Jeongguk opens his eyes, and he finds himself in heaven.

Heaven—where diffused light casts over white sheets. Where the gentle morning breeze slips from the gap between the windows.

Heaven. Where an angel sleeps soundly beside him.

One with thick brows, a sculpted jaw, and a delicate beauty mark dotted over the tip of his nose.

Jeongguk certainly wasn't used to waking up to such a sight. The very one that was only normal to him a few years ago, yet now it seemed so unbelievable.

Taehyung only looked more like an angel now, with his blond tinted hair and reddened lips. The boy couldn't help drawing closer to him, so close that he could hear the male's light breathing. And for a numerous amount of minutes, Jeongguk just laid there, admiring the beauty that was Kim Taehyung.

Eventually the man gave a hefty inhale, and his eyes fluttered open, slowly. Only to find that there was a wide-eyed cute boy staring blissfully back at him.

"Good morning.." Jeongguk let out in a gentle voice, a smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

Taehyung just stares at him. Stares at Jeongguk's soft smile, while his own expression remains relatively neutral through the confusion of having just woken up. After a momentary pause and a silenced exhale past his lips, he blinks in repetition, orienting himself to the room he was in.

Jeongguk patiently waits. Waits for the alter to return his smile, or maybe gesture the words 'good morning' back to him with those large hands of his. But when Taehyung quietly sits up, head hanging low while he rubs the back of his neck, Jeongguk's eyes widen in realization.

"Oh.." He lets out in a whisper, his cheeks turning rosy. He could feel some form of embarrassment seep into him, although he wasn't sure why. Maybe it was the fact that despite the many times he had woken up naked next to his man, he had been familiar with all those alters back then.

And X, well... He's new to Jeongguk. An unfamiliar man with a familiar face and a familiar scent.

The boy hears a low hum, and his head lifts slightly to grasp a view of the man's side profile.

"What is it?" Taehyung, or rather X, finally speaks up. "Are you disappointed that I'm not Dot?"

Jeongguk bites down lightly over his own lips, unable to speak a response while slowly rising to prop himself up on his elbow.

"Or perhaps.." The older continues. "Perhaps you're embarrassed to wake up next to a stranger."

This time Jeongguk speaks up promptly. A firm voice. "You're not a stranger."

Curt silence falls between the two, and Jeongguk's gaze falters until it settles on a spot above the older's hip.

Last night had been filled with many distractions. That being, Taehyung's skin and his lips, and the passionate burning they had shared. Jeongguk's fiery moment with Dot on the couch had continued on towards the bedroom, and had ended with the two sleeping side by side in breathless satisfaction. Which means, well, there was no time for Jeongguk to notice much under dim lighting and the fact his mind was elsewhere, gone into a state of pleasure.

But now that he was here, laying beside the same man, letting the morning sun illuminate their naked skins; he could see certain spots over Taehyung's body. Ones that seemed as though faded scarring and, of course, inked tattoos—ones that Jeongguk recognized, and ones that he didn't.

Suddenly his hand slides, and he reaches his fingers to glide them across the bedsheets, a natural frown pushing between his brows.

"Those marks... They're from that incident, aren't they?" He says softly.

Taehyung—X, looks down at his own torso, lifts his arm briefly to watch a spot beside his stomach. "Ah.." He hums. "Yeah. These are from the blast from that day."

Jeongguk peeks a glance toward him.

"Does it hurt, still..?"

The older slowly shakes his head. "I can't remember how it felt.." He trails off. "Or maybe.." He pauses briefly. "I just chose to forget."

Jeongguk's gaze remain nearly glued to the marks over the male's body. Lingering stains from the night that had teared them apart. He could feel his heart plummet down to his stomach, and suddenly a wave of sharp discomfort jolted into his veins, as though a bandaid being torn alongside skin.

Taehyung takes quick note of the younger's sudden silence. Notices the way the boy looks down at his trembling fingers while he smoothed them down the silk bedsheets. There, at a point where the sunlight settled in a round shape, breathing a spotlight to the boy's pale skin.

Following the silence that had persisted, X clears his throat. With his head fixated low, he reaches to rub behind his own neck again.

"Don't worry." His firm deep voice penetrates the disquieted atmosphere. "He's not gone, you know."

The older watches Jeongguk's fingers come to a halt.

"Dot, I mean." The alter continues. "I can still feel his presence in my mind. Even now."

Jeongguk slowly lifts his head, his attention peaked.

"How did you know I was worried about that?"

A shrug.

"I just know."

With that, silence follows them once again. But this time Jeongguk lets the warmth of the sunlight, Taehyung's voice, and the way the older had reached a hand over his, ease his worries.

That's right. Taehyung's touch.

Something that held much power over Jeongguk. A mere touch can leave him feeling weightless, heart pumping with a deep exhilaration. This kind of feeling was much too addicting to him. So much that he was nearly obsessed with seeking physical contact with the older.

And that's exactly what he felt now, as he watched Taehyung's large hand squeeze over his small ones, halting his fingers from trembling against the fabric beneath them.

When he looks up at him those dark eyes peered back as though to observe his very being. But even now Jeongguk simply couldn't think straight. Not when those eyes—oh, those eyes he loved so much, were watching him so intently.

A familiar gaze with foreign intentions.

"You were right." Taehyung's deep voice suddenly speaks again, sends shivers down Jeongguk's soul. "The others aren't gone. If Dot came back, it should only be a matter of time before the others do, too."

There's a tight feeling in Jeongguk's chest. Words that were meant to reassure him had only left him in wicked thoughts and he soon finds himself looking down, a disheartened tone to his voice when he speaks his low words into the air. "But who knows how long that'll take..?" His thumb twitches. "I mean, what if it's five more years? I... don't think I can wait that long."

His words silence the older, a low breath slip past Taehyung's lips while he ponders ways to reassure the boy.

But before he could muster up a response, a loud melody pierces through the calmed air. Jeongguk flinches at the sudden sound, then swivels his head past his shoulder, where he spots his illuminated phone screen buzzing with a mellow ringtone.

He rolls closer to the nightstand until he's able to reach the device and out of desperation to put an end to the blaring sound, he answers the call without much attention to the caller.

"Yes?" He speaks softly, then waits as a familiar voice answers him.

"Jeongguk! Come to the location I just pinged you. Hurry!!"

The boy blinks in somewhat of daze, remnants of sleepiness still lingering in his brain. He then scrambles to sit up over the mattress again, and that's when he lets out a whiny sigh. "Jongsu? Why, what's the matter? I swear, you're always doing this—"

"I just-..." A sigh. "I can't explain it over the phone, Gguk." The man rushes his words. "So, hurry up and come here. Quick!"

Jeongguk opens his mouth to ask more questions, or maybe offer up some complaints over how early it was; but before he could get a word out he hears a light click, only to realize that the call had ended.

He slowly lowers the device down and peers toward X, who was watching him curiously.

"That was, um..." He clears his throat. "That was my coworker. From the police force."

The older blinks. "Ah~ You mean the very one that chased down my clients?"

A sudden giggle slips from Jeongguk's lips. "You mean the guys you were dealing drugs to? It's almost like he's just doing his job, hm? What did you expect, for a cop to let some criminals get away?"

Taehyung counters the matter with a silent smirk, then gives somewhat of an unbothered shrug. "Well. You are in bed, naked, with one."

Jeongguk lets his gaze drop down the older's toned, tan skin. The blood in his veins seem to pump stronger, and he slowly licks his lips to laminate the flesh.

Right.

Him, a cop—in bed with Taehyung, a criminal.

There was truly no countering that.

"I... I have to get going." He murmurs instead. "S-Sounds like I'm needed for some emergency.."

Taehyung's grin widens at the way the boy had chosen to ignore his statement. With his rightfully earned amusement, the man doesn't bother to offer any response to that, merely allows the boy to rise from the sheets and begin to dress himself.

And with his back facing the older, Jeongguk mutters quiet words.

"Can I see you again..?" A pause. "Tonight."

Taehyung's amused smile slowly fades. He props his elbow against his knee, watching while the boy slips a shirt over his head.

"You gonna confess your love to me?"

Jeongguk halts while the hem of his shirt falls to his waist. His head shakes, a quiet chuckle leaves his throat. "You really do talk just like him.."

The man peers at him with a calmed gaze. "Hm. Sure—come look for me tonight. At BST. I'll be around."

"The hotel?" Jeongguk turns around until the two's eyes meet. "That place is huge... How will I know where to find you?"

Taehyung blinks, shoulders composed as he takes in the innocent faint pout that had formed over the boy's lips.

A fond smile returns to his face, and then he answers in a low voice.

"We always find each other. Don't we?"

※ ※

The breeze is gentle against Jeongguk's cheeks, nestle against the tip of his nose and push back his half-ponytail. When he reaches the location that was abruptly texted to him by his work partner, his brows lower naturally, a mix of confusion and irritation seeping over him once he realizes his most precious time with Taehyung had been interrupted for a mere park visit.

Once the Han River came into view Jeongguk finds the very man he was looking for. His coworker, who was seated at a nearby bench with a lidded coffee on one hand and a book on the other.

"You seem very relaxed for someone who was just yelling about an emergency just minutes ago.." Jeongguk begins once he had gotten close enough to the other male, making sure he heard the utter irritation in his voice.

Jongsu lowers the book in his hand—one that was small enough to fit at his palm, and peers his eyes toward Jeongguk as though he had sensed his presence the moment he had approached him.

"Well," the man clears his throat, pausing for a moment to sip his caffeinated drink before tugging a smile. "I had to make sure you got your ass here sooner rather than later."

"What's this about, then?" Jeongguk cuts to the chase, perked brow rising while he crosses his arms in front of the other. "You never answered my question before. Does this have to do with a case, because if you're not going to t—"

"Oh relax! It's always about work with you." Jongsu scoffs out, finally shutting the book and uncrossing his legs from the bench. "I think you'll really like my 'emergency' this time."

Jeongguk's head tilts to the right, and suddenly he hears the sound of footsteps brushing against grass coming from behind him. At first he thinks nothing of it—just a stranger making their way down the grass path to whatever destination they decide on.

But when he sees Jongsu's gaze shift behind him, somewhat of a devilish smirk on his lips, Jeongguk makes a curious turn of his head. His gaze swivels behind them both, only to settle on a figure at the near distance, approaching them with their head lowered.

Jeongguk blinks repeatedly, squinting at the strands of light blond hair lifting with the breeze, and then his lips part suddenly.

"Oh my fucking god..."

Following his light gasp, he lets his entire body turn toward the other person who, upon seeing his head lift, finally shows a large grin on their face.

"Jeon Jeonggukie~" A familiar voice pushes alongside the wind. "It's been a while, huh?"

The boy lets out a stifled laugh, then makes a head start to sprint the remaining distance between him and his reunited buddy.

"Jimin!!" He squeals in delight, launching himself at the other and attacking him in a squeezing hug. "Holy shit, why didn't you tell me you were coming back to Seoul?!"

"I wanted to surprise you!" The male stumbles back in a loud giggle, flailing his arms out before returning the much awaited embrace. "It's not every day you get to reunite with your soul bestie!"

Jeongguk scoffs out a light laugh, eventually pulling back to look t his best friend in the eyes. "You look great." He speaks in a boyish smile, while giving a light squeeze at Jimin's bicep. "Your muscles feel even better now, too."

"I've been doing a lot of shows," the blond shrugs, only for his smirk to widen. "And you!" He pauses to observe the boy a moment longer. Then he continues in a teasing voice, "You look like a girl with that hair."

"I... get that a lot." Jeongguk giggles. "Seojun's already told me a million times to let him cut it—"

Suddenly he stops, lips shutting at the name that had slipped from his tongue. There was a blunt silence that followed, and Jeongguk gently rubs at Jimin's arm.

"I'm glad you're here.." He changes the subject, voice lowering. "And boy, do we have a lot of shit to catch up on."

Jimin hums, settling a hand to the back of the other's hand. "I have some news you're never going to believe."

Jeongguk nearly snorts. "Same here. But I'm definitely winning this 'unbelievable news' contest.."

The blond gives a pat at Jeongguk's shoulder. "Wanna bet?"

"You have no idea."

※ ※

The two reunited best friends find themselves seated over a grassy hill, quite a distance away from the bench where Jongsu had remained immersed in his little book to pass the time.

It turns out Jimin had planned a small picnic, and Jeongguk held the boy's homemade gimbap in his hands while overlooking the far away river curving at the distance.

"Are you still planning that thing you've dedicated your whole life to?" Jimin's voice suddenly nests at the boy's ears.

Jeongguk freezes at this. Not so much at the question his friend had asked all so suddenly, but rather he wasn't quite sure how to respond. More specifically, he wasn't sure how to respond to it now, in this current moment, where so much had changed in the span of only days.

Just a week ago, he was sure he'd be able to answer such a thing as naturally as drawing a breath to his lungs.

But now..?

Now he chews the food in his mouth while rubbing hesitantly at the side of his neck.

"Well yes, I-..." He swallows. "I've dedicated my life to it, so... Of course."

He had found himself uttering his response without much of a second thought, and it was only after the words had left him that he realized that he did, indeed, agree with his own answer. That he wasn't planning on shifting goals still, just as he swore to himself so long ago.

Because, that's right. He still had his goals to achieve. He must never lose sight of that.

"Hm. That's about the response I expected from you," Jimin mumbles through the light sound of his chewing.

"Then why'd you ask?" Jeongguk rolls his eyes.

A click of Jimin's tongue against the roof of his mouth. "To see how long it would take you to answer."

Silence falls between them once more.

Birds lift their wings toward the sky. Scatters of people flow by the path beneath them. Chatter echoes in the breeze.

"So what was your news?" Jeongguk then speaks up, only to watch as Jimin begins to shake his head.

"Oh no, no, no—you're only making me say mine first because you think your news is more unbelievable than mine!"

Jeongguk shrugs. "That's because it is."

"Riiight." Jimin drags the word out sarcastically. "And when I win this contest you're going to owe me a new pair of platform boots!"

"Okay, deal."

The blond blinks once.

"Really?"

"Yeah, really." Jeongguk swallows yet another roll of gimbap. "If your news is more shocking, then sure."

Jimin straightens his shoulders and clears his throat. "Okay, um.. Ahem!" He wipes crumbs from his lips and puffs up his chest. "Mine is..."

Jeongguk turns his head, making sure to hold eye contact while the boy delivers his news.

And after a few stalling seconds, he finally utters the words. "I'm engaged!"

Jeongguk's eyes bulge. "Oh my god, really?!" He nearly spits his food out. "Wait—really?!"

Jimin lets out a burst of giggles and nods his head furiously. "Yes, yes, I'm serious!"

"Shit, Jimin, congratulations!"

"Thanks~" He snaps open a bottle of water, a light blush on his paled cheeks. "Of course I'll tell you all about it and go into detail later, but!" A pause. "I want to hear your news first."

Jeongguk's enlarged, glistening eyes slowly return to a normal state before he settles his hands down on the picnic blanket beneath them.

"Ah, it's my turn..?" He says softly.

"Yeah, yeah, what's your news?" The blond bounces in excitement, gaze set firmly on Jeongguk while he keeps his head lowered.

"Hm.." The boy lets out, then scratches a spot behind his ear. "Well..."

Jimin remains attentive while slowly reaching to grab a cupcake he had also prepared. And then Jeongguk finally musters up the courage to blurt it out.

"Taehyung is.. alive."

And that was it.

Just like that the news that Jeongguk himself was still having a hard time believing, even now, was spoken into the air for his best friend's ears to begin to question.

Naturally, that was what Jimin began to do—question the accuracy to Jeongguk's statement, as well as simply question the boy's sanity a little.

But after a moment of stiff eye contact, of whirls of confusion lingering his thoughts, the cupcake at Jimin's grip finally drops to the floor, along with his jaw.

And Jeongguk. Well, he wasn't expecting the blond to understand that what he had said was honest and true.

Although one could even argue that there was no full truth to it.

After all, the ones who were truly present now were only X and Dot. Merely two out of the five Taehyung's. There really was no way to tell when the others would come back.

If they would even come back.

And that was when a thought suddenly sparked his mind.

Jeongguk's pupils dilate, his mind drifting into deep ponder because—well, as unbelievable as it still sounds, Dot really did return to him yesterday.

More specifically, Dot had returned to him at a time when he and X were cooking up a meal together. A meal with bulgogi, and with rice.

That's right.

He and Dot had done such a thing before.

They've shared a domestic moment of doing something Dot loved to do. Cooking.

Perhaps it was even safe to say that day was one of Dot's favorite memories of his time together with Jeongguk. A memory so fond that merely going through the same motions, in a similar setting, was enough to bring back his consciousness.

Jeongguk exhaled a low breath.

Does this mean something greater?

Could it be that going through the motions of moments like that can pry into crumbs of memories within the alters, enough to bring them back to him?

If so, Jeongguk was already itching to test that theory. In fact, he was prepared to relive every single moment with Taehyung, if it meant getting all five of his lovers back.

Getting all five alters to be with him, to gaze at him. To hold him.

And this time, he'll never let them go.

✱