Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Red and Yellow.

The most beautiful runway of fallen leaves adorned the path ahead. The trees on either side became more opaque as your favorite season approached. The crunching underneath your feet of the dry foliage brought a calm feeling of inner peace

Your feet led the way they made every year through forest religiously. They knew to avoid the bumps on the ground hiding under the leaves that could likely turn into a deadly trap.

The sound of children’s laughter a tell-tale of that hidden, almost magical place. There in the forest - even at this time of year - beautiful flowers grew around an old wishing well. This was your favorite spot to visit. Ever since you were younger you collected these flowers and hid them between the pages of books, waiting for them to dry and release a sweet and intoxicating aroma.

You were about five years old the first time you started this habit. 
Your grandma walked the forest next to her cabin almost every day and knew the most beautiful parts of it. One peculiar day, she walked you to the secret well, claiming it had the ability to grant wishes.
Of course, anything related to fantasy was, for a five-year-old, exciting and ignited the curiosity spark.

Once there you met for the first time with the magical place. The structure looked straight out of an old magic tale. The chiseled rock that formed it resembled more a fountain than a well. Adorned with vines which crept the sides of it and all the way up to the beam from where an old wood bucket hanged by a rope.

“Show me your hands, y/n,” she said, wearing her best hussy smile and leaning down once you showed her the palms of your empty hands. “Now hear Gran, sweetie.” she began. Granny placed a small coin between your hands and close them around it so you were cupping it. “The well here has magical powers. It can grant any wish your heart desires…” ,the tone of her voice narrating you of an old and grand secret that brought all the powers of the forest into action. “See that candle?” she asked and pointed to a small metallic lantern with a lit candle inside of it hanging from one of the columns of the well. “That means a fairy its present. When the light is on you can throw a coin as payment for the fairy to make your wish come true.” you nodded, looking down at the hands together. “Now dear, you must not tell the wish out loud, keep it a secret from anyone and then throw the coin to the water. But remember, this wish must come from the bottom of your heart, pure and honest.” you nodded again, repeating the rules she had gave you like a prayer.

Grandma took a step away and with a gesture of her hand, she encouraged you while muttering ‘Go on’ with a big smile.

One step, two step, got you closer to the edge. Holding the coin close to your chest you mumbled some inaudible words and threw it in the hole. After hearing the splash against the water you chuckled and turned to her with eyes full of hope. You were too young and don’t exactly remember what you wished for but you remember that thrilling sensation of believing in such things.

Back to the present, the flowers you sought were a few meters further away from the good spot. 
Walking by the children who toss their wishes in the magical well you overheard two of them talking to a few more.

“Cross my heart!” one of them assured to the gathering. “Magic is real!” he shouted exhilarated trying to convince the other kids he was telling the truth. “I wished for a puppy and It came true!” He waved his arms in the air and grabbed his face in shock.

“He did!” the seeming friend of the ‘puppy’ kid affirmed. “And I wished for Tom to have a puppy too!”

“His name is Nanuk and we both play with it all the time!” Tom told and the rest gasped amazed.

You laughed at how the kids were in awe of the story he was telling, and how enthusiastic was being at telling it.
Part of you felt jealous at their innocence. At how easy it was to believe in impossible things- like fairies, for example. 

You were grown now, and all those credulous believing left buried in the past.
You made a life of your own over the years like anyone else, and like anyone else you had the same problems and virtues. One of the most recent ones being of the matters of the heart; unrequited love.

The next day you felt like reading a book outside. Lucky for you, it was a week-day meaning child would be on school and nowhere near the forest. So, you could get some time to relax in nature’s company. Grabbing a random book from grandma’s shelf you let her know where you were heading, and bid goodbye.

Like the day before, you walked to that part of the woods; The clouds up above made way for the small beams of light of the sun. The cold, soft breeze of air carried the scent of what you can only describe as ‘autumn’ and you breathed out content.

Taking a seat in the stone from the well, and lifting your feet up you leaned against one of the columns to rest your back. Looking down at the water, you saw the coins at the bottom which glowed when the reflection of the light hit them.

You took the book and placed it on your lap, reading first the title on the front “The Secret Garden” By Frances Hodgson Burnett. You heard about the book once before; most likely your grandma talking about it.

The pages seem to be frail, an obvious sign of how old and how much the pages were read- but also how interesting it must be. ‘There was something mysterious in the air that morning..’ you read inwardly while taking a deep breath of comfort, enjoying the moment you and the forest share. While in the reverie, your eyes divert their attention. There is a coin lost between the cracks of the stone. You remember the words from yesterday- ‘Magic is real.’
Shaking your head you try to release your mind from those words, but they resonate like an echo and tempt you.

You closed the book determined and shook-off the awkwardness of what you were about to do. Reaching for the lost coin, you held it between your index and thumb fondling it and pondering. You clicked your tongue pronouncing the words of a wish to yourself while you left the book on top of the rock. Indifferent, you dropped the token to the well and heard the ‘blop’ it made after touching the water. You looked around you, not sure of what you were expecting. ‘Tsk, like if a wish were to come true immediately.’ you said, turning on your heels to leave.

“Pardon, y/n?” A voice called from behind, making you turn around in surprise.
Meeting eyes with a rather, peculiar stranger. You looked around by habit, checking who he was addressing, but the stranger’s gaze was fixating on you.

“Me?” you asked, the volume of your voice coming out rather weak.

He nodded, twisting his lips upwards at the innocence of your question. “Yes, You.”

“I’m- sorry, have we met?” You searched for his face on your memories but didn’t recognize ever meeting someone like…him. The man before you was someone you’d most definitely remember. He was sitting in the same spot you were before, his tall and lean figure slouched against the column of the well. He presented a rather calm and curious expression while staring at you with gentle eyes. What caught the attention first though, was his flamboyant purple hair.

“I can’t give you what you want.” The purple-haired young man in front of you said. He got up and stood straight- damn, he was tall. You gulped worriedly because the strange man was walking your way with a silent gaze. Backing up as he approached, you prepared mentally to find a way of escape in the case you needed it-after all you didn’t know this guy. Once he was close enough he extended his arm towards you displaying a small object on the palm of his hand.

“Uhh…” You mumbled, confused on why this stranger was showing you a coin. Bringing your eyes up to meet his you analyzed what kind of wacko he must be when he talked first. “Excuse me?”

“It’s against my morals to change one’s free will. I’m sorry, but you must ask for a different wish.” He tried to grab your hands while talking to you but you jumped away from his grasp. The guy looked at you confused by your sudden reaction. “y/n?”

“How do you know my name?” you asked, cautious.

He laughed gingerly, scratching the back of his neck embarrassed, looking for the right words to say. “I guess you were too small to remember.”

“Remember what?” you looked at him up and down.

“Me,” he replied.

With the coin still in his hand, he brought it into his pocket and walked back to where he was sitting putting a safe distance between the two. “My name is Namjoon, and I’m the fairy that lives on the well,” he explained.

‘Yeah, he’s crazy.’ you agreed inwardly. In an instant you found yourself running to your grandma’s house, leaving the crazy-haired man behind while he shouted “Wait!” to stop you.

“Oh shit, dear.” grandma shrieked, grabbing her chest worried. You almost fainted once you reached the door of the house and out of breath after all that running, but there was enough strength left to look at Granny wide-eyed at her cussing. “Oh shut up, grandma’s curse too. What on earth happened, y/n?” she queried grabbing your arm and helping you in. Grandma brought a chair to sit you down and went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Unable to speak just yet —‘why did I rejected that pilates class discount?’ — you whined about the poor physical condition you were in.

“Here,” she offered the water which you gulped down in the blink of an eye.”Breath in and out slowly, dear.” she encouraged patting your back. “There, there.”

“Gran—!” you began telling her when your breath caught making your chest heave.“There was this guy!” you kept on going. “He- he had this, crazy looking hair and he- he- tried to give me this-coin I don’t know why?!”   
Grandma’s eyes lit up, her hand brought together, fingers intertwined. 

“Unbelievable,” she mumbled, tears threatening to fall down her cheeks. She took her clenched fists and pressed them against her lips like she normally would do before praying to the glossary. “You’ve met him again.”

This was certainly not the type of reaction you were expecting. “Met who again?!” you exclaimed confused and somewhat irritated.

“The fairy of the well!” she replied, her tone of voice ringing with a type of - joy?

Chapter Text

She stayed there, staring down at you with glistening eyes. Slowly - because your legs were still shaking slightly- you got up and walked away from her.

“Wait, where are you going?” she asked.

“I’m calling mom, this is clearly a senile symptom.”

Grandma huffed and playfully smacked the back of your head. “Me, senile? You are the one with memory loss!”

“Ouch!” You whined rubbing lightly against the hurt. “Tch, Magic? That doesn’t exist.” You clicked your tongue and rolled over your eyes. This was the second or third time since you got to stay at her house where she’d mention the whole magic subject and you were growing slightly tired of it.

“Do you remember this?” she called your attention making you turn around to face her. She was holding a small dried out flower- those you love from near the well- and showed it to you.

“Of course I remember.” You shrugged, not giving it any prestige to her actions.

“This are the impossible flowers, everyone passing by the forest calls them that. You know why?”

“Why?”

“Because it’s Autumn.“ she uttered in awe.

She gave you that look as if the biggest secret of life had been revealed, but you couldn’t quite catch what she meant with those words so you shake your head. "So?”

“So!?” she looked exasperated at your question. “This flower doesn’t bloom mid Autumn!” You were still not buying it and it must have shown on your face because grandma continued talking. “This is a tickseed flower, they only bloom in summer.”

You were impressed, but like anything, it could only be one of those rare occasions where things work differently than expected. “Maybe this flower has a mutant strain or something,” right after saying that out loud you received yet another loving smack on the back of your head.

“Silence, you uneducated peanut!” she sassed. “Come here,” she commanded, walking by you and into the hallway leading to the back of the house and opening the door to the backyard. You followed silently, partly scared she would slap you again and partly simply to follow along with her discourse.

Grandma’s backyard was her joy; her sanctuary. A place she often recurs to relax. All the flowers, trees, and plants were sown by her own hand. The extension of the garden was such that, even though there was a fence separating the grounds of her house from the forest, the green intertwined and blended together. There was a time the roots from one of the forest trees grew under the soil, and snaked to her side of the fence, my parents told her she should tell someone to chop off the roots since later on it could damage and lift the land ruining her garden, to what grandma replied with an “If I do that then I’ll be hurting the tree! He just wants to make friends with my trees, so let the poor guy alone already.” shrugging them off.

“See?” she finally said pointing at a big pot filled with withering brownish flowers.

“Dead flowers?”

“Exactly! This is from another sprout you brought, back when you were little. They bloom in summer- only in summer!” Grandma leaned down to carefully place a hand under one of the dried petals.

“Wait, but…” You snapped, coming out of the skeptical stance you had and reasoning what she was implying by showing you the flowers, because you saw this exact flowers yesterday when you went to gather them. “They are bloomed next to-” Grandma shifted her eyes to look at you from above her eyebrows, waiting for your reply. “The well.”

“I gave you a coin the first time I took you there, remember?” she queried and you nodded. “These flowers appeared right after- out of the blue!”

You took a deep breath. There was something inside you like an annoying itch that bothered, because you remembered the first time you threw a coin, but not about the flower. “Ok, but…I don’t remember that. And what does anything of this had to do with that guy I saw?”

Grandma sighed. “You wished for them.”

“Afternoon, ladies.” The stranger saluted from the opposite side of the well, propped on the edge, one of his hands under his chin.

Your innocent eyes met with his and made you blush, his gaze was intense and pure- and his hair looked funny. Your parents told you to never talk to strangers, but this one looked rather—familiar and friendly. You looked back at your grandma who smiled at the stranger and that gave you the idea he was indeed not a stranger to her.

“Good Afternoon,” she replied good-mannered, turning to look at you and encouraging to reply.

“Hi.” You shyly greeted.

“You wished for pretty flowers. May I know why?” he asked, tilting his head.

You moved closer to your grandma, hiding from him. “It’s okay, dear,” she assured you patting the top of your head.

“I like flowers,” you replied almost in a whisper. “But I can’t find them.”

“That’s because it’s autumn, darling.” Grandma added. “Flowers don’t bloom in autumn.”

“What kind of flowers do you like, y/n?” he asked. You were confused by his question and he noticed. “If you want flowers, I’ll give you anyone you like.”

“I like yellow and purple flowers.”

The stranger smiled widely, his dimples showing on either side of his face. “Your wish is my command, m’lady.” he got up and walked around the well, he stopped and reached out to grab your hand. You moved closer to him, feeling weirdly calm about his presence and stretched your hand to him. The stranger took his hands and cupped them around your tiny palm.

“With this, you can have those pretty flowers you want. Just plant it anywhere you want below the ground.” Slowly his hands left yours, leaving a small seed behind. “They will be waiting for you, no matter the season. Always.”

There was this— need, almost, that overcame and drove you to leave the house again to go back and face this crazy-colored hair boy. Were you going crazy? Were you actually gonna meet that stranger again? Believe his words and Grandma’s? 

You had remembered, and that is why you were currently running to hopefully meet the stranger again.

He had the exact same face, even after all those years, he looked the same.

You were tired and almost out of breath but reached the part of the forest fast enough. Turning around a tall set of bushes you walked and found the well- and him. Sitting on the edge of it, his back slouched against a column, one of his long legs lazily pendulating while the other was being used as support for the book he was reading- your book.

You walked forward stealthily, pushed by an unseen force. It was a beautiful sight watching him read quietly, completely relaxed while the background was filled by dry warmed-colored leaves and naked branches, and those flowers you loved, that remained untouched by the cold lingering in the air- how could you’ve not noticed that before?

We are often too blind and care not for small things such as this; such as noticing the blossoming flowers in the middle of autumn.

“You came back,” he said not taking his eyes away from the book.

“Ehh-mm…yeah.” You blabbered. “I’m back.”

“I’m glad.”

“I forgot my book, I had too,” you explained.

“Is that so?” The purple-haired man closed the book and leaped down from his spot. You swallowed hard, you weren’t sure what to do. He had proved - in the past- not to mean harm, but you couldn’t scratch the fact he might be a magical creature. The whole un-rational situation made you uncomfortable. “Here you go then,” he said handing over the book once he got closer.

“Thank you. Well then, I should get going. Thanks again..uh,” you tried to remember his name.

“Namjoon.” he finished.

“I remember you, Namjoon.” You suddenly confessed.

The curve of his lip twisted upwards. “That’s good.”

You glanced over to the side and he followed your gaze. “Your flowers. They are still beautiful.”

Namjoon frowned amused. “They’re not mine. They’re yours.” he chuckled. “They’ve always been yours.” You blushed while staring into his eyes, the words were so simple and yet they made your heart jump inside your chest. “You buried the seed next to my well,” he explained.

“I did?”

Namjoon nodded smiling down his feet abashed. “Yeah, you wanted the flowers to be next to the well.” You snorted surprised by the smaller you.“You said that way I’d never had to be alone.”

“Really?”

“Really, really. I told you who I was and you instantly believed me.” There was a certain type of sadness accompanying those words. ”I guess little you were a lot more broad-minded about magic and stuff.” He chuckled, shrugging.

“So it seems…”

The silence between you grew so much that even the softest of breeze sounded like an orchestra. Inside there was a warmth spreading through you, having him this close. Something you can’t exactly pinpoint, but nevertheless felt natural.

You weren’t sure what to say, but Namjoon broke that silence before you even could.

“Can’t you stay a little?” he asked.

His voice was soft and there was a hidden tinge on it that sounded longing. “I’d like to stay but I can’t just-”

“I understand.” he stopped your babbling with a sign of his hand and a nod. “I won’t force you to believe in the magic. Although,” he stopped. His gaze gingerly traveling from your eyes to his feet and back again. His rosy cheeks showing up while he decided on asking a request from you. “I-If  you don’t mind…I’d like to see you again tomorrow.” he confessed biting down his lower lip, waiting for your reaction.

“Tomorrow? I’m- confused,” you replied, not quite catching Namjoon’s invitation. “Why?”

He pointed at the book ou held between your arms lazily. “I’d like to know how the story ends.”

You looked down at the book. For the first time in a long time you talked before rationalizing, you just followed that simple call of the unbelievable like you had done when you were younger.

“Okay.”

There are small things in life that make it unbelievable; one of them was Namjoon.

On the next “book reading sessions” following that first uncomfortable encounter - or re-encounter -  you both had gotten closer, and you even dared consider him an unlikely friend. Aside from his extravagant appearance, he was quite the opposite of any notions you had constructed around fairies (of course, only by TV, books, and whatnot.)

Namjoon knew how to read, but he was really slow at it. The reason for this is because he never learned how -not properly anyway.

He had told you about the time a little boy walked by the well   with his parents once. The parents were teaching him how to read and would ask the boy to bring something, like a leaf, a branch or flowers, whatever he wanted and put it down inside a book. Then they would write the word down and tell him how to read it. 

This is how Namjoon - and of course, the little boy - learned how to read. But nevertheless, this was obviously a really basic method but somehow, Namjoon managed to take the best out of it.

“So, you never learned how to read before?” You enquired, sitting with next to him, both your backs leaned against the cold rock of the well.

Namjoon shrugged, smiling shyly. “I never had anyone I could learn with—  Actually, there isn’t anyone ever I interacted with.”

“What about talking, then?” Namjoon tilted his head, not fully understanding your question. “I mean. We learn from others how to speak or read if you never had someone…how did you learn?”

“It just— came with me, I guess?”

“So you have no parents either?” You were starting to get sad thinking on how lonely he must have been.

“Parents? Fairies don’t have parents, y/n,” he told you, cutting absentmindedly a dry leaf of grass next to him.

“They don’t?! Then how were you born?”

“I…did not?” he snorted. “I wasn’t born— I just…poofed into existence,” Namjoon explained, chuckling amused by his own choice of words.

You were shocked. “Poofed? Poofed how? I- I don’t get it.”

He had this characteristic dimple smile that always showed up at times like this when you asked an innocent question about his magical nature that made you cheeks burn red in fluster. “You see…” he began, shifting his position so he was looking at you straight. “When a small child laughs for the very first time, a new fairy is ‘born’ into this world.” His voice was soft and deep, almost like a sing-songy whisper. “From there on, we are put into different parts of the world, hoping to one day…meet again with them and be able to help them in thanks.”

“Really?” You asked, filled with amazement.

“No, I just made that up.” he winked and showed you his tongue playfully. “No, wait! Come back, don’t leave!” he laughed wholeheartedly.

When Autumn ended you were sad to part ways with Namjoon (yeah, your grandma too of course)- But you must admit that he worried you most.
 He had no friends; unlike your grandma and her poker party. And he admitted once he only made his appearance to you because he had met you before. 

“If you reacted badly having known me imagine someone who doesn’t,” he commented one time you suggested him to meet other people while you were away. “Besides I can’t. Meeting you in my human form requires magical energy, and I can’t do that all the time. I much rather save it for when we meet again.”

“Ugh, fine.” You pretended to be annoyed by his stubbornness while hiding the small abashed smile threatening to surface.

You didn’t leave him all alone though. Since he was not accepting making newly acquainted, you searched for another alternative to make the waiting easier for both.

Books.

Before you left, you had a quick shopping run and bought five books for him, all of which you already had at home.

“Well, have this to read until I’m back. You can practice your reading and then once we are together again we’ll discuss our favorite and less favorite parts. What do you think?”

He loved the idea and was excited to improve his reading skills and with this, he had the hope to see you again.

“Goodbye, Namjoon!”

Thus you parted ways; until next Autumn.

Life didn’t stop or became boring after that. Unlike they always say in movies or readings. Time didn’t stop after a life-changing event - as they say- like you had with him. On the contrary, you enjoyed everything so much more, because you wanted days to pass quicker, but also doing lots of things so once you’re back you could tell Namjoon all the cool things you did while away.

You had once before walked a melancholic state of unrequited love, and even though that part remained the same, you didn’t let it get the best of you. Everyone has a heartbreak in their lifetime, but that’s also the beauty of it- having it, the experience that comes along.

He was always in your thoughts, and you were counting the days, reading pages of the books you shared until the next time you could see him.

“Hi sweetie!” Grandma greeted enthusiastically.

“Grans!” You replied with the same energy. “I’m famished, it was such a long trip. Do you happen to have anything baking in the oven?”

“Do you only come here so I can feed you, child?” she said, rolling her eyes.

“Yes,” you replied.

“Honestly I understand, I’m a great cook.”

After stuffing yourself with a ton of grandma-baked food and lots of much-needed coffee to stay awake, you told grandma you were going to take a walk and if you could bring some of her delicious treats with you, to what she obviously answered “Yes, but they are all for Namjoon, you already had enough.” and hopped off onto the forest.

“Oh Namjoon!” You sang, peeping your head inside the well, words reverberating inside the walls and disturbing the water.

“Oh y/n!” he imitated, singing right next to you and provoking you to jump back, taken-aback by his nearness.

“Geezs fu-”, you blabbered grabbing your chest. “How dare you sneak up on me, I could’ve- could’ve- fallen into the well.” You nagged overdramatically but playful. He chuckled and his big smile showed up, you heart once spooked by a second now twisting in joy to see his dimples again. “I’m so mad at you right now!”

“Can you say that again without having the biggest smile on your face?” he taunted, stretching his arms to you and holding you in a warm embrace.

“I should’ve punched you for that, you little sneaky fairy bastard.” You snickered, wrapping your arms around him, a long, relieving sigh.

Namjoon would always wait for you; and you would go to him, constant like the seasons.

Until one faithful autumn.

Where you couldn’t make it to grandma’s home.

Grandma had fallen down while in her garden. She tripped down because of a large tree branch. It was not a life or death situation, but she was required to move closer to the hospital, at least for a while. This way you could take care of her and not leave your daily life obligations. College was happening at the same time and the sum of it all turned it into a rough time.

Grandma’s poker friends promised to take care of the house while she was away, and your parents finally had the biggest excuse to cut off the trees from the garden. However, a thread was loose; Namjoon.

No one other than you two knew about him.

It had been well over a month and the end of August was near. You wanted to ask for grandma’s help, but you really didn’t want to upset her either, even if she didn’t have the same relationship you had with him, she would still feel terrible for leaving him alone.

Your heart clenched at the thought of him waiting for you each day, looking at the path leading up to the well and not finding you there. ‘He surely is not only expecting me every time autumn rolls around’ but you knew deep inside- that he in fact was. Namjoon himself told you so one time.

“…Love is the longing for the half of ourselves we have lost…” you read, enunciating each word slowly pacing your narration to fit the weight of that single line from Namjoon’s phrase selection. “How is this reminding you of me?” You queried, swallowing slowly, trying to bypass that growing sensation in the middle of your chest.

“I don’t know exactly. I just thought of you when I read it the first time.” He is resting on the grass a little further from you. “I mean, I do miss you every time you have to leave. Its-… even painful, like I lost a part of myself.” Your breath stopped. He shifted sideways rolling to his side and staring at you. “Isn’t that what love is?” His sight felt like a stab. “Waiting, no matter how much. Longing your return?”

A small coin he returned to you long ago was staring back at you from its current spot next to the small jewelry box on top of the vanity mirror - the wish you never made. Tears rolled down your eyes thinking again about how lonely he would feel, how his smile may never show up while he waited- and you hated that.

“Fuck that,” you exclaimed while grabbing your phone and calling an agency to book a ticket.

“Yeah, I’ve just got here. Of course- I won’t-” you rolled your eyes while your parent talked to you over the phone and mumbled about how careful you should be not to go around the forest and get hurt and such. “Yeah, yeah sure. Bye, love you, talk to you later.”

It was dark when you got off your ride so you decided to sleep and go first thing in the morning to visit Namjoon. After getting to the front door and turning the key to open it you noticed no resistance from it, meaning it was open. Carefully you entered peeking your head and finding on the other side one of your grandma’s friend with a mop and sweeping it through the floor.

“Oh hello dear! I didn’t know you were coming today.” she greeted with a big smile. “Is your granny doing okay? I haven’t talked to her today yet.”

You nodded. “Yeah, she is fine. I’m just coming to get some of her stuff, clothes and such.” You lied nonchalantly.

“Ah well, I’m on my way out. So, take all the time you need.”

“Thank you,” you replied leaving your baggage next to the door.

“I should tell you though, be careful if you go to the woods tonight. I know you love going there, but right now they’re doing some changes and taking off roots from old trees. Anything the township might consider a ‘hazard’ for us oldies.” she cackled walking to the front door. “Oh, then that old well too.” She added with a movement of her finger.

“The well?!” You quaked.

“Yeah, the little ones could fall inside so they are taking it down,” she explained.

“Sorry I have to go.” You excused yourself, sprinting right by her and flying through the threshold.

“Wait!” She called, but you were already too far away to care you were being rude. Nothing mattered more at this moment other than finding Namjoon.

You bolted down the forest path, a hand over the back pocket of your jeans, where a small coin waited to become a wish. Some time ago you would’ve balked at the thought of running but right now a energy rose inside of you, with only one mission- only hoping you weren’t too late.

The slapping noise of your footsteps crushing the dead nature underneath them resonated in the dark of the forest. Tears blinded you, with a fast swipe of your sleeve you wiped them away. You ran as quickly as your legs could carry you, reciting his name over and over too scared to reach the destination; too scared not to get there fast enough.

“Namjoon!!” You shouted hurting your throat seeing the end of the road ahead. “Namjoon!” You repeated turning around the bushes. “No…” the sight made you gasp.

Half of the well was torn down, the remaining parts of the boulders that once formed a perfect circle were standing. Next to it a big pile of dirt. Walking to the half broken well with a hand clutching your chest was the hardest.

“Namjoon?” You whispered desperately. Your heart was pounding and your lungs were running out of air. “Oh no,” you cried, noticing the little lantern without a lit candle. You wheeze as your burning lungs gasp for air. Legs feeling sore and numb began flailing and you plummeted to the ground. Your lower lip quivered as words slowly made their way out of your mouth. “I’m s-…” you began, yet what followed was engulfed in the tremors.

More than a crying, it was an innocent desolated sobbing. You were too sad to wail. One of your hands slid down the cold and rugged walls of the rocks while the magnitude of your loss swept over. You should have been there to laugh with him; You should have been there to read him more stories, you should have been there to collect the flowers he had gifted, you should have been there too keep him company, but most of all - you should have been there and be loyal to your promise. Now there was just a pile of dirt and broken rubble.

You hung limp next to the well, your eyes trailing down to the grass, wondering, Where has he gone? What happens to fairies when they-…? you gulped 

Is he somewhere safe?

A blue glow casted a shadow of your form over the grass, even though it was weak, in the heavy darkness of the night you could notice how it shined.

Your whole body instantly shifted around, knowing where the light came from- The Lantern.

“y/n…” a weak voice named.

You gasped, feet raising you up instantly. “Namjoon.” You half cried his name while staring at his dimple smile shining under the cerulean light projected from the lantern. Your arms stretched out to him, desperate to have him wrapped in your embrace. Your legs were still quivering but Namjoon catches you while stumbling between his cradling arms.

“Don’t cry,” he whispered next to your ear. “Please, don’t cry.”

You haven’t noticed the tears dripping down your eyes until then. “I’m so sorry, Namjoon.” You panted.

“Hush, don’t apologize.” his hand caressed the back of your head, lulling you like a child. “You did nothing wrong.”

“No, No I did.” You sobbed. “I broke our promise.” You pushed him away lightly to see his face and noticed the color of his hair even in this blue-ish light. Wait…the light. “The lantern has no candle,” you said confused. “What is burning in there?”

Namjoon’s eyes were heavy-lidded while staring at you. “Me.” he finally said.

“What?”

“The last of my magic,” he added, turning his gaze to it.

“What do you mean the last?”

He smiled again, but it’s not his usual smile, this one was filled with pain. He moved away from you, leaning over the edge of the well to bring the lantern down from its spot. “I’m burning my magic, so I can see you one last time.”

Your hands covered your face. “‘One last time’? Wha- Why?”

Namjoon stared down at the lantern in his hands, gently touching the glass guarding the blue flame. “Remember when I joked about how fairies are born?” You nodded. “Well, we are not born from a children’s laughter. But, born from the first wish of one.” his eyes began to water, but no tears came down- Namjoon was trying to stay strong. “That boy who was reading with his parents? He threw a coin to the well and gave me life. He wished to always have moments like those he had with his parents, where they all laughed and spent time together.”

You quietly listened while the reminiscing of that first wish filled his eyes with a glow you had never seen before in him.

“That’s my duty. Not only to him, but to everyone who comes by the well, to give them a happy time.” Namjoon looks at you. “So don’t feel sad for me. I don’t feel regretful. I made people happy in my time here.”

“You did.” The tears threaten to never stop. “But, were you happy, Namjoon?”

He chuckled. “Deliriously.”

Even though his words are flowing with genuine intentions you still feel an emptiness within. Your hand moves to your back pocket and pulls out the small coin he gave you back the first time you met.

Namjoon recognized it. “I still owe you a wish.” he commented, leaving the lantern aside. “Have you decided what is it you want already?”

“Yes,” you said softly. “The one thing that would make me the happiest in the world.” You grabbed one of his hands and placed the small coin over the palm of his hand. “To gift you the last wish.”

Namjoon pants as you close his hand around the small coin. “y/n, I can’t d-”

“It’s my wish Namjoon!” You interrupted. “And what I want is for you to have a wish too, and that anything you want comes true!”

A single tear rolled down his cheek, he was so touched by this gesture he could hardly control his emotions. Leaning forward he pulled you into a hug, his hand wrapped tightly around the present he holds in his hand.

“I want to be happy.” his voice trembled. “I want to be happy next to you,” he added. Namjoon hid his face on the side of your neck. “That’s the only thing I wish.”

A sudden void makes a presence.

He is no longer hugging you.

”Namjoon?” You called, hands still holding on to the now ghostly remain of his form. “Namjoon?” You repeated, looking around but not finding anything at all, only the coldness of the borning winter air greeting you.

Your eyes are found with the lantern once again, the blue flame within now too weak to cast its glow. From time to time the live remaining flickers and you understand what is happening.

Namjoon was fading.

Absentmindedly your hands cupped the lantern, bringing it closer to you. The glass around it didn’t burn, instead it it was cold. Gently, you cradle it closer to you, as if somehow that could protect it from the cool of the forest-

You felt defeated.

Walking back the path to grandma’s home, your legs moved by themselves, carrying your numb body slowly.

The light flickered again, and again, and again, once you reached the steps of the house it finally disappeared, leaving an empty vessel behind.

Your legs failed once more and you fell to the ground, your hands raising to cover your face, tears dripping through your fingers.

“Goodbye, Namjoon.”

“Let’s make a new promise.” You heard someone say. A light shone down on the grass casting the from inside the house. Your puffy eyes looking up to find the talking stranger. “Don’t ever say ‘goodbye’ to me again, okay?”

A tall man stared down at you from the threshold of the house, the backlighting coming from the open door shaping his silhouette.  You exhaled deeply.

He walked forward hiding the strong light behind him and allowing you to see him fully. “My hair looks so human now,” he complained, offering a hand to you.

You sniff and chuckled, accepting his offering and helping you up. “We can bring back the crazy colors of your hair with a dye,” you assure him. “But we have to pay for it with human money. We can’t wish our way out of things in the human world.”

“That’s fine by me.” Namjoon shrugged, pulling you closer snaking his arms around your waist. “Besides, I already got the thing I wish for the most.”

 I wish for the most.”