↳ Index [Chapter 09 - Ghost]
Warnings: lots of emotional stuff, just emotions man emotions
Wordcount: 14.9k
a/n: hehe (with intent)
“Jimin? Holy shit, how? I saw you die.”
“Yeah, uhm…about that.”
You reach out and touch his chest. Hard and firm and most definitely real.
“What? How? What?" you stutter, “how? I literally saw the pile of ash.”
Jimin takes a step back, forcing your hand to slip from his chest.
“Resurrection spell. Good stuff, only works once and when done right. Fucking the brains out of a witch in secret has its advantages.”
“I think I’m gonna black out. You’re alive? All this bloody time you’ve been alive?”
Jimin scrunches his nose up in slight distaste.
“Geez, I see that you’re still dramatic.”
“No. Ohohoh no, you dickhead are not pulling that now”, you say, pointing an accusing finger at him, “you’re such a little shit, do you know that? Taehyung cried himself to sleep for months because of you and you are not going to appear here with accusations of me being dramatic.”
Jimin falters before sadness washes over his face.
“Taehyung cried because of me?”
“Yeah?” you laugh in disbelief, “maybe he shouldn’t have, given how you decided to act dead.”
“Now wait a minute”, Jimin hisses, “I was barely alive for months. You think being reborn from ash is something fun? Hell no, I’m back to ground zero.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means I lost six centuries of strength.”
You snort.
“Don’t laugh”, he spits.
“I’m sorry, but this serves you so right.”
“You bitch”, Jimin gasps, blinking his eyes in disbelief, “where’s your compassion? I thought you were oh so nice.”
“Yeah, to people who didn’t try to kill me multiple times and on top of that abandoned their best friend.”
“I didn’t abandon-”, he stops himself, breathing in loudly. He raises his finger, pointing it at you vigorously, “you hah”, he laughs with fiery eyes, “you”, he steps closer, pointing his finger right at your face.
“What?”
He flicks your forehead.
“Ah. What the hell? That hurt”, you gasp, rubbing the aching spot.
“Serves you right”, he grumbles, taking a step back.
You huff out air, sending him an angry look.
Jimin crosses his arms in front of his chest.
“Where’s your bodyguard?”
“Who are you talking about?”
“Min Yoongi. Where is he?”
“Yeah, about that”, you begin, “I may have lost him. As a matter of fact, I’m kind of lost in general.”
Jimin scoffs.
“Don’t laugh.”
“I’m sorry, but this serves you so right.”
“Shut up.”
He gives you a shiteating grin, then gives you a nod of his head.
“Come with me”, he says and turns to leave.
“Excuse me? Why should I come with you? I have to find the others.”
Jimin looks over his shoulder.
“Because it’s getting dark and vampires here are different. They see an unfamiliar face wandering the streets at night and next thing you know, you’re dinner.”
“What the hell? Wait. Is this neighbourhood owned by vampires?”
“Yeah. It’s the norm here to eat humans”, he shrugs his shoulders, “now follow me, I’m hungry.”
“Well, I’m not going to follow you now.”
He groans, “fine then die here, what do I care.”
“Fine.”
“Fine.”
Jimin turns his back to you and leaves. You watch him leave. You must be hallucinating. Jimin can’t be alive. You saw his body turn to ash. You literally watched it happening. This must be a trick of your lost, panicky brain. You are imagining stuff as your last resolve before officially losing your mind. Jimin is dead. He died a year ago. He isn’t alive. This right here never happened.
“Bonsoir.”
You turn upon hearing the unfamiliar voice to your right.
“Uuh..hello”, you greet the woman by your side. Her demeanour seemed friendly, yet her eyes as cold as ice.
She looks at your face, giving you a friendly smile.
“Oh? You speak English, thank god. I thought I needed to flex my very terrible French skills with you. Are you lost too? My name’s Stacey and I can’t find my way back to my hotel”, she says in a heavy French accent (almost as if her name wasn’t even Stacey and she was, in fact, French) and laughs shyly, “I saw you standing here that’s why I approached you. Girls helping out girls, am I right?”
“Yeah totally”, you say, eyeing her suspiciously.
“So are you lost?” she asks, still wearing her smile.
“I uhm…”
“Are you lost?” she repeats as her smile grows. She inches closer.
It makes you take a step back.
“Actually I am-”
“You are lost”, she says and her smile drops, “yes, you are lost.”
“I’m actually waiting for someone. He should be here any second.”
“Mhm okay”, her smile returns, “I’ll wait with you until he’s here.”
Then she stares, not blinking once. She stares and stares and stares and while she stares, the streets around you get darker and darker. You have figured her out by now. You know exactly what she is. The knowledge doesn’t make it easier. You are so scared. Your boys are nowhere to be found, your phone is dead so you can’t call for help, a vampire is just waiting for the sun to set behind the buildings so she can eat you and to top it all of Jimin, someone who may have helped you, is gone too. You fucked up. You fucked up big times.
“It’s getting darker”, she says and smiles again, “when is he coming?”
“He, he must be here soon.”
“Okay. Let’s wait.”
“I, I actually have to go somewhere else.”
“I will come with you.”
“I want to go alone.”
“No, you don’t. I will come with you.”
“No, it’s seriously not necessary he’ll be here any second now.”
“Yeah? I’ll just wait till he is.”
“He is Min Yoongi.”
“Yeah? I bet he is”, sarcasm drips from her voice, “I’ll just try my luck then.”
“What?”
She inches closer. You can watch the sun set behind her. Just a few more seconds and the street would be dark. You take a step back. She chases you.
“Scurry off Millicent.”
She turns her head, locking eyes with someone behind you. Awesome. Another bloodsucker just joined. You feel fearful shivers run down your spine.
“Oh? She’s yours? I’m sorry, I didn’t know she was.”
“Well she is”, the person says and drapes his arm around your shoulders.
You turn your head, feeling a million pounds lift from your chest.
“Now leave her alone”, Jimin says and flashes his fangs.
“Of course, truly I apologize”, she says and then locks eyes with you, “I’m sorry for scaring you”, she laughs, “I didn’t know you were Jimin’s girl. Please don’t tell Yoongi about it, I promise I was just joking.”
“It’s uhm….okay?" you mumble.
The woman turns and then disappears into the night.
You sneak a glance at Jimin, who seems displeased.
“Believe me now?”
“Yeah”, you give up, huffing out air.
He scoffs, then makes you walk with a gentle push.
“Come on, my place’s not far from here.”
You follow him, clutching his waist as if your life depended on it. In a way it does. Yes, you are embarrassed about it, hoping that Jimin won’t call you out on it.
He does, sneaking a glance at you, “what are you doing?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why are you hugging me?”
“I’m not”, you break away, huffing out air, “idiot.”
“Scaredy cat”, he teases, earning himself a nudge to his side.
“I wasn’t scared, okay? I was just…making sure you’re real.”
“Mh-hm sure”, Jimin scoffs and chuckles, “seriously though, why are you here?”
“I told you, I’m lost. I wanted to meet up with the others at this bar, but my phone died before I found it.”
“What bar?”
“Peony. It’s somewhere in Belleville.”
“You are so far off then. This is Quartier Latin, you’re not even on the right side of the Seine.”
“What? But I took the right bus. Or did I? What number did I get on?”
“You probably took the wrong one.”
You look around yourself, “I guess I did. Crap. I’m such a fucking mess.”
“So why didn’t you call one of them? I’m sure they’ll help you.”
“Because I don’t know how to call people”, you say sarcastically, “obviously my phone’s fucking dead, dipshit. I told you.”
Jimin lets out a lazy laugh.
“Don’t laugh.”
“I’m not”, he says, lifting his hands in defeat.
“You don’t possess over a charger for my phone, do you?"
“What model?”
You show it to him.
“No. I actually don’t own a phone anymore.”
“Crap. This is such a mess.”
Jimin leads you into a narrow alleyway. The lights aren’t working, except for one flickering weakly above your heads. You shiver, drawing closer to him as fear fills your veins.
“Where the hell are you taking me?”
“A safe zone”, Jimin says.
“Can’t you take me to Peony?”
“No, the city’s different at night. It’s best that we stay somewhere safe until it’s daylight again.”
Just as he said the sentence, you can hear a blood curling scream behind you. You flinch, looking at Jimin with widened eyes.
“What was that?”
“I told you. The city’s different at night. Stay close, the hunt’s begun.”
“The hunt?” you gasp.
“Yeah. The vampires made a treaty with the locals here. They won’t touch humans during the day, but every human out after sundown is free food.”
“What the hell.”
Jimin shrugs his shoulders.
“And the, the safe zone is really safe?”
“Yes.”
“How do you know that it is?”
“Because I live there”, Jimin says.
“Okay?”
“It’s owned by witches. Vampires can’t enter without an invitation”, he explains.
“I see. So why are you-”, another scream echoes through the streets, making you flinch, “why are you living there? Are you hiding too?”
“Maybe. The vampires here don’t know that I died.”
“Aah, I get it. If they found that you lost- eek.”
Jimin has you pressed against the wall with his hand on your mouth instantly.
“Shut up”, he hisses, “don’t say that out loud. Understood?”
You nod your head vigorously, staring into his eyes. They are glowing ruby in the darkness.
“Good”, Jimin slips his hand from your mouth, “come on, it’s past that corner”, he says in his normal voice.
A small plaza reveals itself to you once you crossed said corner. Small booths are scattered around the open place and the darkness of the night seems to disappear magically. It was still dark, but it didn’t feel dangerous anymore. A few fires in barrels were keeping the air warm, slowly dying out now that nobody was around to feed them.
Jimin leads you over the small marketplace, walking with less tension in his shoulders.
“It feels different here”, you say.
“Yeah, we’re in the safe zone. The witches’ magic protects us now.”
“I see. Where is everyone?”
“Some are sleeping, most are hunting down vampires and healing their prey.”
“That sounds like a lot of work”, you say, “I wonder why the wolves aren’t intervening.”
Jimin sneaks a glance at you, “you met wolves?”
“Yes. The Seville pack with Yoongi today.”
“Well damn, you actually met Maël”, Jimin murmurs, clicking his tongue, “that’s actually really impressive.”
“I know, it was really cool”, you say nonchalantly, “I wonder why Maël isn’t doing anything against it.”
“Because he knows better than to fight vampires in their own territory. If he attacked us here, the peace treaty would be over and war would break out again. Trust me, nobody wants that. As long as the vampires don’t hunt in other neighbourhoods, he can’t do anything against them.”
“I see. So it’s actually as bad as Yoongi told me.”
“Yes, it is. I was present when the actual fighting happened, you know?”
“You were?” you gasp.
“Yes. Tae and I. It was in the 1820s and Maël’s grandfather was still in charge. Yoongi was present too. He was the only one who could talk to all four factories without them wanting to kill him. I think he did a lot to keep the war from spreading to other cities.”
“Who were the four factories?”
“Vampires, wolves, witches and humans. Although the humans soon gave up in trying and concentrated on fleeing instead. The witches helped them and soon only vampires and the wolves continued the war.”
“Well that’s…were you and Tae involved in the fighting?”
“For a little while until Namjoon grew bored of it and fled to Mexico with his little bitches”, Jimin says and scoffs, “that was us, by the way.”
“Well damn. I’m sorry this happened to you guys. It’s fucking awful that he had you hostage for so many decades.”
Jimin glances at you, “thanks”, he murmurs, scratching the side of his neck. He points up a metal staircase then, “my room’s up there.”
You lead the way while Jimin follows with his eyes glued to the back of your head.
“Why are you guys in Paris?” he asks you.
“We’re hunting Namjoon.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes. Fredrick’s men told us that he was seen in Paris, so we’re trying to find him. Yoongi and Maël are going to eradicate a big group of his followers the day after tomorrow.”
“You’re very chatty with those details, aren’t you?”
You stop and turn. Jimin stops too. Like this, you are towering over him just enough that your lips could brush against his forehead if you allowed them to. Jimin tilts his head up, facing you with confidence in his look.
“What do you mean by that?” you ask him.
“I’m just saying, I could be one of Namjoon’s spies and you are just telling me all of your plans. Aren’t you scared that I’ll rat you out?” he challenges.
You study him. His cheeks have fallen in, dark circles are under his eyes. He looks so tired and weakened by life.
“I don’t want to step on your toes, but I doubt that Namjoon would let someone with the strength of a Year One do his spy work. Especially not a Year One who went up against him. If you were still under Namjoon’s influence, you’d be his torture toy, not his spy.”
Jimin takes a sharp intake of air, releasing it in a painful shudder. He lowers his eyes.
“I hate that you’re right”, he whispers, trying to hide the tremble coursing through his body by rolling his shoulders.
“But you’re safe from him. You know that, don’t you?”
Jimin pulls a grimace of flustered distaste.
“Don’t act like you care”, he hisses, bumping his shoulder with you as he flees upstairs.
You let out a defeated sigh. You figured that he wouldn’t accept your kindness. You turn and follow him, taking two steps at a time.
He is waiting by the door, turning the keys once you are close enough.
“Come in, I guess”, he murmurs, getting inside.
You follow him.
He closes the door behind you. Seconds later, the lights flicker on. A small room reveals itself to you. Just big enough for a double bed, a tiny kitchen and a small desk with one chair. It smells like wet walls and dust in here. Dark water spots on the greyish walls let you know why it does.
“Well damn”, you say, “I didn’t expect that.”
“Yeah, bask in my ruin all you want”, he murmurs, pressing himself past you to get to his fridge. He opens it to get a blood bag out. He bites it roughly, drinking the blood rather greedily.
You watch him as he does, finding the scene most peculiar. You can still remember how he walked into the kitchen covered in the blood of his prey or how he ripped your neck out without a care in the world. And yet here he is. Drinking cold blood in a small, dirty room.
Jimin drops the empty bag into the sink.
“What are you looking at?” he hisses.
“Nothing”, you say, breaking your eyes away to stare out the small window. The glass was fogged up from dirt, dust has collected on its wooden frame and cog webs are spanning along the corners.
“I know what you are thinking”, he hisses, “I know you think that it’s so fucking funny that someone like me ended up living in such a shithole, but save it, at least I’m alive and that’s all that matters.”
“I really wasn’t thinking that”, you say and somehow in this moment you feel bad for him.
He carries the slightest sign of embarrassment on his face, maybe even shame.
He kicks the kitchen counter quietly. Just a little nudge. The gesture reminds you of a small boy getting caught doing something he shouldn’t have done.
“I’m taking a shower, don’t touch anything”, he says coldly and seconds later, the door slams closed.
So this is actually real. Jimin is still alive. Living in this shithole of a home and drinking blood from a blood bag. There was a time – many, many months ago – where you would have basked in his ruin. After all, he did terrible things to you. But you can’t anymore these days. You know a person broken by the world when you see one. Taehyung carries the same aura around him as Jimin does. They must miss each other so much. You have to convince Jimin to come with you. You want Taehyung to know that he is still alive. He deserves to know after the awful year he had been through.
You have just sat down on his bed when Jimin comes outside.
“Geez”, you gasp, covering your eyes quickly.
“Chill, it’s not like you haven’t seen it before”, he says, strutting past you in nothing but his towel and his hair wet.
He drops said towel a second later as he puts on his pants. You don’t notice that he does, too busy with covering your eyes. Jimin fastens the strings tightly, studying you from head to toe.
“Here.”
You gasp as a piece of fabric lands over your head. You tug it away to inspect it. A grey t-shirt. You look at Jimin, who is staring at you with his torso still bared and his arms crossed in front of it. He is leaning against the kitchen counter.
“It’s freshly washed. Use it or not, I don’t really care.”
“Thanks, I’ll pass.”
He shrugs his shoulders, “whatever, then sleep in your clothes. Want some tea?”
“Uuuuh…sure?”
“Fine, take a shower, I’ll prepare it.”
“Uh sure?”
“Fresh towels are on the rack above the toilet.”
“Yes. Okay.”
You take a shower solely because being with Jimin in the same room feels so wrong. The water is freezing. The bathroom is tiny, offering just enough space that you don’t have to stand on top of the toilet to get clean. It is not far off however, that much can be said.
You end up wearing Jimin’s shirt because your other option would be walking outside in a towel and you are not for that life. Not with Jimin. Never.
Jimin sits on his bed, having his back turned to you so he can look out of the dirty window. Somehow a dark halo of loneliness surrounds him. Loneliness and maybe sadness as well. He is so different. Not only because his hair has turned from silver to ebony or not only because he seems to hunch these days rather than sit up straight. But in general. He doesn’t show off, he doesn’t act as if he was better than you, he doesn’t even try to look well put together. There was also this big silver mark on his back. Its edges remind you of the edges of a hole in a wall when someone punched their hand through it. The mark is on his left upper back, right where his heart would be. It makes you wonder if this has something to do with how he died.
“Are you going to stare at me any longer?” he says.
“I uh”, you break your eyes away, “I wiped down your shower with my towel.”
“Yeah”, he acknowledges you, “your tea’s on the desk.”
You eye it. It’s not in a cup, but in an empty marmalade jar. It is still steaming, carrying golden liquid.
“Thanks.”
You sit down next to Jimin. Your eyes meet. You and him break eye contact instantly, looking to the side awkwardly. You try the hot beverage. It tastes like lemon and ginger.
“The tea’s good. What brand is it?”
“I don’t know?” he scoffs, “Thea bought it, told me that it’ll do me good. I’ve been trying to use it up.”
“Well, it’s good. It has a slight lemony taste to it, don’t you think?”
“Don’t try to small talk with me. I hate nothing more than small talk.”
“What else do you want me to do? Sit here in silence?”
“It’s better than pretending that we care for each other.”
“Seriously though, how the fuck are you still alive?”
Jimin sneaks a glance at you.
“I told you, resurrection spell. Thea did it.”
“Who is Thea?”
“The leader of this coven. A witch. She did the spell”, Jimin says and points at a picture above his bed, “that’s her.”
You study the woman on the photography. Her curly hair is grey and her skin carries the marks of a well-lived, happy life.
You scoff.
“What?”
“So you’re telling me you’ve been fucking the brains out of this woman in secrecy?”
“Okay first of all, save that weird tone in your voice and second of all yes I did, what about it?”
“Nothing, you just don’t strike me as someone who-”
“-who’s into older women?” he interrupts you, “well I don’t care, I’m six hundred years old. Age becomes miniscule once you’ve seen too many people around you age and die. I’ve known her since her twenties.”
“I actually wanted to say that you don’t strike me as someone who is into witches.”
Jimin scoffs, turning his head away from you. He takes a sip of his tea, pulling a grimace as if the taste doesn’t please him.
“Did it hurt?” you ask him.
“What do you mean?”
“Coming back to life.”
“Imagine finally feeling nothing until all of a sudden, it feels as if you are being burned alive but it’s in reverse. So it starts off so unbearable that you want to scream but you can’t because your voice’s been burned too and then suddenly you wake up and you feel and it’s fucking awful because you’re alive again.”
“I’m sorry, that sounds awful.”
“Save it, I know you don’t mean it.”
“No, I do.”
Jimin scoffs.
“Is the silver mark on your back connected to the spell?” you ask him, sneaking a glance at his chest. The mark is there as well, spanning over the spot where his heart was supposed to be.
Jimin touches it, jaw tightening in emotion, “I guess”, he whispers.
“It’s where he…you know, isn’t it?”
He nods his head.
“Does it still hurt?”
He shakes his head and sneaks a glance at you.
“What?” he hisses, “just touch it if you keep fucking staring at it and stop being so nosy.”
You reach out. Hesitation. A fleeting look into his eyes.
“Touch it”, he insists.
You place your fingertips against the mark. His skin is cold like that of a vampire consuming cold blood, but the silver mark is icy. Merely tracing it for a few seconds makes your skin sting as if you got frostbite. You gasp, moving your hand away.
“It’s ice cold.”
“Yeah. You’re happy now?”
You reach out again, tracing the mark along its edge. Just enough not to hurt yourself, but still enough to feel it. His skin feels calloused and rough in contrast to his otherwise soft skin. As if someone placed silver leaves on his skin, the marks span against the ivory background. In a twisted way it looks beautiful, if it wasn’t the reminder of his death.
You pull your hand away, brushing your fingertips over his skin involuntarily as you do. Your eyes flit up. Jimin is looking at you, fingers clutching the jar and eyes racing between yours in suspicious nervousness.
“I think the mark is beautiful.”
“Beautiful? Why is it beautiful? It’s fucking hideous. Look at it. It’s the reminder that I fucking died.”
“I know and that’s why it’s awful that you have to carry it, but I think it’s beautiful in the sense that it shows that you were brave in your last moments.”
Jimin looks at you with widened eyes.
“You could have fled with Tae, but you chose to go up against your abuser and I think that’s really brave”, you say.
Jimin clenches his jaw.
“Thank you for keeping Taehyung safe”, you whisper.
“Shut up”, he hisses.
“I’m serious. I know you died protecting him and I just want to tell you that it means the world to Tae.”
Jimin lowers his head.
“And that he wishes you peace.”
“Fuck”, he presses out, covering his eyes quickly, “shut the fuck up”, he spits.
“I’m sorry, I know I should be quiet”, you whisper, considering whether or not you should reach out and comfort him. You decide against it, using your hands to lift the jar to your lips instead.
Jimin takes a deep breath, releasing it oh so shakily. Then he drops his hand from his eyes, looking at the moon outside. Dark clouds are covering it, keeping the light away from him. Perfect for his fucking life, he thinks. Darkness and no light. That’s just his life summed up.
“I’ll leave tomorrow”, you say.
“Good, I would have thrown you out either way.”
“Tzt”, you send him a look then look back outside, “you should come with me.”
“Why?”
“Because Taehyung misses you.”
“He’s better off that way.”
“No he’s not. I know you guys. You miss him too.”
“Doesn’t matter, he’s still better off without me.”
“No, he’s not.”
“Yes he is.”
“Holy fuck, you stubborn idiot. Taehyung has barely been functioning in grief ever since you died. He’s not better off without you.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I’ve been taking care of him. He talks in his sleep you know?”
Jimin looks at you.
“He doesn’t know that I know, but I do because he wakes me up with it. He dreams about you, it’s always the same dream. About you coming back to life and it’s always the same thing he says. Jimin, you’re back. Jimin please don’t ever leave me again. It’s always the same thing.”
Jimin lowers his eyes sadly.
“And if it’s not that dream, he dreams about dying. It’s what he wants to do. To die. He tells me in his sleep.”
Jimin’s eyes fill with tears.
“And I know him. He says that I’m the person he can’t live without, but that’s a lie. I know that Tae also knows that that’s a lie. You’re the person he can’t live without, because I’ve been with him as he tried and it’s not working.”
Jimin spills his tears, lowering his head.
“Fuck”, he presses out, “fuck. What do you want me to say?” he hisses.
“Just that you’ll come with me.”
“Fuck”, he presses out, running his fingers through his own hair.
“Do it for Tae please. You’ll regret it if you don’t. We won’t be in town for long anymore. Just till Wednesday. Come with me please and show yourself to Tae.”
“What should I even say to him?”
“Nothing. Just give him a hug and promise him that you’re back.”
He grinds his teeth in contemplation.
“Fine”, he gives in, blinking the glassiness in his eyes away, “I’ll come with you.”
He stands up then.
“Where are you going?” you ask him.
“For a walk. I need to think.”
“You’re not running away, are you?”
“No?” he hisses, “that’s my place, why should I run away from it?”
You shrug your shoulders.
Jimin scoffs.
“Don’t wait for me”, he says, locking the door behind him afterwards.
You won’t see Jimin for the rest of the night. He comes back, but you have long fallen asleep when he does. So he stares. He stares at you sleeping in his bed with his shirt on and his blanket keeping you warm and for just a second he wonders what would happen if he did it now. If he broke your neck right this instant and then fled the scene, could he live a good life? He thinks of it and then thinks of how heartbroken Taehyung would be because now he not only lost his best friend but his lover too. That is the moment when Jimin turns away from the bed and decides to go for another walk. One which will take the entire night and keep his thoughts from suffocating him.
The smell of tea wakes you the next morning. You sniffle happily, expecting blue sheets and blues walls and the beautiful face of your boyfriend as he is waiting for you with breakfast in bed. You smile, peeling your eyes open. You are so ready to smooch him.
“Huh?”
There is no breakfast waiting for you. Nor are there blue sheets or blue walls. And especially not Yoongi’s handsome face.
“Finally.”
You turn upon hearing the unfamiliar voice. For just a second you startle until everything comes back to you. Jimin is sitting on the chair, having his legs crossed. Jeans adorns his legs and an oversized hoodie is keeping his torso covered. The clothes don’t go together and look as if he found them at places he would have never shopped at in the past. Even his shoes seem to be passed down to him by a stranger.
“You scared me.”
“Why? Forgot I’m alive?”
“Yeah”, you say, sitting up, “holy fuck, Jimin. You’re alive.”
He scoffs, rolling his eyes.
“You’re so dramatic”, he says coldly, “get dressed. I don’t want you here any longer, the sheets already stink of you.”
You roll out of bed, inching closer to the desk on which a single jar of black tea was waiting for you. Judging by the teabag in the sink, Jimin was the one making it for you.
“Thank you for the tea, I’m so cold.”
Jimin eyes your neck, “same”, he says dryly, making you hide your neck behind your hand.
“Don’t look at me that way.”
He rolls his eyes, sighing loudly.
“That woman really thinks so highly of herself”, he murmurs to himself, “relax girl, I don’t want to be anywhere near your neck”, he says and stands up, “let’s go downstairs. I’ll bring you back to the others.”
“Yes, uhm. Can I at least put on my clothes?”
He runs his eyes up and down your exposed legs.
“Sure”, he says and turns. He leaves you in the small room with the tea he made for you and so many confusing feelings in your chest. Jimin is really back, isn’t he? Well damn.
You get dressed quickly, taking the jar of tea with you.
Jimin is waiting for you in front of the door, studying you from head to toe again.
“Can we go?” he asks.
“Yes. We can.”
The plaza is bustling with life this morning. The fire in the barrels has been distinguished, except for one. A group of people is gathered by it, cooking what you assume to be food. The small booths are open, presenting the most beautiful of handmade treasures.
“Good morning, Jimin. Who is that lovely lady by your side?” an elderly lady greets him and a few other heads turn as well. You know that lady from the photograph. She must be Thea. She looks even happier than she did on the picture.
“___, old friend. She stayed here tonight.”
“I see, I see. Tell me ___, did you eat already?”
“She’s not hungry”, Jimin says, trying to tug you away by your elbow.
“Actually I am”, you say loudly, “I haven’t eaten since yesterday morning.”
Jimin huffs out air, sending you an annoyed look.
“Oh dear”, the lady claps into her hands, “then come here and eat with us. We just finished preparing breakfast.”
“I would love to”, you wiggle out of Jimin’s grasp, “thank you so much.”
The lady, you assume to be Thea, welcomes you by placing her hands on your arms. She seems to space out for a moment before her eyes fill with great grievance.
“Oh dear, you have seen a lot of grief haven’t you?” she asks.
“I’m sorry?” you gasp.
“Dear child”, she caresses your arms, “don’t you worry, you won’t have to worry about vampires here. Well”, she looks at Jimin, “except for him, but he wouldn’t dare to act up”, she says and snickers.
Jimin rolls his eyes.
“I’m sorry, but who are you? How did you do that?” you ask.
“My name’s Theanna, but most people call me Thea. I’m the leader of this coven here.”
“A coven. So you are all witches?”
She laughs fondly, as do the people having gathered around you by now.
“Of course we are my dear and we’re the reason your friend here is still alive.”
You look at Jimin. He seems annoyed, sending Thea a dark look.
“You look as if you have seen your first witch”, a younger witch says, showing you a friendly smile.
“I have”, you say, “I only heard of you guys and I read many of your spellbooks in my freetime, but I never met someone who can actually use magic. This is so cool, I can’t believe you guys are real. I’m sorry if this sounded weird, but I’m really excited.”
They laugh fondly, gathering around as they lead you to their little dining area. You feel safe in their circle, welcomed and as if you had always been a member of their family.
“Can I ask you a really stupid question?”
“Of course my dear. Every question is allowed.”
“Do you use brooms to fly around?”
Laughter roars in the small alleyways, filling it up with light and honesty.
“Oh you are wonderful”, Thea snickers, “no, we don’t fly on brooms, but we can enchant them to do our chores for us.”
“Okay that’s so cool”, you mumble.
One of the witches hands you a wooden bowl filled with warm soup. It smells like mushrooms and potatoes.
“Here you go”, she says, handing you a piece of bread and a wooden soup spoon as well.
“Thank you so much. It smells amazing.”
“Hopefully it is”, the witch says with a warm smile. She begins handing out soup to everyone, sitting down next to Jimin once everyone was taken care of.
There were around twenty witches gathered around the barrel. Fifteen of them are women and young girls, while the rest are men. They all carried a certain trustworthy familiarity with them. You feel safe eating their food and you feel encouraged to engage in small talk.
“Jimin told me that you tried to help in the hunt last night. I know, you don’t know me, but I hope that nobody got hurt”, you say.
Thea’s eyes soften, “you are very nice, my dear. Thankfully nobody got hurt last night. Eric escaped with a scratch, however it is nothing our ointments can’t fix.”
You look at the man opposite of you. There was a deep cut on his dark skin, stretching all the way over his inner upper arm.
“That looks painful. I hope you’re okay”, you tell him.
“I am”, he says and sends you a sweet smile. He looks at Thea, they exchange a little chuckle.
“I’m sorry, I know I shouldn’t be so nosy”, you apologise.
“Not at all”, Thea assures you.
You take a few bites of the soup. It tastes so good. Creamy and hearty and as if it was made with lots of love. The bread is tasty as well. The crust crunches as you bite into it and the inside is fluffy and full of flavour. It goes perfectly with the earthy taste of mushrooms and the soft chewiness of the potatoes.
“My grandma partook in witchcraft as well. So meeting actual witches feels very exciting to me”, you explain.
“What? Your grandma was a witch?” Jimin gasps, showing honest interest in the conversation. Before that, he merely stared at the ground in brooding.
The witches seems even more interested in you as well, studying you with curious eyes.
“I don’t think that she was an actual witch, but she knew how to heal people with herbs and always told me that she can speak with her animals”, you say, giggling shyly, “I know it must sound like the talk of a crazy lady to you guys.”
“Not at all. There are various practices of witchcraft in this world. Perhaps your grandmother practiced nature magic”, Thea says.
“Nature magic?”
She nods her head, “witches, who practice nature magic most often than not use their magic to heal nature and its creatures. They help plants grow, keep the environment healthy and in return the plants offer their healing powers to them. And many can speak with animals.”
“Wow. Wait”, you scoot closer to her, “so you are telling me, that my grandma could have actually been a witch?”
“Perhaps. And if not, there was a possibility that she knew of our practices just like you do. She must have taught you a lot.”
“Oh no, I learned all of this in books. I wasn’t really allowed to talk about witchcraft with my grandma. My mother always told me that she was crazy and forbid me from seeing her very often.”
“Oh? I’m sorry to hear that, my dear”, Thea says and touches your hand.
She zones out again before she begins to smile.
“Your grandmother loved you a lot”, she says.
“How are you always doing this?” you feel the need to whisper the question.
“Thea possesses the gift of sight”, Eric explains.
“The gift of sight? So you can see my past?”
“Past, future and present. I can see things which were and which could happen, just as I can see things which are currently happening”, she says.
“That’s remarkable. Can every witch do that?”
“No, only a few can see what happens. And even less can decipher the visions. One has to decide whether the pictures are of the past, present or future.”
“I see. That sounds like such a good gift to have once you know how to control it.”
Thea nods her head, “this is also how I knew that Jimin died. I had a vision of him turning into dust.”
You look at Jimin. He seems bored by the conversation.
“Woah.”
He lets out a loud sigh, “enough stories, Thea. ___ wants to go home”, he says.
“No, I actually like the stories”, you say.
Jimin lets out a little snarl.
The witches snicker in amusement.
��No, but Jimin is right my dear. You should go home before vampires find out that you are here. They don’t like strangers in their territory”, Thea says.
“I guess you are right. Let me just finish the soup, it tastes so good that I don’t want to miss out on one bite.”
You eat one more serving before finally getting up to leave. Thea told you more stories about their fight against the vampires of this city while you asked questions about how magic works. Jimin sat and listened if he wanted to or not. He finally lifts his head once you stand up and help Maria – the witch who handed out the food – clean up.
“Are you done?” he asks you
“Yes. Thank you, everyone. I had such a great time talking to you.”
“The pleasure was all ours. It isn’t everyday that we meet the granddaughter of a nature witch”, Eric says, making you smile.
“So you will be taking Jimin from us today”, Thea says.
You laugh shyly, “I guess”, sneaking a glance at Jimin to check for his reaction.
He rolls his eyes like he always does. You wonder if there will ever come a day where his eyes get stuck from all the rolling he is doing.
“I’ll be back soon, don’t worry”, Jimin says, touching your elbow, “you good to go? Don’t wanna waste any more time.”
“Yes, I’m good. Thank you everyone for hosting me, I seriously had so much fun here.”
“I hope that you’ll be back again one day”, Thea says, smiling brightly.
“Me too.”
You and Jimin leave afterwards, walking to the bus station side by side. He keeps his distance, hiding his hands in the pockets of his pants and kicking the occasional pebble.
“Are you taking me to the bar?” you ask him.
“Knowing Min Yoongi, it’s where he’ll look for you”, he says.
“Yes, that’s right. I really hope that he isn’t too worried”, you say and sigh sadly, "what am I talking about? Of course he’ll be worried. Poor Yoongi."
Jimin studies your face for just a second, wondering why your heart skipped a beat at the thought of the Creator. He dismisses it with a shake of his head. He doesn’t really care about it.
“The witches were so nice”, you say, “I really liked talking to them.”
“I noticed. Why did you ask so many questions?”
“Why not?”
“It’s nosy.”
“It’s not nosy. I rather ask many questions and educate myself than live in simplicity. Only through knowledge you can stop having mean and untrue prejudices about others.”
He clicks his tongue, “I hate that you’re right.”
You step on the right bus and choose an empty seat by the window. Jimin stands, looking outside whilst acting as if he doesn’t know you.
“Do you want to sit next to me?” you offer, “the seat’s still empty.”
“No, I’m good standing”, he answers you, sneaking a quick glance at you.
“Okay, suit yourself.”
Despite his efforts, he ends up sitting next to you after a group of guys entered the bus and looked at you weirdly.
“Changed your mind?”
“Those guys are vampires”, he tells you.
You eye them. They aren’t particularly looking at you, more than that they are looking at every human on this bus with hunger in their eyes.
“Well, then thank you for keeping me safe.”
“Whatever.”
The bus sways from left to right, the city passes you in streaks of different pictures and sceneries.
“I can’t believe that I took the wrong bus yesterday. It should have been so obvious to me”, you mumble.
“It happens. The city’s really big and if you don’t know it well, you can get lost”, Jimin says.
“Yes, you’re right. The city’s really nice”, you say, glancing at him, “Yoongi says that it’s a rancid city, but I think it’s nice.”
Jimin wonders again why your heart is speeding up at the mention of Yoongi. He doesn’t ask.
“I guess”, Jimin shrugs his shoulders, “it was nicer once.”
“I can imagine. Tae told me that you spend many years in Paris. Not just with Namjoon, but just the two of you as well. That must have been really nice.”
“Yes. It was”, Jimin whispers, touching the side of his neck.
“I’m really excited for you guys to meet again”, you give him a smile.
Jimin retorts it hesitantly.
You let out a content sigh, relaxing back against the seat and letting your eyes flit outside. It feels nice to know that Taehyung can finally get his happiness back. You never thought it possible, so knowing that it is makes you really happy. You are also very excited to see the others again. They must have been so worried for you. Gosh, you missed them all like crazy.
The bus comes to a slow stop.
“Let’s go”, Jimin says, leading the way outside and to the right bus.
“So that would have been the right one. I’m so dumb”, you mumble. You and Jimin sit down again and continue the journey you should have taken yesterday. “Do you know Peony?”
“Yes. It has good wine”, Jimin says.
“It has? Did you and Tae go there together?”
“Stop trying to talk to me”, Jimin hisses, “I’m just taking your dumb ass to Yoongi and that’s all.”
“And you are coming with me to meet Tae again”, you furrow your brows, “don’t forget that, understood?”
“Whatever”, Jimin dismisses you and turns his head away.
“I’m serious”, you say, nudging his arm.
“Yes. I understood you the first time”, he mumbles and for the rest of the drive you are both silent.
You were right about where the bar was located. Only a few hundred meters of walking and you can spot the purple peonies logo. And right underneath it with distraught on his face, Yoongi is standing. You begin smiling. He is here. Your Yoongi is here.
You feel like bursting with happiness.
“Yoongi!” you call out and start running.
He turns, eyes widening.
“Princess, holy fuck princess”, he is by your side within seconds, picking you up in his arms and twirling your bodies around quickly. He laughs loudly, beaming up at you with tears streaming down his face, “you’re back. My princess, you’re back”, he presses out and sobs.
“I’m back, my prince”, you choke out, “don’t cry, I’m okay.”
“I, I can’t help it. I was so worried for you”, he stutters in a whiney voice, pouting terribly sadly.
“I know, gosh my love, I’m here now”, you say, wiping the tears from his cheeks.
“Oh, love”, Yoongi chokes out, lowering you closer to him so he can begin littering your face in a million kisses, “my princess, oh my princess. I was worried sick”, he chokes out between his excessive kisses, “I’ve been looking for you all night, oh my ___.”
“I missed you too, oh Yoongi”, you say, melting under his kisses. Now you are finally safe again. Yoongi nuzzles his face into the crook of your neck and begins kissing you.
“Holy fuck, where were you?” he says, inhaling your scent deeply.
“Yoongi, I was so dumb”, you say, resting your cheek on his shoulder, “first my phone died and, and then I took the wrong bus and I ended up somewhere I was never before and, and then every cab ignored me and then it became dark and vampires wanted to eat me and I was so lost.”
“Wait a minute, slow down princess, slow down”, Yoongi sets you down, cupping your face, “vampires wanted to eat you? Who was it? Where are they?” he asks, furrowing his brows in anger, “did you see their faces? I’ll fucking kill them.”
“No it’s okay Yoongi, I’m alright”, you say, holding his cheeks and wiping his tears away, “I’m back again.”
Yoongi’s eyes soften.
“Oh princess”, he whispers, pulling you close to litter your face with kisses again.
You giggle, “that tickles, god Yoongi, that tickles.”
He hums, leaving even more kisses on your face whilst pulling you closer. You stumble, ending up with Yoongi tilting your body back and attacking you with big smooches.
“Yoongi, stop that tickles”, you squeal happily.
“Oh princess”, he presses out, straightening your bodies up so he can nuzzle his nose into your cheek, “I was going crazy in worry”, he confesses with a shaky voice, “don’t scare me like that ever again”, he says, resting his forehead against yours.
“I was really worried too, I just wanted to be with you again.”
“Fuck ___, my beloved princess”, he says, pulling you into a deep kiss.
You kiss him back happily, hooking your arms behind his head just to pull him closer. It feels so good to be with him again.
He sighs, having to press you oh so close to make sure that you won’t slip out of his grasp again. It is a kiss he would never show in public and yet right this moment it is all he wanted to do. Doesn’t matter who sees, he has you back with him again, unharmed and safe and he is bursting in relief.
He rests his cheek on your shoulder after the kiss, hugging you so tightly that you can feel how comfort engulfs you again. Now you are truly home again. Now you are back where it’s the warmest.
“I’m so happy to be back, Yoongi.”
“Me too, princess”, he gives your waist a soft squeeze, “you’re not going to leave again.”
You chuckle, “mhm honestly, I kind of don’t want to either way.”
“Good”, he lifts his head, gazing at you with lovedrunk eyes, “oh princess”, he whispers, reaching out to trace your features, “I’m so sorry for letting you go alone. I should have stayed by your side.”
“It’s okay, I don’t blame you. I was being a total scatterbrain”, you confess, “but Yoongi, I have to tell you something. When I was wandering the streets I met someone.”
“Who did you meet?” he seems wary.
“Yoongi, you won’t believe it but he’s not dead.”
“Who?”
“Ji-”, you stop talking now that you turned around and realised that Jimin was gone, “huh? What the hell? He is supposed to be here.”
Yoongi scans the empty streets, pulling you closer to him just in case.
“Who are you talking about, princess?”
You turn, looking into his eyes.
“Jimin. I ran into Jimin and, and he let me sleep at his place and he, uhm, he kept me safe from the vampires”, you say, “what the hell, he is supposed to be here. He promised me that he would stay and, and meet Tae.”
Yoongi furrows his brows in both confusion and distaste.
“Jimin can’t be alive. I saw his ashes.”
“Yes I know”, you exclaim, widening your eyes, “but he’s alive, Yoongi!” you laugh, “a witch resurrected him again and now he’s living together with the witches in their safe zone.”
Yoongi touches your forehead.
“Hey”, you move your head away, “don’t act like this.”
“Like how?”
“As if you think I’m crazy in a fever. I’m serious, Jimin’s still alive.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes”, you say, nodding your head vigorously, “I stayed the night with him and ate with him and his witch friends. I know what I saw.”
“But he died.”
“Smell me”, you say, offering your neck to him, “really smell me.”
Yoongi leans in and sniffles at your neck and shoulder.
“I smell like him, don’t I?”
He nods his head, looking at you with furrowed brows. He looks confused.
“See? I’m not lying.”
Yoongi inhales deeply, looking at the sky. His eyes race from left to right as he is thinking your words over. He exhales.
“Well fuck”, he says, scratching the side of his neck in contemplation, “let’s not tell Taehyung for now.”
“What? Why? He needs to know.”
“Yes he does, but not yet.”
“But this is so mean. All Tae wants is to be reunited with Jimin again. You know that as well as I do.”
“I do princess, but please listen to me.”
You close your mouth for now.
Yoongi is caressing your arms as he speaks, keeping his voice calm.
“Taehyung has just begun to smile again and we shouldn’t give him false hopes by telling him that Jimin is alive.”
“But why?”
“Because clearly Jimin doesn’t want him to find out or why did he run right now?”
“I don’t know. Maybe he got scared that you’d rip his head off or something.”
“I mean, it’s not that I’m not considering”, Yoongi murmurs, earning himself a nudge to his chest.
“Don’t say that.”
“It’s the truth. He deserves a good beating for what he did to you.”
“I know, but…my prince, can’t you come with me and find him? I want to tell Taehyung, but you are right, we should do it once we find out what Jimin’s intentions are.”
“No, we should leave”, he says and pushes you softly to get you to move.
“Please, Yoongi”, you stop him from leaving by placing your hands on his chest.
He studies your features.
“What are you even going to tell him?”
“I don’t know, just ask him why he doesn’t want to see Tae.”
Yoongi grinds his teeth, looking to the side in contemplation. So you step closer, hugging his middle and resting your cheek on his shoulder.
“Please, Yoongi Boongie?”
“You’re cheating”, he whines, “you can’t hug me like that.”
You giggle, squeezing him gently.
“You know that I’m down for every method.”
“Yeah, I know”, he whispers, leaning in just to give your cheek a little bite.
“Ah, hey”, you gasp, “don’t bite me.”
He grins boyishly, “it’s what you get for being a cheater.”
“So mean”, you mumble, giving him a pout as you rub the spot he bit.
Yoongi’s eyes soften, head tilting to the side as he gazes, “I’ll come with you, alright?” he whispers, caressing your waist.
“Yes, wow. Thank you, Yoongi Boongie”, you say, smooching his cheek even if that flusters him big times.
“Yeah, yeah just lead the way”, he mumbles, letting you drag him down the streets.
You board the bus together. Yoongi lets you take the seat by the window while he claims the spot by the aisle. He drapes his arm around your shoulders, pulling you into him. The gesture is very untypical of him and so you sneak a glance at him. He notices, looking at you.
“What?” he asks.
“Nothing, you’re just normally not that affectionate in public.”
“Tch”, he clicks his tongue, trying and failing to pull his arm away because before he can, you intertwine your fingers with him.
You grin, resting your head against him.
“I like that”, you tell him.
Yoongi hums, closing his arm around you to begin running his hand up and down your upper arm. He won’t tell you, but he is that affectionate because he almost lost you last night and now he never wants to let you go again. You won’t slip out of his hands again, Yoongi is making sure of that by holding you oh so close.
“Thank you for coming with me”, you say, lifting your head in order to look at him better.
“Yeah well, you left me no choice, didn’t you?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” you ask in a chuckle.
Yoongi sends you a glance, “you wouldn’t have accepted a no, would you?”
“Maybe yeah”, you grin when Yoongi gives you his signature frown. The kind that tells you that he thinks you’re being a little brat right now.
“See? That’s why I came with you, so you can’t run off again”, he murmurs dryly, earning himself a quick smooch on his cheek. He doesn’t let it show, but it flusters him.
“You won’t regret it. We’re almost there”, you tell him, “he’s living with a coven. Their leader’s name is Thea, do you know her?”
“Not well, but yes I do.”
“Does she like you?”
Yoongi shrugs his shoulders, “I don’t know. I never hurt her.”
“Well, then she’ll like you. She’s really nice. She told me so much about magic. Did you know that there are different types of witches depending on how you gained your power?”
“Yes, I do.”
“That’s so fascinating, don’t you think?”
“Mhm sure”, Yoongi nods his head, making you grin.
“Oh!” you exclaim, “that’s our stop. Get up Boongie, we have to leave”, you tell him once you reached your true end stop, pushing at him gently to get him to move.
Yoongi does so with a little grumble, allowing you to drag him out of the bus and over the street.
“Did you even check for cars?” he asks you.
“Yeah”, you dismiss him, dodging a group of people and then turning on your heels to grin at him.
“Why are you smiling like that?”
“It’s just that this feels almost as if we’re on a date”, you snicker, “should we make good on your promise and make out on the Eiffel Tower?”
“What promise?” Yoongi tries to sound annoyed but ends up smiling when you tug him closer and drape his arms around your waist.
“The thing you promised me on the meadow. You know? When you told me how romantic that would be and that you wouldn’t want anything else. Especially not making out in a hotel room.”
“You and me both know that this is not what I said”, Yoongi says, caressing the small of your back softly.
You giggle, scrunching your nose up, “but you wanted to say it, admit it.”
Yoongi merely grumbles a “whatever” then leans in to kiss your cheek, “just get moving, brat.”
He pushes you softly. You snicker, turning back around in order to walk next to him, holding his hand tightly.
“You know that I’m just teasing you, don’t you?”
“Yeah, that’s why you’re a brat.”
“Admit it, you love it.”
Yoongi answers you by giving you a look from the corner of his eyes and tugging you into him wordlessly to drape his arm over your shoulders. You snake your arm around his waist, holding him close that way. You really love this right now. This is what you needed after last night. Frolicking through the alleyways of a small Parisian neighbourhood with Yoongi by your side. You weren’t lying when you told him that this feels like being on a date, because it does. You and Yoongi rarely walk the streets together, especially not as close as you are right now. Maybe getting lost last night had its advantages. You know that come tomorrow, Yoongi won’t be as affectionate in public anymore. You ought to take advantage of it for as long as possible.
You pass by the little shop where the vampire almost ate you last night. It looks so welcoming now that the sun was shining. It is a clothing shop, the clothes seem handmade and of high quality.
“That’s where I bumped into Jimin last night”, you tell him, “I can’t believe how close to the right bus stop I already was. Goddamn, I would have just had to keep walking and then take the right bus again.” You look at Yoongi’s side profile. “That’s also where that vampire almost ate me.”
Yoongi’s eyes are on you instantly, dark in worry and anger.
“Don’t tell me that, it’s making me murderous”, he hisses.
“I’m sorry, gosh I just wanted to tell you”, you gasp, “don’t worry, Yoongi. I’m really fine. Jimin told me that there are different rules in this neighbourhood and that the vampires living here made a treaty with the locals that once it’s dark outside and a human is still out, they can eat them and in return, they leave the locals alone during the day. I think the vampire thought that I was a tourist.”
Yoongi sighs in annoyance, “I don’t know why our kind always has to make those stupid treaties. Can’t they simply control themselves?”
“Agreed, it’s a little weird.”
“It’s more than weird”, he grumbles, “just come and show me where that bastard lives, I don’t like you being here.”
“It’s just down that block. Follow me, it’s not far now”, you say and lead the way with Yoongi holding you oh so tightly, “did you know that this is one of the neighbourhoods still owned by vampires?”
“Yes”, Yoongi says, sending a random woman a murderous glance over the street.
She stops in her steps and gasps, turning on her heels to hurry away.
“Did she just flee?” you ask.
“Yes and if she has something in her brain, she’ll tell her friends to do the same”, he says and as if on command a few people in front of you flee after spotting Yoongi.
“You’re so cool”, you whisper, feeling oh so safe to walk on these streets.
“Mhm”, Yoongi acknowledges you, darkening his eyes as you pass two strangers. They push and pull at each other as they are trying to flee. In the end, they disappear in a narrow alleyway, never to be seen again.
“Do they all know who you are?”
“Yes.”
“Seriously, you’re so goddamn cool”, you whisper with a fluttering heart.
Yoongi smirks lazily, pulling you closer.
Just like this morning, the plaza is filled with witches. Tourists and locals have joined them now that it is bright outside, gathering in front of their booths of goods and chatting about all sorts of things. Maria notices you first, nudging Thea, who makes it her task of welcoming you.
“___” she calls out, hurrying to you with open arms, “you are back so soon. What happened?”
“Hello Thea, I’m back because Jimin bailed on me. Is he here?”
“Yes, upstairs in his room”, Thea answers you then studies Yoongi by your side, “it’s been decades, hasn’t it?”
“Yes, you haven’t changed much Thea”, Yoongi greets her.
She laughs, throwing her head back, “and I see that you became a liar”, she says, giving him a playful smile, “I changed too much. You however, still look the same, but then something seemed to have changed with you”, she steps closer, studying his features so intently that Yoongi feels the need to look to the side, “you’re in love”, she exclaims and smiles, looking at you, “of course, how could I not see this sooner? Oh look at me! I’m getting old, the visions are so clear now!”
Yoongi grumbles something inaudible, looking to the side with burning cheeks. You snicker, giving his waist a little pinch.
“Just lead us to Jimin, Thea”, he tries to sound angry, but the shyness is obvious in his voice.
“He’s upstairs. Come on in, Yoongi.”
Yoongi takes the step through the magical barrier.
“Follow ___ she knows her way. I’m at my booth if you need me”, Thea says and places her hand on Yoongi’s arm. She zones out for just a second then begins to smile, “you will make her very happy and in return find peace. I can see it clearly.”
Yoongi pulls his arm away, eyes widened in shock.
After granting you one sweet smile, Thea turns and hurries back to her booth, catching up Maria on the whole situation.
You glance at Yoongi, who seems to be frozen on the spot. His hand is pressed to his chest, right where his heart once beat. His eyes are big and his lips are parted. He looks beyond flabbergasted.
“Yoongi?”
He flinches, eyes flitting to you. He blinks rapidly.
“Yeah?”
“Are you coming?” you ask him, tugging at his arm gently.
“Yeah uh”, he stumbles after you, still staring at Thea as if he was trying to make sense of what she just told him.
“It’s really cool that she can see the future, isn’t it?”
Yoongi nods his head, looking at you shyly. You smile.
“I believe her, you know?”
He looks away, touching the side of his neck.
You giggle, hugging his arm, “now come on, let’s get Jimin and then get out of here.”
Just as you had thought, Jimin doesn’t open his door when you knock. Even when you tell him that you know that he is in there, the door stays locked.
“Let me”, Yoongi says, pushing you to the side gently to get to work. He wraps his fingers around the doorknob and with one easy twist the lock breaks. He pushes the door open, “after you.”
“You are so cool”, you mumble, entering Jimin’s room.
The latter is staring at you with widened eyes.
“What the hell? How did you do that?” he squeaks out.
“Why did you leave?” you ask him.
“Why are you breaking into my room?” he throws back, eyes flitting to Yoongi who just this moment takes the spot behind you. He stumbles back in shock, lifting his hands in defence, “please no. Don’t hurt me, please”, he gets out, looking scared.
“Well fuck”, Yoongi says, eyes racing over Jimin, “you were right.”
“I know I was”, you say.
Yoongi scoffs.
“Don’t hurt me”, Jimin says, “I’m serious, just leave me alone please. I, I promise not to cause trouble.”
“He’s not here to hurt you”, you say, placing your hand on Yoongi’s chest, “we’re here to get you. You promised me that you would see Tae again.
Jimin looks at your hand on Yoongi’s chest and Yoongi’s arm around your waist.
“No oh my god, seriously?” he groans and rolls his eyes, “now I get why your heart kept racing whenever you thought of Yoongi. You guys are a thing now!”
“We aren’t just a thing. She’s my girlfriend”, Yoongi hisses.
Jimin snorts, giving Yoongi an amused smirk.
“No need to get so feisty Min Yoongi, we won’t want you getting too emotional now”, he teases with a mischievous grin.
“Can I punch him?” Yoongi asks you, “just once I want to punch him.”
Jimin snickers.
“Later”, you say.
“Hey!” Jimin complains, “what the hell?”
You ignore him, “come back like you promised.”
“No, I changed my mind. He’s better off without me.”
“Jimin, come on.”
“No, I made up my mind. I’m staying here.”
You sag your shoulders in defeat.
“Okay good”, Yoongi says, trying to get you to move with a gentle nudge, “seems that he made up his mind, let’s leave princess.”
“Give me a minute, please”, you insist, wiggling yourself out of his soft hold, “Jimin, come on.”
Jimin sneaks a glance at you, crossing his arms in front of his chest.
“What are you so afraid of?”
“I’m not scared. What are you on about?”
“Of course you’re scared, I can see that you are.”
Jimin shakes his head, scoffing loudly.
“Are you scared that Taehyung won’t want you back anymore?”
Jimin stays silent, tensing his jaw.
“Well, you won’t get your answer here, brooding in self-pity.”
“I’m not pitying myself.”
“No, of course not.”
“Can you leave me alone? Piss off and suck a cock, will you?”
“Jimin”, you speak patiently, “just come with us.”
“No!” he exclaims, whipping around to gawk at you with widened eyes, “I don’t want to come back, I don’t know what to say! I goddamn left him for months. I can’t face him. What if he’ll never forgive me? What if he says that I’ll always stay dead to him?”
“That won’t happen, I promise you. Tae misses you like crazy.”
“How are you so sure?”
“Because you’re his best friend, for fuck’s sake and he loves you.”
Jimin closes his mouth, lowering his eyes now that your words flustered him.
“Just come back with us. I promise you, everything will be fine.”
Jimin hesitates. He sneaks a glance at Yoongi.
“Do as she says. She knows what she’s talking about”, he says dryly.
Jimin looks away. He lets his eyes run over his depressive, lonely home. The spot where once his heart was stings. What does he have to lose? Grey walls, no person to talk to and an aching yearning for his best friend. The things he would lose seem miniscule in comparison to what he will gain. He exhales loudly.
“Fine”, he gives up, “fine, I’m coming with you.”
And so you leave the plaza together. You and Yoongi hand in hand while Jimin trots next to you. He doesn’t talk a lot, while you and Yoongi talk about Maël. Tomorrow’s plan is still going to happen. You tell Jimin about it, but he seemed too tense in nervousness to really listen. You can’t blame him. You are really nervous yourself. Taehyung is going to get his best friend back. You are so excited and nervous. You really, really hope that he will like the surprise.
Hoseok opens the door for you once you arrive at the apartment. His face lights up the second he sees you.
“___ holy shit, you’re back! I was so fucking worried for you”, he gasps, falling around your neck in a tight hug.
You stumble with a laugh, twisting his shirt for support, “I missed you too, Hobi.”
“Oh my god”, he mumbles into you, lifting you up just so he can squeeze you, “where were you? We tried calling you but you didn’t answer us.”
“I got on the wrong bus and my phone died, it was such a mess”, you say, laughing when Hoseok bounces you in his arms, making little sound effects as he does.
“___!” Seokjin calls out, running to your side, “holy shit, you’re okay. I thought you died!” he says, hugging you and Hoseok.
You laugh, holding him close as best as the position allows you to.
“I’m so happy to be back, I had such a night.”
“Tell us all about it. Where were you? What happened? Are you okay?” Seokjin asks, breaking away in sync with Hoseok so they can look at you.
“I’m okay and you’ll get the full story later, I promise. Guys, I have to see Tae. Is he home?”
“He isn’t home yet. Why?”
Jimin steps closer.
Hoseok and Seokjin stumble back in shock.
“Uh, what the hell is happening?” Hoseok gasps.
“What’s going on?” Seokjin gets out, gawking with such widened eyes that you fear they might actually fall out of his head.
“I’m alive. Surprise”, Jimin says.
“How?!”
“Resurrection spell.”
“But I saw your ashes”, Seokjin tells Jimin as they follow you.
“I know. I’m back now.”
“How?”
“Resurrection spell, I told you.”
“Damn, seriously. Damn.”
“How is that even possible?” Hoseok asks.
“Right?” you agree, “I promise that you guys will get the whole story, but I really have to call Tae now. Let’s go to the living room guys, the hallway’s cold.”
“Yeah sure. Damn, this is actually happening”, Hoseok says, following you with the rest of the group.
Emma is in the living room. She was drawing before, but lifts her head.
“I’m so happy to see you, ___”, Emma says, “we were really worried for you”, her eyes shift to Jimin and widen, “Jimin?” she gasps.
“Emma?” Jimin gasps, “what are you doing here?”
“What are you doing here? I thought you died.”
“Resurrection spell. Good stuff.”
“Something like this is possible?”
Jimin nods his head, studying her face.
“You look good”, he says, “eternity suits you.”
She snorts and chuckles, “I can say the same about you. You’re really not dying easily, aren’t you?”
“I told you, I’ll always find a way to survive.”
“Clearly you do”, Emma says and then shifts her eyes to Seokjin. He is putting a protecting (almost jealous) arm around her shoulder, eyeing Jimin with suspicion.
“I’m back!” Taehyung calls from the hallway just moments later.
“Perfect timing”, you say and run out of the living room.
“Darling”, you call out.
Taehyung lifts his head and smiles, “darling! What a wonderful way to be greeted”, he says, closing the distance between you and him to kiss you.
“Tae”, you don’t let him kiss for long. You are too excited, “Tae, I met someone last night. I need to show you.”
Taehyung cocks his right brow up in question.
“Follow me. Come”, you say and tug him with you.
“Wait, not so fast”, Taehyung follows you with a fond chuckle.
You enter the living room. Taehyung joins you a moment later.
“Who did you meet, darling?” he asks.
“Look”, you say, pointing at Jimin.
Taehyung looks and stumbles back, almost collapsing on the ground if Hoseok hadn’t caught him under his pits before that could happen.
“Jimin?” the word barely wants to leave Taehyung’s throat.
“Hey.”
Taehyung storms to Jimin, who welcomes him with open arms and teary eyes. Just seconds later and he falls as Taehyung throws him to the ground and moments later begins punching his face.
“I hate you. You bastard! All this time you were alive! Why would you leave me?! I needed you! I fucking needed you!” Taehyung screams, crying the hottest tears as his face is contorted in heartbreaking betrayal.
You expected anything but this. As did Jimin, who does nothing to fight Taehyung off as shock keeps him paralysed.
“Taehyung stop!” you gasp, wanting to step in between, but getting stopped by Yoongi.
“Don’t. You’ll only get hurt.”
“I took your punishment! Hear me?!” Taehyung is crying miserably, punching his own knuckles bloody, “I was rotting away in prison while you were alive?! My heart has been broken for months! Why would you do this to me?!”, he wails loudly, “I hate you so much! You bastard traitor! I hate you!”
“I’m sorry Taetae, I’m so sorry.”
“I needed you!” Taehyung screams the word, picking Jimin up by his collar just to shake him, “why did you never come looking for me?!”
“I’m sorry, I wanted to but I couldn’t.”
“You couldn’t?!”
Taehyung punches him. He punches him so hard that Jimin can’t move for a moment.
“I hate you!” he sobs and punches him, “I hate you so much!”
Jimin groans quietly, trying and failing to speak. Taehyung is blinded by his own emotions, taking out months of heartbreak on Jimin’s face.
“Stop that”, Yoongi stops him, dragging him away, “you’re going to kill him. “
“Let go of me!” Taehyung squirms in Yoongi’s hold.
“Seriously, I’m going to break your spine if you keep moving around”, Yoongi warns.
“Leave me alone!”
But Taehyung is angry, heartbroken, drowning in the feelings of being betrayed. Just this night, he is stronger than Yoongi. Just this night, he manages to rip himself free of his grasp and just this night, you have to watch as Yoongi flies through the room before colliding with the wall so harshly his entire rib cage shatters.
“What the fuck?” you squeak out.
That’s when Taehyung disappears, pushing aside a confused Jungkook, who just came downstairs to check what all this yelling is about. Jungkook falls to his knees, groaning softly.
“What the hell is happening?” he gasps, watching Jimin bleed all over the carpet while you are sobbing and cupping Yoongi’s pain-contorted face. This is the most confusing situation he ever walked in on.
“Yoongi my baby, oh god Yoongi”, you sob, grasping his face tightly.
“That’s….why…I…told you…to…stay….back”, he presses out before having to groan in agony.
“Yoongi, I’m so sorry”, you fall around his neck, “this is all my fault. I’m so stupid. Why did I think this could work? I’m so fucking dumb.”
“Stop crying…I’m okay.”
“No, you’re hurt. It’s my fault.”
“Hush, it’s almost healed.”
You lift your head, dripping tears all over his face. He gives you a reassuring smile.
“It doesn’t even hurt anymore.”
“Yoongi”, you whimper, feeling your lower lip tremble.
He sits up with your help. He doesn’t need your help, but you want to help him either way. Once he is up, you keep your arms around him, making sure that he is supported.
“Don’t move too much, you’ll make it worse.”
“Hey, stop crying”, he says softly, wiping your tears away, “I’m seriously okay. I healed.”
“Oh”, you press out, hugging him tightly.
He hugs you back, caressing the back of your head lovingly.
“It’s okay princess, I’m okay.”
“Can someone please tell me what is going on here?” Jungkook joins the conversation, staring at Jimin with big eyes.
The latter is in the midst of sitting up with Hoseok’s help, sending Jungkook an icy glare before staring at the floor. His face was covered in his own blood, but seems to be in the middle of healing.
“I’m alive”, he says coldly, “you can see how Tae took that fact”, he lifts his gaze to you, “he’ll be so happy to see you. That’s what you told me. He was oh so happy, wasn’t he?”
“You’ll take on another tone if you speak to her”, Yoongi warns.
“I just got my face punched in repeatedly, so excuse me if I’m being pissy”, Jimin says and spits one of his teeth on the floor, “fuck”, he grunts, stumbling to his feet. With way too much pride in his eyes, he straightens his back, lifting his head as high as possible.
“You good?” you ask him.
“Do I look good?” Jimin says, pointing at his face. His bashed open left eye is still in the middle of healing, only slowly coming out from the inside of his skull. Truly it is horrid to look at.
“No. Sorry for asking.”
“Urgh”, Jimin groans and turns his back to you, “what?” he hisses at Jungkook.
“How the fuck are you here? I saw your ashes.”
“I rose from them again.”
“Tzt what? Like a phoenix?”
“Basically.”
“How?”
“Witches. All thanks to ___ bothering Yoongi with releasing Tae that day and distracting him. They did some witchy teleportation shit and gathered my ashes.”
“How the hell did they even know that you died?”
“Visions. They told them I bit the dust. Well, became the dust in a literal sense.”
“Hah yeah”, Jungkook studies him from head to toe, “I have to be honest with you, I can’t say that I’m happy to see you again.”
“Trust me, I feel the same.”
“Good”, Jungkook says dryly then turns to you. Life returns to his eyes, “I’m so happy that you are back, ___”, he says, hurrying to you so he can take your hands.
“Me too Kookie”, you tell him, squeezing his hands gently.
“Do you think Tae is alright? He seemed really upset”, Emma asks.
“I don’t know”, you say, looking at Yoongi for help.
“I’ll check on him”, he says.
“I’m coming with you”, you say, hurrying after him.
“What about me?” Jimin asks.
“Stay until we know more”, you say, “I’m not giving up, so please stay.”
Jimin nods his head and touches his face, “ah fuck, hurts”, he murmurs.
“I can look at it if you want to”, Emma offers and then you drown out their conversation.
Yoongi takes your hand, “come. He’s still here.”
“Is he upset?”
You get your answer by the loud sob cutting through the air. The sound of something shattering follows.
It came from upstairs.
“No Tae”, you gasp, running to get to him quicker.
Yoongi follows you, taking two steps at a time.
Sobbing. Loud and filled with pain. Shattering of something else.
Taehyung appears in your vision. Hunched over and kneeling on the floor with his knuckles bleeding from punching in the mirror. Pieces of it were still stuck in him.
“Stop please! Stop please!” he begs.
“Darling”, you gasp, “what happened? You’re hurt.”
“Stay away!” Taehyung screams. He doesn’t want to scream but he can’t stop it from happening. “I’m going to rip you apart if you come any closer.”
You stop. Yoongi steps in instantly.
“Hey there Tae, it’s okay. I’m here now”, he says.
“Stay away! I’ll hurt you!”
“It’s okay. I’m here, you can hurt me. It’s okay”, Yoongi assures him, coming closer in slow steps.
Taehyung growls and sobs. He tries to look scary by flashing his fangs, but he ends up looking like a scared, cornered animal, staring at Yoongi with a grimace of pain.
“Talk to me, Tae. Talk to me.”
“I’m going to kill him. How could he do this to me?” Taehyung is yelling, “I thought that he was dead. I grieved. Suffered. How could he leave me?!”
“I know, Tae. It hurts so much.”
“I wanted to die each and every day and all this time he was alive? He let me suffer. He, he- oh god”, he chokes out and then he sobs, “why didn’t he come back to me?” he sobs so miserably that he can barely even breathe, fighting for his right to air, “why did he leave me alone for so long?”
He is shaking, wheezing whilst trying to sob, coughing out curses.
Yoongi kneels down in front of Taehyung. He cups his face and brushes his thumbs over his temples.
“Don’t worry, Taehyungie. Hyung’s here now”, he soothes him.
You know that he is currently helping Taehyung calm down by touching his temples. And seeing how Taehyung actually calms down, he wanted it to happen. After all, this type of mind control only works if the receiving end consents to it.
“Hyung’s here now, Taetae. I’m right here”, Yoongi whispers, shushing him softly.
Taehyung’s breathing slows down gradually. With each caress of his temples, his once suffocating emotions become easier to bear. He felt like dying in pain, but Yoongi helped him, coming at the right time to prevent the worst from happening.
“The worst’s behind you, Tae. I’m here for you, right here”, Yoongi speaks gently, running his thumbs under Taehyung’s teary eyes.
Taehyung whimpers, squeezing his eyes shut.
“Hyung”, he squeaks and sobs, “hyung, it hurts so much.”
“I know, but I’m here now. Yeah?”
Taehyung nods his head, “why would he do this to me?” he presses out, voice trembling, “I want to die, it hurts so much.”
“I know Tae, I know. Lean on me, yeah? Trust me to make it better, yeah?” Yoongi whispers in the softest voice, caressing Taehyung’s temple with loving hands.
You kneel down next to them, reaching for Taehyung’s trembling hands. He flinches, looking at you with fearful eyes. He calms down when he sees that it is you touching him.
“Can I remove the shards?” you ask him.
Taehyung looks at them. He seems confused and surprised by their presence.
“Yes”, he gets out. He doesn’t react as you begin pulling out the shards, crying softly as Yoongi continues drying his tears.
“We’re here, Tae. You’re not alone”, he continues whispering, holding Taehyung’s face safely.
At some point, Taehyung stops sobbing to instead whimper. He looks into Yoongi’s eyes.
“Why did he do this to me?” he croaks.
“He was scared of your reaction.”
“My reaction? I grieved him. Each passing day felt like hell.”
“I know, Tae hey”, Yoongi tilts his head up, “I know that and Jimin knows that too.”
“He grieved you too, my sweetest”, you say.
Taehyung looks at you with heartbreak in his sad eyes.
“So why did he abandon me?”
“I didn’t abandon you.”
You look at the door. Jimin is here, looking at Taehyung with nervous eyes and fumbling with his thumbs. His face is healed again, his blood wiped away.
“I spent two thirds of my new life having to recover. It’s actually difficult as fuck to return from the dead, so my body was fucked. I couldn’t even leave bed, let alone talk or eat.”
Taehyung sniffles, sobbing softly.
“I, I really wanted to be with you again, but I was embarrassed, just…” Jimin falters, “just look at me. I’m a fucking joke. I lost all my strength and look like fucking shit.”
“You think I care?” Taehyung presses out, “all I needed was you.”
“I know, shit, I know.”
“I hate you so much. How could you do this to me?” Taehyung sobs.
“Do you…really hate me?” Jimin asks with a trembling lower lip.
“I don’t know! Why would you ask me that?! Why did you leave me?!” Taehyung yells, voice trembling and barely wanting to come out.
“I’m so sorry for leaving you, Taetae. I fucking-”, Jimin tears up, “-I fucking thought of you each day. I missed you so much. Please believe me.”
“Jimin”, Taehyung sobs loudly stumbling to his feet with your and Yoongi’s help. He leaves the two of you behind him as the only thing he can see is Jimin.
Within a second he is by his side. Within a second he has him against his chest. Within another second Jimin hugs him back. Taehyung cries miserably, Jimin tries not to but soaks Taehyung’s shirt in silent tears. They are together again. Their dreams actually came true. They are finally reunited.
“I missed you so much”, Taehyung wails, “oh god, you are real. You are real.”
“I am. I’m real. I love you Taetae, I love you so much”, Jimin laughs and sobs and hugs his best friend as if it was his last day on earth.
But it wasn’t his last day. It was just the beginning. They are reunited and life can finally begin again. Taehyung tightens his arms around Jimin while the latter makes sure that he can never ever escape the hug again.
“I love you too. Oh Jimin.”
“You have to tell me everything that happened, Taetae. I want to know everything”, Jimin says and laughs and sobs and hugs his Taehyung.
“Oh Jimin, I have so much to tell you. Oh god, I can’t stop crying”, Taehyung sobs and overtaken by happiness, he lifts Jimin off the ground just to twirl around.
Jimin laughs loudly, clutching Taehyung in the tightest hug.
“Come”, you tell Yoongi and push him gently, “let’s give them their moment.”
“Wait. Are you crying?” Yoongi gasps, stumbling out of Taehyung’s room.
He twirls once outside, cupping your face, “hey, princess. Why are you crying?”
“I’m just so happy. This is everything Tae wanted. Oh god, I’m so happy”, you say, crying the happiest tears for them.
Yoongi’s worried eyes soften. He brushes his thumb over your cheeks.
“I’m happy for him too. Losing your happiness is terrible, so I’m happy that he has Jimin again.”
“Me too. I still can’t believe that it is real. Jimin’s actually back”, you say and smile, “do you think that things will change for the better now?”
“Come. Let’s check on the others first”, Yoongi says, leading you downstairs where the others are currently gathered in the living room.
They look at you.
“What the hell is going on?” Jungkook asks, “why is Jimin back? I saw his ashes.”
“Resurrection spell. I never saw it work before, so I’m impressed that it did”, Yoongi says.
“Resurrection spell”, Hoseok repeats, “so you’re telling me that all this time I was scared of dying for nothing? We just need a witch to resurrect us again?”
“Calm down. Didn’t I just say that I never saw it work before?”
“It worked splendidly for Jimin”, Hoseok says, shrugging his shoulders.
“Yeah, because he had a good witch to take care of it. Ninety percent of the witches you meet will not be able to resurrect you again and you will stay dead”, Yoongi says, giving Hoseok a nod of his head, “so be careful and try not to die. Got it?”
“Of course, I’m always careful.”
You claim the empty spot next to Jungkook on the couch. Yoongi sits down next to you, placing his hand on your thigh.
“So what does this mean for us? Is he part of our group now?” Seokjin asks.
“If he wants to join us. I doubt that Tae will let him leave again”, Yoongi says.
“I’m sure, he won’t”, Hoseok says and points upstairs, “I bet they have so much catching up to do.”
“I’m sure they do”, Yoongi says, “I still don’t trust him, I’m saying it how it is.”
“Me neither”, Jungkook mumbles with furrowed brows.
“Yeah, honestly? Me neither”, Hoseok confesses, “it’s a little weird that he suddenly showed up. Don’t you guys think?”
“I don’t think that he planned on showing up if I’m being honest”, you say, “we bumped into each other accidentally.”
“That’s still wild to me. Out of all the people you could have bumped into, it was Jimin.”
“Right? Trust me when I tell you that we were both as surprised as you guys. At first I thought that I was hallucinating from the panic of getting lost but nope it was really him. Then a vampire almost ate me.”
“What?!” the guys exclaim.
“My thoughts exactly”, Yoongi mumbles.
“But then Jimin saved me from her and I stayed at his place”, you finish your sentence, “so I’m positive that we have nothing to worry about. He could have very well killed me and continued with his life, but he decided to not only save me from a vampire but also to protect me for the night and he took me back to Yoongi and even protected me from a group of vampires on the bus.”
“Well damn, I didn’t expect that from him.”
“But see? Let’s not expect the worst already and give him a chance and if you can’t do it for Jimin, can we at least try for Tae? Please?”
The others exchange a look.
“Fine”, Hoseok gives in, “we’ll try for Tae.”
The others nod their heads.
“Thank you.”
“But if he puts you in any kind of danger, I can’t guarantee for anything”, Yoongi adds.
“Then let’s not expect the worst and support him on his journey of becoming better, yeah?”
Yoongi studies your face.
“Mhm?” you stress, caressing his knuckles, “can you do that, my prince?”
“Fine”, he gives in with a loud sigh, “I’ll give him a chance.”
“Thank you, that’s very nice of you.”
“Mhm”, he acknowledges you and nods his head, leaning back against the couch with a defeat sigh.
“I never thought that I’d meet Jimin again”, Emma says, “he is my sire.”
“Seokjin told us. It must be weird to meet him again”, you say.
“A little, but I’m also excited. I want to ask him how he is doing and thank him”, Emma says and looks at Seokjin, “because he turned me, I lived long enough to meet my Jinnie again”, she says and smiles.
“Don’t say that, oh my god”, Seokjin whispers, covering his pink ears with his hands.
Emma giggles and leans in to steal a kiss from him, only making his blush grow.
“You are so adorable, my moon.”
“My tulip, come on, I’ll blush even more” Seokjin says in a whiney voice, giving her a cute pout.
Emma coos and squishes his cheeks, stealing another kiss from him.
“Wah, you two are so cute”, Hoseok gushes, “I support it. You guys are in my top three couples now.”
“Your top three couples?”
“Mhm. ___ and Yoongi are number one. I’m your biggest fan”, Hoseok says, sending you a thumbs up.
Yoongi chuckles, caressing your knee while his eyes flit to his lap shyly.
“And who’s number two?”
“Emma and Jin. Number two best couple.”
They chuckle.
“And who’s number three, hyung?” Jungkook asks.
“My parents. They were the best”, Hoseok smiles in melancholy, “yeah, they really were”, he lets out a loud sigh, only to begin smiling a second later, “seriously, everyone’s reunited again. That’s so funky.”
“Totally”, you agree, “now nothing can separate us again. Right? You guys are gonna stay with us.”
“Of course, hello? We’re a family”, Hoseok says to which Jungkook nods his head passionately. Seokjin and Emma agree with a fond smile while Yoongi leans in wordlessly to kiss your cheek.
“You’re so cute”, he whispers so only you can hear, stealing another kiss just to make sure that you know that he appreciates you with his entire heart.
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also please be aware, further down there is a link to a 4 second clip from twitter that inspired one of the scenes. that’s what the link is, it’s not hugely graphic but please use your discretion.
DAY TWO
It’s almost midday by the time you wake up. From outside your bedroom, the faint echoes of conversation remind you of just where you’d gone to sleep the night before. Of what you’d done the night before.
You dress quickly in some jean shorts and a loose shirt, wincing at the slight twinge between your legs, a welcome ache for what pleasure it had brought you. In the hallway upstairs, the collective hum of conversation is clearer, and you follow it down the stairs and to the kitchen, where six of the seven men are sharing breakfast at the dining table together, two waiting places still remaining.
You take the seat between Jungkook and Yoongi when the younger man greets you first, eyes wide as he pats the space. The other men glance up, conversations drifting off to greet you good morning.
The seat directly across from you is empty, Taehyung and Jimin at the chairs adjacent while Hoseok and Namjoon take the heads of the table. “Where’s Jin?” you ask in surprise.
“Jin?” Hoseok questions with a salacious smile. “Judging by the noises Jimin heard last night, you were the one who saw him last."
Your cheeks heat, and though you want to curl up in embarrassment, you can't help your eyes from automatically darting over to Jimin.
In a loose silk shirt the same gunmetal silver as the cutlery, Jimin's blue hair stands out even more than usual, as well as the smokey eyeshadow that frames his intense stare.
"I'm sorry," you say awkwardly. "I- Well, I guess that'll probably be a regular occurrence one way or another."
"Keeping me up at night with your shameless moaning?" he questions with a raised brow.
Out of everyone at the table staring at you, it's his gaze which burns at your cheeks the most, making you drop his gaze, eyes down on the empty plate in front of you. "I meant more, um, having sex in general, since that's the point of the show. But... sorry."
"Just try and be quieter next time," Jungkook suggests cheerily from beside you. The other members laugh, resuming their conversations or going back for more breakfast, but Jungkook's attention lingers on you for a moment longer, before he stands up abruptly.
"Jungkookie, where are you going?" Taehyung calls out, twisting in his chair to watch as Jungkook steps into the kitchen, disappearing through the open door of the walk-in pantry. Jungkook doesn't answer, but the rummaging sounds of plastic give his purpose away.
"Wow," Yoongi drawls with an unimpressed frown, "I prepare all this food for you and he still needs to go fossicking for more."
The attention sufficiently off you, you lean in to Yoongi's side. "I'm just going to grab a drink from the kitchen, do you want anything?"
Yoongi shakes his head distractedly, more focused on buttering every last edge of the toast in his hand. Getting up, you let the blood finally leave your cheeks and your heart rate slow down. No point worrying about something you couldn't really help.
In the kitchen, you can see easily across to the dining table, Taehyung's and Jimin's backs to you as you look through the refrigerator for something to drink.
The options are decently impressive, and you stare indecisively that the fridge beeps at you for being left open too long. Settling on some milk to make coffee, you turn and almost drop the carton at what greets you.
Crouched below the kitchen island innocuously, out of view of the boys, is Jungkook, grinning toothily at you, with a finger to his mouth in the universal 'be quiet' signal.
Your eyes widen, but as you look out across the bench to the dining room, nobody has noticed. Biting your lip, you grab a mug, turn the electric jug on and slowly walk over to where he is, standing so that his bent knees brush your shins.
Though nobody is paying you a lick of attention, you pretend to drop a spoon onto the ground before dropping below the level of the bench yourself, face-to-face with Jungkook.
"What are you doing?" you hiss quietly, the sound barely louder than your lips moving.
"You have to practice being quiet," he says cheekily. "So let me eat you out while you make some coffee."
"You're crazy," you whisper, but your eyes are entranced by the tip of his tongue as he licks his lips. "Fuck, okay."
Ignoring his shiteating grin of victory, you grab the teaspoon and stand up again, reaching for the jar of coffee crystals. A minute sigh leaves your mouth when nimble fingers run up your thigh, over your shorts and begin fiddling with the button. Fuck, were you really doing this?
"Y/n?"
Your eyes dart up, fearing you've been caught, but Hoseok is smiling at you unawares, pointing at the jar in your hands.
"Could you make me a cup too? I can come get it-"
"No," you blurt, swallowing as Jungkook's hands don't falter, reaching around to grasp at the meat of your ass from inside your shorts. "I'm already up, I don't mind."
You inhale through your nose as Jungkook flicks the sensitive skin on the inside of your thigh, voice a low murmur that only you can hear. "Selfish girl, ask if the others want a coffee too," he instructs.
Your head feels funny, a combination of dizzy and hyper-focused. "Does anyone else want a cup too? It's just the instant stuff."
You get a few moments break from Jungkook's roaming hands for the time it takes you to go fetch three more mugs, Namjoon and Yoongi also wanting a drink. The second you step back to the kitchen island, however, it's like the boy is making up for lost time.
Without hesitation he's undoing the button and the zip, pulling your shorts and panties down to your knees, a hand pushing your leg open wider so it doesn't drop to the floor.
Fully bared, you bite down harshly on your tongue, shaky fingers undoing the top of the jar as a hot mouth descends upon you, devouring you like it's his last meal.
Jungkook is good with his tongue, but he's merciless, not holding back even as he has to grip onto your knees to stop them from buckling.
You feel unbelievably exposed, and with the casual stream of conversation continuing on just a few metres away, every touch feels electrified. Out of all the guys, Jungkook's hair is the longest, and you can feel it tickling your thighs and lower abdomen, a strong arm wrapping around to hold you close to him.
Though it's definitely far too quiet for the others to hear, the faintest sound of slurping feels like thunder in your ears, and as he sucks at your folds, tongue driving in deep inside you like he's licking the inside of a wrapper, you press your lips together to hold back a moan.
Getting spoonfuls of ground coffee into each of the four mugs is a game of its own when long, narrow fingers find their way inside you, three at once slipping in your pussy, still stretched out from last night.
Clearly knowing thrusting them would be too loud, Jungkook instead just crooks them inside you, dragging them over your g-spot like he's coaxing an orgasm out of you.
You focus on your task, letting the challenge of not spilling the dark powder anchor you, but all too soon the sound of the electric kettle reaching boiling point fills the room, and you know that once you reach over and pour the drinks, there's really no other reason for you to be standing at the bench, and you couldn't exactly go back with your shorts around your ankles and Jungkook lapping up your juices enthusiastically.
The ding of the kettle gets the attention of those wanting coffee, and you send them a weak smile as you reach for it, holding the handle with one hand and each mug with the other, relaxing in relief as Jungkook pauses his assault while you're handling the boiling water.
Once the jug goes back in its place, you begin to stir the drinks as slow as you can possibly manage, Jungkook returning his ministrations with a vengeance, sucking harshly at your clit and slipping a fourth finger into you, still curling his fingers in a beckoning motion, stretching at your walls deliciously and rubbing over your g-spot every time.
You're breathing heavily, you know you are, but you tell yourself that it least it isn't moaning out loud.
Still waiting, Hoseok glances up. "Y/n, are you okay?" You nod hastily, a clipped moan escaping in place of a yes, but he's not convinced. "You can't carry all four mugs by yourself, I'll come take two."
"N-no," you defend lowly, cursing internally as your orgasm approaches even faster with eyes on you, the arousal of danger running through your veins like liquid sex.
Hoseok doesn't listen, getting up and jogging over. Behind him, the other boys are starting to get concerned too, frowning at the way you gasp for breath, eyes lidded.
"Shoot, Y/n, are you alright?" Namjoon asks, voice strained with worry. "You look like you're about to pass out."
Your head feels blurry as the realisation hits you: you're going to orgasm in front of them all, while they're waiting for their morning coffee.
As Hoseok approaches, he reaches out for the mugs, but his hands freeze halfway. The bench is only around the level of your waist, so there's no doubt in his mind that at this distance he can see Jungkook's head between your legs.
Rather than looking at Hoseok's face, you make the mistake of glancing down, and it's the obscene sight of Jungkook's head of black locks bobbing between your legs that sends you over the edge.
"What is she- Y/n?"
Your knees buckle but Jungkook keeps you steady, so you lean forward instead, covering your face with your hands as a powerful orgasm rocks through you, the moans impossible to hold back as Jungkook gives up on being quiet, fucking you through the orgasm with his fingers and tongue.
"How good is that coffee?"
"It's not the coffee, Tae."
"...Oh."
Once the white behind your eyelids settle, you let out a weak embarrassed moan, hearing the self-satisfied chuckle of Jungkook beneath you, licking you clean and lifting your shorts and panties, dressing you like nothing had ever happened.
Though of course, every single person in the room just watched you have an orgasm in the kitchen, and there was no pretending like nothing had happened.
Ignoring the loud buzz of confusion at the table, and the awkward cough of Hoseok as he took three mugs to the table, you bat away Jungkook's hands and sink down, sitting on the floor with your back to the island bench, face in your hands still.
"I can't fucking believe you did that," you pant out morosely, your pussy still clenching rhythmically with aftershocks of pleasure.
Jungkook licks his lips like the cat that got the cream. "You loved it," he retorts. "Did you think I wouldn't notice that you came the moment Hoseok noticed what was going on?"
"Fuck you."
"You didn't even have to," he chimes cheerily, standing up and going to join the others shamelessly.
You take a few more moments to compose yourself, letting Jungkook take most of the heat. Once the jibes begin to settle and your legs don't feel so wobbly, you stand up again and grab the remaining cup of coffee, taking a sip and making your way back to the table with flushed cheeks.
"So, we're just gonna pretend like that didn't happen?" Taehyung asks in bewilderment.
"I would prefer if you did, yes," you answer calmly, reaching out for a slice of cold toast.
He blinks. "Okay."
For a few blissful moments, the seven of you return to your normal conversations, Jungkook resting a smug hand on your thigh as he chats away happily.
"Morning!" a sing-song voice calls out, and you all glance up to see Seokjin arriving, broad grin on his face.
After a moment, Taehyung lets out a yawn and the spell is broken, everyone going back to what they were doing before.
Visibly disappointed, Seokjin's shoulders sink. "Morning," he repeats again insistently. "Is no one gonna ask how I slept? Or what I did last night? Seriously?"
"That's old news, hyung," Taehyung explains matter-of-factly.
"How can it be old news already? I only just got up."
"And you missed a lot," Jungkook replies. "Besides, hyung, I'm worried about your diet. It tastes like you aren't eating enough leafy greens."
In the chaos that ensues, you couldn't tell who goes redder - you, or Seokjin.
----
“It’s kinda strange now that I’m here,” Hoseok comments. “I’m so used to being go-go all the time with work, and chores, and hobbies, and now it’s just...waiting around for food and sex.”
Taehyung chuckles, head resting back against the couch as he sits cross-legged on the lush carpet. “I’m not mad about it.”
After you had gone up to have a shower and reclaim a bit of your dignity, the group had dissipated. Jimin had apparently left to “take some business calls,” Jungkook had decided to break in the indoor gym (you could all hear the odd grunt and clang of equipment from the lounge area), and Namjoon had recently announced he was going outside for a walk around the backyard. The others had initially suspected he was making excuses for going to the Confessional Booth, but Jin had snuck out to the outdoor dining area and reported back that the younger man was “walking around with his hands in his pockets like a nerdy cryptid.”
Now, the remaining five of you chill on the couches, chatting away as Yoongi scrolls aimlessly through Netflix. You share a couch with him, Yoongi with his legs crossed and the remote resting on his knee, you spread out in the space between, toes almost touching his thigh. Across from you, Hoseok and Jin have chosen to both stretch out, Hoseok leaning back against Jin, with the older man’s legs on either side. Occasionally one of them will reach down to pat Taehyung’s head or rub his shoulder, Tae responding with a hum or grunt of approval.
It was strange how some individuals in the house had gotten closer faster than others. You knew Namjoon was still struggling with feeling like he wasn’t on par with the others, and Jimin clearly felt most comfortable with a strict boundary line that he maintained on his own terms, but on the other side of things, Hoseok and Jin were finding comfort in the casual skinship. You can’t help but wonder how things might progress as the game goes on.
“There’s nothing,” Yoongi announces with a frown. “Let’s find something else.”
“What else?” Hoseok asks, pouting glumly. “If I’m honest, I don’t even watch most movies and TV shows these days. When I watch something, it’s usually just porn to get inspiration for scenes.”
Taehyung sits up abruptly, dislodging Jin’s hand from lazily stroking his hair. “Then let’s watch porn.”
Yoongi scoffs out a laugh, before realizing Taehyung is serious. "What; looking for some inspiration yourself?"
The younger boy ignores the jibe, getting up off the floor to steal the remote, going to the internet browser on the SmartTV function.
Jin lets out a laugh hearty enough to jostle Hoseok as he watches Taehyung type each key painstakingly.
bb|
bba|
b-
ba|
bag|
ba-
ban|
"Is the porn meant to be you edging us?" the eldest retorts.
"Shut up, hyung," Tae answers without looking away from the television, finally clicking the button to load the site.
bangasm.com
"Ah, you reckon we'd get sued if we used some other porn website instead?" Jin jokes. "Afraid of getting kicked off the show for jacking off to PornHub?"
"Shut up, hyung," Taehyung repeats insistently, navigating to the search bar of the familiar site. He types more carefully this time, brow furrowed and lip pinched between his teeth in focus. "He goes live on a different site, but cross-uploads all his videos here too."
g|
gu|
gukk|
gukke|
gukked|
gukked97. ENTER.
"Taehyung..." Yoongi starts slowly, uncrossing his legs to lean forward. "We shouldn't be watching his stuff without him here."
Once the page loads, and Taehyung clicks on the first result, your breath catches.
Earlier that morning, when Jungkook had gone down on you in the kitchen, he'd still been fully dressed, and so far he'd been wearing exclusively sweatpants and hoodies in the house.
Here, though, he's bared to you in 1080p quality, countless thumbnails of him filling the page in rows and rows, each one a week apart.
In most, he has a hand around his cock, usually leaning back on his bed with his head tipped back in pleasure. His cock appears a bit smaller than Jin's, but it fits in his hand so beautifully, arching in a gentle curve so that the head taps at his lower abdomen, which is defined in hard lines, revealing the muscular body of a gym bunny. Considering it was only the second day and he was already working out, it seemed his physical condition was important to him.
The thought of you all sitting and stalking his account while he's in the room down the hall, unawares, has you biting your lip in guilt, but as Taehyung keeps scrolling, seemingly searching for something specific, you can't help but glue your eyes to the TV.
While most of the thumbnails are him jerking off, in various states of desperation, if you watch carefully you can catch flashes of colour.
Jungkook with bright spots of red wax over his chest, a second figure visible only as a torso beside his lying body. Jungkook in a bathroom, filmed in the shower as he holds the detachable head to his cock. Jungkook in pink thigh-high stockings, holding his cock in sweater paws. Jungkook bending a girl over a table, holding her green scarf like it's a leash and thrusting into her.
Seeing him in so many different scenarios has your mouth watering, and you shift in your seat minutely, hoping nobody notices the attempt to receive some friction.
The other protests have died down, too, and you watch Hoseok sit up suddenly, turning to give Jin's crotch a bewildered look, before tucking his own legs up and folding his arms across his lap.
Beside you, Yoongi's eyes are dark, mouth slightly parted and lips shiny from where he'd licked at them.
"Let me just find my favorite," Taehyung says to break the silence, clearly the most unaffected of you. The dates change, going back to earlier vids, until he lands on a video, dated 30 December 2018. "Picture this: I'd been a shitty mood all day. It was my birthday, but I'd been stuck at the mall all day because my grandma wanted to buy a cell phone and she-"
"How is this at all relevant?" Yoongi interrupts impatiently.
Jin snickers. "You just want him to hurry up and play the video, don't you?"
"So what if I do?" Yoongi complains mulishly.
You look back over at the TV, partially covered by Taehyung's frame. The thumbnail, selected with a yellow frame, seems relatively innocuous at first, the side profile of Jungkook on a couch, what looks like a gaming controller in his hands. The title of the video is pretty tame too, ‘ready player one ;)’, but that’s when you notice the hand on his thigh, coming from behind the camera.
Taehyung clicks on the video, settling back onto the floor in front of Jin and Hoseok as he waits for it to load, scrolling through almost twenty minutes of Jungkook chatting to the camera, eyes darting down to read comments, looking entirely at-home. It’s clear to you that the camera is hand-held, and every now and again Jungkook looks up past the lens, listening to something the person holding the camera is saying.
“The point is,” the younger man explains as he fast-forwards, “Jungkook uploaded this on my birthday and the guy sou- oh, here we go - sounds like me.”
There’s a weird energy in the room once Taehyung resumes playing the video. It seems wrong to have it playing out loud on the television, like you were breaking some taboo, but at the same time, nobody wanted to protest. In the video, Jungkook’s wearing a baggy white t-shirt and some loose black shorts, something that clearly he was most comfortable in judging by what you’d seen him in the past few days. If you strain, you can still hear him working out down the hall, and everything feels a little too real, the memory of him between your thighs making you shiver.
Taehyung’s skipped a long way into the stream, the wide palm of the cameraman having slid up from Jungkook’s thigh to be palming his crotch directly, and his voice comes as a low murmur into the room, the volume on the television turned down.
“...for me? Keep playing your game, baby boy, you only get to cum once you win.” Taehyung is right; the voice is starkly similar to his, that same musical resonance in a deep timbre. You think Taehyung’s is nicer; still, the idea of Taehyung being behind that camera is affecting you just as much as it’s affecting the rest of the men in the room.
Everyone’s gone deadly silent, Yoongi making no barbed remarks, Jin without a quip. It’s clear from the way Jungkook writhes that the man is pressing him with a decent amount of force, but his strangled moans prove he’s loving it, hands wavering as they smash at the buttons, the noise from the video game sounding even more faint.
The man behind the camera doesn’t seem too interested in playing fair. Just as Jungkook bites down hard on his lip, panting but managing to focus, the tanned hand slips under the waistband of his shorts, not pulling his cock out but rather jerking him from beneath the fabric, making the boy shudder, a broken moan louder than any sound before.
As you watch, you have the urge to press a hand to yourself, wanting to relieve some friction, but instead you just clench hard, rubbing your thighs together. Yoongi glances over when you move, his pink lips parted, Adam’s apple bobbing in his throat like he’s parched. It shocks you to see him so affected by the video, eyes hazed over with lust and fingers clutching at the fabric of the couch. On the opposite side, the other three men are in similar predicaments, Hoseok looking calm but clearly aroused, Jin bright red as he palms himself almost unconsciously, and Taehyung with a dreamy smile on his face, breaths shallow.
The Jungkook on screen lets out a frustrated whine when he loses the game, letting the controller hang limply on his thighs. His head lolls to the side, making eye contact with the recorder before lowering his gaze to stare pleadingly down the lens, and you hear Yoongi hiss a breath in the moment their gazes connect through the screen, Jungkook staring out into the audience with blown irises and bottom lip red from being bitten.
“You lost again, hm?” the voice calls out, dripping with mock sympathy. Jungkook swallows and nods, hips shifting against the hand that’s now stilled between his legs. A chuckle echoes from behind the camera. “Your viewers are telling me they want to see you cum, baby boy. Play one more round. Don’t disappoint us.”
Jungkook whines, but obediently sets up another game, sitting up and furrowing his brow to focus. Slipping out of Jungkook’s shorts, the hand instead pushes down the elastic waistband, freeing his cock. Jungkook sighs throatily at the open air on his length, a glossy bead of precum running down the side, collected by a single finger.
“Should I go easy on him, guys?” The voice pauses for a minute, trailing a single fingertip up and down the underside of Jungkook’s cock as the boy pants and tries to stay focused on the game. A bemused hum comes from behind the camera. “It’s your lucky day, baby boy. Taebybaby says you should get to cum because it’s his birthday today.”
Taehyung’s face splits in a boxy grin, eyes crinkling as he jabs a finger towards the television, where the on-screen Jungkook sighs in relief, wishing the user a happy birthday. “That’s me!” he calls out, turning around to stare accusingly at Yoongi. “See? The background context was important.”
On the television, Jungkook’s given up on the game, controller tossed to the side and head thrown back as the hand wraps around him, using the slick of his precum to jerk him off rapidly, clearly wanting to draw a quick orgasm out of the boy.
It’s pure sin, the way his thighs tense and the sliver of stomach where his shirt has ridden up flexes, hips jerking and moans pouring out of him in a constant, wanton stream.
“Are you serious?” Jungkook says calmly, and you frown, before realising it’s not the Jungkook on the screen that’s spoken.
Whirling around, you see the real Jungkook leaning against the doorway, shirt clinging with sweat and a towel slung over his shoulders. “My own viewing party and I wasn’t invited.”
“I’m so sorry,” Taehyung gushes with wide eyes, wincing as the volume from the TV increases, the toned body jerking as streaks of cum are milked from his cock, running down the hand of the cameraman. Taehyung fumbles for the remote as the on-screen Jungkook cries in pleasure, turning the TV off completely with shaky hands. “We weren’t- It just- We were just watching,” Taehyung finishes. “I’m sorry.”
Jungkook holds a hard stare for a few agonising moments, before breaking into a hearty chuckle. “Hey, I put them on the internet for everyone to see, people watching is the whole point. I hope you all enjoyed the show.” He grimaces. “That was such an old one though. Scoot over, Y/n; I’ll find you all a good one.”
You choke on air with the mention of your name, still feeling like you’d been caught red-handed. Or, red-cheeked rather. You blush violently as you stand up on shaky legs. There’s no way, if he played another video, that you would be able to resist the urge to slip a hand down your shorts, and you’d gotten off in public enough for one day. “I, uh, need to go water my plants,” you stammer, “I almost forgot. Y-You guys go ahead.”
Not wanting to wait for Jungkook’s reaction, you rush past him, feeling his hands attempting to hold you for a moment, before giving up when you don’t stop.
So flustered from the situation you’d just run from, you stumble up the stairs blindly, not noticing the figure that opens his door at the same time, watching in curiosity as you rush into your bedroom and slam your door shut, collapsing on your bed with a groan.
----
“Where have you been all day?” you ask conversationally as Namjoon takes a seat next to you with his bowl of fried rice.
“Out and about,” he answers loftily, avoiding your gaze. The two of you are sitting in the private, unfilmed lounge across the stairs. It’s strange; you’ve only been here two days but the constant presence of cameras has become so easy to grow accustomed to that in this room, it feels weirdly empty and stagnant. Still, there’s a relief in feeling like you have a break from being watched.
“Out and about,” you repeat, unconvinced, “you know we aren’t allowed to leave the property, right?”
Namjoon smiles down at his food. “The gardens are really gorgeous. I went to explore for a bit and ended up staying outside to soak up the sun and the nature.”
You bite your lip. He’d been the one that had suggested the two of you go eat in this room. “Struggling with the cameras, still?”
He looks up, finally, eyes crinkled with a rueful smile. “I guess I still feel a little silly to be here. I know my whole thing is that I’m inexperienced, but… Really feels like I’m doomed to fail here.”
You put your spoon down slowly. “Namjoon… Experience isn’t the only thing that matters, you know? I’m not gonna vote you out immediately just because you can’t, I don’t know, fuck me while doing a cartwheel or some shit like that. I said the other night that all of you as people are important too. Don’t distance yourself just because you’re worried about going home.”
He nods slowly, though he doesn’t seem entirely comforted. “I still only have a one-in-seven chance of winning this thing.”
“So do the rest of them,” you point out, gesturing back the way you came. “And if you like to run the numbers, you have a higher chance of staying than being sent home every week except the last.” You push your food aside, scooting around to sit beside Namjoon instead of across from him. “Honestly, Namjoon. I’m saying this away from all the cameras so you know I really mean it, but if you wanna stay, give me a chance to get to know you. Stick around.”
His chin protrudes as he tenses his jaw, deep in thought. “Y/n… Can I do something honestly too? Away from the cameras so you know I really mean it?”
“Of course,” you reply automatically, eyes widening when a broad palm comes out to hold onto yours.
Without another word, Namjoon just leans closer, the feeling of his breath on your face preceding the soft press of his lips on yours.
Namjoon kisses much like he acts; tentative, uncertain, and a little clumsily, but endearingly so. You find yourself entranced in the reverential way he does it, a series of tiny butterfly touches instead of the deep sensual frenching you’d been exposed to in the past. It’s chaste but meaningful, and when he draws back, his cheeks are pinker than his lips, coughing lightly in embarrassment.
“Namjoon,” you whisper into the quiet of the room, no words coming to mind except his name.
“I’m sorry,” he says with a laugh. “You probably think it’s stupid. Of course the virgin would get a crush on the girl first.”
“A crush?” you question. “Namjoon, we’ve known each other for two days.”
You meant to be lightly jesting, but his face crumples, laughing again in self-deprecation. “It’s stupid,” he repeats, clearing his bowl off the table and standing up. “Sorry, just- ignore I said that.”
“Namjoon, that wasn’t what I-”
You’re interrupted by the solid finality of the door slamming shut behind him.
TAGLIST
I’m going to try and put excess tags in the comments, hopefully this works better than last time! Please comment on this post if you wish to be added.
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