𝗺𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺.

⠀always

"jeongguk, your wings look so pretty today," taehyung states, rejoicing in the magnificent display of chalky white feathers now bountiful in size as the boy sits, his perch atop the hill with that beautiful smile that makes the other boy's limbs feel as though they are alive with sparks and tingles; no longer heavy and dead as they had been earlier.

the moonlight catches on each subtle dip and curve of jeongguk's structure, a humbled masterpiece that comes only annually to be appreciated by the village boy. like a secret kept locked away by time himself— revealed only to those willing to listen; much like the greatest songs.

"thank you, they're starting to grow a little heavy now," comes the bashful response of the angel, his words capsulated in the glory of a dozen springs and a dozen leaves baked in the colours of an inferno (garnished in the kiss of the twilight). "but they don't feel so useless anymore."

"can you use them to fly?" taehyung asks, hands aching to reach out and feel the soft weight of the wings against them, but would that be to push a boundary they'd not yet acknowledged? the only contact they've ever made was with the bittersweet grace of jeongguk's cold lips against his cheek when they say goodbye. would it not be too fragile a routine to fray by stealing more greedy touches?

"i've never tried," jeongguk replies. he peers then, up at the sullen moon, threading clouds of silver to hide the stars' eyes.

the position tells them that not much time is left. the moon wants not to allow the sun to graze the horizon once more. he wants to protect this fallen angel from the year's slumber that bestows him, keep him in the gaze of his village boy, keep him blushing in the delicate light which wraps her arms around his rib cage and entwines him in a blush so beguiling that taehyung almost can't come to breathe correctly in his wake.

jeongguk stands with his legs wobbly, much like a fawn, for he does not come to stand much. rather, he perches with his knees against the grass in wait for his precious visitor, never a need to move from his place when his world revolves around him.

yet under the gaze of the village boy, he walks towards the peak of the hill, wings beginning to part as though they have a mind of their own. his silhouette is gorgeous against the deep emerald of the grass, caught in the blur of the stars.

taehyung watches, gormless and patient, lips delicately parted as though he might possibly have any comment to make on the anticipation rising in his stomach. his angel is about to fly; an ethereal being held up by the arms of nature. at one with the breeze and a friend to the warmth of the evening's air.

the wings beat once, then twice, jeongguk's heart swallowed into his throat as he glances down at the ground and tries not to feel taehyung's hopes rise along with his body as he allows his wings to do the thinking.

and for a second he is airborne, taehyung rising to his feet despite the ache in his head and the weakness of his knees, running to the top of the hill to stare in wonder at jeongguk as he floats amongst the fireflies.

but it's all short-lived, and taehyung's hopes are doused with a lick of flames best known as terror as the angel boy comes hurtling back down to earth in the eye of the moon and rolls down the hill, wings dropping several feathers as taehyung chases down after him. he nearly falls over himself, breathing growing sporadic from moving too much when the light feeling in his brain hasn't yet subsided.

"jeongguk!" he cries, reaching the bottom of the hill that had brought him all of his dreams, and finds the boy curled in on himself in both shame and embarrassment, weeping tears like liquid despair as taehyung pulls him into his arms, fingers entangled into his hair. "you flew... you really flew. for a second, you looked... you looked so free."

"b-but i fell," the angel whispers, looking down through glistening eyes at the crimson liquid that swims through the creases in the skin of his knees like little rivers.

"you flew," taehyung insists, cradling the boy in his arms still, so that their shadow becomes one against the base of the hill. "and... one day... you're going to fly up so high. you're going to be the prettiest constellation in the sky. made of freckles and glistening eyes. a celestial body so breathtaking that the moon will never ever fall from the sky. he'll stay up forever so that we can be together. you'll be his proudest creation, and we'll be his favourite bedtime story."

jeongguk smiles, then, a shy smile that lingers far too long and makes his eyes move sheepishly down to the grass.

"as soon as i can... i'll carry you with me. i'll fly you to the top of the willow tree, and we'll see the view from up high... just like we're part of the night sky. like we belong amongst the stars. we can stay there forever and pretend that morning will never come," the angel says, all trembling lips and glossy eyes that capture any doubt taehyung has and turns it into gold.

"you promise?" taehyung's eyes burn bright, sparks of light dancing across his irises as he lets his mind run wild with thoughts of leaving the safety of the ground for something so magical.

"my wings are growing stronger every year, now, taehyung. i feel it when you're near me... like i know it's... it's just a matter of time."