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Taegyu | farewell, neverland

Part 2

~Summary

Beomgyu traced the back of his fingers down Taehyun's forearm, leaving his skin burning and tingling where they touched. He laced their fingers together and leaned in close.

“Come away, Taehyun,” Beomgyu whispered, his lips brushing Taehyun’s ear. “Come away to a place where it can just be you and me.”

Taehyun shivered.

“Okay,” he breathed. “Okay, let’s go.”

Rating: M

Word Count: 23k+ (ongoing)

Part 1 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Epiologue

Part 2: Sugar Rush Ride

The most beautiful island Taehyun had ever seen came into view beneath him. It was shaped roughly like a crescent moon and surrounded by a glittering, cerulean sea. The island was lined with beaches of fine white sand and covered in lush greenery. To the west, the dense tropical forest gave way to tall mountains that reached for the sky.

Taehyun could feel the warm sun on his face, and a light breeze swirled around him as he and Beomgyu descended toward the island. Beomgyu brought them down over the water, and Taehyun reached his free hand down to skim the waves with his fingertips. The water was warm.

They approached more quickly, then, until they reached the beach and Beomgyu brought them down onto the soft sand. Taehyun wobbled on his feet at first, a bit shaky from flying, and Beomgyu reached out to steady him. Once Taehyun had his feet firmly on the ground and was standing upright, Beomgyu finally unlaced their fingers and dropped his hand.

Taehyun raised a hand to his face to shield his eyes from the bright sun as he took in his surroundings. His mouth hung open in awe.

Directly in front of him was the dazzling sea he and Beomgyu had flown over, the waves extending into infinity. He turned, and behind him and to his left was dense, full foliage. The colours of the forest seemed impossibly rich, the leaves and vines the most vivid shades of green. To his right, the beach stretched down the side of the island, eventually ending in mountains that were tall and imposing but worn rounded at the top, eroded into sheer cliffs where they met the water below. Sitting on the sea just below the mountains, there was a small sailboat, a black flag flying from its mast.

Taehyun turned back to look at Beomgyu, who had been watching him thoughtfully.

“This place is so beautiful.”

Beomgyu smiled warmly. Taehyun thought that in this setting, the beauty of the other boy seemed more natural, as if Beomgyu was just another feature of the island.

“I’m glad you like it,” Beomgyu said. “It’s not every day that I get to show my home to such a lovely boy.”

Home.

Suddenly, the weight of what he’d done crashed down on Taehyun. Images flashed in his mind. His sister and the wedding preparations. His parents’ faces and how heartbroken they’d be if they discovered he was gone. His university preparations. His friends. He had responsibilities, and he’d just let a gorgeous boy talk him into being whisked away like it was nothing. His knees buckled, and he fell forward, digging his fingers into the white sand.

“Beomgyu, I can’t do this,” Taehyun said, his voice rising in panic. “I shouldn’t be here. You have to take me back.”

Beomgyu frowned and crouched down so his face was on level with Taehyun’s.

“But why?” he asked innocently.

Taehyun shut his eyes tightly, fighting back tears. “I have a life and things I have to do. My sister needs me, and my parents are going to be so worried when they find out I’m gone. I can’t just leave them and go on some insane adventure with you.”

“Shh, gorgeous. They’ll never even know you’re gone.”

Taehyun opened his eyes. “What do you mean?”

Beomgyu reached out and gently lifted Taehyun’s chin so that they were eye to eye. “I told you; this is Neverland. Time stopped for you the moment you jumped off that windowsill with me. When you go back, it’ll be like no time passed at all. Besides, I wouldn’t have been able to bring you with me if it wasn’t what you wanted. The magic doesn’t work that way. There must be something in your life that made you want to escape.”

Taehyun considered this for a moment. He didn’t feel ready to deal with Mr. Park and his bullshit for an entire summer, or face saying goodbye to his precious friends. Even though he loved his sister and his parents dearly and didn’t want to let them down, the pressure was stifling. It was true, he had wanted it all to stop for a while. What was the harm in just…putting it all on hold, if only for a bit? And there was Beomgyu, who was so mesmerizingly beautiful and whose touch set off fireworks in his soul.

“Well…I guess it can’t hurt to stay for a little while.”

Beomgyu grinned and rose to his feet. “Let’s go then! There’s so much I want to show you.”

Taehyun nodded and stood up. Beomgyu reached to take his hand, but just as he was about to take it, he pulled away.

“I’m sorry,” he said shyly. “Can we just…I mean, we just met, and I’m not usually the type of person who would kiss someone they don’t even know. I shouldn’t have done it.”

Beomgyu laughed. “Don’t worry about it. I asked you to kiss me, didn’t I? I wanted to. And not just because of the magic. We can do this however you want to.”

“Oh,” Taehyun muttered, his cheeks turning a bit pink. “Okay then.”

“Come on,” Beomgyu said. “Let me show you my home.”

Beomgyu led Taehyun down a narrow path through the forest. It was overgrown and strewn with roots and vines, but that made the walk even more enchanting—like the whole island was a secret Beomgyu was sharing with him.

Along with the green of the trees were the vivid pinks, oranges, and reds of flowers that dotted the trees and bloomed from bushes. Dappled light from the sun filtered down through the trees, making the colours appear even brighter.

The two walked for a while, deeper and deeper into the forest until they reached a small stream. The water was perfectly transparent, pure as crystal. A makeshift bridge made of four planks tied together with rope was laid across the water. On the other side, a massive willow tree grew. It was two stories high, with a trunk as wide as Taehyun was tall. Its branches were so expansive that they covered the whole area like a great umbrella, making the area feel almost enclosed from the rest of the forest.

Beomgyu crossed over the bridge and gestured for Taehyun to follow, holding some of the dangling branches aside for him. Tentatively, Taehyun crossed and ducked under the branches so he was sheltered beneath the tree. He followed Beomgyu to the base of the trunk and noticed a small wooden door that barely reached his knees. It had a wrought iron handle with a keyhole.

As Taehyun wondered how anyone could fit through, Beomgyu crouched down and fiddled with his necklaces until he found one with two keys on the end. He turned the key in the lock and pulled the door open, revealing a three-foot drop on the other side.

Beomgyu turned to look back at Taehyun. “This is where I live. Just follow me.”

Before Taehyun had a chance to reply, Beomgyu slid feet-first into the hole. The space inside was tall enough for Beomgyu to stand fully. Then, he turned and looked back at Taehyun, who quickly slid in after him.

Taehyun found himself on a small landing beneath the tree. The whole space seemed to be built of the ground itself, the walls and floor made of tightly packed earth. In front of him, he could see a staircase that curved down around a corner and disappeared, though there seemed to be a soft glow cast on them from whatever was below. He looked at Beomgyu curiously, and the other boy stepped around him to pull the door closed, then headed down the stairs.

Taehyun followed him down the steps and around the corner. When they reached the bottom, Taehyun discovered that the light had been coming from old fashioned oil lamps set into alcoves in the walls. Beomgyu had led him into a large underground room that was warm and inviting. They were in a small kitchen area, with rustic wooden cupboards and a black, wood-burning stove. Pots and pans hung down over the counter.

Just beyond the kitchen was a large wooden table with bench seats. It looked big enough to seat six people, and the marks and scratches on the surface suggested that it was well-used.

“What do you think?” Beomgyu asked.

Taehyun turned to smile at him. “It’s cozy.”

The other boy nodded. He seemed thoughtful for a moment before he spoke again.

“How about I show you your room?”

Taehyun agreed and followed Beomgyu to a rounded door on the left side of the main chamber. Beomgyu pulled it open and stepped aside, gesturing for Taehyun to go in and take a look.

Inside, there were two bunk beds along the back wall and one single bed set into the left corner next to the door. Only the single bed was made, with simple white sheets, a single pillow, and a quilt with a green and brown checked pattern. To the right, there was a large wardrobe.

Five beds in total…A question was starting to form in Taehyun’s mind as he looked over the room, but it vanished when Beomgyu spoke.

“The single bed’s the most comfortable, but you could always take a top bunk if you really want to.”

Taehyun gave the bed another look, then turned to face Beomgyu. “I think this one will be fine.”

“Of course, you could always sleep with me in my room instead if you’d prefer, too” Beomgyu drawled, wiggling his eyebrows.

Taehyun rolled his eyes, but he smirked anyway. “You wish.”

Beomgyu winked at him. “Maybe I do.”

Taehyun’s heart skipped, and he looked away.

“So, um, it’s the middle of the day out there. We’re not going to sleep now, are we?”

Beomgyu giggled. “Of course not. I just wanted to show you that I have a place for you.”

Taehyun’s cheeks warmed. Was he planning on kidnapping me like he did? How long has been thinking about this?

He pushed those questions away and instead asked, “What do we do now then?”

“Now, we have fun.

Taehyun soon found himself back in the forest just outside the shelter of Beomgyu’s willow tree. Beomgyu had started leading him down a path through the forest, but stopped and was now glancing up at the trees around him. Taehyun followed his gaze and noticed they had stopped under a break in the branches, giving him a clear view of the sky above him.

“Where are we going?” Taehyun asked.

Beomgyu looked at him, the excitement plain on his face.

“I want to show you everything in Neverland, but since I can’t do it all at once, I’m going to show you the best view of the island from the top of the tallest mountain.”

Beomgyu pointed, and Taehyun looked up between the trees to see one of the mountain peaks rising up in the distance.

“We’re not going to hike all the way there, are we?” Taehyun asked in disbelief.

“No, silly,” Beomgyu laughed. “We’re going to fly, of course.”

“Oh,” Taehyun muttered. “Right. We can do that.”

Beomgyu’s smile turned mischievous. “Well, my magic’s only good for one flight per kiss, so I’m just going to have to carry you this time. Take my hand.”

Beomgyu took a step closer to Taehyun and reached out his hand. Taehyun regarded it with a bit of suspicion, wondering what Beomgyu was up to, but he reached out to take it anyway. As soon as his fingers wrapped around Beomgyu’s, Beomgyu pulled Taehyun into his chest and wrapped his free arm tightly around his waist.

“Hold on tight, gorgeous,” Beomgyu whispered.

Taehyun’s entire face was burning. He barely had the chance to process that Beomgyu’s bare chest was flush against him where his cardigan fell open before they were rising into the air.

Taehyun clung to Beomgyu as they rose up above the trees, his face tucked tight against Beomgyu’s neck. The other boy’s grip was strong and firm around him, and after a minute, he felt brave enough to look up. He found Beomgyu was smirking at him, looking very pleased with himself as they flew.

The forest sped by beneath them, the trees a blur as they approached the mountain. Soon, they were rising more, and Taehyun caught glimpses of cliffs and a waterfall as they travelled upwards. Eventually, they reached the top, and Beomgyu set them down gently on a flat outcropping on the rocky peak.

Beomgyu untangled their arms, and Taehyun stepped away to look around. It was breezy at the top of the mountain, and a single tree cast a shadow over the narrow space of the outcropping. When he turned to look back the way they came, he could see the whole island before him. On the far side of the island, he could see the beach where he and Beomgyu had first landed. Closer to the base of the mountains, there was a turquoise lagoon. Between the trees of the forest, he caught glimpses of a river snaking across the whole island.

“I can’t believe this place is real,” Taehyun said.

“I’m happy you like it so much,” Beomgyu replied, looking a bit wistful. “Since I’m always here, I sometimes forget how beautiful it is. It’s nice to see it through someone else’s eyes.”

Taehyun frowned. He wanted to ask Beomgyu what he meant, but before he could, the other boy was walking to the edge of the outcropping to sit on the ledge. He let his legs dangle over the edge.

Beomgyu turned back and called Taehyun over. “Come, sit with me.”

Taehyun went to join him. He crossed his legs instead of letting them dangle, not nearly as confident about the sheer drop below him.

Beomgyu looked at him, his gaze serious.

“You know, I meant it before when I said that the magic wouldn’t let me take you unless you wanted to go,” Beomgyu said. “What made you want to leave?”

Taehyun looked out at the island below and sighed. “I don’t know. It seems kind of stupid now that I’m thinking about it.”

Beomgyu reached out to gently touch Taehyun’s knee, drawing Taehyun’s eyes back to him.

“No one’s reasons are stupid,” Beomgyu said. “Everyone wants to escape sometimes. You wouldn’t be here with me if it was nothing.”

Taehyun’s heart clenched, and he looked away again.

“It’s just…Have you ever felt like everything was too much at once and you just wanted it to stop for a bit? I’m supposed to be starting at university in the fall, and I know it’s going to be good for me and I’ve always wanted to go, but there’s so much that has to change. My friends are all going to different schools, and I’m even moving out. And my older sister’s getting married and I’m excited for her, but she’s going to be living with her husband after and I won’t get to see her as much and I’m just going to miss her a lot. We’ve always been really close.

“And then there’s my stupid summer job. My boss is a total asshole and he expects me to just drop everything to do shit for him and it sucks because I need to save up for school but I could be spending the time with my friends before we all have to leave instead. And he’s never actually said anything to my face but I can just tell he’s going to be homophobic and I don’t want to deal with his dumb comments.”

Taehyun took a breath and looked down at his hands.

“And…Sorry for rambling. It’s just kind of a lot, I guess.”

“I don’t blame you for being overwhelmed,” Beomgyu said softly. “I’ll try to help you forget it all for a while. Like a vacation.”

Taehyun nodded. He felt a little bit lighter. Despite knowing nothing about him, it was comforting talking to Beomgyu.

He thought back to Beomgyu’s home in the tree and the glimpses of seriousness he’d seen in the other boy. He wondered if someone who lived in such a paradise could be sad.

“Beomgyu, can I ask you something?”

Beomgyu raised an eyebrow. “Go on.”

“Back at the willow tree, you have five extra beds and a table that fits six. It seems like other people used to be here. What happened to them?”

Beomgyu looked down and kicked his feet. “Ah, you noticed that. Well, I guess since I kind of kidnapped you it’s only fair that I explain some things.

“I told you before that time’s stopped here. That counts for me too. I don’t age, and nothing changes here. And unless I bring someone here from the real world, I’m alone, and I get lonely like anyone else.

“My magic lets me know when someone wishes for time to stop, or to never grow up. I used to use that power to find people, and I could bring them to Neverland with me as long as they agreed to come. I wanted friends, so I kept bringing other kids here until there were five of us. And it was really fun! We called ourselves the Lost Boys and were like a family. I even used to sleep in the guest room with them, which is why there are five beds instead of four.”

Beomgyu took a shaky breath. He smiled sadly, then continued.

“But they couldn’t stay here. Eventually, they all had to leave, and I was alone again. It was too sad to have to say goodbye to them all, so I decided I’d never bring anyone here again. I thought I’d rather be alone than have to keep saying goodbye.”

Taehyun frowned. “But you brought me here.”

Beomgyu looked at him, his eyes soft.

“You’re special. In Neverland, I’ll live forever until this place stops existing. I feel like I’ve already experienced everything I wanted to, except…well, except for falling in love.”

Taehyun’s breath caught. “What does that have to do with me?”

Beomgyu laughed. “Isn’t it obvious? I swore the last person I brought here would be someone I thought I’d fall in love with. You’re that last person.”

Taehyun stared at him, wide-eyed. “What? Why did you choose me? You don’t even know me.”

“I told you when I came to your room. I heard your wish, and it drew me to you. But…I could also sense your soul, and it just felt so warm…so caring. I knew that whoever that soul was, I wouldn’t be able to help falling in love with them. And I think I was right.”

Taehyun shook his head. “You realize that’s crazy, right? What if you get to know me and you don’t even like me, or I don’t love you back? And even if we did fall in love, what would we do? I can’t stay here.”

Beomgyu reached out to take Taehyun’s hand and earnestly looked into his eyes.

“Listen, I know. I know it doesn’t make any sense, but you’ve already been so open with me, and it doesn’t hurt that you’re so handsome and lovely too. Do you think you could just…give me a chance? If we try and it doesn’t work, you’ll go back to your life, and it’ll be like nothing ever happened anyway.”

Taehyun knew Beomgyu had a point. And Beomgyu really was so mesmerizing. He was heartbreakingly lovely and temptingly mysterious, and he said the most beautiful things. The thought of leaving him without knowing anything more made him surprisingly sad, so he answered the only way he could.

“Okay. Let’s give this a chance.”

Beomgyu reached out to cup Taehyun’s face with his hand. Taehyun leaned into the touch, and Beomgyu gave him a light kiss on the cheek before he pulled away again.

“Thank you,” he said.

***

The next morning, Taehyun awoke to the smell of pancakes.

For a moment, he was struck with panic. There was something he’d been working on that he was supposed to finish before he fell asleep, but he never did. Something…what was it? Wasn’t it important—something about university? Had he just dreamt it? He was also sure he must have overslept and grappled around for his phone to check the time, only to find empty air at the side of the bed where his nightstand should have been.

Then he opened his eyes and remembered where he was.

A soft glow spilled into the room from beneath the door, and Taehyun could just make out the shapes of the empty bunk beds in Beomgyu’s guest room. He could hear dishes clinking and soft humming, and Taehyun guessed that Beomgyu’s cooking must be the source of the delicious smell.

He stretched and rolled out of bed slowly, then walked to the door. He hesitated, his hand hovering over the doorknob, then opened it and stepped through.

He found Beomgyu scurrying around the kitchen. He piled fresh pancakes onto two plates and brought them to the table, which was already set for two with a bottle of syrup and a large bowl of fresh strawberries in the middle. Beomgyu was wearing a white apron, and Taehyun’s heart warmed at how endearing it was to see him fuss over the food.

Taehyun shut the bedroom door behind him, and the sound finally drew Beomgyu’s attention. When he saw Taehyun, he broke out in huge smile and ran to throw his arms around his neck. Taehyun couldn’t help but hug him back.

“Good morning, gorgeous,” Beomgyu said brightly. “I’m so glad you’re up. I just finished making breakfast.”

Beomgyu pulled away from Taehyun and gestured for him to take a seat at the table. Taehyun obliged and slid onto one of the bench seats in front of a plateful of pancakes. He looked back at Beomgyu, wide-eyed.

“Did you do all this for me?” he asked.

Beomgyu smiled shyly and fiddled with his apron to untie it. “I just wanted to make you feel more at home. Do you like pancakes? I could always make something else if you don’t.”

“No,” Taehyun said quickly. “I love pancakes. Thank you so much.”

Beomgyu beamed at him and set his apron on the counter. Then, he joined Taehyun at the table and poured syrup over his own plate of pancakes. Taehyun felt a little awkward, still not sure how to act after their conversation on the mountain. He basically said he was going to try to fall in love with Beomgyu, but how was that even going to work? He was definitely attracted to the other boy, but love seemed like it should be a lot more than that. He had no idea what to say or what he should do. But he didn’t have to worry. Beomgyu chattered on like nothing about the situation was unusual to him, and it helped Taehyun relax and enjoy his meal, which tasted even better than it looked. He told himself that for now, just getting to know him was a good start.

As he soaked up the syrup on his plate with one last piece of pancake, Taehyun finally spoke up.

“That was incredible. How can you cook like this here? Where do you even get the ingredients?”

Beomgyu grinned, pleased at Taehyun’s interest.

“The island always provides for me,” he explained. “Whatever I wish for appears in the cupboards, and there are some things that just grow right in the forest. I have everything I could ever need and more.

“Just be careful of any fruit you don’t recognize,” he added mysteriously. “Some of it has…side effects.”

Taehyun had several questions about that, but he decided he could live without knowing the answers. Instead, he helped Beomgyu clear the table and clean up.

“So, what are we going to do today?” Taehyun asked as he helped dry the dishes that Beomgyu washed.

“I was thinking we’d go swimming with the mermaids,” Beomgyu said. “They’re a bit…Well, you’ll see. But I still think you should meet them.”

Taehyun nodded. He’d never seen a mermaid before, but this was Neverland, and it didn’t seem surprising that this was the kind of place where mermaids could be real.

They finished cleaning up, and Beomgyu informed Taehyun that they’d be heading out soon. Taehyun thought that he should probably get ready for the day when a realization struck him. He glanced down at his clothes—the same T-shirt and shorts he’d been wearing since he’d left home—and spoke up.

“Um, Beomgyu?” he started. “Do you think I could borrow some of your clothes? I really need to change, but I don’t have anything else to wear.”

A wide grin crossed Beomgyu’s face, and it almost made Taehyun regret asking.

“No problem, gorgeous. I have the perfect outfit for you.”

Taehyun watched as Beomgyu unlocked a door at the far end of the main room with one of the keys from his necklaces and disappeared behind it. He assumed that must be Beomgyu’s bedroom.

He waited for another moment before Beomgyu emerged again with a pile of clothes in his arms.

“Here, try these on,” Beomgyu said, passing them to Taehyun. “I think we’re about the same size, so they should fit.”

Taehyun took them and disappeared into his room to change. Beomgyu had given him a pair of light cargo shorts and a sleeveless denim vest. They both fit well, but Taehyun had to shake his head to himself as he put on the vest. It was clearly meant to be worn over a shirt, but of course, Beomgyu hadn’t given him one.

He always has an agenda, doesn’t he?

He did up the buttons to preserve a bit of modesty, but his arms were on full display right up to his shoulders. With a sigh, he stepped out the room and closed the door.

He turned around and found Beomgyu staring at him with an intense gaze. He stepped closer and squeezed Taehyun’s bicep, making his skin tingle and his face flush.

“Perfect,” Beomgyu hummed. “Now I can see those muscular arms of yours properly.”

Taehyun gulped. “Shouldn’t we get going?”

Beomgyu sighed and slapped Taehyun’s chest playfully. “You never let me have any fun. But okay, sure. Let’s go meet the mermaids.”

Once again, Beomgyu led Taehyun through the forest.

“We’re just going to walk this time,” Beomgyu explained. “The mermaid lagoon isn’t very far from here, so there’s no need to fly.”

Taehyun found he was grateful for that. He was starting to appreciate having his feet firmly planted on the ground, even if that ground was uneven forest floor.

He continued alongside Beomgyu, content to admire the wildness of the forest around him. It was another beautiful day, and Taehyun couldn’t help but let himself be distracted by how lovely it all was.

“Look out!” Beomgyu yelled suddenly, grabbing his arm and pulling him back a step.

Taehyun startled and looked at Beomgyu in confusion. As far as he could tell, there was nothing to look out for.

Beomgyu dropped his hand and picked a stone up from off the ground. He threw it just where Taehyun had been about to step, and a net sprung up around the rock and rose until it was high above them, hanging from a tree branch.

“What the fuck,” Taehyun hissed.

“Pirate traps,” Beomgyu stated. “You really have to keep a sharp eye out for them.”

Taehyun suddenly remembered the sailboat with the black flag he’d seen when they first arrived. His brow furrowed.

“Beomgyu, why are pirates setting traps in the forest?”

The other boy waved his hand dismissively. “Eh, they’re trying to catch me. We had a bit of a misunderstanding a long time ago, and now we have beef. I’m sure they think I’ll do something for them if they get me.”

“What do they want?” Taehyun asked.

“Doesn’t matter,” Beomgyu said, “because I can’t give it to them anyway.”

Taehyun wondered about that, but Beomgyu was already walking again. He took one last glance at the rock in the net hanging above him, then hurried to catch up.

They walked for a little while longer until they broke through the trees and reached the rocky edge of a lagoon. The water was a stunning turquoise colour and so clear that Taehyun could see right to the bottom if he looked straight down. The lagoon was almost perfectly circular, surrounded by the forest all around, except on the far edge where the open sea spilled in from over a sand bar.

What was truly amazing about it, though, were the merfolk lounging in small groups on the rocks that peeked out above the water.

There were two—a mermaid and a merman—on the large rock closest to them. They were sunning themselves and eating grapes out of a bowl that was made of a large oyster shell, and they were intimidatingly beautiful. The mermaid had a glistening tail of blue and gold scales, with nothing covering her breasts but her long, cascading hair. The merman was handsome, his chest toned and muscular, with a tail of green and silver scales. They both had pointed features that added a sharp edge to their beauty, almost impish—almost dangerous. The sight of them had Taehyun rooted to his place.

Just then, the mermaid looked over and waved.

“Beomgyu, hi!” she called. “Come play with us!”

The merman looked up and followed her gaze. He nodded towards Beomgyu, his eyes lingering before he finally glanced at Taehyun.

“I see you brought a new toy,” the merman mused.

Beomgyu sighed, so quiet that Taehyun could barely hear it, and then he spoke up.

“Taehyun, this is Eros and Narcissa. Narcissa and Eros, this is Taehyun. He’s going to be staying with me for a while.”

“Why don’t you both come over here so we can get to know each other?” Narcissa purred, running her fingertips along the surface of the water. “I swear the water is just perfect.”

“Oh, please do,” Eros crooned. “Let’s see what’s so special about Beomgyu’s new friend. I’d love to know what he’s hiding under that vest.”

Taehyun glanced at Eros’s bare chest warily. He knew his own body was nothing to be ashamed of—he worked out often enough to have toned muscles of his own—but there was something about the merman’s gaze that made him feel so judged, as if he was nothing but an inconvenience.

“I think I’ll stay over here for now,” he said, clutching the hem of his vest self-consciously. “Don’t want to get a sunburn, you know?”

Beomgyu looked at him, his face unreadable, then shrugged and pulled off his cardigan, dropping it to the ground by his feet. Taehyun didn’t miss the hungry way Narcissa and Eros stared at Beomgyu’s body, nor the way his own heart sped up at the sight of him.

Beomgyu slid off the rock he’d been standing on and entered the water. He swam the short distance over to Eros and Narcissa and crawled up to recline between them, leaning back on his elbows. The sun glistened off his wet skin, making him shimmer.

Narcissa leaned in to feed Beomgyu a grape and wrapped the end of her tail around his calf.

“It’s been forever since you’ve come to play with us,” Narcissa pouted. “It’s not the same with just Eros.”

“Yes,” Eros purred, curling into Beomgyu to rest his head against his chest. “it’s been too long since we’ve gotten to explore that delicious body of yours. I’ve been missing it.”

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Beomgyu murmured. “I’ve been a bit busy.”

Taehyun leaned against a tree on the shore, watching them as they talked in low voices. Narcissa carded a hand through Beomgyu’s hair and whispered in his ear, and Eros traced circles on Beomgyu’s chest with his fingertips. Taehyun clenched and unclenched his jaw. The longer he watched, the more he felt something ugly growing in his chest.

Eros glanced at him and grinned darkly.

“Hey Gyu,” the merman said, “I think your toy is looking a little upset over there by himself.”

“Aw, he must be jealous,” Narcissa sang. “Look at him, all bothered. He must really have it bad for you, Beomie. Poor thing probably can’t help himself around you.”

The two mermaids burst into giggles, and Taehyun looked away, wishing he could be anywhere else. A multitude of feelings churned inside him, but he wasn’t quite able to grasp any of them. He was embarrassed and confused, unable to defend himself from their words nor the thought that maybe staying with Beomgyu was a mistake.

Beomgyu frowned and squirmed out from between Eros and Narcissa. He slid back into the water and made his way over to Taehyun. The two mermaids called after him, but he ignored them. He was completely focussed on Taehyun, approaching until they were standing face to face.

“I’m a huge fool, aren’t I?” Taehyun whispered.

“No,” Beomgyu said firmly.

He wrapped his arms around Taehyun’s waist and pulled him close so that their bodies were pressed together, then leaned in to press a kiss to Taehyun’s lips. Despite keeping it closed-mouthed, it was long and deep. Taehyun felt the tension leave his body, and he wrapped his arms around Beomgyu’s neck to kiss back. Beomgyu pressed harder, and Taehyun felt his knees go weak. He tried to deepen the kiss and licked at Beomgyu’s lips, but the other boy broke away, leaving Taehyun dizzy and wishing for more.

Before he pulled away completely, Beomgyu pressed his lips against Taehyun’s ear.

“You have nothing to worry about, I promise,” he whispered.

Beomgyu reached out to grab Taehyun’s hand and made a show of linking their fingers together. From their place on the rock, Narcissa and Eros sneered at them.

“Well, it’s been fun,” Beomgyu said cheerily, “but I think Taehyun and I are going to go find a swimming spot somewhere else. Take a little time for ourselves, if you know what I mean. See you later!”

Without waiting for a response, Beomgyu grabbed his cardigan from where he’d dropped it and pulled Taehyun back down the path they’d come from, away from Eros and Narcissa.

Beomgyu murmured something about heading to the beach to swim where no one would bother them, then went uncharacteristically quiet. They walked through the woods in silence for a few minutes, but Taehyun still felt anxious. He couldn’t shake the image of the mermaids’ hands roaming all over Beomgyu, couldn’t ignore the things they’d said about the boy who claimed he wanted to fall in love with him.

“Is it true, what the mermaids said?” Taehyun asked quietly. “Have you really…you know?”

“No,” Beomgyu insisted. “It’s not actually possible with their anatomy. When I’ve gotten really lonely, I’ve made out with them and let them touch me, but it’s always been empty. The beings on this island only bother with you if they can get something out of it. For me with them, it’s always been my body. But I’d never give any of them my heart.”

Taehyun felt a bit relieved at that, but he was still uneasy. “Why would you want me to meet them if they’re so awful?”

Beomgyu stopped walking and turned to look at Taehyun. “If you’re going to be here for a while, you need to know what this place is really like so you’ll be careful. I just don’t want anything bad to happen to you if you go off on your own sometime.”

“So, what they said really didn’t mean anything?”

Beomgyu squeezed his hand. “Of course not, gorgeous. The only one I want to give my heart to is you, and that means so much more than anything I’ve ever done with them. They’re just mad because they can tell.”

Taehyun nodded, a small smile on his lips. He returned Beomgyu’s hand squeeze, feeling much more reassured. The two continued through the forest hand in hand.

Beomgyu giggled to himself. “Wow, you must have been really jealous to be this worried. You must really be falling for me, aren’t you gorgeous?”

Taehyun swatted his arm, but he blushed anyway. “Shut up.”

***

The next few days passed by in a blur. Taehyun and Beomgyu did everything together, with Beomgyu determined to show Taehyun absolutely everything the island had to offer. They swam at the beach, hiked in the mountains, and chased each other through a meadow. With each day, Taehyun found himself more and more captivated by the island, and by Beomgyu.

The other boy made him breakfast every day and paid him the sweetest compliments, and Taehyun found himself yearning for his smile as much as his touch. Beomgyu was just so easy to talk to. He was funny and kind, and though Taehyun was too shy to admit it, falling in love with Beomgyu was starting to seem less crazy than it had when the other boy first suggested it. He caught himself staring sometimes just to admire him, wondering what twist of fate made the other boy choose him.

On what would have been Saturday if he was still on normal time at home, Taehyun rested in a rope hammock by Beomgyu’s willow tree, reflecting on what was happening to him. The realization that it should have been the weekend by now brought Taehyun a pang of worry, but he wasn’t sure why. All he’d had planned was cake tasting with his sister. Why would he be worried about that?

It was odd, the way he felt like there was something he was missing, but it was hard to be bothered about it in that moment. It was nearly sunset, and a light breeze blew through the forest around him. The sound of fluttering leaves brought him back to the peace of the island, and he closed his eyes to simply listen to the world around him.

A moment later, the sound of footsteps approaching made Taehyun open his eyes again, and he found Beomgyu gazing down at him fondly.

“Hey,” Taehyun said softly.

Beomgyu smiled. “Hey. I was thinking, if you want to, we could go meet the fairies in their grove tonight. They’re having their midsummer festival.”

Taehyun sat up and looked at Beomgyu curiously. “A fairy midsummer festival? What’s it like?”

“I could explain, but it’d be easier if you let me show you,” Beomgyu said coyly. “Trust me, it’s really magical.”

Beomgyu offered his hand to Taehyun, and Taehyun raised an eyebrow but took it anyway. He let Beomgyu help him out of the hammock and lead him deeper in the forest.

The sun dipped lower in the sky, bathing the forest in golden light, the shadows growing long. Taehyun had never been to the fairy grove before, though Beomgyu had told him about it. As they wandered down the path, the trees grew larger and more magnificent—like Beomgyu’s willow tree, but many had brightly coloured leaves and blooming flowers.

Soon, they entered an area encircled by trees covered in pink petals, the branches spilling down low enough to touch. There was a small, cleared space in the center with a fire pit surrounded by stones and piled with wood, ready to be lit.

Beomgyu took a seat by the fire pit and gestured for Taehyun to join him.

“Welcome to the fairy grove,” Beomgyu announced.

Taehyun sat next to Beomgyu and glanced around. The grove really was beautiful. The golden light of the setting sun made the petals on the trees look even more vibrant, and there was something about it that did feel like it was hiding something magical. Still, there were no fairies to be seen.

Taehyun looked at Beomgyu questioningly, but Beomgyu just laughed.

“Just wait,” he said. “You’ll see soon.”

They sat a little while longer, and Taehyun watched the forest closely. He wasn’t sure what to expect, but he didn’t want to miss anything. Then, once the sun was just about to dip below the horizon, tiny lights started to appear out of the shadows.

At first, Taehyun thought they might be fireflies coming down from the trees, but then they came closer. As the first of the fairies descended into the clearing near him and Beomgyu, Taehyun could see they were tiny people, no bigger than his pinky finger. They all glowed with magic, shiny golden dust shimmering on their translucent, iridescent wings. They wore clothes made of leaves and flower petals, and though they didn’t seem afraid, most kept their distance from the two boys.

One brave fairy flew in above the fire pit and looked at Beomgyu intently. Beomgyu nodded, seeming to understand, and the fairy began sprinkling pixie dust over the fire pit. As soon as the dust came in contact with the wood, a fire started, and the fairy fluttered away to avoid the growing flames.

Taehyun looked around in awe, the grove now filled with tiny, glowing fairies fluttering in between the tree branches and around the bushes.

“This is incredible,” Taehyun breathed.

“This is just the beginning,” Beomgyu said. “Just wait until the music starts.”

“Music?”

Beomgyu nodded and pointed upward. Taehyun looked closely at the fairies perched on the branches just above them and noticed they all had odd looking instruments with them.

“They may be small, but with enough of them playing, you can really hear them.”

As Taehyun waited for the fairies to start playing their music to begin the festival, Beomgyu stood up and plucked something from one of the trees nearby. When he sat back down, Taehyun could see it looked almost like a lotus flower, but the petals were thick, making it look more like a white succulent. Beomgyu plucked two of the petals and handed one to Taehyun.

“What is it?” Taehyun asked, holding the petal up to examine it.

“The fairies have a name for it, but I just call it fairy fruit,” Beomgyu explained. “The fairies use it to make a kind of liquor that’s traditional to their festivals. They don’t share, but the fruit itself has the same effect. You don’t have to have it if you don’t want to, but it’s usually part of the experience.”

Taehyun regarded the petal with some suspicion. He held it up to his nose and found it had no scent at all. He wondered how it might affect him, but his curiosity quickly won out. He figured it couldn’t be any stranger than anything else he’d experienced since he got to Neverland, so he popped it into his mouth and chewed tentatively. Its texture was like gummy candy, but it was otherwise tasteless.

Beomgyu grinned and followed Taehyun’s lead, eating a petal of his own.

“Now, we wait for the music to begin,” Beomgyu announced.

Another moment passed quietly, when suddenly, the atmosphere shifted. The sun had fully disappeared, leaving the forest in darkness broken only by the light of the fairies and the fire. At first, the sound was quiet, barely noticeable, and then it grew louder.

It was music unlike anything Taehyun had ever heard before. Beautiful, but somehow haunting, the instrumental growing slowly louder as more and more fairies joined the song. Soon, the music filled the grove, the song becoming louder and more festive. The fairies who weren’t playing instruments began to dance in pairs and groups, a kind of indiscernible pattern to their movements.

Taehyun found himself wanting to dance with them, so when Beomgyu stood up and offered him his hand, he gladly accepted. Soon, Beomgyu grasped both of Taehyun’s hands, smiling and laughing as they spun around in circles. Taehyun was a little hesitant at first, but gradually loosened up as they danced together.

The glow of the fairies danced in tandem with the flames of the fire, moving mesmerizingly with the music. Taehyun swayed along with them, letting himself get lost in it. Beomgyu let go of his hands and grabbed his hips to pull him closer, and Taehyun reached out to wrap his arms around his neck.

It was entrancing, the driving beat of the music and Beomgyu’s hands moving along his hips and back as they danced, bodies flush against each other. Around him, the forest was a blur of lights and colour, his senses overwhelmed by the music in his ears and Beomgyu’s touch all over him. They could have been dancing for five minutes or five hours and Taehyun wouldn’t have known the difference.

Beomgyu leaned in to dance with his forehead against Taehyun’s, and Taehyun couldn’t take it anymore. His lips crashed against Beomgyu’s, needing to close that last bit of space between them. He closed his eyes and licked at Beomgyu’s bottom lip until their tongues slid together, finally getting what he’d been craving for days. Beomgyu kissed him back just as eagerly, barely pausing to breathe.

It was a blur of swaying and kissing as the music went on around them, neither aware of much besides the feel of each other. Taehyun let Beomgyu pull his hips even harder against him, desperate to be closer than they’d ever been. If he felt Beomgyu’s lips leave his own, he chased after them.

They danced until they tripped over each other’s feet, crashing to the ground in a fit of giggles next to the burning fire.

***

Beomgyu opened his eyes to see Taehyun’s sleeping face just inches from his own. He smiled to himself. The fairy fruit had reduced the night before to glimpses and sensations in his mind, but the hazy memory of Taehyun’s mouth still lingered on his lips. The two had fallen asleep in the soft undergrowth beneath a large tree near their fire, which had burned itself out overnight. Now, it was almost dawn, the sky tinted lighter in anticipation of the rising sun.

The boy sat up and rubbed his eyes, then turned to look at Taehyun. His heart warmed just at the sight of him sleeping so peacefully next to him. He slept on his side, curled slightly around his bent knees, his head pillowed on his elbow. When Beomgyu looked at his face, he was taken, as always, by how lovely he was. With his eyes closed, Taehyun’s long lashes splayed across his cheeks, and his lips were swollen but completely relaxed, absent of any signs of worry or stress. A piece of hair hung down across his forehead, and Beomgyu longed to gently brush it back into place. He didn’t dare out of fear of accidentally waking him.

Is this what love feels like? Beomgyu wondered. This beautiful, horrible ache?

Taehyun was right there, and yet he longed for him like he’d never longed for anything in his life. It was like he was a dehydrated man in the desert, a glass of water in view but always just out of reach. It was indescribable. He was sure that if anything were to take Taehyun from him now, he would shatter.

What have I done? I don’t deserve him.

At that moment, the sound of breaking twig made Beomgyu snap to attention. He looked up and saw a tall boy with shaggy dark hair peaking out from behind a tree just across from Taehyun.

Soobin. What’s he doing here?

Soobin glanced down at Taehyun, then back to Beomgyu. He raised an eyebrow questioningly.

What are you up to? Soobin mouthed.

Beomgyu glared back and shook his head. It’s none of your business.

Soobin frowned. He gestured for Beomgyu to come over to him, but Beomgyu shook his head again. He glanced up at the rapidly lightening sky with concern, then back to Soobin.

There’s no time; you should go, Beomgyu mouthed.

Soobin’s shoulders slumped, as if defeated, but his gaze bore into Beomgyu for a long moment before he disappeared back into the woods.

Beomgyu understood the meaning: This conversation isn’t over.

He sighed and looked back down at Taehyun. He took a moment just to admire him, then laid down to fall back asleep.

***

When Taehyun awoke the next morning, he opened his eyes to see Beomgyu staring at him, his gaze soft and fond.

“Good morning, gorgeous,” Beomgyu whispered, reaching out to brush Taehyun’s bangs off his face. “Did you sleep well?”

Taehyun hummed incoherently and sat up. He blinked and looked around to see the soft morning sun shining down through the trees, the fire pit reduced to ashes. He didn’t remember falling asleep in the forest, but that appeared to be how the previous night ended.

Fuzzy, rose-tinted memories from the night before played his mind—the sound of music with a melody he couldn’t recall and Beomgyu, the feel of him as they danced together and the echo of his lips.

Taehyun blushed thinking about it, not sure what came over him to be so forward, and even more embarrassed that he wasn’t sure he could trust his intoxicated memories.

He glanced at Beomgyu, who was now sitting up but still gazing at him with an expression he’d never seen before on the other boy. Taehyun looked down and fiddled with his fingers.

“Last night…we—”

“Made out, yeah,” Beomgyu sighed happily.

Taehyun rubbed the back of his neck. “I don’t know what came over me. I’m sorry. I’m not sure I even remember it right.”

Beomgyu laughed. “You have nothing to be sorry for. It was amazing, and I’m just as guilty anyway.”

Taehyun’s face turned an even darker shade of red. He quickly glanced over himself and was somewhat relieved to see he was fully clothed, terrified that there may be a lot more he couldn’t remember.

“Was that…Is that all we did? Just kissing?”

Beomgyu smirked. “Why? Wishing we did a little more?”

Taehyun sputtered. “I, um—I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t forgetting anything important.”

The other boy nodded, amused, then stood up and offered his hand to Taehyun.

“The fairy fruit does hit hard the first time. Come on, let’s go back to the willow and get you some food to help clear your head.”

Taehyun let Beomgyu help him up, then walked along beside him as they made their way through the forest towards the willow tree. They walked quietly, both a bit tired from sleeping on the forest floor. Occasionally, Taehyun would catch Beomgyu sneaking glances at him, his eyes half-lidded and a soft smile on his face.

What happened last night that’s got him staring at me like that?

To take his mind off of his embarrassment, he tried to distract himself by thinking about the fairies. He tried to recall how the midsummer festival had been before the fairy fruit kicked in and his memories got fuzzy. It had been beautiful and magical, but the detail that stuck out to him most was the golden fairy dust shimmering off of all the fairies wings—the same dust he’d seen on Beomgyu the night they met, and every time they’d flown together since.

“Beomgyu,” Taehyun said suddenly. “Can you fly because the fairies give you some of their magic dust?”

Beomgyu laughed, but there was a bit of an edge to it.

“You really don’t miss anything, do you? You’re right. They share some of their fairy dust with me so that I can fly back to Earth sometimes. I need to get a new supply from them once in a while.”

Taehyun nodded, turning a memory over in his mind.

“You told me that no one on this island does something if they don’t get some kind of benefit from it,” Taehyun mused. “What do you have to give up to for the fairies to share their magic like that?”

Beomgyu stopped walking, his lips pursed. He wouldn’t meet Taehyun’s eyes when he spoke.

“The fairies are creatures of the island, so the island itself is what sustains their life force. I’ve already given myself to the island, so without me, there is no Neverland. There’s nothing more they can take from me.”

He gave Taehyun a sad smile before continuing. “If the mermaids had my body, the fairies have my soul. The only thing I can give freely is my heart, and you already know it’s yours.”

Taehyun’s heart leapt at the last words, but he frowned anyway.

If it’s the only thing that’s really yours, how can I take it from you?

He wanted to ask Beomgyu more questions to try and understand how his bond with the island really worked, but the words caught in his throat. Beomgyu was looking ahead, lost in thought, and Taehyun didn’t want to push a subject that always seemed to make him sad. Instead, he reached out to take his hand.

“Come on. Let’s get back to the willow.”

Beomgyu laced his fingers through Taehyun’s and nodded.

The rest of the day passed by lazily. Taehyun and Beomgyu spent most of their time in comfortable silence, relaxing and mulling around the willow tree doing their own things, though always in each other’s company. Occasionally, Taehyun could hear Beomgyu sigh softly, and the other boy didn’t stop sneaking fond glances at him for the rest of the day. Taehyun was used to Beomgyu’s attention, but there was something about how he was acting now that made his heart flutter.

Some time after they ate dinner, Taehyun’s eyelids started to droop. Beomgyu seemed like he was fading too, so they both decided to turn in early for the night. Taehyun headed to his room and pulled the door closed behind him to get ready for bed.

Taehyun yawned, eager to have a proper sleep. He pulled out the T-shirt and shorts he’d been using for pyjamas and began to change. He slipped into the shorts, then unbuttoned the denim vest Beomgyu gave him. He shrugged it off and started to fold it up when there was a knock at the door.

Without waiting for a response, Beomgyu opened the door and stepped into the room.

“Hey Taehyun, I was just coming to…”

Beomgyu’s words trailed off, his eyes widening a bit as he noticed Taehyun’s state of undress. Taehyun stood there bare-chested, and although he knew he was blushing a bit, he couldn’t help thinking Beomgyu’s cheeks must have been a lot more flushed than his own. His lip twitched upward, and he fought the urge to smirk. Beomgyu had never seen Taehyun shirtless before, and Taehyun had never seen Beomgyu so flustered.

Beomgyu let out a breath and averted his eyes. “Sorry. I didn’t realize…I just wanted to come say goodnight.”

Taehyun chuckled softly and set down the vest.

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” Taehyun said, echoing Beomgyu’s words from earlier. “I was just getting ready for bed.”

Beomgyu took a step closer. His bashfulness was already fading, replaced by a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“You know, I’ve been thinking about last night,” Beomgyu murmured. “It’s a real shame because we made out and it’s all fuzzy because of the fairy fruit. It must’ve been so good, but neither of us really remember it.”

Taehyun’s breath hitched. “What are you saying?”

Beomgyu took another step closer, so close that Taehyun was reminded of that night in his bedroom the first time they kissed. Beomgyu reached out and ran his fingertips down Taehyun’s bare side to rest by his hip, and he tensed, heat flooding through his body.

Beomgyu smiled at him sweetly, teasing.

“I’m saying, don’t you think it’d be better if we could remember it clearly, the way it felt to be with each other like that?”

Taehyun took in a shuddering breath. He wanted Beomgyu. He always did, even when he was too shy or embarrassed to admit it. Beomgyu knew exactly how to drive him crazy, to make him let go of his hesitation and chase his own desire.

“Do you want me to kiss you?” Taehyun whispered.

“So badly,” Beomgyu breathed.

Taehyun closed his eyes and leaned in to connect their lips, and Beomgyu raised his other hand so both of them rested on Taeyhun’s hips. It was slow at first, sparks running through Taehyun’s body as his mouth moved against Beomgyu’s. Soon, Beomgyu grew more insistant, wrapping his arms around Taehyun’s waist to pull their bodies together. Taehyun parted his lips to let in Beomgyu’s tongue and tangled his fingers in his hair.

It was so much better than it had been the night before. Everything was so vivid and so intentional that Taehyun thought he’d never experienced anything so strongly before. Beomgyu disconnected their lips to trail kisses along Taehyun’s neck and exposed collarbones, and he wimpered at the sensation. No one had ever kissed him like that before.

Beomgyu brought their lips back together and pressed his hands against Taehyun’s chest, gently pushing him back until the backs of his legs were up against the bed. Beomgyu sucked on Taehyun’s bottom lip, and Taehyun groaned, slipping his hands under Beomgyu’s shirt just to feel more of him.

Beomgyu broke away and gave Taehyun a wicked smile as he pulled his own shirt off and dropped it to the floor. Then, he surged forward again, kissing Taehyun with so much force that he fell back onto the bed with Beomgyu on top of him.

Beomgyu adjusted himself so that he was sitting on Taehyun’s hips, straddling him. Both of them were breathing heavily, their kisses getting wetter and sloppier, hands exploring every inch of each other’s bare skin.

When Taehyun felt Beomgyu’s hands start to move a little lower, teasing along the waistband of his shorts, the reality of what he was doing hit him like a bucket of cold water.

Wait. Not yet, he thought.

The kisses slowed down, and Beomgyu took his hands off Taehyun as if he could sense his hesitation. He broke the kiss and leaned back a bit to look at Taehyun.

“Do you want to stop?” he asked gently.

Taehyun nodded. “Is it okay if we just sleep this time?”

Beomgyu smiled at him softly and maneuvered them so that he was lying on his back with Taehyun in his arms. Taehyun snuggled in to rest his head on Beomgyu’s chest, his tiredness already starting to take over.

“I’d never ask you to do more than you’re ready for,” Beomgyu said, leaning down to place a light kiss on the top of Taehyun’s head. “Just being here with you is enough.”

Taehyun hummed happily and closed his eyes, feeling safe and warm under the covers with Beomgyu’s arms around him.

“Goodnight, gorgeous,” Beomgyu whispered.

As Taehyun began to drift off, he couldn’t help marvelling at how incredible it felt to be with Beomgyu, at how attached he was to a boy he’d known for barely week.

Beomgyu, what have you done to me?

To be continued...

Part 1 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Epiologue

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