Perpetual Rain ✓

No More

Taehyung pulled you out of the semi-crowded restaurant and back onto the streets of Japan. It was the lunchtime rush and there were people scattered about which normally would put you on edge. However, it was different now. You didn't have to worry about the stares or the side eye glances. You didn't worry about judgment or false assumptions. Only Taehyung was able to lay his eyes on you now, and for the first time in what felt like your entire life. His eyes on you didn't make you uncomfortable. You had never had someone look at you completely, in your most vulnerable state and still find beauty in you. The thought caused the corner of your lips to curl upward, following him along as he leads you by the hand. 

Taehyung lead you into the street, in a standstill of traffic and stood in the middle of the road before he finally turned to you. Taking a look around you smiled up at him confused about his intentions. Your head tilted to the side, feeling the droplets of water start to dampen your hair as well as his, making that chestnut brown turn to sweet dark chocolate. 

"What're we doing?" You asked as he felt him engulf your other hand with his own. He stared down at your clasped palms and let his thumb glide soothingly over the back of your hand for a moment, uncaring of the honking cars and the busy street light that surrounded you. You took in slow deep breathes, relaxing against his touch as your gaze fell with his. 

Soon enough, your chin was taken into his hold and brought back up to meet his dark earthy gaze. He smiled at you, the corner of his lips perking in such a beautiful fashion it almost made you forget how to breathe but his touch grounded you. 

"I want you to close your eyes." He gave your hands a gentle squeeze, he wanted you to trust him. He always had wanted that. Offering a nod, you let your eyes fall shut per his instructions. 

"Now, picture a place. Bright and sunny, a place without rain." Taehyung instructed. You focused on the sound of his voice over the sound of the busy street life. You took in a breath and let your mind wander, though one of the taxicabs nearby loudly blared their horn causing you to flinch and break your concentration. 

"Taehyung what is the--" 

"Shh..." He whispered, his hands leaving your chin as it quickly shot up to your cheek. His thumb glided across your skin so soothingly before you could reopen your eyes. "Just keep the thought." His hand glided to the side of your neck, his fingers bracing the back of your skull as he held you there. "Picture a beach. The warm sand on your feet, the sun kissing your skin. Listen to the crashing waves of the endless ocean." 

You felt as though he was reading you an audiobook at this point, but you were quickly becoming hung up on his every word. His deep voice lulling you into a sense of relaxation. You started to envision what he described. Beautiful white sand outlining a crystal blue ocean, the way the air hung with the faint taste of salt and the smell of fresh clean air. Vibrant green palm trees stretched across the forested shore, offering shade to the warm day. Boats floating off into the distance, ready to set sail to the open sea. Skys as blue as sapphire speckled with paintbrush clouds that would make even Bob Ross proud. 

"Can you see it?" Taehyung asked, his voice seemed so much closer. You could feel the heat of his breath against your face and the radiant warmth of his skin. You took in a calming breath as the world around seemed to fall silent, so much so you swore you could hear the crashing waves so vividly now. 

"Yes." You whispered back. You felt his forehead press against your own as your breaths became timed and slow, soothing even. His thumb continuing to glide across the skin of your neck. You never once opened your eyes. 

His forehead left your own but was quickly replaced by the warm sensation of his lips as they gently brushed your bangs from the way and kissed at your skin. You couldn't help but let a content smile roll across your features that lit up your face. He pulled back not a moment later, making you long for the feeling to return. 

"Open your eyes..." His deep voice called out to you whispering into the wind that drifted to your ears and caused your eyes to slowly open per command. The first thing you saw was him. 

It only took a moment for you to notice how bright everything was. Almost blinding compared to the dark derry nature in which you had spent the last few weeks. Your eyes shot up to the sky, seeing no rain rushing back down to you. The sky was as blue as you had imagined, the clouds more perfect then you could have hoped for. The air was fresh, and you could taste the salt. 

Your eyes lit up, quickly darting your gaze around to see the ocean, the white sand. Everything you had pictured in your mind was right before your eyes with minor details changed. You were standing on the beach, next to the shores, feet in the sand. 

"How did you...?" Your voice trailed back to him as your eyes rocketed to his face in surprise. He beamed at you, flashing an adoring smile as he stared more deeply into your eyes with admiration. You were the entire view to him. 

"I wasn't sure it would work." He laughed lowly under his breath. "I've never used that trick before." He let his hand squeeze against your own before raising it up between the two of you. "It's one that we reapers can't do very often, if at all. It requires..." His words trailed off as he brought your knuckles to his lips and gave them a gentle kiss that brought sparks scattering through your body. "For the person, we are with to let us in, to trust us completely..." 

"I..." Your gaze drifted off to the side, finding yourself at a loss of words as to what you could say in response to that. 

"Thank you." Taehyung decided to fill the vague silence, not pressuring you to say a thing. His brown eyes that were speckled with gold from the evening sun shined lights of gratitude toward you. You didn't even do a thing, but somehow that meant so much to him. 

Quickly, you cleared your throat and involuntarily turned your body to the side as you tried to hide your face and the pink tint that began to spread across your cheeks like wildfire. You raised your free hand to the side of your neck, rubbing at it slowly as you tried to find the words to reply, to say anything. 

"You're welcome?" You sounded so unsure.

"Come on." Taehyung laughed more deeply, letting your clasped hands fall down between you before giving it a gentle tug and ushering you to follow him. "The rain finally stopped, let's enjoy it." You looked back to him, staring at his back as he leads you toward the beach. The rays of sun shining around his frame, casting a shadow on you but making him look as though he was glowing. 

You smiled, feeling the warm sunlight on your skin that you never knew you had missed. Following the light wherever it might lead, whatever he took you. Because as long as he was with you, you were starting to realize that you'd be alright.