Across the Universe - Namjin Yoonmin Taekook

•33•

- You want one?

Kook turns to lock eyes with his cellmate. Yoongi is holding the same little pack of mints he takes everywhere offering one and pretending he's not terrified of the plan they're executing.

- No thanks, they're quite disgusting

- C'mon...

- Ugh

Kook takes one and tries not to chew on it much so the taste can wash off faster. Sitting next to each other they look outside the cage they put them in. A little after Namjoon used his voice to get the enemies attention they showed up. Their ship looked so old, probably because it was made out of the parts of many other ships. Most likely ships they attacked earning the title of space pirates. Though they were more than that. Yoongi can't understand how could someone go that far and destroy that much for something as simple as money or power.

Joonie is probably the one that knows the most about those things. But he's not in that cell now. Unlike them, he didn't end up locked in an old rusty cage with barely any space for them to stand. Instead, he's currently having a long conversation with the Captain of this ship and the man that killed everyone just ten years ago. Even though they would love to hear their conversation and make sure Joonie is safe, they have to wait. They can't make a move for now. Not until they get the signal they agreed to.

- Want another one?

- Don't push it. My stomach is not made for these things

- It's just a-

He can't end the phrase before one of the creatures keeping them captive takes the mint box off his hand. His movement is so rough Yoongi knows he could've lost his hand if he didn't let them go. Those primitive aliens with white eyes and four arms decide to taste the mints themselves. They look like kids with a new candy. Of course, no kid could ever look as scary as them.

- Hey, are you sure you can open this when necessary?

- I could tear you apart if I try hard enough. I can handle an old cage.

- Thank God you're not our enemy, Kook.

- Yeah well, I can get out but I don't think I can win against all of them

- You can trick them easily. They're clumsy and slow. Even when they talk

- Talk? I never heard a word out of them

- Ah, communication is a wonderful thing! Look at them closely. Look at the way they move...

Kook stares at them with extreme detail and yet understands nothing. There's not a single thing standing up for him. Nothing calls his attention. But Yoongi? He spent so many years learning about dead tongues, about ways of communicating with others, he can see it all perfectly.

- The one standing with his back straight. That's one of those with more power. You can tell by the his head is up. The less power or rank they have, the closer to the floor they get. Like the one practically walking on all fours.

- And where do you see them talking?

- It's the sounds they make with their palms. Look! They seem to have a poor eyesight so physical signals are useless. But the small sounds coming from their hands as they snap their fingers or tap other things...they can interpret those sounds.

- I don't think I could ever understand what they say

- I can't go that far either. But I can tell those over there are giving the orders. If you take them down it might be easier to move to the next step of the plan.

- You know, Captain Park should acknowledge you're smart as fuck sometimes

- Yeah...tell him that if we go back alive, okay? As a favor?

- Don't even need to ask

They both wait several minutes in that cell pretending to be calm. Truth is they're well aware of the risk they took coming here. The chances of dying are high and neither of them is satisfied with the way their lives are currently. Trying to distract himself from all those thoughts, Kook looks around trying to observe the aliens near them a little better. Following Yoongi's example, he tries his best to interpret their movements, their gestures, their sounds.

It's in the middle of his attentive analysis of his surroundings that he sees one of the creatures walking strangely. He seems uncomfortable in his own skin. In a whisper he talks to Yoongi again while pointing at that specific alien.

- What about that one? What's his rank?

- That one...I don't....I don't understand it. He changes positions constantly. It's like he's copying the ones he comes across.

- Hard to copy someone when he probably can't even see them. He must be just as blind as...

In that very moment, the creature turns around and Kook can see a pair of green eyes. The same green eyes he fell for when he met his favorite and lovely shape shifter for the first time. Tae is now surrounded by dangerous creatures trying to go by unnoticed. But more than one have their attention on him. Kook can tell there's a tension starting to rise near the love of his life.

- I'll open now

- What?! You can't change our plans just like that! We're supposed to wait for Joonie's signal!

There's no way of changing his mind now. The boy he loves came for him and it won't take long before he finds himself in danger. Yoongi tries to understand while he can't help to be amazed by Kook's strength. The younger opens the cage by bending the bars just enough to walk past them. They'll have to fight before time and hope for Joonie to be okay meanwhile.

A light reaches Yoongi's eyes making him look up and finally noticing the ship they belong to just a few meters form this one. He can't help to pray for Jimin not to get involved in the fight. Next to him, Kook fights hurting a few of the aliens. He's not strong enough to kill them, not even after all these years of training against big animals on his planet. The idea of death is more present than ever. He doesn't mind losing his life away from his home, from his family, killed by strangers he never talked to. But if that's gonna happen he has a promise to keep. He can die but the boy he loves has to survive no matter what. That's all he cares for.

It's a whole challenge to get to Tae and he can't do it unharmed. But even a few new scars he gets to him. The green eyed alien avoided the conflict the best he could. Being a prey most of his life came in handy in a situation like this one. And considering last time he came across those creatures he was about to die made him extra careful. Holding his hand, Kook feels that warm feeling on his chest he was never able to suppress. He guides him back to the cell and gets Tae inside before closing the same bars he had separated a few minutes earlier.

- What are you doing?!

- Keeping you safe. This will buy you enough time for the Captain to come rescue you. Keep pretending, Pak'thra. Your eyes are beautiful even in this body

He shows him one more smile before going back to fight. Pretending to be strong even though he has more than one scar starting to bleed after the last minutes of struggle. And before Tae can answer he's back doing what he knows best. Fight with honor, because dying against a stronger opponent is the way his life is supposed to end...

Next Chapter

Don't worry, I need you alive

You should know by now what happens to people around you

--------------------------------------------------------------

Hi babes! We're finally on our final chapters and confrontation! Damn Kook and his fucking warrior culture here 🥺

We'll have to wait a little more to see what happens! Since the next one we'll see Joonie again 😵‍💫

See you soon!

- Baby Y