Chapter Text
The magic shop in the center of Seoul had been there for centuries.
The shop existed long before humans became aware of other intelligent species that lived on Earth. Of course, there had always been rumors. So many rumors. Hurtful, truthful, twisted, foul-mouthed, and weird rumors. But humans were none the wiser. They lived on, only aware of themselves, until the Revealing.
The beings that lived among humans but never interacted were exposed. Since the Revealing, beings such as werewolves, shifters, changelings, vampires, witches, and mages began to live out in the open around humans. Laws slowly began to change as people fought and bled for basic rights. Change obviously didn’t happen overnight. Centuries once again passed before even a mediocre semblance of fairness settled among society because of the different species that now lived openly among humans.
Jeongguk pushed away the history lesson that floated through his thoughts as he made his way down the street. Anytime he roamed through the middle of the city, stray history lessons replayed in his head like a mantra.
Jeongguk’s headphones were snuggly on over his ears, his cap pulled low, his chin hunched into his cozy scarf, his hands shoved deep into his coat pockets, and his facemask pulled just under his nose. Every time he breathed, he would see his breath.
Late January had sunk into Jeongguk’s bones, making him shiver almost violently despite wearing his warmest coat. Jeongguk muttered curses under his breath as he rounded the corner, the only thought on the brain was to arrive at the shop and get warm.
“It’ll be quick, Jeongguk. Get a small spell for me, Jeongguk. You’re always so brave around magicals, Jeongguk,” Jeongguk muttered under his breath, disgruntled. He rolled his eyes. Like he wasn’t human himself. Always the errand boy for his uncle.
But… Jeongguk couldn’t deny his curiosity about the magic shop at the center of Seoul. Something that had always been there. It intrigued Jeongguk. When his uncle asked him to get a new warding spell from that specific magic shop, Jeongguk immediately jumped at the chance to go, ignoring the look of unveiled surprise on his uncle’s face.
Jeongguk had never shown much interest in offering himself to leave the cozy camera shop to grab spells. His uncle owned a small shop that sold, fixed, spelled, and dealt with anything that had the name camera, be it ancient or new, they had it or had clients in need of fixing.
Jeongguk stopped suddenly, a rush of an icy feeling laced through him. He frowned, looking around himself, but noticed nothing out of the ordinary. He held in a sigh and continued on. The shop would be located between two Haechi statues, which could be easily overlooked if not looking. Today Jeongguk was looking.
The shop itself from the outside looked like nothing special. A regular storefront from the looks of it. The window panes were made of frosted glass, which didn’t allow a passerby to look inside. The only distinguishable markings on the shop itself were two notable insignias. Two trapezoids, halfway dipping inwardly, like a door opening, were etched into the beam above the copper double doors. On the windows, the trapezoids were flipped, with the trapezoids pushing halfway outwards.
Jeongguk gripped the handle and pushed. He was met with a funny tingling sensation as he walked through the threshold and soft chimes that pinged softly behind him.
A soft gasp left him as he unraveled his scarf to dangle limply over his shoulders as he walked through the entryway. Hanging from the ceiling were several purple and navy-hued spherical planets, each of different sizes and placements. The planets hung on the very thin silvery wire that glittered as Jeongguk walked under them. A silvery mist also hung in the air encompassing Jeongguk whole. The shop itself wasn’t very big. There were white wood shelves lining the walls with various items and trinkets that Jeongguk didn’t recognize. The prices for the items were also written in very neat handwriting but in a currency Jeongguk vaguely recognized.
Tables were scattered about with crystals, jars filled with glowing substances, a few clothing racks scattered throughout with varying differences in the items. And underneath Jeongguk’s favored combat boots that kept his toes toasty in the winter, was a plush purple velvety rug that ran the whole width of the store.
At the back of the shop, Jeongguk spotted a spellworker’s bench, filled with magical items Jeongguk couldn’t remember the names of, and the cash register.
Jeongguk wandered about, marveling at the items he saw, but never touched anything.
One lesson he’d taken to heart from his parents.
Never touch anything in a magic shop until you are welcomed.
As if stirred by Jeongguk’s running mind, the beaded doorway behind the cash register parted, sending the beads clacking into one another loudly as a figure emerged.
“Oh, welcome!” A bright voice said, breaking Jeongguk from his stupor of looking around. The voice was bright and airy, with a soft timbre. “I’m sorry I didn’t hear the door chime.”
The man that followed the voice was otherworldly stunning. He had styled silver fluffy hair, full pink lips, and his eyes squinted into small crescents. Jeongguk’s breath stuttered as the man stopped in front of him. The shopkeeper was a few inches shorter than him.
Holy fuck, Jeongguk felt like he was going to combust.
Jeongguk shuffled awkwardly on the spot.
“Hi, uh,” Jeongguk said intelligently, tapping his headphones which hung around his neck. “I’m looking for a standard store protection spell. My uncle’s shop’s spell is running out of potency soon.”
The shopkeeper sent him a soft smile, this time Jeongguk caught the shopkeeper’s eyes, which almost matched his silver hair.
Again, Jeongguk’s breath caught in his throat and he willed his heart to settle down. The shopkeeper was gorgeous.
“Ah,” the shopkeeper said, mouth falling open in understanding. “I can help you, please follow me. Does the protection need anything specific? Even standard ones can have extra qualities. And welcome to Serendipity, I’m Park Jimin.”
“Nice to meet you, Jimin-ssi,” Jeongguk replied, bowing politely. “I’m Jeon Jeongguk. No, just the standard one is fine, thank you.”
Mirth and something else danced in Jimin’s gaze as he turned away and beckoned Jeongguk to follow him. Jeongguk could’ve sworn he’d seen endearment with a mixture of interest.
Jimin led him to the spellworker bench and turned to him.
“Please get comfortable,” he said. “This will take me a little bit.” Jimin motioned to a chair near the bench. “You can place your coat there if you wish.”
Jeongguk felt a little stupid standing there unable to form any sentences. Jimin took his awkward look swimmingly, eyes glittering with mirth and he shuffled out of his jacket and set it on the chair.
“Thank you, Jimin-ssi,” Jeongguk finally replied, finding his voice. He glanced around as Jimin settled on the bench’s stool and his fingertips started to glow. “Your shop is beautiful.”
Jimin’s eyes found him as Jeongguk settled in a chair nearer to the bench, fiddling with his fingers.
“Thank you, Jeongguk-ssi,” he replied. “It’s my pride and joy. How’d you hear about us?”
Jeongguk laughed abruptly, covering his mouth shyly as Jimin shot him a strange look, his brows furrowed.
“I’m sorry for laughing,” Jeongguk said, rubbing the back of his neck, his face warming. “It’s just that this is the most famous magic shop in all of Korea. So, it’s hard to think that there’s someone that hasn’t heard of it.”
An unexpected blush appeared on Jimin’s cheeks and he smiled again at Jeongguk. It made his heart do funny things. Jeongguk quickly stamped the feeling down. Jimin was only a nice shopkeeper, even if ungodly pretty he needed to be respectful.
“I do tend to forget that we’ve been around for so long,” Jimin said, eyes searching Jeongguk’s. He turned back to crafting the spell with a shining blue crystal. “How old are you Jeongguk-ssi?”
“I’m twenty-six,” Jeongguk said.
“Are you magical?” Jimin followed up with a raise of his eyebrow.
“Sort of,” Jeongguk said. “My mom is a Green Witch.”
Jimin hummed in response and reached for another item.
“Please call me hyung then,” Jimin said lightly, eyes twinkling.
“Oh, you’re older than me?” Jeongguk asked. “You may be informal with me too then.” He added hastily.
“Is that your roundabout way of asking me what type of magical I am?” Jimin asked, eyes slanting teasingly.
Jeongguk shrugged, cheeks reddened again, and he looked away biting the inside of his cheek. Jeongguk’s heart couldn’t handle the teasing lilt of Jimin’s pretty voice. Everything about the man was so pretty. Jeongguk was weak weak for pretty people.
Jimin’s light laugh drew Jeongguk’s eyes back to Jimin. Jimin’s hair had fallen in his eyes and he pushed it back with one hand. Jimin reached for another item on the bench and snapped his fingers, activating a warm glow of magic. The crystal and the magic orb hummed together with power.
Everything about Jimin screamed soft and if Jeongguk looked closer, his aura screamed powerfully. Two very contrasting observations.
Jeongguk’s stomach swooped, leaving him breathless.
“I’m a fairy, Jeongguk-ah,” Jimin said, a knowing look crossing his eyes.
It dawned on Jeongguk the magical aura that surrounded Jimin, it was the same aura that permeated every nook and cranny of the shop. A light hazy mist of silvery and glittering dust. It comforted Jeongguk, he hadn’t even noticed the buzz under his skin of his ever-present anxiety. As soon as he had stepped into Serendipity, it dawned on him that it felt as if he had gone home. An emotion that Jeongguk couldn’t place welling up inside, making his heart thump painfully against his chest, his stomach seized, and his breath hitched. Jeongguk hadn’t been super comfortable around magic. He always wondered and felt curious about it, but it was never something that he associated with home. Home wasn’t ever comfortable.
“Oh, that’s really cool hyung,” Jeongguk said, shuttering his emotions, and bringing himself to the present, giving Jimin a pleasant look to not let any of his turmoil show. “I’ve never met a fairy.”
Jimin’s eyes seemed to glow even brighter as he pulled his hands from the spell and let the spell rest suspended in the air, it hummed with a low buzz of magic, Jeongguk almost tasted it on his tongue. Jimin turned in his stool to face Jeongguk.
“I sure hope then I’ve given you a good impression, Jeongguk-ah,” Jimin said, laughter thinly veiled in his voice.
“Yes, hyung,” Jeongguk said, nodding slowly.
Jimin’s eyes shined again, and something like adoration flashed through them.
“Oh my, Jeongguk-ah,” he said. “You’re so precious.”
Warmth bloomed across Jeongguk’s cheeks and he felt himself shy away from Jimin, resisting the urge to cover his ears whenever he felt embarrassed.
“Hyung,” Jeongguk said, frowning, hugging himself. He tried his best to keep his voice from whining. “Don’t say stuff like that.”
A smirk bloomed across Jimin’s lips.
“What?” Jimin titled his head innocently. But his eyes shone mischievously. “Call you precious? It’s true though.”
Jeongguk wanted to die. Shrivel up and die. Hopefully quickly and on the spot.
When he woke up that morning, he didn’t think he’d be sitting in a magic shop, the magic shop he had dreamed of, and flirting with the shopkeeper. Unbelievable.
Again, Jeongguk wanted to die. Eunwoo would’ve called him dramatic. Yugyeom would’ve slapped his back and laughed at Jeongguk’s embarrassment and probably fueled the fire more and Jeongguk would’ve died some more.
God, he needed new friends.
Jimin finished up rather quickly after that and packaged away the spell inside a special container.
“Take care, precious,” Jimin said, eyes glittering as he walked Jeongguk to the door. “Hope to see you again.”
Jeongguk mumbled his own farewell before stepping outside and braving the world again. Jeongguk hoped too, he’d see Jimin again. The fairy’s magic buzzed around him warmly, simmering, pushing, and pulling curiously. Jeongguk didn’t know magic could act that way.
He stepped into the blistering cold of the city. Jeongguk didn’t stop shivering all the way back to his uncle’s shop.
❦❦❦
It was two months later that Jeongguk found himself standing in front of the magic shop again. This time he had no purpose.
The weather was warmer, the wind’s chill didn’t bite as harshly, and the days grew longer. Jeongguk longed for Spring and it bloomed right around the corner. The day had been especially harsh to Jeongguk. He’d torn through his favorite shirt, doused himself with scalding coffee during his morning class, which meant he needed to rush home to change, and then that made him late for his late afternoon class. The professor had ignored him but the wary eyes of his classmates haunted him.
Then Jeongguk had free time in between his late afternoon class and late-evening class that he texted Yugyeom to meet up but his friend cited that he needed to go across town for a meeting. Jeongguk then texted the other friends in their group, but no one had been available for hanging out and having dinner.
Jeongguk stood in the courtyard of his university, contemplating and gnawing his lip raw. He didn’t want to go home, because his uncle was insufferable. But he also didn’t want to be alone.
Jeongguk huffed, feeling all out of sorts. He decided to visit the ajumma at the corner of his university, who sold goguma and grabbed a banana milk from the convenience store. His stomach rumbled uncomfortably as he walked aimlessly after eating his snacks. Jeongguk hadn’t even noticed where he walked, too distracted with his mind unusually blank.
A buzz from his phone alerted him back to the present and he smiled sardonically at the email. His late-evening class had been canceled, his professor needed to go out of town with a family emergency.
Then Jeongguk looked up, wondering to see where he’d wandered off to. Shock flitted through him at the sight of the magic shop in front of him. Excitement welled up in him and Jeongguk stepped towards the double doors. He didn’t even tamper down the excitement this time and allowed himself to feel something after such a rough day. The prospect of seeing Jimin and his warmth increased Jeongguk’s eagerness.
But when Jeongguk pushed the door open, he wasn’t greeted with Serendipity. Confusion filled Jeongguk as he stepped into the shop. Looking around with a frown on his face, he walked further inside, letting the door shut behind himself.
No chimes greeted him, what did greet him was a darkened shop, with walls painted a creamy dark purple with drapes falling down the walls. What seemed like constellations and stars winked at him from the enchanted ceiling. Jeongguk wanted to stop and marvel, but the fact that this had been Jimin’s store sat weirdly with him and he kept walking. There were stacks of books neatly in rows with an aisle down the middle. Comfortable seating was also scattered about with small fae lights floating near the seating. Even though Jeongguk hadn’t walked into Serendipity, he felt the same warmth in the pit of his stomach as he walked through the shop, further exploring with his eyes. The acute mysterious feeling of home filled him and Jeongguk held back the urge to cry. The unshed tears stung in his eyes.
As if by magic, a person popped out from behind a stack. Maybe it was magic. Jeongguk wouldn’t know. Anything could be magic.
Jeongguk blinked away the tears, willing himself to get a grip as the person stood up and walked towards him.
“Hello,” the person said, who Jeongguk assumed was the shopkeeper.
A deep voice came from the man, who had dark brown hair which was styled with soft curls. It fell shaggy but stylish around the man’s handsome face. He had intense dark eyes, thin but plush lips, and a jawline that caused Jeongguk to almost do a double-take.
Jimin had been gorgeous, a type of gorgeous that lured one in and enraptured and his eyes that sparkled.
This man…this man’s looks were positively bewitching. His dark eyes were bright with greeting but his beauty gripped Jeongguk by the heart and squeezed. The man’s eyes were sharp, as they tracked every movement, catching Jeongguk’s fidgeting and whatever else he did when being stared down. The warm fuzzy feeling of the magic in the store unsettled Jeongguk.
“Hello,” Jeongguk replied, suddenly shy at the full attention of the shopkeeper's deep stare.
“Welcome to Singularity,” the shopkeeper said, eyes softening as he approached. “Is there anything I can help you with? I’m Kim Taehyung, the shopkeeper.”
“Jeon Jeongguk,” Jeongguk said with a quick and polite bow. He rubbed his hands together, fiddling. “I’m not sure. I ended up here by accident and I was thinking that this was a shop called Serendipity.”
Taehyung’s eyebrows shot up into his fringe. The surprise melted away as quickly as it appeared and Taehyung’s face settled into a neutral look.
“Well…so you’re Jeongguk, Jimin mentioned,” Taehyung said, an almost smug look filtered across his face. “Nice to officially meet you. You’re most definitely precious.”
Jeongguk’s words stuck in his throat. That wasn’t fair. Two people as of late had called him precious and with very fond looks decorating their faces. Jeongguk wasn’t sure that he wouldn’t combust on the spot.
“I-“
The smile Taehyung sent him was positively feral as Jeongguk swallowed his words.
“Please I insist,” Taehyung followed up with a casual, “Call me hyung.” With no preamble as to what that did to Jeongguk’s heart.
“Okay,” Jeongguk said in a small voice, not sure he could’ve said no.
“Join me for tea then, precious?”
Jeongguk again didn’t find a reason to say no. So he joined Taehyung, in a secluded part of the shop for tea.
“Yoongi-hyung makes the best tea,” Taehyung said as he prepared the tea on the table in front of them. Jeongguk hummed to let Taehyung know he was listening. “He’s very meticulous about his brews. It’s his best magic.”
The way Taehyung spoke so fondly of his Yoongi-hyung made Jeongguk’s heart constrict. Taehyung’s every word seemed to drip love. Taehyung leveled him a look as he finished serving them an unknown brew of tea.
“Can’t wait to try it,” Jeongguk said, his voice sounding strained even to himself.
Taehyung didn’t comment but pushed the teacup over to Jeongguk.
“Try it, I think you’ll like it.”
“Okay.”
Jeongguk grabbed the teacup gently and lifted it to his lips. Even though steam lifted from the tea when he sipped it properly, it didn’t burn him, it went smoothly and warmly down his throat.
A variety of flavors hit his tongue. Sweet-blood orange with hints of mint, lemon, and another flavor he couldn’t place. It seemed to seep into him as it settled in his stomach.
“Okay, that is good.” Jeongguk took a few more tentative sips underneath Taehyung’s watchful eyes, who also sipped his own tea.
Taehyung nodded sagely. “Absolutely,” he said. “Yoongi-hyung is a genius.”
“Please thank him for me,” Jeongguk said, smiling, warmth, and invigorated energy settled over him.
A joyous glint sparked in Taehyung’s eyes.
“Of course, I will,” he said. “He’ll be beside himself.”
There seemed to be a hanging joke that Jeongguk didn’t understand.
A silence set over them as they drank tea. When Taehyung poured Jeongguk a second cup, Taehyung lazily waved his hands and out from somewhere came a plate with small cookies and scones.
“Help yourself,” Taehyung said softly as another small smile decorated his lips.
“Did your Yoongi-hyung make these?” Jeongguk had already reached for a small chocolate chip cookie and bit into it.
Taehyung shook his head.
“No, Jin-hyung did,” he said. The smile that spread over his lips this time spoke of soft memories simmering at the surface. Jeongguk knew the privilege to be allowed to even see the softness in Taehyung’s eyes. “Hyung loves baking and cooking. It’s actually really funny because he only eats like once a month maybe? I honestly have no idea.”
Jeongguk’s eyes widened. “What is he?” His mouth ran before he could stop himself and he mentally facepalmed.
So rude, Jeongguk. Jeongguk thought, inwardly groaning.
Taehyung leaned his chin on the upturned palm of his hand. “A vampire,” he said, eye calmly tracking a squirming Jeongguk.
“Oh,” Jeongguk said, freezing in place and nibbling on another cookie, avoiding Taehyung’s sharp eyes. “His cooking is delicious.”
Taehyung’s grin neared lethal when Jeongguk looked back, by closer inspection, Taehyung’s canines looked sharper. “Oh, I am so happy to hear that.”
Jeongguk flushed and averted his eyes, looking around, again it wasn’t polite to ask so blatantly about people when they weren’t in the room. They had sat on floor pillows around a small low table. Fae lights surrounded them, glowing softly, and Jeongguk had been lulled by the environment.
“What is this shop?” Jeongguk asked as he spotted shelves filled with flora, lazily moving without any wind around.
He thought he even spotted some vines wrestling one another.
“A little bit of everything,” Taehyung said, voice washing over Jeongguk pleasantly. “I mainly sell requested books and spell work that deals with odd circumstances.”
At this Jeongguk looked back at Taehyung, eyes still widened. Taehyung chuckled, it sounded like dripping honey to Jeongguk’s ears. “Yeah, it’s a bit unconventional. I have my regulars that also like Yoongi-hyung’s tea. So, they like to stop by.”
Jeongguk nodded, placing the empty teacup back on the saucer and polishing off the rest of the cookie.
A stray thought struck Jeongguk.
“Wait a second,” Jeongguk said, running his mouth for a second time. “What is this place if Jimin-hyung’s shop isn’t here and yours is. Did he move his shop? If Jimin spoke to you, does that mean you know each other?”
Taehyung laughed deeply, voice echoing around him.
“Our shops exist in the same place at the same time,” Taehyung answered easily as if he’d answered that question hundreds of times. “But it changes depending on who’s working.”
“Oh.” Jeongguk didn't know what to say. The closest he’d come to magic was the protection spells his uncle requested and his mother when he was little but not enough to know all the ins and outs. “So, you work on Fridays?”
Taehyung nodded. “Sometimes,” he said. “My regulars know my schedule and show up accordingly. Same for Jiminie. He works on Mondays the most.”
“That’s so cool,” Jeongguk said reverently. He stared at Taehyung, at the slope of his nose, the sharpness of his jawline, the slant of his eyes, and the glint of mischievousness that sat thinly veiled in his gaze, eerily similar to Jimin stare. Except Taehyung's eyes were a deep chocolate brown instead of the iridescent silver of Jimin’s.
“Are you wondering something, precious?” Taehyung asked, propping his hand up and placing his chin on his palm again.
“I don’t want to be rude.”
“You could never.” It sounded like a promise. Jeongguk flushed and bit his lip.
Which Tahyung’s eyes tracked Jeongguk’s mouth easily and his soft look shifted to something more, sultry. A low heat stirred in Jeongguk’s stomach, and he pushed it away roughly.
“What are you, hyung?” Jeongguk asked, softly, bringing his tone down to match the still sultry look that simmered in Taehyung’s gaze.
“What would be your guess, bun?”
“Bun?” Jeongguk asked, his skin heated with the force of his blush.
“Your eyes,” Taehyung said with an endearing smile. “They remind me of a bunny. And the way you scrunch your nose when talking. Adorable.”
Jeongguk cleared his throat and covered his eyes with the sleeves of his long-sleeved shirt. Then he looked back up to see that Taehyung had not taken his eyes off Jeongguk.
“Werewolf?” Jeongguk said, nibbling on his lip.
Taehyung’s eyes gleamed with laughter and then he shook with laughter, almost doubling over as he started laughing.
“That’s what most humans think,” Taehyung said, nodding and straightening himself. “I’m a shifter and half-elf.”
“You can turn into a wolf!” Jeongguk exclaimed, leaning forward, excitement zinged through him.
Taehyung chuckled and nodded. “I can,” he said. “I also have enhanced senses, much more sensitive than humans’ senses.”
“Very cool,” Jeongguk sat back, crossing his legs. “You’re so cool, hyung. You’re both a shifter and elf. No wonder you’re gorgeous and alluring.”
“Thank you, bun,” Taehyung said, smiling, this time he flashed his canines. “I feel so very flattered right now.” Taehyung leaned forward, over the table. His eyes held Jeongguk’s gaze. “Flattery like that can go many places, especially with your eyes, bun.”
The low simmer of heat licked up Jeongguk’s spine as Taehyung kept his gaze steady.
Damn, Jeongguk needed to get laid. It had been a while and the way Taehyung looked at him seemed like he’d rather eat him up. A shiver rolled down Jeongguk’s spine at his thoughts.
“I can say the same of you, hyung,” Jeongguk said, willing himself to blink normally and not break eye contact as he usually did. He licked his lips, a movement which Taehyung’s sharp eyes tracked. “You with your sweet words and buttery compliments.”
Taehyung’s eyes glinted, a hint of red bled into them, intensifying the delicious simmer in Jeongguk’s gut.
But then Taehyung stood suddenly, the movement doused Jeongguk with a cold feeling as Taehyung moved at inhuman speed to stand behind Jeongguk.
“Do as I say, Jeonggukie,” Taehyung said slowly and in a low tone. “Walk to the wall, a door will appear, and leave quickly.”
“But hyung,” Jeongguk said, eyebrows furrowing at the complete change in demeanor.
“Now, Jeongguk,” Taehyung snapped, turning his head slightly, Jeongguk caught a flash of red before Taehyung turned back around. “Leave. We will meet again.”
All of the good feelings left Jeongguk, now standing with Taehyung’s back to him. Jeongguk’s eyes traced the tense line of Taehyung’s shoulders and the strained line of his jaw.
“I’ll see you later hyung,” Jeongguk said softly and did as told with one last glance to Taehyung and left out the door.