Day 805

Jungkook stretches his aching limbs, a yawn ripping itself out of his throat. Another day of torture. Hopefully no injuries this time, though. Regardless, Namjoon and Taehyung talked a lot yesterday. That was according to Y/n. Something about Taehyung coming up with a plan to go visit one of his old friends. Or multiple old friends. Jungkook isn't sure. And quite frankly, he doesn't care.

Following his daily routine, Jungkook showers, shaves, and changes his clothes, trekking to the nurse's office in time to see two people already in it. Katherine is here, but that's no surprise. The surprise is Julia is present as well, a scratch on her leg. She's wincing, her calf throbbing, specs of blood covering her skin.

"I fell," Julia says, Jungkook brushing it off. Katherine hands the bandages and disinfectant over to him, going through the cabinets to find whatever the fuck she's looking for. Jungkook doesn't question it, instead kneeling and dabbing the wound with the disinfectant. It's not serious, just a scratch, but one that needs to be treated nonetheless.

"How does it feel?" Jungkook asks, Julia shrugging.

"It's fine. How are you holding up?"

"I'm far from the most mentally unstable here, Juju. Exhibit A: You."

"Haha. I meant after Louis and the surgery." Jungkook freezes, Julia wincing. "Sorry, I didn't mean to pry. I just wanted to know how you were holding up."

"I know I need to start doing surgeries again. Did you fall on purpose so you could lecture me?"

"Katherine paid me."

"Paid you with what?"

"An extra bag of chips." Jungkook blinks, Julia throwing her hands up in defense. "I'd do anything for a bag of Doritos."

"You weren't supposed to tell," Katherine says, coming back over with a bottle of water. She hands it off to Julia, who thanks her. After Jungkook's done dressing the wound, Julia senses the awkwardness and takes off, closing the door behind her. Jungkook glares at Katherine, who sighs. "Listen, I know you don't want to hear this, but we need you back on surgeries. I'm not nearly as good as you. I can't imagine how you're feeling Kook, but after that attack, they could come back at any moment and try this again. That means more gunshot wounds. We may have more than one, and you'll have to do it no matter what."

"God dammit, stop being smart," he mumbles, rubbing his temple with his fingers. She doesn't reply, choosing to watch him do his thing. He swivels on his heel and departs without a word, her monologue dancing around his mind. He goes out to the front instead, the fresh air burning his lungs and clogging his nostrils. Ves and Sky are running around like the kids they are, Jimin and Namjoon speaking near the front gates, pistols in their hands. Taehyung, the new guy, is speaking with Fiona. Wait, Fiona? Why Fiona of all people? Does he have a death wish or something?

Jungkook approaches the pair, Fiona and Taehyung shifting to face him. "Mr. Jeon, nice to see you," Fiona says, Jungkook dipping his head in greeting. "You hear the news?"

"What news?"

"That answers that. Jimin is putting together a team to go to the softball fields not far from here. It used to be a ground for tournaments before the apocalypse. According to Mr. Kim, one of his ultra smart friends is there and might be willing to help us rebuild."

"Well," Taehyung says, sighing, "he's a bit... grumpy, for lack of a better word."

"Great, another Ves, but this time older."

Jungkook gets kneed from behind, and he grunts, holding his precious ass and almost falling over. "You have the observational skills of a 3-year-old," Ves says.

"Where the fuck did you come from?" Ves opens his mouth, but Jungkook cuts him off. "And don't say your mom's womb."

"My mom's vagin-"

"What are we talking about?" Jimin asks, approaching the trio.

"Not Y/n," Fiona says with a huff.

"Oh. I'm out then. Gonna go fuck her brains out." Jimin salutes, heading inside and out of view.

"They're literally so in love with each other," Tae says, sighing dreamily. The others turn to look at him, and he blinks a few times. "What? Was it something I said?"

"That's enough socializing for today," Ves replies, clapping his hands together. "Jungkook, talk shit about me one more time and I'll knee your kids next. Bye." Jungkook doesn't get a chance to reply since Ves is already long gone, slipping inside and refusing to look back.

"He loves you," Fiona says, chuckling, "he just has a funny way of showing it."

"I was like that at his age."

"You are now too."

"Fuck off." Jungkook gives her the finger, and she returns it while Taehyung watches. "Don't give me that look, Mr. Kim. I know you're enjoying this show."

"Perhaps, but that's beside the point. Jimin's probably not fucking his girl, he's probably gonna ask her to join his little band of misfits to go find my friends. I'll go with so I can guide them, and also so they can learn to trust me a little. Jimin vouched for me already, and honestly, I don't know why. Even I don't trust me."

"Jimin's a great guy, great leader too, but I think he's been in solitude so much that he's trusting people too easily. What do you think?" Jungkook asks.

Taehyung bursts out laughing, Jungkook tilting his head. "Are you kidding? Based on the two seconds he talked to you, I can tell he was planning all the possible ways he could kill you if you were to attack him in that moment."

"I don't believe that."

"It's true. I wasn't just with him romantically, but I was with him when he was a leader. He hasn't lost his touch at all. I think he just has a soft spot for my handsome face, that's all."

Jungkook scans Tae up and down, scoffing after. "You have acne on your forehead."

"Shut up," Tae says.

Fiona conveniently excuses herself to go inside, most likely to see her recovering husband. Jungkook doesn't question it, he also doesn't question Jin and Hoseok speaking with Namjoon near the gates. Today feels... cryptic. Dark, maybe? Jungkook isn't sure, but it feels different than before. Or maybe his past is catching up with him. Who knows.

Jungkook tugs on his leather jacket, meeting Tae's gaze. "You really think Jimin's still got it?"

Taehyung brushes him off and chuckles, "I think he's got much more than he used to, if I'm being honest. Have you ever seen him fight hand-to-hand?"

"I don't think so?"

"Trust me, you'll remember it if you do. I'm not talking a gun fight. I'm talking hand-to-hand. It'll be a show, that's for damn sure. I tried fighting him once." Taehyung pauses to smile, "I still have the scar."

"Proof or it didn't happen."

Tae nudges Jungkook, and the two grin. "It's somewhere you can't see." Taehyung takes the opportunity to drift his eyes over Jungkook's appearance. He begins at Jungkook's ragged shoes, trailing those pretty pupils of his up to Jungkook's gaze. "Not yet, anyway."

Jungkook snickers, patting him on the shoulder. "I don't trust you. I'm surprised you're even let out and about."

"Like I said, Jimin vouched for me. He said that if I ended up killing him in his sleep, he probably deserved it anyway. Besides, he's the only one I'd want to kill anyway. His screams are nice."

"I've had enough Tae time today, especially since I know you're not a top."

"Neither are you," Tae says, clicking his tongue. "Guess we're gonna have some fun figuring out who goes where, hm?"

Jungkook groans and chooses the best response: walking away. Taehyung laughs, Jungkook flipping him off in the process. He traverses the front yard, approaching Namjoon. Jin and Hoseok depart upon Jungkook's arrival, dipping their heads in greeting. Jungkook returns the gesture and peeks at Joon. The man is holding his pistol close, leaning against the wall next to the gate. Jungkook stares at Namjoon's strong thighs, an action that doesn't go unnoticed by the man.

"You're acting gayer than usual," Namjoon says without even glancing at the younger of the two.

"I'm not that gay." Jungkook comes closer, gazing at the distance Namjoon is looking at. "What's the plan? Jimin's assembling a team?"

"We need people, Taehyung knows people. It wouldn't hurt to go recruit, not to mention find some supplies on the way. It'd be nice to not have to worry about scavenging for a while. Omar is working on the greenhouse, hopefully we'll keep a steady flow of fresh fruits and vegetables coming. On the off chance we can't, I instructed Jimin to take whatever risks he has to for the group. To ensure we have food."

"Whatever risks he has to? Namjoon, I trust your judgment, but he's still relatively new. Why are you giving him so much power? He's leading an important mission to go find people and supplies, not Y/n or Fiona. Why?"

"Because he knows the outside world better than everyone here combined. He agreed to do it, and I trust that he'll get it done. I'm not asking you to trust any of us. Who you do and don't trust is your business, not mine." Namjoon pauses, shifting his dragon eyes to Jungkook. "But I am asking you to do surgeries again. To get back on the saddle. I know it's easier said than done, but we need you. We always do. Please, Jungkook. I'm begging you. If not for me, then for the people who'll need you in the future."

Jungkook runs a hand through his hair, averting his stare from Namjoon's. "I don't know, Joon. I feel like we'll be fine without me. We're already doing great, and I've only stood by and watched."

"Your presence alone has helped us. Ves is immune, and he may very well be our most valuable survivor right now. An immune person in our camp? Shit, if we get a scientist in on this, we could save lives. And the way we keep Ves sane is by keeping you here. He loves you. He needs you."

"I'm sure he'll be fine without me."

"No, Kook. He wouldn't. And neither would I."

Namjoon pats Jungkook's shoulder, and he lets out a soft breath. "The person you're going to get... he's a scientist, isn't he? That's why you're willing to go and risk it all just for one person?"

"You figured it out. See? You're smart. We need smart people in our walls."

"I make too many mistakes, Joon," Jungkook whispers, his voice quivering over each syllable. "Too many to count."

Namjoon's grip tightens, Jungkook's eyes expanding from the sensation. He meets Namjoon's stare, peering into his pupils. What has his body halting is the smile the leader gives him. "That's what makes you one of us, and not one of them." And without another word, he saunters away.

Jungkook doesn't bother rushing after him. There's no point. For now, he keeps his eyes on the front gate. The one that was annihilated by raiders, and built back up by the survivors. Y/n and Jimin will spearhead that mission to rescue the scientist. But until then, one thing's for sure...

Jeon Jungkook has a lot to think about.