He can't move.
He tried to shake his arm and legs. It's been tied up with something.
But why?
He tried to open his eyes slowly. And he saw nothing but darkness. Strange. This is not his room.
Where was he? Why he is here? Why he was sitting alone in a dark room tied up on to the chair?
His heart thumping louder and he can feel the blood rushing out his vein out of fear. He can't find any light and he feels suffocated.
Jin-hyung?
Yoongi-hyung?
Hobi? Jiminie? Taetae? Kookie?
No one is answering his call. Namjoon breathe hitched at the thought that everyone had left him alone. He was scared. Tears started to puddle in his eyes and he squirmed violently to release himself from the tight grip.
It hurts. His whole body was aching and the dull pain was killing him. He needs to get out from here. He needs to find his bandmates. What if they were like him too? Tied up to something somewhere. He needs to go and help them. The thought makes him feel uptight.
But why he can't escape from here?
His heart thumped erratically when he heard a click sound. He tries to find the source when a light came through, brightening the darkness a little bit. A door. And someone was walking through it. A male.
Every single step taken by the stranger was harrowing. It sounded like the shoes purposely hit the floor to make such clad sound. He squinted his eyes to see the male but his eyes were blurry. Later that he realized he hasn't worn his lens and his glasses was nowhere to be found.
"Wh-who are you?" he asked with a trembling voice. He can see the silhouette became closer and closer.
A sniggering laugh erupted making Namjoon to has goosebumps. He flinched when the latter male standing in front him - too close for his liking. It feels suffocating. He didn't realize that he was shaking too much until the male pointed it out to him.
The male chided in annoyance. "What a pathetic loser!"
Namjoon almost choked when he heard the deep voice. It's sounded so familiar. He knew the owner of the voice.
It can't be! That's voice! It's... it's...
"What a nice view, Namjoon-ssi..." the said male speaks with his venomous voice, emitting smothering laughter to ridicule the helpless Namjoon.
Namjoon lifts his head to see the face and his heart immediately dropped when he saw the male. Despite his far sight eyes, he still can see the face clearly because of their close distance. His eyes widen in shock.
"Suk-Sukhoon?"
Sukhoon lips twitched into a smile and slowly let out an evil laugh. The dark and spacious room has now been echoed with his laughter. It was too loud that Namjoon feels his ears buzzing and it hurts.
"Wh-why are you doing this?" he asked with a shaken voice. The same question he used to ask the male before. But there was no answer. And it still left unanswered this time.
Namjoon let out a painful yelp when Sukhoon grabbed a handful of his hair, yanking his head to the back. Namjoon feels his throat became dry when he tried to swallow and the angle making his neck to be in an awkward position - aching and sore on each second.
"I want you to die, Namjoon!" said Sukhoon, gritting his teeth in anger. His voice lies with hatred and his face was darken to show the deep of his anger. A determination to seek revenge.
But what revenge? Why? What did he do wrong that Sukhoon want him to die?
Namjoon lips parted to say something, to ask further but before he could do that, his eyes enlarged when he saw the sharp knife in Sukhoon's hand.
"Wh-why? Tell me...why are you doing this?" Namjoon asked courageously. He grimace in pain when Sukhoon pulled his hair to the back once again.
Sukhoon snickers at the audacity but he didn't have any intention to ignore the question anymore. Maybe this time Namjoon deserved to know the reason - before he dies.
"As I said, you have to pay for your sin... Someone who acted so high like you, who thought that you are better than the other, who will do anything to be successful and powerful...."
Namjoon furrowed at the accusation as he couldn't fathom each of it. It feels strange to hear that from Sukhoon. He never acted like that ever. He was trying to be as humble as he can and being respectful towards the other.
"Wh-what...arghh!" Namjoon screamed when the knife touched his cheek, slicing the skin and the blood flow slowly.
"Don't act like you didn't do something like that Namjoon!" Sukhoon spits on Namjoon face, smirking when he saw the pain expression of the said male. He feels satisfied to see how torturous Namjoon was.
"But-but I don't understand... I never..."
Sukhoon grits his teeth. "You talk too much, Kim Namjoon!"
Namjoon was horrified when he saw how Sukhoon hoisted up the knife on the air. Namjoon screamed out of his lung when the knife buried into his chest a second later. Right to his heart.
Pain. Pain. Pain.
Hurt. Hurt. Hurt.
Dark. Only dark.
"Joonie? Joonie-baby? Namjoon!!
Namjoon jolted up at the brisk voice, eyes wide open as he tries to catch up his labored breath. He was sweating and had a coughing fit. He looks around and realized that he was still in the van and his eyes caught on the concerned faces of his bandmates.
Namjoon can hear how loud and fast his heartbeat was. He was wheezing like he had an asthma attack. There are few sweats dripping on his soaking face. He scrunched his nose when he feels his shirt sticking all over his skin.
Subconsciously both of his hand clutched on his shirt - near to his chest. The stabbed pain feels surreal. Namjoon holds his breath in fear and his whole body shakes like a leaf.
Namjoon flinched when someone had cupped his face, forcing him to look at the person. The hand feels warm over his cold face. He whimpered at the action and tightly shut his eyes out of fear.
"Hey, Joonie... what's wrong baby?"
The soothing and velvety voice was so comforting and makes him feel so safe. He opened up his eyes and a beautiful handsome young man was looking at him intensely.
"Ap-appa..." he forced himself to utter those word and his throat feels scratchy. He speaks with a hoarse voice.
Seokjin let out a deep sighed of relieved after he managed to get Namjoon's attention. He was shocked to see how Namjoon was moving uncomfortably and groaning in his sleep. Seokjin immediately knows that the leader was having a nightmare.
Seokjin and Yoongi were trying to wake him up but to no avail. When he started to trash around, everyone was panicking. It took them almost ten minutes before they manage to awake the male.
"Baby..." Seokjin strokes his damp hair out of his forehead, caressing his protruding cheek lovingly. "You were having a nightmare..." he said with a soft and tender voice, trying not to scare the little further.
Namjoon mewled and started to sobs. "Appa...Joonie scawed..."
Seokjin startled a little bit at the outburst, pulling the said male into a tight hug - wrapping his long arm on Namjoon's waist with one arm and another cupping the back of his head. Namjoon buried his face on Seokjin's shoulder blade and continue to cry.
It's just a dream. A dream. Dream. Right?
Seokjin exchanged his gaze with the others and they had the same expression with him. Worried and concerned.
"It's okay darling. Appa's here. Everyone is here. You're safe. We'll protect you!" coaxed Seokjin, hand moving up and down on Namjoon's back.
"No weave Joonie awone...Joonie scawed!" Namjoon voice muffled through Seokjin's shirt but it's still understandable. Both his hand were tugging on Seokjin's shirt.
Seokjin can feel the tight grip and how Namjoon's body trembling in his arm. "No baby! You won't be alone. Appa promise!"
Namjoon's crying slowly died down with few sniffles here and there. But still, he didn't want to release himself from being hugged by his beloved appa. He feels safe and warm and he wanted to be like that for a while. He still can't forget the bad dream and it's horrendous.
Seokjin wanted to ask the little about his dream but they didn't have any time to chat at the moment. They had arrived at the BigHit building for almost fifteen minutes. They need to get out of the van and heading to the meeting room. Bang PD had been waiting for them.
"Will he be fine to attend the meeting?" asked Sejin after he had slid open the door. Eyes fixated at Namjoon that almost fallen asleep in Seokjin's embrace.
Everyone breathe out with exasperation. It's going to be a long tiring day since Namjoon is in his little space and now having a mental breakdown due to his nightmare. At this rate, everyone in the company will get to know about his situation. And it won't be good since it's intended to be in a limited circle only.
Seokjin had to persuade Namjoon to get out of the car for ten minutes before Namjoon needs to detach himself from Seokjin. Namjoon wanted to stay in the car, hugging the headrest as his life depends on that. Seokjin needs to eye-glare at him and threatened him for punishment before Namjoon finally gave in.
"Don't be a brat, Joonie!" Seokjin's voice turns to sharp-blade.
He hates when someone said he is a brat. Hearing that from his appa doesn't sound good at all. And he didn't want his other caregivers to think that he is really a brat too.
As an act of sulking, Namjoon refused when Seokjin was trying to hold his hand. Instead, he took Jungkook's hand with a sullen face.
"Wan hyungie..." he said with a pouty lip.
Seokjin let out a soft chuckle at his antics before he put the pacifier on his mouth and covered it up with the black face mask. Namjoon whined when Yoongi said he needs to leave his Ryan in the car. When the little almost crying, Yoongi sigh dejectedly and grabbed the plush toy on behalf of Namjoon.
Namjoon start to sweat when he saw a few people in the meeting room. His gripped on Jungkook's hand immediately tightened. Jungkook had noticed the tense and instantly wrapped his arm over Namjoon's shoulder. He leaned closer and whispering to the ears.
"Don't worry baby. We are here for you..." he says.
Namjoon was nervous but nonetheless, he nods as he was confident at his caregivers. As he turned his head to look at all his members, his heart feels at ease when he saw their smiling faces. He knew at the moment that he can trust them.
Namjoon anxiously sits on the couch, being accompanied with Yoongi and Seokjin on each of his sides. Totally forgot that he just got mad at his appa before. Meanwhile, Taehyung, Hoseok, Jimin, and Jungkook sits on the chair in front of the three.
Bang PD and Sejin were sitting in front of them with the other three staffs. Son Sungdeuk, the performance director that mainly responsible for BTS's beautiful choreography, and then Jiwon with Eunhye (fictional character) the BTS stylists. The three were the closest one with BTS because they had been together with BTS since the beginning of their debut days. They are the most trusted people in BigHit.
It was an awkward situation for a few minutes. No one was talking and they kept on exchanging glanced with each other. Some of the times their eyes were fixated on Namjoon, still sucking his pacifier while he hides his face on Yoongi's shoulder. The elder rapper was patting his thigh in order to comfort the little. Seokjin was playing with Namjoon's hand, caressing the back of it softly.
Sejin had briefed the situation to everyone before they had the meeting. It's still a surprise for them to see Namjoon in a little space. But they try to understand and be supportive of the BTS leader. Everyone knows the struggle being the leader for BTS all this while.
"Frankly speaking, I don't have any problem about this at all, " said Sungdeuk while his hand pointed at Namjoon.
He had been watching Namjoon since he was a trainee and he knows how much Namjoon had grown as a person. The little space was still foreign for him but if it is the way how the leader sought for stress reliever, Sungdeuk didn't care at all.
"It's okay for us too..." Jiwon speaks for herself and Eunhye. Eunhye nods her head as affirmation. Both of them were looking at Namjoon with sparkling eyes, fascinated to see the charismatic leader and the fierce rapper acted like a child. It's so cute and they barely hold themselves from squishing the leader.
Bang PD smiles at the support shown by the three. "Well, I hope that we were able to create a safe environment for Namjoon and the others too. For meanwhile, only us know about Namjoon. So please keep it as a secret." He notes while he emphasized the last sentence.
Sungdeuk, Jiwon, and Eunhye give a silent okay as they nod at the instruction.
"We need to make sure this is a secret until it is necessary for us to have a bigger crowd. We need to be used to the situation and how to give proper care whenever he is in a little space..." Sejin turns to explain.
"What about Sukhoon? He's your assistant, Sejin-ssi..." asked Sungdeuk. He was confused at first when he didn't see Sukhoon in the room. Shouldn't he be here too?
Sejin shook his head. "He's still new and it's too risky to let him know about this. We can't trust anyone easily..."
Sungdeuk nods his head and everyone seems to agree with Sejin. And the meeting ended after one hour with everyone being briefed about their task and responsibilities over Namjoon's little space.
The BTS members remained in the room with Bang PD and Sejin, after the other three left the room.
"So, I'd heard that he had been calling all of you with names..." said Bang PD with a sheepish grin. To be honest it's kinda creepy to see him like that.
Seokjin clears his throat at the abrupt comment. "Yeah..."
Bang PD chuckles at the reaction. "Cute!"
Sejin rolled his eyes at the remark, knowing that there must be something funny in the head of that old man.
"Don't you think that I need a name too?" Bang PD proposed.
Everyone mouth agape at his statement, looking at the male incredulously. Sejin squinted his eyes towards the latter.
"You really are a pervert old man, PD-nim!" Sejin said with an accusatory tone.
Bang PD glared at the manager. "Why I can't get a name when he basically called you ahjussi? You were bragging about it all day to me and it's annoying!" he refutes.
Sejin's face turns to a dark shade of red, avoiding any eye contact with BTS who had been gawking at him with an amused face.
"Well, I - I'm just, you know...because he was so cute when he called me ahjussi and I feel honored. Not that I forced him to call me that!" stutters Sejin.
Bang PD berates at the reasoning, feeling amused at Sejin's flustered attitude. It's rare for the manager to be like that and Bang PD has a good time teasing the male.
"I should have a name too then. Don't be too cheap, Sejin. Or are you jealous that he might be giving me a better name than yours?" Bang PD asked with a playful tone.
Sejin rolled his eyes exaggeratedly. "That was absurd!"
"He might be calling me 'abeoji' you know..." notes Bang PD with a smug face. Everyone said that he is the father of BTS. Sometimes people said he treats Namjoon like his own son. He won't deny that since he has known Namjoon for years and he was quite fond at the young boy. A very talented one.
Sejin mockingly laughed at the motion, feeling that Bang PD was acting so weird and ridiculous. "Abeoji?" he scoffs. "It's harabeoji that suits you well!"
"Yah you brat!!" Bang PD shouted at Sejin and throw a pen towards the younger. But Sejin managed to dodge the bullet and playfully stuck out his tongue.
"Emm guys??"
The bickering between the two ended at the interruption and both turned their head to see that everyone was ogling at them. Their face evidently shows how they were trying to hold their laughter, watching the twos arguing like a high school student.
"You two looks like an old couple married for twenty years and still arguing about who should do the dishes after dinner..." said Seokjin nonchalantly.
Sejin and Bang PD simultaneously let out a protesting groaned, giving each other a disgusting look before they heard a peal of laughter from the BTS members.
"I will not marry with someone perverted like PD-nim, " Sejin mentioned sternly.
Bang PD looked at Sejin bewildered. "Yah! Who will ever marry someone who nags like an older woman?" he refutes.
"They do really likes those typical couples!" Hoseok whispered to Taehyung but still audible to the other members. They were burst into another fit of laughter and enjoy watching the two important men in BigHit continue to argue over a trivial matter.
In which later, Bang PD almost jumped from his chair when Namjoon had been calling him 'abeoji' and Sejin bawled his eyes at his exaggerating reaction.
Unknown to them, someone had been begrudgingly eavesdropping to their conversation outside the room. The fist was clenched in anger and he can't hide his frustration that he has been left out in the meeting.
Sukhoon stares at the closed door, heart built with an enormous grudge listening to the happy laugh of every single person in the room.
"This won't be long, Namjoon. You should taste your own medicine. Soon. Soon all this happiness will be gone! Let's the game begin!"
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From now on, there will be less fluff and more angst. You asked for it, you will get it!