It's been a few weeks since that day. Jungkook had been meeting up with the merman every day. And he was obviously looking happier than before. He was enjoying life again. Having something to look forward to, to work for, it felt good.

And it did for Taehyung as well. Who also felt happier now that he had someone to talk to. He had been feeling lonely before but now he had a friend. A friend who was willing to meet him in the daytime while he normally only lived in the dark. It made Taehyung feel special.

Everyday was a fun time for them. They got to know more about each other. But there is still much to them they haven't discovered yet. They would get occupied talking about other things. And besides, they didn't need to rush, Jungkook had an eternity and Taehyung had nowhere to go for a long time still.

And both knew it was best not to rush into it right away. The two were already an odd combination, so its best they take it incautiously to not startle the other with their differences.....This mostly applied to Jungkook.

"sooo, what now?" Jungkook asked while he folded seaweed around a pearl he got from Taehyung.

"You let it dry and then attach another one. You twirl the ends of the seaweed together to make it a string. And then you will have the necklace!" taehyung smiled and put the pearls from his hand into a small dent in the sand so they won't roll away. "no you're doing it wrong again, let me"

"but..." Jungkook frowned and looked at his work, none of the pearls were staying in place it was a mess. But he didn't complain and just handed his work to the professional.

"Here look, like this" Taehyung showed the raven how he wrapped the seaweed around the pearl once and twirled the ends together making it a chain of pearls being held by seaweed. "done" he smiled again and steadied himself before raising his hands up like he was granting a medal.

"oh, thank you" The vampire smiled and bent forward. By this action a part of his face was not covered by the umbrella. But he just bit his tongue until the merman hung the necklace around his neck.

"it will stay until the seaweed has dried out and breaks apart, it's short. But its still pretty"

"so, you make these in your underwater world?" Jungkook asked while he gently touched the pearls that were being held by the seaweed. He never wore such a strange necklace before. Yet the thought of it being merman made him feel elegant. He smiled.

"I do" Taehyung smiled when he saw Jungkook smile. Seeing the vampire react so positively made him feel warm and fuzzy inside. He already wants to go back to the seafloor and collect more pearls to give to him. Just to see him smile more.
But that smile started to fade when Taehyung saw a red spot on Jungkook's cheek and cheekbone. "Are you alright?"

Jungkook was confused by the question at first. Why would he not be alright? He was a vampire, what is there to not be alright about. But before his thoughts got all cocky he understood the question and looked at the merman. "ah, this, it's just the sun. I can manage. It will fade in a few hours usually"

"Does it hurt?"

Jungkook thought about that question. Should he answer honestly or lie and show him how tough he is....... No, honesty is the best choice if he wants Taehyung to trust him, to feel comfortable around him. "it does. But not something I can't handle. I've been burnt a lot in the past like this, i try to avoid it completely now."

"but the sun is out everyday, so you always dress up like that. All covered, isn't that too hot?" Taehyung asked feelings curious to know more about why Jungkool did what he did and how he did it.

"not really. Our body is naturally cold, we don't have the same hot blood flow. And well, I only dress like this during the day when I go outside. Usually i only get out at night, just my regular clothes and coat is enough." Jungkook answered.

"you're outside everyday in your garden"

"that's only for you," Jungkook said. Before he even realized what the words were. But he didn't regret them. He was not an insecure person, but he would only be worried that the other would be creeped out and leave. Which he does not want happening. So far things were going well, they were now in a friendly status. They can talk more freely and feel comfortable around each other. They spend hours here in the garden until Taehyung had to eat and would leave. Only for them to do it all over the next day with the same excitement.

So, he probably doesn't have to worry about him leaving over such a thing.

"o-oh, i-i'm honored" Taehyung stuttered out with a blush. He had no idea what to say, his mind just went all squiggly and a smile formed on his face.

He liked the vampire saying that.

"Are you blushing?" The Raven saw the positive reaction and decided to tease a little more. Shoot a shot...

"a-ah no, maybe. Aish, don't make me blush more!" the merman said with a smile and playfully pushed the vampire's shoulder while looking away.

"you're cute, really. I like it" jungkook smiled and fixed his sleeve that went up from the push, covering his wrist again.

"I am? My friends always said I looked funny. Probably because my hair isn't blonde or dark brown like theirs. They always joked that I was already turning into a grandpa, "Taehyung said with a chuckle.

"they said that?! Oh my '' Jungkook laughed a little "well, to me you're very beautiful. And your hair too, it's unique. You don't see that color often. Especially not natural"

"Thank you, you're kind. '' The merman smiled warmly and crossed his arms on the grass to rest his head on them. His arms were getting weak from holding his torso up all the time. The shore was flat and not easy to sit there comfortably, but he won't complain.

"I am, I'm a good vampire," Jungkook said. But he immediately stopped smiling. That was a lie he said just now. He wasn't good, no, Taehyung would get the wrong impression.

"i can tell" the other chuckled. "I've heard vampires age very slowly. How many years have you been alive now?"

"oh...Uh, I'm not sure. Let me think" Jungkook never got that question, he barely remembers his age by now. They never really celebrate it like humans do. They would more like, do anniversaries at each 50 or 100 reach. "if i remember correctly i am now 290 not that old as others might expect"

"thats older than any family member i ever met"

"Yeah, we age differently. Don't be surprised if you ever meet a vampire of over 500 years old." Jungkook laughed.

"hmm, i wont. And you will be there then too right?"

Jungkook was surprised by that. He didn't expect Taehyung to say such a thing. He smiled and replied, "of course I will."

To that the merman smiled too.

"You know....We can get out of the water if we want to." Taehyung said while poking the soil between the grass with his finger.

"You can too?"

"yea, i just havent done it a lot before. They always tell us to never go on land as it's too dangerous. We would be killed if we set foot on land."

"My garden is safe. If you ever want to try you can."

"maybe later....Its scary, and its not  pleasant"

"does it hurt?" Jungkook frowned a bit worried. He never knew that about merfolk.

"sort of. I don't want to sound like a baby" Taehyung chuckled a little. "and...You know, what if someone is there and they will kill me like they did to my friends. I'm scared to even leave these hidden waters."

"I'm sorry" Jungkook adjusted the umbrella more towards Taehyung and took off his left hand glove. With that hand he then gently placed it on Taehyung's head giving it a few comforting strokes before pulling his hand back.

Even if it was short. The gesture made the merman feel warm inside and smile up at the vampire. "how can people say all vampire's are evil"

"they...They have their reasons."Jungkook replied and left his hand ungloved for the rest of their time together.

---

a little cute chapter this time, thank you for all your patience again. Updates are only gonna get more flirty and exciting from here. But keep a close eye, you never know when paths bend👀

See you in the next chapter!

🌼🌼🌼