"Where have you been so late at night?! And why didn't you answer the phone?!"

     It was a furious Han that the trio found in the hotel lobby, as they were about to go back up to finish their short night. With the exception of Han and the drowsy hotel concierge, the lobby and all its plush sofas were deserted.

    "Calm down, you'll wake up the whole hotel," Lee replied, initially dodging his questions.

    "Tell me I'm dreaming," he said seeing Jin's plastered hand and the arm in a sling that allowed him to keep it elevated to avoid hitting it. 

     "There was like a little incident," Lee commented lightly.

     "Little?! Little?! How can you talk about a "little" accident when he has a cast and God knows what's broken underneath, while the world tour starts in a few days?!" his colleague raged.

    Jin and Jungkook looked at each other, amazed had never seen him get mad at Lee, as the two men always seemed to get along perfectly in their handling of the group. They suddenly wondered if Han knew about absolutely everything Lee had done. Or maybe it was just because this time the wounds were visible? Or because he was afraid that it would totally disrupt the smooth running of the tour?

     Lee caught the two boys' eyes and got annoyed at it, visibly upset that Han was lecturing him in front of them.

    "Hurry up to bed boys, let us talk," he ordered, as if he were dismissing children to their rooms to let the adults talk.

     Eager not to see Lee for the rest of the night, the two singers did not need to be asked. As they walked past him , Han couldn't help but see that he was limping and he glared at Lee, waiting for detailed explanations about what happened.

     They walked back to their room and lay down on the bed before snuggling up to each other in the darkness of the end of the night.

     Jin's injured hand rested on Jungkook's chest so as not to overwrite it unintentionally. The maknae enveloped the elder in the protective embrace of his two muscular arms. The bedside lamp was off but the two had their eyes wide open in the nascent light of the early winter morning that infiltrated each side of the thick curtains.

     Despite their many nights spent in the same bed in the past, they had never yet found themselves in that position of intimate closeness that they naturally adopted at that moment, Jin even ended up letting his cheek rest on Jungkook's chest next to his hand. The events of that night seemed to have erased all questioning and embarrassment in the face of it. For their own survival they had to stick together.

     However, the kiss they exchange before seemed to them already far away, like an exceptional gift that they could exchange again only when an opportunity would be offered to them. They would have considered far too embarrassed to kiss again now without a reason or prior discussion.

     "Hyung, are you sleeping?" Jungkook asked, looking down. He felt Jin's head rise in the rhythm of his own breathing but could only see his chestnut-brown hair and wondered what expression was on the eldest's face right now.

     "No."

     Jungkook knew his question was incongruous: it was obvious that Jin could not fall back to sleep after the events just happened, even though he was not in the same condition as the first agression, when Jungkook found him completely broken and silent, and that he wondered if Jin would be able to smile again. In the meantime, Jin had probably gotten used to the suffering that Lee had subjected him to without anyone knowing. 

     Maybe it was worse to get used to. But Jungkook was still relieved not to be dealing with a totally broken Jin unable to get up. Though he thought he was weak, Jin was actually a strong person. And it was for him that he had held on and remained strong. It made Jungkook happy and he wanted to make Jin smile after everything he had been through.

     "I hope Han got so mad at Lee that he ended up killing him," he said. 

    Jin couldn't help smiling.

     "Me too but let's not dream too much, these two get along very well, they are as thick as thieves, so they probably won't take long to make peace when they've talked over a drink. Anyway, it was enjoyable to see Han reprimand him."

     "Yeah, " Junkook smiled mischievously. "That gives me an idea for our next move: maybe we could turn them against each other and put Han in our pocket to protect us? He looked very angry to see that Lee was was so carried away, like he didn't know everything."

    "Yes but we can't say too much either until we know what Han knows. Maybe he knows everything else and it'll just fall on us. Let's be careful, JK. He burned your foot and broke my finger on a mere suspicion today, so if we steal his pal, he probably won't be kind to us."

     "I'm okay to observe quietly before acting, don't worry hyung, I won't do anything rash," Jungkook assured him. "But I think that in the hospital, Lee was still very afraid that everything would be revealed and just now, he didn't like being called to order by his other half. He's not untouchable, that's what I'm starting to understand."

    "Probably, but he still has something to threaten us with, so I don't really know how we can really scare him. If he falls, he will take us with him in his fall, that's for sure," Jin said in a sad tone.

    Jungkook have had enough of seeing his hyung like this, void of hope. He wanted to give him hope. He said :

    "Hyung, please don't lose hope, I promise together we'll find a way out of this."

    "I will keep hope as long as we are together so don't you dare leave me again," Jin said poking the maknae in the belly with his uninjured hand, which tickled him and made the younger smile.

    "Never," Jungkook promised. "And, Hyung ?"

     "What?"

    "Do you still have doubts? "

    "About what?" Jin asked.

    "Aboutus and about... loving me?" the youngest asked in an uncertain voice.

     "I've always loved you, you ungrateful kid," Jin retorted. 

      "Hyuuuung! You know exactly what I mean," the younger complained, frustrated at not having a straightforward answer to his question.

       "Mmmmh so let me think..."

      Jin let the suspense last with a silence that weighed heavily on the youngest. The latter took a plaintive voice:

     "So you really still have doubts..."

     "No, I'm making fun of you, JK," Jin laughed softly.

     "Hyuuuuuung! How can you do this to me?"

     "What? I want to laugh a little, you don't want me to laugh?" he said, chuckling. He then said with a more serious tone : "However, I would be lying if I said it wasn't strange for me, because I never envision our relationship like that, even if I love you more than anyone, don't doubt it. It's new for me, and probably for you too. But I want to try, if it makes us both happy. Let's not pressure ourselves and see where it takes us, you agree?" 

    "I agree!" Jungkook said happily.

    "But..." Jin objected. 

    "Why? Why must there be another "but"?" Jungkook whimpered dramatically, as his heart played on a roller coaster.

    "Sorry," Jin smiled. "But you know, for now, we have to keep it absolutely secret." 

    "I know." Jungkook sight leaving his childish attitude to become serious in turn. "But I do hope that one day we can go out together without people having anything to say. Otherwise, we can never go on a date together." 

     "Are you already planning this? You don't waste time!" Jin smiled. "So, I imagine our alliance is definitely sealed."

     "An alliance?" Jungkook asked, puzzled, wondering if he should actually get some couples' rings now, 

 (Author's note : OK, I don't usually interrupted the story in the middle like that but it's important ! I wanted to make a pun that didn't work in English, only in French, but I kept it for the story anyway because I love the confusion in Jungkook mind. Endeed, the French word "alliance" designates both a military alliance and a wedding / couple ring and I love the meaning of it. But obviously it's not the case in English ... I was sad to find out ha ha! Anyway...). 

      Jungkook had never had a relationship with anyone  because he had spent his teenage years as a trainee and being in a relationship was forbidden by the company, according to the terms of his contract. So, everything was new to him, not just be in love with a boy.

     Everything he knew about couples, he had learned watching others in high school or in dramas, and he hoped to use this culture of cinematic romance to make his hyung happy . He was very advanced in the process of thinking about buying couple rings when Jin cut him off, specifying:

     "You know, your strategy notebook uses war metaphors, and I thought that « alliance » would be a nice metaphor for us, to designate our new bond and to avoid getting caught. After all, we're going to have to live an unapproved romance in front of everyone."

      "Oh," Jungkook said, disappointed.

      "Why do you look disappointed when you were happy that we could carry out military strategies together?" Jin wondered.

     "Because I thought you were talking about couples rings," Jungkook admitted, embarrassed and his cheeks turned pink.

     Widening his eyes, Jin couldn't help but smile at Jungkook's candor.

     "I don't mind wearing couples rings," he said to please him.

       "R-Really?!" Jungkook exclaimed, with big eyes filled with hope that made Jin's smile widen.

      "Yes. We always wear similar rings given by our sponsors, it will go completely unnoticed but for us only, it will have a real emotional meaning." 

     "Oh hyung, I love you even more then I didn't know it was possible! Jungkook exclaimed, hugging Jin's head, who pretended to complain. "Let's buy them when we stop in Paris during the tour, it will be more romantic!"

    Jin found him particularly adorable.

    "It's a beautiful idea, JK," he said.

    They sat for a few moments in thoughtful silence, no doubt thinking of the exciting but risky new life they had just chosen. For now, they just wanted to enjoy this newfound happiness. They wanted to believe that they would be discreet enough to be able to enjoy it without getting caught. They were both each other's light in this world full of darkness.

     Suddenly thinking back to his strategy book and war metaphors Jin had spoken of, Jungkook shook his head:

     "Unfortunately, Namjoon hyung has uncovered my metaphors and he almost understand everything, that cunning old fox!"

     "Yaa!" Jin reacted, "Respect your elder and be proud of his intelligence, he's incredible."

     "Yeah, yeah ! Anyway, I don't think I need my strategy book anymore, hyung."

     "Why do you say that? Lee is not defeated yet and we are going to need your strategies to defeat him. Isn't that what you wanted?" Jin said, puzzled.

     Jungkook ran a hand through Jin's hair and began to play with a strand, twisting it and unrolling it between his fingers, touching his forehead as he passed to make sure his temperature had dropped. He was almost using Jin's strand as a stress reliever to give himself the strength to make a new one embarrassing revelation.

     "Hyung, I didn't start writing my book of war to defeat Lee."

     "Really? Why then, to play? You've passed the age of playing toy soldiers, anyway!" Jin joked, unaware that the maknae born in the late 90s had never played toy soldiers in his life. 

     But Jungkook felt there was no point in bringing their age difference into the discussion now. Instead, he replied:

     "I wrote it to keep you by my side. In the face of all opposition. I swore to myself that I won't let you go hyung, and I fought for that. All the strategies that I have devised, all the struggles that I have fought and which are recorded in this notebook, were for you."

     Jin then remembered a part of Jungkook's letter:

      When I saw the company tirelessly attack you, I understood that they were trying to separate you from us and I decided, after today's incident, to declare war on them for you, to protect you. They won't make you leave; I will stop them. If they don't like you, they can just go on their own. You are my everything, but you are also for the millions of fans who love and support you. I will fight for them too. So think about them too before you say things like "I'm ready to go." They are not ready to let you go. My battle plan is secret, write on other pages. If you read them, you would certainly laugh, but I will keep them away from your eyes because I would feel ridiculous if you understood the meaning of what is written in them. Did you write your own battle plan like me? Could our souls be connected to this point? I wonder...

     Jin then straightened up, to look Jungkook in the eye, in the light of the early morning, his face tinged with regret:

     "I'm sorry Jungkook, I didn't write a battle plan to keep you by my side or to fight the company by your side and I let you fight this war on your own as you waged it for me."

     In turn, Jungkook straightened up and grabbed Jin's hands, which he stroked affectionately.

     "Don't be sorry, I have decided to wage this war myself and I do not regret it. I love you so much that I would have done anything for you." 

     Jin removed his hands from Jungkook's, filled with a sense of shame.

    "Exactly Jungkook, I'm wondering... As for me, what have I really done for you? What convinced you that I truly deserve everything you have done for me?"

    Jungkook's large eyes widened in real surprise, and he scratched his head thoughtfully.

    "Hyung, if you ask me the question sincerely while waiting for an answer then we're going to have to spend several hours on it because the list is long. Shall I begin?"

    "Uh... no, I believe you... but one day, could you make that list for me? It's for my personal pride, you know? After all, it was probably me who unknowingly made the perfect Golden Maknae that everyone idolize to be perfect!"

    Jungkook threw a pillow right in his head without putting any force into it knowing that Jin could hardly block the cushion with one hand, as he burst out laughing. Then, he grabbed Jin's hands again, looking suddenly serious, almost painful as he remembered something:

    "Hyung, that last time, in my bedroom, I hit you and I hope you know how sorry I am. I promise you I won't ever do that again."

    "JK, you literally just hit me with a pillow, right now," Jin joked. 

     "Hyung, please don't joke about it, this is a serious topic," Jungkook replied. "I hurt you, I disfigured your handsome face... I even said horrible things to you, I told you that... that I wish you had gone! I will spend my life resenting myself but please, please forgive me..."

    "JK, I am fully aware that you didn't mean what you said," Jin assured, "you were just hurt too and your words and actions overwhelmed your thoughts. And I... I didn't have to lay a hand on you myself, I'm sorry I slapped you. I forgive you and I hope you'll forgive me too for rejecting you when you immediately came back to apologize."

     "Of course I forgive you hyung!" Jungkook immediately exclaimed. "And I promise I'll never lay my hand on you again."

   "Not even to do that?" Jin asked, laughing before gently pinching Jungkook's thigh who was very sensitive here and immediately defended himself by tickling the elder. 

     Jin failed to defend himself only with his left hand and finally held it up in surrender, then the two finished their childish game with a laugh. They were back to being the brawling duo they loved to be.

    "Hyung?" Jungkook asked when they caught their breath.

    "What?"

     "We love each other, don't we?"

     "There's no doubt about it, JK."

    "Then I am the happiest person in the world right now."

     Jin couldn't help but smile at the thought that Jungkook looked like a teenager discovering love and ingenuously questioning himself about everything he was feeling... before wincing when he realized he had had the same feeling himself. Definitely, the two had found each other well : they were so candid... 

     "Hyung?" Jungkook asked again.

     "Mmmh?"

      "May I call you... Yeobo?"

END OF THE BOOK V

https://youtu.be/rYHwAcecWhU

Author's notes: 

Interesting fact about this chapter: The words that end this chapter are the words I originally chose to end the entire story. Now I don't know anymore how to finish the book ha ha! =')

I really want to thank you for continuing to read this story and support me despite its length, you give me the motivation to keep writing, you're precious! I wish you all a wonderful end of the year wherever you are in the world (By the way, can you tell me in the comments which country you are from? ^^)

Thank you my friends, take care and see you soon!

Mademoiselle J.J. ❤️