The metallic buzz broke the heavy silence, and Jin physically startled, blinking against the fog that seemed to have blanketed his senses-

The phone vibrated again, rattling gently against the glass-top coffee table.

But not the phone still clutched in Hoseok's lax grip-

Because now that Jin was listening for it, he could hear the soft 'dropped call' tone still buzzing from Taehyung's cellphone; ignored by the members draped across various pieces of furniture, floor space, and in some cases, each other.

All seemingly as lost to their own thoughts and feelings as Jin had been.

The phone, not the phone... but the phone that had drawn his attention, was Namjoon's- still on the coffee table where the leader had dropped it after ending the call with Sejin-manager earli-

Earlier. Minutes ago? Longer?

Seokjin was somewhat disconcerted to realize that he wasn't sure. Time seemed as hazy as his thoughts.

But,

Jimin's cheeks were still flushed, dewy and damp beneath closed eyes-

Not long, then.

The phone on the table beside him lit-up, the face-down screen illuminating the darkness beneath the table with a soft kaleidoscope of diamond-esque shine.

Text reminder.

Jin reached for the phone, thumbed across the notifications bar, his fingerprint simultaneously unlocking and pulling the text to the fore.

It said it was from Sejin-Manager.

'On way- have to turn off tech. Home soon, will call then. Love you all.'

But Jin immediately knew it was actually from Jungkook.

He wet his lips, re-read the message.

Re-read the message.

Blinked.

Re-read the message.

'Home soon.' Jin felt the vague sense of dissociation lift, leaving him strangely airy; Jungkook would be home soon. Jungkook would be home soon, the sun would rise and the whole horrible night would be nothing but a memory that would slowly but surely fade.

Jungkook would be home soon-

Jin glanced around.

The room looked like the result of a party that had been altogether too wild, and to be honest, so did his dongsaengs.

Jimin's flushed, tear-stained face was half hidden against Yoongi's shoulder; Jin could see the vocalist silently counting himself through breath-hold-hold-release. The same technique that all the members had been coached through years ago, to help with Jimin's anxiety induced panic attacks. Though in a much better place now mentally, Jin had noted that their third occasionally still used the technique to soothe himself.

Yoongi was naturally following the breath pattern, again a holdover from when, one on one, they'd sit with an agitated Jimin, encouraging the younger to mirror their breathing. Jin wondered though, just who was leading who; Yoongi's skin was the ashen greyness of illness and his fingers trembled slightly when they weren't fisted. Overall, he looked like exhaustion worn by worry.

Hoseok shifted slightly to their left and Jin's gaze jumped, only to be met with a layer of 'blank' that he didn't have a hope of seeing beneath, so internally directed was the rapper's attention, his back ramrod straight against the side of the couch. Jin could only hope Hoseok was trying to process the intense rollercoaster his emotions had just been on. Not banking the fires.

Taehyung was the most animated of them all; bouncing slightly on his knees, his eyes flitting impatiently between the door and his hyungs; both fitting of his usual exuberant charm. The way his hand was lost in the depths of Namjoon's shirt was not. The material was stretched and worried out of shape, Taehyung restlessly clutching and tugging, never once letting go in the moments that Jin forced himself to watch.

And Namjoon, his gaze drifting across their battered family, his face the twisted pinch of self-recrimination that Jin always hoped he'd seen the last of each time the younger wore it. It was the look that said, "I should have done better". The look Jin had always tried to soothe away.

"Joon-ah?" he prompted. Jin waited for their leader to glance his way before he continued, " Kookie messaged. They've boarded. He's on his way home. He's fine. We're all going to be fine."

Namjoon shook himself slightly, straightening with a ghost of a smile for Jin's efforts, understood and appreciated, although Jin could tell that they didn't allay the leader's self-doubt.

"Thanks, hyung." Namjoon murmured, sliding one last glance over the others before holding out a hand, asking, "Can I see?"

"And me! - I -" Jimin gasped, spinning away from Yoongi, kneeling up to reach for the phone, his face falling as Namjoon took the phone from Jin-

Jin felt his own throat tighten at the mere suggestion of more upset-

And realized that they were all balanced within a very fragile bubble, and likely would be for a while. Even the slighted push or pull would be enough to burst the delicate stability.

Thankfully, Namjoon was an incredible leader, period, and immediately recognized the need for what it was, reassuring, "I'll read it aloud, Jiminie- is that okay?"

Jimin nodded, smiling tumultuously as he settled back against Yoongi.

Dutifully, Namjoon read the message, "Kookie says, 'On way- have to turn off tech. Home soon, will call then'" , he paused for a second, frowned at the screen with slightly pursed lips, before finishing with a sigh, "and he 'loves us all.'"

Yoongi snorted, "Little brat is good at making it hard to be mad at him, huh?" he shifted slightly, wrapping an arm around Jimin's shoulders as he turned more fully towards the small huddle growing around Namjoon and the phone.

"Is that a thing? Are we mad at Jungkookie?" Taehyung asked, whisper quiet, glancing up from below his lashes, worrying his lip as he fidgeted with the hem of Namjoon's shirt.

"No!" Jimin squeaked, pushing himself startingly upright within Yoongi's grasp, "He- No- He's just, he's already- It's bad enough that we thought-'

"I am." Hoseok's voice was almost apologetic as he interjected, "I'm so- I'm so-" he took a deep steadying breath and strangely enough, silence filled the beat, no one interrupting. He continued after a moment, "I don't want to be. Probably shouldn't be. But I am. "

"But hyung- It wasn't his fault! "Taehyung defended, his eyes the liquid betrayal that so often appeared when he simply couldn't fathom how someone could do something. Jin sighed internally, Taehyung was altogether too- not naive, Jin didn't know the word, but he just - Taehyung simply didn't belong in a world where evil existed.

Hoseok scrubbed at his eyes, his voice plaintive as he argued, "We don't know that! And even then- he - he could have called. Or he- Maybe he couldn't have done anything! I don't know. I didn't say I was right, Taehyung! We can't all be like you!" all but begging Taehyung to understand, to not make him out to be a monster because he couldn't control how he felt.

Taehyung flinched back like Hoseok had physically struck out and Jin-

Delicate stability.

Thankfully, before Jin had to think of the right thing to say (was there a right thing?), Namjoon interrupted, tugging Taehyung into a side hug as he spoke "Guys, we have no idea what actually happened. Let's just- let's leave it be until he gets home. Cool off. Get the full story. We can talk it out then. "

Or yell it out, as the case may be. Jin didn't know which side of the fence he was slipping towards, but until Jungkook was right there in front of him, with easy reach, he didn't care to dwell on much of anything except- 'home soon'.

They had at least an hour and a half until Kookie walked through the front door. The absolute best thing any of them could do would be to have a catnap. They were all running on absolute fumes, physically, emotionally and mentally; Jin hazard that even 30mins of sleep would shed a whole new light on the situation and their feelings.

But he already knew that there was no way any of them would be going to sleep until Kookie was back in their sights, and preferably within reaching distance.

Still, they needed to calm down, loosen up a little and get some perspective, some distance. Some realization of the actual situation, instead of just reacting with the emotional fallout from the nightmare they'd just experienced.

Namjoon added, "Okay? So, let's all just focus on here and now. What needs to happen? Like, I know I need to make a couple of calls. I'm not sure if Sejin-hyung managed to update the staff, and we need to make sure that Kookie's parents get the correct information as soon as they land. I also need to discuss damage control for ARMY... probably an immediate statement from management and then schedule a Vlive for some time tomorrow. Today. In a few hours, once Kook's home."

It was as if someone had flicked a switch, Joon-ah replaced by Kim Namjoon, efficient and organized and experienced and Jin felt himself respond in kind, nodding in agreement before suddenly startling with a sudden brainwave of alarming implications, "Namjoon, we need to message or call our parents. All of us. If they see the news... "

Yoongi gasped and beside him, Jimin shot upright for the umpteenth time, eyes wide-

It seemed unlikely that their parents were aware yet- no one had even tried to call yet (it was ridiculous am), but it was only a matter of time before the grapevine got out of hand and they heard, saw, or would be informed by misinformed friends and family.

"Okay. Right. Everyone should text or call as they want, both parents and friends, but I will send a group message to all our parents before I do anything else, just letting them know everyone is fine. So, they wake up to that." Namjoon glanced at his phone, adding "I need to charge my phone while I call, so I'm going to head upstairs. I'll be back soon."

Namjoon rolled to his feet as he spoke, pushing upright... and Taehyung went with him, clambering to his feet-

Namjoon glanced down as if just noticing the hand that continued to stretch his shirt grossly out of shape. Raising an eyebrow, he dropped his gaze to Jin.

Jin supposed it would be better for none of them to be alone for the next hour or so. He shrugged.

Namjoon shrugged back and turned, heading towards the stairs with slow, measured strides; Taehyung trailing half a step behind him without a word of question or explanation. They disappeared upstairs.

Jin shook his head slightly, unable to help the soft smile as he turned to the other three. They stared back at him non-plussed, and yeah, Jin could see how it might be an effort to find something of importance to do that wasn't 'wait for Jungkook by the front door'.

So, as the hyung, he stepped up, turning to his oldest dongsaeng first, suggesting, "Right. And on that note... Yoongi-yah, shower? No offense, you look like shit."

And he did, Jin wasn't exaggerating; Yoongi was still a shade of pale beyond even the porcelain the rapper usually sported. Jin hoped a warm shower and a few moments to himself might settle the younger.

Yoongi glanced up, slowly getting to his feet with the intention to make for the bathroom before he frowned, glancing at the carpet across the room, "I should clean up my mess first-"

Before Jin could refute the suggestion, Jimin scrambled to his knees from where he'd been leaning against the arm of the couch, "It's okay hyung, I'll do it- "

"We'll do it-" Hoseok interrupted, and Jimin beamed at him.

Hoseok didn't smile back.

Yoongi looked torn, his nose crinkling with disgust as he answered, "Jimin-ah... it's my vomit. I can't- "

Jin did step in- "Oh, like you didn't clean up after Hobi when he had food poisoning. Or last time Tae had the flu- go and shower, martyr."

It was funny; as Yoongi shuffled off towards the shower, Jin almost felt like himself again.

Apart from the lingering shadow of terror and the weakness of grief, sapping the strength from his limbs at the mere memory. Or the anger, simmering softly just beneath his skin.

Jimin and Hoseok were ignoring the unappealing task of the puke clean-up and were instead eyeing the smashed remains of the tv first.

Jin couldn't explain the hardness that crept into his voice, the harsh bite as he ordered, "Leave it!"

Jimin jumped and Hoseok looked up as if burnt, the latter worrying his bottom lip as he looked down at the remnants of his own earlier outburst-

Jin softened immediately, shuffling forward toward, "-No, Not because of you. You're fine. It's fine. We never watch it anyway, right?"

Hoseok snorted a half-exasperated giggle and Jin counted a win as he explained, or tried to, "Kookie. I want him to- I just- He should see."

Jin didn't know how to put what he was trying to say into words, didn't even truly understand it himself. He just- he wanted Jungkook to see that it- that the whole- That it had had an impact.

That losing him had broken things.

Jin was afraid that Jungkook would walk in and just-

All he'd see, all he'd- All he'd have to deal with was his clingy hyungs...

And well, that could be any Tuesday afternoon.

Kookie should-

He should see.

"Just the vomit. Leave everything else", Jin repeated, firmer, leaning down to gather up the cracked cup from the carpet by his feet, sitting it gently on the coffee table, as if afraid to shatter it completely.

As if it was some sort of foreboding talisman. A voodoo doll of a sort.

Jin left the pair to their task, and he turned to the kitchen.

This time he made sure Yoongi's lemon tea was just the right blend of bitter and sweet. He checked that Taehyung's hot chocolate was just a shade over lukewarm and that Jimin's was scalding- the chocolate dust just barely stirred in. When he was done, Namjoon's coffee looked like colored milk, and Hoseok's teacup was edged with honey.

His own coffee was sweet and hot. Like him.

When Jin returned to the lounge, the first pair of mugs in hand, he'd thought the room was empty until he spotted Jimin curled back into the corner of the couch; Yoongi's mess cleaned up and Hoseok nowhere to be seen.

Through some divine intervention, one of the drinks in hand belonged to the younger vocalist, (or Jin had automatically grabbed the two youngest's; used to spoiling the brats in all the ways he thought they wouldn't notice).

Dropping Tae's onto the table, Jin offered the other, "Hot chocolate, Jimin-ah?" and was pleased when the introspective look faded into one of simple pleasure at the word 'chocolate'.

Pressing the warm drink into Jimin's reaching hands, Jin glanced around briefly, "Where did Hoseokie go?"

Jimin answered him over the chocolate smeared rim of his mug, licking his lips, "Bathroom. He was looking a little green. I don't know why he offered, he feels sick just looking at Tanie's dog food."

Jin allowed himself a small smile as he answered, "He probably just wanted to help. Hoseok-ah's feeling a little... well. "

Jimin probably didn't understand exactly what Jin was alluding to (Jin didn't either) but his face gentled as he nodded, taking another sip of his chocolate.

"I'll get his tea- that should help settle his stomach. Yoongi-ah too." Jin explained as he turned back to the kitchen just as Hoseok entered the room from the opposite door. Jin returned the brittle smile that Hoseok shot his way to indicate that he'd heard and appreciated the gesture.

By the time he returned, two more mugs in hand, Hoseok had settled onto the couch at Jimin's side, the younger curled into him in a such a way to belay their trivial conversation.

"...econd turn is off the heel, right? Like that step in Blood, swea-" Jimin questioned quietly, tucking himself closer to Hoseok's side as the older nodded, interrupting to answer "Yeah- just like that, but half a beat faster."

Hoseok looked fine. Well, Jin didn't think any of them would be 'fine' any time soon, especially not within the next hour, give or take, but he looked decidedly less green than Jimin had indicated.

Jin relaxed, bending slightly to slide the mug of tea onto the table in front of them, "Tea, Hoseok-ah?"

Hoseok glanced up, not breaking in his conversation with Jimin as he accepted the mug, although he did shoot Jin a sweet smile. His first genuine one of the night.

It was with a soft thrill of satisfaction that Jin placed the second mug of tea on the table beside Tae's chocolate and disappeared back into the kitchen for the last two drinks.

When he returned a moment later, Yoongi had also made a reappearance, freshly showered and looking better for it. He was already cradling his mug between his (much steadier) hands but seemed more intent on sticking his nose into the wafting steam than drinking the beverage.

The younger must have felt the eyes assessing him, because he glanced up and seeing Jin, raised the mug slightly with a pointed, "Thank you, Jin-hyung."

"Welcome", Jin smiled, lowering himself gingerly, so as not to spill the drinks (the ones in his hands, or anyone else's) into the empty spot beside the rapper, continuing in an undertone, "-are we still discussing the finer points of choreography and-"

Yoongi sniggered, "Yeah, although I think they're coming up with ideas to pitch for the Halloween dance practice. So far Jimin's arguing seven deadly sins. I'm sloth apparently. And Hoseok wants catsuits, I'm not sure which type. "

Jin snorted, relaxing into his seat as he sipped his drink and concentrated on making inane conversation of no consequence to anything pertaining their evening so far. Trivial, light, idle conversation.

The next half hour or so passed in a way that almost seemed as if it was a normal evening. (It wouldn't be his and Yoongi's first 4am sojourn into the insignificant).

Yoongi suggested they all don wigs of increasingly ridiculous color, style, and length for their upcoming Halloween practice, and spend the entire dance practice playing some sort of bizarre wig swapping hot potato game- he'd described it as something of a literal 'wig snatching'.

Hoseok wanted to choreograph the entirety of their next 'Go Go' and 'Anpanman' style track with signature moves borrowed from classic girl group dances. He'd spent at least ten minutes discussing methods of convincing Namjoon that adding 'up&down' as the killing part would be the most logical step.

And then the next ten seriously talking to Yoongi about making it a female empowerment song, something in the vein of '21st Century Girls'. They'd still been discussing lyrics when Jin had tuned out.

Jimin had finished his hot chocolate and surreptitiously (it was cute that he thought so, anyway) moved on to Taehyung's. Having barely been warm to begin with, it would have been approaching cold anyway, and Jin was happy to remake both Tae's and Joon's when they came back down. He was eyeing of Namjoon's weak-ass coffee himself.

"-have to-"

Jin thought he'd imagined it, an echo from upstairs, or perhaps Tae had just opened a door and his voice had carried.

Only, a second later he heard it again, and Yoongi paused mid-

sentence to glance toward the staircase,

"-ere is it?!"

Taehyung-

Taehyung yelling.

"-and I didn't! I didn't put it down! I have to- "

Yelling at Namjoon.

But even as Jin listened, he realized that wasn't quite accurate. Taehyung was yelling, yes- but not in anger, not out of disrespect or lack of control.

His voice was practically exuding fear, the sensation growing more palpable as Taehyung became louder, frantic steps soon becoming audible in the hallway leading from the staircase.

Running footsteps. Jin shot to his feet, already imagining Taehyung losing his footing on the stairs in his panicked haste, crashing down the steep staircase in a mess of flailing limbs and breakable softness.

Taehyung managed to storm himself down the top four steps before Namjoon caught up to him, hand wrapping in what was probably a bruising grip around his bicep, pulling him up fast.

A peripheral movement to his left had Jin throwing out an arm, halting Jimin's step forward, he spared a quick glance, a minute headshake, and reassuring look. He had no idea what was going on now, but Namjoon seemed to be handling it.

Taehyung tugged futilely against the older, even as jumbled words fell, half shouted, half bordering on tears, incomprehensible to Jin but hopefully understood by the much closer Namjoon as he stepped down onto the level above, dragging the youngers eyes upward to meet his.

"Tae, stop. Stop. It doesn't matter. He's fine, remember? He's-" Namjoon explained soothingly, voice calm and sure, hand firm in its guidance of Taehyungs focus on his face. "You probably just put it down-"

Taehyung pulled against Namjoon's arm again, his face crumpling into a pained disbelief that hurt Jin's chest as he stammered a disjointed reply, "No! I can't! I can't - I didn't. I need-"

"Taehyung. Tae. I promise he's fine. We spoke to Kookie. He's okay, he'll be home soon-" Namjoon coaxed persuasively, allowing Taehyung to tug him down the stairs, though holding them to a much more sedate pace.

"I know. I know- but I need it! Please- I can't. I found it and then he was okay. And now I can't find it and I can't- please." and Taehyung begging was one of the most heartrending things Jin had ever heard in his life. He moved forward to meet them as they stepped into the lounge, vaguely aware of Yoongi, Hoseok, and Jimin only a step behind him, their concern hovering like a cloud.

"Tae. Tae- I swear. I saw it too. I promise it's here. You had it and that-" Namjoon swallowed painfully, dropping his hold on Tae to press a hand to his face, looking toward the ceiling as if overwhelmed by something he'd only just acknowledged, his voice thick as he continued, "-that saved him Tae. You- "

Taehyung had immediately swiveled, eyes finding his abandoned bag on the floor by the couch, making a beeline for it and its strewn contents, seemingly ignoring Namjoon.

And Jin still wasn't following this conversation at all. " Joon-ah, what's happening? "

Still slightly choked up, Namjoon pulled his gaze from where he was staring somewhat mystified at their second youngest to turn to Jin, also taking in the three gathered behind the oldest as he reached for an explanation, "He-Tae had Jungkook's passport. We think that's why he- Why he missed the flight."

Seokjin stared, his mouth going dry at the implication.

"Where- Where Is-" Taehyung's voice was the gravelly rasp of uncontrolled emotions as he flung a hand through the small pile of bag detritus, rolling to his feet as the first sob of illogical fear and frustration broke free.

Taehyung stood in the center of the room, curled his hands over ears (Jin suspected it was to block out the soft explanations of worry by Jimin and Hoseok) and closing his eyes, cried brokenly.

It was 4am, and they were all beyond exhausted. They'd been through the absolute wringer emotionally over the past several hours and were scraped thin in places they couldn't even understand.

Being a little illogical and unreasonable wasn't exactly without warrant, but it was still breaking Jin's heart.

"Tae? Tae-baby?" Jin crossed the room swiftly, dragging Taehyung into an embrace that he was glad the younger melted into with minimal resistance.

It took him a moment to realize that Taehyung was talking to him, his voice a soft whisper muffled against the skin of his collarbone-

"-being stupid. I know. I mean, I know he's okay. I know- But I can't - he's not here and I keep thinking, what if I dreamed the whole happy ending thing up. Because I could you know, Yoongi Hyung says my imagination is something else. Without his passport I can't- I just can't..."

"Here, Tae- here. Read this. Kookie sent this, remember? It says he'll be home soon and that he loves us. " Namjoon pressed his phone into Taehyung's hand, the message from earlier open on the screen.

Taehyung stared down at it and Jin doubted he could even see through the tears.

Dashing away his own welling tears with a rough hand, Jin sighed; this whole night just sucked.

Then the phone rang.

They'd landed.

Jungkook had rung to tell them that they'd landed and were through customs out of the airport and he was on his way home.

He'd explained all the above in approximately 14 seconds because Sejin-hyungs phone was on 1% battery, and they were in a cab and had no way of charging said phone.

It didn't matter though, it had been enough.

Taehyung had immediately sucked in a deep shuddering lungful of air, and then he'd deflated into a soft and shaky mess, but calm and collected once again, Jungkook's voice still echoing in his ears.

20 minutes. Jungkook will be home in about 20 minutes and they'd be able to put this whole sorry night behind them. Finally.

The relative silence, only broken by the excitement that swept through each of them in jittery restlessness every few moments lasted all of ten minutes and then Jimin spoke-

"Hyung- I'm going to go down and wait-"

"Yes!"

"Me too-"

"No," Jin stole himself against the looks of disbelief and frowns of disagreement and repeated himself to be sure they had all heard, "No. It's early, dark and still cold out. Everyone's worn down- someone will get sick for sure. And we already know this has some media focus; we're not all lining up on the footpath at 5am to create a scene."

Instead of acceptance and agreement, he was suddenly faced with mulish looks of dissatisfaction and was thankful when Namjoon stepped up to back his play, adding "Jin's right. This could already be blowing up into something we don't want to make any worse. Sejin-hyung will bring him straight to us."

With both Jin and Namjoon on the same page, the others looked slightly more mollified, (or at least less likely to argue) but Jin knew these brats, and he wasn't taking any chances, "In fact, there are a few things that need doing. Jimin, you organize Kook some warm pajamas. Tae, make sure his towel, or at least a dry towel is in the bathroom and Hoseok can you pick one of our sweaters- the bigger and softer the better? Yoongi can you rinse these mugs? And Joon-ah, can you-"

"Hey, I don't need a job. I was on your side! " Namjoon protested, and Jin snorted.

"Fine. You- go do whatever you do. I'm going to make...more drinks. Hot chocolate all around this time I think. " and as the others got up to do his bidding, Jin wandered toward the kitchen, Namjoon's muttering about 'visiting the bathroom if there were going to be more drinks' echoing in his ears.

Selecting seven mugs from their well-stocked collection of mismatched cups, Jin placed them on the bench and glanced at the clock. He spooned a generous heaping of cocoa powder into each mug and glanced at the clock. An ample supply of marshmallows was added in a strewn pile to the left of the cups, and Jin glanced at the clock. The milk was warming on the stove, and Jin- couldn't stop glancing at the clock.

Any minute. Kook should be home any minute now.

He stirred the milk again looked at the clock.

He shook his head, dropped the wooden spoon to the counter and turned off the stove. It would be better to heat the milk fresh once Jungkook was home anyway.

He wandered innocently into the lounge, glancing about the empty room with relief and then hightailing into the hallway and out of sight beyond, collecting his long coat as he stepped out the front door.

The elevator seemed to take much longer than usual, and Jin kept glancing over his shoulder as he waited, the slight feeling of guilt building in his chest-

But then, he was the oldest and therefore entitled to a life of 'do as I say, not as I do'. Right? He didn't make the rules for himself to follow- that would just be stupid.

Right?

The elevator eventually arrived, and Jin stepped on, pressing the button for the ground floor, waiting as the carriage began its equally as slow descent.

The doors finally slid open to the apartment foyer and Jin stepped out, rubbing his hands and tucking his heavy coat a little closer as he pushed through the swinging door onto the front footpath-

And comes nose to nose with one Kim Namjoon.

Because everyone else was already outside. Because of course, they were.

"Ha!" Yoongi crowed, high fiving Jimin and smiling, "Hoseok, you owe me a foot massage! I told you he'd come down! "

Hoseok grumbled good-naturedly, but didn't argue, giving Jin a wounded look, "Hyung! I thought you would set a better example than this!"

Jin should have scolded them. He really should have.

Except they were smiling and excited, and his own nose was stinging in the cold morning air, but he was so happy he could cry, so he just wasn't going to.

But he didn't tell them that as he swept his steely-eyed gaze over the whole motley crew, each stilling as he passed over them, with more than one audible gulp heard. Until finally he settled on one Kim Taehyung, his eyes narrowing as he observed the way the younger blanched and shuffled a step backward, trying to sidle behind Jimin for protection.

Jin crooked his finger in a no-nonsense 'come here' motion and Taehyung all but whimpered, obviously thinking he'd been singled out for the first serving of scolding and/or punishment.

Still, he crept closer at Jin's firm behest, the fear in his eyes 90% feigned worry that he was about to be forehead flicked or sent on his way back upstairs with something of a lazy swat as he went.

Only when he was within arm's reach, Jin pointed to the little half-partition wall behind them and ordered, "sit".

Taehyung sat.

Jin stepped in closer and stooping, swinging Taehyung's feet up horizontally in front of him, not overly concerned when the younger almost tumbled back int the large green leafy plant in the garden-bed behind him.

"Hyung!" the startled yelp echoed, Taehyung clawing himself upright with hands tugging desperately on the fabric of his pajama pants.

Jin sighed with a put-upon air, agreeing with Tae's unintended statement, "That's right. I am your hyung. And because I am your hyung it is my job to, oh I don't know...make sure you don't get frostbite, because you've got the self-preservation of a lemming, Kim Taehyung!"

Taehyung pouted, sulking at the reprimand, and behind them, Jin heard more than one snigger at their second youngest's expense. And really, Tae was Tae; a bit of a hopeless case if Jin was being honest. The kid had needed his hyungs to ensure he lived past 20.

There were others much more deserving of his ire, "Never mind the fact that you've got five other hyungs here and not one of them seemed to care!"

Because of course Taehyung would come outside in the frigid morning air and stand of filthy concrete. In his bare feet. Jin should be grateful the brat thought to put on his dressing gown.

Tucking Taehyung's bare feet into his open coat, Jin hissing as he felt the cold digits through the thin fabric of his pajama top.

Namjoon only laughed until Jin made him take over two minutes later.

"Nearly there, Kook-ah. Do you want me to walk you up?" Sejin offered, glancing around from the front passenger seat of the cab to set eyes on the youngster who had been struggling against sleep in the back seat for the past 10 minutes, wholly and completely exhausted, but trying so very hard to fight it.

He didn't think Jungkook would take him up on the offer, but he thought the kid might like some back-up when he first faced us hyungs... although, that could be exactly the reason the younger was shaking his head in the negative. Kook probably wouldn't fancy being hugged and kissed half to death (and then scolded the rest of the way there) with an audience.

And that was likely exactly what would happen the second he stepped through the front door of the group's apartments.

But even as he shook his head apologetically, Jungkook was looking beyond him, over his shoulder, straining as far forward as the seatbelt would allow, tired eyes suddenly alight with desperate eagerness...

Sejin swiveled back toward the front of the vehicle to peer out the windscreen at the approaching building and-

Seokjin, and the one, two, three, for, five-

All lined up along the footpath in the frigid chill of the still dark morning.

The car slowed to a roll and Sejin turned to say something- and found himself staring at a soon to be empty back seat, the door gaping open, Jungkook scrambling from the car in a flurry of movement and need.

Only to stop short a few feet from his hyungs, who were staring at him with something-something visceral and raw that Sejin could almost feel from his seat in the car. An almost painful sensation sweeping over him, setting his hair prickling- and Jungkook freezing like a deer caught in headlights, the smile of pure unadulterated relief slowly fading from his face as he seemed to visibly shrink into himself.

And then Seokjin threw his arms open.