Archive of Our Own

Green surrounds him; the muddy green of the trodden grass and the deep forest green clinging to the leaves. The sun burns in the sky and the overgrown grass on either side of the woods' path seems almost fluorescent in her rays, but nothing compares to the centre of the vast forest; despite it being the quickest way to get from one side of the village to the other, as it surrounds the forest, nobody ventures into it, leaving the middle as an ocean of untouched, glossy grass, perfect plants, and tall trees.

Jungkook hurries through the trees, weaving in and out and scurrying behind branches when he hears other voices. His hands clutch the leather-bound books tightly to his chest and his thin, white shirt clings to his heaving chest as he stifles any sound he might make. As the voices peter out and fade into the distance Jungkook continues his fast walk parallel to, but avoiding the village's used paths through the outskirts of the forest. He tiptoes through the grass, not wanting to upset the nature around him as he ventures a little more perpendicular to the path now, getting deeper into the woods than the people in the small village would be able to tolerate.

Jungkook feels immersed in the trees and his chest feels lighter, the worry dissipating almost instantly the further he gets from the village. He clutches the books tighter to his chest and allows a light smile to grace his face when his home comes into view. He opens the tall, rusted green gate with a whisper of a secret, the untold truth entwining with the spell placed on the lock and it clicks open for him. Walking through the gate, Jungkook toes off his boots and leaves them by the high brick wall surrounding his small house. He slips on his garden shoes, his comfy sheepskin soft-sole moccasins, and skips up the cobble path to his front door.

If anyone were to ask, Jungkook would describe his home as darling. It's small, only meant for himself, but he's decorated every inch exactly to his liking. The yellow front door compliments the green smothering him in the spring and the summer, but also matches the reds and oranges of the autumn, so naturally, the cottage needed a reddish-brown thatched roof that hangs over the white and orange-tinted stone walls. The garden that surrounds him is home to flowers of all colours: reds, purples, yellows, blues, oranges, and the list goes on. The outside is a love letter to the longing feelings that are nestled deep within Jungkook's heart; the happiness he wishes fulfilled his life are painted in streaks of bright colour throughout every centimetre.

Jungkook opens the creaky front door and slips inside. The stone walls aren't kind in the colder months, but the blooming spring outside has brought a delicate wind through the area, and Jungkook doesn't need to bother with finding wood for the fireplace. His moccasins are left outside the front door, and so as his front door opens into his cosy living room, Jungkook puts on his brown slippers and sets his pile of books onto the wooden side table.

Despite the stone building, the inside is amok with wood; it's a material in abundance around here and very easy to charm into place. The ceiling is filled with wooden beams and paintings of the stars adorn them; when Jungkook is feeling particularly solemn he'll lie on his two-seater Chesterfield couch and look up at the constellations. It's somehow less lonely doing it inside his home, like if he were to go outside and lie in the grass and amongst the flowers, the vast emptiness of the forest would grasp the vast emptiness of his life and he'd never find the will to get up and move ever again.

The one sofa sits against the back wall, the small window to the right, casting one huge ray of sunlight to hit the coffee table in the middle. The coffee table looks a little worse for wear with the way the books have caused the centre of it to cave in slightly. Books cover this living room from head to toe. Piles and piles of leather-bound hardbacks wrapped in white ribbon sit on either side of the coffee table and either side of the couch. Jungkook can't afford the luxuries of the city, so no TV sits atop his mantlepiece, only books. Though he supposes such luxuries wouldn't look right in the old-fashioned solace he's created.

Jungkook sits on the stiff couch, legs crossed as he pulls his thin patchwork blanket over his lap. There's a slight rustle and he remembers the notebook and notes crunched up in his pockets. He slides out the notes and lets the change clang against one another as they fall into his palm. He counts it, only to set it aside in the small trinket tray on the side table, along with the small notebook he takes everywhere with him. He has enough money to indulge at the village bakery this week which is nice. He doesn't often get to see Hoseok's face light up as he passes over a muffin and two loaves of bread, so tomorrow that shall be his treat before he does his weekly shop at the market.

Jungkook sighs and reaches to the side table with no trinket tray and picks up the pile of books he managed to get from Taehyung this morning. Jungkook smiles sadly at the memory of Taehyung trying to invite him to meet his husband and hang out and the sad look as he rejected the vampire, giving him the ring he had charmed to stave off bloodthirst, collecting his payment of cash and rare spell-books and dashing to his next appointment.

Jungkook reads for hours. His mind absorbs each new spell like a thirsty sponge and his fingertips tingle with the traces of new techniques trickling into his brain. He snaps his fingers together and watches as a cloud forms in front of him and snow starts to coat the floor like a dusting of sugar. Every spell is effort, and Jungkook takes in a breath like he's just run a few laps and snaps his fingers to clear the spell, though he wishes he could keep the snow on the floor; it was pretty. Maybe he'll keep it in the height of summer when he needs a little chill.

Jungkook's playing with spell number 4 when a sharp pain erupts from his temples and he drops the heavy book into his lap with a loud smack and clutches his head. Jungkook brings his feet from the couch and plants them on the floor, trying to ground himself and stop himself from toppling over. He waits for ten minutes and allows the pain to subside before opening his eyes to his blurry living room. Jungkook swallows down nausea from his swimming vision and lies his head against the back of the sofa. He's been working all day doing odd jobs for the community: from fixing Taehyung's pendant to fire-proofing everything in Yoongi's apartment, (excitable breaths of fire are impossible to quell for the breed of dragon Yoongi is, apparently.) These things take a toll, and Jungkook feels completely and utterly depleted.

His head pounds as he trudges through the tiny kitchen with the small round wooden table, only enough room for one small chair and place setting, and up the squeaky stairs. He walks past his bathroom, foregoing washing up, and straight into his bedroom. The room is bare at the best of times and barren at the worst, depending on if he snags his clothes and breaks them beyond repair. He was almost devastated when his last pair of trousers had worn so much he had more than seven large holes only getting bigger and bigger. They had to be thrown out.

Right now though, Jungkook takes off his white shirt and brown high waisted trousers and puts them into his washing hamper. He's thankful for the four shirts and three trousers hanging in his wardrobe, not needing to wash anything immediately, thanking God for the time Yoongi had paid him a hefty fee for fixing his entire kitchen in one evening after a disastrous, drunken attempt at trying to fly inside.

Jungkook forces a large t-shirt over his head and crawls into his small bed, a blanket to his chin. His stomach rumbles and Jungkook shushes the demand for food by succumbing to the sleep his body is also so desperate for.

The next morning is much the same. Jungkook dresses in a repeat of the same outfit: his trusty white shirts tucked into high waisted brown trousers. He flips through his notebook as he takes a spoonful from his bowl of yoghurt and berries and notes today's work, except he only has one job. Hoseok had flagged him down in the village before he walked home yesterday and asked him to fix their oven, the engineer they called out quoted an obscene amount to fix it, but he let slip the specific details of the problem, which should be enough for Jungkook to work his magic.

Jungkook sighs and tries to talk himself out of treating himself once he's at the bakery, knowing he's not going to be earning much today. But once the smell of the freshly baked bread wafts into his nose, like a snake being charmed out of its basket, he's drawn to it.

The floor to the bakery is polished and clean, the kitchen is in such a pristine condition that Jungkook thinks he might be dirtying the place with his mere presence. He looks over the instructions Hoseok had noted down. There's a long list of problems but detailed enough that Jungkook's magic should be able to do its thing; there's nothing worse than trying to fix something with only a vague notion of what's wrong, his magic won't be able to fix a car if all it knows is that it's broken; it needs specifics.

"Oh!" Hoseok beams, waltzing into the kitchen and distracting Jungkook. "I forgot, your order is on the house today, on top of your fee! Is that your usual? The brown half loaf?"

Jungkook swallows and allows the spell he was doing to fizzle out and he looks up at the elf's eyes, wide and bright with positivity and glee. If his aura was visible, Hoseok would be surrounded in sunlight with daisies and sunflowers sprouting around him.

"I was going to get a blueberry muffin and two full loaves today," Jungkook replies, inclining his head with gratitude. "If it's too much I can pay for the rest."

Hoseok waves him off, "Don't you worry! It's all covered, Kook!"

And the familiarity stops Jungkook in his tracks. He knows his face drops and he holds his breath. His chest feels tight all of a sudden, old promises pulling every heartstring tight as a heavy weight presses down.

"Are you okay?" Hoseok worries, crouching in front of Jungkook, arms hovering around him like they want to help but aren't sure how to.

"It's just Jungkook," Jungkook says tightly. "Don't call me anything else."

"Oh," Hoseok's brows furrow and he stands up, wiping his hands on the light pink apron he wears. "Sorry, I didn't mean to offend you."

"You didn't," Jungkook feels awful, knowing how quick the rejection of any familiarity had sounded, but it's for both of their good.

"Okay," Hoseok nods before leaving the kitchen without the jump in his step he had entered it with.

The oven is almost fixed and Jungkook feels the sweat rolling down his forehead. The back of his hand is soaked within seconds of trying to wipe his brow and he vows to just let it drip; the quicker he finishes this, the sooner he can curl up in bed. Though, Jungkook should not be this worn out after the amount of magic he's cast. His headache hadn't fully gone away from yesterday, so he assumes yesterday's exhaustion still lingers, but Jungkook thinks one more spell cast and he might be sick.

"Uh, Hoseok?" Jungkook calls out, hoping there's someone within earshot behind the front counter just outside the kitchen.

"Hm?" Hoseok pokes his head into the kitchen but rushes in when he gets a peak of Jungkook.

"Do you have any water?" Jungkook asks but he's completely drowned out by Hoseok's fussing.

"Are you okay? You look like you're about to pass out. Take a break and come sit down, that's it, easy, woah don't sway, you're okay. Just sit down here."

Jungkook lets himself hit the armchair in the corner and opens his mouth to the water bottle Hoseok so graciously brings to his parched lips.

"What happened?" Hoseok asks, crouching down with the most tender care in his eyes.

"Nothing really," Jungkook shakes his head, but it proves a bad idea when the pounding in his head spreads to behind his eyes. "Too much magic does it to witches sometimes."

"Elves can do very minimal nature magic," Hoseok muses. "Sometimes when we try to do big stuff we get tired pretty quickly."

"It's kinda like that," Jungkook says, though it's on a much greater scale.

"You're not going to be sick, are you? Because if you are please tell me before so I can run away, nothing against you, I just cannot be around vomi-"

"I'm not going to be sick," Jungkook assures him. "Just give me a moment and I'll be okay to finish the spell."

"Are you sure you should finish? You could come back tomorrow?"

Jungkook sighs and smiles, relishing being taken care of for the first time in, well, a long time. A yearning feeling stabs Jungkook in the heart the longer Hoseok's caring eyes bore into his and Jungkook wills any emotion away. "Could you just give me a moment alone, please?"

"Right!" Hoseok's eyes widen. "Sorry, everyone tells me I could talk for the whole village. Let me know if you need anything!"

Jungkook finishes the job with a headache jackhammering against his skull and his eyes stinging with the effort to absorb any light.

"Thank you," he bows politely to Hoseok, taking the bag of freshly baked goods and his payment with a smile, ignoring the way his hands shake.

"You're not looking entirely peachy," Hoseok worries, eyebrows furrowing.

"Ah, 'm okay," Jungkook waves off, leaving the bakery and scurrying home as quickly as his legs will take him.

He whispers his magic entwined promise and kicks off his shoes, running in just his socks to the front door and beyond. His bed is so inviting that Jungkook collapses into it, not changing into comfier clothes and deciding to rest for one afternoon and study his magic more in the evening before forcing the most relaxing night sleep he's ever had.

Jungkook wakes up dishevelled in the morning, hair sticking to his forehead as his t-shirt clings to him, drenched in sweat. Hurrying to the bathroom, Jungkook realises he's slept right through the afternoon, evening and night, foregoing afternoon food. After showering and getting dressed, Jungkook packs a little bag for the laundromat later, and checks his notebook. He ventures back into the village with a long brown trench coat he saves for the winter wrapped around him, quelling the chills from any lingering exhaustion.

The laundromat is small, 3 washing machines and 2 dryers in the box room whirl so loudly, Jungkook can barely hear the powerful rap music blaring through the speakers. Jungkook checks the time left on the machines, knowing he doesn't have time to wait before he's due to help Mrs Kang at the village hall.

"There's a machine in the back," Yoongi suddenly says over Jungkook's shoulder, startling his already fragile state so much he slams his back into a machine.

"Oh shit," Yoongi says, his eyes flashing grey with worry, a characteristic of his dragon breed that fascinates Jungkook; the way their eyes flash when a new emotion overtakes them powerfully. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm good," Jungkook laughs lightly, "you just took me by surprise."

The super speed and incredibly light and graceful movements of the dragon fascinate Jungkook too, but he wishes it wasn't used against him if his racing heart is anything to go by.

"Sorry," Yoongi replies sheepishly, hands drawing into the sleeves of his oversized knitted jumper. He pulls the deep v-neck up a little, drawing into himself. "Do you want to use the washer in the backroom? Reserved only for the staff, but you fixed my kitchen so quickly I don't mind sharing my perks with you."

Jungkook checks the big clock on the white, paint-chipped wall and knows he's due at the village hall in 15 minutes. "That would be helpful. Thank you."

"Don't be so formal," Yoongi waves his sweater paw, slipper-clad feet padding into the back room, and Jungkook follows with warmth in his chest but trepidation tucked into a pocket in his heart.

Jungkook loads his clothes into the machine, only a couple of shirts, trousers and underwear, but he was beginning to run low. Yoongi doesn't comment on the small load, only pouring a pot of coffee into a small yellow mug, made from clay and love.

"Do you want to come to a party tonight?" Yoongi asks, and Jungkook freezes, finger in mid-air about to click 'start'.

"Party?" Jungkook swallows down the sudden anxiety rising from the tips of his toes and into his chest.

"Everytime I fix my home," The dragon chuckles, "I throw a new house warming party, and since you've fixed it so many times and like I've met you quite a few times now, so if you want to be friends? And meet my friends? You could-"

"Friends?" Jungkook says, pressing 'start' and whirling around in shock. "Oh, I, um… I don't think I'm free tonight, actually. Sorry…Uh, thanks for the machine, I have a job at the hall but I'll be back, um, later? To get it all."

Jungkook inches out of the room backwards, chest begging to heave, but he suppresses the short breaths tightening his chest and burning his throat. His eyes are trained on the floor, not wanting to see Yoongi's disappointment, but it's better to disappoint people early as opposed to later, in Jungkook's experience anyway.

As Jungkook charms the locks on the village doors, he aches. He aches with exhaustion, his magic is taking it out of him so much quicker than usual, but Jungkook also aches with Yoongi's question, the word friends wrapped up nicely in a box but a balloon is tied around it and it floats just out of reach.

"There," Jungkook gasps as the spell wraps itself around the village hall's door frame and hugs the hinges. He clenches his eyes shut as pain shoots into his temples once again.

The sound of heels click-clacking against the floor invades Jungkook's pain induced daze and he coughs to clear his mind and stands up straight. Mrs Kang is a sweet older lady, hair long turned grey and tied into a neat bun on the back of her head. Her long, dark green dress sways as she hurries across the hall as fast as her short legs will take her.

"Here's some tea, dear," Mrs Kang smiles, her soft voice enveloping Jungkook in a small cocoon of care.

"Ah, thank you," Jungkook bows his head. "The door will only allow people on the clubs' lists inside, so I'll finish the tea and get out of your hair."

"Come and sit down, you're looking too pale for my liking," Mrs Kang takes Jungkook's arm with more force than he'd expect from such a little old lady, and walks them both through the big, echoey hall and into the courtyard at the back. The light pink metal table with a flower pattern through the backrest looks pretty and delicate sitting between the tall, colourful flowers and Jungkook only feels guilty as his messy hair and pale face must diminish the beauty around him.

The chairs aren't so comfortable, the metal digging into his thighs and back, but Jungkook smiles sweetly and sips his green tea. Mrs Kang finishes her gulp of tea and clasps her hands together.

"Are you joining any of the clubs tonight?" She asks. "My Grandson's very proud of his book club."

"I'm sure," Jungkook smiles. "I'm busy during their schedules, unfortunately."

"During every club?" Mrs Kang seems to have a glint of determination in her eyes and Jungkoook sips his tea to steady the slight nerves. "You know people in this village are so involved in the community, it's rare I don't know anything about someone who crosses my path."

Jungkook doesn't reply, swallows around ugly memories of everyone who has ever gotten to know him.

"The club lists get updated every month. If anything ever looks like your cup of tea, please don't hesitate to sign up," and Mrs Kang's eyes soften as she reaches to fit her hand over Jungkook's. As her wrinkly fingers gently touch his fingers that are tightly clasped around his teacup, Jungkook's breath gets caught in his throat as he tries to remember the last time someone had touched him, let alone this tenderly and carefully.

"Thank you," Jungkook places his empty teacup onto the small saucer and stands, immediately bowing. "I'll keep an eye out."

"You have some jobs in your pocket," Mrs Kang stands and touches his arm, her lingering familial touch leaving Jungkook's chest warm.

The pocket is a little plastic sleeve nailed to the wooden message board outside the village hall. People pop in jobs they require a witch to fix and when they'd like them done for. Jungkook's thankful that Mrs Kang at the village hall was fairly quick to endorse him, allowing the rest of the village to trust his work when he first moved here. There might not be an abundance of work within the small village for a handy witch, but Jungkook makes just enough to get by.

Jungkook takes out the three folded notes from the sleeve and places them into his pocket.

Yoongi's sitting on top of bustling washing machines when Jungkook walks in.

"Hey," Yoongi smiles sheepishly and Jungkok remembers his earlier rejection of Yoongi's friendship. "Your load is dry and in the pink bag in the back."

"Oh," Jungkook grabs the bag and comes out with a bow. "Thank you, Yoongi. I'll return the bag tomorrow."

Yoongi smiles, gums on display. "Ah, no need, the pink suits you."

"It does?"

"Hmm, it's pretty," Yoongi shrugs. "Not that I'm coming onto you," Yoongi must see Jungkook's wide, panicked eyes. Jungkook wishes he had acquired the tiniest drop of people skills.

"Honestly," Yoongi insists. "I have my sights set on a certain elf," and Jungkook thinks back to Hoseok's elf ears, curled down as his baker's hat sits on his head.

"I do have two friends though," Yoongi continues. "You might like them, do you remember when you hurt your arm and I said to see-"

"I'm good, thank you," Jungkook interrupts, eyes casted to the floor. "I'm perfectly fine as I am."

"Oh," Yoongi says, but Jungkook clutches the pink bag to his shoulder and doesn't stick around to see Yoongi's expression.

Jungkook does what he does best; he retreats home by himself, avoiding any other villagers, avoiding any familiarity.

The night draws in, stealing the green from the grass and the leaves, leaving behind leering shadows that sway in the wind. Jungkook sits on the window sill in his bedroom and looks out into the forest, into the heart of it. There's not much to see, just the endless stars in the sky, but he thinks about the daytime when the sun is high in the sky and the forest is as green as can be. The green is familiar, comforting, and he feels the pull to the heart of the woods deep inside of a part of him he's been suppressing for a long time. Jungkook's core aches to venture into the heart but the power that lies inside enchanted woods like these is supposed to be detrimental to witches he's supposed to be like. But he aches.

The ache is fierce in the morning, taking Jungkook by surprise. He forces his limbs out of bed, forces his berry and yoghurt down and forces himself to dress for the day. He wobbles down the cobbled path and through his gate. His mind is hazy and the village spins as he reaches the main square by the morning market and the large village hall with the high clock tower chiming 9 am. The bells pierce his ears, invading his brain and rattling his brain against his skull like a pinball.

Jungkook feels weak, his hand coming out to slam against the wooden message board to keep him steady, but he hears a familiar voice, though he doesn't see anyone with his eyes tightly scrunched shut. His head pounds and fatigue overtakes him. He braces himself for the harsh landing as he tilts and falls, but strong hands and terrifying darkness catches him.

🌿

"I just think we need another," Seokjin shrugs, big lips pouting in Namjoon's direction as he caresses the new fishing rod in the garden centre.

"We only came out for lavender," Namjoon sighs, but he's always been weak for that pout. "Fine, we'll move your display cases around again."

Seokjin beams, picking up this new state-of-the-art fishing rod, Namjoon doesn't know. He waltzes past Namjoon, poking his right dimple with a smug smile, "Don't huff, it's unbecoming. Besides, we came in here for your 54th lavender plant this month, let me have this."

"Mine's for work!" Namjoon calls after him.

"So's mine!" Seokjin replies.

"You're a librarian!"

Namjoon shakes his head, working his way to the outside bit of the garden centre towards the lavender aisle when he hears his name being yelled amongst the sudden commotion. Hoseok's pushing his way through people, pink apron getting caught in the plants he's bustling by as he yells his name, cheeks flushed pink and eyes wide with panic.

"Joon, we need your help. Please," Hoseok grabs his arm, pulling him out of the store and Namjoon turns to see Seokjin running after them, purchased fishing rod in hand.

"What's going on?" Namjoon asks, their hurried steps making his round glasses askew.

"Jungkook," Hoseok says, leaning over when Seokin's confused face reaches them. "The handy witch that fixes stuff for us; he collapsed in the square."

"Collapsed?" Seokjin asks, cheeks flushed red as their pace quickens so much they're practically running through the village.

"He came to fix our oven the day before last and he looked awfully pale then," Hoseok frowns. "Yoongi caught him before he fell but he couldn't wake him up."

It must have happened moments ago, no time to move Jungkook anywhere comfortable Namjoon deduces as they near a small crowd. They hurry over and at the sight of Namjoon the crowd parts slightly.

"Might it be magic exhaustion?" Namjoon asks, but his voice trails off as he crouches down and sees Jungkook; feels Jungkook.

It's not visible to most people but other witches, they'd know. Namjoon's chest aches at the unconscious man, his features delicate and soft, bottom lip plump and pouting as his head is jostled a little in Yoongi's lap. Namjoon tries to focus on the pretty face that he's determined to heal instead of the grey shimmer that surrounds him; he wishes others could see it, wishes the village had more witches than just him and Seokjin because someone would have noticed just how in need Jungkook was, well, is.

Seokjin sucks in a harsh breath, a hand to his chest.

"I've never seen this before," Namjoon whispers to him.

"I didn't think it was real," Seokjin replies, eyebrows furrowed with worry but eyes fixed on the grey shimmer. "We need to take him home."

"Give me your pendant," Namjoon asks, a content sigh when Seokjin slips it off his neck easily. "Run ahead and get one of your spare pendants, I'll bring him home."

Seokjin races off, much to the confusion of the dumbfounded crowd. Namjoon wastes no time in placing Seokjin's pendant around Jungkook's neck and hauling the young witch into his arms, one hand under his knees and another around his back to cradle him close to his chest. Namjoon ignores Hoseok's questions or Yoongi's offer to help carry him as he takes off to the path. As he ventures deeper and deeper into the woods Seokjin meets him, a new protective pendant around his neck and beads of sweat from the effort to venture into the woods briefly without one.

It's obvious when you step into the heart of an enchanted forest. It doesn't matter what species you are, human or magical, you feel it. Your heartbeat speeds up and small hairs stand on end, but it's such a big, impactful feeling that people have a hard time quantifying it into words. You just know when you're around magic that's far too powerful to contain you, and without the pendants, the magic would slowly tear you apart from the inside, leaving a cold body behind.

"Oh, sweetheart," Seokjin tuts when Jungkook's eyebrows furrow in pain, nose scrunching up in his slumber. Namjoon peeks into their living room from the kitchen, the plants surrounding almost every inch of the room look as though they're enveloping Jungkook into a protective hug.

The fishing rod was thrown haphazardly into the living room; Seokjin was in a rush to get a new pendant and race back to help carry in Jungkook, so Namjoon picks up the wooden rod from the floor and places it against the glass display cases in the corner of the living room, holding the rest of Seokjin's fishing tackle: lines, hooks, sinkers, boxes, and so on, all of it state-of-the-art and treasured; and if it's treasured by Seokjin, it's treasured by Namjoon.

"Namjoon," Seokjin worries, crouching on the floor by the couch Jungkook rests on. "What do we do? How do we wake him up?"

"If the books I've studied are correct, he'll wake up on his own," Namjoon walks over and lays a gentle hand on Seokjin's cheek, thumb rubbing away the crease between his eyebrows.

"You're worried, too," Seokjin frowns.

"Have you ever heard of someone actually succumbing to this? To witches not having…" Namjoon shudders at the thought and doesn't allow it to invade his mind, doesn't allow himself to dwell on the feelings Jungkook must have been feeling.

"Hoseok and Yoongi have only ever mentioned how nice he is, you know? Mrs Kang from the village hall, her too."

Namjoon nods slowly, the house suddenly feels solemn, like the plants should be withering away and the air should be cold. "I've never even seen him before."

Suddenly there's a groan from below them, and Namjoon rises to sit on the large couch by Jungkook's feet, one warm hand on his ankle below the blanket he has tucked to his chin. Seokjin stays frozen, crouched on the floor.

"Jungkook?" Namjoon whispers, not wanting to startle him.

Jungkook looks confused, his nose scrunched along with his eyebrows, and when he blinks his eyes open, Namjoon sees wide, doe eyes filled with a million questions and a million years of hurt.

"Who are you?" Jungkook asks, wincing as he tries to sit up.

Seokjin lays a gentle hand on Jungkook's shoulder, keeping him lying down, and Namjoon quickly dashes into their large kitchen.

The potions corner is his solace, tiny cauldrons, little bowls of ingredients and plants litter the counter is what others may perceive as a mess, but everything makes complete sense to Namjoon. He whirls into the kitchen like a quick hurricane, grabbing the freshly brewed potion and whirling back to Jungkook and Seokjin.

"Take this," Namjoon gently hands Jungkook the pink drink as Seokjin helps him sit up. Jungkook's eyes are brimming with questions and the trepidation is obvious when he takes the glass and eyes the potion handed to him.

"It'll make you feel a little better, a little clearer," Seokjin promises. "You're safe here."

"Am I?" Jungkook looks around, his eyes so impossibly wide. "I don't know where I am or who you are."

"Well," Seokjin smiles sweetly, imploring all the love in his heart into his smile, comforting Jungkook in the way Namjoon has come to know. If anyone's going to calm Jungkook's nerves, it'll be Seokjin. "I'm Seokjin, also a witch, and this is my partner Namjoon," Seokjin reaches a hand behind him, grabbing onto Namjoon's.

"He's a Crystal Witch," Namjoon adds, nodding his head in the way of the crystals that sit atop every surface in their little trinket trays, "and I'm a Green Witch."

Crystal witches harness crystals to amplify their magic, using energy to cast spells. Namjoon has an affinity with healing and nature, the well looked after plants and herbs scattered around the place are clearly his.

Jungkook looks at the potion in his hands.

Namjoon softens his voice, "I brewed it as soon as we brought you here; it'll help."

It takes one sip for Jungkook's shoulders to relax and a content sigh to leave his red lips. He blinks a couple of times before looking properly between Namjoon and Seokijn.

"Yoongi from the laundromat has mentioned you before," Jungkook whispers, taking another sip of the strawberry flavoured drink. "He told me to see you when I hurt my arm a couple of months ago; says you're trustworthy."

"Why didn't we see you, hm?" Seokjin says, gingerly placing a hand onto Jungkook's cheek and Namjoon's heart sinks at the way Jungkook immediately leans into the touch.

Jungkook shrugs sheepishly, "It wasn't that bad. It healed on its own."

"How do you feel?" Namjoon asks.

"Better," Jungkook replies, taking Namjoon by surprise as he pulls the blanket away and swings his legs around. "Thank you. I'll take it easy on the magic for a while." Though he doesn't look super sincere about that.

"Jungkook, you're not healed," Namjoon says as his voice shakes. "I can't just let you go."

"You can't make me potions to leave with?" Jungkook starts looking between the two witches in front of him and the front door, calculating how to flee before they can catch him no doubt, but Namjoon doesn't want to keep him anywhere against his will, but he doesn't want to think about what would happen if they let him leave.

"It's not that easy," Namjoon starts, but Jungkook's frown stops him in his tracks.

"It's just magic exhaustion, maybe more extreme than I've had before, but I'll be fine," Jungkook tries to stand but Seokjin's gentle hand is back on his shoulder.

"Joon," Seokjin says quietly, pleadingly. "Tell him."

"Tell me what?" Jungkook looks uneasy, and Namjoon's eyes focus on the grey that surrounds him.

"The magic exhaustion is a symptom, not the actual sickness you have."

"What do you mean?" Jungkook settles back down, looking so unsure it breaks Namjoon's heart.

"Have you heard of lonely-heart sickness?" Namjoon asks.

It's like the second the words leave his lips the entire room is cast in a melancholy blanket; their faces mirror the sadness taking root in Namjoon's chest, and no doubt Seokjin's, too.

"No," Jungkook's voice cracks in disbelief and panic. He bites his lips, eyes looking around frantically until they land on what he was searching for; the mirror.

He struggles over to the floor-length mirror, crashing to his knees as Seokjin scrambles to catch him before he hurts himself; the wooden floor unforgiving to human knees. Jungkook sobs and sobs as he stares at himself, not seeing what he wants to see.

"Witches can't see their own shimmer," Namjoon says, eyes stinging with tears he forces to stay put. "Other witches though, we can see it. I'm so sorry."

Jungkook just cries and sobs, right from the chest. A lifetime's worth of hurt and abandonment must tangle with his tears and screams because lonely-heart syndrome is so rare many believe it to be a cautionary tale, a simple myth.

Witches used to operate in covens formed by binding spells, and being expelled from a coven meant a slow, lonely death; but as the years went on and witches evolved, the binding spells became outdated and some witches didn't want to operate in strict groups.

Covens still exist of course, and they're often a community of witches who live harmoniously together, like their own little village, no binding spells needed. These binding spells don't exist anymore, deemed too dangerous and all records were destroyed and wiped from memories. But that vulnerability to being lonely, to being abandoned, well that never left a witch's magic.

Witches may not need a coven anymore, but they need a community, friends, support; their magic craves it. If a witch is so isolated that they have no one, then the binding spell sickness of an earlier race of witches attacks, causing extreme magic exhaustion, dizziness, physical pain and eventually? Death.

Throughout storytelling, it's been coined lonely-heart syndrome, but that sounds too tame for the heart-wrenching sickness. Namjoon used to have nightmares about succumbing to it; his introverted, bullied young self was scared nobody would ever want to be his friend, but everyone eventually finds their people, and Namjoon's always been close with his family. His worries had completely faded away, but as Jungkook cries with the grey shimmer choking him, the tell of the lonely-heart sickness, Namjoon realises that not everyone has a family to love them, and not everybody finds their people.

"We can reverse it," Seokjin cries, holding Jungkook tightly. "We'll do everything we can to help you."

🌿

Jungkook feels numb. He asked to be alone for a moment, which was probably stupid considering his sickness, but he needed to process the green witch's diagnosis. They were happy to oblige despite the sad, pitiful look on their faces. Jungkook feels sick.

Jungkook didn't think the sickness was real. He hadn't ever entertained the idea that his coping mechanism was so detrimental to his health; he was just trying to survive. You get thrown away so much that avoiding familiarity to not have to go through that again becomes second nature. Jungkook just didn't want to feel the pain of abandonment again, he was a danger to everyone he's ever come close to so why would he get close to people just for them to throw him away again?

He knows people are temporary, knows he'll never see Seokjin or Namjoon again once they know the truth, but how is he supposed to make peace with his own end? It's cruel.

Jungkook itches his neck, the thin rope holding the sapphire pendant around his neck chafes a little and he goes to take it off, not sure why he's even wearing it in the first place.

"No!" Namjoon, the green witch who has been steadily feeding him potions to build his strength back up rushes into the living room and holds the pendant against Jungkook's neck. "Don't take it off when you're in this house."

"Why?" Jungkook wonders, heart racing fast with the way Namjoon's hand rests on his chest.

Namjoon doesn't reply, he just holds out his hand for Jungkook to take. Jungkook feels uneasy, isn't sure why he should trust Namjoon so easily, but he takes his hand anyway and lets Namjoon lead him to the window.

Jungkook clutches onto the window sill, still a little weak from the magic exhaustion, but his legs go weak with shock when he sees outside. The green is everywhere, trees so high and so full that he can see whole flocks of birds nesting inside them. The grass is pristine, not a footstep has flattened it, and not a petal on the daisies is out of place. Flowers blossom all around them and Jungkook feels a hum of content in his chest, his magic calling out and singing to the power around them.

"We're in the heart of the woods," Jungkook whispers in awe.

Namjoon hums. "That pendant is the only thing keeping your magic from exploding within you."

Jungkook clutches the pendant with a sorry to his magic chanted like a mantra, over and over, in his mind.

"When can I go home?" Jungkook asks, blowing over a bowl of soup as they sit around the round table in the kitchen that evening. Jungkook's blanket is draped over his shoulders, something Seokjin had insisted on.

"We think you should stay here for a while," Seokjin says hesitantly, unsure, scared for Jungkook's reaction, probably.

Jungkook pauses mid slurp. "For a while?"

"Lonely-heart sickness isn't going to be cured unless you're around other witches," Namjoon says carefully.

"Can we call it something else?" Jungkook interjects rather suddenly. His heart aches with the name of the sickness, like it's angry at Jungkook for neglecting it for so long.

"Of course," Namjoon says softly. "If you're here I can easily give you potions to combat any symptoms you're having, and then being with us, well, it should reverse the," he pauses, looking for the right word, "sickness. It should cure you."

The thought of living here for a while and forming a bond with Namjoon and Seokjin to not die has a bitter feeling stamping on Jungkook's bones, trying to get to his heart, "For how long?"

"We don't know," Namjoon lets out a soft sigh of sadness. "The books say until the grey glimmer is gone."

"I hate that you can see it and I can't," Jungkook finds himself saying, it feels too vulnerable. He feels too exposed.

"We can choose to not see it," Seokjin replies, his eyes still red from crying as Jungkook sobbed into the mirror. Jungkook doesn't remember the last time he pulled such a visceral emotion from someone else.

Namjoon nods, "It's like we can focus and unfocus our eyes on it; we'll do that if you'd rather."

"Please," Jungkook croaks. He's always let his emotions get the better of him. With nobody else ever around him, there's never anyone to shield his emotions from. "Where's the bathroom?"

"Top of the stairs, door in front of you," Seokjin replies.

Jungkook races up the stairs and waits for the click of the lock before he breaks down.

There's a tense silence as the muffled sobs from upstairs travel into the kitchen. Seokjin forgoes his usual slurps of satisfaction and sips his soup in silence.

"What are we going to do?" Seokjin whispers.

Namjoon shrugs helplessly. "I called Mrs Kang and she swears he's polite and kind. Hoseok says the same. He told me Jungkook's helped them out often but has uttered maybe 6 words ever. How are you around Hoseok multiple times and not caved in to the friendship he offers to literally everyone he meets?"

Seokjin shakes his head. He feels dumbfounded and confused. Why on earth would anyone decide to live so lonely? Seokjin knows this community. They'd welcome anyone with open arms, especially someone so kind and ready to help out, and partnered with the purity in those big eyes and the delicacy of those features. He just looks so… nice.

"We need to know how long he's been alone," Namjoon continues solemnly. "and why."

"Trust," Seokjin replies. "We have to get him to trust us first."

"I know," Namjoon lets out a brief breath of despair. "You'd have thought someone so lonely would be comforted to know two people are willing to be with them, to get to know them, to be friends with them."

Jungkook is shown the spare bedroom by Seokjin as Namjoon cleans the dishes. The bed seems larger than Jungkook's entire bedroom, and the flowers on the windowsill make him think of his own garden. The wardrobe and drawers are stocked with Seokjin's and Namjoon's clothes: knitted sweaters, slacks, pyjamas, underwear and socks in abundance.

When Jungkook slides under the covers, he looks out of the window as the sun begins to set behind the trees. He keeps the curtains open, ready to be awakened by the daylight. He's not sure he has many more nights left in him to admire the green of the forest.

Despite waking up with the sunrise, Jungkook doesn't appear down for breakfast until well into the morning, instead choosing to admire the view and feel the sun on his cheeks. With each creak of the wooden stairs, Jungkook's stomach is filled with nothing but anxiety.

"Good morning!" Seokjin sings as Jungkook steps into the kitchen. Seokjin's smile is bright and Jungkook notices the way his smile brings out just how full his cheeks are.

Seokjin stands to greet Jungkook, he pulls the edge of the burgundy knitted sweater down with a grin. "It looks great on you."

"It's a little big on me," Jungkook says, feeling a little insecure at the way Namjoon's shirt seems to hug his arms as he stands against the cabinets with them folded.

"It looks better oversized," Namjoon assures and Jungkook finds a small smile worming its way onto his face.

The steaming bowl of porridge sits unattended on the table and his stomach instantly grumbles. Seokjin chuckles at that, "The porridge is for you, sweetpea. Sit."

The pet name startles Jungkook, a red blush creeping onto his cheeks and he sits down, ducking his head to avoid the other witches seeing it.

"I'm gardening today whilst Seokjin works," Namjoon says, a hot brew of coffee to his lips. He has a white t-shirt on whilst a brown, light cardigan hangs on the back of the chair in front of him and black wire-framed, round glasses sit on his nose.

Seokjin, dressed in high-waisted black slacks with a light blue shirt tucked into it, raises his eyebrows. "Which reminds me, I best be off. I'll see you two on my lunch break."

Seokjin pecks Namjoon on the lips and Jungkook averts his gaze to his porridge, hating how he must be an unwelcome guest in their lives. Jungkook jumps a little when Seokjin lands a soft hand on his shoulder, "See you later," Seokjin says, and Jungkook just nods with a mouth full of porridge.

"Would you like to join me in the garden today?" Namjoon asks, and the promise of exploring the heart of the forest tugs at something deep within Jungkook. He nods.

"Now," Namjoon says, kneeling in soil, brown gloves on his hands, holding a small, green shovel, "not everyone adds this finishing layer of mulch over hydrangeas, but I'm not one to compromise when it comes to plants or flowers."

"The mulch holds in moisture, right?" Jungkook asks, his own shovel in his hands as he admires the flower bed of hydrangeas. The pink and blues dance in the slight breeze.

"Yeah!" Namjoon smiles. "Hydrangeas need moisture, so I'm not sure why so many people skip this step. It's so important." Jungkook watches Namjoon's brows furrow, clearly passionate about the flowers before him, and Jungkook finds himself watching Namjoon intently, ignoring the pressing voice in his head pointing out how handsome Namjoon looks in his element.

"Not everyone's a green witch," Jungkook points out. "How often do you garden?"

"Every single day," Namjoon says proudly. "Nobody else ventures into the heart, so it's all mine to embellish!"

Jungkook presses against the pendant sitting on his skin, under his jumper.

Namjoon notices and stands up, beginning to walk to the largest tree in this part of their vast garden. "Come on."

They sit against the thick tree trunk, the shade welcome after gardening for a while in the sun, the spring breeze not doing much to alleviate the heat.

"When I was 15 I worked out the spell for those pendants," Namjoon smiles.

"15?"

"I worked hard," he laughs, "top of every class. The word 'nerd' springs to most minds?" Namjoon raises an eyebrow and Jungkook laughs softly.

"Exactly. That was me. I was fascinated with enchanted forests and the way witches and our magic connects to them. Did you know there used to be a line of witches who could harness that magic? It strengthened them instead of tearing them apart…and I wanted to be like them so much I vowed to be able to go to the centre and feel the magic."

"That's… incredible." Jungkook breathes. He begins painting a picture of young Namjoon in his head, and it's just this Namjoon next to him but younger: the same dimples, the same glasses, maybe different hair and fuller cheeks, but the intelligence radiates off of him in waves, making Jungkook feel safe with him.

"I didn't know anything like this existed," Jungkook replies.

"Officially it doesn't," Namjoon says sadly. "I was offered a lot of money by some very senior witches to sell the rights to the spell away."

"They didn't use the spell to make pendants with your enchantment?"

"No," Namjoon shrugs. "They decided it was too dangerous and destroyed the evidence. I even signed something to stop me from selling it or telling anyone about it."

"You're telling me," Jungkook points out with a little smile and a quirk of the eyebrow and Namjoon knocks their shoulders together.

"The secret feels safe with you."

Jungkook knows his eyes go wide with the admission and his cheeks burn a little with blush.

"Besides maybe I agree with them," Namjoon replies. "Not that it's dangerous, the spell is fool-proof, but I like the idea of the forests being preserved. The heart of the woods are sacred and how soon until people start building around it? How long until the beauty gets tarnished? These witches just wanted to preserve something sacred and I can't blame them."

"The heart of the forest is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen, and I think I can go peacefully knowing I've been here properly," Jungkook says, prompting Namjoon to squeeze his arm reassuringly.

Namjoon's sharp eyes soften and Jungkook's struck with how open the emotions in his eyes are. Jungkook can see how much Namjoon cares for him so quickly.

"You'll have a lot more time to enjoy it than you think. You'll be okay."

Jungkook nods, not feeling sure, but relishing in the peaceful day Namjoon has brought him. Jungkook may know keeping a distance from people is essential for him, but it's hard to ignore the way Namjoon feels safe, the way Namjoon exudes care and love.

"Besides, they paid me so much money that I could retire today and live comfortably for the rest of my life."

"Holy shit," Jungkook breathes.

Namjoon chuckles, "That's what I said when they told me."

Jungkook learns pretty quickly that it's not just Namjoon that feels safe.

Seokjin brings home a huge platter of food for lunch. From crackers to six different kinds of cheese, to a myriad of berries and different cuts of meat. Jungkook recognises the muffins he adores from Hoseok's family's bakery and his mouth waters at the site of the covered kitchen table.

"I didn't know what you liked," Seokjin shrugged. "So I guessed and then got everything."

"It looks incredible," Jungkook smiles. "Thank you."

Chewing happily, munching on cheese and crunching on crackers, Jungkook looks at Seokjin's cheeks, full like a hamster's. He watches as Namjoon takes a napkin and gently wipes off the crumbs from the corner of Seokjin's lip, but there's a squeeze on Jungkook's hand and he realises that Namjoon is holding his hand, too; involving him. Jungkook is hit with the sudden realisation that this is the first time he's shared a meal with other people in longer than he cares to admit.

He swallows his emotions and his tears down with the cheese and crackers, and as his hands brush past Seokjin's when they both reach for the chutney, Seokjin offers him a fond smile and retracts his hand slowly.

"You go first," Seokjin says, and Jungkook feels cared for in a way he's forgotten he deserves to be cared for.

It's mid-thought, mid reverie when Jungkook winces suddenly. His chest is overcome with stabbing pains, making it hard for him to breathe. He clutches his chest tightly, eyes screwed shut in pain.

"Jungkook?" Seokjin worries. Jungkook hears the scraping of a chair against the floor. "Can you hear me? What's wrong?"

"Is it just your chest?" Namjoon asks, voice further away than Jungkook would have thought.

Jungkook nods his head. He can't bring himself to talk right now, his chest so painful he thinks the sickness is trying to finish him off right here, right now. His heart beats impossibly fast, anxiety and panic rising so fast he thinks the oncoming panic attack might kill him first. He doesn't want to die yet. He's just made friends.

"I need you to open your eyes," Namjoon says, suddenly closer. Large hands engulf Jungkook's shaking hands but Jungkook just shakes his head.

"Please, Jungkook. Open your eyes and drink this, it'll help," Namjoon pleads, sounding as panicked as Jungkook feels.

Jungkook forces his eyes open and the first thing he sees is Seokjin's hands holding his own, worried eyes looking at him as tears pool. Seokjin doesn't move from where he's crouched in front of Jungkook, not even as Namjoon leans over him, a new potion in his hand.

"It'll help," Namjoon insists, bringing the cup to Jungkook's lips and tipping it slowly forwards.

Jungkook swallows and greedily finishes the potion as the pain in his chest slowly but surely ebbs away.

"You're okay," Seokjin nods, though his eyes betray the sentiment.

"I thought-" A sob escaped Jungkook, not finishing his words. I thought I was dying.

"I know," Seokjin stands and leans to Jungkook, bringing him into a deep, bone-crushing hug. "You're not. You're here and you're going to be okay."

Jungkook lets himself be held as he cries and he tries to remember the last time someone was willing to hold him through his woes.

Jungkook settles into a routine pretty quickly and it terrifies him.

After so long of being alone, Jungkook thought he'd struggle to fit into Namjoon's and Seokjin's established life, but he feels like he belongs. Each morning the three witches eat breakfast together, then Seokjin walks to work whilst Jungkook and Namjoon busy themself with exploring the forest and gardening along their way. By lunchtime, Seokjin's either bought or prepared a feast for them, and they eat and talk and laugh. Jungkook mostly listens as they describe their likes and dislikes, how Seokjin's darkest hour was when he found out he was allergic to garlic, and how Namjoon jokes that Seokjin must have been a vampire in his past life.

"Because this beauty is timeless?" Seokjin joked. "Or because I haven't aged in ten years?"

And then Seokjin finishes the afternoon at work as Jungkook rests in the spare bedroom and Namjoon brews potions in the kitchen, even showing Jungkook a couple of his favourite potions when he gets too restless in the bedroom.

🌿

At the end of the week, Seokjin takes the day off work.

Seokjin waits at the breakfast table with bated breath as he hears the familiar creaks of Jungkook descending the staircase. Jungkook, curling in on himself, arms across his chest and sleeves over his hands, slumps into his chair and Namjoon is quick to place a potion in front of him to build his strength back.

"How are you feeling?" Seokjin asks, tucking a strand of hair behind Jungkook's ear and he waits for Jungkook to lean into the touch with a content sigh like he does every time Seokjin touches him. It both warms Seokjin's heart and tugs at it.

On the one hand, Jungkook seems to be trusting Seokjin to make contact with him and finds comfort in it, but on the other, it becomes apparent just how touch starved Jungkook was before they found him.

Jungkook's nose scrunches at the question. "Tired."

"I was researching your sickness," Namjoon says, kissing Seokjin on the top of his head and leaving a lingering touch on Jungkook's shoulder, thumb rubbing back and forth affectionately. "We're doing all of the right things, we just have to wait out these symptoms. Once your magic realises there are others around you, then the shimmer will leave you."

"The shimmer looks weaker and weaker everyday," Seokjin adds on and Jungkook gives them a tired smile.

"You're not going to work today?" Jungkook asks. "You look different."

Seokjin looks down at his blue nylon overalls and t-shirt with a proud look. "A keen eye, young one. I took the day off to go fishing."

"Ah," Jungkook says. "The fishing stuff is yours."

"Would you like to come with me?" Seokjin asks, but Jungkook looks unsure.

"I've never been before."

"I'm a good teacher," Seokjin offers, and Seokjin can't help the hopeful feeling in his gut.

Something screams at him, begging him to convince Jungkook to spend more time with him. It's probably the same part of Seokjin that has been replaying Jungkook's soft pout and wide eyes on a loop in his head throughout his entire workday. Seokjin can't help the way his mind latches onto beautiful things, and Jungkook seems beautiful inside and out.

"Okay," Jungkook replies, digging into his breakfast now that his potion has swatted away his exhaustion. "Maybe it'll be fun."

Seokjin thinks he witnesses a miracle on this fine Friday afternoon. The sun is high in the sky, causing the lake to look like glitter as rays reflect off of it. Everything looks brighter today, maybe it's the bright sun or maybe it's the way Jungkook looks in wonder at everything he sees. He clings close to Seokjin, especially once Seokjin entwines their hands; it's like Jungkook doesn't ever want to let go.

Jungkook's hands always tighten when Seokjin holds them, like Jungkook's subconscious doesn't ever want to let go; doesn't ever want to be alone again.

Seokjin was nervous to let go of Jungkook's hand to fish for some reason, and the uneasiness stuck with him as he explained and demonstrated his best fishing techniques. Jungkook listened intently, absorbing all the information.

However, the distress vanishes when he sees Jungkook smile so wide and laugh so brightly with his first catch. The fish is small, but Jungkook looks at it in awe, proud of himself, and Seokjin can't help but swell with pride and glee.

"I did it!" Jungkook exclaims, giggling. Seokjin feels himself tuck the giggle away into his brain to replay later.

"You did it!" Seokjin laughs. "You're a fast learner."

"I have the best teacher," Jungkook replies easily. "I throw it back in, right?"

"Or take it home for dinner," Seokjin suggests but Jungkook looks forlorn as he eyes the fish and throws it back into the water. When Seokjin would normally keep his biggest catch and bring it home for dinner, today he throws everything back into the water, just like Jungkook does, as Jungkook insists.

"There you go little guy," Jungkook says to one of the fishes, his voice small and cute.

"Go find your family," He says to another before the splash of throwing it back out. "They haven't left you, go back to them."

Seokjin thinks he'll float off into the scorching sun with how big his heart must swell.

"That was fun," Jungkook sighs as they walk back through the forest and away from the lake.

Seokjin swings their joined hands back and forth, giddiness he hasn't felt in a long time building inside of him.

🌿

"Namjoon?" Seokjin says later that night. He lies in bed, Namjoon reading a book, his glasses on the very tip of his nose. Seokjin pokes them further up and Namjoon turns to look at him with a fond shake of his head.

"I had fun with him today," Seokjin says.

"Yeah?" Namjoon replies. "I'm glad. He seems to be trusting us and liking us more every day."

Seokjin swallows and nods, forcing himself to voice what's on his mind. "But today with him, it felt… it felt, it felt like-"

"I know," Namjoon's smile reaches so wide Seokjin thinks he could fit inside his dimples. "It felt like it did when we first started dating."

"I have the biggest crush on him."

🌿

Jungkook thinks he might be going insane. It doesn't matter that he spends all day with Seokjin and Namjoon, he has to dream about them too? His brain must be playing some sick joke on him where he can't seem to be without them. His hand often finds itself in one of their hands' and Jungkook can't help the warmth that spreads throughout his being. He can't help the way he feels happier than he has in years.

Here Jungkook is reading like he's done a million times before, but this time he feels content. All because he's sitting on a couch in the living room with Namjoon and Seokjin next to him.

Seokjin's sprawled on his stomach on the floor, humming, 'aw'ing and 'ah'ing with each page, and it endears Jungkook infinitely. Namjoon is quiet as he reads, but he pulls Jungkook's legs into his lap and absentmindedly massages Jungkook's calves. Jungkook can't say he minds.

Jungkook is reading a book on crystal witches that Seokjin had thrust into his hands when Jungkook said that it's the magic affinity he's least familiar with. Jungkook tries to learn how crystals are used to enhance auras and energy, how Seokjin casts spells based on feelings and manifestation. Emphasis on 'tries', because suddenly the words are spinning on the page, jumbled up and when Jungkook gets frustrated and looks up, the room is also spinning.

Jungkook retracts his legs into his lap as he clutches the armrest of the sofa tightly, trying to ground himself.

"Jungkook?" Namjoon asks worriedly. "What's wrong, honey?"

"Dizzy," Jungkook says. "Sick."

"I got him, you get the potion," Seokjin says quickly, grabbing Jungkook by the arm and hauling him upstairs. When Jungkook reaches the toilet he can't help but be sick, the dizziness overtaking him and making his stomach insanely queasy. He's just thankful that Seokin keeps his arms on Jungkook, keeping him from falling face-first into it.

Seokjin's hands are gentle as they hold him. Jungkook breathes heavily and after moments of no retching, Seokjin hauls him into his lap, head cradles against his chest. Gentle hands card through his hair and scratch his scalp so tenderly that Jungkook could fall asleep cradled in a cocoon of Seokjin's love and care.

"Clean teeth, then potion," Namjoon yells up the stairs once Jungkook declares the vomit situation over.

The potion kills the dizziness instantly and Jungkook heaves a sigh of relief as he flops back onto the couch.

"I hate it," he huffs, feeling petulant, like he's a teenager with a sudden mood swing.

"So do we," Namjoon replies, scooching over to Jungkook and pulling the younger witch into his lap. Jungkook curls into Namjoon, head resting on his chest and he feels his legs being stretched into Seokjin's lap.

"Try and sleep," Seokjin says, taking over the calf massage. "Rest will heal you faster."

Jungkook doesn't have to be told twice as Seokjin and Namjoon hold him close and wait for him to fall asleep.

🌿

The dizziness and sudden pain come in waves. Some days it'll be constant, every hour or so, and on other days Jungkook will get the whole afternoon to enjoy their company.

His sleep has been mostly unaffected thanks to Namjoon's sleep potion, and Jungkook starts to feel differently by the start of the third week.

He wakes up feeling rested for the first time. He refuses Namjoon's strength potion and digs into his breakfast.

"No potion?" Seokjin asks, shocked.

Namjoon's eyes look hopeful and Jungkook beams at them.

"I feel okay."

Seokjin blinks slowly, closing his eyes for a few seconds and refocusing them. He gasps and his eyes well with tears so quickly Jungkook feels taken aback with emotion.

"The grey shimmer is so sheer, Jungkook. You're so close."

The sun's bright, apt for this time of year, but it never ceases to amaze Jungkook if his wide eyes are anything to go by.

"The colours are just-"

"Incredible," Seokjin finishes for him, a giggle at the end. Namjoon puts a potted plant on each corner of the picnic blanket as Jungkook sets out the three cushions.

"I say that a lot?" Jungkook replies sheepishly but Seokjin shrugs.

"I like it when you say it," Seokjin reaches for a chocolate-covered strawberry from the wicker basket and pops it into Jungkook's mouth. "It's cute."

Jungkook chews the strawberry happily and Namjoon likes the picture in front of him, the way Seokjin leans back on his elbows and Jungkook fits his head into the space between Seokjin's neck and shoulder like a puzzle piece.

"How long do you think it'll be before the shimmer is gone?" Jungkook asks softly.

Namjoon crosses his legs to sit in front of Jungkook and takes his hand. "Honestly? It depends on how long you were alone for."

Jungkook's eyes immediately look far off into the horizon, as though he's reliving a distant memory.

"You don't have to tell us, baby," Seokjin replies and Namjoon's ears prick with the nickname and his heart holds it and cradles the name safely. He is their baby.

"Eleven years," Jungkook whispers. "I was thirteen the last time I had somebody, though it all could have started when I was six."

Namjoon's voice is tight with emotion at the revelation that Jungkook has been alone since he was a child. "What happened when you were six?"

"That was the first time I was thrown away."

Seokjin gasps, a sharp intake of breath and he instinctively holds Jungkook closer, burying his now tear-streaked face into his chest.

"Never again," Seokjin vows. "That will never happen again."

🌿

When Jungkook realises he's fallen for Namjoon and Seokjin, he's lying on the grass in their front garden staring at the stars, nestled between them both. Seokjin names the constellations that Namjoon points out, and Jungkook sketches the night sky.

Jungkook had thought realising he was in love would come with ugly, heart wrenching feelings; that it would be the moment he'd realise he was thrown away or rejected once again. Yet, as the air chills with the progressing night, Jungkook's heart feels like it's stretched out and holding Namjoon and Seokjin closely and tenderly. Jungkook's mind swims with anxiety, his past rearing its ugly head, but for tonight he squashes it down. He allows himself the night to relish in their company and deal with whatever will come in the future.

🌿

Jungkook can't help but get insecure. As he gets better his pain subsides and he's exhausted less and less; he takes in his surroundings even more. He fixates on the little kisses Namjoon and Seokjin share, and the way they hold each other in the evening.

Jungkook had retired to bed early, their bike ride through the woods tiring him out so much they were worried they had overdone it, worried for Jungkook's wellbeing as they always are. Jungkook assured them he was fine, he just needed to sleep, but sleep evaded him. Jungkook lay awake for half an hour before he realised that he just longed to be in Seokjin and Namjoon's company. He longed for them to hold him as he slept and for them to peck him gently.

Jungkook hears soft music coming from the living room, and the clock on the wall has him realising just how long he had been lying awake thinking of the other witches. He tiptoes to the landing and sits on the top of the stairs.

Jungkook doesn't venture down the stairs, instead, he watches the two shadows moving as one, flickering in the candlelight. They're holding each other closely, completely entwined as they sway to the romantic, slow music. Jungkook holds in his breath and fights against his tears as his heart clenches with want and need.

He needs to be held and swayed. Needs to be loved and cherished like they love and cherish each other. He wants Seokjin and Namjoon, and Jungkook realises he's really in their way. They vowed to spend time with him to heal him, and as he recovers, the overwhelming need to get away rises in Jungkook. As if they'd keep him around once they found out the truth anyway. He had buried the shame of his magic so deeply he had forgotten why he was alone in the first place, Seokjin's and Namjoon's hands too warm and inviting to turn down the bond they were forming, and now Jungkook will suffer again.

But Jungkook remembers now, and he knows better than to form bonds like this. Seokjin and Namjoon love and deserve each other. Only each other.

Jungkook quietly stumbles back into bed and waits for the music to shut off. He waits for the stairs to creak with ascending footsteps and he waits for their bedroom door to click shut. He waits for breaths to even out in the room next to his, for Namjoon's loud snoring to sound, and he creeps down the stairs, and out into the night.

🌿

"Did you find him?" Seokjin asks, voice rushed and panicked. Namjoon shakes his head, tears already streaming down his face. "There's no one in any part of the garden."

"The lake is free, too." Seokjin replies.

They're both brimming with anxiety, the absolute terror when they had realised Jungkook vanished in the middle of the night still clings to them and Namjoon shakes with the need to find Jungkook immediately.

"You have to do it," Namjoon says. "I know it's frowned upon but he's missing and he's sick."

"Way ahead of you," Seokjin replies, stepping aside in the kitchen to reveal the shirt Jungkook had been wearing yesterday spread out among crystals on the table.

Tracking spells are old magic and condemned as stalking, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Namjoon can't find it within himself to feel bad.

"Got him," Seokjin says. "He's not far."

When Namjoon finds Jungkook collapsed and unconscious in the woods, not two metres from a high gate and brick wall that surrounds a small cottage, Namjoon breaks down into tears. Jungkook had run home to be alone to die for god sake, and he hadn't even made it home.

Seokjin stands around the gate looking dazed, frantic hands fiddling with it trying to find the lock as Namjoon holds Jungkook's limp body to his chest.

"It won't open!" Seokjin yells, snot and tears all over his face. "We need to get him inside."

Namjoon walks over and the second he lays eyes on the gate and sees the magic buzzing, he gasps. "Oh, this brilliant, brilliant boy."

"What are you talking about?"

"An untold secret, it's how my family would secure every lock on their door. It's such an unknown, difficult but solid spell. God, he's so clever."

"What do I do?" Seokjin asks. "Tell it a secret?"

"A secret you've never said out loud," Namjoon nods.

Seokjin closes his eyes and takes a deep, steadying breath. "I'm in love with him, with Jungkook."

The gate clicks open and Namjoon locks eyes with Seokjin, a 'me too' written so plainly in his bittersweet expression.

They race inside, thankful Jungkook's front door opens when the gate does. The home is small and the living room is so overcome with books that once they place Jungkook on his sofa, they don't have room to sit, not even on the floor.

They move books into bigger piles, stacking them against the wall to busy themselves as they wait for Jungkook, and to make room for them to crouch in front of Jungkook.

Seokjin lets out a watery laugh all of a sudden.

"So this is who Taehyung's been stealing books for," he says, a huge smile on his face. "All he told me was someone deserves to be happy and books were all they asked for."

"Oh Taehyung," Namjoon laughs, knowing how big his heart is. Namjoon decides to look around as they wait for Jungkook to wake up, and a particular set of books catches his eye.

"The Forgotten History of Witches," Namjoon reads aloud. "Every page is covered in notes."

Seokjin furrows his brows. "What kind of notes?"

Namjoon reads and reads, eyes wide and a ripped picture of who Jungkook is starts to pull itself together in his mind slowly.

"Jungkook?!" Seokjin says suddenly, and Namjoon whirls around to see Jungkook's eyes fluttering open. "Baby, talk to me. Are you okay?"

"You found me?" Jungkook asks, sounding more fragile than they've seen him in weeks.

"Of course," Seokjin says.

"We'll always find you." Namjoon insists. "Why did you leave?"

Seokjin cups his cheek and Jungkook holds onto that hand and closes his eyes. "I had to leave before you found out what I am; had to not be in your way."

"This?" Namjoon holds up the book in his hands and Jungkook's eyes fly open before his face crumples into tears.

"I'm sorry," he sobs, and Namjoon's heart shatters into tiny fragments.

"What is it?" Seokjin looks scared and pained, but Namjoon has an inkling of what's been going on.

"Who threw you away because of this, Jungkook? Tell us. Let us in and let us help you," Namjoon says, imploringly. "Please. I might have answers for you."

Jungkook's head perks up at this. "My family," he replies. "My coven."

Jungkook takes a deep breath and sits up gingerly, careful to not make his head hurt any more than it must do, his symptoms returning after Jungkook had insisted to himself that he was alone again.

"When I was six years old I walked into the heart of the forest my coven lived next to, and I danced in the autumn leaves."

Seokjin's mouth falls open wide and Namjoon's heart sinks at the inevitable.

"I felt happy and calm, but powerful. It was exciting. I ran home to my mother and my father and older brother and the second I said it they all looked at me like I was some kind of monster. They tried to get me to swear that I was lying but I couldn't. One day my father walked into the woods with me and when his magic forced him to stop, rejecting the power that the heart contained, I ran ahead skipping and laughing."

Jungkook's laugh is filled with sorrow and bitterness.

"I was so stupid, I didn't understand."

"You were six," Seokjin replies but Jungkook shakes his head.

"I was kicked out then, deemed a monster. I could contain the power at the heart and they were terrified of the demon they'd created. I didn't know where to run to, so I found the next village over and a couple took me in for a night, and then I told them what had happened and they put me on the next transport to the city to get me as far away from them as possible. I terrified everybody I told."

Namjoon's eyes close. Being thrown away twice at six years old isn't something any child can just bounce back from.

"Some old woman on the way to the city started talking with me, and I didn't tell her what happened exactly, just that I had no parents anymore and that I was scared. She offered to take me home and feed me and I was six you know? I said yes."

"Please tell me she treated you well," Seokjin whispers.

"It wasn't so bad," Jungkook shrugs. "I was fed and clothed and in return, I worked at her florist shop in the city and cleaned the house. I paid for it all in chores mostly, she let me read her books."

"A child goes to school and hones their magic and learns and enjoys life," Namjoon says with finality. "You shouldn't have been put to work."

Jungkook doesn't comment on it; he continues his story. "Her landlord found out about me seven years later."

"Thirteen," Seokjin says, remembering their conversation at the picnic.

"He said he'd increase her rent since there were two people in the apartment and that wasn't in her lease. She threw me out unceremoniously and I fled to the villages on the outskirts, avoiding knowing anyone and studied to become a handy witch. Luckily I had the power and skill to build myself a shelter further into the forests than anyone would dare to venture."

"Oh baby, you didn't deserve that," Seokjin cries. "None of it."

"I was dangerous," Jungkook shrugs. "All of the books say so too."

Seokjin frowns, not understanding and Namjoon feels enraged that anyone would make Jungkook think he was a monster and unworthy of anything short of love.

"You're not dangerous, love," Namjoon sighs. He sits on the end of the couch and holds onto Jungkook's hand. "Your village was old-fashioned and toxic. All you are is powerful."

"You can harness the power of the centre," Seokjin says in awe. "No pendant? Wow.."

Jungkook looks shocked at their awe, of their wide eyes and slack jaws, like he doesn't understand why they haven't abandoned him and left him to succumb to the sickness.

"Oh Jungkook, most witches, like Seokjin and I, our magic is supplied by the centre, and if we go in with no pendant, no spell, we can become overloaded, but you're so special. It's your magic that supplies the centre."

"I-"

"A long, long, time ago the original witches created these power hubs to give the poor humans in the villages magic. These humans were thrown away by their rulers and governments and ignored because they were poor and uneducated, and the witches felt awful on their behalf and so gave them magic to enrich their miserable lives. You see, you're descended from those witches. The original witches; you're one of them."

"No one else in my family is," Jungkook shakes his head in disbelief. "My dad had to stop. They all did."

"And I'm the first green witch since my fourth great grandfather," Namjoon shrugs. "Magic types lay dormant for generations until they find the perfect person to attribute to. Magic is smarter than we realise."

Jungkook's chest is heaving, breaths coming in short. "They said people like me cause destruction and hurt, and-"

"Stories get retold and embellished all the time; this story is as old as time. Yes, your power could destroy villages and kill hundreds, but your power can move mountains and build homes. You're not more likely to cause harm than any other being. A vampire could suck us all dry if they wanted to, and we all know Yoongi harnesses enough fire to burn the village to the ground. A human could run into the village with a knife and stab probably 2 creatures before they're torched. It's not about the power, it's about the person, and you're one of the kindest, most gentle people I've ever had the privilege of knowing."

Jungkook's eyes look between Seokjin and Namjoon frantic, fast and questioning. He's lost for words and Namjoon can't blame him. It's too much to process.

"I was in the way," Jungkook whispers.

"Of us?" Seokjin asks, disbelieving.

Jungkook nods.

"You're not in the way," Seokjin says, coughing away his emotion so he can say every syllable so clearly that Jungkook has no choice but to believe him. "You fit with us perfectly. Every single second I've spent with you this past month or so, all I've thought about was how I never want you to leave. I felt giddy like I did when I took Namjoon on our first date way back when, and every time you had to rest early, all I wanted to do was lay down next to you and hold you. At work I'd imagine going on a date with you and Namjoon, sometimes you walked between us, other times you were on my lap, and a lot of the times you were on Namjoon's lap and I was able to watch my two boys love each other just as much as I love them."

"Love?" Jungkook chokes.

"It might be fast, but spending every single day with you had me head over heels faster than Namjoon can whip up a strength potion."

Jungkook laughs then, the beautiful, intoxicating giggle Namjoon could record and play on a loop and fall asleep to.

"You too?" Jungkook asks, doe eyes staring into Namjoon's soul.

"Me too," Namjoon smiles. "I love you."

"I love you both, too," Jungkook says before he breaks down, finally accepted by people. His tears cascade like a waterfall and his sobs erupt like a volcano and they hold him so close and so tightly, Namjoon's scared they might crush him.

🌿

Jungkook is napping when it happens. Seokjin is spooning him, also napping, and rightly so, because Jungkook had asked and Seokjin is incapable of saying no to Jungkook. Namjoon walks into the living room holding a bowl of cereal and the smash of it hitting the floor wakes Seokjin and Jungkook up so suddenly they knock heads together.

Jungkook stands up with worry, looking at Namjoon's shocked, startled and terrified face. He rushes over, avoiding the cracked bowl on the floor and cups Namjoon's face.

"Are you okay? Joonie?" Jungkook frets and Namjoon shakes his head, only making him worry more.

"What's wrong?"

Namjoon doesn't answer, and Seokjin gasps behind him, causing Jungkook to whirl around. "Seokjinnie?"

"Baby," Seokjin whispers in disbelief. "Oh my baby, you're okay."

Namjoon pulls Jungkook into his chest, kissing the top of his hair over and over again, and Seokjin attaches himself to Jungkook's back, wrapping his arms tightly around Jungkook's middle.

"It's gone," Namjoon whispers into his ear as he pulls him flush against him. "Your shimmer is gone."

"You're okay," Seokjin says and the tears are evident in his shaky voice.

"I'm okay," Jungkook replies shakily, "I love you both so much."