Chapter Text
15 minutes earlier
Jungkook doesn’t know why he decided to trust them. He had plenty of reasons not to trust them. He just thinks that anyone who saves him from kidnappers that call him “pretty boy” is a friend of his. In addition, they had treated his wound and bandaged it.
Jungkook is quite nervous about sitting between Himchan and Jongup. Partly because they’re both really terrifying. Partly because they keep giving each other bedroom eyes. Jungkook is sitting uncomfortably between them, while Youngjae and Daehyun sit in the front. Apparently, no one but Junhong and Yongguk can sit in the other car, because they keep saying sappy and romantic stuff to each other all the time. So now Jungkook is stuck between to horny lovebirds. “So, Jungkook” Daehyun starts, cutting through the awkward tension “You’re quite the star right now”
Jungkook can actually feel the level of awkwardness rising. He silently sighs, but Jongup, on the other hand, isn’t so silent. He even rolls his eyes. “Daehyun, could you be any more awkward?” Youngjae sighs and slaps his friend on the back of his head. Daehyun scoffs and leans away from Youngjae. “As if those two aren’t doing it already” he sighs and points to the backseat. Youngjae turns halfway around and Jongup and Himchan immediately look away from each other, awkwardly staring out the windows.
“This conversation is a train-wreck” Jongup sighs as he leans his head on the window. “If Youngjae doesn’t look at the road soon, we’re gonna be in a train-wreck” Jungkook comments in a flat tone and Youngjae whirls around, almost losing control of the car. At the same time, Daehyun breaks out in laughter. Youngjae uses a few moments to gather himself before he starts seething. “You imbecile…” he growls at Jungkook “You had no right to fool me like this” Daehyun laughs even harder punching his friend’s shoulder. Jungkook can see that Himchan is trying to suppress a smile. Jongup just pats his shoulder.
“Also, you two don’t need to stop making bedroom-eyes at each other, I’m quite used to things like that” Jungkook also says, this time with a smirk on his face. Daehyun breaks out in laughter again, and it’s a pleasant laughter (Not at all like Seokjin’s). Himchan turns to glare at Jungkook while Jongup turns red like a tomato. Daehyun laughs even harder when he sees Jongup’s face and doubles over in his seat. Jungkook decides there and then that Daehyun’s smile is one of the most beautiful things to ever exist. It can’t quite beat Hoseok’s smile, though, and now Jungkook is sad again. He wonders if Hoseok misses him, too.
Youngjae stops the car, and Jungkook is a little scandalized that he does it in the middle of the street, and whips his phone out. As far as Jungkook can see, he opens the camera app. He focuses his phone on Himchan and then on Jongup. “This is gold” Youngjae mutters before he draws a little back. “Okay, group photo!” he yells and in 0.3 seconds, Jungkook has whipped out his peace sign and his “killer” bunny smile. “Ohmygodsocute” Daehyun mutters as Youngjae takes the picture. “Send that to me”
“How did you really know how and where to find me?” Jungkook suddenly asks and Daehyun stiffens “How did you even know who I am?”
“You’re kinda famous” Jongup says, rolling his eyes, as if Jungkook was stupid. “Like “Yer a wizard, Harry” famous or just, you know, “famous”?” Jungkook asks and Daehyun starts laughing again. “OH MY GOD, I LOVE THIS KID!” he gets out through the laughter. “Dae, it wasn’t that funny” Himchan comments, but he keeps smiling. “And, no, Jungkook, not “Harry Potter” famous. But you’ve kinda been all over the news lately, so it’s really hard to not notice you” Jungkook nods but his eyes are still asking for answers. Himchan sighs and leans on the window. “Youngjae just start driving and Jongup you tell him, just no random sex talk in there, kay?”
Jungkook is already uncomfortable again. Jongup turns his head towards Jungkook, giving him a passive-aggressive smile. Turns out, Jongup is really…talkative. “Monster kinda asked us to keep the tabs on you, y’know” he said and Jungkook’s heart beats just a millisecond faster. Namjoon cared. “Just to make sure you were safe, and can I just say your mom really is a complete arse…” “Jongup” “Yeah, yeah, sorry. So when you suddenly left with your brother and a duffle bag we were like “What the fuck are you doing?” and at this point I’m pretty pissed at you cause you have been keeping me from having sex with my really hot fuck-buddy for five fucking weeks and you should be grateful that I haven’t murdered you yet. So I thought, kay, maybe I can follow this brat to just see what’s going on, but they wouldn’t let me go on my own so I had to wait for them so we kinda followed you and turns out it was a good thing so HimchanIsweartogodifyoukeeplookingatmelikethatI’mgonnajumpyourighthereIdon’tcare…”
“JONGUP” Daehyun screeches at the top of his lungs, startling Youngjae. Jungkook puts his face in his hands. “Dude, you okay?” he hears Jongup ask. Jungkook slowly nods. “Jongup, you really just see me as a fuck-buddy?” Himchan asks, and Jungkook can actually detect pain in his voice. “No, of course not, darling” Jongup answers and Jungkook can feel Jongup reach over to Himchan to comfort him.
Holy fuck this drive is gonna be a nightmare.
-:-
Jungkook is practically shaking with excitement as they stop in a garage that he recognizes. They’re so close. Even if he was away for just 5 weeks, it feels like years. He’s gonna meet them again. Now he knows that Namjoon actually had cared for his wellbeing the entire time, and that at least he will be happy to see him back. He’s missed his family so much.
Jungkook is buzzing with energy as he exits the car. He’s so excited that the actually starts jumping. “What the hell is wrong with him?” Yongguk asks as he stares at Jungkook in amazement “And how the hell does he have the stamina to do that?” Daehyun sighs and turns to Yongguk. “I think he’s just excited” he says before he adds “Or it may be from the trauma that Jongup gave him” Jongup growls at Daehyun but doesn’t move. “I can’t leave anything with you four idiots” Yongguk sighs before he starts walking towards the elevator. “Hey, I take offence!” Himchan yells and goes after him.
-:-
Namjoon can’t believe what he’s seeing. There, behind Yongguk, stands his Kook. Only him, Yoongi and B.A.P (+Jungkook) are in the room at this moment and none of the others know he is here. Oh, holy hell, Jungkook is here. Judging by Yoongi’s expression, he’s completely shell-shocked as well.
“Yongguk, I told you to watch over him, not kidnap him” is the first thing that escapes his lips. Yongguk snorts before he rubs the back off his head. “Yeah, but that doesn’t count when he runs away from home-” “I wouldn’t exactly call getting your brother to drive you away running but…” “Jongup” “-AND is cornered by some damn British guy with a gun” There is complete silence for three seconds before Yoongi breaks. “WHY IS IT ALWAYS THOSE DAMN BRITS? FIRST, THEY TOOK AMERICA AND NOW KOREA?” he yells and kicks the wall, before remembering that he has an extremely fragile body and falls to the floor, clutching his foot. Yongguk stares at him for a few seconds before he moves his eyes to Namjoon in a silent question. “What even…” “We kinda have a history with Brits” Namjoon sighs “If I were you, I wouldn’t even ask” “Okay, I won’t”
There isn’t time for an awkward silence, because Jungkook runs forward and attacks Namjoon with a hug. Namjoon stumbles backwards, his eyes widening. The younger boy clings to him, his fingers grasping Namjoon’s shirt. Namjoon realizes that he still smells of Jimin’s pomegranate shampoo and that the shirt he’s wearing is the one he was wearing the day he was “saved”. He recognizes it because it’s his shirt that Jungkook had just thrown on in a hurry when he was leaving. A few seconds go by before Namjoon feels wet spots appearing on his shirt. “Hyung…” Jungkook chokes out silently and Namjoon cracks. Jungkook is here. Jungkook is in his arms. Jungkook wants to come back.
His arms go up over Jungkook’s back and presses the younger boy closer, his eyes watery. “Kook” he says and presses his face into Jungkook’s soft hair. The members of B.A.P start to awkwardly leave the room, glancing back as they do. Yongguk can’t help but smile a little bit. The moment they’re out the door, tears start spilling from Namjoon’s eyes. They drop down on Jungkook’s hair, darkening it. He can feel Yoongi sneaking into the hug, too, laying his arms around Jungkook’s waist and pressing himself to his back. “I’ve missed you, kid” he whispers and buries his face into Jungkook’s neck. Jungkook doesn’t answer, he just nods and clings tighter onto Namjoon.
He’s home now.
-:-
Everything goes in slow-motion for Jungkook as he enters the living room. Slowly, he feels the familiar soft carpet under his feet. Slowly, he feels that comforting smell that always is in the apartment. Slowly, he hears the others inside the living room, chatting and bantering. Slowly, he feels the warmth of Namjoon’s arm around his shoulder. Slowly, he feels the firmness of Yoongi’s hand on his back. Slowly, tears start to prickle in his eyes. Slowly, he starts feeling safe again.
When he enters the living room, his vision is so clouded by tears that he can’t see a single thing clear. The only thing he notices is Bangtan’s voices dying down and then a soft gasp from Jimin. Jungkook half-laughs through his tears before collapsing onto Namjoon’s chest. Crying is really exhausting. He (actually) stays conscious, though. He reaches his hand out to the rest of them and all he can hear is Hoseok shouting “BEAN!” before he’s in the middle of a very emotional group hug. There’s sobbing and happy tears all around him and all he can do his hug them back and cry with them.
After everyone has calmed down (Seokjin is still sniffling slightly) they settle down in the sofa that is a little too small, cuddling into one another. Jungkook finds himself in Seokjin’s lap with Yoongi’s head on his shoulder, and Jimin’s hand in his. “Jiminie, TaeTae, I hope you’re not too mad at me” Jungkook says quietly, rubbing his red, swollen eyes. “Why would we be?” Taehyung’s deep voice says from somewhere to his left. “I got you hurt…” Jungkook starts but he’s interrupted by all the others groaning and arguing against him. “Shut up, you got no one hurt, Babypie” Yoongi murmurs to him, which is about the only thing he can actually pick up from the mess that is their voices. Jungkook smiles to himself. He’s missed his family.
-:-
Epilogue
Jungkook wakes up between Jimin and Taehyung, the three of them tangled up together in Jimin’s bed. The warmth of Taehyung’s chest presses up against his back, while he has his arms around Jimin’s shoulders, his small hands pressed between his and Jungkook’s chests, one of his strong thigs resting over Jungkook’s hip. Jungkook could never have been happier. The room is freezing cold, but between the warmth of his two hyungs he feels none of it. He groans a bit as Jimin shifts on top of his arm. Now he knows why guys complain about their girlfriends sleeping on their arms. He tries to move on Jimin with the help of his other arm and, finally, after 10 minutes he’s successfully gotten Jimin off his arm.
He slowly inches himself out of the cuddle-pile and heads for the door. Once he’s carefully closed it behind himself, he crosses the hall and steps into the bathroom. He shrugs off the hoodie he borrowed (*cough* stole *cough*) from Seokjin, looks at himself in the mirror and curses. Of course, he’s happy that his skin has gotten its rich colour back, that he doesn’t have black rings under his eyes anymore, and that his bones are less visible now, but on his collarbone there are two very visible, dark hickeys. Damn Taehyung and his mouth to hell. If the others see this, they’re never gonna let him hear the end of it. He thinks Jimin left some on his thighs as well, but he’s too scared to check.
He picks up the concealer (He’s basically a pro at using it now, since Taehyung likes leaving marks on him) and dabs on some. It can’t conceal it completely, but at least they’re not that visible anymore. Then he gets to changing the bandage on his arm. The wound is almost completely healed now, which is good for Jungkook. Luckily for him, it had healed without any complications.
The door behind him opens and Hoseok stumbles in, clearly still half-asleep. “Bean, what are you doing up so early?” he groans as he drapes himself over Jungkook’s back and clings onto Jungkook (and his warmth). “Just woke up, I guess” Jungkook answers as he tips his head back onto Hoseok’s shoulder. “How’s your shoulder doing?” Hoseok asks as he starts to draw a pattern on Jungkook’s other shoulder. “It’s healing fine, Hyung” Jungkook answers and closes his eyes, just focuses on Hoseok’s body against his. “Well, that’s good” Hoseok answers and kisses the top of Jungkook’s head. Jungkook smiles again.
Bangtan has opted to not include Jungkook in any gang business…ever. According to Monster, he’s too trusting and too impulsive. Jungkook can actually agree to that. He was lucky that B.A.P actually were friendly, and that he wasn’t kidnapped by some random people. Also, he couldn’t even talk properly to British gangs anymore. Most of the time, Jungkook is taking home-school lessons from someone friendly (according to Namjoon), but Jungkook has to argue that Jinyoung sometimes goes too easy on him. Sometimes, he brings Bambam and Yugyeom which means that the whole day is spent gossiping instead of learning, but Jungkook is completely okay with that.
-:-
Taehyung is standing on the roof of a building, staring out over Seoul’s night sky. He throws his head back and sighs. “Why now?” he asks his cousin. Daehyun is standing a few meters behind him, too scared to come closer to the edge. Taehyung thinks it’s funny how careful his cousin is. “Because you kinda owe us for saving your…collective boyfriend” Daehyun answers and Taehyung can detect the awkwardness in his voice. “How did you convince Yongguk that this was a decent reward?” Taehyung snorts and turns to his cousin. “Because I want to rebuild our relationship, and Yongguk understands that it’s important to me” Daehyun answers and finally dares to come closer to the edge. Daehyun’s eyes are glowing with intensity. Taehyung can see the want for a proper relationship with him. “Even if I agree to it, I’m not sure that Baekhyun will…”
“Don’t make assumptions about me, you brat” Baekhyun interrupts him as he enters the roof, the smell of fresh blood reaching them before he does. Daehyun turns away and Taehyung chuckles. “Are you kidding?” he asks the elder “You’re in a gang, but you can’t handle blood?” “I’m the data guy” Daehyun explains “Yes, I’m in on killing, but I prefer…less blood” “If there’s no blood, then where’s the fun?” Baekhyun laughs and slings an arm over Taehyung’s shoulder. Taehyung tenses in discomfort, but his stone mask stays on. It feels weird to have physical contact with Baekhyun that isn’t violent. Ever since they parted it’s only been bloody fights and threats. Now that he feels the weight of Baekhyun’s arm on his shoulder, he realizes that he actually…kind of misses it. He misses the closeness he and Baekhyun used to have and he misses Baekhyun’s hugs and…
“Dude, you okay?” Daehyun asks him and snaps him out of his daze “You kinda blanked out” Taehyung is quick to nod and shrug his shoulders. “Yeah, just started thinking about…something” he answers. There’s no fucking way he’s going to admit it to Baekhyun. Apparently, Baekhyun isn’t as focused on pride as he is. “Y’know, I kinda missed this, Tae” Baekhyun starts “It feels…it feels kind of good” Taehyung slowly nods and tries for a smile “I feel the same way” he says and Baekhyun smiles back. It feels like a big weight is lifted off Taehyung’s chest. “This is the most awkward reunion I’ve ever witnessed” Daehyun comments and Baekhyun glares at him. “Don’t ruin the moment, you idiot” he spits and Taehyung snorts. “That’s the weakest insult I’ve ever heard” he comments. He gets a punch in the shoulder for that, but the smothering hug after is enough to make up for it.
-:-
Jungkook has come to realize that there’s two smells that he’s used to now.
The first one is vanilla. For some reason, Jin always buys the exact same scented candles when he’s out, which has given the apartment its own smell. The smell isn’t the overbearingly sweet scent that makes you want to throw up, but a comforting, calming scent. Jungkook doesn’t identify the smell with vanilla, because it’s not. It’s the smell of home.
The second smell is blood. There’s nothing calming or relaxing about the scent of blood. It’s disgusting and vile. The only reason Jungkook is used to it is because that’s what they smell like every time they come home from work. Every. Single. Time. Jungkook always used to go to his room when they come home, and used to stay there until they all had showered. He can’t stand that smell, but he’s gotten used to it. Now he can be out of his room when they come back, but they all have to shower before they’re allowed to touch him.
But, still, Jungkook likes it here. He gets to do whatever he wants. He gets monthly meetings with Junghyun. He gets to stay with the people he loves. And it’s going to remain that way.