"Don't worry too much, no matter what happens I still got enough mojo to keep you guys covered" Jackson reassured as he parked the car in the basement of the lofty building which he had visited only a week ago.

Not receiving a reply he turned to watch his best friend, "Namjoon, I know things are not as it should have been but we will get through" the somber man nodded distracted "and if anyone can hold an argument against them it'd be you, I've never known another such clear-headed man" Jackson said patting Namjoon's shoulder which made the other chuckle.

They had not been able to rest at all being busy going through the acquired information, Hoseok and Jungkook close at their side trying to understand things as well as they could.

Since the moment Hoseok and Namjoon had arrived, Jackson had tirelessly worked to acquaint him with all the necessary information he had learnt, every assumption he had made or any lead he had traced, afraid to miss even the tiniest detail.

Jungkook being comparatively new to all of this would often get tensed and leave to take mini breathers, his mind inadvertently skipping towards the one person he believed had the power to eradicate all his problems.

Despite Hoseok's amiable words about how well Jin has been doing and how he had gotten comfortable with his new friends there Jungkook was not comforted, his concerns skyrocketed after learning about the booze party and that Jin had gotten drunk and flirty!

He knew that the vulnerability that kept Jin shelled in got lost when he got drunk. Jungkook appreciated this side of him but only when he was around, it agitated him to know that he had danced with someone in his drunken folly.

This was not supposed to happen. But then again, he was not supposed to feel like this about Jin yet here he was!

Namjoon heaved a sigh running his hand through his hair and gliding it down over his neck, straightening up he unlocked the door and Jackson followed the cue. "Let's get this over with" he said as they stepped into the elevator.

Seokjin's P.O.V.

A shrill ringing tore through my sleepy senses, switching on an awful headache and nausea. Groaning I tried to reach my phone on the coffee table, it was painful to move my head, my parched throat battling against my need to speak.

"Erll-lo?" The word came out sounding like a low growl, "Hey! We called to let you know that the camera's fixed, as good as we could manage" an overly enthusiastic voice chimed in, and although her pitch was stabbing at my head I really appreciate the news "So you can come by and pick it up today" I checked the watch and almost considered it broken because according to it I have slept for eleven hours. How is that even possible!

"Sure, thank you." I desperately tried not to sound like a croaky toad. Putting down the phone I noticed hangover meds and a post-it resting on the low table.

"Hoseok left for a conference in the morning. See you in the evening. Call me if you need anything."

The house felt too grim and lonely after last night's shindig, I decided to go for a walk and and maybe grab a delayed lunch if possible before going to get my camera back.

Sadly I had no idea that the diner was more than a kilometer away.

My legs gave up on me halfway and I felt like a starved bedouin travelling across the desert. Jimin has been so kind, petting me and consoling that I will survive, he even brought me a special smoothie and a chili cheeseburger.

"This is the oddest thing I've ever heard" he said chewing on a French fry from the plate I had just pushed away "you're totally the first and the only person I know who doesn't like French fries!"

Before I could reply my phone rang and a familiar face popped up on the screen "Aww he's so cute!" Jimin cooed peering into my phone, I giggled acknowledging his remark.

"Kook! How have you been?" It's been a couple days since I had spoken to him. "Jin, how are you?" His lively tone has never failed to lift up my mood "how's everything there? Having fun?" But unlike every other time a slight worry laced his tone.

"I'm great! Got some really cool snaps for the project, we can use some for your seminar as well I hope." I struggled against Jimin to reply to him, it was the great battle of gestures. He was glaring at me and using aggressive hand signs to instruct me to introduce him and let him talk to Kook but I can't, Kook is too sweet and innocent to be played with.

"So not missing me at all huh?" See, this is why I fear for him, he is just so cute! "I always miss you Kookie!" I smile knowing he must be smiling his bunny smile right about now.

Jimin is weird, now he is staring at me with big puppy eyes drastically trying to melt down my resolution and let him have his way.

"I miss you more" Kook's voice dipped down a bit and I'm sure I heard a sigh slip his lips. "Jin, I gotta go. Take care of yourself." He spoke in a rush and in the next instant I heard the official beep disconnecting the call.

I stared at the screen wordlessly, not paying heed to Jimin's high-pitched whining about me being an awful friend. Why has he has been acting so strange lately...

"You sure you can find your way back home?" Yoongi asked turning another curve down a desolate grey lane, "If I can't I will ask him to drive me home, or maybe to the diner" this side of the town is closely flanked by the forest, its shadow looming over half the houses.

Last evening I couldn't make it to find Taehyung since Jimin decided to be mean and wouldn't give me a ride, although that kind of helped in a way as I remembered about my camera.

Right now I'm headed to Taehyung's residence to return him his camera, well that's all Yoongi needs to know anyways.

I walked up the gravelly path to the front porch of a log cabin, it was set against a background of softly steeping hills and an emerald wood; the setting was right out of a painting!
The knock echoed rippling over the calm and soon heavy steps neared the door to pull it back to reveal a surprised and  disheveled Taehyung.

I let my eyes glide over him tracing the arch of his brows, his one mono lid and another double eyelid, then downward his chiseled jaw and strong neck, his collarbone peeking out of the white V neck t-shirt.

"Morning" I pressed my lips in a smile, "Hey. Yes, morning...umm come in" he scratched the back of his head, smiling back at me. He looks cute when he's confused.

"I got my camera back, so thought I would return yours." I said stepping into his home, the house was not lavish but seemed cozy and one could easily tell that he is a minimalist.

His living room only had a couch resting in the middle and a cabinet on one side, following him in further I found that he had no photos or tapestries, the walls looked too bare around the entire space.

"That's thoughtful of you" he said pulling a jacket on "do you want some breakfast? I'm gonna make some anyway, so" he fidgeted a bit, it's amusing to see him like this. Is this the real you Kim Taehyung?

I watched his back as he got busy to cook breakfast for the two of us, I don't know if I'm wrong but it feels like he's somehow avoiding me.

Edging closer I snatched the knife out of his hand as he struggled with slicing up the strawberries "I got this, go check on the waffles" slightly shoving him with my waist.

But instead of turning his concentration to the waffles he just stood unmoving by my side, feeling uneasy I turned to see his dark gaze boring into me. Confused, I pressed my eyes together in a double eyed wink and giggled seeing him laugh at my action.

"I didn't think you'd want to find me" he said popping a piece of fruit into his mouth.

"Well, it's not like your assumptions are always right" I retorted "just like when you assumed that I hated you and apologized for hurting me".

I noticed his expression change but he has to know this, "I never hated you Taehyung. I hated that you thought I wasn't capable of taking care of myself, I felt weak and vulnerable" his hands came up to cup my face "I know I wasn't strong enough" I felt tears threatening to trickle down "but I-I d-didn't want you to t-think that I was weak" I sniffled as he pressed his forehead to mine.

"Shh...Shh...Hey, I never thought you're weak, I just didn't want you to get hurt. It hurt me to see you bruised and bloody, I'm so sorry I made you feel like that, I'm so sorry Seokjin". He hugged me tightly, pressing soft kisses to my head as I hid my face in the crook of his neck.

"I decided to be brave, I wished you'd come back and see that I was not the meek bullied boy anymore" I spoke still clinging to him and he nosed at my ear. "I wanted to, believe me I really wanted to go back to you."

He paused a bit and I felt him stiffen, he spoke after a pause "I lost my mother that year, it was a really difficult time for me and my brother".

I pulled back shocked at the news "I'm so sorry, I- I  didn't know...what happened?" He pulled away from the embrace and got busy in plating our breakfast, a dark silence took over as neither of us spoke. "She was murdered for investigating a terrorist organization".

My heart throbbed as I took in the news, I had no idea about his family except for the fact that he had a younger brother who was about my age.

I neared him to see his face, I cannot imagine the amount of pain he must have endured to live through such a predicament.

He kept his head low not meeting my eyes "I couldn't just go back to live a normal life, I had to do something to avenge her" he shuddered as the emotions took over him, his breathing revved up forcing out the veins on his neck and forehead.

"But I messed up, I ruined it all" he bent down to support himself on the counter as I stood motionlessly listening to him, not knowing what to do to help. I grabbed at his shoulder trying to keep him from slumping down on the floor.

"Taehyung" my voice came out just above a whisper, as if afraid that I would worsen his state, he would not meet my eyes "it's all my fault, he shouldn't have died, it should have been me" he murmured to himself gasping for breath, his face red and sweaty.

We sat silently waiting for his breathing to come back to normal, slowly he leaned in to rest his head on my shoulder and snaked his arms around to pull me closer.

"I'm messed up Seokjin, I'm not sure where to go from here or what to do" I listened wordlessly "I'm scared, I cannot fight against them. I tried, but they keep breaking me more" I was not following what he was talking about but it felt like he needed someone to just listen, I let my fingers run through his messy dark locks trying to soothe him as best as I could.

Hurried knocking suddenly resounded and startled the two of us, I stood up to answer the door hoping to give him some time to relax but he stopped me.

"Eat up before it gets cold, I'll check who it is" I watched as he shrugged off the palpable agony and went ahead but was taken aback when a very familiar voice barged into the living room "We need to leave asap! You need to come with me".

"What do you mean? What is going on?" Taehyung's agitated tone took over, "Jin! I couldn't find you at home" Kook hurried towards me and I was too surprised to realize what was going on, I had spoken to Kook yesterday evening everything sounded fine then. "Yoongi told me you were here, come on, come on we really need to leave" he grabbed my wrist dragging me towards the door where Taehyung still stood just as confused as me.

The glass on the living room window shattered and we froze on our spot.

In the next minute a dozen more shots broke in shattering several other windows as we scurried to find shelter to protect ourselves. Kook pulled me to himself shielding me with his own body as he pushed me behind the kitchen island to take cover, while Taehyung ducked down behind the couch.

I could barely keep my breathing steady as my heart tried to leap out of my chest. "Jin, Hey, listen to me" I shivered as I peeked up to look at Kook "stay here, don't move. Call Yoongi" that's all he said before I saw him pull out a gun and tread away.

#Warning: violence ahead!
(But it is an important part of the plot 🙊)

What the hell is happening?! I could hear gruff sounds of struggling from my hiding spot, the anxiety became unbearable and I peeked to see the scene. There were several people in similar dark uniforms and masks, Kook hitting and fighting against two while a cluster of them hovered over Taehyung.

He vigorously thrashed about but has been pinned  down and was being constantly punched and kicked  at, he kicked at one who came flying back to hit against the island and I cowered down further. Almost instantly he had a gun aiming at them threatening to shoot but someone at his side bashed his head and his groan wrenched my heart.

A man clothed in black came forward as couple others hauled him up, the masked man grabbed his hair and jerked his head up. "I've been waiting for you" Taehyung growled before getting hit in the gut, I watched horrified not knowing what to do.

Kook's loud groan distracted  me as I watched him getting tased to unconsciousness and panic settled in as I saw the men recede dragging a limp Taehyung along with them.

It was after the silence set back in when I realized what just happened and that I had to call Yoongi. I hurried to check Kook's pulse as I dialled for Yoongi "Yoongs, I- hurry... Taehyung, Oh God! There were so many, they hurt him bad, Yoongs they-they took him away!" I was trying my best to make sense but panic wouldn't let me.

"I'm on my way, did you meet Jungkook?" He sounded way too composed "he's here, he had a pulse I checked" I am not sure what I'm saying. "I couldn't, I-I" "Jin, try to breathe. It's not your fault. Keep an eye on Jungkook, I'll be there in a while".

As soon as I put the phone down I hurried to the door to check if they had left any trace although I knew it was a futile attempt. The porch was as clean and tranquil as before, the trees dozing in the soft breeze, the mellow  sun had the same serenity.

Nothing looked out of place, except for the wreck in the living room and a bruised Jungkook lying in the middle of it.

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