silent earth
☆ ynkk
☆ modern fantasy (gods/demigods)
☆ lovers to enemies to lovers
☆ angst
☆ sexual content
☆ happy ending

jungkook

⋆ son of the goddess of the moon, dalnim, and a mortal human
⋆ demigod, immortal and protector of mireuk's temple on namsan mountain, the center of mireuk's fence

yoongi

⋆ son of the god of death yeomna and the goddess paritegi.
⋆ god of dawn and earth, protector of fertility and harvest

mireuk's fence

⋆ a collection of five individual city-states, all connected by a force of unknown energy known as the linkage.
⋆ each city state is led by a demi-god:

gwangju - hoseok
ilsan - namjoon
gwacheon - seokjin
busan - jimin
daegu - taehyung

[scene: namsan mountain, gate of the Linkage, year of Seokga, middle night]

“I won't allow you to pass.”

“jungkook, listen to me!”

A loud explosion sounds below them, down the mountain range, it's far but they still flinch from the sound. Fire is raining down in brittle pieces amongst the ruin of the temple now engulfed in flames.

The night air feels suffocating.

Jungkook maintains his stance, guarding the gate to the linkage.

“this power isn't for anyone, god or not, to possess!” jungkook screams, his staff held tightly in his hand, one end directed at yoongi.

“jungkook you don't understand what's happening!” another fan of flame erupts from the ruins as a beam collapses, it sends cinders around yoongi.

The god is illuminated by the fire for a moment, and jungkook chokes a sob from his throat at how beautiful he looks.

He’s been so stupid. All this time, every word yoongi has said was just to get to the linkage, he’s been so stupid.

“no! I am the protector of this temple, I won't let you pass!”

There is a rumbling, the sky sounds like it's breaking apart, the lights in the cities below flicker sporadically. Yoongi looks up to the sky, suddenly he looks anxious as he looks back at jungkook.

“jungkook, please! I- I don't have time to explain it to you, I need to get through the gate, lower your staff!”

Jungkook only grips his staff harder, sweat drips down his brow but he maintains his focus. He takes a deep inhale, hardening his gaze and strengthening his stance.

Yoongi looks at him, the look in his eyes is sorrowful, but the god grits his teeth, fingers curling into angry fists.

The same fingers jungkook has felt on his skin, has basked in the tenderness of.

“I don’t want to hurt you, jungkook. But I will do what is needed.”

A loud explosion, and suddenly jungkook is in the air, spiraling, plummeting, tumbling down off the mountain side.

His staff is no longer in his hand and he feels pain shoot through his spine. He’s suspended in slow motion as his body falls from the top of the mountain, to the ground below. Then another explosion sparks above, where the linkage gate would be.

He thinks he hears Yoongi screaming, screaming his name as he falls. His body twists and contorts in the wind, and suddenly he’s turned around and can see the lights of the city below him, he’s falling. Crashing to earth.

Sparks alight around his body from the force of the atmosphere, and for one inexplicable moment of insanity, he feels like a shooting star.

Time returns to its balance and he feels the rush of the air around him, pummeling his body with fists. The city draws closer and closer, he closes his eyes,

“eomma,” he pleads in his mind, “eomma... save me, please.”

The earth erupts on his impact, quaking the surface. The lights of the cities flicker once, twice… before they dim completely, leaving the earth in nothing more than shadows.

[scene: Gwacheon Hospital, Year of Seokga, dawn of noon]

jungkook wakes to white walls.

walls bright enough his eyes only flutter, can't fully open.

"kook-ah?" a man's voice says to his right.

jungkook turns his head towards the sound, groaning. he tries to lift himself, but has no sense of his body.

"kook-ah, shh, you're all right." there are fingers in his hair, brushing it back off his face. the fingers are calloused, but gentle.

jungkook whimpers, coughs and his eyes open fully despite the light.

"appa?" he croaks out as he takes in the man hovering above him.

the man smiles, tears forming in his eyes as he strokes jungkook's hair.

"yes, appa is here. you're okay, you're all right."

jungkook's eyes involuntarily close, he tries to swallow but his throat is dry.

the lights flicker in the room, and he feels his fathers hand flinch in his hair.

"appa, the gate... i have to"

jungkook tries to sit up, but his body isn't listening.

"no," his father says, hands now on his face, thumbs rubbing his cheeks. "no, jungkook."

"eomma, i have to speak to eomma." jungkook slurs, his mind begins to race over what has happened.

he remembers yoongi, remembers the god trying to get to the linkage, through the gate. then an explosion, the air hitting his face, the impact of the fall.

"no, jungkook, listen, you- the fall-"

jungkook tries to move his body, but he's failing. he can't feel his legs, his thighs, his toes. he can't feel.

"appa, i can't-" he chokes, "i can't move."

he hears his father cry, one of his tears falling down into him.

"the fall, jungkook. it couldn't-you're immortal but not indestructible. you're a demi-god son... you-you're not as strong as-"

"eomma. please, appa, call for eomma." jungkook feels like he's screaming, but nothing more than whispered groans come out.

his father cries harder.

"i have. she's-she'll be here soon, jungkook, ok? you're going to be all right."

"the gate, the linkage..."

his fathers hands caress his face harder, his tears fall faster.

"the linkage has broken, jungkook. it's broken."

heaviness pulls jungkook under, his eyes won't open, and his mind shuts off. the image of yoongi standing before him with clenched fists is all he sees.

[scene: gamcheon, busan, year of SangJe, darker noon]

jungkook is dreaming.

he's dreaming of falling stars.

stars rushing by his head as he stands atop namsan mountain.

a hand in on the small of his back, strong and protective.

his face turns and he sees yoongi looking up, face illuminated by starlight.

'ah,' he thinks, 'this is a memory.'

yoongi is smiling, and his hand moves from jungkook's back to point in the distance.

"kook-ah, there, the bright one. i love that one the most."

jungkook follows his finger, looking out and seeing a bright star, not flickering like most big stars do.

"why that one?" jungkook asks as he looks at it.

yoongi turns to him,

"reminds me of you. bright... steady... untouchable."

"i'm not untouchable to you, hyung." jungkook says, looking into yoongi's eyes and wishing, hoping they will connect their lips.

yoongi smiles at him, looks at him so fondly then looks away.

"dawn is approaching." he says.

at the very corner of the horizon, the sun is willing itself up. dismissing the twilight to make room for its rays.

the hum of the linkage can be heard in the distance, a sound jungkook has been attuned to all his life, but now, now he only hears the steady breathing of yoongi by his side, and his own heartbeat racing in his chest.

"will you leave then?" jungkook asks and yoongi looks at him once more.

yoongi's hand cups his face, and jungkook can see his eyes roaming his own.

"do you want me to stay?" he asks lowly. slowly leaning closer.

"i want you to stay. i-i always want you to stay." jungkook whispers.

yoongi smiles, and his expression turns quizzical.

"what? what is it?" jungkook asks.

yoongi shakes his head, laughs.

"nothing, i was just changing my mind."

"changing your mind?"

yoongi's thumb brushes his lips.

"about my favorite star." he says, "it's not out there. it's in your eyes."

jungkook gasps and yoongi leans in, replacing his thumb with his lips and kisses him gently

jungkook erupts in warmth. the feeling of yoongi's lips on his is something he will chase for the rest of his immortal life.

and jungkook is dreaming. he's kissing yoongi and he's dreaming.

'ah,' he thinks, 'this is a memory.'

[scene: gamcheon, busan, year of SangJe, first light]

jungkook wakes to sunlight beams across his face and he groans, stumbles out of his bed as it creaks from the weight and tousles his unkempt hair.

he smacks his lips, mouth feeling dry, and stretches his body, joints popping.

he shuffles his feet into the kitchen, and prays the electricity works this time. he plugs in the coffee maker, and is delighted when the red light pops on.

he whispers a "yes!" to himself and grabs a coffee filter, his can of morning blend and pours it in.

of all the things humans have accomplished, jungkook thinks grinding coffee beans might be the best one.

the coffee pot whirls and soon his cup is full, a small white mug with sailor moon on the front. he takes it to the living room, falling down onto the couch and turning on the television, hoping to catch his shows before the power goes out again.

a news channel is the first thing that shows when the television comes to life, massive scrolling text about rolling black puts among the city-states, famine, impending war.

he changes the channel.

he sips his coffee, watches his favorite show, the main character about to profess her love and be rejected, he smiles from it.

a knock on his door sounds as he sips his coffee and he grimaces, setting the mug down on strewn paper atop his damaged coffee table.

he peeps through the looking hole, seeing a mop of blonde hair, but the person seems to be standing too close and is too short for jungkook to make out who it is.

he opens the door as the person knocks a second time, and suddenly has the urge to shut it back.

"Jungkookie!" Jimin exclaims brightly.

Jungkook stares at him, annoyed. It's not that he doesn't like Jimin, but the demi-god can be a bit much sometimes. Especially when he tries to get Jungkook to talk about... what happened.

"What do you want, Jimin?" Jungkook asks with a sigh.

Jimin rolls his eyes and pushes himself past Jungkook into the apartment. Jungkook shuts the door behind him.

"I give you sanctuary and so get repaid with your attitude. I see how it is."

Jimin makes himself at home, sitting on the sofa and grabbing the coffee mug, taking a sip and grimacing.

"Ugh, this tastes like shit, what is this?"

Jungkook sits on the sofa beside him, taking the mug from his hands.

"It's synthetic coffee. Best we humans can get with the... bad harvests and all."

Jimin's lips turn into a frown.

"It still weirds me out that you're human now, you know?" the demi-god says as he leans back, crossing his legs. "I feel like I could just, poke you in the arm and it will break or something."

"Yeah, well, beats the alternative." Jungkook takes a sip of the coffee. It does taste like shit.

"Your eomma, that woman," Jimin rolls his eyes, crosses his arms, "my eomma would never have-"

"Can you just, tell me what you're here for? I know you didn't come for the coffee."

"Ok, rude." Jimin says with his trademark attitude but then sighs, looks at Jungkook with eyes that glimmer. His cheeks are red and his lips pout.

Jungkook stands up, shakes his head.

"No, Jimin. What ever it is, no."

Jungkook leaves the living room for his bathroom, to get away from the demi-god. Jimin hot on his heels.

"Jungkookie! Just hear me out! Please!" Jimin whines.

Jungkook shuts the bathroom door in his face.

"No." he says from beyond the door and Jimin presses his body to it, tapping on the wood.

"Come on, you don't even know what I'm going to ask!"

"And I don't want to."

Jimin hears the shower starting.

"Jungkook! Stop being a brat!"

He gets no response.

When Jungkook is finished with his shower the electricity has gone out, so much for catching up on his shows.

Jimin is seated on the sofa, looking through a book that was laid on the coffee table, he is turning it in his hands and grimacing.

"How do you read this stuff?" he says as Jungkook walks in, tears it from his hands and puts it back on the table.

"It's called education, hyung. You know, things humans have to get to get a job, to make money? It's my school texts."

"Ew, school." Jimin shivers dramatically. "Being a human is dreadful."

Jungkook goes to the kitchen, hoping he has something to eat that doesn't need cooked. He doesn't have any matches for a fire.

"And being a divine being isn't?"

He hears Jimin get up, come to the kitchen and watch as he goes through then cabinets.

"Sure, it has its ups and downs, you know with all the egos and the people with their worshiping, ugh, what i would give just to be able to tell one of them to shut up with the groveling."

Jungkook grabs a bag of chips, he's sure they're stale but they will have to do.

"What do you want Jimin?" Jungkook turns to him, crunches a dry chip in his mouth.

Jimin's expression turns serious for a moment, tentative. His fingers trace along the countertop. Fidgeting.

"I was speaking with Taehyungie and-"

Jungkook rolls his eyes, Jimin glares at him.

"This is serious Jungkook! The blackouts are getting worse, even in Daegu."

"Taehyung said they barely have enough electricity available to survive the winter months coming, and it's not that much more favorable here!"

Jungkook gives Jimin a suspicious look.

"And what do you want me to do about it? You're the demi-god. I'm just a human."

"But you were a demi-god! The protector of the linkage, if we could just-"

Jungkook puts his hand up, stopping Jimin from speaking.

"I don't want to talk about it. I'm not a demi-god anymore. I was punished, remember?"

Jimin huffs.

"Jungkook, this is serious. I'm talking grave here. Millions of people will die if we don't figure out how to get the power back."

Jungkook looks at him, takes in the concern look on his face, and it's not something Jungkook doesn't already know.

He knows that without the power of the linkage that the city-states won't be able to survive. He's surprised they've survived these 6 years without it so far.

"I know, Jimin but there is literally nothing I can do. I'm not divine anymore. What do you want me to do?"

Jimin looks at him pensively, carefully.

"We have to find him, Jungkook."

Jungkook pauses, his breath halting for a moment and levels Jimin with a tense look. He sets the bag of chips on the counter, and walks away to the living room.

"Jungkook-" Jimin whines again, Jimin is good at whining.

"Get out." Jungkook says, walking to the balcony door, sliding it open and stepping outside.

Jimin follows, of course

The air is getting colder, winter approaching. Jungkook looks over the balcony, toward the horizon.

He sighs and holds his arms close, needing the warmth. From this distance he can't see Namsan mountain, and he's thankful for it.

"Jungkook, I know it's not easy, I know it is hard for you to talk about him but-"

"Then why do you pester me?" Jungkook spits, turning to him.

"You know what happened. You know what he did and you still think I have any clue as to where he is?"

Jimin licks his lips, looks down at his feet.

"If we all work together, maybe we could find him. You know? The six of us."

Jungkook scoffs at Jimin. Naive, demi-god of innocence, Jimin.

Of course he would think getting the 6 of them back together would work, like they all don't fucking hate each other now, with the exception of Jimin and Taehyung.

"We aren't kids anymore. None of us are who we used to be, especially... especially him." Jungkook says, "We could never work together, not again. Besides, I'm human now, I have no power to help."

Jimin exhales, "But he... he loved you Jungkook."

Jungkook winces, balls his fists.

"He loved you, we all knew it. Anyone could see that, and maybe... maybe he still does? And you can talk to him, get him to bring the linkage back?"

"Jimin, last time I saw him he threw me from the mountain to get thru the gate. I was paralyzed from the fall, I lost my divinity to be healed from it. Do you really think he loved me?" Jungkook pushes himself off the railing, "Maybe you're as foolish as I was."

He leaves Jimin on the balcony and goes to his bedroom, shutting the door and crawling into his bed.

Jimin doesn't follow, and by the time he finally stops his tears, after hours of self-pity, he finds his apartment empty, the demi-god gone.

[[ sorry to break up the story, but here is a helpful thread! ]] https://twitter.com/yewnki/status/1486902955152453635

jungkook bares down on the notebook, pen gripped in his hand. the notes he has made are almost entirely illegible, but he hope it has at least soaked into his brain.

he sighs and leans back against his sofa, sat down against it on the floor as his texts lay on the coffee table

he's been studying for hours, but he still can't quite seem to grasp the basic understanding of science.

he grew up learning that the gods wielded all creatures and things. mireuk created them intricately, whilst other gods controlled them

now he has to learn how these creatures and things operate outside of godly force... and it's a bit of a headache.

"aish." he sighs and throws his pen down, rubbing his temples.

he's still two chapters behind, an upcoming test breathing down his neck.

he could take a break, he's been at this for hours, since Jimin left.

but that would only leave him farther behind, at risk of failing his course.

his father would be so disappointed.

he leans back up, attention on his text book, and begins to read again.

the lights flicker, once, twice.

he looks up at the lightbulb, willing it to stay on for just a while longer.

it's haesomu's sleep hour now, he won't be able to study if the electricity fails.

the light flickers once more, but stays on.

he sighs a breath of relief, then a pop of static sounds and suddenly he's plunged into darkness.

"fucking- damn it!" he slams his hand on the coffee table, the wood creaking and throws his pen across the room, frustrated.

he gets up, stalks to his balcony and slides the door open harsh enough that the screen bounces off its tracks.

he rolls his eyes and stands over the railing, looking at the city just a few feet below.

it's in complete darkness, soon he sees small flickering lights shine through windows, people lighting candles.

he hears the cry of a child, the choked sobs of the word "eomma" ringing in the air from a child scared of the darkness.

he thinks that child is right to be afraid, even as he hears the mother shushing it.

it won't be all right, not without the linkage.

power dwindles everyday. fuel is less and less available, and when it becomes scarce only richer districts are powered.

jungkook places his arms on the railing, lowers his head on them and looks out.

the linkage wasn't prejudice. it powered every home, every shop, every vehicle, despite which district was receiving its source.

if only he had been strong enough to protect it. if only he could have seen yoongi for who the god truly was, what he was really after all those nights he spent at the temple with jungkook.

the child is still screaming, and jungkook thinks it's all his fault. he looks out and sees people sleeping in the streets, hungry and scared.

the harvests have been dead lately, the absence of the linkage drying up the agriculture wells and industry.

he sighs and forces himself to look up, the moon bright in the sky, just risen for its course, pushing the sun down into oblivion.

he thinks of his mother as he looks at the moon and hears the delicate voice of a woman coddling her child.

he closes his eyes, imagines the image of her face. eyes just like his, a mole below her bottom lip.

she's smiling at him, and he can't help but smile as well.

suddenly, the image turns sour, his mothers face contorting into a frown, disappointment wretched on her face.

'you failed, jungkook.' the vision says, 'you let love blind you, now millions of people will suffer for it. you will suffer with them.'

his eyes open and he takes in a sharp breath, his chest hurting. his mothers words ringing in his head.

he stumbles back and against the wall of the apartment, the wood cracked and splinters poke at his body.

he slips down the wall, curling in on himself as the words in his head continue.

'i shall grant you your health back because I am your mother, but your immortality will be taken in return for your failure.'

he grips the strands of his hair, tears fall from his face but he can't hear himself crying, he only hears her words, and the rush of air against his face as he falls from the mountain, yoongi screaming his name.

[scene: geumjeong-gu, busan, beomeosa temple, year of SangJe, first light]

jungkook walks the stairs, he can hear the soothing sound of water from behind him, but it doesn't still his heart racing in his chest.

he hasn't been able to calm himself since last night, when he finally allowed himself to feel what his failure has brought

when he reaches the entrance, he sees Jimin standing to the side, watering some sickly looking plants with a grim look on his face.

there are a group of worshipers at the other side of the entrance, on their knees, bowing then rising up, their fingers curled tightly, scared expressions marring their faces.

jungkook tries to ignore their wails, focuses on Jimin instead.

Jimin eyes him as he steps forward into the temple, and the demi-god's eyes light up as he sets down the water container, brushes his hands off on his robes.

"Jungkookie?" he says, "what brings you here?"

Jungkook purses his lips, looks away like he can't believe he's here, what he's about to do.

"You said you needed my help, so," he throws his arms out to the side, let's them fall back down defeated, "i'm here."

Jimin studies him for a moment, then a smile forms on his face as he grabs Jungkook and hugs him, rather excitedly.

"Oh, Koo, i knew you would help us! Tae is going to be so happy!"

Jungkook peels himself from Jimin, straightens his clothes.

"Don't call me that, we aren't kids anymore." he says with a pouty look.

Jimin only reaches up and pinches his cheek, "You will always be our little Koo, no matter how much we age."

Jungkook swats his hand away as the demi-god laughs.

"Oh!" Jimin claps his hands and the temple creaks, wooden boards bending then laying flat once more, tiles of the roof lift up then fall, a result of Jimin's good mood. "We have to call Tae, we need to figure out a plan as soon as possible. There is only a few months til winter."

Jungkook nods but sighs internally as Jimin leads him through the temple gate, and past the worshippers to Jimin's quarters.

The wailing is loud as they pass by, and Jungkook winces from it.

"What are they doing?" he asks Jimin quietly as to not disturb the people.

Jimin clicks his tongue, "They're praying to my mother. They feel as if the absence of the linkage is a result of their sin. That if they pray enough the gods will bring it back."

Jungkook eyes the people as the bow and rise, shaking their hands held together, their voices incoherent in the mass.

He scoffs until he suddenly feels sorry for them.

"If they only knew what really happened." he says to himself.

Jimin hits him in his chest lightly, then continues to his quarters to where they can speak privately.

jungkook shivers when they enter inside the temple, holds his arms around him.

"cold?" jimin asks opening the door to his chamber.

"yeah, sucks being here." jungkook steps inside and takes a seat on the floor, grabbing a teal blue pillow to sit upon.

jimin's room is a small, his large four post bed in the middle against the wall taking up most of the space, pillows scattered everywhere with trinkets and photographs strewn across the surfaces.

jungkook eyes a particular photo on the tea table at the corner of the room, then averts his gaze when jimin sits beside him on the floor.

"ok," jimin pulls a cell phone from his robe pocket, scrolls through with a tongue poking out between his teeth.

jungkook laughs, "such technology in a temple, your eomma would be appalled."

"oh hush, she can't go a day on earth without her phone, she can't tell me anything."

jimin taps his phone and then holds it to his ear.

"tae?" the demi-gods eyes light up and then turn fond when a voice on the other end responds. "tae, koo is here, he said he'd help us."

a loud whoop of excitement comes from the phone and jimin winces as he pulls it from his ear then puts it back as soon as it ends.

"yes, he said he would help. i don't-i don't know that's why i'm calling you. we need to meet to come up with... whatever it is we are doing."

jungkook taps his fingers on his knees, looks around the room and his eyes find that photograph again. jimin is speaking to taehyung but jungkook can't focus on what he's saying, he only sees the picture, starring back at him.

jungkook remembers that day, he remembers them all.

remembers how hoseok and taehyung fought for hours, each insulting each other with bright smiles on their faces.

he remembers the small touches between namjoon and seokjin, the gentle way they looked after each other as they trekked down the mountain.

seokjin's hand clasped around the small of namjoon's back whenever the path grew skinny.

he remembers jimin's eyes lighting up as they made it to the hot springs, right down the range of namsan.

how he ran towards the water, shedding his clothes and jumping in. taehyung's wrist flicking up and water spouting into jimin's face, drenching his hair.

he remembers them, all of them, together. it was the times before their temples, before they were called by their parents to serve.

before the people of mireuk's fence even knew their names, their divinity. a time just to be children, even if they were well into adolescence

jungkook closes his eyes and breathes in. jimin still talking sporadically on the phone, he can hear taehyung's low voice but can't make out what he's saying.

he closes his eyes and he hears spring water splashing, laughter and insults.

he swallows, then he feels a hand on his cheek, a warm voice asking, 'are you not going to swim?'

that voice, the one he only hears in his dreams because he has blocked it from his mind.

it low and hoarse, but gentle. the fingertips on his skin drag down leaving flushes of warmth on his face.

jimin is enveloped in his phone call, standing up and pacing the small room.

so jungkook breathes, and allows himself to envision... him.

[scene: namsan mountain, year of Seokga, haemosu's sleep]

"jungkook?" yoongi says as his fingertips leave his cheek, "did you hear me?"

jungkook opens his eyes, yoongi standing just before him, taller than him from standing atop of a layer of moss covered rocks.

yoongi looks intimidating at this moment, towering over him. jungkook would be afraid of the god, had he not just spent the morning waking up in his bed, those arms wrapped around his waist, his lips in his hair.

"huh?" jungkook says lamely, he can hear hoseok and taehyung in the background, splashing in the water as Jimin paddles to the edge to get away from them.

seokjin and namjoon are sat at the edge of a cliff, feet dangling, shoulders together.

"i asked if you were going to go swim?" yoongi repeats.

"oh, no, not today."

"you sure, because... if you're sore... the water might help?"

jungkook's cheeks flush with embarrassment. yoongi's lips quiver, trying to stop a small smile.

"i'm sure, yoongi. i'm fine."

yoongi nods then walks a bit farther, jumping off the rocks and finding a fallen down tree to sit on, jungkook follows him and they watch the others, hoseok erupting fire from his hands when taehyung splashes his face

"i don't know why we hang out with them." yoongi scoffs as taehyung and hoseok start drowning each other, laughing each time they break the water surface, jimin yelling one of them will get hurt, but they never listen

"i have to," jungkook says, "you're the one who intentionally hangs out with us. you're a god, you could escape to Neverwhere and be with the other gods. me? i'm stuck here on earth, with them."

yoongi looks at him as he watches jimin scolding taehyung, hoseok whining about water up his nose. jungkook looks over and sees namjoon's hand reaching up behind seokjin, tentative to put it around the others shoulders.

"hm." yoongi hums, "i guess you're right. i should get going then."

jungkook's neck snaps to him, a surprised expression on his face

yoongi laughs, "see? i can't leave. i'm stuck here too. i wouldn't leave you here alone with them."

jungkook's cheeks redden, "i would summon you every night if you left me here. you'd never get any sleep with the bells ringing."

"i should have never taught you how to summon me." yoongi rolls his eyes, grabs a stick from the ground and begins breaking it in pieces

"oh? do you want me to stop?"

yoongi lets out a breath of a laugh, snapping the twig then looking at jungkook again, "no, never."

"ok then. you're stuck with me." jungkook nods, then looks back out to the others.

"that's literally what i said. i'm stuck with you."

"yeah but you made it sound sad." jungkook retorts.

yoongi drops the stick, puts a hand around his waist, lifting up his shirt just a tad to rub his thumb on the skin of his hips

"i'm sorry," he says, "i'm happily stuck here with you."

jungkook smiles a half smile, licks his lips, "so, will you stay again tonight?"

yoongi's thumb stops rubbing his skin for a moment, a pause from the question, "i need to go back, Koo."

jungkook deflates a little, he's grown spoiled these past few weeks waking up beside the other.

"i haven't been home in weeks, i have to make sure things are still in order."

"yeah," jungkook nods sadly, "yeah i know." he pushes his feet out and they drag across the gravel

yoongi looks at him, his thumb rubbing his skin once more, "but," he says, using his other hand to turn Jungkook's face to him, "i guess one more night wouldn't hurt."

jungkook smiles, leans in and kisses the gods lips. they taste like how fresh cut flowers smell

"ew! get a room!" taehyung yells in the distance as hoseok laughs and jimin smiles at the two of them.

namjoon and seokjin turn around, seokjin laughing but namjoon stays quiet looking at yoongi with contemplation.

"fuck off!" yoongi yells and picks a rock up in his palm, makes it floats in the air then rush toward taehyung's head.

taehyung causes water to splash up in protection but the rock cuts through, hitting him square in the forehead.

hoseok doubles over in laughter.

"let's take a picture!" Jimin yells to all of them, getting out of the springs and grabbing his phone from his pants pocket.

he grabs his robe and puts it over him, covering his body as the others gather round.

they all squeeze together, looking at the camera as Jimin extends his arm out, counting down.

yoongi is beside him, arm around his shoulders, their heads together.

"hana, dul, set!" Jimin says and then clicks the picture.

the light flashes brightly, and Jungkook is pulled from his memory, Jimin sitting in front of him shaking his shoulder.

"Earth to Jungkook?" the demi-god says.

Jungkook shakes his head, looks at Jimin and mutters a sorry.

Jimin isn't on the phone anymore.

"Tae has no idea where to start, and neither do I. We have to find Yoongi, but he could be in Neverwhere for all we know, and we will never get to him there." Jimin shakes his head, flips his phone in his hands.

Jungkook stays silent, the memory still lingers on his skin and he feels sick, but he licks his lips, and dares to speak.

"I can... I know how to summon him."

Jimin's hands stop flipping the phone, his eyes go wide and his jaw drops.

"You- you can summon him? He told you how to summon him?"

Jungkook crosses his arms around his chest, folds himself up and looks away, nodding his head.

"Jungkook! This is perfect!" Jimin jumps up in excitement.

Jungkook doesn't move, and Jimin catches that the other seems to be cowering.

"What's wrong? Jungkook, what is it?"

Jungkook breathes in, swallows then looks at Jimin, "I've already tried it. I've summoned him thousands of times and he won't answer the call."

"You-," Jimin stops himself, sits back down and pulls Jungkook into his arms. Jungkook doesn't reciprocate. Just let's Jimin hold him.

"I'm sorry, Koo." Jimin murmurs in his hair. "Sometimes I forget that... that you might still be hurting."

Jungkook leans back, Jimin lets him go.

"It's fine. I'm fine. But I know how to summon him, but he won't answer me. Maybe he will answer one of you."

Jimin thinks for a few moments, his hand laid on Jungkook's knee.

"Maybe. So, I guess we know where to start." Jimin sits up, goes to his closet and pulls out a bag, some shirts and clothing.

"What are you doing?" Jungkook asks.

Jimin turns to him, smiles, "I'm packing. We have a long trip ahead."

Jungkook stands up, gives him a confused look.

Jimin smiles again, "Time to get the old crew back together, huh?"

Jungkook groans, flops himself back down on the cushion.

"Oh, Jungkookie, don't worry. I'm sure after all these years the others still aren't holding those stupid grudges against each other. We're adults now, it will be all right."

Jungkook rolls his eyes, Jimin keeps packing and hums to himself.

Naive god of innocence Jimin.