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(A/n: sorry for the random author's note, I have a few things to share before we get started: first, this incredible mood board made by the glorious taesexual95 . Go send her some love and read her books, she's amazingly talented.
Second, I've just made a discord server for the wonders to chat and hang out in. Here's the invite link if you're interested: https://discord.gg/zcqPnPFZGH  alright, onto the update!)

The silence is almost deafening, in its own right, and there's something powerful about it, as we all sit there waiting for something to happen. For some reason, there's a sense of freedom, a weight being lifted, but it's shadowed by the fear that we've just fucked up somehow, just killed thousands of Eithyrians with the simple utterance of a word. The fear that I've doomed Taehyung to a painful death simply by giving him the confidence and encouragement to say one word.

But when no lightning falls, no great scream echoes out, no crow calls, the tension seems to ease somewhat, and Taehyung sighs in relief. "It's still possible that something could go wrong, but it's done now," he murmurs, half to himself. His gaze flickers up, looks directly at mine. "Thank you, Kook. Really, thank you. I've been afraid of admitting that to myself for a long time, refusing to call it what it is. For too long, we've hidden behind code words. But it's magic. It's energy, it's power, it's everything beautiful."

Unexpectedly, he stands up, clenching his fists. "I use magic," he says lowly, in that deeper voice, something catching in his throat. A glimmer of emotion appears in the corner of his eyes, and for a moment I'm speechless myself, in awe of him. The power he seems to hold in a single moment. He takes a deep breath, lets it go, and then glances around at Namjoon. "Say it. It feels so good to say."

Namjoon pauses, a flash of panic crossing over his face at the idea, and then glances down at his chest, something akin to pain appearing in his eyes for a moment before a certain steel enters them. "It's magic. We use magic. It's not just energy. It's magic." He lets out a long, shaky sigh, and stands up too, something shifting in his eyes for a moment before they glow green, the marks on his arms lighting up too with an intensity I've never seen before.

For a moment, Namjoon's head lifts back, and he bounces on his heels, a wild expression crossing over him for a moment. I glance around the room, at the alarm in Jimin's eyes at the change in the brothers, but there's a new energy in the room. The fire flickers, begins to grow, and Seokjin rolls back his shoulders. "Magic," he whispers, playing with the syllables as he does so, testing the taste of a forbidden word in his mouth. "It's magic. It's power."

His hand flicks slightly, and there's a loud roar, as the fire kicks up properly, seeming to blaze for a moment before dying down once more, to a less blinding brightness. "We have magic, and it's one of the greatest gifts the world could ever give us." He looks over at Jimin, who's already rising to his feet, the energy having infected him as well. His wings flutter behind him, and his eyes turn a familiar dark navy, an almost scary colour compared to their usual brown.

"It's magic," Jimin repeats, quietly, like a mantra in response, holding a hand out to his partner. Hoseok smiles, something like protective pride crossing over his face for a moment before he nods.
"It is, Chim. It's magic." The word seems to infuse the compass tattoos on his wrists, turning them gold. And then they turn bronze, and his eyes flash that same shade for a moment. Jimin, staring directly at the alchemist, notices, and a whole mix of emotions pass over his face for a moment, a mix of fear and excitement and wonder and awe and everything under the sun.

"You went bronze, babe. You went bronze," he whispers, and Hoseok's eyes widen. He looks down at his wrists, at the colour they're glowing, and then Jimin beams. "I'm so fucking proud of you and your magic, Hobi. You're incredible."
"I'm proud of you, and your beautiful wings," Hoseok returns, his voice a little louder and a little more strained than usual. "You're so much happier when they're free. One day they'll be free all the time. I can't fucking wait."

Broken Glass - TaekookWhere stories live. Discover now