The cold water closed over his head, shocking Yoongi with its extreme temperature.
He should have known- even in the dead of summer at high noon, the Han river was always cold.
The river was deeper than Yoongi was expecting, as he looked down and saw the bottom a couple yards below him.
But he didn't see Namjoon.
Panicking- did the current take him away?- Yoongi frantically searched the murky waters until his lungs burned, and he was forced to return the surface for air.
After taking a breath so deep that his lungs felt like they would pop, Yoongi dunked himself back under, this time swimming down to get a better view.
His ears popped as he swam deeper and deeper, finding it hard to see as the sunlight became weaker and the temperature got colder.
Bubbles caught his eye, and he turned his head sharply, nearly exhaling all his air in relief when he finally saw Namjoon.
The boy was pinned to the bottom of the river by the weights, kicking his legs uselessly to try and get back to the surface. The heavy weights had half buried themselves in the deep sand at the bottom of the water, anchoring him to the spot.
Yoongi quickly swam over, trembling from the cold temperature.
Namjoon strained to reach him, and Yoongi could tell the boy had no air left by the amount of fear in his eyes.
He grabbed Namjoon's face, pressing his lips tightly to the boys, expelling the rest of his oxygen into Namjoon's lungs.
Namjoon shuddered in pain at his lungs being forcefully filled, but it was a much better alternative to drowning.
Yoongi wanted to start working on the knots right away, but now his own lungs were empty, and he knew he had to return to the surface.
Namjoon shook his head wildly when Yoongi started swimming away, terrified to be alone again in the freezing, dark waters.
Yoongi risked going back, pressing a soft kiss to the boys forehead, hoping Namjoon would understand that he was coming right back.
He kicked against the sandy floor, pushing himself up quickly to the surface.
Gasping for air, Yoongi almost thought he was hallucinating it when he heard wailing sirens.
Looking up, he saw red and blue flashing lights as several cop cars screeched to a halt in the tall grass.
Jungkook raced out of one, Changwoo right behind him.
"Yoongi!" The intern shouted, not hesitating to dive into the deep waters.
"Namjoon is down there!" Yoongi shouted to his boss, desperate to get back to the boy. "I need a knife!"
"Hold on, I think I have one." Changwoo called, hurrying back to the car.
Jungkook popped up beside Yoongi. "Yoongi, we got to Wohan's place. Seojoon-"
"I know." Yoongi needed to get back to Namjoon, and he quickly dove back under.
He didn't want to be reminded about how he had failed to save the innocent boy.
Jungkook followed him, his heart dropping when he saw Namjoon tied down with the weights.
Yoongi quickly grabbed the boys face again, slapping his cheek a few times to get Namjoon to open his eyes again, expelling half his air into his lungs. Jungkook did the same, holding onto the boy so that he wouldn't go floating back up to the surface. Periodically, he gave the boy air as Yoongi worked on the knots.
Wohan was a bastard, the ropes were tied in multiple places, and Yoongi's fingertips felt frostbitten as he tried to use them.
Jungkook ran out of air, but he still waited until Yoongi had given up before following him as they both swam back to the top.
"Yoongi!" Changwoo called from the shore. "Catch!"
The small pocketknife flew through the air, falling into the water with a wet plop.
Yoongi quickly dove for it, catching it before it sank.
Jungkook took a deep breath and fought through the freezing cold as he followed his boss back down.
The water had seeped into Namjoon's clothes, pulling him further down. His head was tossed back, no bubbles escaping from his slightly parted lips and Yoongi fought panic.
Jungkook quickly pressed his mouth to the boys again while Yoongi sawed through the ropes, knicking his own fingers a few times in his haste.
Finally, the last rope was sliced in half and Namjoon was cut free.
The two men each grabbed the boys arms, struggling to pull the three of them back to the surface.
"Ambulance!" Yoongi managed to choke out as soon as his head breached the surface.
He was exhausted, his lungs burning, his arms and legs weak, his brain fuzzy from the shock of the cold water. More than once, he slipped back under.
Officers rushed into the water, helping to pull them all to shore.
Yoongi laid Namjoon down on his back on the small pebbles, water dripping off himself as he leaned over the unresponsive boy.
His muscles were screaming at him to stop and rest, but he pushed past his exhaustion, pushing both hands down over Namjoon's heart.
"Come on...please..." He pleaded, tears mixing with the water that ran down his cheeks. "Not you too."
He gave a few ministrations, before tilting Namjoon's head back slightly to open his airway and pressed his lips over the boys, once again expelling air into his lungs.
"Let me." Jungkook could see how fatigued Yoongi was, quickly taking over.
Yoongi fought him at first, before falling back.
Blackness slowly took over the edges of his vision, his limbs refusing to cooperate as he tried to move them.
Changwoo appeared in his vision, shaking his head.
"Ah, Yoongi. Why don't you ever wait for backup?"
And then Yoongi was gone.
-
The steady beep of a machine slowly rose the detective from the darkness, and he struggled to open his eyes.
Bright white lights stung his vision and he winced, blinking rapidly until he could see properly.
His lungs were burning, and his arms and legs felt like dead weight when he tried to move them.
"Good morning." A voice hummed from his side, and a newspaper was set down on the small cot Yoongi was laying on. "Doctor said you wouldn't wake up until tomorrow, but you never listen well, now do you?"
"Chan..." Yoongi struggled to sit up, and only succeeded when hands helped him.
He was in a hospital, and Changwoo was smiling down at him.
"How do you feel?" The man asked.
"Like I drowned." Yoongi coughed, his throat sore. He looked around quickly. seeing he was the only patient in the room. "Namjoon? Namjoon! Where is he- is he okay? Namjoon!"
"He's okay, he's in the other room." Changwoo quickly calmed him down. "He should be waking up soon too."
Yoongi fell back against the pillows in relief, tears pricking his eyes. He quickly tossed his arm over his eyes as silent sobs wracked his body.
Changwoo rubbed Yoongi's hair soothingly. "He's alive, Yoongi. You saved him. He's recovering and he'll be just fine."
The mans calm words helped Yoongi to breathe, his sobs slowly disappearing. The thought of what almost happened, what could have so easily happened, was a fear Yoongi knew he would never get over.
"I want to see him."
"I bet you do. Drink some water first and we can go. And you're only going by me pushing you in a wheelchair, no arguments or else I'll have the nurse strap you to this bed." Changwoo said, pulling over a tray. He took the glass of water off it and helped Yoongi sip it until it was empty.
The water burned going down, but already his throat felt a little better.
"And Jungkook?" Yoongi asked as Changwoo helped him into the wheelchair. His legs nearly gave out when he attempted to stand on them, and Changwoo explained that he needed to rest more before his strength fully returned. The freezing water had sapped every last ounce of his energy, and was slowly wearing off.
The door opened and Jungkook smiled as he entered the room.
"Right here, boss."
Relieved to see the boy alive and well, Yoongi reached his arms up for him and Jungkook chuckled, leaning down to hug him tightly.
"Thank you." Yoongi murmured in the interns ear. "I never would have been able to save him without you."
"Just doing my job." Jungkook squeezed him as much as he dared. "It's an honor to work for you, Yoongi."
"Other way around, Kook." Yoongi pulled back with a proud smile. "It's me who is proud to be able to work with you."
Jungkook followed them as Changwoo wheeled Yoongi down the hallway to Namjoon's room.
"Wohan is dead, though you already know that. Just wanted to confirm it. The morgue has his body now." Changwoo explained. "And the money is safe in the boys joint account. Speaking of the boys, there's something you should-"
"Namjoon!" Yoongi shouted, something warm shooting throughout his body when he saw the boy sitting up in his bed.
He was wearing the same plain gown that Yoongi had on, but to the detective, the stripper had never looked more beautiful.
"Yoongi!" Namjoon gasped, quickly scrambling to get off the bed.
"Don't you dare!" Jungkook rushed over and pinned him down. "You need to rest! You almost drowned just a few hours ago!"
"That's right, you both need to- damnit Yoongi!" Changwoo shouted when Yoongi leaped off the wheelchair, scrambling over to the boys bed.
He climbed onto it, and the two embraced tightly with squeals and hushed words.
Changwoo sighed, before smiling fondly. He walked over and covered the couple with a few blankets, wanting them to warm up.
Yoongi kissed Namjoon's face everywhere, gripping the boy tightly as if assuring himself he was really alive.
"You're okay, you're really okay," the detective murmured, kissing Namjoon's cheeks, forehead and lips.
"I saw you and you had blood all over you." Namjoon sobbed, bowing his head as Yoongi kissed his hair. "I was so scared that you had been shot too."
"I'm okay." Yoongi assured him. "I promise, Joon. I could never leave you like that."
Namjoon buried himself against Yoongi's chest, feeling the detective's strong arms wrap around him.
"You saved my life." Namjoon breathed, eyes fluttering shut.
"I promised you, didn't I?" Yoongi kissed the boy again. "I love you, Namjoon."
"I love you more." Namjoon sighed, ready to fall asleep for an eternity.
"I know you two want some sleep and some privacy," Jungkook's voice cut into their little bubble. "But you have a visitor."
Wondering who the hell could be visiting them, Yoongi sat up, seeing the door open as another person in a wheelchair was pushed inside.
Seojoon smiled at them.
"You've always kept your promises, Yoongi. Even the ones you made to me so long ago. Thank you."
Namjoon shot up in bed, staring in shock as his brother was wheeled over.
Jungkook quickly helped the boy onto the bed as well, being careful of the numerous bandages wrapped his torso.
With a cry, Namjoon threw himself at the boy, tackling him down flat on the bed as he hugged him tightly.
Seojoon chuckled, running his fingers through his little brothers hair.
"Did you miss me, Joon?"
"How- but- you were- how did-" Namjoon was too stunned for complete sentences.
"His heart stopped, but the ambulance got there just in time with the defibrillator." Changwoo explained. "After surgery and a few blood donations, he was as good as new."
"Almost." Seojoon said. "I have to stay here a little longer to heal since my very lovely uncle liked to be abusive, but the doctors said they see no future complications."
Namjoon sobbed in relief, squeezing his brother impossibly tighter.
"Oof," Seojoon wheezed. "Easy there, Joon. I'm not going anywhere."
Yoongi reached out, pulling the brothers upright so he could wrap his arms around them both.
It was a hug he never thought he would ever get to experience, and it was a long time before he could speak without feeling like he would burst into tears.
"Seojoon," he whispered, pressing his forehead against the boys. "I know you're over eighteen now, but you'll always be loved like you were my own son. Even if you turn a hundred years old, you'll still be my boy, and I'll always protect you. I've never stopped being so proud of you, ever since day one. I love you."
Seojoon smiled, closing his eyes as Yoongi kissed his forehead.
"Namjoon," Yoongi kissed the youngest as well. "Before, you said you were saving up to get your own place."
Namjoon waited for his turn for Yoongi to say kind words to him.
Yoongi flicked the boys forehead.
"Ow!" Namjoon rubbed the spot. "What the hell!"
"Don't be an idiot. Your home is with me and Seojoonie." Yoongi snorted. "You try to move out and I'll shoot you."
Namjoon grinned, recalling how often Yoongi used to say that in the beginning. "Sure, tsundere. Sure."
They settled down in the bed that was only made for one, happily squished together under the covers.
Changwoo and Jungkook left to let them rest, flicking off the lights behind them.
The small family fell slowly asleep together, and Namjoon drifted off with the realization that the home he had been so worried before about wasn't a physical place at all.
It was right here, with his brother curled up against him, and Yoongi's arms draped over his other side, holding him close to his heart physically and figuratively.
Smiling, the stripper fell asleep.
Everything was finally alright.