Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The one constant ever since he was a little kid fending for himself. Bellows of the whale. A mournful sound. Pulls on something deep within his chest. Why is it so clear? Why does it always come back?

He never knew the reason. When exactly the dreams started. Why it was always the same. That is, until recently. Everything went black. But he could still hear the whistles, chirps, bellows. Right next to his ear yet at the same time far off in the distance.

Is he dead?

A painful pressure against his chest. Forcing him to breathe. Water splurts out from his lungs sending him into a coughing fit. His first grasp of himself since he shut his eyes.

Flashes go by. Light shines down on him. Shifts from dim to bright. Can't open them all the way. Heat of the sunshine combats against cold seeping into his drenched body. He's not in the water anymore.

The whale cries move away. Fades into the background. Is it even real?

Only a sliver of vision can he manage with his heavy eyelids. Blurry silhouettes appear on and off. He's laying on something hard. His chest is sore. Throat feels scratchy. Lung strain. Voices around him. Too quiet or his brain is too exhausted to process the words. Dizzy. So dizzy. There are hands on him. An overbearing pressure at his navel. 

It hurts.

Breathing almost makes the pain worse but he can't help the sharp gasps he lets out when a new wave comes along.

He only notices the weight of the medallion on his chest when it gets taken away. Someone lifted up the medallion. They can't have it. No matter if it's magic or not. It belonged to his mother. It belongs to him. As much strength as he could muster, he lifted his hand blindly for his medallion. The noise of the voices halts. He's not sure if he voices any of his own thoughts. For a second he is able to keep his eyes open enough, they focus, on the arm holding his medallion. The arm bandaged, markings of a tattoo barely peak out from the edges. The brim of the person's hat blocks out the sun. It is too much. He can't focus on their face.

Slowly he felt the medallion get pushed into the palm of his hand. Even uses their own hand to close Jk's fingers around the medallion. He loses the strength in his arm. Jk drops his hand to his chest. Eyes close. Head rolls to the side. All his senses fade away once again.

-

A haunting song of a whale. It has come back. But not alone this time.

Seagulls. Cawing seagulls is what he hears next.

Crashing of waves on a beach soon makes up most of the background as the caws get more distant. The sound of a mild breeze blowing past wakes him further. Tickles his face with the strands of unkept hair.

Goosebumps cover his skin. His body feels cold, and wet. No longer is there the heat of the sunshine. As wind is blowing, he figures he is outside, still, only making it worse.

In response Jk involuntarily shivers, and a sharp pain shakes his entire being, causing a yelp to escape his throat. There's something-—his knife, he suddenly remembers—impaled in him. Right into his abdomen.

Where is he?

Forcing his eyes open the first thing he sees are feather clouds. Against a blueish-purple sky. The sun is just below the horizon. Sunset.

It was midday last he looked up at the sun. Wasn't it?

Wasn't he supposed to be dead?

Is he dead? Is this the afterlife?

Jk turns his head slightly to the left and suppresses a flinch seeing a wide eyed tiny child kneeling beside him, face extremely close.

"I wanted to see if you were dead or not." The kid says.

Carried by the wind, Jk faintly hears voices of people in the distance.

His brain is too muddled to try to figure out who they are. What they are saying.

The kid suddenly gets up and runs off to the sandy hill calling out "There's a not dead person on the beach!". Jk automatically reaches for them, the movement of his arm makes his torso burn with pain, so it doesn't get too far before his strength leaves him and it plops onto the ground.

He's in pain, exhausted, freezing, slipping back into unconsciousness, and it hurts to breathe. And his sliver of help just ran off.

"Don't leave..." A whisper is all he is able to force out before the darkness takes him again.

Moment passing too fast he had no time to wonder any further of how he is on a sandy beach. His body shutting down once more from the toll it took to look around and figure out where he is. How he got out of the water.

Whose footprints leading from past the break of the crashing waves to his now unconscious body are those? Who saved his body from being lost out at sea?

He is too far gone to figure out if the faint cries of a whale are from his delusions.

-

The safe house tunnel connected to a rock outcrop near the edge of the forest right before the trees met the outer city limits. Vegetation concealed the hillside and therefore the exit where the Emperor, Consort, palace staff, and sparse civilians stood waiting. Their only protection, one Reaper Angel on the lookout. Hoseok was the one to notice Seokjin and Yoongi's return before the two of them got to the tunnel exit. He helped them climb out, quickly scanning their bodies.

"You two jumped into the water?" The journey across town through the tunnels was not enough to dry their damp hair and robes.

The monarchs come forward to assess their friends' well-being. Two left with the plan of returning as three, yet the third person is clearly absent.

"Where is Jk?" Namjoon asks quietly.

Both reapers avert their eyes out of shame. Yoongi couldn't bother to remove his tal from his face unlike Jin.

Here they are, filled with deep disappointment in themselves, stood before their leaders and friends, soaked to the bone, one missing a sword, and without Jk.

The apple of Yoongi's throat bobs before he forces himself to speak the words he wishes were untrue. "I have failed, your majesties. We couldn't get to him in time. Jeongguk is dead."

Like a cold wind blew straight through their bones.

The Consort looks back and forth between the two oldest reapers, heart sinking the more he takes in their deflated body language. "No. No. That can't be—"

Hoseok's reaction was hidden behind his tal although it was not difficult to discern what it was based on body language. His shoulders slump. Head hung. Grip tightened on his sheathed blade. Namjoon, who stands closest to him, places a hand on his shoulder when he mumbles something incoherent under his breath that no one else catches.

"What do you mean he's dead?" Namjoon aims the question to the two, not wanting anyone to freak out just yet.

Easoust needs him. They wouldn't kill him. Torture? Yes. Amputate? Possibly. But killing him? So soon? No chance that is true. Even pirates are not that stupid. There must be a mistake. Maybe they saw it wrong.

"He stabbed himself," Jin says clear and blunt. His knuckles turn white with the grip he has on his sword hilt. "Fell into the sea."

Things begin blurring into the background for Yoongi. He zones into his Reaper Angel mindset. Doesn't want—doesn't have time to linger in his failure. Not when the Emperor and Consort are still in danger. "We need to escort you to a safe area. Make our way back to the palace, see how the guards are fairing. Gain back control." He lists, herding Namjoon and Jimin to start walking down the slope. The palace can be a stronghold. Easoust has already taken their leave, all that might be left are the bandits.

They just have to get back. Secure the area.

Jimin grabs onto his robes. Veil removed. Desperation in his eyes. "No. Tell me it isn't true. Tell me he's still out there. Jin hyung..." He twists his head to Jin. Expecting an answer he won't get out of the blank one in front of him. "...Please."

Jin swallows thickly. "He's gone Jimin. He sacrificed himself."

Namjoon gently pulls Jimin to let go of Yoongi's collar, wraps his arms around him as the news settles in more in his mind. Jimin's hands begin to shake. Eyes glaze over. Stares off into empty space. Lower lip quivers.

Namjoon takes the veiled circlet from his hands and passes it off to Jin to hold.

"What of the pirates?"

"They have left our shores. Our backup turtle ships are defending the bay. Bandits are still running rampant. The secret rooms of the palace might be the safest place for you two right now." The forests are bandit terrain. They are at a disadvantage the longer the group stays out. Nothing in the city is as reinforced as the royal palace. If the palace is overtaken, then they will have to improvise. Best to get a move on as soon as possible.

"Lead the way," Namjoon says curtly, impelling Yoongi to direct the group. And so he does. He begins briskly walking down the hill, with everyone following suit worried about falling behind.

Within the hour all were able to make it back to the palace with no losses. Few bandits schemed in the surrounding woods, foolishly thinking of how they could take residence when the Reaper Angels took them out before anyone could figure out what happened.

Palace guards remained guarding the gates, noticeably fewer than the amount that morning. Bodies have already been moved in rows in the main courtyard.

The Emperor and Emperor Consort were escorted to the secret room, through a series of connected hanoks and hidden hallways, which also had an escape tunnel if needed. Now that two hundred pirates weren't anxiously waiting right outside the palace walls, a second away from storming the place, the Reapers determined it would be safe for their leaders to hide on site.

This time Jin stayed behind with Jimin and Namjoon while Yoongi, Hoseok, and some select palace guards marched into the city to regroup their numbers and drive away the bandits. Other than the necessary communication for leading a mass of soldiers, there were no attempts between the two Reapers to talk about what happened earlier that day. Though the thought did cross Hoseok's mind. It is just that he recognizes when Yoongi reverts to the very basic mindset of a soldier and understands why. There is no time to wallow when people are depending on them. After their duty is done can they feel free to let themselves go through the emotions. All of them have had similar moments in the past.

Once they return to the palace, successful in the defense of the capital, it was the late hours of the evening. They found the three had moved to the Emperor's residence. Having caught word it was safe enough. Jin sat next to Namjoon at a tea table. On Namjoon's bed lays Jimin, seemingly asleep.

When the two walked in, bone tired, heavy atmosphere hovering around them, the two at the tea table got up. Namjoon went to Yoongi first, unexpectedly took the tal off his face, and drew him into a hug.

Naturally, Yoongi wraps his arms around his friend to return the embrace, but his expression does not hide his shock.

Namjoon squeezes his shoulder before pulling away. "I know how your mind works, so no, you don't need to stay up all night to watch over us. The pirates are gone. The bandits are gone. There are still palace guards. You've done enough today. Please get some rest." He addresses the three reapers at the end.

"I don't think I can sleep tonight," Hoseok confesses, contradicting his body language.

Yoongi's eyes find the floor. "I second that."

Namjoon sighs knowing he can't fight against that. "Then at least allow your bodies a little bit of rest if you think you'll be up."

The stresses from the day shows signs of finally catching up to the Emperor. Faces morphs to show more emotion. Shoulders begin to slump knowing the responsibilities he'll have first thing next morning.

"What of Jimin?"

"He'll stay in my residence for the night. His is a mess, it will need cleaning." Somehow Namjoon's face falls more. He glances back at the still form in his bed. "He hasn't said a word since you told us of Jk." Then Namjoon casts a glance at Jin but chooses not to say anything just yet.

"We—" Yoongi's voice cracks with emotion. "It will take some time to..." He trails off.

Take some time to what? Recover? Get over this? There's no getting over the loss of a friend. A lover in Jimin's case. Not after losing them in this way.

"I know." Luckily Namjoon understood whatever he was trying to say. "With this position, it is easy to lose people. We all already knew as much. I don't know why, I just didn't expect to lose him." They all didn't.

He hands the tal back to Yoongi. The man simply holds it loosely in his hand. Makes no move to place it back on or secure it to his waist sash. What's the point anyway? All resolve has burned away as the day's toll catches up to his body. Danger is no longer lingering directly outside.

"We'll leave you both to rest."

The Reapers exit out of the Emperor's residence.

"I'll stay here in the front—" Before Yoongi could finish Jin wordlessly walked around to the backside of the residence without saying a word to either.

Hoseok looks at a loss of what to do. It is quite telling the older man needs his space. But should any of them be alone right now? Should he put his own needs aside for his friends?

"Go get rest Hoseok-ah." Yoongi says in a low voice. "Any you can." Added on when Hoseok opened his mouth to protest.

There is no ignoring the aches and weakness in his knees from all day exertion and tension. His mind betraying what his body wants. Protection is covered for the night. If needed someone will wake him up if he doesn't himself.

"I guess I'll see you in the morning then."

Hoseok grabs onto one of Yoongi's hands as he walks past, giving a tight squeeze before leaving.

Yoongi listens until he can no longer hear the footsteps. 

Soon he should talk to Seokjin. But for now he'll let him have time alone. The two of them don't need to be up on night duty. The bandits shouldn't be stupid enough to return. They're human too so they need rest same as guards. 

Still, he will stay here. Watch over the residence. Because you never know. Clearly. The systems, protections, networks of information all failed and the siege on the capital happened without much warning. He failed everyone today, he won't fail them again. Pushing down the exhaustion, he will sit here to make sure no danger shows in the night.

He sits with his back against a pillar, watching over the hanok. Lights from the inside are snuffed out. Few lights from lanterns on the outside stay on for patrolling guards. No one else is around. Jin should be on the opposite side of the back gardens of the residence. There is privacy.

Nothing left to distract his mind.

So many choices he could have made differently.

He should've taken control of the ship they were on. Cause it to ram into the others. More crucially find a way to Captian Dak-Ho's. Should've instigated the distractions sooner. Maybe if he fired less cannons or told Jin they should split upso one could focus on the cannons and the other on getting to Jk. But maybe if they did things might've turned out different, maybe if they did Jin would have gotten injured or worse. 

Jk hinted at ending himself. Even before this day. For the sake of others. To put a stop to the personal struggles he was facing. Yoongi should've gone with more urgency. Why why why....

Should've done this. Should have done that. Could have done this. Yet none of that matters anymore because what's done is done and passed. No amount of praying or self-punishment can reverse the events. 

A tear slips down his cheek. Then two. Then he forcefully brushes them away. Wills no more to fall. He failed. He failed his friend. Therefore he doesn't deserve to cry.

A few hours passed, now early morning the next day, but it would still be a few more hours before the first sun rays come over the horizon, and Hoseok got a short sleep in that time. When he returned to the Emperor's residence he spotted Yoongi asleep leaning against the wooden beam. He checks the back of the residence and sees Jin a second away from falling asleep standing up. He tells Jin to go get some sleep at his own quarters, as he will take over the watch. Jin does so with a wordless nod of acknowledgment. Hoseok quickly peeks in through the residence door to see the two sleeping figures on the bed. He orders a few trusted guards who survived the siege to remain in the courtyard for a few minutes. Meanwhile he gently wakes Yoongi up and convinces him to go to his quarters for sleep as well. Hoseok ends up having to assist Yoongi in walking to his quarters as the weakness has finally caught up to his whole body.

Goodnights are exchanged although it is anything but. Hoseok returns to the courtyard and remains there until the first rays of a new day. The ache of starting one when he only just lost a friend has him retreating to his quarters with a tight throat once the other two Reapers arose to take his place.

-

Three full days have gone by. The palace was still in the process of cleaning the mess Easoust left of it. Tattered curtains, shattered pottery, doors and windows knocked inwards, objects thrown to all corners of the rooms, halls, residences. Some damage was done to the exteriors of palace buildings and the surrounding outer wall.

The city is in even more of a state.

Much damage was left three days ago once all was said and done.

After Jk left the safehouse much debate went back and forth on who should go after Jk and how to go about doing so. In the end, Yoongi and Seokjin were sent after him while the rest traveled through the escape tunnels. Although Yoongi left a few minutes prior to Jk's escape while Jin escorted Namjoon, Jimin, and the few staff with them to the other side of the tunnels with Hoseok before he rounded back to catch up with Yoongi.

The pair snuck onto a departing Easoust ship and set off their gunpowder, forcing some of the ship's cannons to go off at the fellow Easoust ships nearby. Damaging them. To minimize the threat in the likely scenario Easoust wants to turn around and lay complete waste to the capital city.

There was no time to hop onto the next ship, closest one to them, perhaps the most important one. The two Reaper Angels were on the deck when they witnessed Jk stab himself and fall into the sea. Too far away to attempt to retrieve his body yet so close they could almost hear his final words carried by the wind.

Ensuing the son of the Pirate Queen being taken by the waves, the pirates started freaking out, the backmost ships began firing their cannons at the city. The remaining shoreline defense fired what they could back at the ships to make sure they didn't enter back into the bay. Reinforcement turtle ships that were kept further inland docked at the riverside finally arrived in the bay to form another line of defense.

Confusion spread through the crews about what was happening. For a short minute the ships were firing at each other before Captain Dak-Ho signaled for everyone to quit firing and retreat. Losing what motivated them to storm into the capital bay in the first place, they couldn't find a reason to stay any longer now that more naval reinforcements are arriving.

Jin and Yoongi barely had to engage in any fights amidst the confusion before they absconded back to shore. Although one of the fights did result in Yoongi losing his sword as it fell into the water.

What came as a shock was within the next hour every Easoust ship that entered their bay was sunk. Witnessed by some brave messengers of Yoongi's network and soldiers on the turtle ships guarding the bay's edge. Debris still floated just outside the bay. Once Namjoon was later given a more detailed report, the Emperor assumed perhaps the bottom of the ships scraped underwater rocks or coral, and the lower levels flooded with water, but it was for certain not the shoreline defenses. Most ships were too far away from range, yet they sunk first. The spare turtle ships do not have that kind on ammunition. Whatever caused it, he doesn't dwell on it for too long. An entire Easoust fleet, no matter if it was the first or second fleet, was eliminated. That was a victory.

The army Namjoon sent to Taehyung's kingdom were called back in waves after he sent a note for them when news of Easoust docking the morning reached the palace. In case the other ever so slightly more powerful fleet of Easoust would instead attack the capital in a second wave since their scout ships left Taehyung's shores. Whereabouts or destination currently unknown. Slowly the majority of the army would make their way back to the capital to help rebuild. Defend the vulnerable city.

But the remaining pirate fleet was not the only future possible concern.

As it turns out Easoust sided with large local bandit groups to attack the city while they held off in the bay. Hence why the city was in more mayhem than expected from what was thought to be just two hundred or so pirates on land. Once the chaos of the cannon fire began, the bandits fled further into the city. It took much longer to chase them out of the capital but thankfully they did flee before night came. But not before they created wide spread damage, injuries, and overall harm.

The threat was underestimated.

Main thing is, the city was not overtaken. Its people are still alive. Albeit with some tragic losses. Homes are still standing. The country still has its emperor, the consort, the reapers, most of them anyway. Fewer losses than what could have been predicted. Everyone for the general part is physically okay.

Stress on the word physically.

Each person's heart felt like it dropped to their stomach the moment Jk bolted out that door. Jin, while having lost his temper and shouted horrible things to the younger man, was scared for Jk's life. He volunteered to go after him. Yoongi, ever the man to take any problem upon himself to solve, had hoped to catch up to the younger man before anything horrible would unfold. Save him from the enemies and himself. Now the heavy weight in the gut is starting to feel permanent.

Jk had his faults. Mishaps. But what does that matter? Even if he couldn't be a Reaper Angel—if he was in a way the key to a weapon of mass destruction, he was their friend. And they fell short. Didn't make the right decisions at the right time. They failed him.

On the personal level the state of the five of them emotionally was crumbling.

The Emperor and Reaper Angels had to keep up their strong appearances when they would help the rebuilding effort in the city. The council, amazingly, would convene on the next steps. Wanting to restore the capital to normalcy as soon as possible. Advisor Seungkwan returned unharmed two days after the attack thanks to the protection of his Dozen, who also helped with the organizing of the turtle ship reinforcement and the city guard in defending the capital on the day of the siege.

Coming back to the rush of business had given distractions for only the daylight hours. But guilt consumed a portion of all of them. And made itself present when night came and they were no longer occupied with their duties.

Namjoon beats down on himself. Regrets the things he said and didn't say to Jk before their last parting. It being one of the main things that keep him from getting a decent night's rest. He was not that much older than the ex-pirate but he felt a responsibility towards him. He as emperor made the decision to seek out Jk, recruit him as a Reaper Angel, trust him with responsibilities saved for a very small select of individuals. It has been his job from the start to lead him in the right directions. He's done a shit job on that.

Look where his lack of attentiveness for Jk has gotten the young man. He won't blame it on his other friends. He should have overseen things more frequently. Talked to Jk one-on-one more.

Jk proved himself loyal and capable in the end. Many people with the same qualities perish. As emperor, Namjoon has heard countless accounts, witnessed some of these events himself. Good people die. But never has one of his reapers, one of the people closest to him died to protect him. Protect their shared loved ones.

What happened, all of it, falls on Namjoon's shoulders. That's the way his mind puts it.

Yoongi was the head of the Reaper Angel when Namjoon wasn't around or Hoseok would be too preoccupied.

He felt as if he should have done something different. More to stop Jk. Or help him with his plan to retrieve the medallion. Should have done something instead of letting the younger man run out that door on his own.

And he should have been able to protect the people. The reapers are held to one of the highest standards. Claim to be the best there is. Or that is what is expected of them. And yet this is what has become of their city under their watch? How could he have let such a disaster happen while he was in charge? He failed everyone. As a leader, as a friend. Failure after failure.

Hoseok often says he should have been there with Jk. He was also considered an unofficial leader of the reapers. Allowing his friend to go off in that suicide mission is something he should have prevented. He should have been capable of doing more. City guards were scattered. A low profile had to be maintained to sneak the monarchs to safety. He had to be the one to drag Jimin through the tunbels to stop him from running after Jk. Allwhile keeping a looking out ahead and behind their small group.

Jin left to join Yoongi in retrieving Jk. And Hoseok wanted to follow, but there was the risk of leaving the monarchs and staff alone. Namjoon and Jimin can decently handle a blade but they are not fully trained. What if someone came and was able to get the upper hand and kill them? Two of his friends deaths would be on his hands. So he decided to stay, but no threats showed up.

So when Yoongi and Seokjin returned claiming Jk was dead, he felt it was his fault because he did not go with them. Maybe that one man difference could have shifted the outcome.

But it happened. And the weight of it sinks heavy in his stomach.

The grins everyone loved so dearly have been altered to painful closed mouth half smiles that can't reach his eyes. He's been ignoring his own need to eat. Bite size portions are what he has stomached so far.

Seokjin stopped talking. After the day of the siege. The amount of words he has said in the past seventy or so hours can be counted on two hands. Regret wrapped its way so tightly that it seemed too hard to speak to anyone for the last words he yelled to Jk's face. Knowing the turmoil the younger man has recently gone through made him want to cut his own tongue out for letting his anger speak his words for him.

If he tries uttering a word he feels as if he'll break down in front of whoever speaks to him. For that reason he keeps his mouth clamped shut.

How could he let himself say that to a friend?

Jk was so stubborn but it wasn't because of youth. It was because he was tired and he felt the need to protect everyone by giving himself up. Jin knew this, he knew it in the moment, and yet he blurted out all the wrong things.

The warmth that came with Jin seems to have been replaced with ice, keeping the happiness inside frozen lock.

It seemed that the palace had not become uncharacteristically silent enough until this new silence between the five of them began.

Even not thinking about how they let down Jk as his senior Reaper Angels, they failed their friend. For Jimin they know Jk was more than a friend to him.  Which makes it all the more heartbreaking to see the state the Emperor's Consort has fallen into.

Jimin was a wreck. Was in denial at first when the news broke out, but once it completely settled in that night he collapsed to his knees, dawning a devastated blank expression ever since. He stayed most of the time within Namjoon's quarters, as his were damaged in the kidnapping attempt, and being just the consort he has no official obligation to oversee or help rebuild.

The maids say he sits blankly on the edge of the bed, hardly giving any reaction to them. Food and drinks go mostly untouched. Opened windows to let in fresh air have remained open when maids come back, even when the cold temperatures have crept into the room. He doesn't seem to have the energy to keep himself warm. He's in complete mourning.

Everyone blames what happened on themselves. If only they were quicker. If only they were smarter. So many different routes could have been taken and those thoughts revolve endlessly in each of their heads.

-

In attempt to distract himself from the crushing weight of grief and regret, Jin tries to commit every available minute he has to tend to the capital and its people. Well, they all do. An attempt to recuperate for their dereliction.

He just visited the largest inn in the city, where many people who lived along the shore have taken refuge while their homes are rebuilt. Offering medical assistance, build repairs, assurances in the form of gestures or 'mn's, whatever they asked for. Majority were fearful that more pirates would come back and finish what was started. Or bandits will launch a follow-up raid. The Emperor, guard force, and the other Reapers have tried to assure everyone that their defenses will be more prepared in the case of a next time.

Whenever someone asks if the capital is still safe or if the bandits will come back, he always responds with a nod or shake of his head respectively. There is still much work to do and improvements to be put in place. Better to ease their fear before he takes off to the next destination.

Just as he was leaving the inn a frantic man almost dashed right into him. The man, having realized who he is, bows.

"Sir," He sounds very out of breath. "Quick. Come with me." He points off to somewhere behind him as he hunches with his other hand on the knee.

With a wordless tilt of his head the man is told to continue.

"One of the other Reaper Angels was found injured at the southern outskirts of the city."

His heart drops.

Injured? The south? None of them today should be attending to the south to his knowledge. He can't lose another. No time to ask as the man already started running off in the direction he came from beckoning Jin to follow.

Jin runs after him, and so do a small group of townsfolk who were curious with nothing better to do. Mostly consisting of teenagers who weren't allowed to handle building repairs.

The man leads him to the very edge of the city, where the dirt paths lead into the stretches of grass meadows and forests.

A wide-bed uncovered cart filled with cloths, pelts, boxes, and other miscellaneous items is parked in the middle of the dirt road with several people surrounding it. Not the typical cart he sees around the city. The small bunch stood around the cart must be merchants or similar from out of town.

Which means they picked up his fellow reaper out of the city boundaries as well?

They all bow upon seeing him.

"He's right in here." A woman urges him to come closer, hand pointing to something or someone behind the front pile up of cloth.

Jin places a hand on the hilt of his sword, walking closer with precaution. Can't be too careful nowadays. Not after the palace guard betrayal. Not after the siege.

The first thing he spots are the legs sticking out from under a small blanket. As he walks to the back of the cart his eyes follow the legs up until their face comes into view.

The pale sweaty face of the man who he saw die. Or at least he thought.

Jin quickly hops onto the back of the cart, kneeling down beside Jk. If not for his tal everyone would see the pure shock and saddness on his face.

The younger man's eyes were halfway open, eyelids fluttering. Not aware of his surroundings but moving, breathing nonetheless.

He is still alive.

How?

"We found him around twenty-twentysix kilometers down the shoreline two-no, three days ago? He had a dagger in his stomach, he lost a lot of blood. My cousin recognized his reaper clothes and told us we had to help."

Twentysix kilometers?!

How in the world is that possible? There's absolutely no chance he swam that far himself. And the tides don't work like that. His body wouldn't wash up a half day's journey on horseback down the coast.

"We didn't want to risk moving him all the way here until we patched him up as best we could so he can restore some of his blood."

He lifts the blanket to see Jk topless with his stomach wrapped in cloth. So is the palm of his hand. There is no visible stains so he'll take that as a good sign.

"He needs to be brought to the palace." Jin states attempting to keep his voice without a tremble.

For a second Jin spots the glimmer of a thin chain around Jk's neck. He knows for a fact Jk never wore any jewelry on when he was in reaper uniform. But it goes forgotten as the pale expanse of his skin is much more concerning.

The villagers start murmuring amongst themselves, giddy about the fact they get to step foot in the Emperor's palace when transporting a Reaper Angel there.

It's a shame they will be visiting when the palace as not in its full glory. But that fact doesn't matter in the slightest.

Jeongguk is alive.

-

As Jk didn't appear to be in any immediate danger they transported him directly to the palace. Seokjin walked alongside the cart the entire time, not taking his eyes off the unconscious man.

The sight of a wounded Reaper Angel being carried by a cart caught the attention of many townsfolk. Their curiosity brought them to ask what had happened. All that Jin told them was to inform the palace staff and physicians that there was a wounded reaper in need of medical treatment. A crowd of twenty or so people ran ahead to the palace eager to be of any assistance.

News spread like wildfire across the city. It reached Yoongi and Hoseok and the pair had already returned to the main palace gates by the time Jin and the rest of the party arrived. The former with his hand placed firmly around the hilt of his new jingum. Expecting unforeseen danger.

Jin could sense their confusion under their masks. He didn't speak to them. Their small but sharp gasps were enough to know they recognized the man lying in the cart bed as they walked on. Questions blurting out of their mouths to a dazed Jin.

"Let the cart through." He says just loud enough for the palace guards standing at the main gate to hear.

The gates opened and the staff with available physicians were waiting on the other side. Namjoon in full attire minus his veiled crown was just walking down the grand steps when the cart crossed through the gateway. Physicians took charge and instructed the cart to the right where the medical hanoks were located.

"Jin what is this?" The Emperor asks once he gets near.

The Reaper can't take his eyes off of the cart. "Jk is alive."

Namjoon's head snaps to the cart surrounded by the small crowd of people.

"He...They have Jk?" He keeps a calm demeanor but he knows he's in disbelief.

Not knowing what else to do with themselves they tag behind the physicians treating Jk. He was carried from the cart bed to an empty spot of clean sheets in the main medical hanok.

A senior physician advised them to give them space to do their work. Meaning to stay outside.

As the four of them waited on bated breath to hear any news, hopefully good news only, about Jk's condition the other two reapers began interrogating Jin on everything he knew about Jk turning up alive. However he could not please their confusion since he has not pieced the whole story together yet. Bewildered on his own.

The conversation then turned to who would inform Jimin about the man back from the dead. A maiden offered to go to the Emperor's quarters and fetch Jimin herself. By the time they decide amongst the four of them she could already be back so Namjoon allows her to go as he goes to question the owners of the cart Jk was carried in. Jin accompanies him without much thought wanting to do something productive that is not waiting for a health report that will not come for likely a few hours. Hoseok and Yoongi hover in the doorway of the hanok, nervously glancing inside every few seconds.

A few minutes go by. The physicians were in the midst of re-bandaging the torso wound with better cleaner materials but the wound began bleeding again. It was not an overwhelming amount but Yoongi and Hoseok still feel their hearts jump to their throats at the sight.

The maiden has returned with Jimin in her arms, leading him as if he couldn't stand upright on his own. He's not even wearing his veiled circlet. The sunken sorrow in his otherwise emotionless expression is gutwrenching. He doesn't lift his eyes from the ground in front of him. Either he is too far gone to have heard the maid tell him the news or she did not tell him at all as he is in no hurry to get anywhere.

That soon changes. She leads him to the open doorway. And the minute his eyes land on the unconscious man, it wakes something in him.

Hoseok is the first to stop Jimin from bolting into the room. Jimin struggles against his hold, becoming more desperate as the fact settles on his mind that Jk is lying right there breathing and alive.

The physicians are not done patching him up yet. One threw a look at them as if to tell them 'Please do not let him barge in here yet'.

Jimin crumbles to his knees holding weakly onto the arm Hoseok has wrapped around his front to keep him back. Yoongi crouches down next to them. The Consort begins bawling seeing the blood cover Jk's torso and the discarded cleaning rags.

A mix of emotions comes together. This doesn't feel real, to any of them. To Hoseok and Yoongi their friend has returned from the dead. For Jimin it is his lover. Odds for Jk to die is still high. Given the amount of blood and the physcians' frantic movements. It is a mystery how he got out of the sea, made his way south, and it may remain a mystery if Jk does not wake up, if they disturb the physicians' work.

Because he is focused on giving Jimin and his emotions comfort, Yoongi doesn't realize he has begun crying as well. He is not sure what for though. He only realizes the tears started falling when he feels Hoseok pull him into his arms as well.

Being held close by his friend, feeling the warmth of the physical connection, hearing Jimin's heartbreaking wailing, seeing Jk unconscious, and everything from the last few days come down on him all it once. It breaks a final blockade of Yoongi's barricaded emotions. He turns his head and buries it on Hoseok's shoulder. Letting out his cries.

Hoseok sheds his own silent tears along with the men in his arms.

No words need to be said. The physicians could get an idea, not finding the sight all too strange. Given recent circumstances. The three men in the doorway, although experiencing different pain, understand what each other is feeling, and therefore made no attempt to try to stop the other as this release of emotions was long overdue.

-

Coming to was not easy. Pain was still present in his abdomen, enough to make breathing feel like a chore. Exhaustion fought with his will to keep his eyelids closed, but the curiosity was stronger. He recognized he was no longer lying on the beach. He could no longer feel the ocean breeze nipping his cheeks, or the cold seeping into his skin from his drenched clothes.

A soft warm surface was under him. His clothes felt different. Thankfully dry. In fact, some layers had been removed. He doesn't have his shirt or robes on. But there is a tightness wrapped around his waist.

Opening his eyes allows the sunlight to blind him from the force of brightness. Last he was aware of himself, the sun was setting on the horizon. Or was it early afternoon? Yet another passage of unknown time has gone. And he is indoors. The slanted ceiling above him is brightly lit up. It is quiet.

Twisting his head to the side, scanning the room, and recognizing it immediately. He's in a medicinal hanok. A private side room.

He's back on solid land. In the capital. Presumably.

How did he get here?

His mind jumps back to the bizarre kid back on the beach. It appears they did get help for Jk. How long ago was that?

Blips of something, his memory mess up whether it was before or after the beach, of people surrounding him, hands over his body, intelligible voices all around him. How long ago was that?

Did the Reapers come back and save him? Is that why he was on the beach? No, because then they would have taken him straight back to the palace and not have left him out there. But what happened to Easoust? He's still alive. They'll know somehow. Find out eventually. They'll be back. Searching for him again.

What if Easoust did find him? And they brought him to a medical hanok of theirs? Or a stolen one most likely. Unless it is neither the Reapers nor Easoust who found him. Would the people realize the risk of bringing him back? He was done for. Why go through the effort of saving a bleeding man floating in the water?

Too many questions. He's overwhelming his own mind. Enough wondering. Time to do something.

In that case, Jk forces himself to sit up. And by sitting up he means getting as far as to leaning back on his elbows before the soreness physically stops him. The pain of his tender stiff muscles render him breathless. His vision even blacks out for a few seconds.

No one was in the room with him but he's not sure how long that will last. Anyone could walk in. Friendly or not. And it is broad daylight. He needs to figure out where he is. How he got here. What happened.

Not sure how fast he can get himself moving in this sorry state. And forget about the idea of fighting in case it is enemies who captured him. Regardless, he wants to check on his physical well-being. Lifting the blanket, Jk looks at the cloth straps wrapped around his torso. By the feel of it, the physicians put spider web over his wound. He's had to use spider web before on himself, but it doesn't make it any less creepy. His eyes then flicker to the hand holding up the blanket when he felt a sting. There is a bandage wrapped around it as well. For when his palm was sliced open. The lace is missing from its place on his wrist.

Wait. His hand shoots to his bare chest. It's not here! Where is the medallion?! It is no longer around his neck.

Panic doesn't stay for long. Something smooth and cold is felt under his bare shoulder. In slow movement he reaches his arm up, having to pause two times from the stretch of his abdomen, and he feels a chain with his fingertips.

Pulling it out he holds the medallion just high enough so he can see it from his position lying down. Someone took it off his neck and placed it under the pillow. Purposely hiding it instead of leaving the medallion on a bedside table. Whoever moved it must have known this was the medallion. Why didn't they confiscate it? Why let him still have it?

He decides he will be able to move well enough to leave the bed now. Soreness be damned. He has sheer willpower. So he swings his legs to the side of the bed, at a much slower pace than he would prefer.

'Better to just fight through the pain' advice he's always said to himself.

Letting out a big exhale Jk pushes himself to sit up then stand from the bed. At the same moment the door slides open and someone walks into the room. He doesn't have time to get a look at them because his vision turns black and he momentarily loses consciousness.

Jk feels his body go limp, his knees giving out making him topple to the floor but he feels a warm body catch him. His torso flares in white hot pain. A loud ringing begins in his ears. His mind feels far too dizzy to try to come to his senses and open his eyes so he just lies there in the arms of the unknown person. His head rests on their shoulder, he feels one hand wrapped around his back and gripping his forearm, the other on his cheek. Lightly and repeatedly patting it.

The thumping of his own heartbeat in his ears slowly recedes into background noise. He hears his name being called.

After the burn feeling of drowsiness leaves his eyes, Jk blinks them open to adjust to the light again. Whoever caught him let out a sigh of relief.

He tilts his head up and meets the soft but bloodshot eyes of Jimin.

"Hi." Jimin says in an equally soft voice.

He really did make it back to the palace.

"Mm." A small noise from his throat as all he can muster. He didn't realize till now how thirsty he feels.

Jimin's hand touches over his forehead and cheeks as he explains, "The villagers and physicians treated you as best they could, but you have to take it easy. You haven't had food in three days. Haven't been on your feet either. Don't rush yourself okay?"

He gives a weak nod, wanting nothing more than to fall back to sleep. Yet his hunger and thirst keep him from finding the peace to relax his mind.

Jimin helps him maneuver back to the side of the bed, taking a seat on the floor for now. The upright position forces his mind to be more awake. To avoid letting his back hunch therefore squeezing the large wound. If he lays down he will definitely fall pass out hunger and thirst be damned. Given how weak he is, who knows if he'll ever wake up again if he were to go back to sleep.

A few deep breaths makes Jk feel well enough to try some actual words. "Is this going to be a reoccurring theme?" He croaks out. Winces internally at the sound of his underused voice.

"What is?"

"You being the first person I see when I am gravely injured." A little joke can't hurt anybody. Unless he laughs.

"Jeong—"

"I need water. And food." He doesn't want to have the conversation that he forcefully cut short in the safe house a few days ago. At least not yet. His throat cannot bear it in this poor condition.

"I'll be back in a blink of an eye." Jimin gets up at a slower pace than typically normal, blinking away something unseen when he stands at full height. True to his word, however, Jimin rushed back. A cup of water and some plain white rice. He helps Jk lift the items since Jk felt his strength was too weak to hold them stable.

The water simultaneously soothes his throat and irritates his wound as his muscles move when he swallows. He tries to set the cup down when his throat finally feels like it wouldn't split open.

"Jimin,"

"You should drink it all. Your body has been through a lot—"

"—I'm sorry." He brings himself to look directly into the other's eyes.

Jimin blinks. Loses the words he was going to say. "What for?"

"For running away." He clarifies.

Jimin fidgets, looking like he wants to speak but refusing to let the words out. Jk takes this chance to continue.

"I should have put more thought into my actions but instead I left. I was so...so fed up with this Easoust bullshit. I just wanted to end things. I didn't want to run away from them anymore. They would have kept searching, more people would gotten hurt, or killed. You all just wanted to protect me. And you thought that still keeping me and Easoust from ever crossing paths would be the best decision. I get it. But one way or another either I had to go to them or they would have gotten me eventually and I didn't want to live anymore with that looming fear. I didn't want to get any of you involved when that time came."

The Reaper Angels offered to help him but he declined all. This was business between him and Easoust. He was their real target, not the Reapers, not the Consort, not the Emperor. Things were ending that day and Jk did not want any of his friends to meet their ends either. But leaving in such a way still makes a part of him feel bad. How he left them was no proper goodbye.

"I know. I know how your mind works, why you chose what you did. It shouldn't have been so shocking in the moment..." Jimin's voice goes quiet. "I just didn't want to face the possibility of never seeing you again. Of leaving you to such a cruel fate."

"I'm here. I'm safe now." He gives the smallest smile. That falls as fast as it comes. "But they may come for me again."

Jimin turns to give Jk his full attention, hand placed on Jk's right knee. "They won't."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because half of Easoust is gone. Because of you."

Jk's head snaps up from the cup of rice in his palm.

They may have decided not to turn back on the day of the raid, but if the fleet had any inkling Jk was still alive they would come back with a vengeance.

Worry starts to fill him. "They won't be gone for long. If they find out I survived where do you think is the first place they'll look?"

"No I mean...I'm not saying you sacrificing yourself was the right thing to do, but without it, Easoust would have possibly destroyed even more of the city."

He is at a loss. "I'm sorry for...sacrificing myself too, but tread back. What happened to Easoust? And the bandits?"

"They're gone." He sputters at himself not clarifying for the third time. "Our local army, brave civilians, along with Jin, Hoseok, and Yoongi chased the bandits out of the city. As for Easoust, their ships sank outside the harbor. All of them, based on no sightings of Easoust ships sailing down south. Nobody is entirely sure how the fleet sunk together. Yoongi said earlier today that it must have been your doing, although we don't know what he means by that and he never clarified either. But he sounded very sure. We're grateful nonetheless."

Jk has a strong hunch as to how the Easoust fleet sank. And it has something to do with the medallion still hidden underneath his pillow. Without even meaning to, he manages to halfway avenge his family and his mother's legacy. If he wasn't so hungry and tired and feeling a step away from a corpse he would feel some pride in himself. He caused Easoust, at least a portion of the great pirate fleet, to fall.

Leaning until his head rests on Jimin's shoulder, Jk takes a breath of relief.

Not forever, not completely, but they are gone. He is no longer hunted. For the time being. The other fleet may assume he, the Pirate Queen's son, died in the aftermath. He can breathe freely again. He feels lighter like a weight on his shoulders has lifted. In a way Jk unintentionally avenged all the Palbombora members who died at the hands of Easoust. He is not sure how he did so. Never has he done magic or been around someone who conjures it for more than a day. Yet whatever was connected to the medallion appeared that day. Saved his life.

To think of what would have happened to him if the Reapers hadn't tracked down Jk over a year ago. How drastically his life could have been. Would he have made it to live another year?

There must be a window open somewhere because a breeze passes through, making a shiver travel down Jk's whole body. He watches the goosebumps pop up on his bare arms.

"Jimin."

"Yeah?"

"Where's my cloth bracelet?"

Abrupt change.

"Your what?"

"Lace fabric. The lace. The one I kept on my wrist."

The thought of it being lost to the sea is quite possible but it saddens him. All the effort to never lose it over the years only for it to disappear because he decided to sacrifice himself.

"It's being washed, along with your other clothes."

Now that he thinks about it, the pants he is wearing are new, judging by the softer texture.

"Who undressed me?"

"The physicians. But Yoongi visited you first before you were moved here, to check for anything out of the ordinary whatever that means. If you're uncomfortable with the physicians later changing your bandages I can do so. Unless you would be uncomfortable with me then they can still be allowed to if that's what you want?" His speech becomes hurried in the end.

"I don't mind." Jk blinks tiredly, and a fond smile at Jimin's meekness spreads.

Jimin stands from the floor. Sways, stumbles on the spot, and eyes flutter for a couple of seconds as he does so and it does not go unnoticed by Jk, who sits taller at the small concerning signs. Jimin attempts to brush it off with, "You should rest some more. You have been through a lot. I'll see if I could bring you some food and the physicians if you feel up to it."

"You should rest too," Jk replies, eyebrows furrowed. He positions himself to be ready to get up, his injured self pushed to the back of his mind.

"I'm fine." Jimin musters a smile. Hopes to convince him. 

Jk knows him better than that.

He helps Jk move from the floor to sit on the edge of the bed. Jk looks directly at Jimin.

"You look almost as tired as I probably do."

Jimin's eyes close knowing he can't trick the man and he won't let this pass without speaking of it. "My body is weak, but nothing to fret over. I was not doing well the past three days. Hardly ate and mostly slept. More of a burden to the others when they already had enough to work through and...I am ashamed of my poor behavior."

As he had not done anything for the past days his memory is empty. There were times when the Reapers and Namjoon separately came to visit. They spoke to him. But he cannot remember a word they said. His mind just shut down. Motivation to get out of bed, to speak, to eat more than a few bites. It felt floaty. When the maid came to take him to the medical hanoks, he was becoming more aware of himself again. The maid said it was urgent he come with her. No one had forced him out of his residence in his grief.

"I really thought you were gone for good."

Jk raises his hand—it trembles with how weak it feels—and Jimin almost immediately takes it in his own.

"I'm still here. I'm not leaving." It hurts his heart to think of the low place he must have fallen in thinking Jk died. "Don't feel bad about how you reacted. Mourning can affect everyone differently. Change you without warning. Sometimes it hurts you so much that you can't will your body to do anything. Trust me I've been there."

Frustration does not leave easily for the Consort. "Mourning should not be an excuse, at least for me. I have an important role, a responsibility to the city—the empire. Although there are people like Namjoon hyung and Advisor Seungkwan and the council to handle responsibilities I too overlook, I should've been by their side to help instead of wasting away."

"You're here now. You're up and present. What's passed is past, your help can still be offered. Even if I did die, you would have found a way to heal and help others, I know you would've. What's a few days anyway? Don't be so hard on yourself. Isn't that something you always told me?"

It seems their small group often offer advice to one another yet they have a problem of following it. Seeing as that fate decided to somehow spare his life for some unknown reason, he will better adhere to wise words and make sure the others do not forget they have someone to lean on, just like they have told him the past year or so.

He doesn't want to mess up this chance fate gave him. Make the same mistakes. Waste away.

"I'll try." Jimin affirms with a kiss on Jk's cheek.

Given one final squeeze with their hands, Jimin lets go. "Rest Jeongguk." He insists once more as he walks to the door.

"You rest too." Jk replies with a pointed look. 

"I will. I'll come by later."

Jk finds himself staring at the door minutes after Jimin has already left. Despite feeling the tug a few minutes prior, sleep does not come to him. His mind focused on other callings.

-

Most would assume after almost dying twice within the span of a few months, a person would develop some self-preservation instinct. Jk has still not developed such skills. That is why despite the immense pain he feels in his abdomen and the exhaustion throughout his entire body he wraps a blanket around his freezing body and forces himself to seek out Namjoon. The Emperor was the one who said he wanted to speak to him first, as relayed to him by Jimin after Jk had his first meal since waking up.

More of the actual truth Jk could not stand being alone in that room doing nothing, as much as his physical limitations protested otherwise. He needed an excuse to leave the hanok and going to find the emperor was the one he settled with.

With painstaking effort, he makes his way through the palace with the intent of locating Namjoon. He woke up in the morning. It is now the afternoon. People were still milling about. Eyes and murmurs follow him. The returned palace staff and guards know that one of their Reaper Angels was taken on board the Easoust ships and sacrificed himself to save everyone, although they don't know the details of why. His body fell into the sea shortly before the Easoust fleet was destroyed. Then the Reaper Angel shows up days later back from the dead. Gossip spread like wildfire, currently making its way to neighboring cities and onwards.

Most take only a second to realize he is that Reaper Angel. They stare at him with utter amazement and wonder. Like he is some hero. Whispering to each other like he has some supernatural ability with how he defied the odds and came back, albeit not unscathed.

They might not be too far off with that one theory. The necklace around his neck is hidden underneath the blanket so no one sees when his hand goes up to rub his thumb against the surface of the blood-red gem.

He only hopes the rumors don't get too crazy. It is not like Easoust is completely gone.

He heads to the meeting hall where he expects to find Namjoon. When he enters he finds it barren. 

It looks cleaned up. No more broken shards of pottery or splintered furniture scattered about. Ripped banners have been taken down and folded on the tables that were fortunate enough to survive. No sign that Namjoon has been in here today. But Jk does not leave. In fact, he walks further into the hall. 

His sluggish steps echo against the emptiness. Even though the room has been cleaned out there are hints of what happened a few days ago. Reminders only Jk can pick out. Scratch marks of a blade against the pillars, left by the Easoust men after Jk was taken hostage. Deliberately left as a physical mark of what they accomplished. Blood droplets from Jk's fight with Captain Dak-Ho on the floor. Closer to the throne, at the side aisles, there is an indent on the floor. The scene so fresh and vivid in Jk's mind it engulfs him. Replaces what he currently is seeing in front of himself.

The room becomes destroyed. Muffled shouts from the Easoust members waiting in the trees outside the palace. He is back in the suffocating Emperor Consort robes. Phantom bruises and cuts ache. Weight of the nonexistent knife settles back in the palm of his now wrapped-up hand.

The indent he left when he was only centimeters away from killing the Easoust captain. Even if the first mate would have replaced Dak-Ho upon his death, and there were five men already hiding within the meeting hall ready to continue the mission and capture Jk, and the raid of the capital was in full motion, he could have ended things there with that man. Cause temporary confusion. Disorder among the pirate crew. Maybe that could have helped the situation. Or made it worse.

"—Jk?"

His breath catches in his throat being suddenly pulled out of the memories. He spins around and sees Namjoon standing by the entrance. Full emperor attire minus the veil he just took off.

"I called you a few times and you didn't answer."

Past the open doors of the meeting hall Jk sees Hoseok and Yoongi's backs facing away from the entrance, waiting outside.

"Sorry."

The older man studies Jk's sickly appearance with knitted brows. "Are you well enough to be out of bed?" He asks.

Long hair unkempt. Pale skin. Cracked lips. Dark eye circles. A hole in his stomach. Blanket wrapped tightly around his shoulders despite it being well into spring. Swaying slightly on the spot. Looking a second away from collapsing.

Jk doesn't answer. The answer is unabashedly in front of their faces. There is no denial. Physically he has suffered a great deal. He can still recall how every harmful hand felt as it made contact with his skin. Every blade that missed their target by hair widths. Every time he did not miss his targets. Unwanted memories, the ones that stayed past the fog his mind creates, come back. That dazed look in his eyes returns. Making him forget to answer the question.

"Jk, are you alright?" Namjoon takes a step closer. Right hand extended out ready to catch him.

To Namjoon, it is a surprise Jk can stand on his own two feet, given the fact that he woke up a few hours before, injuries new. Seeing him unaccompanied in this state is worrying, especially wrapped in a blanket in the spring afternoon heat.

Jk reflects on the question. Is he alright?

Being beaten, manhandled, chased, cut, and stabbed himself, almost drowning all leading him to a breath away from death. Him fully awaiting to meet his end after escaping death for so long. Thinking he had lost good people in his life right when he got them. Give up his chance of a good life before he could embrace it. The list is large.

And it takes its toll.

Three days ago, those short few hours were filled to the brim with shot after shot of what life thought could knock Jk down. And it came very close. He accepted it in the end with a heavy heart. That he wasn't meant to achieve happiness in this life. No lasting goodness in store for him.

Yet here he is. Against the odds brought down upon him, he woke up still in this world. In pain. Tired beyond his mind. Horrible memories and heightened emotions all too recent. Not something he will forget for a long time. But still breathing.

Tears brim Jk's eyes. "No." He responds honestly.

Namjoon's face falls at the sorrowful sight. "Why are you out of bed? You need rest."

"You told Jimin you wanted to talk with me."

"I would come to you when I found the time. There is no need for you to strain yourself."

Because of the less-than-ideal condition he is in, tears that spring up from the pain can't help but fall down his cheeks. "The pain is too much for me to peacefully rest. Plus I'm sure there might be a few things I need to catch up on...It's been three days." His tone loses power the more he talks. Those are poor reasons he realizes as he speaks.

"You don't need to worry yourself about anything. Just focus on getting better." Namjoon angles his body, a wordless suggestion to return to the medical hanoks.

Don't worry about anything? Do they not want to interrogate him? After everything he has caused? Jimin has already informed him of the largest details. But there must have been more. Aren't the others wondering how he survived? What exactly happened on the ship? Do they not assume Jk might be the cause for the Easoust fleet sinking?

Even with all this time that has passed, previous explanations given to him, Jk still does not understand this kindness granted to him. "You've always been so nice to me. Why? Why do you always let me off the hook? Act like I don't have to earn my place or face consequences for the things I've done." Jk's words become heated.

The emperor doesn't answer right away. He has a thoughtful on his face as he carefully pieces together the words to say to the emotional man before him.

"I haven't been the supportive figure I should have since we first brought you here. I hold regret for my lack of actions. As for your mistakes, everyone makes them, that is a continuity in life. Even in our line of work. All of us are far from perfect and that fact shall always remain true. You should always learn from your mistakes as well as learn to not be too hard on yourself because of them."

Jk feels the corner of his lip twitch with the emperor's formal way of speaking to him, though he listens earnestly.

"I acknowledge you come from a vastly different background than the rest of us, but I should have simmered more with that fact. Instead, I stupidly threw you into this new environment thinking issues would not arise given your wanderer reputation. Nevertheless, they did and it was too late when I realized that there could have been ulterior methods of keeping you safe than keeping you as a Reaper Angel, instead of telling you the truth you now know. That smarter decisions could have been made for the sake of your mind."

Yes, if some words were spoken earlier or a different action was taken at the right moment perhaps things would have unfolded in a more positive direction. As it turns out Jk is not the only one to think back of what could have been done instead of what did occur. The bad thing is there is no going back to the past no matter how much anyone thinks of it.

"By now it is long since too late to say these words to you. Being busy as emperor should not be an excuse when it comes to paying attention to the wellness of my friend. I want you to understand Jk, that just because I am an emperor does not mean I expect or demand perfection, even from the Reapers. The reason why we do not punish you is there is no need to. You don't need to earn your place when you are still discovering where it is. We see that you put in honest effort to learn and adapt to this new life despite all your confusion. You never meant to cause mistakes. You just wanted to fit in. You have had a rough lonesome history. "

"Unfortunately we are also the ones to put you in these grave positions. Consequences can still be faced but we can forgive mishaps, but know we will never punish you physically if that is what you are expecting. For everything you have gone through and suffered this past year because of your forced stay at the royal palace, I apologize from the sincerity of my heart to you Jeongguk." Namjoon finishes off his speech bending into a deep bow.

His mouth parts in silent surprise. That speech had struck an emotional chord somewhere however Jk tries his best to keep composure. A small part of him is bewildered at the fact that an emperor is bowing to him. But his heart clenches more at the fact his friend is sincerely apologizing for something that is not his fault. 

He bites down hard on his lip, repeatedly clenches his fist to focus on something else. The last thing he wants to do is break down in the middle of the hall with the others watching. Well, it wouldn't be the first time they witnessed Jk in such a state.

Namjoon rises from the bow. "Jk." He says to grab the attention back.

Jk keeps his head bowed but raises it slightly at the call. 

"Come here. You shouldn't even be on your feet in this state."

As if on cue the first step Jk takes forward he stumbles from the weakness in his legs. Namjoon closes the distance between them in an instant. The older man wraps his arm around Jk's shoulders, guiding him and supporting him as they walk to the doors.

When they step through the threshold Hoseok and Yoongi turn to face them, their masks pushed on top of their heads. Jk catches Yoongi's fleeting glance on him before he looks over their shoulders, acting as if he wasn't handlessly inspecting his appearance. More specifically Yoongi did not look at Jk's face but his chest area.

Has he spotted the chain? Does he know? Has he known?

"Did you ever find the medallion?" He bluntly asks Jk.

Full attention is drawn back in. He becomes hyperconscious of the weight resting on his chest. The chain and pendant have already warmed with his body heat. The blanket conceals the medallion he wears for the most part.

Hoseok slaps Yoongi's chest, whispering something along the lines of, "He just woke up and that is the first thing you ask!?"

Namjoon's eyes flicker back and forth between Jk and where the hidden medallion hangs, having noticed the chain peeking out at the blanket's edge from where he stands beside him. The other two follow his line of sight. Jk shifts the blanket tighter around him hiding the chain completely underneath though he cannot deny what they saw.

Now three pairs of eyes wait expectantly for an answer.

Without meaning to Jk's face hardens, in spite of all the words the other man had just said, his mind switches to defensive mode.

"I won't hand it over. Easoust tried to use it when they brought me to the ship but nothing happened." He resolutely says to Namjoon, as he would hold final decisions with his rank being the absolute highest. "Whether the medallion works or not is no longer your concern."

There is a long pause. Namjoon dawns an unreadable expression. On the outside his face shows no changes but as the moment stretches on Jk can feel himself tensing.

Namjoon knows. He'll see past the lie. He'll ask—

"Let's hope it never washes up on shore."

What?

Hoseok blinks owlishly, "What?" Resembling the confusion between the three of them.

"It was lost at sea. That is what everyone shall be told. We don't need anyone else storming cities for a legendary necklace or a boy with magic."

Jk wordlessly nods in agreement, distracted thoughts making his eyes glaze up again. So Namjoon doesn't know. Hasn't made the connection yet. Between the ships sinking and Easoust attempting to use the medallion. What would happen if he did figure it out? Will he ask him to get rid of it?

The four of them begin walking away from the meeting hall, at a slow pace for Jk's sake. The two Reaper Angels accepted their emperor's decision with no objections. Be that as it may, the feeling of eyes staring a hole through his head discomforts Jk. He side glances at Yoongi who looks directly at him, trying to get a read. From the explanation Jk gave. Like he doesn't believe those words.

Jk manages to build up the courage to directly ask Yoongi what his expression means but, to break the tension, is interrupted by Hoseok.

"Stories have already sprung from your heroic sacrifice against Easoust. The immortal Reaper Angels." Hoseok mentions as they pass by another group of palace staff who follow Jk with their eyes.

Yoongi scoffs quietly, "Some wild imaginations."

"I wouldn't call it heroic," Jk responds in a mumble.

His thoughts linger on the last bit. Reaper Angel. The position seemed forced on him at the beginning. It was a spur-of-the-moment decision as stated by the Emperor. Much stress came about. Feeling like he failed at the most basic tasks expected of him.

But there was purpose there. Something to focus on. While all the rules were a struggle to keep on top of, and by now he is far past the line of staying professional—what with being the Consort's lover—the physical demands Jk was able to accomplish with relative ease.

His body is well-versed in fighting. In defending. While he may not make the best decisions regarding himself, at least he can guard and protect. One more person between threats and the people he cares about.

"Should I become a Reaper Angel again?"

Yet again all heads spin to him. Hoseok's eyes shot to Yoongi who in turn looked to Namjoon, both then leaving the emperor to reply. Said emperor sucks in a large breath through his teeth, "I mean, it is entirely your choice. But why would you be thinking about that at a time like now? There is no need."

He starts to feel small under their gazes. "The responsibility was difficult for me like you said, but it gave me purpose." Jk admits.

Hoseok side steps to stand in front of Jk. "You don't have to do what someone wants or expects of you Jk. You can find your own purpose." He says. 

Something not linked or given by another person. Something he forges himself.

"Even though I took the oath and went through the ceremony, I don't know if I could go back to being a full Reaper. Maybe that's not my true calling. But when the time comes, moments when it really matters, could I take up the mantle again?"

If his friends and lover are ever in danger again, he wants to be there by their side. Be able to shield them. Make sure they're safe.

The emperor exchanges a look with the Reaper leader. "I leave this to you." He says to Yoongi.

Yoongi takes a long look at Jk. Jk knows with his current appearance he probably looks pathetic. Asking for such an important role, that was taken away in the past, when a gust of wind could knock him off his feet. That doesn't break his outward firmness. He stares back at Yoongi to show he is serious, awaiting his decision.

"If that is what will put your heart at ease then yes. But only after you have fully healed from your injuries." Yoongi answers carefully.

"Thank you."

"You can thank me by allowing yourself to properly heal."

An exasperated physician stood at the entrance of the medical hanok courtyard when the group arrived. The emperor apologized on Jk's behalf and the four of them helped the exhausted man back into a bed. Sleep comes easy now that his mind has been rid of most of the bothersome thoughts.

-

Jk woke up in the middle of the night with a jolt. He scans around the darkness of the room. Not because he expected to see someone but more out of habit. The bedroom is how it was left when he went to bed. His dream was...

He jumped off the cliff. Went into the sea...

A familiar unknown tugging at his heart. It has been weeks since he felt it. Back during the siege. Weaker then. He gently wraps his fingers around the medallion on his chest. Getting a better idea of what this pulling means. Or where it is originating from. Belatedly realizes he forgot to take it off before going to bed. His head turns to stare at the west wall. Instinct tells him that is the right direction. It is what beyond that is calling him. Down the hill. Past the beach. Within the depths.

He needs to leave.

The act of sitting up has roused Jimin from his sleep.

"It is the middle of the night. Go back to sleep." He mumbles into the pillow. Arm lazily landing on Jk's lap.

"I need to leave." Jk moves to sit at the edge of the bed, reaching for his outer robe folded on the table next to it.

Jimin lifts his head up as he tries to halfheartedly glare through the night darkness. "You what?"

Jk stumbles over his words while shrugging on the robes, beelining to the door where his boots are. "The shore. It—I need..ugh, I have to go." He sighs becoming impatient with his own messy thoughts.

Still blinking sleep out of his eyes Jimin rushes after him. "You're barely fit enough to stand on your own." He almost collides into Jk's back when he pauses in front of the doorway.

"Then help me get there." He doesn't have the energy to spend time arguing that it has been a month or so since his wounds were inflicted and he has been healing, eating, and resting fine ever since.

Jimin is aware of his improved condition. He was there for the man throughout every step of recovery.

So despite the strangeness of his request, how could a half-asleep Jimin say no to this man?

As it is nighttime no one is wandering about except for the night patrol. With the habit of sneaking out in the past the pair take a side gate to leave the palace grounds, avoiding the guards, eventually returning to the main pathway to the city once there was enough distance away from the front gates.

Soon enough Jk's breathing has become strained from all the walking. He may have healed to a degree this past month but strenuous activity was forcibly limited for him. Jimin predicted it would happen the moment they stepped out of the palace, so he forces Jk to take a seat on a vendor bench, telling him he'll be right back.

He comes back with a horse on a lead. Jk gapes at the sight. 

"As long as we are quick, what the owner doesn't know can't hurt them." He reaches a hand out which Jk takes. Carefully Jimin helps Jk mount the horse and goes to grab the reins to lead when Jk grabs his hand.

"It'll be faster if we ride together."

Can't argue with that logic. Using Jk's hand as support to hoist himself up since there is no saddle to grip, Jimin climbs onto the horse's back, wrapping his arms loosely around Jk's torso. Jk can't help but hold one of Jimin's hands in his own.

Every now and then Jk fiddles with the medallion. Which does not get past Jimin. He is sure Jk is not even aware when he does it. When he woke up he claimed that the medallion did not work. That it was all fairytales. Whatever strange calling woke Jk up in the middle of the night and summons him to the beach, it has to be tied to the medallion. This has never occurred before.

But then why would Jk outright lie? Does he not trust them still? Not trust him?

When they reach halfway through the city Jk freezes. Abruptly stops the horse with no warning in the middle of the road. This startles Jimin out of his thoughts.

"Hey, what's wrong? Are you hurting?" He asks. His hand hovers over where his navel scar is.

"We....can't go to the harbor." His bleary eyes flicker back and forth. Searching for or through something that can't be seen. "This way." Jk gently pulls the reins, changes directions and the horse begins trotting down a north street.

"Why are we not going to the harbor?" They have made it this far. Why the sudden change? How does he know where to go? The harbor isn't visible where they are yet.

"They're not there." It must be someone—something alive, Jk thinks to himself.

Although he is sure he won't get an answer, Jimin asks, "Who's not there?"

If he were to be direct, he had no idea. There is someone, something, at the shore. Past the beach. Not one he can put a name to. Or face for that matter. More of a feeling. It won't let him rest. The pull is leading him to get to the beach. He'll know once he gets there.

They leave city bounds. Ride through the forest. Come out to a small clearing, just before a cliff by the shore. Far from any buildings. Neither of them have been here before. But even in the dark of the night, Jk recognizes this place immediately.

It may not be an exact mirror image. Then again memory of dream details can be fickle. The biggest details are the same.

The top of the bluff where they stood is around ten meters above the crashing waves, curving to form a wide cove. Sea stacks scattered about rose from the water. Wind traveling up the cliffside blows the night air to them. Nips at their skin. When dreaming he would never directly see the sun. It would always be shining behind clouds. Right now the moon shines brightly over them. The sky a pathwork of thin clouds covering the countless stars. Seeing this place is so surreal. With the moon out in the open it lets him know that he is not dreaming.

Jimin dismounts the horse first to support Jk when he dismounts.

Where they stand is the exact place on the clifftop Jk would always find himself in each dream.

The horse begins pacing in place nervously for an unknown reason. Huffing and kicking some dirt. Jimin turns to calm them so his attention leaves Jk who takes slow steps forward.

Jk gets right to the edge. He could almost hear the disembodied clicks and bellows. In his dreams he never saw the creature calling out to him. Here the same stands true. The water looks black by this time of night. And yet it is not at all intimidating to him.

Takes off his outer robe with slowed movement because of his sore navel region.

A hand grips hard on his wrist. Doesn't allow him to move forward.

Jk twists his head back to see Jimin's panicked face in the cast of moonlight. "I swear to the—"

"Let me go." He sternly tells Jimin.

Does he actually want to jump? "Have you gone insane?!"

"Jimin,"

What is this determination?

Jimin's heart pounds rapidly at the absurd idea. "In your state, you'll drown! Or bleed out before you could get back to land!"

"It's telling me to do this." The mysterious sense, feeling, instinct guides him. To what he is still unsure.

"Jk, let's just go back. Maybe you're coming down with a fever. We have to check—"

"Jimin, please."

They stare deeply into each other's eyes. Moonlight reflecting off of Jk's, highlighting the tears gathering up. He is serious. His confusing thoughts not allowing him to articulate correctly will not stop him from following this pull. He does not appear afraid either.

Jimin takes one more glance at the drop ahead, listens to the loud crash of the waves far below the rocky edge, and releases a shaky breath.

"Not from here. We find a safe way down." Leaves no room for argument.

Jk cannot help it. He leans in and gives Jimin a quick kiss as thanks for listening to him despite the extreme lack of context of why the two of them are here. It is quite apparent that Jk's behavior is unsettling and being led by an invisible entity to the sea cliffs could appear as signs of hysperia, but Jimin is willing to help Jk see whatever this bout is through. 

Jk takes one last look at the view. It still puzzles him how only in his dreams he has been here. What does this place mean?

He doesn't sit with those thoughts for long as Jimin takes Jk's hand in one and the horse's lead in the other. They follow the edge until there is a gentle enough decline for them to reach the beach. Small islets to the left that lead to the cliffs that make up the cove. The sandy beach stretches far to the right, far north. Zero signs of human settlements. No lights of fires flicker as specks in the distance. This beach doesn't lead directly to the cove but once their shoes step on the sand Jk is searching at the vast expanse of water before them. There is not a single silhouette out on the horizon. If it wasn't for the moonlight and stars through growing clouds, it would be pitch black out here. It is quiet other than the constant crashing of waves. 

Their horse must have spotted something they couldn't see, as it gets frightened, in turn startling them. The horse rears, the lead slips out of Jimin's hand, and they take off running into the forest. Jimin is quick to run after them, shouting back to Jk, "Stay here, I'll get her back!"

Jk does not worry about that too much. Worst comes to worst they could rent a room for the night at an inn.

He walks to the farthest point the beach stretches out to the sea. Cold water laps at the front of his shoes. Wind blows his hair back, whistles in his ears, cools his skin, and makes his robes sway. Not even the animals awake at night are making sounds. The forest is unnaturally quiet. Be that as it may, Jk does not feel completely alone out here. Something is watching him. Knows that he is waiting on the beach.

The medallion rose him from his sleep. It led him here. Why? It is linked to something mystical. Occult. Passed down to him. He can't just ignore this abnormal pull. Standing on the beach bearing the cold wind in the middle of the night, he waits for a sign, another allusion. 

What next? What does he have to do?

A haunting noise carried by the wind. Coming from the sea. Faint bellows that always cried to him in his dreams. Only this time, Jk is wide awake.

He holds in a breath. Zones in. Searches the vast horizon. Squinting because of the limited low light. Out there, in the endless stretch of black waves, he sees a large whale-like tail fin rise out of the water and come down, creating a big splash. The spray shoots up to an impressive height. Louder than the rolling waves. Letting Jk know it is real.

Jk pulls the medallion out from under his shirt by the chain. Its appearance is the same as always. But his hand starts to feel hot. Underneath the skin. Instinct is telling him to do what Easoust did. Draw blood over the gemstone. So Jk does so despite the unsuccessful previous attempt. Unsuccessful as in nothing happened immediately. Only after he fell into the water and was rendered unconscious. He presses the sharpest point against his palm and cuts it open. The scar was already forming anyway, it made no difference to him. Blood quickly rises and overflows, staining his skin, the medallion, and the sand by his feet.

This is why he was called in the middle of the night. His body was finally healed enough to make the journey. So he was called to the beach. To make him aware. Realize. The creature of the medallion is real. The bond made through blood. This medallion connects him and a creature. Their connection is stronger the closer they are together.

Small but noticeable clarity begins blooming somewhere in his mind. Feels as if he is more awake. More aware. It feels new yet familiar. The cries get louder, clearer, resonating. He's not sure what is happening but his mind begins to feel fuzzy, and dizziness hits him.

His vision starts doing something abnormal, unfocusing whenever the moans sound louder, and his immediate instinct is to blink it away. It feels like when you wake up in the morning but your mind is still on the cusp of sleep. It makes you feel floaty, drawing you back in again and again into dreams. That awareness of losing the fight to stay awake. Then his mind begins to take a turn. The ominous sense of a presence getting closer to him sends chills up his spine, but Jk sees nothing other than the subtle movement of the creature swimming at the water's surface more than 70 meters away. There is the feeling of something coming right up to his shoulder, hovering nearby, but when Jk turns to look there is nothing behind him. Jk has the urge to run but his feet stay planted where they are.

When he pays attention the feeling grows stronger in tandem with the creature's calls resound louder.

Is the incorporeal presence he feels...coming from the creature?

Relief. Puzzlement. Shock. Fear. Realization. An overload of emotions rolls in. He is connected by magic to a supernatural creature. One that has caused the demise of countless souls. Assisted Palbombora for decades, helped destroy half of Easoust in one go, an unearthly creature who saved his life. He is connected to another living creature with a bond that goes much deeper than any other mystical ties. On a plane that goes beyond the physical world. What does this mean for him, now that he has—to some capacity—opened the bond?

A tear slips down his cheek. Then the lightheadedness comes sevenfold. The cries of the whale begin to fade. Jk crumples to his knees. Hands shoot out to catch himself but they only hold out for a moment before they too give out and Jk falls to his side. The sand rough and cold against his cheek. Tips of the waves mere centimeters from his face. Yet Jk cannot move. Lost al his energy. His body feels like it weighs tons. The medallion remains clutched tightly in his blood-drenched hand. Tiredness sweeps in without warning and engulfs Jk before any fight can be put up. Eyes flutter close on their own accord, tears stain his cheeks. Jk gives in to the call of sleep.

-

Spring has come and gone at a sluggish pace. Summer went by more smoothly as life throughout the capital city began progressing to its pre-Easoust state. It is nearing the end of summer, a few weeks before the transition to fall. 

Jk has now turned twenty-four. He spent his birthday a few days ago by going on a walk down to the harbor. Offered his help to departing and returning sailors, manual labor for shops in the market, and spent hours on the beach, watching the waves, reflecting on his life. Twenty-four years on this earth. To Jk, his future looked bleak at the beginning of the year so he did not think he would live long enough to see his next birthday. And yet here he is. He never made a big deal of his birthday, hence why he spent this one alone even though he now has people to spend it with. Not when his family was still alive, although they took his birthday celebrations into their own hands, or when he was a wanderer, or when he came to live in the palace. 

However this birthday feels different compared to the last thirteen birthdays. Inside Jk feels lighter. A figurative weight lifted off his chest. Ease and more of an understanding of what the direction of his future will look like. The bone-deep sadness is still there. It won't go away that easily. Maybe it will never fully go away. Needless to say, Jk had his share of terrible days throughout the spring and summer. And he is sure more to come in the future. But the phase of questions and disquiet of an uncertain future have passed. He realizes he has time to figure it out, go at his own pace, and he has people to lean back on when life gets rough down the line.

Speaking of life, the days have gone by slowly for Jk personally during the last two seasons. The injured pirate stayed the better part of the first three months within the palace confines as his body recovered. Warm air made its firm foothold upon the land once more. He was not healed enough before the summer heat came in and it was uncomfortable to be outside for long periods. At the end of summer a bearable cool breeze now visits the winding roadways and docks, which Jk is thankful for.

Visiting the docks around wintertime where waves could splash up and spray you was a nightmare. At least the labor kept him warm on the days with less-than-ideal weather but the feeling would vanish the second he got drenched. It is to be expected but it is not like he can keep an extra pair of dry clothes near when on an active job.

Recently the Reaper Angels dismantled an entire bandit faction encampment that was near the capital. The news was publicized by the army soldiers who went along as backup since four people could not cart back over thirty individuals by themselves. The city decided to celebrate that victory. Throw a festival for the Reapers, even if they could not attend, as thanks.

Well, Jk could attend. Secretly. He was granted the title of Reaper Angel back, albeit in an intermittent position. Reserved only for special occasions. Most days he was free to do what he pleased, no longer having a fixed schedule to meet with the other Reapers, which he decidedly to assist in work at the river docks. 

He and Jimin decided to attend the festivities in their civilian disguises, as they had done many times before. Make a date out of it. Like how they used to. With feelings settled, looming threats resided, and the journey of healing they can fully embrace relaxation and enjoy their first day out. As a couple.

"Jeongguk-ah."

Jk turns around and is met with the white veil of a bamboo hat concealing the face of a figure. But Jk recognizes his lover anywhere, if this voice didn't already give him away.

"The festival will start soon. Are you ready?"

Looking back out at the horizon he finds he has spent longer than intended standing on the edge of the pier. Most people have left the docks, either to return to their homes or prepare for the festival. Day work is over. Jk has already changed into his spare set of clothes, not wanting to smell like the docks and sweat after his long day of labor here. Jimin promised to meet Jk by sunset. And he kept true to his word, arriving a few minutes earlier.

"Yeah just one more minute."

There is nothing special about today. No anniversary or extraordinary solar event. It's merely the fact that a sunset this beautiful should be admired.

Jimin walks up to Jk's side and the pair peer at the brilliant sunset over the sea together. Few clouds are in the sky, turned soft pinks and oranges from the light, so the grand view is hardly hindered.

Jimin speaks after a moment of silence, "These days you've always stared like you are entranced by the sea whenever it comes into view. Not something I would expect when..." Jimin trails off realizing what he was about to say. When you almost drowned and died just outside this very harbor are the missing words.

Jk's fingers rub unconsciously over the scar on his palm. That day is a terrible memory, at least the parts his mind didn't shut out after he woke up, and also it introduced a whole new perspective, the start of a whole new journey for him. "Of course I remember bad parts of that day, but when I look out to the water I'm reminded of the new beginning it led to. Isn't that better than being scared by the water?"

Jimin beams brightly, "Much better."

Jk grabs Jimin by the waist, dips his head so he doesn't hit the rim of the conical hat. They rest their foreheads against each other. Jk places his right hand on Jimin's cheek, who smiles warmly at him, turning slightly so he can kiss the inside of his palm, right over the healing scar.

Scars litter his body. Reminders every single day of the terrible things Jk has faced in his life. Physical changes to his body. And Jimin loves him no less because of them. That makes Jk's heart flutter all the more for the Consort.

"I think we've been lingering around here long enough. Don't you?" Jimin asks quietly from their close proximity. Their heads tilt habitually but they refrain from completely closing the distance though the want is there. Things shouldn't escalate when they are still out in public.

With the bump of Jimin's shoulder to his chest Jk feels the medallion hidden under his clothes press against his skin. Temporarliy being pulled away from his romantic thoughts to the physical reminder.

Of the weapon he still possesses.

The weapon that almost got him killed.

The object almost got the people he cares about killed.

No. It would be useless without him. Thus, Jk is the one who almost led to the deaths of everyone he cares for. Another medallion could potentially be created to reestablish the connection perhaps, but you can't make another Jeongguk. His blood—He is what is dangerous.

Jk inhales sharply, snapping himself back to the present, keeping his face innocently blank. "You're right." Jk grins. He sneaks a quick kiss on his lover's lips before pulling away. "We should get going before it's too late."

Jimin takes the lead, hand clasped with Jk's. For only a short time until they come across more people. But a few minutes is worth it.

Stores are closed. Stalls are getting cleaned up or moved elsewhere. 

As they start walking further into the seaside district shops they pass by two men leaning on opposite sides of a doorway to a shop, having a quiet conversation with each other. The facade of the shop looks new, renovated, patched up. Likely this shop was one of the many buildings that got damaged during the Easoust attack. The man in the doorway facing their direction wore a black with gold hanbok, the outer robe off shoulder gathered around his elbows, foreign wide-brim black hat on his head. Everything about his outfit makes him stand out from the other people sporadically occupying the streets.

The three of them accidentally make eye contact. He bows his head in greeting in which Jk and Jimin return the gesture. The man and Jk hold eye contact for a few seconds longer. A smirk spreads over his lips, tipping the brim of his hat, displaying the tattoo on his uncovered right bicep with his raised arm. His companion follows his friend's eyeliner to Jk, looking through the long hair over his face and gives a curt nod. No words spoken or mouthed. Just soundless greetings. Secret show of acknowledgment. The man and his companion, the captain and his first mate, walk inside the shop without saying a word. 

Jimin had already looked away so he did not see the extra exchange between the three pirates. Even more so the Consort has no clue of the sub rosa contact between Jk and the Black Pirates, formed initially on the day of the capital siege. Officially, communication began by a local messenger who came to report to Yoongi and Advisor Seungkwan happened to be friends with the pirate crew, therefore they became the middleman until Jk was healthy enough to leave the palace premises.

Out of habit Jk feels his chest again to feel the medallion under his robe layers. Everyone, besides his close and only circle and the Black Pirates, thinks the necklace is lost to the sea. The news of the true reason Easoust stormed the capital city was relayed to the public by the emperor to council members and Yoongi through his messenger network. On that note when the altered story reached Easoust the remaining pirate fleet also presumed the Pirate Queen's nameless son is at the bottom of the ocean based on some brave informants who caught wind of the fleet's whereabouts.

Maybe it would be better that way. For the medallion to be lost. For Jk to discard it in a place no one will locate it. But called him crazy. Call him sentimental. Call him dangerous. He feels it is safer with him instead of out in the wilderness. With the risk of ending up in the wrong hands again. Besides, he has, presumably, opened a connection between himself and the whale-like creature. One only he could hear.

On that night he found out about the bond, Jimin found Jk lying unconscious on the beach. Unable to wake despite attempts on Jimin's part. He got him on the horse and they hurried back to the palace where some physicians were woken up to examine his injuries. When Jk came to he asked Jimin what he saw on the beach. Jimin said he saw nothing but Jk there. So Jk decided to keep the bond a secret for now. Although Jimin does show signs of suspicion every now and then. Jk doesn't know how much longer he can keep up the act whenever the other man asks questions.

Jimin already has found out Jk has the medallion but Jk claimed it did not work, because at the time he still wasn't sure what exactly happens and how when his blood and the charm make contact. There have been attempts to do something with the connection, try to interpret the callings in his dreams and in his waking hours, but Jk has utterly no clue what he is doing or how to properly use it, even when he uses his blood over the gemstone.

That day of the capital attack was perhaps a lucky chance for Jk that it worked then. And he does not want to mention to the others anything about the medallion magic working until he learns how the magic is used. A difficult feat that will be on his part, having no magic background.

He hasn't firmly decided what he wants to do with it yet. Act like it is just a simple accessory perhaps. But he wants to know more. It is a living being that he is connected to. The creature saved his life, destroyed an entire fleet of ships, it calls to him. Has been for years.

Goosebumps travel up Jk's spine.

Something nags at the back of his mind. The need to turn around. Look at the sea. Jk looks back down the street towards the docks that get further with each step. At the horizon the sun has met the water. If he squints hard enough he can spot, far in the distance, the silhouette of a lone tail fin rising out above the sea, in the middle of the bay. Slapping down hard on the surface to create a large splash. Sinking back underwater just as quickly as it came up. As if they were waving bye for today. 

A wistful smile slips across Jk's face despite the mixed feelings he holds for the connection between him and that creature.

The connection requires blood. His blood. In order to work. Not exactly sure how that may be possible even within the realm of blood magic. A whole new world that he avoided in the past has now been opened to him because of this medallion and this mystical being. If he wants answers, he'll have to dip his toes into the enigmatic realm of magic.

Lucky for Jk, he knows a kingdom—more specifically a certain prince now king of the kingdom—that is much more versed in the topic of blood than most.

It will be a journey both figuratively and literally. One positive is it could be an opportunity for Jimin to follow through with his promise months ago of taking Jk on a voyage.

Perhaps paying Taehyung a visit could give Jk the insight he needs.