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You heard the locks click even though you were half asleep, curled up on the couch. You knew Jin was angry – you two had fought two days earlier, and you doubted that the sting of your combined words would have faded by now. You’d told him that he couldn’t go running around after these kids – you appreciated that he’d looked after them his whole life, but it wasn’t his job to go bailing them out every time they fucked up, because one day they’d just drag him down with them.
His response? “They are my family - you expect me to turn my back on them?” You’d tried to make him understand, family would not go around and act so recklessly, family would not start drunken brawls each week – all he told you was that not everyone could uproot themselves every time they felt the family they’d created didn’t suit them. You said that they weren’t family, they were hell spawn, and that was what had driven him to slam the door on you, to ignore your screams as he strode out the door.
You’d spent the past two days stewing over his words, and while you knew that his anger would not have faded over that span of time, you also knew that you would not back down from this fight. Your biggest fear was that you would lose Jin thanks to these immature idiots, but if he refused to acknowledge that maybe it was time for him to grow up… Well, there was no point in you sticking around. You kept your eyes tightly shut, refusing to acknowledge his entrance, deciding that if he wanted to be an adult and have a proper conversation, then you’d deal with him. But for now, if he wanted to be childish, you were more than willing to play along.
“Noona?” Your eyes flashed open at the word, suddenly turning onto your back and staring up into the eyes of Jungkook. Out of all the boys, he was the one you probably respected the most after Jin – he was quiet, didn’t say much, but there was kindness in his eyes and a sweetness in those rare smiles of his. It was the first time he had used the formal term with you – you had always insisted the boys just call you by your name – and it didn’t exactly inspire confidence.
“Jungkook… What are you doing here?” you mumbled sleepily, rubbing at your eyes, trying very hard not to scowl at the younger one. “Better question – how did you get in here?” Horror flickered across your face as you suddenly sat up straight, trying to look past him towards the door. “Did you pick the locks?! I swear to god, Jungkook, if you guys –“
“Noona.” You stared back up at the dark-haired boy, watching as he jingled a set of keys in front of your face – the ones with the pink keychain, the ones you’d given to Jin about three months earlier. You moved to grab the keys, but he pulled his hand back before you could grab them. You reached up again, sitting up on your knees, but his hand grabbed your shoulder, forcing you to keep your distance. You sighed, glaring up at him. He’d grown in the past couple months – his shoulders had broadened, his grip was stronger, and the boy you had initially met was long gone. “I need you to come with me.”
“Come with you? Jungkook, it’s two in the fucking morning, where could you possibly want me to…” You trailed off, watching as his face fell, his lower lip trembling, and even though you knew it was a goddamn act, you couldn’t help but feel your heart swell with guilt. You tilted your head back, groaning before shoving the blankets off of your body, glaring up at the boy.
“I hate you for this.”
*
It was two-thirty in the morning, and you were in the backseat of a car that Yoongi was driving, Jungkook sitting alongside him, tapping his knee nervously. You kept trying to grab the attention of the youngest because you knew Yoongi wouldn’t answer you, and it would be difficult for you to say you felt comfortable enough with him to ask. But the youngest one stayed quiet, occasionally looking over at his elder, mostly keeping his eyes on the road.
It was 2:45 when you reached the fire pit, and you sighed, knowing this wasn’t a good sign. Yoongi opening up the car door for you confirmed that fact, and you couldn’t bring yourself to look either of the boys in the eye as you stepped out of the car and pulled your jacket tighter around your body, ignoring the gazes watching you in the distance. You recognized them all – Namjoon, Hoseok, Taehyung, Jimin… Jin wasn’t looking up though, and that stung the most. Turning away, you shook your head at Jungkook, about to insist that whatever stupid plan they had needed to stop now, because… “Ah, there she is!” You cringed as Hoseok yelled that out, instantaneously drawing Jin’s attention to you. You didn’t dare turn around because you could practically see the scowl that would overtake his face – you’d heard girls call it dangerously handsome, but you knew its ugliness, knew that no beauty could ever compare to his joyful smile, the peace as he slept. They didn’t know Jin’s softness like you did, how he was the most beautiful in his calmest states.
Right now though, you knew he’d be anything but beautiful as you heard some of the guys shuffle around behind you, Jin protesting as you tried to flee the scene. Jungkook quickly grabbed you, forcing you to spin around and you found yourself face to face with the eldest, trying his best to avoid your gaze.
It was your shared flaw – both of you were filled with pride, stubborn to a fault, and didn’t back down easily from a fight. You both turned your heads away, and his scowl only deepened while you tried to avoid forming a pout. “Oh, come on,” Namjoon groaned from behind Jin, rolling his eyes. “And you say we’re the immature ones?” Neither of you answered. You simply took a step back, trying your best to keep your distance from Jin, ignoring the annoyed huff of breath he let out as you did so.
“Oh, for the love of –“ Suddenly there were two hands on your head, and you let out a screech as Yoongi manoeuvred you back towards Jin, the eldest crying out as Jungkook suddenly grabbed him, forcing you two to stand face to face.
“Look at each other, would you?” This time it was Jungkook’s voice, pleading for you two resolve the argument he knew they’d caused. The other boys looked uncomfortable now, shuffling around while you and Jin tried your best to avoid each other gazes. You refused to break until suddenly you felt pressure on the side of your head as Yoongi tried to force your head to turn.
“Look at each other,” the green-haired boy growled, and you weren’t sure when he’d taken such an interest in the future of your relationship but you had a feeling it had something to do with the dark-haired boy standing right behind Jin. You were the first to cave – you let Yoongi slowly push your head around, looking up into Jin’s face. He slowly raised his eyes to meet yours, and all you could see there was anger. It was a battle of wills – who would give in, who would soften, who would bend to meet the other’s opinion. You watched Jin close his eyes, take a deep breath, and you assumed he was steeling himself for however long he’d need to hold this act together.
Except then he was opening his eyes slowly, his scowl fading into a look of serious thought. You swallowed hard, watching him, trying to read what was in his eyes, trying to understand how he was trying to get an edge on you. You slowly realized he wasn’t. Your own expression softened in surprise, your eyes widening slightly and his lips turned up at the edges, watching you. “He’s trying to say he’s sorry, if you can’t tell.” You peered over his shoulder, noticing Jungkook’s apologetic expression.
“Oh really?” you asked quietly, trying very hard to hide a smile. “What else is he trying to say, Kookie?” The youngest was quick to open his mouth, words on the verge of spilling out but Jin raised his hand and he immediately went silent.
“He’s also trying to tell you that… Maybe he stretches himself a little too thin and doesn’t put enough focus on staying safe for you. But he’s also trying to tell you that these kids are his family, and he really really needs you to understand that.” You sighed quietly, looking around at the boys surrounding the two of you.
“I think she’s trying to say something too,” Yoongi muttered and you could practically hear the smirk in his speech.
“Maybe she’s trying to say that she’s sorry too – for not being more understanding of you guys,” you mumbled, your gaze falling to your feet for a moment before returning to Jin, sighing softly. “She’s also trying to say that the reason she panics is because she’s scared that one day you won’t come home, like these past few nights, and it won’t be your own choice.” You had to try not to roll your eyes as Hoseok and Jimin let out a simultaneous ‘aww’ while Jin just shook his head, smiling openly at you.
“How about this – I promise that if I think we’re about to do something stupid, I run it by you first.” You grinned widely, nodding as the boys groaned, shouting something about how they weren’t that dumb (and normally you’d contest that point, but let’s face it, it was three in the morning, and there was a bed that had yours and Jin’s names written all over it).