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Chapter Text

You hastily shoved your things in your backpack when the lecture was finally over and booked it out of the room. You turned the corner and next thing you knew, you collided with someone, or rather someone’s hard back. The bag fell out of your hand, sending books and pens flying everywhere on the school floor.

“I’m so sorry,” you swiftly apologized, already cursing yourself in your head for being so clumsy. With shaky hands started to collect your belongings, knowing you’re late already.

“It’s okay,” the stranger said softly as he squatted next to you. Helping you, he quickly fetched the books and handed them to you, “Here.”

“Thank you-” You trailed off when you looked at him for the first time, you felt the color escaping from your face when his eyes looked back at you. He had a red bandana wrapped around his head leaving his hair hanging wherever, and the black leather jacket broadened his shoulders even further making him look more intimidating than he usually seems.

You recognized him. You collided with Kim Taehyung, who was a member of a biker gang. A lot of dark rumours of violence they’ve committed circled around about the campus, and now you’ve bumped into one of the members, that couldn’t be good. Sure, some of the members go to your university and you’ve seen them, but you’ve never made eye contact with a member, let alone talked to them.

“Are you okay?” He tilted his head, asking you in concern. You must’ve looked like you just seen a ghost. “You clashed into me quite hard,” he let out a slight chuckle as he hoisted you up by your arm.

“Yes, th- thank you. I’m so- so sorry,” you stuttered and apologized over and over again in a hush voice. You couldn’t even look at his face when you thanked him.

Taehyung’s mouth opened to say something but it was too late. You were already on your way, disappearing around the corner still apologizing between breaths.

As you guessed it, your boyfriend was waiting for you in the main hall, impatiently tapping his foot against the floor.

“What took you so long? I told you I was gonna wait for you,” He hissed as he grabbed the bag out of your hands, “Why are you so slow? This happens everytime,” He huffed to himself and started walking to the parking lot, you following just behind him.

“Well I’m here now Jimin,” you smiled coyly at him, but he rolled his eyes in annoyance.

You got in the passenger side of his car, as you sat down he flinged your backpack in your lap, making you flinch. Jimin scoffed at your reaction saying it was over-dramatic, and finally started the car and you were on your way. He dropped you off at your house and grabbed your arm as you were half way out of the car,

“I’ll pick you up at 11,” He told you.

“Sorry?” You trailed off, “Pick me up for what?”

“For the party,” He said, looking at you like you were an idiot. He paused for a moment, taking his time thinking before laughing, “Did I forget to tell you?”

”You did but it’s okay… I’ll see you at 11 then,” You feigned a smile.

You turned the key in the lock of your front door when Jimin opened up a window, “Don’t wear the short dress. I hate it, It makes you look like someone who belongs on a street corner,” He shouted before speeding off.

You sighed in front of your mirror looking at yourself. Now you’ve got to get ready for a party you didn’t even want to go. You’d much rather just cuddle up your blankets in the dark and watch tv. But Jimin wants to take you, this will be good for your relationship. Right?

You rummaged through your closet to find something decent to wear. You didn’t want your boyfriend to call you a whore again so you settled on a pink blouse and a black skirt that ended just above your knees. Feeling confident of your outfit of choice, you took a shower and got ready for the party. You put on subtle make-up and set your hair up in a bun. You felt satisfied at how you looked, all you had to do is to wait the clock hit 11.

Soon enough Jimin was outside, honking to get your attention. You cringed to yourself, thinking of yours neighbors reactions and unsattisfied tuts. Just once you wished he’d be a gentleman and come ring your doorbell. He pushed the door open for you from inside of the car and you made quick steps, knowing he hates when he has to wait for you.

“So?” You wiggled your torso as you sat in the car, trying to draw his attention on your blouse, wanting his approval.

“What?” He said with a dull face, not even sparing a glance at you.

“My outfit,” You told him shyly, “How do you like it?”

“Oh,” He set his eyes on you with a sour expression, he looked at you for only two seconds before looking at the red light again, “It’s fine.”

Was that it? ‘It’s fine’? You sighed, knowing he wouldn’t give you more detailed answer. So you just accepted it as what it was.

The party was alive and well when you arrived. You walked in with Jimin’s hand on your ass giving you painful pinches. You wish he didn’t insist on coming everywhere so late but he said it keeps up his reputation. If you arrived just two hours earlier you could’ve talked with your mutuals, but what could you say to Jimin?

You weren’t even in the house yet when calls for your boyfriend roared through the windows. He smacked your ass and told you to go get something to drink, before joining his friends’ beer bong game. So you did as he suggested and awkwardly found your way through the crowd to the kitchen. You looked through the red solo cups, trying to find a clean one to pour some liquor in.

“Ah we meet again Y/n,” A deep but amused voice said behind you, “I can’t believe he left you so soon from your arrival,” He chuckled, not at you but in disbelief of how ridiculously your boyfriend acted. You stared at the man with a red bandana with frozen eyes, squeezing the red cup in your hand in distress,

“How do you know my name?” You asked, nearly whispering but Taehyung managed to hear you through the noise anyway. He laughed at your question before looking at your confused expression,

“Oh you’re not joking,” he realized and explained with an understanding smile, “You’re the girlfriend of the most popular guy at the university. Everybody knows who you are,” The smile on his face didn’t drop at any point, but it wasn’t a forced one either. His adorable eyes smiled too.

You nodded, not wanting to look at him so you directed your gaze at the bottom of the cup. You wished it had some content to make your mind more at eaze. Taehyung’s demeanour exudes softness and friendliness, but you still weren’t comfortable with casually talking to him. You’re afraid that the rumours are true.

Taehyung lifted his jaw up a little to peek in your red cup where your eyes were focused, “I have water if you’d rather drink it than alcohol,” He said, offering a water bottle he pulled out of his jacket pocket. He saw how tense you were, you almost trembled from being scared,

“I’m with my bike so I can’t drink,” Taehyung explained at your pale face, “See?” He pointed out of the window towards a metallic black motorcycle with a white side. You tried to look in the dark to see it. His motorcycle was parked next to the curb, and from what you could see all of the details were in black except the seat which was sand brown leather. Quite a contrast to his personality you’ve gotten to know this far. You really didn’t know anything about motorcycles or Taehyung for that matter but this one wasn’t what you thought him driving. It was the most hipster-y and artsy motorcycle you could imagine.

You took the water bottle from Taehyung because you didn’t want to be rude, especially since you didn’t know if he was actually the maniac every says he is.

“Anyway I have some business to do,” He told you with a small smirk tugging on his lips, “I hope you have a good evening.”

You wished him the same but it just splurt out of your mouth into mumbles, you just hoped no one heard you.

Looking at the water bottle you decided not to drink it and just set it aside on the counter. Though it’s cap was still intact you felt anxious about it. You poured liquor into your red solo cup and took sip, your face contorting every time the liquid burned its way down your throat.

You found few people to share some words with but they were all too hammered to talk clearly so you just thought it was better if you just stood in the corner. A slight breeze of fresh air hit you from the side as you were looking around the living room. A glass door for the backyard was open so you took your chance to see some stars in the warm night.

You leaned on the wooden fence looking up at the full moon and bright stars. Somehow it made you feel so insignificant yet so special. You searched for star constellations, finding only few but it didn’t matter. The sight was just something so beautiful, you could look at it forever with the world just blurring into the background.

“What’re you looking at?” Jimin wobbled towards you on the porch. Setting himself behind you, his face was next to yours as his hands leaned on the fence from behind. His breath just reeked of alcohol.

“Just the stars,” You smiled to yourself, “Aren’t they beautiful?” You asked, forgetting that he didn’t actually care. He was just after the one thing.

“Aha,” He just mumbled as he pressed himself against you. He grabbed your hips to keep them still as he tried to get a hard on.

“Here? Really?,” You asked, feeling shy about this happening out in the open. Though everybody were so drunk they didn’t care, even so it was uncomfortable for you.

“C’mon stay still,” He ordered you. Grabbing you even harder, trying to focus on pleasuring himself he grinded harder. You sighed, not wanting to fight your boyfriend. So you just closed your eyes and waited until it’s over.

It didn’t last any longer as Jimin was forcefully torn off you.

“That’s enough,” You heard the deep voice that had been haunting the whole day say calmly to your boyfriend.

“What the fuck do you want? Don’t you see I’m in the middle of something?” Jimin spat back at Taehyung, furious of being interrupted.

“Maybe you were, but she clearly wasn’t into it,” Taehyung remained calm and placed himself between you and your boyfriend, “And she is drunk.”

“What’s your problem huh?!” Jimin raised his voice, “Who the fuck you think you are?! Some kind of fucking perv watching us fuck?!” He yelled at Taehyung’s face, saliva flying everywhere.

Taehyung just chuckled at the shorter man undermining his authority. The light hearted chuckle enraged your boyfriend even further.

Jimin grabbed the collar of Taehyung’s leather jacket, and the smile Taehyung had always on grew even bigger. In return Taehyung clutched the material of your boyfriend’s shirt and pushed him against the wall without any trouble, the situation might’ve gone differently if he wasn’t intoxicated and entirely in control.

“Stop before you get yourself hurt,” Taehyung told him casually, like he was talking to some child and not to your grown-adult-boyfriend that was held up against the wall.

“I know what they say about you. I’m not afraid of you,” Jimin quipped quickly with an arrogant head tilt. Taehyung’s demeanor changed entirely as those words flew out of Jimin’s mouth. Was he offended? Despite Jimin’s attacking tone you caught the hint of hesitation in his voice and it seems like Taehyung did too,

“Yeah? Maybe you should be,” he said, pressing his index finger between Jimin’s ribs, “Because I have something you necessarily wouldn’t want poking through your lungs,” Taehyung told him in a menacing voice, without breaking eye contact. He moved his hand across Jimin’s abdomen in a cutting motion, “Or it can go here if you prefer, or even here,” His hand being now at Jimin’s throat causing him to gulb out of fear.

You couldn’t stop thinking about how the rumours were true after all. It circled around your campus that Taehyung was the psychopath of the gang, that he did all of dirty work because he simply enjoyed it. It definitely seemed that way right now too, the way he was boring his eyes through Jimin’s skull. Taehyung always had a smile on his face but this one was even bigger when he showed Jimin places where he could insert his knife. The rumour has it that Taehyung stabbed a man walking down the street, and punctured his lung with his stiletto switchblade jagged between the man’s ribs, just like he showed to your boyfriend.

Taehyung threw Jimin to the side when he knew the message was well received. He stumbled few steps before regaining his balance. You’ve never seen your boyfriend so angry yet so terrified. His ego took a massive hit when Taehyung didn’t leave him finish his business.

Taehyung took one powerful step towards your boyfriend for intimidation, and he flinched.

“Fuck you,” Jimin pointed at Taehyung as he looked for a way to get out, “This isn’t over,” He threatened and almost ran into the door on his way back in. And that’s what it just was. A threat. He had to say it to cover his ego and reputation somehow.

“What a fucking loser,” Taehyung breath out. He didn’t sound annoyed or angry, which honestly horrified you even more. Did he not feel anything?

You stood there, frozen, as you still leaned on the fence trying to make yourself invisible. Taehyung turned to you after making sure Jimin was nowhere to be seen, he didn’t want to take any chances of a counter attack from a drunk dude. He smiled from knowing he had won this one but when he turned around to you his smile faded quickly away,

“You’re crying. Are you hurt?” He asked you carefully trying to offer you a comforting hand, but you pulled back. You didn’t even know you were crying until he asked that, which just opened up the dam further.

You shook your head, you weren’t hurt but the smallest of attention Taehyung gave you showed you the contrast how your boyfriend treated you. It made you feel like your heart was ripped out of your chest, but you swore to him you weren’t hurt. At least it didn’t hurt more than usual.

Taehyung sighed, it was useless to push it further, he wouldn’t get an answer out of you. He took off his jacket and delicately put it around your shoulders,

“Let me take you home,” He gently said, or more like asked you. You nodded, which might have been a big mistake. You didn’t know him at all. All you knew he threatened your boyfriend and threw him on the ground but against better judgement you followed him to his motorcycle. He waited for you to untie your hair to place his helmet on your head and he fastened the strap for you. You managed to give him your address in between sobs when he asked you for it.

Taehyung sat on the motorcycle first, and he pushed the side stand up with his left leg, and reached to put down the passenger’s leg rests. His feet were securely on the ground on each side of the motorcycle. His right hand was on the front brake, and with his left he tapped the seat behind him signaling for you to get on. He saw how you hesitated, you didn’t know how. You’ve never been on one, this was the closest you’ve seen a motorcycle.

“Grab my shoulders but don’t pull me down when you get up,” He warned you with a slight smile, “Put your foot on that peg right there, and simply just use it to get up,” He advised.

With Taehyung’s help you manage to sit behind him and he moved your hands to fling around his waist. His left hand went to press the clutch all the way in and he started the motorcycle. The engine roared under you two. The noise was something new to you, it was so loud that your heart jumped every time he turned his wrist to give more gas. He slowly released the clutch and you moved forwards, your hands wrapped themselves tighter around him. You felt adrenalin flow through your body as he accelerated, scenery moving faster and faster around you. The wind blew in your hair and the cool air hit your face. You haven’t felt this alive in years.

The sweet purring of the motorcycle ended too soon, as you arrived at your house. You got off the motorcycle and took of his jacket he lent you.

“Thank you for everything,” You smiled coyly as you handed him the leather jacket back.

“Don’t mention it,” Taehyung said while pulling his arm through the sleeve, “It’s probably not my place to say but I wish you’d learn to stand your ground.” He told you referring to earlier.

“But he’s my boyfriend,” You whined as if that was a legitimate rebut.

“Especially so,” Taehyung sighed. He tried to find your eyes with his gaze, but he gave up on that since you were intensely looking down at your own feet, “Jimin should respect you in every way possible. You deserve someone who doesn’t degrade you like he does,” He told you in a matter-of-fact tone. It was something so obvious but for some reason you didn’t see that and it ate him up, Jimin wasn’t a good guy. Taehyung didn’t know you but it hurt him seeing someone so vulnerable, so trusting of others yet so unable to protect themselves.

“You’re not much of a talker are you?” He chuckled to himself when all you could do is answer him with a nod. “I’ll see you at school. Take care of yourself okay?” Once again you nodded and turned around to your house.

“Hey Y/n,” He called after you, “I’ll take the helmet too.”

You returned to give Taehyung the helmet with an awkward smile, your cheeks were burning up from this mishap. You managed to make one glance at him, he was smiling but it wasn’t mocking. You couldn’t quite describe his expression, it was like he was looking at something so innocent and small that he just wanted to protect.

You had the whole weekend to think over what just happened. Just the other day you were introduced to this biker, who is the most intimidating person you’ve ever come across yet he seems so kind. What were you supposed to think of it? Taehyung might have killed someone but here you are thinking about him and how nice he was, you should be smacked for it.

You turned on your side, groaning. “This can’t be happening,” You muttered and pushed your head back in your pillow, you just wanted to get your thoughts away from the biker with the red bandana. Your wish came true as the knock on your window bursted you out of your thoughts.

“Jimin it’s so late,” you complained when your opened your window. He jumped in and cocked his head,

“What do you mean? It isn’t even midnight,” He scoffed.

“Well no because it’s past that… It’s 2am…” You answered him, but he just brushed it off,

“You know, I can’t believe you let him get in the way of our special time,” Jimin said with a hint of accusation in his voice. You shook your head, refusing to register what he just said. You looked like a wounded animal trying to figure out why was he blaming you. In no way was it your fault.

“But,” He continued, coming towards you, “Now that I’m here I’ll take what’s mine,” He told you in between kissing your neck. You set your hands on his shoulders tried to push him away but he didn’t move,

“No, my parents are asleep.”

“So? That hasn’t been a problem before,” You heard him get frustrated. You sighed and thought of the only excuse he took to get himself off you, you’ve learned it the hard way,

“I can’t… girl… problems…” You lied.

He recoiled and stepped back, “That’s nasty,” He said, releasing his grip from you, “You should tell me that in advance. You’re making me have serious blue balls here,” He complained.

“Let me know when it’s over so you can deal with this situation,” Jimin pointed his finger at his junk, “I’ll pick you up for school tomorrow.”

You watched him leave through the window and climb down the tree. You didn’t say anything, you didn’t want to. It’s better if you just stayed silent. What could you say that would make a difference? It’s not like he’d ever taken your suggestions to heart. You’ve been with him since you were 15 and it was always like this. Doesn’t matter what you gave to him, he isn’t willing to give a fraction of it back.

Monday rolled around quickly and soon you were at the university again. Once again Jimin slapped your ass as you two parted ways. The amount of smacking he did you were sure your ass had his hand mark on it.

You sat down in the back of the class, alone. You always found the corner to be the most peaceful and quiet. It allowed you to write down a lot of notes and listen in closely, though you were far from the professor you thankfully had good hearing.

In the middle of the uneventful lecture someone sat down beside you,

“You did not just sneak in a class you don’t even take while the lecture is like half way through,” You whispered, shocked. You were always the good girl. Always early for every occasion, and never interrupting anything. So when Taehyung did exactly what your worst nightmares were made of, it left you astonished. You could never do that.

“Yeah I did,” He grinned at you like it was the most mundane thing to do. Maybe it was for him, but not for you. He grabbed your hand, dragging you up with him, “And now we’re going to sneak out.” You managed to snatch your laptop with you when Taehyung pulled you out of the class.

“That’s crazy,” You told him. Looking back the classroom door, you were on the edge should you go back in, “I’ve never done that. I can’t just leave the lecture.”

“Yes you can. It’s university,” He laughed, “You just get up and leave, it’s really that simple.”

“I’ve known you few days and you have already made me do these insane things,” You pointed out. You weren’t mad about it, it just seemed so unreal. This wasn’t you, you couldn’t just simply walk out of the lecture. It felt wrong.

“I have a feeling we’re going to do more of these ‘insane things’” He snickered, and patted your shoulder comfortingly. A giggle almost left your lips and his face momentarily lit up.

”Why did you get me out of the class anyway,” You asked the question burning on your mind. The only time you’ve left class was when you were 10 years old, and it was for the dentist.

”I’m just bored,” He shrugged.

”You’re just bored,” You repeated in a dead voice and he nodded, ”You dragged me out, because you were bored. Wha- Don’t you have friends?”

”Hey I have friends,” He laughed and dramatically placed his hand on his heart, ”They have important things to do, is all.”

”How isn’t my lecture important?” You asked, feeling something familiar in your heart. It’s like you were talking to your boyfriend. Your things didn’t matter but his did. Your schedule was irrelevant as always-

”It’s not that it isn’t important, it’s that it’s simple mathematics. I have no doubt in my mind that you couldn’t do it,” He told you, and he was right. You knew everything that course had to offer yet you still diligently made notes and sat through it.

”You don’t always have to be goodie-two-shoes. Sometimes it’s good be carefree and do what you enjoy, you should learn that,” He said, smiling as usual, ”So what do you like to do in your free time?”

”Study,” You deadpanned and he laughed, taking it as a joke.

”You have a lot to learn, but thankfully you’ll be learning from the best,” He pointed his thumbs at himself and playfully nudged you, ”Now c’mon let’s go.”

You followed Taehyung through the school hallways and you realised where you were headed to; the cafeteria,

”You couldn’t wait 20 minutes for lunch?” You laughed as you queued up for food.

”No, I’m really hungry,” He confessed coyly and lifted his index finger as if he was a professional speaker, ”Food is important,” He said in a deep voice. ”Food is fuel.”

You couldn’t really argue about that, food was important and you really didn’t mind the company. Usually you ate alone or with Jimin when his friends were too busy to join him. Carrying your tray you followed Taehyung to a table of his choosing. He chose one in the middle of the cafeteria but it didn’t matter since you were the only ones there. As soon as Taehyung sat down he started shoveling food in his mouth,

“You know, I know you saw me on Friday morning,” He said, mouth full of food, “And I know it’s why you looked so shocked when you ran into me the same day.”

On Friday morning both you and Jimin walked through the campus together, just trying to get to your classes. You tugged at Jimin’s sleeve when you heard commotion coming from behind the library. You walked closer with him to see a man in beat the life out of someone, only thing that stayed on your mind was the red bandana sticking out of his back pocket. Blood on the victim’s face splattered to the wall as the attacker threw a side hook to his cheek.

“We’ve got to help him,” You pulled Jimin’s arm but he ripped it out of your grip,

“It’s not our place to intervene.”

“But-”

“I said no. Get moving Y/n,” He told you sternly and started walking towards the main building, not looking back once. You stood there, considering of helping but you couldn’t do it. There’s no way a small girl like you would have the authority to break off a fight between two grown men.

The moment you crashed into Taehyung you recognized the bandana on his head, he was the attacker. It made you scared out of your mind and you wanted out of the situation immediately. You only got more uncomfortable when he helped you. He was brutally beating someone hours prior, but right then he lend you a hand with the sweetest smile.

“I have history with Jimin. That’s why he didn’t barge in,” Taehyung continued while slopping the food in his mouth. You on the other hand didn’t feel hungry anymore. You felt scared. Why did he bring it up? Did he want something from you?

“Though I thought he would’ve at least come to yell some curses at me since after all it was his friend who I was beating- Why do you look like that? Do you need to throw up?” He stopped talking when he glanced at your pale face. Placing down the utensils he cocked his head, waiting for you to say something.

“You beat up my boyfriend’s friend,” You stated to yourself, and he nodded in confusion. You brought your hands closer to your body and fiddled with your fingers. Trying to gather the courage, you finally managed to look Taehyung in the eyes, “Did you beat up him too?”

“That’s not what I was saying,” Taehyung shook his hands defending his words but he started rambling, “But yes I have… Has he not told you? It’s not like I like to have these fights but Jimin and his pals won’t leave me alone. They’ve been bugging me for so long. Calling me names, sabotaging my things…Ahh I don’t want to get into it,” He finished his thoughts while looking down at his feet. There was something Taehyung was insecure about but you couldn’t pinpoint it just yet.

You gently put your hand closer to Taehyung. Something told you he was sincere, maybe he was a master manipulator but you just wanted to believe him. The ache that shone through his expression made you to give him the benefit of the doubt. He saw your hand from the corner of his eye and gradually followed it to your smiling face.

“I’m sure you have your reasons. I’m not to judge,” You told him genuinely. He sighed, it was like a burden was lifted off his shoulders and all you did is have some basic understanding.

“He hasn’t told me though…I wonder why,” You answered his question. You tapped your jaw with your index finger as you pondered further. You’ve seen Jimin with bruises but when you’ve asked about them he told you to leave it be and not ask anymore questions.

“I’m sorry for asking this. I know it’s none of my business but,” He started off, “It seems like you’ve never denied Jimin of anything. Does he not allow you to speak your mind?”

“If I try to tell him something he scoffs at me or shuts me up-”

“So you’ve always done as he says? You’ve never made your own choice?”

“Well… Yeah…” You said coyly rubbing your arm.

“Here’s your chance then.” The grin set on his face, ”Jimin is walking here right now and staring at me pretty harshly, hope he doesn’t want to kill me right here,” He joked, though never losing the eye contact with Jimin, “Go if you want to, stay if you want to. Make up your own mind. You’re your own individual and not his puppet,” Taehyung told you.

You were so focused on the conversation with Taehyung that you didn’t realise the cafeteria slowly filling with other students. And of course other students would mean your boyfriend, too.

“Let’s get going,” Your boyfriend tapped your shoulder. You turned to him to find out his eyes were glued on Taehyung. What was this game they had going on? You glanced at Taehyung for help but he just gave you an encouraging nod. He wanted you to make up your own mind, it didn’t matter if you left him right there if that decision came from you and not Jimin.

“Ummm… No thank you. I’m talking to Tae,” You smiled at Jimin. His head snapped to look at you. You’ve never seen him so confused as right now.

“What do you mean? Let’s go. Now,” He said strictly, giving you another chance to comply but you shook your head.

“I’m with Tae. I’ll see you later.”

“Who’s gonna take you home then?” He asked a simple question but it sounded like a threat. You’d lose your ride if you didn’t go with him even though he still had one lecture left for the day.

“I’ll walk,” You brushed him off and turned back towards the table. You took a sip of water to calm down your nerves, just begging you won’t choke on it.

“Fine. Talk to this village idiot then,” He spat and turned on his heel. Even from his walk you could tell he was pissed to no end. If looks could kill, Taehyung would be dead for the nth time just in these few minutes. Taehyung kept a casual gaze towards Jimin the whole time, smirking as a mark of victory.

”Wow that was great,” Taehyung grinned and almost slow clapped it out for you but you stopped him by grabbing his arm but his grin just widened,”I never knew you had the guts to do that. I’m impressed. You even called me Tae, nice job on that one.”

”My heart is beating so fast. This is the first time I’m not following his orders,” You said. You felt giddy, it was exciting to make your own decisions no matter how small.

”I called you Tae on purpose, just to piss him off,” You confessed with a hand over your mouth. Tae was more intimate than Taehyung, it’s a nickname. You guessed that if you said it infront of Jimin you’d get a more dramatic reaction out of him, and you were right, that face Jimin made when you said it...

”You’re worse than I thought! You show great potential,” He gasped jokingly before the boxy grin set its place on his face again. Poking you he said, ”You know I’m going to the lake with the guys and I thought you’d want to join us. I would pick you up.”

”Sure, I’d love that,” You bit your lip from smiling ear to ear. You’re rarely invited to anything, if you are then it’s because of Jimin. So you’re gonna accept the only invitation that was truly for you.

After finishing your lunch you both walked outside, heading home. Your mind was still on the skipped class. You never played hookie so it just stuck in your head. Though it was great excitement to leave class and not comply to your boyfriend’s orders, it left you regretful and insecure.

“Are you gonna take the bus home?” Taehyung asked when you walked down the stairs in main hall towards his motorcycle. He parks it next to the library building to avoid anyone knocking it down with their car and if anyone was to mess with it they’d get caught because the library security cameras reached there.

“No, I’m walking home,” You responded with a smile, “You heard me say it.”

“I thought that was some kind of threat against Jimin,” He chuckled, “I’ll take you.”

“No, no, it’ll be just 30 minute walk,” You denied his request. You wouldn’t want to bother him that much. And little walk never hurt anybody. It was a warm day and you liked to look at the nature on your way.

“Come with me and it’ll be 10 minutes.”

“Are you sure?”

“If I wasn’t I wouldn’t ask,” He singsong with a small smile on his lips.

You finally caved in and followed Taehyung to his motorcycle. He handed you his helmet and got on the bike. You fiddled around, trying to lock the strap but eventually failing,

“I don’t know how,” You whined like you were 5 years old, “It’s one string and two loops. How am I supposed to tie it?” Taehyung chuckled at your antics and motioned for you to get closer,

“The strap goes through both of the loops first,” He explained as he pulled your head closer for his reach. He pulled the strap through the loops and tightened it carefully not to hurt you, “Here’s when you fasten it, then it does a little loop before goes again through the first loop. And ta-da you’re all set,” He took his hands off the helmet and smiled from ear to ear.

As before, your heart jumped when the engine started purring underneath. Were you ever going to get used to it? Just few days prior you were on a motorcycle for the first time but now… you realized you missed it. It’s something so freeing about driving on the road while the scenery passes by, it’s almost like you’re flying when the wind blows through your hair. You’re just gliding on the road on two wheels at the mercy of the surrounding world.

Taehyung pulled up in front of your garage and you already started whining, not wanting the ride to end,

“Does it have to end here?”

“Everything has to come to an end,” He chuckled at your puppy like expression, “Take your swimming trunks… Or whatever girls take to swimming…”

You couldn’t help but giggle at his awkwardness,

“They’re called bikinis,” You laughed and smirked teasingly, ” Anyway I’ll be back soon. I’ll just drop my bag and grab the bikini.”

Taehyung nodded and hit himself in the head for being so stiff. He turned the bike around while waiting for you, it would be easier to drive away that way.

You ran to your room, hopping over stairs to get there faster. You emptied your closet on the floor and nearly yelled for your mom, where are they? You rummaged through a drawer until your eyes found the bikinis.

“Damn you were fast,” He said looking at his watch when you came out of your house. You hopped back on his bike,

“Yup. I’m ready to go,” You tapped his side. He nodded and started the bike,

“To the lake we go!”

You were driving about 40 minutes when you began to be surrounded by trees. You didn’t know where you were. The road was narrow, curvy, and full of potholes. You saw no one else driving there. You weren’t sure if that was a good or a bad thing.

Soon enough you saw two men sitting on their parked motorcycles on the side of the road. Both wearing the same leather jacket as Taehyung, with same details and same patches. On their upper backs read “Bangtan” with a curved front.

Taehyung pulled up next to them. He turned off his motorcycle and waited for you to get off first.

“You brought a girl,” The white haired man stated dully, but then came in for a handshake introducing himself, ”I’m Yoongi.”

You shook his hand and introduced yourself back. He didn’t go to your school, you had no recollection of seeing him before. You thought all of the members went to your school.

You waited for the other guy to do something but he just sat on the bike.

“This is Jeongguk, you might know him already or seen him before,” Taehyung told you and motioned towards him. You did recognize him as he turned his head towards you. He went to the same university and played for the baseball team, you’ve seen him a hand full of times but you’ve never talked to him.

Jeongguk nodded at you cooly before getting off his bike and starting to walk into the woods with everyone following him,

“I’m not keeping my shirt on because a girl is here,” Jeongguk scoffed at Taehyung who just laughed in response.

It wasn’t a long walk to the lake, you just followed a small trail to the open woods. You tugged on Taehyung’s sleeve as he set down his bag to ask him,

“Why did he say that…” You trailed off as fast as you started the sentence when Jeongguk took off his jacket, following with his white t-shirt. His muscles were so prominent you were sure it was a work of art. A Greek God. You were in a dream, you must’ve been.

Taehyung’s deep chuckle interrupted your thoughts and you finally unglued your eyes from Jeongguk,

“That’s why. Every girl who sees him shirtless has that same exact reaction,” He laughed. You nodded and tried to hide your blushing face. You sighed in relief that you changed your bikini on at home. You couldn’t deal with another embarrassing moment of changing in front of a group of guys.

You set your jeans and hoodie on a boulder to avoid dirt and bugs, or that’s what you hoped. Jeongguk and Yoongi were already in the water, splashing it on each other’s faces. But where’s Taeh-

You shrieked as you were suddenly lifted up in the air. He threw you on his shoulder, and you pounded your hands on his back. You continued it in protest but he just chuckled.

“It’s not gonna be too cold,” Taehyung said, but he wasn’t believing his own words either. He entered the water and instead of smacking you down in it he let you go. However it was still bad since when he let you down the water still reached above your belly button.

“It’s not that cold,” Yoongi laughed how you held your arms in front you and shivered. You haven’t been in water for a long time so you had to get used to it.

“Now since we have an even amount of people…” Taehyung said smirking, “Two versus two.”

“You’re on,” Jeongguk lifted his eyebrows and ordered Yoongi to sit on his shoulders.

“Oh no,” You whispered underneath your breath. You knew where this was headed to, shoulder wars.

Taehyung squatted all the way down to help you get up. You did what you had to do and got on. Yoongi shot you the most murderous look you’ve ever seen, but it didn’t scare you. You’re in it to win it.

Jeongguk stepped closer with Yoongi on his shoulders. He put his arms in front of him getting ready to push you down. You followed his movements while Taehyung chanted words of encouragement.

You caught Yoongi by his biceps and tried to push him down but he refused to topple. Instead Yoongi grabbed your hand and pulled you closer. He leaned too far back making Jeongguk wobble and Yoongi lost all of his balance. He went under water as the other guys laughed.

“Yoongi get up,” Jeongguk snorted and helped his shorter friend up on his shoulders again, “We can’t lose to them.”

You got ready for the second round. Just hopefully winning the first round wasn’t beginners luck but alas. Jeongguk charged towards you and Taehyung. Within just few seconds Yoongi crashed into you and you were all sent flying. The guys all laughed together. And for the first time in forever you were genuinely having fun. Maybe befriending bikers wasn’t bad after all.

“Oh who do we have here,” A voice called from the shore, “Is it the Bangtan bitches I see here. And is - is that a girlie they are with. Oh my,” He said unnecessarily loud and brashly to his friend, meaning for you to hear it.

Taehyung took a couple of steps to block your line of sight to the shore as he heard the man talking. The guys’ full attention was now towards the two guys standing next to their pile of clothes. The friendly and happy atmosphere was nowhere to be seen.

“Fuck off Jack,” Jeongguk yelled back. Even from the back of his head you could tell how annoyed he got by that guy.

“Do you all fuck her at the same time or take turns? Three holes right?” Jack roared with laughter, leaning on his friend he wiped a fake tear from his eye.

“Did you really follow us just to get your ass beat up again?” Jeongguk asked sarcastically as he walked out of the water, you and the others following behind. You went to your clothes that were thankfully further away from the two guys. You put on your shirt to feel little less vulnerable.

“There’s three of us and two of you. How do you think you’re going to win?” Taehyung scoffed. This was the first time you didn’t feel bad about being excluded. Fuck this situation.

“I don’t know but riddle me this,” Jack smirked, “It would be a shame if someone did something to your bikes. They’re so neatly parked next to the road. What would you do?”

The gang shared quick looks before Yoongi muttered curses and fetched his bag. He always kept some tools with him just in case this type of situation happened. He ran past you and touched your shoulder to say to hang in there.

“Now it’s two versus two. How’s your daddy doing by the way Jeon?” Jack tilted his head and mockingly pouted his lower lip. The question was a totally normal one to ask but the way he said it meant to hurt, it just left you wondering.

“You wouldn’t know would you?” Jack ridiculed Jeongguk, and it worked. You saw how his back muscles tensed further. Jack continued with a smirk, but he focused his taunting on something else, “You know she has two hands so we could join you with Mark.”

“Yeah she looks real pretty,” Mark said in a disgustingly greasy way, coming closer to you with his hand stretched out. You closed your eyes and turned your head away from him, you didn’t want him to touch you.

You waited for the contact but it didn’t happen. You opened your eyes to see his hand in Jeongguk’s death grip just inches away from your face. You saw how his chest just heaved from pure anger.

“You should’ve just said you were into beatings. I could’ve given you one for free,” Jeongguk stated with absolute fury in his eyes.

“Oh so you’re the one fucking her,” Mark’s maniac grin grew bigger. He winked, “Mind if we share?”

Jeongguk grabbed Mark’s right hand with both of his, placing his thumbs on back of his hand, tilting it towards Mark and then quickly turning it to the left. Mark’s whole body followed his hand like a chain reaction, having to fall instead of getting his wrist broken. He grunted as face planted the ground hard.

“Did your mom never teach you manners?” Jeongguk kicked Mark’s stomach.

With big eyes Jack looked between Mark and Jeongguk,

“You shouldn’t have done that,” He yelled.

Jack ran towards Jeongguk with his fist up. Jeongguk just blandly looked at him and turned his upper body to dodge, the fist almost brushing against his nose.

“And you shouldn’t make those insanely dumb loading movements with your whole torso,” Taehyung laughed, “We can see your punches from miles away. It’s hilarious. This is why you always lose.”

Mark wasn’t so sure of Taehyung’s words as he attached himself to his leg. Taehyung kicked him off with his other foot. He grabbed the collar of Mark’s shirt and dragged him up. The fists started flying as soon as Mark’s legs were grounded.

Taehyung jumped around, jabbing Mark in head and stomach once in a while, he was having fun with this one. Mark tried his best to let his fists hit something but Taehyung kept blocking and dodging them. When Mark’s left elbow came towards Taehyung’s face the game ended, as he just barely manage to avoid it. Taehyung bent his knees to dodge, and jumped towards the other, knocking him on the ground.

Jeongguk fought a bit differently compared to Taehyung. It was like he was out for blood. Taehyung was playing around, having fun, being equal with his opponent but Jeongguk ruled over his fight, as if he was fighting for death.

Jack’s face was beat into a bloody pulp and Jeongguk didn’t stop, he kept going and going. His hand wrapped around Jack’s throat as the punches came rarer but harder. You watched from afar, not knowing what to do. Your heart was in your throat. You just watched as Jeongguk’s fist spread the blood all over Jack’s face. It splattered on Jeongguk’s bare torso, arm, and face on every hit.

“Fucking stop Jeongguk!”

Jeongguk ripped his arm back from Taehyung’s grip, hitting Jack’s face again. Jack’s lip was busted open and his eye was swollen shut. Mark looked from the side with a bloody nose, he had surrendered not wanting to get hurt even more.

You sighed from relief when Yoongi ran past you, tackling Jeongguk from the side but ultimately failing. He and Taehyung struggled to pull Jeongguk up as he was still swinging punches.

“You’re gonna kill him!” Taehyung roared again deep from his chest.

They got Jeongguk far from Jack and just barely managed to keep him still. The fire was still seated in his eyes. As far as he knows, nothing is going to stop what he started. Jack laid on the ground heaving, making effort to breath. Blood dripped down, puddling up next to his face.

Chapter Text

You awkwardly sat in your t-shirt and bikini bottoms on a boulder next to Jeongguk, cleaning him up from the blood, both his and Jack’s. His knuckles had opened from the other’s teeth, and you could see them swelling from brutal beating. Wounds and scars covering his hands from previous fights. You dipped a rag that Yoongi gave you in the lake and swiped it across Jeongguk’s arm, trying to wipe the dry blood away. His eyes were lost somewhere in the horizon, it was a cold gaze with no life behind his eyes. Left you wondering what was going through his mind.

Only when you moved to clean his face his head snapped at you, immediately making eye contact. Jeongguk didn’t blink the entire time you ran the small, stained cloth across his cheek, making you even more uncomfortable. Wasn’t it already enough you saw a bloodbath and had to clean up his godlike body from the aftermath? Half of the situation was something you could look forward to but the other half wasn’t. His veins pulsated on his arms and his toned abs tensed on every breath he took.

Jeongguk was said to be the leader, which he was considering the other members followed his movements before joining in on anything. It was Jeongguk who answered Jack and Mark first, and he was the first to move towards the shore, but aren’t leaders usually calm and cunning? Jeongguk was everything but. You thought Taehyung was the psychopath of the group, beating everyone he saw fit with a grin decorating his features. Clearly you were believing the wrong rumours, it was Jeongguk.

The way Yoongi yelled for Mark and Jack to leave told you that he was scared too. Taehyung roared at Jeongguk for not to kill Jack in that spot right there that still had a pool of blood. Thankfully they were able to drag him away, but the absolute rage in his eyes scared you. Those same eyes which are looking through you right now.

“You’re the first girl to ever stay after a fight,” He told you, still staring at you. He looked out for any reaction you might have, from a twitch of your eye to a shaky leg.

“Oh... Do you have a lot of girls over?” You asked quietly. You couldn’t help yourself, you were too curious. Which wasn’t a best trait to have right now since you’re probably touching a potential killer and cleaning the evidence of his violent behavior. Did Taehyung yell at him like that because they’ve witnessed something so horrible being done by his hands?

“Some,” Jeongguk said, finally looking away at the lake again. You let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding, his gaze was so intense.

“Taehyung has these ‘projects’. They’re girls, just like yourself. Sweet and innocent, nothing bad has ever happened to them. They are unable to protect themselves. They can’t stand up for themselves and need a protector. When they look at us they see some sort of fantasy, and get frightened away when they meet the reality of it all.” He explained calmly, but his voice grew more bitter on every word, “He makes friends so easily but can’t manage to keep them. It’s just a matter of time until you run away too.”

Jeongguk stood up and took the cloth you were rubbing on him out of your hand just to throw it forcefully to the ground. He simply just walked away leaving you there with your mouth open, looking where he was just sitting moments ago.

Taehyung picked up the cloth and sighed looking at you, “Don’t worry. He just has a little trouble controlling his feelings.”

“I’m not worrying about him,” You said, telling the truth. Jeongguk clearly didn’t have any difficulty protecting himself, “I’m just wondering if Jack’s okay.” Honestly you were scared if you just witnessed someone getting brain damage while you did nothing but watch it happen. The worst thing is that you couldn’t do anything to stop it, physically or mentally. You weren’t prepared, so you just watched it happen in front of your eyes.

“Do you know him?” Taehyung asked you as his eyebrow shot up.

“No,” You shook your head and he squinted at you suspiciously, “Mark basically had to drag him away, that’s all. Worried…” You trailed off.

“You know,” Taehyung started. He sat next to you fiddling the blemished cloth in his fingers, “This isn’t the first time we’ve fought them. They always lose but for some reason they just come begging for more.”

He folded it and set it next to him, ”Don’t worry about them. They’re just idiots with nothing better to do than to annoy others.”

You nodded, but that didn’t answer your question. He dodged it on purpose. Maybe he wasn’t sure either.

“I have to ask Yoongi about our bikes, if they were sabotaged or not,” Taehyung stood up with a deep groan and offered you his hand to hoist you up.

“Sure” You reached out to him and asked,” Why did Jack ask about Jeongguk’s father?”

He helped you up and froze for a moment thinking through it. He frowned at your question,

“We all have our demons and we all cope differently. Sometimes it’s better not to talk about them. His dad is a huge waste of air. So…It’s better if you don’t ask him about it. He is really sensitive when it comes to his dad and Jack likes to torment him about it. It’s the elephant in the room, we all pretend it’s not there.”

Taehyung pat your back and smiled before heading out to Yoongi. You followed close behind, passing the puddle of blood. You made the mistake of looking at it closely. It was dry on the edges and it had thickened in the middle with some lumps in it. Were those… teeth? You gagged and took quicker steps to get closer to the gang.

“So the bikes?” Taehyung asked and rubbed his hands anxiously together. There was no way out if the bikes were destroyed so badly that Yoongi couldn’t fix them on the spot, you were too deep in the woods. It would take hours to walk back.

“They were alright but their rat truck isn’t,” The shorter man said with a smirk, “I put a banana in their exhaust pipe. I bet it took a while for those dillholes to find the problem.”

”Good on yah,” Taehyung grinned like a proud parent.

“A banana,” You repeated. It didn’t make any sense to you, how would a piece of fruit destroy anything? Taehyung laughed at your confused face,

“It won’t start if there’s a banana in the exhaust pipe.”

“It just has to be removed, nothing else,” Yoongi added to sooth your fear of hurting the guys even more, “Those literal motherfuckers sure would’ve deserved more though.”

”They would’ve,” Taehyung agreed with a nod.

The guys gathered around their stuff and you pulled on your jeans and hoodie. You walked behind them back to the bikes. Mainly because you didn’t remember the way you came from, though the trail of blood Jack left on the flowers and bushes would’ve lead you there.

Jeongguk sat on his bike patiently waiting for you to arrive. His hand was settled on the tank and he ran his thumb on it in circles like it was an animal, his pet. Taehyung shoved his towel in a saddle bag before giving you his helmet. He caught the uncertainty in your gaze and he chuckled, coming to tie it up for you.

Jeongguk watched as Taehyung stepped closer to you, how he had to bent his knees to match your height, how close his face got to yours, and how your hands naturally grabbed his forearms when his big hands tied the helmet for you. How natural it looked.

“I’ve got a flat tire,” Jeongguk spoke up after Taehyung was finished with you, hands still on the helmet to shake it just a little to tease as you couldn’t hold your laughter.

“They must’ve punctured it while we were holding you back from commiting a fucking murder,” Yoongi complained and squatted next to the bike, “Yup, they’ve slashed it. Seems like an easy fix once we get it back to the club.”

“You should’ve just let me,” Jeongguk said underneath his breath, which Yoongi caught much to his surprise.

“And let you kill him? You’re a fucking idiot. You think you wouldn’t go to jail for that? So many close calls that one is gonna catch you eventually,” Yoongi yelled back at the younger man, “Stay here, I’m gonna get the truck and Taehyung is taking Y/n home.”

“As if I had another choice,” Jeongguk scoffed.

“Shut your mouth Jeongguk. This wouldn’t have happened if you could control your emotions and not beat him near death,” Yoongi pointed an accusing finger at Jeongguk to which he just rolled his eyes to.

Your eyes landed on Yoongi’s bike, the only one with one seat. Jeongguk’s and Taehyung’s bikes had two seats, for a purpose you supposed.

“Another demon,” Taehyung whispered into your ear as if he could read your thoughts. The more time you spend with the guys made up more questions than answered. Which was weird, you thought you’d learn about them but the mystery just kept growing.

Taehyung took you home in the chill night. He parked next to the curb and waited for you to get off.

“I’m sorry you had to see that,” He said while looking at the ground, “It isn’t something I’m necessarily proud of. I just wanted to have fun with you and the guys.”

“Tae, it’s okay,” You told him and bit your lip trying not to smile, “It was kind of exhilarating. Scary- but exciting. I’ve never experienced anything like it. My heart is still beating like crazy”

“I hope this doesn’t scare you away though,” He said, looking back at you.

“It doesn’t,” You smiled, “I had fun despite what happened.” You did have fun, more fun than you’ve had in years… just if the beating didn’t happen.

“Good,” He grinned back and started his motorcycle. “Goodnight,” He yelled with an extravagant hand gesture as he drove off.

~

The next morning was normal, you barely even remembered that brutal beating that took place right in front of you. Maybe you just chose to forget it and block it out of your memory.

You woke up to your alarm clock and started to get ready for the day. Once it was time to leave for school you waited for Jimin outside of your house. You traced your eyes far along the road for him but his car was nowhere to be seen. You took a quick look at your phone for the time. He was late, he never is. What should you do now? He was always on time.

You shrugged and decided the next best option was to walk to uni. You’d be late for sure but Taehyung’s voice kept telling you to just take it easy. It’s okay if you’re late once.

You walked through the campus towards the main building, but you took a double take on the library. Again Taehyung’s voice rang in the back of your mind. You’re doing great in the class you’re late for so you could go and study something else… So you did against your better judgement. You changed your direction to the library.

Taehyung’s deep voice was constantly in your head, it left you thinking was it good to listen to him after all. It made you do things you normally wouldn’t. It always chose the option you wouldn’t go for.

You found a table between the tall bookshelves and set your stuff down. You opened your laptop and a book to study. But unfortunately it wasn’t long until your peace was disturbed.

”Studying here are yah? You have class, don’t you?”

You dragged your eyes away from your screen to see Jimin’s keen ones, all focused on you.

“I do but-”

“I see he has been teaching you bad manners,” Jimin interrupted you and leaned his arms on the table, getting closer to you, “I heard from a little bird that you hung out with them.”

You closed your laptop knowing you wouldn’t get any work done. You played coy, mainly because him confronting you made your heart jump, and you asked, “Who?”

“I thought I made it clear I didn’t want you to be around Taehyung and the other shit stains.”

You don’t know what it was. Was it Jimin’s domineering way of starting the conversation and not letting you have a word or how smugly he spoke. It was like he had you against the corner and you had no way to escape. Something broke in you, and just like that Tae’s voice was nowhere to be heard.

“I’m sorry,” You said, looking down at your lap, “Are Jack and Mark your friends?”

“Yup,” He simply stated. He leaned further on the table, so far that it forced you to look at him, “You didn’t think I wouldn’t find out, did you? That you can go fuck around with other guys and it wouldn’t come back to me? What would my friends say? That my girlfriend has her legs open for business? It doesn’t look good on me, does it?”

Your eyes grew wider with every word he spewed out of his mouth. How could he accuse you of cheating? You could never. Your lower lip quivered as you tried to speak, “I- I didn’t. I wouldn’t do anyth-.”

“I know.”

Jimin reached his hand over the table into your face. He pushed the stray hair behind your ear, “So be a good girl and don’t even look at their direction. You wouldn’t want to be labeled as something you aren’t.”

You nodded, to yourself mostly since he was already packing up your things and ordering you out.

“Let me walk you to your next class,” He said whilst grabbing your arm to pull you up. Again you just nodded.

Only two steps out of the library and the first thing you hear is yelling. Mostly curses and whimpers. Jimin tried to grasp any part of you to stop you from investigating the source of the sounds but he failed to react fast enough.

You leaned against the rail of the stairs, looking down you saw Jeongguk holding a fist full of Mark’s shirt.

“WHY. WOULD. YOU. DO. THAT?” Jeongguk shouted in between punches, seems like Jack isn’t going to be the only one with sparse teeth as Mark was getting his punched in.

A gasp escaped your lips when you realized why this was happening. Jeongguk’s motorcycle was laying on the ground on its side, and not just that. It had marks all over, maybe from rocks or from keying. You didn’t know how exactly they got there but it certainly was of Mark’s doings.

Jeongguk’s head snapped towards you from the sound you made, and to Jimin who was now standing next to you, leaning on the rail. The three men looked between each other, seemingly studying other’s next move.

Jeongguk put his both hands on Mark’s collar, and pulled him up. He pushed the other on the wall. “Did he tell you to do this?” Jeongguk demanded, nodding his head once in your general direction.

“Fuck,” Jimin said underneath his breath when Jeongguk motioned towards him. He leaned back from the rail, getting ready to leave the scene. “Let’s go.” He grabbed your arm.

You didn’t have a choice as Jimin dragged you away from the stairs to the main building, but you kept looking back. How did Jimin have to do anything with this?

You decided it wasn’t the best idea to ask him since the talk you just had. You’re gonna be a good girlfriend and not get in his way. A good girl would do what he says. A good girl doesn’t hang around other guys, like a common whore. A good girl is silent and obedient, something that you are not. Anymore. You been tainted by lowlife bikers. By bikers who are nothing, just a group of sore losers with no value.

The school day was finally over and you threw yourself on the bed. Oh how lectures can be exhausting. If it wasn’t the subject then it was the person speaking in front of the class, and the monotone voice that’ll lull anybody to sleep.

With a groan, you turned your head towards your desk and the helmet that rested on it. Taehyung forgot to take it back from you once he dropped you off, so you just set it on your table not knowing what to do with it.

You took the helmet in your hands and just stared at it. You didn’t know where he lived. You didn’t have his number. You rarely saw him at school. How are you supposed to return it? You didn’t want it to sit on your table until he just decides to show up to your house.

You turned the helmet around, praying that it had something written on it. Inside of the padding read an address. You weren’t sure if it was his address, maybe he bought the helmet second hand but finding out was more exhilarating than just sitting in your bedroom being surrounded by homework. You could finish it later, is what you told yourself.

You found yourself in front of a scruffy property. It was surrounded by a metal fence filled with holes and rust. You looked pass the opening to see a small building, probably a former auto repair shop, it had more garage door than anything else. It was in a bad condition from neglect and the years of erosion. At the left side of the building stood two motorcycles. A mat grey one, and a metallic black one with a distinct white side. You sighed from relief as you recognized the bikes; Yoongi’s and Taehyung’s.

With that knowledge you grew enough courage to step on the concrete yard, past the bikes, towards the open door.

You peeked in.

Jeongguk sat on a lounge chair that matched the condition of the building, it was raggedy and the insides were bursting out from the seams. The room was like a normal living room - but more battered. You knocked on the door frame disturbing his reading.

“Oh well, isn’t it Tae’s girlfriend- project,” He said with a sarcastic smirk when he looked up from the book.

“Huh?” Was the first thing that came out of your mouth. How offended should you be? Taehyung knew you’re taken. Did he go around and tell others you were dating? “I’m not his girlfriend. Did he tell you that I was?” You asked with more higher pitch than usual.

“Nope. Just could’ve fooled me,” He scoffed as he closed his book and set it aside, “He can’t shut his dumb mouth about you.”

“I’m with Jimin,” You quickly made sure to point out, and he didn’t look so happy about that.

“I know. Thought maybe you were two timing them,” He shrugged.

Jeongguk’s comment caught you so off guard that you forgot what you were here for. Thankfully the helmet in your hand reminded you.

“I’m here to give this back.” You stiffly raised the helmet to show him, “But I shouldn’t be here for long. Jimin doesn’t like when I’m with you guys.” He nodded and faced the door on his right,

“Taehyung, Jimin’s girlfriend is here to see you!”

You rolled your eyes. You couldn’t deal with this man. Why was he so against you?

Yoongi walked in from the garage part of the building. He scrubbed his black stained hands with a rag. “Jimin’s girlfriend? Who is her- Oh, Hi Y/n,” He said, seemingly surprised to see you there but he still smiled.

“Where’s Jimin’s girlfriend?” Yoongi continued with big eyes.

Jeongguk just lifted his hand in your direction, and Yoongi shook his head.

“No, not Y/n. The girl he was with at the party.”

“Yeah. That’s her.” Taehyung joined the conversation, coming from the garage as well, confused.

“No. The girl Jimin kissed at the party and then got bitch slapped. Then he walked downstairs to the backyard and -.”

Yoongi soon fell quiet when he realized what he was saying, he saw it from your face. It was like the world stopped from moving. Piercing pain went through your body as the words came out of his mouth. Jimin was rejected by someone else and that’s why he came to you at the party, because you’d give him what he wanted. This is why your boyfriend keeps accusing you, it’s because he is projecting. Five years gone in the drain because he can’t keep it in his pants.

“I really didn’t think I could hate him more,” Jeongguk said. You would’ve thought it was a joke to lighten up the mood but the way his jaw muscles clenched, and the serious and deep tone he said it with, told you otherwise.

Yoongi ordered Jeongguk up from the chair with few hand movements. With a hand rubbing your back, Taehyung lead you to sit down. He took the helmet you were squeezing and handed it to Jeongguk to put away.

Your gaze was cold and your eyes filled with tears. It hurt so much. Feelings of betrayal and deception flushed in. You weren’t good enough. You did everything he wanted but you weren’t good enough. You never would be good enough. Everything you tried wouldn’t reach the standard that he wanted. That he demanded.

Taehyung squatted down to stand on his knees so he could reach your eye level. He swiped a tear from your cheek, and told you in a soft voice, “He isn’t worth these tears. You’re so much better without him.”

“You know,” Jeongguk started as he sat on the table across from you, ”I hate to agree with Tae but he is right with this one.”

Yoongi just nodded from the corner of the room, he was unsure of what to do in this situation. All of them were. This isn’t how you treat others. Especially someone you claim to love.

“Doesn’t he tell you what to do? He is a little bitch.”

“Hey, Jeongguk?”

“Yeah?”

“Shut the fuck up.”

You pulled Taehyung closer from his shirt and just hugged him, tightly. He was the closest person you had right now and you needed someone to comfort you. He took a moment to wrap his arms around you and hold you close. You heard Jeongguk’s audible sigh as he left the room with Yoongi.

“I didn’t know she was with Jimin,” Yoongi said to Jeongguk when they turned the corner.

“If you had school you’d know.”

“Don’t get bratty with me kid or I’m throwing your bike off a cliff.”

“Fine,” Jeongguk raised his hands in a sign of defeat.

“If you two just had warned me about it, would’ve been great. They hate us already and you think her hanging out with us won’t annoy them even further? Your bike is in even bigger danger now.”

“Fuck, you’re right,” Jeongguk breath out.

You don’t know how long you were hugging Taehyung but you were thankful that he didn’t pull away, instead he let you sob on his shoulder and hold him as long as you needed.

You slowly began to unravel your arms around him, and he did the same. He looked at you with his glowy orbs to check if you’re fine. You avoided the eye contact, looking everywhere around him.

“Is- is that-” You mustered out, pointing towards the open door to the garage, finding a topic to get your mind off of Jimin.

“Jeongguk’s bike,” He said, “It got scratched up pretty bad and now Yoongi is trying to fix it. He is pissed about what happened to it.”

“Is it- another-” You managed to get through your silent sobs.

“Demon?” He guessed and you nodded, “No, not this time. Jeongguk just really fucking loves his bike.”

Taehyung stood up when you finally let your arms fall from around him. You dabbed the tears away from your rosy face and went to see the bike, Taehyung just right behind you.

The garage was full of motorcycle parts and different type of chemicals. Tools were neatly set hanging from the wall. Oil stains filling the floor. Your eyes wandered around the room in awe, this wasn’t what you imagined. It wasn’t a let down, quite the opposite.

“Yoongi fixes motorcycles for money, he is saving so he could go to a mechanical school,” Taehyung explained as you walked around the room.

“I know alot but I have a lot to learn,” Yoongi’s voice said from behind Jeongguk’s bike.

“He wants to own a repair shop one day,” Taehyung nudged you as if it was a secret.

“This is great,” You said, smiling through the pain, grasping on everything to not think of him, “How can you afford to keep this place?”

“We have a little side business,” Taehyung told you, rubbing the back of his neck.

“We sell weed,” Yoongi’s voice echoed again.

Your eyebrows shot up and you looked at Taehyung questionably. He grinned at you from underneath his brows, hair falling over his eyes.

“We don’t smoke, we just deal,” Taehyung tried to explain, hair swinging everywhere from the head shake, “It brings money, and makes all of this happen.” He said, waving his arm around the room.

“I knew you were bad boys but I didn’t know this bad,” You laughed and Taehyung sighed from relief that you didn’t curse him on the spot. It’s about time for you to let go and not be a tight ass. Who are you to judge them.

“Speaking of,” Jeongguk said, leaning his back on garage door, “Jack and Mark owe us some money.”

“But that’s a matter for another day, Jeongguk,” Yoongi said sternly, not even looking up at him.

“So Y/n if you’re gonna spend more time with us,” Yoongi finally presented himself to you two from behind the big motorcycle. He managed to get stains on his cheek and arms from the brief period of time he spend behind the bike, “You should get your own helmet.”

“Yeah let’s get you one with a simple lock instead of the strap. You’re smart but you’ll never learn how to tie it,” Taehyung teased and earned himself a smack on the arm by you to which he laughed as he held his arm.

~

”How about this one?” Taehyung handed you bright pink open faced helmet.

”Actually I had my eyes on that one. Good taste you have there,” You playfully winked.

”Oh really? I only offered because I thought you’d say no.” Taehyung grinned and took the helmet back from your hands and set it back on the rack, ”We’re gonna get you a full helmet though.”

”Why? Yours is open - and sometimes you drive without a helmet. What’s wrong with that?”

”Firstly if anything would happen it would keep your face intact,” He said and you grimaced at the idea. ”Secondly I’m a burly man. Disfiguration would make me more handsome.” He joked but the horrific undertone stayed. He was right after all, in a crash you can’t do anything but trust the gear you’ve got on and smashing your head face first on the ground didn’t sound appealing.

”Try this one,” He handed you a mat black helmet with purple details, and of course - it didn’t have straps but an easier snap on lock.

”It looks great but I can’t afford it.” You glanced at the price tag, turning it in your hand before handing it back.

”When I said ’we’ I meant me and the boys,” Taehyung said matter-of-factly and pushed the helmet back to you, ”You’re not gonna pay for shiz.” He stood there with his arms crossed, looking down you with his beautiful grin.

”You keep surprising everyday,” You told him with a small appreciating smile.

”Hey, let’s get you a mirror visor on it so you’d look even cooler when riding.”

”Tae, this is too much,” You whined back, but you were immensely thankful for him and the guys.

~

You sat on the edge of your bed looking at the brand new helmet, and your reflection from the visor. You were heartbroken but you couldn’t stop your lips from smiling. The simple helmet represented something you’ve never had; freedom and friendship. You couldn’t wait until you’ll see the guys again and what kind of adventure they’ll take you to next. Jimin was out of your mind already. He wasn’t filling your every thought. He wouldn’t. There wasn’t a knife stabbed deep in your back. You’re fine.

~

You showed up to the club house at Saturday evening with your helmet - just in case. You went in through the open garage door to say hello to Yoongi but he wasn’t there where you’d expect him to be. You followed the short but wide hallway into the ’living room’.

”Hi,” You said in a small voice as you peeked in.

”What’re you doing here— MOTHER OF GOD!”

Yoongi kicked Jeongguk in the shin as soon as he started talking. His tone was never soft, it was harsh at times. Often offending others, and hurting feelings. So Yoongi preferred him to keep quiet, and violence is the answer for that.

”Glad to have you back Y/h,” Yoongi smiled. ”You have great timing as we’re about have a movie night.”

”Yeah as soon as Taehyung shows up,” Jeongguk muttered while rubbing his sore leg over his sweatpants.

”He is renting the movie,” Yoongi said to you and then turned to Jeongguk to smack him again, ”Speaking of - Jeongguk it’s your turn to get the snacks.”

”Uhh…” He rubbed his neck with his other hand and pouted, funny how he was able to change himself into a cute but forgetful guy. Looking at him now you wouldn’t think he is capable of anything evil. ”I kinda forgot to buy them.”

Yoongi’s sigh was so deep that if he had done a facepalm instead he’d have a hole in his face.

”Y/n could you join Jeongguk?” Yoongi pleaded. ”This brat would forget his own head if it wasn’t attached to him. He needs an adult with him so he will buy snacks this time.”

“Sure,” You answered with a giggle and followed Jeongguk’s protesting steps.

The walk to the corner store went exactly as you imagined; really awkward. Jeongguk didn’t say a single word on his own. He just gave you one worded answers as you tried to make some conversation.

“So... What do we want?” Jeongguk asked more rhetorically than anything else, looking at the full shelves.

“Do you… Usually eat chips or popcorn?”

“Yup,” He nodded and you tilted your head. That’s not an answer to your question. He grabbed a packet of popcorn and three bags of chips, “We get both.”

“What?” He said when he turned to look at you and your judgemental face looking at the items in his lap, “We’re big dudes. We need to eat.”

“I didn’t say anything,” You told him with a sour face, following him to the register.

“Your face tells too much,” He quipped as he threw the items for the young, and probably high, cashier.

You bagged the items, and Jeongguk made sure to take the plastic bag from your hands without a word. He slipped his fingers next to yours and the bags fell out of your grip into his.

Okay, everything is going fine. He is talking to you. Though it’s more bickering- still a good start, You thought.

Avoiding the potholes on the sidewalk, you walked after Jeongguk and his long steps. You were just about to turn the corner when you heard someone calling your name. Your face dropped when you recognized your boyfriend’s voice. Oh no. You couldn’t face him, not today. Not now. Not ever. Jimin always turned up to ruin your day.

“Shouldn’t you be at home at this time,” Jimin said with one eyebrow shot high, looking at his brand new watch. He wouldn’t wear the one you picked as a christmas present.

“I-”

“I thought I told you to stay away from them. Mark saw you with Taehyung the other day.”

“Yes, but that’s becau-”

“I can’t believe you’d disrespect me like this Y/n,” He continued his monologue, hands on his side with a cocked head, “What will my peers think?”

“Why won’t you leave, Jimin?”

Jeongguk finally came back. It took him a moment to realize that you weren’t following him anymore, dropping the shopping bag when he heard Jimin’s voice just to run back where it came from.

“Oh! And you’re with this dipshit now,” Jimin laughed, stepping closer to Jeongguk and you too. Jeongguk’s face didn’t waver when he was insulted. It was like he didn’t care enough to be bothered.

“Just leave her alone, little man.” Jeongguk said, provoking Jimin on purpose, like usual. “You wouldn’t survive another fight with me.” Jimin stepped closer to him to point in his face. Having to look up, Jimin was way smaller, his shoulders weren’t as broad and his biceps were nothing compared to Jeongguk.

“Don’t start with me Jeon. I will me-”

You got in between the two men and pushed Jimin away since Jeongguk just stood there without moving a muscle.

“What?!” Jimin scoffed, being surprised of being butted away. “Is he your boyfriend now? You’re supposed to protect me not him.”

“I’m not protecting him. I know for a fact that he could beat the lights out of you.” The words left your mouth, surprising you as well as Jimin.

“You’re saying this because you’re fucking him,” Jimin stated, but he couldn’t be more wrong. “I knew you were up to something.”

“For a long time I believed you, Jimin. I thought there must be something wrong with me wanting to hang out with other guys. Even when they’re my friends.” You told him, your voice growing in volume.

“This one can’t be your friend.” He took another step towards you. This time so did Jeongguk, reaching his hand for Jimin arm but you laid your hand on his chest, stopping him in his tracks.

“It never came to my mind that you made me feel like shit because you were projecting,” You said calmly, trying not to open the flood gates however tears already found their way out. “You’re cheating on me. That’s why you accuse me of it.”

“If these fuckers told you that, they’re lying -”

You pressed your finger on Jimin lips, “The funny thing is that I’ve only known Bangtan for a fraction of the time I’ve known you. I’ve been with you for five years, or it would’ve been six next month. Yet I trust these guys more than I’ve ever trusted you.”

You sighed, looking up at the dark sky trying your best not to cry in front of him. He wasn’t worth your tears, he never was and never will be. “I gave you my heart and now you’ve stepped on it, broken it into pieces. I can’t believe I’ve been so blind,” You laughed at your own misfortune, “I never saw how much of a manipulative bitch you are.”

“Don’t say that. You don’t mean that. I know you Y/n. They’ve just talked you over because they have a vendetta against me,” Jimin tried to convince you with a creamy voice but you shook your head.

You took a long pause to look him in the eyes, “It’s over.” You could basically see the fumes from Jimin’s ears when those words left your mouth.

“You’re a cheating whore, aren’t you?” Jimin raised his voice, he couldn’t take rejection from anybody. “There’s no other choice Y/n. I know you better than anybody else does.”

“Fuck you, Jimin.” You said, grinning through your pain, enjoying his. You’ve confronted the lying bastard that made your life a living hell. The countless nights you’ve spent crying over his words. It’s all over. It hurts but it’s for the better. It’s finally your turn to hurt him.

“Fine! Go spread your legs to rest of them, you slut!”

You turned your heel and started to walk towards the club house, you had no time for Jimin and his insults. You couldn’t face him as you couldn’t hold the tears anymore.

This time Jeongguk followed you, picking up the shopping bag, he jogged after you. He laid his hand on your shoulder as he tried to say something, but you pushed him away.

“I don’t need your protection, not any of yours! I can handle myself!” You yelled at him, though your anger was directed at the wrong person. “You’ve only been rude to me this whole time! One asshole of a man is too many in my life!”

“Y/n -”

“No!” You continued your yelling, and pounded your fists on his torso as he tried to come closer, hurting yourself more than him.

You pushed him away but Jeongguk grabbed your hand and you crash landed on his chest. You tried to push him and wiggle your way out but his arms around you made you immobile. You shoved him with all the strength you had but he was stronger.

You stopped struggling when the tears started flowing. He moved his hand up to your head, to embrace you. You bawled in his shoulder in the pouring rain while he shushed your sadness away, trying his best to comfort you.

Chapter Text

You march through the lake the pouring rain formed on the street. It didn’t matter where you stepped since any crevice you had didn’t have a dry spot.

”Geez you’re all soaked!” Taehyung yelped and shot himself up from the chair when he saw you enter the clubhouse with Jeongguk, both of you drenched, water pooling under you forming a small pond on the floor.

”Here let me help you. Thankfully we prepared for this.” Taehyung snapped a towel from Yoongi’s hand and wrapped it around you. He rolled his eyes at Taehyung and tossed Jeongguk his towel in exchange of the snack bag before waddling back to the couch and crashing on it.

”You can change in here,” Taehyung wrapped his arm around your shoulder trying to warm you up, and showed the way to his room,

”There’re my clothes on the bed you can use and - Have you been crying?” He cut off himself when he finally got a good look at your face and blurted out the first thing that came to his mind. His eyes traveled from yours to the living room, but he didn’t see a glimpse of who he wanted to see.

”What happened? Did Jeongguk say something? I know he can be a little rough but…” Taehyung trailed off trying to read your expression, you were on the border of bursting at the seams into tears.

”No,” you shook your head, squeezing your eyes shut to prevent any tears rolling off. It wasn’t Jeongguk’s fault, but yours. You’ve spend most of your teenage years and your early twenties with Jimin, and being betrayed by him hurt so bad. Your heart was broken into pieces, mushed up so bad that it can’t be healed.

Taehyung grabbed your shoulders and struggled to find your eyes. Once he got the eye contact he wanted you broke it off since he wouldn’t. It felt awkward, you couldn’t face him when you were this vulnerable.

”Change into warm, dry clothes. Then you can tell me. Okay?” Taehyung suggested when you didn’t expand your one word answer, and closed the door behind him, letting you have privacy before he waddled back in to the living room where Suga and Jeongguk sat next to each other.

”What was that?” Taehyung asked with another eyebrow cocked high, pointing with his thumb towards his room, ”Why was she crying?”

”We ran into Jimin and that cunt wouldn’t leave Y/n alone.” Jeongguk shrugged and directed his eyes at the blank television.

”Oh, so it really wasn’t your doings? Did you beat him in front of her eyes?! Are you insane?” Taehyung tried yelling through gritted teeth to get a reaction. It worked.

”Of course it isn’t my fault! Why would I purposefully upset her?” Jeongguk threw the towel from around his shoulders to the ground, and Yoongi only rolled his eyes. ”I didn’t lay a finger on him.”

”You just have that quality. Wouldn’t be the first time.” Taehyung tapped his chin, seemingly in his thoughts.

”A quality?” Jeongguk deadpanned, he didn’t look too impressed but Tae had already gotten under his skin. Why would he be accused like this? He never did anything wrong to you. If anything Jeongguk protected you against his will but he still was under attack for it.

”That’s what I said.”

”If I were you I’d stop that before you get hurt.” Jeongguk stood up to face Taehyung but he just scoffed, thinking nothing of the threat of violence. ”I swear it was Jimin this time. I’ll punch that bastard’s teeth into his throat the next time when I see him!”

”Jeongguk, maybe you shouldn’t. It wouldn’t look good on you and Y/n to have you beat the living fuck outta her ex, don’t you think?”

”This isn’t about Y/n.”

”Isn’t it though?” Taehyung quipped, looking Jeongguk directly in the eyes refusing to take back his original comment, ”You usually leave these kind of things alone. He didn’t insult you. You never care when someone else is insulted but this time you’re willing to go out of your way to use Jimin as a punching bag, for someone else.”

Jeongguk sucked on his teeth, not blinking as if it was a life or death situation, he couldn’t lose to Taehyung. He didn’t like how he challenged him, not one bit.

You changed into Taehyung’s gray sweatpants and a white t-shirt, they were too big for you but you felt cozy in them. Feeling a little better you wiped the tears off your cheeks and opened the door back to the living room where the two men faced each other. You cocked your head in confusion and amusement.

Yoongi was the only one to notice you since the younger ones were too busy with their staring contest. He faked a cough, trying to alert them.

“Oh, Y/n,” Taehyung turned around with a friendly smile quickly taking his attention away from Jeongguk. He was quick to change his stale face into something more approachable, the contrast in those two moods worried you.“You look much more comfortable.”

Jeongguk rolled his eyes and probed through the plastic bag to find chips. With a grumpy look he offered some to Yoongi who was busy trying to get the tv to work.

“I feel much better, thank you,” Well that was a big lie but you said it anyway, ignoring the growing ball of sadness in your chest. It’s better to be dry and sad than freezing from wrath of mother nature.

The effects of the cold rain still stayed. Shivering, you rubbed your palm on your arm to create some friction, trying to warm yourself up. You still felt a little strange in the club house, you didn’t dare to just snuggle between the guys strong arms in a search for warmth and comfort.

You let your eyes roam around the room, through shelves and pictures, while waiting for them to set up the dvd. Behind the sofa was a clutter of polaroid pictures of the gang taped on the wall, it made you smile thinking about these scruff guys who took pictures as memories - what a wild concept.

One of them caught your eye. It had endured more damage than the rest of them, it was crumbled like someone was trying to get rid of it but changed their mind and laid it flat. In the picture were four guys standing in front of a barn house, three of them you knew as the members of Bangtan but you’ve never seen the fourth one. His soft features reminded you of Yoongi, a younger version of him. The group of guys were grinning, arms around each other’s shoulders, and the stranger stood in between Yoongi and Jeongguk while Taehyung did a peace sign in the corner. Your eyes wouldn’t leave Yoongi’s gummy smile, it made you realize that you’ve never actually seen it. He always seemed serious, his eyes lacked the clarity he had in the picture, so full of life.

Taehyung stood just behind you when you turned around, his features painted with a grievous expression as your body nearly bounced against his chest when you turned around, he was looking at the same polaroid as you.

“Who’s that?” You took the chance to ask, pointing at the teenager you’ve never seen.

Taehyung rubbed the back of his neck, looking back at the two other guys. He grabbed your hand and silently lead you away to the garage in between the motorcycles like it was a big secret.

“I’m only telling you this because I think you’re gonna stay with us, I trust you. We’ll never talk about this in front of Yoongi, got it?” Taehyung looked you right in the eyes, his gaze boring into you. You nodded, not knowing how else you could answer that.

“That kid in the picture is Yoongi’s younger brother. He was part of the gang too.”

“Was? Is he not anymore? That’s why that’s the only picture that has him in it?” You questioned, instantly regretting it when you saw Taehyung’s face and how the expression changed.

“No. That’s the only picture we were able to save from the fire,” Taehyung sighed and dug his hands in his pockets. He turned his heel against the floor from side to side, “That barn was our clubhouse but it burned down.”

You thought this little garage morphed into a mechanical shop and a house was their only club house but they had a better one before.

“You wondered why Yoongi’s bike only has one seat at the lake,” Taehyung sighed, touching Yoongi’s grey bike, letting his fingers go over every seam of the leather seat, “It’s because of the kid.”

“What did he do?” You tried to look at Tae’s face for any reaction, seeing if that was an okay question to ask.

“He lend Yoongi’s bike without him knowing,” Taehyung looked back at you, you saw how it was hurting him, you just didn’t know what it was.

He pursed his lips before sighing deeply from his chest, “He died in a crash. If he had just informed Yoongi he was gonna take it… The bike - this bike was meant to be repaired because of a fault in the engine but Yoongi hadn’t done it before… before the accident happened.”

Your eyes grew wider and you placed your hand in front of your mouth from shock. You had no idea Yoongi had a brother - a deceased brother nonetheless. You could hear the pain in his voice, his brother was close to all of them.

“The engine cut off on the highway, the wheels locked and he flew off. His body hit a light pole, killing him instantly… or that’s what we hope.” Taehyung continued with a hush voice, clearly not wanting others to hear him. His lip trembled trying to search his mind for the scenario he has been trying to lock away. “Yoongi blames himself for it thought it was just a freak accident. He died a week after we got this clubhouse, that’s how there’s no other memories of him - because of the fire and a week is a short time to create lasting memories. Except for that polaroid, that Jeongguk almost destroyed in a fit - and this bike. Yoongi refused to throw this one away.” Taehyung tapped his hand on the gas tank of the motorcycle.

“Is that why he fixes bikes for a living?”

“Partly. He’s always had a passion for it,” Taehyung exhaled through his nose, “I mean it’s a reason why he takes so good care of our bikes and keeps them in a great condition. He spends an unnecessary amount of time on our bikes, he does it when we don’t see.”

You took a note of how Yoongi’s bike was dirtier than the two others, was it because of the pain he must go through everytime he sees it? You wouldn’t blame him. You’ve never lost anyone close to so you had no experience how it would feel like but thinking about losing your family already pierced your heart, and it couldn’t be a fraction of the pain Yoongi felt.

“Yoongi’s passion for bikes is a curse, really. He loves the machines that ended up killing his brother. He won’t put another seat on his because if it was to happen again, he’s the only one to go. He would kill himself if someone he loved was to die again on his watch. He’s extremely paranoid about it.”

Taehyung brushed his fingers on fender and took a long look at the dust that came off, “He got colder since the tragedy but he has an insane amount of love in him. He goes over the oils and the cylinders every week in my and Jeongguk’s bikes, to prevent it from happening again though it’s our job, not his.”

This is what Taehyung meant when he talked about everyone having their own demons and this one was Yoongi’s. Some subjects were off limits and for Yoongi, it was his deceased brother. It just left you wondering what other demons ran wild in Bangtan. It never crossed your mind that these guys have their own troubles, too - and to this degree. They’re not just some kids who like to beat up others. They have their own problems, and aspirations they’re trying to fulfill. It’s just they have to get by on their own and no one to trust and get help from.

With a help of few curses Yoongi was able to connect the dvd player with the old tv. Taehyung had chosen an old movie you’ve never even heard of, he lives for the nostalgic feeling and is trying to get others to feel it too. You figured watching it with your new friends was a better way to spend your time than at home alone, crying over Jimin and the perfect relationship you thought you had. You wouldn’t waste a tear for him, not anymore. You’re independent and strong. Or at least that was the mantra you kept telling yourself as the tears rolled down your cheeks. The couple on the screen shared a heartfelt moment in the moonlight and you couldn’t take it, it hit you directly in the face. You’re alone, you’re not loved, no one would ever hold you like he did.

”Aaand there it is,” Taehyung sighed to himself, predicting the post- break up feelings had to come out some point, sooner or later. No one would actually start to sob at the scene, he would know as an easy crier.

Jeongguk felt uneasy, his heart fastened and eyes shot wide, he was unsure how to act when he realized you were dabbing tears from your eyes with the hem of Taehyung’s shirt, it’s an unfamiliar situation for him to say the least. What should he do? Should he hug you and rub your back, saying it’s going to get better? Should he tell you to just get over it, it’s not that big of a deal? If girls had cried in Jeongguk’s presence he would’ve shrugged it off but there was something that made his chest tighten when you cuddled up to Taehyung’s side.

”I don’t think you actually miss Jimin,” Yoongi spoke up after an uncomfortable amount of silence, earning looks from the two others. His unsure hand hovered above your knee but retreated back to his lap, he continued, ”You’re missing the memories you made with him. The flashbacks you’re seeing will hurt you more than actually being away from him. It’s human nature to miss something you once had, whether or not it’s of benefit.”

You wondered how he sounded so unsympathetic but everything he said made complete and utter sense without belittling you.

”It’s no secret that we dislike Jimin,” Taehyung said softly, patting your upper back, ”But that aside, he still isn’t a good guy.”

”No matter the way I try to look at the situation and him as a person - there’s no outcome where he’s a decent guy,” Yoongi added.

Taehyung cocked his head at Jeongguk waiting on his input but the younger one had his eyes trained on the paused screen as he shoved chips in to his mouth.

”You’re better without him,” Taehyung turned back to you when he failed to get him to speak. “He wasn’t good to you and I know how cheesy this sounds but you can do better.”

A choking feeling grew in your throat so you didn’t force any words out, you nodded along feeling thankful for their understanding of the situation as you suppressed your tears - or tried to. First time in your life someone was trying to comfort you - other than your own mom that is. Taehyung wrapped his big arm around you, but not too tight for you to feel uncomfortable by his actions, it felt friendly, something you really needed.

Half-mindedly you watched the movie with the guys, you didn’t want to focus on the storyline too much, knowing the tears would just keep coming if you witnessed the love the couple on the screen shared.

Eventually the credits rolled, and Yoongi got up to reach for the remote and stretched his arms, making his back crack. ”You should stay over,” He simply stated when his hand ran over his aching bones from the lack of movement in the past hour, ”It’s really late.”

”You can sleep in my bed,” Taehyung nodded and flashed his adorable smile.

”With you?” Jeongguk spat with wide eyes, looking at Taehyung in disbelief. You weren’t sure if he was envious or just shocked of the proposition.

”No, you moron,” Taehyung smacked his arm, making you giggle, ”What is wrong with you? I’ll sleep on the couch. What the fuck?”

Jeongguk’s eyebrows shot high when he shrugged his shoulders, shaking the whole situation out of his memory.

Their bickering bloomed a warm feeling in your heart, you enjoyed this kind of friendly teasing, it shows an unbelievable amount of love without actually having to express it.

Taehyung worked his bedsheets off to throw them on the couch. He fetched a clean pair to set on his bed while you sat on the dinner table, watching him walk through the rooms trying to find clean bedsheets when Yoongi came to talk to you.

”You’ll get through it,” He said, leaning on the table next to you, he didn’t face your way though, ”We’ll help you through it.”

”Thank you,” You said only two words, but you hoped he could understand that you mean them in every way imaginable. Sometimes it’s hard to put a correct sentence together that actually said the things you wanted to say.

~

”Fuck you.”

”No, fuck YOU.”

You lifted your head from the soft pillow to look at the clock on the nightstand next to Taehyung’s bed. It wasn’t even 10 o’clock and the noise was unbearable. You made sure to make very little nose as you got up.

”You’re a fucking moron, Jeongguk. You can’t do that.”

”And you’re a little pussy!”

”How about you get some logical thinking in your dumbass head?! You can’t go around beating people’s noses into their brain! This will affect us in so many ways!”

”How come you’re acting like a schoolgirl, huh? Grow some balls and you’d see why I did it!”

”You’re so out of touch with your emotions that it’s ridiculous! There was no reason for you to go and beat him up!”

”I had many reasons!”

”No you fucking didn’t - ”

”Both of you shut your stupid mouths. You’re gonna wake her up.”

You poked your head out of the room trying to scan the situation. All you saw was the three guys’ heads looking right back at you. Taehyung gulped and Yoongi’s pointing hand dropped to his side.

”Did we wake you up?” Taehyung gave you a sorry smile.

”No no. You didn’t” You lied. It probably didn’t matter but you didn’t want to make Tae feel worse.

”Well shit.” Jeongguk sighed and pushed himself through Taehyung, their shoulders clashing on each other as neither of them gave up their pride to dodge.

”Listen,” Yoongi rubbed the back of his neck in deep thought, having a battle in his head. ”Jeongguk did something really stupid so now I have to go fix it.”

”Yeah we have to decide what to do next but let me take you home before we do that.” Taehyung offered and you nodded. It didn’t take long until you were seated on Tae’s trusty companion and the sweet purring of the motor started.

The whole ride home you tried coming up with scenarios of what Jeongguk might have done. You never knew he could be so irrational with his actions, going out at midnight to beat someone up apparently with no real reason. You’re a light sleeper but you didn’t hear him sneak out - or ’sneak out’ since it was his home after all and he could what he wanted. But who did he beat up? Why did he beat him? Why was it going to affect the whole gang?

Taehyung pulled up to your driveway and turned off the beautiful sound of his motorcycle.

”I’m sorry to usher you out of the club house this soon.” Taehyung grinned awkwardly and got off after you, following your steps. He seemed really apologetic for no reason.

”It’s totally okay, I don’t want to bother any of you.” You tried to laugh it off but you failed. You really wanted to bother them, and you really wanted them to bother you. You wanted to be with him- them.

”You’re not a bother!” He was quick to say. He looked confused for a second, how could you think that, ”Completely opposite actually.”

”You think even Jeongguk sees it that way?” For some reason he still lingered on your mind. He saw you more as an acquaintance than a friend but you guess it doesn’t matter.

”Uhhh… Yes?”

”That doesn’t sound promising.” You giggled and he smiled being thankful for you being so understanding.

”I’m sorry for what happened with you and Jimin.” He finally said after a small silence when you stopped at the porch. ”I fucking hate that guy but I never wanted you to get hurt.”

You looked down at your feet and inhaled deeply, it wasn’t his fault. The break up was a long time coming, if you’d just opened your eyes sooner you wouldn’t be in so much pain. You just wished you had grown a little confidence earlier so you could’ve told Jimin what’s what. But worrying about the past isn’t going to help you, especially now when just thinking about it made your eyes glissen.

”Come here.” Taehyung pulled you into his embrace by your hoodie and wrapped his arms around you, letting you snuggle yourself in his comforting chest. It was weird how he read you like an open book. Jimin never seemed to notice how you were in need of a hug, but Taehyung did. At the same time he respected your boundaries and gave you time instead of shoving himself all in your face. ”It’s going to be okay.”

”Oh, hello.”

You turned your head from Tae’s chest to your mother who opened the door with a grin, seeing her daughter hugging an intimidating yet soft looking tall guy in a leather jacket right in front of her face. She didn’t know what to think of it, all she knew was that she couldn’t control the wide smile on her features.

Taehyung pulled away with panic flashing through his eyes, he faked a cough and bowed at your mom with a shy smile pulling on his lips.

”Uh - This is Taehyung.” You cleared your throat and timidly motioned towards him. Why did your heart jump into your throat? Your mom has always been understanding so why were you nervous?

”Nice to meet you, Taehyung.” Your mother emphasized his name.

”Nice to meet you too, ma’am,” Taehyung awkwardly tried to reach for her hand but gave up on the though when her grin grew wider just looking at him.

”I better get going now Y/n… I’ll see you later, okay?” He stroked your arm before dropping it in realization that your mom was right next to him, not knowing where he should draw the line. He didn’t want to disrespect either on of you.

”Yeah, of course.” You nodded at him.

”And once again great meeting you.” Taehyung bowed at your mom before shooting you a quick look in your eyes, telling you that it’s going to be okay as he hesitated touching you. Your mom stayed quiet, looking at Taehyung go to his motorcycle and driving off.

”So, that’s the guy who you’ve been hanging out with.” She poked at your side, teasing you further.

”Yup.”

”He looks cute.”

Your face flushed, she knew how much you hated speaking about your emotions or even admitting someone is goodlooking. Taehyung was candy for the eyes and there’s no way around it. But he was so much more than that. He is a thoughtful guy who wanted to help.

”I guess.” You shrugged, she had no idea how amazing he was. Being handsome was the least of his abilities. You pushed your way in from aside of her, but before she continued her way to work she quipped,

”He seems nicer than Jimin.”

~

A wave of anxiousness was always quick to rush through your body every time you heard your alarm. You didn’t know why it has such an effect. Making your heart beat faster for seemingly no reason. Maybe because it always meant school and the insane effort you put in it. You always made sure your homework and projects were top notch but not anymore. Recently you’ve found a way to be more relaxed about it, you’re acing your classes so what’s the point of stressing over them and over working?

Your days started to feel more positive now that they didn’t start with Jimin and his company. He always found something to complain about. Whether it was your outfit, your hair, or your make-up. There was always something he would nitpick about for no reason. At least you couldn’t find a reason for it no matter how hard you tried to search. What annoyed you the most that he found something wrong with you everytime he laid his eyes on you, the mouth that claimed to love you only gave you backhanded compliments when they weren’t criticising your every move.

But now you’re single and free, finally. You weren’t stuck with him anymore. You could do whatever you wished to do. You could hang out with people you wanted to hang out. And now that you had real friends you could hang out with them without being called the town whore by Jimin.

You made your way through the campus with the main building selected as your final destination. The mornings were getting more chilly but it was nowhere near night frosts. The trees slowly started to lose their green colors and grow into something more beautiful and colorful, you couldn’t wait until the ground are covered with different shades of red and yellow, painting every inch into an unique masterpiece.

You spotted your ex walking out of the library building. You’d swear your entire life that he glanced at you but you’re too far to see his expression, it was most likely filled with the utmost contempt towards you, so nothing out of the ordinary. He walked with the same attitude he always carried, his head held up high with undeserved confidence. Nothing in his presence even hinted at the fact that he was broken up with. Couldn’t he hunch his shoulders a little or let his lips frown? Something that told you he actually loved you, was it too much to ask for? You wanted something to remind you that it wasn’t all just fake. That though it didn’t work out, you didn’t lose all those years. But of course you were wrong. You were always wrong. All the time was wasted away with him, you gave him everything and trusted him with your body but he didn’t appreciate it - he never did. The only hope you had was that maybe in the future you won’t be manipulated into such a toxic relationship.

The day went like it usually did - dull. Ever since you met Taehyung, school has been getting more boring every class you took. You used to love studying and hearing lectures but then again you did stress about them. You took notes and diligently focused on the lessons, trying to smash the ideas of Jimin down and away. All of the what ifs popped in your head not helping your situation at all. It’s in the past and now you should focus on the future and what’s to come. Of course it ached knowing that Jimin didn’t actually love you, and he was the one to say it first. Was it a tactic to keep you for himself? Because apparently he only kept you around so when other girls denied him he’d run back to you, knowing you’d give it to him. It hurt but it’s over.

You caught yourself daydreaming about everything but what you were supposed to focus on - you blame Taehyung for this. You’re working on homework yet he ran wild in your thoughts. He has brought so much more excitement in your life ever since you smashed yourself into his back and it was like your every thought revolved around what’s going to happen next. What kind of an adventure he’s going to take you on?

The question was soon answered when your mom called you from downstairs,

”Y/n, someone’s here to see you!” You could feel the elation shining through her voice as she sung the normal sentence. You had no trouble ditching the books on your bed and hiking downstairs.

You froze at the bottom of the stairs, seeing Taehyung stand next to your mother with his signature grin planted on his face while chatting with her. What’s he doing here? Wait - why was that the first question to pop in your mind? Does it matter why he’s here? You’re glad he’s here to take your mind off of everything. Taehyung lifted his arm just a little to give you a wave even though you were right there - how cute.

”It’s Taehyung,” she winked and squeezed your shoulder before waddling off.

To think of it who else would it be? The world would’ve turned upside down and inside out if it was Jimin. Of course it was Tae. You had no other friends. Until this point Jimin was the only person you hung out with before you traded him for Taehyung. And boy, was that the best thing you’ve ever done.

”What’re you doing here?” You couldn’t help your lips pulling up. In no way you were annoyed that he’s here quite the opposite actually. You wanted him to drag you away from this boringness of your life.

”I didn’t see you at uni today.” Tae tilted his head trying to see any evidence of you being sick - or you being incredibly heartbroken, ”You alright?”

”Oh I’m just fine. I was at uni today, just left earlier since I didn’t need to be at the class today, don’t worry.” You suppressed your giggles, he was so adorable. He showed up to your doorstep because he didn’t see you at school. Did he look for you? The fact that he came to your house to see if you’re okay made your heart warm.

”Thank God. I - We… the guys and I are going to the caves today and I was wondering if you wanted to come with us.” Tae leaned back and forth on his heels. ”I mean if you have time ’cause your mom said you were working on a project or something.”

Caves? There are caves in your town? You’ve never heard about caves in the area and you’ve lived here your entire life but then again you never had many friends to explore with. Taehyung saw the questions going through your brain. ”The caves are near the lake - but if you’re busy...”

”No, no. I’m free. I was just doing homework and I’m done anyway.” Well that was a huge lie but he didn’t need to know that, though he probably could see through you. ”Does the guys want me to go though?” You asked, feeling like you’re an intruder despite them being so nice to you - Yoongi was nice to you but Jeongguk seemed to scoff at everything you did, he can be so annoying.

”What? Don’t be ridiculous. Of course they want you to come! They love you, don’t be silly!”

”Yea, okay, I can come.” You felt your cheeks grow warm, you were flattered. You don’t remember a time when your company was enjoyed - that was until you met Taehyung.

”Oh goodie!” Taehyung grinned. ”Then let’s go!”

You couldn’t describe the feeling that bloomed in your chest, just thinking about him coming to your house to ask if you were fine because he didn’t see you. Simply because he didn’t spot you, maybe you were between other students so he missed your face, made him check up on you… it felt good. You felt appreciated, something that was rare for you - too rare. But it was a feeling you could grow used to.

”You’re late.” Was the first thing to come out Jeongguk’s mouth when Taehyung turned off his motorcycle.

”Well hello to you too.” Taehyung kicked gravel at him but Jeongguk didn’t even flinch even though a small rock hit his cheek.

You got off, not thinking anything of them and simply you walked up to Yoongi and his open arms.

”There she is.” Yoongi hugged you tightly. This definitely was something out of the ordinary but you liked it nonetheless. Being hugged always felt good when their hands are securely wrapped around you and the squeezed you up against their body, showing how much they cared for you.

”Woah, calm down there, buddy.” Jeongguk rolled his eyes at Yoongi while eyeing his hands around your body, and walked away from the motorcycles to the narrow trail leading to the lake. ”Get a room first.” He muttered

Arriving at the lake you had a flashback back to when you witnessed the bloodbath of Jack and Mark. The blood stains had been washed away but there was a tooth laying in between rocks - but you shook your head repressing the image in your head. Taehyung’s hand in between your shoulder blades drew you out of your thoughts. You followed your gaze to where his index finger was pointed at.

”So there it is. Underneath that cliff.” Taehyung nodded to himself but you questioned your judgement of going with him in that grim looking cave.

”Don’t take this the wrong way but why do you go in caves in the first place?” You fiddled with your fingers, feeling little anxiousness grow in your heart when you walked near the opening.

”For fun!” Taehyung grinned, of course he wouldn’t be offended at anything you said. You liked that trait in him. Whatever you said or asked he took it the most positive way he could.

”You can find all sorts of stuff in the caverns.” Yoongi said indifferently. ”This used to be a very popular place decades ago. You’ll never know what you’ll find. Quite fun actually, gives us something to do when we aren’t too busy making money.”

The water continued to go in the cave from the opening but you could walk in on the slender part of land making through the side, having to be careful to not slip if you wanted to remain dry.

The guys went in before you since you looked at the water in fear as if something eerie was hiding in there, scared that you’ll fall in and eaten, but in fact you just didn’t feel like going in the damp cave.

”You don’t have to come in. We can do something else.” You heard Taehyung’s voice but didn’t see his face due to the contrast in lighting. You forced yourself to grow enough courage, you wouldn’t be weak. He asked you to go with him, you agreed, now you’re backing down? Not this time.

”No, it’s okay. I can do it.” You heard the uncertainty in your voice, hoping he wouldn’t be able to pick it out.

You dragged yourself closer, eyes trained at the dull edge.

”Take my hand, it’s going to be okay.” Taehyung reached his hand from the dark and you grabbed it, he quickly pulled you in to avoid you stumbling down, instead you stumbled into his chest. Yoongi laughed at the sight and Jeongguk scoffed, folding his arms on his chest.

”Damn calm down Y/n, don’t want to seem so desperate.” Jeongguk muttered. ”Wouldn’t want to take Yoongi and Taehyung the same day.”

God, he is so annoying! Because you hug your friend or accidentally fall onto someone isn’t inherently sexual.

Taehyung helped you back on your feet and let go of your arms to punch Jeongguk on the arm. ”You think you’re funny, huh?”

”No. I know I’m hilarious.” Jeongguk cocked his head and gave a slopsided sided smile.

”You? Hilarious? Now that’s a good joke.”

Yoongi rolled his eyes and gave you a flashlight, motioning you to follow him. You walked through the labyrinth that the guys called a cave, Yoongi as the leader and the two others at the back bickering with each other. It was actually cool to see the cave on the inside, you wondered what kind of stories was made there. Carvings on the stone made with smaller rocks, animal bones, and an empty chest. It was all so cool - until you ran into bats.

You crouched in fear when the black balls of hate equipped with wings flew right over you. You probably screamed but you were too busy panicking on the ground to notice.

”Hey, hey, it’s okay.” Taehyung bit his lip to avoid howling in laughter, however Jeongguk wasn’t so discreet, he let his laughter echo through, ricocheting off of the walls of the cave. It was higher pitch than the voice he’d talk with. ”They’re just bats. We scared them and now they’re just flying away, that’s all. They’re not going to eat you.”

”Yeah, to be eaten you would’ve to taste good.” Jeongguk laughed and earned a smack from Yoongi. ”AH! What was that for?!”

”You know your arm is gonna stop pumping blood if you don’t learn to keep your mouth shut.”

Taehyung pulled you up and gave you a reassuring smile making you ignore the cackle of Jeongguk when you locked eyes with him. There was something so incredibly kind in them despite the rough outerior. If you didn’t know him you’d just think he’s this scruff dude who beat up people for fun, but now you knew he has a soft and a playful heart that enjoyed adventures.

You wandered in the deep caves for a while. You had doubts about it but for nothing. Despite the personality differences in all of the guys you felt at home, and you belonged somewhere for the first time in your life. You didn’t have to act like you were somebody else, they cared for you for being you.

”You know, I’m getting hungry. Should we leave?” Jeongguk threw the idea in the air.

”Yeah. It’s getting chilly in here.” Taehyung rubbed his arm, he was the only one wearing a t-shirt, no wonder he felt cold in the cave. ”There’s this little place downtown that serves great food. I don’t remember the name of the restaurant but it’s like 50’s theme. Do you know that place Y/n.” Taehyung directed the question at you for your surprise.

You nodded, ”Yeah, I love that place.”

”Great! We’ll go there.”

”I can’t come. I have to finish this bike I’m working on.” Yoongi informed and shoved past Jeongguk without any trouble.

”Don’t I get a say in the matter?” Jeongguk feigned offence when he wasn’t questioned.

”Nope.” Taehyung shone his flashlight into his face and shook it between his eyes. “You’re laughing more than usual and it’s pissing me off.”

”Stop!” Jeongguk tried to block the light with his hands but ended up smacking the flashlight to the ground. ”Hah!” He grinned in the darkness

”I swear to God if it’s broken.” Taehyung threatened while picking up the light. ”Aaand… It doesn’t work. Yoongi already left so he can’t shine our way out. Good luck leading us back to the opening!”

”Well someone didn’t let me have a flashlight! It isn’t my fault.”

”And why is that Jeongguk? Might it be because you always end up breaking them? For some reason everything breaks in your hands!”

Jeongguk’s eyes grew wide and an evil grin set on his face, you were sure something you’d regret hearing would come out of his mouth but you interrupted him before that would happen.

”Well, your girlfriend didn’t when I -”

”Guys, I have a flashlight too.” You cut him off and shook it in your hand to gain their attention. ”It’s smaller than what Tae had but it’s something.”

”Oh, thank God.” Tae sighed and smacked Jeongguk’s shoulder once again. ”See? She has to save your ass.”

”Mine? Yours too. This wouldn’t’ve happened if you didn’t shove it in my face.” Jeongguk had a point but it didn’t matter right now, what mattered is getting out of the dark cave. You just thought how ironic it was that Jeongguk had accused you of not being able to survive on your own. Maybe that was physically true - there’s no way you could do what he and Taehyung could do physically, and that’s okay, you had other ways to survive and right now it was your calm temper.

”This way.” You motioned with your hand and the guys humbly walked after you, pushing each other.

”Don’t point your finger at me, Jeongguk. It’s not always my fault that we end up in these - FU- hmmphm.” Taehyung slipped and fell in the water almost grabbing Jeongguk with him. Tae submerged for a good three seconds before springing himself up on his feet.

”Fucking hell it’s cold!” Taehyung shivered and tried to jump back on the ledge again, the water reaching just above his waist. Every attempt failed miserably and Jeongguk wasn’t any help either, he was doubling over in fits of giggles.

”You should’ve seen yourself!” Jeongguk laughed, pointing at his drenched friend. ”I’m not gonna forget that face in a while!”

Taehyung threw a mud ball at Jeongguk but ended up missing him. ”You pushed me!”

”I did no such thing!”

You rolled your eyes and helped Taehyung up, Jeongguk was no use when he was in his own world replaying what happened in his mind and giggling like a little school girl.

Taehyung got up easily with your help and all of you shuffled your way out of the cave with you at the front lighting the path to the opening. Only in the direct sunlight you could see the damage that Taehyung had acquired from the awful yet comical fall. His hair was swooped back and he had mud coming up to his knees and because he went all out with that fall he has stains of whatever matter that was all over his body.

Taehyung didn’t look too pleased, looking down at his clothes, he groaned. ”I have to go by the clubhouse to change.” He said with an annoyed tone while picking a some sort of plant off his arm. It was like he wasn’t angry about falling but more at the fact that he had to join you at the restaurant and not accompany you there. ”I’ll meet you there, okay?”

”Sure.” Jeongguk nodded with a shit eating grin. You held your hand on your mouth to suppress any laughter that was forcing its way out. It wasn’t Taehyung’s fault, that poor thing, but you still found something amusing in him being covered in mud and God knows what else.

You followed behind Taehyung with Jeongguk, watching how he dragged his soaked feet on the ground, trying not to find any amusement in it and the way he just slumped forwards. You could feel the tension already rising, having to walk with Jeongguk made you feel uneasy - it didn’t help knowing how he was unable to handle his emotions that always ended up manifesting in violence. You’ve only witnessed it once and it was enough. The guys got on their motorcycles and Jeongguk tapped the seat behind him. ”What’re you waiting for?”

The sun had started to set a while ago, painting the sky in beautiful colors but it wasn’t too late - the restaurant was still open. Jeongguk didn’t show a lot of effort to notice your presence, just holding the door open so it didn’t slam shut in front of your face. He allowed you to choose the table, letting you to sit on the booth side while he sat on a single chair, thinking you’d like to sit with Taehyung when he got there. You two didn’t talk much until the waiter came. You only got drinks, wanting to order once the whole group was together. It was threatening to set silent again but you followed the waiter with your eyes without any thought, only for your eyes to land on your ex.

”Fuck.” You whined and buried your face in your hand. You didn’t want to see him. It’s already awkward enough with Jeongguk but adding him into the mix? Making you think about him and how he can see your every move? Not good.

Jeongguk turned his head from the wall pattern to your face.

”Jimin’s here with some girl.” You whispered but surprisingly there wasn’t any toxicity behind your words. Jeongguk took a quick look to check if Jimin was really there, and he was. Jimin was sat next to the lead cheerleader of your uni, she’s known for getting it on with every guy - good for her, Jeongguk thought. He wasn’t interested in something like that though she had tried it on with him, too. Jimin’s arm was around her shoulders nearly opping to grab her breast and the other below the table, and judging from her face and how her eyes shot in the back of her head that said hand was doing something inappropriate where he couldn’t see, making Jeongguk grimace.

You felt a warm hand intertwine its fingers in yours, slowly but with dedication. Somehow this move made your stomach fill with butterflies. You lifted your head and traced your eyes from Jeongguk’s hand to his face. He wasn’t even looking at you, instead calmly eyeing the menu. Before you could say a word of protest he felt your eyes boring a hole into him and he simply said, ”Trust me.” For some odd reason you did trust him, but you didn’t know why that’s important in this situation.

You looked at him with wide eyes, thinking how did he dare to do this - that was until you saw Jimin’s expression change in the corner of your eye. It turned from flirty to aggressive but he tried to brush it off, trying to focus on the girl next to him but he couldn’t help his wandering eyes set on you. This is why, Jeongguk wants to annoy Jimin just like you do.

”Lean over.” Jeongguk said and motioned you closer with his finger. You hesitated before doing what he told you, he leaned in at the same time. You were nowhere near kissing distance, friends wouldn’t be leaning this close and that’s for sure. You tried your best to hide your face that grew bright red when you looked back at Jeongguk’s dark brown eyes. ”Smile.” He said, tightening his grip on your hand and leaning his chin on the other. “I know how a guy like that thinks.” Jeongguk looked like a kid you’d occasionally spot in class staring at his crush with those soft eyes and the hope for a future together, it made you blush - Jimin never looked at you like this. You gave him props for being this good of an actor. You gave him the best smile you could offer but not one of those excited smile. Your lips pulled up a little as naturally as you could make them do it, you went for a somewhat flirty smile.

Jimin stood up and told the girl something, he sounded infuriated, making Jeongguk smirk, exposing some of his teeth from the corner of his mouth. ”See?” Jeongguk tried to mask his laugh with a cough. You did see how Jimin reacted and honestly you enjoyed it. It made you feel superior than him for the simple fact that you made him act like this - well with the help of Jeongguk, but still.

Jimin’s new girl walked out of the restaurant first, Jimin following behind her but making a stop at Jeongguk’s chair, kicking the leg. Jeongguk didn’t react at all, he kept his gaze focused on you, his face didn’t waver. You on the other hand gulped, waiting anxiously when Jeongguk is going to blow up and slam Jimin’s head on the table.

Jimin kicked again but neither of you reacted. You could basically see the fumes coming out off his ears when he wasn’t paid attention to so he kicked again, hard enough for it to make an ear piercing voice against the floor. Jeongguk let go off your hand and stood up, facing the bully. Your hand felt like it just lost something important and your heart jumped to your throat in fear, you didn’t want Jeongguk to cause a big scene - or beat Jimin.

”Apology accepted.” Jeongguk said with his eyebrows high but with a calm tone, his other arm pointed at the exit as a cue for Jimin to leave. ”Now, let us be.”

”I don’t like seeing you.” Jimin said to Jeongguk but he’s eyes were fixated on you. You tried to avoid the eye contact. ”You’re everywhere I go. It’s like you’re stalking me.”

”Don’t try me, I will kill you in this spot but for the sake of her I’m willing to let it go. I don’t like seeing you either. Just trust me, no one has time to follow your sorry ass.” Jeongguk answered, still calmly but his hand motioned again at the door. ”Go.”

”I knew you were fucking.” Jimin pointed at the two of you before his eyes returned to you, refusing to take Jeongguk’s orders. ”You lied to me didn’t you? I knew it all along. I didn’t want you to be with this lowlife, scum of the earth, and the others. And now you’re here on a date, shoving it in my face that you’re a damn slut.”

Jimin took a step towards you against his best interest, Jeongguk was quick to press his hand against the others chest in order to stop his tracks. What struck weird to you was how Jeongguk’s always quick to throw punches but never when it came to Jimin and you- or maybe you’re reading too into this, this is only the second time so it could be a total coincidence. Jeongguk gave you the opportunity to speak, because it’s your ex after all. You liked how Jeongguk let you defend yourself via words but he couldn’t stand Jimin being near you, hence making sure he kept his distance.

”We’re different in that sense, you and I, Jimin.” You started, leading your eyes to his. You were lucky that Jeongguk was right there or else you probably wouldn’t be this confident, not around Jimin after all. He was your soft spot and you hated it. ”My goal isn’t to fuck my friends, yours is. It wasn’t me who cheated, it was you. I never brought you down, you did that to me. And then you went as far as ordering me to stop seeing my friends because you were jealous, on top of that you were fucking other girls. Now I’m with Jeongguk and there’s nothing you can do about it.” Jimin’s eyebrows furrowed and he was about to talk judging from the way his lips parted but you didn’t give him that chance. ”I’d advise you to leave right now because you already know Jeongguk will destroy you in every way you can imagine if you don’t get yourself outta that door.”

Jimin’s mouth opened and closed but nothing came out of it, he was too struck at your words. You never were like this with him and it was weird for him. You’d always do what he said without hesitation but now? Now you were quick with your tongue in telling him how awful of a person he is. Jimin gave a one mean look at Jeongguk and a confused one at you before strutting out of the restaurant, presumably joining his girl unless she had left him for the long wait.

Jeongguk sat down, looking directly into your eyes before bursting into laughter, sincere laughter this time, creases appearing around his eyes. It sounded different than to the ones when he laughed in the caves, this one was genuine. ”You saw his face? You were unbelievable. Ah I wish Tae would’ve seen that.”

You couldn’t help but smile, that was a compliment in your book. Maybe he didn’t say it but Jeongguk was proud of how you handled the situation. As crazy as it sounds you were thankful that you went to the same restaurant as Jimin - the ice was broken and Jeongguk started talking to you like you were friends. It still needed a lot of improvement but you’ll take it one step at a time.

It wasn’t long until Taehyung joined you with clean clothes and threw himself on the booth next to you, and you got to finally order your food. The rest of the night went great and you had a grin on your face the whole time.

~

You walked down the stairs of the main building, deciding since you don’t have anymore lectures this day that you’d go to the library to study a bit. Your grades has gotten some damage but not too much to make you worried. Your parents didn’t care since you were still doing good and you weren’t spending all of your time in your room, alone and sad.

Taehyung spotted you from across the yard. Jogging to you, he playfully elbowed you and you gasped, only his quick reflexes helped you to not drop your laptop from your hand.

”Where are we going?” He grinned and you looked behind him, wondering where he popped from. You wondered where he got his happiness and the positive demeanor, he was always like this.

”I’m gonna study.” You pointed towards the library with a nod since your hands were taken with the almost broken laptop and a few books.

”Or…” Taehyung trailed off and delicately pulled on your shirt, wanting to take a step towards him and get you to follow him. ”We can go watch Jeongguk practice.”

You didn’t give it a second thought when you accepted his suggestion. It was once you saw the baseball field behind the janitors little shack, you asked, ”So Jeongguk belongs to the school’s team?”

”Oh, yeah.” Taehyung said, leading you to the right direction since you’ve never actually seen the field before, you didn’t care enough to go see the tournaments. ”He has a scholarship. Otherwise he wouldn’t even attend. He doesn’t have money and neither does his dad - even if he had money Jeongguk wouldn’t accept it.”

You nodded at his explanation without understanding it deeper. Did Jeongguk resent his dad that much? It’s something you had a hard time wrapping your head around since you’ve always had a good relationship with your parents. A part of you wondered if that’s why Jeongguk has fits of rage but your thoughts were cut off.

”I can’t see him.” Taehyung leaned on the fence, scanning the field and it’s edges. The field had five baseball players all together, you couldn’t recognize any of them. ”He might be under those benches.” Taehyung said and lead you towards them. ”He likes to spend time there, gives him some space to think.”

You hardly saw Jeongguk as an intellectual man who took time in his day to reflect and do some philosophical thinking. But you might be wrong. Maybe he had another side to him than a rage filled psycho.

”Sup.” Jeongguk stood up from leaning his back at a pole, patting off dust from his shirt with a water bottle in his other hand, beads of sweat rolling off his temple. He was wearing tight fitting tan coloured pants, and a white and red baseball shirt, displaying his muscles. You tried your best to drag your eyes from his thighs to his face, not wanting to look at your friend like he’s a piece of meat.

”I didn’t think you’d come, it’s just a dumb practice.” Jeongguk shrugged, trying to play it cool but the smile he was trying to repress on his face told you that he was giddy about seeing you two there. He bend over to place the bottle on the ground but all you focused on was how the shirt stuck to his broad shoulders and back, and how it was baggy around his slim waist, you snapped yourself out of it before the drool actually dropped from your mouth. ”But thanks for coming though.”

”Not like we have anything better to do.” Taehyung sounded sarcastic on purpose and playfully nudged you, but of course he was happy to be there for his friend. ”We wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

You nodded along with Taehyung’s words, you wanted to be there too, otherwise what’s the point of coming. Jeongguk smiled at you instead of Tae, though he was the one talking but he still insisted on focusing on you. His expression soon changed from a legitimately happy one to something that stirred your stomach, it scared you.

Jeongguk looked past you, making you and Taehyung turn around. You heard Tae’s annoyed sigh when he knew what was about to go down.

”Oh, cool, you bring your fleshlight everywhere! That is handy.” Jack grinned with his arms open, being an annoying brat on purpose to fuel your friends. Mark slapped his own knee like it was the most hilarious and original joke he had ever heard. ”Some time you need to share her. I’m getting desperate.” He winked at you.

”You came all the way here to return the money you owe me.” Jeongguk stepped up, pulling on your sleeve to make you stand behind him.The way he just lead you behind him came naturally from him. ”How sweet of you. Give it and go back to your daddy.” Jeongguk opened his palm to receive the money he knew he wouldn’t get. You had an inclination that ’daddy’ meant Jimin, and you were about to be proved right. ”He is a scaredy cat just like you.”

”Is that so?” Mark said, trying to circle around you but Taehyung wouldn’t leave his eye from the rat’s face. ”Because what I heard is that your girl here is fucking the whole town. Jimin just don’t want to be with someone like that.”

You really hated being in this situation and you wanted to quip back something like ’well, I’m not gonna fuck you,’ but you knew that wouldn’t go over well. Besides what would that prove!

”So, he just lies to you and it just goes over your head so hard that you’re willing to do his dirty work?” Taehyung laughed but you couldn’t, you gulped. Maybe you were wrong about thinking you could handle yourself, or maybe it was a bad decision to befriend gangbangers. You didn’t like to be involved in fights. You’d much rather be at the library studying and being bored, instead of having an aneurysm every second.

”Bro, I can’t hear what you’re saying because my eyes won’t leave her tits.” Jack laughed, licking his lips as he took a step towards you with his arm reached out. Jeongguk’s swift kick in the Jack’s abdomen was enough to stop him. You don’t even want to think what would’ve happened to you if he got closer.

Jeongguk didn’t waste time in grabbing Jack’s collar when he was doubling over from the kick. He pulled Jack up against a pole, violently smashing his back against it while Jeongguk bit his cheek to stop himself from saying or doing anything to harsh, you were here, he couldn’t do anything.

Jeongguk threw Jack to the side and when he got up he took few steps back, holding his stomach while eyeing out to the field, nodding towards it as a sign to leave. ”You’ll regret this. There will be a day where we get you back for everything.” Jack said while giving Jeongguk an evil grin, deciding that he didn’t want an ass whooping in the broad daylight as other students witnessed it.

Mark took a forceful step towards the group of you as a threat before sprinting off to join Jack. You only saw how fast Taehyung’s arm swung and how close his elbow got to your face - you flinched. Taehyung only meant it as an intimidation tactic against Mark yet you still cowered down like you were going to get beat. You didn’t know what came over you, you didn’t fear Tae - at least you told yourself that, but how fast he could change his mood flashed through your mind.

Taehyung’s arm flopped to his side and the color flushed away from his face, his features filled with disbelief and aggression. He looked offended, like you had cursed him and his ancestors. Jeongguk on the other hand had a neutral look on his face with his lips pulled into a tight line, he even took a step back when he saw how Taehyung’s eyes grew wider with his eyebrows furrowing.

”You think I’d do that to you? That I would lay my hands on you?” Taehyung nearly yelled but lowered his voice, still spitting every word. He threw the questions in the air not expecting you to answer. You felt your throat dry and lip tremble. You wanted to say something but you couldn’t, you were too focused on your fastening heartbeat. ”You think I’m this monster who can’t control himself and just beats everyone in his radius like I was some sort of a fucking psycho? Have I ever hurt you or hinted at the fact?”

You looked behind Taehyung, at Jeongguk whose head was lowered but he just observed the situation at hand, having no plans on coming in between. He held his hands in front of him. You’ve never seen him this submissive and small. Jeongguk always held his head up with pride and he never let his shoulders sag. What’s different with this time? Jeongguk always defended you when it came to Jimin, not letting him get near you but this time he leaned on the fence, refusing to intervene.

”I thought you were different from the rest.” Taehyung said with his voice breaking in the middle of the sentence as he started to walk away. You could hear the heartbreak in his voice. It felt like you had betrayed him with such a simple action that you didn’t even mean. Tae’s eyes glinted when he turned back to take a final look at you, ”You believe the rumours don’t you?”

Chapter Text

The days melted together, no longer being filled with adventure that Bangtan brought you. You felt empty. As obvious as it is studying is boring but what makes it tolerable is friends and activities around it. Sometimes partying or over all hanging out together. But now you lost the only friends you had and the fun they brought you. You had nothing to do in your free time but study.

Taehyung refused to look at you at the campus, it was obvious he was still hurt. When he sees you he turns his head away and changes his direction just so he doesn’t have to walk the same way as you for a one step. Would it be better if he acted like he didn’t know you?

His signature grin fades away when he sees you in the corner of his eye, only reminding you how you hurt him. The worst thing is that you don’t know why he acts like this. It’s a natural reaction to react in someway when something is swinged at your face… Right? You didn’t fear him. You can’t fear him. You couldn’t.

Those few times that you’ve walked past Jeongguk in the school hallways he has been accompanied with Tae but he shot you a look with his sad eyes. Something tells you that he wants to come talk to you, maybe tell you it’s not your fault… but he doesn’t. You don’t know why he submits to Tae’s will on this. In your mind you did nothing wrong, it was an accident.

Jeongguk is usually quick with his tongue, challenging Tae and his ideas but about this he second guesses looking at your general direction. Why?

Because you’re not in contact with Tae and Jeongguk, you haven’t heard from Yoongi. You wonder what’s he up to and how he’s doing and can’t stop thinking about his brother either. You want to know more but it’s not as easy to ask when you’ve burned the bridges with Tae.

Worst of all Jimin would have an overly cocky grin smacked on his dumb face when he saw you alone. All those times when you walked with a member of Bangtan, pushed and laughed with them made him furious. But now, you’re all alone, no one by your side and he loved it.

“Didn’t I tell you this would happen?” Jimin grinned, looking over your shoulder at your physics book.

You rolled your eyes, hoping that giving him no attention will make him lose interest, like it does for little children - and that’s what he was. He a was child who wasn’t able to shut his mouth.

“I warned you about them.” Jimin refused to let it go, he wanted to a reaction anyway possible. ”You can say that I’m right, as always.”

You didn’t say anything, you continued to do your homework like he was air. You didn’t feel like confronting him when he is acting like this. You never saw how childish Jimin’s behavior was until you learned how to distance yourself from him. Now you saw how he manipulates and bad mouths others for no apparent reason.

“What happened to your boyfriend?” Jimin pulled out a chair next to you and sat on it, leaning his arms on the table. The wicked grin wouldn’t leave his face. You couldn’t believe how he used to claim to love you but now is enjoying your clear misery.

He shifted closer, “Jeongguk saw how much of a whore you are, huh?”

“You know what, Jimin,” You inhaled, closing your eyes tight together trying to keep your last nerves intact. The guts he had saying that so casually like talking about the weather to a stranger in an elevator. You wanted to tell him what’s what but snapping in the school library wasn’t the best idea.

“I left you, not the other way around. Doesn’t make me a whore if I was together with Jeongguk in the first place either.” You felt like you’re explaining this to a five year old incapable of internalizing anything. You didn’t understand why he couldn’t just leave you alone. You had nothing to do with him anymore. Was he this butthurt over you breaking up with him? You’re sure he did this just to get under your skin. Maybe he saw that you became more confident and he wanted to tear that down.

Jimin’s expression didn’t waver until you tilted your head and say with the most monotonous voice you could find, “Go fuck yourself.”

The grin on Jimin’s face morphed into a smirk by your words. He stood up just to place his hand on the back of your chair and shoved his face dangerously close to yours. You could see his light stubble on his upper lip and feel his cologne hitting you in a wave.

“Come fuck me yourself,” He whispered in your ear and your eyes shot wide, making the corner of his lips pull further up, “There’s this party on friday… You should come there.” Jimin took the pen from your hand with his warm and soft fingers. He wrote down the address on your notebook and smiled at you, his eyes boring deep into yours before he left with another grin plastered on his face.

You are left confused, staring at the street name inked on your notebook, right next to the formula you were using. You partly recognized the address, the house is somewhere near the clubhouse. You cringed internally how close it was, you don’t want to run into Tae when going to the party. You just hoped they won’t show up there because if you were to get together with Jimin -

You stopped your train of thought.

You couldn’t believe yourself. You’re seriously thinking about going to the party where your ex, who cheated on you and manipulated you, invited you. What’s wrong with you? Is Bangtan really your voice of reason? Without them you’re just going to run to Jimin’s arms whenever he asks you to? What is happening to you? Yes, you are weak for him but you should know better. It’s easy to stick by your choices when you have someone having your back but now…

You spend the rest of the week in your gloomy thoughts, pondering if you should actually go to the party. You don’t have a lot friends so maybe that’s an outlet for making some more… Plus going out is a good way to socialize and get to know people even if you don’t make them as friends, it’s not about getting drunk and putting aside your feelings that are haunting you right now, or that’s what you kept telling yourself. Socializing is the keyword here.

You stared at the clock, trying to will it forward with your mind. You didn’t want to show up at the party earlier than necessary when it hasn’t even properly started. You had to wait for couple of hours until people have elevated the mood with enough alcohol. You weren’t just putting it off.

The clock hit twelve and you sprung out of your bed and out of front door. You didn’t give it a second thought or a look back, you kept going where the gps told you to. You dug your hand in your pocket to take the hilariously small alcohol bottles, you looked at them on your palm knowing what’s about to happen.

You took a big gulp and gagged, feeling it burn down your throat and stomach. You ignored it and finished the drink, and opened the next bottle, and then the third.

You heard the music blasting from a block away. It’s a wonder how no one has called the police yet, if this happened in your neighborhood the party would’ve been broken down before it really even started.

No one gave any attention to you, or spared a glance at you when you walked in the house, not acknowledging your existence in any way. You pretended it didn’t hurt, you’ve gathered a talent in that throughout the years you were with Jimin.

You turned around trying to see anyone you knew, even barely, but no one caught your attention. No one looked familiar enough and the alcohol hadn’t hit your system yet, though it warmed you inside. You walked into the kitchen and took the first liquor bottle you saw, pouring it into a red cup to shot it down your throat- burning you again.

You leaned your hand on the wall, your thoughts got fuzzy and vision blurry. Feeling the alcohol finally starting to spin in your head, you downed the rest of your drink and poured yourself more. Where’s Jimin? He is the only reason you’re here. ‘Come fuck me yourself.’ Who does he think he is?

You shoved yourself through others in determination to find what you’re looking for. You had no one to depend on, not Tae nor Jimin. But he wanted you, he had to. He invited you for a reason. You wanted him to hug you and fill you like you needed to be, you need someone close to you. You felt pathetic feeling like this. Why couldn’t everything stay like it was? Why did you befriend a bunch of gang members? Why did they have to tell you Jimin cheated? You would’ve stayed miserable and clueless, but that was better than how you felt now. Your soul was in pieces, trying it’s best to gather itself up after everything it had being taken away.

You climbed up the stairs with the beer cup in your grip, finally seeing the boy you had your mind on.

“You’re here!” Jimin smiled when you stumbled in front of him.

“Yup,” You managed to quip before he engulfed you into his warm arms. It’s been a while since you’ve had physical contact of anysort with a man.

“I’m glad,” His eye smile widened, and his hands found a place on the lower of your back. You didn’t care. “I was wondering where you were. I wasn’t sure you’d come.”

”Why wouldn’t I come?” You traced your finger on the edge of your cup, and slightly tilted your head.

”If you were too busy with homework or whatever,” Jimin shrugged.

”Hey I can have fun too.” You smacked your hand against his hard, toned chest. You were in the process of forgetting how he felt under your touch but all the memories flushed in again. You set down your cup on the dresser close to you.

”Fun?” He giggled and you felt his chest vibrating under your palms like it used to ring against your cheek and ear. You hated that the memories that you’ve tried lock away in the deepest chambers in your mind just flushed in. ”Like hanging out with gang bangers?”

”I do other things too.” You defended. The guys were the ones you wanted to hang out with, and do nothing else. If it wasn’t your break up with them you wouldn’t give Jimin the delight of seeing you come after him.

”Oh? Like coming to this party to fuck me?” He grabbed your ass, fingers digging in the spot that still probably had his mark on it. You fell against him from the firm grasp.

”Isn’t that what you wanted?” You grinned at him. You were getting what you wanted, but sober you is going to regret it and beat your head over and over again. ”That I come here for you?”

”Of course.” Jimin matched your smile and glanced away but the look on his face changed and the color it had drained away.

”I don’t see the problem then.” You slithered your hand underneath his shirt, feeling his abs and snail trail leading up to his pants.

Jimin stopped your movements by grabbing your wrist. ”You’re too fucking drunk.” His eyes had an uncertain look in them, unlike moments ago. What did he see?

You scoffed as if you were offended but it was true. You couldn’t see straight, the liqours all hit at once, ”No, I’m not.” You cross your arms against your chest. ”That has never stopped you from doing anything with me before.”

”That’s so different though,” He tucked the button up shirt back into his jeans.

”How so?” You sneered and took back your solo cup in disappointment of his rejection and took a gulp.

”This time I can have you, a girl that’s fucking hammered,” He said and nodded his head towards you, then towards his left, ”Or I can have a girl that’s only half as drunk with her lips already puckered up for my cock.”

”You let me down, Jimin.” You joked. You wanted to feel someone pumping in you tonight but you were already too drunk - and you know that. You weren’t sure what you’ve taken but it really did make your head spin and your stance wobbly.

He slouched down next to your head, you could feel his, oh so warm breath in your ear, ”So did you when you went whoring around with Bangtan.” Jimin whispered with poison slathered on his tone.

You shook your head. Surely your brain is just acting up, there’s no way he just said that in a response but his gaze doesn’t waver, confirming what you heard correct.

”I did not.” You gasped, voice going up a pitch of the accusation, “You’re always like this. I’ve done nothing to betray you.”

”Whatever.” Jimin rolled his eyes and shrugged as if he didn’t insult you in front a group of drunken students, ”That’s how I see it.”

”You know, I don’t have to take this abuse from you.” You pushed him away.

”You’re so right!” He lifted his hands up and feigned a smile, ”Scat.”

You turned your heel with an annoyed grunt and took a big gulp of your liquor. You refused to believe Jimin had the guts to insult you when you’ve come from his invitation. You were just being nice, he had no right to do that. What happened to his confidence of wanting to fuck you? You were a nice girl and did nothing wrong.

“Woah!” You smacked your face and the red solo cup on someone’s torso, your drink dripping down their shirt. “Are you okay?”

You swiped off the liquid spilled on you before you face up to look at your victim. You squinted-

“Jeongguk?”

“Yeah it’s me,” He awkwardly smiled, lifting off his wet shirt away from his skin and shook it around for some air.

Jeongguk pulled on your arm to take you to the side of the room to have more privacy. “I saw what you tried with Jimin and I have to say that’s not a good idea.” He still fanned out his shirt that’s sticking on his pecs and your eyes glued themselves on him.

“I don’t know what you’re saying,” You mumbled when you finally pulled your oggeling eyes to his face.

“Yes you do,” Jeongguk tilted his head, “You’re too drunk to do anything with him. You’re gonna regret doing anything like it.”

“Oh, you mean…” You took a step towards him, pressing your chest against his. You felt his breath hitch and it fueled you. You took his hand and lead it on the lower of your back and reached yours to his jeans. You had no idea why you were doing this but it felt exhilarating.

“Regretting doing this to him?” You smirked and pushed your fingers under his boxers.

Jeongguk lifted his arm from your back and stopped you. He grabbed your shoulders, leaning his waist away from your direction. “This isn’t a good idea either. You’re upset.”

“I’m not.” You said the obvious lie, still trying to touch your friend. Maybe some contact will change his mind… You wanted to feel something more than anything else at that moment. You wanted to be close to someone, and that someone is Jeongguk.

“I don’t want you when you’re drunk. Where’s Taehyung? He’ll take you home.” He gulped and looked around trying to desperate find his friend who was good at handling these type of situations as he weren’t. Girls were either infatuated with him or afraid of him. But that infatuation was quick to blemish when they met the reality of his life, besides he never cared for them, he wasn’t after them, “Let’s find Taehyung, okay? TAE!-”

You placed your palm on his mouth as fast as you managed. Shutting his lips with your hand, you felt the warmth and stubble of his skin.

“SHH.” You tried your best to hush him and cringed, hearing how loud your voice was, but thankfully the music is way louder. “I don’t want Tae.”

“Why not?”

“He hates me.” You pouted and leaned your palms on his chest, gripping his shirt. Everything sucked.

Jeongguk sighed and looked at you before averting his gaze back to the room full of people. “He does not.”

“He does!” You pushed your forehead on his chest and took a deep breath to calm yourself down. It didn’t work, now you just had Jeongguk’s cologne and the liquor you spilled on him in your nostrils, burning up into your brain. You deserved it though, you deserve everything that hurt you.

He patted your back with stiff movements, concolling you in his own way, “Just let me find Taehy-”

“I don’t want to see him!” You pushed Jeongguk and he lifted his hands away, palms open, as if to show he was not a threat. It was pointless, you thought, he wouldn’t be your first pick to fight - even if you could somehow beat him in anyway.

Why couldn’t he understand? You didn’t want to see Taehyung. He hated you. He had to. You made him hate you by flinching - FLINCHING. Who does that to their friend? But even more importantly why did he get angry by it? The flinch wasn’t even small, your movements made it clear that you thought you were getting hit by the wrath of Satan. Your mind is a blur and nothing made sense, your thoughts fought each other till the end until there was none left.

You stumbled out of the house, nearly tripping on the uneven stairs in the front and threw the red cup on the lawn, someone else will clean it up, you didn’t care enough.

You walked on the dark pathway, too drunk to make out where you are. All of the buildings were the same depressed gray colored. Patches of mold and water damage tainting the uneven walls.

“C’mon!”

You heard his voice but didn’t acknowledge it, you’re too cocky to go back to him after he turned you down and tried to help you. You know he was right but you won’t agree to that right away.

“That’s not even the right way!” Jeongguk informed as he was jogging to get to you. He placed his hand on your shoulder, “Let’s go. I’ll walk you home.”

“No.” You said dully and shake his hand off of you, like refusing his help was profitable for you.

He cut your way and stood in front of you with his head cocked to the side, trying to make sense of your illogical thinking. ”To the clubhouse then…?”

“I can go home myself.” You nodded to yourself, feeling the alcohol fueled, fabricated confidence in your abilities.

“You can’t even stand straight.” He glanced at your feet, that has to take a step every few seconds to make sure you didn’t fall.

“You’re lying.” You scoffed and dismissed his point with your hand, taking two extra steps displaying your obvious deceit.

“You’re swaying side to side.”

“So?”

“Let me walk you home, you’re gonna get lost.”

“No.”

“Let me get you a cab.”

“I don’t need your help.”

“You need my help?” A shaggy looking man with dirty and ripped clothing joined your battle with Jeongguk, coming from his left side. “I’ll help you girlie.” The man reeked and you didn’t know what of - you didn’t want to know either. His hand was on Jeongguk’s shoulder. You’ve never smelled anything as rancid.

Jeongguk looked at him with only a fraction of disgust in his expression than you had.

You three stared at each other without saying anything. The man’s smile was too big for your liking and he didn’t realize that his intervening is making you uncomfortable - or that wasn’t a factor he cared about.

Confronting a drug addict on the streets in the middle of the night isn’t your forte. You were way too drunk for this, even if you were sober you would lose without a doubt.

Jeongguk didn’t seem to mind the man’s dirty hand on his shoulder while he ogled at you. His eyes are focused on the man’s face and the many scars imprinted on it, he has been living on the streets for ages based on his hygiene and the crazy look in his small pupils. What he did mind, however, was the man making a move towards your general direction.

“Come with me,” He said and reached over to you but Jeongguk moved faster than you could even realize. Jeongguk’s hand was pushing on the older man’s chest to have some space between the two of you. You’ve never seen him move faster, not even when he was playing baseball or fighting with Jack for that matter.

“It’s better for everyone that you don’t go near her.” Jeongguk warned nonchalantly, applying more pressure with his hand. He sounded calm and sound but the clenching jaw told otherwise.

“She is my friend too!” The man threw his arms in the air and looked at you, “Right?”

Jeongguk glanced at you, waiting for you to deny him which you do without hesitation with a shake of your head.

“I think you’re lying.” Jeongguk said to the man after your disapproval even though he had no doubt in his mind, “You should go.”

“Aw man.” The guy stopped struggling against Jeongguk’s arm and slugged his shoulders. He didn’t fight or say a word back, just a disappointed look on his features, his lips hung and crinkles appeared on his forehead.

Well that was surprisingly uneventful, you thought. Maybe you wanted to see a physical confrontation.

“See?” You motioned your hand to the man walking away, “He was completely innocent.”

“I didn’t know that.” He shrugged, “And neither did you. It’s not wise to talk to strangers.” He told you like you were a little child or Jimin even - incapable of using your own brain to analyze situations and doing any logical thinking. Did he really think you weren’t capable? You were so sick of Jeongguk thinking you’re a dainty little flower in need of protection. You could handle yourself. You’ll talk to anyone you want to talk to, he couldn’t stop you.

You shook your head and without a word, started walking. Jeongguk sighed and came after you. He tried to stop you but you flinged his arm away with yours, leaving him surprised.

“I don’t need protection.” You turned to face him, “When will you realize that I’m my own person.”

“I know tha-”

“Clearly you don’t. Leave me alone for once!” You poked at his chest and he took a step back, “We’re not friends anymore. Tae made it clear.”

“I do - “

“STOP FOLLOWING ME!”

||

“That girl is never going to wake up.”

“She is.”

“We’re screwed if she pukes anymore times. Why did we catch her when she is this wasted? We’re gonna have to take care of her hangover - AND I’M NOT GONNA EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED TO HER TO ANYONE.”

“No. You are in trouble. You couldn’t find a better time so you’re even more in shit. Don’t you know how to roofie people?”

“What do you mean me? You didn’t want to do it, and Jeongguk and Jimin were wayyy too close to me to do it better. You chickened out like the chicken shit you are.”

“You’re right I should’ve done it. You do a shit job in everything anyway. Remember when you failed to get our money back? And this? Poodle is gonna kill yah for sure.”

“That’s not what happened, Jack, and you know that. It’s you who -”

“Shut your mouth. She moved.”

You groaned and shifted your arm, but it didn’t budge very far. The light was shining in your eyes, making it harder for you to open them. The splitting headache worsened with the smell of charcoal emitting from every direction you faced.

“Yo, you aight?” You were lightly tapped on your foot.

You shook your head and it felt like your brain got disconnected, hitting itself around your skull with every tiny movement you could possible make.

“If you hurt her Bangtan and Jimin are literally going to skin you alive. I won’t be there to stop that bloodshed.”

“They won’t know about this. Remember what Poodle told us… Why didn’t we tell Jimin? He wouldn’t have cared. He rants how much he hates her so?”

“You doubt that yourself, don’t you. They’ll know. You’re so out of touch with everything, you’re living with no brain. He talks about her, he is hung up on her.”

“That doesn’t matter. Get her water.”

A cold mug touched your lips and you sipped, despite the alarms ringing in your head. But you were so thirsty, you felt dry both inside and out. It felt like you’re abandoned in the Sahara without shelter or goods. You’ve never felt this void of water.

Opening your eyes was a painful experience. The splitting headache mixed with the stinging light coming in through the cracks of the house made you feel worse than you already did. The house was missing half of the floor above and the roof entirely. The walls were shiny, pitch black, smudging you if you were to touch them.

The ground floor was intact, excluding the fire and water damage it had taken - and the gaping hole next to the window.

“Why am I here?” You asked before taking notice of your condition. You looked down at yourself and your tied up limbs. Your hands were tied up behind your back, and your legs to the feet of the chair.

“We are waiting.” Jack grinned and cocked his eyebrow like he knew something you didn’t but you doubt his IQ was that high.

“For what?”

“For Bangtan.”

“How am I involved?”

“You’re apart of them. They’ll come find you.” His grin grew wider, from ear to ear.

The last thing you remembered is you telling Jeongguk to go fuck himself. You made him feel worthless and made a point of how you aren’t friends - to make matters worse, he stood there, taking it all in. Not disagreeing once. Just hearing their name stings and hurts your heart from your own idiotness.

“They’re not coming.” You sighed out and Mark’s face went pale.

Jack laughed and focused his eyes on you. “What do you mean? Of course they are.”

“I’m not with them anymore.” You said with a sad smile on your features. “They don’t care about me anymore. How would they even know where I am?”

Mark’s lips pulled a straight line and he glanced at Jack. He whispered something in his ear and ducked his head in protection.

“Fuck!” Jack kicked the wall, breaking a piece off it. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner? Poodle is going to lynch us.”

||

Jeongguk left you alone once you were done telling him off in your alcohol fueled rage. He saw you turn the corner with wobbly steps and lost the sight of you. He sighed and started to go on his own way, you were going in the right direction but the struggle he heard coming from your direction stopped him from taking anymore steps away.

“Take her.”

“I’m tryin’ but she is crazy. STOP SWINGING AT ME!”

“Just do your job Mark.”

Jeongguk swore few selected words to himself when he sprinted after you but the car tires screeched before he passed the corner. He grabbed his hair and frantically searched for a way to come after you. But he found none.

Jeongguk ran in a record time to the club house and crashed through the door, almost falling on the motorcycles with his arms flinging around for some balance.

“The hell?” Yoongi leaned on the wall, cleaning his hands on a rag, with eyebrows shot high from unamusement.

“We’ve got a problem.” Jeongguk’s hands were on his knees, panting for some air. “It’s Pogtan.”

~

Yoongi and Jeongguk took off their helmets and left them on their motorcycles parked on the side of the road.

“Where would they take her?” Yoongi stumbled through bushes into the forest, trying to protect his face from branches smacking his face.

Jeongguk shrugged. “Should we check out the field?” He shone a flashlight to light up their path through the pitch back forest, only lighting a small proportion of the way. Even the moon light couldn’t reach there.

“I doubt that they’ll take her to where they grow pot.”

“Hey, it was just a suggestion.” Jeongguk spat out and cut off Yoongi’s by his side.

“Don’t get pissy.” Yoongi said while rolling his eyes. “Let’s check the cabin by the field though.”

Yoongi and Jeongguk reached the corn field and took a left, it was either or situation. Going straight through it in the pitch black surroundings would just get them lost. They jumped over a ditch and Yoongi’s foot slipped in but Jeongguk got a grab on his arm and struggled to hold his own footing.

“Why don’t we just use their pathway?” Jeongguk whispered as he pulled Yoongi to the solid ground.

“Well let us think,” Yoongi sassed and crouched down, motioning Jeongguk to follow. “They kidnap Y/n. Why?”

“Uhh…”

“They want us to find her.” Yoongi smacked Jeongguk on the arm. “If she is in that cabin they could have done something to their own pathways, cuz they’re major idiots.”

Jeongguk nodded and sneaked up to the small wooden cottage with Yoongi. They pushed their backs against the wall and took a swift look at each other.

“You got your knife?” Yoongi whispered and eyed Jeongguk’s belt and jacket.

“Always.” Jeongguk tapped on his pocket and showed the handle of his switchblade.

“Okay then.” Yoongi flashed a smile and carefully peaked through the window. He scanned the whole house before his shoulders slugged and he stood up. Jeongguk cocked his head and furrowed his eyebrows,

“They’re not there?”

“Nope.” Yoongi sighed, crossing his arms. “It’s too fucking dark to go even search anywhere else.”

“What’re we gonna do?” Jeongguk stood up too. “We got no clue where she is.”

”Well we’re here so why not take the money they owe us?” Yoongi winked and struggled to pull himself over the fence to the porch. Jeongguk followed him via the three stepped stairs. “Tell Taehyung to come here.” He squatted down to look at the lock on the door at a better angle. “We’ll have to wait ‘till morning.”

“I left him a message earlier.” Jeongguk said, standing behind Yoongi with his arms crossed on his chest.

”Yeah? What he say? Still upset about her?”

Jeongguk shrugged and tapped Yoongi’s arm to move away, “Just let me kick that thing in.”

Yoongi exhaled through his nose and stood up, opening his arms to show defeat to Jeongguk. Jeongguk slammed his shoulder on the door and the doorframe shattered, letting it fall on the ground. They went in and immediately started looking through the drawers and closets.

“I can’t find anything.” Jeongguk emptied a small box of clutter on the ground, nothing of value fell on the ground except a few coins.

“Neither can I,” Yoongi tapped his finger on his chin and turned around. “Where would they hide their valuables?” He hummed, “Try to search for loose planks.”

Jeongguk did as he is told and pushed planks on the walls and on the floor. He opened any loose ones he found but with no success of finding any treasures. Just cockroaches and other bugs feasting under them.

“How about that one?” Yoongi said to the crouching man and pointed at the corner of the wall and the ceiling. “It’s different type of wood, don’t you think?”

“Why is it that high?” Jeongguk complained, trying to reach the plank, to tap it or pull it. “Doesn’t Poodle trust his slaves with money?”

He dragged a table closer to the corner and stepped on it with little to no struggle. The plank was tightly placed, more so than the others. Yoongi suggested him to try harder and with more force but it only wobbled.

“It’s not gonna - “ Jeongguk started, but the plank fell down along a small brown bag, cutting him off. “Oh, you were right.”

Yoongi rushed to pick it up and Jeongguk sat on the table, waiting in anticipation what are they going to find, a part of him wished it was, well obviously, money but the other part wanted to find something horrific that he could use as leverage. But on the second thought he couldn’t handle it if it had something to do with you, there had to be a reason why you’re gone.

Yoongi pulled on the strings to reveal a stack of bills. “No wonder this was so high up,” He grinned.

~

Jack walked in circles, in and around the house. His eyes were fixated at his feet, focusing on every step he took, he seemed as bored as Mark who leaned on the only clean spot on the wall, cleaning his fingernails.

“Can you atleast take these ties off?” You asked politely despite of your situation at hand. In reality you wanted to spit in his dumb face.

“No,” Mark said, looking up from his fingers at the path Jack was making.

“C’mon,” You rolled your eyes and tried further. “It’s not like I can leave anywhere. I’m stuck here with you. I’m just a small girl”

Mark stared at you for too long for your liking but then nodded. Getting him to agree was easier than you originally thought, you were prepared to say things you usually wouldn’t just to take the ties off. He took his knife from the case.

“You better not try anything.” He warned you and cut off the ropes.

“Yeah, I’ll totally beat you two up,” You scoffed and spectated the small burn on your left wrist from too much struggling, but it wasn’t anything you couldn’t handle in your hungover state. Honestly you would’ve avoided it all together if you didn’t have a temper tantrum in front of Jeongguk.

You didn’t move up from the chair because Mark has already burned a hole through your skull with his staring and you felt like if you were to move, your whole head would melt off. Either way it’s more comfortable being with free limbs rather than tied up ones. You tried to get in your thoughts to daydream, making the time pass faster but it’s not that successful. You were bored with nothing to do. You were being guarded in a burned house that smells horrid, and you weren’t able to move without being watched - as if you would even try to run away. Where would you go? You have no recollection being brought there.

“Who’s that?” You heard Jack’s voice from outside after a small commotion, twigs cracking and aggressive groans.

“It’s me, Poodle, you moron.” The deep voice growled at Jack like he already supposed to know that.

The man you saw walk in made the door look small, something designed for preteens, and not grown adults. The name for him had to be chosen ironically. You pictured him as a soft man with long and wavy blonde hair - that’s everything he was not. His shoulders had to be twice as wide as the door alone.

“So this is the girl Bangtan would protect, huh?” Poodle said with a grin, exposing his sparse teeth. You couldn’t help but gulp, his existence made your face pull all of its color away and get a weird feeling in the bottom of your stomach.

“Yeah… But we don’t think they’re coming…” Mark’s quiet voice informed from behind the big man.

“WHAT?!”

“It’s a small problem…”

Poodle buried his face in his scarred hand, and sighed deeply in disappointment. How did he look so intimidating?

“How do you always manage to fuck everything up?” He turned to Mark and raised his arm at him, making the man half of his size close his eyes, as tight as he could.

“It’s not like you to hit your own.” Taehyung leaned on the window behind you with his boxy smile firmly planted on his face. Your heart dropped, and you’re not sure if its from seeing him or finally know you’re going to get out of here. Tae has never let you down. You’ve spent hours with Mark and Jack - and it drained you.

Taehyung jumped in through the window, crossed his arms and cocked his head, waiting for an answer.

“Did you forget your troops?” Poodle laughed and Mark tried to join in with a pathetic giggle, but he ended up coughing his attempt at that.

“Nope but you forgot one of yours outside,” Taehyung smirked on nodded towards the door. “He won’t be joining you anymore, sorry about that.”

Puzzled, Poodle glanced at Mark and then outside of the open door. Jack wasn’t there anymore where he was on guard.

“Ah you got quite the tricks.” Poodle nodded, keeping his facade on that Taehyung wanted to crush, “You’re still missing a person.”

“Again, that’s not true,” Taehyung winked at Poodle’s face that grew redder by the second from Tae crossing his path. Taehyung cheered the fact that Poodle got angry so fast, it was like a game to him - how fast could he make the big man so angry that steam started coming out of his ears.

“Jimin’s not here,” Yoongi made his way in through the hole on the wall with Jeongguk right behind him, shaking his head at the other gang’s leader. He was already fed up with the situation, you just wonder if you caused it. “I wonder why.” Yoongi tapped on his chin and shot a look at his foe.

“Nice of all of you to show up.” Poodle laid his arms out in the air, “Long time no see -”

“Shut your mouth,” Jeongguk shut him up with a swift hand movement and asserted himself in the situation. “What the fuck do you want?” He demanded impationally. He came to finish this with no bullshit.

Poodle’s smile dropped as fast as it formed, “I want you to drop selling in my area and forgive my idiots’ debt to you.”

“Did you kidnap her for this?!” Jeongguk exclaimed, with a long exhale right after. “This could’ve been done in town, you small brained fool. I was ready to gut all of you.”

“I don’t think you understand the severity of this situation.” Poodle explained but his voice dropped and grows in annoyance. “I’ve lost a lot of money because of you and I’m gonna do whatever it takes to earn it back.”

“Hey, meathead, there’s no areas,” Jeongguk laughed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Besides we were there first. So go fuck yourself.”

“Do you really want to go that road with me? I will crush you with one finger.”

“I can’t believe you wasted our time for this. You kidnap my girl so you can talk to us. How pathetic are you? Are you that scared of us that you need to use an innocent bystander as a pawn? How did that work for you, fucking moron?”

“Don’t you dare - “ Poodle took a strong step towards the boys, but Jeongguk’s hand went faster behind his lower back at the belt of his jeans. Poodle stopped.

“Take another step,” He said with a serious face. “I’m tired of your bullshit. Another step and I’ll blow a hole in your thick skull. Let’s see how an idiot’s brain looks.”

You stood up by a reflex, the chair fell and you pressed your back against the wall. Your dropped heart raced to your throat. This can’t be happening. You’ve seen Jack and Mark beaten to a bloody pulp, but you draw the line in seeing someone shot. Yoongi looked more confident than he did a minute ago, he smirked at Mark’s clear shaking. His whole body wobbled and his fingers couldn’t stay in place.

”Oh so it’s either getting killed by your gun or getting brutally stabbed by Taehyung?” Poodle coughed. ”I see how it be.”

A question raised in your mind, why would he mention Tae’s knife? Tae hadn’t threatened or instigated the situation in anyway.

“You don’t have a gun.” Mark said, not sounding convinced himself as his voice cracked through his sentence. You could see Poodle’s chest heave and the first bead of sweat roll off his temple.

“Find out,” Jeongguk probed, and you’re sure he wanted them to take another step. He seemed colder than you’ve ever seen, there wasn’t a small crease on the edge of his lip, he was waiting for contact and to make his threat into reality. ”I will bash your head in some other time if you really beg for it. You went too far. If you touched her, hurt her or breath at her the wrong way, I will come after you. Only for her sake I’m not butchering you right here, right now.”

You glanced at Taehyung who had a psychotic grin on his face - like usual, but… it’s not genuine. You’ve seen it when he has been in fights, and it didn’t look like that. He’s scared too.

“Hey, want a suggestion?” Yoongi said nonchalantly, like no one’s life has been challenged. There are guns and knives in this room and 5 fairly aggressive men, and Yoongi spoke like he chatted about weather, “Leave.”

Poodle cursed few selected words before he turned on his heel through the door, having to crouch down and watching his head from hitting the top of the frame.

“Take Jack with yah, he’s hogtied next to the rock.” Yoongi sushed Mark out, which he did like a scared dog with a tail between his legs.

Taehyung pushed Mark from his back and out of the door, he turned to Jeongguk and smacked him on the arm, “Do you have a fucking gun?!” He whisper- shouted so that he won’t be heard from the outside.

“No, of course not.” Jeongguk scoffed and took his hand from his belt line.

“That was so fucking unnecessary and dramatic,” Yoongi chuckled and picked up your chair, “There was no need to do that, they’re only gone for a while.”

“That’s gonna come bite us in the ass,” Taehyung smacked Jeongguk again, something he was grown used to by far.

“You think I don’t know that?” He pushed Taehyung, “It’s the last fucking straw when they start involving other people. I would’ve done that sooner if I knew it would go this far. Pogtan has never been this big of a problem.”

“You can’t start threatening them with firearms!” Taehyung pushed him back, harder. “Their tactics annoy me too but irritating them further is going to be the death of us. Especially when this wasn’t that serious of a situation.”

”This isn’t serious?! How the fuck could you say that?” Jeongguk moved closer to Taehyung to push him again but Yoongi caught his jacket and shook his head,

“Fighting with each other doesn’t solve anything. This wouldn’t be a problem if they hadn’t taken Y/n. Calm the fuck down and think for once. They’re either going to leave us alone because of Jeongguk’s stunt, or they’re coming at us with a bigger force.”

”This dude’s temper is going to be the death of us,” Tae scoffed and pointed at Jeongguk with his thumb.

“What are they even going to do?” You poked your head in the conversation when you get the courage to rip your back away from the wall, with Yoongi’s help as he patted coal stains from your back. “I mean if they don’t leave you alone.”

Jeongguk stroked the back of his neck and gulped, “They’re going to hurt us anyway they can. It can be stealing our money, weed, motorcycles… You name it. They can beat us up or sabotage us. They can destroy the clubhouse and our business… like what happened to this barn,” He paused and glanced at Yoongi who is just nodding along, “Or something worse.”

You tilted your head to the side, what could be worse than that? Pogtan - the rival gang of Bangtan has destroyed this barn - their former clubhouse - and they’ve been beaten several times.

“Like what?” You pouted.

“They could actually hurt you,” Tae said, making eye contact with you for the first time in weeks. His voice was strong and somehow guilty, “This time they were playing around. They wanted us here to give us an ultimatum and maybe to fill in their kinks of having out fists on their body but Jeongguk shut that down pretty fast - too fast… faster than he usually would have.” Tae cocked his head at the leader with a thoughtful look before continuing. “They have connections to other gangs and we’re afraid they’ll usher them against us.”

“We haven’t had that many clashes with them but now that you’re with us, and not with Jimin…” Jeongguk added. “They’re not that happy about it.”

“I don’t understand why would they care if I’m with Jimin or not,” You puffed, “I never even knew Mark and Jack were his friends.”

“It’s a gang thing,” Tae shrugged. “If you’re with us, you’re a traitor to them.”

What made you confused is why couldn’t they tell Jimin. Did he still care about you or does he feel like he owned you? You didn’t want it to confuse you. You’ve moved on and so should he, he can’t come haunt you every moment he saw fit. It’s not even about moving on for him, he moved on when you were still together by cheating.

Three motorcycles pulled up in your driveway and you hopped off. Taking off your helmet and the leather jacket Taehyung borrowed you for the ride, you couldn’t help but ask,

“How did you manage to find me,” You shook the jacket off your shoulders and handed it to Tae. “I had no clue where I was.”

“We had a few spots in mind that we wanted to check,” Yoongi said, setting down the foot of the bike, “And its surrounding buildings and our old club house.”

“But Taehyung hunted down Poodle and followed him since I messaged him,” Jeongguk nodded.

You glanced at Taehyung and saw his line of sight directed at you. He coughed and pounded his fist on his chest to clear his throat,

“It’s a reminder for us for what has happened. They make sure the we have stay in the back of our minds, now that we aren’t near the barn to be reminded of them. So they lead us there over and over again.”

Your palm found its way on the back of his back, you stroked it in a circular pattern, “Are you okay though?” You asked, looking at the guys, “I’ve noticed they bring up a lot of old stuff.”

“Yea, I got to gag Jack, so it’s kinda like a revenge,” Yoongi smiled in between his stretches and you felt the palm on Tae’s back vibrate, the familiar grin formed on his face.

“It wasn’t absolutely necessary, but we avoided getting exposed by him too early,” Tae grinned, “Poodle isn’t as confident as he might seem. He was already missing Jimin and also missing Jack ensured us that he wouldn’t try anything.”

“- And Jeongguk’s thing did too.” Yoongi laughed and Jeongguk shook his head, but you swear you could see the side of his lip pull up.

You aren’t alone after all like you originally thought. Tae couldn’t tell you why he acted like he did, he asked you to forgive him and promised to be more open in the future. Friends fight, apologize, and move forward with a better and a closer relationship.

The three men stayed long enough to watch as you entered your house before even thinking about starting their bikes. A burden is lifted up from their shoulders’ knowing that you’re in one piece, unharmed. Now they could sleep another night with a clean conscious and a heart full of content.

Chapter Text

You looked at the stiletto knife in your hand and the old mattress leaning against the wall between the doors of Jeongguk’s and Taehyung’s rooms. It’s full of holes and slices, all over. You thought that one more wouldn’t hurt or be noticed. Not that they’d mind.

You set the blade against the thin material and pushed it in. It cut a slit through the material effortlessly. You pulled it away and pushed it back in. You did it again. And again. And again. Creating new individual cuts on every stroke, painting the material with unique patterns.

”What’re you doing?” Yoongi asked, leaning his back on the wall from across the room. He had been looking at you for a while without being noticed. He examined your form and the way you just shoved the knife in without any thought.

You kept the knife buried deep in the flesh of the mattress and turned to look at him.

”If you wanna kill, stab. If you wanna hurt, slice,” Yoongi said and shrugged. ”Don’t wanna learn that the hard way.”

-

The more and more nights you spend with the boys the more your mother winked at you and tried to tease you about it. You’ve lost count how many times she has asked you about the biker boys and if you were dating one of them without failing to mention they seem way better than Jimin. It felt awkward at first but she wouldn’t let it go so you took it with humor. And thankfully - or for your misfortune you woke up at the clubhouse again.

You explored every cupboard on a hunt for a clean bowl to pour your breakfast in. It was about time they invested in a dishwasher since they were typical guys, not disturbed by all of the disgusting things they lived in. So you took matters in your own hands and cleaned around a bit. How hard it is to pick up a brush and wash the dishes?

You found a bowl and set it on the table next to the cereal box when you were disturbed. You peaked in the garage after hearing a series of groans echoing from there. You tiptoed to the corner to look at Yoongi and Jeongguk lifting up a beaten motorcycle in.

“C’mon old man,” Jeongguk complained when he looked over the handlebars to see Yoongi’s aching expression when they had a full sized motorcycle up in the air, “It’s not that heavy.”

“Shut your mouth, muscle man, you don’t know my struggle. I’m carrying all of yah so I’m allowed to have a hard time with this.” Yoongi huffed, taking small and weak-looking steps, grip getting weaker by the second. A beam of sweat rolled down his temple.

They got it set on the stand and Yoongi leaned his hands on his knees, sighing deeply to catch his breath.

“What’re you doing?” You walked in to look at the rusty bike just for the two guys to turn their head at you. “That’s like straight from the garbage.”

“Yup but it’s for a customer, needs a lot of work but it’ll be worth it.” Yoongi tapped on the fuel tank, dropping paint chips with each hit. He grimaced looking at his tainted palm, “Just wait and see.”

“Yoongi has the habit to pick up the worst bikes out there.” Jeongguk rolled his eyes, pointing at the multiple faults that you could see without even being trained in motorcycles. The cracks and rust filled every corner and, ”The wheel rim is cracked as well so we couldn’t just roll it in.”

“Yeah, it sounded difficult.” You laughed. “All of the groans and swear words.”

“Oh great, she heard it too.” Jeongguk kicked Yoongi’s thigh who was sitting on the floor with a wrench in his hand looking at the motor, “You should pick better bikes.”

“I like a challenge.” He shrugged and moved his hand to pet the damn thing, “Look at the shape, the model, oh the possibilities I have. If you see this …”

You slipped back to the common room to avoid the sermon Yoongi was about to give on motorcycles to finally have your breakfast, the search for clean utensils was exhausting. Jeongguk followed you probably for the same reason.

Yoongi joined the full table few minutes later and sat down, slamming his hands on it with a sigh, gathering everyone’s attention and shaking the little tiredness you still had away.

“So now that we are all here; what are we gonna do?” Yoongi looked around with raised eyebrows, waiting for answers but you all were confused. You exchanged looks,

“What do you mean?”

“Pogtan will revenge us.”

“For what?” You asked once you got your cereal spoon out of your mouth.

“We stole their money… and reorganized their pathetic little hut.” Jeongguk leaned back on his chair, hands behind his neck.

Tae’s eyes bulged so far that you thought they’d fall out, “You what?!” He was already yelling at 10 am.

“I mean I think it’s fair since they kidnapped her, don’t you think?”

“That’s beyond the point right now,” Yoongi dragged his words out and sent daggers at Jeongguk via his eyes. Jeongguk is out for blood and will take any chance he gets to start a fight, Yoongi knew that too well “They’re not creative with their revenges so they’re going to trash our house, just like what we did to them.”

“What’re we gonna do about that? We got no idea when they’ll come.”

“That’s why I used my brain and had a big think,” Yoongi tapped his finger on his forehead sarcastically, making fun of their logical thinking, “We’ll spread around that we aren’t here this weekend and they’ll use that opportunity. It gives us a window.”

”How’re we going to do that?”

”Just talk about it loudly when you know they’re listening. Say you’re visiting parents or seeing friends. And for Jeongguk this means more socialising with your baseball team.”

~

You slammed your book shut and threw it in your backpack, getting ready to exit the classroom. You’ve had enough of lectures with the dullest of professors but if you were lucky someone would crack a joke or ask the dumbest question in existence.

The girl group at the back of the class stayed last and they caught your attention when you were just right out of the door. Just hearing the words, “Those biker boys,” was enough to for your ears to perk up. Being curious, you leaned on the door frame, looking out in the hallway to not raise any attention.

As the saying goes, curiosity killed the cat, and it killed you too. You were never expecting to hear the things that left out of the girls’ mouths. The accusations of violence and malicious behavior about the boys, your friends. You couldn’t have believed that there were this type of rumors spreading around until you heard them. Calling Taehyung a psychopath and accusing him of stabbing someone to death in a cold rage fueled rampage.

Saying that ‘the blonde guy’ is behind vehicle accidents since he is a mechanic and can go around and destroy brakes without anyone knowing.

How could they say that about Yoongi? The guy who only became talkative around people he trusted and loved. The guy who checked his friends’ motorcycles regularly to avoid anything even close to bad happening. He was the sweetest person under his shell and made sure everyone was safe.

“Their leader is the brains though. He is calm and cold, but tame. He plans the tortures and gets Mr. Bandana do it.” A girl giggled.

Baffled. You were utterly baffled. It felt unreal to hear these about your close friends. Especially when they weren’t true. Jeongguk was anything but calm headed. When he exploded there wasn’t a thing you could do to stop him. It’s not anything better than what they claimed but at least it’s not a lie based on nothing but rumors going around. It’s like a broken phone, no one knew what’s real.

You debated on confronting the girls but what’s the point? What would you do? They’d just laugh you off and at worst start talking behind your back too. The best thing you could do is to take this info and keep it locked in your mind. You’re flabbergasted that these are the things you would hear before you got to know them and you used to believe those things.

You closed your locker with your jacket thrown on your shoulder and marched out of the main building. The nerve of people to spread rumors about things they had no idea about. You took it personally.

“Hey you!” A deep yell went by your ear and you found a hand grabbing your shirt by the collar, slamming you against the wall, knocking your breath out.

Jack thrusted you against the stone wall, knuckles pushing just under your throat, hurting your collar bones. Your attempts of ripping his hands away from you were unsuccessful. It hurt so bad. Your heart jumped in your throat when you realized that he didn’t move under your most powerful touch.

“Tell your boys to stop messing with us.”

The helplessness was indescribable, he wouldn’t budge. You were stuck between him and the wall with nothing to do but watch his angry face and hope someone would see you. You were pathetic. You had no chance against Jack, his muscles were clear without even flexing and that terrified you.

You glanced by his side and saw someone who made your heart beat faster - Jimin. Never in your life had you been this happy to see him when he walked by. He could help you. He would help you.

You whined and struggled all while looking at Jimin, begging with your eyes that he changed his course to come help you. You weren’t expecting him to be your savior and love you again, just that he told Jack to cut it out but you weren’t expecting him walking away either.

Jimin saw you as his walking slowed down and looked at you directly but… he didn’t stop.

“We’re not happy with you. You’re making everything more difficult.” Jack spat at you and kept on rambling but you zoned out. The ultimate betrayal you felt with Jimin walking away, as if he hadn’t hurt you before.

”You will be sorry for the things we will do to you.”

You focused in the real world again when you saw someone’s figure behind Jack.

Jeongguk waved his fingers at you, smirking with his lip lifting up from the otherside.

“Bangtan has a hard on for you and I don’t know why.”

“You’re just jealous,” There was a brief cocky smile on Jeongguk’s face as he scoffed and threw a hook at Jack’s kidneys. He struggled with the hit and let you go out of instinct before Jeongguk kicked him and ripped him up again.

Jack went pale immediately, both from seeing Jeongguk and being hit in a tender spot.

Jeongguk held Jack’s throat against the wall with the other hand up in the air getting ready to swing but he made the mistake to glance at you. You didn’t say anything, just being there, trying to calm yourself down since Jack hasn’t actually touched you before. You held your hand on your chest from the pain Jack’s arm inflicted.

“You really have a death wish,” Jeongguk threw Jack on the ground by his clothes, ”Touch my girl again and see what happens. I dare you.”

Jack mumbled and bolted off, running while holding his side.

“You gotta learn to protect yourself.” Jeongguk said nonchalantly while scanning you up and down for any marks of physical contact. He would deny it to the end of the world if you asked but it pained him that he is the reason why you’re under a threat. He saw the red marks on your collar bone and at the bottom of your throat but didn’t say anything, his tone stayed the same despite his nostrils flaring up, “They’re so big compared to you. They’re strong but you’re agile.”

~

The rusty gate screeched in the dark night against the concrete once Mark destroyed the lock with fence cutters. He tip toed through the yard after Jimin who didn’t make an effort to move silently, kicking every rock in his way and sliding his hand on the metal fence.

”Shouldn’t you be quiet?” Mark shussed him.

“They’re not here you moron,” Jimin scoffed and ripped the fence cutters from Mark’s hand, “Their bikes are gone.”

“But- but they have neighbors who might see us, and report us.”

“Their neighbors are all worse crackheads than you are.” He rolled his eyes and pointed at the wall on the other side of the garage. “Just come on and picklock the window.”

Mark took his time pushing the window latch up and wiggling it but it refused to open. Jimin was about to smash the fence cutters through his head but he settled on pushing him out of the way and swinging the cutters from behind his back.

The glass shattered and flew in every direction, leaving shrapnel both in and out of the building. Jimin ordered Mark to crawl in to open the front door, there wasn’t a way he could go in through the window. Not that he couldn’t fit but he refused to wrinkle his tight, buttoned up shirt with popped collars. Mark got in with a little trouble, scraping his palm on a sharp edge of a glass shard. He ran through the garage to the front door to let Jimin in.

“They’re here.” Yoongi grabbed Tae’s shirt and shook him relentlessly, waking you up in the process, your head shaking as well from using his bicep as a pillow. “What day did you go rumor around?! They weren’t supposed to come today!”

“Obviously I told them the night between Saturday and Sunday, Jeongguk did too, I heard him talking to the baseball boyos.” Tae swatted Yoongi’s swinging hands away from himself and lifted up his head. “I’m not insane,” he whisper yelled, “I wouldn’t allow Y/n to stay over if I knew they were coming.”

“It’s middle of the fucking week, why are they here?” Yoongi sat on the edge of the bed and gazed into nothingness. “We’re fucked. Jeongguk isn’t here and we don’t know if they came with the full posse.”

“They lack so much intellect that they got the whole date wrong,” You scoffed in amusement mixed with uncertainty. There are many directions that the confrontation is able to go into and you’re not excited in witnessing any of that.

“Fuck, I’m sorry we woke you.” Tae sat up after you. His finger hit your temple and brushed strands of hair behind your ear.

“I mean it was inevitable if they’re here…”

“I’m still sorry.”

“Me too,” Yoongi tapped the blanked on top of your foot and nodded to Taehyung. “Get up, we can’t let them destroy our house, no matter how filthy or screwed up it already is.”

Items crashed on the other side of the wall in the common room when Taehyung was climbing over you. ”Stay here, don’t come out, they’ll just get fueled… and it won’t end nicely.”

You sat on the bed in the dark room, fiddling your thumbs around while your heart climbed up to your throat and refused to calm down. The nearly closed door didn’t muffle Jimin’s audible sigh and disappointment in seeing your friends, your ear perked up trying to catch every word and insult thrown at each other but you grew more and more curious.

”… FUCKED UP OUR SHIT- Oh who do we have here?” Jimin cocked his head when the top of your head came in view from between the door. His face flashed with confusion before it settled back to the cocky one he always sported. ”I was iffy on if you were fucking her but I guess it’s true. Does she circle around or who gets to use her?” He laughed with his tone being higher than usual, ”Taehyung?”

”Cut that shit out, you don’t own her Jimin,” Taehyung said calmly but you could hear him being aggitated, his voice dropped from his regular one.

”Taehyung you pig, I can’t believe you took Jimin’s sloppy seconds.” Mark chuckled after and got met with Jimin’s open hand on his arm but he continued, ”Too bad she wasn’t introduced to us, we could’ve collectively pounded that cute ass.”

”You motherfucker I hope you enjoy seeing your own brain -”

”I admire the courage you have to show up in our clubhouse and mouth off, I really do admire it.” Metal clinked against metal, locking in and loading the double barreled shotgun in Jeongguk’s grip, it was a loud noise that you’ve only heard in movies but there was no mistake about what it could be. He leaned on the wall coming from the garage, you didn’t notice him coming back. His eyes traveled up and down on the firearm before they found themselves on Jimin. ”No one else has been stupid enough to come in in the middle of the week, destroying the window and rustling the gate, might I add, with no care in the world.”

Taehyung startled Mark by pushing him, he stumbled against the sofa from the sheer push to the chest and before Jimin could react Tae pressed his hand against his throat, making the other gag. He pointed his finger at Mark to not to move a muscle,

”If you look at her funny, I will publically tear you to the ground so you won’t dare to show your face ever again.”

Jimin nodded against Tae’s hand. A simple threat of humiliation was worse than violence to him. He lived for the attention he got being the most popular guy in Uni, no matter how childish it seemed. He looked at you with the same eyes you shot at him when it was Jack’s arm against you, with those eyes with a smidgen of hope, hoping that maybe you could do something to stop Taehyung.

You didn’t.

Jimin walked backwards out of the house and towards the open gate with Taehyung’s firm and unwavering grip still pressing up on his throat. He pushed him down when got out of the yard.

Mark didn’t need guidance, he was willing to bolt out before Jimin from the simple movement Jeongguk made.

”You’re lucky that she is here, it got you saved from getting your guts spilled on the floor, messy but it would’ve been worth it,” Jeongguk spat at shaking Mark and Jimin who was lying on his butt on the pavement next to Taehyung’s foot. ”Don’t let me catch you on our property or touching our bikes because I’m not afraid of putting this to good use.” He tapped the cold metal barrel.

”You’d be sorry if you think that this will change anything.” Jimin dusted off his hands when he stood up, ”Just a matter of time when you will get hurt.”

Jimin’s back slammed against the metal fence from Tae’s force. ”You don’t know when to stop do you?” He let go off him but stood still, looking in his eyes without blinking, like a predator at his prey, ”Leave.”

Jimin challenged Taehyung in his staring competition. His nostrils flaired and his breathing got heavier. His fist tightened but Mark pulled Jimin on his sleeve away from Taehyung.

Mark pulled harder everytime Jimin tried look back at your boys but soon they turned the corner.

You watched this happening through the open garage door Jeongguk left open when he got in.

”They left blood on their way in,” Yoongi said while pointing at the broken window and the trail of small tricklets trailing from there.

”Yup, that’s how I knew something was up.” Jeongguk leaned on his bike and crossed his arms. ”They picked an awful day to come, something could’ve happened.”

”They’re all bark and no bite.” Taehyung scoffed when he caught up to you from making sure Jimin didn’t have another ideas. ”Bad talking means nothing, it’s when they have an animalistic look in their eye and they’re silent, determined to get to you, that’s when you should be scared.”

~

The warm, steamy water stopped running on your body when you turned the handle. You wrapped a towel around yourself and got out of the bathroom, into your room. You opened the door and froze.

You weren’t sure who was startled more you or Jeongguk and Taehyung. They were on your bed fighting over a book you were reading but Jeongguk let go when you got in the room. You didn’t let them in and they weren’t expecting you to walk in half nude either. A smile was slowly making its way on Taehyung’s lips, he wasn’t afraid to look you in the eyes- in fact that’s the only place his gaze was, on your eyes. He didn’t glance anywhere, maintaining strict contact. Meanwhile a blush grew on Jeongguk’s cheeks and his head was in a complete other direction than you.

Unconsciously your hands tightened the towel around your chest. “How… How?” was the only thing to escape your mouth. How did they get in?

“Your mom let us in, she is so nice. Asked us about how we’re doing and what we were planning. She gave us cookies as well.” Taehyung smiled and nodded, not releasing his eyes from yours. He spoke so clearly, this wasn’t awkward for him but for you and Jeongguk it was, “We just wanted to ask you to come to this party with us -” He pointed at Jeongguk with his thumb who had still his head down and eyes in a different galaxy so that he couldn’t catch a glimpse of you, “- so that you wouldn’t die of boredom in here.”

“Sure, sounds great… I’ll just… Get dressed.” You shuffled closer to your closet, keeping hands on the towel, trying your best not to flash your friends. Having clothes on would make you feel better than talking in the nude. You got on your panties and jeans with little to no trouble and set them on your chair. You thanked whatever was up there for blessing you and your towel from not dropping. You started to feel anxious when you tried to reach for your bra from the shelf. Why did you have to set it so high?

“Need help?” Taehyung asked such a simple question but you felt embarrassed. Surely you don’t have a reason to but you just do. He stayed put until your eyes said it was okay for him to come and reach for the shelf for which you would’ve had to lift up your heels from the ground to get to but he did it with no trouble.

“Here,” his eyes locked with yours when he gave you the white bra. His eyes never wandered or even glanced anywhere despite your cleavage being right there in the open. You doubted you had that much control of your eyes than he had.

You grabbed your clothes and excused yourself to the bathroom to change. You’ve seen them in their boxers but you won’t give them the same delight. Jeongguk is so sleepy in the morning that he doesn’t care what he is wearing to breakfast, not even when you are around. You just try to keep your eyes to yourself since there should be a level of respect but sometimes if he is reaching for a glass from the cupboard you catch yourself from looking at his back and shoulders.

As soon as you got your clothes on you were on your way.

It didn’t take long until you got to the party house and the guys’ turned off their motorcycles. Yoongi was already there, waiting for you next to his bike before heading in.

“Hey, I gotta question.” Yoongi said when you pulled off your helmet. He had a small smile on his face and hands in his front pockets.”I have a problem with the bike I’m working on. The rusty one.”

You knew nothing about bikes let alone fixing them. You should be the last person he asked help from, “I don’t think I can help you with that.”

“On this matter you can. I have a problem with the color.”

“Doesn’t your customer pick one?”

“Yeah but I have free hands on this one. I’d like you to pick the color.” He said and you thought it was the cutest thing. He pulled a shy smile and had trouble looking you in the eye but he still wanted to ask for your opinion. It felt so refreshing to be valued, you really wanted this feeling to last forever. You’ve never been too big of a fan of motorcycles. Well to be fair you have had no experience with them before either until you got involved with Bangtan. Their bikes were all so boring, gray and black - except Jeongguk’s bike that had golden details but still. On the other hand a flashy bike wouldn’t necessarily be the right fit for his customer,

“How about red? Like burgundy,” You suggested and he nodded, eyes growing into slits when his smile grew bigger.

When you were deciding the color the boys took something from their saddlebags and you’re quite certain you know what they’re hiding from you.

As soon as your group walked in and Jeongguk and Yoongi excused themselves.

“They’ll make some rounds,” Taehyung tried his best to sound nonchalant. Even though you didn’t judge them on selling drugs he didn’t want you to be influenced. It’s their business and he doesn’t want to make uncomfortable by it. “Want something to drink?” He wrapped his arm on your shoulder, letting it rest on it. Once you got in the kitchen he opened a bottle for you, using the edge of a counter to pop the lid off.

“Aren’t you going to drink?” You asked when Taehyung took no effort to get a beer of his own. He shook his head and pulled a water bottle from his jacket, as usual,

“No, I gotta drive but you can drink some.” He clinked his bottle with yours and smiled, he was about to say something but the words weren’t leaving his open lips. He sighed after the pause and gathered enough courage, “I really don’t know what to toast for. I guess I just wanna say thanks.” He said, one corner of his mouth going up. He looked a little embarrassed telling you that. You followed him back into the dim living room,

“Thanks for what?” You chuckle. He has no reason to look like that.

“For staying with us. Thank you for it.”

“Hey,” You touched his shoulder and he lifted his head up to look you in the eyes. The way he acted for you to show them decency was humbling, “I’ll never leave you, I’m here to stay - I want to stay. You’re all wonderful guys. I don’t understand how everybody else doesn’t see it. I’m not leaving you anytime soon and… I’m thankful too…” You dragged your eyes from his, “for that you took me in and want to spend time with me -” Taehyung pulled you in, wrapping his arms around your upper body. Your face got snuggled in the crook of his neck. When you hugged him back his grip tightened and he breathed in with his nose.

“I’m not leaving you either,” He said when he unravelled his arms from your body and set his hands on your cheeks. He didn’t do anything or say anything, he just looked at you.

“AHEM.”

Taehyung lifted his head and you turned around to see Jeongguk standing there behind you. Tae’s hands flopped to his sides.

“Sorry for interrupting.” Jeongguk said but he wasn’t sorry, he had a sly smirk tugging his lips. “Yoongi is still making rounds.”

“Aight,” Taehyung nodded and bit his tongue, eyes looking into nothingness. You nodded along with him and said nothing. It was a completely innocent hug but the way Jeongguk interrupted it made you feel nervous about it but -

Jeongguk grabbed your hand and pulled you against his chest before pushing you against the wall. He pressed himself against your torso, brushing his pecs against you, his cologne puffed around you.

He took his lips close to your ear, feeling his warm breath against your skin brought you to goosebumps when he whispered,

“Knife.”

Your heart jumped to your throat and this wasn’t the first time this has happened, though you didn’t know who should take the blame this time. You wished those weren’t the words that came out of his mouth instead of something else.

You looked over Jeongguk’s shoulder to see what’s happening. You were just talking to them and you got dragged away without understanding. How could he spot such a thing?

Taehyung’s nose crunched and his eyes closed tightly. Poodle was standing right behind him, towering over him. He reached his head down and said something. You couldn’t hear or see Poodle’s mouth, just that Tae’s expression wavered, his brows furrowed and lips pulled in to a straight line. Something went down Tae’s cheek, leaving a line that shone in the dark lighting.

Poodle pushed Taehyung forward with little to no force and was gone faster than Jeongguk was able to react. Tae’s steps were wobbly and uneasy when he pushed open the porch door, holding his other hand behind his back. You and Jeongguk shared glances, he cocked his head with caution and slight confusion before rushing over outside.

Taehyung leaned his hand on a pole, head hung low.

”Are you okay?” You went up to him, being careful to touch his shivering back.

Taehyung gave you a slight smile, eyes glowing and tearing up. He wasn’t crying necessarily but the stinging feeling wouldn’t stop and brought the tears to his eyes. He took his hand from his back to your line of sight, ”I don’t think so.” It was covered in dark and thick gooey liquid.

”That was a dramatic-ass exit - shit” Jeongguk scoffed after he closed the glass door to find Tae’s fluids in front of him. He lifted up Tae’s shirt and grimaced. ”Take off your shirt.” He said with a certain tone, he knew what to do, asserting himself in the situation.

Tae did what he was asked but with groans and change of expression, his eyebrows were low and the burning pain was so clear on his face. He managed to shove his shirt in your hands before releasing his grip from the fence. His knees hit the ground and so did his upper body.

”The grass is cool,” Tae smiled, cheek pressed against the freshly cut grass. He breathed in to smell it, ”Moist.”

”Because you’re basically dying doesn’t give you the permission to say that word.” Jeongguk pressed Tae’s shirt against the cut, you made a mistake looking at it. It was a long slash going from his lower ribs to his tailbone that went deep, though you had nothing to compare it for, you’ve only seen these types of cuts on the big screen. The blood oozed out no matter how hard Jeongguk pressed on it.

”’No bark, no bite’ my ass, who am I to say such things… This is your fault though.” Tae turned his head enough to see Jeongguk in his peripheral vision, ”If you weren’t pulling guns at them this wouldn’t have happened. They would’ve never done this.”

”You won’t blame this on me for protecting her.”

”YOUR PROTECTION?! Your ’protection’ is getting us killed - AAH.” He stated through gritted teeth, pushing his forehead against the ground as he tightened his eyes from the pain, ”What about me and Yoongi? What about when they go so far and hurt her?” He made his very best effort to point at you without lifting up his arm, ”I won’t be able to forgive myself and all because you can’t hold your shit together.”

Jeongguk shook his head.

”If this kills me I’m coming back to haunt your ass until you die and finally end this miserable life of yours,” Tae quipped and laid his head back on the ground, trying to ease his breathing. ”This hurts like a motherfucker. Why did he do this… It’s not my time to go…”

Jeongguk didn’t say a word but you saw how he got worked up. His lip twitched and his knuckles were their way to turn white from the tight grip he held on the shirt. It was only a matter of time when he blew up.

His breathing got heavier and eyebrows furrowed, ”Where the fuck is Yoongi?!” Jeongguk yelled with clear frustration while looking around and at the house, maybe to see a glimpse of him through the window. He didn’t know what to do and Tae not shutting his mouth made everything worse. He hated being helpless and at mercy of others. He was ready to hunt down every member of Pogtan at that moment to kick their knees out of place and twist their necks until a loud crack could be heard for doing this to Taehyung.

Jeongguk pulled himself up and pulled on his own hair but stood still when he made eye contact with you. He didn’t move or say anything just hands grabbing his hair and solid eye contact.

He rested his arms by his side and informed you with a hush voice that he’d go find Yoongi.

“What… what did you, you do?” Tae turned his head toward you. “He didn’t yell or break… anything. What did you say to him? Wha- what on earth did you do? I’m so puzzled to how you’re able to do that. Around… you… he doesn’t blow… up.”

“I did nothing,” You shrugged it off and pressed Tae’s shirt on the wound but it was already spreading dark red over the fabric, “Don’t move, you’re losing a lot of blood.”

“Uh-huh… I - I - I think I’m…”

“I can’t find Yoongi, he isn’t here - Holy hell he is shivering,” Jeongguk ran back and hopped on his knees, pressing his bigger hand on top of yours on the shirt. He turned to face you, his forehead crinkled and pupils widened, “Yoongi isn’t here.”

“Where could he be then?”

Jeongguk didn’t seem like his normal self. He hesitated and was unsure, completely opposite of his regular self.

“We gotta go to the hospital.” You break the silence of words when Tae’s breathing turned into whining. Jeongguk pressed his hand on Tae’s head and lifted up his eyelid, that were almost rolled back.

“No. We’ll go to the club,” Jeongguk shook his head and let go of Tae’s, “We are broke and no one can know about this. There’s an emergency kit at the club.”

“You’re not serious.”

“I wish I wasn’t.” Jeongguk got up and he looked at Taehyung with glossy eyes. He wouldn’t say it but he loved Tae as his brother and seeing him unconscious was the worst type of pain he could be in. “Wait here.” He bolted off around the house, leaving you to take care of Tae. You made sure to press hard enough to stop the blood the best way you could and focus on his breathing. If it goes away, you’re screwed. You didn’t have time to think about your emotions, it hit you so hard. You just had to get over this and deal with them later.

A motor boomed loudly, it echoed through the bass of the music coming from the house, and soon enough there was a rat truck in front of you, it slid and drifted into a stop on the grass, making a full path from where it came from.

“That’s not yours.” You lifted your head up to Jeongguk whose head poked out the window.

“Nope.”

-

Jeongguk carried Tae inside the club bride-style whilst you ran in to swipe up the dinner table clean from plates and glasses, you swiped your arm over it, not caring where everything landed.

“The kit is under Tae’s bed,” Jeongguk struggled pass the narrow hallway into the kitchen. He landed Taehyung on the table, as softly as he managed and then carefully rolled him on his back.

You reached your hand under the dusty bed and you found the box. You pulled it out and opened it. You picked up the red emergency stashed under all the junk and a polaroid fell out with it but you couldn’t focus on it.

Jeongguk took the kit from your hand and rummaged through it for a needle and disinfectant. “I’ve never done this.” He pulled the thread through the hoop and looked at you, one hand clasping Tae’s wound close, “Are you sure you want to be here?”

“I want to stay. I have to.”

His the corner of his mouth twitched and he took no time taking the needle close to Taehyung’s skin. ”Yoongi has always sewn my cuts…” Jeongguk’s voice trembled when the penetrated the skin and pulled the needle through, ”I want this dumbass to pull through. He can’t leave us like this.”

Chapter Text

You leaned your back against the lumpy pillow of the couch twirling the polaroid in your hand that you found in Tae’s room.

It was a selfie with you and the boys on the lake you used to hang around but you managed to forgot that photo being taken. All of you looked so happy. You all but Jeongguk grinned from ear to ear, he just smiled, bunny teeth peeking through the corner of his mouth, looking at you under his lashes with a warm expression. Taehyung was so full of life, grin firmly planted on his face and arms wrapped around you while his eyes tightly closed.

The dramatic contrast from the Taehyung in the polaroid to the Taehyung laying on his bed was heartbreaking. What was once a shirt now tightened around him but it still didn’t stop the blood trickling out. He was pale and immobile. You spent every second wishing he would get back to what he was.

Every two minutes Jeongguk went in the room to check his pulse and breathing pattern, he couldn’t stop fidgeting around. It wasn’t changing- and honestly you didn’t know which was worse if it was to change in any direction. You hated yourself for not listening closely enough in healthcare and for not choosing to study nursing. And of course it being middle of the night, both of you were exhausted and on your nerves, you were unsure and filled with worry.

”We’re out of food,” Jeongguk sighed, holding the handle to the fridge. ”You wanna go or do I?” He spared a glance at you in between checking the cabinet for any crumbs.

”I’ll go.” You hoisted yourself up and took a final look at the photo before setting it down on the table. ”I’ll grab something to treat Tae as well.”

”Thanks.” He walked up to you and handed you cash from his pocket only for his eyes to fall to the table. His gaze glued on the polaroid and he took a long second. ”Actually… I don’t think it’s a good idea.” He had the picture in his other hand and sighed, deeply. What are the chances that something would happen to you too?

Looking out of the window, into the dark night, with only street lamps lighting the way, even if that, half of them were broken or destroyed, he couldn’t help the empty feeling grow inside his chest. “Dangerous for you to go there and I just… I… it….”

”Are you alright?” You asked when he couldn’t get the sentence out. It wasn’t like him to be like this. Jeongguk is a strong willed man and seeing him like this made you uncertain.

”I’m okay, it’s just… will - will you be fine with him?”

”I’ll take care of Tae, now go.” You ushered him, there was no point to wait around any longer. You were out of materials and one of you had to go, staying in and pondering about it would just waste time you didn’t know if you had. If Jeongguk felt better going out in the dark by himself rather than sending you then it would just be that way, so you watched as he closed the metal gate and disappeared into the darkness.

You kneeled in front of Taehyung’s form on his bed, his breathing was shallow and his pulse was fairly regular pressed against your forefinger on his neck. That’s a good sign, right?

You stroked his hair behind his ear for it only to flop back on his forehead and eyes. It made sense as to why he would wear the bandana, he looked intimidating when his hair wasn’t in his face, especially when he furrowed his eyebrows. But when his hair would be swinging wildly, he looked cute and approachable, someone who your mom even fell for.

Jeongguk had set him to lay on his stomach so that you had access to Taehyung’s cut, and to prevent for the stitches from opening if Taehyung woke up or stirred.

You dabbed a cottonball in pure alcohol and lifted up his shirt and opened up the bandages. You had no idea what to do, before all this happened the worst injury you’ve ever seen was when your father cut the tip of his finger off while cooking when you were young. He just put a band-aid on it and ordered pizza instead with few curse words along the way.

You swiped the wet cottonball on Taehyung’s cut, to clean it, preventing the likelyhood for an infection… but most importantly, feeling like you were useful. You couldn’t help the thoughts of the worst happening invading your mind. What if Tae didn’t make it? It wouldn’t take much for his system to stop working all together. The only thing going for him was that he is young and healthy, and that the cut didn’t puncture any organs - if it had you and Jeongguk would be completely useless.

There was a light knock on the door which made you hum of how polite of Jeongguk was to let you know he was coming in. His politeness turned down when the banging got louder and harder.

”Don’t you have keys?” You scoffed as you went to open the door for him, ”A key would be a good investment - YOONGI!”

Yoongi held his side and shuffled past you. He didn’t quite make it to the couch before collapsing, his torso hitting the soft material but his knees hitting the floor. It didn’t take long for you to see the bruises covering his arms and face, just from his clothes it was evident he had a rough night. His left eye was swollen shut and his lip busted open. A dry patch of blood covered his cheek and chin.

”Hey, I’m back! There was a package of those parts Yoongi sent to be painted for the crappy bike, they’re back already, so fast.” Jeongguk came in with a cardboard box in his hands, shopping bag on top, it was too big for him to see you from behind. He set it on the table. ”How’s Tae?” Jeongguk asked and finally got his head lifted to your horrified eyes staring at Yoongi.

His eyes changed from the casual look into a worried one, his eyebrows rose and pupils widened. He dropped on his knees next to Yoongi. ”What the fuck happened? What did they do?” His eyes wandered around Yoongi’s tortured body.

”Give… me… water…”

You hopped over Jeongguk’s legs and got the first cup you saw while he helped Yoongi on the couch. His face twitched and eyes shut from the move up.

You handed the cup to him to which he reached forward,

”Thanks — AH AHHH!” The pain was too unbearable to keep silent. ”I think these fucks broke my ribs.” He lifted up his torn shirt from the side to expose his ribcase. Colors of red and purple covered his left side and chest.

”This is so fucked but I don’t know which god to thank that you’re doing better than Tae.” Jeongguk said and tilted his head to examine the damage on the dark purple spot on his side. ”There’s something broken in there for sure.”

”Yeah… Wait - He’s alive?” Yoongi’s eyes shot up to Jeongguk’s and then to yours. ”Is he really?” he asked, eyes glowing and filling with hope they didn’t have a second ago.

”He is still breathing but got a nasty cut. We’re lost without you, we don’t know what to do.” You rubbed your forearm and pouted, this wasn’t a normal situation in the slightest. What broke you even more was that Yoongi had spent the night in the belief that Taehyung was gone.

Yoongi sighed deeply of relief and his eye twitched from the pressure to his side from the inhale. ”They asked for invitations for his funeral.”

You didn’t need to look at Jeongguk to feel him boiling over next to you. His fist tightened and lips pulled a flat line. The intention wasn’t to just hurt, it was to kill and shake everyone involved.

”How much blood did he lose?”

”Quite a bit… I don’t know how much or certain.”

Yoongi nodded and took a moment to himself before speaking, “They stole everything I had on me, including our money and my bike keys,” he leaned his arm on the arn of the couch and smirked, one eyebrow raised high and teeth peaking from his mouth, “Hey Jeongguk, ain’t that financial ruin?”

“Do you mean it?” Jeongguk’s eye lit up and his pupils grew, along with the bunny smile that was no longer cute but sadistic. You weren’t sure what was going on, you weren’t in on this.

“Yup, cause that to ‘em,” Yoongi nodded.

“Are you going to be fine if I leave?” Jeongguk asked.

You looked at him, he bit his bottom lip and had his gaze pressed on the wall towards the dozens of polaroids. You never thought they’d be into revenge.

”Tae’s in the other room?” Yoongi asked. ”Go. I’ll take care of him.” Go where? It’s like he knew what was going to go down. ”Take her with you, nothing good will come out of this if she’s not there.”

Jeongguk nodded and pressed his finger on your arm to motion you to follow him. You were uneasy leaving Yoongi and Taehyung for that matter, but he assured you they’d be fine. You followed Jeongguk to the garage.

"Grab that,” Jeongguk pointed at a black gas can while searching for the keys he stole for the rat truck.

”It’s heavy…” You breath out and grew nervous by the second of what he had in mind. He picked up two larger red gas cans and set them on the pick up truck, before he slammed the door after himself. ”What’s in it?” You asked when you got in after him, but you knew, you just hoped it wasn’t what you thought it was.

He hummed with the sadistic smirk making its form on his face,

”Gasoline.”

~

You pulled over next to the cornfield near Pogtan’s wooden hut and their barn. Jeongguk hopped out of the car and picked up the two cans from the back and waited for you to come aswell, trying to ignore the excitement he carried.

You got your smaller can and struggled to follow him in to the maze. He carried more and bigger gas cans than you did but it was so effortless from him. You were breaking a sweat from just the one, heavy, can you pulled along with you.

”I never thought that accidentally opening the door for Yoongi would lead me to sabotaging others,” you joked to lighten up the mood made from the lack of communication and the intention he had in mind when you had finally reached the marijuana plants in the middle of the field.

”You thought it was me?” Jeongguk looked up from opening the latch of the gas can. He sounded surprised with his voice dropping just a bit.

”Yeah…?”

”You thought?!” His voice rised further than you would’ve believed, he looked offended. ”Don’t you make sure who it is? What if it was anyone else than Yoongi? Look what they did to Tae, they could’ve done something worse to you like -”

”Don’t you think I can handle myself? Do I always need protection from you?” You had to cut him off, it wasn’t the first time Jeongguk went on a rant of how dainty you were. He was no longer slouched over the gas can so he stood tall and was honestly intimidating.

”I know you don’t need me.” The words that left his mouth got you confused. ”I’ve known since you told me to fuck off and you genuinely meant it, I could see it from your eyes. You don’t need anyone to protect you but I need to do it. I know you don’t need me” he lowered his gaze away from your face, ”it’s me who needs you.”

You were mindblown, you couldn’t say anything, your mouth fell open and words got stuck in your throat. You were expecting him to blow up but not like this, he was spilling his deepest emotions and not rage.

”They can beat me, violate me, do unforgiven things to me but once they touch my loved ones I will make sure they join hell with me. There are three people that I love and they’ve touched every single one of them. They wanted to kill Tae, they broke bones on Yoongi - Which they’ve never done before. I can count the times they’ve hit Yoongi on my two hands. He is usually left alone.” He paused for a while and turned down his volume,

”They’ve kidnapped you once for bait, what’s to say that next time isn’t way worse? I can’t live with that idea.”

You mirrored his expression of pure worry but your throat was dry and you didn’t say anything. These are the kind of words you once expected from Jimin but when he failed to deliver them, you forgot the whole idea of someone caring so much about you.

But then there was Jeongguk. He went out of his way to make sure you’re safe, even though he knew you could handle it yourself. He wanted to be that safety for you, not because you needed it, but because he cared enough to provide it - what was even better, he didn’t expect anything back. There was something in his eyes, they glowed in the dark and was full of something you couldn’t quite catch.

Jeongguk sighed and picked up the open gas can. He said his piece and if you had nothing to say then it was a done deal, he thought. He walked in between the pot plants and started pouring, spilling the fuel everywhere.

You went around the plants and threw gasoline everywhere you saw fit. It was more difficult than expected, the gas can would shift its weight around on every move, you struggled with that.

Jeongguk opened his second gas can and knocked it down on the ground.

”Won’t this land us in jail?” You threw your empty can along with the full one he knocked down.

”The cops won’t care and they wouldn’t tell on us for destroying drugs.,” Jeongguk shrugged and started pouring a trail leading out of the maze. ”They deserve this for nearly ending Tae’s life.”

”Why did they target him exactly?”

”Simple,” Jeongguk shrugged again and pursed his lips, ”Tae killed Poodle’s uncle.”

”Huh?!” You snapped your head at him - or rather his back. He was scrouched over, making sure the trail was intact, ”You’re not serious.”

”You know,” he started as he looked at the shimmering trail, ”Tae has a little sister whom he adores so much, I think that’s why he is so overly protective over you.” He shot you a small smile that soon fell down. ”Poodle’s uncle did something to her… we don’t know what and Tae refuses to speak about it.”

You didn’t want to entertain that thought for longer, what ever it was it couldn’t be anything anyone could accept. ”So he… killed him…?”

”Just one deep cut from his stiletto knife was enough… of course Tae knew what to do and twisted the knife so his chances of survival grew to minimal.” Jeongguk set down the gas can he just emptied, ”Tae caught him in the middle of an alley trying the same to some other girl.” He said while still looking at the ground, you weren’t sure if it made easier for him to talk about. He shook his head and moved on the topic.

He dug his hand into his pocket and gave you a box of matches, ”Wanna do the honors?”

You lit up a match and threw it on the ground. The trail caught on fire instantly and ran inside the maze of corn into the pot plants, the fireball went up at the sky and grew aggressive, starting to flame up the corn as well.

Jeongguk smiled, from ear to ear. He looked proud with his chest puffed and hands by his side when he just admired what you had done. The smile grew bigger when faint sounds of shouting and yelling came from the otherside of the maze.

“What’s that?” You looked at him confused, you didn’t want to hurt anyone unintentionally. You doubted that he did this while whole of Pogtan was present.

“The beginning of the end my dear,” He smiled at you and shifted his weight from side to side.

Four people ran around the side of the maze and stopped when they saw you two standing there. They were a good distance away but you recognized them all despite the darkness. The flames danced wild while no one made a move.

“Do you wanna make Jimin madder?” Jeongguk smirked, not shifting his attention away from the men.

“How?” You were quick to ask, you wouldn’t pass on that idea.

“Like this.” Jeongguk grabbed your head and slammed his lips against yours. His palms were set against your cheeks that quickly grew red from the sudden attention. It was a light kiss despite how fast it happened. You don’t know how long it lasted when he pulled away, he was unfaced unlike you. Your feelings shot in every direction and you didn’t know which of them to focus on.

”And this.” He smirked and you screeched when he picked you up in his arms. Your arm found it’s way around his neck and the other flipped off your enemies.

”Nice,” he laughed and walked with you in his arms towards the truck.

It felt amazing to finally realize that you really gave no fucks of what Jimin thought of you, you really didn’t care. He could hate you or love you and it really made no difference. Just before Bangtan thought you to be yourself and stood up to yourself you were so desperate for everyone’s approval. For once in your life you were allowed and expected to make your own decisions.

So, to make another decision of your own, you set your finger under his chin to make him look at you. He lifted up his eyebrow and smiled, waiting for you to say something.

You slightly tilted your head and kissed him, this time savoring what was happening. He took no time to kiss you back but it was unexpected, he nearly missed his footing but thankfully regained his balance. Your fingers tangled in his ruffled hair all the while he worked to deepen the kiss.

You reached the truck and you were forced to pull away when he set you on your feet, but before you did you felt his lips form a smile on yours.

”We’ve got to run,” the coy smile was on his face, and eyes still glued to your lips.

He was right. You set someone’s property on fire and to avoid ass beating you had to go fast, really fast. This wasn’t the time to socialize despite of how much you wanted it. Jeongguk was a strong guy but he couldn’t handle four guys in a fight.

Jeongguk slammed on the gas and with insane drifting you were finally off the wet grass of the morning hours.

Your mind wandered everywhere during the ride, he barely spoke but the smile on his lips never faded, neither did yours. Your heart raced and you couldn’t stop over-thinking, until he took a wrong turn that is. Your mind shut down from the giddy thoughts.

”Aren’t we going to the club?” You asked once Jeongguk pulled over the rat truck in a suspicious looking lot filled with rusty cars here and there.

”We’re gonna set this bad boy on fire,” he said, simply as always while tapping his hand on the dashboard, but before exiting the car he went through every corner and gathered any loot worth something.

Jeongguk took a look at the empty bed of the pick up with the last gas can in hand, he frowned and shook it, ”We don’t have anymore left.”

”Then how’re we gonna destroy it?” Your stomach dropped and sweat pushed from your temples, you were starting to feel nervous. Did you have to destroy it in the first place?

”Don’t be so hasty,” Jeongguk winked and opened the gas can. He took out the pipe and stuck it in the gas tank of the truck. ”Let’s hope it’s fueled up…” he set his mouth on the top of the pipe and sucked, soon grimacing from the awful taste in his mouth.

”YUP!” Jeongguk spat out the gasoline and lifted up the pipe, making sure the fuel from it dripped everywhere, leaving a small, extremely flammable trail. He motioned his open palm in front of you, signalling you to step back. ”It’s going to explode once I set it on fire.”

”Isn’t that a movie thing,” you asked and backed off with small steps.

”Shooting at a gas tank won’t explode it. Igniting the fuel will because of the amount of fuel in such a small place.” He said and lit up the match. He gave you a look before he scraped the match on the box, he put it on the ground and bolted, “Go GO GO!”

The flames ignited faster and harder than you expected compared to what happened at the maze. The gas tank was full and it ignited with such a force it made a loud boom while the fire tore it’s way through the metal.

You had ran far enough with Jeongguk but the noise still startled you. You accidentally bounced against him to his surprise but he thought nothing of it, just wrapping his arms around you to make sure you won’t fall from your clumsyness.

Your back pressed against his chest as his arms took you in their care “We’ve got to hurry. The police actually might come here.” He couldn’t help but let the nervous chuckle out once he let you go but gracefully slithered his hand on yours.

You ran with his hand engulfing yours, you haven’t run this fast since you quit being on the track team, but this time it was better, it didn’t feel like a chore. Your heart was racing and beating out of your chest but not because of the spurt, because of him.

You reached the club house and Jeongguk let you in first. He set his hands on his thighs to huff in some air. You heard the police sirens pass the property, never stopping on the way. You could finally sigh from relief, though Jeongguk never doubted you’d actually get caught.

Yoongi sat on the couch where you had left him few hours earlier, his head was tilted at an angle to scan your and Jeongguk’s heavy breathing forms. You just rushed in without saying a word.

“Have you gotten up at all?” Jeongguk turned his head at Yoongi who just shrugged.

“With great struggle I have,” he said, “Y/n, I think you wanna go to say hello to someone,” he pointed his thumb at Tae’s room, “The stitches were better than I imagined, well done Jeongguk.”

“Actually it wasn’t me, I couldn’t do it. Without her help I would’ve been useless.”

“You’re our savior then,” A smile spread on Yoongi’s often so serious face while looking at you, and just by his look you started to grow warm, you felt proud.

“Go in,” he ushered you.

You peeked in the room to find Tae laying on his back, his head was prompted on a pillow against the board of the bed. His eyes grew into slits when you entered, just only then the smile following to his lips.

He was alive, some color had returned his face, his cheek were rosy. He didn’t look close to being healthy but much better than he was when you left, Yoongi really had a magic touch and to think he did this all the while being hurt himself.

You crouched down and swooped his hair away from his forehead, his smile growing even bigger.

He grabbed your wrist when you were pulling away, “It wasn’t my time to go,” he said slowly and silently all the while looking at you- His eyes followed the tear that fell down your cheek, he exhaled through his nose and hummed, “Thank you.” He pulled you closer and his hand found its place on your back and you buried your face in his neck with your eyes closed shut to prevent the tears from falling.

He was alive. You were an idiot to leave him in his condition to someone who was barely able to stand up by his own, but he survived. Your best friend pulled through during the time you had left him. What if he didn’t end up like this?

Taehyung shushed you, his voice vibrated against your ear but it wasn’t enough to calm you down. You tried your best to not bawl your eyes out but it was unsuccessful.

”I think I’ve entered heaven,” he said and wasn’t shy of letting his amusement been heard, ”There’s an angel in my arms.”

Jeongguk sat down on the arm of the chair and stayed with Yoongi to let you have a talk with Taehyung first. He slightly smacked Yoongi’s knee. ”How’s Tae? And more importantly how’re you?”

”Good, surprisingly. I was about to take everything from our safe to take him to the hospital but then he opened up his eyes when I yelled from kicking my foot at the door,” he chuckled and shook his head. He looked at the swollen ankle he had prompted up on a chairm wondering how on earth he walked to the club like that. “I’m a bit beaten but it’s going to be alright, I’ll handle it. Good job on taking care of Tae.”

”I didn’t stitch him, she did. Without her he would’ve died, I don’t know what happened. I froze.”

”Everything’s fine now though, so it’s okay. And hey, Tae’s not in fatal conditition, I think he got knocked out from the shock and the pain,” he explained but to deaf ears. Jeongguk had his attention towards the open door to Tae’s room, he heard your cries and Tae’s words.

”You know you can’t throw a fit if she picks him over you.”

”I know. She’ll pick anyone she likes as long as she is safe and happy,” Jeongguk returned his gaze and a sorry smile to Yoongi, ”… that brings me to this; do you remember our plan?”

”Which one.”

”The one to take down Pogtan.”

”Ah, operation Get ’Em, it’s my masterpiece, of course I remember.” Yoongi looked like a proud father, his lips pulled up along with his chin, “Why?”

”Let’s do it, we just have to take down Poodle, the others will fall along him. They need a leader and Poodle took advantage of their small minds.”

”It’s risky for you. Are you sure?”

”I am.” His lips pulled a tight line, at once something Jeongguk was hundred percent sure of.

”You’re doing this for her aren’t you?” Yoongi asked the obvious question to which there was an obvious answer that he could see through. Jeongguk didn’t answer though, he look at the ground as if he didn’t hear it. Yoongi slammed his hand on his back and smiled,

“Let’s do it.”