Stiffness comes in various shapes and sizes. The couple of suits presently crowding SSB's conference room - which Jungkook is seriously beginning to hate - are definitely made of that same rigidity all figures of authority love to cloak themselves in.

"There's a critter on the loose causing havoc by the Han River and we have strong suspicions it's yours," one of the anonymous suits says.

"A critter? We don't raise any. We're mostly a monitoring facility. Take a look around if you'd like." Namjoon's confidence does not fool the rest of his team who are sharing confused looks.

"Joonie?" Seokjin calls. "I believe our headquarters need a little bit of - cleaning up before we can offer a tour."

To distract from the low whispers Jin and Joon are now exchanging, Hoseok steps up. "Why would you think this critter has anything to do with us?"

Pulling out a portable flat screen, the agent shows them footage of something long and shiny rippling the waters of the river and causing strong waves to splash on the crowded shores. "This was caught on camera about fifteen minutes ago."

"This creature must be huge to generate such swells."

"We estimate its size to have reached about seven metres."

"There's no way we ever had the room to keep such a pet around."

"Well, footage collected from various locations around the city tells us otherwise. Besides, this beast was not seven metres long when it escaped your facility."

With the swipe of a finger, videos from street cams start playing. "We'll slow it down for you because it is impossible to catch at regular speed."

And sure enough, something silvery-blue snakes its way into the crowds, undetected. "This intersection right here is just a few blocks away. I trust you recognize your own neighbourhood."

They all gulp at the sight of this flying creature darting through traffic lights, its itinerary most chaotic.

"It was quite small at first but watch it hit this body of water."

Cheonggyecheon. The most popular canal in the city.

All hold their breath as the creature dives into it, witnessing the shock of nearby visitors trying to figure out where all the splashing came from, and fleeing the scene at the sight of the growing beast whose size doubles within minutes.

The cameras along the stream show the mysterious serpent swell as it jumps in and out of the billows it creates with a single flail of its long, sinuous tail. Following the current downstream, it soon reaches the wide shores of the river Han, plunging into its murky waters and disappearing out of sight.

The shiny scales are unmistakeable. Faces turn left and right, looking for Taehyung who is nowhere to be found.

"Where is it now?" Jungkook asks, cheeks as discoloured as ever - granted his complexion wasn't very colourful to begin with.

"Well, I'm sure every news outlet in the city has dispatched their best ground reporters by now." Yoongi grabs the remote control of the flat-screen TV on the wall. The live broadcast confirms the presence of helicopters circling the river, trying to catch sight of the beast that has police and military evacuate the shore parks.

By now, Jungkook is not the only one turning white.

"As you can see, this is a most dire situation which will require a large-scale intervention to get it all under control. Your full cooperation is expected."

"Yes. Of course." What else can Namjoon reply?

"Are all the members of your team present?"

The lie is tempting, which explains why it takes a whole second for their leader to answer. "We are missing two."

╱╲╱╳╲╱╲

At most hours of the day, Seoul traffic makes it impossible to circulate anywhere in a timely manner. Taehyung knows this, which is why he does not waste time conjuring up a waterproof spell before jumping on his hoverboard which now floats above the swirling rivulet.

He trusts people won't be paying much attention to his board after having witnessed the playful bathing of a magical fledgling. He's never flown that fast before, heart racing as he skilfully navigates the small bridges and stone footways barely surfacing above the water.

By the time he reaches the rolling Han River, military personnel is already setting up barricades to prevent anyone from approaching the flooding banks.

"Spirito Nebulo," he whispers, fogging their minds long enough for him to run past their checkpoint.

The waters are still. Unusually so. The occasional river boat and jet skis have been ordered ashore, but it does not explain such inertia. As if the river was holding its breath. "Ash, forgive me," he murmurs into the stasis. "I had no idea you were an aquadragon."

His eyes turn moist at the thought of the young drake dehydrating because of him until he could no longer bear it. "Ash, please. Show yourself."

"Tae?"

The witch recognizes the mellow voice, except for the concern in its tone. "Jungkook? What are you doing here?" he asks, gaze focused on the dormant depth.

"I have come to warn you. It is not safe here. We should return to HQ."

"Who is going to protect Ash if I leave?"

"I'm sure he can take care of himself. Have you not seen how big he got?"

The space around them fills with noise. Waltzing helicopters spritzing flurries as loudspeakers crackle inaudible instructions, likely ordering they remove themselves from this now high-risk area.

"Jungkook, you should leave."

"I'm not going unless you come with me."

"Then I suggest you make yourself comfortable."

"Tae, please. Armed forces have surrounded the whole area. They're bringing out the Marines and the fighter drones. If Ash shows himself, they'll shoot him down."

"I'd like to see them try."

Jungkook does a double take. How can this be the same Taehyung who had claimed to being a fraud just last night? "That is not the kind of firepower you want to go against," he tries again.

The caster scoffs. "Weren't you the one who told me not to doubt myself? Do you not believe I can take them on?"

Standing next to him, Jungkook confirms the lines of Taehyung's profile are as soft as ever in the day's radiance, but his stare is sharp, intense. Confident. This is a moment of truth. "Ash is lucky to have you as his protector." Jungkook means every word.

Speaking of which, the waves have returned, sloshing along the banks forcefully, creating clouds of refreshing translucent mist.

When Ash rises above the waterline, Jungkook can hear all of South Korea hold its breath at the length of the serpent soaring through the air, straight as a silver arrow reaching for the sun before falling back to earth in a lissom curve. A formidable bolt bound to its target. Just as it's about to hit the ground, however, it shrinks to the size of a well-fed ophidian in order to curl itself around Taehyung's neck, like it had often done when it was still small.

The entire country draws breath and coos at the loving interactions between a young man and his pet, who seems docile enough to frown at the scale of the military operation underway. A beast which can be singlehandedly tame does not warrant the closing down a whole portion of the city.

But citizens were about to realize that no one, not even an ancient water spirit, disturbs the military for nothing.

The canisters rattle in the air before hitting the ground, releasing their toxic fumes. A strategy as old as war itself: force the enemy into a trap which, Jungkook guesses, is already set up. "Tae! We need to get out."

It turns out the warning is unnecessary. The wand is drawn and Taehyung is mouthing his spell methodically, the smile gracing his lips not once vanishing from his face. Jungkook notices it now. The protective veil, thin enough for them to see through it but strong enough to repel the poisonous tendrils of tear gas coiling up around them, unable to hit their aim.

"Will it last?"

"As long as I will it to."

Taehyung's voice has never sounded so calm. So at ease. Whatever the outcome, Jungkook finds he does not care, mesmerized by the glorious sight before him. The caster shines, his potential finally manifesting. Jungkook recalls the clips he's seen of him facing his first foe on a sparkling rooftop under the night skies. Another trap Taehyung had managed to get away from. Jungkook should have recognized it then, had he not been dying.

"What's with the smirk?" Taehyung asks, taking note of the awed gaze upon him.

"You were born for magic."

A disabused pout. Taehyung is not willing to accept this statement as truth just yet. And Jungkook knows he cannot force the conviction which must come from within.

Something cuts through the white smoke. The weighted throw net hits the invisible ceiling above them and falls to the ground, next to the fuming canisters, empty. "At this rate, they'll soon bomb the place just to save face."

"You're right. I should take Ash to safety." Using his wand, Taehyung draws a circle on the ground, filling it with intricate patterns Jungkook does not recognize but guesses their purpose.

"You know portals?"

"Only compact ones. This should get us back to base."

"HQ wasn't safe when I left to find you. Not if you're planning to bring Ash along."

"Then where do you suggest we go?"

Around them, the venomous volutes have somewhat evaporated, exposing them to the prying eyes of the thousands of witnesses waiting for the other shoe to drop. But instead of the swarm of soldiers Jungkook expects to see, a void, filled only with an unnatural silence.

"Taehyung, how far can you take us?"

It's the urgency in his voice that has the witch look up. Clutching Ash in his arms, Taehyung smiles, still. "Come. It will be alright."

There's a whistling above them. Jungkook recognizes it as the sound of doom. Yet he reckons Taehyung is right. Jungkook smiles back and steps into the circle, Taehyung's hand warm in his own. Yes. It will be alright. In this life or the next.

The land quakes upon impact, causing ripples of seismic waves to rumple the city's underground. Confusion and panic ensues. Faces white as sheets stare in disbelief at the screens fill with nothing but smoke. And when the crater finally comes into view, a collective gasp, the kind that holds the throat hostage and smothers all sound.

"They did not-"

"But of course, they did."

Everyone is trying to make sense of what has just happened, including broadcasters who are now babbling about short-range missiles and speculating on the location of the projectile's launching platform.

In the SSB's conference room, the TV has been shut off. One of the stiff suits clears his throat. "I think our pest issue is solved, so we'll take our leave now."

He sounds sorry. And perhaps he is, because he knows - as they all do, in fact - that bigger problems are on their way.

-

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