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    Yoongi's words echoed in Jungkook's head endlessly for the remainder of the night; ever-expanding ringlets in his ocean of thought.

You are Taehyung's whole world

His cheeks pinkened at the notion, and now every time he looked at Tae his mind raced with a newfound intensity.

Don't let him slip away

Time raced by almost faster than Jungkook could keep up, and slowly the crowds began to thin as those with kids or an early morning job filtered back to their homes. Jungkook's hair stuck to his forehead, and his feet and back throbbed from dancing over hard stone for so long. Everywhere he looked, he was met with the flushed faces of his friends. Taehyung's hands found their home in his a few more times, but it was always fleeting. With every glance his direction, Jungkook ached for the closeness they shared in solitude. As happy as he felt, his head was beginning to drag with the effort of keeping his social energy high.

"Hey Kookie?" Taehyung's low voice seeped warm and comforting into Jungkook's mind. The crowd had lessened to half by now, and Jungkook's dancing had turned into him swaying his hips with his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes were focused on the ground so he hadn't seen Taehyung approach. "Let's go home soon?"

His words sounded spent, and Jungkook didn't need to turn around to see the dull glaze of exhaustion clouding his eyes. He nodded, giving Taehyung's arm a little squeeze, and dragged himself away to find Namjoon. The older man was talking with Jimin and munching on what looked like a cookie, and Jungkook felt relieved when they both waved him over.

"Kook!" Jimin threw himself at Jungkook, somehow even more lively than he'd started off, and Jungkook laughed. "I've missed you," Jimin continued, pouting and fluffing up a bit of hair above Jungkook's brows.

Jungkook shook his head, earning a grumble from Jimin.

"I've seen you more tonight than I have for the past six months," Jungkook retaliated.

Jimin pursed his lips thoughtfully.

"True, but we barely even danced together," he said, adding another playful pout.

Jungkook wrinkled his nose and took a step in Namjoon's direction.

"Well," he directed at both of them, "I'm afraid I must crush your dreams by telling you that you will not be seeing me again till tomorrow. Me and Tae are gonna go after we say bye to everyone."

"Aww," Jimin whined, at the same time as Namjoon nodded.

"Be safe walking back," Namjoon pushed. His features softened immensely. "And it's been good to have you with us, Jungkook," he added, tone low and honest. Jungkook felt his heart tweak and he stepped into Namjoon's arms without hesitation, holding tight as he breathed in his smell of flour and mint and love. Oh how he'd missed this.

When he stepped back Jimin almost immediately took Namjoon's place. Jungkook hugged his best friend hard, eyes screwed shut as a number of unspoken words passed between them like lightning. When the moment ended, Jungkook pressed his lips together as he looked at his friends with all the gratefulness he could muster, praying they'd pick up on it. Just in case, right before turning to leave he looked each of them in the eyes and offered a soft spoken "thank you". They smiled, and he knew they understood.

Over the next few minutes, Jungkook went through similar rituals with all of his friends, and before long was standing at Taehyung's side again, body angled close so he could speak to him without raising his voice.

"M'tired," Taehyung murmured, head dipping a little as though he meant to place it on Jungkook's shoulder. The younger stared for a moment, wondering how it was possible for someone to look so lovely.

"I know, me too," Jungkook told him, taking one step away while holding the end of his shirt sleeve. "We can go now, though. I just have to grab a lantern on the way out."

"Okay."

Taehyung trudged along behind Jungkook, still peeking around in drowsy amazement at what was left of the town's decor. When Jungkook peeked back out of habit, a familiar face caught his eye. For a split second, his gaze met Min Yoongi's. Yoongi smiled at him kindly, but his eyes told Jungkook everything he needed to know. After a grateful bow Jungkook returned to walking, freshly burdened with the implication of that look.

Don't let him slip away.

The small, candle-lit lantern swung in Jungkook's grip when he grabbed it from where it hung on a wooden post. He hoped nobody would notice its absence. Boxy shadows stretched out in front of them as Jungkook and Taehyung stepped into the sleepy outer limits of town, headed for the path which would branch off to Jungkook's cabin. It was like stepping into a dream - muted music and laughter floated on the breeze, and the longer they walked, the softer it became. From above, the moon pasted a silver doily on every surface she touched. It would only be a couple days until full moon again, Jungkook realized - almost a month since Taehyung had found him. He snuck a glance to the moon boy and immediately felt washed with delight. What good deed had he committed in a past life to deserve Taehyung in this one?

Soon, they stepped onto the base of the sloping hill at the town center limit. Only a few houses appeared now, scattered far enough apart that the rolling hills beyond were visible for miles out. Although every star and the moon lent their light, the dark was still thick over the ground. It rolled from doorways like a great flood dousing the earth, and Jungkook cautioned Taehyung to be careful on his way up the hill.

On top, the faintest whispers of music still stretched out their feeble arms. A light breeze kissed the air and sent blades of grass into a waving dance.

"Jungkook."

Taehyung wove his fingers with Jungkook's, using their locked grips to tug him backwards a bit.

"Let's go up there." Taehyung pointed behind him, where the hill sloped up to a taller plateau. They'd been on it before, but Jungkook tilted his head. It was the opposite direction as home, but Taehyung no longer seemed tired. He rocked to the balls of his feet, drowsiness seemingly melted away.

"I thought you were tired?"

"I changed my mind."

Jungkook chuckled, then peeked at Taehyung through one half-closed eye. He paused for a moment as if thinking about the request, then tugged his hand free.

"Race you!"

Taehyung's gleeful squeal and the chilly bite of the wind chased Jungkook on his ascent to the top. His feet pounded over the uneven ground and he stumbled twice but caught his balance, not slowing down for a second. The crest of the hill loomed closer, closer -

His back met the soft grass as he tossed himself to the ground, arms and legs splayed out. His chest rose and fell dramatically, and a few seconds later Taehyung appeared, shrieking as he nearly stepped on Jungkook. He tripped on his feet in his attempt to swerve, and Jungkook's eyes widened a split second before he launched himself forward, yanking Taehyung's shoulders and head into his chest before he hit the ground.

They both landed with a startled "oof", Jungkook wincing at the uncomfortable angle. Then Taehyung tilted his chin back to look him in the eyes, and they both burst into crazed giggles. Jungkook labored into a sitting position, barely able to breathe from the combination of fatigue and laughter, and Taehyung, unable to keep himself upright, rolled around.

"Thanks- thanks for not stepping on me," Jungkook wheezed out, half as a joke and half actual thanks.

"Thank you for being my pillow," Taehyung giggled out, slowly regaining his breath with every word. The lantern, upright but a little crooked, cast a halo of stolen light a few feet wide. Beyond it the lights of town were just barely visible over the rolling land, and on all other sides the non-oppressive night danced, light enough that distant shapes could be clearly made out by a light silver lining, but dark enough to haze the corners of one's vision. After another minute of spontaneous giggling, Jungkook crawled over to where Taehyung lay curled on his side and placed himself on his back once more, arms behind his head while he gazed to the sky. He felt Taehyung shift slightly beside him, but couldn't see his face.

The silence was comfortable, but only persisted for a short while before Jungkook felt the burn of a question at the back of his throat.

"Hey Tae?"

"Mmm."

"Tell me about the moon?"

Jungkook still couldn't see, but he knew Taehyung was smiling.

"Okay, Jungkookie," came the whispered reply. In the distance, crickets sang.

"I don't think you would like it there," was the first thing Taehyung said. His voice held no disdain; just a simple truth.

Now Jungkook turned his head. Taehyung was propped up on one elbow, long legs bent in front of him. He looked at Jungkook when he moved and it was an enchanting sight: the silver boy with glitter smeared over every curve of his skin; sparkling in every tilt of his head.

"Why not?"

"It's a very cold place," explained Taehyung. "Not bad cold - not at all. More like-" He pursed his lips, searching for an analogy Jungkook would understand. "-like the cool of the fog peeking through the windows, or your first breath of fresh air after rain." He moved his head away so Jungkook turned his face back to the night sky, hands now fiddling with a piece of grass over his chest. "It is a comforting cool, and I miss it, sometimes. But you would not like it, Jungkook. You are too warm; hold too much love. The sun sleeps at night, as you would in an element not your own."

Jungkook's heart thundered in his ears.

"I was so lonely, up there, and knew not how to love or feel or be. I knew only the endless blue, and the cool embrace of the Creator. Mother. I think perhaps I was human once before, but I do not know when or where or how I came to be on the moon. Many things here on Earth are familiar, though it took me long to remember. The longer I stay the further I drift from Her, and the more I do not want to leave." He stopped talking, and the silence was heavy as it shifted to a different stage. The lantern fire flickered in anticipation.

"The longer I stay, the more I do not want to leave you." A whisper. "My Jungkook."

The thundering stopped. Heart captured in a beat which may never come, mind captured in a thought too weighty to bear, Jungkook slowly turned his head. Taehyung didn't blink as their gazes met, grey eyes unwavering in their intensity.

"My sun."

Everything came crashing down at once. Jungkook sat up, following Taehyung's lead, and then somehow- somehow- they were standing, facing each other, and Taehyung reached out to coax him slowly forward until they were closer than Jungkook thought he could bear, for with every new second his heart threatened to turn to stone in his chest. In the distance, the crickets never ceased.

"Taehyung, I-" Jungkook's voice cracked with emotion and a loss for words. He couldn't imagine a lifetime where the lovely, kind, joyous boy from the moon loved him back as ardently as he did - but now, with Taehyung before him whispering words that sounded a lot like "I love you" in disguise, he felt the river of feelings he'd kept locked up crashing through him without end.

"My Jungkook," Taehyung repeated, and his hand came up to trace a knuckle over Jungkook's cheek, where Jungkook hadn't even realized that a single tear was rolling down his skin.

"See," whispered Taehyung, not without a hint of playfulness. He lifted his other hand, and placed both lightly on either side of Jungkook's head to draw him in. "I told you you were sad."

Jungkook opened his mouth to tell Taehyung that no, these weren't sad tears - but then his eyes fluttered shut as Taehyung brought his mouth forward to press kisses so light they felt more like a gentle breeze on the soft skin beneath each of his eyes, and then one on his nose. Jungkook let out a tiny, subtle breath, waiting - but nothing more came. His lashes fluttered open, and for what felt like the hundredth time that night his breath was stolen from him. Taehyung's gentle face was so close Jungkook could feel his soft breaths, and his hands still held Jungkook's head like one cradles something precious. They gazed at each other, lost, and in Taehyung's eyes Jungkook saw the confirmation he needed. He leaned in, pausing only to soak in the awe of this moment for an instant longer, and Taehyung's lips parted slightly, his breathing stilled.

Jungkook kissed him.

It felt like his very being might melt. Taehyung's kiss was warm and soft and everything Jungkook had dreamed since he very much fell in love with him, and just maybe he'd sprouted a pair of wings because he felt like flying. He thought of the terrified boy he'd found unconscious on the forest floor, and marveled at how drastically both of their lives had changed since that fateful moment. It made him kiss Taehyung even more tenderly, and he almost wished he could speak at the same time, to whisper the words thank you thank you thank you into the moon boy's soul till they were etched there in the letters of his voice.

The moment was short but golden, shining light through cracks in the night, and Jungkook maybe stayed a tiny bit longer than he intended but really, who was he to blame?

Taehyung's eyes stayed closed even after Jungkook pulled back, and Jungkook thought he looked so beautiful it hurt. Finally they fluttered open, and Jungkook couldn't stop the smile that spread over his whole face because he felt the need to run and jump and fly, but a grin would have to suffice. Without moving away, Taehyung dropped his hands to hold the back of Jungkook's neck, and Jungkook brought his arms around Tae's waist, blinking slow just in case he might wake up to discover this was all a dream.

"Hi, Jungkookie." Taehyung breathed, eyes sparkling.

Jungkook smiled against his lips, absolutely radiating happiness. Scratch the dream theory. His mind couldn't make up with something this perfect.

He traced little hearts onto Taehyung's back through his shirt.

"Hi," he whispered back, closing his eyes to soak up Taehyung's closeness. When he blinked them open again, Taehyung pressed their foreheads together gently.

"Let's just stay here for a bit," he requested. His every touch was akin to a moth's quiet flight, and when the wind touched their necks it was a battleground in comparison.

Jungkook couldn't think of anything better if he tried.

"Okay."  

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..... 

WELCOME BACK TO ME SCREAMING AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH 

it's taken damn long enouGH 

Ok but seriously I've had the vision for this chapter in my head for aaaaaages and its not quite what I was expecting cause my writing tends to have a mind of its own, but hey! Not tooooo too shabby ;)) 

For a little clearing up: Taehyung's origins are kinda a mystery to everybody and I wanted u lovely readers to feel that mystery too, so that's why they haven't talked about it much until now. Also Jungkook literally couldn't care less if Tae came from the seventh level of h3ll cause he's a SIMP. Anygays. Tae didn't actually live on the moon like astronaut vibes lmao, he just... existed up there, and here we see that he was actually human at some point and he's lost that identity over time and space but he's beginning to remember Earth :)  While writing this I just now realized that this is sooo similar to the plot of frikken Jack Frost in the Guardians movie (an incredible movie u better watch it), except GAYER. Siiighhh. Oh well. 

I hope u guys enjoyed, and let me know of your thoughts! 

(Also ps there issss an angst tag for this story MUAHAHAAHAHAHAHA just some fun and funky fake foreshadowing heheheh) 

- Kiki <3