(Disclaimer:- All the stunts tried in this chapter are done under Maddie's supervision. Do not try these with your patner. Thank you🤡👉👈)

Taehyung shuffled in his place and squinted his eyes open. He could hear Jungkook's little snores near his ears that brushed his hair. Jungkook had pulled him into a bear hug and dissolved into a deep sleep.

His eyes shifted to Jimin's side to find it empty. He furrowed his brows as he looked at the clock. It was past midnight and the boy wasn't in the bed.

Where did he go?

Taehyung gently took Jungkook's hands off him and got up from the bed. He walked towards the small balcony to search for the tiny male. Once he was at the doorframe, he simply stood and observed.

Jimin stood there taking puffs of cigarettes and crushing them beneath his legs after using them. He blankly stared into the darkness without any emotions and sighed multiple times.

"Weren't you the one who said smoke rings were bad?" Taehyung spoke as he stood beside Jimin.

"So?"

"Are you acknowledging that you are doing wrong or are you trying to justify your actions with that 'so'?" Taehyung asked.

Jimin blew another puff before he threw the packet away. Taehyung tried to read the boy's expressions.

He wasn't able to read him.

He wasn't able to comprehend what Jimin was currently feeling.

The same pain shot through his head and Taehyung clutched his head. He didn't utter a word to make sure Jimin doesn't know.

Because he knows Jimin is very sensitive when it comes to him.

He takes all the blame when it isn't his fault.

And Taehyung didn't want the elder to take this burden as well.

"You...aren't going to talk?" Taehyung asked gulping down the pain searing through his system.

"Taehyung," Jimin began as he leaned over the railing, "Do you think we could have a life too? A life where we are allowed to be happy too. A life where we are protected. A kind of life where we don't have to stake our lives for food. Can we have that?"

Taehyung pulled the male towards him and let Jimin lean over his chest instead, "You once defined what smoke rings are. Haven't you? But Jimin, your definition of smoke rings holds good for greed. For a need that's beyond your control. For a wish that's beyond your boundaries," Tae slowly placed his hand under Jimin's chin and raised his head to meet eyes with him, "But have you ever thought that if I had admitted my fate to be with my abusive father. Would I ever get an opportunity to meet you? If Jungkook hadn't shown the courage to jump out of his house. Would he have met us? If you hadn't shown the bravery to step out of your house all alone and search for food. Would you have stayed alive?"

"But-"

"Every person is bounded by a circle, Jimin. It does protect you for some time but later on, you need to step out of it or spread it into a bigger circle. You need to create opportunities when there are none. You need to fight for your life because we don't have parents to do that for us. We need to fight till we have a stronger circle to protect us, Jimin." Taehyung leaned and peck his forehead and the latter simply closed his eyes.

"I just want to give you both a safe future where we don't have to run anymore. A place where we could stay and laugh together." Taehyung concluded and felt his fingers moisten as tears trickled down Jimin's cheeks.

"Wh...what if we couldn't achieve it? What if I run away-"

"You are much stronger than you think you are, Jimin. And if you do run away then I promise to find you back. I will stand by your side as a pillar if ever you fall weak. I promise to hold you when things go wary-" Taehyung's words were interrupted by a pair of lips that locked against his.

He softly closed his eyes and melted into the kiss. His hands circled Jimin's waist and traced down up to his thighs.

A soft moan escaped Jimin's lips as Taehyung lifted the male and placed him over the railings with his hands firmly gripped around Jimin's thighs.

Jimin placed his hands over Taehyung's neck and pulled the boy close to him, " Would you trust me till the end?"

Taehyung simply hummed and clasped their lips together with his tongue discovering all corners of Jimin's mouth.

Jimin locked his legs around Taehyung's waist and arched his neck as Taehyung traced his lips down to Jimin's collarbone to suck a few marks.

"W...wait!" Jimin breathed heavily.

"Hmm?" Taehyung placed one last kiss over the male's chest and looked up at him.

"I...we can't do this."

"Are you not comfortable?"

"No, I mean. I don't want us to do it alone anymore." Jimin's cheeks flushed pink as he spoke and Taehyung simply pecked the boy's lips, "You truly love Jungkook a lot. Don't you?"

Jimin simply nodded and smiled timidly. Taehyung lifted the boy with his hands still over the male's thighs.

"Yah! What are you doing?" Jimin whispered.

"You said you are missing your other boyfriend. "

"Yes, but this is too awkward," Jimin shyly spoke.

"You are making this way too hard for me, Jimin." Taehyung pushed the boy towards the wall and kissed him roughly. Jimin's fingers tangled within the latter's hair as he deepened the kiss.

Taehyung slowly broke the kiss and looked at Jimin. His lips turned upwards for a small smile.

It was very minute to notice but Jimin did notice and his heart flipped as he encountered Taehyung's lovely smile for the first time since they met.

"You are smiling!" Jimin exclaimed.

"All because of you," Taehyung added.

"Hm, I want banana milk," Jungkook mumbled in his sleep and cutely kicked his legs in the air.

The duo smiled wide at the boy's cuteness and rushed toward him to engulf him in a hug.

"Eee, you guys are too close. It's very sweaty!" Jungkook complained and rolled in his place.

"We thought of cuddling you all night. If you aren't willing then...." Jimin's voice trailed off and before he could speak further Jungkook had already scooted close to Taehyung and hugged him to sleep. Jimin back hugged the boy and kissed his neck before drifting to sleep.

_____

Major dragged his legs into his room with blood dripping down his hands. His legs trembling but barely visible due to the loose black clothing. He kept heavy steps and stopped in front of the cupboard to pull out some towels.

His hands betrayed him and the towels just slipped off his hands to the floor. He tried to bend and pick them but the pain rummaged inside his body.

He fell right over the floor clutching onto his abdomen and approximating his knees to his chest. He heard a loud thud and rushed footsteps towards him but the ringing sensation blocked their cries.

"Yoongi! What happened?"

Yoongi shrugged his head to take a better look at the person who had gently embraced him in his small arms. His smile grew wide through the busted lip as he analysed the person before him.

"Yoongi, I asked you something!"

"I was just practising," Yoongi uttered coughing up some blood.

"Practicing, my ass! I told you not to fight. Why do you do this to yourself?" The male cried.

"So, that I could get your attention, Hobi."

"It isn't funny!" Hoseok retorted and pulled Yoongi off the ground and placed him over the bed.

Yoongi struggled to sit straight and keep his eyes open as Hoseok ran around to collect some first aid.

"Why do you care so much?" Yoongi asked and flashed a weird proud smile.

"You shouldn't be asking that question, Major. You and I both know how we have survived so far and I have a debt to repay you-"

"Repay it by loving me back!" Yoongi put forth and scooted closer as Hoseok continued to apply the cream over Yoongi's wounds.

"I am sorry..." Hoseok's voice softened and he didn't dare to look at the male.

"Why not! What is it that I do not have?" Yoongi frowned his lips, the alcohol almost numbing his senses.

"Stability," Hoseok began and rolled the bandage over Yoongi's bare back.

Yoongi, on the other hand, pulled the boy close to him with his lips almost brushing over the other's, "What kind of stability?"

"It complicated to explain-"

"Try me," Yoongi spoke in a husky voice and pressed their foreheads together.

"What do you do for a living?" Hoseok asked.

"Huh?"

"Do you have any plans for the future?"

"Have you at least once told me the truth about your whereabouts?" Hoseok kept firing questions and Yoongi simply pushed himself off Hoseok. He fell over the bed, back facing Hosoek and offed the study lamp.

"When you are ready to answer at least one of these I would happily fall in love with you, Yoongi," Hoseok spoke and stood up from his bed and shut the door behind his back.

I can never include you in my professional life Hobi. Because that would mean to risk your life that I have tried so hard to protect.

I am sorry.

A/n:- Is Jimin going to accept Yoongi's offer to work?

Will Taehyung and Jungkook be okay with the plan?

What kind of past do Hoseok and Yoongi share?

What are Yoongi's real identity and his job?

Too many questions.

Hope you liked the chapter.

Good night kids.

Maddie🙂❤