Tails and Toes • Jikook Mermaid AU

Epilogue

One year later

The sunshine shone on his face and he enjoyed the warmth. He looked behind him, his friends stood a few metres behind him. They were as happy as ever with each other. Taehyung and Yoongi were together for over eleven months now, which was a long time. Sure, they had their fights and discussions, but they always made it up. Jungkook was happy that Taehyung had finally found the one and that Yoongi had someone to love in a romantic way. As for Jungkook, it was complicated. He didn't have a boyfriend or girlfriend, but technially he was still in a relationship with Jimin. Ah, Jimin. A smile came across Jungkook's face when he thought about the mermaid. He wanted to come back here, at the beach. He came there every week, but this time it was special. He had remembered it, because there was no way he could forget that. It was exactly a year ago since Jimin had left him to go back home. To go back to the ocean. One year ago, when Jungkook came home on the day Jimin went back to the sea, he cried for atleast fifteen minutes. But then, a comforting feeling came over him and made all weight on his shoulders dissapear. It was like someone told him it would be okay, like Jimin told him that. So, Jungkook obeyed and started to accept it. He knew that Jimin didn't want him to be sad or feel alone, so he tried his best for him. It was all for him. He loved him so much and their love would always continue, it proved to be so because a year had passed and Jungkook still felt the same towards the mermaid. The human boy had to admit that the year passed slowly, without someone to kiss or to hold. He had spent a lot of time with Taehyung and Yoongi, and he got to know Yoongi a lot better. The three of them had done so many things with each other that they lost count. It sucked for Jungkook that he was mostly the third wheel when they did stuff with the three of them. He still couldn't forgive Taehyung and Yoongi going into a ferris wheel together at a famous theme park in the great city of Daegu (which they often visited as it was both of the boys birthplace) and leaving Jungkook alone on the ground. When the black-haired boy thought about it, he wouldn't want to be in there with them though, because they were probably just kissing the whole ride. So when he was alone, he bought some cotton candy for himself and ate it while thinking about the fact that Jimin would have loved it. Taehyung's voice made Jungkook snap out of his thoughts. ''We'll leave, so you can have this moment in peace-'' . ''No, please, stay.'' Jungkook interrupted his best friend. ''You guys give me support when I have a bad day or when I get too sad about Jimin, so I don't want you to leave.'' Taehyung nodded and smiled at Yoongi who held his arm and had his head on the shoulder of the taller boy. Jungkook turned his head to the sea again and smiled, because he felt like Jimin wanted him to. He remembered Jimin's sweet smile, that made dimples in his cheeks and around his eyes. ''Wow, look at that!'' Jungkook heard Taehyung say from behind him. The black-haired boy looked in the same direction as his best friend and as soon as he noticed it, his smile widened. He hasn't smiled that much since months. In the deep blue water, a light pink tail appeared. For a few seconds it was above the water before it dissapeared into the sea again. Jungkook knew immediatly who it was, even though he had never met him. Seokjin, one of Jimin's mermaids hyungs. Jimin had told Jungkook when he was still on land that Seokjin had dyed his hair pink to match the colour with his tail, which was pink as well. But the tail fin didn't look that bright pink, but more like light and calming pink. ''What's that-'' Yoongi asked confused, but he got shut up by Taehyung who put his lips on Yoongi's. The mint-haired boy immediatly forgot that weird thing he saw in the water and focused on Taehyung's lips. Ofcourse Taehyung did it so Yoongi was distracted, but also just because he loved him and was in need for a kiss. Jungkook didn't even notice them kissing for like the hundreth time and stared intensely at the ocean. He knew Jungkook was there, so Jimin must have known it too. But Jimin was right, ofcourse he was, he had told his two hyungs everything about Jungkook and they knew when he came to visit the beach, just for them. Jungkook's smile faded a bit, because he thought Jimin would be there as well. If Jimin knew Jungkook was at the beach, then why didn't he wave with his tail at him like he did when he left a year ago? Another tail appeared above the water, making Jungkook smile widely and chuckle outloud. This one was orange coloured with little hints of dark yellow at the tip of the fin. It waved to Jungkook as well and it had been a long time since Jungkook was this happy. He was so happy that they knew he was there, at the shore. The tail flicked excitedly at Jungkook and then dissapeared with a tiny splash into the water. Jungkook crossed his fingers and hoped with every chance of luck he had that just one more tail would wave him hello. He hoped to see Jimin again, atleast something of him. Seokjin and Hoseok had noticed him, and Jungkook was happy they knew him. Jungkook waited and waited for a solid minute, but still nothing. ''I'll go to the beach café and wait for you guys there, it's getting too cold for me.'' Yoongi said and Jungkook nodded without turning around, his eyes were focused on the spot both tails had appeared and also Jimin's a year ago. Yoongi left Jungkook and Taehyung alone at the shore and the purple-haired boy stood next to his best friend, his hand on Jungkook's shoulder. They were both completely silent, Taehyung already knew that Jungkook was looking out for Jimin and he was as well. Jungkook looked down at the brown sand under his feet, feeling a bit dissapointed. ''Look!'' Taehyung loudly said and shook Jungkook's shoulder with his hand. The black-haired boy immediatly looked up and a big smile appeared on his face, making his eyes glossy. A long blue tail had appeared in the sea, on the same spot where the other two were. It hovered above the water for about five seconds before it flicked and gracefully dissapeared in the water. It was him, Jimin. He was okay, he was healthy. He was himself again, he was free. He was happy at home with his two hyungs. Jungkook felt so happy that he cried tears of happiness. Jimin was home, his Jimin was finally home again. Jungkook turned his head to look at Taehyung who also cried tears of joy, a boxy smile was on his face and he quickly wiped his tears away. ''He loves you.'' Taehyung said with a raspy voice and Jungkook nodded with his head. ''I know.'' He answered and hugged his best friend. They let each other go and walked over the shore towards the beach café where Yoongi was waiting on them. The two boys eventually stood at a large hill on the beach that had a view over a big part of the deep blue ocean. It was breathtaking, that's how beautiful it was. Jungkook and Taehyung lifted up their arms and waved to the peaceful water below them. The black-haired boy knew what would happen, but he still grabbed his best friends arm for support when it happened. Three tails waved back, all in sync. A pink one, an orange one and a blue one. And they dissapeared in the peaceful deep blue water at the same moment, all really graceful and full of elegancy. Ofcourse, mermaids were elegant creatures. And beautiful ofcourse, Jungkook was lucky that he had a relationship with one. The two boys stopped waving and smiled at the sea for the last time this week. Next week, Jungkook would come again and he would never stop visiting the beach for his boyfriend. Taehyung and Jungkook turned around and walked to the beach café, Taehyung rubbed his hand over the back of his best friend, making sure he was alright. And Jungkook was, he was alright. He had seen Jimin greet him, along with his two mermaid hyungs. It was beautiful and one of the best moments in Jungkook's life. He was so happy he lived in the same universe as them, slept under the same starry night as them. Jungkook and Jimin were so close, but at the same time, so far away. But their love would always continue. To the sea and beyond.