The Silence of the Sea || Taekook

Chapter 10: Ignorance is a Human Trait

Hello, hello! How are you today? Welcome to the next chapter, it's about Taehyung and Sope.

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Hoseok understands. Taehyung does not.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,

To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;

And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,

And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

- John Masefield, 'Sea Fever'

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The water was cool against Taehyung's skin as he dove into Voda's embrace. It always took a few seconds for his body to start its transformation once in contact with the ocean and another few for his amphibious respiratory system to rip open his gills, but his heart was racing too fast for patience. So down he plunged, squinting as his eyes adjusted to the salt water, gagging as his lungs tried to fulfill their desperate need for air before his body was ready. His skin rippled and tore with the growth of scales, eventually bursting away as his fins exploded to the surface. He'd never shapeshifted so quickly, and by the time he was in his natural form, his entire body ached from the abuse. Still, down he propelled himself, ignoring the blood that seeped out from beneath his scales in favor of getting as far away as possible. The salt water mingled in his wounds, and he hissed in a sharp breath when he finally slowed down enough to feel the sting.

Whatever had just happened wasn't in his plan. Well, truth be told, there wasn't much of a plan, but if there was, it wouldn't involve that.

If he focused just enough, he could imagine the weight of Jungkook's head resting on his shoulder - could imagine the warmth of his human's body pressed against his own. Focusing harder, remembering further - could coax forth how good it felt to touch him, to get close enough to feel his soft breaths against his own lips.

No.

"Tae!"

Taehyung reeled around, eyes wide in panic, to find Yoongi swimming closer. He hadn't realized just how far down he'd gone in his mad dash away, but evidently it was enough to find his pod.

"Where's Hobi?" Taehyung called, chest heaving.

Yoongi slowed as he closed the distance between them, head cocked. The markings in his hide still glowed dimly, indicating he'd been somewhere even deeper, and Taehyung wondered how his friend knew of his presence until the stinging in his open wounds gave him a sharp reminder that he was bleeding and that his friend - and any predator - could probably smell him from miles away.