Archive of Our Own

Today was a special day.

The movement and noise in the dorm were a statement of that. Every boy there was doing something different: Seokjin was in the kitchen; Namjoon and Yoongi finished cleaning the living room and now went to the convenience store for snacks; and Hoseok, Taehyung, and Jungkook were decorating the room. Or that was what they were supposed to do.

“Guys, can you please stop playing and finish that?” Seokjin asked as he took a look at the room where his friends were and saw how Taehyung was wrapping Hoseok in a serpentine. Jungkook was sat on the floor looking at his hyungs with a big smile and a deflated balloon in his hands. “Jimin will be here at any moment and I want the decorations to be done at least.”

“Don’t worry hyung”, Taehyung said with a big grin, “we are almost done anyway. Besides, I’m wrapping Jimin’s gift now”, and continued to go around the older boy who look at him with a soft smile.

Jin shook his head but continued to smile at the antics of his second youngest friend. He kept the same expression as he stirred the pots in front of him. He really couldn’t be mad now, probably neither of them could be today.

Today was the last monthly evaluation that Jimin would be gone through before being an official member of the group. After start living with them some months ago with the prospect of being part of the group, he had been practicing diligently every day to earn his place fairly. Every evaluation of the dancer has been passed with flying colors and everyone was expecting this wouldn’t be any different.

It was an understatement to say that the rest of the boys were happy. Despite that, they already considered themselves a team, the fact that today that would be official have them over the moon. After sending their Jimin to his evaluation with a bunch of pats, hugs, kisses, and “Fighting!”, they had spend their free afternoon preparing Jimin’s surprise party. It was Taehyung idea to do one. Probably he was the more excited for his friend. He was excited when he first met him and now was even more excited over the thought of debuting together.

Now, with the house clean, decorated and the food almost done, it was just a matter of time before the boy of the party come.

As if the world was listening to his thoughts, the door opened. But before Seokjin couldn’t even start panicking, the voice of the eldest rapper sounded around the tiny apartment. “It’s us!”

Taehyung complained without hiding his disappointment, “I thought it was Jiminie”.

Jin lowered the heat and walked over to the other room with the rest of his friends.

“We have snacks!” Namjoon announced ignoring the complaints and raised the bags in his hands.

“Thanks, Namjoon-ah, leave them in the kitchen for now”, Jin said with a soft smile.

“Should I ask?” Yoongi spoke while looking at Hoseok, who now had a big bow on his head.

“I'm Jimin’s gift!” responded simply with a big smile and laugh that seem to light the whole world. Even Yoongi seems unable to control the smile that was spreading on his face.

“You? A gift?” Namjoon joked from the kitchen.

Hoseok turned around as fast as he could move and faced his friend. “You are offending me, Namjoonie”, said without any real offense in his voice.

Ignoring the bickering, Seokjin moved next to the youngest and sat by his side after ruffling his hair. There were three balloons at his other side, the testimony of his work. “Let me help you”, said simply and he received a big bunny smile as a response.

The rest of the boys moved to continue to help. Yoongi went to the kitchen to watch the kimchi stew. Namjoon and Taehyung hung the balloons that were given to them. And Hoseok… well, he just sat on the floor without being able to move, but that didn’t stop him from laughing when Namjoon exploded a balloon by accident.

Just before he hung the next one, a click sound came from the front door. Everyone stopped for a moment before started to move again more chaotically. Seokjin stood up and helped Hoseok to do it too. Taehyung abandoned his balloons and ran to gave the party pooper to the rest and put himself in the front line to welcome his friend first.

As soon Jimin’s figure appeared at the entrance of the living room, the party poopers exploded, followed by a bunch of “Congratulations!”

Everyone was expecting a big smile and maybe a couple of tears on Jimin‘s face. But all that followed was an awkward silence.

“Wh-what? What is this, guys?” Jimin managed to said moments later.

“We are having a party for you!” said his friend. The confused look on Jimin made him elaborate, “For passing your evaluation and be officially part of the group, yay!” Taehyung clapped happily without noticing how the face of his friend dropped.

“Jimin,” Hoseok said moving to the front as fast as he could, “what happened?”

“It’s...” he stopped for a moment to look at his hyung, “Why are you wrapped out?”

“Don’t matter now”, said as he started to move, trying to free himself, Jimin found the knot and the serpentine fell to the floor. “What happened?” Asked again now rubbing his hand in his friend‘s back.

Jimin breathed deeply and let it out. “I didn’t pass”.

A second of silence, then a collective “What?!” and the popping sound of the balloon that Namjoon had in his hands was heard in the whole apartment.

“Guys, be quiet” whined Jimin, “the neighbors gonna complain again”.

“Screw the neighbors”, Yoongi said, “what do you mean you didn’t pass?”.

He sighed annoyed and dragged his hair to the back. “That hyung, I didn’t pass”, answered a little bit exasperated.

“But how?” Namjoon asked now, “You always get a perfect score”. Jimin’s shoulders fell and so it did his backpack that was hanging in his right shoulder. His eyes follow it and sighed loudly once again.

“Guys, let’s sit down”, Seokjin proposed and everyone listened to their eldest hyung. Jimin sat down with a loud thunk, Hoseok to his left and Taehyung to his right, who turned around completely to look at him with sad eyes. The rest sat down and completed the circle with Jungkook right in front of Jimin, looking him attentive with his big eyes and in silence. “Please, tell us what happened”, Seokjin asked after a moment where no one emitted a sound.

Jimin exhaled. “It’s just that...” he moved his hands around, opened, and closed his mouth trying to find the right words but he ended giving up. “I don’t know”.

Hoseok rubbed his back once again.

“I was prepared... At least I thought I was prepared. But when I was in front of PD-nim I just... My mind went blank, and I forgot the steps of the dance and my voice wasn’t good and... it was a mess”, answered as he played with a thread of his sweatpants. “I thought I would do fine” he said trying to convince the other, “but I was just a disappointment”.

“Don’t say that Jimin-ah”, Hoseok said grabbing his arm.

“And you guys,” his eyes moved around the circle to the other boys and stopped on his own feet, “you encouraged me all this time, practiced with me even though I overworked sometimes, and were patient with me, and even now you threw me a party but all I did was to disappoint you”.

The room once again was invaded by the voices of all the boys present trying to comfort his friend. Someone coughing loudly put everyone in silence.

“Jimin,” Namjoon started, “no one is disappointed or mad at you. You will always be our Jiminie no matter what, okay?” Jimin gave him a sad smile. “We are just... sad”.

“I know”, he lamented, “it wasn’t my intention”.

“We know that”.

Everyone stayed in silence for a couple of minutes. Just the sounds of their breathing and the ticks of the clock were heard there.

“But, you can try again next month, right?” Taehyung‘s question broke the silence.

“I mean, yeah,” he doubted for a moment, “but they already want to start the preparation for the debut. Even if I try next month, you will be already started with it and I will be left behind anyway”.

“Then let’s ask him to let you try again this week!”

Jimin sounded tired, “You know how it’s PD-nim, Tae, he won’t let me do it again”.

“Do this mean,” Jungkook spoke for the first time, “that Jimin hyung won’t debut with us?”.

“Sadly... yes”, answered Jimin.

“No!” Taehyung was on his feet in a second, “that’s not fair!” Said hitting the floor with his foot.

“Taehyung-ah”, Yoongi warned with a soft voice but he ignored it.

“We are supposed to be debut together! We are supposed to be seven! What kind of group has six members?!”

“Taehyungie,” Seokjin called with a warm but firm voice; he looked at him, “please”.

Just a second and his knees hit the floor.

“It’s just not fair”, repeated and threw himself to the neck of his friend.

Jimin brushed his hair, “I’m sorry”, but Taehyung shook his head hiding in the neck of Jimin.

The atmosphere was heavy. Any sign of the happiness that was there hours before disappeared. Everyone shared stares, not knowing what to say or do.

“I... I’m gonna take a shower and go to sleep”, Jimin said to the group pulling his friend off him.

“But”, Seokjin exclaimed but doubt for a moment, “I made your favorite”.

“Hyung”, Jimin started, trying to excuse himself, “you made it to celebrate but there is nothing to celebrate now”.

“I made it for you”, corrected him. “Because I- we love you and you deserved it”. They look at each other for a moment, “Please, you should eat. You use a lot of energy today. Please Jimin-ah”, begged for last time. He sighed loudly but then nodded. “Okay”, the oldest smile a little, “let’s set the table”.

Jin stood up and dragged Yoongi with him to help in the kitchen. The rest except Jimin and Taehyung start moving around, accommodated the little table, and put everything they needed there. A couple of minutes later, everything was set, the pot with the stew in the center. Seokjin took Jimin's bowl and served him first.

“Enjoy it”, said with a little smile as he put it in front of him.

Jimin mumbled a ‘thank you’ and looked at his plate. It really was his favorite. On any other occasion, he would have been really happy to have homemade food from his hyung after eating chicken breast every day. But now, it only made him feel worse.

He looked up at the rest and noticed how everyone was waiting for him to eat. Jimin took his spoon and brought a little of his stew to his mouth.

“It’s really good, hyung”, said looking at Seokjin, who gave him an eyes smile and start eating too.

It really was good. He only wished he could enjoy it.

Sounds of the spoons hitting with the bowls were the only thing that was heard. No one talked or even looked at each other. The atmosphere was tense to even do that.

When around 2/3 of Jimin’s bowl was empty, he put it back on the table. “Thanks for the food, hyung”, said softly.

“It’s no problem Jiminie”, Seokjin answered him with a tiny smile.

“I’m really want to go take a shower and go to sleep”, asked once again.

“It’s okay, go”.

Jimin nodded and stood up. He went to the hall and then disappeared. The rest only heard the movement in their room, then click on the door and then how the water start running. The next thing they heard was how abruptly Taehyung put his almost full bowl, dropping part of it in the table. Everyone looked at him, expectantly, and he just looked at his curled hands over his knees. One second later, a sob was heard.

Automatically, the oldest went to his side and dragged him against his chest, and hugged him tightly. Taehyung continued sobbing without returning the hug and Seokjin rubbed his back and murmured words to his hair that only them could hear.

Taehyung crying seem to break the tense atmosphere, the others started to move again. Hoseok fell on his back with a loud sigh and Yoongi almost seems to follow him but instead, his hands hold him upright. Namjoon dragged himself to the near wall and rest there, and Jungkook played with the food on his plate without any intention of eating it. All of them lost their appetite if the sight of their bowls could tell something.

“This sucks”, Namjoon said.

“We can tell”, Yoongi answered tiredly.

“There is nothing we can do?”Hoseok asked from the floor.

“I mean,” Namjoon ruffled his hair, “we can talk to Bang PD-nim and try to convince him to give Jimin another chance but you know how he is. If he made the decision, it’s really complicated to change his mind”.

“But not impossible”, Hoseok pointed out.

Before they could continue, the water stopped and everyone went back to silence. Even Taehyung tried to hold his sobbing. There was a click of the door again.

“I’m going to sleep”, Jimin announced without showing himself.

“Okay, good night”, the oldest answered still holding Tae, followed by more mumble “good night” of the rest of the group.

They heard the door of their bedroom close and minutes later they start talking again, lowly this time.

“We gonna talk with PD-nim, right?” Hoseok asked for confirmation while sitting again.

“Of course we gonna do it”, Yoongi answered almost offended by the idea of not doing it.

“But if he doesn’t want to listen to us?” Seokjin asked the question that everyone have in their mind.

“We gonna make him listen to us”.

Confused by the sound of neither of their voices, they looked at the next option. The youngest put his bowl back to the table and looked directly into Jin’s eyes.

Hoseok laughed incredulous, “What? You gonna kidnapped him?” joked.

“If we have to”, said matter of factly.

“Are you serious?” Hoseok almost screamed and the rest shushed him. “Are you serious?” Asked again, now whispering.

“Of course, no one wants Jimin hyung to leave, right? So we have to do everything we can to make him stay”, said firmly.

Everyone looked at Jungkook, even Taehyung free himself from the oldest’s arms to look at his youngest friend. And everyone could see the passion in his eyes, one that was usually seen when he sang or dance.

Yoongi smirked, “I like this kid”.

“Jungkookie is right,” Taehyung spoke for the first time in a while, his face covered with tears and his nose still running, “we can’t let Jimin go”.

“No one wants him to go”, Namjoon repeated tiredly, “but we won’t kidnap anyone”.

“Yet”, Yoongi added.

Both rappers look at each other for a moment that seems eternal.

“Yet”, Namjoon agreed. “But let’s not go ahead of ourselves. Early tomorrow we gonna go talk to Bang PD-nim and let’s see what happens, okay?” Everyone nodded to their unofficial leader, “For now let’s clean up and go to rest, alright?” Said everyone but his eyes was in the two youngest.

“Alright”, Taehyung said as he drag the sleeve on his shirt to his face to dry his tears. Jin stopped him and dried him instead, more softly with his sleeves.

No one moved from their spot. Seokjin continued to wipe the tears from his second youngest and then helped him blow his nose with a napkin. Hoseok and Yoongi lay down on the floor watching the ceiling in silence, Jungkook went back to his food silently and Namjoon watched them all, thinking about how to approach their boss tomorrow, what to say and what to do to keep Jimin with them.

“Namjoon-ah,“ Yoongi spoke from the floor still looking at the ceiling; he looked at his hyung, “I can hear you thinking”.

“Sorry”, said smiling sheepishly.

“Don’t worry hyung,” Taehyung said, “everything will be alright”.

Usually, he would believe him immediately but his red eyes made it a little difficult now. After Seokjin stop cleaning the face of the second youngest, he stood up and start cleaning the table. Little by little, all the boys started to move, ones helping to clean and the others taking off the decorations.

Taehyung looked at the banner that read “Congratulations Jimin!” that he and Jungkook made earlier and that now he have to take off the wall.

“Don’t throw it,” Yoongi spoke from behind him, “we gonna use it again”.

Tae gave him a little smile and start folding a little more carefully and hopeful.

10 minutes later, all it was clean again and the boys were taking turns to use the shower while Jin finished storing the food they didn’t eat in the fridge. When he opened it, he saw the small cake he buy early and couldn’t control the sigh that escaped his lips.

Someone put a hand on his shoulder and Seokjin turned around a little. “It’s okay hyung,” Namjoon started, “everything is gonna be okay”. It sounded like he was trying to convince himself.

“I know”, the oldest simply responded.

As he finished his task, Taehyung entered the living room with a towel around his neck and his hair dampened.

“Jin hyung”, said softly, “the bathroom is free, you can go shower now”.

“Ah, thanks, Taehyungie”, he passed by his side but a hand in his arm stopped him.

Jin turned around to face Taehyung.

“Hyung”, he hesitated for a moment.

“Yes?” Encouraged him to continue.

He opened his mouth but before any sound came out, Taehyung wrapped his arms around his hyung. “Thank you” he said hiding his face between his neck and shoulder.

Jin blinked a couple of times before returning the hug the best he could, “Thanks? For what?”

The youngest separated himself and shrugged. “You know,” they looked at each other eyes for the first time, “for everything”. And Seokjin knew what were the thoughts that were hidden in his mind.

He smiled widely and ruffled the hair of his friend, “No problem. Also,“ without a warning he wrapped his arms around Taehyung again and lifted him in the air for a moment, “thanks to you too”.

The boy giggled trying to hold himself, “Why?” asked when his feet were on the floor once again.

“For being you”, answered simply. “For being such a good boy and a good friend. Everyone here appreciates that, even if they don’t say it out loud”. Seokjin caressed his cheek, “I hope you know that”.

A big grin spread on his face showing the first boxy smile in hours. His eyes shined brightly and without thinking much, he hugged him again. Seokjin giggled and hug him back too.

The sound of steps getting closer made Taehyung look over the shoulder of his eldest hyung and saw Yoongi watching them from the entrance of the room with an eyebrow up.

“Hyung, come here”, called him extending his arm.

“No way”, it’s all he said before turning around and left the room.

Taehyung ended the hug and ran behind his second oldest with a soft giggle escaping his lips. He was about to say something but Yoongi put a finger on his lips and opened the door of their bedroom.

The room was in darkness except for the lamp on the side of Jungkook‘s bed. The others were already in their beds or getting ready for it in silence, all in favor of the already sleeping boy in one of the lower bunks.

Yoongi entered the room in silence and Taehyung followed him clicking the door quietly as he could. Dragging his feet, he went to the side of the bed his best friend occupied, lower himself to the floor, and sat there. Put his chin on the mattress, close to the face of the other boy, and stayed there, watching Jimin sleep. His respiration was calm and didn’t seem like he was having any bad dreams. Taehyung was glad. But even in the dark, he still noticed the road that tears made through his face. His chest felt heavy and couldn’t help to touch the face of his friend, trying to clean the now dry tears. Jimin mumbled something in his sleep but didn’t wake up. Tae moved his hand to Jimin’s hair and started caress it softly.

“Taehyung-ah,” someone called him in low voice. He raised his eyes and saw Seokjin with dampened hair. He didn’t notice when his hyung entered the room, “you should go rest”.

“Just a minute more”, Taehyung murmured turning to Jimin again.

Seokjin watched him for a moment and then nodded, although Taehyung wasn’t watching him anymore, and left to his bed.

True to his word, a minute later, the second youngest raised from the floor, pat Jimin’s hair for the last time, and went up to the higher bunk. A couple of movements and he was under his blankets looking at the ceiling.

“Good night”, whispered to the room.

A couple of ‘good night’ and ‘sleep well’, and a click on the lamp later, the room was in the dark and in silence.

Even though no one was making any sounds, Taehyung knew that none was sleeping yet even after 30 minutes of silence. And he was pretty sure that everyone was thinking the same. Even with the nervousness, he felt very confident that they would convince PD-nim to make Jimin a member of their group.

They would convince him, at any price.

—-

To say that Jimin had a bad night of sleep was an understatement. He woke around 2 am and stayed awake tossing around until some point in the morning. A nightmare of him being left behind by the rest woke him up, only to realize that was what was going to happen. The thought didn’t let him sleep for hours. At some point, he fell asleep again but he didn’t rest.

A ray of light went directly to Jimin‘s eyes, waking him but he refused to open it yet. His body felt heavy, more than when he stay practicing until late. His eyes also were heavy but for a different reason. After leaving his friends and go to bed, he cried his eyes out under his blankets, silent his sobbing with the pillow. Crying made him tired and knock him out at some point. Now his entire self felt like dying.

Slowly, Jimin opened his eyes, the light bothered him for a moment until he was accustomed to it. The sun outside told him that it was early morning, maybe 8 or 9. It was Tuesday so there wasn’t practice until the afternoon, but it really mattered that now to him? The thought made him uncomfortable in his stomach so he turned his body into a ball under his blankets.

Jimin stayed like that until the noise around him made him react. Or the lack of it in this case. Everything was so silent that it made him felt uncomfortable. After living with the other six boys for a couple of months, he was used to the constant noise around him at any moment of the day. It was almost comforting. But now, everything was gone.

Removing his blankets and sitting up, Jimin took a look at the rest of the room and found it empty. Surprised, he stood up and left. In the hallway, he spoke out. “Guys?”

But only more silence was the answer. The dancer checked all the other places in their dorm and stopped in their living room realizing that he was alone. They really left him behind. The heaviness in his stomach came back.

Jimin looked around for an answer and it was when he saw the note with his name on the fridge that he found it. He took the note and read it.

“Jimin, we had to leave early to the company but we will come back soon. Eat something please! We love you”, the handwriting of his eldest hyung read. At the bottom there was another writing, “ps; I left your phone charging on the sala, you’re welcome”, his best friend told him.

He couldn’t stop the smile on his face. They didn’t leave him. Not permanently at least. With an easy heart, he could now continue his morning routine.

After washing himself, he stopped by where his friend put his phone. There wasn’t any message but he supposed that everyone was busy if the company called them so early and without prior notice.

And without him.

Shaking his head, he made his way to the kitchen to ate breakfast. Just a bowl of cereal and milk will be enough for now. A cake greeted him when he opened the fridge, both sadness and happiness filled him. Jimin just ignored his feeling for now. But while chowing his food, standing in the kitchen with his eyes stuck in the clock on the wall, those thoughts made a comeback.

Why they didn’t wake him up? They were already getting used to him not being part of the group anymore? So easily? Part of him knew that his friends love him and wouldn’t leave him behind, but another part of him was screaming that they already did.

His appetite was gone in a moment so he just hold the bowl and watch the clock move in silence. It was 9:36 am when his phone rang with a new message. And another. And other one. Jimin left the bowl on the counter and went to his phone.

He opened his notifications and saw Tae’s messages.

“Jimin, come to the company asap“

“Please“

“Are you there???“

While opening the messaging app, another one came.

“Pls answer“

Jimin looked at the screen without knowing what to say. It looked like it was urgent to go but the petty part of him wanted to ignore him. He shook his head, don’t letting those thoughts control him, and answered his friend.

“I’m coming“

Rapidly, he went to the room and changed his pajamas for sweatpants, a T-shirt, and a hoodie. Making sure that everything he needed was on his backpack, he left their dorm and made his way to the company.

Fifteen minutes later, he was in the company’s building. Inside, he send a message to his friends asking them where they were. Practice’s room was the answer he received seconds later. Didn’t took him more than two minutes to go there.

As he tried to open the door, Jimin notice that it was locked. Frowning his eyebrows, he knocked on the door.

“Guys?” asked when no one answer, “Are you there?”

Steps were heard inside and then the unlock of the door. Opening just a little, Taehyung showed only one of his eyes.

“Are you alone?”

“Yeah, why? What happ–“, before Jimin could even complete his question, Taehyung opened the door, took Jimin by the hoodie, and pull him inside the room. “What the hell Tae?”, he looked at his friend angry but Taehyung just locked the door again, “What was that?”

Jimin turned around and saw his other five friends, standing in a line side by side, awkwardly trying to dodge his eyes.

After a minute of silence, he spoke again. “What is going on, guys?”

“Jimin,” his best friend started, “we have a surprise for you, but don’t freak out, okay?“

“A surprise? Why I would freak out?” a note of happiness was heard in his voice.

“Just... don’t”.

Taehyung made eye contact with the rest and a second later, they moved to the side. A figure in a chair appeared. Jimin’s eyes grow up bigger and before anyone can say anything else, he screamed, “What?”

Everyone got near him trying to shush him or putting their hands on his mouth.

“I told you to not freak out!” Taehyung screamed in a whisper.

“How can I not?” continued to scream and it was Seokjin‘s hand the one who shut up him. But his eyes were still open and Jimin couldn’t stop looking at how PD-nim was tied up in a chair with a tape in his mouth.

He screamed again in Seokjin‘s hand.

“Calm down, Jimin”, Yoongi said on his side. The oldest had to hold him for him to not physically fight him.

He removed the oldest‘s hand from his face, the other arm still around him. “Don’t tell me to calm down”, whispered. “What kind of surprise is this? How this happened?“

Taehyung laughed softly, “It’s kind of a funny story, really”. Jimin look at him like he lost his mind, probably it was what happened. The rest nodded and he look at them incredulously. “What it’s wrong with all of you?”

“Why are you so mad?” Taehyung crossed his arms in his chest and start pouting, “We did it for you”.

“For me?! Don’t blame me on this”.

“Jimin”, Namjoon spoke up.

“Hyung”, Jimin whined, “tell me this is a prank”, almost begged.

Namjoon scratched the back of his neck looking at the ceiling and Jimin knew that it wasn’t.

“This wasn’t supposed to happen but...”, he doubted for a moment, “we came today to talk to him to let you do the evaluation again”.

“But he refused to listen to us”, Hoseok continued with a sigh.

“But we couldn’t let it go so easily”, Seokjin said firmly.

“So we tied him up so he can listen to us”, Yoongi finished nodding proudly of their actions.

There was a moment of silence before Jimin screamed once again, “How can you say that so easily?” Once again everyone tried to shut him up but he ignored them, “And you took Jungkookie with you? He is a kid!”

There was an offended gasp by his side, “We did what?” Taehyung spoke, “It was his idea!”

Jimin was taken back by the statement and turned around to see the youngest half hide behind Namjoon. Everyone turned around to look at him and the red color start coming to his face.

“W-what? It wasn’t my idea!” said moving his hands in front of him, denying.

“You say it yesterday!”, Taehyung accused him with a finger. “That we have to kidnap PD-nim so Jimin can be in the group”.

“That was Hoseok hyung!” his satori started to come out of his mouth.

“Hey!” complained the accused but they ignored him.

“Oh, but you were down with immediately”.

“Th-that... I...”, his voice started getting low, like his eyes that were now looking at his shoes, “I just didn’t want to Jimin hyung to leave”, finally said so low that if it wasn’t because he was looking at him he wouldn’t have heard him. “But I didn’t mean it literally!” said as he raised his voice once again.

“But you didn’t seem to mind when we ask you to do the knots”, Yoongi teased with a cheeky smile.

Jungkook whines, “Hyung”, his cheeks were redder than before.

The bickering continued and Jimin just look at them with disbelief. The logical part of him was mad at them, incredibly mad, for doing something so reckless but his heart was also feeling so warm right now. His friends wanted him to stay in the group and were doing everything in their hands to made that happen. Even if that implied tying up their boss.

The thought made him turn around fast and walk to him.

“I’m so sorry PD-nim”, said as he tried to take the tape out of his mouth, “I’m really, really sorry”, repeated.

With a fast movement, the tape is out and after a small hiss, their boss spoke, “I can’t believe you did this to me”, angry was clear in his voice. “As soon as you untied me, I’m getting all of you fired and arrested“.

Jimin let a small scream out of his mouth and put the tape back on him, “Oh God, oh God, what we gonna do?“ asked none in specific walking around the room.

Suddenly a phone start ringing, everyone start looking at each other until someone pointed out that it was Bang’s phone. Without missing a beat, Yoongi put his hand inside the jacket of the man despite his obvious protest and pull out the phone. “Quickly, someone answers it“, said.

“What? Why?“ asked Seokjin frowning worried.

“If he doesn’t answer for too long, people gonna start suspecting. Come on, do it“, he threw the phone at Jimin and he catch it.

“Why me?“ he panicked with the phone still ringing in his hands.

“Just do it!“ Yoongi said and press the green button on the scream.

“Hello? Bang PD–nim? It’s Minho, it’s everything okay? We were supposed to meet an hour ago, just wanted to check on you”, the only response was silence, “Hello? Are you there?“

Jimin started to panic so Taehyung took the phone from his hand and spoke, “Yes, this is Bang PD-nim,” said trying to imitate their boss voice, “I’m not feeling well so don’t call again. Bye”, and hang up tossing the phone to the side.

“That was the worse impression I have ever heard”, Yoongi deadpanned.

“Doesn’t matter now!” Jimin said and tried to calm himself, “Okay, let’s try to talk again”, he removed the tape from his mouth again.

“Talking won’t help you here. I already told you, as soon I’m free all of you will go to jail!”

A tiny scream left his mouth as he walk back to where his friends were. That was pointless. Quickly, they stand around in a circle.

“Well, this is a mess”, Yoongi said sighing.

“We can tell”, Namjoon answered.

“What we gonna do? I’m too young to go to jail”, Jungkook said worriedly.

“No one is going to jail”, Seokjin assured him, “we just need to find a way to change his mind”.

“Hypnosis?” Taehyung suggested.

Yoongi eyebrow went up. “Do you even know how to do that?”

The second youngest snorted, “I don’t see you giving any ideas”.

“Don’t fight now”, Namjoon asked. “Does anyone have any other idea? Hoseokie?” He turned to look at him but he wasn’t in the group. Everyone started to look around until they found him trying to untied their boss. “What are you doing?” He screamed running to his side, the rest follow him shortly.

“He… he told me if I untied him, I won’t go to jail”, Hoseok explained without being able to look at them in the eyes.

“Yes, do it and you won’t be in trouble”, Bang insisted.

“Y-yes!” He went to try to untie again but Namjoon and Yoongi grabbed him and pulled him away. “No, let me go! I won’t survive jail!”

“Stop that!” Yoongi growled.

“No, he is right”, the producer smirked, “he won’t be able to dance or rap there, or ever. He won’t last a week there”.

Hoseok panicked again, “Let me go! I have to untie him!”

“He is freaking out!” Jimin said freaking out himself, “We have to do something!”

Five minutes later, Hoseok was sat on the floor with a rope around his body. Jimin wasn’t sure from where they manage to get that rope or the one they used with their boss, and in all honesty, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to know now.

“Are you good, hyung?” Jungkook asked him tying the last knot.

“Yeah, it’s fine”, the dancer said still with trembling voice and pale face, “I’m sorry, guys”.

“It’s fine”, the oldest shrugged, “It’s just a temporary thing until we got this thing to figure out”.

“No, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have freaked out like that”, his shoulders dropped, as far as they could with his arms tied anyway.

“Don’t worry”, Taehyung smiled at him sat at his side, “We get it”.

“Do you think you could get me something to eat? I think my sugar got low now”, his pale face made clear that it was true.

“Oh, okay!” Taehyung stood up, “I have something on my locker, I’m gonna go fast!”

Without asking permission from anyone, Taehyung ran up out of the practice room looking for food. The rest just drop themselves into the floor, the situation finally affecting their bodies. Jimin’s stomach was in a knot and no matter how much he think about it, he couldn’t think of anything that could solve this situation.

“Isn’t Taehyung-ssi taking too long?” Their boss commented to none in specific, “Isn’t that weird?”

“Wh-what do you mean?” Jimin asked, the knot on his stomach getting bigger.

“Didn’t you saw how fast he went out? I’m sure he is telling someone what is happening here”.

“That’s not true!” Jungkook defended him standing on his knees, “Tae hyung would never do that!”

“Oh, don’t be so naive”, dismissed him easily.  “We all know how messy this situation is, anyone would try to find a way to get out”, said and looked at the boy tied up, who looked embarrassed at his words.

“No,” Jimin insisted but his voice didn’t sound so sure now, “he wouldn’t do that”.

But the doubt was already in his mind. The possibility of treason was real, even if it was small. And in truth, it wasn’t that small. Their boss was right, Taehyung could be snitching them right now.

As if he was listening, Taehyung entered the practice room looking at a chocolate bar in his hands and mumbling to himself. Jimin stood immediately and walked to him.

“Where were you?” He screamed, “Why it took you so long?”

His best friend blinked confused, “The banana on my locker went bad so I went to the vending machine to get this”, explained showing the candy on his hand.

Jimin glared at him entering his personal space, “You weren’t talking to anyone to turn us in, weren’t you?”

“What? What would I do that?” Said confused looking at the rest of the group but they all have the same expression of doubt.

“Jungkook-ah,” said without stop looking at his friend, “bring me the rope”.

“Are you serious right now?” Taehyung said dumbfounded, “I literally kidnapped someone for you, why would I turn you or anyone else in?”

“Jungkook”, called again ignoring him.

He stood up slowly, “Hyung…” the youngest hesitated and didn’t move.

“I will do it”, the second oldest took the rope off his hands and walk up to them.

“Hyung”, Taehyung whined when he stood behind him to tied him but didn’t fight back.

“I’m sorry, kid”, said simply.

Jimin stood there watching how his hyung tied his best friend and the guilt just kept growing bigger, yet it didn’t stop him. His body felt in high alert at every movement in the room, the tension so high that was almost touchable. He felt like a ticking bomb that would explode at any moment now.

“What a mess”, the producer laughed and everyone turned to watch him. “First your friends tied me up and now you tied up your friends. Who knows who will be the next one, who of all you have hidden motives to go against you”, said looking at Jimin.

“Don’t listen to him!” Hoseok screamed from the floor, now with a tied Taehyung at his side, “He wants to get you as he did to me!”

A little voice inside his head told him that his hyung was right, but the bigger and louder one told him that all of them were just waiting to betray him. And it seem like that those thoughts appeared on his face because the other look at him dumbfounded him.

“Are you serious?” Yoongi said exasperated. “You know what? Tied me up too” he said extending his hands at him, “No, you know what? I’m doing it myself”, and drop himself on the floor to fool around with the rest of the rope. Really, why do they have so much of it?

Jimin looked at Namjoon and Seokjin, and they seem confused and hurt too at his doubt. His heart hurt and the guilt got bigger. What was he doing?

“Well, well, would you look at that?” His boss talked again dragging the attention back to him, “There is no one to help you now, you turned your friend against you and now you are all alone. What are you gonna do now? I’m sure your little brain won’t be of any help now. And you wanted to be part of this group?” He laughed, “There was no mistake when you failed your evaluation, you could have never been an artist”.

The bomb inside Jimin exploded. “Shut up! I deserve to be in this group! I’m an artist! I worked hard to be here and nothing all you say will ever change that!”

Bang look surprised at him but his expression changed quickly to a smirk. “Oh, I have never seen you like that before”.

Jimin breathed in, trying to calm the rage that he felt inside, and out. “Can we make a deal?” He asked.

Bang raised an eyebrow, “What kind of deal?”

“Hyung, do you have the song’s instrumental here?” Asked Namjoon who looked confused for a moment.

“Oh, yeah, it’s on the studio”, answered after understanding what he meant.

“Okay, PD-nim,” said talking to his boss again, “how about this? I’m gonna redo the routine of my monthly evaluation and if I do it perfectly you gonna walk out of here and act like nothing of this happened and you gonna put me on the group. And if I fail, I will leave the company for good”.

“And I will put all of you behind the bars”, Jimin wanted to protest but just nodded in the end. “Okay, deal. But you don’t get to put the music, you will dance and sing here right now, as you are now”.

“What? That’s not fair!” Protested feeling how the nervousness started to rise.

“What? Weren’t you so confident that you were an artist? This shouldn’t be so difficult for you. Besides, you aren’t in a position of being so picky, aren’t you?”

Jimin tighten the grip of his hands, “Fine, I will do it like that”, accepted after a sigh.

As he walked to the center of the room, his friends started to cheer for him.

“You can do it!” Hoseok screamed.

“We believe in you!” Seokjin continued.

“Usher got nothing on you!” His best friend assured him.

His comment made him snort but also made him feel warm. Sadly, the nervousness was bigger. The future of not only him but the rest of the group was in his hands. Not only their professional future but also their criminal record depended on if he could do his routine correctly.

Jimin stretched his body and breathed deeply closing his eyes trying to collect all his focus. He knew this dance, he knew this song. He practiced it so many times, alone and with his friends. He can do it.

“Okay” he said opening his eyes, “let’s do this”.

He stood up on the start position and breathed deeply once again. Inside his head, he starts playing the song that had been practicing for weeks. But it never came. Random parts keep popping on his mind but Jimin couldn’t catch anything. How does this song start? It was really the starter position? What was next? Cold sweat start running his back, he was ruining this once again. His friends were sacrificing so much for him and now it will go to waste.

“What is this?” The producer mocked, “You can’t do it? This feels like a dejavú now”.

“I can do it”, insisted not so sure now but without breaking his position.

He can do it. He needed to do it. For everyone.

“Doesn’t seem like it”, insisted. “Weren’t you an artist? You seem just like a scared little kid”.

His arms started to shake, a combination of tiredness for holding the same position for so long, and angry for not being able to defend himself. Maybe there wasn’t anything to defend here, maybe he was right. He wasn’t an artist after all.

Suddenly, a voice was heard in the room. A voice that was humming a familiar melody. Jimin looked to the side, where his friends were, and saw Taehyung humming the same melody they listened together so many times before. The rest looked at him and it took them a second to understand what he was doing. As in cue, all of them started to do the same, as loud as they could so he could hear them clearly.

Jimin’s eyes started to sting. He could feel the tears forming and would start crying if it wasn’t for the fact that the start of his performance was coming soon. With new energy and confidence flooding through his body, Jimin finally danced.

His body felt like floating in the air as he moved around, twirling and hitting every beat of the song. His voice filled the empty gaps of the humming of his friends, lyrics known by heart now. For a moment, Jimin felt as he and his team were the only people in the room. Just the seven against the world. Yeah, he could get used to this.

With his arm and leg extended to the final position, everything went back to silence. His heavy panting was the only thing filling the air until a loud cheering made him company. All his friends were screaming compliments or just his name. Smiles painted on their face and Jimin couldn’t help his, as he dropped himself loudly into the floor.

A clapping distracted them all. “Well, well, that was very impressive, Jimin-ssi”, their boss said standing up, rope falling to the floor.

Jimin felt his eyes almost out of his head for the impression, “Wh-what? You untied yourself?”

“I have been untied for some time. You sent a kid to do it, I don’t know what you expected. No offense”, said to Jungkook who seem surprised to be addressed. “You see” he said looking back at Jimin on the floor, “I wanted to see you perform under pressure, and let me tell you it was great. Still a lot to improve though, but we will fix that while preparing to debut”. He started to walk to the door before addressing the whole room, “You probably need to eat lunch now, your afternoon practice is soon”.

“Wait!” Namjoon screamed trying to stop him, he only looked over his shoulder at him, “You are not gonna press charges?” Asked nervous.

Bang laughed, “Do you think you are the first trainees to kidnap me?” He continued without waiting for an answer, “However, you are the first one to prove me wrong. Good job, boys. I will see you around”.

He closed the door behind him and left a heavy silence with them. They all looked at each other, trying to understand if the whole situation wasn’t just a collective fever dream.

Yoongi was the first one to speak in what felt like hours of silence, “What the hell just happened?” A nervous laugh left his mouth.

“I feel like we should be the one calling the police now”, Seokjin said.

“We did it”, Jungkook said in a whisper, “Jimin hyung is staying with us”.

All eyes were in him in a second, finally understanding. They stay still for a second until a “Jimin!” was heard and before he could react, Taehyung have thrown himself over him. He wasn’t sure how he was able to move that fast being tied up but he couldn’t continue his thoughts process because more people have thrown themselves over and soon after he was lying on the floor.

The weight of the situation finally hit him. He was in the group. He would to debut with them. Jimin closed his eyes as relief filled his body, almost too overwhelming to control himself, so a sob escape his mouth and then another one.

“Jimin?” Taehyung sounded scared, “Everyone move!” Asked and Jimin felt less weight over him but the tears didn’t stop so he hide his face behind his hands. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?” His friend kept asking.

Jimin shook his head still hiding, “I’m okay”, his voice croaked.

Someone took his arm and pulled him out the floor into a seated position and soon after, he was against a chest, and arms were rounding him. “It’s okay,” the oldest said, “just let it all out”.

Jimin started to sob harder than before. All his fears were finally leaving him for good. He will debut. They will debut. His friends weren’t leaving him. His friends fought for him to stay. He didn’t know what to do to express all the love he have for them.

“Thank you”, said still against Seokjin’s chest, probably only he heard him so he pulled away a little bit to look at all of them. Even with tears in his eyes, he could see that they were crying too. “Thank you guys, thank you so much”, repeated, “I don’t know what I would do without you”.

“Hey, don’t say that”, Taehyung bumped his shoulder, “We would do it all over again for you”.

“Please don’t”, Namjoon mumbled almost panicking, Jimin giggled at that.

“I’m really sorry too”, said looking at all of them but stopping at Hoseok, Yoongi, and Taehyung, “I should have trusted all of you more”.

“I would have done the same”, Yoongi shrugged.

“Yeah, I deserve it so it’s fine”, Hoseok excused with a smile.

Jimin looked at Taehyung and noticed that it was the only one of the three that was still tied. He frowned at that, “Why are you still tied up?”

Taehyung look down at himself and then smiled, “Oh, right. I don’t know, I kinda like it”.

A heavy silence filled the room.

“Anyway,” Seokjin said ignoring the second youngest, “As much we love each other and we want to be together, can we never do this ever again? I think a lost a couple of years of my life. I’m gonna hide these ropes and you will never see them again”.

“Oh come on, it was fun”, Yoongi said with a smile, “reminds me of the old days”.

“Your what now?”

Everyone laughed at Namjoon’s expression and Jimin couldn’t help himself either. It still made him sad that he could have lost this if it wasn’t for them. Jimin would spend the rest of his life thinking of a way of paying them back.

—-

Weeks passed and their training only got more intense. They were working hard to be able to debut soon and show the world what they were made of. Jimin wasn’t any different. Every day he would dance until every movement was perfect and sang until his voice sounded the way he wanted. It was tiring but fun, especially because he have his members by his side.

It wasn’t until one afternoon, after their dance practice, that one of their future managers, called them for a meeting. They scrambled into the meeting room, still tired and sweated, and sat down on any empty seat.

“Okay guys, this gonna be short because I have other things to do. But PD-nim already choose a name for the group!” Announced with a smile and put a sheet of paper on the table in front of there, “I will leave this to you to discuss, and if you have any doubt or complain,  we can talk it with him later, okay?”

They all nodded dazed and their manager left the room. No one moved from their seats, scared of how real this was starting to feel. They have a name now. Name with they would debut soon.

After a minute and with shaking hands, Namjoon took the paper to read it. Their now official leader frowned almost immediately.

“What? What it is now?” Taehyung asked standing up to watch over his shoulder.

Namjoon didn’t move or respond, still in a state of shock so Yoongi and Hoseok went to his side and took the paper.

“Bangtan…”

“Sonyeondan?” Yoongi said incredulous, “What the hell is this shit?”

“What kind of name is that?” Seokjin complained, “It’s stupid!”

“Is he still mad for that… incident?” Jimin asked not wanting to even mention it out loud.

“They gonna bully us so much for this”, Jungkook whispered, face suddenly pale.

“The hell he is thinking?” The second oldest kept complaining, “We need to do something”.

Everyone looked at Namjoon, waiting for his instructions. The leader knew that this was an important matter, one that could change their whole destiny.

“Jin hyung, do you still have the ropes?”

The oldest’s eyes got bigger for a second but then a determinate look appeared on his face as he grabbed his backpack and searched for something on it. “Let’s do it”, said as the ropes hit the table.

The seven members smiled.