Requested by whiam8
TW: Heavy angst. Vomit. Blood. MCD.
[🛑 New Requests Closed🛑]

--

"Jeon Jungkook, get out here now!"

Jungkook had been laying on his bed when he heard Namjoon's voice calling for him. Not just Namjoon's voice, but Namjoon's angry voice.

The youngest member of BTS knew exactly what he was about to get in trouble for. He took a deep breath before stumbling out of bed and slipping his phone into his back pocket. Out of sight, and somewhere he knew Namjoon would, hopefully, not find it.

He took his time making his way to the living room, only to be met with six angry faces staring back at him. Everyone was sitting around the living room while Namjoon was standing in front of him.

Jungkook dropped his head a bit but lifted his eyes to Namjoon as he stood there with his hands clasped behind his back. "What's wrong, Namjoonie hyungie?" He tried to make his voice quiet and small, hoping it would make Namjoon ease up on his anger.

"Don't play dumb with me." Namjoon held his phone in Jungkook's face, displaying an Instagram profile that was clearly a profile made to hate, specifically, on Jin. It seemed to be a Jin anti and at the same time a sasaeng who was obsessed with Jungkook and didn't like the relationship between Jin and Jungkook. Amidst the profile were constant comments from Jungkook's main account, shit talking and fighting this anonymous anti. "How many times do I have to tell you to stop interacting with this damn account?! I have told you countless times to block it!"

Jungkook stood there silently as he dropped his gaze back to the floor. Namjoon had told him to stop interacting with this account numerous times, but he wasn't one to listen. He felt like he had to stand up for Jin, considering nobody else was doing it.

Namjoon noticed Jungkook's silence and spoke up again. "Where is your phone? If you're not going to block the account after the million times I have asked you to, then I will do it myself to save you the trouble."

Jungkook tried to nonchalantly back away and he ended up backing right into the wall. It was a sly tactic so that Namjoon couldn't reach for the phone he was trying to keep hidden in his back pocket.

"I asked you for your phone, Jungkook," Namjoon repeated. "Where is it?"

Jungkook hesitated to answer when he couldn't help but feel angry too. He mumbled something under his breath but Namjoon didn't hear him.

"What? Speak up," Namjoon demanded.

"I said," Jungkook lifted his head and made direct eye contact with his leader, "I'm not giving you my phone. I don't have to." He turned to Jin who had been silently watching with the others. "Jin hyungie, tell Namjoonie I don't have to give him my phone. The only reason he even wants it is because I'm trying to defend you." He gestured to the rest of his hyungs who were sitting around and not engaging.  "Which I don't see any of you guys helping out with."

Jimin went to speak up, but Jin shushed him. The eldest stood up and walked over to where Jungkook and Namjoon were standing. "Unfortunately, Jungkook-ah, I can't overrule this one for you. He has authority over all of our phones."

This much was true. The phones were given to all of the members by the company, and being the leader, Namjoon was told by the company to make sure everyone used them accordingly. He was given authority to take anyone's phone if they were breaking company policies on it, especially when it came to social media.

Something Jungkook was very much doing. They were not allowed to be interacting with people on social media the way Jungkook had been. They understood he was upset by this anti's words against Jin, they all were, but everyone else knew it was against policy to interact. This was something the company was supposed to take care of, not them. Not to mention they weren't supposed to engage in those types of things because it was riling up fans and more anti's and only making things worse for everyone.

Even as the eldest one of the group, Jin didn't have authority over Namjoon on this. Although, he agreed with Namjoon anyway. Jungkook had to be stopped.

"I'm not giving you my phone, you know why? Because I don't see anyone else defending Jin hyungie!" Jungkook could feel the anger at the others bubbling up in his chest. "Someone has to, and if it's not going to be any of you, then I will do it!"

"Hey, come on Koo, that's not fair. We aren't allowed to. You're the only one breaking the rules and we don't want to see you get in trouble." Jimin couldn't help but get up and try to defend himself. "If we were allowed to, we would all be right on that account fighting back, but it's not doing anyone any good. It's not doing Jin any good, and it's not doing you any good either. You're better off ignoring it. It's just people online being dicks and all you're doing is giving them what they want."

Jungkook turned to Jin and looked at him with a silent hope in his eyes that he'd get Namjoon to back off. He felt his heart sink when he realized that Jin was still not going to try and change Namjoon's mind. "I'm sorry that everyone else thinks the rules of the company are more important than your safety, hyungie."

"I-" Jin didn't know how to reply to that. He knew that wasn't true.

Hoseok couldn't keep quiet anymore. He angrily stood up, but stayed where he was. "That's not true at all! You know damn well our biggest priority in this group is keeping each other safe. How dare you assume that it's not. The company policy is there for a reason. You're the only one putting Jin in even more danger by interacting with all that shit online."

Jungkook clenched his hands into fists and felt the tears welling in his eyes. He tried not to blink because he knew if he did, the tears would fall. "That person has been threatening to kill Jin for weeks now. And what the hell is being done about it? Nothing! The company hasn't done shit! None of you have done shit! So if nobody else will then I will gladly say something about it to that asshole! I can't sit around and listen to someone threaten my brother's life and not let them know they don't know what they have coming if they don't shut the hell up!"

Namjoon sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Please, Jungkook. Just give me your phone. The company is already working on things behind the scenes and this is becoming something way bigger than yourself. You've been moody and angry all week. You're too focused on it. Even Jin isn't letting it get to him the way you are, and the hate you're interacting with isn't even about you. If you don't want to give me your phone, at least let me see you block the account, or delete the app for now and promise me you won't go back on it until this person is taken care of." He felt like he was being patient and nice enough with Jungkook, despite his heightened annoyance over the fact that his maknae wasn't listening. But what Jungkook said next threw him off the edge.

"No."

The rest of the members instantly knew this was not going to go over well.

Namjoon took a step back and completely lost his cool. He was never one to express anger like this, but this was also the first time Jungkook had ever blatantly defied his authority.

"I know damn well you did not just tell me no!" Namjoon was yelling so loudly that his voice was echoing throughout the entire house. "Give me your damn fucking phone, Jungkook! Now! Where the hell is it?!"

Namjoon started eyeing Jungkook up and down, wondering if it was in his pockets. Jungkook's trembling hand was close to his back pocket, and Namjoon instantly knew that's where it had to have been. "I was just going to block the account but now not only am I taking your phone, but I'm grounding you too!"

"You can't do that!" Jungkook looked over to Jin with pleading eyes once again. "Tell him he can't do that."

Jin took a deep breath. He was frustrated with the entire thing. He hated seeing them fight but also hated seeing Jungkook not listen. "Koo, I think this time it's for the best. I think you could use a break from social media, and possibly just stay in your room and take a breather."

Jungkook's heart shattered. He was doing this all for Jin, and that was the response he had gotten.

Namjoon was so pissed off that he couldn't stop yelling. "How dare you think you can act like a little brat and not be punished for it. Stop going to Jin every damn time you don't get your way!"

Yoongi, who hadn't said a word yet, spoke up. "Hey, let's all relax, yeah?" He got up and walked over to where the others were. He looked at Jungkook and saw the tears that had started spilling down the youngest's cheeks. He saw the boy's entire body trembling and his eyes were more bloodshot than they usually got when he cried. "Jungkookie, we understand how you feel, and all Namjoon was asking was for you to stop. Why are you having such a hard time with that?" Yoongi spoke in a nurturing tone because he didn't want to upset Jungkook even more. He understood Jungkook's frustration, but he also understood Namjoon's.

Jungkook ignored Yoongi and looked over to Taehyung, who was trying hard to stay out of the fight as well. "I'm sure you have something to say too. Go ahead and say it, since everyone wants to tell me what to do."

Taehyung threw his hands up in defense. He was a bit intimidated when it came to Namjoon getting angry, and this seemed pretty bad to him, so he was more than willing to stay out of it. "I've got nothing to say."

Jungkook rolled his eyes when he realized this was a one sided fight. He turned back to Namjoon, and despite the fact he was actually quite intimidated himself, he still wasn't willing to listen. "What are you going to do if I don't give you my phone?"

"If you don't give it to me then I will just have to fucking take it," Namjoon spat.

"You don't even know where it is." Jungkook pressed himself back further into the wall to try and hide the fact it was in his back pocket.

Unfortunately for him, Namjoon wasn't oblivious to his body language. His leader was also too angry to just stand there and even attempt to be nice any longer. He immediately grabbed Jungkook's arm and yanked him forward, grabbing the phone out of his back pocket.

"Don't touch me!" Jungkook screamed but he was too late, Namjoon had taken it. "Give it back you asshole! This isn't fair!" He turned to everyone else around him. "How can I seriously be the only one in this damn group to try and protect those around me?! And then get punished for it?! This is bullshit! Complete bullshit! I guess now I know that nobody in this damn group actually gives a shit about anyone else. At least not Jin hyung, or me for that matter! Fuck all of you!"

In a fit of tears Jungkook turned to storm off to his room, but Namjoon grabbed him by the arm again and wouldn't let go. "Don't you dare talk to us like that!"

Jungkook went to yank his arm back, but Namjoon wouldn't let go. "If you don't get your fucking hands off of me..."

Jin stepped up and grabbed Namjoon's arm, pulling it off Jungkook. "Let go of him, Joonie. You're going to hurt him by doing that. Just let him calm down. I think you should, too."

Jungkook finally got free. Ignoring Namjoon, he looked over at Jin. His vision was blurred by his constant stream of hot tears, and he felt like his heart was too heavy to continue fighting anyway. "I'm sorry for trying to protect you. Apparently all that does is get me in trouble." He shifted his attention back to Namjoon. "I'll keep that in mind the next time someone else might be in danger too."

Those were the last words he spoke before finally storming off to his room and slamming his bedroom door behind him.

Namjoon turned back to everyone, Jungkook's phone still in his hand. "What the hell is wrong with him?"

"I could ask the same question about you." Jimin hadn't said much during the initial fight, but after seeing how angry and mean Namjoon was being to the maknae, he was angry as well. "Since when do you get physical?"

"I wasn't physical! It's not like I hit him! All I did was grab him!" Namjoon yelled back in defense.

"Which isn't like you to do," Taehyung added.

"I wasn't trying to hurt him or anything but the damn kid wouldn't listen!"

"It's Jungkook. What else did you expect?" Hoseok asked.

"Not that!"

"Hey, look. Here's what's going to happen. Jungkook needs to stay in his room and calm down. Yes he acted like a brat, sure he can be grounded, that's fine. But you," Yoongi pointed in Namjoon's face, "need to talk to him about this because he may not have said anything but you just scared the absolute shit out of that poor boy." He then turned to Jin and tried switching the subject back to what the main issue was anyway. "I really hope you don't think what Jungkook said is true. You know we all care about you so much. You understand why we haven't been replying to that stuff online, right? Company rules are not more important than your safety, but sometimes following the rules is the best defense..."

"I know, I know. Yah, what a mess," Jin sighed. He hated that this was all about him. He wasn't even bothered by all the online hate. He had blocked that anti's account when the hate had started and he'd done a great job of not interacting and avoiding it. The only time it ever came up was when Namjoon had to keep asking Jungkook to stop involving himself.

His heart broke thinking of how Jungkook was feeling right now, especially after seeing Namjoon act the way he did. At the same time he knew how much pressure Namjoon was under by the company to keep everyone in line when it came to social media, but he felt Namjoon may have taken it too far.

"Namjoon-ah, I'm not going to tell you to unground him, that's your call. But I will tell you that at some point you have to apologize to him. He's just trying to protect me, he can't be punished for that. But he can be punished for how he was acting with you. However, if I ever see you grab him out of anger like that again you'll be the next one grounded. And don't you ever scold him about running to me when he needs me. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes," Namjoon whispered. He didn't think it was all that big of a deal, but seeing everyone else talk about it made him realize he had gone a bit too far. He also didn't want Jungkook to think he was being punished just for trying to protect Jin. It wasn't about that in that moment. He decided he needed to take a bit of a breather too so he ventured off to his own room to go be alone for a bit.

--

Things had finally quieted down in the house, aside from Jungkook who was curled up in his bed crying into his pillow. He couldn't shake the anger, thinking the others really didn't care about Jin the way he did. He was replaying what everyone said in his head and trying to make sense of it.

When he heard a gentle knock on his bedroom door, he curled up under his covers and hid his face. He didn't feel like talking to anyone. He heard his door creak open. "Koo? Are you awake?"  When he heard Jin's voice he instantly threw the covers down off his face just to be met with Namjoon also standing next to Jin. He grabbed his covers and brought them right back up.

Jin and Namjoon made their way to sit on the bed, and Jin asked if he wouldn't mind the three of them talking. Now that Namjoon had also had time to calm down, he felt really guilty about how he had acted earlier. He didn't mean to lash out at Jungkook the way he had, he just couldn't control it at the time but after some self reflection he knew he needed to apologize. He was secretly hoping that Jungkook also realized how bad he himself had acted, but he wasn't going to bring it up just yet. He knew sometimes it took Jungkook a little bit longer to understand.

"Koo," Jin said softly as he placed his hand on the blanket that was hiding the maknae. "We all have to talk."

"I have nothing else to say," Jungkook mumbled, "I will just get in more trouble."

"No you won't," Namjoon responded. "I'm really sorry."

Jungkook slowly pulled his covers off him, revealing his puffy eyes and cheeks from all the crying. He didn't say anything as he glared at Namjoon. He was surprised to see Namjoon offering his phone back to him.

"I deleted the apps, but here is your phone. It will just be better for you to stay away from that stuff, okay?" Namjoon said. "But I really am sorry about everything and how I acted. I hope you're willing to forgive me, but if not I guess I deserve that."

Jungkook sat up, deciding if anything was going to get resolved now would be the time. He curled his knees to his chest and wrapped his arms around them. Jin and Namjoon both scooted closer to him and Jin placed his hand on the maknae's knee.

"I need you to understand that I am not worried that this group doesn't care about me. I know everyone does. Everything they're trying to do right now is their way of protecting me. Jungkook-ah you have to understand that."

"I just wish more people would fight for you," Jungkook whispered.

"I know you wish that, but honestly, I don't need them to. I'm a big boy. I can handle it."

Namjoon leaned over and placed his hand gently on Jungkook's arm. "We are fighting for him, bunny. Sometimes we win our battles by making the world think we're being silent. And then once we win, then we can make noise."

Jungkook knew this much was true. They usually did deal with their troubles behind the scenes, especially when it came to hate, and in the end always won. He wasn't sure what made him decide to take such a different approach this time.

"I know," Jungkook replied. He still wasn't up for much conversation. He was exhausted from the crying and his throat hurt from the yelling that had happened. "I'm sorry."

"We understand where you're coming from and we understand why you're angry, but please know we care a hell of a lot about Jin hyung. Please don't think otherwise." Namjoon's main goal was to get that point across.

"I know."

Namjoon could sense the lingering sadness in Jungkook and knowing his maknae, he knew his sadness wasn't exactly about the situation with Jin anymore. He leaned over and pulled Jungkook into a hug. "Hey, are we okay?" He knew at this point it had more to do with the fact that he and Jungkook had been fighting. "I'm not angry anymore."

Jungkook couldn't hold it in anymore. He started crying again as he turned and buried his face into Namjoon's chest. "I don't like it when we fight."

Jin couldn't help but smile at Namjoon. He knew this meant they were about to have one of their little heart-to-hearts which he knew was always way more helpful when it came to Jungkook's feelings than just screaming in his face. Jin stood up and mentioned that he would leave the two alone.

"I don't either." Namjoon kissed the top of Jungkook's head. "I'm sorry about it. I didn't know what else to do."

"I'm sorry too, hyungie. I did act like a brat. I'm very sorry."

Namjoon couldn't help but start crying too. The love he had for this boy was overwhelming. He squeezed him a little tighter as they sat together. They both continued to apologize and Namjoon reiterated why it was important for him not to engage with the hate online. It was starting to click in Jungkook's head and he realized it was best he steered clear of it. Not only for Jin's safety, but for everyone's. Namjoon also apologized for having grabbed him earlier and asked if he was alright. Jungkook admitted that it had scared him a little bit and Namjoon felt his heart break. He felt guilty as all hell but unfortunately it wasn't something he could take back. Thankfully, Jungkook had also been a very forgiving person, especially when it came to the members, and told Namjoon he'd get over it.

After hugging for a little while longer Namjoon decided to give Jungkook some space to relax a bit more. He got up to leave but before he made his way out Jungkook asked if he was really still grounded.

"Aish, no," Namjoon replied.

The leader knew that when it came to Jungkookie, he was, and always would be, an absolute sucker.

"Just promise me to be good with the phone. I don't want to see either of us getting in trouble with the company, okay?"

"I promise, hyungie. Thank you."

--

Jungkook kept his promise. He ignored the online hate and it truly did make a difference for his own mental health. As the saying goes, ignorance is bliss. He was able to focus more on rehearsals for their upcoming concert without the anxiety of sudden doom lingering in the back of his mind. The household, overall, was much happier. He started to internally scold himself for ever assuming that his band members didn't care about Jin when he could clearly see in the mundane day-to-day that they clearly loved him, and each other, more than anything else in the world. He had never felt so stupid. He realized that him staying away from the hate online truly was for the best. Rehearsals and life at home were going great for everyone.

The night of their concert was finally upon them. They were all backstage in the dressing room getting ready when some staff members did make them aware that due to some recent threats about Jin, they had to upscale security measures for the concert. The staff said the company was working on things still and there was no present danger, but they upped security just to make sure everyone remained safe throughout the night.

The others took it with a grain of salt. They trusted their staff members to keep everyone safe and this wasn't the first time they'd heard this news. It had happened several times over the years with nothing bad ever happening.

Jungkook felt differently this time, though.

He was worried.

He asked staff what the threats were, and the staff members said they couldn't go into much detail in order to not worry him, but that "everything will be just fine."

The others became aware of Jungkook's heightened anxiety and they surrounded him in a group hug.

"It's alright, Jungkook-ah," Jimin reassured. "We will have a great time. Like we have said before, we can't listen to those anti losers."

"But what if something happens?" Jungkook asked. The members could feel him trembling in their grips.

"It won't, KooKoo." Taehyung ran his hand through Jungkook's hair. "When has it ever happened?"

"There's always a first." Jungkook looked at his hyungs with wide, worried eyes.

"Jungkook-ah it's okay," Yoongi said softly. "Just focus on having fun, okay? It will be great."

"But, Jin hyung..." He looked at Jin who was also still hugging him.

"Come here, kiddo." Jin pulled Jungkook closer against himself, breaking him from the others. He held him tightly and gently rocked him back and forth while Jungkook rested against him. Kissing his temple, he kept repeating that everything would be fine. "Nobody can touch Worldwide Handsome, you know?"

Much to everyone's delight, this got a soft giggle out of the youngest. Leave it to Jin to help make him feel better.

"But seriously Koo, I'll be okay. Don't get distracted worrying about me. It's just us and ARMY tonight." Jin kissed Jungkook's temple one more time as the maknae nodded in agreement.

It's just us and ARMY tonight.

Before he knew it, Jungkook was performing on stage. He couldn't help but still worry. He saw the others having fun singing, dancing, and running around without a care in the world but he was struggling with the biggest 'care in the world' he could ever have.

The anxiety of something bad happening to one of his members, and tonight, Jin.

He tried his best to hide his fear but he found himself a step behind the choreography a few times. Whenever the lights got bright his eyes anxiously scanned the crowd, both up close and far away, for any sign of a threat.

So far, so good.

Until towards the end of the show.

Everything happened so fast.

The members were giving their final speeches and Jungkook still kept scanning the crowd. He noticed a lot of movement from the crowd to the left of the stage, and then saw security guards perk up and start moving into the crowd. They looked like they were after someone.

And then Jungkook saw it first.

A man with a black mask wielding a sniper. Pointed straight at Jin.

He didn't know how the others weren't aware, but Jungkook knew what was happening. The very thing he'd been worrying about for weeks was coming true.

Someone was there to hurt Jin.

His mind raced but his body reacted before he could comprehend a single thought. Instinctively, he ran to Jin and grabbed him, spinning him away from the direction the man was coming from. People in the crowd were already screaming, and then the gunshot went off and echoed throughout the entire arena.

None of the members understood what was happening as both Jin and Jungkook dropped face first onto the stage.

More screaming. Absolute panic from the crowd. ARMY started running out, stampeding their way to safety. More gunshots were heard.

The members looked at Jungkook, who was sprawled on top of Jin and not moving. He had blood seeping out of the back of his shirt.

Jin was squirming underneath him trying to get free.

"No! No!" Hoseok screamed when he realized Jungkook had just been shot. "Oh my God! Jungkook! Jin!"

He was the first to run over and grab Jungkook right before the others followed suit. Staff members ran out and helped grab everyone off stage. Hoseok and Namjoon had lifted Jungkook into their arms and when they flipped him over, his eyes were closed. He was unresponsive and they saw the bullet protruding out of Jungkook's chest. They ran off the stage with him as fast as they could.

Taehyung and Jimin were throwing up. Yoongi was in hysterics. Jin didn't know what the hell was happening at first but realized he was completely unharmed. It took him a moment to wrap his head around the chaos around him.

Jungkook has been shot.

Jungkook has been shot.

Jungkook has been...

Jungkook has...

Jungkook...

Jung...kook...

"Jungkook?!" Jin screamed as he saw his maknae laying lifeless on the floor. There were already paramedics surrounding the boy and doing CPR as they were waiting for the ambulance to pull up outside. They were trying to stop the bleeding and do CPR at the same time, which proved nearly impossible because of where the bullet was.

Lodged right into Jungkook's heart.

A paramedic was screaming that the bullet had gone through Jungkook's back and shot forward into his heart, stopping right through the middle of his chest.

"No! He can't...he was...he didn't..." Jin was incoherent and didn't even know what sentences he was trying to form. All he could come up with was "Save him! You have to save him! Save my baby!" He dropped to his knees along with the rest of the members who were also completely inconsolable and screaming.

Taehyung was trying to hold Jungkook's hand but more paramedics told him he needed to back up and give them room. Jimin was crouched on the floor with his head in his knees and his hands covering his ears. This was too much, and he didn't want to hear it or see it. He just needed someone to save Jungkook. Yoongi and Namjoon were both holding on to Jimin.

Hoseok was screaming about the ambulance taking too long but as he was screaming, more paramedics were already running in with the stretcher.

The things the paramedics were screaming back and forth to each other was only making everything worse.

"We don't have a pulse and he's losing too much blood!"

"We can't get a pulse!"

"The bullet is stuck."

"He needs blood!"

Taehyung wedged his way in between the paramedics at Jungkook's side. "Give him my blood! He can take mine!" He shot his arm out. "Cut me open and take mine! Take all of it, I don't care!" He was finally beside Jungkook and leaned down, placing his forehead to his maknae's. "You can take mine. Please, Jungkookie. You'll be okay. Yeah? Can you wake up, please?"

Jungkook was snatched away from him as he was put onto the stretcher and rushed out to the ambulance. All of the members stood up and chased behind the chaos. When they were outside, staff members guided them to an SUV and said they'd be transported to the hospital behind the ambulance.

When they got to the hospital they ran in and were immediately brought into a waiting room where they were instantly told that Jungkook had been pronounced dead in the ambulance on the way in.

"No, you're wrong. You must have the wrong person. It's Jeon Jungkook. You have to go check again." Yoongi, through his tears, insisted that the doctor was wrong and probably had the wrong person.

"He can't be dead. He was just alive and on stage less than half an hour ago," Hoseok informed. "I agree with Yoongi, you have to go check again."

"I'm sorry," the doctor said, his voice solemn. "Jeon Jungkook was pronounced dead before he arrived. I know it's hard to hear but the bullet shot through his heart. They could not get his pulse back. He didn't make it."

"You have the wrong person." Namjoon wasn't asking. He was telling the doctor that he had the wrong person. He started making his way to the door of the waiting room. "We will go check ourselves and then you will see that you're thinking of the wrong person. Jungkookie has medium length black hair and he has big brown eyes. You must have seen them when he opened his eyes, right? You can't miss them. Our Jungkookie is the kid who came in with big brown eyes."

The doctor put his arm out to stop him from leaving. "Namjoon, I'm very sorry. Jeon Jungkook has died."

Everyone remained quiet as Namjoon and the doctor stared at each other in silence. They were also desperately hoping that this was some kind of mix up.

"N-No..." Namjoon stuttered. "Just...let us check...Let us...Just let us..." He saw the doctor's expression of sympathy and then dropped to the floor. "No!" He buried his face into his hands and lost control of his emotions as the words replayed in his head. He hoped that if he cried loud enough he'd wake himself up from this nightmare and go find Jungkook to tell him all about it.

But this nightmare was real, and not something he, or the others, would ever wake up from. All six of them were now on the floor screaming and crying, huddled together screaming Jungkook's name. Tears, spit, and vomit expelled from all of them.

No amount of screaming or crying was bringing Jungkook back.

"I want my baby. I want my baby," Jin kept repeating while he wiped at his tears. "Someone bring me my baby."

"It-t-t's not real. Right? It's not real?" Jimin kept asking. No way, right? Not Jungkook. Never Jungkook. Never any of us. Not Jungkook. The baby is never supposed to die first.

The rest of them were speechless. The only sounds coming from them being their screams.

And just like that, they would never see Jungkook again. After they had been sent home the reality set in that their maknae truly was gone.

And forever would be.

No more hugs. No more jokes. No more late night snacks or wrestling or talks. No more giant brown eyes staring at them. No more loud giggles.

No more maknae.

Things were quiet at home. The house felt just as empty as their hearts did. There was nothing to enjoy knowing Jungkook, their youngest, wasn't there to enjoy it with them. Jin and Namjoon were dealing with excruciating guilt. Jin knew that bullet was meant for him. He knew Jungkook gave his life protecting him.

Something I never asked that damn boy to do, damnit! He should have just let it be me!

Namjoon kept beating himself over the fight he had with Jungkook. Although the two had previously made up, he felt like he had been wrong. He should have done more to protect Jin, which would have resulted in Jungkook being okay.

Namjoon was arguing with the company about what the hell went wrong. Saying that he was under the impression that the company was handling the anti's and what the hell had gone wrong with the security at the concert. There would be a ton of lawsuits later down the road.

The company said it was a surprise attack and they didn't know how the gun got in. CCTV footage was watched which showed that the gun had been planted in the venue earlier in the week, with the man tripping security systems and getting it in there days before the concert.

The members would never have all the answers, because the man who shot Jungkook was shot dead during the initial attack. The members were also informed that none of their fans had been hurt considering this was a targeted attack, and the fans were outpouring their grief and love to the members and expressed how much they were also missing Jungkook.

The members stayed out of the spotlight for the time being. They didn't even discuss the future and what that would look like. Right now all they knew was Jungkook was gone and they didn't know it was humanly possible for the human body to carry such a heavy weight and still live. Their hearts were broken too, so they wondered why they kept living when Jungkook didn't get the chance to.

The funeral was only a few days after the incident and all of the members stood together giving eulogies. Yoongi couldn't get through it, so Jin helped him get the words out. After the funeral had moved from the funeral home out to the cemetery, they silently stood by his grave as his coffin was being lowered down.

Jin threw himself down into the dirt and tried grabbing the coffin. "No! Wait! You can't send him down there! He's not supposed to be down there! He's supposed to be up here with us! He's supposed to stay here with us!"

"Jin," Hoseok whispered as he got down and pulled Jin into a hug. "Oh, Jin." He had no words of comfort. He felt the exact same way. All of the members kneeled beside him as they watched the coffin continue to lower down six feet deep.

That was the end of it.

That day, and all the days since Jungkook had left them, had been hazy. All of them felt like life wasn't real anymore. The days were just motion and noise passing them by. Every now and then one of them would wake up and run to Jungkook's room to check on him, having thought the incident had been a nightmare, just to find him really not curled up in his bed. The bed remained unmade and unslept in. Never to be touched again, because the members refused to touch any of his stuff.

They constantly brought him flowers and went to his grave every single day to make sure it remained spotless. All of them were sitting around the grave talking to Jungkook, hoping that wherever he was, he could hear them and that he knew how missed he was. Tears streamed down their faces. Jin admitted his guilt, saying as the big brother he was the one who was supposed to take a bullet, never any of them.

"You can't blame yourself, hyung. I'm the one who didn't do more." Namjoon leaned his head on Jin's shoulder as Jin rubbed his back.

"You couldn't have known," Jin said quietly.

"And neither could you," Jimin responded to Jin. He was using a stick to draw little hearts in the dirt that still hadn't quite grown grass over the grave yet.

Yoongi had remained relatively quiet. He didn't have much to say because he knew words weren't going to bring Jungkook back. Words didn't matter anymore.

"I-I-can't let him go..." Taehyung was running his hands over the dirt. "How are we supposed to just let him go?"

Hoseok scooted closer to Taehyung and pulled him into a side hug. "We don't have to let him go. We never have to let him go." He took his finger and pointed it against Taehyung's chest, right to his heart. "He lives here now." He then pointed to his own heart. "And here." Then he pointed to everyone else. "And in all of us."

They all remained quiet, taking in the sounds of nature. The birds chirping, the wind blowing leaves through the air. A little bird flew over and rested right on top of Jungkook's grave as it started chirping its own little song. The members became mesmerized by the beauty of it.

A gentle reminder that they may no longer see Jungkook, but he was there with them. In every song they'd one day sing again, in every smile, in every laugh that would echo through their home. He'd be there with them, laughing, smiling, consoling.

Protecting.

[The End]

>Now Playing- Blue & Grey by BTS<

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[🛑New Requests Closed🛑]