Chapter Text
The days passed and Jimin and Jin couldn’t find Jungkook. He wasn’t on the usual places he loved to visit – there wasn’t many places to search for him, actually; when the younger wasn’t at home, the was at the park or at the beach, taking the pictures he loved so much. Truth was Jungkook wasn’t the person they knew for so long anymore. He was now visiting other places and who knows with who he talked with in those moments.
Despite being searching for their friend together, both Jimin and Jin had different worries in their minds. Yes, the older wanted to find Jungkook as soon as possible, but he also wanted to understand his feelings towards the other. Now every bickering, every small moment they lingered looking at each other, every simple moment was a trigger for Jin to think something else was hidden – a feeling he only heard about but never had the chance to feel. Jimin, on the other hand, only thought about Namjoon – he missed the other so bad it got him shivers.
Considering the time they were out searching for the younger, Jimin lost contact with Namjoon. He wanted to find the other and talk to him, but he couldn’t stop the guilt growing stronger inside him – he felt responsible for what happened to Jungkook. And even not being his or Namjoon’s fault, he let himself to feel guilty and to think the best solution for this situation was to be by himself, at least for a bit. The result of this equation wasn’t pretty – Jimin got more and more depressed, missing his ‘one’, and not finding Jungkook only made everything worse.
Staying away from Namjoon wasn’t easy for him. The now fallen angel spent all those years so close to the other and now he spent days without even visiting his dreams or watching him in secret. Sometimes he asked himself what the other was thinking, or what he was doing.
After another unsuccessful search, both got home feeling defeated. If he Jungkook was took by a demon and didn’t appear after so long, then what chance they had to rescue his friend back? And if the younger joined Lucifer’s cause, then that meant they were enemies and Jimin and Jin didn’t want to consider this option – as much as they thought about it for a while. Jin let his body fall on the couch, sighing heavily.
“We are going to find him, Jin.” It crushed Jimin’s soul to see his best friend like that – and he wasn’t even considering the fact his other friend was missing. He sat on the couch beside Jin and rested his head on the older’s shoulder. “We just have to stop and think about small hints he left lately.”
“I can’t think about something specific.” Jin intertwined his arm with Jimin’s, trancing a pattern with his fingers on the other’s arm. He couldn’t erase the image of Jungkook having his wings ripped off of him so violently. He could still hear the short and agonizing scream he let out, as if he was hearing it right now – but it was just his mind terrorizing him.
“Ok, let’s try to remember something.” Jimin closed his mind, trying to gather his memories, but he wasn’t seeing Jungkook that much lately, since he was so engaged in his relationship with Namjoon. What a hell of a friend he was – unable to help the younger when he needed them the most. “You were always here when he arrived home, right?”
“Right… but why is that important?” Jin frowned, not following Jimin’s line of thought. Yes, he was there when the younger arrived home and they fought all the time.
“Then I can bet you noticed something unusual in him… something different than the anger.” Jimin tried to activate Jin’s memory. There was probably something the other was letting slip through – something important.
They stayed like that for a while and Jin scanned his mind for any detail he was missing. He tried to remember how Jungkook got home lately. He was extremely angry, that was true, but he could remember that was something more. Something that bothered him and that he talked about it with Jungkook himself – what made them fight, by the way. But what was it? He closed his eyes and let his head fall back, leaning against the wall.
A memory flashed his mind then, something he didn’t pay enough attention at the time. Jungkook started to arrive home smelling like alcohol, he thought. Where else could the younger have access to alcoholic drinks other than a bar or a club? Jin’s mind started to clear, the memories coming back, colorful and bitter at the same time. He fought with Jungkook over him coming home smelling like that – Jin could feel it vividly right now. For the first time since they started to search for the younger, he could finally trace a rational plan to find the other.
*******
Namjoon couldn’t remember not talking with Jimin for so long. The angel was absent before but not for that much time and without even warning him. Namjoon’s mind started to create the most terrible scenarios possible and, considering what happened on the last time they saw each other, he could only think Jimin found out he doesn’t feel the same way. Maybe he didn’t know how to address this, maybe he was to shy to admit he misunderstood his own feelings – at least that was what Namjoon made himself believe.
But he continued his search for Jimin. He visited the studio everyday with the hope of finally being able to see the other. Hoseok greeted him with a sad smile and told him Jimin was absent again. He tried to talk, but Namjoon wouldn’t listen, too locked up on his own mind. That crushed Hoseok’s heart – nothing was worse than seeing his friend being so unfair with himself. He knew Jimin had an understandable excuse for being missing for so long and, most importantly, he knew what the angel felt for Namjoon was more than real.
Namjoon looked at his clock while arriving the studio for another shot on trying to find Jimin. He promised himself this would be the last time. The other sent him a very clear message: he didn’t want to be bothered by Namjoon anymore, and Namjoon was ready to respect whatever decision the angel took. He entered the studio and scanned the corridors, trying to find Jimin, but he was nowhere to be seen. He stopped in front of the classroom he and Hoseok used to dance together, his anxiety building up as he prayed – yes, prayed – for the angel to be there.
However, when he opened the door, he only found Hoseok leaning against a wall, waiting for him. After not being able to reach Namjoon properly, the dancer decided to wait for him and talk some sense into his friend. Hoseok gave him a sad smile while approached quickly, taking Namjoon’s hand and guiding him to the middle of the room. He sat on the floor and invited the other to seat with him. At first, Namjoon found Hoseok’s behavior really weird, but ended up sitting with him.
“Joonie, I feel like we need to talk.” Hoseok tried. He wasn’t going to let Namjoon walk out of this situation so easily. He wanted to give his friend a little bit of hope, because he knew how the other’s mind was so easy to trick him.
“Look, Hobi… I really don’t want to talk about this.” Namjoon defense mode was on and very alert. He knew Hoseok had a sunshine type of personality, always being positive and seeing every situation on a different light as him. But there wasn’t a good perspective on his case and he was perfectly aware of that.
“I’m not giving you an option, Joonie.” Hoseok smiled sympathetically. “I know you come here everyday trying to find Jimin.”
“Ok, and?” Namjoon sighing, not understanding where this conversation was going. If it was so obvious he pathetically went to the studio everyday trying to find Jimin, then why Hoseok was trying to say to him? “We all know what this means. He doesn’t want to be with me.”
“No, that’s not what it means.” He got a little bit closer to Namjoon, his voice sweet and understanding. “Joonie, no one can reach Jimin… we can’t talk even with his friends. Don’t you think that’s weird? They all disappear out of nowhere.”
“If he doesn’t want to be with me anymore, obviously he and his friends wouldn’t try to reach anyone related to me.” Namjoon hid his face on his hands, massaging his temples lightly.
“Joonie, that would make sense if Jimin was a normal person.” Hoseok chuckled, finding his friend’s clueless very entertaining. He took Namjoon’s hands in his, squeezing them softly and obligated the other to look at him. “We’re talking about angels. And they told us it was a matter of time for them to lose their wings.”
“Okay, continue, please.” Namjoon frowned, slapping himself in his thoughts for not remembering that detail. Jimin wasn’t like them, he belonged in a completely different world. He now was afraid the angel was in some kind of danger and he could do nothing to help.
“We don’t know how this thing works.” He got excited with the other finally listening to what he had to say. “What if he lost his wings and is too sensitive to come out? Joonie, I saw the way he looked at you that night and the boy is completely gone for you.”
“Okay, so I’m a dick for not trying to help him.” He scratched his head, seeing the situation from a whole different perspective. All these days passed and not even once he tried to message Jimin or call him, afraid the other wasn’t going to answer. How stupid he was. “I didn’t try to reach him in any other way… I didn’t call… I didn’t send a message… Oh God…”
“Calm down, ok? You had no way of guessing.” Hoseok patted Namjoon’s shoulder, giving him a reassuring smile. “Why don’t you send him a message today? Think about it.”
Namjoon took his phone from his pocked and studied the object carefully. What if it was too late for him to try to reach Jimin? Yes, he couldn’t just guess what happened so easily, as much as this possibility had already been discussed between all of them. He wasn’t that familiarized with the angel’s world – it was so different and so tricky in Namjoon’s mind. He questioned himself what he could say, if he should talk about such a sensitive subject or just ask if the other was ok. And what if Jimin didn’t answer him? Namjoon felt a headache welcoming him not so friendly, as he couldn’t stop overthinking the situation.
“Joonie, I can hear your brain engines working from here.” Hoseok laughed lightly, easily reading his friend’s behavior. They were used with Namjoon’s unique way of overthinking simple situations. “Just ask him if he is ok… and don’t forget saying that you miss him. Be honest, okay? There’s no need to make a fuss about sending Jimin a message.”
“Okay... I can do this.” Namjoon took a deep breath and unlocked his phone, clicking on the message app icon and started typing, letting his heart guide him on writing the angel a message. He followed Hoseok’s advice and tried to be as honest as he could.
*******
Jimin was chilling on the couch beside Jin, as they talked once again about where they could find Jungkook. He could notice his friend had a better idea of places they could search for the younger fallen angel, but he could also sense Jin didn’t want to share his thoughts with him. Honestly, Jimin reasoned, maybe it was a better option for Jin to talk to Jungkook by himself. They had a lot more to share and to solve between them and the last thing he wanted to do was to hinder his friends from solving such serious issues.
Jimin was now more than positive Jin and Jungkook were in love with each other. He still couldn’t understand how that was possible, but he knew exactly the feeling. Thinking about love made his mind wander towards Namjoon. First, he asked himself how the other was and what he was doing. After he questioned himself of the reasons why he didn’t try to reach the human before – yes, he was occupied with trying to find Jungkook but why couldn’t he find time to send Namjoon a message, just saying he was fine and asking how everything was going.
Now, several days passed and nor Jimin tried to reach the other, nor Namjoon tried to reach him. Maybe it was too late to solve this situation and Jimin’s absence sent the wrong message to Namjoon, making the other think he wasn’t interested anymore. His thoughts were interrupted by his phone buzzing on the back pocket of his pants. He took it and looked at the screen, smiling mindlessly with the notification he just received. It was a message from Namjoon.
– text message –
From: Joonie
Min… I don’t know how to actually write this, so here it goes. It’s been so long since the last time I saw you and I kept wondering myself if I did something wrong or if something happened. Is it everything okay? If there’s any possible way I can help you, please tell me. I don’t know what happened, nor if something actually did happen, but if your absence doesn’t mean you don’t want to see me anymore, please tell me. I want to be a part of your life and it doesn’t matter how crazy and different it is. Please, be safe, okay? Take care.
– text message –
He sighed, tears filling his eyes as he reread Namjoon’s message. It was like if the other was capable to read his mind – as much as he knew that wasn’t possible, it what it looked like. Jin noticed his behavior and approached him, reading the message Jimin just received. He smiled softly, finding extremely cute the way Namjoon wanted to be part of Jimin’s life. He realized he also wanted to live something like that with someone. The image of Jungkook flashed his mind, but he brushed the thought off quickly.
“You need to talk to him, Minie.” Jin rested his head on Jimin’s shoulder, sighing heavily. He couldn’t understand why his friend didn’t try to reach Namjoon. He knew the human would be understanding and even try to offer himself to help searching for Jungkook. “He has the right to know. And he wants to be a part of your life.”
“I know but, I wanted to put Jungkook as my priority at this moment. He needs us.” Jimin rested his head on Jin’s head, lowering his phone and taking the older’s hand, playing with his fingers. “And I don’t know how to approach him.”
“Jimin, you kissed him while straddling his lap. Are you kidding me?” Jin laughed softly, entertained with his friend’s sudden shyness. But he could understand Jimin at some point – it probably wasn’t so easy to talk to someone you nurture such deep feelings after a considerable time absent. “Why don’t you visit his dreams. That was how you started interacting, right? Maybe it’s the best way to reach him.”
“Your brilliant mind amazes me sometimes, you know?” Jimin chuckled, finding Jin’s idea perfect for the moment. He could surprise Namjoon and also feel more at ease on sharing with the other everything that happened in the past few days. But there was still something bothering him. “What about Jungkook?”
“Don’t worry about this.” Jin smiled, his previous reflection on the matter flooding his mind. He knew exactly where to find the younger now and, even if he couldn’t reach Jungkook right away, he still could get clues about how the other was doing at the moment. “I have an idea and I think it’s better for me to do this by myself. I know Kookie is also your priority, Minie, but you don’t have to cancel your life and your relationship with Namjoon because of that.”
Jimin smiled, reflecting on Jin’s words. He always thought his friend was the wiser of them all for a reason – he always knew what to say and how to analyze situation from a more mature perspective. That night he would follow Jin’s advice and visit Namjoon’s dream. He was going to open up with the other. He was going to include the human in his life, because Jimin wanted him to make part of it. He wanted to give his all to Namjoon.
*******
Jungkook only saw darkness around him. After a few time having nothing around him, he got used to it, almost blending with it into a pitch dark existence. It gave him a moment to think about everything that happened and the implication of his next choices. However knowing which side to choose, he couldn’t help a feeling deep inside of him that pulled him back into the light – he was in doubt. The problem was that wasn’t a great timing for doubting something. He knew Phenex would demand a decision and he knew what he would end up saying, but he couldn’t stop thinking about his friends and what he would do if they didn’t accept to join him.
He knew Jin enough to know it was unlikely for the older to choose hell, but he hoped whatever feeling was going on between them was enough reason to make the other reflect on the situation a little bit more. Jungkook hoped he was important enough for both Jimin and Jin go against their natural self. But what he would do if he wasn’t able to convince them? He thought for a second and tried to be as positive as he could – it wasn’t so bad, after all. It wasn’t like they would become great enemies; they would just have different choices and that wouldn’t stop them for being friends. At least, that was what he convinced himself to.
After a few moment (he wasn’t able to feel time passing properly since he arrived The Underworld) he started sensing everything around him – the small noises coming from afar, the voices around him, the steps. Every single movement was now on his mind while he regained conscience. He tried opening his eyes, lazily blinking them to stop his vision from being blurred. When his sight was more focused, he looked around, finding a familiar figure sitting right in front of his bed – Dantalion.
Jungkook sat on the bed slowly, scratching his head and taking a deep breath. He felt a light pain on his back, right where his wings were ripped off and a shiver ran through his body at the memory of what had happened, making him groan softly. It took Dantalion’s attention. The demon was reading something, but now he was fully looking at Jungkook. He smiled softly and got up, approaching the younger.
“Good morning, sunshine!” Dantalion chuckled softly, patting Jungkook’s head. The younger looked at the demon with a quizzical look, not understanding the sympathetic behavior after the painful and chaotic first meeting he had with the demon. Dantalion noticed Jungkook’s behavior and laughed loudly. “Oh, come on, Kookie! Let’s forget our first meeting. We’re family now.”
“We are?” Jungkook frowned. He never thought demons treated themselves as a family. That was not the image he had when he first got introduced to them. He looked around once again, brushing off the thought and analyzing the place around him. It looked like this gothic hospital, with funny black beds lined up side by side. Dantalion followed Jungkook’s eyes, finding the younger’s curiosity funny.
“Do you thing you’re able to stand? Phenex is waiting for you.” Dantalion’s words got Jungkook’s attention and the younger looked back at the demon, digesting his words. Phenex wanted to see him and he knew exactly why – he had to make his final choice, even though he was already being treated as one of them. Dantalion interrupted his thoughts. “Come on! I can even show you the place later!”
“Okay…” Jungkook sighed, getting up slowly, his feet getting used to a soft different feeling. Finally, the younger noticed someone changed his clothes. He was now dressed on this perfectly fitted (and fancy) black suit, with a black button up shit and an also black tie, plus a gold rolex on his wrist and shiny genuine leather dress shoes. He rose his eyebrows and gave Dantalion a questioning look.
“We dress up fancy over here, okay? Get used to it!” Dantalion smiled, leading Jungkook to a dark corridor. The younger could still see the same gothic stile he saw on the room he was, he looked at the walls and saw all the type of sinful artworks – but it was, mostly, people having sex in weird positions.
They arrived a fancy meeting room, with a long wooden table and about 22 chairs around it. Phenex was sitting at the head of the table, reading what it looked like a normal book. Jungkook and Dantalion approached slowly, but the sudden movement took Phenex’s attention and the demon looked at the two entering the room. Dantalion smirked and pointed at Jungkook. “The boy wants to talk to you.”
“Oh…” Phenex faked his surprise and gave Jungkook a warm smile, pointing the chair by his right side. He knew the younger would want to talk to him as soon as possible and he could even guess the reason. The difference was now the demon had no intention on keeping a sweet talk with Jungkook. The other needed to know the impact of his choices from now on. “Please, sit here.”
Jungkook sat, took a deep breath and fidgeted a bit, trying to find the right words to talk to Phenex. As much as he thought talking about his friends wasn’t a big deal, he couldn’t stop this feeling he was about to cross some invisible line and do something wrong. “I was wondering when I could talk to Jin and Jimin…”
“Ah… the friends.” Phenex sighed, finding extremely annoying Jungkook’s insistency on the other fallen angels. Maybe it was time for the demon finally give the younger a piece of his mind, maybe even tell the other the new reality of his beloved friends. “I can let you see them this time, but if they don’t support our cause, then you won’t se them anymore.”
“Why?” Jungkook frowned. He thought now they were all fallen that wouldn’t be a problem. Jin and Jimin even could not choose the same path as him but they could still be close to each other. Everything was really confused inside the younger’s mind and he could feel there was something more. “I don’t understand.”
“Because they’re the enemy now, my dear Jungkookie.” Phenex chuckled, amazed by the younger’s wide eyes and pale face. But he wasn’t going to be the one who ruins the surprise, so he smiled softly and winked at Dantalion. “But maybe you should see that for yourself. Go after your friends and let them tell you what they chose to themselves.”
Dantalion approached Jungkook and squeezed his arm lightly, pulling the younger out of the chair and guiding him back to the corridors. The demon couldn’t stop himself from laughing of the younger’s comic face – he was clearly in denial and that amused Dantalion deeply. They walked through different places; the place was lighter now and Jungkook could feel they were going up, as if they were climbing a ramp.
The younger was extremely confused. What Phenex meant when he said Jin and Jimin were now their enemies? How that could be possible if they were now fallen angels just like him? They were kicked out of heaven, so how could they be against each other now? Jungkook felt a light headache with the unanswered questions filling his mind. Maybe his friends could explain this better, just like Phenex said. Maybe the demon was lying, after all, demons were liars – as he hoped so.
They stopped in front what it looked like a portal, Jungkook thought. He was completely right and Dantalion positioned him in front of the shiny door – it had this beautiful glow, it looked like glittery water, beautiful and mesmerizing. He wanted to touch the portal, but the demon stopped him for a moment. “You have to mentalize the place you want to go. You’re not obligated to come back now, but since your transformation is yet to be completed, you’ll have to appear, okay?”
“Okay.” Jungkook took a deep breath and gave Dantalion a shy smile. He had to think about where he wanted to go and all he could thing about was Jin – his eyes, his plumped lips and the way his hug felt like home. Home. He closed his eyes and thought about the place he shared with his friends while walking closer to the portal. With one final move, he let himself be embraced by the light, finally crossing the watery door.
*******
When Namjoon laid on his bed that night, he was restless. He couldn’t stop thinking about the message he sent Jimin – and also about the lack of response from the angel. Now that was something unlike the other. He knew Jimin wasn’t the type of person to let others with no response. He was too kind and polite to act so rude. Truth was now he was really concerned with what could have possibly happened with the angel.
His mind couldn’t stop going back and forth through all their moments together, trying to remember a detail or a phrase that could explain him being missing so suddenly. All he wanted to know was if Jimin was okay, if he needed help and, most importantly, if he was able to help the other. Sometimes the distance between their worlds was so palpable he could sense his body miles and miles away from the angel.
Namjoon didn’t even realize he finally slept, overcome by his tiredness, until he opened his eyes to find out he was in Jeju – most exactly on the same place Jimin revealed himself to be his guardian angel. He took a deep breath, embracing the beauty of the place, the silver glow of the moonlight illuminating him almost made everything feel very magical, but something was missing – or rather, someone was missing.
He almost jumped on his seat when he felt small and slightly chubby hands covering his eyes. He knew those hands so well… he loved to play with them, to massage his fingers and hear his sweet laugh with the way he was always so engaged with cherishing those hands. Jimin’s hands. Now everything was perfect again. Namjoon smiled softly, breathing slowly to try to calm his racing heart – dying of a heart attack while dreaming wasn’t his plan.
“I’m sorry for disappearing.” Jimin whispered on Namjoon’s ear, taking in the other’s earthy scent he loved so much. His hands slid gently over the other’s face, caressing his cheeks, traveling though his neck, squeezing lightly his shoulders and going down until Jimin found Namjoon’s waist, embracing the other tightly in a back hug and resting his chin on the human’s shoulder. They stick like that for a while, enjoying each other’s presence after being apart for so long – days that mostly felt like weeks. When Jimin finally moved, he kept his body close to Namjoon, sitting by his side and entangling their arms together, smiling to that beautiful place in front of them. “Too many things happened.”
“I have all the time in the world.” Namjoon smiled softly, taking Jimin’s hands in his and squeezing them lightly. He didn’t want to push the other on doing something he didn’t want to. All Namjoon wanted was to make sure Jimin knew he was there for him, that he wanted to help, to embrace him and protect him.
But Jimin understood him perfectly and knowing the one he loved wanted to be by his side no matter what was heartwarming. He never thought he could feel something like this for someone and being corresponded. Romantic love was something so strange to his previous reality he never thought it could be possible. Jimin was only a spectator of other people’s lives, their loves and heartbreaks and now he was the main character of his own love story. He took a deep breath and finally looked at Namjoon in the eyes. “We lost our wings.”
Namjoon was out of words. He knew this could happen, Jimin already warned him about this, but knowing it actually happened was different. Part of him felt guilty, because he knew Jimin only broke the rules by getting involved with him, but other part was relieved – he felt like they could have a more normal relationship from now on. But he could feel there was something else bothering the other, so he tried, hesitantly intertwining their fingers. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Losing my wings was painless, actually. The problem was Jungkook.” Jimin closed his eyes, trying to calm his breathing, but unable to stop the tears from falling. The images were still pretty alive inside his mind, the way the younger tried to attack Barachiel, his scream. Jimin felt a shiver running down through his spine. “He lost his mind, tried to attack the chief of guardian angels and the sentinels ripped off his wings… I will never forget his scream.”
Namjoon’s eyes were wide. He couldn’t think about Jungkook doing something like that – and he also didn’t know what angered the younger so much. Of course, being an angel and losing his wings wasn’t something nice, but he couldn’t understand that reaction. “But is he okay now?”
“We don’t know.” Jimin sighed, hiding his face on the crock of Namjoon’s neck. Being so close to the other kept him grounded and made him feel safe, so he cherished every second of it. He thought about Jin for a moment. The older was now searching for Jungkook and everything Jimin wanted was for him to find the younger. “We couldn’t find him since we came back. That was why I was missing. Now Jin is searching for him… and I think it’s for the best. They have a different connection, just like us.”
Namjoon reflected a little bit on Jimin’s words. He noticed something different between Jin and Jungkook that day in his house, so maybe they really shared something special, maybe more than friends. It looked like the younger gravitated around Jin, so he could see what Jimin was talking about. He played with Jimin’s chubby fingers a little bit, a few doubts still floating around his mind. “Can I ask you one thing?”
Jimin smiled. The way Namjoon respected his individuality in a way he asked for permission to ask something a little more personal mesmerized Jimin. He raised his head and faced the other, taking his features in – his dragon eyes, always so piercing, his beautiful nose and plumped lips. Suddenly he felt the need to kiss Namjoon, but limited himself to answer the question. “Of course you can.”
“Why did Jungkook react like that?” He looked at Jimin in the eyes, genuinely curious about what happened to the younger. Jimin’s smile saddened a bit, but before Namjoon could feel guilty for asking about this, the now fallen angel gave him a kiss, just a quick peck on his lips, to reassure him everything was okay.
“He thinks it’s unfair. So, he didn’t accept it and started feeding a lot of anger inside of him. It’s really dangerous for an angel to keep those type of feelings in his heart. It’s a feast for demons.” Jimin faced the horizon, thinking about the fight he had with the younger about this and how he could feel the other’s hatred in his skin. He looked back at Namjoon and almost laughed. He had a confused face Jimin found extremely cute, so he kept explaining the situation. “Demons hunt fallen angels. They try to recruit them to Lucifer’s cause, to fight against God and bring chaos to Earth.”
“And they’re after Jungkook.” Namjoon reasoned, following Jimin’s line of thought. He could see the big problem the other had in his hands. “But you’re also a fallen angel. Aren’t they after you?”
“Jin said he felt a demon on Jungkook bedroom a few days ago, so yes… they’re after him. We’re actually afraid they already got him.” Jimin couldn’t stop the agony from taking control of him, like a cold and uncomfortable hug. He never considered losing the younger to demons, specially in their position now. If Jungkook became a demon, then they were natural enemies. “And demons can’t recruit me… nor Jin. We were designated as demon hunters.”
Namjoon’s mouth formed a “o”, absorbing the new information. He had to admit Jimin being a demon hunter was something extremely sexy – and he, of course, kept that thought buried inside his head for self-preservation purposes. “I don’t think you should worry about Jungkook.”
Jimin raised an eyebrow at Namjoon, his eyes questioning the other. Namjoon smiled softly, his dimples gracing his cheeks and Jimin couldn’t stop himself from poking them, laughing softly while doing it. He gestured for Namjoon to keep talking. “He may feel lost now, but he has a good heart. I can feel it. He’ll be back when he feels ready.”
He thought about what Namjoon said and thought it was funny, because Barachiel kept saying the same thing and somehow, he didn’t understand that. Jungkook really had a pure heart so, any feeling that was bothering him now wouldn’t be enough for him to choose hell – that was something unthinkable in his head. “Thank you for saying this.”
“No problem.” Namjoon’s smile grew wider and he felt bold, gently bringing Jimin closer and making him sit on his lap. Jimin wrapped his legs around Namjoon's waist and hugged the other tightly, as if his life depended on it. They stayed like that for a long time, with Jimin glued to Namjoon like a panda bear on a tree trunk. They were each other’s safe place.
*******
The club neon lights made Jin’s eyes hurt. He simply hated that kind of place, but anything was valid in order to find Jungkook. He couldn’t bear a moment away from the other, not knowing how the younger was, if he needed help, if he was safe. His heart ached thinking about how bad his recovery would be after having his wings ripped off like that. He shook the thought away while walking through the crowd.
He stopped in front of the bar and scanned the place, feeling eyes watching him. He knew he was good looking, but attention wasn’t something he was looking for at the moment. A beautiful woman stopped by his side, trying to be provocative by rubbing her hips against Jin’s and the fallen angel had to stop himself from laughing, finding the situation kind of comic, but this wasn’t the moment for losing his time with that. He was a man with a goal, so he was pretty direct when he first spoke. “Have you seen a Jungkook around here?”
“Jungkook? Is he cute like you?” The mysterious woman laughed seductively, leaning her body closer to Jin, her nose brushing his neck lightly. He rolled his eyes with annoyance and held her by her shoulders, pushing her body away from him and looking at her in the eyes.
“He’s almost the same height as me, medium length wavy hair that he mostly uses tied on a bun, cute bunny like teeth… have you seen him?” Before Jin could ask the woman something more, the bartender appeared, eavesdropping the entire conversation. He tapped Jin’s shoulder lightly and with a smile, greeted the other.
“Hello! I think I saw your Jungkook.” He said, already aware of the possibility of one of Jungkook’s friends trying to find him, as Phenex warned. He looked at the woman and gestured for her to leave. When they were finally alone in their personal space, he spoke. “I saw him with Phenex and Dantalion. Maybe you could find your lover boy with them.”
“Uh… He’s not my lover boy.” Jin blushed with the other’s assumptions about his relationship with Jungkook. Yes, things were very confused inside his head (and his heart), but he never stopped to think about things on that light.
“Well, believe in anything that makes you sleep at night.” The bartender chuckled, supporting his chin on his hand and taking a good look at Jin. He was probably the most handsome man that ever appeared on that bar, so he couldn’t pass unnoticed. Good for him, maybe his next moves would give him some points with Phenex. “But you should find your… friend… as soon as possible. Walking with demons is never safe, I can say that for myself.”
Jin stopped for a second, looking at the bartender with widened eyes. So, he was right when he felt a demon inside Jungkook’s room. The younger was really relating with them somehow. That was worse than anything he thought about, specially in this new reality. Jungkook was a feast for demons, he would be easily recruited – a young fallen angel full of hate was everything they wanted.
Everything revolved around him as he bumped into the crowd, trying to leave the club. He felt eyes on him, he saw faces but everything felt like a blur, like this neon and weird dream he was stuck into. Everything he could think about was Jungkook and the possibility of him being related with demons. If that was true, then they were enemies and what could happen from that? His feelings towards the younger were still confuse in his heart – he felt things he didn’t know what meant and never thought it would be possible to feel. He spent his entire existence watching his ‘one’s’ falling in and out of love, but he could never feel with them. He never knew loving someone would be so terrifying and confusing… and he didn’t even consider this new aspect of their situation: him as a demon hunter and Jungkook as a demon.
He walked the streets, trying to find the younger in every single face he saw. He just wanted to find the other and demand him to explain everything. He wanted to hold Jungkook and take care of him, make the pain and the doubts go away and mostly protect him from the darkness he knew very well the other was battling against. Jungkook was a pure soul and Jin was aware of that – he wouldn’t let the younger lose his essence without a good fight.
When he arrived home, Jimin was waiting for him. Jin put away his coat and his shoes, entering the living room slowly. He let his body sink into the couch right by Jimin’s side and the younger eyed him carefully. Jimin could see how tired and disturbed the older look and considered what that could mean. Jin clearly didn’t find Jungkook, but he sure found out something really serious. He waited for the older to star talking, but he still wasn’t ready to share whatever happened.
“Did you talk to Namjoon?” Jin’s voice sounded like a weak whisper, his face focused on the TV – that was turned off. He couldn’t face Jimin yet and he couldn’t mention Jungkook at the moment, so he thought it was a better idea to distract himself with Jimin’s news first.
“Yes… I told him everything.” Jimin smiled, sensing Jin’s intentions with bringing Namjoon up. If the older wanted a reason to stop thinking on whatever was bothering him, than Jimin was sure going to help him. “It was nice. I missed him.”
Jimin told Jin about his conversation with Namjoon, the questions he answered and his mention to Jungkook’s situation. He talked about how funny was the fact Namjoon talked about the younger just like Barachiel always did. “We stayed a long time just enjoying each other’s presence. I feel like that with him sometimes… like if I don’t need words, I just need to have him close to me and everything feels right. He makes me feel safe.”
“I wanted to know what that feels like…” Jin sighed, remembering all the times he saw humans falling in love, sharing intimate moments, touches. He thought about having that with someone and instantly thought about Jungkook. That was clearly a bad idea. “But it seems that nothing comes easy for me.”
“What do you mean?” Jimin knew exactly Jin was talking about Jungkook, but tried to keep it cool. It was the first time the older talked about the other like that, so he didn’t want to do anything that would discourage this conversation. Jin looked at him and rolled his eyes – he knew Jimin could read him with the back of his hand.
“You know what I’m talking about.” Jin hid his face with his hands, the bartender words alive in his head, the mention to demons ringing on his ears like an annoying sound, giving him a slight headache. He let his hands fall on his lap, feeling completely defeated. “I found out something.”
Before Jimin could say something, they felt the air change, as if someone was there with them. They looked at each other with a frown on their faces, silently questioning what could be possibly happening. A flashing light startled them and suddenly, materialized in the middle of the living room was the person they spent days looking for. Jungkook.