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It was raining the first time Jungkook saw him.
Fat drops poured down as the helmsman made his way across the dock. The wood was slippery beneath his boots, and he drew his coat closer around his body, trying and failing to shut out the worst of the chill.
Maybe he should have stayed on the ship. His cabin was warm and dry. But he’d wanted to go out, explore the port city. It had been months since they’d last docked there. He wasn’t the only one. A majority of the crew disembarked shortly after they arrived. Whether they were looking for a meal or a game of cards or a night of pleasure was anyone’s guess. Jungkook wouldn’t mind one or two of those himself. But first he had to make it out of the deluge.
Jungkook trotted down the street, head bowed, a small bag bouncing at his back. Water trickled in the gap at the collar of the coat, sliding down the nape of his neck. He foraged on, guided by the pale glow of the lights in the shops, searching for a pub or an inn.
At last, he saw what he was searching for. A wooden sign swung from an iron pole in front of him — The Leaping Bunny. Jungkook found it a bit amusing. His crewmates sometimes compared him to a bunny. Perhaps it was fate. He should go inside, test his good fortune.
Or he should at least go in for a temporary respite from the weather.
Jungkook shouldered inside the inn, almost sighing in relief at the immediate warmth and dryness. Though the space was dim, his eyes still needed a few moments to adjust to the light.
When they did, he took in a large room crowded with people. They sat in clusters around tables or along the large bar that cut in a wide U-shape through the room. It was very loud. Everyone was talking and laughing and eating.
Food… Jungkook’s stomach growled. It seemed ages since lunch.
He sat down near a corner of the counter. A mustachioed barkeep came over, eyes crinkled into a smile. “Hello there. Always nice to serve a man of the sea. We’ve seen a few of your kind tonight.”
“Is that so?” Jungkook asked. He turned to scan the room, as though hoping to spot some of his crewmates among the patrons.
“Aye,” said the barkeep. “They were here about an hour ago, but they’ve dispersed. I think a couple headed upstairs. We have some nice rooms sir. You can pay for the night… or an hour if that’s all you need.”
Jungkook’s cheeks heated and he stared at the scratched wood of the bar. “Ah, that’s alright.”
It wasn’t that Jungkook didn’t have experience with such matters. He’d honestly had plenty, largely thanks to those same “bunny” like features. That night, he wasn’t sure if that was the sort of reprieve he sought.
“No problem, let me know if you change your mind,” the man waved a hand. “Now, could I perhaps tempt you with something else? A spot of supper? We’ve got hot soup, bread, good cuts of meat and cheese. Beer of course, or a little wine. And I think there might be a bit of fresh fruit tart left.”
Jungkook ordered some of the soup and bread along with a beer. It arrived to him first in a large tankard, foam oozing a bit over the top, trickling down the side. He took a long sip, savoring the taste and went back to staring around the room while he waited for the meal.
The inn appeared to pay host to all sorts of people. Jungkook saw travelers dressed in traditional styles from across the continent. Languages both familiar and not tickled his eardrums. In the corner, near a roaring fireplace, Jungkook caught sight of a pair of eyes watching him.
The eyes belonged to a young man, not much older than himself. He sat at a table, reclined in his chair, unmoving. Jungkook’s gut gave a funny tug, but he quieted it. What the hell? The man was handsome, no question about it. He stood apart from the rest of the crowd of men and women in drab neutral clothing. Grey and brown and green, sometimes blue like the wool of his coat.
The man, however, wore a coat of white flecked with black. From a distance, it looked as though it were made of some type of thick fur. What sort of animal bore such a pelt? Jungkook couldn’t guess where he’d acquired such an item. It had to be expensive. A garment meant to be worn by someone regal. A king perhaps, or at least a prince. But those sort of persons wouldn’t deign to stop in a little establishment such as the Leaping Bunny.
Would they?
Still, Jungkook could not deny the man was interesting. Despite this, the man did not seem to hold the attention of anyone else in the room. People walked past without a glance. Jungkook didn’t understand. How could they not look?
“Alright, here we go!” Jungkook jumped as the barkeep set a bowl of soup on the counter. A plate of crusty bread with fresh butter and hard cheese was laid down beside it. “Apologies, didn’t mean to startle you.”
“It’s alright,” Jungkook said. He glanced over his shoulder. “Who is that?”
“Who?” the barkeep asked.
“The man in the corner,” Jungkook said. He paused for a moment, nibbling his lip. “You do see him, don’t you?”
“Aye,” the barkeep said. “He comes here every once in a while. Keeps to himself. Always orders some fish stew when it’s available. Sometimes people will go over to try and talk, but…”
Jungkook was relieved that the man was not a figment of his imagination, but it was clear from the barkeep’s response that he didn’t entertain admirers. Not that Jungkook admired him, per say.
Still, he was one of the finest young men Jungkook had seen in a long time. He might have experience, might be able to overlook the less than desirable faces of some of his past conquests, but the pull was there.
He tried to ignore the heat flickering in his core that had nothing to do with the soup.
When he finished, Jungkook allowed himself another glance. The man was still there, and he was still staring.
Jungkook finished his beer, then ordered another before he rose and made his way toward the stranger. He didn’t know what he was doing, his feet propelling him as though they had a mind of their own. Something drew him toward the other man. He just wanted to talk. That was all.
The man watched him walk across the room; his gaze unblinking. Jungkook arrived at the table, then hovered awkwardly. “May I sit?”
The man nodded.
Jungkook sank into the chair. He set the tankard on the table with a soft thump. “Sorry, I probably should have gotten you one.”
“No, thank you,” the stranger shook his head. “I don’t drink. Can’t tolerate the stuff.”
“Oh,” Jungkook said. He wondered what the man was doing there, but there were other things besides alcohol. The barkeep mentioned the other liked fish stew… “Well, I suppose it’s alright then.”
The man smiled. His canine teeth were slightly pointed. It made it appear as though he had fangs.
“I heard you don’t talk to people much,” Jungkook said.
“That’s true,” the man replied. He leaned forward and tilted his head. “So, what made you come over?”
Jungkook shrugged. “You seemed interesting.”
“As do you,” the man leaned closer.
His eyes caught the light of the candle flickering on the table. Something sparkled in their depths. Something dark and wild. Jungkook nearly dropped the tankard, but caught it in time. Beer sloshed over the side, speckling the table.
The familiar heat curled inside Jungkook’s belly at the man’s tone. He had a pleasant voice, like honey or silk. Something rare and expensive, too precious for a lowly seafarer. He desired it all the same.
“I’m Jungkook,” Jungkook said.
“Taehyung,” the man replied. He extended a hand and Jungkook reached out to grasp it at once. Though the fingers were slender, the strength behind them was startling.
“Do you live here?” Jungkook asked.
“Sometimes,” Taehyung shrugged.
Ah, so he was a traveler as well. Jungkook wondered where he’d come from, where he was going. Though neither really mattered at the present. Because at that moment, Taehyung was there with him.
“Your fur is quite nice,” Jungkook shifted in another direction. He wanted to keep the conversation going, hold the other man’s attention so he wouldn’t lose interest and get up and leave.
“Thank you,” Taehyung said. “Some might find it a bit brash, but I prefer to keep it close.”
“The color is unusual,” Jungkook said. “Is it from somewhere up north?”
Taehyung shook his head. “No. It’s just… part of me.”
That didn’t make sense, but Jungkook was too captivated to care. Taehyung reclined in his chair again. The front of the coat flapped open and Jungkook caught sight of a slice of bare chest beneath. Swallowing, he attempted to avert his eyes, but was drawn back by the smooth cadence of the other man’s voice.
“Will you be in town long?”
“Oh,” Jungkook shrugged. “I don’t know. Namjoon didn’t say—”
“Namjoon,” Taehyung repeated.
“My captain,” Jungkook said. “He didn’t say how long we’d stay. Probably at least until the rain lets up.”
“Ah,” Taehyung nodded.
“And you?” Jungkook asked.
“I don’t mind rain,” Taehyung said. “Though the storm is supposed to be beastly tonight. I imagine you arrived just in time.”
As though to punctuate Taehyung’s words, lightning flashed outside the windows, casting the street into brightness. Thunder rumbled moments later. Jungkook sipped his beer, watching Taehyung over the top of the tankard. He couldn’t help it, his eyes were drawn to the other, like a moth to a flame.
The barkeep had said there were rooms for rent. He should see about that, before they all filled up. The inn was still crowded. No doubt there’d be people wanting to take advantage of the hourly rate to pass the time.
“I should go,” Jungkook mumbled, but didn’t rise from his chair.
Taehyung grinned, flashing those teeth again. All at once Jungkook’s trousers felt too tight. They continued staring at each other, the air between them charged with invisible energy. Despite having experienced desire before, this felt different. New and unfamiliar and exciting.
Jungkook didn’t know how it happened. One moment they were seated at the table and the next they were headed up the stairs to the second floor of the inn. Faintly lit, a hallway lined with doors and floorboards that squeaked every other step. The walls were thin and noises filtered out into the corridor. Snatches of conversation, singing, moans.
The door squeaked too when Jungkook pushed it open. Taehyung followed him through, pressing him against the wood the moment it closed. A slender fingered hand found his jaw, holding it with surprising gentleness as the other man’s lips pressed to his own. Taehyung smelled good, like salt and the sea air and exotic faraway places. Maybe he really was someone important.
The room was small, containing a bed, desk, a chair, and a night table where a kerosene lamp flickered. Rain lashed against the glass of the small window on the far wall.
Their clothing was shed in stages. Jungkook’s sodden coat thumped to the floor, revealing a linen shirt beneath. The fabric was thin, his muscles visible beneath. Taehyung thumbed a nipple over the top, drawing a whine from the sailor. Taehyung smiled and grasped the hem, tugging it over Jungkook’s head.
Jungkook, not to be outdone, reached for the fur draped over Taehyung’s shoulders. It was soft beneath his fingers as he eased it off, revealing a thick chest and strong arms. The pendant rested over his heart. The etchings were a little clearer, but still hard to make out. Before Jungkook could examine closer, Taehyung grasped the wrist of the arm holding the coat.
“Be careful with it,” he murmured. “Please.”
Jungkook nodded. He’d already been planning on it. No doubt the garment was important to the man. “Of course.”
He laid it gently over the back of the chair. Taehyung came up behind when he finished, wrapping his arms around Jungkook’s waist. Jungkook could feel the metal between his shoulder blades, warmed by the heat of the other’s body. Taehyung nipped at his ear and Jungkook spun to face him, joining their lips once more.
Taehyung’s movements became a bit coarse as they maneuvered onto the bed. He didn’t hurt Jungkook, but it was not the gentlest foreplay the man ever experienced. Somehow, though, he found he didn’t mind. There was a thrill as Taehyung undid Jungkook’s trousers, sliding them down with his undergarments. Jungkook let out a sigh of relief at no longer having to wear the damp clothes. He couldn’t even find it in himself to be embarrassed that he was already half hard, precum beading at the tip.
Taehyung eyed the appendage with interest as well. He slithered forward, without hesitation, lips parting to slide the crown of Jungkook’s cock into his mouth. Jungkook groaned, hips shifting at the wet heat enveloping the length. One hand reached up to paw at Jungkook’s chest, squeezing the muscle. Long fingers circled over a nipple before giving the perked bud a pinch.
“Ah!” Jungkook gasped, sparks flaring when Taehyung repeated the action. It stung, but also felt good. Besides, it was hard to concentrate on much of anything else when the other was between his legs, head bobbing as he swallowed Jungkook down.
Taehyung moved like a beast. Jungkook could feel those over-sharp teeth scraping gently along the delicate skin of the shaft. His head tipped back when the other man’s tongue swiped over a sensitive spot, hips bucking again. Taehyung stilled him with a hand before pulling back and letting Jungkook drop from his mouth.
“Noisy,” Taehyung murmured.
Jungkook’s mouth dropped open and he gave an indignant snort. “It’s difficult to stay quiet when you’re doing… all that.”
“I didn’t say I didn’t enjoy hearing it,” Taehyung smirked. He settled more firmly between Jungkook’s legs. “In fact, I’d love to hear more.”
Jungkook stared at Taehyung in the flickering light of the kerosene lamp, his bare torso a mix of golden skin and dark shadows. The man still had his trousers on. A hand strayed to the belt, toying with the buckle.
“Take them off,” Jungkook said, voice thick with need. “Please.”
“Well,” Taehyung murmured. “Since you asked so politely.”
Jungkook watched as Taehyung began to remove his pants, eyes widening in surprise when his cock appeared. The other wore no underclothes and was decently endowed. The length stood proud against his stomach, the turgid skin glistening. Taehyung must be even more aroused than he, Jungkook could never recall seeing anyone produce so much seed before.
“I have oil in my bag,” Jungkook gestured weakly in the direction of his discarded clothing. “Though, I don’t know if you’ll need it with—”
“A bit can’t hurt,” Taehyung moved off the bed. Jungkook saw him rummaging and a moment later returned with the bottle. “Humans are so fragile.”
Jungkook’s brows knit. He wanted to ask what Taehyung meant but was distracted by the pop of the cork being unstoppered from the bottle. Before long he felt the long fingers between his cheeks, questing at his entrance. The pad of one circled the rim. Jungkook whined, spreading his legs further.
Taehyung wasted no time slipping one inside. Jungkook’s muscles tightened on the intrusion, not to push out, but to pull further. He heard Taehyung grunt, grinning against his throat where he was pretty sure the other was intending to leave a mark.
He gasped when Taehyung added a second finger, and whined after a third a few minutes later. Though he was impatient, it was better he let Taehyung open him up. Already he could tell the length and girth of the other would push his limits. He did not want to walk around the ship sore the following day…
Jungkook spared a fleeting thought for tomorrow. He didn’t know if they were leaving port, or if Namjoon planned for the crew to stay a bit longer. In either case, it didn’t mean he’d see Taehyung again. The marks on his skin would fade with the miles across the water, leaving only a beautiful memory to keep him company in the cocoon of his hammock at night.
He blinked, drawing himself back to the present. Realizing that Taehyung had removed his fingers. He’d shifted to kneel between Jungkook’s legs, one hand stroking between his own. Somehow the cock looked even wetter than it had before. Maybe Taehyung used some of the oil while he’d been in a daze.
“Ready?” Taehyung asked. He bowed over Jungkook’s body and trailed his lips along his jaw. The pendant swung between them, lighting on Jungkook’s chest when Taehyung leaned close.
Jungkook nodded.
Taehyung surged forward, the head of his cock pushing into him. Jungkook hissed, his body rushing to accommodate the other. His spine arched on the bed, another whine slipping from him as Taehyung rolled his hips.
The other was hard, harder than Jungkook could remember a partner being before. It was odd, along with the wetness. Indeed, there were a lot of odd things about Taehyung. His sharp teeth, the way his eyes glittered when they caught the light. Green-gold. Like an animal.
Those eyes found his as Taehyung began to buck into him, slowly at first, then gaining speed. Strong hands held Jungkook’s waist, pressing his body into the thin mattress. He could feel his eyes glazing over, body becoming compliant. A loud moan slipped from him when Taehyung adjusted position, brushing along his prostate. Sparks popped at the edges of his vision, mimicking the lighting that split the sky outside.
“So good,” Taehyung growled in his ear. A shiver rippled along Jungkook’s skin at the tone, his hole clamping down as Taehyung rolled his hips again.
A sharp pain flared across Jungkook’s skin from the place where his neck met his shoulder as Taehyung’s teeth pierced the flesh. Jungkook cried out, body shuddering as his cock spent itself between them untouched. Embarrassment flitted briefly over him, surprised at how fast and violently he’d come. He tried to reason that it had been a while, he was pent up, frustrated. But deep down he knew it was because of Taehyung.
Taehyung shifted to press their lips together. Their tongues met, a slight metallic taste spreading across Jungkook’s own. Then Taehyung drew back, flopping onto the mattress. The only sound in the room for a moment was their rapid breathing and the patter of the storm on the window.
Taehyung curled onto his side toward him. Jungkook glanced over. He didn’t know what to say, his limbs felt like an anchor sunk in the silt of the harbor. Swallowing, he opened his mouth, but no words came. The other’s dark eyes shone in the lamplight. They were the last thing Jungkook saw before he fell asleep.
When he awoke in the morning, Taehyung was gone. For a moment, Jungkook wondered if he’d imagined the encounter. But no, the ache at the base of his spine was a definite indicator. Not to mention the… bite. His fingers brushed over the ruined flesh as he stood before the small looking glass over the washbasin. It was real and wonderful. But now it was over and Taehyung had disappeared.
Jungkook tried to ignore the twinge in his chest, mirroring the one on his shoulder. He shouldn’t be attached. They didn’t know each other. It was a brief rendezvous, a mutual release, nothing more. Except, in some unexplainable way, he had felt connected to Taehyung.
The necklace was on the nightstand. Jungkook picked it up, inspecting the pendant as it dangled from his fingers. It was small and circular, intricately decorated, the characters on the front written in a language he didn’t recognize. He squeezed the pendant then slipped the chain over his head, tucking it beneath his shirt.
After a quick breakfast, Jungkook made his way back through town to the ship. The Arirang was a magnificent vessel, one of the better ones he’d come to crew for during his time at sea. Namjoon was a fair captain who looked out for his team. Fortunately, they’d made it to port before the storm began, but the weather had been quite fierce the previous night, and he wouldn’t be surprised if she had suffered a bit of damage that would need to be repaired before they set off again.
Jimin was on the deck when he arrived. He gave a half-hearted wave, looking about as well rested as Jungkook felt, which was not very. A moment later, Yoongi appeared next to him, looking even more tired. Jungkook chuckled to himself, even as he felt a bit melancholy. Those two were lucky to be able to travel together.
“Morning,” Jimin said. “Thought you were going to stay onboard last night.”
“Considered it,” Jungkook said.
“Yoongi won a treasure map in cards,” Jimin said, fatigue vanishing for a moment.
“Oh, did he?” Jungkook hummed. Yoongi and Hoseok were masters at cards. The two of them always managed to procure various items, some of them beneficial and others… not as much. “Is it real this time?”
“I think so,” Jimin said. “The man was quite mad to lose it.”
“I see,” Jungkook said. “I’d better go and report to Namjoon. I expect he’ll have some orders.”
As he passed the rest of the crew, they nodded at him in greeting. Seokjin. Hoseok. Some others he knew by name but wasn’t particularly close with, even after weeks on the water. All of them were important, instrumental in the health and safety of the ship and those who lived aboard.
The door to Namjoon’s quarters swung open before he reached it and the captain smiled when he saw Jungkook. “Ah, there he is. You are not usually so late to rise.”
“Apologies, sir,” Jungkook said.
“Perhaps you did not sleep well,” Namjoon said. He quirked his brows. “Or at all, for that matter.”
Jungkook’s own brows knit. Then he realized that his coat was open and the neck of the shirt had shifted, revealing the mark. Cheeks heating, Jungkook attempted to adjust his clothing but it was too late. “No, sir. I did sleep. This was…”
His voice trailed off because he didn’t know how to explain. Namjoon didn’t press. Instead, he turned his attention to other matters, and reported the boat was indeed in need of some maintenance. They’d be staying in port another couple of days. Jungkook was secretly relieved. Perhaps if he had a free moment later, he could look for Taehyung. There was a chance the man was still in the city. Perhaps they could talk. Or not talk…
The morning passed quickly, the blazing sun polar opposite to the gale that rent the sky the previous evening. Jungkook lost himself in the work, noting as the day wore on the twinge from the bite ached less as the hours passed. When he broke for lunch later in the afternoon, he was surprised to see it had mostly healed.
He took his meal out on the deck, staring at the waves, gaze fixed on the horizon. Seagulls flew overhead, screeching and diving toward the water. Further up the beach, seals played in the shallows, a few more sunning themselves on the rocks nearby.
“Magical creatures, aren’t they?”
Jungkook turned to see Seokjin leaning against the rail. Frowning, he polished off the last bit of his food and shrugged. “They’re cute, but I don’t know about magic.”
He’d heard tales, of course, about things that lived in the depths of the ocean. Merfolk and sea serpents and kraken. He was certain those were invented by sailors of old, no doubt delirious from heatstroke or too much rum, mistaking one thing for another. Touted as cautionary tales for travelers regarding the dangers of the water.
There were fearsome and strange animals for sure. Giant squids and whales and sharks. They’d seen them. But nothing like what Seokjin probably meant. Despite being the eldest of the crew, the other man did set a lot of store in myths and legends. Sometimes, it appeared, he did actually have a kind of preternatural sight.
“Have you heard of selkies?” Seokjin prompted.
Jungkook nodded. “A little.”
Selkies resembled seals. They were able to shed their skins when they came on land and transform into very beautiful humans. If a selkie’s skin was stolen or hidden from them, they were unable to return to the water until it was found.
“The reason I ask is because overnight it appears you have been marked by the sea.”
Jungkook’s hand strayed to the spot at the words, fingers hovering over the place where the bite was concealed beneath his clothing. “What do you mean?”
“The necklace,” Seokjin said. “I noticed it when you were helping Hoseok patch a hole earlier.”
“What about it?” Jungkook asked.
“That is a gift from a selkie,” Seokjin said. “I’ve heard about them. Some use those pendants so they can wear their skins without fully reverting back to their animal forms on land.”
“No,” Jungkook murmured. “That can’t be true. This was just from—”
“Who gave it to you?” Seokjin prompted.
“The man I met last night,” Jungkook said. “At the inn.”
Jungkook’s mind swirled as he thought about Taehyung. The more he thought, the more the answer appeared that Seokjin could be on to something. Taehyung had been strange. The gleam in his eyes, the sharp teeth. Even the coat that seemed so out of place, but now… was it actually a selkie skin? Was it possible that Taehyung was truly otherworldly?
“He was gone in the morning,” Jungkook said. “I doubt I’ll see him again.”
“I wouldn’t be too sure,” Seokjin said. “A selkie wouldn’t give something like that away without intention.”
Jungkook shook his head. He glanced out at the seals again, wondering if Taehyung were among them. “How would I even know where to look?”
Seokjin hummed. “Just wait and see what happens.”
Jungkook wasn’t satisfied with that answer, but it was time to resume his duties. Namjoon invited him to his quarters to discuss the route they would take once they’d left port. Normally, Jungkook was excited about the prospect of moving on. He loved exploring, seeing all the different cities along the continent. But now, it felt different. For the first time, he would be leaving something behind as well.
When night fell, Jungkook stayed aboard the ship. He lounged in his hammock, staring at the ceiling, the pendant a warm weight on his chest. Frowning, he held it up, staring at the unfamiliar characters across the front. They seemed to glow from inside. He rolled from the hammock a bit ungracefully and tugged his clothing on, deciding to see if he could find Taehyung.
Without the rain, the city was livelier. People were out on the streets and the windows were open. He caught snatches of conversation, singing, a couple of very delightful smells. Now that the weather was better, he didn’t expect Taehyung might retreat inside the inn either. Instead, he headed for the beach where he’d seen the seals that afternoon.
As he drew closer, the pendant glowed brighter. To his surprise, the front of it popped open, revealing a compass. The needle spun, and he followed, footsteps quickening as he hurried along the sand.
A large shape sat hunched further down the otherwise empty shore. Jungkook hurried toward it, his heart swelling when the figure came into focus. Taehyung sat; long legs stretched out in front of him. This time, the coat — the skin — was nowhere in sight. Instead, he wore a shirt of loose dark fabric. It rippled in the slight breeze.
“You found me,” he said softly. “I was wondering if you’d come looking.”
Jungkook pointed to the necklace. “You left this for me.”
“I did,” Taehyung said. “A choice I did not make lightly.”
“Where is it?” Jungkook asked.
Taehyung glanced up at him, dark eyes shining. For a moment, Jungkook wondered if he was wrong and Taehyung might think him mad. Or, he might be right, but Taehyung would pretend otherwise, make him think he was going mad.
Instead, Taehyung let out a sigh and stared toward the water. “Tucked away for now. I ventured into town earlier and couldn’t chance it might be taken.”
“Are there others?” Jungkook asked, lowering his voice. “Who know— who know what you are?”
“A few,” Taehyung said. “Even more probably suspect. This port is especially superstitious.”
“Is that dangerous?” Jungkook asked. “Would they hurt you?”
Taehyung shook his head. “Some might try, but the sea does not take kindly to those who hurt her children for sport or personal gain.”
Jungkook glanced at the ocean. As if in answer, a large wave crashed onto the beach, inches from them. He sat down next to Taehyung. “Why me?”
“One of your crew tried to kill a seal once,” Taehyung said softly. “You stopped them from doing so, saying that was not what your ship did. I remember how angry you were, how fierce you stood against that other man and didn’t back down, even when he turned the knife on you.”
“What?” Jungkook’s mouth dropped open, recalling the memory. “Siwoo. He’s not with us anymore. Namjoon dismissed him after. But that was ages ago, the last time we were here.”
“I know,” Taehyung said. “It made me curious, I wanted to know more about you. But your ship left quickly. I could have followed, but it didn’t seem right to make myself seen without a more proper introduction. So, I waited. To see if you might come back. Though, I confess I feel I made a mess of it in the end.”
“What do you mean?” Jungkook asked.
Taehyung glanced at him; his eyes soft but pained. “I didn’t mean to be quite so… rough. I’m not well versed when it comes to human relations. There’s been a few trysts, and those partners didn’t mind. But you. I didn’t want it to be like that. I got carried away.”
Jungkook’s hand strayed to the bite. Taehyung’s eyes followed the movement, the sorrow deepening. “I’m alright. It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“I didn’t want to hurt you at all,” Taehyung said quietly. “I’m so sorry.”
Jungkook reached out, laying his hand over Taehyung’s on the sand. After a moment, Taehyung turned his so the palm faced upward, allowing their fingers to lace together. Warmth spread through Jungkook at the touch.
“I hoped you’d come tonight,” Taehyung said. “I wanted to see you again before you left.”
“Namjoon said we’ll stay another day,” Jungkook said. “Then we’ll move on. I expect Jimin will try and wrangle him into another treasure hunting expedition.”
“Jimin,” Taehyung asked.
“Yes,” Jungkook nodded. “He’s one of the crew.”
Somehow it led to a discussion about the five members he was closest to on the ship. Taehyung listened with careful attention, absorbing all the details. He seemed especially keen when Jungkook described Seokjin, explaining that he was the one who told him more about selkies.
“I don’t mind,” Jungkook said, squeezing Taehyung’s hand. “I’m not afraid.”
Taehyung gave him a small smile. “That was another thing that drew me to you. The fearlessness. But also, that I wasn’t afraid of you either. Selkies and humans have had… difficulties in the past.”
Jungkook remembered what Seokjin said about selkies and their skins. How they were bound to the land if the skin was concealed from them by cruel humans wishing to keep them prisoner.
He shifted closer. Even in the faint light of the moon, he could see the glitter of Taehyung’s eyes. The wildness in their depths. Leaning in, Jungkook brushed their lips together. A pleased noise slipped from Taehyung, spurning him onward. The sparks inside Jungkook flared even more brightly. Their tongues met, Taehyung hand coming up to cup the back of his neck.
Skin buzzing, Jungkook groaned when Taehyung shifted to trace his mouth along his jaw. The path continued, along the column of his throat. Slender fingers tugged aside Jungkook’s shirt. There was a sharp intake of breath as Taehyung beheld the bite. Though it had healed, the mark still remained.
“Seokjin said I am marked by the sea,” Jungkook said. “He meant the necklace, but—”
“He is correct,” Taehyung said. He pressed his lips gently to the spot, over and over again, murmuring between. “I was a bit hasty; the pendant would suffice. But this… you will be protected always from any creature within its depths. That will extend to your vessel as well as those who man it.”
A lump rose in Jungkook’s throat. “Thank you.”
“If for any reason we were separated,” Taehyung said. “The pendant will let us find each other again.”
Jungkook shook his head. He didn’t want to be separated. Not on purpose anyway and not for long. He thought about the last time they’d visited the port. The days and months in between. Passing with the cycle of the sun and the moon and the tides. All the adventures he experienced. It was wonderful, but Taehyung…
“Will you come with me?” Jungkook asked. “I know this is your home, but—”
“It’s not,” Taehyung said. “Like you, I have traveled a long time. This just happened to be a place I found comfortable to remain longer. My home is wherever the ocean flows. It’s important that I can return to it often.”
“Oh,” Jungkook said.
Taehyung captured his lips in another kiss, before resting their foreheads together. “I would love to accompany you.”
They stayed on the beach a while longer, talking and kissing. Taehyung pushed him down onto the sand, straddling his body, rocking against him. Jungkook arched upward, meeting the thrusts, delighted in the friction of their clothed cocks rubbing together. Despite his assurances he was fine, Taehyung insisted they take a break from penetrative activities. He vowed to treat the human with more gentleness. Jungkook growled that he didn’t have to.
In the end, it didn’t matter. The desire for Taehyung was as strong as the night before. Jungkook’s body thrummed with barely restrained need. Deft fingers opened his trousers, pulling out his cock, stroking the precum along the shaft. Jungkook, not to be outdone, reached for the selkie’s own fastenings, heat vibrating in his core as his hand closed around Taehyung’s length.
“I wondered how this got so slippery,” Jungkook mused. “I guess that is part of your ethereal nature.”
“Yes,” Taehyung laughed. “Selkie can be rather… potent.”
Jungkook’s head tipped back as Taehyung began to rut against him. He wrapped his arms around the other, pulling him down, pulling him close, until the warm weight of him threatened to crush him into the sand. His hips stuttered, chasing the friction of Taehyung, the warm wetness as the other spent himself between them. Then those fingers, the perfect, gentle, powerful fingers wrapped around Jungkook’s erection and had him following after.
Once the brightness cleared from his vision, Jungkook opened his eyes, staring up at the black velvety sky. Taehyung was next to him, nosing at his neck, peppering kisses like stars. He nipped at Jungkook’s ear, nuzzling him with surprising affection.
“As good as last time,” Taehyung murmured. “Better, even. As I know it won’t be the last.”
“I sleep in a hammock,” Jungkook groaned. Though, he reasoned it never stopped anyone else on board from having relations.
“I suppose we’ll have to be creative,” Taehyung said.
Jungkook laughed and sat up, brushing the sand from his hair. “I suppose so.”
After a time, they rose, stripped off their clothing, and walked into the ocean. The water was cold, but Jungkook embraced it. After the last several hours, he needed a wash.
Taehyung bobbed in the surf, sometimes disappearing beneath the swell. It was entertaining, Jungkook could have spent hours watching him. He popped up next to Jungkook, grabbing his waist and kissing him, emitting small happy chirps as he did so. Jungkook met his lips with eagerness, relishing the salt on his tongue.
After they’d redressed, Jungkook offered his hand to Taehyung. The selkie accepted and they set off down the beach. Along the way, he stopped to retrieve his hidden skin. Jungkook promised to find a secure place on the ship to store it.
When they returned, the ship was overall quiet, though there were some small signs of life. Seokjin was the first to notice them, a knowing smile spreading across his face. No doubt he guessed what Taehyung was with a glance.
Slowly, others emerged from below decks, as though sensing their arrival. Jungkook introduced Taehyung to each in turn. Jimin seemed especially fascinated, but quickly changed the discussion from Taehyung’s selkie nature to whether he was adept at finding treasure. Taehyung laughed at first, then replied, quite seriously that he could.
Namjoon greeted Taehyung warmly. Jungkook was relieved. The captain was discerning about those wanting to come abroad, not wanting them to disrupt the harmony among the group. He hadn’t thought Namjoon would reject Taehyung, but there was always a chance. There was a hushed conversation between the two, but in the end, it was agreed that the selkie could accompany them as long as he wished.
A cheer went up from the crew and a celebration came together. Food was brought out and some of the sailors got instruments. Hoseok even let off a few firecrackers, painting the sky red and gold. Namjoon scolded him good-naturedly, pointing out that the locals might think they were under attack.
The merriment lasted into the morning. One by one, the others dropped off to sleep, until only Taehyung and Jungkook remained awake. The two stood at the stern of the boat, before the wheel, gazing out across the waves. A slice of gold had just appeared over the horizon.
“We’ll leave later today,” Jungkook said softly, fingers dancing over the weathered wood of the helm. “On to our next great adventure. I hope you’re ready.”
Taehyung glanced toward him, reaching out to touch the necklace, the glowing compass concealed inside. “I am. I’ll follow you anywhere, even into the sun.”