Chapter 34: A Collision of Voices

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Holy shit, I am so so so sorry for how long I was gone. The writer's block hit hard, and I started feeling really shitty about this story, like I was rushing it or dragging it out just for the sake of it, and I didn't want this story to be like that at all. I'm so sorry, but I hope this chapter earns me some forgiveness (or some rage for a totally different reason)

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Yoongi meets Jungkook.

A voice out of the silence of the deep,

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A voice out of the silence of the deep,

A sound mysteriously multiplied

As of a cataract from the mountain's side,

Or roar of winds upon a wooded steep.

- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 'The Sound of the Sea'

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If Jungkook stared hard enough, he could pretend that he could hear the rivulets of recondensed water drip down the walls, their race hastened by the pull of gravity. If he dug deep enough in his memory, he could recall that water splashed with an echo when it hit stone, even if that echo was too faint to hear. But surely in a cave as expansive as this, all vaulted ceilings and hard bedrock, the droplets would hit in time to create a melody fit for a god's ears. Maybe he'd write a song to it, or hum the harmony. Did sirens ever sit in their homes and listen to the music only they were privy to?

"What are you thinking about so intensely?"

Jungkook shrugged, gaze falling down to his hand. Hoseok had visited the day prior to remove the bandage, shocking Jungkook to his core when he found no trace of the self-inflicted wound.

He felt rather than heard Taehyung sit down in the sand beside him, stretching his legs out so his calves were submerged in the cool seawater. The grotto was always pleasantly warm, but still Jungkook only let his feet touch the water lapping at the shore.

"How am I gonna get home?" Jungkook finally allowed.

Taehyung stiffened - he tried to hide it, but Jungkook still noticed. "I'm not sure, Gguk. But we have time to figure it out."

"Yeah, but how much time?" Jungkook pressed, turning his head to look into the swirling depths of Taehyung's eyes. "I miss my hyungs, Tae."

Taehyung lowered his gaze, red licking his cheeks. "I'm not trying to keep you here forever, Jeongguk. I won't try to hide that I'd like that, but I know that you aren't mine to keep."

The hurt in his voice was enough to make Jungkook look away, watching the light bounce off the water's surface.

"It's not like I can just swim you to the surface," Taehyung continued quietly. His voice was entirely clear in Jungkook's head - the static and thunder that overwhelmed the sound had faded into nothingness over the past few days, and Jungkook's breath caught in his throat whenever the elder spoke. His voice truly was beautiful. "You wouldn't be able to hold your breath that long, and the pressure change would hurt you at the speed I'd have to go."

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