CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE, MENTIONS OF AN EATING DISORDER, MENTIONS OF SPIKING, BRIEF FLUFF, & ANGST
_
Taehyung flew downstairs with Jin on his heels, hoping the sound of knocking on the front door wouldn't wake the others. Flinging the door wide open, he found Kiana staring at him through narrowed, agitated eyes. Taehyung had to wrap his arm around her slender waist, rooting the brunette in the kitchen so that she didn't trudge upstairs and disturb anyone. He could see the anger lining her face after he'd explained over text what had happened the past few days and why Yumin wasn't accepting her calls.
"Where is he?" she snapped, glaring up at Taehyung with little interest in talking things through.
"Upstairs. But, you can't- Kiana." Taehyung lifted the smaller girl by her waist, spinning around and plopping her down by the door. "You can't just go up there."
"Why!?"
"Because you can't, okay? I called you over here to help us, not make things worse."
Kiana sighed but remained quiet, crossing her arms and tapping the toe of her shoe against the tiled floor. Her gaze flicked curiously up to Seokjin, taking in the unfamiliar man with wary eyes. Taehyung noted to introduce them later when things weren't so out of hand, glancing over his shoulder before pulling the others closer to his side.
"Okay, so here's what's gonna happen," Taehyung murmured, glancing down at his Pomeranian as he squeezed in by their feet. "Kiana, you're going to get Yumin's side of the story; everything that she knows if possible. Can you do that?"
"Easily."
"Good. Hyung." The brunet looked up at Seokjin, giving him a once over before continuing. "You're the easiest to talk to out of the six of us. Get Koo to talk since he's so willing to tell us what happened, and if you can, take his phone."
"His phone?"
"If he's not guilty like he says he is, then he'll have nothing to hide on his phone. I want to look through it to see what texts Yumin's talking about and see if he's got any other things to hide."
Kiana shifted almost excitedly on the balls of her feet, fisting her hands in the pockets of her pants. "Now we're turning into real detectives."
Taehyung couldn't help but smirk, deep down hoping to every god that Jungkook would end up innocent in the end.
_
Kiana shook out her hands before offering a light knock on Yumin's bedroom door. "Yumin?" she called out, pressing her ear to the door. She couldn't hear anything from inside, and for a brief second the thought that Yumin was dead flitted through her head. Shaking it away, she knocked again, not waiting for a reply before barging into the ice-cold, dark bedroom. The temperature startled her, gooseflesh erupting over her bared arms as she furiously tried to rub them away.
"Holy fuck," Kiana cursed, slamming her palm against the light switch near the door frame. "What're you trying to freeze away the pain? Yumin, get up."
Her gaze snapped over towards Yumin's bed, the brunette curled up beneath her bedsheets as she stared blankly at the wall. Yumin's eyes were barely open, lined red with dark circles beneath her lids. She looked absolutely miserable. Taking a cautious step forward, Kiana called out to her softly, finally making it to the bedside and sitting down in front of her. She offered the younger girl a gentle nudge against her shoulder but was met with no reaction. Not even a blink.
"Yumin-ah, c'mon. Get up."
"What're you doing here?" muttered Yumin, tugging her sheets up to her chin.
"I'm here to check in on you. You haven't been answering any of my or Freya's calls."
"I don't like calling people."
Kiana bit back a snide remark, shaking her head and edging closer to the brunette. "You know what I mean."
Yumin bit down on the inside of her cheek, her eyes threatening to close with exhaustion. She appeared as if she hadn't slept in days, up all night overthinking everything that could've possibly led to this outcome. Stomach knotting with unease, Kiana dared to push Yumin further out of her already unsettled comfort zone.
"Tae told me what happened."
The brunette's eyes fluttered closed, tears swelling around the corners as she curled in on herself. "I'm not talking to him, Kiana."
"I never said you had to. You can talk to me instead, hmm?"
Yumin blinked up at the smaller brunette with a blank expression, sniffling away the fresh tears that threatened to trickle down her rosy cheeks. Quietly, she considered the proposal while Kiana messed with the bedsheets, finally moving to slip beneath them and sit up beside Yumin. The younger girl backed away, watching her friend with a nervous gaze as Kiana extended her hand to help her up. Accepting it, Kiana pulled Yumin into a sitting position and offered her a soft smile.
"So, have you eaten today?"
"Tae made food this morning..." Yumin trailed off, cuddling her knees to her chest. She didn't answer the question.
"But, did you eat it?"
"...No. I haven't left my room all day."
Kiana turned towards the brunette, putting on a stern face that she knew would make Yumin listen to her. "Yumin, you've gotta get up. Just because you're upset doesn't give you an excuse to hurt yourself."
"I'm not."
"Don't get snappy, you are hurting yourself. Not eating? I don't want you to relapse again."
Yumin stared long and hard at Kiana, her eyes glossed over with tears, before throwing the covers off of her legs and sliding out of bed. As she made to stand, Yumin wobbled unsteadily, flinging her arms out to her sides for balance as her eyes flared wide. "Fuck," she cursed under her breath. Kiana eyed her warily before making her way around the bed to her side, slipping an arm around her waist to steady her.
"I'm fine," Yumin hissed, moving a foot or two to the side. She narrowed her eyes at the brunette, waiting for Kiana to make the next move. With a sigh, she led the irritated girl down to the kitchen, forcing her to sit at the kitchen island as she rifled through the fridge in search of food.
"Don't you guys have anything pre-made?"
"I don't fucking know." Yumin lowered her head against the cool island countertop, letting her eyes flutter closed as she huffed with annoyance.
Kiana threw a glance over her shoulder, taking into consideration the things Yumin had been through in the past few days to stop herself from snapping at the brunette. Not able to find a decent meal for Yumin in the fridge, she backed away, turning to the pantry and cupboards in search of something to make. Kiana stumbled on an unhealthy supply of ramen cups and individually packed bags, taking one for herself and one for Yumin as she went to prepare hot water.
"Yumin, are you going to talk to me?"
"What's there to talk about?"
"Why don't you tell me what happened? What led up to this?"
Yumin looked up at Kiana with such a hostile gaze she felt the need to take a step back. "You wanna know what led up to this? How Rachel found us at the airport and was all flirty and touching on Jungkook? How she admitted that they slept together and then left!? How we came home to Jungkook trying to give us some bullshit excuses only for me to scream at him and have him choke me to shut me up!?"
Yumin slammed her fist down on the countertop, tears flowing down her cheeks as she stared across at Kiana. She'd seen the younger girl in that state multiple times in the past, but the look in her eye was deeply startling. Yumin looked lost and furious all at once, her hands shaking as she hid her face against them.
Setting the half-opened ramen down on the stove, Kiana circled the island and wrapped her arms around Yumin's shoulders, pulling the brunette up and against her chest as she began to sob. Shakily she reached up and hugged around the shorter girl's waist, nuzzling against her stomach as her tears dampened her shirt. Kiana gently rubbed her back as Yumin muttered under her breath, whispering calming words in her ear until she stopped crying. She knew now wasn't the right time to question the brunette on what had happened up until that day, but she'd question her eventually.
Kiana looked to the side, biting her lower lip to stop herself from crying as she wondered how Taehyung and Seokjin were doing with their investigation.
_
Seokjin sat at the foot of Jungkook's bed wishing that Taehyung had come in with him. The brunet's excuse was that he was too intimidating when it came to misunderstandings and arguments, and Jungkook probably wouldn't have spoken at all if he were anywhere in the room. So that left Seokjin, the oldest, and easiest to talk to out of the other five in the house. Why is it always me? Jin muttered in his head, eyeing Jungkook nervously as the maknae crossed his legs together. Beneath the thin layer of his sheets, he could see him trembling as the brunet dug his nails into his thighs. His eyes were wide and almost innocent, flashing with guilt and fear as he waited for his hyung to yell at him.
"Koo?" Jin started hesitantly.
"Yeah?"
"Is it okay if we talk for a bit? Please?"
"Okay..."
He scooted closer to the brunet, trying to flush any anger from his face and voice before he spoke again. Seokjin was still very upset with Jungkook for what he did, but there was still the possibility of him coming out innocent in the end. With a hand on his thigh, Seokjin offered a soft smile before speaking.
"How are you feeling, Koo?"
Jungkook looked taken-a-back by the question, taking a moment to collect himself before he replied.
"Scared...and hungry."
"Have you eaten today?
Jungkook shook his head no, eliciting a sigh from Seokjin's throat.
"You can eat when we're done talking, okay? I'll even make you something. That sound good?"
"Okay. Tha-Thank you, hyung."
"Of course. So..." Seokjin was beginning to dread walking in there, tapping his fingers anxiously across Jungkook's thigh as he tried to form his sentences carefully. "You wanna tell me what's going on?"
Jungkook ran a hand anxiously through his hair, chewing on his bottom lip as he cast his gaze aside. Seokjin waited patiently for him to reply as he caressed the maknae's thigh, wondering whether or not he would get the answer he wanted.
"Hyung, I didn't cheat. I know it looks bad- it looks really bad, but I swear. I would never hurt-"
"Hey, hey, hey. Calm down." Jin reached up to cup the underside of Jungkook's chin, gently stroking his cheek. "Just tell me what happened the night you disappeared. That's the only way I'm going to be able to help you, is if I know what happened."
Jungkook nodded hurriedly, reaching up to wipe the stray tears from his eyes. "Oh-Okay. I got a text from Sejin that said he wanted me to go to Rachel's. Just to- Just to pick up an outfit for a sponsorship, I guess. Rachel texted me her address and then I went downstairs to tell Yoongi hyung where I was going. I walked in on him and Yumin in the office; Yumin was crying...She was crying about Rachel, but-" He exhaled shakily, rubbing his eyes aggressively to stop more tears from falling. "I couldn't hear the entirety of their conversation. I just told them where I was going and said I would be back in less than two hours. Then, I left. I went to Rachel's and she said my clothes were upstairs and that she needed to put them into something...I-I forget what. But, that it would take a few minutes. She offered me a drink, only a little, but after a while, I didn't feel well. I struggled to get up the stairs to get what I needed."
"What did she give you?"
"Hongju, I-I think. It was red, so it must've been. I've had hongju before, but this time it tasted...off."
Seokjin could see Jungkook begin to space out, his eyes clouding with mist as he began to cry. Slowly, the brunet reached out, trying to comfort the younger boy as well as coax out the rest of his story. He was so close to finding out the truth.
"I'm right here, Koo," he murmured, turning to sit beside him. He draped an arm over Jungkook's shoulder, pulling him into his embrace as he whispered sweet words into his ear. "It's okay. What happened next, hmm? What happened after you went upstairs?"
"I went- I went upstairs. I couldn't stand, hyung. She-" More tears cascaded down Jungkook's cheeks as he turned to bury his head away against Seokjin's chest. His shoulders began to wrack with sobs that he could no longer hold in, and Seokjin knew he wasn't going to be able to get the full story out of him anytime soon. It was too much too soon. Cuddling him against his chest, he murmured quietly in the brunet's ear, soothing him down until he was reduced to nothing but shivers and tiny sniffles against his hyung's chest.
Casting his gaze towards the door, Jin wondered if Kiana had been able to get Yumin to tell her what she knew about that night, but had a sickening feeling that they had ended up in the same boat as he had.
_
IMESSAGE CHAT
𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬🥸
TAEHYUNG added KIANA to the chat
TAEHYUNG added SEOKJIN to the chat
TAEHYUNG
So, how's everything going?
TAEHYUNG
It's been over an hour
KIANA
I need a little more time
KIANA
Yumin's willing to talk, but I'm trying to get
her to eat something first
KIANA
I don't want her to relapse
SEOKJIN
Relapse?
TAEHYUNG
I'll explain later, hyung
TAEHYUNG
Try to get her to at least eat half a meals worth, Ki
KIANA
She's still working on her ramen from an hour
earlier
KIANA
But, she's getting there :)
TAEHYUNG
Good
TAEHYUNG
Jin, what about you?
TAEHYUNG
Has Jungkook said anything?
SEOKJIN
He was getting to it
SEOKJIN
But he broke down before he could finish😟
TAEHYUNG
Fuck
TAEHYUNG
Well, what did he say?
SEOKJIN
He admitted to going to Rachel's that night, but
only because Sejin sent him there
SEOKJIN
Something about picking up an outfit for a sponsorship?
TAEHYUNG
We don't have any upcoming sponsorships :/
TAEHYUNG
We get the month off because you came home
KIANA
If there's no sponsorship, then why would Sejin send
him to Rachel's place?
SEOKJIN
Why would he send Koo to her place at all when he
could've just picked up his clothes at the company?
TAEHYUNG
I'll ask Sejin, but it still isn't sitting right
SEOKJIN
No need to ask Sejin
SEOKJIN
Since Koo's asleep, I can just take his phone and put
it back before he wakes up
SEOKJIN
Does anyone know his password?
TAEHYUNG
You got his phone!?
TAEHYUNG
Great!
TAEHYUNG
I know his password so I can get into it
SEOKJIN
Okay, we've got that part down
KIANA
What else did Jungkook say?
SEOKJIN
Rachel told him she was doing something with his
clothes, so he had to wait a few minutes before leaving
SEOKJIN
I guess she gave him hongju
SEOKJIN
But there must've been something in it because Koo said
he could barely stand and make it up the stairs
TAEHYUNG
Really?😳
KIANA
Rachel spiked him
SEOKJIN
What?
KIANA
Yura, Yumin's ex, would spike her drinks all the time
so that she would pass out and he could take advantage
of her
TAEHYUNG
You don't think that's what happened, do you?
KIANA
It sounds like it, but we'd have to do a little more
digging before I can say that's exactly what happened
SEOKJIN
If Rachel did do something to Jungkook, we need to
press charges
SEOKJIN
She can't work at BigHit with him after something like that
TAEHYUNG
We don't know for sure
TAEHYUNG
I want to go through Jungkook's phone first
SEOKJIN
I'll see if he's willing to finish his story when he wakes
up, but I don't wanna bother him right now :(
TAEHYUNG
That's okay, hyung
TAEHYUNG
Just get the phone when you can
TAEHYUNG
And Kiana, see if you can get at least some of
Yumin's story before you leave today
KIANA
On it😎
KIANA
Detective Kiana Malachi is out✌🏻
_
Kiana pushed the hair from her face, trotting down the staircase until she could round the corner into the kitchen. Taehyung stood by the kitchen island with water in his hand, swirling the clear liquid before tossing his head back and swallowing what little contents were left in the bottle. Seokjin rested at the island, feet tucked around the legs of his stool as he rested his head against the cool granite countertop. His eyes were closed, but he still swiveled his hips in Kiana's direction as he heard her enter the room.
"Did you guys already go through his phone?"
Seokjin sat up, ruffling his hair as he blinked down at the brunette. He looked tired and distraught; that's all he needed after coming home. "Yeah. I put it back a few minutes ago. Koo's still asleep."
"All of Rachel's texts were deleted," Taehyung grumbled, drumming his fingers irritably against the island.
"Jungkook deleted the texts?"
"No. Rachel deleted her own texts. All of Jungkook's are still there, and it looks like he's upset at her for doing something."
"Rachel has something against Yumin." Kiana turned to Seokjin, the brunet leaning against his palm with his gaze locked on something in the distance. He dug at the material of his jeans, leaving light streaks running up his thigh. "I don't think Jungkook cheated."
"We need to get a full story out of him," Taehyung sighed. "Something isn't sitting right, and if what he said before was true, then Rachel most likely did something."
Kiana gave a moment for the others to collect their thoughts before she spoke, relaying Yumin's story of everything she'd found out about Jungkook over the past two weeks. Matching the addresses, seeing Rachel's text the one night she actually hung out with the maknae, all her experience with Rachel from the past. Manipulation, abuse, threats, the whole lot. Kiana watched Taehyung and Seokjin's faces fall as she spoke about the things Rachel did in the past, Taehyung glancing anxiously up at the ceiling as if he were trying to see past it into Jungkook and Yumin's rooms.
Seokjin slid out of his seat, padding over to Kiana with a solid gaze that made shivers run up her spine. She took a step back, eyes wide as she stared at him over the rim of her mask.
"I'm gonna need you to come back here, okay? I don't know when, but it might be in a few days. Alright?"
"Y-Yeah. Sure."
Nodding, he took a step back, rolling his sleeves up to his elbows with a sigh. Kiana could see the distress swirling around his dark brown eyes, brow furrowed in thought as he focused his gaze on the ground. They were so close to figuring out what had happened the night Jungkook disappeared, yet so fucking far.
_
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Enjoy this chapter and have a good rest of your day.