“Kookie?”

“Hmm.. yes, hyung?”

“Where are we going?”

Jungkook didn't answer and just stared off into the distance while they rode their horses at a very slow pace. That's what they had been doing for the last hour or so. Jimin waited patiently, as he knew Jungkook had a lot of things on his mind. But when it looked like they were just wandering aimlessly, he couldn't help but ask. He wasn't sure whether Jungkook even knew which direction they were going.

“Kookie?”

“Yes-” Jungkook turned his head to give an apologetic smile to Jimin. “Sorry, Hyung. I'm just thinking.”

“Well, let me in on your thoughts too. Maybe I can help. They do say that two heads are better than one.”

Jungkook chuckled lightly. “You're helping more than enough by just being by my side. Let me take this one on my own okay?”

“Sure. Just know that hyung is here, whatever you decide to do.”

“I know.”

They rode for about half an hour more, before Jungkook spoke up again. “Where did you get the horses?”

“From a government officer in the next village. The owner of the house I'm staying in got them for me.”

“Ahh.. where do you stay? I never asked.”

“I'm staying at the local blacksmith's house. He has been kind enough to rent me a room.”

Jungkook was hesitant to ask the next question. “Is it close to Taehyung's house?”

“Not that much. It's towards the east side of the village.”

“Oh.. closer to Dr Kim's place then?”

“Yeah, you can say that.”

Jungkook was deep in thoughts for a few more minutes and Jimin didn't interrupt him either.

“Would the blacksmith let me stay the night too? I feel like resting a bit.”

“Of course, he would. It won't be a problem at all. He's a… friendly guy.”

If Jungkook found the small pause suspicious, he didn't voice it. “Okay. Let's go there. You can return the horses as well.”

“Okay.”

“Lead the way, hyung.”

Jimin nodded his head before prompting his horse to go forward, and Jungkook followed. They were in the general direction of the village, just not in the direct path leading to it. So it didn't take them long to reach their destination.

Jimin tied the horses to a tree in front of the house, before walking a little ahead of the path, where the blacksmith's workshop was located. It was not a big place, but a well kept one. Jimin had to call the owner a few times, for the said owner to come out of his little hut.

“Jimin. I wasn't expecting you till evening.”

“My work finished sooner than I hoped, Min Yoongi-ssi.”

The smile Min Yoongi had on his face dropped slightly. It was so subtle that Jimin didn't even notice. “I told you it's fine to call me Yoongi.”

Jimin didn't answer and merely smiled. Then he gestured to Jungkook to come forward, and that's when Yoongi's gaze fell on the person standing behind Jimin, whom he didn't notice before because his attention solely focused on his tenant.

“This is Do Hwan. I was hoping he could stay the night here. He is.. a friend.”

A strange emotion passed through Min Yoongi's face, but he masked it quickly. “Sure, I can clear up the storeroom-”

“That won't be necessary, Yoongi-ssi, he can stay with me.”

“Oh. Okay.”

“Thank you. And the two of the horses are tied at the house. I'll go get the other one, as soon as Kookie settles down in the room.”

“No hurry, I anyway told them the horses would be returned before nightfall. Where is the 3rd one?”

“With a… at Kim Seonwoo's house, I think. I don't know whether you know him.”

“Taehyung's father? Yeah, I know him.”

Jimin could sense Jungkook stiffening, even while standing a few feet apart. “You know Taehyung?”

“Yeah, he's a friend.”

“Oh.”

They stood awkwardly for a few seconds, before Jimin excused himself and Jungkook. They were silent on the way back to the house as well, trying to process the new information.

When Jimin rented the place, he didn't ask too many questions and neither did Yoongi. And he had only just started to help Yoongi with his work on the days Jungkook went to work with the local doctor. Jimin had enough for now, but at that point, he wasn't sure how long he would have to stay in the village, so he needed to think of ways to earn some money as well.

Yoongi was looking for an assistant and Jimin was more than happy to help. Yoongi seemed like a naturally quiet person and Jimin wasn't too keen on making small talk either. So they worked side by side, but didn't make much of a conversation.

The room was not very spacious, only slightly bigger than Taehyung's. However, there was plenty of bedding and extra pillows, which made Jungkook give out a soft smile. He remembered how happy it made him when Taehyung bought him that extra quilt.

“You can use the well behind the house to wash up, water is kind of scarce here.”

Jungkook chuckled. “It's okay, hyung. I'm used to it now.”

“I know.” Jimin sighed as he sat down on the floor near the wall. “But I wish you never had to.”

“Can't change the past, hyung. We can only live in the present. I'm done with all that.”

Jimin just hummed as an answer.

“Are you going to Taehyung's house now?”

“I have to. I have to get the horse back from him. I don't want Yoongi to go there and talk about us staying here.”

“That Yoongi…” Jungkook looked like he's contemplating something. “He gave me a strange look.”

“What?!” Jimin quickly got up from the floor, his hand already over his hidden sword. “My apologies, I should have checked him more before bringing you here.”

Jungkook chuckled merrily. “Relax, hyung. That's not the kind of look he was giving.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“Although you should have introduced me as your brother. I have a feeling that might have granted me a warmer welcome.”

Jimin looked bashful as he turned his eyes away from Jungkook's gaze, which made the latter gasp.

“You scoundrel!!” Jungkook exclaimed as he pointed an accusing finger at Jimin. “You already knew!”

“I.. might have guessed.”

Jungkook stared at the elder for a few seconds, before breaking into laughter. And after a moment's pause, Jimin joined too. It was the first real laugh either of them had in a while.

On that night, Jungkook decided the course of his immediate future. He didn't know what will happen for the next few years to come, but for now, he knows what he's going to do.

First, he's going to continue working with Dr Kim. He loves working there and didn't want to go through the hassle of finding another job. It will only create unnecessary suspicions. He can find some other work for the days he doesn't go to Dr Kim's place. He could try to work for Yoongi but Jungkook didn't think he'll be able to stand Yoongi unfriendly glances. One thing he won't do is meddle in his hyung's affairs. Besides, it'll be so fun to see Jimin's flustered state.

As for Taehyung, Jungkook knows there is a good chance of coming across the elder one frequently, when they stay in the same village. But Jungkook was okay with it. He can be mature enough to ignore Taehyung when that happens. He had done that before, and it should be even easier this time.

Jungkook is not angry with Taehyung. Not really. He understands the chain of events which led to Taehyung's behavior to some extent. It's not what he would have done, had he been in that position, but different people behave differently. It's not his place to judge.

He's disappointed, that's for sure. With Taehyung and with his own father. And he's sad. No matter how tough he tries to look, he's utterly heartbroken. So for now, he wants to focus on himself. To heal his aching heart and make it stronger again. As the saying goes, time heals everything.

And maybe, it won't be such a bad idea to build a few walls around it too, so that he doesn't have to go through something like this again.