┊ ˚➶ ｡˚𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓐𝓫𝔂𝓼𝓼 𝓢𝓱𝓮 𝓓𝓲𝓭 𝓝𝓸𝓽 𝓢𝓮𝓮 ˚｡➶˚┊

Two months.

It had been two months since Jimin went to the City to meet Shawman. His shoulder was much better and he was back to shooting arrows. It took him a month to adjust, but he got the hang of it after a while. Thanks to the City increasing security and doing random identity checks, they couldn't meet Shawman to go to Moros. They had to plan a trip themselves. Unfortunately, with few resources and a tight schedule, they hadn't had a chance to do it until that night.

"Jimin," Y/n called, the man coming over to her. "Get Jin, Tae, and Jungkook. We're ready to go. I'll get some grunts in case we run into any trouble, but we shouldn't. Meet me in the square in five."

"Yes ma'am."

He ran off to do his task. Y/n left the house and went around Flerry, finding a small squad of grunts to take with them. Flerry was under complete rebellion control. She wouldn't be surprised if the Emperor raided it soon, which meant they had to move fast. They needed to get to Moros. They couldn't keep pressing their luck. Eventually, the Emperor would put it together that the outskirts and Flerry were the places where there was the least activity. Perfect for hiding. And that was assuming the Emperor hadn't already figured it out, he was just taking his time to prepare an attack. Or, he could be scouting it. Y/n didn't want to think about it.

Y/n did her task as well. Since Flerry was the rebel hivemind, she found the home where grunts were waiting to go. They had a ship ready. With the help of rebels from the outskirts, they built a ship large enough to handle the trip to Mount Moros. They'd launch near the Rocklands, which wasn't far. With a ship full of rebels, they'd be safe. Y/n was still terrified about the water, though.

Five minutes later, she went to the square with her group of grunts. It was the center of Flerry, a circular pathway that used to be flowing with life and marketplaces. Now, it was a military zone. Or, at least, as military as the rebellion could get. There were wooden tables thrown around with weapons on top of them. Rebels crafting swords and cooking meat for each other. Some gathered bows and arrows to go out hunting. Others collected snow and prepared to preserve it in case of injuries. There were a few injured already, who needed the snow to help with swelling.

Winter was Y/n's favorite season. She was trying to take more time to figure out her favorite and least favorite things. Winter was her favorite. Summer her least favorite, but that was because spring was a mini summer. She didn't like that she had to endure it twice. But winter? Winter was gorgeous with glistening snow and beautiful clouds she could make shapes out of. Besides, she liked the break from the heat New Theon was known for.

"Princess," Jimin's voice said, approaching with Jin, Tae, and Jungkook. "Kastor's holding down the fort. He slapped me."

"Do I want to know why?"

Jimin gave her a toothy smile. "He said 'just in case you don't get back, I need to slap you one more time'."

"I'm starting to see why you two get along so well. Come on, we need to travel to the Rocklands. Only twenty minutes away."

"You're the boss. When we get close to the water, do you need me to hold your hand?"

"Oh my gosh, she told you?" Jungkook asked with a laugh. Jin and Tae were confused, but she gave them a glare that had them backing off.

"Shut up. I wasn't talking to you, Jeon," Jimin replied.

"Someone's cranky. What's wrong, did Y/n say no to the bone-zone last night?"

"The what now- okay, you know what? Fuck you," Jimin said, flinging him off before walking away. He went to the rear to keep watch, Jin and Tae shrugging before following him. That left Jungkook and Y/n there to lead the charge.

"Jungkook," she said, the man groaning before she could even say it. "You need to stop. You're acting like a brat. I know you're mad at him for blowing his cover, but it was either his cover or me. It's been months. Get over it."

"I'm not mad about that anymore. I'd much rather have you."

"Then why are you still treating him like he's Commander Park and not Jimin?"

"Because he is," Jungkook said, almost spitting the words out. "I don't trust him. He's an asshole you're sleeping with."

"Don't talk about him like that. He's much more than that to me."

"What? A boy toy? Friends with benefits? What exactly is this, Y/n-"

"None of your fucking business," she snapped, him going quiet at that. "You're my best friend, but you're overstepping right now." She paused. Then, she lit up. "That's why you hate him. You don't like that he's with me."

"And I don't trust him. I don't get how you guys learned to trust him so easily. He was the Emperor's right hand for years. I can't just forget that."

"Commander Park and Park Jimin are two different people. Jimin's proven himself time and time again. He risked his life, his brother's life, and destroyed his status to save me. Are you forgetting that? He lost everything to save me." Jungkook stayed silent. "I think deep down, you like him, and you're scared of that. You're scared of admitting there's someone on the other side that you like. I know what that feels like. I saw those guards in the bunker, talking and... living. It was just another day for them. They were just doing their jobs, and we murdered them for it. I know what that realization feels like, and it fucking sucks, but it's not an excuse to treat Jimin like shit. He's been through enough."

Jungkook huffed. "He's an asshole."

"And you're not? My point is, we can die at any moment. We could die today on that ship. The Rocklands is being heavily monitored by the Emperor and we're a giant group of rebels. We could get caught. If that happens, you'll lose your chance of being Jimin's friend. Maybe even his family. So suck it up and try. Do you really want him to die thinking you hate him?"

Jungkook sighed. "I'll think about it."

"You'll do more than think about it," Y/n said. "If you don't do it within a month, we're done."

"Excuse me?"

"He has nothing more to prove to you. He's risked his life again and again for the rebellion. Jin and Tae adore him, especially Jin even though he acts like he doesn't." Y/n pointed back, Jungkook and her looking to see Tae, Jin, and Jimin laughing with each other. Jin nudged Jimin's side as if they were sharing an inside joke. Y/n smiled upon seeing it. "They're joking and bonding. Why aren't you with them?"

"Because I..." He broke off, pausing. "It's not that easy for me. We all react differently to these kinds of things."

"I get it. I shut down after Hobi died. I still feel his loss every day, but Jimin is here to help us. Jungkook, it's been almost a year. Let him in. You've known him long enough and he's proven he's loyal. I trust him with my life."

"We'll really be done if I don't?"

"I'm serious, Jeon," she said. "You're my best friend, but I can't continue a friendship with someone treating my lover like this. Not my boy toy, not my friend with benefits, not some random hookup. He's my lover, so stop acting like he's anything less. He's gone through more than all of us combined. You aren't there when he wakes up screaming. You haven't seen his bare back. You don't know the story behind his missing finger. But you know what? If you actually cared to get to know him, you would know all that already."

Jungkook grunted, then, he decided to slip to the middle. He didn't bother joining Tae, Jin, and Jimin, but at least she knew he'd think about it. Jungkook hated admitting when he was wrong. She understood; after all, it was only human. No one wanted to be wrong. Y/n certainly didn't. There was a chance she was wrong about this, but Jungkook had almost a full year to process Jimin being in their ranks. Seeing as Jimin was Jungkook's boss, Y/n thought it was only fair to push them together. They were higher-ups. They needed to act like it.

From there on, the walk went smoothly. They traveled to the edge of New Theon's mainland and approached the Rocklands. Right when they were near the bridge, they stopped and glanced at the differences. The end of New Theon was covered with sand, but there was some grass and mud, too. It was a beautiful blend of coastline and forest, and she could see the exact spot where the forest ended and the coast began.

The ship was there, no rebels around to hold it down. She knit her brows together as she came closer to the large ship. It wasn't anything enormous, but enough to hold two dozen rebels at most. They had just about that. It worked out perfectly. Well, all except for one thing: there were supposed to be guards protecting the ship.

"Investigate," Y/n murmured, the ones around her getting into defensive stances. They went toward the water, where soft waves crashed in and splashed on their boots. Y/n stayed back as Taehyung and Jungkook walked by her to join the investigation. She pulled Taehyung back. He glanced at her, but she shook her head. "Let them handle this. Jungkook's faster than you. The less we have to risk the higher-ups, the better."

"Yes ma'am. I'll protect you."

They watched as the grunts investigated the surrounding area of sand. There were shards of glass here and there, but otherwise, there were no signs of a bloody scene. No bodies, no blood, no weapons. The grunts went onto the ship and confirmed it was safe, so the rest of the crew joined.

It was a traditional ship with a gorgeous crow's nest she wished she could climb. If she were overlooking nature instead of the ocean, she would've already climbed it.

Jimin came up behind her, the wood creaking as he approached. He held her hand and motioned to the ocean. "This is what scares you? The open water? Or the waves?"

"Everything. The ocean is terrifying, isn't it? We don't know what's down there. And water itself is a powerful force. Storms can cause rogue waves and rough waters. Considering New Theon is known for storms..."

"I understand. We'll be safe. We have a good team." Jimin paused, leaning against the wooden railing. "You think Moros will shoot us? They're not exactly expecting us."

"That's why we'll go out first with our hands up. Hopefully Shawman will be there."

"And hopefully he'll honor our deal."

She nodded but didn't reply. The crew got to work with loading the ship up and getting ready to go. And, five minutes later, they were sailing.

Y/n almost fainted, her hands clutching onto the railing as tightly as they could. She could tell Jimin wanted to laugh at her, but she glared.

"I'll assign you to the crow's nest," she said in a hiss.

"Anything for a laugh-"

"I'll make you shave your hair."

"God dammit this entire rebellion knows my weakness," he mumbled, cursing to himself.

He resorted to rubbing her back to comfort her. It worked for the first ten minutes, but she felt her stomach curl in on itself. It wasn't nausea, exactly. It rolled around her veins and had her heart ticking like a bomb. She froze up, her eyes slowly meeting Jimin's as he seemed to sense it too.

"Climb," she said, and he agreed.

He ran to the crow's nest and hoisted himself up. Since they had just set sail, not everyone was in position yet. They were sloppy. Unorganized. She was so preoccupied with her fears that she didn't lead them. Embarrassment flooded her mouth and left her with a copper taste. But she couldn't wallow. Instead, she went to the bottom of the crow's nest and waited for Jimin to climb. When he got to the top, he scouted. That was when he tilted his head down to stare at her.

"Ship incoming! West!"

Just like that, the entire crew broke out in a frenzy. They were an unarmed ship. They barely had the materials to make the outline let alone get cannons. The grunts got their swords and prepared for potential boarding. Taehyung got Jin to safety in the one cabin they built for the captain, AKA Y/n. Jimin came back down and took her hand, pulling her to the back.

"We're close to shore, we can get there if this goes bad," he said, but she was already hyperventilating. He placed both his hands on her shoulders. It didn't help that she felt a drop of rain. Thanks to the dark sky, she hadn't even noticed the clouds. "Listen, if it comes to that, you stay close to me. I'll guide you to shore."

"You can't do that, we'll drown."

"I can. I'm a good swimmer, my dad used to take me to the coast all the time when I was a kid. Why do you think I got my tattoo?"

"But... the water..."

"Y/n, listen to me," he said, peeking over her shoulder to see how much closer the ship had gotten. "They're in firing range. If they're going to attack, we'll know in less than a minute. If they start firing, we need to dive into the water and get to shore. If that happens, you do not let go of me. Got it?"

"Okay, I got it," she replied, her voice quivering.

Jimin kept his hands on her. "Just look at me. Focus on me, no one else, okay?"

She did. It was almost impossible to, but she did. The crowd rushing around her didn't occur to her. Jungkook barking orders and doing what she couldn't fell into the background. The wind blasting her ears drowned out her other senses as the rain began to pick up. The water slipped free from the clouds in the sky, landing on her face and blurring her vision. She tasted it, too. The smell of rain mixed with the salty aroma of the ocean that rose up to dance with her nostrils. She couldn't push it out. It was too much.

"They haven't fired. I don't think they're attacking, but they're a larger ship and they're faster. They might be trying to board. Shit, they could've tracked us. That would explain why there weren't any rebels guarding the damn ship: they tracked them and stopped them before they could even reach the coast," Jimin said.

Y/n didn't want to think about it, but she had to. Her mind was darting between thoughts and strategies, and it hit her just how much she missed Hoseok. She wasn't built for this. She wasn't a leader. Not without Hoseok. Not without her friend.

The time that passed didn't click in her mind until screaming pierced the air. An arrow flew through a rebel's body, the woman falling to the ground as blood poured out of the wound. The other ship was right next to them, ropes flying over to help them board. Jimin was right. They were coming for them, likely for Jimin and Y/n.

"We need to go!" Jimin shouted, grabbing her hand. "We can still make it!"

"They're right there and they have bows! We're better off fighting!"

Jimin knew she was right, but he hesitated regardless. They didn't have the time to think about it. She drew her sword, and he took his bow. He laid down covering fire while Y/n pressed her back against the crow's nest. She heaved, begging the rain to slow down so she wouldn't slip. She already felt her boots squishing in the water mixed with blood.

Soon enough, the Emperor's men stormed their ship. They had three dozen men while the rebels had two. But, they had Commander Park and Jeon Jungkook. One was the best fighter in New Theon, and the other was one of the few academy-trained men. Jungkook led the front charge while Jimin stayed in the back firing arrows.

Y/n got out from behind the nest and dashed toward the side of the ship the Emperor's men were coming from. She charged into the first one she saw, her sword banging off his. Although she was distracted, she knew how to fight. It was what she had been doing her entire life. Jungkook trained her. Even Jimin trained her. She knew they could win if they put their everything into it.

The guard knocked her back and swung. She banged her sword off his once again. She ducked and rolled away, swiping at his legs only for him to jump and counterattack. Y/n barely managed to dodge. The man came at her with all the skills he possessed. As highly trained as she was, the Emperor's men were trained by Commander Park, too. That showed in the way the man thought on his feet and reacted to her attacks in a heartbeat.

Their swords clanged together over and over again until she grabbed a knife from her boot and used it. With the two blades, she overpowered him, sending him flying to the ground. She stayed near the edge of the ship, close to the railing she used to support herself. Her calf was burning. Although she was fully recovered from the gunshot, she still felt the burn. Especially now. She hadn't done much fighting since the injury. All her experience came from sparring Jimin to ensure she was ready.

Y/n couldn't tell if they were winning or losing. The dark, stormy sky made it impossible to tell who was who. She lost Jungkook. She even lost Jimin. Right when she went to join the fight again, a guard yelled and charged her from the side. He rammed into her, her sword making a loud 'clank!' as it hit the ground. She collided with the railing. Due to how cheaply put together it was, it cracked.

She fought back, but she was no match against the much stronger man. He used his sword, about to take off her head, when an arrow landed in his shoulder. Jimin was there, fighting for her. She mentally thanked him and punched the man in the face to add to how stunned he was. She picked up her sword, and the clash continued. Jimin loaded another arrow, but because her and the guard were so close, she doubted he got a clear shot.

Y/n banged her weapon against his, making him stumble back. He was twice her size. He was twice Jimin's size. Shit, he was twice Jungkook's size. She swallowed and prepared to fight again, but the man swung. She blocked it, but it sent her falling to one knee. He kept up with his onslaught of attacks until she slammed against the railing again. It cracked more. She heard the wood falling apart.

The guard wearing traditional red armor did one more attack. The railing took another beating, only this time, it didn't survive. It snapped. The wood gave in, Y/n slipping due to the lack of a barrier. Her sword fell, and she did too.

Time halted for her as her boots felt the air rush by. She was no longer on the ship. She was falling off it, zipping toward the water she feared most. The clouded moon stared back at her as she dove back-first into the ocean. One second passed. She heard shouts from the ongoing fight. Two seconds. The rain hit her eyes, causing her to shut them. Three seconds. The salty smell got stronger. Four seconds. She hit the water.

It engulfed her. She had never felt so violated before. It laughed as it slithered through her mouth and nose. The liquid clogged her lungs until she coughed, but no air came back. Her arms writhed, as did her legs, but she sank deeper into an endless, black abyss. It was over. She lost. There was nothing left for her to do except let go.

So she let herself fall into the abyss.

┊ ˚➶ ｡˚𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓐𝓫𝔂𝓼𝓼 𝓢𝓱𝓮 𝓓𝓲𝓭 𝓝𝓸𝓽 𝓢𝓮𝓮 ˚｡➶˚┊