MOON || JIKOOK ✅

10.

JIMIN POV

It had been weeks since
He had been awake to watch
the sunrise.

Now, as the first tendrils of light crept across the horizon, he found himself standing on the deck of a ship, one hand
clasped tight to the rail as
he looked east.

The breeze that tangled through his damp hair tasted of salt and freedom and the sea spray that misted across his skin now
and then evoked his happy
childhood memories so
strongly that for one brief moment, his heart sang.

Footsteps approached and he didn't have to turn to know it was Prince Jungkook.

"We depart shortly."

"They're just raising the
anchor."

He could hear the calls of the crew, their words familiar, if
not their accents.

The sea breeze gathered pace and he shivered a little.

His cloak was below deck with the rest of his things but he
was reluctant to abandon the beautiful vista to get it.

"Jimin?"

At Jungkook's soft call, he
turned and found the alpha
had unpinned his own cloak
and was holding it out.

"Oh, no. I couldn't..."

"I insist."

With that, the cloak was
settled around his shoulders.

The lingering warmth from
Jungkook was oddly comforting, as was the kind gesture, reminding Jimin of their
wedding day when the alpha
had done just the same.

Had it really been a month
since then?

It felt like yesterday and yet,
at the same time, years
seemed to have passed.

He strongly suspected that
while 'honeymooning' in the summer palace was customary, the happy couple slipping away just as the sun rose wasn't.

There was probably supposed
to be a fanfare as they were
seen off.

Instead, only the king and his husband stood on the dock to watch them depart.

Another kindness, though it wasn't until Jungkook had
spoken of it again the evening before that Jimin had fully considered the importance of
the treaty with hybe to the kingdom of Syria and what
that meant for his marriage.

It was a relief to know they wouldn't demand an annulment for the lack of a true wedding night or the lack of a true prince since he felt more like a ghost than a person most days.

And in that forgotten annex in the palace, alone and unobserved, he could almost have believed that's exactly
what he was.

Here and now, with Jungkook's hand resting lightly on his shoulder, the alpha's cloak tucked tightly around him and the open ocean beckoning, he felt a spark of life within him.

Could he nurse that spark into something more or was it destined to be extinguished,
like every other strand of happiness in his life thus far?

"I have something for
you." Jungkook said suddenly, pulling him from his thoughts.

"A gift."

He watched the alpha warily, unsure what that meant or
what he'd done to earn the alpha's favor.

Jungkook reached into the
pocket of his tunic and withdrew a small drawstring bag,
which he handed to him.

Bewildered, Jimin opened it
and tipped it into his palm.