"Hey, Namjoon!"

Namjoon turns around as Yoongi and Jimin jog towards him, having just left their class.

"Hey, guys, what's up?" Namjoon asks as they start walking beside him towards the food court for lunch. Namjoon has a slight spring in his step, happily enjoying the warm feeling spreading through his limbs. In English class, he tried touching her subtly again, just like Mrs Bae recommended. This time, he just tapped her arm to grab her attention. He never realised that he doesn't often touch people until he started doing this. Has Hana noticed? Will she find it creepy, or will it get his point across? Either way, her blushing gives him butterflies. He keeps getting the urge to kiss her red cheeks, but he knows that's weird and definitely not subtle.

"Why are you in a good mood?" Yoongi asks, eyeing Namjoon cautiously.

"And why is Hana acting weird around you?" Jimin adds as they enter the food court. Hana looks up at him and smiles, before looking away quickly. She's acting like they are in high school and he's her first crush; her first love. The thought makes him giggle, which causes Yoongi to grab his arm, halting him in place.

"What?" Namjoon frowns.

"What happened with you two?" Yoongi asks.

"Ahh, Mrs Bae gave me some advice,"

Namjoon explains what happened that morning when they went to Hana's house to drop off her belongings and grab her school stuff. Jimin scoffs, folding his arms as he pouts.

"Yah, why didn't she give me any of that advice?" Jimin demands, "I was so close to Mrs Bae,"

Namjoon shrugs.

"She interrogated me first," Namjoon admits, "I'm not sure... But she is right!" Namjoon beams.

"Is that why she's acting all shy around you all of a sudden?" Yoongi asks, looking from Namjoon to Hana with a single person's look of disgust.

"Yeah," Namjoon nods, "I wasn't expecting it to be so instant... but she's really reacting to it. Maybe she'll finally believe me,"

"I hope so," Jimin laughs as he points at Yoongi's expression, "Yoongi might turn into a lemon if you two act any cuter,"

"Ugh," Yoongi rolls his eyes, moving towards the lunch table. Jungkook, Hana, and Taehyung are sitting there.

"Good morning," Jungkook grins.

"Hey," Taehyung smiles, before continuing his conversation with Jungkook.

"Hi," Hana pouts shyly.

"Hey," Namjoon smiles in response, sitting beside Hana without acknowledging Tae and Jungkook. Taehyung notices, but his secretive smirk tells him that he doesn't mind.

"Hey, where is Seokjin and Hoseok?" Yoongi asks, frowning as he looks around the food court.

"I don't know," Taehyung shrugs.

"I remember seeing them having an argument earlier," Jungkook notes, "Seokjin was being really weird, asking about Hana,"

Everyone stiffens at Jungkook's words. Yoongi and Namjoon exchange concerned looks.

"What sort of questions?" Hana asks.

"Just asking where you are and stuff," Jungkook shrugs, "He was asking me in class earlier, then in our second class he started asking Hobi. Hobi was weirded out, so he started asking Seokjin why he was being so weird,"

"Where did they go?" Jimin demands, standing up from his seat.

"I... I don't know," Jungkook admits, looking around at all their tense faces, "Seokjin dragged him from the class towards the front gates,"

Instantly, everyone jumps from their seats, moving as a group towards the same destination: The front gates.

Jungkook tags along, continuously asking everyone what's going on. No one responds, but Jimin pats his back gently as they continue walking. He mutters reassuring words, promising to explain everything later.

Namjoon starts looking around fearfully. Is Seokjin really possessed by Z like Taehyung was? Didn't the exorcism work? Namjoon was certain that the only way Z could leave Taehyung's body was if he left earth. Did he return?

All these questions and no answers.

They reach the front yard, looking in the direction of the front gates. There is no one out here, which is strange in itself. It's lunch time, why is no one here?

"Split up," Namjoon says firmly, "Pair up and search around. Hana, stay with me," Namjoon gestures for Hana to follow him. She nods, agreeing without question. He guides her gently for a moment, his hand on the middle of her shoulders. Taehyung and Jimin go out of the gate, heading right. Yoongi and Jungkook follow them out, heading left. Namjoon and Hana search the yard area inside the gate, looking for any sign that they were here.

"Do you really think..." Hana starts.

"I hope not," Namjoon replies tensely, "I... I thought it was finally over,"

"It's okay... we'll find them," Hana says, smiling up at Namjoon. He smiles back, placing his hand on her shoulder, moving his thumb in a rhythmic, comforting fashion.

"Ugh..." Hana and Namjoon look in the direction of the sound. A collection of trees and bushes sit in a corner nearby.

"Did you hear that?" Hana asks. Namjoon nods, moving towards the trees.

"Ow..." Namjoon hears it clearly this time. That's Hoseok's voice.

"Hana, call the others back," Namjoon says firmly, moving into the thick bushes. He finds Hoseok leaning against a tree, clutching his head with his hand. A line of blood runs down his face. Namjoon kneels beside him, checking his head for any injuries. The blood on his forehead is mostly dry, which means Seokjin won't be nearby.

Jimin moves into the trees, helping Namjoon lead him out. They all move into the closest empty classroom, settling Hoseok down on a spare chair.

"So, you think he's in Seokjin now?" Yoongi asks Namjoon as they close the door.

"He must be," Namjoon replies, sighing deeply.

"But you exorcized him," Taehyung says fearfully, "Is he going to possess all of us?"

"No, we are wearing protection," Jimin holds his necklace, "He can't,"

"We should have just told them sooner," Yoongi adds, sounding frustrated.

"What do we do now?" Hana asks.

"Where is Seokjin now?" Taehyung asks.

"My guess is Z ran off, knowing we would have noticed," Yoongi explains, "Now we just need a better plan,"

"And to find Seokjin," Hana says.

"Of course," Namjoon agrees.

"Um, excuse me?"

They look towards Hoseok and Jungkook, who are sitting there with wide, confused eyes. Jungkook is sitting beside Hoseok, while Hoseok is holding an ice pack to his injured head.

"Ah..." Taehyung looks towards Yoongi, "Necklace?"

"Yes, of course," Yoongi moves forward, placing the protective necklace over each of their heads. Jungkook looks down at the necklace in confusion. Hoseok does the same as he places the ice pack back on his head. Jungkook sighs heavily, looking up at Yoongi with frustrated eyes.

"Cool, necklaces, big deal," Jungkook snaps, "But what are you guys talking about? Exorcism? Possession? Seokjin? Z?"

"Please... just tell us what's going on," Hoseok asks quietly, sounding exhausted.

Namjoon steps forward, sitting on a chair in front of them.

"All right, let's start with me," Namjoon sighs heavily, "When I was born, a god possessed me,"

Hoseok and Jungkook blink at him a few times before Jungkook speaks up.

"I'm going to need more than that,"

"I have always had a voice speaking to me in the back of my mind. I found out what pantheon he is from, and that he knew everything – completely omniscient. On the first day of university, the voice told me to protect Hana,"

"So... throughout high school... that's why you got good grades and stuff?" Hoseok asks.

"Mostly..." Namjoon shuffles uncomfortably, "He is also the reason we are friends..."

"What?" Hoseok's eyes go wide, "But... how?"

"That day in the classroom... I was talking to Z. He was asking me to befriend you guys," Namjoon explains.

"Wow..." Hoseok nods a few times, his face clearly expressing that his reality is falling apart around him.

"All right, so he told you to protect Hana?" Jungkook asks, sounding angry and bewildered.

"Yes," Yoongi responds, moving to join Namjoon, "I was brought up by the cultists, so when Z couldn't read me they thought I was the one who was going to hurt Hana, which is why we fought,"

"Oh, I remember that," Hoseok says, "It was so weird,"

"I was wearing this pendant," Yoongi gestures to the necklace, "Which prevented Z from reading me. Once Namjoon ripped it off me, they realised they were wrong. So, Namjoon had to explain to me that the religion I was raised around was real. We did some research and found out Z is Xedysus, the god of all gods. The all powerful, omniscient being of the Xanthus pantheon,"

"Also, all pantheons exist, including the Christian pantheon," Namjoon chimes in with a small smile.

"Right..." Jungkook nods, starting to look as shell-shocked as Hoseok.

"After I explained everything to Yoongi, he started helping me figure out who it could be. Z told me Hana was to be attacked the night we went drinking, so I walked her home. We started to become suspicious of Minho," Namjoon glances at Hana before continuing, "Obviously we were right about that. After they kidnapped Hana, we found where they were holding her and Z left me to take out the cultists,"

"I helped them look for her after overhearing their conversation," Jimin jumps in, "And explaining all this to Hana is why she didn't hang out with us for a month,"

"I knew it wasn't just about the trauma!" Hoseok says triumphantly. They stare at him for a moment, before continuing.

"Anyway, the other day I woke up to find Z gone. He has never left before, so it was a strange experience," Namjoon admits.

"He was extremely elated about it all," Yoongi continues, "Skipping everywhere, confessing to Hana, and all that,"

"Huh?" Jungkook looks at Hana, who is blushing again. She folds her arms angrily, but instead of looking frustrated, like she usually does when they bring it up, she just looks conflicted.

"Anyway, then Z visited me," Hana chimes in, "He confessed to me, and I rejected him,"

"She went to Namjoon – of course," Yoongi smirks, "And she stayed with him for protection,"

"So... you weren't sick?" Jungkook asks.

"Nope, just hiding," Hana says.

"And then I noticed Tae acting odd," Jimin adds.

"Yeah, it was so weird! I still have a few memories of when Z was possessing me," Taehyung says, looking way too excited for a topic like this, "Z visited Hana in my body and they took him out,"

"We exorcised him," Yoongi explains, "And we thought he was gone for good,"

"But obviously not," Namjoon adds.

"And, now we think he's in Seokjin because he is asking about Hana," Yoongi says.

"And because he attacked me out of nowhere?" Hoseok asks.

"Precisely," Namjoon replies.

They watch Hoseok and Jungkook for a moment as they start to wrap their heads around the situation.

"So, you guys have been fighting this demon god thing by yourselves?" Jungkook asks curiously.

"I guess so," Namjoon shrugs.

"Why didn't you tell us earlier?" Hoseok asks, looking at Namjoon specifically, "We were your friends for so long... why didn't you say anything?"

Namjoon looks away, feeling a little guilty. He never considered telling them, especially after all the friends he lost.

"You wouldn't have believed me at that time," Namjoon explains, "I'm sorry..."

Suddenly, Hoseok jumps up, pulling Namjoon in for a hug.

"Tell me everything from now on, okay?" Hoseok mumbles emotionally, "I am your friend, I'll support you in anything,"

Namjoon hugs him back, barely holding back tears as all the tension over the years leaves his body. All the lies, all the secrets.

"Is this the real reason you were kicked out of home?" Hoseok asks, pulling away. Namjoon nods, biting his lip so he doesn't cry, "I knew it couldn't have been that simple..."

Sighing, he hugs Namjoon again, before finally pulling away to sit down. He places the ice pack beside him. He looks at Jungkook, smiling at him. Jungkook returns his smile before nodding, as if agreeing to something.

"All right," Hoseok starts, "How do we save Seokjin?"

"Research? Really?" Hoseok groans as he looks down at the old books scattered across Namjoon's dining table. Yoongi is sitting in front of his laptop, mindlessly typing and scrolling away. Jimin has one of the old books in his hand, flipping through the pages. Hana and Taehyung are on their laptops, comparing notes with each other.

"Yep," Namjoon smiles, "We need to find something that will help Seokjin and prevent Z from coming back for good,"

"Do we have to?" Jungkook whines, looking around with a defeated expression.

"Yep," Namjoon smiles, passing each of them a book, "If you're unsure about something, ask me or Yoongi, okay? Or just ask the whole table,"

"Hey... demonology won't help us, will it?" Taehyung asks, looking away from Hana's computer. Yoongi shakes his head.

"No, Namjoon's grandparents tried to have him exorcised the Christian way. None of that pantheon will work. It's too mixed with politics,"

Namjoon looks down at the floor, uncomfortable at the mention of his trauma.

"They did that?" Jungkook asks quietly. Namjoon just nods, clearing his throat.

"Anyway, let's get started," Namjoon sits at his computer, pulling up an old Celtic Fae book. He's looking anywhere and everywhere for answers.

They get stuck into the research. All that can be heard is the typing of the keyboard and the flipping of pages. Occasionally, someone will ask the group a question. Usually, Namjoon or Yoongi will answer it, but the others have too.

"What about the King of Solomon?" Jimin asks.

"No, that's where the Z cult failed," Yoongi explains.

"Have you heard of Hoodoo?" Jungkook asks.

"Won't work. It's still connected to the Christian pantheon," Namjoon replies.

"What about voodoo then?"

"Nope, it's a closed practice. Do you know a voodoo practitioner?" Taehyung shakes his head.

"What about Egyptian mythology?" Hana asks.

"Well, runes are related to hieroglyphics, and those worked," Yoongi agrees.

Slowly, they start bouncing ideas off each other.

Suddenly, Yoongi stands up, looking tired and excited. The table is now littered with food from dinner, drinks, and pieces of paper. The old books, beside 3 of them, are in a pile next to the table. They weren't very helpful.

"I got it," Yoongi says, grinning like a maniac. He turns his computer for Namjoon to read. The more he reads, the bigger his smile becomes.

"That... that will work," Namjoon says, "If we just use... yes... this is it!"

"What? What is it?" Hana asks, moving to look at Yoongi's screen. The others follow, frowning deeply at the screen. They look at each other, then back at two guys. Namjoon and Yoongi look excited, as if they have finally found the answer to the universe.

"I don't know... isn't this too simple?" Hana replies.

"How is any of that simple?" Yoongi asks, gesturing to the ritual.

"I don't know... this is pretty far down cult territory," Jimin adds, watching Namjoon and Yoongi as if they have gone crazy.

"Don't worry, it'll work," Namjoon smiles, "Look..."

Namjoon begins explaining additional items and things they will have to do to make it work. They all look convinced, looking at them as if they are geniuses.

"Sounds like a plan," Taehyung cheers, "What do you want us to do?"

And so, the plan is formed, and preparations begin. Now all they need is Seokjin. 

(A/N) 🫰🫰🫰

Interact y'all, I'll give you a Hat? 🎩 

Ji-ji-jin JIN, jijijiiii-JIN! El mariaJIN, El MariaJIN. Ji-Ji-JIN!