Stardust

Stardust

The moment Jungkoook passed the final line of trees and came into view of the clearing, his eyes locked immediately on that white pavilion. They had never passed the line of the creek to be in it.

Would they be allowed to do so if there was a spirit guarding this place? Was a different guy supposed to be the one in this secret place instead of them?

- Kook? -

Jungkook jolted a bit and turned to look. But it was Taehyung.

- Oh, sorry, I was just... - He looked at the latter, then back at the pavilion, and smiled. Trying to get his mind rid of it all as he turned back to his Love and walked into his arms, he sighed greatly. Feeling him, hugging him, and swaying a little from side to side as if they were slow dancing in the dark was his own definition of magic.

- What took you so long, my Love? - Taehyung asked gently with his lips against his ear and his arms around his waist. Jungkook immediately felt boneless as tingles flowed down his body.

- I met Garrett on the way. - He shrugged.

Slowly, their movement halted. Jungkook blinked and leaned back to look him in the eyes.

Taehyung was frowning, looking unseeingly somewhere behind him.

- What is it? - Jungkook asked softly.

- ...is he... here? In the woods? Right now? - Taehyung looked back down at him and Jungkook saw there was something that confused him. Because there wasn't only worry in his eyes.

- Yes. But he was heading that way. - Jungkook pointed in the direction behind Taehyung.

- Did you talk to him? -

- ...not exactly. No. - Taehyung tilted his head in question, but Jungkook just shook his own. - I'll tell you another time. -

However, right when he saw Taehyung looking off with a frown, he remembered the first time Taehyung had seen Garrett. He had looked him heavily up and down and looked at his tattoos with something close to disgust. So Jungkook took a hold of his face and gently made him look down at him to ask.

- Do you have anything against Garrett? Why do I get the feeling that you don't like him? -

Taehyung thought for a moment or two, grabbing Jungkook's hand and turning his head to kiss his palm before pressing it against his cheek once more. Then, he sighed with his eyes closed.

- I just... don't like him somehow. -

Jungkook caressed his cheek with his thumb and asked again.

- What is it that you don't like about him? -

Because, even with what just happened a moment ago, he still believed that Garrett was more of a sweet puppy than anything. He stutters and asks a lot, his puppy eyes sparkle, and, yes, he looks very strong, but at the same time incredibly gentle. The only things that make him seem tough are his muscles, his tattoos, and the fact that he wears black most of all, but that's just his looks.

Taehyung thought for a moment, his eyes looking unseeingly down at Jungkook's shoulder. It even looked like he was remembering something unpleasant with the way he grimaced and then said,

- His... tattoos. I don't like them. -

- His tattoos. - Jungkook said, incredulously. - You don't like his tattoos. - He never thought Taehyung could ever be that type of person who would judge people because they had tattoos, but here he was, nodding. - Do you not like tattoos in general? Or just--

- No, just his. -

Jungkook frowned. Maybe he had misjudged him, then. But it only worries him even more.

- Have you seen those tattoos before? -

Taehyung's eyes snapped back to him, and somehow they looked clearer for a second, actually clearer as if the color of his eyes had lightened some shades. Jungkook froze as he looked up at him.

- Yes. - Taehyung answered with a frown. Angry... sad...

Then he blinked and looked confused. As he looked off again, Jungkook turned his eyes towards the white pavilion. And yes, he believed he was getting paranoid, absolutely, but the fact that Garrett and some other people were looking for a male with a particular aura -and that these people were able to see auras and talk to spirits and meditate to do rituals and that they were so many that they actually had a headquarters-, also that it seems like this white pavilion had a guardian spirit, and, finally, that there had been three times he can remember right now, three different times in three different nights where they had come here, where Taehyung looked like another version of himself; it all was simply too much to be a coincidence.

What if Taehyung was indeed this "Rose" they were so desperately looking for? He had grown up on a flower farm and today he had told him about all the times he had had incredibly accurate deja vus, so who else could it be? Between both of them, Taehyung was the first one to arrive at this pavilion the first night they met here. And also, he's way beyond beautiful in body and soul, so if anybody were to have a golden aura, it would be him.

Wouldn't it be funny that all of this was actually true? Because, as of right now, he can't believe any of it.

Jungkook took a very deep breath and simply hugged him close to hide his face in his neck. Taehyung did the same and started rocking them softly and sweetly once more until Jungkook decided to take a step back and guide him towards the bench where Taehyung sat and brought him closer by the waist so he would sit down on his lap, just like he usually loved doing.

Taehyung held his face gently and looked at him closely, absolutely adoringly yet still very tired. Then, he took a deep breath and started.

- My beautiful Jungkook, -

Jungkook giggled and placed his hands over Taehyung's chest, listening carefully. Yes, he was listening now, he realized, unlike before when he felt it was unbearable to hear him speaking so beautifully at him, he listened now.

- From the moment I saw you... I knew my life would change forever. -

Oh, for the love of--... Jungkook wasn't ready to hear this.

He got so shy that he tried to look away with a little smile, but Taehyung tilted his head so he would look at him instead. He was staring at him so... utterly loving it was... Jungkook felt like he was looking right at his soul, and his heart couldn't take the massive level of love it held. His pulse quickened, but he refrained from looking away, and instead, he let Taehyung continue with what he knew would be heartbreakingly beautiful.

- Though I couldn't realize it, think it, acknowledge it, for the beautiful twist it will all take; no, it was hard at the beginning, to remember who I was inside, to look at you and never look away, it was hard... until it wasn't. Once, I looked at you like a treasure better left untouched, later on as I became unable to resist the riches within you, I felt astonished that my hands had not burned away. No sins were committed. And now... now, I look at you and see more than a treasure to behold. I see palaces of art, cathedrals of beauty, oceans of love, and I think to myself... that if ever there was a man more in love than I am with you, I know him not. -

Jungkook sniffed silently and Taehyung, as gently as ever, caught the tear with a feather-like thumb.

- My beautiful Jungkook, - He sighed, looking at him with more than adoration. - You'll forgive me if I can't keep this quiet any longer, but... I need to tell you all of this. Could you hear me, please? -

Jungkook nodded vigorously, his throat obstructed by an unuttered sob.

- Thank you. I simply must tell you... I love you from head to toe, from anger to happiness, from tears to laughter, I love you physically, mentally, and spiritually, I love you unconditionally and on purpose, I love you because doing so is like fresh air to my lungs, I love you because I can't imagine a world in which your soul is not with mine, I love you, God, I love you and my heart can't keep it all in, it simply bleeds with love and love is all I can give you because love is all I am. So I love you, and it means that everything I am loves everything you are. Always. -

Jungkook's sob ripped from his throat and he went forwards, hiding in his neck.

This is it. If anything happens to their union, Jungkook will not be able to live another day. This is it. And if this isn't it, he doesn't know what will be, because nothing else will, so... this, this is it.

Taehyung held him tight with an arm around his waist and another gently holding his head. And he sighed deeply and shakily. Crying with love.

- My beautiful Jungkook. Do you know why I call you my Angel? Because you came to save my life. Do you know why I call you my Life? Because I had never felt truly alive until I met you. Do you know why I call you my Love? Because I have only felt the whole magnitude that my love can reach once I loved you. You protect me with your love, and because of that, you give me life. You made this frozen flower bloom again. Thank you, my Love. My beautiful Angel. My Life. Jungkook. -

While he sobbed as silently as he could, Jungkook wrapped his arms around his neck and soaked Taehyung's skin with his tears.

Love was the most beautiful weapon he had ever encountered. Because, look at him, completely destroyed and happy to be so; sobbing and tearing up and in love. He had never been in so much pain until his heart started bleeding love. He had never been in so much happiness until he found himself sobbing hysterically in the arms of love. And he had never wanted to live so hard until he fell in love.

So, if he didn't have this love, he'll have nothing, he'll be nothing, and he'll live no longer.

What a beautiful thing love was, like the most exquisite dagger, able to protect and annihilate, create and kill.

Yes, Jungkook was scared. He had never loved so hard, trusted so entirely, felt so deeply, so, he had no idea what would happen to him now. Yes, he was scared. But these tears were not from fear, no... he was relieved. Because he had Taehyung by his side; because he had somebody by his side and he was not alone; because he will never be alone again. He was relieved, he was in love, he was protected, and he had never been happier in his entire life.

Only once the tears were spent and sobs silenced, only once Jungkook's arms loosened their hold and Taehyung pushed him back gently so he could dry his tears, only then was Jungkook strong enough to look him in the eyes. But his words were cut in his throat the moment he connected with him.

The moon shone behind him and illuminated Taehyung's face so delicately that he seemed to be made of stardust.

The pressure able to make a diamond had been put on a star that then created a supernova. Stardust floated around in the darkness like a diamond buried in dust, and only once gravity connected every particle of stardust was the diamond discovered from the pile of dust it had been buried in. And they were pulled towards each other, the diamond met the stardust, and as the stardust creature illuminated the diamond, the jewel gave back a rainbow light to its beautiful companion.

Jungkook was made of diamonds, Taehyung of stardust, and that was what he saw the moment he looked into his eyes. In just a millisecond, Jungkook saw something his mind couldn't comprehend but felt true in his soul.

Gentler than he had ever been and with hands that strangely felt like someone else's, Jungkook held Taehyung's beautiful face, and without thinking it twice, he spoke from the heart.

- There's nothing I can say that could ever describe how I feel about you. Because I don't know the words. This love I have for you doesn't feel new to me, it feels right, it feels natural, it feels... ancient. I don't know what to say to be able to describe my relief whenever I see you happy or my anguish whenever I see you sad, there's nothing I can say with this mouth that will be able to explain my terror every time we have to part ways. Because, in my heart, I feel like I have lost you time and time again. I feel like I have met you time and time again, loved you time and time again, mourned you... time and time again. So, believe me when I can't speak once I've heard you saying how much you love me. Believe my silence, for it means that my love is way greater than words could ever describe. And believe me when I do say that I love you. Because it feels like I have done it before and will keep doing it after. - He took a deep breath and caught Taehyung's tear from his smiling face before leaning in and connecting their foreheads so whisper, with all this ancient love he carried inside. - I love you, Taehyung. -

This is why it took so little for them to intertwine with the other. Because it feels like their souls had known each other before. So it does feel right to love, it does feel normal to fall silent and sigh at the sight of the other, and it does feel natural to live together. Because it does feel like they have done it time and time again.

Every time this feeling came to Jungkook, a feeling of nostalgia whenever he was with Taehyung, he had simply tried to bury it under a rug. Because it doesn't feel nice to be sad whenever he was happy, it doesn't feel nice to think of how hard it would hurt once he didn't have him anymore, it doesn't feel nice. He tried to believe it was all because of the way his life had been and how he knew more about loss than anything else, but, after that unusual meeting with Garrett, he couldn't help but think that maybe this love was indeed something else, that maybe they had met before, in a different life, and he had known him and loved him and lost him and that's why he can't stand the thought of losing him. Because he can't stand the thought of losing him again.

But his thoughts were swayed when Taehyung held the back of his neck and brought him closer.

Jungkook closed his eyes and felt nothing but butterflies fluttering around as they kissed. And they kissed... and held... and sighed... and felt nothing but love.

They didn't count the minutes or the hours or the moonlit nights they spent kissing, but it was only when Taehyung had something to say that they disconnected their lips.

- I have an idea. - He whispered against his tender skin.

Jungkook giggled and brushed the tip of his nose with his.

- What is it? - He asked sweetly.

Taehyung smiled gently and stole one little kiss before telling him.

- Since we couldn't have our candle-lit date tonight, how about we have a picnic tomorrow? -

- A picnic? - Jungkook chuckled and looked him in the eyes as he brushed the hair at the back of Taehyung's head.

- Yes. - He answered with his eyes half-closed and a beautiful lazy smile. - We've never come here during the daytime. We could meet here around four and have a picnic, maybe even see the sun setting, laying on a blanket on the grass, eating something I would cook for you... What'd you say? -

Jungkook giggled shyly as he looked down and then looked back up to whisper right against his lips.

- I'd love to. -

Taehyung leaned in and kissed him deeply once before sighing and leaning back again.

- Good, 'cause me too. -

Jungkook chuckled with him, but he felt the vertigo of their upcoming parting so he shortened the distance once more and kissed him deeply and slowly, enjoying every second, every breath, every touch. And only once he couldn't drag the moment any longer, he slowly stopped the kiss and leaned back.

Taehyung knew what was about to happen as well, so he said nothing as he held Jungkook close and stood up. In turn, Jungkook also remained silent as he unfolded his legs and stood at the tips of his toes while still holding on tightly. But the moment they leaned away and held hands as they looked for one last second to the other, Jungkook smiled at him and said,

- Goodnight. -

Taehyung smiled sweetly and brought one of his hands close to his mouth so he could kiss his knuckles and then reply,

- Goodnight. -

Jungkook nearly jumped back towards his lips, but he restrained himself and simply took a step back and then another until his fingertips couldn't touch Taehyung's anymore. Only then did he turn around and walk out of the clearing. Leaving the magic, the stardust, the small pavilion behind, and yet, holding it all close to his heart.

Garrett was currently making his way back to the rooms. He was so incredibly tired, what with everything that happened today that took his energy both physically and mentally, and without having to add his continued soreness, he barely had enough time to meditate only so Hoseok and Yoongi could have a goodnight's sleep. He hadn't had enough time to meditate and heal his wounds and didn't have enough time to clear his head, so he barely had enough time to "collect water from the pond and bring it home" as they used to say. Meaning that he was merely storing the energy that he got for someone else instead of himself.

So he was walking at a soldier's pace yet with his hands in his pockets and head down, right to the rooms. From time to time, he had to close his eyes and walk blindly only so he could be spared from the bright red color of the carpet, so he neither saw nor paid attention to anybody on his way. He opened the glass doors, walked straight up the stairs, and didn't pay any attention to the couple of students here and there that were still walking around or even talking worriedly. Since his energy was spent, he couldn't permeate his aura to see or feel what anybody else could be feeling at the moment, so he could only walk past like any other student until he got to the third floor -second for the rooms- and went to the first door.

Again, he knocked twice, announced his name, and Yoongi opened the door. But this time, he said nothing and simply let him pass. As Garrett walked in, he gave him a little smile. The fact that he hadn't complained about making him go to sleep proved that he was thankful. But the moment he looked at the other figure sitting on the edge of the bed, his smile faltered. Hoseok was angry, and he didn't have to see his aura to know that he was.

- Hi. - Garrett tried to greet them, but Hoseok merely took a deep intake of breath and said.

- Your dad called me. -

Garrett immediately rolled his eyes and grunted. That... bitch-ass punk. Luz snitched on him.

- Yes, Aureoluz called me. And he was really worried. - Hoseok continued. But before he said anything else, Garrett chimed in.

- I thought you said I would only come here to hug you goodnight. -

But then Yoongi cut in.

- That was before your dad told us you had burned it all off. -

Garrett placed his hands over his face. His head was starting to hurt, and this wasn't helping in the slightest.

- I meditated just now--

- So use it for yourself. - Hoseok said as he stood up and neared him. He felt how he took his wrists and pulled them down softly so he could look him in the eyes as he said. - You know you need it more than us, we know you need it more than us, and we will not receive anything you would ever need more than us. Did I make myself clear? - Even if his tone was gentle, his words were final and his eyes were unwavering.

Garrett was on the brink of tears. His jaw went tight as he blinked and looked away. He hadn't been able to do anything right today, had he?

Then he remembered with a jolt and looked back at Hoseok.

- I went to the woods just now. -

- The blessed one? - Yoongi asked from where he sat on the other bed.

- Yes. -

- You took your time, didn't you? - Hoseok smiled at him, trying to ease the tension from before. - We went there on our first night here. -

- Yes, but... - ...should he tell them? Garrett thought about it for a second, but his tired aching mind couldn't think of anything else. - I met the spirit guarding the white pavilion. -

They froze over so thoroughly that even the air stopped around them.

Until Yoongi stood up very slowly and asked, barely above a whisper.

- The spirit took a physical form to speak to you? - His words came out slowly, his eyes looking down at the floor.

Just like Hoseok's when he added,

- So that's the blessed place in the woods. Only that clearing is being protected. - Then he sighed and let go of Garrett's wrists. - No wonder we had never been able to find it. - He said as he looked at Yoongi. - We have walked the whole stretch of it as far as we could go and never got a glimpse of the white pavilion. It should be heavily guarded. -

However, when the latter lifted his head to look at Garrett, he wasn't pleased.

- And you found the spirit? ...You? ...Tonight? - Garrett nodded tentatively. - A Stranded Shadow found a spirit before I did. - He breathed out, coldly and angrily.

- Yoongs, it has nothing to do with--

- Nothing to do with what? - He snapped back at Hoseok. - I'm the one who was supposed to have a better connection to them, not him. I'm the Shadow Core, not him. -

Garrett swallowed and looked down at the floor.

Nothing, he could do nothing right, what was happening to him?

- And what, huh? - Yoongi snapped his head back at Garrett, so he looked up immediately. - What did this spirit tell you, huh? - He knew this was jealousy but... it still hurt.

- Well... nothing, really. When I asked if it could talk, it shook its head. -

- See, Yoongs? - Hoseok tried once more as he grabbed his shoulder. - You were always with your eyes closed, trying to hear them, but you couldn't have been able to hear anything if they were silent spirits, could you? -

But he merely angered him to the point where he pushed his hand back and crossed his arms over his chest.

- But anyway. - Hoseok went on and looked back at Garrett, crossing his arms over his chest as well. - Did it grant you some vital information? -

Garrett had just been about to tell them about "The Rose" and how the spirit had seen him there in that woods. But he stopped himself because he was just able to remember that he couldn't tell them, not yet, for they were too busy with everything else at the moment. He had never been told the whole plan of why it was important to find The Rose, but he knew the commotion it would make once they did would be too vast, and considering how things are right now in the capital...

He'll tell them once their people had a stronger footing in the capital, for now, he simply shrugged back at Hoseok.

- I asked if I was allowed to meditate in its woods and where I could do it, and I found a–

- That's all? - Yoongi asked him suddenly, his eyes wide with anger, his voice low and controlled only because of where they were. - What about the fucking Rose, huh? Did it cross your peanut brain, kid? Or did our one and only reason for being here completely leave your incompetent mind? -

- Yoongi. - Hoseok snapped in a sharp whisper.

And Garrett found himself completely unwilling to give them the information he had.

He was hungry, had been mistreated by his own girlfriend, he couldn't hug Luz, and now Yoongi was insulting him. He simply grimaced and nodded as he put his hands inside his coat and took a step back.

- I find it amazing how easy it is for you to forget everything I've done right with one wrong decision. - He muttered coldly. Because, even if he had indeed asked for The Rose, the fact that Yoongi had reacted this way just because he thought he hadn't, made him want to tell him shit about anything else. - Call me when you can get that massive head of yours out of your ass, alright? -

He heard Hoseok hissing something at him but he turned around to open the door. When Yoongi said,

- No, I'd rather call you when you stop being Alex's bitch. -

Garrett laughed bitterly as he pulled the door open and walked out, closing it with a bang that reverberated through the whole floor. He simply didn't care. Everything he had done for them, for Alex, for his family, he had put blood, sweat, and tears on them and what does he get in return? Worry. Every time he does more than necessary, they are worried that he's doing too much. But then, when he merely does what they need and nothing more, they get worried that something's happening with his mood or that he's sick. And then, when he does the wrong thing once, just once, and it's not even that serious or deadly, they snap at him like he was the worst kid they could've ended up with.

Kid. Eighteen years old and Yoongi still calls him a fucking kid. He's a mother-fucking man, the moon blessed him when he turned fifteen just like any other of their people, he had protected his family with teeth and claws, helped Luz with his kids so wholeheartedly that they even call him dad sometimes, Alex had already claimed him as her mate; why were a number of their people still seeing him like a fucking kid?

He opened his room door harshly and didn't care that his roommate wasn't there yet, he simply closed it again and threw himself in his bed to cry until Luz would call him at eleven.

And, in that precise second, Jungkook knocked on his own door.

As usual, as it had become, Leo was the one who opened it. He said nothing, he just looked at him, pursed his lips, nodded, and stiffly stepped aside to let him pass. Jungkook frowned at the weirdness of it but said nothing as he walked inside his room. Again, everyone was there; Jimin was sitting on the corner between his nightstand and his bed, looking sickly pale as he stared unseeingly at the floor, Tom sat on the floor between the two nightstands with his back against the wall, looking as uncaring as ever; Emily was sitting stiffly on the edge at the end of Jimin's bed, and Finn was standing, leaning back against his chest of drawers.

...the room was too tensely quiet for some reason... And then he heard Leo's low voice as he stood somewhere behind him.

- That shirt is not yours and I remember you left with your backpack. -

Jungkook froze over for a millisecond. He had completely and entirely forgotten all about his backpack.

But he mastered all the acting skills he had not to panic and instead slammed a hand over his forehead.

- I forgot it at Taehyung's apartment. - A complete and total truth.

Tom chuckled and shook his head at the floor as Leo walked beside him and sat on his bed.

- And you also left your shirt at his place? - Tom asked, still looking at the floor.

Jungkook lowered his hand and stared down at him as he put his hands in his pockets and then answered without an ounce of regret.

- If you really need to know, we went out to the city today. I thought it was just because he needed someone for the heavy things he needed to buy, but then he took advantage of the time to try to make me come to my senses about how "this is something you could be doing one day if you stop fighting so much" and shit. Accidentally, I might've caused a vase with water to tuple over and fall over me. I was able to move quickly enough that it didn't get in my pants, but my shirt was soaked through, and because I didn't have my coat and it was a very cold day, he bought me this one. - He sighed, sounding bored, still looking at Tom. - You satisfied? -

Leo made a disgusted sound as he laid down partially on the bed, leaving his feet on the floor and crossing his arms over his chest.

- Were you with that guy all day long? - He said, like he couldn't fathom spending so long with someone like Taehyung.

Jungkook tried to detach his feelings from his lies as he walked toward his chest of drawers.

- He's cool when he's not being a teacher. -

- No shit. - Tom muttered.

He took a deep breath as Finn took a step away from the drawers so he could open the second one and take out a sweater.

- Why are you grimacing at the thought of Jungkook spending time with his new friend? That's highly hypocritical of you. -

Everything and everyone froze once Emily stopped speaking.

Jungkook, sweater in his hands, turned around just to make sure it had indeed been her, the one who spoke. But when he saw Leo sitting up and looking regrettably at the floor, he knew it had.

- What do you mean, Em? - Jungkook inquired, confused and low. He thought they had spent the whole day together, but it seemed not.

Emily looked up at him from Leo's other side and then at the floor when she spoke.

- I thought Saturdays were going to be our day together. But you were with Taehyung, Leo was with Finn, and I was alone. I even got kicked out of my own room by my roommate and her boyfriend who, I still can't believe, is Garrett. -

- Wait, I didn't know that last part. Garrett kicked you out of your room? - Leo asked with a frown.

- Your roommate is Garrett's girlfriend? - Jungkook asked, just as astonished.

Emily frowned, heavily confused, at the floor.

- Y--... Yeah. My roommate's called Alex--

- Alex is a girl? - Jungkook clutched his sweater to his chest with a gasp and Leo looked up at him.

- I also thought it was a guy. Didn't he say he would be spending today with "Alex"? -

- Yes, from the beginning I thought his girlfriend and Alex were two different people. He said Alex was his best friend. -

- Oh, how cool, his best friend is his girlfriend. - Leo mused.

- You know what's even cooler? - Tom asked with an audible fake bright smile. - How you two completely ignored the whole point Emily was trying to make. As cool as ice, boys. Congratulations. -

They both looked back at her and saw how she was indeed looking disappointedly at the floor.

Jungkook felt guilty at that and left his sweater over his dresser to walk towards her and kneel before her to hold her knee so she would look at him as he asked gently.

- Will you forgive me for leaving if I told you that I wanted to take advantage of the fact that Taehyung said he would pay for anything I wanted? -

Emily almost smiled. Almost.

- Ok, then... Will you forgive me for leaving if I said that I made that vase fall on me on purpose just so he would stop talking? -

The corner of her mouth lifted a little bit, but she was still looking away, so he tried again.

- Fine then... Will you forgive me for leaving if I said that... I really needed to hug you when we saw what was happening on the news? -

She looked at him, her eyes soft yet her mouth sad. And she nodded at last.

He placed his temple over the back of his hand, looked up at her, and smiled sweetly. She giggled and ruffled his hair. Then he placed his chin where his temple was and asked her.

- Could you tell me what happened today? Because, I know Leo could be a hypocrite sometimes, but I never heard it coming from you. -

- Hey. -

- Silence, Leo. - Jungkook called back before returning his attention to her. - Well? -

She took a deep breath and spoke only to him, even if the room at large could hear her.

- Well, I left and I went to study for a while. Leaving first had been my fault, I know. But then I went to lunch and Leo came with Finn, and it would've been all fine if it hadn't been because they looked out of breath and... and something wrong was happening to Leo's leg, and I asked him about it but he lied to me. -

- I didn't. Em... - Leo tried to speak again, but Jungkook stopped him, shaking his head.

- Let us hear her side, then we'll hear yours. - And he went back to her. - Go on. Why do you think he was lying to you? -

- Come on, he can't lie. - Emily said with a frown. - It was obvious that he was trying to lie, saying how he fell. If he had really fallen, he would've told the story as if he had been in a near-death experience with too many details, reenactments, and explosion sounds. Every time he lies, he says the bare minimum. -

Jungkook pursed his lips, opened his eyes wide, and nodded. She was indeed very observant, not even he had seen that pattern, and he was supposed to be the master liar.

- Ok then... So, he lied about falling. What else? -

- He... - Emily stopped herself, but then averted her eyes and continued. - Finn knew what happened and I didn't. -

Ok, this jealousy would've been cute, if it wasn't because... it simply wasn't. Jungkook had never heard of Leo keeping things from her and telling them instead to someone outside their group. Even inside the group, Leo wouldn't tell Jungkook something Emily didn't know.

Jungkook turned around slightly so he could look at Leo who sat looking down at the floor with a heavy frown on his forehead. Jungkook asked.

- How do you plea? -

But he wasn't the one who answered.

- My client is innocent, your honor. - Finn said as he leaned back on his chest of drawers, behind Leo, and grinned at him.

Jungkook grinned back at him.

- Do you have evidence to prove your statement? -

- We do indeed have evidence. -

Leo frowned and looked at him. Finn looked down at him and answered the room at large as he stared at Leo.

- I can prove his innocence right there, right now, only if my client is willing to show said evidence. -

- What evidence? - Leo asked him in a carrying whisper.

- The one on the right side of your midriff. -

Leo seemed to freeze for a moment. Everyone did. If they were talking about his leg and they were suddenly talking about some evidence marked on his skin then it means that he had been truly attacked or something.

Finn went on, looking up again at Jungkook.

- You see. What happened this morning was something we both didn't want anybody to know about, so that's why Leo merely told Emily that he fell instead of telling her a story that would most likely frighten her. We would still like to keep it to ourselves if knowing this would be enough for Emily. Emily, I'm sorry you felt left out, but this wasn't something we wanted you to be a part of, I hope you'd understand and I hope you could forgive us. -

Jungkook looked up at her. She was so worried now; worried, guilt-ridden, frowning in confusion at Leo and looking up at Finn with intense regret.

- I forgive you. I'm so sorry I thought you--... I'm so sorry. Leon... - She stood up and walked past Jungkook to sit down beside Leo and hold his face gently. - Leon, what happened? Were you hurt? Where did they hurt you? - Her worried-filled eyes darted down to look at his abdomen and then up at him again.

Jungkook stood up and walked towards them so he could be standing and looking down at Leo too. Someone had hurt his brother and he hadn't been here.

Leo was just frowning as if he never wanted this to happen and also... quiet. He was simply silent. Had it been that bad? He really hadn't said a thing about it. And he kept on being silent as he took her hands away from his face and grabbed the edge of his shirt to lift it and show the right side of his abdomen and OH MY–

- What the–!... - Jungkook exclaimed as Emily gasped and clasped both hands over her mouth.

- Shit... - Leo hissed as he looked down, like he hadn't seen it before. Finn jumped forward to be right next to Jungkook as he looked down at it with a murderous frown. And Tom hastily got up from where he was to run next to Jungkook.

- Oh... brother, that's nasty. What the fuck happened to you? - Tom exclaimed once he was looking at it.

For there, right where the hip muscle meets the muscle on his waist, there was a purple bruise that stretched painfully like lightning lines until his abs started, and then the color turned from a deep purple into a greenish tint that then died down in yellow tones. The bruise was too awful, too dark, and if it had been a couple of fingers up, Jungkook would've thought he had actually broken a rib. And the worst part was that, even if he had indeed broken something, a bruise like this one would've appeared the next day.

And a bruise like this... bruises don't look like lightning lines that start from one specific point in specific.

It was as if someone had attacked him with an electrifying stick or something.

- Didn't you feel this throughout the afternoon? - Finn asked with a grimace and Leo looked up.

- I did, it hurt like a bitch, but I never thought it would look this bad. I also took a nap this afternoon. - He suddenly said as he snapped his head back at Emily. - So that's also why I didn't see your messages, we had dinner at like eight or something. I'm sorry. -

Emily's hands shook as she took them away from her mouth.

- That's ok. That's completely fine. Just... I think it's better if we go to the hospital wing, it's not normal--

- Nooo, I don't need it--

- Yes, you do. It's not normal for a bruise to look like that, it looks as if you broke something. Let's go. -

- But I'm very tired. - Leo sulked.

- Let's go, Leo. Right now. - She said, resolutely, as she stood up and stretched a hand for him to take.

He looked at the hand and up at her, still sulking like a child. Then he looked at Jungkook for backup, but he merely shook his head at his friend.

- Not even I've had a bruise like that. You should go. - He said as he crossed his arms over his chest. As he did so, he brushed elbows with Tom, so he took a tiny step away.

- Ugh.. - Leo grimaced. But he stood up and took her hand, letting his shirt cover the bruise once more.

However, the moment he stood up and Jungkook saw him straightening with difficulty, he gasped.

- Did you fight with Garrett? - Leo, Emily, and Finn, snapped their heads at him. But then Emily snapped her head at Leo.

- Did you? -

- What? No. I never even saw him today. - Leo answered with a confused frown. - Ok, no, I did see him today, but we never fought, this wasn't even because of--... You know what? Let's go, Em. -

Jungkook didn't even apologize for the confusion. It was just that, when he heard Leo hissing, it reminded him of Garrett and how he had looked in pain in the woods.

Had he fought as well? But Emily told them she had to get out of her room for him and his girlfriend to have some privacy. Was the fight before or after being with his girlfriend?

...he said he was going to meditate just now, didn't he? Will he be alright? How will he be tomorrow? Will he really make a ritual in the woods tomorrow? Will it really do anything?

Was Jungkook seriously thinking of looking for him tomorrow to see if he can actually do magic?

...maybe.

- Alright then, let me just... - Emily's voice trailed away as she softly let go of his hand to turn fully towards Jungkook and hold his face. He simply looked at her without knowing what to do or say and heard her when she started. - Will you... forgive me...? For what happened this morning? And for... for all the times before that I... that I had no idea about? -

His arms slowly unfolded as he looked down at her. He still felt so guilty for having thrown that bomb this morning all of a sudden.

- You–... - But he couldn't say that she had nothing to apologize for either. - ...I forgive you. - She smiled sweetly up at him and jumped to her toes so she could hug him around his neck, and he hugged her around her waist. - Just... be more present, alright? And I promise I'll do the same in return. - She hugged him tighter and leaned her head back just enough to kiss him on his cheek, he returned the sweet gesture and rubbed his hand up and down her back for a moment before letting her go. - Go. That bruise worried me. - He said softly. She chuckled a bit as she let go of him and took Leo's hand again.

- Off we go then. - She said with a little smile that turned tense as she walked straight to the door with Leo behind her and Finn trailing after them. - Goodnight, Jimin. - Not even her cute farewell could take a reaction out of him. He hadn't even moved, he was barely even present, and he wasn't going to change that even if the three of them left and closed the door.

But, as Jungkook looked at him and heard the muffled voices of his friends walking away, he saw a tear sliding down his pale cheek.

Jungkook frowned in worry, and instead of turning to Tom, he went straight toward his roommate and knelt in front of him. His eyes looked dead inside, vacant yet filled with pain, and they looked right through him. But still, he tried in a soft voice.

- Jimin... -

Jimin had a tough time refocusing his stare, then he blinked, and looked at Jungkook's eyes. So much pain, there was too much pain in those eyes.

- I'm sorry for what happened this morning. - He said delicately, but Jimin didn't react. - I thought... that maybe... we could become close friends so that I can be there whenever you need me. I really want to be there for you. - There, he had said just the words he had been longing to hear in his own darkest hour.

But Jimin... blinked... and then slowly started frowning before asking,

- Why? -

That was the clearest he had ever heard him speak, and the worst part was that he didn't say it in a way that could come off as untrusting. No, he had asked that with genuine confusion, as if he simply couldn't imagine why anybody would want to be his friend.

Jungkook sighed greatly, and he knew Tom was standing beside them, but still, he said with honesty.

- Because a flower can't bloom on its own. -

Jimin's frown went away faster than it had come, but his eyebrows pulled up in the middle as the tears intensified and his eyes darted downwards as he clutched his hands into his chest. As if it physically hurt him deep inside.

Jungkook swallowed down the obstruction in his throat and slowly sat down beside him. He put one arm around his shoulders, the other around his arms clutched close to his chest, and hugged him ever so gently. Little by little, as he sobbed silently, Jimin leaned into him and rested his head over his shoulder.

And Tom sat down parallel to them with his back against the side of Jungkook's bed, and simply looked at them like two people he most wanted to protect. However, after what happened that same morning, Jungkook can't help but think that this protection looked very possessive.

Garrett was in his bathroom drying his face with a towel after washing it with cold water.

He left the towel aside and looked at himself in the mirror just to--... just to--...

Tears nearly spilled over once more at the sight of that bite mark on his neck. It was barely hidden under the collar of his shirt and although the blood had stopped, the indentations were still dark red. Around the bite, the red skin had started to turn purple in some places, and the only reason why no one had been able to see it was because of his coat. The collar of it went up against the neck, so any mark had been hidden.

But he was able to see it now, and he... He was hurt.

It was only after talking to Luz back at home and crying and arguing with him that he was finally strong enough to tell her that she should stop doing that because "it does nothing but pain". She had been offended, of course; angry, sad, she blamed it on him again, but after hours of fighting with each other, she finally agreed on taking it easy on him, and she had even said that, if Garrett felt a change in his Lover Core, then he should be the one biting her so the mating would be finally official.

He thought she had promised him, he thought she had understood, then why could he barely move without wincing? Why could he feel the skin on the side of his neck burning hot with pain?

"She doesn't care, Garrett. That's it."

Garrett held himself with his hands on the edge of the sink and hung his head. There had been a lot of times in the past three years where he had seriously debated whether or not to keep things with Alex going, but he always gets to the same conclusions: She's still figuring out her higher self, and she will be free from that burning anger once she understands how to meditate, she needs a Healer Core by her side otherwise she would burn to pieces, she can be sweet and gentle and when she is she's one of the loveliest girls while also being a fighter, he will never be able to handle her family's reaction if he cut things off, if there hasn't been a mating bond after three years and he cuts things off, people would have a go at Aureoluz, thinking that he had influenced him terribly because, for them, he's his father, when in reality...

In reality... why was he protecting Alex? In reality... what was his reality? Reality is the real world, reality is what's real, what's true... What is his truth?

Well, in reality, whenever he's angry at Alex and he tries to find reasons to stay, the first thing that pops into his mind is the first thing he shoves and hides deep into his brain. Because the reality of him is that... maybe, perhaps, in some part of him he thinks that... he doesn't want to be with her.

Reality, reality, Garrett. That up there had not been the reality. Yes, maybe in some part of him he doesn't want to be with her, but why? That's the reality he mostly tries to hide. Why that part of him doesn't want to be with her, why he feels guilty for even thinking about it, why he locks the door shut whenever he's with Luz...

And because everyone sees them as father and son, they should indeed keep the door locked, even in front of Luz's real sons. Because that's... that could be a little bit more than favoritism. So they lock themselves and talk in whispers, but Garrett knows that's just because Luz is simply that way. He's simply a lovely person like that and always has been according to Acrasia (mother of the first pair of Luz's twins), so Garrett knows he's only being like that to him because he has no one else to be like that with; because everyone simply judges him now. Because it is fine to be flower picking when you're young, but when you're his age and powerful enough to keep looking that young, he had been heavily expected to have settled down by now. Everyone respects him for his titles and works and defending and fighting, but as a Lover Core, they only see him as a bad example. Luz has never mated and has four children with two different women.

So he lets him be gentle with him like that, not because of pity like he thinks he does, but because–...

He should stop his thoughts right there. There's simply no good reason to keep thinking about that when he's so far from home now and living mostly with Alex. He should be focusing on Alex. He should be focusing on tomorrow and which ritual to do to give back to the spirit of the woods, he should--

His phone began to ring.

Rapidly, he went back to his room -which was still empty- and took his phone to find out that it was the man himself.

- Hi, Luz. - Garrett answered, a bit timidly because of what he had been thinking just now.

And he heard such a deep sigh of relief from the other side that it reminded him of when Warriors place bags of hot water over their aching muscles.

- Hi, Garrett. -

He smiled at the relief in his voice but also frowned. Why was he relieved like that? You would think he had been expecting him to be unable to pick up the phone.

- Ok, two things. First, why do you sound so relieved? and second... you told them. - As he finished, he gently sat down on the edge of his bed.

There came a guilty silence from the other side, only the wind and some birds chirping about could be heard. Until Luz let out a breath at last.

- I'm sorry... but I'm not sorry either. I needed them to know, needed them to stop you from giving away the energy you needed the most. I know it's hard to attract good energy in a place so filled with people, so I knew you would also be draining yourself out as you try to meditate. I'm sure, in the end, you had to pocket that bit of energy you gained only because you wanted them to have it, and I couldn't let that happen to you. -

Garrett placed his elbows on his knees and looked down with a stony face.

- Do you think I'm not strong enough to get good energy in this place? -

- I'm saying that I wasn't strong enough when I was your age and I'm merely taking myself as an example, but if you're telling me that you were able to do it, baby please teach me how to, because I still struggle with that. -

Just like Luz wanted, Garrett burst into laughter. He had to tilt his head back and look at the ceiling to stop himself, then he sighed and went back to being focused on their conversation. Though he really appreciated the good laugh he just gave him.

- No, it wasn't hard for me to meditate. But before I tell you how I did it, you tell me why you haven't answered my first question. -

In the silence, he heard leaves crunching as Luz paced around, maybe he was walking into the woods behind the house or maybe he was walking right on the tree line, either way, Garrett knew the thumb of his unoccupied hand was hooked in the pocket of his pants as he walked slowly.

Once the answer came, his voice was even softer.

- I miss you. -

Garrett had to place a fist over his mouth to bite his knuckles at the sudden pain these words brought.

He had sounded as if he was shrugging, like he was trying to downplay it, and Garrett had always found it so heartbreakingly adorable whenever this ripped and "merciless" Warrior Core acted nervously. But his words had indeed hurt.

- I miss you too. - Garrett said back, just as softly. He hadn't let himself think about it because he knew it would hurt. But now that he did, the corners of his mouth turned downwards.

- Ok, then, let's think of something else so we can get distracted. - Luz thought out loud, his voice forced back to normal.

Garrett took in a deep voice and pushed his feelings right back so he could change the subject.

- I went to the woods today. That's where I meditated. -

- Wait... - Luz stopped his pacing. - The blessed one? The one in Evanthe. -

- Yes, that one. -

- Damn, not even I have gone there. Is it pretty? Or are the trees covered in graffitis, cause if they are, I will kill--

- No, no, they're clean. - Garrett stopped him with a chuckle. - It actually felt like not a lot of students walked in there, there weren't even trails that would go as far as the trees do, and there weren't even light posts marking the trails that were inside the tree line. It's like they barely even wanted to make those trails and people barely walk them. So just now it was... nearly deserted. -

- Wait, I caught that. - Garrett chuckled again. - What do you mean nearly? Who else was in there? -

- Well, it wasn't a someone, it was simply just... maybe... perhaps... -

- Garrett... - He whined.

- I talked to the spirit of the White Pavilion. - Garrett said with a little smile, but still bracing himself for any impact.

There was a moment of silence. Until there wasn't.

- What!? - Garrett jolted at his excitement. - Wait, wait, wait, oh man, you didn't, nononononono... - Luz chuckled hysterically. But then gasped. - Oh, no... how did Yoongi take it? -

Garrett hissed.

- Well... he called me an incompetent Stranded Shadow peanut brain, I called him a big-headed prick, and he finished it by calling me Alex's bitch. - Nice summary. He shrugged, trying to make it less of a big deal so it wouldn't hurt him as much. But then...

- ...he called you what? -

Garrett's spine locked up at his threatening voice.

- Forget about it, it'll be fine in the morning. He's just stressed out and I'm tired and--

- Garrett, please tell me you're not making up excuses to accept insults. - ...he stayed quiet. - I knew he would take it badly but I never thought he would actually have a go at you when you never did anything wrong. His insults were unjustifiable and completely out of pocket when you were in that woods in the first place to get energy for them. He acted rudely and was highly ungrateful for everything you've done and you should never have to put up with any of his bullshit just because "he's stressed". You hear me? -

- ...yes... -

- Good. Now, tomorrow don't you even try to apologize first. And if you do, I'll slap you in the back of the hand. -

Garrett chuckled at last.

- Oh, no, anything but that. - He said, sarcastically.

- Oh yeah. Beware, boy. -

Garrett chuckled harder this time. And heard him laughing softly as he continued with his pacing.

He's a very good father, even if he doesn't believe it himself. His children love him deeply, the only problem is that he judges himself as much as other people do.

Garrett sighed.

- Are there people still looking for The Rose somewhere that isn't Evanthe? -

Luz took a deep breath.

- Yeah... just in case, you know? Cause he never called me when he said he would, so we don't know if he was killed before he said he would die or if he's still alive... Anything could've happened to him. But I'm sure he will be there in Evanthe soon enough if he's not there already. I know Yoongi feels just as impatient as all the others because this is his last year and they haven't found anybody that could be him. And I'm... I'm really worried that The Rose's initial plan had derailed a little because of all this heavy fighting. - His voice had turned soft with sadness.

- You believe his plan was way better than Aloisia's? - He knew Aloisia's better than he did The Rose's, so any moment he could take advantage to get information out of him, he took it.

- Hell yeah. That boy never got it wrong. - He chuckled a little. - And even Aloisia says it. The main reason why we need to find him is so he could keep guiding us. He never told us a lot of important shit, we're driving blind over here. -

Wait a minute...

- But... will he be able to remember what you don't know? -

- No, not remember. I've explained this to you, I think. There's a difference between the mind and the soul, his mind won't be able to remember his past life, but his soul will. We need to find him and teach him how to connect with his soul, only then will he be able to remember what we need to know. -

- Wait... I didn't know you-- Wait. - Garrett shook his head and stood up tensely as he frowned. - You've actually never told me this, Luz. - The other side got silent as well. - You all merely pushed me aside on this, only Hoseok and Yoongi were allowed to know why we needed to find The Rose, I thought he was just a very important person we needed to get back, I never knew why--... Luz. - He was panicking now.

- What? What is it, Garrett? - Because he heard the tension in his voice, he heard his sigh, he knew he was panicking.

And Garrett had to tell him. Because this wasn't about feelings and memories anymore, this was about the future and how important this person was to the whole plan.

Garrett placed his other hand against his forehead and closed his eyes shut.

- Ok, I didn't tell Hoseok or Yoongi this because I knew they already had too much to worry about and it's because I lied to them that Yoongi snapped at me. Not because I lied, but because he believed what I said was true and it wasn't a nice truth, it was just one of those--

- Garrett, what is it? - He asked again, sharper, tensed, frozen on the spot.

- Ok... I talked to the spirit and... I asked if it had seen a guy first-year student with a golden aura and stuff, and... it... nodded... -

- It... nodded. -

- Yes, it nodded. -

- ...like... saying "yes". -

- Yeah. -

- ...are you sure it wasn't a Greek spirit? 'Cause in Greece they nod to say no--

- It was a yes. I know it was a yes. - He said rapidly.

- ...huh... -

Silence. Garrett frowned and refused to make another sound. He was actually afraid of what Luz's true reaction might be once it hit him. Not because he was afraid of him just... he was afraid for him. Because, of course... The Rose had been as close as family to him, so... this might be personal--

- IT SAID YES!?!?!? -

Garrett jumped and nearly dropped his phone.

Now it hit him.

- OH MY--... It said yes... It said... It said yes, It... The Rose... He's in Evanthe... He's in... He's in Evanthe... The Rose is in Evanthe, his soul is in Evanthe right this instant...And he--...He's your age? How can that be? You're eighteen... -

- I don't know, I just said "first-year" and it nodded, but it--

- He's a first-year student, oh my god, oh my god, oh my god... - He was nearly hyperventilating at the other side. And at once, it sounded like he was running as he kept on panicking. - He's in his first year... He just got there a week ago, that's why--... that's why Hoseok and Yoongi haven't--... Almighty motherfucker, he died three years later than he promised us. Mother...fucking...piece of...shit-- Ow, shit, shit, I fell... Hey! Hey! Open the door! I need to talk to Aloisia! - He waited as he panted. - Thanks... - He said rapidly to the guard at the gate and ran inside towards the main door.

- ...should I... leave you to it? -

- Absolutely fucking not! - Luz answered him, still yelling. - The spirit chose to communicate with you, so you were the one meant to find these bitch-ass punk! Ally...! wait... let me... put him on speaker so he can... oh shit, I'm out of breath... -

Garrett has no idea what's more concerning, that he was about to speak to the leader of their clan, or that Luz had just said he was out of breath.

- There... You're on speaker, Garrett. - Luz announced him.

He swallowed and straightened his shirt even though they couldn't see him.

- ...Hello? -

What a weak-ass greeting to his superior. He shook his head.

- Hello, Garrett. This is Aloisia. - She emanated power even with her calm voice. - We were just having some last-minute discussions about tomorrow's strategies, do you have anything important to add? -

Alright, this was indeed intimidating as hell. This means the heads of each Core were present on the other side of the phone and they would all hear him.

He swallowed again.

- Well, I–

- He found The Rose. - Luz immediately chimed in, as if he couldn't restrain himself any longer.

Loud gasps came from the other side. And Luz whispered on the phone only for Garrett to hear.

- I'm sorry. - For not being able to contain his excitement.

Garrett rolled his eyes with a faint grin. But then Aloisia spoke again, with a much more serious voice.

- If that is true Garrett, we need him to tell us the current date and time so we can make sure it is him. -

But Garrett grimaced.

- I... still haven't found him yet. What happened was that I went to the woods and met the spirit of the white pavilion who, after a couple of questions, told me that a person with an aura of the same characteristics we have always heard about, had been seen in that same woods. I asked a bit more and in conclusion, this person had merely just begun his first-year last week, just like me. -

He finished and silently took in a deep breath as he heard them muttering to each other.

- He died a couple of years later than expected if he's just a first-year student now. -

- That could only mean that he needed more time to do something very important. -

- Or someone found him and locked him up, preventing him from dying when he said he would be. -

- The reasons don't matter right now. - Aloisia stopped them in a composed voice. - Once we have him, we can ask him everything in person. Garrett. -

- Yes, ma'am. -

- Make sure to tell this to Hoseok and Yoongi as well as your mate Alex, we need all eyes looking for this person. Understand the importance of this mission, Garrett. For we have started the fight right when he said we should, but without him, we might lose more than we need to gain. This is not about the Clan anymore, this is about the world. Find The Rose, Garrett. -

Instinctively, he stood in his warrior stands, placed a fist to his heart, and said fiercely.

- Yes, ma'am. -

- When you find him, call Aureoluz. -

- Yes, I will. -

- Go then. -

________________________________________________________________________________

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