The Silence of the Sea || Taekook

Chapter 17: What's the Word for "Kiss"?

Hello, hello! Welcome to the next chapter. I'm sure you want to get right into it, so let's go!

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Compromises must happen.

You are the moon, dear love, and I the sea:

The tide of hope swells high within my breast,

And hides the rough dark rocks of life's unrest

When your fond eyes smile near in perigee.

But when that loving face is turned from me,

Low falls the tide, and the grim rocks appear,

And earth's dim coast-line seems a thing to fear.

You are the moon, dear one, and I the sea.

- Ella Wheeler Wilcox, 'Moon and Sea'

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"Then do it."

Taehyung pinned him with a look that tilted toward obedience, and Jungkook's heart jumped into his throat. Perhaps he wasn't entirely thinking when he said that, but he couldn't bring himself to take it back. Taehyung took a step closer, hand reaching out, fingers almost touching Jungkook's cheek, but then he stopped.

"Wha-"

A gentle hand pressed over his mouth, the owner pursing his lips. When he was certain Jungkook wouldn't interrupt, he signed, "Let's get you home."

Marado was small enough that the entire island felt like home, but Jungkook knew what those words meant. "No."

A stern frown sent him shrinking into himself, but he insisted, "Fine, but I want to know everything. You promised to tell me everything."

"I did no such thing."

"Hyung," Jungkook paused to scrub a hand down his face. "You know damn well what I mean."

Taehyung cocked his head, eyes flicking between the boy in front of him and the sea to his right. His stance leaned to the latter, body coiled, and it wasn't until Jungkook dared to rest a palm on his arm that he finally focused.

If only the human could see the war inside the siren's very soul - Taehyung just jeopardized the existence of his entire species, and for what? For a boy he knew he shouldn't - couldn't - have? Yoongi and Hoseok were always fond of scolding their youngest pod member for his recklessness, but that was always for childish stupidity like swimming into a bloom of jellyfish or playing in the waves of a hurricane. Never for anything that could hurt anyone but himself.