Sutures - Epilogue: Counter Shock

Sutures - Epilogue: Counter Shock

Genre: Soulmates AU, Idiots to Lovers, slight Enemies to Lovers

Pairing: Yoongi/Named Reader

Warnings (chapter specific): mentions of memory loss, mentions of alcohol

Synopsis: “A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.” –Jean de la Fontaine

There was only one thing you and Min Yoongi had in common that night. You were both brokenhearted. You only intended to be together for one night, but when you both end up in the hospital the next day you discover that you are soulmates. It could kill you to be apart. As you and Yoongi attempt to sever the bond between you, will another be formed?

Note: Thank you all for the amazing support and sorry this took so long. There is one more bonus part coming, but thank you so much for your kind words and sharing. Please feel free to let me know what you think 💜

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3 years later

NOW ARRIVING FLIGHT HK 361 FROM LOS ANGELES

"Sumi!" Eunji shouted from across the terminal. 

You weren't sure how she spotted you, especially since you were tired--your hair pulled into a messy ponytail and your hood pulled over your head. 

Her arms around you before you could pull your hands out of your pocket. You couldn't help the smile that crossed your face. Despite talking to her nearly every day, you still missed your friend. While you had friends in the US, none took the place of her. 

"Come on! We have to go out for real Korean food and you have to come see my new place!" She smiled, the first thing everyone noticed about her. She'd recently cut her hair in a bob, accentuating her toothy grin. 

"Real Korean? Oh, come on, Eunji," you said, laughing. "I have been craving buldak. It's never spicy enough in the US.

You headed away from the gate and picked your suitcase off the belt. Eunji's hand shot out as you set the wheels on the ground and extended the handle in a fluid motion. 

"What's that?"

Eunji already had her fingers around it the cookie shaped keychain attached to your suitcase. Her face was unreadable. Something felt off in the pit of your stomach, but you were just jetlagged. 

"Oh, isn't it cute? It was in the K-pop section and I don't even know who it's related to, but I couldn't just leave it." 

Eunji nodded, her face falling. "Yeah, it is cute." 

---

"You know the best way to combat jetlag?" Eunji asked, her eyebrows raising. 

"Hmm?"

"Alcohol and clubbing!" 

"Eunji, I'm tired. I just want to sleep." 

"Aww, okay, maybe later."

The Uber driver turned the volume up on the radio, seemingly annoyed with Eunji's words that bubbled like champagne. The song ended and another began. It sounded vaguely familiar, but you couldn't place it. 

"Hey, uh, can you switch the station?" Eunji asked. Her demeanor switched in an instant. Just seconds before she had slouched in her seat and scrolled through her phone. Now, she sat straight and her fingers curling around her phone.

"Wait, why?" you asked. "I like it. It's soothing." 

Eunji sat back in her seat. Her eyes looked you up and down as if you'd just fallen and hit your head. "Okay," she said. "We can listen to it." 

"Are you feeling all right?" you asked. "You're acting kinda weird."

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just happy you're back is all." 

---

Two orders of buldak, rice, and kimchi were spread out in front of you and a historical drama played on TV. You didn't think your happiest night included anything else, but there was a feeling in the pit of your stomach that told you differently.

"Eunji?"

"Yeah?" Her mouth was full of rice and kimchi and she didn't take her eyes off the screen, probably because Park Bo-gum's face was on it.

"What happened the day I left? You said you'd tell me one day." 

Eunji turned to meet your eyes, her dark ones becoming sad. "Sumi, I don't think it's a good idea. And, I don't think you'd believe me anyway."

The drama went to commercial and while your curiosity nagged at you, something pulled your attention to the TV. It was just a cellphone commercial, but your heart quickened at the idols on screen. You were aware enough to recognize the idol group, but something pulled at you. Like someone was pulling out long-forgotten stitches and re-opening a wound.

"The one with blue hair," you said. "He's kinda cute."

Eunji's chopsticks paused in midair, but after a few moments, she grabbed a piece of chicken. "Eh, I like the tall one." 

--- 

"Goose," Eunji said. She held her hand over her mouth and the phone to muffle the sound, hoping her friend couldn't hear her talking from the bathroom. "We have a problem." 

"Is Sumi okay? She was coming back to Korea, right?" Eunji heard doors shutting on the other end of the line, signaling that Namjoon was moving away from the other members. 

"Yeah, but she keeps...I don't know. She has a Shooky charm on her suitcase and any time your songs come on or you're on TV. She just changes. It's like she goes into a trance or just becomes really calm. It's weird." 

"Wait, they're all like coincidences, right? Like she just stumbles upon something or just gets something for no reason?" 

"Yes! Exactly like that!" Eunji clamped a hand over her mouth. 

"Yoongi is doing it too."

---

"I know it's here somewhere--" Yoongi said as he reached under his bed. He normally was a neat person, but moving dorms meant that things sometimes ended up dropped behind desks and under beds. "Ah, here." 

Yoongi stood up and pulled out a small stuffed cat from under his bed. He went to hand it to Namjoon, but his face twisted as he realized it wasn't the object he was looking for. 

"What's this?" he asked. "A fan must've given it to me--" 

Namjoon looked down at the stuffed cat and he felt a small pang in his chest. You'd been without it for this long, you might even miss it, but he knew there was no way he could return it--even with Eunji's help--that wouldn't possibly dredge up memories.

The doctors had told him to monitor Yoongi. Don't allow him to remember too quickly, maybe not at all. Eunji would do the same with you. Part of Namjoon wished that they would eventually remember, but then he knew what it would do to Yoongi to know that he lost his soulmate.

Yoongi went to toss the stuffed cat aside but paused. Instead, he set it gently on the bed, his eyes lingering on it for an extra moment.

"Hold on, the move has everything scattered." 

"It's okay, Yoongi. Just let me know if you find it later."

---

"Hey Yoongi," Namjoon said, knocking on the open studio door. "Almost done setting up?"

Yoongi gave his bandmate a small smile. "Yeah, got all the equipment set up. Just finishing up the extras."

Namjoon looked around at Yoongi's new studio. It looked nearly identical to his old studio other than it was larger and he had bought some black and white art for the walls. Namjoon's eyes wandered to the two large shelves on the opposite wall of the room full of mostly photos and trophies, but on one of the shelves sat Kitty. Her eye still drooped, but the black threads still held on.

"You put it on a shelf?" he asked, walking towards it and stroking Kitty's head. 

Yoongi shrugged. "I needed to fill the spot and an Army gave it to me, right?" The question floated in the air and Namjoon knew that Yoongi didn't expect an answer. 

Namjoon slowly studied Yoongi. Something changed every time he brought up Kitty. While Yoongi was normally calm, there was something else there. Sadness? Confusion? Frustration? Namjoon couldn't explain and he worried that it would eat Yoongi alive.

---

"Namjoon, what should we do? It's obvious something is happening. Do you think they'll remember? Is it dangerous?" 

"I'll talk to the doctors. It doesn't seem to be harming them right now, but we should keep a close eye on them." 

"Do you think they'll ever get their happy ending, Joon? It was so obvious that day at the hospital--"

Namjoon was silent on the other end of the line. "I hope so, Eunji. I hope so."

---

Normally, you wouldn't bother with the tourist spots of Seoul. But, there was something romantic about returning to Namsun Tower, single. Last time, you'd secured a lock with Minki, but he was long out of your mind. You heard he'd gone on to date an idol who quit the industry. 

The locks were normally cleared every couple years, so you doubted your and Minki's lock was still there. You'd become content with the idea that no love was eternal. You could lock locks onto a fence, wear promise rings, and vow to love each other forever, but it didn't mean a thing. 

The elevators opened and you got out and looked out over the city. It'd been years, but your feet seemed to remember the path you and Minki took. The two of you had wanted your lock to be as high up as possible so that it could overlook the city and where the two of you were within it. You'd passed the locks below the tower and come all the way to the top where there was limited space. 

You came to the short wall and near the top, the pale pink lock hung. Your initials were faded and it seemed impossible the lock was still there. You reached out and touched its smooth surface. 

Footsteps approached from beside you and you caught a figure out of your peripheral vision. Normally, someone so close to you would make you recoil backward, but something about him made you feel like he hadn't even noticed you. 

You turned to see a man wearing a black mask and beanie. Small tufts of blue hair stuck out around the edges and his eyes were trained down at the city. Something about him felt right.

"Look out!" someone shouted over the crowd. As you turned, someone barrelled into your shoulder and straight into the blue-haired guy. His coffee spilling down the front of you. 

His arm had come around your back and after the commotion passed, he helped you back to your feet, leaning you against the railing. 

"Are you okay?"

You looked up and met his eyes. Something clicked. Like gears in an old clock, a flat-lined heart monitor coming back to life, the intricate alignment of the planets themselves. 

"Do I know you?"

"I don't know. I think so." 

THE BEGINNING

Sutures - Chapter Six: Locked In Love

Genre: Soulmates AU, Idiots to Lovers, slight Enemies to Lovers

Pairing: Yoongi/Named Reader

Warnings (chapter specific): mentions of sex, therapy, being chased by a cop (no violence occurs)

Synopsis: “A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.” –Jean de la Fontaine

There was only one thing you and Min Yoongi had in common that night. You were both brokenhearted. You only intended to be together for one night, but when you both end up in the hospital the next day you discover that you are soulmates. It could kill you to be apart. As you and Yoongi attempt to sever the bond between you, will another be formed?

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"Hello?" you said, as Skype connected you to your client. He said he was a college student in the emails you'd exchanged. When his face appeared on the screen you smiled and waved politely. He bowed, which looked awkward over the screen, but it made you laugh. "Kim Jinwoo?"

"Yes!" he said, his eyes widening his eyebrows brushing the ends of his hair which lay over his forehead. "Nice to meet you, Teacher."

"Please call me, Sumi," you said. "No need for the formality." 

He nodded.

"So, today I'm not going to go over much English with you, but I want to ask you a few questions just to get to know you and find out how I can best teach you."

You opened up your notebook where you had previously written down the questions you wanted to ask. It would certainly be possible to have your clients fill out a form with all of this information beforehand, but you liked to ease into it and allow them to get comfortable. You couldn't help but smile when you felt the familiar weight of the pen in your hand, something familiar in such an unfamiliar place. 

"Why are you learning English?"

"I'm studying abroad in America in a couple of months," he said. "I want to have a good grasp on the language before then." 

You nodded and wrote down his answer. "Have you ever taken an English class before?"

"The required ones in school," he said.

You continued on with the questions pausing only to write them down. Your first meeting went well and you waved goodbye to the boy. He smiled at you, his lips full and his teeth white. 

"I'm excited to begin our sessions," he said. "I wasn't expecting my tutor to be someone my age."

"I'm still older than you," you said, laughing. "Even if it is only a year." 

The boy joined in your laughter. "I'll send you my schedule so we can set up our next meeting."

"Sounds good."

"I'm looking forward to it," Jinwoo said, his voice slightly deeper than before. "Noona."

---

You and Yoongi sat on a plush love seat. Each of you clinging to either arm to prevent your thighs or arms from brushing. Yoongi barely looked at you; his face settled in a pout. 

"So," the therapist said. "I've already talked with both of you individually and now we will focus on dual therapy. If either of you needs individual counseling, feel free to contact me."

The therapist was a young woman, older than both you and Yoongi, but too young to be either of your mothers. She had a friendly smile and a voice that cut through the air like a knife through butter; but you still found yourself fiddling with your fingers, digging your fingernails into the skin of your fingertips. 

You'd thought about bringing your knitting needles giving yourself somewhat of an escape from the stagnant air surrounding you, but you didn't want to be rude. So, rather, you stewed in the stagnant air.

"Have you had your first urge yet?" The therapist's pen was poised on the notebook and her eyes flicked between both of you. 

"Y-yes," you both managed to say. 

"The first one is usually the hardest to control. Were you able to stop things before they went too far?"

"We didn't have sex if that's what you mean," Yoongi said. Your eyes widen and you want nothing more than to sink into the couch cushions. "Other than when we first met."

The therapist nods and writes something down on her notepad. "This will continue to be difficult for both of you, which is why it's important to have a close relationship, even though the end goal is to break this biological bond between you. What would each of you say is the hardest part so far?"

You both remained quiet. You still fiddled with your fingers wishing now that you'd brought your needles along. You felt a warmth come over your left hand briefly. You caught the sight of Yoongi's hand moving back to rest in his lap. His gaze, however, was still on you and your now still hands, his momentary warmth calming your restless limbs. 

"We don't really know each other," Yoongi said. "We met only a few days ago and it's hard to find comfort in each other if we don't really know each other. And--"

"And we both got cheated on," you said. "It's hard to trust someone again."

Yoongi's gaze was on you again, burning a hole in your profile. You secretly wanted to reach out for his hand again and cling to it, because even if you weren't friends, even if you hated each other, there was still something that made you feel safe when your hand was in his. 

"That's understandable," the therapist said. "Why don't each of you plan a date? Don't look at as a romantic gesture, just something you can do together to get to know each other a little better." 

You nodded, but Yoongi shifted uncomfortably beside you. 

"I thought the point was the break whatever bond there is."

She nodded towards Yoongi. "It is," she said. "But, you have to remember it's imperative to build an emotional connection with each other, because as the biological bond breaks it can cause severe mental health issues, which is why I'm here to help you. If you have a separate emotional bond, even just as friends, it will make severing the biological bond easier."

You and Yoongi nodded and you felt as he relaxed back down into the couch. Despite saying he didn't know you well, it seemed like he didn't want to know you.

Yet, you remember waking up that morning on the couch in his studio. At first, you didn't know where you were, not able to see much in the dark, but then you caught the faint glow of the computer screen and Yoongi's huddled shape in the chair. A blanket curled around his form and he clicked away aimlessly on the desktop, unknowingly bouncing his head to a beat you couldn't hear. 

It was early in the morning. He either had gotten up early to work or had stayed in the studio with you the whole night. You weren't sure which was worse. 

"You must be careful not to develop romantic feelings because the bond can still break and if someone has lingering feelings, it can cause them to continue to experience the withdrawals, which often in those cases is deadly."

You glanced at each other and smiles broke on both of your faces, the previous tension in the room dissipating into the air.

"I don't think that will be a problem."

---

It didn't take you long to figure out what you wanted to do with Yoongi on your "date". You saw him slouch as soon as the two of you stepped onto the bus. He'd worn a hat and a mask attempting to hide his identity as much as he could. You couldn't help but crack a smile at the way the boy sat at the very back of the bus. You sat beside him, the rough fabric of his black jeans brushing against the bare skin of your knees.

Even though it wasn't a real date, there was part of you that wanted to date again. Not Yoongi or anyone in particular, you just wanted to feel cared for again. You wanted to have someone who would wrap their hands around yours when you didn't have your knitting needles and felt anxious, someone to tell you everything will be okay. Another side of you wanted to be single, you'd been with Minki for three years, you'd forgotten what it was like to be alone.

The bus neared your stop and you softly tapped Yoongi's knee to signal it was nearly time to get off. The bus pulled into the stop and the two of you climbed off. 

"We'll walk the rest of the way," you said. "It's not far."

"Would it have killed you to use one of the company cars?" he asked.

"This is my date," you said. "Now come on."

You were in central Seoul in the middle of the city and you felt Yoongi tense beside you. You looped your arm through his and walked in the direction of Namsan Tower. 

"Hey!" he said, his arm squirming in your grip. "If someone gets a picture, this will look bad."

"We'll just look like a normal couple," you said. "If anything they'll pay less attention to you." 

Yoongi sighed, his arm relaxing. You heard a small grunt of disbelief from underneath his mask, but he relented and allowed you to interlock your elbow with his. 

You approached Namsan Tower--a large arrow-shaped building that jutted out from the middle of the city--and felt the wave of deja vu wash over you. The last time you were here you were gripping Minki's hand, a smile on both of your faces. You weren't really happy, you didn't realize it then, of course. You always told yourself Minki was the one, you told yourself that Minki was perfect. But, if the boy next to you now was any indication, you'd been lying to yourself. 

"Don't tell me we're doing one of those stupid lock things," Yoongi said as the two of you entered the elevator and you pressed the button for the second floor. 

"No," you said. "We're removing one."

---

When you got to the Locks of Love, there was more than you remember, locks running all along the rooftop deck. There were so many locks it looked as if the walls of the observation deck were made from the locks. 

Despite the mass of locks, it didn't take you long to find the one you and Minki had picked out. It was near the top of the short wall, pale pink in color with yours and Minki's initials written on it and a heart drawn around them. The rain had caused the Sharpie to fade slightly, but the initials were still clearly visible.

You removed a bobby pin from your hair, a shorter piece of your hair falling into your face. You tucked it behind your ear and wiggled the bobby pin into the lock. 

"I'm guessing you didn't keep the key?"

You smiled sheepishly and laughed at your own stupidity. "We threw it in the Han."

Even though Yoongi still wore a mask, you could see his plump lips forming a smirk underneath it. 

"What?" you asked. "We thought we were in love."

"You weren't?"

You sighed. "I don't know. I at least thought I was." 

Yoongi didn't react, but you felt his eyes watching intently as you wiggled the bobby pin back and forth, trying to get the lock to release. After a few minutes of struggling, Yoongi stepped in front of you, his keys in his hand. 

"Sometimes if you have a similar key you can trick the lock into unlocking," he said. He tried a few of his keys, a small one eventually slipping in the lock. He jostled it, but to no avail. 

"How do you know that?"

He raised his eyebrow. "You really want to know that?"

You noticed a few people looking at the two of you suspiciously. The last thing you needed was attention, it was a risk to come to such a busy place with Yoongi anyway. You nervously turned the bobby pin around in your fingers.

"You think if we just pulled on it long enough it would come off?"

You laughed, only causing more eyes to dart your way. You sighed and tried the bobby pin again, not managing to unlock the lock. Frustrated, you threw it to the ground. 

"I should've made a copy of the key," you said. "I couldn't have been so stupid to think it would really last?"

You knew you had been that stupid. You thought Minki was the one even though the moths in your stomach always told you differently. 

"Hey!" you heard someone shout from the other end of the deck. "You can't remove those!"

You noticed the man--a cop--run towards the two of you and before you could process what was happening, you were running down the stairs and back down to the street.

At some point, your hand had fallen into Yoongi's. His hand gripped yours tightly as you followed only slightly behind him. You eventually fell into the crowd of central Seoul and ducked into an alleyway. 

You both breathed heavily and Yoongi pulled down his mask to breathe more freely. His lips and face red, his lips in a pout. His hand still holding yours and your bodies mere inches apart, feeling each other's warmth. 

"I'm so sorry," you said. "I didn't realize it was illegal and I thought it might be therapeutic to remove it. If we get caught, I'll take the blame, cause you're an idol and I've already caused you too much trouble..."

Yoongi laughed. "Shhhh, we'll get caught if you keep rambling." He let go of your hand and wrapped his arms around your shoulders, pulling you into his chest. His chin rested comfortably on the crown of your head. His heart beat against your ear, in near rhythm with your own. 

"Don't worry about the lock," he said, whispering, his breath tickling the skin of your ear. "Just because it's there doesn't mean anything. You don't have to love him, or ever have."

His arms loosen around you and you look up at him. You'd never seen him like this before; his voice deep and calm, his eyes calm and kind, his fingers lightly twisting the ends of your hair. His skin shone in the dimly lit alley and his back was against the wall. 

"I think we're safe, now," he said. "I'll get us a taxi." He pulled the mask back up and held his arm out for you, allowing you to loop your arm through his again. 

You walk down the street to find a taxi, most of which were full in the late afternoon. People push past you and vendors yell out their prices to potential costumers. You don't pay much attention to anyone or anything as you walk, but your eyes flit to a newsstand with its glossy magazine covers and airbrushed celebrities. 

You suddenly catch sight of your face on the top right of a magazine cover. It was next to Yoongi's. You stopped, even the tug of Yoongi's arm didn't startle you from your thoughts. 

You picked up the cover and felt tears coming to your eyes as you take in the headline, "Jang Sumi Cheated On Her Long Time Boyfriend With Min Yoongi?!" A small mention of Yoongi's ex was mentioned as well. 

"Sumi," Yoongi's voice cut through your thoughts. "Come on, I'll explain everything in the taxi." 

He tugged on your hand lightly and after a moment you place the magazine back on its rack and follow him, his hand completely enveloping yours. His hand was your only anchor in the choppy sea. 

Eventually, Yoongi manages to wave down a taxi and the two of you climb in. His hand leaves yours as he tells the driver directions and suddenly you are overboard. 

Everything that had threatened to spill over on the street now spilled over on your cheeks. You turned away from Yoongi, quickly wiping away the hot tears, wondering why it seemed you always cried in front of him when he was the last person you wanted to see you cry. 

"I didn't want to tell you," he said. "I was hoping it would die down before you found out." He paused, taking a deep breath. You turned to face him, it was barely evident you had cried at all, but you felt some tears still threatening to spill over. "After everything with the shoes, Minki's been saying some things. He's saying you were still in a relationship with him when you slept with me. Don't worry, we haven't confirmed anything, most people think he's just a jealous ex, and intend to keep it that way, okay?"

"Everyone knows we slept together?" you asked. "They think I cheated?"

Yoongi reached out and moved the piece of hair your bobby pin freed and tucked it behind your ear. "I'm going to take care of it," he said. "Don't worry, everything will be over when we come back from Japan."

You nodded, wishing more than ever you'd saved the key, so you could unlock the lock and destroy it. Never having to think about Minki again. 

I made my tik tok public today. Feel free to follow me. All I ask is to respect my privacy and heed any warnings I post 💜

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeCShYXD/

I live in India. If any of us needs medical attention if infected, I'm quite sure we won't survive. Delhi is a large capital city, MP's have to tweet and beg to get medical attention for their loved ones. We have the record for highest single day infections.

This video by the BBC India bureau is pretty distressing and summarises the issue quite effectively: supplies, infrastructure, vaccines.

A crowdsourced list of fundraisers to donate (<FF> for campaigns that accept foreign funds, I'm also matching donations upto Rs 20000, DM)

If you have time this weekend: volunteer to collect information of the status of beds

Unfortunately, money will not solve all of India's problems. This is the activism I'd encourage you to pursue if you're not Indian:

1. The United States refuses to lift a export raw material ban on vaccine products even temporarily. Note that India exported 60 million doses of Astra Zeneca abroad before this crisis.

2. Angela Merkel threatens future retaliation against India for focusing on domestic vaccines.

3. There's also a WTO bill that would waive patent monopolies *temporarily* in addressing COVID

I call all of this genocidal colonialism by another name. Please organise. India is the producer of vaccines and pharma that is intended to go to middle and low income countries, as long as the crisis continues here, it will have knock on effects in South America and Africa. The virus mutating through 1 billion people will get deadlier and find you too, so it's probably in your self interest.

Campaign #PeoplesVaccine to support the WTO bill

Countrywise:

If you live in the US: find your reps here & email them, alternatively (thanks @ataratah) Text "SIGN PKSLVL" to the RESISTBOT (50409) to get on the petition and send a letter to your reps to lift the embargo. It's super quick and you don't have to be eloquent or talk to a single human!

If you live in Australia: find your reps here & email them

If you live in Canada: find your reps here & email them

If you live in the UK: petition to sign (on 500/10000 signatures)

If you are a citizen of the EU: (thanks @kureha-fujishima) Sign this initiative before 1/05/2021, more details here

I'll update with resources for more countries as I find them. Generally calls work better than emails, so do try calling your representative directly if you can.

Sutures - Chapter Eleven: Right Place

Genre: Soulmates AU, Idiots to Lovers, slight Enemies to Lovers

Pairing: Yoongi/Named Reader

Warnings (chapter specific): mentions of anxiety (sort of), exes who won’t leave you alone, family hospitalization, mentions of death

Synopsis: “A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.” –Jean de la Fontaine

There was only one thing you and Min Yoongi had in common that night. You were both brokenhearted. You only intended to be together for one night, but when you both end up in the hospital the next day you discover that you are soulmates. It could kill you to be apart. As you and Yoongi attempt to sever the bond between you, will another be formed?

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You swung your legs towards the seat across from you, but they were just barely too short and they fell straight back down which caused Yoongi to chuckle. He sat diagonally from you with his feet resting on the seat beside you. He wore headphones and had his laptop in front of him. You hadn't even realized he was paying attention to you. 

You held your knitting needles and your creation was nearly done. Yoongi had told you about his family dog--Holly--and you remembered seeing his picture in Yoongi's studio. You were knitting a small scarf that would tuck easily around his collar. You wished you had more time to make him something like a jacket, but Yoongi had sprung the trip on you, planning and taking on a large project like that took weeks to complete. 

The scenery on the train flew by so quickly you could hardly make it out and it made your head spin if you tried for more than a few seconds.

"You seem quiet," Yoongi said. He hadn't taken his headphones off and you laughed at the thought that he simply had them in as a habit.

"You were working. I didn't want to disturb you."

Yoongi shrugged and lowered his laptop screen and allowed his headphones to fall around his neck. "You seem nervous." His gaze lowered down to your fingers that continued knitting as you spoke and looked into his eyes. You hadn't even noticed the way your fingers continued the pattern. 

"I mean, I want to make a good impression on your family. I know we're not really together or anything, but I'm your soulmate and if they don't like me--"

"Exactly, you're my soulmate," Yoongi said. "Finding each other was less than one in a million. Almost less than one in a billion. And, don't they say that soulmates are often not just compatible with the person, but their family as well?" 

"That's been the case so far," you said, remembering reading the Wikipedia article on the handful of other soulmate couples. "But, soulmate science is new and imprecise. And, I imagine for those who are different from their families or don't have good relationships with them, that can't always be true."

"I have a feeling they will like you," Yoongi said. "You don't have to worry."

You didn't get a chance to respond as the train lurched to a stop and announced its arrival in Daegu. The doors opened and you stood up. You and Yoongi had had the train car to yourselves, so you were able to stand up and grab your suitcase immediately. 

"Are the press gonna be here?" 

"I don't know," Yoongi said. "We didn't officially announce this trip, but I wouldn't be surprised if someone is following us."

You nodded. It was becoming familiar to see camera flashes and your face used as a cover photo. The thought of growing used to it sent a shiver down your spine as you extended the handle on your suitcase.

Yoongi stood beside you and your eyes met briefly causing his lips to turn upwards in a small smile. He reached up and pulled the mask you'd forgotten was looped around your ears and hanging around your chin up over your lips and nose. 

"Just in case," he said.

---

You hadn't seen a single camera as you neared Yoongi's parent's place. You weren't sure if it was a blessing or a curse. Just because you couldn't see the cameras, didn't mean that they weren't there. You half expected to see a picture of you and Yoongi getting off the train in Daegu pop up in your newsfeed. 

"We're here," Yoongi said. The car stopped and Yoongi was immediately out and walking around to open your door. You stepped out and gripped the handle of your suitcase, the bones of your knuckles feeling like they were about to burst through your skin. 

Yoongi walked slightly in front of you and opened the door. The first thing you heard was a high-pitched barking and before you could catch sight of Holly, the brown full-sized poodle was jumping up on you in greeting.

"You must Holly," you said, crouching down and allowing the dog to rest its front half on your lap. "I've heard a lot about you." 

"Ah, I'm right here." Yoongi's face contorted into a look of simultaneous amusement and jealousy. 

You laughed as you ruffled the dog's ears and crouched down so he could lick your chin. "Oh, you're so sweet." You reached into your purse and pulled out the scarf you finished on the train ride and carefully tied it around his neck. 

"Oh!" you heard someone exclaim from the other end of the room. "I wasn't expecting you two for another hour. Dinner isn't done yet." 

"It's fine. We have to get settled anyway." 

Yoongi's mother's eyes widened as she met yours. It was as if she had just noticed you. She stood just a few inches shorter than Yoongi and you could see they shared many features. From the slope of the nose to the way her eyes seemed to narrow in on you, the same way Yoongi's did in certain moments.

"You must be Sumi," she said. "It's so nice to finally meet you." 

She reached out and pulled you into a hug. You tensed as she wrapped her arms around you. From everything Yoongi told you about his family, they were not outwardly affectionate people and so you had expected at most a firm handshake. 

"I'm sorry," she said. "I just feel like you're part of the family already." She glanced over at Yoongi and back at you. "I haven't seen Yoongi this happy for a long time." 

"Oh," was all you could get out. Yoongi had told them you were trying to sever the relationship, right?

---

Yoongi met his mother's gaze. Her eyebrow slightly arched, a look Yoongi had seen many times. Holly broke the silence with a bark signaling for you to reach down and pet him again. You crouched down so your face was level with his and allowed him to lick your chin. 

Yoongi couldn't help but smile as he watched you. Your hair was ruffled from the train ride and he noticed the way your shaking hands calmed as they ran through Holly's fur. He crouched down next to you and met your eyes, a small smile simultaneously appeared on both your faces. 

"I've never seen him warm up to someone so quickly," Yoongi said, ruffling the dog's ears.

"I guess he just likes me." 

"Yeah," Yoongi said, his voice an octave quieter. "I guess he does."

Yoongi's phone buzzes in his pocket. His hand reaches for it, but he doesn't want to leave this moment. It wasn't like he was reliant on his phone, but with an upcoming album and the other members working on it in his absence, he couldn't ignore it.

Jihee's name appeared on his screen and his widened. He hadn't blocked her number purely because the texts after the break up stopped and with the whole soulmates thing, he'd honestly forgotten.

Yoongi opened the text and found a screenshot from Instagram where she'd posted a picture of herself laying on a bed with her legs straight up in the air. It wasn't the familiar slope of her calves or the arch of her back that caught his eye, but rather the black pumps she wore. 

He recognized them instantly as the ones you'd worn and abandoned the night he'd met you and the ones you'd failed to get back from Minki. Yoongi had no idea how Jihee got a hold of them, or how she even knew their significance. 

He screenshot the text and emailed it off to the legal team at BigHit. He knew the post would probably gain some attention, but he trusted it would be seen for what it was, an attempt to seek attention. 

Blocking her number, he slid the phone back into his pocket. Yoongi knew he should tell you, but watching the way you adjusted the scarf around Holly's neck, he decided he'd tell you later.

---

Yoongi was starving and watched as each dish was placed on the table. His parents had made a bit of everything and as soon as everything was set he quickly reached for braised pork and his mom's homemade kimchi. 

You grabbed a bit of everything and mixed it together with your rice. Yoongi reached out and grabbed a few more pieces of meat and set them in your bowl. 

"You didn't eat much this morning." 

Your eyes widened and Yoongi thought he caught your lips curl into an embarrassed smile.

"Sumi," Yoongi's mother said. "I'm so happy you came into Yoongi's life. We were getting a bit worried Yoongi would never find someone who made him truly happy." She glanced over at Yoongi's father. "Even in his past relationships, I never saw Yoongi like this." 

Yoongi felt the heat rush to his ears and his feet fidgeted under the table.

You--despite Yoongi seeing the way you fiddled with your chopsticks indicating your nerves--smiled. "Well, I didn't really have a choice." You laugh, which normally made Yoongi's heart jump, this time made it fall. 

While it was entirely true that you and Yoongi hadn't a choice in getting to know each other, there was a part of Yoongi that didn't want this to end. He wanted to see you play with Holly, see your hair splayed over your face in the morning, and your small smile when he gave you more meat. 

"I am happy I met Yoongi though," you said. "Even if we can't spend the rest of our lives together and this is all some weird biological thing, these past few weeks getting to know Yoongi have convinced me that we are truly soulmates. I don't think soulmates always have to be romantic or end up together, we just get each other."

The table fell silent. But, it was content and for the remainder of the meal, the only sounds heard were light conversations and the sounds of eating. Yoongi couldn't help the swelling feeling he felt in his chest. He worried he would suddenly float off the seat like a balloon if he didn't try to stifle it.

You set down your chopsticks. "Thank you for the meal. I'll clean up my things and head to bed." 

"Oh, no need to clean up. You're our guest. Yoongi, why don't you show her to your old room? I'll set you up a bed on the couch." 

"Ah, mom, we're soulmates. Is that really necessary?"

"Yes," his mom said. "Maybe the poor girl wants a break from you." 

His mom's quip made you laugh and he let out a sigh. "All right," he said. "Come on." 

---

Yoongi led you to his childhood bedroom. When he opened the door, you were met with Epik High posters and notebooks lining the shelves of his bookshelf. You smiled at how distinctly Yoongi it felt. While it obvious his room hadn't changed much from when he first left home, you could still see hints of the man Yoongi would become. From the basketball trophies to the books about music production. 

"Hey, I need to talk to you about something." 

Yoongi's demeanor changed as he closed the door. "I got a text from Jihee earlier. She somehow got ahold of your shoes and posted with them. I sent everything to the company and I'm sure they will take care of it. I just wanted to warn you in case this blows up--" 

"I trust you, Yoongi," you interrupted. "They've already said everything they could. It can't get worse than it already is and I know you'll do your best to take care of it."

You flopped down onto the bed and patted the bed beside you. Yoongi laid beside you. Your bodies were centimeters apart, but you didn't touch. 

"Your parents didn't like Jihee, did they?" 

Yoongi shook his head. "No," he said. "They tolerated her because I liked her, but they said they never pictured her as part of the family." 

"Mine never liked Minki either." You were silent for a moment. "Maybe they knew somehow." 

"Maybe," Yoongi said, his fingers brushing against yours. You turned and noticed he was still looking up at the ceiling, seemingly not noticing how his hand wandered to find yours. You wondered if it was a side effect of being soulmates. Your hands would always find each other.

The moment was severed when your phone rang. It was your mom and your stomach turned as you realized it was 5 am there. 

"Hello?" You didn't care that Yoongi was in the room anymore. In fact, something kept you clinging to his hand. 

"Sumi? You need to get here. Grandma's in the hospital and they don't think she has much time left. We're gonna leave her on life support until you get here because we know she would want you here. I don't know if it's possible without risking your own health and Grandma will understand--" 

"No, I'm coming. I'll find a way. Give me a couple days. I'll be there, okay?" Your eyes were filled to the brim with tears and after you said your goodbyes, they rushed out. You weren't cognizant, but when you opened your eyes, you were folded into Yoongi's chest. 

"Did you hear everything?" 

Yoongi nodded. "I've already called a car to take us back. We'll be back in Seoul in a few hours." 

"Yoongi, what are we going to do? You have a comeback soon. You can't just come with me to California." 

"Shh, we'll figure it out. Just get your things together, okay?" 

You nodded and got off the bed to collect your things. "Yoongi," your voice was still hoarse and barely there. "Thank you."

Update: I had my wisdom teeth out this weekend and I’ve just had a long week. I’ll have the next chapter of Sutures out sometime tomorrow.