Magic Shop (Part 7)
Pairing: Poly!BTS x Witch!Fem!Reader
Summary: Underneath the concrete and pavement, between the towering buildings, Seoul is thrumming with magic. Too much magic. It’s become a hot spot for magical beings seeking to feed off of such intense energy. BTS is unaware of such dangers until they come across a witch trying to manage the mischief of other magical creatures while creating her own trouble.
Warnings: None
Author’s Note: Thank you to all the readers who have stuck around and waited patiently for this part to come out. I hope you enjoy!
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
(Name) was bored, to put it simply.
The witch was standing directly in front of a small portable heater inside a corner store. (Name), bundled all the way up to her nose, had slipped inside the store and watched the rain gently beat against the glass panes of the store front.
It had been nearly two weeks since (Name) had seen any of the members of BTS. With their handsome faces plastered over a majority of Seoul, it was hard for (Name) to keep her mind off of the seven men.
In fact, (Name) could feel Jin’s eyes, printed on the lifesize water bottle advertisement behind her, burning in the back of her skull.
But the past couple of weeks haven't been as hard as (Name) thought they would be. She was expecting to constantly feel drained by her connections to the idols, yet she felt just the same as before. Maybe even better. (Name) has wanted to research more into the binding spell to learn if it’s side effects, but there wasn’t much information on the current iteration of the spell available.
I’d have to look in the Grand Library if I want more information. (Name) quickly dismissed the idea. There was no way for her to access the information without going through the Keeper, and the last thing she wanted was to be on the High Magic Council’s radar.
The witch would just have to wait and see the results for herself.
“I’m in the mood for some junk food,” (Name) announced under her breath. She rubbed her hands and glanced around the store. “Maybe something hot. Or spicy. Noodles?” she pondered as she left Jaewon to curl around the heater and searched the shelves for some instant ramen. Perhaps if she was lucky, the clerk would let her heat up and eat the noodles in the store.
(Name) may be a witch, but she still had human desires. Such as the desire for unhealthy foods every now and then.
The unimpressed look from Jaewon didn’t go unnoticed, but the witch chose to ignore her familiar.
Do you remember the brand I got last time, Jaewon? The lack of response from the ferret had her rolling her eyes. Of course you don’t.
(Name) decided on a pack with a silly looking chicken on the front and walked up to the store clerk. He was fairly nice and allowed her to make her noodles in the store after she purchased them. The witch thanked the clerk before moving back to the heater to enjoy her spicy noodles beside her familiar.
(Name) was only a few bites into her noodles when a strong tug in the pit of her stomach had her nearly doubling over. Jaewon was immediately on his feet.
At first, (Name) thought it was the noodles upsetting her stomach, but another tug accompanied with an intense heat radiating against her stomach had her thinking otherwise. She hurriedly glanced down at the obsidian dangling against her abdomen.
Fiery streaks of red flashed rapidly within the rich black of the stone. The stone was hot to the touch, almost to the point where (Name) was scared of getting burned even though she knew she wouldn’t. A pulsing between her temples had her pinching the bridge of her nose as gentle yet consistent waves of anger and negativity bombarded her.
The witch hated to admit that her first reaction was one of pure panic. She couldn’t understand what was happening. She wasn’t necessarily in pain. All the sensations she was experiencing were just overwhelming and came seemingly out of nowhere.
These feelings weren’t her own, that much she could tell. They felt foreign within her chest and didn’t settle well in her. But whose were they if not her own?
(Name)’s eyes immediately darted to the Jin cutout.
Oh no. (Name) dumped her noodles in a disposal bin by the door as she rushed out into the downpour outside. Jaewon was quick to stuff himself inside his owner’s scarf and guide her down the slippery streets of southern Seoul towards a towering white building in the distance. She ignored the harsh tugs in her gut and mind to the best of her ability.
It wasn’t possible. Right? There was no way that one of the idols was projecting onto her. It shouldn’t be possible.
Right?
(Name) arrived at BigHit headquarters and made it past the front doors when two men, presumably security, approached her. The witch rolled her eyes and reached into her bag to coil her fist around a handful of powder. Just as one of the men reached for her, (Name) opened her hand to blow the purple dust right into their faces.
The powder spread across the lobby, and a hazy look took over every occupant’s face. Everyone stilled, and (Name) brushed past all the staff.
Lavender works better than blue baby’s breath. (Name) noted as she entered the elevator. Right. Not the time. She stared at the floor numbers and deadpanned.
(Name) had no idea where to go from there. The realization of her actions came crashing onto her at that moment. What was she thinking? Blindly rushing into unfamiliar territory with no real plan?
As the elevator doors slid shut, (Name) groaned and buried her face in her hands. She didn’t notice that the elevator had begun moving.
“They’re gonna think I’m some crazy stalker,” (Name) hissed to Jaewon as he peeked out from his owner’s scarf and eyed the enclosed space. A huff from the ferret earned the familiar a sharp glare through the reflection of the elevator doors. “Well I couldn’t just leave it alone!”
A faint ding scared (Name) into straightening her posture. She watched cautiously as a female employee, likely a desk worker, smiled politely at the witch and took the spot beside her after selecting her floor. (Name) nodded in greeting, and the two women silently waited for the elevator to begin ascending again.
Jaewon batted at (Name) chin with his small paw and startled his owner. The ferret looked expectantly at the stranger, and the echo of an idea came into light.
“Excuse me,” (Name) called softly to the female beside her. The woman smiled politely and nodded in response. The witch wet her lips nervously and conjured, “The front desk wasn’t available to give me directions to the studio floor, so I’m afraid I’m lost.”
Seeming to believe (Name), the female worker said, “Oh, that will be the fourth floor!” Her manicured finger hit the button for the corresponding floor, and another silence floated through the air. “I got lost during my first week, as well!” the stranger chimed with a bashful grin.
(Name) could tell she had said it in hopes to relate to the witch. Of course, the sentiment was lost on the witch. (Name) pressed her lips together and nodded slowly as her eyes wandered the smooth walls of the elevator. Beside her, the stranger continued to reminisce about her starting days. The witch nodded absently and eagerly watched the floor number change.
When the elevator came to a slow stop, (Name) perked up.
“Thank you!” (Name) chirped as she hurriedly slipped into the hallway with the doors not even fully open. The employee awkwardly waved her off, and (Name) rushed down the hall and out of sight.
(Name) slowed to a stop once the elevator doors slid shut and took in her surroundings.
Lost, again.
The witch groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose. She could feel Jaewon mocking her silently.
Just as she was going to snap at her familiar, Jaewon effortlessly leapt off of her shoulder and onto the ground. He didn’t look back at (Name) as he leisurely trotted down the connecting hallway to their left. Furrowing her brows, (Name) reluctantly followed the ferret as he expertly navigated the building to arrive at a translucent door towards the end of the hall.
On the door hung a small wooden sign with ‘Rkive’ engraved in English and the name ‘RM’ right below.
(Name) bent down slightly with her arm out for Jaewon to climb back up to her shoulder. Right as Jaewon was scaling his way up her arm, the door swung open, and Namjoon’s tall form bumped into her. He wasn’t forceful or in a rush, but the sheer size of him was enough to send (Name) stumbling back.
With not so quick reflexes, Namjoon reached out to grab hold of her sleeve but missed. Fortunately, (Name) managed to catch herself just before she tripped over her own feet.
Namjoon blurted, “I’m so sorry! Are you okay?”
(Name) couldn’t help but stare openly at the blonde idol. His wire-framed glasses caught her attention, but his chiseled features, highlighted by the soft lighting coming from inside the room, stole the show.
That shirt should be illegal. (Name) tried her hardest not to look down, but the way his black shirt clung to his chest was distracting. She had enough control and decency to not look down further, but she knew that the idol was fit through and through.
“(Name)-ssi?” Namjoon seemed to only then realize who it was he had bumped into. (Name) cringed at the sound of recognition in his voice and lowered her gaze to the ground in embarrassment. “I, uh. What are you doing here?” Namjoon kindly greeted, but the confusion and surprise was evident.
“Oh, hi, Namjoon,” (Name) greeted in return and managed to finally look up at Namjoon. She offered him a weak smile and replied, “At the moment? I might be lost.”
Namjoon nodded but didn’t seem convinced. He said, “I believe you. I’m just surprised to see you at BigHit.”
“Right,” (Name) mumbled and rubbed at the base of their neck. She licked at her lips nervously and said, “There was a large staff order on the floor above.” Understanding ignited in Namjoon’s eyes.
“I see!” the idol hummed with a nod. (Name) felt herself visibly relax as she nodded along with a tense smile. “I’ve never known a coffee shop to do delivery. That’s so unique!” Namjoon genuinely exclaimed.
There was a small pause before (Name) slowly fibbed, “It is! It’s not set in stone just yet. Sumi wants to experiment with it first before we offer it as an official service.” Namjoon nodded again.
“I understand. You’d have to hire more people and cover startup delivery costs,” Namjoon noted. (Name) nodded as well in agreement.
“Yeah, we’re leaning towards not doing it,” (Name) said with false disappointment. “We’re just too busy at the shop.”
Namjoon suddenly frowned as he eyed (Name) from head to toe. The witch felt herself burning under his intense gaze, but she realized why he was staring so openly when she felt water run down her temple.
(Name) had totally forgotten that she ran through the rain to rush to BigHit.
Embarrassment warmed (Name)’s cheeks. She probably looked like a wreck in front of the idol. Pulling her cardigan sleeves over her hands, she hurriedly patted her face down as best as she could with her somewhat damp clothes.
“Did you walk all the way here?” Namjoon guessed with concern evident in the furrow of his brows.
(Name) pressed her lips into a firm line before admitting, “Um, yes.” She waved a hand dismissively and said, “I can always call a taxi or wait for Sumi to come pick me up.”
As if sensing the female’s embarrassment, Namjoon offered, “At least let me get you a towel to dry off while you wait.” (Name) was going to refuse, but the heat from her pendant flared up again, causing her to falter. Namjoon turned to glance into the room and huffed, “I don’t think I have any in here. But there are some in the practice studio for sure.”
(Name) wasn’t entirely sure of what to do. On one hand, she wanted nothing more than to get out of there and forget about whatever was happening to her pendant. On the other hand, she wanted to let Namjoon help her and spend time with the idol.
Maybe I’ll run into the others as well. (Name) didn’t have time to decide her next course of action. Namjoon had already closed the door behind him and gently placed his large hand between her shoulder blades so that he could guide her towards the elevators. His hand is so warm and broad.
(Name) and Namjoon stepped into the empty elevator, and the idol selected the sixth floor. Namjoon lowered his hand, and (Name) immediately frowned at its absence and missed the warmth it radiated.
“I see you brought your pet with you,” Namjoon observed as the elevator began to rise. (Name), not used to people noticing Jaewon on her shoulder, tilted her head to the side. He nodded at Jaewon with a questioning smile.
(Name) jumped in realization and answered, “Oh, yeah, I don’t like leaving him alone in my apartment.”
“I see. Do people give you trouble for taking him with you?” Namjoon inquired as he observed Jaewon closely. The ferret didn’t seem perturbed by his stare and curiously gazed back. (Name) wanted to scold her familiar for staring so openly but decided that talking to an animal in front of a world renown idol wasn’t a good idea.
“No, people tend to not notice him,” (Name) replied honestly and peered at Namjoon knowingly.
Everyone but you seven. The witch became lost in thought as Namjoon carefully reached over to scratch the top of Jaewon’s head. (Name) was shocked out of her stupor when Jaewon purred and nudged his head further into Namjoon’s hand.
“I’ve never seen a ferret so well behaved,” Namjoon complimented in awe.
Just as (Name) was going to laugh and argue, Jaewon took the chance to crawl up Namjoon’s arm and curl up around his neck. The familiar looked as smug as a ferret could look.
“Jaewon!” (Name) hissed and reached to grab the ferret. Namjoon laughed, and the witch paused as she was stunned at the melodic sound of his tenor voice.
Namjoon assured, “It’s okay. It’s not often I meet animals that are willing to play with me.” Seeing that the shop owner was still tense, he continued to pet Jaewon and asked, “How long have you had him?”
Hesitantly, (Name) lowered her arm and answered, “I’ve had him since I was fourteen.” Namjoon’s jaw dropped.
“That’s a long time,” the male awed and looked at Jaewon incredulously. (Name) hummed.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were calling me old,” (Name) baited with a playful nudge. Namjoon seemed amused by the witch’s and couldn’t help the tiny smile that adorned his lips.
Namjoon retorted, “It’s a good thing you know better.” (Name)’s smirk faltered, for she expected him to get flustered like the others.
The elevator doors slid open with a soft ding, and Namjoon stepped out first. (Name) sputtered as she hopped out just as the doors began to shut.
Namjoon motioned for (Name) to join him by the first door on the right. For it being the studio floor, it was oddly quiet. She stepped closer and felt the pulsing heat against her abdomen increase in intensity.
“Some of the others are still practicing,” Namjoon informed as he slowly opened the door.
The faint squeak of the door hinge broke through the stiff silence inside the practice room. (Name) and Namjoon were greeted by none of the idols inside as they entered. Jungkook was shuffling in place, off to the side while Taehyung, Jin, and Jimin were staring tensely at one another towards the middle of the room.
There. The pulsing of (Name)’s pendant seemed to reach the peak of its crescendo once she laid eyes on the three idols standing together.
Before she could consider her next actions, (Name) stepped forward and asked, “Is everything okay here?” The four men seemed to startle in place at the sound of her voice.
“Noona?” Jimin and Jungkook were the first to end the awkward pause that followed (Name) announcing her and Namjoon’s arrival. The witch didn’t immediately answer as she waited for an answer to her question. Jimin and Taehyung seemed to look away guiltily while Jin sighed and crossed his arms.
“We’ll be okay,” Jin replied, not really satisfying (Name). The witch knew from the way Jin didn’t budge that she wasn’t getting anything else out of the four men. Jin frowned and asked, “What happened to you?”
Great. I look like a wet cat in front of a bunch of hot guys. (Name) could feel embarrassment burning the tips of her ears as she looked down at her wet clothes.
Jin clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth and marched over to a table to take one of the towels. He unfolded it as he approached (Name) and draped it around her shoulders delicately. (Name) kept her eyes trained on his chest as he began to dry off (Name)’s hair, for she found herself more flustered than she could ever remember.
“Were you just gonna leave her like this, Namjoon?” Jin grunted as he released (Name)’s head and settled the towel around her neck.
Namjoon retorted indignantly, “I brought her here to get a towel!” Jin hummed mockingly. The eldest looked at Namjoon but froze when his eyes locked with Jaewon’s.
“Do you know that there’s a rat on your shoulder?” Jin mumbled dumbfoundedly. The other idols’ interest peaked, and they looked over at Namjoon.
Jaewon was ridiculously calm as he met each and every one of their stares with an even look. (Name) couldn’t help but run a hand down the side of her face in exasperation. She had forgotten that they had no trouble seeing her familiar through the Glamour.
Glamour was the magical barrier protecting the magic world from the mortal world. After years and years of humans encountering magical beings and persecuting them that eventually built up into a large massacre of mortals and magical beings alike, the High Magic Council convened and forged the Glamour to protect the two beings from one another.
Every decade or so, few mortals are gifted with the ability to see past the Glamour. The odd occurrence was usually due to magical heritage or a direct interaction with magic.
Taehyung bounded up to Namjoon to awe over Jaewon, but (Name) was briefly able to wonder how the seven men could see past the Glamour. Jin sighed and offered the witch a strained smile.
“Let’s go see if the styling noonas are still here. Maybe we can dry you off with a blowdryer,” Jin suggested and motioned for (Name) to follow him.
At the idea of running into a staff member when the (Color)-haired female wasn’t supposed to be at BigHit in the first place, (Name) paled. She licked at her lips nervously and offered a weak laugh.
“I’m sure I can just dry off in the restroom if there’s a hand dryer there,” (Name) dismissed. She felt like she was grasping at straws. “I’d hate for the pretty noonas there to see me like this.” Jin suddenly nodded in understanding and adorned a more sympathetic expression.
“I’ll take you there,” Jin said as he stepped outside the practice room with (Name). He gently shut the door behind them and motioned down the hallway.
(Name) let the moment settle before asking, “Was everything really okay in there?” The heat from her pendant had died down significantly, but there was still a faint pulse and occasional flash of red in the inky blackness of the obsidian.
Jin’s happy demeanour faded a little, and he replied, “Every now and then we tend to have disagreements.”
(Name), unconvinced, remarked, “That didn’t look like a fight over the last chip in the bag.” Jin didn’t seem to understand what she was implying, and (Name) clarified, “You all looked really upset.” Jin cringed softly as they started walking.
(Name) knew she was pushing. She knew it was none of her business-well, that wasn’t entirely true. She was bonded to the seven idols, therefore it was her business. They just didn’t know it. She wasn’t being entirely unreasonable.
“Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked,” (Name) lied as her eyes landed on the door to the women’s restroom. “I’ll be right back. Would you be okay with waiting for me out here? I would hate to get lost again.” Jin seemed conflicted, (Name) didn’t know what for, and nodded.
(Name) quietly thanked the idol and slipped inside the restroom. She quietly peeked into all the stalls and found no one else. She stood before the large mirror above the sinks and took a deep breath. With a long exhale, a warm breeze picked up in the small space. It only took seconds before her clothes were dry.
Now we wait. (Name) adjusted herself, for the strong gust had disheveled her whole appearance. She hopped up onto the counter and swung her legs idly while twisting the rings on her fingers.
“Jin’s just looking out for you, Jimin. You know that.” (Name) nearly fell off the counter in shock when she heard what sounded like Namjoon’s voice in her head. Instinctively, her head turned left and right as she surveyed the empty restroom. Of course, there was no one else in there with her.
“I’m fine!” (Name) jumped again. Jimin’s voice was so clear in her head that it sounded like he was shouting right beside her.
The witch slowly slid off the counter and narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “Jaewon?” (Name) hissed into the open space. Surprisingly enough, there was no answer from the familiar. “Jaewon?” (Name) called again, unsure this time.
If Jaewon wasn’t transmitting the idols’ conversation, then who was?
“Let’s take a break, Jiminnie! Noona’s here now, so let’s go hang out with her!” (Name) couldn’t help the fondness that spread in her chest at the sound of Taehyung’s deep voice. “We should all hang out with noona!”
“Taehyung, I--”
What sounded like Jungkook interrupted Jimin. “Don’t you wanna see the pretty noona?” (Name) felt her whole face flush. She pressed her palms to her cheeks and ears in hopes of cooling her skin with her jewelry.
No. No, I didn’t hear that. Ignore them. (Name) pursed her lips and rubbed at her eyes with the heels of her palms. She took a deep breath, but she couldn’t help the flutter in her heart rate when Jungkook’s words continued to play in her head.
(Name) couldn’t possibly be crushing on a bunch of pretty boys. It was unfathomable. (Name), the all powerful witch of Seoul, didn’t do crushes.
Okay, so maybe that wasn’t her actual title.
But still! (Name) most definitely did not have a crush.
A knock on the door made (Name) jump right off the counter and nearly fall on her ass. Her rainboots didn’t really help her catch her balance, but she managed to right herself before she collided with the floor.
“(Name)? Everything okay in there?” Jin called through the thick restroom door.
The witch stuttered, “Yes! I’m almost done!” (Name) huffed and stood for a moment before exiting the restroom.
Jin was exactly where she had left him, only he seemed a little worried. (Name) offered a reassuring smile.
“Sorry for taking so long. Thanks for waiting,” (Name) greeted. Jin checked her over, respectively, before offering a small smile and a shake of his head.
“No worries. Did you manage to dry everything off?” Jin inquired politely.
(Name) affirmed with a short nod, “Yup! I’m feeling much better now.” Jin seemed elated at the news. “Sorry to pull you away like this. I’ll be okay now,” (Name) assured.
Jin offered, “Did you need to borrow a phone to call someone?”
“That’s okay, I can call my friend to come pick me up,” (Name) replied. She didn’t want to stick around long enough for the staff to find her and begin questioning her in front of the idols. “I think I’ll head down to the lobby to wait for her.”
A small frown marred Jin’s handsome features as he nodded reluctantly. “Would you like for me to show you the way back?” he offered with a small gesture towards the direction of the elevators. (Name) reluctantly nodded after only a short moment of contemplation.
The witch really should focus on slipping out of the building as quickly and quietly as possible, but a feeling of longing tugged deep in her stomach much like the pull from before. (Name) still couldn’t quite place her finger on the source, but she was beginning to form a few theories.
“If it’s not too much trouble,” (Name) mumbled and twiddled her thumbs. Jin shook his head with the same reassuring look he always had.
“Of course not. Did you want to say goodbye to the others on the way?” Jin offered.
(Name) almost immediately nodded but paused when the thought of the six other idols randomly crossed her mind. Perhaps she could stay for just a little longer? Maybe she could just stop by and say goodbye before she slipped out the building.
(Name) clenched her fist. It was a selfish and risky want, but a tug in her gut had her hesitating. It wasn’t forceful like the pull of magic earlier. The new feeling was churning her stomach ever so slightly. Her mouth felt like it was stuffed full of cotton, and there was an itch in her chest that she just couldn’t reach.
It was dumb enough of me to come here in the first place. They’re fine now, so I’ll just take my leave. (Name) shook her head and gave Jin a strained, polite smile.
“Don’t worry about little ol’ me! You should get back to the others before they start worrying,” (Name) chided lightheartedly.
Jin didn’t seem convinced. He didn’t seem ready to argue, but he continued to linger with a conflicted expression. (Name) was the first to move. She bowed politely, as she’s seen others do, and gave the idol a small wave before shuffling down the hall. The witch, after pressing the button to call the elevator, swayed side to side awkwardly under the eldest man’s gaze.
I just wish I had stayed long enough to figure out what that was. (Name) cursed herself for getting flustered and cold feet because of the seven men. I’ve never encountered such a strange phenomenon.
(Name) was so lost in thought that she almost missed the approaching sounds of thundering footsteps rushing towards her.
“Noona!” Taehyung called joyfully as he skipped down the hallway towards where the witch in question was just about to enter the elevator.
(Name) could feel the hope and happiness rise in her chest as she watched the idols chase after her. Her lips threatened to break into a smile at the sight of all seven band members approaching her.
That tug from earlier returned. It was just as forceful as before, but more welcoming and kind. She was being drawn into the whirlpool that was BTS, and she was drowning in its currents.
When she caught sight of the way Jimin and Taehyung, pulling Jungkook along with them, rushed towards her, she could feel heat warming her whole face. Namjoon, Yoongi, and Hoseok trailed behind with fondness in their eyes as they monitored the maknae line. Excitement bubbled inside her as they drew closer. That was, until, her gaze landed on the way they clutched at each other’s hands and laughed amongst themselves.
Their behavior was no different than the other time (Name) had seen them yet this time, a slight pang struck her in the chest.
Jealousy.
(Name) quickly grew upset with the recurring feeling. What could she possibly want from these seven mortals? She already formed seven bonds with the idols, so there couldn’t be anything else to gain from them. In fact, the witch would consider herself friends with the men, so the earlier thought of companionship was off the table.
“Don’t you wanna see the pretty noona?”
“Oh no,” (Name) whispered to herself. At the reminder of Jimin’s compliment from earlier, everything became a little more clear for the woman.
The bubbly feeling in her chest soured gradually the closer the idols got. A ringing overtook the cheerful calls of her name, and the ugly feeling in her gut was boiling at this point.
“Noona? What are-hey!” Taehyung cried out in surprise when Jaewon leapt off of Jimin’s shoulder into (Name)’s outstretched arms. The soft ping behind her signaled her escape.
Lacking the usual confidence and composure she usually possessed, (Name) excused herself, “My ride’s waiting outside. I need to go.” She brushed off the disheartened and confused stares and rushed past the sliding doors of the elevator. Her eyes were cast downwards until the doors fully shut.
An unnervingly heavy silence weighed down on (Name) the whole way down. Jaewon curiously peeked up at the witch as the woman rushed past the still-catatonic workers in the lobby.
It wasn’t until (Name) was standing outside in the cool air outside of BigHit that she could breathe freely without the eyes of BTS burning into her.
An annoyed thrum from (Name)’s connection to Jaewon had her sighing.
“I know, I know. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to forget you.”
But we’ve got bigger problems.