_____

Jimin digs his nose into his son's soft hair and lets his hand wander along his back. Silence. The silence of the night spreads through the room like the calm before the storm. Once again Jimin closes his eyes. Jeongguk must have long since fallen asleep in his room. And here he lies-wide awake and unable to fall asleep. The restlessness he holds inside gnaws at him like an internal storm that won't allow him to fall asleep.

His son's voice snaps him out of his thoughts, and a quiet gasp emits from his lips, thinking he had already fallen asleep. "Do we really have to go?"

Jimin tenses his body before letting out a disappointed sigh and embracing the truth. He has felt comfortable enough over the past few days not to have to face the truth. The fact that Jimin hadn't had human contact in a while made things even more difficult. But reality would catch up with him in a day anyway.

"Yes, unfortunately. Look, we have our own lives and Jeongguk only rented this hut too. He will certainly have to leave soon. I know you like him, but we're not even friends, honey. Jeongguk has a life too. Maybe we can come to visit him again."

Jimin is unsure whether or not he is expressing the truth with that last sentence. He swallows as he remembers how safe and comfortable he feels around Jeongguk after all, but feels too unsure, he has to admit. This is the first close human contact Jimin has had in a long while and he doesn't know how to handle it.

The thought of them leaving soon is heavy on his stomach, but it's better this way. They can go back to their lives before the incident happened and Jeongguk... Jeongguk has his own life too.

"Let's try to get some sleep before we leave tomorrow." Jimin feels Myung nod his head in the darkness, even though he can't see him clearly, he knows Myung is disappointed but can't help it.

The next morning it's time for Jimin to prepare both mentally and practically for them to leave the hut any minute. Jimin looks around one last time and makes the sofa bed into a sofa again. A soft sigh escapes his lips.

"You're leaving already?" Jimin thinks he must have heard a hint of disappointment in Jeongguk's voice as he steps towards them with his hands in his pockets, however, the thought is quickly erased by a slight smile and a joking voice from the other.

"You're leaving already without telling me goodbye?"

"I-we wanted to tell you goodbye after I cleaned up a bit and put everything back to its original place." Jimin bites his lip, feeling somewhat guilty for having said nothing before. He tells himself that Jeongguk was just being friendly and welcoming them because he was hurt. Asking him if they can become friends would be pointless, as he knows it would not be possible. Jeongguk probably lives in the city and is a busy man. Besides, wouldn't it be weird?

"Are you sure you want to go?"

Yes, he says to himself having an internal battle, telling himself, knowing that this is far from the truth. Jimin does not want to leave. But he cannot ask Jeongguk for more than he has already given them.

"Hmm." Jimin nods and looks around once more, checking over the things and considering that they didn't bring anything they can't forget. He plays nervously with his fingers, noticing something as he does so. "Oh! We're still wearing your clothes. We should give them back."

"No, no!" Jeongguk shakes his head and waves his hands in an attempt to stop Jimin from undressing. Jimin looks at him, a red hue colouring his cheeks. "Keep them. Promise me you won't hurt yourself again. You may not be so lucky again. Besides, as long as I'm still here, you're welcome anytime or if anything happens."

"Promise. Thank you, we appreciate it."

Jimin lets a grateful smile play across his lips and then looks at Myung, who is looking at Jeongguk with sad eyes. Jeongguk has always acted wisely and interacted with Myung often, which Myung has probably taken to heart and made him look up to Jeongguk as his son has only been in contact with Jimin mostly. Jimin would like to change something about the situation, but so many what-ifs come to mind that his insecurities take a hand over his actions.

"Let's go, Myung." Jimin grabs Myung's hand, his smile no longer looking grateful but forced. Jimin has to tug on Myung's hand to get him to move. Don't make it any more difficult than it already is, baby.

Along with Myung on the hand, they make their way out of the hut. Jimin tells himself not to look back but the urge to see Jeongguk one more time grows stronger the greater the distance between them and the hut and so he looks back, not expecting to meet the said man's eyes.

Thank you for the happiest days I had in a while.

❣

Jimin grumbles unhappily as he turns from side to side and tries to go back to sleep. They are living in the den at the moment, as foxes usually do. It's not ideal as the space isn't big, but there haven't been many other options in recent years. They have also moved around many times, looking for better places to sleep or maybe they would find an abandoned forest hut, but without success.

Jimin whines and buries his nose in the fabric clothing that lies under his head. The comforting smell draws into his nose and calms him a little. The clothes were supposed to be folded at his side, but like father like son, Myung was the first to grab Jeongguk's clothes and lay them beside him as if they were a stuffed toy to cuddle with.

Days passed and he had to admit to himself that he missed Jeongguk a lot. He rarely left Myung alone, only when he was absolutely sure there was no danger lurking nearby, and he ventured forward until he was standing near the familiar hut, hoping to catch a glimpse of the author. His heart sped up when, after the second time he visited, he saw Jeongguk leave the hut in broad daylight in a thicker jacket and took a seat on the terrace with his laptop. Jimin could have watched him from a distance for hours. He wondered if Jeongguk missed him as much as he missed him. Something in him longs for the others.

He misses talking to him and doing things together with Myung. He misses Jeongguk's jokes and his striking brown eyes that shimmer with adoration and acceptance.

Can one even miss a person whom they have not known for very long at all?

In the following days, he feels as if his mood goes up and down. He lies awake for long hours and often looks over at his son, who is sleeping peacefully. This restlessness inside him won't leave him alone. But what could he do about it? Jungkook will leave the hut soon anyway and go back to the city.

The next morning, Jimin wakes up in a panic. His eyes shoot open, widen as he no longer notices the smell of his son, trace losing itself into the forest. And sure enough, Myung is no longer in the den, only the t-shirt Myung had slept on for nights lies a metre away from him, crumbled like a sheet of paper before thrown into the bin. The panic building up inside him causes him to look around frantically, searching for the little one. Jimin would certainly have noticed and smelled if an intruder had come. So where is Myung then?

Desperately, he tries to trace his faint scent with his nose and locate him as he steps out of the den. He can't lose him. Myung is all he has.

The thoughts of being hunted, time and time again are a great concern to Jimin. He knows the hunters only want them because of their unique fur coating as white-speckled foxes aren't normally from this area. Jimin has managed to evade capture numerous times, but he knows all too soon if they cannot find an extremely safe place then the inevitable will happen.

"Where have you gone baby, why did you leave without me?" Is all Jimin can think to himself while following the scent of Myung, which is getting stronger and stronger the more steps he takes. 

❣

While Jimin follows in despair and bewilderment the scent, Myung has already arrived at his desired destination in fox form, proud that he did not get lost on his way. He watches from afar, hesitating to approach. His positive emotions, however, do not last long. Suddenly, he watches with interest as Jeongguk walks towards his car, opens the door, and climbs inside. When Myung hears the engine start and the car begins to drive over the forest floor, panic shoots through his small body.

He is young, but that doesn't mean he only has fun like children his age have or isn't intelligent. Myung... might be more mature for his age. Myung is not afraid to bark and chase after the car. He can't afford to lose Jeongguk! It becomes more difficult for him to breathe, the wind whips in his face and the stones beneath his feet hurt as he fails to look where he is stepping. The focus is solely on the car and whether or not Jeongguk stops the car.

Jeongguk must have noticed his barking because the car slows down and Jeongguk eventually gets out, slamming the car door behind him. With the next jump, Myung shifts and runs naked towards Jeongguk, his arms circling his hips. A sob escapes his throat as tears roll down his cheeks. "Don't go."

Myung grips the other's body tightly and buries his face against Jeongguk's stomach as if he can stop him from leaving at any time. "Don't go, Ggukie."

"Myung..." Jeongguk sighs, unsure what to say or do. He rests his hand on his head and waits for him to calm down. Myung whines as he tries to loosen his arms around his hips, not expecting Jeongguk to kneel in front of him. As the taller man tries to hold back his tears, a charming little smile forms on his lips.

"Listen, Myung. I can't stay. I only rented this vacation hut and yesterday was my last day. I have to get back to work. Besides... I'm sure your father is worried right now. You didn't tell him you are here, am I right?"

The little boy's weak shake of his head answers his question and he sighs in concern, gaze flicking to his small hands that cling to his brown coat. What he just did was understandably stupid, but also stupidly clever of Myung. Jeongguk's smile slowly crumbles and it becomes harder to suppress his tears. "I can't take you with me to the city as much as I wish I could, but you already have a life here and... the city will be different. I'll miss you but go back to your father please."

Muscular arms wrap around Myung before releasing him, and Jeongguk turns and gets back into his car, pausing for a moment to take a breath and clear his mind. The tears Jeongguk had previously wiped off Myung's cheeks had been replaced by new ones, his vision hazy.

In vain, Myung can only watch as Jeongguk is about to drive off, leaving him behind. A whimper leaves his lips, all he wants is to be in Jeongguk's arms and breathe his soothing scent, for it would mean he's near to him and his father would be happier. His father has been acting strangely since they left the cottage, he has realized. He hasn't been as content.

Is this it? Does that mean he won't see his father as happy again?

Myung flinches when he senses footsteps behind him, just as another whimper escapes his lips. His nose fills with the comforting scent of his father, and he relaxes slightly. However, his father's solemn gaze causes him to glance at the floor.

"Myung, what were you thinking just running away? I was worried about you."

"I was... Jeongguk." Myung sobs, staring sadly at the car, in which Jeongguk is sitting, about to start the engine again. His gaze returns to his father, noticing how his scent intensifies and slightly becomes sour. "Baby, you can't just run away like that. What would have happened if it wasn't Jeongguk and it was someone else in the same make of car? I could have lost you and that petrified me. Please, don't do that again."

Jimin may be hasty and reckless with his words, but it is for a good reason. Before Jeongguk even has a chance to drive off, Jimin steps in front of the car and slams his hands on the bonnet of the dark grey car, visibly shocking Jeongguk. Myung watches from a few metres away, Jeongguk getting out of the car and face morphing into utter confusion as to why Jimin would step in front of his car to stop him from driving.