The resident librarian is about to close up when he notices the light of a reading lamp flickering in the reference room. A flutter of wings later and Jimin is gently tucking an unruly strand of hair behind the sleeping witch's ear. "Taehyung?" he whispers.

The squeak of bones cracking echo in the quiet halls as Taehyung jolts awake.

"How can a body as young as yours make the sounds of three millennia-old mummies?" Jimin teases.

"How do you know what three millennia-old mummies sound like?" Taehyung retorts, voice slothful.

"You don't know what I keep in my archives."

The tone is playful but Taehyung still shivers. "Do I want to know?"

"As a matter of fact, you don't."

More chills. "You have successfully convinced me to not spend the night alone in this haunted Athenaeum."

"I would have forced you out otherwise. You need to rest if your time here doing research is to be fruitful."

The whine that ensues indicates Taehyung is nowhere closer to finding more information about the unfortunate hex than he was in the morning, when he first set out to discover a counter spell. Or an elixir. Or anything that would make those horrible pustules go away.

If only he had access to a wand reader! Alas, he's been out of touch with the wizarding world and wouldn't know how to locate one, nor whom to ask for counsel. Besides, he is convinced his reputation as the gift thief has likely closed all those helpful doors a long time ago.

He also desperately needs to master his obliviating enchantment, but hasn't had the leisure to practise yet.

The threat of a High Court summons has the Secret Sevens on their toes, but Taehyung being the only witch on their team, providing assistance in regards to spell casts is beyond everyone's expertise. Which explains why Taehyung spends his time alone in SSB's library, dusting off old spell books and scrolls of ancestral witchcraftery in the hopes of finding anything out about the formula he used by chance.

Gathering his notes, he points at the pile of musty manuscripts. "When are you going to get those digitalized by the way? I swear my lungs are now filled with ancient mildew which, I'm positive, will shorten my lifespan by a decade or so."

"These old books haven't killed anyone yet," Jimin giggles.

"Well, they haven't proven very helpful in saving my ass either."

"We're all working overtime to try and resolve this crisis. I'm sure when we meet with the others tomorrow, we'll have made some progress."

Taehyung doesn't have it in him to bring up the fact that Jungkook has been MIA since they returned from the Bureau in the early hours of the morning. He does, however, feel like a fool for letting himself be duped by the vampire's sudden interest in his cause. Jungkook probably has his own agenda. Always had. The man answers to no one but Yoongi. Occasionally. Even Namjoon must periodically explain to him who is in charge. Yet the warnings have little impact on the overall freelancing approach Jungkook maintains toward his position of employment within the Brigade.

"You know I can tell when something's on your mind," Jimin reminds him.

"I'm just sorry for giving you extra work. And at this hour no less."

"Don't worry about the books. They can spend the night on the cart."

"Thank you, Jimin. I feel very lucky to have you."

The doors to the library are locked shut when Jimin speaks again. "He hasn't given up, you know."

"What? Who?"

"You talk in your sleep. Were you not aware of that?"

"I-I was not," Taehyung stutters, face heating up at the thought of the possible disclosures he might have given away in his slumber.

"Well, now you are. And now I also know what you truly think of him."

"Whomst are we talking about?"

Jimin gives him the are-you-for-real look before crossing his arms and bluntly stating, "Mr. Mighty Fangs. Who else?"

Taehyung is presently left with the task to reconcile the facts that 1. he mentions Jungkook while he sleeps, and that 2. said vampire has not, according to Jimin, given up on — what exactly?

"He was here earlier this evening. Searched someone up in the printed directories. And then vanished. But not before checking up on you, of course." The tone is neutral, yet Jimin's smirk says it all.

"Are you even allowed to disclose what people do in the library? I'm pretty sure this infringes on some privacy rights or whatnot."

"You heard nothing from me," Jimin lips before fluttering away in a train of glitter.

A goodnight growl will do, Taehyung reckons as he heads back to his room, uncertain how he is ever going to be able to find any rest tonight, mind racing to make sense of Jimin's implications. "I also know what I truly think of him! A useless bloodsucker with spite on his tongue. And no manners. Always arriving early. What a show-off. I bet he only got shot just so he could brag about it to his vampire friends. I-survived-a-Helsing-bullet-wound blablabla-AAAH!"

The witch practically jumps out of his skin as a shroud of darkness suddenly submerges the corridor. Next thing he knows, Jungkook is standing in front of him, looking slightly amused. "Not only do you talk in your sleep, you also talk by yourself. Lonely much?"

Taehyung has nothing to retort so he asks instead, "what are you doing here at this hour?"

Jungkook is watching the glitter Jimin has carelessly left behind floating about in the air. "He sheds."

"Fairies tend to do that, didn't you know?"

A scoff. "Of course I did."

He did not. With a little probing, Taehyung could easily knock his confident stance down and mock his ignorance, but he doesn't for he finds he does not want to. His voice is soft when he asks, "what else do you wish to know about Jimin?"

Jungkook understands Taehyung sees right through him. He also becomes aware of the fact that he does not mind. If pretences are obsolete, then perhaps he can just be himself. Looking down, he utters the one question that had bugged him for a while now but hadn't dared verbalize for fear of being shunned for his shortcomings when it came to his own colleagues. "How is it that he got to keep his wings when Hoseok had to have them removed?"

Something is wrong with Jungkook's voice. It takes Taehyung a few seconds to put his finger on the anomaly: lack of sarcasm. "Fairy wings are invisible to those who do not know to look for them, whereas angel feathers are apparent to all, believers and sceptics alike," Taehyung informs him. Pitch neutral, mirroring the vampire's almost humble enunciation.

Letting his guard down is probably not the best idea, but watching Jungkook react with a smile that seems borderline shy — another incongruity the witch is currently too tired to address — gives him hope for less venomous interactions in the future.

Taehyung is about to bid him goodnight when he remembers Jimin's words. "I haven't seen you all day. Where have you been?"

The only answer he is granted comes in the shape of his missing wand, which Jungkook hands him gracefully. "Yours I believe?"

"Oh. Thank you." It takes a moment for Taehyung to realize what just transpired. "How did you manage to retrieve this?"

It is quite obvious Jungkook appreciates the attention he gets from Taehyung. Or maybe it is the sparkles in the witch's eyes which reflect both gratitude and wonderment. Either way, he decides he would like to see more of such sparks. "Did you know that those purple blisters you conjured burn like hell when you pop them?"

The words remind Taehyung of his massive blunder which he has yet to fix. The sparkles in his gaze all but vanish. "How is that piece of information of any use to me when I need to find a bloody remedy for those freaking festers?"

Jungkook misses the sparkles. He wants them back. But how is he supposed to summon them that when they've just obviously retrogressed to banter? His chest puffs up. "Well, utilize your brains for once, Morticia dearest. It only took a few pops before the schmuck begged for mercy."

"You tortured him?"

"Don't put it like that. Must I remind you that the guy killed me first?"

Jungkook sounds bratty now, which Taehyung doesn't find as annoying as he probably should. "Right. I'm sorry."

"Stop."

"What?"

"Stop apologizing. Stop putting yourself down. Stop — doubting yourself." Jungkook believes he's a broken record by now.

Taehyung, as expected, objects, bringing attention to the fact that he doesn't have any formal training, which makes him, by definition, a fraud. But the vampire has seen his fair share of fakes, and the witch is not one of them.

"We'll just have to agree to disagree then." Taehyung believes they're done here, yet Jungkook does not move, eyes anchored deep in the other's tired orbs. What does he want? More praise? "I appreciate what you did," Taehyung tries, "but I suggest you get back to your coffin and lie down for a bit — or whatever your lot does to rest — because you look like you could use some."

"I found someone."

Where does that come from? Confused and slightly upset by the unwarranted information, Taehyung shrugs. "You did? Good for you I guess."

"No. I mean, I found someone that could help you."

"You found a witch?"

"Not quite," a voice replies in the dark.

But not just any voice. One that belongs in locked up memories. And it sounds awfully near and loud for a figment of the past.

When Taehyung's eyes confirm Taehee is standing right there, in the unlit hallway, the man is torn between his desire to hug her because he missed her dearly, and the more pressing urge to curse the vampire for what business did he have mingling with his family?

"Sis, what are you doing here?"

"Nice to see you too, brother. I'm here because that boyfriend of yours had some very sharp and pointy arguments that made it impossible for me to resist."

"Boyfr-? What? Jungkook, what did you do?"

"I did not have to do much. The moment she heard you were in trouble, she practically begged me to take her to you."

"I certainly did not beg, you overgrown bat."

"Charming. I can tell you two share similar family traits," Jungkook notes, unimpressed by the insult he finds rather cute.

"Speaking of which," Taehyung interrupts, "what made you think you had any right to bring her here?"

"Taehyung, darling, it's been centuries since I lost interest in what rights I have and have not."

"You have crossed a line, Jeon Jungkook."

"And what line would that be, Kim Taehyung?"

"I should never have trusted you with my story. You have yet again made a fool out of me for believing I could rely on you at all!"

"And how exactly did I betray your trust? Now, tell me. Because from where I stand, your sister knows all about the skeletons you keep locked up in that figural closet of yours. So what seal of secrecy do you assume I have broken?"

Taehyung's retort is cut short by Taehee's exasperated shriek. "Oh for Morgan's sake, won't you two just KISS already!"

"What?" Both men look at her as if she's gone mad.

"There's only so much sexual tension I can take," she adds, arms crossed over her chest.

"Sis, what are you on about? We hate each other's guts."

"Right. That explains why you were staring at each other's lips, of all things."

Is that what they were doing?

"I could stare at the mole on his nose, would that help dissipate whatever is in the air?" Jungkook suggests with a shrug.

"I could focus on the one under his bottom lip, would that work for you?" Taehyung promptly adds.

"UGH. I really hate to feed the stereotype, but you guys are so clueless it's just sad at this point. Anyway, I'm not here to fix your miserable love lives. I'm here to read your wand, brother."

—

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