namkook au where jungkook is a rare breed of human specially endeared to all fae, and magnet for trouble and tragedy.

at the end of his rope, he gets sold at a slave auction to none other than kim namjoon - a mysterious & powerful dark sorcerer - who takes him in as apprentice

based off of The Ancient Magus Bride manga/anime (worth the rec!! sketchy ship aside, they tackle some p good healing and comfort scenes)

tagged: slow burn. hurt/comfort. angst. healing. found family.

tw: themes of death, s**cide, depression

fair warning: i haven't written a fic in ages, and the blank docs + previous works still got me terrified so...yea this is me trynna shake off the rut

that said.... lezzgo~

moon child.

once upon a time, the words meant the world to jeon jungkook. spoken in the soft velvet croon of his mother and punctuated with a kiss on his forehead, they were the magic spell that kept the monsters away at night.

until they didn't.

now they were a brand, searing

his soul as the words fell from the lips of strangers - and even stranger creatures.

"look, a moon child."

"i haven't seen one that old in millennia."

"i thought for sure they were all gone."

a low whistle, "damn, wonder where sejin found that little nugget of gold."

gold

this time jungkook couldn't help the flinch that had him shrinking into the threadbare cloak given to him before entering the building.

("wow he's just a golden boy, isn't he."

"gosh what's he showing off so much for, it's not like he's got any parents to show off to.")

the chains connecting the shackles around his neck and wrists rattle and clink with every step. they glint gold under the poor lighting of the long hall. jungkook pretends they're to blame for the tightness in his throat.

the burn in his eyes is easy to blink away.

"this way."

sejin gestures to a dark doorway, not unlike the countless others they've passed before. jungkook can't make anything beyond the black abyss, which looks more and more like a gaping maw than anything.

still, the cold fear sparking his veins is welcome.

anything is welcome compared to the numbness that has consumed him ever since that day.

(open faucet. wet tiles. empty eyes.

mother's hands that were cold as ice.

"you must live.")

jungkook clenches his fist, feels his heart pounding heavy in his chest. breathe in-

yes, that's right.

jungkook made a promise. it doesn't matter really what he does or how he does it. he just has to live.

breathe out.

that single step through the doorway feels weird on his skin, like treading water without getting wet. and then light, and blessedly, warmth.

jungkook steps into what looks like a sitting room - couches and chairs and a table, and a fireplace blazing with heat.

the room is empty, save for a tall figure standing in the middle of the room. a broad back, pale slicked-back hair. when he turned, he looked like an ordinary

man.

but power and confidence ooze from his stance alone. jungkook feels a strange pressure in the air, and feeling in his gut.

this person shouldn't be messed with.

his eyes seem to shift from pale grey to crimson red in the soft light.

when he speaks, his voice is low and carefully smooth.

"ah, yes." the man smiles, dimples on his cheeks. "this little one is indeed a moon child."

jeon jungkook learns 3 things in that room:

1. the man's name is kim namjoon

2. kim namjoon bought him for 2 billion pounds, a whole billion over the supposed asking price jungkook was listed for.

3. kim namjoon is a magus.

jungkook still isn't quite sure what exactly

the 3rd statement means, aside from the fact that it seems to command the most fear and respect from sejin.

"then, if that is all master kim, shall i have transportation arranged for you and the moon child?"

"no need, sejin," kim namjoon says, eyes now on jungkook.

the weight of his gaze makes jungkook's nape prickle. inspite of himself, he starts to feel some apprehension at his predicament.

he's just been sold to this powerful stranger.

as sejin places the other end of his chains in the hands of this kim namjoon, it dawns on jungkook

his fate is sealed. his life is now kim namjoon's to own.

"his name is jeon jungkook. 15 years old. has no aggression issues, so training him for whatever purposes should not be too troublesome." sejin rattles off as he collects the signed check and documents.

peeking from beneath his untrimmed fringe, jungkook sees kim namjoon frown.

"is it normal for him to look so tiny? he looks unusually skinny for a human." jungkook freezes.

he knows he isn't the healthiest; he'd only recently decided to live again, after all. eating and sleeping properly had hardly been at the forefront of his concerns.

jungkook can't even remember exactly what he must look like now, but he knows the oversized and ragged clothes on his body only make him seem worse off.

will that make him less appealing? will he be returned after all? this kim namjoon looks like he only ever got the best of

the best.

will he throw jungkook away after all--

his chains jangle, and jungkook nearly chokes at the sudden tug on the shackle around his neck. he gasps, wide-eyed as he's forced to meet namjoon's scrutinizing gaze.

"there's no need for that, now."

ah. he knew it--

"now that you are mine, you can no longer look down. from now on, you must only look up and ahead."

--huh?

kim namjoon smiles. a slender finger traces the shackle around jungkook's neck. a tingle, and his chains burst into golden dust, and then nothing.

"w-what...?" jungkook murmurs, his voice hoarse after so long.

his wrists are unbound. his ankles suddenly cold and light without the weight of metal. jungkook's knees wobble, and fold like paper.

he hadn't had the chains on for long. and yet somehow this freedom feels weighty

in its unfamiliarity.

"ah, i haven't made myself clear, i suppose," namjoon says as he straightens from his crouch in front of jungkook. with a clap of hands, a long black robe drapes over his already imposing frame. his left hand grips a long silver staff with a pinecone top

"i did not buy you to be my slave - i have no need for such things." namjoon wrinkles his nose at the notion. "no, i have a far more important purpose for a moon child."

he offers a gloved hand, which jungkook realizes he needed more than expected as he struggles on foal legs.

even more surprising is the ease with which namjoon single-handedly carries his weight, tucking jungkook into his side in one smooth move.

the staff taps the floor once, twice. a blue circle of light and runes engulf them, and a ringing fills jungkook's ears.

beyond the ring of light, the room begins to swirl and disappear.

"thank you for your assistance, sejin" namjoon calls out. his hand around jungkook's waist tightens slightly, as the runes grow brighter around them.

in the corner of his eyes, jungkook sees something small and glittering with the same blue glow flits past, round and round their circle of light.

a whisper close to his ear, "close your eyes, little one."

("close your eyes, jungkook-ah. i'm here.")

warm wind ruffles his hair.

jungkook shuts his eyes as the light reaches a crescendo. a warm breeze blows around him, and then, for a split second, he's weightless, belly flopping. a breath, and everything stops.

when jungkook opens his eyes, he finds himself in a small courtyard outside a hanok.

Home

gone is the warm room they were in. gone are the long dark halls and cold, damp draft of the underground auction building. jungkook doubts they're still in itaewon - were they even still in seoul?

the sun is warm on his skin, but there's a mild breeze - the last dregs of spring.

the air feels so light.

that, more than anything, tells jungkook that wherever they were, they were definitely far from the city.

the modest hanok in front of them looks like any other he'd find in bukchon, all dark brown wood and dirt walls and paper panels.

the trees look like those he'd find anywhere else in the city.

except.

jungkook has never heard birdsong quite like this in the city. has never seen leaves look this green, or flowers this big and bright and /alive/.

"w-where are we?" jungkook blushes at the crack in his voice. "where is this place?"

"my home." namjoon says simply. "and now, your home, too."

namjoon makes for the front door, which jungkook now realizes is already wide open.

he could've sworn it was closed before...?

jungkook scrambles to catch up to namjoon's long strides.

"we're still in korea though, don't worry," namjoon says, long black cloak slipping off his shoulders, and hanging itself on the rack by the door. "we're just on the outskirts of seoul, deep in bukhansan, to be specific."

jungkook barely registers his words.

he's too busy staring at the silver staff hop right out of namjoon's grip, and... hop its way down the hall and round the corner, shrinking as it goes.

"ah, it seems our spare sippers might be too big for you." namjoon sighs sadly.

jungkook looks at the huge green crocodile themed house slippers placed by his feet.

they /do/ look entirely too big for him.

namjoon's own feet are already in a pair of equally huge, fuzzy brown bear slippers. they look like the type to come in a set at a discount store.

jungkook things he looks several degrees less intimidating like this - plain white button down, sleeves pushed to his elbows, fuzzy bear slippers.

"wear these for now; we'll have to get tiny things for you soon. most of the stuff we have here will be too big for you."

jungkook wishes he'd stop calling him tiny. after all, jungkook is only FIFTEEN. sure right now he barely brushes namjoon's shoulders.

but he's no midget. jungkook just hasn't hit his growth spurt yet.

still, he complies and stuffs his feet into the crocodile slippers. the inside is lined red, with the holes for his feet lined with felt-cloth teeth.

it looks like baby crocodiles up and swallowed his feet whole, all the way up his ankles.

...maybe he really IS a bit too small.

he'll probably trip in them, but jungkook won't complain.

"you're so cute."

jungkook looks up and blinks. namjoon is looking at him with this fascinated look in his eyes, and a smile that brings out his dimples.

dimples.

and then jungkook registers what he said.

he blushes to the roots of his hair, and when namjoon laughs, he feels even more mortified.

"now to introduce you to yoongi-hyung," namjoon says. "follow me, puppy."

jungkook freezes. p-puppy?!

had he been bought to be a pet, after all...?

'yoongi-hyung' turns out to be a grim reaper.

jungkook doesn't know if the whole all-black-everything is a grim reaper thing or a personal preference. but with the soft black hair, black rimmed glasses, fluffy oversized black sweater and black sweatpants, he looks so soft.

even his mug and the coffee in it are black, contrasting greatly with the long pale fingers cradling it.

for a grim reaper, this yoongi-hyung seems almost harmless. and cute. like a kitten.

when he speaks, his voice is a low rumbling.

"joon-ah, when you said you were going to the auction, i was expecting you to come back with a weird plant like usual." yoongi pins a black fathomless gaze on him.

jungkook freezes, feeling as though he's staring into an abyss about to swallow him whole.

finally, yoongi breaks his gaze, and jungkook sees once more just a man slouching in his seat at the dining table, cradling a steaming mug of americano.

beside him, namjoon laughs sheepishly. "i was supposed to, but then i saw the catalogue and found out about this lil guy!"

jungkook stumbles under the sudden weight of namjoon's arm around his shoulders.

at least yoongi looks as bewildered and lost as jungkook feels.

"i could hardly believe it myself! and he looks so tiny, hyung, and they put him in chains - i couldn't possibly just leave him!"

"they were selling a /human/ at the auction?!" yoongi doesn't raise his voice, but jungkook can't help but shudder at the dangerous edge in his tone.

"not just /any/ human, hyung," namjoon says. "a moon child."

yoongi sucks in a breath through his teeth. "he's a WHAT?"

jungkook flinches. namjoon glances at him and rubs soothingly at his shoulder.

yoongi glances between him and namjoon, first in confusion, then dawning realisation and finally a look of resignation.

"joon-ah, you can't possibly be taking him as your student."

what.

"why not?" namjoon says. "i know you can sense just how powerful he is. all that potential!"

what. what?

"moon children aren't known for being particularly," yoongi pauses, glancing at him. "...hardy."

ah. jungkook remembers the whispers from the auction house.

("i thought they were all gone" "i haven't seen one that old in millennia")

"that's because nobody ever finds them in time - let alone protect them or at least /teach/ them how to fend for themselves," namjoon says.

"and those that do find them, abuse them for their power."

"teaching him how to use his powers means /using/ his powers."

"it's his powers, hyung. it's a part of him, and it's his to use as he pleases."

yoongi sighs. "joon-ah, you know you can't afford to get attached."

jungkook barely understands what he's hearing, but he knows he's sick of being talked over like a child. because he isn't. hasn't been for a long while now.

"i," he tries to ignore his blush at the croaky-ness of his voice. "i know you... bought. me."

jungkook still feels strange about it. but it's not like he can do anything about it now. "but i'm still a person and i want to at least know what you're going to do. with me."

jungkook looks between namjoon's mildly surprised (and? impressed???) look and yoongi's blank stare.

...did he cross a line? was he /not/ allowed to speak?

"so the moon child speaks." yoongi says, sipping on his coffee.

that again. "please don't call me that." jungkook blurts out.

yoongi gazes at him again with that unreadable look. the one that makes jungkook feel like his entire life, all his inner thoughts and feelings, are on display.

like he understands more than what jungkook says.

"alright. so what do you want to be called?"

jungkook blinks.

"my name is--"

"kookie." namjoon tightens his grip on jungkook's shoulder. "from this day forward, we'll call you kookie."

huh?

yoongi nods. "alright, kookie. first thing you gotta know in this house: you are yours. your name is your soul, your power - never give it to just anyone. especially in this realm."

jungkook doesn't understand. if that's true, then why did that man from the auction give

his name so easily? he said his name was s--

...? what did that man say his name was?

the harder jungkook tries to remember, the less he actually does.

"whatever name they gave you back at the auction house, it's probably just a nickname." yoongi drawls.

"that or they wiped your memory. judging from your expression, they probably did the latter."

namjoon sighs, "it's okay kookie, don't worry. the auction house is enchanted to wipe memories. even i don't remember everything outside the room."

"so, your name really isn't kim namjoon?" jungkook asks.

"no, i really am kim namjoon," namjoon smiles, dimples out once more.

"joon-ah's a special case," yoongi waves his hand. "a story for another time. you look like you're running on fumes, kid. go take a bath upstairs."

like magic, jungkook suddenly feels acutely aware of how heavy his body is. he wouldn't be surprised if it really /is/ magic.

"ah, you're probably tired aren't you, kookie?" namjoon studies him up and down. "puppy's had a really long day, huh?"

yoongi chokes.

"did you just call him /puppy/?!"

ah. at least jungkook isn't the only one finding it weird.

"i've read somewhere that magis called their students 'puppies'!" namjoon says enthusiastically. "isn't it cute? plus! kookie is so tiny - like a puppy!"

jungkook doesn't appreciate

how amused yoongi looks.

"i don't know, he looks more like a bunny to me," yoongi jokes.

"huh, you're right," namjoon grins.

jungkook is officially unimpressed, and too tired to find this even mildly amusing.

"but the poor little one is really tired and needs a bath."

namjoon pauses.

"wait, do you even know how to take a bath? should i help you take one?"

namjoon tugs at jungkook's shirt. jungkook blushes beet red, slapping away his hand. "of course i can take a bath myself!!! i'm not that helpless!!!!"

"oh, of course." namjoon replies flushing slightly. "that's good, that's good, uh..." he looks pleadingly at yoongi, who rolls his eyes.

"you bought him, you take care of him." he says, getting up from his chair to rinse his mug in the sink.