"How long until you admit we are lost in the woods?"

"We are not lost. In fact, we're almost there."

Jungkook looks around for something resembling a destination of sorts but all he sees are trees. And more trees. Trees everywhere. He picks up a cone from the ground made out of fallen pine needles. "Pinus koraiensis, if I'm not mistaken. Tell me, Taehyung," he chants, "are you planning on turning us into squirrels so we may hide in their branches?"

There's a chuckle. Incredulous and cynical. "You're the one with the polymorphic gift. Besides, we're here."

Jungkook is now seriously doubting his eyesight. "What do you mean, we're here? Where is here?"

"Can you not see it?"

"Define it."

"The lake."

Jungkook is about to complain that now is really not the time for any leg-pulling but Taehyung is watching him pensively. "Oh my." A whispered bewilderment. "How?"

"What?"

Grabbing Jungkook's hand, Taehyung flaunts his brightest smile. "Do you trust me, Jeon?"

"Well, since you have successfully turned us into the most wanted fugitives in the country, I'm not certain I should."

The hand drops. "You are free to leave."

Jungkook would have done so hours ago if he had wished to. He could turn around right now and vanish, but instead, he puts his fist inside Taehyung's palm. "Take it for I trust you, my sweet Befana."

The gibe does not faze Taehyung whatsoever. "Close your eyes for me then, Count von Count."

Jungkook does so and feels a pull. Taehyung's hand, guiding him forward. "Are you planning to push me into a trunk?"

That's when he notices the shift in the air, as if a shroud had just been lifted, allowing a breeze to caress his cheeks and play with his hair.

"You can open up now."

Jungkook is briefly blinded by the shimmer bouncing off the rippling waves of the lake nestled in the reddening mountains. Ash is quick to uncurl from Taehyung's arm and dives into the glimmering waters, splashing loudly as he regains size and power.

Turning back, the vampire recognizes the invisible curtain he had seen earlier, by the river Han.

"A very basic illusion charm," Taehyung explains. "I didn't think it would work after all these years."

"How do you know about it?"

"I cast it."

"How old were you?"

"I must have been about ten at the time."

Jungkook's eyes are full of questions. Taehyung feels the need to oblige him. "My parents owned a summer house nearby — probably still do. We used to play in these woods with my sister. I hated losing at hide and seek, so I cheated a little."

"You were ten," Jungkook repeats, not even trying to hide the disbelief he senses is written all over his face.

"Growing up in a family of witches who cast as they breathe, you pick up on stuff."

Jungkook is still processing the fact that, contrary to what Min Yoongi had once told him, he was not immune to all magic, when Taehyung gives him a shove. "Last one in gets a forfeit," he screams, sprinting toward the shore, unbuckling his belt.

A pair of pants falls to the ground when he remembers that vampires do not do well around running water. Taehyung is about to apologize when he hears water splashing. By the time he locates the diver, Jungkook is halfway across the lake, possibly trying to compete with Ash.

Removing his shirt, he lets the sun warm his shivering skin before diving in pursuit of the man who seems to have a lot more tricks up his sleeve. But he is no athlete. After ten minutes of paddling, he surrenders. Besides, Jungkook is presently nowhere to be seen.

Enjoying the silence of the surrounding ridges, Taehyung allows both his mind and body to drift.

Jeon Jungkook.

What a riddle.

It's a shame he's always been bad at solving them.

The peace, however, does not last. Tingles make their way up his legs and Taehyung panics, sloshing around and swallowing quite a bit of water in the process. When the culprit emerges, Jungkook's eyes crinkle from barely controlled laughter.

"Are you out of your mind?" Taehyung blats. "Did you want me to drown or what?"

The eyes drop. "Forgive me. I did not mean to scare you like that."

The witch is already swimming back to shore when Jungkook catches up, fingers grazing the other's waist, only to recoil in shock when they make contact with bare skin. "Taehyung, please tell me you're not naked."

Taehyung's expression is equally stunned. "Are you saying you're dressed?"

"Well, yeah. I recall that spell you once offered to dry me with."

Melodious laughter echoes in the creek. "I don't keep my clothes on when I shower though. Who does that?"

"Except we are not showering. We are bathing."

"You are right. I should be wearing swimming trunks but I didn't have time to pack them this morning."

"Fair enough." Both are doing an awful job at hiding the growing grin on their faces.

They swim in silence for a while, very much aware of the fact that the mere mention of what had transpired on Taehyung's bed earlier has them wonder where the present awkwardness comes from.

Liquid heaviness weighs Jungkook's steps as he reaches dry land. "Whenever you're ready," he says, awaiting the dewatering hex.

"I can't do that."

"What? Why not?"

"Spells leaves residue. As you have accurately pointed out, we are fugitives. Military may believe us dead, our little stunt back there could not have fooled the rest of the paranormal community. They'll be out looking for us."

Whiny Jungkook makes another appearance. "What am I supposed to do now?"

"Take them off and leave them out in the sun. That's my best advice."

"Or you could let me borrow your dry clothes."

"What would I be wearing then?"

"Do you really need to be wearing anything? I mean, you seemed pretty comfortable swimming naked around me, I would think you wouldn't mind strutting your stuff bare-skinned."

"Get this thought outta your head. Right now."

"Too late."

"Then deal with your wetness on your own."

"Perhaps now is a good time for me to point out that you are still in the lake. Won't you come out before I help myself to your shirt and pants?"

Taehyung is within his depth now, but nowhere near willing to walk out of the water without a stitch on. "Turn around!" he orders.

"No can do."

"Jeon Jungkook! I swear!"

Jungkook decides to play deaf, stripping off his soaking hoodie. "Here's an idea. How about we share?"

Ripples slosh around Taehyung's waist, making him painfully aware of his disadvantageous position in this bargain they are trying to strike. "What do you mean, share?"

"What do you prefer? Top or bottom?"

"Huh?"

"What I mean is do you want to wear the shirt or the jeans?"

It's obvious Jungkook has no problem showing off his abs which are, by the way, nicely sculpted. "Gimme the shirt," Taehyung grumbles.

And that's how they end up half-dressed, sitting on a bed of flat rocks, watching the sun slowly dipping behind the bristling peaks. In the darkening waters, subtle movements. Ash is likely making himself at home. "So, is that your plan? Hide here forever while raising your own little Loch Ness monster?"

"The plan was to get Ash away from danger and find him a place where he could thrive. I did not think beyond that." A shiver shakes Taehyung's shoulders.

"This no-magic rule is going to be a problem, I can tell." Jungkook is not one to beat about the bush.

"What do you mean?"

"Where will you sleep tonight?"

"No need for you to concern yourself with my sleeping arrangements."

A sigh. "I'm not concerned because I need to, but because I want to."

What is this, Taehyung thinks. It is so not like Jungkook to care about anyone but himself. "There's an abandoned summer house a little further up. Some foreign investor who'd lost everything when the stock market tanked back in 1997. Or so I heard. No buyers because, well, superstitions and all that."

"What about food?"

"This is Cheongpyeong Lake. A popular destination all year-round. There are convenience stores everywhere."

"Are you suggesting we shoplift? Because I won't be using my card to avoid giving away our location. And you won't cast for the same reason."

Damn it. Planning ahead was really not Taehyung's forte. They still for a while, minds busy with quiet thoughts, until Jungkook finally ruptures the rambling silence. "Also, we need to address that forfeit of yours."

The blatancy makes Taehyung jump a little. "What about it?"

"I wish to claim it as well."

The witch does not follow. "What are you on about?"

"Your second kiss."

Taehyung wants to laugh and tell him that this would be a reward, not punishment. But he wets his lips instead, head tilting at an inviting angle.

"Remember to breathe, if you would like it to last longer," Jungkook reminds him before drowning Taehyung's pleasant anticipation with the sequel both have been longing for all day.

Who knew hands had a mind of their own? Those are Taehyung's thoughts as his fingers find purchase in Jungkook's locks. He recalls the warning. And so he pulls. A groan pulsates inside his throat. Another caveat? Whatever it is, he chooses to ignore, tugging harder this time.

And so the kiss breaks. "You are playing with fire, sweets."

Taehyung is a little breathless when he asks, "if you are referring to yourself as fire, then what does that make me? Water?"

"Air."

"Air?"

A ratifying purr tickles his chin. Jungkook's elected happy place, Taehyung figures as the man nuzzles his jawline.

"Are you saying that without air, fire would snuff out?"

"Mmm. Something like that."

"You did well without air so far. Why would you need me now?"

"Okay, I was trying to be romantic here. Couldn't you just play along?"

"Romance is a fleeting thing," Taehyung utters, impersonating Jungkook the best he can.

And it's amazing to the both of them, how naturally it all comes, the bubbly laughs followed by a third kiss. And a fourth. And by now, Taehyung thinks he would gladly give Jungkook all the ones after that as well.

But dusk has fallen, and Taehyung is still very much half-naked, and without any sunlight to take the chill off his limbs, he trembles.

"I can make you warm," Jungkook whispers.

"I doubt it. Not when your body always feels so cold."

The vampire shifts, just enough for him to breathe into Taehyung's ears. "Is this a challenge?"

Taehyung has no comeback, confused by the sudden change of mood. He is positive Jungkook's eyes have darkened as the other slowly brings his fingers up to hover above his lips, careful not to touch them.

"I can make you feel good." The words sink into Taehyung's skin, lush shivers coursing all over. "All you need to do is ask."

"No biting?" He has to make sure.

A low chuckle. "No biting."

Yes barely makes it past his quivering lips and the witch swears his tongue has just betrayed him.

Jungkook's hand comes to rest over his eyelids. "Then close your eyes for me."

Letting himself drown in darkness, Taehyung feels the heat pooling under the tip of each digit in contact with his flesh, causing his body to ripple. He curses under his breath, eager to regain control over his form which responds to every touch with such yearning he fears he might die of shame any minute now.

"Hey. It's okay." Sweet murmurs. Reassuring. They do not, however, distract him from the feathery probing which, Taehyung soon realizes, is no exploration at all. In fact, he is now convinced Jungkook owns a map of all the erogenous zones he did not know his body housed. His exhales deepen as his curves awaken, nerves tingling all over, not an inch left unsung.

How long does it take, to travel a fully grown figure, Taehyung cannot say. But now that Jungkook's hands have stopped roaming, he feels as if he has been doused with something akin to kerosene. Something that could be set alight by the tiniest spark. His breath hitches as he awaits for the flicker.

It is not a spark, however, that sets him on fire but a pair of soft, plump lips, pressing themselves against the pulsing vein of his exposed throat. The reverence with which his body is presently worshipped is what does it for Taehyung who lets go of all restraints as swells of bliss take over his senses, drenching him in sweltering heat before gently bringing him home.

What just happened, he cannot say, lost in a hazy afterglow. Caring caresses clean him up. Cool lips dot his burning skin with light, airy pecks. But Taehyung cannot bring himself to face Jungkook just yet.

"Are you still cold?" someone wonders. The tone is not one the witch is familiar with. Soft, attentive. As if under some kind of charm.

"Nope."

"Are you going to open your eyes and look at me?"

"Nope."

Endeared chuckles wrap around him. Arms settle under his frame. "Let me get you inside."

Taehyung is too busy blushing to object. But when Jungkook leaves after laying him down on what he guesses must be an antique couch, his hands reach out, embracing the void. "Wait. Wanna hold you."

Jungkook sighs, hopelessly smitten. He would love to snuggle all night, but he needs to hunt. "I'll be back in no time." A promise, sealed with another kiss.

The fog that had whelmed Taehyung's senses is lifting. "Hold on." He fumbles for a bracelet and removes it from his wrist. "Take this."

A sweet titter. "Have we reached the stage where we exchange gifts?"

"You'll need it, silly. How will you find your way back if you can't see past the charm?"

One last peck lands on his nose. "Thank you, cuddle bug."

In the dark, a heart flutters.

—

So. Yeah. That happened.

—

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