CONTAINS MINOR EXPLICIT CONTENT, ANGST & FLUFF
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All Yoongi could bring himself to do was spin in circles at his desk, his chair turning him round and round until the ceiling blurred together in a massive haze of white. Everything white, so white it was almost peaceful. He kept turning himself about with the toe of his shoe, using this as a break from sitting at his desk and overthinking every little thing. Yoongi's head began to swim as he grew dizzy from spinning and finally jerked his foot down to bring him to a rickety halt. Eyes rolling momentarily in his head, they settled on the window above his bed, taking in the dust particles that floated about in the strip of sunlight.
The brunet let his heart settle once more in his chest as his brain immediately clouded with a million thoughts, the most lucid being Jungkook's upcoming court appearance. He would stand as a victim in the courtroom surrounded by a judge, security, and strangers that sat and debated quietly to themselves on either the defendant's or opposing side. Would he, Jimin, and Taehyung even be allowed to stand beside him? Or, at the very least, sit in the back row of the room and silently observe Rachel's trial? The thought made his heart rate increase until the feeling shook his entire body to his core. At least Rachel might finally be put behind bars, but the possibility of her being let loose was still at risk.
Until Rachel was completely out of the way, Yoongi juggled between protecting Jungkook from his assaulter, and Yumin from hers. Yura now knew where they lived thanks to the mentally twisted brunette, and just that put all of them in danger yet again. He could arrive at any moment to take Yumin back to Busan with him, and knowing the younger girl's intent to keep him and the others out of harm's way, she'd more than willingly go with him.
The idea of Rachel behind bars put another thought into Yoongi's overturned head. Turning back to his desk, he snatched his phone from a stack of old files and papers and opened his contacts. It took him a moment to find the correct contact amongst the jittery feeling that pounded in his chest; if his idea worked, then that would mean he and the others could finally be at peace without having to worry about the safety of each other and themselves. As he began typing out a long text message, Yoongi grew worried that Yumin might try to stop him.
"It's too dangerous."
"What if it doesn't work?"
"He can weasel his way out of anything; it's not worth trying!"
The brunet decided to keep his lips sealed until something could actually be done. Yumin would be a crucial act in his plan, but there was still Rachel to worry about first and foremost. Yoongi couldn't help but smile at the thought of everything finally falling into place; with the few hiccups along the way to push their limits, he was sure everything would turn out fine in the end.
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𝐊𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐌.🇺🇸
YOONGI
Kiana, I need to talk to you about something
YOONGI
Regarding Yura
KIANA
Yura?👀
KIANA
Shit, go for it
KIANA
What's up?
YOONGI
Why hasn't Yumin tried to get him arrested?
YOONGI
She has texts. His apartment is a minefield.
YOONGI
Hell, her body is enough evidence on its own
to get him convicted of something
YOONGI
So, why hasn't she turned him in?
KIANA
Because there's still some sort of sick
attachment between them
KIANA
Yumin thinks that there's still some good
left in him, and that maybe he'll snap out of
whatever funk he's in and go back to his old
self
KIANA
But, when his mother died, Yura changed for
the worst :(
KIANA
Yumin just can't seem to let go of the old him
YOONGI
She understands that by keeping him out of
jail, she's only risking her own safety, right?
KIANA
I think...?
KIANA
But, from everything that's gone on since she's
moved here, I don't think she cares
KIANA
So as long as he doesn't kill her...she really doesn't
care how much more he abuses her
KIANA
But, now that you and the others are roped into this
mess, she might change her mind 🤷🏻♀️
YOONGI
Well, that's not the most reassuring thing
to hear...
YOONGI
But, it'll have to do
YOONGI
I need your help with something major
KIANA
Is it dangerous?
YOONGI
I really hope not 🙁
KIANA
What do you need me to do?
YOONGI
I need you to help me get Yura arrested
_
Jimin stepped out of Jungkook's bedroom with fresh hickies littering his pale neck. He shrugged a sweater over his shoulders to protect him from the chill that settled around the entire house, and also to hide the younger's possessive markings from the others. The blonde had told himself that he would help his partners in any way he could, and that meant almost anything. Jungkook had stumbled between a mix of gentle affection and greedy lust as a way of coping. It was in no way harmful to himself or anyone he chose to be around; it was a healthy lean towards both. A slight increase in what he was used to. A streak of heat shot through Jimin's center as he replayed moment's from less than an hour earlier, him pressed against the brunet's chest with his head tilted back on his shoulder, letting Jungkook suck hickies against his skin and force listless moans from his throat as his hands slipped down his inner thighs.
The thought brought a smirk to Jimin's face. Whatever it took, he would make sure that Jungkook was okay, but he was growing to enjoy the maknae's clingy, possessive behavior. Making his way slowly down the hall, he decided to check in on Yumin. The brunette had been quiet all day and only spoke when she was asked something. Seokjin had kept her busy for the most part, politely commanding that she help around the house and make sure that the others were cared for during the day, which she most likely would've done of her own accord. Yumin's hesitancy in approaching any of the men she lived with made Jimin uneasy, but after recent events, he could understand why. She hadn't meant to return home that one morning; seeing everyone after having such intentions could be close to humiliating for her. Yumin didn't have a clue what he or the others were thinking and knowing how much she overthought the slightest inconvenience, not knowing what the others felt towards her was terrifying. Jimin knew he would feel as such if he were in her shoes.
Jimin ducked into Yumin's bedroom with a soft knock on her door, his eyes adjusting to her dimly lit quarters as they landed on her small form huddled atop the bed. She lay soundlessly as her sides rose and fell with each breath, eyes shut in what appeared to be a restless sleep. He padded as quietly as he could up to her bedside and rested a hand against Yumin's shoulder, stroking gently. The brunette whimpered feebly beneath his touch and Jimin could sense her discomfort as he made to sit down at the edge of her bed.
Feeling the mattress dip beneath her, Yumin squirmed nervously under the covers as her eyes opened to tiny slits against her face. She whimpered under her breath, hands tightly gripping the sheets against her chest as she pulled away from Jimin's closeness.
"It's just me, angel," he murmured, reaching out to brush a twisted strand of hair from her beautiful face. "You're okay."
Yumin's shoulders relaxed as she took a shuddering intake of breath. She sunk back into her pillows, fingers loosening around her bedcovers until her who body became slack. Jimin leaned closer and drug his hand down her bared arm, rubbing the pad of his thumb along her inner wrist and pressing gently along her pulse. He could feel it thudding beneath her skin; fast, thunderous bursts that sent tingles through his hand.
"It's barely six. Why were you asleep?"
A sigh, sounding almost of defeat, slipped from the brunette's plump lips. Her eyes remained closed as she mumbled, "I'm just a little tired."
Jimin pulled at his bottom lip in slight annoyance as he continued to rub circles along her wrist. "Yumin, I can tell when you're lying. Can you tell me what's bothering you?"
She stared up at the blonde with flushed cheeks, the tip of her nose burning red as his hand slid down to rest in her open palm. Yumin took a moment to collect herself as she pressed back against her headboard with her lips pursed together. Jimin waited patiently for her to respond, his heartbeat thundering in his ears. He didn't care how long it took her to open up to him, or anyone. As long as she did, things would slowly start to get better for her.
"I'm only trying to help."
"I know," Yumin whispered. "With...With all the work Jin's been making me do, I'm just a little tired. On top of that, there's everything else." She shrugged with a half-hearted smile. "I still feel like a burden."
The words got caught in the back of Jimin's throat and made him choke silently on his saliva. He knew that every word he uttered couldn't possibly be enough to make Yumin feel better, at least not completely, but not saying anything might make things even worse.
"You're not a burden, Yumin. I know things are really...really stressful right now, but as long as we're together-" Reaching out, Jimin cupped the side of the brunette's rosy cheek and brushed his thumb just beneath her eye. "If we work things out together, then everything will be even better in the end. Just think about it. Would you rather start over? Alone? Or stop everything that's ever gone bad and come out with all of us beside you? I kind of like the second option better."
His final remark made her scoff humorously. Yumin's gaze wandered down to the floor, and after a few seconds, her shoulders began to shake until she was forced to lower her head against her legs. Her smile tumbled down into a painful frown, teeth tugging her plump bottom lip in as she muted her cries against clothed hands. Jimin felt his hands freeze up as she folded in on herself. In an instant she'd crumbled before him, leaving the blonde to stare down at her with wide, unsettled eyes as his fingertips ghosted over her skin.
"Jimin, I'm scared," she whimpered. "I don't want you guys to get into anymore t-trouble because of me, but-" Yumin wiped the tears from her face and peered up at him with wide, almost pleading eyes. "-I don't wanna leave you."
"You don't have to leave us, angel." Jimin switched his position on the bed, turning his back to the headboard and gently nudging Yumin away from her pillows. She moved sluggishly but obliged to her new position as he guided her back against his chest. The blonde's arms circled protectively around her slender waist, hands brushing up and down the soft material of her sweatshirt in a sense of reassuring comfort. "I'll do whatever I can to protect you, alright?"
"Y-You don't have to protect me."
"Oh, so only you get to do all the protecting? Nice try, sweetheart, you don't get to have all the fun around here."
To his surprise, and relief, Yumin laughed under her breath. She leaned into his embrace, curling to the side to rest her head against his shoulder with a sigh. Jimin could feel her body relax in his arms as he pressed delicate kisses atop her frizzy hair. Pulling his head to the side, his gaze trailed over the purple bruises that vandalized Yumin's pretty face, crawling down her neck and arms and ending at her knuckles. Her skin burned red around the dark, angry marks Rachel had left behind, but she didn't seem to feel any pain from them. That, or she hid it very well.
"You don't always have to be the one that's there for people, Yumin. You have to take breaks now and again. Let us help you."
"I don't want you getting hurt, Jimin."
"Nobody gets through life without getting hurt a couple of times. I don't think we're getting out of this without a scratch... But, think of it this way-"
Yumin sighed, squirming in his arms to tilt her head back against his shoulder, exposing her bruised neck. Without much thought, Jimin reached up to trail his fingers gently along the purple marks, watching as the brunette's eyes fluttered closed and a shuddering breath slipped from her lips. He ghosted his mouth over a particular bruise near the dip in her collar, his lips brushing against her tanned skin as he spoke.
"Look how much you've gone through in the past three years. You're twenty-two, and you've still managed to get through all this shit 'til now. Aren't you happy that you held on and made it this far?"
With a nod, Jimin couldn't help but smile softly down at Yumin. He clasped his hand gently against her throat, holding her head back as his lips sucked at the fading bruise along her skin. Her breath hitched for a moment as a hushed moan slipped from her mouth, pulling her legs up to her chest. Jimin's free hand soothingly stroked her inner thigh as he made his way up the side of her neck to Yumin's temple, each touch making her relax more and more by the second. A lazy smile plastered itself on her rosy face, the cut along the bridge of her nose scrunching up against her other bruises.
"You've made it so far already, angel. Don't give up just yet."
Blinking up at him, Yumin reached out to cup the side of his face and drag her hand down his soft cheek. "What would I do without you?"
"Probably get into a lot of trouble. You're a real brat sometimes, y'know?
"Am not." Yumin chortled, wiggling in Jimin's arms to turn and look at him with a cross expression.
The blonde chuckled, pulling her back down against his chest and peppering her cheek in butterfly kisses. "Yes, you are, but I love you anyway."
Yumin hummed in response under her breath as she sleepily settled back into his embrace. Jimin pressed his thighs against her hips to root her in place, resting his chin on her shoulder and hooking his arms around her midsection.
"You're not gonna say you love me back?" he pondered with a smirk. Teasing Yumin in any way always brought him a sense of joy, and he figured that now was as good a time as any to try and make the youngest smile.
"I love you," she mumbled, casting her gaze to the edge of her bed.
"What was that? I can't hear you."
"I said 'I love you', you dork!" giggled Yumin as she threw her head back to look up at him.
Jimin smiled to himself, connecting their lips for a second or two. He savored the minty taste that lingered on her tongue as tiny whimpers slipped from her lips. Grinning into the kiss, he squeezed her gently, wanting nothing but to make sure Yumin was as safe and as comfortable as possible. Pulling away, she laid back against his chest, eyes fluttering closed in a listless fashion as she slipped her hand beneath the hem of his shirt. Her fingers brushed against his warm skin, running up and down his toned abdomen as Jimin set them back against her pillows.
With a deep sigh, the blonde let his eyes close, everything turning black as he muttered, "I'll try my best to make sure nothing else happens to you, Yumin. I know I haven't been able to stop much recently and I feel terrible about it."
Yumin's hands linked with his against her stomach. "You don't have to protect me all the time, Jimin. I know you want to help... but Rachel and Yura are different than most people. When they set their minds to something as sickening and traumatic as the things they've put me and Jungkook through, they'll stop at nothing until they get what they want."
"Why does Rachel hate you so much? It sounds like you haven't done anything bad to her."
"I haven't." She sighed. "I actually wanted to be friends with her when Yura first started bringing her around. I knew I couldn't control what he did, so I figured I'd make the most out of it, but she seemed to hate me right off the bat. Kiana figured it was because I was Yura's 'main girl'." Yumin raised her hands reluctantly to form air quotes with her bruised fingers before continuing. "Maybe Rachel was jealous? Maybe she wanted Yura all to herself, but he chose me in the end? I-I don't know why she hates me so much, and if she hadn't brought you guys into this mess, I might've still tried to be nice to her. But, now-"
"There's no going back now," muttered Jimin. He nuzzled his head reassuringly into the crook of Yumin's neck, feeling her skin flush with unease as her gaze lowered down to their linked hands. "I'm sorry things couldn't have ended up better between you two, angel."
She shrugged. "I shouldn't have tried to befriend such a toxic person in the first place." The brunette swallowed down her tears; Jimin could hear her voice waver and strain with each word, waiting for the moment it finally broke. "But, even if I don't want them, I guess they're drawn to me...and I just don't know how to get rid of them."
_
Taehyung leaned up against the doorframe with his ear pressed close to the crack in the door, Yumin's and Jimin's gentle voices floating in and out of range as they dipped with their changes in tone. The brunet could feel his heart thud nervously in his chest and the sound nearly drowned out his partner's voices completely. Nearly every time Yumin spoke he could've sworn she was holding back tears, and the partial crack in the door served as no help for Taehyung as he eavesdropped on their conversation. He couldn't see a thing, save for a strip of the corner of her room and closet, but at least he could tune in now and again as they spoke.
Jimin seemed to be trying to convince the youngest brunette to continue on with something. The more Taehyung listened, the more it sounded as if Yumin were close to giving up on something -again - and by the sound of things, she was growing tired. He could only assume it had something to do with their current situation; Yura, Rachel, Jungkook, him. As much as he hated to admit it, Taehyung knew his hostility in the past few days only contributed to her stress and it made his stomach bubble with unease. Seokjin was right. He needed to step back for a while and approach Yumin at a different angle. They'd never get anywhere with the way things were now.
"Why does Rachel hate you so much?" he caught Jimin mumbling.
"..I actually wanted to be friends with her when Yura first started bringing her around...Maybe Rachel was jealous? Maybe she wanted Yura all to herself, but he chose me in the end? I-I don't know why she hates me so much, and if she hadn't brought you guys into this mess, I might've still tried to be nice to her. But, now-"
Yumin's voice broke, a quiet whimper slipping from her lips. Jimin spoke softly over her and muttered a hushed apology as they shifted together atop her bed. He leaned heavily against the door frame as he tried to see further into the room, but pulled back with no luck.
"...I just don't know how to get rid of them."
There was a long pause. No one bothered to speak, and with a quick intake of breath, Taehyung offered a light knock on Yumin's bedroom door before pushing his way inside. Everyone's gazes snapped up to meet his and the brunet felt a wave of guilt wash over him from head to toe. His presence was much unexpected, he could tell, especially after giving the youngest brunette the side-eye wherever she walked. He watched her press back against Jimin's chest, his hyung's arms circling her waist and holding her protectively. Taehyung took slow, cautious steps forward, careful to leave a few feet of distance between him and the others. It felt like a stand-off between predator and prey; he made sure not to make a sudden move as to startle anyone.
"Is everything okay, in here?"
"We're fine," Yumin blurted nervously. Taehyung frowned at her quick response, walking the few steps closer to the edge of her bed and leaning forward. She didn't flinch, didn't pull away from him. Jimin shifted into a more comfortable position against Yumin's pillows and let the brunette sit up on her own as he reached down to cup her cheek.
"You don't sound fine," whispered Taehyung, slipping his hand beneath her chin. "What's the matter, angel?"
"I'm..." Yumin faltered, her words tapering off as she stared up at him. He couldn't tell if she was just shocked at his kinder approach, or that she truly couldn't answer his question. "I-I'm better...I think? I still feel really fucked up though."
"And, that's completely fine. You've been through a lot." Taehyung gently stroked her cheek with his thumb as he bent down to press a kiss against her forehead. With wide eyes, Yumin stared up at him as a blush trailed over her cheeks. Behind her, Jimin watched the couple with a lazy expression, his hand massaging Yumin's hip as his gaze traveled over the middle brunet. "I'm sorry I've been so stand-offish lately. Let me make it up to you."
"What's the catch, Tae?" Jimin mumbled, casually laying back against the headboard.
Taehyung flicked his eyes up to meet his hyung's for a brief moment, mouth falling slightly agape as he made to speak. "No catch. I just want to make things better...For everyone."
"It's...It's fine, Tae. I'm at fault for a lot of this, and you have every right to be mad at me."
The brunet sighed to himself; he didn't want to tell Yumin she was right, but he couldn't bring himself to disagree with her either. Instead, he bent closer to press their lips together in a quick, affectionate kiss, Yumin's hand reaching up to gently grip his wrist.
"Have you eaten today?" he asked instead, pulling away and standing up to his full height. Taehyung shoved his hands into the pockets of his trousers and rocked back and forth on the balls of his feet. To his dismay, Yumin shook her head and gathered her hands shamefully against her stomach. Instead of snapping at her for being so careless, he smiled a closed-lip smile in understanding and made to step away. He offered to make food for both the brunette and his hyung, and both obliged with slight inclines of their rosy faces.
Taehyung was unsure what else to say, hoping he didn't sound too clingy in the process of caring for Jimin and Yumin and stepped out of the room. He padded downstairs to the kitchen, where he found Yoongi lounging on the single armchair in the living room with Yeontan on his lap. He made sure not to disturb either; Yeontan was dozing peacefully on his hyung's lap and the brunet sat was a book in his hand and thick, black-rimmed glasses balanced on the bridge of his nose. It was the first time in a while that Taehyung had seen Yoongi resting in such an undisturbed manner and he was afraid to ruin the moment for him.
In the kitchen, the younger made to pull healthy options from the fridge as he carefully prepared a decent meal for his partners. The smell of fresh food cooking on the stove lured Nari into the room, and shortly after Yeontan came trotting into the room, his presence only brought to notice by the click click click of his dulled claws. Now and again, Taehyung would drop a piece of frying, seasoned steak down to the dogs as treats while making sure to keep enough for the others. As he prepared fresh vegetables to go along with it, a smaller body pressed up against Taehyung's from behind, strong arms circling his waist as a head rested comfortably atop his shoulder.
"I'm glad to see you eating, for once," mumbled Yoongi, linking his hands against his abdomen.
"It's not for me. It's for Jimin and Yumin-ah."
"You're talking to Yumin again?"
"Don't sound so surprised, hyung," Taehyung flushed.
"So, who caved? Her right, because you don't cave for anything? Stubborn much."
He couldn't help but chuckle softly, stirring the pile of various vegetables in a mix of salt, pepper, and oil in a small frying pan. "Yumin's stressed enough as it is; I apologized and offered to make her dinner since she hasn't eaten today. I know I've been acting rude lately... The last thing everyone needs is to put up with my attitude while we're still figuring things out."
Yoongi slowly unhooked his arms from around the brunet's front and stepped off to the side. He leaned back against the dark brown granite countertop and crossed them over his chest, observing Taehyung silently as he continued to keep his eyes trained on the stove. He waited a few moments for the vegetable's colors to brighten as they cooked before plating them alongside the fried beef from earlier, twitching his ears nervously amongst his mass of hair as he listened for his hyung's response.
"I'm glad you apologized...and that you see the bigger issue here other than scolding Yumin."
"I'll scold her later. Right now, we need to focus on Rachel's trial in the next week. Has Jungkook said anything about it?"
"Only relayed what Sejin told him on call, and more information from emails from the court and judge."
Pursing his lips together, Taehyung cleaned away the splattered grease and stray vegetable cuttings from the stove and counter, pushing his way past Yoongi to toss the dishes into the empty sink. All the while, the oldest brunet watched him with a blank expression, arms still crossed over his broad chest that pushed, defined, through the thin material of his black t-shirt. As he made to step back to Jimin and Yumin's cooling dinner plates, Yoongi reached out and fisted the front of Taehyung's button-up. He yanked him forward until they were forced together against the counter, the younger brunet's hands gripping the edge of the counter to hold him upright as Yoongi's lips crashed with his.
His hands hesitantly released the collar of his shirt, trailing up his chest and neck to fist in his slightly matted hair. Taehyung released a muffled, shaky groan of pleasure; he'd nearly forgotten what it felt like to be wrapped up with one of his partners, casually exploring every inch of their mouth, and the feeling threatened to render his mind useless. His hands slid up to grip Yoongi's slender waist and pull their hips together to rest even closer up against him. A chuckle slipped past the older's lips as he pulled away, and Taehyung felt the blood rush quickly to his head.
"I missed you too, baby."
Yoongi trailed his finger from Taehyung's temple and underneath his chin, tilting it down as he gripped it between his thumb. He grazed his lips over his, teasingly exhaling a shuddering breath that covered up the slightest whimper.
"What're you doing to me?" the brunet mumbled, distracted by the shorter boy's plump, pink lips. He couldn't take his eyes off of them, and Taehyung felt the familiar feeling of lust bubble and burn in the pit of his stomach.
"Just because we're going through a lot right now," he breathed, pressing their lips together for a brief moment before pushing him away. "Doesn't mean we have to be on guard every second of the day."
A sigh slipped from Taehyung's lips as Yoongi wiggled out from between him and the counter. He reverted back to his normal, calmer self, eyes trailing knowingly over his flushed form as he offered up a close-lipped smile.
"I see you're in need of a stress reliever, aren't you?"
"You have no idea."
"That can be arranged, but right now-" He took a step forward to press a kiss against Taehyung's cheek before stooping low to gather Yeontan in his arms. Yoongi backed away, his smile still plastered on his chubby face as he spoke. "-Yumin and Jimin are waiting for you."
With that, he left, gathering his book from the living room and clopping up the hardwood steps back to his room. Taehyung stared down at his partner's plates, completely oblivious to the cooling food atop them, as he savored the ghostly feeling of Yoongi's hands all over his skin. A stress reliever. Oh, how all of them could use such a thing, and by the hickies that littered Jimin and Jungkook's necks, growing paler each day, he knew they already had their options open. A smirk played at Taehyung's lips for a moment, remembering that he had three other partners within the house at his disposal. A scoff forced its way from his throat as he gathered the two plates from off of the counter and padded back up to Yumin's room with Nari at his hip.
What kind of stress reliever would satisfy all their needs?
_
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HI HI. I'M SO SORRY I'VE BEEN AWAY: I HAVEN'T HAD MUCH MOTIVATION TO WRITE ANYTHING SO I'VE BEEN MORE FOCUSED ON MY SCHOOL WORK AND TENDING TO MY PLANTS. I'VE GATHERED A LITTLE MOTIVATION THIS EVENING TO EDIT THIS CHAPTER, AND HOPEFULLY I CAN START GETTING TO MORE. NO PROMISES<3