jeongguk said with a laugh. “He’s here to be a companion. We can play with him and take care of him and love him. Do you want to pet him? His fur is really soft.”

“I don’t think I like him,” Jimin repeated as if his words would dismiss Nemo’s existence entirely, and Jeongguk tried not to laugh harder.

“Okay, tell you what. Just hold him for a minute. Pet him and see what you think. If you really don’t like him, then I’ll give him to Hoseok, or to Namjoon and Yoongi. But I think you’ll like him if you give him a chance.”

“I think you should hold him while I pet him,” Jimin said warily, eyeing Nemo with suspicious eyes. Poor Nemo just sat in Jeongguk’s arms, panting, his little tongue hanging out happily. Carefully, Jeongguk scooted closer, and Jimin went rigid for a moment, like he was throwing up a protective shield in defense of a harmless, enthusiastic puppy. Jeongguk then used one hand to pet Nemo’s head to show Jimin how it was done, scratching behind his ears. Jimin hesitated, but then he lifted just his pointer finger, reached forward, and tapped Nemo on the head with it. Jeongguk almost choked trying not to laugh, giving Jimin some time to adjust to a likely startling situation. Jimin took a deep breath, and then he used that finger to gently stroke the top of Nemo’s head from front to back. Nemo tilted his head upward, trying to locate Jimin’s finger to probably gnaw on it or lick it, and Jimin pulled away instantly.

“See? He likes you,” Jeongguk said, but Jimin was not convinced.

“I will use my whole hand now like you did,” he decided, and Jeongguk nodded. Jimin then used his hand to gently stroke Nemo’s auburn fur, and Nemo accepted the display of affection. Jimin visibly relaxed after that, to Jeongguk’s relief. “Will he attack or kill me? Is he a predator?”

“No, baby, he’s not a predator. He has teeth, but he won’t bite,” Jeongguk replied, still smiling. “I’m training him to be very gentle.”

“Okay. He’s fast, though. And he has four legs. Why does he have four legs?”

“That’s just how many legs dogs have,” Jeongguk replied. “He has a tail, though, look.”

“Oh. I also have a tail.”

“Yes, you do. This is a little different, though.”

“It’s a furry tail.”

“It is.”

“Dogs are very strange creatures,” Jimin determined, and Jeongguk chuckled.

“They’re really great pets. They’re very affectionate. Here, look.” Jeongguk carefully set Nemo into his lap and released his hold, and Nemo’s response was automatic—he climbed right over Jeongguk’s thigh and face-planted onto the couch cushion before crawling into Jimin’s lap, panting. Jimin stayed perfectly still, looking quite alarmed, and then Nemo crouched and began to lick Jimin’s hand.

“Jeongguk, it’s licking me.”

“Yes, he’s licking you,” Jeongguk confirmed, grinning.

“Why is Nemo licking me?”

“Because he likes you.”

“Is that what animals do when they like you?” Jimin wondered. “Because I like you, and I do not lick you. Should I start licking you?”

“No,” Jeongguk said as he burst out laughing, falling sideways into the couch. “No, please don’t lick me. Also, you always say that you’re some kind of animal, but you’re not to me. So stop that.”

“Okay. But I still do not understand why he is licking my hands. This is very odd. May I communicate with him?” Jimin asked, and Jeongguk swore his poor heart was going to give out on him.

“Go for it.”

“Okay. Hello, Nemo. I am Jimin,” Jimin said as Nemo fumbled in his lap, staring up at his owner curiously as Jimin spoke. “You are a dog. I am a merman. Jeongguk is human. We are all different, but I think that it would be best if you stopped licking us. Also, I don’t think I like you very much, but I will try because my mate seems to like you.”

Nemo was unimpressed; he climbed onto Jimin’s thigh and rose up on his hind legs to press his paws to Jimin’s bare chest, and then he slid a little. Jimin hissed and snatched Nemo up, holding him at arm’s length, because Nemo’s paw had come dangerously close to Jimin’s soul bond mark. Nemo squirmed and barked, and Jimin glanced over at Jeongguk with such a look of confused disgust that Jeongguk burst out laughing again and almost fell off the couch to the floor.

“I don’t understand why it is so loud and furry,” Jimin stated. “Do humans like these creatures?”

“Yes. We love dogs.” Jeongguk took Nemo from Jimin’s hands and cradled him carefully. “So, what do you think? Can I keep him?”

“Well, I can see that you like him,” Jimin said, approaching the situation logically. “I think that I may want nothing to do with him, but I suppose he won’t do any harm to be in your house. He will be your companion when I am away. So I am okay with you keeping him.”

“You’ll learn to love him,” Jeongguk promised as he kissed Jimin’s cheek, but Jimin was not convinced.

Regardless, Nemo did his absolute best, and by best, Jeongguk assumed his worst. For days, Nemo wandered the house and trailed after Jimin curiously, and Jimin kept stopping dead in his tracks to stare at the dog, and then at Jeongguk. Jeongguk said nothing and just let it happen, wondering if Jimin was catching onto the fact that Nemo seemed to be accepting Jimin as his master and not Jeongguk. When it came time for Jeongguk to work on Nemo’s training, such as “sit” and “paw” and “stay,” Nemo refused to listen and instead just barked or fooled around. When Jeongguk asked Jimin to stand beside him and repeat the same commands, the tables turned. Nemo sat right at Jimin’s feet and stared up at him, waiting for the next command to come out of Jimin’s mouth.

“I knew he’d like you better,” Jeongguk grumbled. Jimin just patted Nemo’s head awkwardly and then tried to escape, but Nemo skidded on the wooden floor excitedly to follow Jimin wherever he went.

Jimin was right about companionship, though; when he left for a three-day hunt, Jeongguk spent most of his time (when he was not at work) cuddling Nemo close to him, petting him absentmindedly, bringing him on walks to the beach. It was Nemo who, three days later, started barking wildly at the backdoor and then flew out the doggy door and down the dock as fast as his little legs could carry him.

“Knew it,” Jeongguk muttered again, his heart soaring as he watched Jimin, still soaking wet, pull on a pair of shorts and stand there motionless as Nemo yipped and hopped around his ankles. It took a moment, but Jimin finally bent to pat Nemo, only for Nemo to flip onto his back and ask for belly scratches. Instead, Jimin just picked him up with two hands and carried him to the house, holding him at arm’s length like Nemo was infected.

“The dog has greeted me instead of you,” Jimin noticed, and Jeongguk smiled. He pulled Jimin close to him, Nemo between them, and kissed him several times, using a free hand to massage against the mark on Jimin’s chest.

“He’s just faster,” Jeongguk whispered. “I’ll always be here to greet my beautiful mate.”

Not to Jeongguk’s surprise, Yoongi’s prediction turned out to be right—Nemo favored Jimin, to Jimin’s immense initial displeasure. But as August began to fade away, Jeongguk came home from work one evening to find Jimin sitting cross-legged on the couch with Nemo in his lap. He was holding a book in one hand and petting Nemo with the other, and it looked like they had been in that position for a while. Jeongguk snapped several pictures to capture the moment, his heart swelling, and Jimin looked up at him.

“...I guess he is not so bad,” Jimin said, and Jeongguk laughed, falling onto the couch beside the love of his life and cuddling in.

mood: “lag fyrir ömmu” by ólafur arlands

Jimin learned about birthdays when Jeongguk’s birthday came around in September. He sat quietly and watched as Hoseok, Yoongi, and Namjoon presented Jeongguk with gifts at their little dinner gathering, and he stared with wide eyes when they sang “Happy Birthday” to Jeongguk. What Jimin hadn’t told Jeongguk was that he had planned a surprise visit. Knowing that birthdays were special to humans, Jimin had told Seokjin and Taehyung to show up to Jeongguk’s dock to offer their congratulations.

“You know, most humans use hair dye to achieve that color,” Yoongi said to Taehyung. He, Namjoon, and Hoseok were all sitting on the edge of the dock with their legs dangling near the shallowest part of the water by the shore. Taehyung and Seokjin had swum all the way up to the shoreline and were sitting in water up to their waists, tails concealed. Jimin had remained in human form to sit curled up in Jeongguk’s lap as Jeongguk sat on the dock near his friends, and Nemo was lying down by Jeongguk’s side, head resting on his paws.

“What is hair dye?” Taehyung asked.

“It’s this special stuff that you put into your hair so that it changes colors,” Yoongi explained. “My hair isn’t this color. My hair is the same color as Jeongguk’s hair, but I used hair dye.”

“Oh. I was born with this hair,” Taehyung replied.

“How old are you?” Hoseok chimed in.

“We do not measure time as humans do,” Seokjin said, his fin flicking out of the water for a moment.

“By best estimation, Taehyung has aged as much as I have,” Jimin supplied. “I can guess it’s been just over three centuries. Seokjin is older, perhaps almost four centuries.”

“But you all look so young,” Namjoon said, brow furrowing.

“Yes. Once we reach our full maturity and grow to our full potential, we maintain this appearance until death,” Seokjin explained, staring up at Namjoon. “We live for a very long time until our hearts stop beating. The water is our life source.”

“God, imagine,” Yoongi murmured. “Imagine living that long and never going grey.”

“Yah, Jeongguk, imagine celebrating your three hundredth birthday,” Hoseok said with a grin, nudging Jeongguk’s arm. “You’d be sick of cake by then.”

“I’d be sick of you by then,” Jeongguk sighed, still gently rubbing Jimin’s soul bond mark as Jimin nuzzled into him, quietly whimpering mouthing at Jeongguk’s neck in response, oblivious to the entire conversation. Hoseok, Yoongi, and Namjoon all laughed, and that was when Seokjin looked at Taehyung.

“I do not understand what they’re saying, but let’s laugh,” he suggested, and immediately, Jeongguk let out a shout to stop them, still laughing.

“You two don’t even know how to laugh,” he pointed out, amused. “Don’t worry about it. We’re just making terrible human jokes.”

“Humor is an interesting concept to me,” Seokjin said. “I would like to learn more about humor.”

“I’ll teach you,” Yoongi casually offered. “I’ll give you an entire repertoire of dad jokes that won’t be funny to anyone. Then you’ll know you’ve mastered humor.”

Jeongguk smiled as he watched everyone converse, because never in his lifetime had he pictured such a scene on his birthday—three mermen, four humans, one puppy, one shared experience. Jimin, Taehyung, and Seokjin lacked understanding of so many human concepts, just as the four humans lacked basic understanding of anything related to merpeople, but all of them understood what it meant to love, even if it looked different. They all knew how to protect and how to care, and that was the premise of being alive. They all knew.

“Jeongguk?”

“What is it, baby?” Jeongguk whispered. It was nearly five in the morning, but he and Jimin had been up all night so far, because Jimin had asked to have sex once, and it had escalated into a total of three rounds. Jeongguk’s mind was blissfully hazy and he was sated and sleepy, and Jimin’s voice felt like a lullaby.

“We have Nemo.”

“Yes, we have Nemo,” Jeongguk said. Nemo was fast asleep in his little bed on the floor on Jimin’s side.

“You told me one time that taking care of Nemo is like taking care of a very small human. A child.”

“Yeah, it has some similarities,” Jeongguk agreed.

“Neither of us has a capability to reproduce,” Jimin said, propping up on one elbow with his other hand pressed to the mark of Jeongguk’s chest. “Does that make you sad?”

“Not really.” Jeongguk reached up and carded his fingers through Jimin’s soft hair. “I know that we can’t reproduce. That’s okay.”

“Would you ever want to care for a newborn?”

“What?” Jeongguk’s fingers froze as he raised his eyebrows. “A newborn?”

“Yes. A newborn mermaid or merman,” Jimin replied, tracing Jeongguk’s mark with two fingers. “When the mermaids in our pod bear offspring, the newborn imprints on the first living being it sees. If the newborn sees you first, a human, then it will imprint on you and attach and bond to you. Then it could form a half-imprint on me.”

“Jimin, what…?”

“So if you ever wanted the opportunity to care for a newborn and watch it grow, it is available to you,” Jimin said, and Jeongguk’s heart cartwheeled. “The offspring could learn of life in the water with me, and then it could learn about human life from you.”

“You… You’d be okay with that?” Jeongguk whispered in disbelief. “I—I thought that merpeople didn’t trust humans.”

“They trust you.”

“But that’s—Jimin, that’s a huge responsibility,” Jeongguk pointed out.

“It is. But I have been thinking about it for a long time now, ever since we soul bonded,” Jimin confessed. “I have always considered what would happen if we were able to create a link between merpeople and humans. I know that our bond has created a link, but I have been alive for a very long time. I often lack understanding of the human condition.”

“But… But if we took a newborn merman or mermaid and raised it to be part of both worlds…” Jeongguk began.

“Yes. Although humans are very fickle and untrustworthy, you have proven that there are exceptions,” Jimin said with fondness. “I have learned so much because of my bond with you, and I wish that I could impart all of that knowledge to those in my pod, but also other merpeople. I fear I do not have the capacity.”

“But if… if we raise a newborn with knowledge of both worlds, that could change everything,” Jeongguk whispered. “There would be someone who understood both sides, someone with experiences on land and at sea.”

“Yes. And selfishly, I believe it would give you the chance to be a father,” Jimin said, and Jeongguk’s heart lurched. Weeks ago, he had made an off-handed joking comment about Nemo being his only chance at being a father, but it seemed that it had stuck with Jimin. “I want my mate to have everything he wants. I want you to be happy, Jeongguk. Therefore, I am letting you know that the opportunity is there if you are ever interested.”

“Thank you,” Jeongguk whispered, his eyes burning as he hugged Jimin close to him. “Thank you so much. I love you.”

“I know.”

Jeongguk dozed off soon thereafter. He expected Jimin to be gone when he woke up to spend the day in the water, but well past sunrise, Jimin was still lying by his side when Jeongguk awoke. When Jeongguk asked why he was still here, he just responded with a soft smile.

“I couldn’t bear to leave my mate sleeping so peacefully. I will go now that you are awake.”

Jeongguk shuffled out of bed and brushed his teeth with Jimin by his side, and then he followed Jimin right out the backdoor and down the dock, listening to Nemo’s distant barks because Jeongguk had locked the doggy door to give them some peace. He held Jimin’s hand tightly, the dazzling sunlight reflecting across the water, a light breeze blowing through that hinted at autumn’s early arrival.

“Will you be gone long?” Jeongguk asked, turning to Jimin and pulling him in to hold. His left arm was around Jimin’s waist, right hand coming up to Jimin’s cheek, thumb brushing against soft skin. Jimin’s hands settled on Jeongguk’s hips, and Jeongguk leaned down to kiss him.

“No,” Jimin said, seeking another kiss that Jeongguk granted. “The next time I will be away for an extended duration will be when we migrate soon. But I will fight back through the cold water to be with you.”

“My hero,” Jeongguk whispered, and then he pressed his lips to Jimin’s again, deepening the kiss and savoring the moment, feeling the way that the two of them glowed brighter than the sun that was shining down on them. Untouchable. Shrouded in love. Jeongguk should have known the day that he found Jimin on the beach that his life would never be the same. The stars had aligned for them; fate had woven them together, their souls tangled for eternity, and Jeongguk could not imagine a single moment without the one he loved most by his side. Maybe one day there would be consequences. Maybe one day the sandcastle they had built together would meet the ocean waves. Maybe one day Jeongguk would have to fight for his life to protect Jimin. Or maybe, just maybe, the universe would move for them and safeguard the love they had found with one another.

“Jeongguk?”

“Jimin,” Jeongguk whispered in response, and he saw Jimin smile as he pulled away. Then, standing on the edge of the dock where he had once always said goodbye, he extended his hand.

“Come swim with me.”

~ ~ ~

60 years later

mood: “undone” by ólafur arnalds (listen to the words in the first minute, and then read)

When the early summer sun began to rise on the sea just beyond the rocks, Jimin could see a galaxy of stars on the watery surface. If the rising sunlight was angled just right, it cast a luminescent glimmer onto the ebbing and flowing water, and it bled right into the watercolor sky where the sea met the horizon.

This was where Jimin found his home.

“Watch your step.”

“I always do. Aren’t you going to take your shoes off?”

“I considered taking them off five minutes ago, but I knew you would scold me,” Jimin said, and then he gripped Jeongguk’s hand tighter as they both slipped out of their shoes just shy of the sand, eyeing the formations in the distance. Jimin bent and scooped up both pairs of sandals, and Jeongguk scoffed.

“You always do that like I can’t bend over,” he complained, and Jimin smiled.

“You always try to prove to me that you can do anything. Allow me to at least pick up our shoes. Come.”

They walked together through the shallow sand, a slower pace, the sea breeze sweeping through their hair, a few birds soaring by overhead. Jimin paused by tugging on Jeongguk’s hand, and then he turned and lifted his hand to run his fingers through Jeongguk’s soft silver and grey hair to fix it, smiling fondly. Then he scooted forward and wrapped his arms around Jeongguk’s slender waist, hugging him tightly and resting his head against Jeongguk’s shoulder. He had been in Jeongguk’s arms thousands of times, and it still felt brand new to Jimin. There would never be a physical sensation to rival having his mate’s heart pressed to his own.

“I thought we were going to our rock,” Jeongguk said, and Jimin could hear the smile in his voice. Jeongguk’s voice had changed over the years with age and wisdom, but Jimin was just as enamored as he had been so long ago, always fascinated by what his human could do. When Jeongguk spoke now, it was a bit slower, with careful consideration, his voice deeper. Sometimes he paused to catch his breath or think about his next words. But he was so lovely and so wise, so Jeongguk, and that was all that mattered.

“We are. But we are here because this day is special for us,” Jimin said. “Tell me why it is special, Jeongguk.”

“You know why it’s special, darling.”

“I do. I just like to hear you speak about it,” Jimin replied right away, closing his eyes. As Jeongguk spoke, he felt the vibrations from Jeongguk’s chest mix with his heartbeat, and it was so soothing.

“I found you on the beach sixty years ago today, just up there. Frightened and injured. I was so young then, so naïve. But I remember it all like it happened yesterday,” Jeongguk said in a gentle voice that felt like the calling of the sea now to Jimin—solace. Familiar. Comforting. Home. “I ran like my life depended on it. I carried you, fully grown in your halfway form, and thought nothing of it. To have that strength again… it was the adrenaline. I’m sure of it.”

“Perhaps it was adrenaline. But you were younger then,” Jimin agreed. “You carried me and saved my life. You healed me and taught me so much.”

“I could carry you now.”

“I do not doubt that you could,” Jimin said, and Jeongguk chuckled.

“Your faith in me is misplaced, but thank you,” he said, kissing the top of Jimin’s head. “Let’s go sit.”

In comfortable silence, they walked together down the beach to a low, flat rock that they had claimed twenty years ago as their own rock. Jeongguk had chosen it after one of his runs along the beach, and Jimin could still remember sitting on the rock while watching Jeongguk jog along the beach. He often lamented about being nearly ninety-years-old now and unable to run as well as he used to (he liked to go for a little jog every now and then), but he was still completely mobile and lively and active. He still swam with Jimin when the water was the right temperature. His posture was still impeccable. His mind was sharp, and his laughter was medicine for Jimin. He wore glasses constantly now, but Jimin found his mate beautiful no matter what. Jeongguk looked different than he had all those years ago. His skin had wrinkles in it and his hands were rough, but he was the brightest sunrise and the loveliest sunset in Jimin’s eyes. Some nights, Jeongguk swore in confidence that the reason he was still so youthful and coherent at his old age was because of his soul bond to Jimin. Jimin had yet to think of a counterargument.

“The water looks beautiful today,” Jeongguk commented as they slowly sat down on the rock together, still hand-in-hand. Jimin immediately swung his legs up and over Jeongguk’s lap, and Jeongguk hugged them close to him, watching as Jeongguk traced the smooth skin of Jimin’s hand in a nonsensical pattern. Jimin knew he hadn’t changed one bit in appearance. He looked the same as he had sixty years ago, and Jeongguk had been making jokes for upwards of forty years now about still having a hot, young boyfriend. The jokes were a bit lost on Jimin, but they made his mate smile and laugh, and nothing was more satisfying.

“It was very responsive when I was out hunting yesterday,” Jimin recollected. “It’s the start of the warm season, though, so the energy is high.”

“You always say it’s highest on my birthday,” Jeongguk said, and Jimin nodded.

“That is when the sea truly comes alive. Perhaps it is celebrating you.”

“That would be nice of it.”

They sat in silence together, Jimin resting his hand on Jeongguk’s chest over his soul bond mark, eyes closed as he drowned in the pulsating love that Jeongguk was radiating on purpose, probably because he wasn’t speaking. They had learned so much about each other over the years, especially how to communicate without a word. The water rolled up to the shore only to be dragged back out. Constant, unchanging, forever. It was a heartbeat to Jimin. It was a reminder to Jeongguk.

“Each year on this anniversary, I think of my own mortality,” Jeongguk stated, and Jimin opened his eyes. “I’ve never really talked to you about it, but I’ll be ninety in September, Jimin. It’s on my mind often these days.”

“Your mortality is what makes you human,” Jimin reminded him. “Please embrace it.”

“I feel a lot of sadness,” Jeongguk admitted. “Because I know that our time together is coming to a close, and there’s nothing I can do about it. We’ve done so much, but at the same time, it feels like we’ve done so little. I don’t know how much longer I have left in this body, Jimin.”

“I’m ready whenever you are,” Jimin whispered in simple terms, closing his eyes again. He was. He was ready to go whenever Jeongguk was. There was nothing stopping either one of them. Jimin was so fulfilled in this lifetime that he would be quite happy to move on when the time inevitably came. There was a pause, and then Jeongguk hugged him tighter as Jimin nuzzled into his mate’s chest with a smile.

“You are?” Jeongguk asked, sounding emotional.

“Yes. I don’t want you to feel sad,” Jimin said. “Our time together is coming to a close, yes. I can feel it just as you can. But I also feel overwhelmed with happiness at the thought. Tell me why, Jeongguk. Tell me.”

“Because our souls will leave these bodies together,” Jeongguk said, gently running his hand up and down Jimin’s thigh. He knew the response. “And reunite someday in new bodies. You and I will always find one another. And now that I’m saying it out loud, I feel better.” He chuckled. “That’s all it takes sometimes. I just need reassurance. I think what I fear most is that we won’t be together when I die.”

“Don’t be afraid of that,” Jimin replied. “Besides, you will need to go first so that I can bring us both to the water before I die.”

“I know.” Jeongguk laughed again. “Nothing like planning your own death on a beautiful May morning.”

“Well, we haven’t discussed it in quite some time,” Jimin said. “And you need reassurance. That is okay. I will always be with you, my Jeongguk. You love me very much, as you’ve taught me to love you. Our minds are separate from our souls, but you would be surprised at the memories that the soul can hold.”

“Is that so?” Jeongguk shifted Jimin slightly on his lap. “Do you suppose that when we return to this Earth in different bodies, we will remember?”

“I have seen it happen before. It is not that far-fetched,” Jimin replied. “Do you still feel sadness in this moment?”

“...No,” Jeongguk replied after contemplation. Jimin smiled and lifted his head, and then he glanced up at Jeongguk. All the wrinkle and lines on his face, the relentless sparkle in his brown eyes, the way he looked at Jimin as if Jimin held the answers to the questions of the universe. In adoration, Jimin lifted his pointer finger and brushed it over the mole beneath Jeongguk’s bottom lip, and then he kissed Jeongguk softly.

“I told you long ago that death is only the beginning,” Jimin recalled. “I hope you take comfort in that, Jeongguk. This is my first lifetime. It is also yours. We are both brand new souls. We have so much to look forward to, so much more to experience. And we will do it together.”

“We’ll do it together until the end of the world, just like you told me when we first soul bonded,” Jeongguk recalled. “You really are magnificent. I tell you all the time, but in moments like these when I’m second guessing myself, I’m just reminded of it. Of how much I love you. Of the life we built together. Of how we changed the world together. I think about Nina a lot when I’m feeling this way, of how much I love her, how much I’ll miss her. But I’m learning to find peace.”

“Our Nina will be okay. Finding peace is very important,” Jimin whispered, suddenly reflecting back as Jeongguk was doing. Jimin had never thought it was possible to feel as though he had conquered the world, but with Jeongguk by his side, everything had changed. They had renovated Jeongguk’s cottage together. Jimin had swum to Japan to meet Jeongguk for countless vacations. Jeongguk had gone deep sea diving just to spend time with Jimin underwater. Jimin had spent thirty years working as a volunteer with the MMRC, quietly working with marine life and becoming an invaluable asset to the team—countless dives, a diagnosis here and there, being by Jeongguk’s side. And then quitting and fading into the background when Jeongguk felt people would get suspicious that Jimin wasn’t aging. 

In that time, because of their bond, they had worked together to bring about some kind of positive change to blur the separation lines between species. Jeongguk had even helped Jimin spread the idea amongst his kind of a naming ritual at birth instead of by initiative killing for all merpeople. And now, merpeople had a long-term link to the human world, and it wasn’t Jeongguk or Jimin.

Fifty-five years ago, Jeongguk had agreed to Jimin’s proposal of allowing a newborn to imprint on Jeongguk, and the newborn mermaid had done just that. She had imprinted intensely onto Jeongguk and had formed an immediate bond, and Jimin could still recall with fondness the way Jeongguk had cried while holding her in human form for the first time. Nina (Jeongguk’s choice for a name, and the first merperson to ever receive a name from a human not through a ritualistic killing) had used Jimin as her teacher in the water, but she called Jeongguk “father.” 

Jeongguk had upheaved his entire life for Nina, building an addition onto his little cottage, buying all the human necessities for a little girl. Jeongguk had raised her as his own, called her his daughter, taught her how to be human while still encouraging her to embrace being a mermaid. Because of his ceaseless love, Nina had had countless human experiences—ballet classes, violin lessons, a part-time job with the MMRC, fleeting friendships. She was fully grown now and still referred to Jeongguk as her father, visited often, enjoyed experiencing human life. And because of her imprint on Jeongguk at birth, she had even taken on more human-like appearances in human form as she had grown—dark hair, darker eyes, nothing obvious. But in the water, she refused to leave Jimin’s side, radiant in shades of sapphire blue.

Nina was the link between life underwater and life above the surface. She taught other members of the pod about what it meant to appreciate human life and human knowledge, and she also knew where to draw the line with humans. She was privy to all the nuances that came with being part of both worlds. Nina had grown up understanding and appreciating Jeongguk and Jimin’s soul bond, and every day she prepared for the moment when she would have to bury two bodies on the ocean floor and complete the ritual. But like Jimin, she looked forward to it with joy, knowing that she would someday see both of them again.

“That’s all I want,” Jeongguk finally said. “Peace. I think I’ve found pieces of it, but I’m still learning.”

“You will know when you’ve found it.” Jimin turned his head again and brushed his nose against Jeongguk’s, and Jeongguk leaned in and kissed him as more water washed up onto the wet sand and receded. “You will feel it.” Jimin slid his hand beneath Jeongguk’s black shirt and pressed his palm to the soul bond mark, and Jeongguk quietly sighed into it, kissing Jimin’s cheek.

“I feel it when I have you like this,” Jeongguk said. “Peace.”

“You will always have me,” Jimin said. “And peace will always find you. As long as you take me to the library today.”

“Now, see, I don’t remember ever teaching you how to bargain, and here we are,” Jeongguk said, and Jimin felt himself smiling at the joking tone on Jeongguk’s voice. “I created a menace.”

“Perhaps. But I know one thing.” Jimin lowered his feet and let the water splash up against his ankles, and he patted Jeongguk’s leg. Jeongguk immediately scooted so that his feet were in the water as well. “You and I will be together until the end of time. And this water… this will be where we find peace.”

“I love you,” Jeongguk said, staring out onto the water as the sun continued to rise.

“I know.” Jimin offered his hand. Jeongguk took it and laced their fingers together. If Jimin closed his eyes and listened, he could hear Jeongguk’s heartbeat, but mostly, he could feel the radiant beauty of Jeongguk’s soul tangled with his.

Steady. Constant. Forever.

~

~          ~

~           ~           ~

~           ~

~

some time later…

The water seemed to speak to him. Ebbing and flowing with energy that had a voice, and every current felt like a calling. Perplexed, he swam around the tall rock formation and through some kelp, brow furrowed as he curled his fingers around the rock and latched his nails into the rigid edge. Eyes closed, he slowly tilted his head, and then he curled his tail and felt the vibrations of the energy in the water consume his body.

Something had shifted.

mood: “Þau hafa sloppið undan þunga myrkursins” by ólafur arnalds

His heart was racing now. As fast as he could, he swam along the current, following its energy, soaring away from the pod he knew so well with little regard for how he was going to return without a guide. Every so often, he stopped and hovered, hands out, fingers curling as if tasting the energy that was dominating his senses.

This way.

He turned right and flicked his fin, gaining speed as he cut through a school of fish. When the energy seemed to grow in size, illuminated and glowing, he slowed down and soaked it all in. Curious, he looked around, and then he glanced up towards the surface. There, in the distance, he saw something floating on the surface of the water, and he understood. Whatever was there had been calling out to him. Excited, he turned his body and swam upwards, remembering to heed all the warnings that his elders had given him since birth— approach humans carefully. Observe and do not engage. Speak their language only if they find you. Humans are curious creatures, but some intend to harm. We must kill to protect ourselves, but kill them kindly and without fear. Perhaps he was still young, but he had learned so much from Seokjin and Taehyung. His imprint on Seokjin was so strong that he had barely been able to separate from the elder merman for the first ten years of his life, but now he was feeling more confident to be on his own.

The surface came closer and closer, and as it did, he noticed that what he was seeing in the water was a pair of human legs. Just one pair of legs, short and small, dangling in the water, floating there. And near the legs was a boat. He had learned so much about boats and about humans, too. Seokjin had brought him to the surface quite often as a newborn and had taught him how to shift forms early on.

He carefully swam far enough away from the boat that he wouldn’t be caught by any other human eyes, but he couldn’t help it—the human in the water was the reason he was here. The energy was so strong that he could hardly think straight. So he slowly swam until he was just underneath the human—a little human. It wasn’t a fully grown human like he was used to seeing. This human was smaller in size and kicking its legs rather rapidly. Curious, he stopped and watched, fin slowly moving back and forth in the water to keep him afloat.

Oh no.

The little human had a mask on, and it stuck its face into the water and looked down. Its eyes locked on him, and he swore for a moment that he would have to swoop in and kill this small human. But then the human floated on its belly, raised one hand, and waved in the water at him.

He is calling to me.

Amazed, he slowly lifted his hand and waved back. The little human waved again, so he swam as tentatively as he could towards the surface, because now he felt the urge, the burning need, to meet this human. He had to speak to it, not kill it. Cautious, he righted himself and rose towards the surface, and then he paused right in front of the human. 

With his tail, he was longer and taller, but were he in his human form, he was certain that he and this little human would be the same size. The human was wearing a black mask, but he could see the human’s round eyes through the mask staring right at him. Its mouth was encumbered by some kind of tube that seemed to help it breathe while maintaining a gaze underwater. It was wearing clothing, which he understood—humans covered themselves. This human was wearing blue shorts with dolphins on them, and he also had some kind of vest on that seemed to be helping him stay afloat.

The small human lifted its hand again, but it was outstretched towards him. Amazed and bewildered, he lifted his hand, and then he pressed his palm to the human’s palm. At first contact, he flinched and dove backwards, soaring away in fright, bubbles flying around him. But then he abruptly turned and looked back.

The human was still there. Waiting. Watching.

Mesmerized, he swam back as the human lifted its head to the surface and began to swim towards him. Then, even though he knew what his elders had always taught him, he broke the surface, just the top of his head and eyes above the water. He glanced over towards the boat, which was still floating on its own accord, but he didn’t see any other humans, though he could hear some kind of music. He turned his attention back to the little human. It slowly pulled its mask up until it was resting on its forehead—a boy. It was a small human boy, he figured. The boy had big round eyes, and his hair was black and short. The boy did not look familiar, but the energy was there.

He watched in awe as the little boy popped the tube out of his mouth, letting it dangle, and then they stared at one another. He was still in his true form, skin pale blue, and perhaps he should have thought to change to halfway form to make himself appear more human, but he had not thought about it at the time. As he stared and drank in the boy’s young features, his eyes fell on the boy’s bottom lip. Just underneath his lip was a small little mark—a tiny speck. What was it? Why was it there? Why was it marking this boy’s otherwise unblemished skin?

“Hello.”

Startled, he leaned back, but the little boy was speaking now, and he could understand. He had been taught this language by his elders.

“Hello, are you a merman?” the boy asked. “You look like a merman. Your skin is pretty. I like the color blue. Can you talk like me?”

“...I like blue, too.”

“Do you like green?” the boy asked. He surveyed the little human in awe, because the boy wasn’t afraid. Seeing a merman wasn’t frightening to him, even if it was a novel sight. He was curious, wanted to know about colors.

“Yes. I like green.”

“Me too. Are you a merman?” the boy asked again. “You have a tail and a fin.”

“I am a merman,” he replied.

“Cool. Can you swim fast?” the boy asked.

“Yes.”

“Do you live in this water? Can you catch fish? Do you have a name? Can you swim with dolphins?” the boy rambled excitedly, eyes sparkling. Amazed, he swam just a little closer, because there was a sudden shift in his universe again, a tug at his heart, a warmth spreading throughout his entire body that started from the center of his chest. His soul was screaming out to him, a radiant glow flooding his vision for only a moment that brought all-consuming clarity and peace to him. Without pausing to consider if there would be ramifications, consequences to his actions, he slowly lifted his tail and curled it around the boy to draw him closer. The little boy giggled and squirmed with a smile.

“That tickles, what are you doing? Do you eat humans? Don’t eat me, please. My mom is on the boat. She would be really sad. Wait, do you know where to find oysters? I collect pearls, you know. What’s your name?” the boy continued, water droplets still trickling down his face. The boy was missing his front teeth, which was perplexing to him, but perhaps it was natural for humans to lose teeth. This little human was small and unassuming, but to him, this boy was the sun and the stars.

“My elders named me Jimin,” he said, and the boy smiled.

“That’s a Korean name. My name is Jeongguk,” the boy said. 

“You are not afraid of me,” Jimin stated. The boy, Jeongguk, shook his head.

“No. I think you’re cool. Can we be friends?”

Jimin kept his tail curled around little Jeongguk, trying to make sense of what he was feeling. He had never met a human up close like this before, and he was not familiar with Jeongguk by appearance, but there was something, something there. This was the first moment he had ever spoken to a human at length, and Jeongguk, who seemed to be very new to being a human, was not afraid. Why wasn’t he afraid? The humans who lured merpeople were always frightened, but Jeongguk was nothing but pure intrigue and luminescent happiness. Why—

Jimin drew in a breath, and in that moment, he swore that his heart escaped from his chest to join Jeongguk’s heart. He understood. He could feel it now, the tsunami of revelations washing over him. The water had not been calling to him— this boy had been calling to him. Perhaps he had done it unwittingly, but by being in the water, he had summoned Jimin. And Jimin was here now. He was here to meet this small human. To meet Jeongguk. To meet the one bonded to his soul for eternity.

Jimin lifted his hand out of the water. Jeongguk moved his arms back and forth a few times to stay afloat, but he was still smiling. His eyes seemed to hold galaxies. His little body fit perfectly in Jimin’s hold, and he was looking at Jimin with such adoring curiosity. Jimin reached out with his pointer finger, and then he pressed it to the little mark right below Jeongguk’s bottom lip.

Mine.

~