Taehyung really starts to laugh now and Jungkook cards his fingers through his hair because what even is this situation. Hey, hyung,” he calls, shouldering open the bathroom door. “Seokjin wants to know - “ He stops short. Taehyung purses his lips and starts to wave his fin. “In two weeks, I think. It changes through the year.” Hey what’s all the screaming - why do you have a mermaid in your tub?” Yoongi deadpans as the others crowd into the small bathroom. Taehyung raises his brows and tilts his head. “Hmm? Oh.” He grins and shakes his fingers free of Jungkook’s so that he can move to open the door. “I was kinda hoping you would ask anyway, Jungkookie. I like - “

Jungkook lets out a startled laugh because Taehyung says it so plainly, so innocently, like Jungkook is the odd one in this situation and not the tanned naked mermaid Jungkook just saved from drowning in the middle of the Han River. “Why indeed. Um. So. How do we - get you home?” Taehyung rolls his lower lip between his teeth, brow furrowed. He looks between the water at his feet and Jungkook, then turns his head to see the sun climbing over the horizon.Taehyung shies away a bit but nods. “Yes,” he says quietly. “Not - not like they can. It’s not as strong but - but I can.” Taehyung rests his weight on his wrists for a moment and Jungkook thinks he’s catching his breath but then - then his tail is melting away from him to form a puddle around him and then he’s - he’s - Breathe, Jungkookie,” Taehyung tells him, finally releasing Jungkook but for the fingers he keeps around Jungkook’s wrist. They soothe over his pulse. “Breathe.” Jungkook thinks he maybe knows that voice but - he looks down. Delicate fingers curl around his wrist and when he looks up again, there’s one of the girls smiling shyly at him with big doe eyes. The river is a good walk from the subway station. Taehyung easily falls into step with Jungkook and starts to drill him about uni as they trek beneath streetlamps.

A coy smile is sent his way and he can hear that music again, coiling inside his mind and brushing gently over the walls of his skull and - He makes his way off the path, stumbles more than once. There’s laughter in his ears and a silhouette in the afternoon sun, standing on an outstretch not too far away. The person waves Jungkook over and Jungkook follows, follows the song, the laughter. When he’s close enough he can see there’s two girls, one standing behind the other. They smile at him and link hands, then gesture for him to follow.

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Taehyung’s fingers are at his jeans next and Jungkook tries to squirm away, heart pounding, head swimming, and - “Yah, Kookie, stay still. Please. I wanna show you something.” Taehyung grins and holds the fish up out of the water. “This one!” He thrusts it in the direction of one very startled waiter. Soon they’re hitting the steps. Jungkook kneels on them and drags Taehyung into his side. They’re both shaking. Taehyung starts to smile at him and it’s boxy and a complex mess of emotions but Jungkook takes it as it is and huffs out an exhausted breath.