Broken Glass - Taekook

32

When I wake up, the world is dark. 

I panic for a second, thinking the worst, and then my eyes focus properly, and I realise that it's just that it's become night. My friends and I are lying in a clump together, and everyone else is asleep. As I carefully begin to move, trying to dislodge myself so I can take a moment outside, Taehyung's restful expression shifts. His eyes blink open slowly, and he turns his head to look over at me, sleepily. 

"What's happening?" he murmurs under his breath. 
"Quiet, you'll wake the others," I respond almost instantly, and he manages a small nod, somehow without nudging Yoongi, who's resting right beside him. "Nothing's happening. I just had another dream." He tilts his head, confused.
 
"I thought the river was asleep?" I shrug, beginning to make my way out of the tangle of sleeping people. "Where are you going?" 
"I wanted...I wanted to just have a breather. That's all," I admit, as I finally wriggle free, and he nods a little in understanding. "It's been a long time since I've actually just thought about everything, and I think I need a second to collect myself."

"Want company with that?" he offers, beginning to try and detach himself from Yoongi's grip. I just smile, amused, watching his frustrated efforts to prise the water elemental's arm from his own. 
"If you can escape the grip of the beast, then sure." I crawl out, throwing the words behind me as I go. Taehyung just chuckles. 

And once I'm out, I just sit out there in the open grassland for a few seconds, staring up at the sky. It's a clear night, and I don't think I've ever seen so many stars before. They're bright, alive, vibrant, as if they've been brought back to life. The moon is full, radiant and glorious, a pale disc in the middle of the sky, and the details on its surface are plain to see, for the first time in my own experience. The reflected light it gives from the sun has painted the plains around us in silver light, making everything an oddly beautiful monochrome. 

"Stunning, isn't it?" 

Taehyung's quiet voice sounds just about as filled with awe as I feel, but when I glance over at him, I can see the beginnings of tears in his eyes. 

"You okay?" He nods quickly, wiping at the moisture quickly, as if ashamed that it's there to begin with. 
"Yeah, sorry. I haven't seen Eithyr like this in a long time, it feels like." He meets my eyes. "And the river is awake again, somehow. I can feel it, like a heartbeat, almost. It's...it's incredible. It's hard to explain."

"Don't feel like you have to," I return, trying to reassure him, and he shrugs sheepishly, walking over and sitting beside me. 
"I wouldn't have the words anyway." There's a pause, as we gaze up at the constellations, twinkling above us like a million tiny spotlights. Then he glances at me, curiously. "What was your dream about?" When I hesitate, he frowns. "Are we in danger?" 

I shake my head, beginning to shakily describe what I remember from my vision. Taehyung listens intently, expression unreadable until the end, when his face breaks into a soft smile. "I like the idea that you chose us, even though I don't understand it. We couldn't have let you go alone, you know. It would've been wrong." 

"You've said that before," I comment simply, and he shrugs. 
"That's because it's true. Nobody deserves to fight the world alone. It wouldn't be fair." He sighs, avoiding my eyes for a moment. "And something within me told me that I had to come. I would've done so anyway, but it was a feeling I couldn't ignore. An instinct, almost, I guess. Now I know I'll follow you to the ends of Eithyr and beyond if that's what you need me to do." 

My eyes widen. "Really?" He nods, the gentle smile widening. 
"Really. And even if I didn't have that drive deep within, I'd still come with you, now that I know you better. The river made the right choice, when it picked you as the Saviour, Kook. You actually care about what you're doing. You're passionate about it. I've seen the way you talk about the kingdom. It means something to you."