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katrinawritesthings · 2 years

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Jonghyun/everyone; the big round lesbian in the sky ; pg-nc17

A collection of short stories told to Taemin by Jonghyun about the moon

🌕Prologue: the moon Jongtae; pg; 733w 🌩Oceanus procellarum - ocean of storms Jongho; storm chaser but in space au; pg; 638w 💞Mare cognitum - sea that has become known Ot5; pg; kissie stuff; 439w 🌹Mare nectaris - sea of nectar Onjongtae; garden spirit au; nc17; 644w 🫂Mare tranquillitatis - sea of tranquility Onjongho; mages au; pg;949w 💦Mare humorum - sea of moisture Jongtae; mermaid au; pg; 899w 🌴Mare insularum - sea of islands Ot5; creationists au; pg; 1386w 🌙Mare crisium - sea of crises Jongtaekey; sailor moon au; pg; 984w ☁️Mare nubium - sea of clouds Jongkey; skyship au; pg; 869w 🌧Mare imbrium - sea of showers/rain Jongminkey; space slice of life au; pg; 1191w ❄️Mare frigoris - sea of cold Jongyu; weather deities au; pg; 887w 🧚Mare vaporum - sea of vapors Jong2min; lake fairy au; pg; 929w 😌Mare serenitatis - sea of serenity Onjongkey; beach au; pg; 962w 🍑Mare fecunditatis - sea of fecundity/fertility Ot5; horny lol; nc17; 1499 words 🌕Epilogue: the far side Jongtae; pg; 893w

Written for @rollercoasterwrite jongsmonth : ) I meant to post this last week but I forgot I had the mermay thing in the queue lol

🌕Prologue: the moon

They're outside, the two of them, Jonghyun and Taemin, at the playground across the street, and they’ve just spent the last half-hour lazily swaying on the swings and watching the summer sunset. It's one of their favorite kind of dates: simple, close to home, free, sometimes there are dogs. And especially, for Jonghyun anyway, once the sun sets, the moon gets extra bright.

It's a full moon tonight and it's almost as bright as Jonghyun's smile. He's twisted around in the swing seat to look for it and, finding it behind them, he quickly gets up and sits down again facing it. Taemin copies him at a much more leisurely pace. He's had his jacket tied around his waist, but he puts it on properly, zipping it up against the sudden nighttime chill.

Pointing up at the moon in the dusky blue twilight, Jonghyun says, "there she is. The big round lesbian in the sky." He sighs dreamily. His pink bangs fall into his eyes, obscuring his view of the moon the tiniest amount, and he flicks them away.

"There she is," Taemin repeats, smiling. It's always been obvious that Taemin isn't as invested in the moon as Jonghyun is, but it's also obvious that he's always been invested in Jonghyun's passion for it. He looks up at it for a minute, then pulls out his phone and starts playing a game. Jonghyun smiles up at it nonstop, arms curled around one of the swing chains, cheek smushed up in his hands, feet gently pushing him back and forth. They talk and joke together as the sky grows darker and the moon glows brighter.

Eventually Taemin looks up, then does a double-take, and then squints his eyes, frowning. "Why is it so bright?" he asks. "What the fuck."

Laughing, Jonghyun tells him, "because it's reflecting sunlight."

"Like," Taemin says. He points at the moon, then down at where the sun sunk below the horizon, and then pauses for a minute, trying to figure out the logistics. Then he rolls his eyes and shakes his head and says, "fucked up.”

"Excuse me, I'm right here," Jonghyun frowns. "She is not fucked up. Fuck you." As usual, he's taken it upon himself to be offended on behalf of the moon. And as usual, Taemin doubles down on offending the moon.

"It's fucked up!” he says, gesturing up at it with his whole hand. "I don't want to think about math and angles and shit. I'm just an ocean gay."

"The moon is, like, literally the intersection between space and ocean gays,” Jonghyun says indignantly. He gestures up at it as well, just the simple thrust of his hand full of fire and emotion. "She pushes and pulls the tides. She makes the waves. They use her for navigation in boats. And, and, you see the dark spots on her? Galileo thought each one was an ocean."

Taemin looks a little overwhelmed at all of Jonghyun's information; probably he knew most of that before, but having it all used against him has to be a new experience. He blinks at Jonghyun, clearly trying to think of something to say, before he blurts, "who?"

"Galileo,” Jonghyun repeats. His hand falls into his lap. "Italian Guy. Big astronomy guy. Forever ago. The one that said earth revolves around the sun instead of the other way around and then the church excommunicated him for blasphemy."

Taemin snorts, dropping all of his other emotions to just laugh instead. He hides it behind his hand even though it's as loud and hiccuppy as usual. "That sounds familiar, yeah," he agrees. He turns back to the moon, frowning but not as hard as before. His eyes trace each dark spot of the moon, taking them all in. "And he thought they were all oceans?" he asks thoughtfully. He looks at Jonghyun. “What are they really?”

"Lava," Jonghyun shrugs, and then, seeing Taemin's face twist into outrage, hastily adds, "but who cares. Not important. For a long time they thought they were oceans. And each of them has a name and a legend attached to it."

It does the trick: Taemin loses focus on his spacephobia and instead perks up with interest. "Legend?" he asks. "Story? Ocean story? Space ocean story?" He's eager, interested, clumsily swinging sideways to bring himself closer to Jonghyun. "Storytime," he demands.

Chuckling, Jonghyun complies.

🌩Oceanus procellarum - ocean of storms

“Ooh ooh ooh, wait wait wait, here here here." Jonghyun swings his arm out to slap at Minho. Minho is already hitting the brakes, though, and he bumps Jonghyun away with his elbow. Their cruiser whirrs to a stop and he hits the stabilizers to keep them in place. Jonghyun scrambles into the back to grab his camera equipment; quickly, before he finishes, Minho pulls up his weather tracker.

He scans through everything – the news, the radio, the satellites, the ship's own scanners – and is certain that it's safe enough for Jonghyun to get out just as Jonghyun is smashing the button to open up the hood. He grabs a tether and hooks it to Jonghyun's belt, tugging him back for just one second to make sure it's secure and then letting him free.

From there Minho can take his time. He sends a report to the local weather station, writes down the coordinates in their log, and grabs his own camera before he tethers himself to the ship and joins Jonghyun outside.

And oh, what a view it is outside.

The cosmic storm that they've been chasing for the better part of a week is in full swing. Stardust, broken comets, and metal debris soar through the void. They swirl with the currents of space, flying in great arcs over their heads. Huge nebulous clouds surround them with all sorts of greens and yellows, dipping into blues, just barely touching orange. There's a dull, quiet roar of fire, of crystals, of metal on metal, of speed, of all of these the mismatched noises mashing together and coming to them sped up, slowed down, and distorted through the clouds. Standing here in the center of it, this huge astronomical wonder, and knowing that it's a fraction of a fraction of a fraction a quadrillion fractions of everything in just this one universe, almost takes Minho's breath away.

But he's seen it all before. The storm isn't the view he's enamored with.

Jonghyun is floating above and a little to the left of their ship, stabilizing his camera stand and trying to set up a good shot of the storm. His silver hair floats around his head and catches sparkles from the clouds. His lashes fan out over his cheeks as he looks through the camera and his strong fingers work so delicately to adjust the zoom and focus. Sharp white teeth bite his bottom lip, soft and pink, and then he catches Minho looking at him, and then he smiles.

He smiles so beautifully. His mouth stretched wide, his cheeks rounded, his eyes all lit up with the same giddy excitement that they always get when they're in the middle of a storm. Minho's breath leaves him.

No matter how many times he sees it, it always feels like the first time.

The storm flares bright, the clouds glowing and expanding with chemical reactions powerful enough to reach throughout an entire galaxy. At the same time, Minho's heart thuds hard enough to reach throughout an entire galaxy and then some.

"So what do you think?" Jonghyun swings himself over to nudge Taemin, blinking at him expectantly.

Taemin hums, staring at the moon for a moment longer before raising his eyebrows. "More romantic than I thought," he says dryly.

"Yeah, well," Jonghyun grins. "You know how us space gays are."

"Yeah?" Taemin laughs. "Galileo was a space gay?”

"He was in my heart." Jonghyun puts his hand on his chest, screwing up his face with overexaggerated emotion. Then he smiles and hops off of the swing. "Let's go home," he says. "I'll Tell you another moon legend another time if you restrain yourself from being mean about her."

Taemin stands and swings his arm around Jonghyun's shoulders. "I'll try my best,” he promises.

💞Mare cognitum - sea that has become known

Kissing Jinki is like space.

Each kiss is soft, slow, and seemingly endless. Jonghyun gets so lost in them that he loses track of time; so lost that sometimes he even forgets where they are. And he doesn't mind either. A kiss from Jinki feels like everything, all at once, all-encompassing, all important, everything in every universe combined all in one simple press of lips. But it also feels like nothing, like not a care in existence, like letting go and giving everything else up because nothing matters but the two of them together.

Kissing Jinki is his favorite.

Kissing Kibum is like a fruit.

They're bright, fresh, each one a burst of emotion. The moment their lips touch Jonghyun bursts into smiling; he bursts into loving. And every time it's a surprise. A kiss from Kibum has layers, like biting into a gummy and not expecting the gooey center inside. They're not just physical affection, they’re communication. No matter how small or quick, Jonghyun gets a full story from each of them –how Kibum's day was, what his mood is, what he wants to say to Jonghyun, the exact number in the millions to describe how much Kibum is in love with him at that exact moment.

Kissing Kibum is his favorite.

Kissing Minho is like a blanket.

Every one is so warm, so cozy, so comfortable. Jonghyun melts into them on first contact; relaxing into them feels like coming home. And it's been like that since the very first time. A kiss from Minho is to be enveloped in a warm hug, not just from his arms around Jonghyun's shoulders, but from his aura wrapping around Jonghyun s. He radiates protection, security, and stability, but every so often, if Jonghyun rubs him just the right way, he'll nip, he'll bite, he'll static shock a thrill directly through Jonghyun's nerves.

Kissing Minho is his favorite.

Kissing Taemin is like –

"Jonghyun?”

"Yeah?"

"Do you want me to kiss you?"

"Please."

Kissing Taemin is like fireworks.

Every single time, it's dazzling, exciting, tingly from the tips of his hair all the way down to his toes. Jonghyun can anticipate and prepare for each and every one, but they never fail to sweep him off of his feet. And he never gets tired of them. A kiss from Taemin makes his heartbeat stutter, his lungs hitch, his stomach flip. They’re so much packed into so little, and they last much longer than the initial flash and bang would lead one to believe. They linger, enjoying their welcome, reminding Jonghyun that Taemin will stay just as long.

Kissing Taemin is his favorite.

🌹Mare nectaris - sea of nectar

“Can't believe you jerked it before you called me."

“How was I supposed to know you were going to try to have phone sex with me?”

Both of them can feel each other's pouts through all of the distance separating them. Jonghyun is on his stomach on the bed at home, chin in his hands as he looks out the window at the full moon. Taemin is slouched in a hotel chair miles away, looking through fancy curtains at the same moon. "Why wouldn't I try to have phone sex with you?” he groans.

"You know," Jonghyun chuckles, "can't argue with that.” while Taemin dramatically groans louder, he pulls a pillow to support him underneath his chest. "here,” he says. "I'll give you a horny fantasy I like to think about. You don't know this one. It's based on one of the moon legends.”

“Oh, fuck yeah,” Taemin mutters, frantically getting his hand down his pants.

In every garden, if it's cared for enough, loved enough, cherished enough, a spirit will be born. A manifestation of the garden’s emotions and health, the spirit will lend their magic to the owners of the garden in gratitude. And if the spirit themself is treated kindly enough–with prayers, favors, offerings, and praise–they will stay and the garden will flourish like no other. If ignored or disrespected, it's said that the spirit will leave and nothing will ever grow in the garden again.

Luckily for Jonghyun, Jinki and Taemin know exactly how to keep their spirit absolutely delighted.

"You’re so pretty today, aren't you, with all of your alyssums?” Taemin's fingers in ferns flowers send shivers down Jonghyun's spine. Or maybe it’s that when he sifts his fingers through them, hundreds of tiny little white and pink flower petals flutter down over ferns body. Or maybe it's his voice, so soft and husky, so close to ferns ear that fern can feel his lips smiling. Or maybe it’s his hand on the back of ferns thigh. Or maybe it's his other hand on ferns cock.

It might also be Jinki's mouth against ferns jaw, or his warm chest pressed against ferns back, or his lap soft and comfortable beneath fern, or his hand on the back of ferns other thigh helping to keep ferns legs spread open, or his fingers inside of ferns ass.

It might be any number of those things. Either way, fern's having a fantastic time. Ferns heart is beating so hard that fern can feel every pulse of chlorophyll through ferns veins and the edges of ferns vision are exquisitely fuzzy.

"You say that like fern's not pretty all the time." Jinki's tone is stern and his fingers draw circles on Jonghyun's prostate as if to make it up to fern.

"I said today," Taemin pouts back. His hand is impossibly soft on ferns cock, just barely stroking fern. Fern's absolutely leaking precum anyway and it dribbles down ferns shaft, over his hand, drips off of ferns balls to absorb into the soil. "Fern's pretty everyday, but fern's extra pretty today. Aren't you, my Jonghyunnie?"

"My favorite," Jinki says warmly.

" Our favorite," Taemin corrects.

"Our only." Jinki punctuates the words with a kiss just below ferns ear. Jonghyun flushes, roses blooming in ferns cheeks and all around the garden. Theirs; fern's theirs and they're ferns. "Do you want to cum, our handsome?" Jinki asks fern.

Frantically, Jonghyun shakes ferns head. No, no fern doesn't. Not yet. It's been at least an hour, already, of them playing with fern, pleasuring fern, spoiling fern, and fern doesn't want it to end. Fern wants to feel like this, just like this, hot and tingly and delirious and loved, forever and ev –

"Hey, I nutted."

"I heard." Jonghyun's smile is just as audible over the phone as Taemin's is. "You're welcome," he says.

🫂 Mare tranquillitatis - sea of tranquility

Jonghyun drums his fingers on his thigh, a staccato of nerves to complicate his foot bouncing restlessly against the carpet. He stares at his phone in his hand. The phone stares back at him, displaying the phone number for the interview he’s supposed to call for in half an hour.

Taemin stares at him too, nibbling on his bottom lip. His hand hovers over Jonghyun's leg like he's not sure whether or not touching will help.

"What if," he tries, "what if you thought about the moon?”

And then, when all Jonghyun does is frown and tilt his head, continues, "she calms you down, right? Or is there a moon legend about being calm?”

“There... is," Jonghyun says.

Jonghyun drums his fingers on his thigh, a staccato of nerves to compliment his foot bouncing restlessly against the hardwood floor backstage. His breath shakes in and out of his mouth no matter how hard he tries to control it. His pulse pounds in his fingertips. The space just behind his eyes is burning so hot that he wouldn't be surprised if he burst into flames at any moment. All he can hear is his own breathing and everything else seems muffled, far away. His magic, a soft pink shimmer around him, sparkles and crackles in a way that only he knows is different from normal.

People walk past him with polite greetings that he returns mindlessly. If asked, he couldn't recall who or how many. Just that he smiled and waved with three fingers, nodded or cocked an eyebrow, offered a joke or a wish of good luck in return. He's always like this; confident and unbothered on the outside but falling apart on the inside. He wouldn't mind so much if it was something he was doing on purpose, but as it is, he would do anything for someone to spare him more than a passing second and realize that he needs –

“Jonghyun.”

“Hey.”

Jinki and Minho sit down on either side of him and bring the world into focus with them. Muffled voices clear up into discernible words, the boxes and rope behind the stage curtains lose their fuzz around the edges, the people walking around become recognizable. But most importantly, front and center in Jonghyun's mind is the warmth of Jinki's side pressing against his and Minho's arm around his shoulders. Those more than anything pull him back to the present.

"You're going to do great," Minho tells him. He's full of confidence, like he knows that he’s speaking facts, and he shakes Jonghyun hard enough to make him jiggle. "Everyone you've already sung for has loved it. And you've practiced a thousand times.”

His light green magic mixes with Jonghyun's on the right, their colors swirling together without blending. Jonghyun follows a line of green as it curls around some pink and mumbles, "It could have been a thousand and one." He could have always practiced more. He could have stayed up later, eaten faster, taken less breaks.

Jinki's arm snakes around his waist and he puts his chin on his shoulder. His magic is a light orange and it does blend with Jonghyun's until they turn into a soft peachy color on his left. Jinki doesn't offer any words; just his presence, quiet and supportive. Jonghyun leans his head against his.

"Singing is the easy part anyway,” Minho goes on. "Isn't that what you've been saying this whole time? Writing everything was the hard part. And it's a spell for calming nerves anyway. All you have to do is start and then the more you sing the less nervous you'll be. Starting only takes a second.”

Jonghyun does have to admit, he's making some very good points. Jonghyun remembers making those same points himself all month long ever since signed up for the audition. It's good to be reminded. Absentmindedly, he twines his fingers with Jinki's and squeezes. Jinki squeezes back the perfect amount.

"And besides," Minho says. He puts his free hand on Jonghyun's leg and shakes it gently. "You're the best singer that I know.”

"Stop,” Jonghyun whines, automatically blushing. His magic glitters bright and warms the air around them, making his hair stand on end. Even without looking, he can see Minho's huge smile in the corner of his eye.

"Why?” Minho pouts, offended that Jonghyun is denying him. "It's true. Your voice is wonderful. You've always had talent and you've added so much skill on top of it. When you sing it's like roses –”

"You're so –” Jonghyun puts his face in his hands, trying to steady his beating heart. Every time. Every single time Minho starts complimenting him. Jinki makes soothing noises next to his ear, gently tickling his fingers into his side, but Jonghyun can tell that he’s amused. Every single time with both of them. They're too much for him.

But at least now his mind is off of his nerves. He straightens up, fanning his face. On either side of him, their smiles are so full of confidence that Jonghyun can't help but feel confident in himself.

Not too long after, he walks on stage to the microphone. His vision and his hearing are clear, his hands and breathing are steady, and his magic floats calmly around him. He introduces himself and, when he takes a breath to start singing and feels a tingle of nerves in the back of his head, he scans the sparse crowd for Jinki and Minho. He finds them and, with their smiles in his heart, he gives the best performance he's ever given in his life.

And it's easy.

💦Mare humorum - sea of moisture

Taemin finds Jonghyun right where shell thought shell would: floating on shells back up on the surface. shell's silhouetted in the light of the moon and stars, but every so often, one of shells pink scales will glitter in the moonlight. Shells long pink hair spreads out around shells head, sending crisscrossing shadows over Taemin as shell swims up to meet shell.

Breaking the surface of the water is as disorienting as usual. The chill of the air, the force of the breeze, the sudden existence of smell. But Taemin brushes it off with practiced indifference and pushes shells silver and black hair out of shells face. Jonghyun hums quietly, a short little acknowledgement of shells presence. The sky is reflected in shells pretty eyes, a universe filling them up with stardust. Moonlight shines down on shells face. It highlights shells cheekbones, the tip of shells nose, and shells plush lips.

Gently, Taemin gathers up shells hair and pushes it out of the way, and then even gentler, shell cups Jonghyun's face and kisses shell upside down. Jonghyun kisses back, soft, distracted, but when Taemin pulls away, shell tilts shells face up to keep their mouths connected for that tiny second longer. Shells eyelashes flutter and Jonghyun seems to lose focus for a second before gaining it back. The stars leave shells eyes and Taemin fills them instead so that Taemin is looking back down at shellself, reflected twice. Jonghyun smiles.

Taemin came here to chide him, but shell can't help but smile back while shell does it. "You scold me so much for sitting at the edge of the trench and wanting to go explore it,” shell accuses, "and look where I find you.” Jonghyun knows it's dangerous up here, with humans and their boats around.

Jonghyun's nose wrinkles. "They're different," shell pouts. "One day if I'm not there to stop you you'll actually go down there and get eaten by something. How am I going to get all the way up there?" Shell gestures up at the sky. Still watching shells eyes, Taemin sees Jonghyun get lost in space again, lost in desire. Shells eyes get a faraway look in them and shells voice becomes soft, dreamy, almost a whisper. "But don't you just... want to?" shell asks. Shells arm stays outstretched, fingers reaching for the stars.

Taemin looks up. They're far enough away from the local islands that the only thing they can see is ocean below them and space above them. From this angle, with nothing else, not even clouds, to block their view, it really does seem like the stars are so close that Jonghyun could pluck one out of the void if only shell could reach a couple of inches higher. "I bet if we got up there we could swim," Jonghyun says. "I bet we could do anything we wanted.”

Taemin stays quiet, letting shell yearn. Jonghyun knows how shell feels about space. With the trenches, Taemin has the security to know that whatever is down there at least has to abide by the rules of the ocean, and whatever it is has a bottom, an end point. But up there, out in the everything, out in the nothing, shell can't even begin to imagine what they could find. That scares shell. Shell can't even begin to comprehend the sheer number of possibilities that lie out there. That terrifies shell.

"I want," shell says, tilting Jonghyun's head to bring shells attention back down to the sea. "I want you and me to be together. Wherever we are." Shell lets that sit for a moment, warm and heartfelt in Jonghyun's ears, until shell feels the blush creeping into shells own cheeks. Then shell adds, "as long as that wherever isn't here."

Jonghyun chuckles, shaking shells head. Shell rights shellself in the water, giving up the moon easily in exchange for Taemin. One more kiss, and then Taemin takes Jonghyun's hand and pulls shell underwater. Together, they swim back home.

"Jonghyun?"

"Yeah?”

"I really liked that one.”

"I knew you would."

It's a hot summer night and they’re in their apartment complex’s pool technically after curfew but it's not like anyone is going to wake up and yell at them about it. Jonghyun is on his back in a unicorn floatie, staring at the moon, and Taemin is on his stomach on a shark floatie, staring at Jonghyun. "Which moon sea was that one about?" he asks.

Jonghyun points up, and even with the apartment buildings and telephone poles silhouetted against the night sky, his hand looks close enough to the stars that he might be able to pluck one out of the void if only he could reach up a few more inches. "Bottom left, the little one,” he says. Taemin squints up at the moon and finds it. "Mare humorum,” Jonghyun says. "Sea of moisture."

"Sea of – excuse me?” Taemin bursts into laughter. He tries to smother it, but it comes out anyway, loud in the silence of the night. "Moisture?" he repeats.

"Listen," Jonghyun says, but he's giggling too.

"Hey, I'm Galileo, I bet that ocean is so fucking wet –”

"Shut up, ” Jonghyun hisses, but that did it for both of them. Their laughter echoes around the pool and then all throughout the buildings as they scurry back home before they wake up the entire complex.

🌴Mare insularum - sea of islands

"Delivery guy says 25 minutes,” Taemin says as he steps out of the front door. Jonghyun hums in reply but doesn't take his eyes off of the moon. He's sitting on the steps, hugging his knees to his chest. Taemin joins him, crouching down behind him and slowly creeping his arms over his shoulders. Pressing their cheeks together, he looks up at the sky as well. The moon shines full and bright between countless stars.

"Give me some moon wisdom,” he murmurs. Smiling, Jonghyun raises his eyebrows. He presses his lips to Taemin's cheek in a quick peck.

"Moon wisdom, huh?" he asks. "Alright.”

Taemin is a perfectionist. Not in that every single one of his creations must be identical, or healthy, or useful, or guaranteed to survive as long as possible; but in that every single one of his creations must be something that he can take pride in. Each one needs to be exactly the way he wants it to be before he releases it into existence.

Everything that Taemin creates goes through countless revisions, rigorous examination, minute monitoring. Sometimes he'll get something all the way to the finish line, then decide he needs one more revision to get it just right. And then one more. And then one more. And then just one last touch. And then one more.

It grays his hairs, puts bags underneath his eyes, aches in his bones. It keeps him up when he should be sleeping, hovers in the back of his mind when he should be relaxing. It builds up and up and up inside of him, a growing frustration that nothing he does is ever right and never will be and he might as well just throw it all away and never start again until –

Until Jonghyun finds him. Takes his hands out of his hair and brings them to his mouth. Kisses every knuckle, every fingertip. Smiles against each one. Jonghyun gently touches Taemin's latest creation – a tree, a mountain, a river, a meadow – and tells Taemin that it looks great. Tells Taemin something he loves about it. Tells Taemin that he's proud of him for working so hard and so diligently to come up with something entirely new all on his own.

And Taemin, his shoulders sinking, his chest lightening, his mouth smiling for the first time in what feels like eons, takes the creation and releases it into existence without another thought. It doesn't have to be perfect; it just has to be.

Minho's creations can never measure up. Ever since he can remember he's always been told to conceive better, create better, finalize better, be better. Look at what everyone else is doing and do what they do. Be like them and maybe he'll come close to being good enough.

He doesn't even think his creations are that bad; he likes them. He puts his all into every gust of wind, every beam of sun, every drop of rain. He takes his time and has fun and sends them out into existence proud of his work. It's just his superiors that always find something wrong.

It's them that belittle Minho, criticize Minho, command Minho. It's them that take his pride and accomplishment and turn them into disappointment and insecurity, indecision, hesitancy. Their words pull him apart at the seams, have him stretching in every direction in an attempt to obey, running in circles to try to please, falling apart every time he realizes that he will never be enough no matter how hard he tries –

Until Jonghyun takes him by the arms. Stops him, holds him, stabilizes him. Invites himself into his arms and gets comfortable, smiling mischievously with all of the confidence of someone that knows he won't be reprimanded. He peers over whatever Minho was working on last, scrutinizing it with narrowed eyes and pursed lips, and then always manages to compliment with such specific detail just the exact thing that Minho liked most about it.

And every time, the sound of his voice washes through Minho's ears and completely drowns out everything else. He takes the creation and releases it into existence without another thought. He has nothing to prove to anyone else; the only one he needs to please is himself.

All of Kibum's confidence is faked. Well – not all of it. He's sure that some of it is genuine. It's just that he's spent so long faking it that now it's hard for him to tell when it's real and when it's not. He used to be so afraid of being average, regular, unimportant, that he would overcompensate. Overexaggerate. Overdramatize everything from himself to his creations.

Giraffes. Poisonous frogs. Rafflesias. Giant squid. All of those are Kibum's creations, bright and loud and painstakingly unique. His creations, his soul, screaming to be seen, to be heard, to be loved. Screaming that of course he knows what he's doing, of course they're exactly what he wants them to be, of course he doesn't need help, of course he's not barely clinging on to what self-esteem he has.

But now, he does think he knows what he's doing, what he wants to be. He knows how to ask for help and his self-esteem is thriving. Kibum thinks. He just can't be sure. Insecurity nags at him all the time, gnaws at his edges, mumbles that he's still trying too hard and his entire life is a lie and maybe it always will be and –

Until Jonghyun pops into his space, sits in front of him, crosses his legs, and smiles at him so that his eyes glitter behind his lashes. Reaches forward and cups his chin, brings him close, and brushes a soft kiss to his mouth. He picks up Kibum's latest creation and, examining it from all angles in his palm, says in a dismissive tone of voice that it could be flashier.

And it's that, the gentle teasing, the hint of a smile underneath Jonghyun's raised eyebrows, that gets Kibum every time. He rolls his eyes, taking the creation from Jonghyun and sending it out into existence without another thought. His confidence isn't faked; the extravagance of it has just become his comfort.

As for Jinki, he carries the weight of everything he's ever created on his shoulders. They're his creations – how can he not? Even after he releases them into existence and they gain free will, they still came from him. Everything they do is under his name. Every action, every choice, every thought.

So when they come to harm, he takes it as his personal responsibility. He feels the pain, he feels the guilt, he feels the anger, he feels the grief. He feels it all, heavy and crushing, from millions and millions, billions and billions. Jinki wants so much to take them back, scoop them off of the earth and into his hands, cradle them and coddle them, soothe them, reassure them that he won't let anything bad ever happen to them again. But he can't.

And if he can't comfort them, then he shouldn't waste his time comforting himself. It wouldn't be fair. It wouldn't be right. So instead he works, hard and long, never-ending, never letting himself rest. Creation after creation, conceived and released into existence one after the other. Jinki drowns out his pain, his longing, his thoughts, his emotions, his –

Until Jonghyun comes to him. Gently, with a hand on his shoulder, and then his elbow, and then his forearm, and then his wrist. He stills Jinki's rhythmic movements and brings him hurtling to a stop against the soft cushion of his smile. Jonghyun takes his latest creation out of his hand and places it with care away from him. Then, holding both of Jinki's hands in his and stepping close so they're trapped between their chests, he asks Jinki how he's feeling.

And Jinki, even though his mind is suddenly rushing, racing, twisting, relaxes into the warmth of his voice. For just a little while, he lets himself be still. He lets himself be held. He is worth more than what he can or can't do for others; he deserves compassion too.

And Jonghyun weaves between all of them, floating, soft, loving and being loved in and to infinity.

🌙Mare crisium - sea of crises

The sun is shining, the sky is a perfect cloudless blue, and the moon hangs in a pale circle above the buildings and streetlamps of downtown. The city bustles with life, people out enjoying the nice sunday morning shopping and cruising. Music plays invitingly from street vendors and open shop doors, the scents of food stalls and restaurants waft everywhere on the cool breeze, and the entire area bursts with color.

Junghee, Gwiboon, and Taeyeon add to the color as they walk down the street, each one of them decked out in pink, yellow, and blue respectively. From their dyed hair to their bright outfits to their tie-dyed sneakers, the three of them walking arm-in-arm are a flag of joy in an already joyous day. They've been hanging out since that morning and have just walked out of an ice cream shop, and the three of them smile and laugh together as they share each other's snacks. Even Roo is with them, trotting along happily at their side on her little puppy legs.

Junghee feels full to bursting with light and love. Nothing makes her happier than to be hanging out with her girlfriends on a beautiful day. Everything about this day is completely perfect.

And then the street in front of them blows up.

Chunks of concrete fly into the air, landing dangerously on cars and the sidewalks. Thankfully no one is hurt, but everyone sure is screaming, alarms blaring, shrapnel clattering, as a monster bursts into the open from underground. It has the body of a woman but the abdomen and legs of a beetle, shiny and segmented and skittering as it gets its footing and cackles evilly. ”Running is futile, puny humans!" it screeches. "Soon all of your energy will belong to the Negaverse!” From its abdomen, it sprays a hot blast of acid that explodes the street further ahead.

"Oh, come on ,” Taeyeon whines.

"Isn't that the bug scientist from the museum?” Gwiboon asks, frowning. “Why her? ”

"Gosh, not my fucking – my pink overalls, I just bought these!" Junghee wails in despair, looking down at her clothes. The force of the explosion made her jump so hard that she dropped her ice cream and now chocolate is splattered all down her front. “Like it wasn't enough to ruin my day, they had to ruin my outfit too?”

Roo hops up onto a mailbox next to them and sits up straight, her little puppy paws daintily settled in front of her. "No complaining, girls,” she chides. "Hurry and transform!”

For once, Junghee doesn't protest. While Taeyeon complains about still being hungry and Gwiboon continues to mutter under her breath about the Negaverse, she digs in her pocket and pulls out her wand. That monster is going to pay if she has anything to fucking say about it. Holding it high above her head, she announces, "moon prism power!”

The familiar sensation of magic courses through her, lifting her up off of the–

"Excuse me? What?”

"What?” Taemin is looking at Jonghyun with wide eyes and Jonghyun is looking right back. "I was just getting to the good part,” he pouts.

Taemin shields the sunshine from his eyes with his hand and squints accusingly at Jonghyun over the table in front of the ice cream parlor. "This is just Sailor Moon," he says.

"Yeah?” Jonghyun asks. He twirls his spoon in a questioning hand. “And?"

"You cannot tell me," Taemin says, "that some Italian dude like 500 years ago came up with the legend of Sailor –”

“Oh! No." Jonghyun laughs behind his hand, shaking his head. "No, you misunderstood. Galileo just came up with the theory that dark spots on the moon were oceans and gave them names. I didn't say he came up with all of the legends for them.”

“Oh.” Taemin physically relaxes, slouching in his chair. "Okay, that makes sense," he says. He twists to scan the sky for the pale moon. "So the lady that created Sailor Moon was inspired by one of the oceans?" he asks. "That’s –"

"No, I don't think so," Jonghyun hums. "I was just thinking about the sea of crisis and it made me think about Sailor Moon so I made up a story about it.”

Taemin hums, understanding, but halfway through, it pitches up to become a question instead. He whips around to face Jonghyun again. "What do you mean, you made up the story?" he asks.

"I mean I thought about it in my brain and then told it to you out of my mouth?" Jonghyun tilts his head like he's confused. "Why do you think the characters have our names?"

"Because – I thought –" Taemin leans fully forward in his chair, putting his ice cream down and his hands on the table. His entire face is scrunched up in distress and confusion. "I thought you were just taking the legends and changing the names to us for fun? Have you – have you been making up all of the legends?"

"Yeah," Jonghyun says, clearly baffled.

"That’s," Taemin says. He throws his hands up in the air. "Those are just stories then, they're not legends," he says. "They're not history."

"Legend doesn't have to mean history,” Jonghyun pouts. "Legend can also mean very well known."

"Who are these stories very well known by?" Taemin demands.

"Me,” Jonghyun smiles. He wiggles his shoulders, eyes sparkling behind his lashes.

“You–” Taemin stands up, inflating like he's full of a million words, and then it all leaves in a quiet chuckle. "You,” he says fondly. He reaches for Jonghyun, cups his face, and smeks a smooch onto his cheek. Jonghyun beams as he sits back down. "Can I be Sailor Mercury?” Taemin asks.

"You are,” Jonghyun grins.

"Hell yeah," Taemin says. "Can I say something annoying and then Key blushes because she hates me but she loves me?”

"Obviously,” Jonghyun smirks.

"Fuck yeah,” Taemin hisses.

☁️Mare nubium - sea of clouds

Stepping out of the captain's quarters and onto the deck of the Locket, Kibum takes in the conditions. Crew busy; direction southeast; wind gentle; temperature warm; humidity high; visibility 10 feet at best.

In a cloud. Just the way he likes it.

He walks to the starboard side of the ship and gazes out over the railing, holding onto the wood with both hands. Clouds swirl above, around, and most importantly, below them. The ship is completely surrounded. Above and to the right the clouds look a little brighter, a little yellower, and he figures that if the sun is over there then it has to be almost three in the afternoon. Kibum takes a deep breath, pushes his hand through his gelled black hair, fixes his eyepatch, and adjusts his collar. Then, annoyed at his own stalling, he looks down.

Straight down.

Nothing but clouds. Dense, puffy, misty white, blocking his view of the earth. Of mountains, of forests, of oceans, of whatever is lying miles beneath them. Kibum takes another deep breath, this one even more relaxed. It's always easier to deal with the height when he doesn't have to look at it.

The whizz of someone sliding down a rope, the thud of a landing on the deck, footsteps behind him, and then his favorite voice.

"Hey," Jonghyun drawls. He slides right up next to Kibum so their sides touch, their arms tangle. Jonghyun's thick and muscled next to Kibum's thin and lean, his skin sunkissed next to Kibum's delicate complexion, his body naturally hot next to Kibum's constant chill. His hand small and stocky holding onto Kibum's big palm and long fingers. When Kibum turns to look at him he's just the same as usual: ruggedly handsome with attractive shaggy black hair, gorgeous eyes, and a charming smile that–

"Are you going to describe yourself like this every time?” Taemin Interrupts Jonghyun mid-sentence. He takes a break from his cloudwatching to raise his eyebrows at Jonghyun next to him in the grass. Jonghyun is smirking up at moon in the sky, completely unashamed.

"Obviously," he says.

Taemin can't help but smile himself. Obviously.

A charming smile that, despite the sharp teeth, despite the hooked shape, despite the bitten lip, is soft around the edges. "Being brave?" Jonghyun asks. He bumps their shoulders together in a gentle sort of way that still has Kibum swaying to the side from the force.

Kibum sighs slowly through his nose. From anyone else, he would take that as sarcasm, teasing. But from Jonghyun? He can believe it. The intention behind it, anyway. "Being something," he mumbles back. He wouldn't call it brave that the only time he can look off of the edge of the ship is when he can't see anything.

Jonghyun tsks at him and Kibum knows that an encouraging reprimand is just on the tip of his tongue, but he's interrupted before he can say it. From behind them, they're both asked, "captains?"

"Yep?" Jonghyun replies, turning. Kibum turns with him to find a member of their glider scout squad back from patrol.

"Government ship heading our direction," they say.

Jonghyun blows a raspberry. Kibum purses his lips, annoyed in his own way. "Colors?" he asks. They're not technically fond of any government in these parts, but some of the governments haven't learned to be hostile towards them yet and Kibum isn't in any rush to give those ones a reason if he can avoid it.

"Orange and red," their scout replies. Kibum hums shortly. Might be worth causing some trouble after all. "Looks like supply, not force, though," they add. "Just basic guns."

"Just go around them," Jonghyun says. “Anything they're supplying this direction isn't dangerous."

He's right; they're in a war with one of their neighboring countries, but in the opposite direction. Away from the Locket , not towards it. Kibum nods, seconding Jonghyun's order.

"Captain,” the scout says, nodding to Jonghyun. Then, with a nod at Kibum, "other captain.” They turn and leave to relay orders. Kibum watches then go, frowning.

"I've been other captain for a week straight," he grumbles. Ever since he chewed the crew out about acting up and embarrassing him at the last port town.

"Don't be bitter because you're not the fun captain,” Jonghyun smirks. He leans in quick as lightning and steals a kiss on Kibum's cheek before Kibum can snap at him about that. He's plenty fun. He's fun all the time.

But now that he's been smooched, he guesses he doesn't care as much anymore. Jonghyun has that effect on him. The effect of comfort, security, of all around okayness.

Especially when, a moment later, Jonghyun hugs him from behind, his arms circling tight around his waist, his chin hooking over his shoulder. He's on his tiptoes to do it. His voice is soft, breathy, next to Kibum's ear. "We’ll trade places again soon," he reassures. "Don't think about it for now.”

Kibum lets the words wash over him, soothing the rest of the grumpiness out of him. He looks out at the clouds, letting them block his vision, and relaxes back into Jonghyun, letting him block his thoughts.

🌧Mare imbrium - sea of showers/rain

The skate park glows with late afternoon sunlight, soft oranges and yellows contrasting with harsh whites reflecting off of railings and boards as they flip through the air. Idle chatter mixes with rock music from a boombox over the constant drone of wheels on concrete. It's close enough to sunset that parents have taken most of the children home; the teenagers that remain are taking their new freedom as an opportunity to get a little rowdy. A little loud, a little dangerous. Not violent or anything, but still bold enough to huddle around one of the corners trying not to look suspicious as they cover for someone graffitiing the wall. What adults are left don't mind and leave them to their art.

Jonghyun and Taemin are two of those adults. Taemin is practicing a trick on a grind rail and Jonghyun is hanging out on top of the halfpipe trying to find a way to position his hands so that he can look at the moon without being blinded by the sun right next to it. Neither of them succeed, but after Taemin almost eats shit he skates his way up to sit next to Jonghyun and distracts him so it doesn't matter anyway.

He sits down so hard that their bodies jostle together, swings a sweaty arm around Jonghyun's shoulders, drops his board over both of their laps, and asks, "have you been coming up with all of these moon legends on the spot or do you think them up beforehand?"

Jonghyun traces the little J+T hidden in the artwork of Taemin's skateboard with a smile. "Both," he shrugs. "Some of them I've had for a while because I just like to think about them for fun. But some of them I've come up with in the moment."

"Neat," Taemin says. He leans all of his weight on Jonghyun until Jonghyun is giggling and propping them up with a hand on the cement. "Do you take requests?"

"Only from gremlins that I'm in love with,” Jonghyun says.

“Yo, that's me!" Taemin beams. "Tell me a moon story about me being super cool and badass.”

Taemin's performance is as show-stopping and jaw-dropping as usual. Backlit by the second sun of the asteroid belt, comets fill the sky with their icy streaks and Taemin dances between them. Jinki's voice flows over the performance, every beat and every note corresponding with a perfectly choreographed movement from Taemin's body. Flames blaze from their roller skates, red hair, and their hands as they skillfully jump and twist from comet to comet and grind hard on their tails. Sparks from their fire twinkle up into space; stardust from the comets rains down on their captive audience.

Jonghyun beams underneath his oxygen mask as he watches them. That's his friend up there. He knows that alien. He's sitting sidesaddle on his space cruiser on a smaller asteroid away from the main crowd. Key leans on the handlebars to his left and Minho is sitting against the back wheel on his right. He gave both of them a ride because they whined at him to, and because they wouldn't let him leave if he didn't, and because he guesses he's in love with both of them. It's not something he's really taken the time to face up to and admit to himself yet, but he knows it's there under the surface.

Key has been at his side ever since Jonghyun first met star and invited star to come along and explore the galaxy with him. They got along so well, the the two of them, always on each other's sides against the world, and it didn't take Jonghyun long at all to feel like Key knew him better than anyone. He's pretty sure it was inevitable that he would fall in love.

And as for Minho; he hasn't even seen Minho for a while. Minho took the one vacation with him and in the others and then he returned to his quiet space farm life. But every time Jonghyun comes back to this little asteroid belt in the middle of nowhere in the Solana galaxy he gets more and more excited to see Minho, more and more excited to play with his little cowboy hat and look at his space cows and listen to him talk in that deep, slow voice of his. The third or fourth time it happened Jonghyun could brush it off as platonic, but at this point he knows that it's romantic. Minho is just so tall and cute and kind.

"You’re such a fucking baby," he’s saying. “Wah wah wah, I got comet dust in my hair. It's a comet show, why did you want to come so bad if you didn't want to get dust on you?"

“Because I wanted to support my fucking friend,” Key snaps back. Where a smirk lives in Minho's voice, Key is all scowl. "And I don't remember inviting you to respond.”

"You invited me when you spoke to me.”

"I didn't speak to you , I spoke out loud. "

Jonghyun tunes them out as they continue to bicker over him. It’s not that he doesn't enjoy listening to them; it's entertaining, but sometimes he likes to let just their voices play in their ears and focus on other things.

He scuffs the asteroid dirt underneath his boot and watches it float up into space. A glitter of comet dust meets it in midair. Together, the ice and dirt from a tiny glob of mud that slowly wiggles back to the ground. Before it touches down, Jonghyun catches it on his finger. It's so cold that it's hot, stinging his skin, lighting the tiniest fire inside of him.

Wiping it on his pants, he looks straight up. Taemin passes right over them, whipping through a spin like he's a top, landing on two small comets hard enough to have them crumbling. The ice falls down over the three of them like a shower of stars. Each piece glitters, twinkles, sparkles. Each piece could contain its own galaxy. Jonghyun closes his eyes and lets them fall onto his face, each one a tiny burn of ice.

"Don't do that, you're going to ruin your hair.” Minho stands up, bringing Jonghyun's attention back to him. He reaches behind Jonghyun; there's the soft slap of a hand on a wrist and the familiar annoyed flutter of Key’s wings. Jonghyun can only assume that Minho is brushing comet dust out of Key’s hair.

"You are so naggy, all the time. Why don't you just fucking marry me.”

"You wish I wanted to marry you.”

“Oh, you wish I wish you want to marry me.”

Smiling, without opening his eyes, Jonghyun reaches out both hands. He links his arms through both of theirs, pulling them closer just because he wants to. Just because he loves them.

"The end," Jonghyun says dreamily. Taemin snorts.

"Got a little distracted, huh?" he asks. His tone is accusing, but it's obvious that he doesn't really mind.

“Yeah,” Jonghyun smiles. He reaches out and links his arm with Taemin's.

❄Mare frigoris - sea of cold

Jinki's first step onto the water is solid ice. Bad sign. He glances behind himself, looking over the dark beach and onto the boardwalk. Already, the houses glow with light in the night. Chimneys leave smoking trails that block out the sky in great stripes.

Jinki pulls his coat tighter around himself, sets his sights on the tiny, just barely visible shadow on the horizon, and starts walking.

The moon is empty tonight; he only has the light of the stars and the consistent drop of temperature to guide his way. Below him, the frozen sea reflects the sky and gives him a truly ethereal portrait of fish swimming in the stars. Farther and farther Jinki goes, bigger and bigger the fish get, deeper and deeper the ocean sinks, and all of it completely solid. He keeps going, colder and colder, until ice crystals are forming on his lashes, until he reaches the island.

And on the island, the home. Jinki jerks open the front door, breaking the ice around the frame. It clatters and tinkles on the floor as he steps inside. Navigating the home is as easy as navigating his own and he quickly finds his way to the bathroom where, like he expected, he finds the weather of the north.

Where he finds Jonghyun.

He's hunched over the sink, hands gripping the porcelain, facing himself in the mirror. His white hair is a mess around his head, his lips are bitten red, his cheeks and his nose flushed pink, his eyes bloodshot. Crystalline icy tears trickle down his face, drip off of his chin, and fall musically onto the tile floor. When Jinki appears in the mirror behind him, he straightens and turns around. Just the force of his attention is a wave of cold; Jinki holds his shivering arms open anyway.

Jonghyun's mouth trembles. He steps forward slowly, one step, two steps, three steps, and lets himself melt into Jinki's embrace. His arms go around Jinki's back and his chin hooks over his shoulder. Compared to the negative temperature seeping into the rest of the globe, Jonghyun is warm, hot, almost burning with his emotion. His fingers press bruises into Jinki's skin through his layers. Every breath of his is a sharp gasp and then a soft whimper next to Jinki's ear. Ice patters down Jinki's back and onto the floor behind him.

Jinki stays silent, patting his back gently, closing his eyes and letting Jonghyun feel his feelings. People will be arriving soon – others from the boardwalk and maybe farther, humans that only know of Jonghyun from myth and legend, humans that think themselves heroes for making the dangerous trek out to ask a favor of the god on the horizon, humans that will ask for help instead of offering it.

But Jinki is here for Jonghyun first and the world second. Everything second to Jonghyun, always.

Jonghyun takes his time. Hours, days, maybe a week pass before he calms down enough to pick his head up. Sniffling, swallowing, taking deep breaths, he pushes his forehead against Jinki's shoulder. His arms slide down until he's holding Jinki around the waist. His tears stop, for now.

Jinki pets his hair softly. "This will pass," he murmurs. "This won't be forever. You will feel joy again." and when Jonghyun looks up at him, shy, hesitant, small, skeptical, Jinki smiles. "I'll stay with you until you do,” he promises.

Back at the boardwalk, the waves begin to melt.

It's quiet after Jonghyun finishes his story. But not the same kind of quiet as it was before he started. Not comfortable, cozy, the two of them bundled up underneath a blanket on top of the heater and watching snow fall outside. Now the silence is heavy. Stressed. Awkward.

“Kind of a downer,” Taemin blurts. As soon as the words leave his mouth, he scrunches his face and thunks his head back against the couch behind him. Softly, so that Jonghyun doesn't notice.

"No," Jonghyun says defensively. "It was hopeful at the end." Slowly, with minimal movements so Taemin doesn't notice, he arranges himself underneath the blanket and chews on his thumbnail.

"Yeah, but, I meant," Taemin says. He hesitates, then shuffles an inch closer to Jonghyun. Their sides go from just touching to warmly pressed together. "You okay?" he asks.

Jonghyun doesn't answer immediately. He nibbles on his thumb, his fingers, his knuckles. He wipes his hand on the underside of the blanket and then curls it around Taemin's elbow. "Better now that I got the story out of me,” he mumbles.

Again, it's quiet. The heater turns off, the blanket deflating around their bodies, the temperature suddenly cold if only because of the sudden lack of extra heat. Without the hum of the vent, the silence becomes almost unbearable. "Do you want...,” Taemin starts. He chews on his bottom lip. "Would it help," he tries, "If I said those things to you? The next time you're feeling extra down?”

Jonghyun pushes his forehead into Taemin's shoulder. "Yeah," he says. "I think so."

"Okay,” Taemin says. He tilts his head to rest on top of Jonghyun's and they enjoy the silence together until outside, the icy clouds part just enough to show them the full moon.

🧚Mare vaporum - sea of vapours

They're coming. Jonghyun can sense them. Two humans making their way through faer forest. Through faer mist. Looking for faer moonlit clearing.

Looking for fae.

Fae lounges on the surface of faer lake, trailing the fingers of faer right hand through the water as fae sifts through faer mist with the other. Behind the swirling fog, fae can see shadows of trees and animals. In the fog, fae can see visions of the rest of the forest. The rushing waterfall, the wolf den, the ruins, the lost souls that never found their ways out.

The humans. Smiling, Jonghyun pulls the mist closer so fae can get a better look. One has long chestnut red hair and black clothes save for a bright green visor on his hood. He absentmindedly twirls his knives as he walks, the blades shifting and changing as he channels elemental magic through his fingers. Every so often he’ll catch a glimpse of something through the trees and start to make off for it before his companion grabs the back of his collar and drags him back.

That human is taller with bright red hair partially hidden underneath a wide-brimmed pointy hat. He's customized his long robes to have pants that allow him to walk comfortably over the uneven forest floor. He carries a mace comfortably in the hand that he isn't using to corral his companion. It looks light enough that Jonghyun is sure it's mostly used for magic, but still solid enough to get some good bashing in if it needs to.

Minho and Taemin, the mist whispers to fae. Jonghyun bites faer lip, excited. Fae does like humans. Fae hasn't had any for so long that fae can barely remember what they taste like.

Fae checks faer reflection in the water, making sure that faer blue hair is pretty and fluffed, faer skin is perfectly glittery and dewey, and faer four light blue wings are at their daintiest angles. Then all fae has to do is be patient.

The two of them find faer before long. Fae can hear their laughing and bickering voices coming closer and then suddenly coming to a stop as they see faer lake through faer mist.

Jonghyun gives them a moment to be in awe, then parts faer mist cloud by cloud until they have an unobstructed view of faer sitting directly in the center of the water. Slowly, fae stands, turns to face them, and smiles.

Taemin's mouth falls open. Minho swallows so loud fae can hear it.

All at once, fae speeds forward, wind howling and water splashing behind faer, until fae's right at the edge of the lake. Directly in front of them. Fae comes to a hard stop but lets the wind and the water rush passed faer and onto the humans. Fae flutters faer wings and faer eyelashes, smiling at them as they try to regain their composure, knuckles white on their weapons.

"Welcome,” fae says. "What wish do you have for me?"

“Uhhh,” Taemin says. He's blinking a mile a minute. His knives fall limp to his sides. His cheeks flush a vibrant pink.

"We, um,” Minho says. "We um. We wanted to, um. Uh.” His eyes are huge and wide and he takes his hat off, holding it with both hands in front of his chest.

Humans are so cute. Jonghyun blushes faerself, biting faer lip. It's been so long since fae's seen one, let alone two. Fae 's been getting lonely out here all on faer own in the forest.

"We don't, um, have a wish," Minho says. "We came to. Because we heard that. People kept coming to find you. To get a wish granted. And that you didn't like it. So we thought that we would, um. We could. We can offer you a spell."

"To keep people away from you,” Taemin adds.

Jonghyun's heart bounces in faer chest. That's so thoughtful. Of course fae can keep people away from faer with the twitch of a wing, but these humans obviously don't know that. Never has anyone else been so considerate of faer emotions before. Fae wonders, if fae accepts the spell, will it take long? Will the two humans have to stick around to cast it? Can fae convince them to stay a while longer as a thank you? Can fae convince them to come back –?

"I thought this was supposed to be a scary story?”

“Wuh?” Jonghyun takes his eyes off of the misty forest just off the edge of the road. Taemin doesn't take his eyes off of the winding road to the campsite. Between them, the radio plays static, Jonghyun's mp3 player sits unable to connect to Taemin's car, and Taemin's mp3 player sits unconnected because they forgot the cord at home.

"You said it would be scary," Taemin pouts. "How come fae's falling in love with them all of a sudden? What happened to eating them?”

"Uh,” Jonghyun says. "Oh," he says. "Oh yeah. I forgot." He bursts into giggles, hiding his eyes behind his hands. "Sorry. I got invested in the romance all of a sudden. You know I'm not good with scary." He giggles more; Taemin rolls his eyes. "I'll make faer eat them. Don't worry.” Jonghyun lightly slaps his own cheeks in a bracing sort of way.

"Well, hold on,” Taemin says. He taps hands quickly on the steering wheel. "I kind of like the humans now. I don't want them to get et." He's pouting again; Jonghyun chuckles, putting a hand on his thigh.

"I'll figure something out,” he says.

😌Mare serenitatis - sea of serenity

Taemin's breath shakes and so do his hands as he slides under the covers after getting up to pee for the fifth time this night. His body is covered in sweat but he shivers with cold at the same time. The noise he makes as he pushes his face into the pillow is pathetically sad.

Jonghyun ruffles his hair, murmuring soothing noises. There's never really much else that he can do when Taemin gets hit by one of these prolonged anxiety attacks like this. It just has to pass on its own, even if that means they're both still awake at 3 in the morning.

"I'm sorry," Taemin groans.

Jonghyun pulls the blankets up to his shoulders. "For what?"

"For keeping you up."

"It's okay," Jonghyun says. "I would be up anyway." He's always up with his insomnia. Taemin lifts his head from the pillow only to push his face into Jonghyun's bicep. His skin is clammy, his forehead hot. Jonghyun fixes his hair out of his face. "Want me to sing you something?" he asks. Sometimes that helps keep his mind occupied.

"Can you tell me a story?”

The words come out small and hesitant, embarrassed, but all Jonghyun does is reply, "a story about what?”

"About something safe," Taemin whispers.

It's dusk. Sunset has passed but night hasn't completely fallen yet. The sky is a gradient of vivid red and orange on the horizon, pale pink and yellow above head, and a muted blue turning navy creeping up from behind the house. Jonghyun is on the front porch letting the wind sway him in his rocking chair as he looks out at the beach.

Even though it's getting late the sand still crawls with people. They hurry to the water for one last swim, help each other pack up their umbrellas and towels, crowd around the beginnings of the weekly bonfire, or trudge up the steps onto the sidewalk. There they walk slowly, their hair frizzy and their cheeks pink from a long day in the sun. Cars of tourists drive past slowly to take in the view of the cliffs, the tide pools, the ocean.

Jonghyun isn't much interested in the view. Instead, he's watching one particular dot on the beach. It hangs around the small docks, cleaning up and storing away water skiing equipment on one of the boats with a couple of other figures. They stand around talking for a little longer, then part ways – the other people walk towards the steps to the parking lot and Jonghyun's person makes their way to one of the smaller dirt and rock pathways up the cliffs.

In just a few minutes, Kibum clambers into sight, glances up and down the street, and jogs across straight to the house.

Straight to Jonghyun.

“Bummie,” Jonghyun smiles. He holds out grabby hands all the way until Kibum walks up the front porch and takes them. The moment their fingers touch, solid and together, warmth floods through him. It starts from his heart and seeps through every single one of his nerves, comes out in his voice as he says, "hi. Did you have fun?"

“Ye,” Kibum smiles back. He leans down, smooches Jonghyun's temple, and heads inside the house. Jonghyun doesn't let his hands go until he's too far to keep their fingers locked together. Kibum leaves the door open behind him. Jonghyun can hear him inside: hopping into the shower, changing into his pajamas, grabbing a drink from the fridge.

He comes back outside and invites himself into Jonghyun's lap. Jonghyun holds him around the waist, resting his cheek against his chest. His heart beats steady and reassuring underneath his sweater.

And now that Jonghyun has one, he turns his attention from the beach to the corner down the street and waits for the other.

Between sips, Kibum tells him about his day. Jonghyun replies, laughs, kisses, offers details of his own day when asked. But never does he take his eyes off of the street corner. The sky darkens slowly, all of the color fading out like it's soaking into the ocean and leaving only dark blue and white stars behind. The street lamps flicker on and a few minutes later so does their porch light, bathing them in a soft orange glow. The moon peeks out from behind the pier.

And finally, finally, coming around the corner. Pink hair. A sleeveless hoodie and baggy shorts. A backpack over one arm and takeout bag over the other. A smile and a wave.

Right on time, Jinki comes back to them. Jonghyun waves his arm high over his head the entire time Jinki walks down the sidewalk, through the front yard, and up the porch steps. Then Jinki grabs his hand and wiggles it as gently as he’s smiling. "Hello hello," he says.

"Hey," Kibum hums. He takes Jinki's backpack off of his shoulder and tosses it into the house, then takes the takeout bag and puts it on the porch railing. "How was work?" he asks.

And while Jinki answers, Jonghyun pulls him close enough that he can get an arm around his hips and nuzzle his tummy. He guides Jinki's hand to the top of his head and practically melts when Jinki takes the hint and starts petting him. A wave of calm washes over him from his head to his –

A soft snore interrupts Jonghyun mid-sentence. Another follows soon after. Taemin's little hand, holding onto his bicep this entire time, falls slack down into the crook of his arm. Jonghyun smiles, pressing it against Taemin's hair in the darkness. He'll be waking up again in an hour, probably, but that's fine. Jonghyun will just pick up where he left off.

🍑Mare fecunditatis - sea of fecundity/fertility

”Oooh.… ooouuuugh…. Woooooaaaaauuuunnnnnnghmhmmm….”

"Whiny baby. What is your problem?” Minho ducks his head into the bedroom after finally deciding that Jonghyun's dramatic wails for attention were too cute to keep ignoring. He finds the babe on his stomach in bed, completely nakey, whining into the pillows. As soon as he lays his eyes on Minho his facade breaks into a wide smile for just a second before he remembers that he’s being dramatic. He rolls over to his back and throws an arm over his eyes.

"I'm sooooo cute and sexy and lonely," he sighs. “And fuckable." He peeks at Minho from under his arm. "And unfucked,” he adds pointedly. "It’s been sooooooo long.”

Minho crosses his arms and leans on the door frame, eyebrows raised. Unsurprising but still unbelievable. "I literally fucked you last night," he says accusingly. He's a little hurt. He is very attentive to Jonghyun's horny needs and it's almost offensive that Jonghyun is pretending that he's not.

" One time,” Jonghyun grumbles. "Yesterday." And he has the audacity to pout about it. Minho shakes his head, laughing incredulously.

"You are such a spoiled brat,” he says.

“Ooh, I know,” Jonghyun says. He's smiling now, eyes glittering behind his lashes. He turns back to his stomach, raises his hips into the air, and wiggles them back and forth. "Don't you think I need someone to put me in my place?" he asks innocently.

Which is how, ten minutes later, Kibum walks in on Minho absolutely plowing a beaming Jonghyun into the pillows. "Y'all,” he says. He walks to the hamper and throws in his clothes, then hangs his towel over it. "I literally told you I was just going to take a quick shower. You couldn't wait?”

“Nuh uh,” Jonghyun says cheerfully. Kibum rolls his eyes. He doesn't know why he expected anything different.

"You showered before you came to have sex?" Minho frowns at him and he frowns back.

"I didn't want to be gross," he grumbles defensively. He's being polite for Jonghyun. Before Minho can hit him with a reply that will start an argument, he walks to the bed and clambers up on his knees. "Anyway," he says. He squishes Jonghyun's cute butt fondly, then sucks on his fingers for a second and slides them down to where Minho is fucking into him. "Make room," he orders. He bumps Minho with his hip and pushes his fingers inside of Jonghyun around his cock. "Let me get in there with you."

Jonghyun nuts instantly, cursing and growling, which is fine. What annoys Kibum is that Minho does too. He holds Jonghyun's hips tight and shivers, twitches, biting his lip hard and filling him up. "Come on, ” Kibum scowls.

Minho, panting and loopy, smacks his arm. "You can't just say that," he snaps. "You know I think it's really hot. What did you expect?"

"Yeah, well." Like Kibum is going to admit it was his fault to Minho of all people. "Move," he says. He takes advantage of Minho's temporary exhaustion to bump him out of the way. Gently, taking care with Jonghyun's oversensitive nerves, he plays with his hole, fingerfucks Minho's cum back into him before it can escape, and uses it to stroke his cock until he's all the way hard.

The absolutely desperate whimper that Jonghyun makes when he pushes his cock inside is music to his ears.

"Hey," Minho says. Kibum looks up; Minho is carefully bringing Jonghyun up onto his elbows and helping him suck his cock into his mouth. He holds his free hand up in the air over Jonghyun's back.

"Nice," Kibum grins, high-fiving him without hesitation.

Taemin pops his head into the room the moment their hands make contact. "Hey, you okay? Oh.” Relief floods through him as he realizes what's going on. They weren't sad noises or in danger noises; they were just sex noises. "We fuckin in here?" he asks brightly. He was playing video games, but he's not going to pass this up. "Hell yeah.” his shirt is over his head and he's bouncing onto the bed next to Kibum in a heartbeat. "You're looking very cute and fuckable," he tells Jonghyun, squishing his butt happily.

"I know," Jonghyun breathes back. He sounds so blissed out already that it makes Taemin's heart warm. Probably just nutted. Good for him.

"Gremlin," Kibum says. Taemin glances at him, pokes his side, smirks when he ducks away with a glare. "Fuck him with me," Kibum says, straightening up.

Taemin instantly gets hard. "Hell yeah," he says again. "I call not anchor."

"Not – fuck. Fine.” Kibum, grumbling, pulls out. Taemin, grinning, takes his place. Together with Minho, they help Jonghyun turn over and guide him into Kibum's lap. Taemin can't help but hold his face and kiss him as he sinks down on Kibum's cock, tasting his tongue and his booty and Minho's cum and all of the love that Jonghyun is feeling in this exact moment. It's Taemin's favorite part about kissing him during sex.

Once he's settled on top of Kibum and whining, begging for more already, Taemin lets him go for just long enough to look at his own dick and guide it inside. Then he's right back kissing him. First his mouth, and then when that gets too hard to focus on and fuck good at the same time, his neck.

Soon the only sounds are Jonghyun's happy noises, Kibum's murmured dirty talk, Minho's smiled praises, and Taemin's soft breaths.

And those are the same noises that Jinki hears when he gets home sometime later. Wearily throwing his jacket and work bag onto his kitchen chair, he follows the noises through the house until he comes upon the scene in the bedroom. Kibum is sat up against the pillows with Jonghyun's head in his lap, eagerly bobbing up and down on his cock. Minho and Taemin are both on their knees behind him, taking turns to fuck his cute little booty.

As Jinki watches, Taemin hisses, puts a hand between Jonghyun's shoulder blades, and fucks him down hard, nutting deep inside of him. Then he melts, barely managing to move out from between his legs until he flops perpendicular on top of his back. Face in the mattress, arms spread eagle, legs dangling off of the other side of the bed, he deflates. Kibum squishes his cheek and Minho takes the extra space to just sit down behind Jonghyun and start fingering him, but not before he notices Jinki in the doorway.

"Hi Jinki," he says happily.

Taemin picks his head up and blinks at him. "Jinkiiiiii, help," he whines.

"He's in a mood today." Kibum only turns his head to smile lazily at Jinki. Jonghyun doesn't even look at him; he gives him a three-fingered wave without getting off of Kibum's cock.

"I'm all nutted out," Taemin whines.

"We all are," Kibum adds.

"How was your day?" Minho asks.

Jinki closes his eyes and shakes his head, entirely in love with all four of them. Straightening up, he undoes his pants and walks to the bed. Looks like he has to come in and be the hero once again. "It was nice," he tells Minho, cupping his chin and smooching him. He bends over and kisses the back of Taemin's sweaty head too, then lets Kibum pull him forward for a third kiss, and then finally turns his focus to Jonghyun.

"Come here, little pretty slutty one,” he says, pulling him up by the shoulders. Kibum lets him go without a fight, Taemin slithers off grumbling, and Minho slides around to join them at the head of the bed. Jinki turns Jonghyun onto his back, looking down at his blissed-out, smiling face. He is entirely proud of himself and not even close to being tired yet. Jinki can't do much about the first thing and doesn't really want to, but he can definitely help with the second. Bending Jonghyun's legs up until he can hook them over his shoulders, he –

“There are so many different ways.”

"He – he's about to put me into a mating press, Taemin, don't interrupt. That's the best part."

"There are so many different ways you could have told me that you want to get gangbanged. And you choose to use the moon for your sick perversions."

"It's not about getting gangbanged! I wouldn't use the moon for just a gangbang. My sick perversion is I want to get bred."

"You– now you have a pregnancy kink? I've had that for like years and now that I'm not really into it anymore now suddenly you–"

"It's not a pregnancy kink? Gross. No pregnant. Only breed."

"And what happens after you get bred? You get preg – "

"No! Nothing happens! It's not real! The universe ceases to exist after I finish jerking off!”

“Oh my fucking god–"

🌕 Epilogue: the far side

It's summer again. They're outside again, at the park again, on the swings again. This time, though, they're sleepily waiting for the sunrise. Jonghyun had his insomnia, Taemin had a nightmare, and they figured that if they weren't going to sleep then they might as well go on a date. They grabbed a couple of oranges from someone's tree on the walk over and and the peels are littered in the grass around the swingset, vibrant against the pale morning palette. The only sounds are the occasional sniffle, the scuffs of their shoes against the play mat, and the birds chirping in the trees around the park.

When the sky is pink but the sun hasn't risen yet, Taemin points somewhere to the left and yawns, "moon."

"Hmm?” Jonghyun looks around, rubbing the heel of his palm into his eye. He looks around, leaning towards Taemin, squinting where he's pointing, and then he pouts. “Where?" he asks.

Taemin looks around too. He walks his swing closer to Jonghyun and his mouth pops open in understanding. "Come over to my side," he says, letting the swing pull him back. Jonghyun does with much mumbling and grumbling. Once he's there, though, and nothing is blocking his view of the moon anymore, he smiles. With one hand he points up at it and with the other hand he pushes Taemin gently. "Moon," he says.

“Moon,” Taemin repeats. "Can I have a moon story?" he asks. When Jonghyun puts his hand on the chain to push him again, he rests his cheek against it, keeping him there. "Space ocean story," he mumbles.

"Sure," Jonghyun chuckles. He looks all around the moon, his eyes darting from spot to spot, and then he frowns. "Actually,” he says, scratching the side of his head, "I think I'm all out of moon stories."

"Out?" Taemin pouts.

"I think –” Jonghyun points at the moon, tapping his finger on the air like he's counting. "Yeah," he confirms. "I've told you stories about all of the oceans up there."

Taemin grumbles, tapping his feet stubbornly on the ground. He turns his head just enough to brush his lips against Jonghyun's knuckles. "Aren’t there any on the other side?" he asks.

"The far side?" Jonghyun asks. Taemin mimics his correction in a baby voice; Jonghyun ignores it. "There are some," he says, "but they're all little and I don't remember their names unless I'm looking at them.”

“Mmm,” Taemin hums. "How long do we have to wait, then?”

"For what?”

"For the moon to rotate so you can see the others and remember.” Taemin spins a finger around in the air. Jonghyun grabs it, kisses it, pokes Taemin's cheek with it.

"Uh, forever,” he says. "We can't see the far side of the moon from here."

"Excuse me?” Taemin turns in the swing to frown up at Jonghyun. “But the moon rotates. I know some stuff about space." He huffs the words out, grumpy, and huffs again when Jonghyun laughs behind his hand. "You can't tell me that it doesn't –”

"No, it does,” Jonghyun says through his giggles. "It's just that, the moon spins on its axis at the same rate that it orbits around earth. So it always faces us.”

Taemin is silent for a moment, frowning. He squints at the moon, then at the ground. Arithmetic and equations float around his head. Then, finally, he says, "that’s fucked up."

"What do you mean!” Instantly Jonghyun is loud, on the defensive, hands on his hips. "It makes sense!”

Taemin thrusts his hand aggressively at the moon. "We shouldn't need a spaceship to see the moon's ass!" He snaps back. “What’s she hiding?”

"Don't,” Jonghyun starts. He's laughing already. "Don't call it the–”

“The ass of the moon, ” Taemin hisses. He's laughing too. Their joy echoes around the park, touching every blade of grass, filling every tiny drop of mist. Filling their lungs until Taemin is bent in half, his face in his hands, and Jonghyun is staggering to sit on the ground before he fully falls over.

He takes up the space between Taemin's legs, holding on to him, giggling into his knee. Together, they calm down. Taemin plants his feet firmly on the ground so he doesn't move and plays with Jonghyun's hair. Jonghyun closes his eyes, happily sleepy.

On the horizon, the sun creeps ever closer until the sky is a vibrant orange and the first beams start to shine over the buildings. "What about the craters?” Taemin asks after a while. "Do they have names? and stories?”

"Names, yeah," Jonghyun murmurs back. "I never came up with stories for them, though. And I don't remember the names. It's just more Latin.”

“Hm.” Taemin is quiet for a little while longer, then, "do they have names in other languages?”

"Probably."

"Can we make up names for them ourselves?”

Jonghyun opens his eyes again. He twists just enough to look at Taemin, resting his temple against his inner thigh. He smiles and Taemin blushes. "Why not?” he says. "And you can come up with the stories this time."

Blushing harder, staring determinedly at the moon, cupping Jonghyun's face and rubbing a thumb over his cheek, Taemin says, "we can come up with the stories together."

The sun comes rising gloriously over the horizon and neither of them notice.

Didn't want to deal with making all of these tags and they wouldn't fit anyway lmfao

🌕Prologue: the moon Jongtae; pg; 733w Did this to try and improve my sentence structure variety and describing locations and writing shorter pieces and maybe I forgot halfway through but it is a start and for once people will read my fantasy things so : )

🌩oceanus procellarum - ocean of storms jongho; storm chaser but in space au; pg; 638w originally i wanted to do like. they’re magic embodiments of storms and when they argue or bicker the storms get bigger and then there was going to be a soft part about them being in love and calm and serene and that was going to be the eye of the storm. and it was going to be real dramatic and artsy but like. the words weren't coming lmao. so i wrote this instead which i think is also nice but in a different way

💞mare cognitum - sea that has become known ot5; pg; kissie stuff; 439w hehe…… smoochie

🌹mare nectaris - sea of nectar onjongtae; garden spirit au; nc17; 644w i was going to make ferns nut golden to be like nectar but that was too much like piss :/ anyway i just think fern deserves being loopy and horny and uwu 5eva

🫂mare tranquillitatis - sea of tranquility onjongho; mages au; pg;949w looked up the difference between tranquility and serenity and apparently serenity is more of a still image and tranquility is more of an emotion and honestly who is better at emotional calmness than onjongho

💦mare humorum - sea of moisture jongtae; mermaid au; pg; 899w m o i s t i really hit myself right in the heart with this one lmao i think it's my favorite out of all of them

🌴mare insularum - sea of islands ot5; creationists au; pg; 1386w couldn't get the words to come out like i wanted them to but i like the concept of this one a lot?? they're just vibing and making things and doing their bests : )

🌙mare crisium - sea of crises jongtaekey; sailor moon au; pg; 984w remember when choi tricked jonghyun into singing the sailor moon theme song. icon. absolute legend. almost made this powerpuff girls instead but i wanted roo to be the talking puppy and also. moon

☁️mare nubium - sea of clouds jongkey; skyship au; pg; 869w i just think they're neat rebel vigilante types that go around bothering governments and disabling warships and providing aid to people : )

🌧mare imbrium - sea of showers/rain jongminkey; space slice of life au; pg; 1191w actually this one is kind of a sequel to something i wrote like years ago lmfao if i remember after author reveals i'll come back and link it

❄️mare frigoris - sea of cold jongyu; weather deities au; pg; 887w you know. he’s big and important and powerful and everything but that doesn't mean he can't be a little crybaby having a breakdown every once in a while. something something not religious but if you are maybe ask your dude/s (gender-neutral) if they're having a nice day

🧚mare vaporum - sea of vapors jong2min; lake fairy au; pg; 929w i think fae can have little a eating people. as a treat. and also maybe little a gay makeouts with traveling mages. also as a treat.

😌mare serenitatis - sea of serenity onjongkey; beach au; pg; 962w i just wanted to think of the nicest most calm and peaceful still image and also with the relief of both jinx and key coming home safe right on time : ) no anxiety just love

🍑mare fecunditatis - sea of fecundity/fertility ot5; horny lol; nc17; 1499 words hehehehehehehe. hoohoo. absolutely flooded with cum. good for him.

🌕epilogue: the far side jongtae; pg; 893w i just think they're neat. they're just little guys and they like each other a whole lot. i don't know if they're actually dating the other three??? probably if jong is making up gay little stories about them lmao??? either it’s poly ot5 or they're just really comfortable and close with their friends and don't mind snuggling and and kissing and doing the sex sometimes and being vulnerable but like in a platonic way. i like both and i'm a libra so i can't pick so whichever one you like better lol

also taem: what do you MEAN they're actually lava >:(

jong: it's lava from old volcanoes underneath the surface. Kind of boring. I used to think it was from when the moon used to be part of the Earth but--

taem: the moon was fucking WHAT??????????