LATER THAT NIGHT

It was the dreamy night on the land of fox spirits when the head of the Defence Department advanced upon the street, his shoulders slumped and his gaze was fixed on the ground.

His face was masked with hints of sorrow, his eyes red-rimmed and filled with unshed tears.

He swiftly slid his hands in the pockets of his beige sweatshirt when he stopped in his tracks at the small curved wooden half-bridge frame which ended into a stream of water.

He then proceeded to seat himself on the edge of the bridge, swinging his legs a foot above the water. Exhaling a long sigh, his mind rambled as he purposefully ignored the thought of his beloved, but despite his continuous attempts, Y/n was the only one to fill his thoughts.

What should I do?

Namjoon thought before he spoke in confusion, "Should I tell her my true feelings? But isn't she already Hoseok's girlfriend? Moreover, there's no way Mom and Dad will accept her."

He murmured while gazing at the sparkling stars above him. He settled his hands on the wooden slabs of the bridge to support his upper body as he further gazed at the night sky.

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NEXT DAY

At the castle of the Kim clan

Butler Kwon's steps were quick and fluid when he crossed different hallways of the castle and reached the King's quarters. His stiff posture has always been a symbol of dedication towards his work, but this time it indicated a problem, and an urgency to solve it.

After clearing his throat he knocked on the door of King's room. Kim Jeong Ho's voice sounded as usual when he called him in, just with hints of exhaustion, indicating his recovery.

Butler Kwon bowed as soon as he closed the giant double door behind him, neglecting to wipe the few sweat drops that adorned his forehead, he spoke.

"Your Majesty, may I know how are you feeling now?"

"Butler Kwon, this is the sixth time of the day."

"Your Majesty, it-"

"Your job, I know," Jeong Ho smiled weakly before he pulled himself upwards from his resting position on the enormous four-poster bed.

"Your Majesty, the rumours are spreading all over the land, about the King of Min clan abducted inside our Spell Cells. Furthermore, we're receiving continuous letters from the royal court of Min clan right after we informed them through a letter about the whole situation."

"What did the letter say?"

"The latest one was from the Queen herself, mother of King Min Yoongi. She said to release her son and his brothers right away or else she's left with nothing but to take a step further in the rivalry shared by the two families," Butler Kwon compiled the information in front of the King.

The King of the Kim clan sighed as he tilted his head backwards on the headstand before he closed his eyes.

"Butler Kwon, according to you, what can be a solution?"

Butler Kwon crinkled his brows together before he turned his gaze towards the floor and spoke.

"Your Majesty, as I'm not fully aware of the reason behind the deep-rooted rivalry between the two royal families, I cannot provide a solution, my humble apologies. Besides, I'm no match for the wisdom you possess."

Kim Jeong ho hummed, "Any lead on who shot the arrow?"

"The Defence Department is trying its best."

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FEW HOURS LATER

Inside Kim's Mansion

"Jin you're back?"

Y/n chirped happily, wearing her usual brown Jeogori and trousers, her chestnut hairs were done in a ponytail when she enthusiastically moved closer to SeokJin.

"How are you feeling, little human?"

A smile tugged at the corners of SeokJin's lips when he saw Y/n, his heart skipped a beat when he saw her ponytail swinging in the air as she approached closer towards him. Climbing the wooden staircase they both entered the room.

Y/n smiled at him signaling her recovery before she questioned, "Where's Namjoon?"

SeokJin's steps halted as his expression dropped, he glanced over his shoulder and proceeded to loosen his black tie with passive aggression before he completely turned around to face Y/n, "Why?"

Y/n noticed his change in expression from lively to stern, even though she wanted to know about Namjoon but she decided to word it the other way.

"Isn't he late? Ajumma prepared the food an hour ago."

SeokJin's brows relaxed before he spoke, "A lot is going on in the Defence Department right now. Where's Hoseok though?"

"I had a craving for tteokbokki, but as I couldn't go to the marketplace, he went there instead."

Exhaling a long sigh, Jin replied, "Y/n, you can't just go around and eat street food when you're still not fully recov-"

"Stop scolding me, SeokJin!" Y/n rolled her eyes as a scowl marked its place on her features.

"What? I never scolded you."

"Then what's this?"

"Y/n, I'm not scolding you, I'm concerned for you--"

"One last time, pretty please!"

Y/n came closer, making her eyes doe-shaped. She glanced directly into his eyes. Pouting slightly she put her index finger in front of him, pleading for one last time. SeokJin's eyes traced the little details of her features, from her now doe eyes to her thin lips, his heart fluttered as his brain stopped framing his next words.

"Aish!" Looking away he tried hiding the probable pink hue on his cheeks before he further added, "Fine. You can have it."

Y/n excitedly clenched her fists in victory, "Yes! Thank you, Jin!"

"There's nothing to be thankful about here."

"No, I'm thankful to have you by my side. At first, I used to hate it when you ordered me around, but now I sometimes wonder what would've happened to me if you hadn't found me the day I came here," Y/n smiled.

SeokJin's hand froze when he was unbuttoning his shirt's upper buttons, his alluring gaze turned glossy and his expressions showed a look that Y/n couldn't process.

"Jin?"

"Little human!" It took him some split seconds to take Y/n in his embrace, tightly holding her, his hand caressing the back of her head. Y/n smiled and hugged him back, and teasingly added, "You had this side to you? I always saw a frown on your face."

"Stop it," SeokJin smiled and said before tightening the hug. The warmth escaping from Y/n's body was enough for him to not break the hug.

However, SeokJin broke the hug, instantly feeling the loss of Y/n's touch and spoke, "Y/n, I wanna take you somewhere, will you?"

"Right now?"

He nodded.

"Uhm, okay. I'm bored anyways."

SeokJin grabbed her wrist and brought her closer. Y/n flinched from the sudden action, she closed her eyes on witnessing strokes of white light around her.

Both of them teleported into the woods, and when Y/n opened her eyes a gasp escaped from her peach-toned lips.

"I've been here!"

"Really? How?" SeokJin asked out of curiosity.

"With Namjoon!"

The excitement in his eyes suddenly dispersed as his lips dropped the smile they carried moments ago, "O-oh. Come on, I'll... show you around. "

SeokJin ignored the thoughts inside his mind and took his steps away from Y/n, and the stroke of lightning surrounded him. The intensity of light made Y/n's hands cover her eyes.

A yellow-orange furred creature stood gracefully on his two feet, his tails swiftly flowing behind his back. "SeokJin," she whispered in amazement and wide eyes when she noticed how SeokJin's gumiho was the only one with hints of yellow fur whereas Taehyung' and Namjoon' were of similar reddish orange shade.

SeokJin came closer and knelt in front of Y/n, signalling her to climb on his back. Y/n understood the gesture and hesitantly climbed on his furry broad back. Curling her arms around his neck, she chuckled and spoke, "Are we about to fly?"

A high-pitched gasp escaped from Y/n's mouth when with a sudden powerful jerk, SeokJin teleported both of them into the middle of the air, above the sky-touching eucalyptus trees. With a dropped jaw and wide eyes, Y/n's grip on SeokJin tightened. Jin's hands travelled to Y/n's legs which curled around his waist, he tightly held them in place as they continued floating for a few more minutes.

"Those mountain you see, is the habitat of monks and many spiritual leaders who gave up life's desires to become the guardians of our land and your land."

"Really? It's so beautiful!"

"Hum, they are. Shall we land now?"

Y/n excitedly hummed and exchanged a smile with the gumiho while glancing at him from her peripheral vision.

After spending a few more minutes in the sky, SeokJin slowly moved downwards towards the floor of the forest. Y/n snuggled in his fur as they approached nearer towards the land, feeling the pull of the earth.

"This is where me and Namjoon used to practice our abilities," Jin added as soon as they stepped foot on the ground. He then morphed back to his humanoid form and moved closer to Y/n.

"Back then, we never thought we'd ever witness a human," SeokJin finished his sentence and Y/n noticed a hint of nostalgia in his eyes as he looked around the familiar land.

"A beautiful human, I should add," SeokJin added while lovingly gazing into her eyes.

Y/n gulped to hide her flustered form, "Thank y-you."

"Y/n, can I tell you something?" Jin asked softly as he stepped closer towards her making Y/n nod in agreement.

"I always wanted to build a small house somewhere in this forest, full of warmth, with someone I'll share my days off," he paused in between as if collecting every ounce of will left inside him, "Someone who can... welcome me with open arms, appreciate my unspoken efforts, and understand my decisions."

Y/n carefully listened to SeokJin with nothing but pure admiration. Her eyes sparkled with empathy as he spoke about his hearty desire, how all he wanted was to feel appreciated for his worthy efforts for the people around him.

Silence flew between them like an unspoken understanding. But shortly after, this understanding cracked down into something Y/n didn't expected.

"Will you... be that someone, Y/n?" SeokJin spoke in a tone filled with desolation. Y/n felt something getting stuck in her throat, like a gag on her neck. She gulped hard before averting her gaze away from him.

She soon realised the meaning of his words, and her heart pounded in her chest as again looked in his direction, only to find him patiently waiting for her answer.

"J-Jin, I-I can't, even if I ever wanted to," she stuttered as her eyes turned glossy. Y/n's heart pained while declining his proposal. She never wanted this, she never wanted to break the heart of someone who turned out to be her dearest companion.

SeokJin forced the muscles on his face to flash a small smile, he reached closer to her, his fingertips gently brushing her cheeks, "Because?"

"Huh?"

"You refuse to be my girl, because?"

"I-I... n-never saw you that way."

"Or maybe because you're already in love with someone?"

Y/n's gaze flickered at SeokJin's sentence, and a picture of Namjoon suddenly flashed in front of her eyes. SeokJin always saw Namjoon's reflection in her eyes. He already knew what Y/n would answer but there was a tiny flick of hope in his heart that wanted him to give it a final try.

It's time for me to finally give up on my feelings for you.

SeokJin thought before he collected his shattered heart and spoke, "Let's go, somebody needs you."

Moments later, both of them teleported back to his room. SeokJin let go of Y/n from his hold, "Go. Before it's late."

Jin said as he pushed Y/n through her shoulders towards Namjoon's room. Y/n stumbled inside and witnessed the door sliding in front of her face.

"Y/n? What's happening? Did Hyung just push you inside?"

"Why do you have so many ques-"

Turning around Y/n's cheeks flushed with a red hue as she realised the proximity between her and Namjoon, indicating the distinct effect he still had on her. He stood inches away from her face, slightly tilting his face downwards.

"Do you have something to say?" Namjoon asked.

"Don't you have something to say as well?"

"Me? Uh, yes. A lot."

Y/n nodded while lining her lips together, and spoke, "First you," she said as she needed some time to rethink her thoughts about him or maybe change the whole decision to not confess her feelings.

Caught off guard for a minute, Namjoon cleared his throat, his eyes soon got fixated on Y/n's shining orbs, which were anticipating a reply.

"Y/n, I've thought about it a lot. From the start I never treated you well, scolded you, mocked you and even disrespected you. So the first thing that you deserve is a proper apology. I'm sorry for my ill-treatment towards you," Namjoon finished and darted his gaze in Y/n's direction.

"Is that all?" Y/n asked.

"Huh? Do you want me to bow and apologise? I'm not doing tha--"

"How are you so stupid, Namjoon? Don't you get, why I'm here?" Y/n rolled her eyes and grumbled.

"I'm not here for your apology because I'm already aware of how remorseful you are for everything you did before. But that was the past Namjoon, and I'm here for our future. "

Namjoon's eyes slightly widened and sparkled at the same time, "What?" He whispered in confusion and let her speak.

"My feelings for you still persist in my heart, even deeper you fool!"

Y/n's words sparked an extinguished flame inside Namjoon, which he was desperately trying to ignore. Her soft voice was slowly making his eyes wild with a mix of desperation and longing.

"Can't you see? Can't you feel that--"

But before she could finish, he closed the distance between them in an instant, and then, as if drawn by an invisible force, Namjoon leaned in and pressed his lips against hers, cutting off her words with an intensity that spoke of both madness and love.

Namjoon's palms cupped Y/n's face as their lips danced together. It was a kiss that tasted bittersweet, a collision of building frustrations and final confessions.

Hoseok stepped forward in the front yard, a polybag carrying a small tteokbokki container swinging beside his thigh as his eyes searched for Y/n.

"Hoseok!"

"Hyung, where's Y/n?"

"Forget about Y/n, accompany me for some time."

"What? Why? And where?"

"Let's grab a drink. Come on!"

SeokJin snatched the plastic bag and put it on the wooden staircase. Within moments, he then proceeded to wrap his arm around Hoseok's shoulder, who was utterly confused by the change in his behaviour, and teleported both of them out of the house.

The kiss finally ended, leaving both of them breathless and flustered. Y/n's eyes slowly met his dragon one's, "I like you."

She whispered, and before losing it for the second time Namjoon succeeded in maintaining his composure. Y/n had that effect on him, that even her sweet voice was able to pull his heartstrings.

"I... I-I think... I... love you, Y/n. It feels like I’ve loved you for so long but I just realised it now," Namjoon stammered while speaking.

The unanticipated confession left Y/n's eyes wide and her mind at a loss of words as she gaped at him with shock, whereas Namjoon was staring into her eyes with a loving gaze and an anxious smile across his lips.

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