Chapter Text
Jungkook is at the cottage in the forest outside of Nevermind dressed in his workout clothes. He recognizes it for its dilapidated walls and old, dusty crates. The moon hangs high in the sky, but the trees create so many shadows Jungkook can’t see what’s beyond the treeline. There’s the sounds of animals scurrying, owls hooting, and things rooting through the brush, but his focus is in the house.
The mirror is hanging on the wall, but reflects back only darkness. Jungkook’s heart begins to pound. This is his way home, he needs to get back. He pounds on the dark glass and gets nothing but a hollow thudding in return. Like pounding on an empty box.
“It’s not going to work,” comes a voice from behind him. Deep and vaguely familiar.
Jungkook spins around, his breath coming fast as he spots the dokkaebi - Taehyung - leaning against half a wall. Taehyung is dressed as he was the first time Jungkook saw him: loose fitting pants and no shirt. The toes of his bare feet wiggle. The moon gives just enough light to make out the contrast of the dark swirls painting his skin in beautiful designs. Or they would be beautiful if those eyes weren’t glowing such an inhuman blue.
“What won’t work?” Jungkook asks as he backs up. His back presses to the wall and he can feel the edge of the mirror digging into his shoulder.
“You closed the connection on your side,” Taehyung casually explains as he shrugs. At least this time he doesn’t have the fangs Jungkook recalls from the first time he was here. The dokkaebi pushes himself up from the wall and takes a step closer. “So the mirror won’t work.”
Jungkook gulps and glances over his shoulder. There isn’t even a reflection on the surface of the glass. Just a black nothingness. “Then how did I get here?” He turns back around to shoot Taehyung an accusatory scowl.
Taehyung smiles and runs his fingers through the curly brown hair, pushing it back from his face. He’s objectively handsome, but Jungkook knows better than to be fooled by his good looks. The dokkaebi can turn monstrous if he wants to, and he isn’t trustworthy.
“You’re not really here though, are you?” He raises his eyebrows and holds his hands out as if to look innocent and unassuming.
“What do you mean?” Jungkook frowns, glancing about.
“Think about it, human.” Taehyung strolls around the open space of the cabin as leaves crunch beneath his feet. “Where were you last?”
Jungkook’s mind struggles with the question. He can’t remember how he arrived at this place. He was at home.
He was with Namjoon.
He was… asleep.
“This is a dream,” Jungkook gasps, eyes going wide.
Taehyung gives him a slow, almost condescending clap. “Good job.”
“But, how?” Jungkook looks around as if waiting for the dream to fade now that he’s aware he’s dreaming. Normally this is when he wakes up, heart pounding and sweaty. “I thought I only had dreams like this in the fae realm because it was so close to the dreaming. Why am I having them now?”
Taehyung laughs and claps again. “Good job! You remembered. I was worried we’d have to have a little history lesson.” He stops his pacing and turns to face Jungkook just an arm’s length away from him. “Some fae still have a stronger connection to the dreaming than others. I just happen to be one of them.”
“So, you’re doing this?” Jugnkook feels his eyebrows knit together in confusion. “But why?”
“Because,” Taehyung sighs. “Jimin can’t do it himself, but he really wants to talk to you. So I keep trying to lure you here. This has been my most successful attempt. Really, I’m quite proud of myself.” He crosses his arms looking a bit smug as he grins at Jungkook.
“Congratulations,” Jungkook replies sarcastically. “You can stop now. I have no interest in anything Jimin has to say. Now, let me go.”
The smile slips from Taehyung’s face. “Really? There’s nothing you have to say to Jimin? Not even to curse his name or spit in his face? I told him humans were prideful, small-minded creatures, but he insisted you were different. You don’t even want to know why we lured you here in the first place?”
“I know why,” Jungkook snipes back. “It was to steal from the prince. You were using me, both of you!”
“Well, yes, but that’s really all my fault.” Taehyung gestures to himself. “I got myself into a little pickle and Jimin was just trying to help me out. And it would have gone so much smoother if the prince and Jiminie hadn’t taken such a liking to you.” He sniffs, looking Jungkook up and down. “I don’t get it. You’re pretty, but you can’t be all that bright.”
Jungkook rolls his eyes. “I’m sure that would just work in your favor then.”
Taehyung laughs and nods as he goes back to pacing. “I mean, I thought it would. You came through and I was thinking to myself: this himbo is perfect! Jimin will have him eating out of the palm of his hand in no time.”
The words make Jungkook’s heart sting. That’s exactly what happened, didn’t it? He trusted Jimin because the gumiho was helping him, or so he thought. They had gotten close, hadn’t they? Or maybe Jungkook only got as close as Jimin would let him. The fae must have been laughing at Jungkook behind his back.
“Too bad I caught you two before you could close the deal,” Jungkook says bitterly.
Taehyung tuts and shakes his head. “No, that wasn’t the problem. Oh, don’t get me wrong! It was what ended the whole facade, but even before that Jimin was having second thoughts.”
Jungkook huffs in frustration. “What’s the point of this? Why are you telling me any of this? I’m gone, find another sucker.”
“ That , Jungkook, is the point! If it were a matter of finding another dupe, I would, but no! Jimin is barely talking to me! He refuses to even sleep with me anymore! Not until he fixes things with you! So, here I am.”
It feels like Jungkook’s brain is slow to put the pieces together, and then they click into place. “You’re together, aren’t you?” He isn’t sure why, but that little bit of information possibly hurts more than anything. Jimin will fool around with Hoseok, flirt and tease with everyone, all the while he’s with this handsome fae? And yet Jungkook felt like he couldn’t- No! Of course Jimin wouldn’t want him in that way. He was being played for a fool.
“Really? That’s what you’re focusing on? Of course we’re together,” Taehyung rolls his eyes. “We’re soulmates.”
“You know he’s fucking the owner of Daydream, yeah?” It’s ugly and comes out of Jungkook’s mouth before he can stop it.
Taehyung just chuckles. “Of course he is! Sometimes we do it together. Really, humans are way more hung up on things like monogamy.”
Jungkook’s lips press together as he processes this information. It kind of makes sense from what he’s experienced. No one has acted particularly jealous or possessive. He must have misunderstood Jimin’s actions, which makes sense given he didn’t understand his motivations when they met.
“Whatever,” Jungkook throws his hands up in frustration. “Fix your relationship with Jimin without me. I’m not interested.”
“Are you sure?” Taehyung gives him a skeptical look. “You’re still here, talking to me about it.”
“Only because you trapped me here!” Jungkook is getting angry, his gut twisting into knots and his hands clench into fists.
Taehyung shakes his head and puts his hands on his hips. “You’re not trapped, you can go when you like.”
“Then I will!” Jungkook pushes past Taehyung as if he’s going to find an exit if he just searches for one. “Goodbye, forever!” As Jungkook marches out of the house and towards the trees, the darkness reaches out as if to swallow him. Anything was better than arguing with the dokkaebi.
“I’ll be seeing you soon,” Taehyung’s voice follows after him.
A warm hand runs over Jungkook’s back and he blinks awake. He’s hot and sweaty, his face pressed to a firm chest as lips mumble against his hair. “Good morning.” Namjoon’s voice is deep and gruff with sleep. “Your device is making a loud beeping noise and I don’t know how to shut it off.”
Once his attention is brought to it, Jungkook realizes his alarm is going off. “I’ve got it,” he mutters, pushing off of Namjoon’s chest to roll over and grab his phone. He taps the screen to make it stop and then just lays, sprawled on his back trying to catch his breath. Namjoon is warm, but a little stuffy.
“Sleep well?” Namjoon asks, pushing himself up on one elbow to smile down at Jungkook.
Scrunching his nose, Jungkook rubs his face to clear it of sleep. “No,” he pouts. “I had weird dreams.”
“Oh,” Namjoon frowns, reaching over to brush Jungkook’s sweaty fringe back from his forehead. “I wonder if the fae realm has a lasting effect on human’s dreams.”
Jungkook rubs the sleep from his eyes before looking up at Namjoon. “That could be it, right? There’s no way a fae could be using my dreams to talk to me. Is there?”
“Hmm.” Namjoon tilts his head and his gaze unfocuses as he looks up across the room while he thinks. “I’ve heard that some fae have that ability. I’ve never encountered it before, but it’s possible.”
“Oh.” Jungkook frowns. “Is there a way to tell if it’s happening? Or if it’s just a regular fucked up dream?”
Namjoon shrugs. “I’m sorry, I wish I could tell you.”
Jungkook sighs and rolls back towards Namjoon, throwing his arms around the superheated dragon for comfort. “It’s fine,” he mumbles into the man’s chest.
Warm fingers trail down Jungkook’s back, leaving a searing trail in their path. “May I kiss you now that it’s morning?”
Jungkook considers the question. There’s nothing to keep him from saying no, and he thinks he’d like that. He tilts his face up to find Namjoon watching him. “Yes, please.”
Namjoon smiles and closes the distance, giving Jungkook a gentle kiss. Just a press of lips to convey warmth and comfort before he’s pulling back. “So, what shall we do today?”
Remembering that it’s Monday, Jungkook groans. “I’m going to take a shower,” he announces, reluctantly disentangling himself from Namjoon’s embrace. “Then I’ll set you up with the internet so you can learn about our world while I go to work. Everything else will have to wait for tonight when I get home. I’ll try not to be too late.”
“Oh.” Namjoon lets him go, but the disappointment is heavy in his voice. “Very well.”
With a surprise guest, Jungkook doesn’t go for his usual morning run. Instead he takes a quick shower, washing away the sweat (and the remnants of last night) from his skin. He gets dressed in his usual work attire and comes out to find Namjoon putting the hanbok back on. It occurs to Jungkook that if Namjoon isn’t leaving right away maybe he’ll need other (more modern) clothes.
“Hungry?” Jungkook asks, heading out of the bedroom.
“Ravenous,” Namjoon confirms, getting up to trail after him. “Though, if you’re talking about food, I could use some of that as well.” He laughs at his own joke and Jungkook can’t help but chuckle and shake his head. Heat rising to his cheeks.
He cooks up some eggs for them and shows Namjoon around the kitchen so he can find food for himself while Jungkook is gone. Then, before heading to work, Jungkook sits Namjoon down at his personal computer and turns it on.
“So, this is a computer,” he is explaining as it boots up. “Before you ask: no, it’s not magic. It runs on electricity and connects to the internet via WiFi. You can look all of this up today if you like.”
Namjoon sits in Jungkook’s computer chair, looking a little too big for the tiny seat. He blinks in amazement as the monitor comes to life. “Is that all a computer does?”
“Well, no. You can play games, do work, watch television and movies. There’s lots of things you can do with a computer. I’m going to set you up and let you go. Just, please, don’t download anything. It’ll ask before it does, so always click no,” Jungkook says.
He gives Namjoon a quick brief on how to open a browser window, use a keyboard, and use Naver for finding information. He watches and Namjoon chicken peck at the keys to enter his first search term: electricity. Once the dragon demonstrates he knows how to click on links and get back to the search bar Jungkook feels confident to let him go.
“Have fun,” Jungkook says. He stands up, stretching his back from being hunched over Namjoon at the computer.
The dragon beams up at him. “I will,” he says as his excited gaze turns back to the computer. He starts reading about electricity and Jungkook is sure he’ll be able to keep himself entertained for the rest of the day.
Jungkook grabs his work bag, never touched or unpacked since Friday, and heads out. Even making breakfast and teaching a visitor from the fae realm to use a computer, Jungkook is making good time. He walks to the office and is there at his usual hour, giving him a chance to make some coffee before he has to sit at his desk with a fresh stack of file folders and Mr. Choi’s angry glare.
Work today doesn’t seem as unbearable as usual. Yes, the actual work itself is as mind numbing as always, but Jungkook doesn’t feel as worn down as he has been. Maybe it’s the visit to his parents. Or maybe it’s the dragon waiting for him at home. There’s definitely something about having something to look forward to that makes the day pass just a little bit faster. It also makes Jungkook not want to stay any later than he has to.
So when five o’clock rolls around, Jungkook is finishing his last data set and packing up for the day. Mr. Choi appears at his back. “Taking off early, Jeon?”
“Not at all, sir,” Jungkook says as he continues to slip his laptop into his computer bag. “I’ve finished my work for the day and completed my eight hours. I’ll be back first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Hmph,” Mr. Choi grunts. “Well, keep up the good work. It’s always best when you can finish on time .” And he putters away, hopefully off to go home and not to torture another poor soul who finds themselves stuck in the office late.
Jungkook isn’t the only one leaving and finds himself swept up in a flow of bodies he rarely sees, making their way through the aisles of cubicles to the elevator. He has to wait for an extra elevator to come before he can file in, finding himself packed in like a sardine. Why doesn’t he ever leave at a normal time? He finds himself amazed that it’s been so long since he left at a normal hour. And what for?
The flow of people leads him out and onto the street. He walks home, an extra pep in his step as he takes in the sun that hasn’t even drifted below the skyline yet.
When he gets home, he’s happy to find Namjoon still at the computer. Jungkook is loosening his tie as he comes up behind the dragon. “Did you have a good day?” he asks, glancing at the computer screen.
Namjoon has a page about the retail apocalypse up and Jungkook can’t even guess who he got there. The dragon smiles as he turns in his seat to look up at Jungkook. “The internet is fascinating. It’s amazing how much humans have accomplished without the aid of magic. Or perhaps, because they don’t have magic! I don’t think we’d have come up with all these inventive ways to travel or communicate in the fae realm since it’s something so many people can just do . You know?”
Jungkook finds Namjoon’s excitement infectious as he smiles back at him. “Yeah, I can imagine,” he nods. “Are you hungry? Have you eaten today?”
Namjoon blinks. “Oh, um. I had some water, but no. I think I got kind of swept up in my research,” he admits bashfully.
“That’s fine. Finish what you’re reading and I’ll order some pizza. Then we can talk about what we’re doing next. Okay?” Jungkook pats Namjoon’s shoulder and the dragon nods, turning back to the monitor.
Jungkook changes out of his work clothes into a comfortable pair of sweats and an oversized t-shirt before pulling out his phone and settling on the couch. He’d ask Namjoon what he wants on his pizza, but he isn’t sure the dragon would have an answer. “Do you like meat?” Jungkook calls out, looking over the pizza options.
“Yes,” Namjoon replies enthusiastically.
Picking a supreme pizza, Jungkook figures that it gets them a little bit of a lot for Namjoon to try. He also orders some garlic bread and two bottles of soda.
After the pizza is ordered, Jungkook folds his legs under himself and turns on the television. He hasn't picked a new show, despite being home for a week now. Maybe the adventure he just had doesn't compare to the fantasy stories he used to use to escape his everyday life. He browses the options and wonders what Namjoon might be interested in. Maybe something a little more modern? It might be a nice exposure for what the world is like outside of Jungkook's apartment without the dragon going out and making mistakes.
Then he wonders: why is he even considering this? Namjoon will be going home, right? He can't just keep him here because he's lonely. The same way Jungkook couldn't just stay in the fae realm.
The doorbell rings as Jungkook is lost in thought. "Dinner is here," he calls out, getting up to retrieve the order. When he comes back, Namjoon is wandering into the living room. "That smells delicious," he comments, nose sniffing the air.
"That's good to know," Jungkook chuckles, setting the boxes and soda on the table. "Have a seat. I'll get some cups." When he comes back with the cups and some extra napkins, Jungkook is a little surprised that Namjoon is sitting there, hand on his knees and eyes locked on the pizza boxes. It makes Jungkook smile that the dragon waited.
Opening the boxes Jungkook explains what they are having as he pours the sodas. Namjoon picks up a slice a little clumsily and then holds it up to his nose, taking another deep inhale before shoving nearly half the slice in his mouth. Jungkook laughs as Namjoon chews and nods in approval.
While they eat, Namjoon asks Jungkook about work (which there isn't much to talk about) and then happily tells Jungkook about everything he learned that day. It seems pretty scattershot: internet, combustion engines, airplanes, the Sila dynasty, the invention of aeglets, and so on. He's so enthusiastic and Jungkook can't help but smile along.
As their bellies fill, they relax back into the couch wiping the grease from their fingers with happy sated sighs. "They definitely need to start making pizza in the fae realm," Namjoon comments.
"I bet Min Yoongi would make a really good pizza," Jungkook muses aloud. "Maybe I can send you back with a recipe."
"Or, you could come back with me," Namjoon counters, shifting on the couch to turn towards Jungkook.
The pleasant atmosphere shifts and Jungkook sighs. It looks like it's time to have that discussion. "I can't," Jungkook says flatly. "My life is here. My work and my parents are here. I can't just abandon it all to go play with the prince in the fae realm to keep him entertained."
Namjoon frowns, his jaw clenching. "Is that all you think this is? That the prince sent me here to collect his play thing?"
Even as Namjoon says it, Jungkook can feel the wrongness in the words. He doesn't truly believe it, does he? "Then what is it? I was there for less than a week. It can't be more than that."
"Can't it?" Namjoon reaches out and puts a hand on Jungkook's knee. The warmth seeps through the fabric of his sweats and into his body, making his leg relax. Jungkook didn't even realize it had been bouncing. "Do you think I would have come here to ask you back if it weren't something more than that?"
Jungkook sighs, feeling his resolve weakening. He can't cave to pretty words from a handsome dragon. "Then why did you come?"
"Do you really not know?" He squeezes Jungkook's knee and it sends a shock of heat through his body. "Did I misread everything? Even last night?"
"W-what do you think it meant?" Jungkook feels his heart pounding against his ribs as he watches every change in Namjoon's face. He's looking for some hint, any sign, that whatever it is he is feeling isn't just in his head.
"There's this connection," Namjoon says, scooting closer. His hand moves up Jungkook's leg from his knee to his thigh. "From the moment you answered my riddle, it was like a mote of possibility formed. With each moment we've spent together since then, that possibility has been growing and defining itself. I thought, after last night, it was finally showing itself. Didn't you get that sense?"
Jungkook swallows, his pulse in his ears. Namjoon put it so eloquently, but he isn't wrong. It's like he's found words to explain the unexplainable thing that Jungkook has been struggling with. "Maybe," he says instead. "But does it mean anything? I was so overwhelmed. It felt like that with a lot of people and things when I got there. And look how it turned out! Maybe it is something different with you, but how many fae took advantage of that? Hoseok of Daydream tried, but Jimin kept me away from him. The prince kept me hostage, holding my way home out of my grasp so I couldn't leave. And Jimin was just using me."
Silence falls between them and now it feels like Namjoon is searching Jungkook's face. He tries to look away so that the dragon can't find the part of him that wants to believe the dragon's pretty words, but Namjoon gently grabs his chin and turns him to face him.
"Is that what you think happened?" Namjoon asks gently.
"Yes?" Jungkook swallows, trying to keep his hope locked in a tight ball in his chest.
Namjoon nods solemnly. "And what of Min Yoongi? Was he using you?"
Jungkook opens his mouth to say hes, but it catches in his throat. Out of everyone, Yoongi didn't just use Jungkook to help himself. If anything, it seems like Yoongi had been trying to stay away from the castle and willingly went there only for Jungkook's sake. "No," he says quietly, the truth ringing out in the apartment louder than his doubts.
"Then, maybe, there's more to everything else than you know." Namjoon offers him a small smile and his thumb brushes over Jungkook's bottom lip.
Jungkook twists his head away, knocking Namjoon's hand away. "Are you defending Jimin?"
"No," Namjoon shakes his head. "I'm just saying: maybe there's more behind the prince's actions than you have been able to divine. Maybe that's true about Jimin's as well, I don't know him. I do know he was trying to keep you from me, but I had assumed it was because he thought I would steal you away from him."
"Yeah," Jungkook frowns and crosses his arms over his chest. "I was his key into the prince's treasure room."
Namjoon sighs and lets his hand drop to join his other on Jungkook's lap. "I can't speak to that," he admits. "But I ask that you don't let that be the only reason you refuse to come back. Consider that the prince may have other reasons to want to see you again. And Min Yoongi." Then he takes a deep breath. "And myself."
Jungkook's heart squeezes as he looks at the dragon. "What would I do if I came back? Just visit? We don't know how long I'll be gone if I pop over just to say 'hello' and have a meal. I could miss my entire life, right? I got lucky last time."
Namjoon licks his lips and nods slowly. "That's true," he says. "So, I understand your reticence, but allow me a moment of selfishness to ask you to consider it anyway. I feel like you could belong there, if you choose to. I don't know about anyone else you met while you were there, but I would help you. I could give you shelter, freedom, companionship. I know I'm not the only one who wants to see you there, but if you're letting the uncertainty of a future in the fae realm keep you from coming, know that I would make sure you would not be lacking in any way."
"I'm not an object to possess," Jungkokook immediately says, remembering Namjoon in his dream claiming him as a part of his hoard.
Namjoon chuckles. "I'll admit, it's in a dragon's nature to own and possess. You're smart to ask for clarification. As much as I would love to keep you in my bed, naked and sated, it's not what I'm offering you." Jungkook swallows down the whine that tries to bubble up, because that offer doesn't sound horrible. "You don't even have to share that part with me if you choose. I just want to see you happy. And if you tell me you're happy here, I'll leave you be."
"I'm-" Jungkook freezes. He can't say the word. He can't lie so blatantly. He's not happy. Isn't that what he was struggling with before he ever discovered the fae realm existed? His weekly escapism into stories and his mind just to make the waking word more bearable. "I belong here," he settles on it instead. "It's not possible to be happy all the time, but I could be happy here."
"And you could be happy there," Namjoon points out. "Think about it."
Jungkook sighs and feels a tickle of temptation under his skin. How easy would it be to just abandon everything and go? To text his parents to tell them he loves them and he'll be traveling. To abandon his job to some poor twenty year old to get stuck in like a tar pit for the next six years.
"I'll consider it," Jungkook says, already feeling like he’s taking the first step on the path to saying yes. "So, will you go home and tell the prince that?"
"Nope," Namjoon sits back, withdrawing his hands from Jungkook so that he sharply feels the absence of his warmth. "I'll wait for you to make a decision. That way I can escort you to the prince."
Jungkook rolls his eyes. "You're just staying to convince me," he accuses the dragon.
"Maybe I am. Maybe I'm not. Maybe I want to learn more about your world since I have the chance? Your computer is extraordinary, but I'd like to go out and explore the world with my own senses. While you think about it, I can have an adventure of my own." Namjoon smiles, looking a bit smug with himself.
Jungkook sighs and shakes his head, but there's a fondness for the dragon in his chest. "Fine, but let me get you some clothes that fit and are a bit more modern. Deal?"
Namjoon shrugs. "Fine. Will they be as loose fitting as yours?" He picks at Jungkook's sweatpants and smiles to himself.
"It can be if you want to," Jungkook says, snatching his leg away from Namjoon. "Come on. If you want to go exploring tomorrow, we better go shopping tonight. I have work again in the morning." Jungkook pushes himself up from the couch.
"How often do you work?" Namjoon asks, getting up to trail after Jungkook.
"Five days a week, at least eight hours a day." Jungkook feels the weight of that in his chest as he grabs his wallet and keys.
"That's a lot," Namjoon comments, slipping his shoes back on as Jungkook tugs on his sneakers.
"How much do you work at the castle?" Jungkook realizes he doesn't really know what the work schedule of the normal fae is.
Namjoon grabs his hat from the side table and settles it on his head. "I work four days on, three days off. My shifts can go from eight to twelve hours, but it's a pretty low pressure job. Not everyone comes through the sphinx entrance."
Jungkook pauses, his hand on the door knob. “That sounds like pretty decent hours,” he comments, trying to imagine what his life might be like with that much time off. Would it be any different? Could an extra day off give him the motivation to do something more than he already is? He could certainly see his parents more often. And he’d be trapped in his cubicle far less. Just thinking about it feels slightly less soul crushing.
“It’s pretty common hours for those who work in the castle,” Namjoon nods. “Farmers, obviously, still work most days. Shopkeepers set their own hours as well.” He shrugs.
“Speaking of shops, let’s get going,” Jungkook nods, snapping out of his daydream of only working four days a week. He leads Namjoon out of the apartment and back into the world.