Jeon Jungkook had always been a bleeding heart. He himself was observant and cared deeply about others' feelings, even if he didn't know them. He didn't have many friends, and none of them were close friends. But, he still cared for them as well as others around him.

So when he saw his favorite fellow dancer uncharacteristically falter multiple times in their shared class, he became concerned. He knew it might be awkward to approach him, but the boy seemed so distracted and the look on his face was one of what could only be described as akin to misery. And it broke Jungkook's heart.

So after class, he quickly scribbled his name and phone number onto a piece of paper and headed over to Jimin. Jimin, not surprisingly, was not very receptive to a stranger's advances of concern. But Jungkook persisted. His thought was that if he were miserable, he'd want someone to care enough to check on him. And though Jungkook knew that Jimin and their other fellow dancer, Hoseok, were close, Hoseok seemed to be somewhat oblivious to Jimin's demeanor that day. And so Jungkook thought he'd offer to be an impartial party for Jimin to talk to if needed.

He sighed after Jimin walked away. He was pleased that Jimin had accepted his phone number, but he didn't expect him to use it. And there was nothing else Jungkook could do. But, he reasoned with himself, at least he'd tried.

-

Jimin couldn't stand it anymore. He nervously picked up his phone and, maneuvering through his contacts, made a call.

He was not expecting someone other than the owner to pick up the phone.

"What?"

"Uh, hey," Jimin said, confused. "Is Yoongi around?"

"Yeah."

"Um, can I talk to him?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"He's busy."

"Oh. Uh, well, this is his friend, Jimin, and I just wanted to check on him because he didn't show up to class today."

"Oh, he didn't, did he?"

'Oh no,' Jimin thought as his heart dropped.

"I mean, I may have just missed him. But I just wanted to be sure – "

"He's fine. I'll handle it."

"Wait – "

But it was too late. The line went dead, and dread blossomed in Jimin's chest. Had he just made things even worse?

Yet again, he found himself at a loss of what to do. After a few long moments, he picked up his phone again, and dialed the last number he'd though he would.

"Hello?"

"Um, hey. This is Jimin."

"Jimin! Hey!" Jungkook was relieved. He'd thought Jimin would never speak to him again.

"Did you mean it when you said you'd listen if I needed to talk?"

"Of course," Jungkook replied. "What's up?"

"I..." Jimin paused, suddenly scared to say out loud what was weighing so heavy on his heart.

"Jimin?" Jungkook asked after a few more moments of silence. "Are you there?"

"I-I think my friend is being abused."

-

"You have to tell Namjoon."

Jimin nervously bit his thumbnail.

"Jimin, he's his best friend of how many years did you say? He needs to know."

Jimin nodded distractedly. "But what if he doesn't believe me?"

"He will," Jungkook assured. "He sounds like the type of guy who would know you'd never lie about something like that."

Jimin and Jungkook were sitting in the university cafe. They'd decided to meet for coffee to discuss Yoongi's situation further.

"My fear is that Namjoon will immediately try to intervene, and that that will make Yoongi's situation with Chul even worse."

"This is why you need to explain everything," Jungkook said. "So he'll understand that that could be the case."

"It just doesn't feel that simple," Jimin said quietly.

"Jimin, this whole situation is anything but simple. And the resolution of it will be anything but simple. But the longer you keep this information to yourself, the more Yoongi will be abused. You have to tell someone."

"Should I go to the police?"

"Probably eventually," Jungkook admitted. "But first you need to get your friends involved. You can't handle this all on your own, Jimin."

Jimin was quiet again. Jungkook patiently waited for him to say something else.

"It's just..." Jimin paused as he wondered if he should continue. "You don't understand. Yoongi is the strongest of all of us. He's just so...I don't know. So headstrong and unyielding. He figuratively towers above the rest of us. He had a hard childhood, and that made him tough. It's just so strange to imagine him being so...vulnerable."

"If he had a hard childhood, then this sort of thing isn't actually that surprising," Jungkook said. "This is likely a manifestation of all the fears he probably had as a child. And if he's always so strong for everyone else, it would make sense that he lets his guard down when it comes to himself."

Jimin nodded. He supposed that did make sense. But it was still difficult for him to wrap his head around the great Min Yoongi allowing himself to be abused.

"Jimin," Jungkook began again. "You have to tell Namjoon. You do know that, right?"

Jimin sighed. "I know," he said quietly.

"Do you want me to be with you when you do?" Jungkook offered. "I'm happy to stay by your side and see this thing through."

Jimin considered this. Having Jungkook with him would make him feel less nervous. But would Namjoon be upset that Jimin didn't go directly to him? He eventually voiced this concern to Jungkook.

"Honestly, Jimin - and please don't take offense - you need to stop worrying about how all of this is affecting you and instead put Yoongi first."

This hit Jimin like a ton of bricks. And he knew Jungkook was right.

"Okay," he said, resigning himself to deal with the consequences of not going to Namjoon first. "I'll call him."

"Call him now," Jungkook said gently. "For Yoongi's sake, this can't wait."

Jimin nodded, pulling out his phone.

"What's up, Jimin-ah?"

"Hey, Hyung. What are you doing right now?"

"I was about to head to the library. I want to get some extra studying in before finals start next week."

"Could you... Could you come to the cafe instead?"

"Why?"

"I need to talk to you."

"Is everything okay?"

Jimin looked up at Jungkook. "No, Hyung, I don't think so."

-

"What?!"

Namjoon sat across from Jimin and Jungkook, mouth agape.

"I know it doesn't seem possible," Jimin said. "But I heard it all. Hyung, he was crying. Begging. It was awful. I can't get his cries out of my head."

"There's got to be some sort of mistake," Namjoon insisted. "Yoongs is so happy with Chul. Why would he move in with him if he was hurting him?"

"If you don't mind me interjecting here," Jungkook began. "I think I can explain that. I have some experience with this type of thing and – "

"Who are you again?" Namjoon asked, a bit annoyed.

"My name is Jungkook."

"He's a friend of mine," Jimin said.

"We've never met him," Namjoon said. "Why does he know about this?"

Jimin sighed. All of his fears were coming true. "I-I wanted to be sure that I was doing the right thing – "

"You should have come to me first." Namjoon was trying very hard to keep his voice from rising.

"I know, Hyung. I'm sorry."

Namjoon sighed. "I'm going over there."

"I don't know if that's a good idea," Jimin said. "Chul told him that he wasn't allowed to see us anymore."

"I don't give a fuck what that fucker says. Yoongs is my best friend. He won't turn me away."

"I'm not so sure about that."

"Well, I have to at least try then."

Jimin nodded. "Do you want me to come with you?"

"No," Namjoon insisted. "If this is all really going on, it would be best for both of them to just have to deal with one person right now."

Jimin sighed. It seemed as though Namjoon was still not quite believing what he had to say.

"Be careful, Hyung. I really think Chul is dangerous."