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Two months.

It's been that long since he's heard from Yerin. He doesn't know where she is and if she's okay or not; whether she remembers him or not.

No one lost their memories so he thinks Yerin might not have either. 

Not a day passes by with Jungkook anticipating her arrival, daydreaming about what he'll do when she comes to him and the next moment, he's thinking of the worst— if she will ever come to him. Them resuming to their original schedules is successful enough to keep him distracted from these thoughts but the members can't help but notice how Jungkook manages to remember her in the smallest breaks and then he looks like someone's sucked the soul out of him.

Someday, Yoongi or Jin would reassure him that she will be fine and that he should keep himself healthy and happy until she returns— she would want that. On some other day, Namjoon would slip in some harsh reality that 'even though I know she will be fine, you can't continue this way because a lot of people depend on you' and Jungkook doesn't mind. 

He appreciates every word his Hyungs say to him because he needs those, he needs them. 

After all, the only reassurance he has left, are them. 

The tattoos have gone, left behind the bare skin. 

Except for the plethora of flowers on the centre of his chest, the one that makes his heart bloom at her thought.

The manager was actually so relieved when Jungkook showed up with his neck and face, without the ink and had hugged him so tight. Jungkook wasn't sure either, whether he should be happy about it because all he could think was how he would never know what Yerin is going through anymore.

Just like on days he feels like he won't be able to sleep well, Jungkook doesn't go home. He does nothing special, just anything that puts him to sleep on the couch that is cushiony enough for him to rest comfortably. He plays a game, loses, starts watching a show. Gets bored, decides to scroll through his phone and places it back as soon as Yerin's wallpaper comes on the screen.

He lies down the next moment, playing a snippet of the song he's working on. The producer said it needs a little more work and Jungkook listens to it on repeat until it starts sounding like a lullaby to him. He wakes up with a loud knock on his door and Jungkook rubs his eyes before mumbling, "Jhope, is that you?"

But he stills when he opens the door.

He looks away, blinks his eyes, rubs his eyes— he isn't dreaming this, is he?

"Yerin..."

"Hi," she greets him, "Sorry to disturb you, but I didn't want to go back home without seeing you—"

She gasps when he pulls her into a hug, burying his face into her neck. "Can you pinch me to make sure I am not dreaming?" he murmurs and Yerin chuckles, her eyes are glossed to like his.

"Do I often come in your dreams for you to not believe it?" Yerin teases. She rubs his back, "Do you hug me like this in those?"

"No," Jungkook sniffs, "You're really here."

And when Jungkook parts, he suddenly realises that he is not seeing tattoos. He's seeing her, only her. He lets her in, locks the door and then cups her cheeks. Her gaze falters under his adoring eyes. Don't look at me like that, she wants to say but Jungkook brushes his fingers on her scars— the cut on her eyebrow, the faint one on her neck and the one on her jaw.

"Don't go anywhere now," he mumbles. She smiles.

He makes her sit on the couch, kisses her soft and gentle, before he murmurs, "You're so beautiful, my little flower," against her lips and he's diving again to kiss her.

Jungkook is someone Yerin never knew she needed. He tells her she is beautiful, makes her feel important, takes care of her, worries for her and most importantly loves her...what else can she ask in her life now? 

"Are you okay? Were you hurt somewhere?"

"I had to be okay," she says, then holds the pendant of her necklace in her hand. Jungkook smiles softly, holding it up, "This kept me safe."

You did.

"Your tattoos are gone..." Yerin murmurs, skimming her thumb on his bare skin. Jungkook shivers, holding her wrist to stop her feathery touches. "Not all," he says.

"Oh," Yerin gulps, eyes looking right into his. It's indeed a galaxy hidden in them like people say. "C-can I see?"

Jungkook is taken aback by her words and he hesitates. His ears grow red and he looks away from her. 

"I mean it's okay if you don't want to, I was just curious—"

Yerin stops when Jungkook lets go of her hand to lift his shirt. 

He feels shy, he is sure his chest is flushed red as well. "Only one..." he whispers, looking back at her. Yerin's hand hovers above his skin and for some reason, Jungkook's breathing becomes heavy. His chest is heaving as his gaze follows her hand. He presses his lips tight to prevent making any sound when her fingertrips brush against his skin.

Yerin is stunned. The flowers twirl so beautifully on his skin that peeks through the ink, the intricate designs which are beyond beautiful. She wishes that really she could rest your head upon his broad chest, fingers tracing the garden of flowers that lies just beneath his collarbones as the sun sets and rises and sets again.

"These...'  She refuses to believe that something as ugly as her scars are capable of turning into something so beautiful. "They are beautiful..."

Jungkook smiles at that, sitting up and scooting closer to her. Her hand rests on his lap.

"You gave them to me, of course they have to be," he says and Yerin shakes her head at that.

"These are nothing compared to them. These are beautiful...what is mine, it's ugly."

Jungkook cups her cheek, his eyes hardening, "Don't you ever say that again." He guides her hands to his chest again, the touch bringing goosebumps to his skin. "These are yours, something that you gave me and only you are capable of that."

Yerin stays quiet and Jungkook furrows his eyebrows. He leans forward, hovering above her, "You don't believe me, hmm?"

He leans down to place his lips on her jawline. "You are beautiful," he then dips down to her neck, making her gasp. He places small butterfly kisses on the hollows painting her skin,"You are so perfect."

Yerin grips his shoulders, smiling, "Alright, I believe you, I do." 

"Good." 

"I love you." Yerin says, all of a sudden. Jungkook laughs, leaning his forehead on hers, "I love you too. But you know that, don't you."

"I miss the shy Jungkook," Yerin pouts, leaning back on the sofa as Jungkook hovered over her. "What have you done to him?"

"He was annoying," Jungkook says, winking. "Couldn't do one thing right."

"I liked him," Yerin says, shuddering a little when Jungkook slips a hand under her top. 

"But you love this Jungkook." 

Yerin sighs when Jungkook's hand travels to her ribs. "I have been wanting to ask," Jungkook says, sounding hesitant. "Why do I have flowers on my chest?"

Yerin shakes her head, "A surgery, almost couldn't become a Major."

Jungkook's expression morphs into a sad one, like he's feeling her pain but Yerin doesn't even remember anything. It's been that long. She laughs, "It's been years now so it doesn't pain, just a scar."

Jungkook bends down and places a kiss on her chest, through the fabric. "You're so strong, so brave."

"And you're too cheesy." Yerin laughs, hiding her face with her hand.

"You love it," Jungkook says, unbashed. "You have better abs than me though."

"Jungkook!" Yerin whines, laughing along. She shies away when he rubs his thunb over her navel. "Thank you, I guess..."

"When do you go back to the training camp?" Jungkook asks, fumbling with the first button of her shirt. 

"Next week but. . ." he stops and looks at her, waiting for her to continue. "Won't it be a problem...how would we be able to stay together like this?"

She's been thinking. Neither is she or Jungkook someone normal. Loving each other doesn't mean they have each other on top of their priorities. What would happen if she is required to go back on such a mission or even worse? What would happen if he had to go on a tour for months?

Jungkook sighs, "Weren't you the one who told me that if we are meant to be, we will find our way to each other? We will do that. I will wait for you, every public holiday. . .spend time with you whenever you are here. I love you and nothing is going to change that or stop me from doing that."

His eyes don't leave her face, scanning her features that he has memorised like some map— A map to his utopia.

A few days ago, he thought the bond defined his utopia. He thought about it.

He thought what if one has a large rose across their arm. It stays there forever, and never comes off no matter what they do. One day, they volunteer for veterans and meet someone with a missing arm that's replaced. They're in disbelief until they get pushed by accident and a large rose appears on their knee where they just so happened to be bleeding.

What if one does not knowing their soulmate, but every once in a while, flowers form on their body in random places. They leave for a small dinner when they hear someone rush in and sit at the end of the booth lines. They go to comfort them when they notice the other has injuries, from what looks to be an abusive relationship, that mirror their flowers. 

Imagine having your soulmate go to war and flowers keep appearing all over your body. Imagine watching their soulmate get shot, and deadly nightshade on their chest where the bullet entered theirs. Imagining spending the rest of your life with the flower on your chest. Jungkook had feared that. He can't help but thank every force that brought Yerin back to him, safe.

The bond did not do justice to anyone, he thinks. It does no justice to the hollows of her skin because his tattoos are nothing compared to those responsible for the artwork.

Yerin nods and Jungkook kisses her again.

"Don't let go of my hand, even if the earth crumbles."

"Never."

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#Kookrin couple finally gets united <3