Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

His feet hit the ground fast.

It felt like his heels were about to break open for how long he’d been running but what else could he do when he was being chased by three guys, all much larger and much fiercer than him. There were a number of reasons he could be running, and Jeon Jungkook was almost 99.5% certain that all of those reasons were a lot more badass than his.

See, he was running, not because he’d managed to piss off a mafia boss or perhaps, running because he’d gotten into a rowdy bar fight, instead he was running because of a wonderful case of ... being in the wrong place. How pathetic.

Honestly.

Of all the ways his night could have gone (preferably ending up passionately in a bed with his date who hadn’t had the grace to show his face) and instead here he was running for his life: actually, running for his wallets life but what was the difference really?

“You won’t be able to run for much longer, baby boo!” one of the men behind him jeered and Jungkook tried to hide his wheeze of tiredness.

“I’ll run for as long as I need, you hellion!” he yelled back, causing a fresh bout of laughter to erupt from his three chasers.

“Did you hear that, Taetae? Hellions, he called us!” one of the boys giggled, but he was short though so Jungkook wondered how the hell he ran so fast.

“Come on kid! You look rich, can’t you just give up?! I need sleep some time tonight!” the other short one said, making his two partners erupt in giggles again.

Jungkook stopped dead and turned around, surprising the muggers who nearly careened into him. They looked pretty startled.

Jungkook crossed his arms. “That’s not the point, Mr. Mugger sir, it’s the indecency of it that bugs me! There I was, all content in my loneliness when all of a sudden I’m surrounded by you scoundrels demanding my wallet. You didn’t even say please!” Jungkook whined. The muggers were silent as they stared at him.

“Is he ...”

“Crazy?”

Jungkook huffed annoyed. Logically he realized that he sounded insane but he couldn’t help it!

He was ever so slightly drunk, tired from all the running, and all he wanted was a little politeness for the love of god! Suddenly, from behind him he heard only a rustle before a smooth voice filled his senses, and the cloying smell of aftershave, but oddly not enough to put him off.

And then they spoke, sending tingles up his spine.

“You want a please, little boy?”

*

Jungkook turned around slowly. His hands were shaking slightly, and his muggers looked thrilled. There were three more people behind him.

Six against one, he thought idly, how wonderful.

On either side of the man Jungkook assumed to be the leader, there were two men who were tall and one with dark hair, one with bright red hair. They looked deceptively cheerful.

“Baby!” The short blonde man yelped before Jungkook could say anything. He watched as the small fairy like man ran into one of the tall boy’s arms.

“I can’t believe you stuck me with these monsters! Do you know how long I’ve been running?!” he whinged, pulling a face.

“Aw, did my angel Yoongi get tired?” the taller man said, cooing slightly and the man called Yoongi blushed. “Hobi, I told you no nicknames when we’re trying to mug people.”

“Oh sorry, baby- ack! I mean Yoongi. Sorry.” Hobi flushed and cleared his throat, turning his attention back to Jungkook. The leader rolled his eyes and smiled brightly at Jungkook.

“So you wanted a “please”, is that right?” he said again and Jungkook felt his legs go weak. Something about this guy was just ... intoxicating almost.

And he definitely wasn’t just inhaling aftershave fumes ...

“Y-yes, a-a bit of politeness g-goes a long way.” Jungkook mumbled shyly.

“Cute. Alright then, kind sir, won’t you please give us your wallet?” the leader said, obviously teasing just a bit. But somehow it didn’t make him angry to be teased by this leader like this and, shocking everyone, himself included, he pulled his wallet out and removed the important cards, and his favorite lucky picture before giving it right to the stunned leader.

“Uh...”

“There’s a lot of money in there. I was supposed to pay for dinner but my date never showed, his loss, so there’s a lot of cash. I prefer carrying cash around. I’m keeping my cards though, sorry.” Jungkook said as casually as he could manage.

“Uh...”

“Is that all? My mother probably wants to hear how the date went.”

“Uh ... s-sure I guess that’s it?” the leader said, suddenly awkward and Jungkook blinked at the swift change that had happened to the intimidating leader.

“Are you asking?” Jungkook wondered, making the leader blush when his men laughed at his odd nervousness.

“That’ll be all kid, unless you got a Rolex under all those layers,” it was obvious that the leader was kidding around but Jungkook shrugged and slipped his Rolex watch off of his wrist and gave it to the guy- Hobi was his name – with a small smile.

“There you go. It’s genuine. Also really expensive so if you sell it then get it for a good price please.”

“I’m really confused? This is the best hustle we’ve ever had?” one of the small boys whispered and Jungkook tried not to laugh.

The truth was, he was really drunk but not drunk enough that he wasn’t functioning. And honestly? He had three Rolex watches at home and more money than he cared for so what was the big deal with giving some of it away?

“Look kid, I don’t know if this is how a hustle goes! How old are you? Fuck, tell me you did not try and rob a kid, Yoongi!” the leader pinched the bridge of his nose and Yoongi gave an outraged cry.

“Me?! Taehyung and Jimin were the ones that scouted him, I was just running along!” he yelled, making the two who chased him start bickering about who chose to chase him.

“I’m twenty-two, I’m not exactly a kid anymore.” Jungkook said calmly.

“I am not drunk enough for this.” It was the first time the tall, and extremely pretty, man on the leader’s left spoke and Jungkook looked to him with a serious expression but it come out looking a little like a scrunched up prune face, he thought.

“Neither am I, dude.” The tall pretty man was silent and then abruptly turned to the leader.

“Namjoon, I want to keep him.”

Well that was unexpected.

Jungkook blinked.

“You can’t keep him, Seokjin,” Leader Namjoon said, sounding scandalized. “he’s loaded- like chaebol loaded, there would be news reports, freaking missing persons searches, it’s not happening!” Namjoon said exasperatedly and Seokjin’s lower lip wobbled.

“Oh no,” the small man Yoongi cried, hiding behind his lover.

“What’s happening?” Jungkook whispered curiously to a boy who he thought was maybe Jimin.

“Seokjin’s doing The Thing.” He replied shakily, as Seokjin’s brows furrowed together cutely. Even Jungkook had to admit that it was the cutest thing he’d ever seen in his life.

“Seokjin no! We can’t keep him, he’s rich and a child and has a family, a life, and you know this!” Namjoon said, looking like he might be angry.

“He’s not mad, he’s just trying to look like he has control over Seokjin. He doesn’t though.” Jimin muttered next to him and Jungkook nodded vaguely.

“Namjoon ... please?” Seokjin’s voice was lower than before, soft and sad and almost yearning and Namjoon’s face melted.

“Aghghhh! Fine! Fine, are you happy now you little shit?! We can keep him!” Namjoon yelled and Jungkook’s brows shot up.

Keep ... him?

Namjoon turned to him so fast that Jungkook stepped on Jimin’s foot when he jumped back, making the smaller boy howl and hop into his partner’s arms.

“Well? What about it kid?” he snapped. Jungkook blinked.

“Excuse me?” he mumbled, confused as to what was happening.

Namjoon rolled his eyes, behind him Seokjin was gleefully bouncing on the balls of his feet.

“Join us, I suppose. Or do you need a please for that as well?” Namjoon sneered slightly but winced when six different hands slapped his head and he groaned quietly to himself before shaking his head and giving Jungkook a calmer and a lot more attractive smile,

“Sorry, what I meant to say is ... what’s your name?” the strange leader drawled and Jungkook gulped.

“J-Jeon. Jeon Jungkook.” Jungkook whispered and Seokjin nearly had heart eyes as he cooed and whispered to anyone that would listen that “Kookie is my new baby now,”

“Well...” Namjoon smirked, this time he didn’t look mean at all.

“Won’t you join me, Mr. Jeon?”

And everyone held their breath, staring at Namjoon’s outstretched hand. It was the craziest thing that had ever happened in his twenty two years of life. How bemusing and insane.

How could they possibly think he would- he would join them?

But ... but ... he didn’t know what he was thinking even. What he did know though was when his mind conjured up a “but” then there was definitely need to explore the other side.

But nothing, in his opinion.

There were no buts when you were sure of a decision and yet, here he was, so sure yet not sure at all.

“Okay.” He said simply and the guys around him all blinked in shock.

“Okay?” Namjoon said confusedly, like he wasn’t sure he heard right.

Jungkook slipped his smaller hand into Namjoon’s and looked up unwavering.

“I said ... okay.” He repeated and Namjoon’s warm brown eyes met his properly for the first time, showing his every confused emotion clear on his face. And he said, in a tone that clearly showed his surprise at the situation ... 

“Okay then.”

Chapter Text

He got his wallet back.

According to Taehyung – whose name he only learned on their way back to the Hideout – they would never take his money since he was part of the group now.

Not that Jungkook had much time to spend with the other five boys once Kim Seokjin had grabbed onto him.

The older man’s questions came like spitfire.

“How old are you? No, wait you already said that. Twenty, right? Ugh, such a baby.”

“What do you like to eat? Hyung will make it for you!”

“You’re going to love the Hideout, Jungkookie, it’s so warm and nice there.”

Jungkook was a little overwhelmed.

What the hell was he thinking? Had he seriously just agreed to be a- a what exactly?

“Uh, not to be rude or anything, but, what exactly are you guys?”

At that six boys turned to look at him, each with varying expressions of confusion.

“We’re uh ... h-humans?” Taehyung said carefully, looking unsure. “I mean, I think we are. Are you a human, babe?” He asked Jimin who pulled a face and patted himself down.

“I seem to be, Taetae. I don’t know though-”

Jungkook rolled his eyes slightly.

Of course you’re human, I mean what do you guys do or- or are you just, like, m-mu-”

“Are we just muggers? Hellions?” Kim Namjoon finally stopped and turned to look at him. “Thieves?”

Jungkook blushed, unwilling to admit that that had been the question on his mind.

He wasn’t regretting his decision, he was just ... making sure he wasn’t going to get himself killed or thrown in jail.

“Ohh! That’s what you meant, don’t worry, this is just recreational!” Jimin said brightly and Jungkook blinked.

Okay.

“Yeah, we don’t go robbing just anyone, we’re not evil, we just go after poor souls like you that need to empty their wallets a little... for fun, I guess.” Yoongi said, equally as bright.

They all looked at him a bit like he was going to be angry, or perhaps like he was going to throw a fit or something like that but he just shrugged.

“Okay I guess, ohh, there are some real assholes at my college, you should go find them. I’ll give you their schedules. They bullied me all through high school.” Jungkook said vaguely before pushing forward, hiding a pleased smile at Seokjin’s outraged cry of “they bullied my baby?!”

The Hideout was, in a single word, amazing.

It was an apartment at the top of a rather dingy building and when they got in they were greeted by an elderly lady who had given them a long hard look and then looked in the other direction as though she’d seen nothing. Jungkook was almost worried but then Jimin and Taehyung started snickering and led everyone else up the stairs.

His only complaint was about the stairs but he didn’t voice it. He didn’t mind walking up a few steps really, but it was a little annoying.

As if he’d noticed Jungkook’s thoughts, Namjoon gave a dry smile.

“Elevator’s broken.” He said, by way of explanation. Jungkook didn’t reply.

The Hideout was at the very top. According to Hoseok, who was walking next to him and explaining, the roof of the attic had fallen in and the old lady who owned the place didn’t want to close it down so she’d told them that if they could find a way to fix up the roof above apartment A 101 then they could live there rent free.

“.. it was all thanks to Yoongi really. He looks small but he can fix shit like you wouldn’t believe! We got the roof in but the floor of the attic was damaged so she let us take it out, that was difficult, and we’ve never been so grateful that Taehyung and Yoongi are so good with building, Tae actually wants to be an architect so he had a good eye for things,” Hoseok blabbered on but Jungkook wasn’t paying attention anymore.

They all ... they all seemed to be so content.

That was alien to him. He couldn’t understand it.

He couldn’t understand the presence of dreams in a person’s life.

“A-and how old are you guys? Probably a lot older than me, right?” Jungkook said, a hint of desperation in his voice as they climbed the stars.

“Not really no, Seokjin’s the oldest, he’s twenty six, Yoongi’s twenty five, I’m twenty four, same as Namjoon, Jimin and Tae are both twenty twenty three ... we’re only a little older than you, new baby.” Hosoek said happily and Jungkook felt like he was going to throw up.

Maybe it was the wine he’d drunk but he didn’t feel well hearing that.

He wondered what it was like to have a dream when you were so young.

They all looked so happy, it was scary. He wasn’t happy.

Jungkook didn’t really think he’d ever been happy in his life before.

“And you? What do you want to be, Jungkookie?” Seokjin asked excitedly. “You’re in college still, right? What are you studying??

“I- I’m studying, b-business. To take over the company, I guess.”

The other six boys were quiet.

“Sounds interesting, bubs.” Seokjin said, a comforting tone entering his voice.

The door to the Hideout was painted bright red, “Taehyung’s idea,” he was told immediately, and the inside was even more amazing then Jungkook had thought.

It was a tall home considering the attic floor that had been removed but it looked like they’d managed to put in half a floor instead and a ladder had been turned into a staircase leading to the second “floor”. There were a lot of doors and he only learned later that it was because this was originally its own extra mini floor that had been ruined by the accident with the roof.

Yoongi and Taehyung were amazing, Jungkook decided as he took in the artfully knocked down walls and the rooms that had become hobby rooms, the kitchen was amazing, and there were a lot of open spaces but it didn’t look bad.

“The open spaces are for dance, both Jimin and Hobi dance, they own a studio together so they need a place to work out the new choreographs. Those two rooms at the back are Namjoon and Yoongi’s music studios, and that over there is an art room for Taehyung. My room is the biggest because I don’t need a studio for anything, and there are like, three open rooms left.” Seokjin explained as the boys all started chatting and loudly removing their jackets and things. Namjoon immediately disappeared into his studio without looking at Jungkook once and Jungkook flinched, feeling the weight of the leader’s stare though it hadn’t crossed over him.

“Don’t mind him, he’s just cranky. Nothing a good beer won’t fix.” Seokjin said dismissively, giving a look to Jimin who nodded and obediently went to get a beer for Namjoon.

“Seokjin, do you mind if we talk a little? I- I think ... I mean, I don’t know if I-” Jungkook didn’t know how to put it but Seokjin looked so kindly at him.

“Why don’t I show you my room, okay?” he said calmly, leading Jungkook to his room and closing the door behind them, and again Jungkook felt the gaze of the others on his back before the door shut.

Seokjin’s room was pretty cool, it was done in a lot of pale colours and there was a TV in it as well, a lot of books lined his shelves and in the middle there was his bed.

“I don’t know if I belong here!” Jungkook blurted and Seokjin looked startled and cocked his head to the side.

“Why ever not, Kookie?”

The nickname slipped out so casually that it left Jungkook feeling faint.

“Y-you guys h-have a dynamic, you know? N-Namjoon’s the leader, you’re like a co-leader or something, a-and the rest are all- all amazing and like, doing something important with their life and I’m not like that, Seokjin!” Jungkook was close to panicking.

“I’m- I’m just some rich kid studying business who has to take over the company. Oh my god, my parents are going to kill me! My brother is going to kill me!”

Seokjin raised a hand and Jungkook fell silent.

“Alright. Firstly, Kookie, we didn’t particularly bring you here to be a hostage or anything. You are free to leave whenever you want to if that’s what you need to do. Namjoon was just being dramatic earlier.” Jin rolled his eyes. “And we’re far from amazing. We’re actually super annoying, and ... and Jungkook, I was a stupid rich kid studying business to take over the company as well.”  

The room was silent.

“Really?” Jungkook said in a small voice.

“Yeah, it was the hardest thing I ever did but I met Namjoon and Yoongi and I decided ... my friendship with them, and keeping all the stragglers that came along the way was more important to me than the family business.”

Jungkook had tears in his eyes. Damn, he was so emotional when he was drinking!

“I don’t know what I want to do. I- I don’t wanna take the company, Seokjin. I’m scared. I don’t know where I belong.” Jungkook cried and Seokjin sat on the bed beside him, wrapping an arm around his shoulder.

“Where do you want to belong, Jungkook?”

And Jungkook couldn’t stop the tears spilling over his cheeks.

Because he didn’t know.

But for now he wanted to stay in this warm, kind, stranger’s arms that felt so sweet around his shoulders.

For now, this was where he wanted to be.

Right here, being hugged, something he’d not had a lot of before.

And he slept.

Chapter Text

He woke up feeling safe. It wasn’t a common thing that he felt.

Not that he was unsafe in his father’s mansion, but rather, there was a level of safety that only sleeping in someone’s arms could bring.

Seokjin, it seemed, was still asleep and Jungkook blinked the sleep from his eyes to peek at the clock on Jin’s bedside table.

5: 37 AM.

He couldn’t remember what had woke him up and instead chose to snuggle deeper into the kind older man’s warmth.

“Why are you awake, you should be sleeping.” Seokjin murmured blearily and Jungkook flushed, hiding his face.

“Sorry, hyung, I didn’t mean to wake you up.” Jungkook muttered, feeling a rumble of laughter going through Jin as he turned over and cuddled him right back.

“It’s okay, hyung has to get up now anyways to start breakfast before work, do you want to help me, Kookie?” he asked lightly and Jungkook just nodded.

He wondered if this was what having a brother was like.

He had a brother of his own, of course, but Junghyun never liked him much and spent his days sucking up to their father as he was younger than Jungkook and Junghyun had known that Jungkook would get the company before him.

It was all the company.  That was all anyone in his family cared about.

“What are you thinking so far away, hm?” Seokjin asked, running his hands down Jungkook’s arms soothingly and tears threatened to spill over.

“N-nothing, hyung, just a headache. I was drinking last night.” Jungkook admitted and Seokjin gave him a knowing look.

“Ah, I’d noticed to be honest, a sober person doesn’t just agree to come with complete strangers, you know?”

They both laughed at that.

“Hyung will make you some eggs and toast, it’s good for hangovers.” Seokjin said simply, not asking or prodding at why Jungkook was drunk.

Jungkook was never so thankful in his life and just silently hugged Seokjin tightly.

“I’m glad you guys decided to mug me.”

At that Seokjin burst out laughing, drawing Jungkook closer and peppering his hair with fond kisses like an older brother would, ignoring him when he tickled back and they wrestled in the bed to get the upper hand; only stopping when Hoseok gave a loud screech for them to “SHUT UP SO GODDAM EARLY IN THE MORNING, SOME PEOPLE HAVE TO WORK, YOU KNOW!”

“I’m glad we decided to mug you too, Kookie.”

*

They cooked breakfast together and watched as the other boys trickled in one by one, Hoseok giving an apology for screaming that was followed by him shoving Jungkook’s head playfully and telling him to shut up in the mornings.

Yoongi wandered in and gave a sour look at everyone but a cup of coffee later and he was smiling gummily and saying good morning to everyone as if he’d just arrived.

Taehyung and Jimin bounded into the eating area with energy and bright smiles as they asked Jungkook why he didn’t come and play with them as well.

Namjoon was the last to arrive and he just looked at Jungkook and gave a sigh but said good morning with a light roll of his eyes.

“Ignore him, Kookie, he doesn’t mind that you’re here, he’s just grumpy in the morning. Grumpy people suck,” Yoongi said in a matter-of-fact tone of voice and wisely, Jungkook decided not to point out that Yoongi himself was a monster before his coffee.

“Look who’s talking, Mr. Don’t-Talk-To-Me-Until-I-Drink-This-Coffee-That’s- As-Black As-My-Soul!” Hoseok snorted with laughter and there was silence.

Hoseok wasn’t as smart as Jungkook.

Yoongi gave him a long look and then slid off of Hoseok’s lap (“Baby,” Hoseok protested worriedly) and went to sit directly on a startled Namjoon’s lap.

“Excuse me, get your fu-”

“Shut up, Joon, this is a punishment.” Yoongi hissed, staring right at Hoseok, who looked defeated and a little amused.

Jungkook just watched in awe.

“Who are you punishing, me or him?” Namjoon asked, looking a mix between irritated as he tried to butter his toast around Yoongi, and amused at Hoseok’s expression.

“I’ll get you those headphones you want if you shut up now and let me sit here for as long as I want today.”

Namjoon didn’t protest anymore and Hoseok groaned.

Everyone was so … familiar.

Jungkook had never had a breakfast like this in his entire life, never before had he seen a breakfast be this lively and full of laughter as all the boys teased Hoseok for his relationship mishap and found out what everyone was doing today, and Seokjin waved the empty frying pan dangerously at Jimin when he said he wasn’t hungry and that he was on a diet (Jungkook had never seen anyone eat faster in his life then Jimin did in that moment).

It was like a family.

It was-

Wait, oh my god, are they talking to me? Jungkook blanched and blinked to focus on the six boys staring at him.

Namjoon was peeking out from behind Yoongi with a curious look.

“You okay, Kookie? You’re awfully quiet when you eat.” Taehyung mentioned and Jungkook flushed.

“I’m- I guess I’m just not used to such a- an energetic mealtime, usually we sit on opposite ends of the table, you know?”

“Oh, that’s okay, I was the same! Before I started dating Hobi, I just ate in my room, these kids scared me so much but they’re pretty okay now I guess,” Yoongi said fondly, making Jungook smile.

“We asked you what your plans are for today? Do you have class?” Seokjin asked warmly. “Namjoonie’s working on his new song, so is Yoongi, and Hobi and Jiminie are going into the studio today. I have work in ten minutes and Tae has work too.” Seokjin repeated for him and Jungkook’s eyes widened as he sprung up.

“Oh my god! It’s Thursday! I have class in like, six minutes, fuck! And it’s with the professor that hates me!” Jungkook moaned, running to Seokjin’s bedroom to get his wallet and things before running back out to the others. They all looked a little sad, Namjoon looked indifferent but curious at the same time and Jungkook looked to Seokjin as if expecting the man to explain the other boys’ expressions.

But Seokjin looked a little sad as well, even though he smiled.

“Jungkookie I put my number in your phone if you want me to come pick you up after classes are over, and I uh, I packed some lunch for you. And I guess if you decide you don’t want to come back here then it’s okay as well but the room is always open if you change your mind.”

Oh.

Oh.

Jungkook’s throat felt like it was closing up and he nodded, holding his tears in as he hugged Seokjin tightly and hurried out the door without looking back.

He cried the entire bus ride to campus.

*

It was during lunch, after being yelled at for being a whole hour late to school, that he opened his phone and looked at Seokjin’s number saved in his phone.

“Seokjinnie-Hyung” was what he’d saved himself as, and Jungkook half laughed, half cried.

What could he do?

On one hand, if he moved out of his parent’s house that would be amazing but they would want to know where and they wouldn’t let him move into the attic room that six other boys lived in.

He desperately wanted to give up business but he wasn’t allowed to.

He really, really wanted to live his own life but he wasn’t allowed to.

He wasn’t allowed to do much.

But it really snapped with him when his mother personally showed up at his school to ask why he hadn’t been home.

How could someone be so cruel?

She asked, in front of all of his classmates and peers, did you not come home because you were sleeping around?

Is this the heir to our company? I’m ashamed.

If you’re going to sleep around, then don’t bother coming home.

We don’t need you.

She got like this sometimes and there were tears in his eyes as he forced her back into the car angrily, ignoring the quiet, cruel laughter of his classmates.

The entire car ride home, she berated him and when they picked up his brother, Junghyun only smirked at his brother’s obvious pain.

In his fancy bedroom, Jungkook fell on the floor and wept.

All he wanted was to live. To live his own life.

He had to do it.

His bags filled up fast, stuffed with clothes, his personal things and he made sure his wallet contained the credit cards of the bank accounts he kept separate from the one his family had given him.

He knew that account wouldn’t be open to him the moment he left.

He didn’t leave much of a note, just a single card on his bed telling them to forget him. They would do it, he knew.

Junghyun would be so happy. His mother would cry her fake tears with her little friends and his father would give a deep sigh and then ask the butler to clear out his room.

He knew them. He knew them better than anyone and he knew he would not be missed.

He’d never been missed before in his whole life.

Jungkook didn’t know where the Hideout was. He’d been too drunk to pay attention to their surroundings but he had Seokjin’s number and he dialed it with shaky hands when he was at a bus station near the restaurant he’d been at last night.

Seokjin picked up after two rings.

“Jungkookie?!”

“H-hey there, J-Jin-hyung, I was wondering if you could pick me up. I wanna stay with you. I- I don’t want to study business anymore, Seokjin.”

Seokjin was silent and then gave a relieved sigh.

“Thank god. Namjoon will be there to pick you up as soon as you give me your location, baby.” Jin said and though Jungkook was scared of the intimidating leader, he gave Seokjin his location anyways and was told to sit tight.

Namjoon walked up to him exactly ten minutes later with his hands in his pocket and a friendlier smile.

“Decided to stay after all?” He asked, when they started walking back to the Hideout.

“Y-yeah, I- I decided to live for me, I guess.”

“Good I’m proud of you, Jungkook. Welcome to the family, I suppose.”

“Wait, but I thought you didn’t like me?” Jungkook said, confused by the leader’s sudden friendliness.

Namjoon barked out a laugh.

“No, haha, I’m just- stressed out? My song wasn’t coming out so great but Yoongi helped me fix it, I don’t hate you Jungkook, and we have more than enough space for you to stay. Everyone likes you, so who am I to make you go?” He asked rhetorically.

Jungkook was stunned.

“So I can stay?!”

“Of course you can stay … I’m far too scared of Jinnie to make you go.” He admitted and Jungkook laughed.

“I thought you were the leader,” he said, his voice teasing the leader little.

Namjoon snorted.

“Kid, I’m no leader, I just do what I can for my family, and you’re a part of that now, so I’m gonna protect you too.” Namjoon shrugged.

Jungkook wasn’t afraid to admit that his heart thumped loudly at the leader’s words.

“And if I don’t need to be protected?” Jungkook asked defiantly, just to know what Namjoon’s answer would be.

Namjoon looked at him surprised, then grinned and threw an arm over his shoulder as they entered the building that would become his new home.

“Everyone needs to be protected a little bit, Kookie.”

Chapter Text

He’d never seen a group of people more happy in his life than when he entered The Hideout and Taehyung and Jimin pounced on him like rabid dogs, planting kisses all over his face and hair, tickling him everywhere and smelling a bit too sweet. He realized pretty fast that it was a sort of peach liquor and raised his brows.

“They’ve been celebrating that you’re staying, we really needed someone new around here. We’re all celebrating, Jungkookie.” Yoongi said mildly, he was back to sitting on Hobi’s lap and had a glass of whiskey in hand.

“Oh wonderful. Hey Jimin? Can you get off please?” Jungkook asked casually, looking to where Jimin was nuzzling him fondly.

“I have a new baby brother.” Jimin said happily, and though Jungkook was pleased, he was also a little embarrassed.

Before anyone could say anything, the door slammed open again and Seokjin looked everywhere before zeroing in on him.

He shoved his packages to Namjoon and pushed Jimin off of Jungkook before swooping Jungkook into the tightest hug he’d ever received.

“My baby! Hyung is cooking your favorites, I don’t know what your favorites are but I will cook them anyway!”

“Um, I-I like anything, hyung. I don’t mind.” Jungkook said shyly and blushed deeper when everyone cooed.

“Alright, alright, he’s not a baby, I draw the line at baby-talk!” Namjoon said, breaking up the circle around Jungkook to go and put the groceries away.

That broke the haze over them and everyone laughed, moving away.

He was given a beer and then the proper tour by an eager Taehyung and Jimin.

“Which room do you want, Jungkookie? This one or this one?” Jimin asked, gesturing to two different rooms.

“Um, I think this one is pretty cool?” Jungkook offered and both boys beamed.

“No problem! That’s the one next to Namjoonie’s studio, so if you hear anything weird then it’s probably him.”

Jungkook didn’t know what to say to that so he didn’t say anything and instead put his bags on the bed there.

Jimin and Taehyung shared a room together and they spent nearly half an hour playing games on the mini console there, “a gift from our landlady” as he’d been told, until Seokjin hollered for them to go set the table.

“Make Yoongi do it!” Jimin yelled back playfully and Yoongi’s voice filled the air.

“Do you want to die, kid?”

This made the two boys burst into giggles and this time around Jungkook felt less awkward about laughing with them.

Dinner was as loud and chaotic as breakfast had been except this time there was a lot more food and he was sitting next to Namjoon now.

He was massively wrong in his assumption that they would allow him to be his quiet self during dinner as they had that morning and true to their personalities, Jimin and Taehyung had him embroiled in a friendly debate on the benefits of onions.

He didn’t fully understand where the debate was going before Jimin changed it to a different subject, leaving Jungkook confused.

“Even if it’s a small thing like onions,” Namjoon whispered, leaning over to whisper in his ear. “Jimin hates to fight so he changes the subject before Tae can lose his temper, it doesn’t happen often but we’ve all learned the signs. Taehyung gets quieter and a little more serious, then you know you’ve gone too far.”

He noticed it now, how Taehyung’s lips were turned into a small pout and he was frowning but slowly with Jimin’s passionate chattering about dance, the smile came back and the lines smoothed away.

“They make a good couple.” Jungkook said simply and Namjoon nodded, looking at him with a strange look in his eyes.

“Sometimes Hoseok takes it too far, you saw him this morning. He doesn’t think before he speaks, but he usually knows when enough is enough, he just slips sometimes. Yoongi’s a lot tougher than he looks, has a mean punch, he was the one who encouraged our recreational activities when we couldn’t afford the things we do now.” Namjoon was so close. Jungkook could smell only his delicate cologne and the other boy’s talk faded away. “Now we only do those activities when one of us needs to ... blow off some steam.”

“Jin-hyung was like you, didn’t know what he wanted to be before he gathered his courage and did culinary school. He’s an amazing chef, really, people just need to see his potential.” Namjoon said, admiration clear in his voice.

“And you?” Jungkook asked quietly.

“What about me?”

“What is it that you do?” Jungkook clarified. “I know you have a studio here, are you a rapper like Yoongi? Do you dance like Hobi and Jimin? I don’t- I never heard what you did.”

Namjoon looked pleasantly surprised.

“I rap, sometimes with Yoongi.” He said, as casually as he could manage.

“And has anyone seen your potential yet?” Jungkook thought he might have phrased it wrong but Namjoon didn’t look offended.

“I guess that still waits to be seen, Kookie.”

*

There wasn’t much bedding in the room, “we weren’t exactly expecting you,”, and so Namjoon had brought him the spare pillow and blanket at Seokjin’s orders.

The room was fairly big, not as big as the one he’d left behind but that didn’t bother him in the slightest.

This was perfect.

There was a fairly large window on the side and though the view wasn’t fantastic, he didn’t care. This was his new home.

He was left alone to get ready for bed, but he could still hear the other boys yelling at each other over the apartment and the sound of the TV blaring, then the scream from Seokjin to “SHUT THE HELL UP YOU BASTARDS!”

Jungkook decided he would be really quiet, as he didn’t want to get on Seokjin’s bad side, the older man had a lot more to drink then he had and obviously, Seokjin was a tired drunk.

Silence only arrived when there was a really harsh clap against the door and the elderly landlady hollered at them to shut it.

Silence came so fast that Jungkook could hear the wind blow gently against the trees outside.

There wasn’t a sound and he had to stifle his giggle of amusement. They really were scared of the landlady ...

He lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling and took a deep breath.

This is all so new, he thought, trying to push aside his fear, I’ll get used to it someday. I know I will.

In the trickle of silence, a light piano began to fill the air, making Jungkook sit up.

“That’s the one next to Namjoonie’s studio, so if you hear anything weird then it’s probably him.”

Jungkook couldn’t explain this comfort. Once or twice, Namjoon would stop playing and there would be a little scratch of pencil against paper, and then he’d continue and somehow the melody only sounded better.

He fell asleep with his ear pressed against the cool wall, his hand as well, and Namjoon’s soft voice joined the melody of the piano ...

*

For the first time since he’d enrolled, Jungkook did not go to University that morning.

It was a strange feeling, watching Hobi and Jimin leave in their sweatpants and dance gear to go to their studio, Namjoon and Yoongi disappeared into Namjoon’s studio right after breakfast, and Taehyung and Seokjin both left for work.

Before he’d gone, Seokjin had sat with him for a while and asked in this really gentle voice what he planned to do.

“Did you want to continue Uni? Maybe you could change your major?” he asked sweetly and Jungkook sniffed slightly.

“My father would have cancelled my enrolment. It’s a good thing I knew this would happen someday though, I still have my personal credit card. It isn’t enough for University though, so I- I think I’m going to take a gap year, Jin-hyung.” Jungkook said, almost breathless with how shocked he was at himself.

“A gap year? That sounds good, what were you thinking of doing?” Jin asked, kind and curious and sounding like he genuinely cared.

“I’m- I think I’m going to look for a job, m-maybe if I can I’ll take night courses in a couple of months? I don’t really know, Jinnie-hyung, this is kind of new to me.” Jungkook admitted in a small voice and Jin embraced him.

“Baby, I’m so proud of you. It took me a long time to get to this point where I could admit that I wanted things and the fact that you are here and doing just that is amazing. If you need help job hunting then hit me up and we do own a car, not that we use it much, that Mrs. Kang lets us keep in her garage. If you ever need a ride, one of the boys can take you,” Jin paused. “But don’t ask Namjoon to drive you, he can’t drive though he refuses to admit it and also not Jimin, he can drive but he failed his practical. Anyone else though.” He said cheerfully.

“I’ll keep it in mind.” And Seokjin kissed the top of his head and left, a little late for work.

Searching for a job, Jungkook found over the next few days, was not easy.

He just hoped the other boys didn’t think he was a lazy rich boy because he wasn’t working like they all were.

Even Yoongi and Namjoon who made enough money from their rap battles and bets in the bars, they still worked part-time at a record store that they loved and were better off for it. Jimin and Hobi were, objectively, the most successful of them all in that they owned their studio and a lot of company’s sent their up and coming idols to train there. Jungkook only realised much later that they were so comfortable in cash that they could move out into proper apartments of their own but they chose not to. Neither of them cared for that.

Taehyung worked in the office of a really popular architect and there was a promotion coming up that he really wanted, Jungkook was told over dinner one night, but he obviously didn’t know if he would get it.

And then there was Seokjin.

Seokjin never made a big deal out of the money he made.

He worked at a restaurant called Echo, and explained multiple times that “No, I don’t know why they called it that,” but it was one of the most popular restaurants in town. One night when Jungkook couldn’t sleep and decided to watch TV really softly, Seokjin had joined him and he asked the man why he didn’t move into a fancier apartment where he could have alone time and peace.

Seokjin had stayed quiet for a long time before smiling widely at Jungkook.

“This place is my home. Anyone can have a fancy old apartment to bring the girls home to, but that doesn’t mean it’s home. The people in this apartment ... they’re my family. You’re my family. And you’re all here, so why would I leave when I love you?” Jin said, rhetorically. Jungkook teared up and hugged the man tightly.

The point being, they were all living their life doing what they wanted, and Jungkook didn’t know what he wanted at all.

Enlightenment came nearly three weeks after he’d been living with the boys and he was starting to think he’d never get a job of any kind.

He didn’t want to be seen as sponging off of his new friends when he could afford to live for himself.

He was sitting in the living room in front of the huge windows with a cup of hot chocolate in his hand. It was starting to get colder and he shivered, realizing he’d forgotten his blanket.  

He jumped a mile when something warm and heavy dropped on his shoulders, looking up into the familiar eyes of the Leader.

Kim Namjoon wasn’t someone he spoke a lot to. They didn’t ignore each other, not at all, in fact they talked a lot during dinner ... however, they didn’t search each other out just to talk like Jungkook did with Jimin and Tae and sometimes Yoongi.

“Cold? I saw you shivering your ass off here and thought I out to save our little Kookie from the cold.” Somehow he said it without sounding patronizing at all and Jungkook flushed shyly.

“Chocolate?” Okay, he’d meant to say thanks but somehow instead offered his cup of hot chocolate to Namjoon.

To be fair though, Namjoon looked fairly startled as well.

Hesitantly, he accepted the cup and took a sip before handing it back.

They sat in silence like that, both drinking from the mug until Jungkook drank the last sip and they sat together in front of the window, warm from the chocolate.

“Figure out what you wanna do yet?”

Jungkook shook his head sadly.

“Well, what was something you really enjoyed doing before you- you know ... got here?” Namjoon asked awkwardly and Jungkook thought deeply, wanting to give the man an honest answer.

“Photography,” he said suddenly, just as Namjoon was about to apologize for prying. “But it was just a hobby.”

“Photography?” Namjoon asked making the younger boy nod. “Well there you go. Even if it’s just to keep yourself busy, find a few photography courses, Jungkookie. Get a part-time job like Yoongi and I, and we’ll help you out if you’re strapped for cash. We helped Tae out and we all helped Hobi and Jiminie.” Namjoon said it like it was no big deal. “We’ll help you too.”

“I- t-thank you, N-Namjoon hyung. You don’t know how much this means to me. I- I hate feeling so useless all the time. This is exactly what I need.”

Namjoon just gave an awkward smile.

“Feel like you might be able to sleep now?” Namjoon asked, hiding a yawn.

“Not really, I think I’ll stay up a little more, but you should go to bed, hyung, you have work tomorrow.” Jungkook murmured but Namjoon didn’t move, just shrugged closer underneath the blanket he’d brought and pulled Jungkook against his side.

“If you’re staying then so am I, but I need warmth, Kookie.” Namjoon mumbled sleepily and Jungkook couldn’t reply, because the leader had already fallen asleep against Jungkook’s arm.

We’ll this was ... new.

Jungkook decided that he would let the man rest a little before he attempted to move him and slowly let himself droop against Namjoon as well.

And sleep took over as fast as he could even blink.

*

“You think we should wake them up?” a tall man whispered and the smaller guy next to him smirked and shook his head.

“Nah, let ‘em rest. Kookie hasn’t been sleeping well these days because of all the stress, and you know Namjoonie needs a good sleep once in a while.”

“But they’ll be embarrassed when they wake up.” The taller man pointed out and the short blonde gave his boyfriend an amused look.

“Worried for their feelings, Hobi? They’ll get over it, who knows ... they might even like it so much they do it again.”

Yoongi smiled down at the two sleeping boys on the floor and covered them with the blanket that had slipped off their shoulders.

“Mark my words, Hobi darling, this won’t be the last time we catch them like this.” Yoongi promised, and they both left to their room snickering slightly at the situation their dear leader had found himself in with the newest edition to their household.

I’m glad we mugged you, Kook, Yoongi thought happily, snuggling into Hobi’s chest.

Chapter Text

In his life, there hadn’t been many points of embarrassment for Jungkook to deal with. That wasn’t to say that he’d never been embarrassed before, with his record of being bullied by richer, snobbier boys than himself it was a safe bet to say that he’d had his fair share of public embarrassments.

But waking up with his limbs curled precariously around Kim Namjoon’s hips, and the feeling of the older man’s head nuzzling into his neck, adding on to this situation where the rest of the boys above them holding Polaroid cameras and giggling softly, debating whether to wake them up.

This was a whole different kind of embarrassing.

Immediately the other boys could tell when Jungkook was awake and trying his best to detangle himself without waking Namjoon up and it was just his luck that they would never let him do that.

“Jungkookie! Namjoonie! Finally got over your differences I see, I’m thrilled!” Seokjin said excitedly, and loudly. So very loud ...

Namjoon blinked awake and poked his head up from Jungkook’s chest, looked down at the younger boy and up at their friends before giving a muted groan and snuggling deeper against Jungkook’s side.

Alright, I was wrong, Jungkook mused in that minute, this is more embarrassing.

“Go ‘way, you cretins, m’sleeping.” Namjoon mumbled, throwing his sleeping partner into a maelstrom of divided emotions.

Jungkook was stuck between thinking it was the cutes thing ever, and also that he could really stand to just die now and save himself all this.

The other boys burst out laughing in loud gales of hysterical giggles as Seokjin told them breakfast was ready and Tae and Jimin took a few more pictures and ran away to see them.

They were left alone and almost shyly, Namjoon peeked out of his hiding place.

“Are they gone?” he whispered and Jungkook nodded, unable to form words.

“Thank goodness, I’m sorry, Jungkookie, I didn’t mean to fall asleep.” Namjoon apologized and Jungkook just shook his head.

“It’s not your fault at all, Namjoon-hyung, we- we both fell asleep.”

It was awkward. Horribly so and Jungkook had never been more relieved in his life than he was when Namjoon stumbled away to freshen up for breakfast.

Jungkook flopped back against the blanket and pillows and took a deep breath.

“Someone’s got it bad,” a sneaky voice whispered next to him and he didn’t even have a chance to retort before Seokjin was gone, leaving a perfectly brewed coffee in his place, and a blushing boy on the floor.

*

Getting a job was ... hard. So hard. It wasn’t that he was being picky or anything, but even the other boys admitted that working in a fastfood place, or a bowling alley, or anything like that was counter-productive because he’s have no time for anything else.

He needed a job more suited to his needs and they assured him that he could take as long as he needed.

And then he stumbled upon it.

It was completely by chance and the pay was good, enough to contribute to the household and more without needing to spend his savings and he could use those savings on his photography courses instead.

It was a job at a photography studio. It happened completely by chance, so much so that it was amusing.

He’d been picking up coffee for Namjoon and Yoongi, who were hard at work on their new joint mixtape, when he walked headfirst into a very fancily dressed older man.

“Oh my god! I’m so sorry, sir! I-I wasn’t looking!” he was so scared. This guy looked wealthy, and usually that meant they weren’t too kind ...

“It’s alright, kid, my shirt needed a little color anyways.” The tall man said with a jovial smile and Jungkook cocked his head in confusion.

“Y-you aren’t mad?” Jungkook stuttered out and the man laughed.

“Not at all, young man! Why don’t you join me for a cup of coffee that we can drink out of cups, my office is right over there if you like?” the man said and briefly Jungkook wondered if he was crazy but followed along woodenly.

He looked up at the sign on the door when the elderly gentleman walked inside a fancy looking building.

It was a photography studio. One peek inside and he could see all the equipment and the receptionist sitting patiently at her desk, there were rows of rooms with bright lights inside and in some of them he could actually see models that he recognized from magazines!

He scurried over to the man who was gesturing at him to follow and found himself in a neat looking office.

“Black or with cream? Sugar?” the man asked and Jungkook mumbled out his preferences shyly.

“My name is Jonathan, I own these offices.” The older man said with a beaming smile as he gave Jungkook his coffee. Over the period of an hour or so Jungkook learned all about the man and how he had brought his business over from the States to make a life in Korea after his daughter married a Korean man, it was wonderfully interesting and Jonathan even showed him a few of his works.

“And you, young man? What are you interested in doing, hm?” Jonathan asked mildly and Jungkook blushed bright pink and mumbled “photography” hoping that the man wouldn’t hear.

“Oh photography! That’s smashing, are you working in a studio?” Jonathan asked happily and Jungkook wondered if he was always happy.

“N-no, sir, I’m looking for a job so that I can afford photography courses at the University near here.” Jungkook admitted, the inklings of hope stirring in his heart.

“We’re looking for an assistant!” Jonathan said, bubbly and like he was overflowing with excess excitement. Jungkook felt faint.

“The pay’s good, we’re getting busy so we need extra help. It’s close to the Uni, and you get some experience? What do you say?” Jonathan said, looking so excited that Jungkook felt like he was doing the man a favor by nodding his head numbly.

This was ... a bemusing, but welcome, development in his life.

*

The other boys were just as amused and stunned by how Jungkook got a job when he told them over dinner and shared his excitement for it all.

“Jungkookie! Maybe you can visit the studio sometime once you’ve got a camera and take a few promotion shots for us, we were looking for someone to do it.” Hoseok said giddily and Jungkook agreed immediately. He had once been really interested in dance and the chance to visit their studio was an opportunity he wouldn’t miss for anything.

Tae and Jimin were almost as excited as he was about his new job and support from Yoongi came in the form of the older and grumpier man berating him for not bringing coffee and then hugging him because they finished the track and then yelling at him for allowing Yoongi to berate him for not getting coffee when he was out there getting jobs.

Jungkook had only been able to stare at him in bemusement.

Namjoon had simply smiled and congratulated him warmly with a warm hug.

Seokjin had been a little more emotional and spent the better part of the evening clinging onto Jungkook happily in small back hugs while he cleaned the kitchen, or holding his hand while they ate dinner, it was a constant offer of support and pride and it had Jungkook tearing up more than once thinking about how this was all he’d wanted from his own family, from his own brother.

Support. Respect. Love.

But he was finally in a place where he could get that.

He had found his true family.

Much later when everyone else had gone to sleep, a tall, lanky boy crept across the Hideout and into the newest member of their group’s room. Jungkook slept peacefully with a small smile on his lips and the man in his room smiled fondly.

He couldn’t wait to get to know every part of the boy, all his little quirks, annoyances, happiness, just like he had done with all the other boys.

We’re going to be great friends for sure, Taehyung thought vaguely, pressing a brotherly kiss to Jungkook’s head, I’m so glad we mugged you, Jungkookie.

What would life be here without you?

Chapter Text

In hindsight, Jungkook would have been remarkable depressed with his life had it not been for Jonathan.

His work at the studio was more fulfilling than anything his parents could have offered him and it was all thanks to the foreign photographer that Jungkook fully realized how happy he was.

Living with his six new roommates had brought a new brightness to his otherwise dreary life and he adored the fun vibe that surrounded every corner of his new home.

Each meal was a new excitement, if it was takeout, or Seokjin cooked, or even the one (and last) time Namjoon tried to cook dinner when Seokjin was late and Jungkook had to put out a very small fire and send the contrite Leader out of the kitchen.  

Half of the time he didn’t sleep alone in his own bed. If it was because Tae or Jimin, or sometimes even both, fell asleep while they were playing video games, or even Yoongi stumbling in and cuddling him because he didn’t realize this wasn’t his room. Somehow he had managed to sleep next to all the boys in the apartment, Seokjin being the first to have shared a bed with him, and he found that it had made him closer to all of the older boys.

I should keep a diary with all these ramblings in my head, Jungkook thought idly, trailing his hands over his soft blanket.

Creak!

Jungkook sat up so fast that he felt a little ill. He really hated sounds like that in the middle of the night, he always slept uneasily afterwards.

Should I check it out? He asked himself, a trickle of fear going down his spine.

When there was another creak, and added whispers, he threw his blanket off and padded with bare feet against the hardwood floors and peeked around the corner.

Why would the kitchens lights be on?

 Poking his head around the corner slightly, just enough to look through the sliver of the door, he noticed all six of his roommates standing inside.

They seemed to be having a rather tense conversation and Jungkook strained his ears to try and hear what was being said.

“... can’t take him, he’s a kid, Yoongi! I thought you, of all people, would agree with that! And you Seokjin? You also?” It was Namjoon’s whisper-yell that carried over to him and Jungkook frowned.

“Namjoon he’s twenty two for the love of god, he’s not a child and I know for a fact that he doesn’t care about our midnight activities but he could feel left out if he finds out about it!” Yoongi snapped and Jimin and Tae bit their lips, sharing an uneasy look.

“Look, guys, we really just wanna go and if we aren’t gonna go together then Tae and I are gonna go alone because I really need this right now, more than ever. I need to deal with these feelings somehow because I don’t want to be sad anymore. Jungkook will be fine, he’s asleep, the kid sleeps like a log and we’ll be back before he even knows a thing.” Jimin said soothingly.

A stab of hurt pierced Jungkook and he bit his lip to keep from making a sound.

Ouch.

That was kind of a slap in the face.

Seokjin heaved a sigh and glared at everyone but even from a distance Jungkook could see that Namjoon, Jimin, and Tae had won.

“Fine, let’s go. You know I would never let you go out alone.” He said, though his voice was obviously hiding his anger as he walked out of the apartment, the others following slowly.

Yoongi turned to Hobi with a fierce glare.

“Thanks for sticking up for me back there, Hobi. I really appreciated the support, I don’t expect you to always agree with me, but I thought you knew how much I cared about Jungkook and I just didn’t want him to feel sad.” Yoongi looked disappointed and Jungkook felt his heart swell for the smaller man before Namjoon sighed deeply and told the two men to get out of the apartment now.

Just before Namjoon closed the kitchen door, he looked up and caught sight of the two wide brown eyes staring back at him.

He didn’t look remorseful at all but Jungkook noted a slight tinge of guilt entering his eyes but it was gone in a second as the door shut and Jungkook heard six pairs of feet going down the staircase. And he was alone in the huge apartment.

He only slipped to the floor and stared vacantly at the wall in front of him.

*

The other boys came back  home at around two thirty in the morning and Jungkook was awake, staring at his ceiling in a pondering silence as he listened to the gentle hum of excited voices in the house.

For the first time since arriving at the Hideout, Jungkook felt alone.

Am I being too childish? He thought curiously to himself before shaking his head.

No, it wasn’t that he felt left out; well he did, technically. But more so the fact that they didn’t even want to let him know they were leaving!

He’d worked hard not to let the other boys know of his insomnia, and how he stayed awake in the wee hours just laying in bed trying not to go mad with boredom. He knew that if he wandered around the house at night, they would know and it would only cause needless worry.

So yes, he would have known they left and he would have been so worried and scared ... and they just- they just brushed it aside.

It felt like they’d brushed him aside.

Namjoon’s words came back to him in the coldness of the early morning.

“Now we only do those activities when one of us needs to ... blow off some steam.”

And with that ghost of a thought in mind, he remembered Jimin’s words from that night ...

“Tae and I are gonna go alone because I really need this right now, more than ever. I need to deal with these feelings somehow because I don’t want to be sad anymore.”

Jimin ... Jimin was going through something. He was sad. H-he needed to blow off steam, s-something had happened and he didn’t want to tell Jungkook.

There was a tight feeling in his chest and Jungkook gripped tightly at his shirt with the fresh wave of anxiety washing over him.

What if Jimin didn’t want him here anymore? What if Jimin was sad because of him and that was why he couldn’t share his problems with Jungkook?

Jungkook had thought they were getting along well and he counted Jimin along with his closest friends he’d ever made in his entire life!

He tried hard to take deep breathes now. It was getting harder as he panicked, sitting up in bed, unable to focus on anything- let alone his bedroom door opening and Yoongi and Seokjin looking down at him in worry.

“Jungkook? Jungkook are you alright? Why are you awake?” Yoongi asked, coming closer as Jin shut the door firmly from any other prying eyes.

“C-can’t breathe!” Jungkook stuttered out and Jin gulped.

“He’s having a panic attack, get him to breathe Yoongi, I’m going to go kill Joon, Min, and Hobi, and get Kookie a hot chocolate.” Jin said in a cold voice, leaving the room.

His words only caused further panic in Jungkook.

“Jungkook! Breathe with me! I know these emotions, I know what you’re going through, Jungkook. Breathe with me now.” Yoongi put his arms around Jungkook and hugged him tightly to his chest, making sure Jungkook’s ear was pressed against Yoongi’s heart.

Jungkook struggled a bit but slowly, so, so, slowly he began to calm down and learned to time his breathes with Yoongi’s steady heartbeat.

And in the silence that followed it was broken by the sound of something shattering and Seokjin’s indignant voice yelling at someone.

“Don’t pay attention to them, Kookoo, pay attention to me. Only me. I’m here with you, you’re going to be okay.”

Jungkook just breathed as deep as he could.

When he felt like he was stable enough, and drowning out the sounds from outside his room with the sound of his and Yoongi’s breathing, he looked right into Yoongi’s eyes and asked,

“Is Jimin okay now?”

Yoongi looked so surprised but then his gaze softened and he hugged Jungkook tightly, fondly petting the younger boy’s hair.

“Of course that’s the first thing you ask. You were there weren’t you? Earlier?” Jungkook just nodded. “I’m not going to tell you what Jiminie’s problem was but I’ll put your mind at ease ... It has nothing to do with you. He and Hobi are going through something, yes, and they made a mistake not trusting you with their emotions, but they’ll come around if you give them a little time.” Yoongi whispered sweetly.

“We all make mistakes. We’re humans though, it’s natural. They’ll apologize. After Seokjin’s fit out there they have to know they’ve done wrong and they’ll step up and talk to you.” Yoongi promised.

“I-I didn’t want to cause any tr-trouble w-with you and Hobi-hyung.” Jungkook said in a small voice, feeling a little delicate and almost like speaking any louder would break the calm surrounding him.

“You didn’t. That was between Hoseok and I, it was a long time coming. We’re fine though, we just have to learn to maybe stick up for each other a little more. That goes for me as well. I suppose I’ll apologize tomorrow but I really don’t feel like him right now.” Yoongi pouted.

“S-stay with me?” Jungkook asked weakly and Yoongi beamed, ruffling Jungkook’s hair fondly.

“As if I was gonna go, Kookoo.” Yoongi teased sweetly, making Jungkook giggle and lay against his pillows with Yoongi cuddling him at his side.

Again he wondered if this was what it was supposed to feel like, having a brother that loved you.

Tears filled his eyes but he didn’t let them fall, he refused to let them fall up until the very last minute when Yoongi wrapped his arms tighter around Jungkook and whispered in his gentle voice,

“It’s okay to cry, Kookoo, even I cry sometimes. I’ll hug you the entire time, okay? Hyung is here so it’s okay to cry now.”

And Jungkook wept, cuddling his body tighter against Yoongi and wetting the older boy’s shirt with his tears of relief, and sadness, and stress.

*

Much later when Seokjin walked in with a hot chocolate in hand, he took one look at the two boys and Jungkok’s tear stained face and turned to leave, seeing his little brothers in the doorway looking tense. He glared.

“Get out,” he hissed. “You’ll have a chance to apologize tomorrow, you don’t deserve to see him now the way he is.” Jin said coolly and closed the door before they could see Jungkook.

He just sat at the window chair and drank the hot chocolate slowly before kissing Yoongi and Jungkook’s foreheads and leaving the room quietly.

“My poor babies,” he sighed.

Chapter Text

Jungkook woke up before Yoongi.

Yoongi was cuddled against his chest and Jungkook tried his hardest not to disturb him as he untangled himself and snuck out of the bedroom.

It was almost five in the morning so no one else was awake and Jungkook didn’t want to be here when they all woke up, he was certain he couldn’t handle it.

He got dressed fast and tried to tame his hair before grabbing his briefcase and wallet from his room and made his way out of the apartment.

In an eerie mirroring of the previous night, though the roles were replaced, Jungkook looked briefly back at a small sound of surprise and met the wide eyes of Kim Namjoon staring at him.

“Don’t go Ju-”

But Jungkook didn’t give him time to finish before he mumbled something about needing to go to work early and then closing the door fast.

He knew Namjoon would follow him so he walked fast but it was no match for his Leader’s long legs.

In an oddly detached frame of mind, Jungkook noted that Namjoon’s arms were very warm. He was wearing his sleep clothes that were still warm with the residual heat from his bed.

“Don’t run away.”

His voice was still soft from sleep and the haze of dreams.

“I-I wasn’t running away, Namjoon, I was going t-to work.” Jungkook said, closing his eyes to keep some of Namjoon’s warmth before he inevitably pulled away.

“You were running from us, Jungkookie. We need to talk.” He insisted and Jungkook turned around in his embrace and bravely looked up at him.

He really was a handsome man.

Jungkook gave a small smile, slightly sad, but still there.

“We’ll talk later, Namjoon. I have to go to work. Jonathan needs me to do a couple of shoots with him, and I want to go pick up a coffee. I have to go now, Namjoon.” Jungkook sighed, moving away so that it forced Namjoon to drop his arms.

Though he walked away, and he made it to the coffee shop, and then to his work, he wasn’t ignorant to the tall Leader following him like a guardian even though he wore a tracksuit and slippers, and it was so early that dew still clung to the blades of grass on the sidewalk.

Jungkook only bought an extra coffee and silently gave it to the man before walking on.

Namjoon only left when he saw Jungkook safely inside the photography studio.

*

He worked the entire day in anxiety. Always expecting Namjoon, or one of the other boys, to show up and drag him back home to talk.

He wasn’t stupid, he knew the boys would be waiting for him to come home and when he finished work he grabbed his things and made his way out of the building with a soft goodbye to the receptionist.

He looked up and swallowed back his surprise.

“I thought I’d walk you home.” Namjoon said mildly and Jungkook frowned, trying not to tear up before he just shrugged and walked in the opposite direction of home. Namjoon didn’t say anything, didn’t ask him where he was going, just followed and walked calmly beside him.

Jungkook stopped in front of their mutual favorite takeout place and went inside, ignoring Namjoon’s surprised expression.
“Has Seokjinnie already cooked?” Jungkook asked, even though they were already going to the front to order.

“No, he’s been a mess all day, worrying his ass off. Jimin and Hobi are a little messed up too, Yoongi’s been in the studio all day and says he won’t come out until you come home. Tae’s just ... sitting. I think they all think you ran away.” Namjoon said, neither blaming, nor judging. Just pointing it out.

He still felt bad.

“Dinner’s on me then.” He said, going up and ordering all of his roommates’ favourite foods. Before he could pay, Namjoon offered him his own card and Jungkook just shook his head and gave his own.

“I want to buy it.” Jungkook didn’t give an explanation and Namjoon didn’t ask.

The walk home was short after Namjoon took them on a shortcut since they had hot food.

The moment they got to the door, it flew open and Jimin’s red eyes blinked at him before filling with tears and he tugged the packages of food out of his hands and pulled Jungkook into the tightest hug.

“I thought you were gone.” Jimin sobbed. “I thought I-I was going to lose my baby brother before I got the chance to apologize! I’m sorry, Kookie, I’m so sorry!”

Tears were soaking into Jungkook’s shirt and Jungkook was terrified.

He had no idea they would take him leaving the house early so bad.

“Jiminie ... I would never just leave like that.” Jungkook said shakily, noticing that everyone was there as he’d expected, and that Yoongi was hiding his crying face in his boyfriend’s arms, Tae looked sick and Hoseok looked like he was about to cry as well. Seokjin looked relieved, like the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders and he just sat on the floor unmoving.

Namjoon was the only active one, watching the scene while warming the food and setting the table silently.

“Kookie- I- can you ever forgive us?” Hoseok asked sadly. “W-we were really messed up and we d-didn’t want to- to make you worry about us. Stupidly, we made a mistake a-and we just want to make up for it.”

Jungkook was stunned.

He couldn’t believe that they were so broken up about him, that was a first for Jungkook. He’d never had someone who cared that much about him.

“O-of course! I was never that angry, Hobi-hyung, I just- I was stressed out this morning and I didn’t want to talk so I went to work early. A-all you had to do was call me? I would have picked up the phone to let you know I was alright.” Jungkook said in a matter-of-fact tone and they all froze.

Namjoon inhaled.

Seokjin stood slowly and levelled Namjoon with the fiercest glare Jungkook had ever seen. Oh god, that was terrifying.

“You said ... you said, and I quote, “Don’t try and call him, he said he won’t pick up the phone and it’ll just make you more upset. I’m sure he’ll be back later”, that’s what you said.” Jin whispered in a deathly cold voice and Jungkook heard Namjoon gulp.

“W-well see, Jinnie, the-the thing is, I was th-thinking Koo n-needed a little time alone t-to think, you know?” Namjoon nervously held a plate out in front of him as Seokjin went closer to him and the other boys wisely moved out of his way.

Yoongi pulled Jungkook closer and buried his nose in the younger boy’s neck, Jungkook just wrapped an arm around him in silent comfort as he tried not to blush at Namjoon’s casual use of the nickname “koo”.

“Do you want to die?!” Seokjin screamed all of a sudden and they all jumped nearly out of their skin as Seokjin started screeching at the top of his lungs,

“YOU THINK YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH SCARING ME SHITLESS THE ENTIRE DAY AFTER EVERYTHING YOU SAID LAST NIGHT?!” Namjoon winced and backed into a corner. “IF I DO RECALL IT WAS YOU WHO ENCOURAGED THOSE IDIOTS TO LEAVE MY BABY, AND YOU WANNA GIVE HIM ALONE TIME AND NICETIES?!”

Seokjin waved his fists around angrily and Namjoon paled.

“I’M GOING TO COOK YOU INTO A FUCKING EGGROLL, YOU SPINELESS WEASEL!”

The other boys finally lost it at that and burst out laughing at Namjoon’s scared face, Jungkook clutched his stomach giggling and had to drink a glass of water before he was calm enough to stand again.

“I’m so glad I didn’t miss this,” Jungkook laughed and that calmed Jin down immediately, leaving Namjoon with a deathly glare and going over to nuzzle against Jungkook fondly.

“Don’t do this again, baby when there’s a problem in the house it’s all of our problem. A fight between one of us becomes all of our problem, because none of us wants to lose each other, okay? We were really scared today.” Jin said, wiping the smile off of Jungkook’s face and replacing it with shame.

“I’m sorry. I made a mistake too I guess, I won’t do it again, Jinnie.” Jungkook promised and they all sighed in relief and took turns hugging the youngest boy before sitting to eat.

The night ended in laughter with Seokjin giving Namjoon the evil eye while caressing a butter knife and pulling Taehyung’s head on his lap to stroke his hair like a cat, looking like an evil mastermind in a bad movie.

Taehyung acted remarkably well, meowing and nuzzling against Jin happily with his tongue poking out.

Jungkook was really happy like this, even when Namjoon leaned over and smirked at him slightly with a whisper of, “Told you, you shouldn’t have run”, Jungkook just rolled his eyes and took Namjoon’s hand, squeezing it lightly.

“Thank you for bringing me back.”

Later when he tried to let go of Namjoon’s hand, the Leader just held on tighter.

Yeah, Jungkook was pretty happy.

*

When everyone went to bed, Jimin snuck out of his boyfriend’s embrace and silently entered his youngest brother’s room.

Jungkook wasn’t sleeping yet and sat up to blink owlishly at Jimin. The older boy smiled at the endearing movement.

“Can- can I sleep here tonight, Jungkookie? Tae’s snoring.” He said, even though they both knew it was a lie. Taehyung didn’t snore.

But Jungkook didn’t say anything, just lifted his bed covers to let Jimin in.

For a long time neither of them spoke until Jimin sighed and told Jungkook that their dance studio was twenty thousand US dollars in debt due to the funding they’d received from a foreign investor who had pulled their contract somehow and was demanding they pay him back for his “losses” and they were doing well but they didn’t have twenty grand to spare on debt when they had to pay their other dance instructors and get supplies for the kids classes, and prepare for the end of year shows and- and-

Jimin ended up crying in Jungkook’s arms from all the stress and Jungkook wasn’t far from tears himself but he was also a little relieved.

He’d thought it was going to be something scary awful. He could help with this.

Not tonight though. Jimin wouldn’t accept it tonight.

Jungkook would speak with Namjoon and Yoongi tomorrow.

“Go sleep, Jimin-hyung, everything will be better tomorrow. I promise.”

Jimin just kissed his head sweetly and whispered, right before they fell asleep,

“I’m so glad we mugged you, Jeon Jungkookie. What would we do without you?”

Chapter Text

Time passes really funny. It felt like months, or even years since he had moved in with the boys but in reality it was only a few weeks.

They had that effect on you, where you just slipped into their warmth and embrace and time slipped away.

He was on his way to work. For some reason that he still didn’t understand, Namjoon walked him to work every morning now. It was their thing.

They’d get coffee and walk to Jungkook’s work and they never spoke about it but it was something Jungkook had come to enjoy, the quiet moments with his Leader while they drank coffee and walked along in the early morning.

It wasn’t so peaceful this morning though. It seemed fate had brought the three boys he disliked most straight to his door. In the literal sense.

Kim Seohyun, Kim Hwangwoon, and Park Lee-Min. The three bullies of his old life.

They’d made his life miserable and it seemed that even now he was no braver as he immediately ducked behind a surprised Namjoon.

“Uh ...?”

“Hide me. I know those boys over there. They hate me.” Jungkook whispered and Namjoon froze, looking at them curiously.

“Are those the bullies you mentioned? You said that we were welcome to rob some people you knew that bullied you. Is it them?” Namjoon asked casually and Jungkook blinked.

How on earth did he remember that small piece of information?

“Y-yeah. I really don’t like them, they really don’t like me. I can be late to work once. Let’s go past them and go get breakfast.” Jungkook begged. “Namjoonie please,” Jungkook hissed when Namjoon didn’t move.

At the word “Namjoonie” the Leader blushed pink and allowed Jungkook to drag him down to the breakfast house to eat.

Though antsy and constantly looking out the window, Jungkook ordered them a nice and simple breakfast of waffles and coffee. Namjoon was still blushing faintly but just watched Jungkook as he wrung his hands nervously.

“I hope they don’t come inside, o-or walk past or anything.” Jungkook murmured, making Namjoon lean forward to look at him seriously.

“Do you want me to kill them for you?” He asked, as if he were merely offering a cup of tea and not the potential murder of three boys.

Jungkook sputtered over his coffee and glared.

“No I don’t want you to kill them! I said you could rob them because they’re loaded, I didn’t say kill them!” Jungkook rolled his eyes. “What they have as pocket money could pay for your food for the next ten years.”

Okay Jungkook was probably exaggerating but at the same time not.

He’d been bullied for years by those three. Since he first started going to school to months ago when he dropped out.

“You’re not rich enough to be our friend.”

“Your own parents don’t like you, don’t you know that?”

“No one’s gonna like you ever, you might as well not even try.”

They said a lot of things like this. It grew a lot harsher, more lewd, gross as they grew older and entered high school together and then college.

Jokes, sarcastic comments, outright shoving, and it was all due to his questionable lack of a girlfriend.

“You gay?” they would ask and Jungkook could only walk past them, neither lying nor confirming it. And his bullies found a new thing to torment him over.

All of this spilled from his mouth the moment Namjoon said a few simple words.

“Won’t you tell me?”

*

They weren’t lucky. Jungkook never was.

All three boys waltzed into the little shop as if they owned it and Jungkook’s heart sank. Namjoon only reached out to hold his hand and Jungkook desperately wanted to shove it under the table so the other boys didn’t see it.

Didn’t- didn’t think they were ...

Alas, he wasn’t lucky and he knew the exact moment that the three boys realized he was there. They shared giddy looks and made their way over.

Jungkook tried to tug his hand from Namjoon but he wouldn’t let go.

Why wasn’t he letting go?

Namjoon looked so calm, almost arrogant as he spread his knees a little and leaned back in his seat, taking up a lazy pose and calming his features.

He looked like a real Leader then.

Jungkook wished he had the ability to look that calm when he was nervous.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t our favourite little homo!” Park Lee-Min sneered, plopping down next to Jungkook, who flinched.

Namjoon said nothing, just held Jungkook’s hand tighter and stared at the boy impassively.

“You on a date, Jeon? Heard your parents kicked you out cuz you’re a fag.” Hwangwoon said with a smug grin. Again, Jungkook flinched.

Why wasn’t he fighting back? He used to be able to ignore them or fight back. Why wasn’t he doing anything? But he already knew the answer to that question.

It was Namjoon.

Jungkook didn’t know what to say because of Namjoon, what was the Leader planning? Because he knew Namjoon well enough to know that when he got quiet like this he was probably planning something.

“Cat got your tongue? What about your little boyfriend over here?” Seohyun pushed Namjoon lightly and that was when Namjoon finally did something.

And Jungkook certainly didn’t approve.

Absolutely not.

It was boorish and- and he was making a scene, and he was going to get hurt, and Seokjin would yell at them and ... and Jungkook had never been happier to have someone to fight for him as Namjoon swiftly punched Seohyun in the jaw.

People in the cafe immediately rushed back as the all four of them started fighting. Namjoon was slaughtering them though, not actually – Jungkook was sure he wouldn’t kill them – and he really should try and make them stop, really, but Namjoon hadn’t even been hit yet.

He would stop it the moment Namjoon got hit and if Joon didn’t get hit then really, why would he need to stop it? Namjoon was a big boy, he could fight if he wanted to.

That’s what Jungkook told himself as he tried not to grin when Lee-Min got a bloody nose.

But Namjoon couldn’t get away with no scratches and the moment Jungkook saw Hwangwoon moving to punch Namjoon, and he could see that his Leader didn’t notice and that’s when he slipped into the fray and only felt a second of exploding pain before Namjoon had his arms around him and the loudest scream he’d ever heard before yelling, “STOP!”

And then he passed out.

*

He woke up slowly to a cold cloth being pressed to his head and the bright colours of the photography studio’s walls.

How did he get here?

With a few blinks, he opened his eyes and Namjoon’s concerned and worried face was above him.

“Joonie?” He mumbled and immediately Namjoon’s face turned pink. Jungkook realized what he’d just said and sat up so fast that he felt woozy.

“Namjoon-hyung? Uh – w-what happened?” Jungkook stuttered and turned his head when he heard someone else laughing.

Jonathan.

The older man grinned.

“I was walking past to get a coffee and saw you getting the lights punched outta you and lover-boy over there about to kill the entire shop. Thought I should maybe step in.”

Neither of them missed the implications that a lot of people seemed to think they were together.

Namjoon didn’t say anything about it though and Jungkook really, really didn’t want to bring it up.

“I’m so sorry, sir, if- if you want to fire me it’s okay.” Jungkook hung his head, aware that his and Namjoon’s behaviour reflected badly on a lot of things.

Jonathan was silent and Jungkook peeked out of his bangs to see Namjoon staring the man down and with a slight meep, he elbowed Namjoon and glared at the Leader before making him bow his head as well.

Jonathan burst out laughing at this.

“I would never fire you Jungkook, you’re valuable, you’re a good worker and your photography is getting better and better especially with those courses you’re starting to take. It’s fine, everyone gets in a fight sometimes, just don’t make it a regular thing.” Jonathan said, grinning as he left them alone in his office.

“Well that was ...”

Namjoon didn’t seem to have the words but Jungkook did and he gave the Leader a dry look.

“I told you not to fight them, stupid.”

Namjoon just gaped and then laughed, pinching Jungkook’s side and ruffling his hair.

“You’re gonna make me go old, kid.”

“That’s my job, yes?” Jungkook said with a smile.

Namjoon only shook his head fondly.

Chapter Text

It’d been a long time since that moment in the coffee shop when Namjoon beat up his bullies for him.

They’d grown closer, spending a handful of evenings sitting by the window and talking in low voices about this and that.

He’d visited the studio with Jimin and Hoseok and after talking with Yoongi and Namjoon, offered to help them pay off their benefactor.

Jimin had sat on the floor and wept his heart out, Hoseok only sat down and stared blankly at him.

“Y-y-you’d d-do that for us? A-after what we d-did to you?” Jimin wept and Jungkook rolled his eyes.

“Jiminie, you’re my family now. The first thing Namjoon said to me when I got here was that everyone helped each other because it’s a family. I- I don’t want it to look like I’m buying my way into the family, but I-I want to do this. Because I sort of love you guys and I want this amazing place to stay open.” Jungkook whispered.

He still didn’t know how he had survived the intensity of Hoseok and Jimin’s hugs combined.

It had been nearly nine months since he’d begun his new life with the six other boys. They truly were more than his family had ever been for him, it was almost scary ... the intensity of his love for them.

His love for them was so different.

With Jimin and Taehyung he could joke around and play video games, drink cheap beer and talk about weird dreams involving chickens wearing pink tutus and the complex meaning behind it. Not that any of them understood the complex meaning behind it or anything ...

With Yoongi he could spend hours talking and learning new things about music and he didn’t even realize before how interested in music he actually was.

With Yoongi he could really relax and just listen quietly to what the sweet older man had to say. He really loved his evenings that he spent with Yoongi in the studio.

And Hoseok, oh Hoseok was like a ray of sunshine wherever he went. Jungkook adopted a casual and fun teasing with the man over his inability to think before he spoke and how often he upset Yoongi on something stupid and offered advice on how to properly buy the little blonde man his favourite flowers.

Seokjin was like a mother, father, brother, best friend, and soulmate all in one broad shouldered person. He’s recently gotten a promotion at work and they’d celebrated all through the night Somewhere around two am both he and Jungkook wandered away from the party and shared a beer out on the balcony.

“Are you happy here?” Seokjin asked quietly, his head on Jungkook’s shoulder.

Jungkook didn’t answer right away. He thought it through before smiling.

“I’ve never been this happy in my entire life.” And Seokjin beamed.

“Then I’m happy too. You were what my family has been missing, Jungkookie. All these years I felt like we were missing something and it was you and now that I have you here, I think I can finally- I can finally relax.” Seokjin said, as though he was letting the weight of the world off his shoulders.

“What do you mean, Jinnie-hyung?” Jungkook asked and Seokjin smiled lightly.

“Nothing to worry yourself over right now, Jungkookie. Hyung will explain everything to you some other time when the time is right and you’ll understand more. It’s not the time now.”

And that was that. His relationship with Seokjin only grew stronger and many nights when he couldn’t sleep he would slip into the older man’s bed and sleep in the warmth of his bed. That’s just the way they were. They took care of each other like that.

But he should have known that it was too good to be true.

He should have known that before long, his father would find him. He really should have expected it ...

*

It was on a Tuesday that it happened.

He woke up at the same time he always did and Namjoon was there just like he always was, offering him a familiar smile and quirk of his head at Jungkook’s light pink pyjamas.

He dressed and got his bag and his camera and waited for Namjoon to finish up so they could go out and get their regular coffee from the shop that they were notorious in. The owner loved them but obviously never mentioned it, however through whispered conversations they found out that the three rich boys used to be regulars as well but Namjoon’s beating had chased them away and the owner was grateful. He gave them free chocolate cookies now.

It was a normal day.

His courses had been going exceptionally well and today was the first day he was being allowed to accompany Jonathan on an outside photo shoot where Jonathan had asked him to take a few pictures as well, just as practice.

Nothing was out of the ordinary. He was going to be done at around three pm and then he was going to record a little bit of background vocals for Yoongi and Namjoon’s new song, which was a new development in his life after he’d been heard singing in the shower. He’d not lived that one down for a while.

Then he was going to cook dinner with Seokjin and play games with Tae and Jimin.

It was perfectly normal.

Except for one thing he hadn’t accounted for and that was Seokjin poking his head into Yoongi’s studio with a worried frown creasing across his forehead.

“J-Jungkook, you have a visitor.” He said worriedly and he and the two rappers looked up with a frown.

“Me? Who is it? No one’s ever visited me before?” Jungkook said nervously and Jin bit his lip and shook his head.

“I think it’s best if you just come, Jungkookie, I’m sorry.”

This wasn’t part of his schedule.

His father looked the same as he had months ago when he last saw him. His brother standing behind him looking smooth and smug as he looked at the objectively less glamorous housings Jungkook lived in.

“Son.” Jungkook’s father said coolly and Jungkook blinked.

“Father. What ... what are you doing here?” Jungkook asked curiously. His brothers were all here, Yoongi walked over to sit on Hobi’s lap to watch the ongoings. Jimin and Tae were leaning against the kitchen counter, biting their fingernails nervously. Seokjin and Namjoon were behind him, flanking him almost.

“Son, you don’t belong here. I let you have your fun for a good few months, it’s time to come home. Your mother misses you. The company needs you.”

Jungkook didn’t pretend not to have seen the scowl his real brother’s face reflected at that.

“The company’s doing fine, father. I read the news. What do you really want?”

His father glared at him, shifting his weight from foot to foot.

“Fine, your mother could care less about you and the same goes for me and your brother, however it reflects badly on the family to disown you, and hearing you beat up our good friends like some hooligan? This is obviously because you’re surrounded by- by thugs.” His father spat and Jungkook noticed Tae and Jimin looking quite offended as they stuck their tongues out at his father.

He had to hide his smile at that.

“Well, they’re my thugs so I don’t know what to say to that.”    

Almost all of his beloved brothers blushed at that and he felt Seokjin tug fondly on the back of his shirt.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Jungkook. This is the only time I will offer you this opportunity. You can continue your little photography thing, yes I heard about that and it’s ridiculous, but you can do it. I’ll even pay for better classes and a good camera, you can go back to college and have a real life. I’ll pay for everything.” Jungkook’s father raised his brow and tried to look as welcoming as he could.

“You could have everything you want. The best photographers, the best schools, your real family as well. Come home son.”

Jungkook said nothing, just staring at his father with a small frown creasing his brow and he noticed his brothers looking nervous for some reason.

Did they- did they think he would go?

Did they think so little of his love that they’d even be nervous that he’d leave for something so stupid like money?

It probably looked like he was hesitating and his heart broke a little when Jin’s hand slipped from it’s comforting spot on his back. He didn’t want to see what Namjoon looked like.

His father and brother were grinning as if they’d won.

Jungkook thought he should probably say something even though he was feeling sad suddenly. He couldn’t believe they would think he’d leave them ...

“If you think I would go to a place where no one loves me, and the only future for me is the neat little rows of offices I know you’ll force me into, then you obviously don’t deserve to have me around you.” Jungkook said firmly, his father lost his grin and glared instead. “I don’t want anything to do with the Jeon family anymore, none of the fortune, none of the perks, I never needed nor wanted any of that. This right here is my family. Enjoy your life, father, and I won’t darken your doorway again.” Jungkook paused. “Isn’t that what you said to the news when it leaked that I’d “run away”?” Jungkook added.

Furiously his father swept his coat up and gave a filthy look to Jungkook.

“Have it your way then. Don’t expect to ever see any of us again, I hope you’re happy with your pathetic choice. Come Junghyun!”

The door slammed on their way out and Jungkook didn’t move.

He was still slightly sad that his dear friends really thought for even a moment that he’d leave them.

Hoseok was the first to move, strangely enough.

“D-did you- I mean, if you- if you were hesita-”

Jungkook really didn’t want them to know his hurt.

“I wasn’t hesitating. I was just ... to be honest with you, I was wondering what was for dinner.” To sell his little white lie, he blushed and ducked his head, allowing Hosoek to hug him tightly in relief.

“I’m so glad we mugged you, Jungkookie.” Hoseok whispered before everyone else piled on him in a tight hug. “So glad.”

Jungkook just smiled slightly, trying to ignore the twinge of hurt from their relief. They shouldn’t have had to be relieved at all ... they should have trusted his love.

Like he’d trusted theirs.

Chapter Text

They took his lie so easily that it made him even more sad.

He and Seokjin cooked dinner together and the entire time, Seokjin had the eyes of someone who was so massively relieved. Jungkook couldn’t understand it.

Was it because he didn’t say it often enough? Should he tell them instead of letting his actions do it like he’d been doing?

“Seokjinie-hyung I love you, you know?” Jungkook said suddenly out of the blue while they were making a salad. Jin froze and looked at him concernedly.

His eyes narrowed a bit, but finding nothing in Jungkook’s eyes he smiled brightly and leaned over to kiss Jungkook’s nose, making the boy blink.

“I know sweetie, I love you too.” He said happily and Jungkook nodded slowly.

That was it then? He’d said “I know” so why were they so relieved? Why would they even consider that he’d leave them?

He was so confused.

Dinner passed in a blur to him as they celebrated Jungkook staying. He sat quietly next to Namjoon and didn’t drink that much, thankfully no one noticed as they became inebriated by the beers they consumed.

He cited tiredness for going to sleep early, leaving the others to turn on a movie as they wanted.

He sat in his room with a sigh and after a moment he decided to go to Yoongi’s studio and try to record his part again as he’d never finished his part.

Just as he was about to go inside Yoongi’s studio, a hand gripped his and pulled him in the opposite direction.

“Wha-”

He was suddenly surrounded by the familiar scent of Namjoon’s cologne.

He was inside Namjoon’s studio.

Looking around curiously, he took in all the differences from Yoongi’s studio. This place had the energy of Namjoon. Jungkook could feel the man in almost everything inside, in the keyboard and the recording equipment neatly ordered on the desks. In the books lining the shelves, and albums scattered around.

It was ... very Namjoon.

“Record it here. That’s what you were going to do, right?” his voice came from right behind him and he slowly turned around to look up at the Leader.

“Yes.”

“You hesitated.” Namjoon said simply and Jungkook gulped.

“I was- dinner- it was-”

Namjoon smiled.

“You’re lying. It’s okay. We all lie sometimes, but don’t lie to me now. You hesitated and it had nothing to do with dinner.”

Jungkook gathered his courage as Namejoon wandered closer to him, making him take a few steps back.

“I-I wasn’t hesitating,” Jungkook insisted, “I was- upset at you guys.”

Namjoon cocked his head.

“Why?”

“Y-you were the ones hesitating.” Jungkook was the one glaring now, but it looked a little closer to sulking. “You guys thought I was going to go, didn’t you? You all thought I would take the offer and leave. I thought you trusted me more than that.” Jungkook admitted.

Namjoon stayed silent for a bit before sighing.

“I guess ... we just assumed that it was a really good offer, even the best of people would have taken it.” He admitted. “We were pretty surprised that you chose us. We’re not super rich, we could get thrown out any day, or-or Seokjin could lose his job, or I could-” Namjoon didn’t expect the warm lips covering his.

To be fair though, Jungkook didn’t expect it either even though he initiated it.

There was complete silence in the studio, only the rapid thump thump of their hearts beating just a little too fast.

“Are you going to kiss me or just stay still like this?” Namjoon whispered against his lips, filling Jungkook’s cheeks with colour. “Because I’m fine with both, I guess.” He added.

Jungkook grinned and tilted his head slightly, allowing Namjoon to lead this kiss for them and grinning at the feelings it brought up in him.

He was sitting on his knees on Namjoon’s work chair, the Leader’s arms around his waist, keeping him from rolling away, and their lips pressed together.

Jungkook couldn’t figure out how long they’d been in that position, exploring each other, before they broke apart and Namjoon said with an almost shy and teasing smile,

“Let’s record now. If you do it well I’ll kiss you again,”  

Jungkook had never recorded faster in his life, much to Namjoon’s amusement.

*

Though he’d technically ended his night with Namjoon, he ended up with a very tipsy Seokjin clambering into his bed.

“Are you okay, Jinnie-hyung?” Jungkook asked carefully and Jin smiled.

“I’m fine, Kookie. I just wanted to be near you tonight.” He said with a pout and Jungkook smiled, letting the man cuddle against him.

A little while later, Jin spoke up.

“Do you want to know about- about the- the thing?” he whispered and Jungkook turned his head to the side to look at him, he gave a small nod.

For a long time Jin didn’t speak and Jungkook thought he’d fallen asleep.

“Namjoon and I used to date.” Jin admitted, making Jungkook blink in surprise. “We went out for maybe a year? But it wasn’t going well, it was just me, him, and Yoongi at the time, you see; so we were living together in this crappy little apartment and- and we were all stressed, y’know?” Jin sighed. “Part of me thinks we just got together to relieve our tensions somewhere, but it broke us apart more than it kept us together. Yoongi didn’t like being pushed aside while we were together, and Namjoon and I ... we were never going to work out anyways so we broke up a year later.” Jin took a deep breath.

“We picked up Hobi and Jimin a little while after that, Yoongi fell in love, obviously. But the damage was done and the roles were reversed except there were more people in our life now. Namjoon felt kicked to the curve because Yoongi spent so much time with Hobi and for a little while we thought about getting back together but like I said ... we were never meant to be.”

“I learned to get past that, Jungkookie. Namjoon and I have no feelings for each other at all, other than a deep bond of friendship and I- I felt like I couldn’t move on properly until he found someone. I don’t know why, but I felt like dating someone and falling in love with someone would just push him to the side again but- but now he has you.” Jin beamed.

“That wasn’t my intention though, in asking you to stay. I asked you to stay because you looked innocent and sweet and I liked you, I didn’t know Namjoon would like you too. But I’m so happy, Jungkookie. I’m so happy for you two.”

Jungkook let it all sink in. It was ... a lot.

He’d sort of suspected something like that but hearing it was different.

“I like someone too.” Jin blurted out and Jungkook turned on his light, held his hand up for Jin to wait a moment and left the room.

The others boys were still watching TV and Jungkook quietly made Jin’s favourite hot chocolate and took the two hot mugs back to his bedroom. Jin smiled at that.

“Tell me everything.” Jungkook demanded, climbing onto the bed carefully and giving Jin his full attention. Jin looked like he might cry from happiness. 

“He’s a new chef at the restaurant ... he’s amazing, Jungkookie, I really, really like him.” Jin admitted, making the younger boy smile.

“As long as he’s good enough for you then he’s good enough for me, Jinnie-hyung.”

“He’s good, Kookie, he’s real good for me. I was just waiting for ... I don’t know. I don’t know why I needed to wait for Namjoon but I did and I’m ready now, I’m ready to find someone for me as well.” Jin said in a small voice.

“I’m happy for you, angel hyung.”

*

Only weeks later, after the first awkwardness, after the first kisses, and after Namjoon made the move to hold Jungkook’s hand on their morning walks, after the others found out and teased them (before moving on to Jin when he mentioned his upcoming date), it came in the weeks afterwards when Jungkook spent more nights in Namjoon’s bed then he did in his own and Namjoon rolled his eyes but asked in a small voice why he didn’t just move his things to Namjoon’s room. It came after their first “I love you’s” and after their first time exploring more than just each other’s mouths.

In the evening, it came when they were wrapped in blankets and watching the snow fall outside, by the big window in the living room.

“Hey Kookie?” Namjoon whispered, swirling his glass of whiskey around slightly.

Jungkook looked up at him.

“Mh?”

After a moment of silence, Namjoon just looked up at him and smile, kissing his lips lightly and whispering,

“I’m really glad we mugged you that day.”

END