Chapter Text
Without his hyungs next to him, it was like going back in time. Before being saved in the ocean, this was Jungkook’s normal. Running away without anyone but himself to rely on. The only thing that was missing was his bookbag that he had left with Seokjin. Jungkook was grateful that his guns were fully loaded in case he needed to use them because he didn’t grab any extra ammo.
As Jungkook ran farther into Busan, the exhaustion caught up to him. Even though he was used to having his feet on land, the weeks at sea had definitely stunted his stamina. He kept running, however, as he heard the shouts and screams from the men behind him.
Jungkook splashed into a puddle and grimaced. He hoped that the waters wouldn’t rise as he was running through the streets. A pang of fear hit his heart as he realized he sent his hyungs to the sea, right into a trap if a tsunami decided to hit right now.
Jungkook turned to run past a rundown bakery before he felt a blinding pain in his side. He tripped and slammed hard into the ground. Jungkook gasped as the air was slammed out of his lungs.
“Now, why didn’t you do that before dumbass?”
“You said not to waste bullets!”
“Whatever, just get him. Where did the others go?”
Jungkook rolled over onto his back and panted as he felt along his burning ribs. His hand came back bloody, but the bullet hadn’t pierced his skin. It had just grazed his ribs enough to leave them aching and bloody.
He tried to sit up and groaned as a foot came down onto his chest. A small group of men came into his line of vision and Jungkook tried to school his features into something that didn’t show his fear and pain. He squirmed and tried to get away, but he couldn’t grab either of his guns with the man’s foot in the way.
“Ugh, he’s just a kid. We should just shoot him and go,” The first man was glaring at him, his gun still pointed at Jungkook. He was an older man with wrinkles in his aging skin and face turned into a permanent scowl.
“Ha! Why? So boss can throw us to the sharks?” Another man spoke up. He was younger, probably no more than a few years older than Jungkook. He brushed his dark hair out of his face and grinned with mirth down at Jungkook like they were best friends and not talking about possibly murdering him.
“Yeah, she said to bring all hostages to her. Something about there not being enough people to work,” The last man was softer spoken. He seemed to be the middleman between the two: not as dramatic, not old enough to be middle aged, and not as thoughtless about Jungkook being a threat. His foot was planted onto Jungkook’s chest, but he barely spared him a glance as he pushed up his glasses nonchalantly.
“Fine. Seojun tie him up, then Hanwool and I will escort him to base. Go find the others and say that we caught one.” The older man said, tucking his gun into belt.
Seojun, the grinning man, pulled zip ties and rope out of his pockets and roughly stood Jungkook up, deftly tying his hands together before handing him off to Hanwool. He did a mock salute and grinned before running back down the street.
Jungkook tried to slow his breathing and think of a way to get out of this. He had just wanted to lead the men away from his hyungs, he hadn’t thought far enough ahead to what to do if he got captured. Especially by men who seemed to also be trained in combat.
“Don’t even think about running or I’ll plant the next bullet in your brain,” The older man shoved Jungkook’s head forward with his finger and Jungkook seethed trying to jump back at him.
“Enough!” Hanwool raised his voice and Jungkook flinched. He had thought maybe the older man was in charge, but the authority in Hanwool’s voice made him rethink, “Jeongho, grab his other arm and let’s go.”
Jeongho grumbled, but took Jungkook’s other arm and started marching him down the streets of Busan. Jungkook’s eyes flitted around as he tried to figure out where the men were taking him. The waterlogged streets were quiet as the men pushed Jungkook through them, weaving in between streets in a way that made Jungkook dizzy.
They eventually stopped in front of an entrance to what looked like a park. The archway that held the name was missing a few tiles, maybe washed out to sea overtime. Jungkook tilted his head a bit to figure out the name and squinted in confusion as it became clear.
Bugyeong Zoo.
It didn’t seem like the smartest plan to have your headquarters in a place that could easily be washed away, but who was Jungkook to say. Jeongho pushed Jungkook roughly forward through the entrance and Jungkook gritted his teeth as they walked through. The zoo was abandoned of animals, but had been taken hold by whoever the men worked for. Jungkook peeked at the empty exhibits that had been turned into weaponries, storage, and training grounds as the men behind him pushed him through.
They reached a clearing that once had been a petting area for animals. Instead, it was now filled with prisoners with armed people guarding them, indifferent to the crying and whimpers from the pens.
“All that commotion and you only caught one rat Jeongho-ah!” A woman called from her post, the laughter of the guards rising at her words.
“Fuck off, Seri!” Jeongho howled back, his face red as they passed the pens full of people huddled together. Hanwool didn’t react to the woman’s words, eyes trained forward. Jungkook made eye contact with a teary eyed girl no older than 15 as they walked past and his gut churned.
Hanwool finally stopped next to the polar bear exhibit and nodded to Jeongho. He then calmly pulled out his gun and pressed it in between Jungkook’s shoulder blades.
“I’ll take him to her, she was in a mood this morning,” He motioned back to the way they came, “You can go see if they caught any more of them.”
Jeongho bowed slightly and walked away as Hanwool led him into the exhibit. Jungkook ran through the combinations that he and Namjoon had run on the lifeboat. If he could just move fast enough, even with his arms bound he should be able to get away. With only Hanwool, he had a bigger chance of being able to escape.
As if hearing his thoughts, Hanwool sighed and pressed the gun harder into Jungkook’s back.
“As fast as you think you are,” he whispered into Jungkook’s ear, “I can promise that I am faster.”
Jungkook shivered and hopelessly walked forward past the empty enclosures. The exhibit finally opened back up and Jungkook looked up to the cloudless sky as they finally stopped. The circular room had once been a place where you could view the polar bears from all sides while the sun beamed down on you before moving on farther into the exhibit.. It was now full of weapons and more armed people working around a woman seated directly in the center in what seemed to be a makeshift throne.
“Jieun, here’s one of the boys that breached our territory. You want us to throw him in a pen?” Hanwool spoke, his voice bored.
“Ahhh,” and Jungkook’s world froze. He knew that voice. He knew that voice. The once clear air suffocated him as he looked into her eyes.
“How cute, I know this one.” Jieun’s cold smile graced Jungkook’s vision again and his legs buckled enough to send him crashing to his knees. Jieun giggled a bit before getting up and walking over to Hanwool and Jungkook.
“He’s one of the escapees?” Hanwool questioned, glancing at Jungkook’s face, “He doesn’t look familiar.”
“Nope! I almost didn’t recognize him. The years have not been good to you have they,” Jieun cooed, pinching Jungkook’s cheek.
Jungkook currently wasn’t breathing. The room began to spin as he took in Jieun’s face in front of him. How did they meet again? How , after Jungkook had been so so careful. He probably would’ve laughed at the sheer absurdity of it all if he could get any air into his lungs.
“Aww, you haven’t changed at all. All that fear in your eyes and nowhere to go,” Jieun pouted mockingly, “You know, after what happened last time, I would think you would know better than to trespass.”
The world around him suddenly shifted back into clarity, Jungkook screamed and lunged for Jieun, but Hanwool yanked him back by his hair.
“Don’t talk about him! You don’t get to talk about him!” Jungkook yelled, ignoring the pain now radiating from his scalp.
Jieun laughed again, no joy radiating from it, “Oh no, someone seems to be holding a grudge.” She turned to Hanwool, “Get rid of him. Put him in the cave. Shoot him. I don’t care. I can’t have someone like him working for us. He might do something stupid like try and kill me.”
Hanwool nodded briefly and raised his gun. The last image Jungkook had before his world succumbed to darkness was Jieun crossing her legs on her throne, a cold smile still in place.
~~~~~~
Jungkook gasped awake. He frantically looked around, but all he could see was darkness. Was he dead? He groaned as his head throbbed in pain and rubbed his temple. While he couldn’t see it, he smelled the metallic scent of his blood.
So maybe not dead then. Yet.
“Where’s the hose? I can’t find it anywhere.”
“I dunno. Ask Seri, I think she was the last one to put someone in the cave.”
Two male voices sounded dully above Jungkook’s head. They were muffled by whatever ceiling was above him, but Jungkook didn’t recognize either of the voices as men he had met before.
Moving slowly, Jungkook felt around his enclosure and rubbed against the jagged, cold rocks.
“A cave,” Jungkook realized, the men’s words suddenly piecing together, “They put me in a cave?”
“Ugh! This is so stupid. It’s all because of that kid she stole, you know. If she had just let those kids go in the store when they surrendered then V wouldn’t be running around freeing people.”
Jungkook frowned, confused. He tried to stand up, but the ceiling was too low. He crouched near the ceiling and listened to the men walking around above him.
“Shut up! If you speak any louder, Hanwool will hear you and gut your ass.”
“Sorry sorry. You know it’s true though. V has been ransacking the gang ever since he got out a while ago. Jieun needs to stop taking prisoners, with him it’s not like they stay long anyway.”
“Yeah yeah. Let’s just get this done before someone wonders what’s taking so long.”
“What’s taking so long is that Seri is a fucking- oh I found it.”
“Hurry up then!”
Jungkook startled as water started splashing into the cave. He frantically felt the ground and the walls and gasped. The bottom of the cave was connected to pipes that the water was passing through quickly. Jungkook came to the alarming epiphany of what the cave was used for.
“HELP! HELP!” Jungkook screamed, banging on the ceiling of the cave with his fist.
“Ugh, I thought he was still unconscious.”
“If only. The drownings are never quiet. Come on, let’s go.”
Jungkook pounded harder as the footsteps walked away. His entire body felt like dead weight as he tried to push against the ceiling of the cave to open it.
Jungkook yelled again and felt the first stream of tears fall down his cheeks. This couldn’t be it. Not because of her. Not when he promised Jimin.
He screamed again and banged on the walls with his legs and arms before crumpling into the water, sobbing.
The water started rising faster and Jungkook huddled against the wall. There was no point. No one was going to find him and even if they did Jungkook would be dead by then. He closed his eyes and listened to the rushing water.
"Jungkook-ah!"
His eyes snapped open. No, it couldn’t be-
“Jungkook-ah! Kook-ah! Where are you?” Jungkook heard footsteps running over the ceiling and he shot up off of the ground.
“Yoongi hyung! Yoongi hyung, I’m here!”
The footsteps ran back to the entrance of the cave.
“Oh wait, he’s in there. What the fuck is this? Joon! Help me!”
The water was closing in on his neck and Jungkook felt himself get pushed upwards as the cave almost finished filling.
“Hyung, hurry!” Jungkook yelled, pounding on the ceiling again.
A metallic groan sounded from the cover and Jungkook sobbed as light poured into the cave.
Yoongi popped his head over the opening and quickly grabbed at Jungkook’s arm to help pull him out. Namjoon quickly appeared next to him and they both heaved until Jungkook came out and fell on top of them.
Jungkook rolled over and gasped breathlessly, heaving as he tried to catch his breath.
Yoongi appeared in his line of vision again, his brow furrowed as he took Jungkook in.
“Are you okay? Oh, Kook-ah, you’re bleeding.” Yoongi ripped some of his shirt off and started to wrap Jungkook’s head with it.
Jungkook laughed. The absurdity of the day caught up to him. He almost drowned, he ran into the person who took away the love of his life, and he was bleeding from so many places he felt foggy. It almost felt unreal. Almost. His head hurt too much for him to think this was anything but real life.
He kept giggling as Yoongi’s face changed from concerned to confused.
“What the hell? Why is Jungkook wet?” Jungkook turned his head to see Seokjin enter the room, knives out and breathing heavily, “No matter we have to go. These people are crazy.”
Namjoon jumped up following Seokjin’s words and Yoongi followed slowly, helping Jungkook to his feet. Jungkook leaned against his hyung and looked around slightly disoriented. They had moved him from the polar bear exhibit to the tropical fish which explained why there was a cave water death trap in the middle of the zoo. It had probably been used to transfer the fish in and out of their tank.
Jungkook hobbled along with Yoongi as they followed Namjoon and Seokjin outside. Now that he wasn’t focused on not drowning the noises of everything around him flooded in. There was a lot of shooting and screaming with smoke blowing around in the air.
The once peaceful headquarters had gone up in flames and Jungkook coughed as a particularly heavy smoke cloud blew their way.
He glanced down at Yoongi, “Did you do this?”
Yoongi shook his head and moved Jungkook a little more quickly down their path, “No, we were trying to find a way to get you out,” He shot Jungkook a small grin, “Cause we followed you. We weren’t gonna let you go on your own Kook-ah, no way. But, we were trying to get you out and all these people appeared and started attacking the zoo. So we took the chance and ran in to find you.”
Jungkook held his ribs and chuckled. It wasn’t all that surprising that they didn’t listen to him. Especially Seokjin. He probably charged after him as soon as he left the alley. There weren’t a lot of people that could tell Kim Seokjin what to do.
“Thank you for not listening to me. I didn’t know I’d end up with a bunch of psychos.”
“Yeah, not your best plan.” Yoongi smirked.
“Come on, lovebirds!” Namjoon yelled over his shoulder.
“The reason we’re going so slow is cause Jungkook is injured, asshole!” Yoongi yelled back.
“Can you both stop yelling before someone shoots at us?!” Seokjin hissed, glaring at Yoongi and Namjoon, “Let Joon take Jungkook, Yoongi. They’re more similar in height and you’re the only one of us that can shoot right now.”
Yoongi’s eyes narrowed, but he obediently handed Jungkook over to Namjoon, “I feel like the jab at my height was unnecessary but okay.”
“Making fun of you is never unnecessary Yoongi-chi,” Seokjin said smugly. Yoongi stuck his tongue out before he checked his gun for ammo, humming irritatedly. It was then that Jungkook noticed that the bookbag that he gave Seokjin was missing. They’d probably lost it running around trying to find Jungkook.
“I have ammo hyung,” Jungkook suddenly remembered and he laughed again, “They’re crazy and dumb as hell,” he motioned to his chest which still held his two guns.
The boys stared at him dumbfounded before an explosion sounded from somewhere behind them.
“Okay, we’ll discuss the idiocy of Kook’s kidnappers later. We gotta go!” Yoongi replaced Namjoon’s empty spot next to Seokjin and they started moving again through the zoo.
They passed by the polar bear exhibit and Jungkook stopped suddenly pulling Namjoon who looked back at him incredulously.
“Taehyung- she might know where Taehyung is,” Jungkook said, all the information he’d gotten swirling around in his head.
“What? What’re you talking about Jungkook?” Namjoon glanced at the polar bear exhibit then at Jungkook, slightly concerned. Yoongi and Seokjin had realized they stopped and ran back over to them both confused and frantic.
“Why are you stopping? We have to go!”
“Jungkook said-” Namjoon started.
“Jieun’s here,” Jungkook interrupted, “She’s the one running this place. She might know where Tae is.”
In a flash, Yoongi’s face changed from bewildered to murderous. He pointed at the exhibit.
“In there?”
When Jungkook nodded, Yoongi stormed inside with his gun drawn.
“Wait! Shit! Yoongi, wait!” Seokjin looked at Namjoon and Jungkook and held his palm out, “You two stay here, maybe with a gun drawn. We’ll be right back.”
Seokjin disappeared after Yoongi with his knives out and a grim expression. After he disappeared, Jungkook groaned but moved from Namjoon to stand by himself.
“Are you sure you’re steady enough?” Namjoon questioned.
“I have to be. I’m the only one who knows how to shoot,” Jungkook replied, taking one of his guns out.
“Based on how wobbly you are, I’m probably the better shot right now.”
Jungkook pouted as he took the gun off of safety, “That was mean Joonie hyung.”
Namjoon laughed and adjusted his knuckle rings, “It’s the truth, Jungkookie.”
Shots rang out in the exhibit and both Namjoon and Jungkook straightened up. Jungkook made a move to go inside, but Namjoon stopped him with his arm.
“We have to go in! What if they’re hurt?” Jungkook exclaimed.
Namjoon shook his head, his expression grim, “No, we have to trust that they’re okay. Jin hyung said to stay here.”
Jungkook knew about the fierce loyalty the cousins shared and that meant Namjoon wouldn’t go against Seokjin’s words no matter what. Not in a situation like this. He couldn’t leave Namjoon either, he was the only one who knew how to use the gun.
Jungkook cursed, but stayed outside watching the building with bated breath. More shots rang out and yelling and Jungkook hopped on the balls of his feet to calm his heart down.
In a blur of motion, both Seokjin and Yoongi ran out, huffing and covered in splatters of blood. Seokjin was carrying an unconscious person over his shoulders and Jungkook blanched as he realized that it was Jieun.
“We gotta go! Go! Go! Go!” Seokjin yelled, not slowing down as he ran down the path. Yoongi took off after him and Namjoon pulled Jungkook along. Footsteps and yelling followed after them as they ran out of the zoo and into Busan.
~~~~~~
The building door slammed behind him and Jungkook collapsed, his lungs aching and head spinning.
The boys were spread out around him all in similar states of exhaustion. Seokjin’s face was particularly red considering he also had carried Jieun through the streets. As small as she was, it wasn’t surprising that Seokjin looked like he was about to pass out.
“Wh-Wha-What’d you do? When you went in there?” Namjoon said through pants.
“What we had to,” Yoongi replied breathlessly. He scooted closer to Jungkook and frowned as he looked at his head.
“I think you’re still bleeding a little. It would’ve been better if Jin hyung wrapped your head instead of me.”
Jungkook gave Yoongi a small smile, “It’s okay, hyung. Not your fault.”
“Give me- Ah shit- give me a second and I’ll help Kook.” Seokjin said, sprawled out onto the floor.
“Why’d you bring her back?” Namjoon nodded at Jieun who was still passed out.
“We were gonna question her there, but there were too many of them. So, Seokjin knocked her out, picked her up, and we got the hell out of there.” Yoongi replied. He moved his attention from Jungkook to Jieun.
“We should probably tie her up or something.”
Namjoon nodded and got up to search the building. They had slipped into the first abandoned building they could find after losing the men chasing them. Jungkook hoped that they hadn’t seen them duck in, but with how many people worked for her it was only a matter of time before Jieun’s friends found her.
Namjoon returned with rope and zip ties and moved Jieun into a sitting position. Seokjin got up and joined him in wrapping the rope around Jieun.
As Jungkook watched them tie her up, nausea rose up in his throat. He hadn’t really processed that she was the same person that took Taehyung. That she had ruined something for both of his families. All the people that she kept in the pens. The girl that he passed who could be dead for all he knew. All he could do was hope that she was okay after the attack. But everything came back to one thing: Jimin. All he could think of was Jimin lying on the ground after Jieun had-
Jungkook stood up abruptly, his breath catching in his throat as he almost fell down.
“Jungkook?” Yoongi asked, still sitting on the ground, “What happened? What’s wrong?”
Jungkook shook his head and started pacing as he tried to drive the images out of his head.
Namjoon and Seokjin looked over, perplexed, “Did something happen? Kook?” they asked.
Jungkook shook his head again in overwhelming pain. As much as he tried, he couldn’t shake the images popping into his head.
“No, no, no,” he whispered, his hands came up to grip his hair still stained with blood.
Yoongi stood up and stopped Jungkook as he tried to circle back again. He tried to meet Jungkook’s eyes and whispered comforting words.
“No, no, no,” Jungkook continued, eyes unfocused, his hands still gripping his hair.
“No what, Kook-ah? I can’t help you unless you tell me what’s wrong.” Yoongi stated gently.
“It was her!” Jungkook finally cried, tears streaming down his face, “Sh-Sh-She killed him! Jimin, she kill- killed him!” Sobs wracked his body and the pain spread through his body. He dropped to his knees and held his stomach as he felt the grief running through him. He thought he’d be okay when he confronted Jieun again. But, his constant denial of his trauma had caused all of it to bubble up.
“Kook-ah!” Yoongi was next to him, as he always was, trying to console him as Namjoon and Seokjin held onto Jieun, “Kook-ah! Yah! Jungkook! Look at me!”
Jungkook couldn’t breathe. He couldn’t move. All he could do was scream in pain as all the memories he wanted to erase surfaced in his mind.
“JUNGKOOK!” Yoongi grabbed Jungkook’s face between his hands and lifted it to face his own, “LOOK. AT. ME.”
Jungkook’s unfocused eyes snapped to Yoongi’s and he let out another stuttering sob as Yoongi began to wipe his tears away with his thumbs. He grabbed onto Yoongi’s wrists with his hands like a lifeline.
“It’s okay Kook-ah, it’s okay. You’re okay. You’re here with me, hyung, and Joon, okay? Breathe with me please,” Yoongi took an exaggerated deep breath and Jungkook struggled to follow, his breaths still coming out in short, gasping pants.
They continued breathing until Jungkook could accept air into his lungs again, his iron grip on Yoongi causing his hands to go white. Yoongi wiped his face again, concern radiating from every part of his body.
Jungkook closed his eyes and fell onto Yoongi’s chest, his arms encircling around him and breathing a sigh of relief when Yoongi enclosed him safely with his arms.
“See you’re okay,” Yoongi pressed a soft kiss on Jungkook’s head, “Don’t worry Kook-ah we’re gonna get out of here. Then, we’re gonna find Tae.”
Jungkook nodded, his eyes still closed listening to Yoongi’s heartbeat. Hesitant footsteps walked closer to where Jungkook was holding onto Yoongi.
“Hyung, we should wake her up. We don’t know when the rest of her gang are gonna appear,” Namjoon’s soft voice said. He crouched down and patted Jungkook gently on the head.
Jungkook felt Yoongi nod and he pulled away from his chest, immediately missing the comfort of being held. He blearily looked over at Seokjin who was holding an unconscious Jieun in his grasp tightly. Seokjin sent him a comforting smile and nodded his head at Yoongi.
“Joonie’s right, as much as I would love to kick some ass right now. It’s either now or never. ,”He looked down in disdain at their quiet captive.
Yoongi stoically looked over at Jieun and nodded. He gave Jungkook’s arms one last squeeze before getting up and walking over to Jieun and Seokjin. Jungkook rose to his legs unsteadily, taking Namjoon’s arm in support when he almost fell back down.
Yoongi roughly shook Jieun until her eyes blinked open. “Where’s Taehyung?” Yoongi had crouched down in front of Jieun, his voice that had comforted Jungkook not so long ago had hardened. Namjoon walked around to help Jin hold Jieun, his face unnaturally serious. Yoongi unsheathed his gun and instead of dread Jungkook felt something like vengeance tickle his mind.
Jieun blinked before looking Yoongi in the eye and smiling. The same recognition crossed her face like with Jungkook. Jungkook struggled not to have a visceral reaction to the familiar coldness in it. He moved slightly closer to Yoongi.
“I don’t know a Taehyung. That’s a pretty name though.” her Busan accent slurred in Jungkook’s ears. His original panic was being replaced by the anger burning in his lungs. He hissed and glared when Jieun flicked her gaze to him.
“Ahhh I see. You have a thing for pretty boys.”
Yoongi’s hand moved so fast that it blurred. Jungkook winced at the crunching sound it made against Jieun’s jawbone, but stood his ground behind Yoongi.
Yoongi placed his gun to her temple, “I’m not going to ask again. Where is he?”
Jieun grinned again, this time her teeth were stained red with blood, “Oops, that struck a nerve. But my answer remains the same: I don’t know a Taehyung.”
Yoongi raised his arm to hit Jieun again, but Jungkook grabbed his arm.
“Wait!” Yoongi looked at him in surprise, but Jungkook kept his gaze locked on Jieun, “She’s not lying, she doesn’t know Taehyung. When I was…in the cave, the men said there was a man who’d been causing them a lot of trouble since he escaped a couple of months ago.” Jieun’s face twitched and Jungkook felt the last puzzle piece slide into place, “They called him V. Where’s V?”
The grin slipped off Jieun’s face and her usual calmness slipped into rage. She struggled, but the ropes held and Seokjin’s and Namjoon’s grips on her tightened. Yoongi tilted his head at her unbothered.
“You heard him. Where’s V?”
Jieun screamed angrily and glared at Yoongi, “You think if I knew he’d still be alive? He’s ruined everything here! Everything I built,” She thrashed around in an attempt to escape, screaming again when she failed, “I should’ve killed him when I had the chance!”
Jungkook moved faster than Yoongi this time and slammed his gun violently onto Jieun’s head. She fell into a crumpled heap at their feet, a trail of blood falling from her temple.
The four boys stared at her for a moment before Yoongi stood, sheathing his gun in one fluid motion. Jungkook breathed heavily as the cause of his problems bled out onto the ground. No one said a word, but the silence was a surprising calm instead of the suffocating guilt Jungkook thought actions like this would bring. But they all understood, him and his hyungs, that this is what After was like. It was suffering without saying anything. Almost dying and brushing past it.
Leaving someone to die who deserved it.
Yoongi grabbed Jungkook’s arm gently and motioned his head in the direction of the exit.
“Let’s go find Tae.”
“We gotta patch up Jeon over here first, hyung.”
“Oh shit right, sorry Kook-ah.”
~~~~~~
They crept out of the abandoned building as silently as they could, Namjoon making sure that the door didn’t slam behind them. They had decided to at least locate the yacht before going on a Taehyung search party. After the day they had, it would be better to look for Taehyung with clear minds. Jungkook needed at least one hot shower before combing through Busan again.
As he led the way, Jungkook held onto Yoongi’s arm, he hadn’t really let go since Yoongi grabbed him but Yoongi didn’t seem to mind. He readjusted till they were holding hands and hummed softly as they walked.
“The warehouse is harder to find in the dark, but I think we’re almost there.” Jungkook said.
“Ah, finally. I know it’s like your second home Jungkook, but Busan kinda sucks.” Seokjin groaned. Namjoon giggled beside him, his hand covering his mouth.
“Hyung!” Yoongi scolded, glaring over his shoulder, but Jungkook let out a loud laugh.
“No, he’s right Yoongi hyung. Everything has been a mess since we got here.”
Yoongi sighed in mock exasperation, “I’m trying to defend you over here Jeon Jungkook.”
“Oooh not the full name.” Namjoon teased behind them.
Jungkook rolled his eyes at his hyungs, even if he was secretly grateful for it. Their promise that they had made on the lifeboat was holding strong and a smile sat on his lips as he walked with his family.
They were walking past the pier where they docked their lifeboats when Jungkook heard banging behind them. They all spun around, on edge, looking for the cause of the sound.
“I swear to god if I see another punkass pop out and try to fight us,” Seokjin seethed.
“You cursed us hyung. Busan did not appreciate your joke,” Namjoon mumbled, scanning the boats lined up on the pier.
“You laughed!” Seokjin hissed.
“Shut up!” Yoongi hissed back, “Listen, doesn’t that sound like fighting?”
The boys went silent and stilled in the cool autumn night. Now that they weren’t speaking, Jungkook heard what Yoongi was talking about. The banging they were hearing did sound like people fighting.
“What if it’s Tae?” Namjoon spoke up. He turned around to grin at Yoongi and Jungkook, his face full of uncontrolled glee.
“Wanna go check?” Seokjin asked the group, but his eyes were trained on Yoongi.
Yoongi looked uncertain, his hand that wasn’t intertwined with Jungkook’s came up to his mouth so he could bite his nail.
“I don’t want to lead us into another trap. Jieun’s gang are gonna be pissed when they find out what happened.” he reasoned.
Jungkook shook their hands gently to get Yoongi’s attention, “But, Tae has been fighting them. If we find him anywhere, it’ll def be there.”
Yoongi nodded, a determined expression replacing his uncertainty. He slipped his hand out of Jungkook’s to pull his gun out. Slightly disappointed at the loss of contact, Jungkook mirrored his actions.
They moved in front of Namjoon and Seokjin and walked down the pier. The darkness was only pierced by the full moon shining above them and Jungkook squinted as they walked past abandoned boats. As they got closer, the banging was joined by shouting and yelling. Soon, a mob of people came into view slightly illuminated by the torches of fire they carried.
Jungkook ducked down to hide behind a boat and the others followed suit as they watched the fight play out. There were definitely at least two groups fighting and Jungkook watched wide eyed as shots rang out.
“Holy shit. They’re tearing each other apart.” Seokjin whispered.
A man stood up on some debris and screamed to his side of the fight, “Suran, take the hostages! We can take them, they’re outnumbered!”
A woman ran out of their side of the mob followed by a few people and ran farther down the pier. The rest of their group pushed forward and Jungkook watched as the gang dropped like flies. A boy separated from the gang and ran closer to the boat and Jungkook let out a small noise of recognition.
“I think that’s Jieun’s gang. The one that’s losing.” Jungkook murmured.
“How do you know? I can’t see anything.” Namjoon whispered back.
Jungkook pointed slightly, still staying hidden behind the boat, “That looks like one of the guys that took me. I think his name was Seojun.”
“So the other group might know where Tae is?” Yoongi asked, scanning the fighters with furrowed eyebrows.
“Maybe? Tae- or well V was the only rival they spoke about.”
Yoongi stood up with his gun, “Let’s go help then.”
“Wait, what Yoongi hyung-”
But, Yoongi had already stepped back out onto the pier and was making his way to the fight.
“I’m gonna kill that kid,” Seokjin growled, his knives glinted in the moonlight as he followed swiftly.
Jungkook and Namjoon exchanged a look of exasperation before they also pulled out their preferred weapons and followed their hyungs.
The fight was finishing up as Jieun’s gang was being overwhelmed by their opponents. Wary of his injuries, Jungkook stayed farther back and shot out a few rounds into the people surging through. His hyungs, however, surged forward and joined the fight against the gang. The rival group didn’t seem to care that a bunch of random men decided to join their fight as they covered them just as they would their own men.
Eventually, the last person from the gang fell or ran away and Jungkook let out a sigh of relief. He ran up to Yoongi who was breathing heavily, blood splattered, and covered in a few bruises, but he shot Jungkook a grin as he reached his side.
“That got out a lot of pent up aggression not gonna lie.”
Seokjin and Namjoon came up beside them in similar states to Yoongi.
Jungkook tsked and looked over his hyungs, “Maybe no more running into danger Yoongi hyung.”
“Yeah, Yoongi-ah,” Seokjin echoed, anger clear on his face.
Yoongi shrugged and sheathed his gun and knives, “I knew we could take them.”
“Hey, thanks for your help.”
Jungkook startled as he turned to the new voice. The same man who had screamed about the hostages had come over. Now that Jungkook could see him better, he realized that he wasn’t a man really. He was slightly shorter than them and Jungkook would bet money that he was younger than him even. Despite this, he had a serious gaze and was decked with an arsenal of weapons. The rest of his group was patching up their injured or walking away from the pier in groups.
“My name is Haru. Our leader left, but told me to question you guys before we can determine if you can follow us. Most likely if you need shelter you can come, anyone against the Ssang-Khal is a friend.”
“The Ssang-Khal?” Namjoon started, but Yoongi’s eyes snapped to the boy.
“Where’d your leader go?” Yoongi cut in. He moved closer, staring him down, but Haru just blinked up at him innocently.
“He had to leave to take care of the injured. Why?”
Jungkook moved Yoongi back a little so he didn’t do something stupid like shake the poor boy down for answers about Taehyung. He motioned to their group.
“I’m Jungkook. That’s Seokjin and Namjoon hyung.” Seokjin and Namjoon waved, “This is Yoongi hyung, sorry he tried to jump you.” Yoongi glared, “It’s just that we’ve been looking for Ta- V.”
Haru’s eyes narrowed, “Why do you want V?”
Yoongi’s intense stare hadn’t changed. In normal circumstances, Jungkook would find it funny that whenever it came to Taehyung, Yoongi’s normally careful and cautious attitude was thrown to the wind. However, Taehyung wouldn’t be the happiest if Yoongi beat up one of his friends.
“I’m his brother that’s why,” Yoongi glowered.
Haru blinked before looking over their group. He returned his eyes to Yoongi.
“What animal do his moles make when you squish them together?”
“Huh?” said Seokjin, incredulous.
“An elephant.” Yoongi and Jungkook declared together.
“Huh?!” Seokjin repeated.
“Oh yeah, remember hyung? He used to do that ‘Boo, elephant, boo” thing with Yoongi.” Namjoon recalled.
“Oh,” Seokjin’s face darkened, “Now I remember.”
Haru’s face brightened and he excitedly pointed down the pier, “He went that way a couple of minutes ago to catch up with some of the injured.”
Before the last of Haru’s words left his mouth, Yoongi took off in the direction Haru pointed.
“Hello?! Yoongi-ah, wait for us,” Seokjin shouted running after him, Namjoon on his heels.
Jungkook gave Haru a grin and a small bow before turning to run after his hyungs.
He caught up to Yoongi easily and tugged at him to go faster. Yoongi laughed as they exited the pier and their thundering footsteps echoed in the Busan streets.
Jungkook gasped as he saw a shadowy figure running in the distance and screamed before he could think about it.
“Taehyung!”
Yoongi joined him easily.
“Tae! Taehyung-ah”
The figure stopped running and slowly turned back around. Yoongi gasped as the light of the moon illuminated a small part of the man’s face.
“Hyung?”
“Taehyung-ah!”
Jungkook smiled widely as he watched as tears welled up and fall from Yoongi’s eyes. Yoongi had finally found him. He found Taehyung.
Taehyung raced back to where the boys were standing and collapsed into Yoongi’s waiting open arms. They fell to the ground in a pile of limbs, Yoongi supporting Taehyung as they clung to each other.
“Yoonie hyung, I thought I was never going to see you again,” Taehyung sobbed into Yoongi’s shoulder.
Jungkook excitedly stood by as Yoongi rubbed Taehyung’s back and murmured comforting things to Taehyung as they cried. Seokjin and Namjoon were laughing next to him, letting out whoops into the night air. Getting up to hug everyone else, Taehyung abruptly stopped and looked at Jungkook.
“Who are you?”
Yoongi laughed and wiped tears from his face, “Tae, it’s Jungkook.”
Taehyung looked at Yoongi in confusion before turning his head back to Jungkook. Jungkook knew they both had grown up, but seeing Taehyung and hearing about him were two completely different things. He always thought that when Taehyung grew up he would look more like Yoongi, but if it weren’t for the small things like the way they moved or smiled Jungkook would have never guessed they were brothers. Taehyung was taller, slightly broader, and his facial features were sharper. Taehyung stared at Jungkook, in a way that scarily reminded him of Yoongi, for a minute before gasping.
“Kookie?! Wow, speaking of people I never thought I’d see again. I haven’t seen you since we were little. How did you end up here?!” Taehyung excitedly gave Jungkook a huge hug and Jungkook melted into it. Taehyung’s hugs were always therapeutic and this one was no exception. They giggled and jumped around for a minute before Namjoon grabbed Taehyung into a huge hug with Seokjin.
They all laughed and Seokjin rubbed Taehyung’s long hair fondly, “You fit right with us Tae. I remembered before you left you hated your hair long.”
Taehyung shrugged and gave a sideways grin, “No clippers out here, hyung. I got used to it.”
He turned back to Jungkook and grabbed his arm, giggling again, “I can’t believe you found Kookie! The world sure got smaller.”
Yoongi smiled widely, “We found him after he almost drowned. We saved him.”
“Yeahhh I made a stupid decision to walk on the highway when it was raining.”
Taehyung raised an eyebrow, “Flash flood?”
“Yep.”
“I got into one of those! That’s actually how I met Hobi hyung.”
Namjoon’s eyebrows scrunched together, “Who’s ‘Hobi hyung’?”
Taehyung’s eyes brightened and he excitedly pulled Yoongi’s arm, “Oh, you don’t know Hobi hyung! I left him at the hideout, we have to go get him.”
Namjoon’s eyebrows moved impossibly closer, “Hideout?”
Taehyung nodded excitedly and started dragging Yoongi in the direction he was running towards earlier , “You’re going to love it hyung! We found this abandoned building and then we- Come on Kookie, we don’t have long until the tide comes in!”