Yoongi received another phone call from Officer Chung that afternoon, letting him know that Chul had bailed out and was officially at home. Yoongi shivered when he thought about the fact that Chul would be furious that Yoongi had broken the lease on their apartment and he no longer lived there. He'd have to move back in with his parents, whom he hated. This would just make him even more angry at Yoongi.

"What if he gets so angry with his parents that he doesn't even care that he'll get arrested for breaking house arrest and comes after me?"

Jungkook and Namjoon looked at each other. They'd been listening to Yoongi's theories and worst case scenarios for an hour.

"It won't happen, Yoongs," Namjoon assured him. "He knows the consequences, and they're much more dire than any desire he may have to come after you."

"Do you really believe that?"

Namjoon internally sighed, because he wasn't sure he fully believed it. But he instantly said, "Yes, Yoongs."

"Let's talk about something else," Jungkook suggested. "We're both here with you, we won't be leaving anytime soon. Let's do something else, like watch a movie or something."

Yoongi shook his head. "You guys can do that, but I won't be able to focus. I mean, what if – "

"Yoongs!" Namjoon interrupted sharply. "You're coming up with wild theories that don't have anything of a chance to actually happen. You've got to concentrate on something else."

Yoongi's mouth snapped shut. "I'm sorry," Namjoon said immediately. "I just... I hate seeing you like this, Yoongs. You've got to stop torturing yourself."

"I'm sorry," Yoongi said quietly.

"You don't need to be sorry," Namjoon replied. "Jungkook is right, though. Let's do something to get our minds off of it."

Yoongi nodded. "Okay," he finally agreed.

They let Yoongi pick out the movie as Namjoon made dinner. While they were waiting, Jungkook suddenly decided to ask Yoongi something he'd been thinking about.

"Hey," he said, and Yoongi turned to him. "Can I call you Yoon?"

Yoongi's eyebrows rose in surprise at the random question. "What?"

"Well, you call me Kook now, and I want to have a nickname for you, too. Yoongs is special between you and Namjoon, so I don't want to call you that. But I figured maybe you'd be okay with Yoon?"

Yoongi's cheeks flushed. "Uh... Y-Yeah. That'd be okay."

Jungkook grinned. "Great!"

And for the first time in a couple of days, Yoongi smiled, too. Jungkook's heart fluttered.

"Okay, Yoon... What movie did you choose?"

-

It was a long, torturous week that followed. Yoongi barely left the apartment, scared that he'd somehow inexplicably run into Chul outside. True to their word, he never had any less than two of his friends with him at any given moment.

Officer Chung had called to let Yoongi know that the trial would be starting three weeks after Chul had gotten out. So, he still had two weeks to be scared out of his mind. His friends were very worried about him, especially as he had, as Namjoon feared he would, retreated into himself. While he didn't stay in his room all day, he also didn't speak much. And his friends knew he was going over every scenario he believed could happen, no matter how ridiculous it may be. They hated how agonizing his thoughts were for him.

On top of all of this was the fact that he was already scared to have to confront Chul in court. Yoongi hadn't been expecting that, and he was terrified to have to see him again. He knew how angry Chul would be, and after almost eight months of being tortured by Chul's anger, he wasn't sure he could handle seeing it flashing in his eyes again.

More than anything, Yoongi loathed how Chul still had control over him, despite having been in jail and out of his life. It was unfair, and it was hard to reconcile because of how weak it made him feel. There was a time in his life where Yoongi was anything but vulnerable. Now he felt like that's all he ever was anymore. And he hated it.

All of his friends did everything they could to get his mind off of things. Seokjin cracked jokes. Hoseok and Taehyung acted goofy. Namjoon and Jimin offered encouragement. And Jungkook simply sat with Yoongi, trying to continue to be the strong presence that he seemed to find comforting. Everything was going as well as it could be, and it all at least seemed to stop Yoongi from falling back into the despondency that had plagued him for so long before.

-

It was the third day of the third week when it happened.

Jungkook and Hoseok were over, keeping Yoongi company. Yoongi and Jungkook were sitting next to each other on the couch, and Hoseok had been trying to pick out a movie. After he chose one, he headed to the bathroom before they started it.

And Yoongi chose this moment to lay his head on Jungkook's shoulder.

He wasn't sure why he did it. Maybe it was instinct, as he'd done it hundreds of times to Namjoon before when he was feeling reassured. But this was the first time he'd ever done it to Jungkook.

And Jungkook wasn't sure why he did it. Maybe it was because he wanted to continue to comfort him. Or maybe it was because he himself felt so comfortable with Yoongi. But he leaned down and gently kissed the top of Yoongi's head.

Yoongi froze, and Jungkook could feel him tense against him. Jungkook was about to apologize for making things awkward when Yoongi lifted his head and looked up at him.

And his face was so...innocent. His eyes were wide and confused yet soothed. And Jungkook will never know what came over him next, but he made what he would come to believe was the biggest mistake of his life.

He leaned down and captured Yoongi's lips with his own in a soft kiss.

It didn't last long, and it was as chaste as any short kiss could be. But it left an immediate impression on both boys, and when they broke apart, there were two very different looks on each of their faces.

Yoongi's was one of surprise, but not discontent, and one could tell his walls had come crumbling down in that short, tender moment.

But Jungkook's was a look of horror.

"I-I'm sorry," Jungkook stuttered. He quickly stood. "I shouldn't have done that."

"Kook – "

"I shouldn't be here right now. I-I need to go."

"Kook, wait – "

But Jungkook was already out the door, hurrying away and jumping quickly into his car. Yoongi sat, confused, trying to decide if he should follow him. But Hoseok chose that moment to exit the bathroom.

"Where'd Jungkook go?" he asked. And tears sprang into Yoongi's eyes.

"I...I don't know."

"Are you okay, Yoongi?" Hoseok asked, concerned.

"I-I need to be alone for a bit," Yoongi replied numbly as he got up and walked to his room.

"Okay," Hoseok called after him. "Let me know if you need anything."

Yoongi didn't reply, and left Hoseok very confused as his bedroom door closed.

About fifteen minutes later, there was a knock on the front door. Hoseok was surprised to see Taehyung through the peephole, waiting to be let inside.

"What are you doing here?" he asked. "It's not your day to – "

"Jungkook texted me and asked if I could take his place for the afternoon."

"Why?"

"He didn't say. Isn't he here?"

"No, he'd left before I even knew he was going."

Taehyung looked concerned. "He left you guys alone? That's not like him."

Hoseok nodded. "I guess something really important must have come up. We can ask him tomorrow."

Taehyung shrugged as he walked inside. "Where's Yoongi?"

"He went into his room. He seemed...off."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm not sure. He just seemed upset, but didn't necessarily act like he was. I don't know how to explain it."

"Should we ask him?"

Hoseok shook his head. "Not yet. He said he wanted to be alone."

Taehyung sighed. "I hope things aren't going back to the way they were. We should text Namjoon, just to let him know."

Hoseok nodded. "I'll do that now."

-

It only took about fifteen minutes for Namjoon to appear, throwing open the door with a murderous look on his face.

"Where's Yoongs?"

"In his room," Hoseok replied. "He still hasn't – "

"Call Jungkook and tell him to get his ass back over here. Now."

He then headed toward Yoongi's room and, without even knocking, opened the door and slipped inside.

Hoseok and Taehyung looked at each other with wide eyes before Taehyung scrambled to get his phone out of his pocket and call Jungkook.

"Yoongs," Namjoon said, sitting on the end of Yoongi's bed where he was laying, facing the wall. "What happened?"

Yoongi shrugged. Namjoon sighed. "Please talk to me, Yoongs. Please don't shut me out again."

But Yoongi didn't reply. Namjoon noticed his phone laying in his open palm and picked it up without asking. But Yoongi didn't object. Namjoon could see that it was open to Jungkook's contact.

Yoongi: Where did you go?

Yoongi: Please come back.

Yoongi: I'm not upset with you.

Yoongi: Please reply, Kook.

Yoongi: Why would you leave?

Yoongi: You promised you wouldn't leave me.

Yoongi: You promised.

"Yoongs, what happened?"

Again, Yoongi didn't reply.

"Did Jungkook do something to you? Did he hurt you?"

Yoongi did shake his head at that.

"Why did he leave so suddenly? Why isn't he answering you? Please tell me what happened. You can tell me anything, Yoongs. You know that."

"Has he come back?" Yoongi suddenly whispered.

"No," Namjoon said. "But we're working on it."

"If he's not back by now," Yoongi said shakily. "Then he's not coming back at all."

"Why not?"

"I don't know."

"Yoongs – "

"I mean it!" Yoongi suddenly cried. "I don't know!"

"Okay," said Namjoon gently, trying to calm Yoongi down. "Okay, I understand."

And to his shock, Yoongi began crying. Not sobbing, but soft, sniffling crying.

"Yoongs," Namjoon said yet again. "Please tell me what happened. If you think Jungkook's never coming back, something serious must have happened. Can you tell me what it was?"

"He..." Yoongi's crying choked him up. "He-He kissed me."

Namjoon blinked. Out of everything Yoongi could have said, that was the last thing he expected.

"He kissed you?"

Yoongi nodded. "And then he freaked out and left."

"But why?"

"I don't know," Yoongi said firmly again. "He said he shouldn't have done it and that he shouldn't be here, and then he left."

"But – "

"Whatever you're thinking, I've already thought it, too."

Namjoon felt terrible for his friend. He'd known for a while that Yoongi had a little crush on Jungkook. He had no idea Jungkook may have had the same feelings, though. He felt rage surge through his veins. How dare Jungkook do this to his friend. How dare he give Yoongi hope and then snatch it away. It should have been a wonderful, celebratory moment for Yoongi - something they all knew he'd been needing lately - but Jungkook ruined it with his own selfish means that he didn't even explain.

"I'm going to talk to him," Namjoon said. "I'll get him back over here, I promise."

Yoongi shook his head. "Don't bother. If he cared, he would have done something after I reminded him of his promise."

"Yoongs, this doesn't mean he doesn't care about you – "

"Doesn't it? He not only left me today, but he left leaving only one other person here. It was all his idea to have two people with me, and then he does this." Tears once again sprang to Yoongi's eyes.

"He had Tae – "

"But he should've stayed until Taehyung got here!"

Namjoon said nothing more. He knew Yoongi was right.

"Please tell Taehyung thank you for coming over. I'm going to stay in here for now."

Namjoon shook his head. "Don't shut us out again, Yoongs. Please – "

"I'm not," Yoongi promised. "I just need some time right now."

Namjoon nodded sadly. "Okay. If you need anything, you'll let me know, right?"

Yoongi nodded, and Namjoon reluctantly left his room. Both Hoseok and Taehyung were waiting anxiously. Namjoon sighed.

"He said he needs some time right now, but that he won't shut us out again."

There was a collective sigh of relief from both boys.

"He wanted me to tell you thank you for coming over," Namjoon said to Taehyung.

Taehyung nodded. "Of course," he said quietly.

"Did he say anything about Jungkook?" Hoseok asked.

"Yes," Namjoon answered honestly. "But I don't know if he wants everyone to know what happened yet."

Hoseok looked disappointed. "It may help us get him back over here. He's not answering either of our calls."

"It won't help," Namjoon admitted. "And it looks like he won't be coming back. At least, not anytime soon."

Hoseok's and Taehyung's eyes widened, but they didn't say anything else. Namjoon shook his head sadly. "This just feels like the worst case scenario for Yoongs right now."