All That Glitters is Not Gold (BTS X Reader)

Chapter 9

The man looked at us carefully and I could see him studying our small, strange group. It definitely wasn't common for a human girl to be seen traveling with a fairy or a dragon. His eyes turned back to me. I couldn't manage to bring myself to turn away from his beautiful face. I was captivated by his tantalizing looks.

"My name is Seokjin. I am the guardian of Heavenly Rock," he said, bowing slightly.

I stared at him for a moment before bowing back. "It's a pleasure to meet you Seokjin," I said, still entranced with his beauty.

Seokjin held a hand out to me and I placed my hand in his. He brought my hand to his full lips and kissed the back, setting my heart to fluttering and a nervous sweat to form on my back. "You may call me Jin," he said, his deep voice soft.

Jimin came up to my side and tugged my free hand, breaking me from the trance of Jin. "Y/N, we need to go," he said.

I went to pull my hand from Jin. "Jimin's right. We must be moving on. I have to get to the Dark Wizard," I said.

Jin tightened his grip on my hand. "May I join you? I would like him to help me as well," he said gesturing towards his black wings, his voice soft.

"What's wrong with the wings?" Hoseok asked, his loud voice cutting in through the quiet evening. "They look pretty awesome to me."

Jin gave a delicate shudder. "These horrific... things are the bane of my existence," Jin said, turning his eyes to Hoseok.

It hit me then. The white clothes, the white blond hair, Heavenly Rock. I felt like such a fool. Jin was an angel. I was sure of it, but why were his magnificent wings black?

Jin turned to me as though reading my thoughts. "Yes. I am an angel," he said simply. "This was my punishment for something I had done. Something I should have not done." His eyes were sad and I could feel the pain coming from his simple words.

I couldn't help but feel pity for the beautiful angel in front of me. Whatever he had done couldn't be that bad, right? I wondered what he was being punished for but I didn't dare ask. It wasn't my business and I didn't want to seem as though I was prying.

"If you are sure then yes. Please join us," I said, not wanting to leave the beautiful angel behind.

Jimin tugged my hand again. "Y/N? Are you sure this is a good idea?" he asked, his gaze darting to Jin. "If he's being punished, do we really want him with us?"

Hoseok stepped up behind me and I could feel his warm breath on my neck, giving me goosebumps. "I hate to admit it, but Sparkles is right. Do we really want to risk it by bringing him along?"

I turned and glared at Hoseok. "Really? This coming from a dragon? I'm more in danger with you by my side than an angel," I retorted. I heard Jimin snicker and I quickly turned to him. "Don't even get me started with you. I didn't want you here in the first place."

Jimin's eyes dropped to the ground and Hoseok let out a sigh. They both knew I was right. I didn't understand their suddenly possessive behavior. Jimin had been like this since we ran into Hoseok and now Hoseok was doing it too?

I turned to Jin who still held my hand. "Please join us," I said.

The angel's face lit up in a smile that made my heart flutter in my chest. He bent down and kissed my hand again. I could hear Hoseok's growl behind me and felt Jimin's hand tighten around mine.

"Thank you sweet girl," Jin said. "I promise you that you will not regret it."

I went to pull my hand away from Jimin, but his hand tightened around mine even more. I looked back at him and he gave me a small smile. "Please. Just for now?" he asked, his face set in a cute pout.

I rolled my eyes. "Fine," I relented. I didn't miss the blush that spread across his plump cheeks and the smug smile on his pretty lips. "We need to keep moving." I continued along the path around Heavenly Rock with Jimin on one side, Jin on the other, and Hoseok trailing behind, mumbling to himself.

"I know you're wondering what crime I committed to receive the punishment," Jin said softly. "But you're too polite to ask."

I shook my head. "It's really none of my business," I said even though I was definitely curious. I glanced behind me as we passed Heavenly Rock and noticed the glow beginning to dim the further we moved away from it.

Jin followed my glance. "The glow from Heavenly Rock is drawn from me. It senses my presence leaving so the energy is not nearly as strong. The further I get, the dimmer it becomes," Jin explained answering my unspoken question.

We walked in silence for a short while before Hoseok spoke up. He had noticed my tired eyes and slowed steps. "Y/N we need to find a spot for the night. You need to rest. At least for a couple of hours," he said, his voice gentle but authoritative.

I sighed knowing Hoseok was correct. Jin pointed to a grove of trees about a hundred yards away. "There is a small pond within those trees. It is protected territory so you will be safe," Jin said.

"How will we get into it if it's protected territory?" Hoseok asked.

Jin turned and gave him an almost bored look. "The territory is protected by me," he said. "I'm the angel that protects this area. You will be permitted to enter it because I will allow it. Without me, the area is virtually invisible to all others who would pass by here."

Hoseok looked impressed but then carefully schooled his features into a blank look. "Got it," he said.

We approached the grove after a few moments. Just as Jin had said, once we entered the grove there was a small crystal clear pond. The source of it was unclear to me but Jin assured me that the water was safe to drink. The trees bore fruit unlike anything I had ever seen. They had the shape of an apple, but were a dark purple in color. Jin pulled one from the tree, rubbed it on his shirt then passed it to me.

"Here you go sweet girl," Jin said with a smile. "It's okay to eat. I promise you."

I took a bite of the dark fruit and was amazed at the flavors that exploded on my tongue. It was citrusy like an orange but with an underlying sweetness that made my mouth water. It was so incredibly refreshing, similar to the berries that Hoseok had given me in the Daybreak Mountains.

I passed the fruit to Jimin and he took a bite, closing his eyes in pleasure. He gave me a smile then handed it back to me. Jin reached up and pulled down a few more, passing them to Jimin and Hoseok before taking one for himself.

I sat down on soft grass next to a tree and leaned against it, the exhaustion from the last two days starting to catch up with me. I hadn't closed my eyes to rest since leaving my house the night before. Jimin and in had traveled through the night and then the entire day with Hoseok. I was so incredibly tired, but my mind was filled with Reese and worry for him.

Jimin sat down next to me and hesitantly leaned his head on my shoulder. I knew the sweet fairy was just as tired as I was. He had been waling with me since my journey had started and never once complained. He began to doze almost immediately and his head kept dropping forward. Concerned about the pain he would feel in the morning, I gently lowered his head to my lap then brushed his bubblegum pink hair away from his forehead. He smiled softly in his slumber before snuggling in closer.

Hoseok settled at my feet, resting his head on my lower legs, exhaustion in his own face. "Still don't believe that you thought Sparkles would be capable of protecting you," he said with an eye roll.

"Stop Hoseok," I said, kicking out at him halfheartedly. "Jimin's been great company."

Jin sat down next to me on the other side, his face tight with stress. I wondered again what had caused this beautiful man's magnificent wings to turn black.

Jin turned to me, sad smile on his face. "I know you're curious. You are just too polite to ask." Jin took a deep breath. "My wings... my wings are black because I committed a crime. A crime so terrible that I was cast down from Heaven and sent to guard Heavenly Rock. A crime so awful that my wings were turned black. A crime so dreadful that I am no longer considered a true angel."