Perpetual Rain ✓

Night

"What're you thinking about?" Taehyung questioned, his hands cradled at your back while the other curled under your legs. Saltwater surrounded you as you could feel the gentle waves of the ocean brush your skin. 

"It's stupid, really." You scuffed, breaking your gaze from the moonlight as you lowered your head. He was holding you bridal style in the moonlight ocean, water up to your chests but not too deep to where the two of you had to fight to stay afloat. It was cold, but the body heat radiating off his bare chest helped keep you warm. Your arms wrapped around his neck, clasping at your opposing wrist to keep your self locked against him. 

"Tell me anyway." His words encouraged as he pressed his head to the side of your own, his wet locks ticking at your cheek as he nuzzled into you causing you to breathe out slowly with a smile. 

"I was just wondering. If we were both still alive if..." Your tongue slipped from your lips and glided between them, wetting them as you tried to figure out how to phrase this as to not sound overly sappy. " ... If I would have ever gotten the chance to meet you." 

Taehyung pulled his head back as his eyes opened a bit wide, taken back by your words which instantly made you regret letting them leave your mouth. 

"I-I mean.. realistically probably no--" Before your overly rationalized mindset could ruin your previous statement Taehyung quickly pushed his face forward and stole a kiss from your lips. You hummed in your own surprise. It was sudden but sweet. It disappeared as soon as it came, but it was enough to successfully throw you off your train of thought. 

"To hell with realistically." Taehyung whispered to you as he tightened his hold around your wet body and pulled you even closer. "If I was to live again, but was given no chance to see you in that next life... then I'd rather stay here, for as long as you'll have me." 

You pointed your head down, though your beaming smile shined almost as brightly as the moon. He was sappy and romantic, he was goofy and unpredictable sometimes but, he knew how to make your heart sputter with the simplest things. 

"Is reincarnation a thing?" You decided to ask as you brought your gaze back up to him. Given you hadn't exactly ever believed in the possibility of a heaven or a hell, you were left with no choice but to believe in something now. You were in this mythical state of 'limo' to which, you hadn't believed existed either. You knew Taehyung's job, Jimin's job. They guided souls to the 'light' but neither of them had ever addressed what exactly that light might be. 

"I can't say..." Taehyung whispered as his eyes averted away from you. 

"Because of your 'job' or because you don't know?" You questioned back, letting your brows dip slightly but not so harsh that he'd assume you were becoming angry. You felt you were past those emotions, you didn't want them back. 

"I don't know. I mean, I have suspicions but we were never told what waits on the other side because we were the souls that choose to stay in limbo." Taehyung's gaze drifted up to the sky, watching as the stars unfolded before his eyes. A sky so pitch black it was like anything you had seen before. The sky was so clear you could count every speck if you truly wanted. "I think the 'higher-ups' felt that if we knew, it'd sway our choice to become reapers." 

"Wait you choose to stay here?" Your brows knitted in the center, widening your gaze as you were left a bit dumbfounded. You knew he was once human but, you figured he may have been forced into this line of work not given the option to take it. 

"I did." You saw the apple in his throat bounce as he grew a bit more nervous. You didn't try and worm from his grasp however, he still cradled you safety in his arms in the cool night water. 

"Why?" Your lips fell apart, hanging open, your voice a weak whisper. You couldn't believe the thought never occurred to you that this was his choice. He made the choice to be a reaper and now here he was, abandoning his job to be with you. 

"For Jimin..." He clamped his teeth down on his lip and twisted his head as far from your gaze as you could. You could only see his profile but you knew there was more to this story that you were ignorant of. You could see liquid glistening in the corner of his eye and how his hues hazed, you could almost see the film reel in his mind replaying painful memories. 

Pulling one of your hands from around his neck you placed it on his chest, near his heart. You let your fingers warm his skin and offer as much comfort as you felt that you could without worsening the situation. You wanted him to know it was okay, if he wanted to talk about it or if he didn't at all. Silence fell over the two of you like a blanket before he took in a few deep breaths and blinked away the unwanted emotion from his eyes. 

"Let's go back to the shore." He suggested, staring at you as he was more or less asking for your permission. You gave a quick nod as your brunette locks, still wet with salt water bounced around you. 

You started to shift your frame, trying to get up as you planned to wade through the water and walk along the sea bed to get back yourself. Taehyung's arms wrapped tighter around you, refusing to let you free. He turned and began to carry you back to shore, cradled in his arms whether you liked it or not. You gave up the fight and didn't argue. 

He carried your body out of the water and back onto the white sanded beach. He set you down in the sand, a few feet from where the tide rolled up. He motioned that he'd be right back before wandering away to gather up two beach towels and quickly return to your side. He drapped one of the blue beach towels over your frame like a blanket, given you were in nothing but your swimsuit now you appreciated the gesture and offered him a smile in thanks. He covered himself with the next one and took a seat beside you. 

You began to ring out your hair and dry it with the towel as an awkward silence engulfed the two of you. The sound of the breathing sea the only thing that filled the empty air. You weren't sure what to say, you were still left surprised. You wanted to know more but at the same time, you didn't want to pry. Tightening the towel around your body you brought your knees closer to your chest and let your hands rest against the sand. Though, purposely you placed your palm over his as they rested between you. 

He grabbed your hand, wrapping his own around your much daintier fingers before lacing them together. You offered him a glance from the corner of your eye, you weren't sure why but you felt that perhaps silence was what he needed right now, so you gave him that. Looking toward the endless sea you scooted yourself a bit closer and let your body lean to the side. Your head braced against his shoulder as you used it for a pillow. 

You gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, letting him know you were there for him and wouldn't be going anywhere. Even if he wanted to sit here till the sunrise came in complete silence, you'd stay by his side. For the first time, you didn't feel as though you were the only one who needed someone. Perhaps, he needed you just as much.