Whole

    "We'll able to trade you the fresh vegetables from the garden in exchange for petrol for the millenicopters."

    "And you'll agree to the terms of the peace treaty?"

    "Of course,"

    "Great, I'll get this to Noeul then."

Taehyung smiles from where he sits in front of Seokjin's desk as Namjoon and Jeongguk walk in discussing the peace treaty between Solis and 614.

"How's he looking?" Namjoon asks coming to stand beside Seokjin, looking over his shoulder at the results on the screen of his computer.

Jeongguk leans against the wall next to Jimin, shooting Taehyung a smile before looking down at the treaty in his hand.

"Everything looks good," Seokjin says as he clicks around on the computer. "The medication is completely out of his system and after monitoring him for forty-eight hours we didn't find any changes. No decline in health or any other physical reactions."

"So I'm cured?" Taehyung asks, tearing open the pack of crackers Seokjin had given him after drawing his blood.

"We can't tell as far as long-term goes, but right now you seem to be reacting positively to the change," Seokjin says standing from his seat and rounding his desk. "I still want you to try and come back when you can so we can be sure. I'll be monitoring other patients as we start the weening process."

    "Alright," Taehyung says. "Am I free to go now?"

    "You should eat your crackers and drink some water before you start moving around again," Seokjin says. "I don't want you to feel faint."

Taehyung nods. "Will do."

    "In the mean time, I'll back up some food for you guys to take back to Solis," Seokjin smiles. "Namjoon, do you mind helping me?"

    "Of course not," Namjoon says with a dimpled smile before following Seokjin out of the room.

    "So," Jimin starts when they're gone, pushing himself from the wall and walking over to lean against the front of Seokjin's desk. "You're really leaving 614?"

"Yeah," Taehyung nods.

"You can always come with us," Jeongguk mentions casually, still looking down at the papers in his hands.

"I couldn't leave Hobi," Jimin says shaking his head. "I'm gonna miss you though. It's not gonna be the same around here without you bringing down the mood all the time."

"Sorry, I'll try to rub some of my pessimism off on you before I go," Taehyung says halfheartedly as he dumps the remaining crumbs from the package into his mouth.

"What's so great about Solis anyway?" Jimin asks. "You're gone for five days and you come back ready to drop everything and leave forever."

"I won't be gone forever, Jimin," Taehyung promises. "I'll come back every now and then."

"That didn't answer my question,"

"What?"

"What's so great about Solis?"

Taehyung shrugs, glancing over at Jeongguk, who isn't paying them any mind, before looking back at Jimin. "I like the people there. They make me feel like I'm a part of something, I've never had that here."

Jimin nods, looking at Jeongguk briefly as well. "I hope you'll be happy there."

"I will be," Taehyung chuckles. "It's a great place to live."

"We better get going before we lose anymore light, Taehyung," Jeongguk says cutting their conversation short. "You feel okay to walk?"

"Yeah," Taehyung sighs as he stands. "You moved all my stuff to the millenicopter?"

"Yeah," Jeongguk nods, holding his hand out for him to take.

The three of them meet Seokjin, Namjoon, and Hoseok downstairs.

"All set?" Seokjin asks with a small smile.

"All set," Taehyung responds with another sigh, this was harder than he expected it to be.

He's always wanted to get away from 614 and there had been times where he would've done anything to get away from Seokjin and Namjoon. But now that he was actually leaving it felt strange and scary to him.

"You'll be good, hm?" Seokjin asks as Taehyung he hands Jeongguk the containers of food.

"I'll try," Taehyung chuckles shortly, rolling his eyes in fake annoyance when Seokjin opens his arms for a hug. "Don't make this a huge thing, please." He says as he hugs the older. "I still don't like you."

"That's okay," Seokjin chuckles softly, patting his back before pulling away from the hug. "Take care of yourself, okay?"

Taehyung nods, smiling softly before Seokjin walks away from the five of them—not sparing anyone a glance as he leaves the foyer.

"He's just a little upset," Namjoon says dismissively. "He'll get over it in a couple of days."

Taehyung nods, feeling himself choke up slightly as he says goodbye to Namjoon and Hoseok.

"I meant to ask Seokjin before but I was wondering if you could do me a favor," Taehyung says to Namjoon. "There's this guy that used to look out for me when I was on the outside, his name is Lodillez but everyone calls him Lodi."

Namjoon nods along with his words.

"I was wondering if you guys could look out for him for me," Taehyung continues. "He's a good friend of mine."

"Of course, I'll tell Seokjin," Namjoon smiles. "You guys have a safe trip."

"Thanks," Taehyung smiles. "See you, guys. Bye, Jimin."

"Bye, be careful," Jimin says to the two of them as they leave.

Taehyung waves once more before they walk out of the main entrance, shutting the door behind them before heading to the millenicopter.

"You okay?" Jeongguk asks when they reach the vehicle. "You're quiet."

Taehyung nods, looking back at the building with a sad expression. "I'm fine, I just..."

"Oh, Tae," Jeongguk chuckles softly when he sees the tears forming in his eyes. He pulls him into a hug. "Don't cry, honey. They aren't going anywhere, they'll be right here whenever you decide to visit. Okay?"

"I know," Taehyung sighs. "I didn't think it'd be hard for me to leave this place."

"It's always hard to say goodbye," Jeongguk says pulling away from the hug. He takes Taehyung's face in his hands and thumbs away the remainder of his tears. "You can always change your mind."

"No," Taehyung says firmly. "I'm going, we're going."

"Okay," Jeongguk smiles. "Let's go then."

Taehyung nods before pulling away from their embrace and round the car. He sighs as he settles in for the ride back to Solis.

It's quiet, peaceful drive and soon they are announcing their arrival back at Solis.

Lynex waves them in, meeting them to help take the rest of Taehyung's things to the craft.

    "I guess I owe you an official welcome to Solis, huh?" Lynex asks as he puts Taehyung's things down. "It's good to see a fresh face around here."

    "Yeah, I love it here already," Taehyung chuckles.

    "Thanks, Lyn," Jeongguk says shaking his hand. "You better get back before Noeul reprimands you about leaving the place unguarded."

    "We're not unguarded, I can sense when someone's getting too close," Lynex laughs. "It's like a superpower."

    "Thank the stars for you, I guess," Jeongguk says rolling his eyes. "Get out of here."

    "See you at dinner," Lynex chuckles before jogging off to go back to guarding the post.

The door to the spacecraft opens then and Daebin looks out. "Hey, Taehyung and Jeongguk are back!"

Taehyung laughs as Nikai and Illium appear right behind him to help move his stuff inside.

    "I thought for sure you'd never come back," Daebin says trying to put Jeongguk in a headlock.

    "Your folks didn't give you any trouble about coming here did they?" Nikai asks, taking the bag in Taehyung's hand and putting it over his shoulder before grabbing the final box from the ground.

    "No," Taehyung answers simply.

    "Good," Daebin smiles. "Hey, Illi, get the door would you?"

    "I'm glad you guys made it back alright," Illium says as he opens the door for Nikai. "I thought you left for good."

    "Guys, we're three days late, you act like we've been gone for months," Jeongguk says walking into the spacecraft after them. "Where's Lisa and Kira?"

    "We're here," Lisa says coming down the narrow hall with Kira on her him. "Where the the hell have you been? You were supposed to get back ages ago."

    "We got a little delayed," Jeongguk says dropping the things in his hands and taking Kira. "You didn't worry your little head did you?"

    "No," She says shaking her head. "Mama said you would come back like before."

    "Your mama was right," Jeongguk says kissing her cheek.

Taehyung is shocked when the girl reaches for him next but he takes her into his arms and gives her a hug. "Don't tell me you missed me too."

    "I did," She giggles. "But mama said you would come back too."

Taehyung smiles at her before Nikai complains about being the only one moving things. "Okay, okay," He says putting the girl down so that he can help with the remaining stuff.

    "How do you even grow this stuff?" Lisa asks as she looks through the containers of food.

    "Seokjin has a few methods," Taehyung explains.

    "They offered to trade us fresh food for petrol," Jeongguk says standing beside Lisa in the kitchen area with the treaty in his hands. "Says it right here the treaty."

    "Shouldn't you be getting that to Noeul?" Taehyung asks.

    "Oh shit, you're right," Jeongguk says. "I should get to him before dinner. Meet you there?"

    "Yeah," Taehyung chuckles softly as he rushes out of the craft.

    "So you're here for good?" Lisa asks as she places the food in the cold storage.

    "I'm here for good," Taehyung nods. "You aren't tired of me yet are you?"

    "I've lived with Nikai and Daebin for six years," Lisa chuckles. "I've got a lot of patience."

    "Can't keep my name out of your mouth, can you?" Nikai says appearing out of nowhere as he tends to do.

    "Where are you supposed to be right now?" Lisa asks. "Your mom asked you to help her tonight~"

    "I know, I sent someone else to do it," Nikai says sitting down at the table. "I had to be here to welcome Taehyung and Jeongguk back home."

    "Don't use them as an excuse to be a terrible son," Lisa says putting the last of the containers away. "Should we head to the square early to help set out the chairs?"

    "Sure," Taehyung nods.

    "Great, just let me get Kira~" Lisa starts before Nikai cuts her off.

    "Jeongguk took her," He says standing to leave with them.

    "What?" She asks. "He can't just take my kid whenever he feels like it."

    "To be fair, you kinda make him take her whenever you feel like it so," Nikai shrugs. "Even playing field if you ask me."

    "Whatever," Lisa says rolling her eyes before going to grab her coat.

    "Daebin, Illium!" Nikai calls as he walks out of the kitchen area. "Lisa wants you
guys to help set up the chairs for supper."

Taehyung grabs a coat from Jeongguk's room—it's his room now, too, he supposes—before leaving the craft to go help set up.

The fire isn't even started yet when they arrive but there is a group of people working diligently to get it started.

It's Taehyung's first time helping set up for dinner and the sense of community he felt was even stronger now as he watched everyone work together to get things ready.

It was like watching different parts of a machine work together to generate a finished product.

And for once in his life he was actually a part of the machine and not some missing screw that everyone forgot about.

He helps to place the chairs haphazardly around the fire, making sure there were more than enough places to sit, before offering to help Maia ration out the meal for tonight. He fits into the flow of things better than he could have hoped.

Once everyone starts to arrive he takes his place in the crowd with his food, sitting in a chair in the back so he could see everything happening around him.

Jeongguk arrives shortly after everyone has been served, getting scolded by Maia for almost missing dinner.

    "I tried to tell her you were meeting with Noeul," Taehyung chuckles as he joins him.

    "It's okay," He says rolling his eyes.

    "What'd he think about the treaty?" Taehyung asks, setting his empty bowl on the ground.

    "He liked it," Jeongguk says. "He's gonna sign it and send someone back to 613 to give it to headquarters."

    "So we're officially allies of 613?"

    "We're officially allies."

Taehyung smiles at the thought. "Thank you."

    "Why are you thanking me?" Jeongguk chuckles. "I didn't do anything."

    "I know but still, thank you for everything," Taehyung says. "I'm really happy."

    "You're happy?"

    "Yeah, I am."

Jeongguk nods, smiling softly. "That's all I want, honey."

Taehyung's smile widens. "I love you."

    "I love you more," Jeongguk promises. "Always."

    "I found them!" Daebin's voice suddenly shouts, ruining the moment.

    "Oh, there you guys are," Nikai says appearing with Illium. "We've been looking all over, you usually sit in the other side of the fire."

    "Maybe we were trying to get away from you," Jeongguk says, an aggravated expression on his face as his friends drag chairs over to gather around them.

    "Be nice," Taehyung chuckles.

    "Yeah, be nice, Gguk," Nikai pouts dramatically.

    "Stop, Nik," Illium laughs.

    "Sorry," Nikai smiles at him.

Taehyung looks at Jeongguk and he rolls his eyes knowingly at the two of them.

    "What are we talking about?" Nikai asks with his arm around Illium. "I heard you're gonna get your first assignment tomorrow, Tae. What to do you want?"

    "I don't know," Taehyung shrugs. "I'll do whatever they ask me to."

    "Don't tell them that," Daebin says. "They'll put you on pick up everyday. Or worse, they'll make you stand guard 24/7 with Lynex."

    "Lynex loves his job," Illium points out.

    "Because he's a psychopath," Nikai says. "If you want to take the easy way out just tell them you want to work in the kitchen. You only have to show up for a couple of hours each day."

    "Don't listen to him," Jeongguk says. "He's got it easy in the kitchen because of his mom."

    "Not true," Nikai argues. "I do the same thing everyone else does."

    "She made pour water for like two weeks," Daebin argues. "I wish I was pouring water for two weeks."

Taehyung smiles as they go back and forth, looking over at Jeongguk who's eyes are already on him.

    "I love you," Jeongguk mouths to him.

    "I love you more," He mouths back.

The night ends as it always does, Taehyung stays behind to help put the chairs away as Jeongguk helps to put the fire out.

Once the fire is out the freezing night air bites just a little more harshly. Taehyung closes his eyes and lets the freezing air waft against his skin.

He felt a sense of impending peace as he felt himself settle in more and more with each passing second.

There's a small part of him that wonders how different his life would have been if his parents had escaped to Solis rather than invade the collective.

Maybe he would have grown up here, in a community of people who would have seen him as his family and not as an outsider, a threat.

Maybe Daebin or Illium would've been his best friend, maybe even Nikai.

Maybe his parents would still be alive. Maybe they would've been happy here.

There are so many maybes, so many things that could've have happened differently.

Had things happened differently he wouldn't be here today, happy with Jeongguk and his newfound family.

So despite all the pain and suffering he's had to endure to get here, despite all the loss, he wouldn't change the past.

Because without that past, he wouldn't be heading into this future that he's always so desperately wanted for himself.

He was happy.

He was whole.