Were Dripping In It

We’re Dripping In It

Chapter Interlude: Louder Than Bombs

Jungkook found Yoongi and Taehyung sitting on the couch in Namjoon’s living room, talking with Hobi as they looked over some paperwork. Jungkook clears his throat to get their attention.

“Do you need something, Jungkook-ah?” Yoongi asks, looking at Jungkook’s nervous face and twiddling thumbs.

Jungkook looks over at Hobi, “Can I speak to Yoongi-hyung and Tae alone, Hobi-hyung?”

“Of course,” Hobi says immediately, jumping from his seat. He pats Jungkook’s shoulder as he passes and yanks Jimin out of a corner, pulling him into the elevator with a firm hand.

“What’s the matter, Kookie?” Taehyung asks, as Jungkook shuffled over and sat down between his hyungs.

Jungkook glances between the pair, biting down his lip ring as they place a hand on his jittering fingers. “I’m not sure how to ask honestly.”

Yoongi looks him over for a moment and realization comes over his face, “You want to know how Taehyung came to be with us.”

Jungkook glances at Taehyung’s slight flinch as he nods hesitantly, “I’ll understand if you don’t want to tell me.”

“I do, I do want to tell you.” Taehyung whispers, interlacing his fingers with Jungkook as Yoongi moves around the couch to sit behind his husband and place his arms around his waist. “You deserve to know and you need to know what this life of ours is capable of.”

Jungkook nods and listens as Taehyung details the entirety of his past in the Hwarang Boys. About Peakboy. About being Vante of Daegu. About his aching loneliness before coming to the Bulletproof Company. And the day that Yoongi came to bring him back.

Jungkook has tears running down his face by the time Taehyung finishes his story and he surges forward to clutch onto Taehyung’s chest when the man can’t speak anymore. He sobs hard against his hyung as he hears Taehyung’s own sobs echo in his ear as he clutches Jungkook’s shoulders.

Yoongi wraps his arms around the pair, laying his head down where their heads meet on each other’s shoulders. Running a gentle hand down both of their backs as they shake from their tears.

Jungkook hiccups as he’s laid down across Taehyung’s chest across the couch, Yoongi places a blanket over the pair and dims the lights in the living room.

“I’ll go make some tea,” he murmurs, running a hand through both of their hair before leaving the room.

“How…” Jungkook hiccups, burying his face into Taehyung’s chest. “How did you move past that, hyung?”

Taehyung sighs, running a hand through Jungkook’s hair. “You’ll come to learn Jungkook-ah, that in this life you have to be able to move past things. You have to set aside your past and move forward in your future, otherwise it’ll get you killed. You may never experience the true harshness of this life, and I hope you don’t, because the Bulletproof Company is truly different from others.”

Jungkook takes a deep, shuddering breath as he tries to stop his choked tears. “I wish you hadn’t had to go through that, though.”

“As hard as my past is, I don’t.” Taehyung looks seriously at Jungkook as he raises his head off his chest in shock. “A harsh past will teach you a gentleness that you’d never know if you hadn’t experienced the rough edges. We could have been just like any other company if all of us hadn’t had such hard lives before coming together.”

Jungkook nods slowly, “Is that why you took down so many companies? And made yourselves the most feared, to stop the corruption.”

Taehyung smiled, wiping the tears off Jungkook’s face with his thumbs. “Yes, we can’t stop everything and we can’t save everyone, but we can do what we can. And we can offer sanctuary to those that want it.”

Jungkook nods and settles back down against Taehyung’s chest, Yoongi comes into the living room with a tray of tea and sets it down on the coffee table.

“That’s going to have a whole new meaning for me,” Jungkook mutters, sitting up next to Taehyung as they take the steaming mugs Yoongi hands them before sitting down on Jungkook’s other side. “Do you make tea for everyone when they're upset, hyung?”

Yoongi chuckles as he leans back against the couch cushions, throwing his arm over to back and allowing Jungkook and Taehyung to tuck underneath it. “It seemed to work the best. And Hobi had stints where he couldn’t drink anything heavily caffeinated, they would make his seizures worse.”

Jungkook chokes on a sip of the honey camilla tea and looks over at Yoongi in shock, “Hobi-hyung has seizures!”

“Yep!” Hobi says cheerily, waltzing into the living room with Jin in tow. The pair sit down in the loveseat across from the couch, Jin pulling Hobi to sit down in his lap as they look at Jungkook in between his hyungs. “My birth mother was a cocaine addict. I had withdrawn seizures as a baby and while growing up, it doesn’t affect me as badly now that I'm an adult.”

“It doesn’t make it any less scary to see,” Jin murmurs, running his hand through Hobi’s hair, placing a kiss on his cheek.

Yoongi huffs as he stares at the pair, “What I’d like to know is how the two of you got so cozy with each other? Don’t think I didn’t notice the looks the pair of you gave each other, but it was the most random thing to ever happen. One day you were glaring at Hobi just as hard as Joon and the next you’re pulling his ankles into your lap and giving him heart eyes.”

Jin raises a brow at him, “That was before Taehyung-ah came into the picture, how much did you observe when you weren’t making heart eyes at him?”

“I noticed Hobi’s mope fest after you left,” Yoongi sniffed indignantly, taking a sip of his tea. “And the fact that he never stepped foot in the kitchen to cook again. He had Joon and him living off take-out while we were on our honeymoon.”

“Aw Hoba, did you miss me?” Jin teases, smacking a wet kiss against the man’s cheek.

Hobi wiped his face in offense, “Shut up Jin, you stole my Jaguar! I had to buy it back from you!”

“I wondered how I sold it so easily,” Jin muttered, chuckling as Hobi huffs on his chest and looks over at Jungkook’s confused face. “Would you like to hear our side of the story Jungkook-ah?”

“Am I going to be in tears by the end of it?” Jungkook asks sarcastically, taking a sip of his tea as he looks dryly at his brother.

Jin tilts his head in thought, “Considering how easily you burst into tears, probably.”

Jungkook scowls and tosses a pillow at Jin’s head, “I do not cry easily!”

“You cried during a gum commercial,” Taehyung points out, running a hand through Jungkook’s hair.

Jungkook sniffs at the memory, “Why did they have to make it so sad? He made those little cranes for her all his life, then she started doing it for her daughter after he died.”

“Why would you remind him of that?” Yoongi huffed, smacking the back of Taheyung’s head. “It took me weeks to get him to stop bursting into tears everytime we passed the gum in the grocery store. I still have packs of it throughout the house, he wanted to buy it every single time.”

Taehyung huffs and hands Jungkook a tissue to blow his nose in, “You might as well tell him Jin, he’s never not going to cry about it.”

Hobi chuckles and launches into the story of how Jin and him had started to bond when he came to them. Starting from the day that Hobi watched Namjoon leave with Jang-ssi for their meeting with the Seoul Empire.

“Why did my father go and not Yoongi-hyung?” Jungkook cut in, setting his empty mug down as he settled against Yoongi’s chest. “Wasn’t hyung Namjoon’s Second in Command then?”

“Not yet,” Hobi explains, playing with Jin’s crooked fingers on his lap. “Your father hadn’t officially retired at that point yet, so he was still considered the Second in Command on that day. Yoongi-hyung was set to take his place as soon as he stepped down. The Seoul Empire only asked for the Leader and the Second at that meeting, they knew about the change with Joonie but not anything else.”

“How would they have known about the leadership change?” Jungkook asked, running his fingers through Taehyung’s hair as the man laid his head into his lap.

“Leaderships within companies are alway announced to the underground,” Yoongi explained, placing a hand on the side of Taehyung’s face. “We have to know who we’re dealing with when we face each other for meetings. It’s also customary to send a gift to the new Leader, if you’re an ally. It establishes that the contract between the two companies is still valid during the power change.”

“Ah,” Jungkook murmurs and waves for Hobi to continue with his story. He laughed several times at the recounting of Jin’s clumsy first attempts at hand to hand combat, ignoring Jin’s indigent sniffs. And winced at the descriptions of Hobi’s seizure episodes.

Hearing about Jin and Yoongi’s rescue from Hobi’s perspective was interesting. It gave him more perspective on why they feared the man that laid across his lap like a cat so much.

“I didn’t know you told Jisoo to let me in that night,” Taehyung murmurs, looking over at Hobi with soft eyes. “Thank you Hobi, I would have stayed out in the hallway until Namjoonie found me.”

Hobi smiles softly at him, “Of course, I’ll never miss a chance to see hyung so smitten.”

Yoongi scoffed as he rolled his eyes, “I think you like to exaggerate that.”

“Ah no,” Jin snorts, laughing as Yoongi looks at him indignantly. “The pair of you flirted like little teenagers all the time, I’m glad I missed the honeymoon phase. That would have grated on my nerves.”

Hobi shivered in disgust, “Be glad you did, I do not enter any rooms without knocking first. I wish I could have blinded myself after walking in on them so many times.”

Jungkook joined Hobi’s shiver, “At least your room wasn’t right next to them hyung, I’ll never be able to listen to Slipknot the same way again.”

Yoongi clicks his tongue and makes no further comment, Jin laughs at the blush growing on his face.

Jimin waltzes in just as Hobi finishes telling Jungkook about the first day he had come to his dance studio, “Oh that was such a fun day, Hobi-hyung! I nearly broke my cover because I was trying so hard not to laugh.”

Jin catches his arm before he can make his way over to the couch and pulls him down to sit with him and Hobi, rolling his eyes at the wide smile that bursts over Jimin’s face.

“Are we reliving the past today?” Jimin asks, pulling Hobi’s feet into this lap as he sits shoulder to shoulder with Jin and places an arm around the man’s waist. Jin places his free arm over Jimin’s shoulders as Hobi tucks himself into his neck, letting his other arm rest behind his back to keep him propped up.

“I guess we are,” Jungkook murmurs, watching as Jimin intertwines his fingers with Jin’s hand over his shoulder and places his other one on Hobi’s thigh.

Jimin hums as he tucks himself under Jin’s arm, “Do you want to hear mine then, Jungkook-ah?”

“If you want to tell me, I’ll hear it Jimin-ah.” Jungkook says softly, watching a dark look come over Jimin’s face.

“I only wish I had been able to help Hobi-hyung take down more of that company before I left,” Jimin mutters, then begins to tell Jungkook about his life in the White Tigers and the day Hobi came to take him out.

Namjoon comes into the living room and blinks at all the teary eyes around the room. His eyes darting from the three-way couple on the love couch clutching Jimin between their chests to Yoongi and Taehyung holding a weepy Jungkook in their arms.

“It seems I missed something,” he murmurs, moving to sit down next to Taehyung on the couch as Jungkook wipes his face.

“I don’t want to hear a single emotional story from anyone for the next five years,” Jungkook says fiercely, the whole room chuckles at his words, breaking the sorrowful air around them.

“Ah I see,” Namjoon mutters, smiling softly as Jungkook gets up and straddles his lap, burying his face into his neck. “We had the big talk today.”

Jungkook huffs as he tucks his arms around Namjoon’s waist, “Not a single word, babe, or I’ll put you on the floor.”

Namjoon chuckles as he wraps his arms around Jungkook’s small waist, he leans down and whispers in his ear, “That’ll just turn me on, I like it when you manhandle me baby.”

Jungkook squeaks as Namjoon bites his earlobe, his face burning from the suggestive image.

Jin scoffs wetly, “The pair of you need to stop flirting in front of all of us, it’s gross to watch.”

“Shut up, hyung.” Jungkook huffs, glancing over his shoulder to see Jimin straddling his brother’s lap. “You have no room to judge, when you have two of my hyungs climbing all over you.”

Jin rolls his eyes, but a blush colors his cheeks as Hobi wraps his arms around his shoulders from behind and Jimin settles snugly across his chest. “You have so many hyungs Jungkook-ah, how are we going to know who you’re calling when you yell across the house?”

Jungkook hums and turns himself in Namjoon’s lap to face the room, smiling when he catches sight of Taehyung tugging Yoongi into his lap. “I technically do have different names for all of you, Yoongi-hyung will always be Yoongi-hyung for me and Taehyung-hyung has insisted that I just call him Tae now.”

“Only my closest call me that,” Taehyung says softly, kissing the side of Yoongi’s blushing face.

“I’ll probably just yell ‘Jimin-ssi’ when I need him and Hobi-hyung has told me to yell J-Hope when I need his attention,” Jungkook grins at the confused face Jin makes. “Hobi-hyung is my dance mentor as well as my trainer, he told me to call him that after I had a hard time getting a dance down. It’s his studio name.”

Jin blinks and tilts his head to look over at Hobi, “You dance Hoba, I’ll have to see that one day.”

Hobi smirks and pulls himself away from Jin, “I think we can show you now, Jimin and Kookie have learned one of my dances that’ll really blow you away Jin.”

Jin raises his brow as Jimin hops off his lap and helps Jungkook move the coffee table, the pair start stretching across the hardwoods after they move it to the side. Hobi skips across the room and starts fiddling with the large stereo while Namjoon helps Taehyung and Yoongi move the sofa back.

“So what will you yell when you need me Kook-ah?” Jin asks as he sits down on the adjusted couch next to Namjoon.

Jungkook grins widely as he bends over backwards to look at them, “You’re my hyung, Jin-hyung. I’ll scream ‘hyung’ at the top of my lungs when I need you.”

Jin looks oddly emotional at this and takes the tissue that Taehyung hands him as Hobi bounds over to the pair. They huddle together for a moment whispering into each other's ear and nodding to what Hobi tells them. Then Hobi claps them on the shoulders, pulls his phone out and presses on it before tossing it at Jin. Shooting him a wink when he catches it.

The three get into formation with Hobi at the center as the music starts playing, placing their wrists onto his shoulders as they bow their heads as they wait for the beat to drop. And when it does the three of them move so completely in sync that it blows the minds of everyone in the room.

The three of them bow to the room when the song ends, laughing when they receive loud claps of applause and Taehyung cheers loudly for them. Jungkook wipes the sweat off his brow with the end of his t-shirt, trying to hide his smirk as he catches Namjoon eyeing his flexing abs.

Jin whistles lowly as the three collapse onto the floor in heaps, “You weren’t lying Hoba, that was impressive.”

Hobi chuckles, “You should see some of Jiminie’s solo work, he truly has a captivating way of dancing. I nearly pounced him the first time I watched his body roll across the dance floor.”

“It seems I’ll be giving you two a private show later then,” Jimin teases, huffing when Jungkook kicks his shin and gags at him.

“Take it to the bedroom Jimin-ssi, I don’t want to watch.” Jungkook scoffs, smiling as Namjoon stands and offers him a hand to get off the floor. He takes it and giggles as Namjoon swings him up with ease.

Jimin eyes the pair, “I have no idea how you’re able to do that, Namjoonie-hyung. Jungkook-ah is heavy as hell, have you seen what he can lift in the gym? I’m pretty sure it’s twice your body weight.”

Namjoon looks down at him in surprise and Jungkook quirks an eyebrow at him, Namjoon’s eyes widen at the devilish look that comes over his baby’s face and starts to back away.

“Now wait a minute, baby, that wasn’t a…” Namjoon squeaks as Jungkook marches to him with sure steps and scoops him up into his arms with ease.

Jungkook nods to himself proudly, smirking as he feels Namjoon’s blushing face against his neck. “I knew I could do it, I’ve been upping my weights recently.”

“Fucking muscle bunny,” Jimin scoffs, letting Jin pull him off of the floor, eyeing Namjoon in a bridal carry in Jungkook’s arms. “He’s just going to toss you over his shoulder now, I hope you know that.”

Jungkook scoffs as he sets Namjoon back down, smiling at Namjoon’s small noise of protest, “I pick you up once to get you out of my way and you never seem to let it go, Jimin-hyung.”

“It was fucking embaressing!” Jimin yelps, shaking his finger in Jungkook’s face. “You did it in front of Hobi-hyung! I was only just starting to flirt with him, it set me back two months!”

Jungkook tosses a dismissive hand and starts walking towards the kitchen, “You flirted with him for two years and went nowhere, it’s only been with Jin-hyung that you’ve finally gotten that dick.”

Jimin chases after him with a pillow in his hand, smacking his retreating back and screaming profanities while Jungkook just laughs. The rest of the room roll their eyes at the pair, but follow slowly behind to make sure they don’t start throwing furniture at each other, again.

We Started It

Chapter 7: D-Day

Warning ⚠️: Kidnapping, Swearing, Graphic Depictions of Violence, Blood, Guns, Dead bodies

“We finally got the DNA from those guys,” Hobi greeted as he entered Taehyung’s office, he handed him the file. “This time they are related, two are brothers and the other is a distant cousin. But I’m still confused on how this will help us, we don’t have the DNA of the man that killed Jang-ssi.”

Taehyung nodded in agreement, smiling widely as he looked over the photos of the three men, “You’re right we don’t, but if you look here,” he pulled out the blurry photo of the man they were looking for and placed it next to the photos of the other men. “You can see what features I pulled to find these men from this photo. We can deduce that there’s a family in the Seoul Empire for this. Now I have DNA samples that I can test our other searches against.”

Hobi nods as he listens and watches Taehyung turn excitedly back at his computer, being careful with his cast as he types away at the computer.

“It's unfortunate that Namjoon-hyung didn’t see the assassin, this would be a whole lot easier with a facial composite.” Taehyung mutters as he watches the line of code he inputs scroll up the screen.

“The Seoul Empire was smart to wear masks to the meeting with Joon, I’ve heard they do it for all their meetings. Guess you never know if it’ll go south on you.” Yoongi states, sauntering into the room with even steps. He places another file next to Taehyung and leans in his usual spot against his desk. “Joon would be able to recognize his voice though. Apparently he was quite chatty while they were negotiating.”

“So, it could be one of these three we found already.” Hobi points out, snapping his fingers together and pointing his finger at Taehyung.

“I want a bonus if I manage to find our guy within three months.” Taehyung states sweetly, making Hobi cackle in delight. When Hobi turned to grab something, Yoongi sent him a wink that had him blushing as Namjoon strode into the room.

“Tell me how Seokjin is causing twice as much trouble when bed bound than before.” Namjoon huffed. “Well supposedly bed bound, I found this in his room this morning.”

He thrusted a note for the other men to read, Hobi took it first and huffed as he handed it to Yoongi. Yoongi glared down at it before handing it over to Taehyung.

Dear Assholes,

I’m done waiting for you to get your shit together. I’m taking this in my own hands. Don’t try to find me, you won’t.

Jeon Seokjin

“I knew I should have chained him to the bed,” Hobi muttered, glaring at the note as Taehyung dropped it onto the desk. “I can get him back, Namjoon, it was my responsibility to watch over him. I’ll get him back before he compromises us.”

“No,” Yoongi cuts in before Hobi turns to leave. “We need your tracking skills to get a hold of those men before they disappear. I’ll go get Seokjin before he does anything really stupid.”

“Don’t kill him hyung,” Namjoon pleaded to his retreating back.

“I make no promises,” Yoongi dismisses as the door shuts behind him.

Taehyung watches the movement of the door shut before turning back to his screens, telling himself not to worry about the man. But something in his gut says that something isn’t right about this situation.

When they don’t hear a report from Yoongi two hours after his last check in, worry starts to set in. Taehyung pulls up surveillance from the last location Yoongi had sent them in his pursuit of Seokjin, but comes up empty. After another two hours of waiting, Namjoon starts to pace around the room while Hobi joins Taehyung’s side as they begin to sweep the city of Seoul through the camera lenses. The note arrives an hour later, confirming their worst fears.

We have two of your men, you have twenty-four hours to send us all the information you’ve gathered on us and meet us at X location.

If you fail to comply, you’ll be receiving their heads.

The Seoul Empire Reigns Supreme.

Namjoon cursed and punched a hole through the wall. Hobi stared down at the note in ashen shock. Taehyung immediately pulled up the location on the note onto the screens.

“How much do you guys trust me?” Taehyung asks, staring at the empty warehouse just before the cameras inside are pulled by a masked man and the screen goes dark.

“Depends on what your plan is?” Namjoon huffs, rubbing his bleeding knucks in his other hand.

“Let’s get you some ice and I’ll tell you exactly what we’re going to do.” Taehyung states coldly, standing to his feet and moving out of the room. “The Seoul Empire has been in power long enough.”

Ten hours later

Taehyung flexes his throbbing wrist as he walks into the abandoned warehouse. He was not about to come with the cast on his arm; they would have used the weakness against him. A team of masked men meet him at the door and pat him down for any wiretaps or hidden weapons. When they find nothing, they lead him into the building to another group of masked men waiting for him.

“You’re not the Rap Monster of Ilsan,” the man in a white suit among the black ones accuses.

“No, I’m not.” Taehyung agrees, folding his hands behind his back as a man whispers into the other’s ear.

“My men tell me you’ve brought nothing with you, we told you to bring all the information that you have on our men in twenty-four hours. You still have fourteen left, come back with it or your men die.” The man threatens.

“I have brought the information with me,” Taehyung corrects, tapping the side of his head. “It’s all right here, bring me any computer and I’ll be able to pull it up for you.”

“Bring me a laptop,” the man orders, but before anyone can move to obey, Taehyung scoffs.

“You really think a laptop will be secure enough for all the information we have, take me to your homebase. I’m sure you have a central computer there that would be safe, then I can leave with our men when I’m done. I assume that’s where you have them, it’ll save me a trip.” Taehyung drawls, picking at his fingernails with nonchalance.

“How do we know your men won’t just follow us there?” The man demands, pointing a finger at him. “I smell a setup here.”

Taehyung shrugs, “Believe what you want, we don’t have any physical copies to give you. We burned them before I came here, the only records you’ll be getting are the ones I give you.”

“How do we know you won’t be able to access them after you give it to us?” The man presses, crossing his arms over his chest.

“I am Vante of Daegu, I can program the files to only be accessed by your main computer. After I’m done, not even I wouldn’t be able to break into your files.” Taehyung declares, feeling a shift in the room as he says his title.

The man stares at him for a moment then nods and signals for his men to move. Taehyung keeps himself from flinching as a sack is placed over his head and he’s marched out of the building then placed into a car.

The drive is silent and the sack isn’t removed until they’ve started driving over a gravel road. Taehyung steps out of the vehicle as they pull to a stop in front of a large Hanok estate. A mountain range stands behind it and a tall Japanese pine tree stands proud in front of the entrance walkway.

“I want to see my men before I give you the information I have,” Taehyung states as he walks into the building. “I need to know that you haven’t just killed them before I give you what you want.”

Taehyung stares coldly at the blank masks that surround him and crosses his arms over his chest as he waits for their answer.

“Very well,” the white suited man states and walks down a long hallway, expecting Taehyung to follow him.

Taehyung can’t keep his gasp from slipping out his mouth as he takes in Yoongi’s wounded body tied to a chair. Seokjin sits bent over in the chair adjacent to his, blood dripping from his mouth. None of the masked men stop Taehyung as he moves forward and kneels in front of Yoongi.

His chest is bare, littered with small cuts and bruises. His bottom lip is bleeding and his blonde hair is drenched red. But what gets Taheyung’s blood truly boiling, is a long knife cut that pierces across Yoongi’s face over his right eye. It oozes down his cheek, glaringly red as it cuts from the top of his eyebrow down the apple of his cheek.

“If you’re done, we want that information from you. You only have ten hours left to give it to us and we won’t hesitate to kill you as well.” One of the men growls over Taehyung’s shoulder.

Taehyung clenches his fists as he stands, “I was going to be merciful to you, but you’ve crossed a line by marking his face. Count your blessings and hope your death will be swift.”

“What are you…” The man starts to say only to gargle on the blood that pours out of his mouth as Taheyung yanks the knife from the man’s side and plunges it into its owner's neck.

Shouts are called as the man’s body hits the ground, Taehyung ignores all of them as he charges into the stream of men that come at him. Like a dance, he moves around the room plunging the knife in his hand into the men’s chests and across their necks. He yanks the guns out of some of their hands and empties the magazines into their bodies. Blood drips down his face and hands as he makes his path throughout the house, taking down every single man he comes across.

“You won’t be able to escape us,” the white suited man huffs, clutching his bloody side as Taehyung steps over the bodies of his men to reach him. “We have thousands more all across Seoul, when the call is made you’ll have nowhere to hide.”

Taehyung tilts his head down at him and raises his pistol to aim for the man’s head, “Let them come, I get bored so easily without entertainment.”

The bullet hits the man square in the forehead through his mask, it falls off his face slightly as he head drops to the ground.

Taehyung tosses the empty gun aside as he returns to where Yoongi and Seokjin are tied up. Hobi enters the room just as he’s untying Yoongi’s binds, muttering a quiet ‘holy shit’ as he steps over the piles of bodies on the ground.

“Can you get Seokjin?” Taehyung asks, pulling Yoongi into his arms and standing slowly to his feet. “I need to get him to a hospital before his wounds get infected.”

Hobi nods as he kneels in front of Seokjin and starts undoing his restraints, “Namjoon has a car waiting for you, it’ll take you straight to one of our bases.”

“You’re okay now, I’ve got you.” Taehyung whispers as Yoongi groans in pain against his shoulder. He passes Namjoon in the doorway, looking ashen as he stares down at the bloody bodies that line the floors. “I hope you’re ready for a war Namjoon-ssi, because I just started one.”

Namjoon glances over at him as he passes and steps into the waiting vehicle with Yoongi in his arms.

“With you by our side, we will be.” Namjoon says just as the door closes and the car starts making its way down the gravel drive.

Taehyung sighs as he leans back into the leather seats, clutching Yoongi tightly against his chest. He leans his head down and presses his forehead against Yoongi’s as he takes deep, steady breaths. He sniffed as tears fell down his face and mixed in with the drops of blood on his cheeks.

“The next time you want me to carry you, just ask hyung.” He whispered hoarsely, watching the man’s lips part with labored breaths. His wrist throbs from all the movement he put it through, but he ignores the pain as the car speeds down the highways and cuts through traffic.

Taehyung lays Yoongi down on the gurney that's brought when he arrives at the large mansion. He follows behind the team of doctors that roll the gurney down the halls, attaching IV’s to Yoongi’s pale arms and checking his vitals until he’s stopped as they take him into a surgery room.

“Please wait here, do you need a doctor to check over you?” A nurse asks, looking over Taehyung’s blood soaked clothes.

“None of it is mine,” Taehyung answers, staring at the swinging doors as Yoongi’s body is rolled out of sight through the small windows.

“I’ll get you some clean clothes then,” she says, before walking off.

When Namjoon and Hobi arrive at the house with Seokjin in tow, Taehyung has changed into the fresh clothes, washed the blood off his body with a wet cloth and has a fresh cast on his wrist. The gurney with Seokjin’s body passes him through the swinging doors and the two men take seats across from Taehyung.

“Personally, I think Jin came out of this easy.” Hobi muses, stretching his legs out as he leans back against his chair. “Only a broken leg, some scrapes and bruises. He’s lucky they didn’t just kill him for showing up at their door like a mad man.”

“We’re taking all their files and computers from that house before torching it,” Namjoon says, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’ll have everything brought here, to the Voyage house, while hyung recovers.”

Taehyung nods, “We can make quick work of their other bases from the information I’ll gather from the computers. The Bulletproof Company will take the place of the Seoul Empire. A change in power like that hasn’t been seen in a hundred years.”

Namjoons huffs and runs a hand through his hair, “My workload is going to triple in size.”

Hobi laughs at his brother’s groanings and pats his shoulder, “Don’t let the power get to your head, Joonie, or we’ll have to send Taehyungie after you.”

Namjoon shivered at the thought and eyed the younger man warily, making Taehyung chuckle and give him the gesture of ‘I’m watching you’ playfully. Their laughter barely lasts a few moments before somber expressions return to their faces.

“Hyung looked pretty bad when you took him out,” Hobi whispered quietly, taking a shuddering breath.

Namjoon nodded, “He’ll pull through, hyung’s tough. He’ll pull through.”

Taehyung can only nod in agreement and he clenches his right fist on his lap, he tries not to think too hard on the ‘what ifs’ as they wait for the doctor to inform them of his condition. What if they had been faster? What if they had been too late? What if, what if, what if…

Heads turn as the door swings open and a doctor in blood soaked scrubs stands before them, he lowers his mask and gives them a reassuring smile.

“Both men had a successful surgery, nothing they can’t heal from.” He tells them, smiling at their sighs of relief.

“Yoongi-hyung’s eye, he didn’t…” Taehyung asks fearfully, nearly collapsing to the floor in relief when the doctor shakes his head.

“He did not lose his eye, he got lucky. The knife only struck his eyelid slightly, most of the damage was done to the facial skin.” The doctor explains gently, patting Taehyung’s shoulder. “He had to have stitches of course, but that was his worst injury. They’re both resting now, you can see them tomorrow.”

“Thank you Doctor Wook,” Namjoon says, shaking the doctor’s hands. “I’m glad you didn’t decide to retire alongside my father, I don’t know whose hands I trust more than yours for my men.”

Doctor Wook chuckles as he pats Namjoon’s shoulder, “You don’t have to be so formal with me Namjoon-ssi, you’re the boss now. And your father is lucky I didn’t retire, I would’ve given that silly goblin even more hell then when I worked for him.”

Namjoon chuckled, “They don’t call you the Grim Reaper for nothing, sir.”

Doctor Wook huffed and headed back through the double doors, waving to the three men as he left. “Get some rest boys, you’ve earned it.”

Namjoon led Taehyung up the stairs and down the long row of doors that filled the Voyage House, at the end of a hall he opened a guest room door for him.

“Do you need me to have Doctor Wook bring you some pain meds?” He asked, glancing down at Taehyung’s new cast in concern.

Taehyung shook his head, “I’ll be alright hyung, it doesn’t hurt that bad.”

Namjoon nods then pulls Taehyung in for a tight hug, “Thank you for getting him, Taehyung. I’d be lost without Yoongi-hyung.”

Taehyung chuckles and pats Namjoon’s back with his good arm, “You can call me Tae, Namjoonie-hyung. I think you’ve earned it.”

“Get some rest, Tae.” Namjoon sniffs, pulling away and wiping his face. “I’ll fetch you in the morning to see Yoongi-hyung, if he’s awake tomorrow.”

“Trust me he will be,” Taehyung snarks with a roll of his eyes, Namjoon chuckles and leaves him to the room.

Taehyung plopped onto the guest bed with a huff after showering the rest of the blood off his body. He laid across the cool mattress, wet hair pooling over the cotton pillow as he tried to will himself to sleep. He had no question of what images would haunt his nightmares tonight; Yoongi’s sheen white face dripping with blood, his slouched, unmoving form tied to that chair, and fallen bodies of the masked men that had fallen in his cold rage.

Taehyung tossed and turned, barely falling into any kind of sleep before giving up and wandering out of the room. He made his way back to the hallway outside the double doors to the medical hall. A nurse on duty looked up from the small desk outside the doors.

“I can bring you back to see him,” she says softly, before Taehyung can even think to ask. She smiles at him kindly as he stares at her. “He’ll be sleeping, but it’s better than waiting out here.”

“Thank you,” Taehyung whispers, joining her side towards the doors. “I’d like to see him please.”

“Of course,” she smiles, opening the doors for them. “I’m nurse Jisoo, I’ll be taking care of Yoongi-ssi until he fully recovers.”

“Thank you Jisoo-ssi,” Taehyung whispers, bowing to the woman as she opens the door to Yoongi’s room.

“Of course, let me know if you need anything. I’ll be back at the front.” She bows to him and makes her way back down the hallway.

Taehyung shuts the door quietly behind him and moves to sit in a chair next to Yoongi’s hospital bed. A monitor beeps quietly in the corner to the sound of his heartbeat, an IV of clear liquid drips down to the needle attached to his pale forearm, and a white gauze sits over the right side of his face. Yoongi’s slow, steady rising and falling of his chest eases the tension in Taehyung’s.

Taehyung reaches for the hand that lays in front of him, cupping it in his right hand as he looks at Yoongi’s lax face. Feeling a bit like a creeper to be just staring at the sleeping man, Taehyung looks down at the hand he’s holding. Yoongi’s hands are nearly the same size as his, just a tad shorter. He has calluses from the guitar he likes to play on nights where Taehyung truly can’t sleep at all. The veins on the back of his hand are eerily blue against the paleness of his skin, but Taehyung can see the beauty in them.

He runs a gentle finger over Yoongi’s knuckles and slim fingers as the heartbeat monitor beeps in the background. It lulls him into a sleep he wasn’t even seeking and he rests his head against Yoongi’s thigh, still holding his hand as his eyes flutter closed. This time no nightmares haunt his dreams.

We Started It

Chapter 1: Set Me Free

The day that Kim Taehyung’s life changed for the better he was utterly bored. He walks with lazy steps and slouched posture as he follows behind Peakboy to their meeting with the Bulletproof Company. Inside the conference room he places himself in his assigned seat, spinning slowly around in it while they wait for the men to arrive.

He’s already wanting to return to his room and find something to occupy his mind before the meeting has even started. He rolls his eyes at Peakboy’s glare as his chair spins him into view, but doesn’t stop his slow circles even at the warning scold he gets. He barely glances up when the door opens and the announcement of the Bulletproof Company’s Leader and Second is given.

“The Rap Monster of Ilsan and Agust-D of Daegu have arrived,” Kang drones at the door before bowing and allowing the two men to enter.

Taehyung doesn’t rise with the rest of the table as they stand to bow to the men as they enter, just continues his lazy circles in his chair.

“You honor us with your presence,” Peakboy greets, gesturing for them to sit at the two empty seats.

“Thank you for seeing us on such short notice,” A deep voice respondes, Taehyung glances at the men as his chair brings them into view.

They’re younger than he had expected, their unmarked faces a rarity in the underground. The cat-like eyes of the blonde one catches Taehyung’s spinning and narrows his eyes as Taehyung just stares impassively before turning away.

“I apologize for our youngest’s behavior,” Peakboy apologizes, bowing to the men again and kicking Taehyung’s chair to stop his spinning. “He’s very hard to keep entertained.”

Taehyung rolls his eyes as he turns his chair to face the table of men and crosses his arms over his chest as he stays put.

“You don’t have to apologize,” the dark haired one dismisses with a wave of his hand. “I hear that you are the man to come to when you need to contract one of the best hackers in the business.”

“You’ve heard correctly,” Peakboy boasts, puffing up his chest. “We take great pride in having Vante of Daegu in our crew. What do you need him for?”

“To find an assassin,” the blonde one answers, his voice even deeper than his counterpart. His eyes flicker over to Taehyung’s bored ones.

“I see,” Peakboy muses, placing his elbows on the table and bringing the tips of fingers together under his chin. “What will you pay for his services?”

“What’s your price?” The dark haired one asks, folding his ringed fingers on the dark surface.

Peakboy shrugged, “That depends on how long the job is, you’re taking our best after all. It’ll put us behind on a lot of other contracts by parting from him for even a month's worth of time. There’s no telling how much we’ll lose if you take him for longer.”

Taehyung scoffed quietly, turning his head away to look down at the dark wood flooring. He hated being talked about when he was in the room and to be spoken about like he was some object to be played with.

“We can cover the cost of any lost contracts, we don’t have an estimate on the length of this mission.” The blonde one explained, pulling a contract out from his briefcase and slid it down the table.

Peakboy moved to take it but Taehyung was faster, his long fingers picked up the folder and began flicking through the pages. His eyes glaze over the legal terms, a smirk forming on his face as he spies the lack of loopholes for Peakboy to exploit.

“We’ll need some time to…” Peakboy started to say but is cut off by Taehyung’s scoff.

“I’ll take the job,” he says, lowering the contract to look at the men. “I don’t care how much you pay them, I’ll take it.”

“And you are?” The blonde man challenged, raising his brow at him.

Taehyung smirked and pulled a pen out of his pocket, signing his signature over the last page before sliding it back down. “I am Vante of Daegu, I’m the one you came for.”

The man picked up the contract with long pale fingers, not even glancing over them as he placed it back inside his briefcase. “We’ll send you a copy, along with the first payment later today. Are you prepared to leave?”

Taehyung nodded and stood, “Let me just pack my bags, I’ll meet you at the entrance.”

He ignores Peakboy’s shout for him as he leaves the room, makes his way back to his quarters and starts packing. The men are waiting for him and gesture for him to place his bags into their trunk before stepping into their SUV. Taehyung follows behind them and slides into the seat that faces the two men before the door is closed.

“I’m Kim Namjoon, the Leader of the Bulletproof Company,” the dark haired man greets, holding a hand out for Taehyung to shake.

Taehyung takes it, “Kim Taehyung, I prefer using my name over Vante.”

“Min Yoongi, Second in Command.” The blonde one says with a nod, folding his arms across his chest as he peers at Taehyung with doubtful eyes. “How do we know you’re the real deal?”

Taehyung shrugs, crossing his own arms over his chest. “I don’t make promises before knowing what I’m facing, or who I’m looking for. You’ll just have to trust that I know what I’m doing, I didn’t just piss off my boss for nothing.”

“No,” Yoongi muses, clicking his tongue. “You did that because you were bored, but I suppose we’ll see what you’re made of.”

“That you will,” Taehyung purrs, smirking at the man’s glare. “I’ll be worth the money, trust me.”

“We’ll see,” Yoongi huffs, pulling his phone out from his pocket, ending the conversion. Taehyung just smiles and looks out the window as they pass the gates of the Hwarang Boys’ homebase. The ever present ache in his chest eases a bit after they pass through and start making their way down the highway.

Taehyung only hopes that this contract with the Bulletproof Company can last as long as it can.

We Started It

Chapter 4: Snooze

Taehyung spends the next week organizing Namjoon’s paperwork and creating a filing program for his company to use. Hobi is always present while he works, which he understands, they need to make sure he doesn’t corrupt any of their data or steal any company secrets. Seokjin comes in every now and then to bother the pair, Taehyung tries to keep his barbs down to a minimum.

Taehyung hardly sees Namjoon, apart from early in the morning when he wakes up from another nightmare. But Yoongi is an ever coming and going presence throughout his day, always giving an update on the different men they’re tracking. And, despite Namjoon’s claim that he’s not a morning person, Yoongi is always awake when Taehyung wakes up and makes him a cup of tea. Taehyung tries a different blend everyday.

“What will it be this morning?” Yoongi asks, flicking the light on as he enters the kitchen, not even glancing at Taehyung’s slumped form at the counter as he fills the kettle.

Taehyung hums in thought as he rubs the kinks out of his neck, “Got anything for muscle cramps, being hunched over the computers is starting to hurt my neck.”

Yoongi hums and pulls a box out of the cupboard, “I’ve heard ginger tea helps with muscle cramps.”

“I’ll try it then,” Taehyung murmurs, tilting his head side to side trying to get the ache out of it.

Yoongi sets a tea bag into a mug for him and places his own mug under the coffee maker. “Honey or sugar?”

“Honey, I think that’ll pair better with the ginger.” Taehyung answers, watching as Yoongi pours the hot water into his mug and pulls out a jar of honey from another shelf.

He takes the steaming mug with a quiet ‘thank you’ as Yoongi slides into his seat next to him with his coffee. He’s grateful to Yoongi for never asking why Taehyung doesn’t seem to sleep very long. He simply comes into the kitchen, makes the tea he asks for and just sits with him as they drink under the rising sun.

“How long have you been in the Bulletproof Company?” Taehyung asks, his eyes flickering over at Yoongi’s relaxed posture swimming in the large sweatshirt he likes to wear at night.

Yoongi hums in thought for a moment, “I worked under Namjoon’s father, Kim Gong-Yoo the Goblin of Ilsan, for a few years. I can’t remember how long I’ve worked under the Kim family.”

“Are you under contract with them?” Taehyung asks as he takes a sip of the warm tea. It slips warmly down his throat, coating it in a fresh, honeyed taste.

“I don’t think I’d classify my role as being under a contract,” Yoongi muses, taking a sip of his coffee. “As Namjoon’s Second in Command, I have just as much power as he does. I could leave and start my own company if I wanted to, but I hate being in charge of everything. I’d rather leave that to Joon to do.”

Taehyung hums in agreement, “There’s no benefit to being the leader, it’s just more work and more people to watch over.”

Yoongi grunts in agreement and chuckles, “I don’t envy Namjoon one bit, but I’m happy to help him keep everyone in line.”

“He’s lucky to have you and Hobi-hyung to help him. Peakboy thinks he has his men’s respect but he doesn’t. They’re just too afraid to move against him, he has leverage over everyone in the Hwarang Boys.” Taehyung admits quietly, feeling Yoongi glance at him.

“What does he have on you? I’ve heard that you’ve refused to join any other company during your yearly contract review.” Yoongi says idly, taking note of Taehyung’s slight flinch.

“It’s not my decision whether I stay or leave, Peakboy owns me. He makes the final decision on what I do.” Taehyung says bitterly, taking a gulp of his tea, clenching his fist around the ceramic mug.

Yoongi tuts his tongue, “So, these temporary contracts are the only thing you can decide on?”

Taehyung nods as he runs a hand through his hair, pulling his long bangs out of his face. “I take as many as I can every year, it’s the only way I can get out of that damn house.”

Yoongi hums in understanding as he raises his coffee to his lips, “I’ve heard of contracts like that, they sound like a real bitch to try and get out of.”

Taehyung huffs, giving one swift nod, “They are, especially when you can’t access the contract yourself. I have no idea what Peakboy signed to have me, or what loopholes I could use to get myself out from under his thumb.”

“You could just kill him,” Yoongi suggests, chuckling when Taehyung snorts with laughter.

“Fuck I wish I could, Peakboy made it very clear that if I ever had a hand in his death that my contract would just be transfured to his second. I can’t even lay a finger on that man, or pay someone to do it.” Taehyung says bitterly, looking over at Yoongi as he takes another sip of his tea. “So if you have any more bright ideas, Yoongi-ssi, I’d love to hear them. I’ve only been trying to escape from him for twelve years.”

Yoongi rolls his eyes, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind his ear as his smile becomes wide and gummy, “Stop being a little shit about it, Taehyung-ssi. Whining and moaning about it won’t get you anywhere.”

Taehyung, the ever mature seventeen year old that he is, sticks his tongue out as an answer making Yoongi roll his eyes at him.

Yoongi leaves the kitchen just before Namjoon wanders in for his morning coffee, he greets Taehyung at the counter as he places his mug under the machine. Hobi comes bouncing into the room with Seokjin in tow and the pair of them start pulling out ingredients for breakfast.

“Since it seems like you’re going to be with us for a while, Taehyung, we should put you on the meal rotation.” Hobi says brightly, rinsing some rice at the sink as he looks over at him.

“You guys cook your own food?” Taehyung asks, watching as Seokjin chops some bell peppers with practiced hands.

Hobi nods as he pours the cloudy water down the drain and starts rinsing the rice some more, “We’ve brought on chefs before but with the Seoul Empire possibly watching our every move, we didn’t want to risk getting poisoned while we hunted for Jang-ssi’s killer.”

Taehyung nods, “That’s smart, I only know a few basic recipes but I’m a fast learner.”

“Add any allergies you have to the list on the fridge,” Hobi says, jutting his thumb at the silver fridge and the scratty handwritten white page that sits on it. “Or any preferences, we already had to take all seafood off the list because Joonie hates it.”

Taehyung thinks he hears Namjoon mutter ‘crabs are friends, not food’ as he passes but he’s not sure. He stands from his chair and goes over to look at the list. He chuckles at Yoongi’s neat handwriting of ‘I’m allergic to all you idiots, get out of my house’.

He looks over at Seokjin at the stove, “Even with food you’re an annoying bastard. Garlic and potatoes, that’s basically the whole Italian menu.”

Seokjin rolls his eyes and continues his work at the stove, “Let me know what you’re allergic to, I’d like to subtly poison you until you leave.”

Taehyung snorts and starts to leave the room to change out of his loose sweats, “Sorry to disappoint you Seokjin, but I’m not allergic to anything and I have a tolerance to basic poisons.”

He snickers as he hears Seokjin’s scoff and Hobi’s loud laughter as he makes his way up the stairs. As he pulls on his black slacks and buttons up his white dress shirt, he tries to quell the bubbling happiness at being here in the Bulletproof Company’s crew. He can’t allow himself to get used to it, it’ll just hurt more when he has to leave.

I just think people write out of obligation too often.

"How do I motivate myself to write through the boring part of my story?"

"How do I make this boring scene not boring?"

Don't write it.

Don't write boring things just because you think the structure of the story demands it. I promise it doesn't need to be there.

If your characters need to have gone shopping for a later part of the story to make sense you can just have a sentence about how they went shopping and move on.

You are not obligated to write the boring parts. No matter what those parts are.

You are not obligated to make the parts of your story that you're not excited to write interesting somehow.

You can just write the fun and interesting parts and gloss over and summarize boring things.

Your audience will thank you and you will thank yourself.

We’re Dripping In It

Chapter 22: Wildflower

When the jet lands in Jeju Island, Namjoon and Jungkook exit down the ladder after bowing to the staff and head towards the car waiting for them. A guard greets Namjoon and hands him the key, Namjoon tosses it over his shoulder to Jungkook who catches it with ease.

Jungkook whistles as he takes in the sight of the red Lotus Emira, he slides into the leather seat and runs his hands over the dark steering wheel. “Please tell me you have one of these in Seoul.”

Namjoon chuckles as he slides into the passenger seat, “I think this is Taehyung’s, he might have another one in Seoul as well.”

Jungkook giggles excitedly as he starts the car and it purrs to life. He revs the engine slightly as they make their way smoothly out of the small airport and down the streets towards Camilla Hill. He relaxes in his seat as he takes in the rolling hills and swaying trees as they follow the map.

Namjoon sighs as he looks around at the open fields they pass and small houses, “I wish my parents had bought a house here, we used to come for vacations when I was a kid.”

“What’s stopping you from buying your own?” Jungkook asks, his thumb brushing against Namjoon’s finger as he holds his hand on the center console.

“Time,” Namjoon sighs, stretching his legs out in his seat. “Yoongi-hyung was right, I really should have given myself a day off every now and then. But it was hard to make myself stop working when it seemed like my goals were so close to being complete.”

Jungkook hums in understanding, “Tae said you’ve been traveling a lot, has that been just in Korea?”

“No, I’ve been traveling around the world.” Namjoon says, smiling at Jungkook’s noise of surprise. “I told you that we have a lot of contracts with outside companies, they’re all over the globe. I decided to do a tour, of sorts, to see them, not all of them are allowed to enter Korea. I’m also able to establish new contracts while I travel. I only just got back a month before I met you.”

Jungkook whistles lowly, “You’ve had a busy year then.”

Namjoon snorts, “Make that a busy eight years, when I finally get to retire I’m going to sleep for a year.”

Jungkook giggles and tugs Namjoon’s hand to place a kiss on his knuckles, “What are you going to do after that year of sleep, babe?”

Namjoon hums in thought, “Maybe catch up on all the books I want to read and visit museums around the world.” He chuckles at himself for a moment, “I’ve just realized how boring that makes me sound.”

Jungkook squeezes his hand, “That doesn’t sound boring to me, Namjoon. That sounds peaceful, our first date was at a museum. I’ll go with you to all of them.”

Namjoon leans over and places a kiss on Jungkook’s cheek, leaning his forehead down on his shoulder as Jungkook turns the car down a street. “Before I came into your life, what did you want to do? Where did you see yourself going?”

Jungkook hums, pulling his hand out of his to place it on the back of Namjoon’s head for a moment before putting it on the wheel. “When I started my degree I wanted to be a photographer, then I started to gain an interest in videography so I thought I’d be a film director of some sort. I honestly could never settle on one path, there were too many things that interested me. My college credits probably look like a whole mess.”

“There wasn’t something you dreamed of doing as a kid?” Namjoon asks, placing a hand against Jungkook’s chest and playing with the long silver guitar pick necklace he had on.

Jungkook hums as he thinks, glancing at the directions on the small screen as he takes the various turns. “I really can’t remember if there was something I wanted to be as a kid, there may have been a time I wanted to follow what my brother was doing. Jin-hyung was a chef before he met you guys, he taught me all the things he learned at school. He seemed so cool to me, I wanted to follow him wherever he went.”

Namjoon nodded against his shoulder, “Hobi-hyung isn’t that much older than me but I understand what you mean. Older brothers just have that influence on you.”

Jungkook gave a noise of agreement as he turned into the entrance way of Camilla Hill and pulled into a parking space. He pulled Namjoon over the console before he started to get out and placed a long kiss on his lips. He chuckled at the dazed look on Namjoon’s face as he pulled away and placed a small kiss on the tip of his nose before hopping out of the car.

Jungkook held his hand out for Namjoon as he came out of the car and joined him in front of the hood. He smiled as Namjoon slipped his hand into his and placed a kiss against his forehead before heading for the ticket booth. The puffy jackets they had brought lay abandoned in the small backseat, the weather being much warmer than they expected.

They read over the small map that the ticketing lady had given them, watching as a stream of tourists headed in one direction and decided to head in the opposite way. Jungkook heard the different chatters of Korean, Japanese, and English slowly fade the further they walked.

“How many languages do you speak?” Jungkook asks suddenly, his eyes drifting over the tall green bushes they were walking through.

Namjoon chuckles as he pulls Jungkook out of the way of another couple, “Fluently I speak about five languages, but I can hold a basic conversation in eight.”

Jungkook looked at him with wide eyes, “I knew you were smart, not a fucking genius.”

Namjoon blushed and ducked his head as his dimples popped in his cheeks, he muttered something under his breath that Jungkook didn’t catch before saying, “You seemed to have quite the vocabulary as well, your song was in English. How fluent are you?”

Jungkook shrugged, “I could hold a conversion, I took an english course my first semester and took the advanced class my second year. After I completed my required credits, I was going to go on the exchange program to travel to the States or Europe.”

“So, you’ll understand when I speak to you like this?” Namjoon asked, quirking his brow at him.

Jungkook licks his lips, “Do you sound sexy in every language?”

Namjoon smirks at him, giving him a wink as they turn a corner and enter the rows of camellia bushes in full bloom.

“Wow,” Jungkook whispered, his eyes drinking in the petals of reds and pinks sitting in the dark green leaves. He touches his fingertips to one of the delicate petals as they pass, their shoes crunching slightly on the gravel and fallen petals.

They took their time making their way through camellia bushes, avoiding any path that was too overcrowded until they reached a passage that led to an open field. The field was full of silver and pink muhly grass that stood up to their waists. There was a path that cut through the center of the field, rolling up to a hill where a single willow tree stood.

The single thought that filled Jungkook’s mind as he stood on the path and looked up towards that tree, holding Namjoon’s hand in his, was that he was going to marry him on that hill.

Jungkook pressed a hand to his mouth and felt his eyes grow teary as the sun shined from behind the tree branches. He could almost picture how everything would look on a summer’s day.

“Jungkook-ah,” Namjoon whispered, getting a weak hum in response as Jungkook continued to gaze up the hill. “Do I want to know what you’re thinking about?”

“I don’t want another ‘too soon’ lecture,” Jungkook whispered back, taking a shuddering breath as a happy tear fell from his eye.

Namjoon sighed, dropping Jungkook’s hand to wrap his arms behind him, placing his chin on Jungkook’s shoulder to gaze exactly when he was looking. “Tell me what you see.”

“A field of purple wildflowers in summer bloom,” Jungkook whispers, placing his hands on Namjoon’s arms. “You standing under that tree, waiting for me to walk up this path to you.”

Namjoon’s arms tighten around him, Jungkook can feel a tear drop onto his neck from Namjoon’s cheek. They gaze up the hill in silence, a promise being sealed as they hold each other.

Jungkook sighs as he stretches his legs under the cafe table, his ankles lightly bumping against Namjoon’s as they take slow sips of their warm tea. Jungkook’s eyes drift over the small cafe and its greenhouse design; plants hanging all around the room, dark wooden tables and chairs, and the everpresent smell of musky earth.

Namjoon grins against the rim of his cup as Jungkook gently rubs their ankles together. He leans forward into the table and looks at Jungkook with a soft smile. “How have your classes been?”

Jungkook snorts up a low giggle, making Namjoon smile wider, “Sorry, it’s just funny to be asked such a normal question now. And boring, honestly. I got lectured by one of my professors because I forgot the homework, but I honestly didn’t hear a word of it.”

Namjoon hums, placing his chin in his hand as he looks at him, “I guess that’s the problem with living in the abnormal, normal life becomes boring.”

Jungkook raises a brow at him, “A normal life with you would never be boring, my college class on the other hand…” he rolls his eyes.

“I wonder if there’s any life of mine that’s normal,” Namjoon muses with a sigh, his eyes drifting to where the door had swung open. And another couple walked in hand-in-hand to join the line at the counter.

Jungkook leans forward and places his elbows on the table, catching Namjoon’s eye again. “We can’t change the circumstances of our birth, we can only make the best of the life we’re given.”

Namjoon furrows his brow, “Did you just quote Pokémon?”

Jungkook snorts, throwing his head back laughing as he sinks down in his chair at the force of his laughter. Namjoon chuckles and takes one of Jungkook’s hands to pull him back up, placing a kiss against his giggling cheek.

“I love hearing you laugh,” he whispers against his skin, Jungkook smiles as he leans his forehead against his.

“You make it easy for me to do so,” Jungkook says, placing a small kiss against his lips before pulling away. “I have a question.”

Namjoon tilts his head and nods for him to continue as he intertwines their fingers on the wooden table. His thumb playing with their ring on his pointer finger.

Jungkook smiles down at their joined hands, “What made you keep coming to see me? Your nights are the only time you have free, why would you give it to me?”

Namjoon lowers his head to catch Jungkook’s gaze, “Because I wanted to see you, when I was with you I was able to forget the frustrations of my day. I could forget the world I live in, even if it was just for a moment.”

Namjoon squeezes his hand to stop his next words, “And you still do that, baby. I know we’ve had a lot of hard talks and you’ve seen a bit of this life, but you’ve made it more bearable for me. I didn’t realize how much it was dragging me down until I was able to come home to you every night.”

Jungkook placed his other hand on top of their joined ones, squeezing Namjoon’s tightly. “I need you to promise me something, Namjoon.”

Namjoon looks at him with a bit of worry in his eyes and Jungkook could guess where he thought he was going with this.

“If we ever have a big fight and I start to walk away, you need to stop me.” Jungkook says, squeezing Namjoon’s hands to stop his protest. “Just listen, please.”

He nods and places his other hand on top of Jungkook’s.

“I have a temper, you haven’t seen it yet, but when I get really angry I’ll say things I don’t mean and I tend to throw things around the room.” Jungkook admits, taking a deep breath to make himself continue. “If I get so angry with you that I start to walk away, even if you're not yelling at me anymore, you need to be the one to stop me. You can’t let me walk away, my anger will fester and then I’ll feel hurt that you couldn’t see past my anger to see how I’m hurting.”

“Then when we were arguing about your move…”

“I was able to stop,” Jungkook says with a nod, gazing straight into Namjoon’s eyes. “I wasn’t consumed enough not to see that you weren’t angry but scared and I was able to calm down. There may come a day where I can’t. You guys have mentioned my brother’s temper, I have it too. I’ve just learned to control it better, only Yoongi-hyung and Tae have seen when I couldn’t.”

Namjoon nods, pulling one of Jungkook’s hands up to place a kiss against his knuckles, “If you walk away from me, Jungkook, I’ll stop you. I’ll try to calm you down so we can talk, even if I get a knife thrown at my head.”

Jungkook laughs weakly, leaning his head down against their joined hands, “Thank you, I’ll try not to aim for your face.”

Namjoon places a hand against the side of Jungkook’s face, his thumb tracing the small scar that sat on the apple of his right cheek. “Even if you did, I’d never think the worst of you.”

“You can have a driver pick us up at home, I’m tired.” Jungkook sighs, leaning against Namjoon’s shoulder as they slowly glide through the air.

“Alright baby,” Namjoon chuckles, pushing him away slightly to raise the armrest between them and pull him onto his chest. Jungkook sighs as he settles over top Namjoon, tucking his hands against his sides. He starts humming under his breath, a mix of Taehyung’s lullaby and his song he wrote with Yoongi.

“I’m surprised by how well you sing that you never wanted to be a musician.” Namjoon observes, running his fingers through Jungkook’s hair.

Jungkook hums, “That’s only been since I settled with Yoongi-hyung and TaeTae. Hyung wanted to give me an outlet beyond my gym sessions to get my emotions out. He said that music was the song of the soul that we cry out and taught me how to find my voice in it.”

“That song then, the one you sang in hyung’s studio,” Namjoon says softly, placing his free hand over the back of Jungkook’s neck. “What was your soul crying out for?”

“My brother,” Jungkook whispers, tilting his head and blinking his eyes slowly as he looks up at Namjoon. “It was the hardest for me to write and to sing. That’s why hyung asked if I’d want you to stay, it’s my most raw feelings about my brother.”

“Will you ever show it to him?” Namjoon asks, brushing the hairs that had fallen across Jungkook’s eyes as he nods.

“One day, when it feels like the right time, I’ll sing it for him,” Jungkook says, his eyes searching over Namjoon’s face. “Have you sung any of the songs you’ve written?”

Namjoon nods, smiling as Jungkook’s eyes sparkle with interest. He tilts his hips and reaches into his back pocket to pull out his phone, after a moment a song begins to play through it.

Jungkook closes his eyes as he listens to the smooth beat and then he hears Namjoon’s velvet voice begin to sing.

“We’re born in the moonlight, ain’t no fantasy. Can’t breathe in the sunlight, gotta hide your heart.”

Namjoon hums against Jungkook’s cheek as the song plays, wiping the stray tears that fall down his face. Jungkook can hear the various symbolisms throughout the song, alluding to a deep loneliness felt by the singer. But there’s a hope as well, a sense of purpose to keep moving forward. Jungkook presses his face against Namjoon’s chest as the last line plays.

“Moon child you shine. When moon rise, it’s your time.”

They simply breathe together for a moment as the last of the song plays, the silence is calming as they collect themselves. Jungkook lifts his head and looks over Namjoon’s hesitant face. Pulling himself up he presses his lips against his.

Jungkook kisses him long and slow, before running his tongue along the seam of his lips. Namjoon opens for him and he slides his tongue against his, before running it around the expanse of his mouth. Namjoon’s tongue follows his movement and chases after his tongue as he retreats back into his own mouth, he groans as he feels Namjoon gives him the same treatment before they part from each other.

They breathe heavily against each other, their noses brushing as they lean their foreheads together. Jungkook slides his hands down from Namjoon’s hair to cup his neck, running his thumbs over the skin of his pulse point.

“You sing beautifully,” Jungkook whispers, opening his slightly damp eyes to meet Namjoon’s. He catches one of the tears that falls from Namjoon’s eyes. “Let me be your nightscape, as you are my moon.”

Namjoon leans down, placing a gentle kiss against his lips as he whispers, “Even if many days pass, I will be by your side.”

Jungkook smiles at the echoing words they say from each other’s deepest songs. He places another kiss against Namjoon’s lips and falls into his arms as they fly above the night sky.