Seabound-SKZ

Chapter Thirty-Six

Jungkook lay flat on his back in his room in the tavern, mulling over everything he had spoken to Chan about, he was still upset over the conversation he had had with Namjoon the last time they had seen each other, the words still stung even though it has been several days. 

Namjoon had stood, looking princely as ever, by the window as he watched people begin to prep his father's ship when Jungkook found him about the topic, which had been a conversation they, and the rest of the 'guards' had avoided for years, but now...it seemed unavoidable. 

"How do we proceed...with this?" Jungkook broke the silence between the two, motioning between them, Namjoon narrowed his eyes at the younger man, "We won't." His answer cut into Jungkook like a knife, why did Chan fight for his loves but Namjoon wouldn't?

Jungkook fought down the emotions that were threatening to bubble out of him, He couldn't believe this. They-being himself, Joon, and the other five 'guards' had been together for years. they still loved each other...right? 

Maybe Namjoon didn't really love them, he was just using them. maybe it was all fake...the pain Jungkook felt when he had to explain this to the rest of his 'boyfriends'? was horrible, Jimin seemed to deflate under the heavy words. 

Jungkook snapped back to the present time, blinking hard to rid his eyes of the tears, the room around him blurry as he sat up. 

The sun was now almost gone, Jungkook finally hauling himself out of his bed to get something to eat, and with the thought to re-find Chan to say goodbye, just so the ex-prince wouldn't panic that he had gone to report back to his mother. 

Chans heartbeat raced as he saw the glimmer in the water, it could've been a trick of the light, there's no way they were here...right? 

As the glimmers came into full view, he realized it was indeed his lovers, the seven boys in the water dancing gracefully through the waves. 

The youngest sped ahead of the pack, pushing the rest behind him as he hurled himself onto the dock, barreling Chan backward on the wet wood. 

Chan didn't even mind the sharp splinters that dug into his back as he slid back on the sleek deck, embracing the youngest tightly, the others becoming slightly jealous of the scene quickly, and Felix wriggled into the hug quickly. 

Jungkook made his way down the path to the dock, his mind racing, he wasn't sure what to even tell Chan, just that he was leaving? 

He finally reached the dock, he spotted Chan just sitting there, and was about to call out when he watched the prince get absolutely obliterated by a Mer leaping from the water, the laughter floated over the dock and back up to the man, the feeling of jealousy over the relationship prickling under his skin. 

He finally said 'screw it', and headed down the dock anyway, feeling almost bad as he watched the happy reunion. 

He heard one of the Mers, the one with a bright red tail, say, "Chan, who is that?!" in a panicked tone, Chan spinning around and standing quickly, relaxing when he saw Jungkook. 

"Hello, Jungkook," Chan said cautiously, blocking the Mers partially with his body, "What do you need?" He asked, the bodyguard raising his hands to show he wasn't a threat, "I just wanted to let you know that I'm leaving now." 

"Why would Chan care?" another Mer piped up, squinting at him suspiciously, "Hush, Jisung," Chan patted the boy's shoulder gently, "I'm just making sure you know so that you don't think I went to report to your mother or something." Jungkook glanced at the cluster of Mers, "I'll leave you alone now, see you around." 

The bodyguard spun around and walked up the dock, still as perfectly poised as always, his posture as straight and regal as it was before his life got flipped over. 

The Mers quickly moved on, Chan still focusing on the bodyguard for a few moments before Jeongin and Seungmin's playful wrestling stole his attention. 

He could've easily sat there all night, chatting with Minho about the Mer culture while the younger Mers chased each other around the dock, Felix grabbing Chan's legs sometimes to hide, or to steal his attention for a quick kiss. 

But all good things must come to an end, the laughter of the group falling silent as they heard a commotion at the inn, people must've been waking up. 

"We should go." Changbin put in finally, the boys deflating slightly, but slowly agreeing with him. 

"We should..." Hyunjin agreed sadly, pecking Chan on the cheek softly before sliding back into the water, "I wish we didn't!" Jeongin complained to Chan,  from where had hauled himself onto the ex-princes lap after he had grown tired of the playing. 

Chan patted his head softly, "I know, Bub. But'cha gotta go now..." he stifled a yawn, "And I gotta make a plan..." He sighed deeply, passing the youngest over to Changbin to hold, he pushed onto his knees to say goodbye to the rest of the boys. 

He accepted a quick kiss from each of them, saying hushed goodbyes before watching the boys speed away in the water, Minho telling him that they would see each other again soon. 

Chan finally stood after he could no longer see the boys, slowly making his way back up to the tavern to get something to eat, and hopefully, some rest.