"Are you going to explain, then?" Taehyung looked at me, almost accusingly, "Because this glowing thing is really starting to spark curiosity, as well as, well, everything about this place."
The entire day had passed, speeding by at the pace of a turtle with arthritis. And here we were, sitting bathed in the light from the Timeline, a bowl of hand-popped butter-smothered popcorn sitting in between us. The entirety of Thrusk was asleep, ressured by my claims that Taehyung just needed time.
Time. Complete BS. He was honestly more interested in it than I was, and I was a jumper.
"We... don't really know, actually. But the Timeline was what sort-of led us to you."
"Wait. It can lead people places? Like-"
"Not leading as in a tour guide. The Timeline is more of a... map."
I stand, sighing, and wave a hand at part of the film that made up the Timeline. A small cluster of dark blue dots were gathered in the area I had indicated.
"What are those?" Taehyung asked the obvious question, picking up the popcorn as he stood and devouring another handful.
"Dots."
He rolled his eyes, while I snatched more popcorn. "I know that, but why are they there?"
"It's a place we've been in Time, or more specifically, History."
Taehyung absorbed the information almost silently, with the occasional crunch from the popcorn. Then, "What's that red dot for?" He pointed at one of the three crimson splotches dirtying the surface of the Timeline.
Closing my eyes, I sucked in a long breath, praying to History for strength. "Fails."
Taehyung tilted his head ever so slightly, "What exactly do you mean, fails?"
"Failed missions." I shove more popcorn into my mouth to forgo talking once more.
Taehyung gives me a long stare, waiting for an explanation. When he realizes nothing is forthcoming, he scrambles for the next topic of conversation.
"So..."
I raise an eyebrow, waving at my still full mouth. Gosh, he has more questions than me.
"These bracelets," He gestures to the faintly glowing cuffs, furrowing his brow in confusion as I shake my head, muttering unintelligibly through my popcorn.
"That's not an answer, and I want one. You kidnapped me, so explain!"
I struggle for a moment, swallow, and then grin, "And I made you popcorn."
"But you ate most of it."
"Fine, but it's not fluffy," I sniff.
"Ok?" The silence stretches between us.
"We stole them from a dying elephant's pet lion." I look away, tears forming, stinging in the corners of my eyes.
"Really?" Taehyung scans me, clearly noticing my genuine tears, "I'm not convinced..."
Blinking furiously, I wipe my eyes on the rough cloth of my jacket before speaking slowly, "Yeah. Good. I don't like gullible people."
"Can I take them off, then?"
"You can't"
"I know. I've tried." Taehyung's feet tapped the floor, as if trying to make something out of the silence.
"They won't come off unless I tell them to." I admit at last, eyeing my One shoes.
"You? But... Hyun-ae was the one who put them on-"
"I know," I cut him off, "I don't understand it either. But... they only work for me."
"These strange... shiny things... work for you?"
"Not exactly, they just seem to recognize me."
"They're hunks of metal. That's impossible."
"Time-travel is impossible," I counter, ice lacing my words, "Look, I don't get it either. But if Hyun-ae doesn't understand it, I've got no chance," I thump down on the bed, rolling up in the sheets, turning towards the wall, "I put your sheets on the bed."
Taehyung's shadow shifted slightly, "I'm still confused on how you got those without anyone noticing. And why no one's noticed I'm gone yet."
"You were on vacation for once. No one wants to disturb you. And it was simple Space manipulation. The Four. All the crap I already explained," I closed my eyes, waiting for him to leave, begging to have a moment of solace.
A moment was all.
"Can I borrow one of your books?" He has moved closer. I rolled my eyes in exasperation, "Yeah. Whatever. Just... I asked Hyun-ae to keep it down, you should be able to sleep fine.
With that, Taehyung left.
I was alone with my thoughts and the Timeline once more.
