Traitor's Song

21. The Princess and the Banshee

Taehyung didn't want to leave his cave home without his blanket. It was a thin brown thing that looked more like a rag than a blanket. Jimin had no idea how it kept Taehyung warm. Taehyung carried it above the water as he swam along with Jimin to get to the rocks that led back to shore; Hobi flying through the air above their head. When Taehyung got back on the rocks, he put the blanket up where it wouldn't get wet before slipping out of the water. He immediately turned to help Jimin out of the water as Hobi turned back into his human form by the blanket.

"Why did you bring this thing?" asked Hobi as he moved to grab the blanket up by pinching it between his fingers.

"Because Tinker Bell," said Taehyung as he moved to grab it, wrapping it about his shoulders, "I too am royalty."

"Do you really think it wise to goad Jin?" asked Hobi.

Taehyung shrugged. "I'm not sure if it is wise, but it'll certainly be fun."

"You're gonna end up getting yourself shoved overboard," said Jimin as they started to walk back towards where the boat was.

"Lucky for me that I'm part siren then," said Taehyung. "I can't lose."

Keeping the thin blanket about him like a robe, it billowed in the breeze behind them as the three walked side-by-side. Within a matter of minutes, they were within Jin's sights again. Jin had, had the time he needed to recover and was currently pacing back and forth on the shore in front of the boat. His pacing stopped when he saw the three of them coming.

"What's he doing here?" asked Jin pointing a finger at Taehyung.

"I'm touched you remember me," said Taehyung with a smirk as Jimin shoved an elbow into his side to get him to knock it off.

Hobi just shook his head, moving back towards the boat to climb inside. Jimin moved to follow. Taehyung was going to follow behind, but Jin held out a hand to put it on Taehyung's chest to pull him up short.

"Who says you're coming?"

"Jimin and Hobi invited me," said Taehyung as he nodded his head at them. "They invited me into the family. Now move out of the way, princess."

Taehyung wrapped the blanket tighter about him as he shoved past Jin to climb into the boat. Taehyung sat down by Jimin, watching Jin stare at him. There was some sort of emotion broiling in Jin's eyes, but he let it go with a sigh as he moved to get in the boat.

"I suppose I am grateful that you helped Jimin save my life..."

"Honey," said Taehyung as he leaned against the bow of the boat, interrupting Jin as he took up his seat by the motor. "I did most of the saving here. Lets be fair."

"Let me get a sentence out," said Jin as he started the motor, "As I was saying, I am grateful to you for what you did, so I suppose I can allow you to come with us."

It was obvious that Taehyung's walls were up again. Taehyung needed to confide in Jin too. This was going to be a feud that might be minor now but could fester into something more later down the line. As the boat started to cut back through the choppy waters to go back home, Jimin tried to ignore the rolling feeling in his stomach again as he looked at Taehyung. The blanket Taehyung had about his shoulders was billowing in the wind.

"Taehyung," said Jimin. "You need to be nicer to Jin."

"Why? So his highness can use it against me? So he can take me away and experiment on me?"

"Is that what this is about?" asked Jimin in a hushed whisper as Taehyung sighed and turned his head aside.

"How do you know you can trust him?" asked Taehyung in a lower voice. "Why aren't you keeping your guard up more? He's a prince. He's not like you or me or Hobi. For all we know, he could turn us in and pick us apart. Kill us even."

"Jin is different than other humans," said Jimin, "Like Henley. I get that you haven't had the best track record when it comes to trust during your life, Taehyung, but things are different now. You have the choice of what kind of bridges you make, and right now you're choosing to destroy the bridge with Jin."

Taehyung sighed, looking at Jin by the motor. Jin had his eyes fixed on the horizon somewhere, zoning out.

"Are you sure we can trust him?"

"Jin is part of this family you've become a part of," said Jimin, "So yes."

"Fine," said Taehyung with a sigh as he kept the blanket about him. This time - to Jimin - it seemed more like a security blanket than a royal robe. "Jin."

Jin's eyes turned Taehyung's way when he heard his name called. He stayed silent as he looked at Taehyung, waiting for the other to continue.

"I'm sorry for being a bit of a jerk earlier," Taehyung said. "I just have a hard time trusting humans. They are what killed my mother."

Jin's eyes softened hearing that; a faint smile crossing his lips.

"I appreciate the apology. I was gruff earlier too when you saved me, and I apologize as well," said Jin. "I'm sorry that you had that happen to you, but know that you are safe now."

"Safe," said Taehyung in a huff. The word was an unfamiliar concept to him.

"Yes," said Jin. "Safe. This is your home now, and I'll see to it that you stay safe like everyone else."

"Thanks...Princess."

"So we're still keeping the pet name I see, Banshee?"

"Ah..." said Taehyung with a chuckle. "I see two can play this game."

Jimin smiled at seeing the two of them make amends. Hobi seemed to relax more too now that the tension had vanished. Taehyung turned his attention back towards Jimin beside him.

"Thanks for the push."

"You're welcome," said Jimin with a small grin.

"Next time there is a wall up for me, just think of me like a piece of art," said Taehyung. "I'm beautiful but I'm often misunderstood."

"How can you be so vain and yet deep at the same time?" asked Jimin with a small chuckle as Taehyung chuckled too, elbowing him in the side.

"You two act like brothers," remarked Hobi.

"Well, we are in a way," said Taehyung. "We're like brothers from other mothers."

A brother. Friends. A family. The more Jimin heard these words tossed about, the more he began to realize that even though this new world was strange and scary at times, he was no longer depressed. He had something new to fill the void that had been ever expanding in his chest.

Turning his head aside - sure that he was going to hurl as the boat flew up over a wave - Jimin caught sight of the shore and of Jin's country home. At least they were almost back. He couldn't wait to be reunited with his entire family and introduce the newest member.