A story about werewolves, full moons, fire and the unbreakable friendship between two boys. Jimin and Taehyung first met when they were both young the only thing is, Taehyung had no idea the wolf he had befriended was in fact a werewolf.
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It was Taehyung’s 16th birthday and the snow was falling and swirling around him like it was trying to give him a hug. He was waiting for Jimin, he hadn’t spoken to him for almost a month but Jimin had said the last time he was human that he’d shift next when it was Taehyung’s birthday. And true to his word Jimin emerged from a thicket, human and clothed in the clothes Taehyung had given him a few days ago, telling him that he’d freeze his butt off if he pranced around naked in winter.
“So all I’m saying is that my butt wouldn’t have been the only body part that would’ve been frozen and useless had I not had clothing.” It was the first thing Jimin had said to him in weeks and Taehyung threw his head back and laughed unabashedly.
“I’m glad I could be of service, Lord of all Wolfies, it’s my aim and absolute pleasure in life to make you as comfortable as possible.”
“Really? You disappearing will make me pretty darn comfortable.”
Taehyung stuck his tongue in the side of his cheek, “Well, would you look at who finally acquired a sense of humour.”
“I acquired no such thing.”
“Okay, maybe you haven’t quite grasped the idea of a birthday yet, Jimin but it’s my special day so you’re supposed to be nice to me.”
Jimin sighed, “That sounds exhausting.”
“Hey!”
“I’m kidding, I’m kidding,” he giggled. “Here, I finally got you a birthday present and yes the wrapping I might’ve stolen from your room.”
Taehyung eyed the paper Jimin had folded into a box and cracked a lopsided grin. He felt his heart constrict a little at the gesture and awkwardly took the box and lifted the lid. Inside was a braided bracelet with feathers and a tooth attached to it.
“I umm... I raided a bird’s nest for all the strings and feathers, and Hoseok had lost one of his canines when he fought another wolf, but don’t worry I washed everything, I swear.”
“This,” Taehyung was impressed, it looked like something out of a story book that lent you strength when you were facing some kind of beast or something. “is fucking spectacular!”
Jimin gasped, slapping his hand over his mouth, appalled. “You shouldn’t sw–”
Taehyung pulled him in for a hug and crushed the pale boy to him, “It’s my birthday, so I can do and say whatever I want. Thank you, Minmin, I really like it.”
Getting over his initial shock, Jimin smiled and returned the hug, burying his face in Taehyung’s wool scarf.
They wondered the woods as the winter breeze threaded around them and through the trees. “I can’t believe I’ve never asked this but do werewolves celebrate birthdays?”
“Nope, there’s no use for it.”
“Nor is there a use for it in the human world but that doesn’t stop us from celebrating it. Come on, we should start celebrating your birthday, when is it?”
“Umm 13th of October, I think.”
Taehyung’s steps faltered, “You think? When was the last time you celebrated it?”
“When I turned four.”
“I thought it would be when you turned five, because when I found out you were a werewolf you said you last had ice cream when you were five.”
Jimin scratched his head, suddenly tense and grim, “I was bitten before I turned five and when my parents saw what I’d become they didn’t exactly fancy the idea of celebrating a demon’s birthday.”
Taehyung’s brows almost touched his hairline, “Demon? Did they actually say that?”
“Yeah, their exact words,” he laughed then, but it was bitter and came out more like a cough.
Taehyung wanted to tread carefully but thought that if they were truly friends they were bound to have difficult conversations at some point, so he went for it, “I’ve always wondered about them, are they...”
“Dead? No. Actually I don’t know. The last time I saw them was eleven years ago when they...” He trailed off, his face devoid of any emotion, just paler than usual.
“They what, Jimin?” Taehyung swallowed, he was afraid of the answer because he already had one in mind and that one was too horrible to think about for too long, it nauseated him.
He watched the shift in Jimin’s expression, from blank as a sheet of paper to red and hot as tears flooded his silver eyes and he started to tremble from something other than the cold. “They–” Jimin sucked in a fast breath, choking on his tears, his legs giving out.
“Jimin,” Taehyung didn’t know why he whispered his name, was it a plea? Something to hold onto while the ground felt like it had tilted, knocking him off balance and his best friend’s name was some kind of anchor. He sunk to his knees, filing through all that he’s ever learnt on this stupid planet for something that could help him comfort Jimin. “I’m so sorry.”
Jimin shook his head, hiccupping as he continued to cry. He was folded into the tightest ball as if he’d be able to shield himself from the memory of what his parents had done to him. So that’s what Taehyung did, wrapped his arms around Jimin, helping him create a fortress until the little prince felt safe enough to come out and even then Taehyung would be the dragon who incinerated anyone who tried to harm his best friend. It was promise.
Several moments flew by and Jimin gradually calmed, telling Taehyung about the night he wished he could forget. “They tried to burn me alive.”
Jimin felt Taehyung go absolutely still but braved on feeling like he’d only ever have the strength to tell his story once in his life. “I was bitten by a rogue while my family was camping.” He had told Taehyung before that a rogue was a werewolf who’d broken free from its confinement during the full moon. He shifted slightly so he could bury his head in Taehyung’s scarf again, breathing in, drawing comfort from his scent. He smelt of black tea, spices and snow. “The full moon after that camping trip was when I first shifted and my parents tried for months to ‘cure’ me, rid the beast who’d possessed their precious son but to no avail. They took me to the very same camp where I’d been bitten, doused me in alcohol and set me alight... and walked away.”
“How did you– you were only five, a baby... a pup. Who could do that to a baby?” Taehyung’s voice was scratchy and uneven that it twisted Jimin’s stomach painfully.
“Hoseok pulled me out and rolled me on the ground to extinguish the flames. He stayed with me for a couple of days while I healed; he fed me, kept me warm and protected me from other predators and then when I was strong enough to walk he led me to the pack and they took me in.”
Taehyung pulled away, his eyes red and puffy, “I hate them.”
Wiping his face, Jimin said, “Me too. But I’ll be fine.”
“Of course you’ll be,” Taehyung said, firmly, resolve clear in his tone. “I’ll make sure of it, promise.”
A/N: Hi please don't forget to vote & comment if you're enjoying it, it would mean a lot to me :) Also this cover of Crystal Snow is absolutely beautiful 💕
