His smile was wide and eager as he clambered from the slow-rolling vehicle, his feet an enthusiastic loud scrabbling shuffle against the pavement. His eyes, alight with happiness and delight were fixed on them; steadfast focus where the six of them stood, lining the curb.

It wasn't right.

Namjoon felt his jaw tighten, heavy heat lapping at his raw insides, something between anger and confusion and hurt.

How could Jungkook be so-

So unaffected.

Smiling and happy, scrabbling forward for hugs and affection, like everything was fine. Like everything was normal.

Like Namjoon couldn't feel the painful tightening of Yoongi's hand on his shoulder, couldn't hear Jin's shuddering draw of breath or feel the way Hoseok was near vibrating with pent-up...something.

Like Jungkook didn't care that his hyungs had spent the past however many excruciating hours trying to face the reality that he was gone, that they would never see him again.

That their Jungkook was somehow, suddenly and horribly lost.

Dead.

How could Jungkook possibly be smiling, bright and warm like that- after what he just put them through? After he'd- After they'd-

Above them, the streetlamp flickered weakly, infusing the light blanket of fog that surrounded them with a dull sepia yellow haze, the almost inaudible purr of the car engine the only noise that seemed to cleave the gathering layers of near dawn.

Jungkook stilled mid-step, eyes widening as he visibly deflated, curling in on himself. His smile dripped away to reveal the mess of anxious confusion and worry hidden beneath.

Namjoon's knees buckled slightly at the sudden wave of incredible shame that washed over him. Because he'd wanted this, he'd wanted Jungkook to be as emotionally brutalized as they'd been, wanted Jungkook to understand how they'd felt.

And he realized at that moment, that he'd been wrong; Namjoon never ever wanted Jungkook to have to understand what tonight had felt like.

There was a breathy sigh of shared distress from one of the younger behind him that seemed to propel Seokjin into motion, the older throwing his arms open.

Jungkook blinked, visibly uncertain and Namjoon felt his chest constrict painfully; Kookie hadn't hesitated with them like that for such a very long time. It had been years since the maknae had doubted whether his hyungs offers of comfort were genuine or deserved.

"Kook-ah..."

Jin's voice was a wreck of pain and longing, half muffled from where the other had pressed his hand over his mouth, his abject misery audible.

Jungkook's tiny mewl of upset was the only warning before the younger flung himself forwards; a heavy press of weight and flurry of long limbs that might have set Namjoon stumbling if not for the arms and strength that engulfed him from each side.

Together they enfolded Jungkook into the middle of a desperate seven-way embrace on the darkened 4am sidewalk.


The sad streetlamp that had washed their reunion in the glow of nostalgia flickered off completely, plunging the few feet around them into a murky greyness that immediately seemed colder, Yoongi's breath was visible in the low light, as it steamed from his parted lips.

For a moment he contemplated pressing back into the huddle and losing himself to the knowledge that Jungkook was okay; safe and warm and alive. It was an almost intoxicating sensation, and Yoongi had to fight to keep the exhilarated chortle from escaping.

And then he wondered why he was fighting it? Jungkook was alive, shouldn't he have been happy? Shouldn't he have been laughing and smiling?

He wasn't, though. None of them were, all engrossed in the act of simple reassurance; too busy fathoming the sheer unadulterated relief and gratitude for there to be room for happiness yet.

That would come later.

Blinking slowly, Yoongi glanced up into dim lowlight of pre-dawn and realized that Sejin-hyung and the cab were long gone; neither visible in the distance he could see down the street. Jungkook's small duffle was on the sidewalk by the curb.

Yoongi could feel Jimin shivering where the younger was wedged half under his arm, despite being wrapped in the circle of body heat that the seven of them together created.

Someone's teeth were chattering. Yoongi's money was on he who shall remain nameless. And senseless. And shoeless.

It was time to move this party inside.

Extracting himself was no easy task, but once he started moving, the others slowly got with the program, as he'd expected. Within a few second, Yoongi found himself one of five tightly pressed bodies around their oldest and youngest.

Jungkook, who was still plastered against Jin's chest, arms drawn up to clutch the material of Jin's coat, tucked in against himself.

Yoongi stepped forward, running a hand down Jungkook's back as he questioned softly, "Jungkook-ah? Bun?"

Yoongi felt Jungkook pull away from him, pressing closer to Jin, hiding his face against the hollow of Jin's collarbone as he shook his head, his voice a muffled protest without words.

Yoongi tried to ignore the stab of hurt that coiled tightly in his chest. Jungkook was upset, unsettled and anxious; he must have had one hell of a night.

And Jin was... well, Jin was Jin and Yoongi was Yoongi.

It was fine.

Jin's words were quiet and coaxing, in just the way Yoongi knew he couldn't match without sounding condescending or patronizing. Jin just sounded gentle as he spoke, "Let's go up. You can have a nice warm shower, some nice warm cocoa, and find a nice warm bed? How's that sound?"

Yoongi stepped back, allowing their master Jungkook-whisperer to work his magic. Instead, he glanced at Namjoon and indicating Jungkook's bag with a pointed tilt of his head. Hoseok scooped it up, tugging the strap over his shoulder, replying to Namjoon's nod of thanks with a soft "Mhmm".

Jungkook's answering hum to Jin's persuasion was as non-committal as Yoongi had ever heard, but the maknae didn't protest when Jin began to shuffle them awkwardly toward the front door of the apartment building, falling into an easy system after the first few disjointed steps.

The elevator ride was quiet and with the seven of them, that was really saying something. He often wondered if the weight of their sheer exuberance could push them over the small elevator cars maximum weight capacity.

This car was somber and still; no cavorting or rabble-rousing of any description or definition. No sniggers or giggling. No-one pressing every single floor button just to push his buttons.

Just the quiet heady atmosphere of things waiting to be said. Needing to be said. But he knew now was not the time to for any of them to be said. They were all exhausted, any discussion of the past evening's events would be much calmer and more reasonable on a few hours rest. Now was just the time for hugs and reassurance and relief.

Speaking of...

Taehyung's teeth were still chattering. Yoongi was unable to help the exasperated snort as he demanded, "Someone hug him, please. It's pitiful. I can't cope."

They fluidly rearranged themselves in the small compartment to allow Jimin to slip between Hoseok and Namjoon to glomp Taehyung eagerly.

Yoongi didn't fight the soft smile as he finally allowed himself to realize that things were going to be just fine.


Their front room was a chaotic disaster of shoes, slippers coats, and abandoned bags, Jungkook's duffel the latest added to the pile. Jimin kept glancing at it as he hurried to drag his own jacket off, toeing at his shoes-

Jungkook's bag. Right beside Jungkook's sneakers.

Because Jungkook was home. Alive and well and probably still plastered to Jin-hyung in the living room. Jimin dropped his jacket and hurried to the open doorway, his held breath slipping through his teeth with relief when Jin and his maknae attachment came back into view.

Jimin could easily see how misplacing the passport had set Tae off earlier; Jungkook had only been out of his sight for 30 seconds and Jimin's heart had still set to pounding painfully against his ribcage as his brain desperately scrambled to convince his fickle heart.

But like the fade out of a slow ballad, the beat gradually slowed and quietened into obscurity. Because Jungkook was fine.

Jimin grinned, rolling his eyes toward the ceiling as he huffed a breath of pure relief; Jungkook was fine.

Right in front of him, alive and well.

And still plastered to Jin, completely ignoring their eldest's attempts to gently separate them so Jungkook could shower. But then, Jimin didn't fault Kookie; he was hoping to score a few of those Jin-hyung cuddles himself later.

Jin-hyung cuddles were the best.

An arm suddenly crept over his shoulder, and Jimin found himself tugged back against a strong chest, another arm curling across his chest to lock him in.

One of the best.

Tilting his head back questioningly until he could see a very oddly angled Hoseok above him, Jimin settled at the press of lips to his forehead, Hobi looking over his shoulder beyond him to Jin.

"Joon-ah said to tell you that he's calling Sejin-hyung." the dancer updated, squeezing Jimin once before letting go and propelling them both into the lounge gently, before stepping around Jimin to eye Jin's current leech problem.

Jimin was starting to wonder too. Jungkook was now vocally refusing to let go, his actual words indecipherable beyond the general 'no' gist with the way his face was pressed stubbornly into the material of Jin's pajama top.

Jin-hyung as beginning to look worried again. Jimin didn't want him to.

Seeing that Jin well and truly had his hands full (both literary and figuratively) Jimin eased in closer, speaking quietly "Hyung, do you want me to finish the cocoa? That might make him feel better."

Jin paused his soothing murmuring to glance Jimin's way with a smile and nod as he answered, "Thank you Jimin-ah, that would be perfect."

Jimin stepped toward the kitchen, able to hear Jin turn his efforts back to Jungkook, continuing, "Hear that, Kookie? Jiminie is going to make the cocoa. He makes awesome cocoa, remember?"

Jimin didn't hear Jungkook's reply if there had even been one, as he stepped into the next room, and immediately felt the hair on the back of his neck prickle.

He turned-

He could still see the top of Jungkook's dark head.

Relaxing, Jimin took in the mugs on the table and the saucepan on the stove.

Hot cocoa time.


Hoseok shrugged at his pointed look because Jung Hoseok was wrapped very firmly around their maknaes little finger, and Jin was sure if the youngest wanted to stay attached to Jin for the next eternity, Hoseok would find a way to make that work.

In all honesty, Jin wasn't opposed to the idea either.

But Jungkook needed to shower. Needed to sleep.

And Jin really needed to use the bathroom. Like really.

Glaring at Hobi for his zero-effort policy, Jin turned back to the maknae attached to his person, speaking quietly as he ran gentle hands up and down the length of Jungkook's back, "Kookie, baby- I'm happy to cuddle you as long as you want, you know that. But you'll feel a lot better if you shower- you've been in the same clothes for over a day and -"

He stank of fear sweat.

Jin pulled him a little closer, continuing, "-and in a crowded germy airport and plane. Hobi will help you shower. Come on, sweetheart- "

As had been the common response of the evening- well, micro-morning- Jungkook adamantly shook his head in all clear manner of refusal, hands near white-knuckled in the soft material of Jin's top.

Jin was- concerned. But not crushingly worried.

Jungkook's clinginess was well documented; especially when he was upset, sick come hurt or just tired- and two out of three made for squared, not doubled clinginess.

And heaven knew no one's evening had been in anyway pleasant; Jin was looking forward to some extended cuddles himself.

But he really had to pee.

"Baby...please, I need to pee, Hoseok-hyung is right here- I'm sure he wants all the hugs too-"

Hoseok nodded enthusiastically, crazily, bordering on psychopathically-

And Jin felt more than a little bad for hogging Jungkook's cuddles, even as unintentionally as it was; he was sure it was more about 'proximity' than any deliberate choice on Jungkook's behalf.

Jungkook shook his head. More 'no', of course. And Jin sighed as Hoseok's expression fell. Goddamn it.

"Jungkook. I love you. I really, really, really love you and I'm so- I'm so so beyond words that you're okay. And you're going to get so sick of all the Jin-hugs in your immediate future, but you really have to- "

"I can't..." Jungkook muttered, becoming audible toward the end as, despite his words to the contrary, he pulled away slightly to be heard clearly as he explained, "...I'm gonna cry if-"

Hoseok all but curled to his knees, and Jin understood.

Because his heart wasn't already smashed seemingly beyond repair, thank you very much, Jeon Jungkook. Jin could only be thankful that it hadn't been his soft, 'breath away from a sob' voice-

If anything, the brat had sounded petulant and sullen about the entire matter.

Jin wondered if it was at all appropriate to laugh. Probably not. He pulled away slightly, curling hand over the back of Jungkook's head as the younger sniffed pitifully. It seemed like it was too late by Jin's account anyway. He delivered his gentle ultimatum, "Aigoo, you brat. Either you cry on Hoseok-ah, or I pee on you. What's it gonna be?"

Jungkook pulled away slowly, extracting himself from Jin's arms with obvious great reluctance, stepping back slightly to free Jin completely. He peered up slowly through sweaty locks of disheveled hair, met Jin's searching eyes-

His face crumpled, and he burst into tears.

Jin curled him back into his arms. Peeing could wait.

At least a few more seconds. Hopefully.

"Hey, hey- what's this? Huh? You're okay, you just-" he rocked them side to side slowly as the mumbled litany of meaningless reassurance tumbled unchecked from his lips and Jungkook hiccupped miserably.

"I- I- I told you so!" the maknae lamented miserably, thumping his forehead against Jin's shoulder as he wound his arms around the order's neck.

"You did. You did- Shh. Shh- cry it out. It's okay. How about you go with Hobi-Hobi? Have a quick shower...I promise you'll feel better." Jin coaxed, ignoring the imminent explosion of his bladder as he glanced toward Hoseok.

The younger nodded, the clear sympathy on his kind face telling Jin that the other understood that the poor kid was just overwhelmed. It was probably the first time he'd relaxed all evening.

Jungkook allowed himself to be transferred, relinquishing his grasp as Jungkook easily curled into Hoseok's warm embrace, their main dancer all but cooing as he pet Jungkook's hair, "Oh, Jungkookie. Hyung will wash your hair, how's that sound? Good?"

Jin made a wild dash for the nearest bathroom.


"We can even use TaeTae's special shampoo, the one with the silky stuff and specks of gold," Hoseok spoke quietly, soothingly, hoping that the inane topic would settle the burst of emotional tears into something less overwrought.

Poor baby.

Jungkook giggled wetly against his shoulder, "...he can't really say no, can he? Not tonight."

Chuckling, Hoseok pulled him closer on the couch he'd dropped them into, replying, "Nope, but really, its Tae and when does he ever say no to you?"

Pouting, yet miserably comeback-less, Jungkook sniffled, wiping his wet cheeks with the rough sleeve of his hoodie as he replied pointedly, "...hyung, when does he say no to anyone?"

Hoseok blinked, then broke into a wide grin, "Touché, babe. You feeling better? Want that shower?"

Jungkook hesitated briefly, scrubbing at his face again as he breathed a deep shuddering lungful of air before replying "I guess?" A light blush of mild embarrassment visibly evened out the blotchy tearstained flush of his cheeks as he continued, "Sorry I blubbered all over you, hyung. I was just- I- ...You have no idea how horrible the past few hours have-"

"Don't", if he hadn't felt the air escaping through his pressed lips, Hoseok wouldn't have recognized the thin icy voice as his own.

Jungkook visibly startled, turning more fully in the curve of Hoseok's arm, eyes wide with confusion and uncertainty, "-Hyung?"

Hoseok could see the bewildered doe eyes, the small white teeth peeking out as Jungkook bit down gently on his bottom lip-

He saw it all through a sudden, uncontrollable ferocious rise of red-hot rage-

"Don't you dare- Don't you dare tell me I don't know how horrible the past few hours have been. I was here, stuck here, thinking you were- Don't you dare!" he snarled, pulling away to punctuate his wrath with wild hand gestures.

Jungkook's eyes widened, and his hands came up placatingly as he stumbled over his reply, "No, hyung! I didn't- I mean, I don't- I was just-"

Hoseok shot to his feet, barely controlled fury making his long limbs tremble and quiver as he gestured to the room, "Just nothing! Nothing was just anything! You were dead, Jungkook! Do you get that!? I stood in that corner and learned that you were dead!"

"What the hell is going on in here?!" Yoongi interrupted from the doorway of their shared office area, his mobile clenched in one hand, the mouthpiece muffled against his chest as he demanded an answer.

Hoseok was only too happy to give him one, "He!" the dancer gestured ferociously at Jungkook, continuing, "Thinks it was nothing! That it was just-"

"Stop putting words in my mouth! I didn't-" Jungkook half-shouted back, his chin trembling in that 'oh so close to tears' way, his fingers worrying the hem of his jacket.

Jimin appeared from the kitchen, mug in each hand, and a look of worry marring his face as he stepped back into the room.

Yoongi stared, gaze dancing between them for a second before he spoke, "Stop. Both of you. This isn't- Aarhgh. Just let me-" He pulled the phone back to his ear quickly and dropped his gaze away as he spoke to, Hoseok assumed, one of his parents.

"Sorry, I yelled hyung. I didn't mean to-", Jungkook's timid apology came from beside him and Hoseok turned back, a deep breath filling his lungs as he tried to calm down.

Jungkook continued, adding softly"...It's my fault-, I just didn't think you'd care- "

Hoseok snapped.

"Care! Care! I- How the fuck-" Hoseok shouted, spittle flying everywhere as he shot to his feet, deliberately choosing to not see the way Jungkook flinched away, ignoring the youngers interjected, "No- Hyung!" and Jimin's flustered, "Hobi-hyung!?"

"That's where Yoongi-hyung didn't care enough to be violently ill!" Hoseok yelled, pointing at the stained spot on the beyond the carpet, immediately adding, "And Jimin nearly cried himself into passing out! Tae? Tae had a panic attack because he couldn't find your fucking passport...after we knew you were okay! Jin-hyung, and Joon-ah, they both- they both tried to be so strong, but it was killing them. You broke us Jungkook! You broke me- You broke-"

He paused, and then snarled "Do you want to see what I broke? What I did? Come on, I'll-" He grabbed Jungkook hand, tugging him harshly upright from where he'd curled into the corner of the couch, fresh tears splashing his barely dried cheeks -

The strangled scream echoed shrilly through the house for a split second before Jungkook managed to bite it back and Hoseok let go like he'd been scalded by molten lava, blanching nearly as white as Jungkook himself as he backed away.

Yoongi was on his knees by Jungkook's side in seconds, Jimin half a step behind and Hoseok turned away as the older gently but firmly pulled the youngers arm away from his protective cradle.

He hadn't pulled that hard, had he?

"What happened?! What was that-" Namjoon barked out, Jin appearing over his shoulder as they both curled into the empty space at Jungkook's side.

Had he just broken Jungkook's arm?

Whetting his lips, Hoseok stuttered out, "I- I hurt him. I - Hyung, I-" He clenched his eyes closed, unable to face what he'd done.

He'd hurt Jungkook.

"Kook-ah, baby!?" He vaguely registered Jin's questioning voice behind him but didn't time have to decipher the surprised question of the tone before arms were wrapping around his waist from behind and Jungkook's voice was washing over him.

"You didn't. Hoseok-hyung, you didn't hurt me, I promise. It was already hurt. I'm okay. You didn't-" Jungkook repeated the soft promise over and over until Hoseok finally heard what was being said.

Turning, he crushed Jungkook to his chest, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I'm- I don't even know- I'm just, I'm sorry, Kookie-baby. "

Jungkook squeezed him tightly, shaking his head as he replied, "No, hyung- You didn't do anything. I'm okay- '

"You're trembling-" Hoseok whispered, the shuddering near full body quaking telegraphing through his entire frame.

Jungkook shook his head, "Hyung...I'm not trembling. It's you. Let's- let's sit down."

"Oh. Okay. Yeah- let's do that." Hoseok agreed vaguely, allowing Jungkook to pull him back over to the couch and guide him to the seat cushions, all anger washed from him, leaving him vaguely hollow.

"I guess we're discussing this now." Yoongi sighed, plopping down onto a cushion that had been floored by the earlier disagreement, dragging Jimin closer as they all glanced up at Jin and Namjoon expectantly.

"Nope- bath time before story time. Then bedtime!" Taehyung chimed from partway down the staircase, "I've done all the jobs the others didn't do because they were too busy sneaking downstairs to wait for you".


"You know, I'm perfectly capable of showering by myself." Jungkook groused. Mainly just because he could.

Taehyung giggled, and Jungkook wondered how much sleep the other had had, and then immediately felt bad for it.

"But do you want to? Cos I can go. I can fall asleep just as easily on the floor outside as on the floor in here..." Taehyung sniggered again, and Jungkook rolled his eyes as he lathered his hair.

Pulling the shower door back enough to stick his head out, Jungkook glanced toward the closed toilet where Taehyung had plopped himself after dragging the not-overly reluctant maknae to the bathroom.

The toilet seat was empty, and Jungkook's gaze had to search lower to find his stupid best friend.

Stupidly wonderful.
And stupidly stupid.
And kinda cute.

But what the fuck?

"What the fuck, Tae?" Jungkook questioned, raising a soapy eyebrow at his fellow maknae. Taehyung was stretched out diagonally across the floor at the base of the shower door, his legs flung up the far wall, feet curled over the towel rack at waist height.

"I'll tell Jin-hyung you swore. " Taehyung warned pettily, and Jungkook groaned.

Jin was on a swearing bent. He had a swear jar and everything, only it wasn't for money...it was for chores. The more times your name went in the more chores he'd make them do. The only one who hated chores more than Jungkook was Taehyung.

"...and I'll tell him you're drunk" he sniped back, more than a little snippily, "Look at you. Get off the floor."

Taehyung snorted, "Nope. If I stay down here, nothing can cut me off at the knees and bring me crashing down. Not even my best friend dying in a fucking plane crash,"

Jungkook felt his chest burn at the level of anguish packed into that one tiny sentence, but also an almost gratitude for Taehyung just coming out and saying it. Not just dancing around the issue, barely alluding to it and pretending it hadn't even happened.

Because it had happened.

It had happened.

"...swear jar" Jungkook quipped weakly pulling himself back into the shower to wash his hair properly, thankful when Taehyung mustered up a weak chuff of laughter for him.

"Doesn't matter. Tonight, we can do no wrong, you and me. Well, probably all of us, but particularly you and me. I think we could set Jin-hyung's entire wardrobe on fire and he'd just hug us." Taehyung justified as he sat up slowly.

Jungkook snorted, "Well- me maybe. I had the close shave..."

Taehyung giggled a little maniacally, answering,"-and I'm the reason it was only a close shave".

Jungkook was so sure the older was crying that he stuck his head out again, worried, but Taehyung was dry-eyed, now seated slumped against the wall his legs had been traversing a moment ago.

And then Taehyung's words computed.
Or didn't.

"What do you mean? I lost my passport Tae, that's why I didn't- " he asked, reaching blindly for a towel until Taehyung threw one in his general direction.

"Lost? Misplaced? Had...appropriated?" Taehyung bandied, standing slowly as Jungkook dragged his sweats on, ignoring the fact that his skin was still slightly damp.

At the maknae's non-plussed look, Taehyung sighed tiredly and explained cleanly- "Really, Kookie? I have your passport."

Jungkook stared.

And that was how Taehyung ended up being assailed by a more than slightly damp, less than fully clothed Jeon Jungkook in a bathroom at 4:30am.

"... Yes, I owe you a life debt, Tae, but I'm still not being your slave for a year. One week. Final offer." Jungkook put his foot down as Taehyung dragged him back down the hall toward the others waiting in the living room.

Taehyung smirked, and Jungkook knew he'd fallen; hook, line and sinker.


Freshly showered and dressed, warm and much more settled, Jungkook found himself corralled to the middle section of the main sofa, Namjoon-hyung to his left, Jin-hyung on his right as they waited for the others to make their way back to the lounge from bathroom visits, phone checks, calls to parents and water runs.

Jungkook sat still between the two, back straight against the sofa cushions, feet flat against the floor. They seemed almost wary of him, giving him space by leaving a small gap on each side. Jungkook found it disconcerting more than comforting; more used to having his personal bubble invaded unceremoniously, and as the maknae, feeling equal, if not even more-so welcome to likewise encroach upon the others.

He didn't like it and hoped it wasn't supposed to convey some sort of unspoken message or sentiment. He hoped this was just going to be a conversation. He didn't think he could handle a scolding, or heaven forbid an argument.

The thought made his chest tight with anxiety just thinking about it.

He was okay. He'd come home to them. Surely that counted for something?

Right?

They couldn't be mad at him; he hadn't even really done anything.

The whole situation had been out of his hands.

None of it was his fault.

They already knew that he'd been asleep and that his phone had been broken. He'd told Namjoon over the phone. Not his fault.

He could have called earlier, though.

Okay, so that one tiny thing. They couldn't be mad about that? Right?

Only, Hoseok-hyung had definitely been mad.

Jungkook had never seen him like that, the sort of wild fury that sapped someone of impulse control and reasoning.

On anyone else, it would have been terrifying. On Hobi, Jungkook was having trouble even processing it. Maybe if it had been Yoongi or Namjoon hyung...

But Hoseok?

Jungkook twitched uncomfortable, fidgeting in his seat as he stared at his hands in his lap.

"...Yah, Jungkook-ah!" - Jin called loudly, and Jungkook jumped, startled from his musings.

He glanced up apologetically, just that little bit cautious, "Sorry, hyung- did you say something?"

Jin blinked at him, something unreadable in his gaze before the older turned to Namjoon with a raised eyebrow.

Jungkook usually found it cute when they did their whole 'silent communication' schtick. But not when he knew they were talking about him.

Yoongi wandered back into the room, dropping into the single recliner beside them. Jungkook shot him a timid smile and relaxed slightly when it was returned warmly.

Namjoon shifted slightly, before asking "Everything okay, Kookie?"

His voice was the same as usual, or at least Jungkook thought it was, and his eyes were warm with concern when they met Jungkook's. Namjoon-hyung didn't seem mad-

But then-

Jungkook remembered the cold stare he'd encountered on the footpath when he'd first gotten home. Namjoon hyung had definitely looked mad then.

Jimin and Tae trailed back into the living room, one behind the other as they so often were found, and Jungkook immediately relaxed as together they slumped to the floor at his feet, one leaning against each of his legs.

Taehyung hooked his chin over Jungkook's knee with a small smile, poking at his thigh as his eyes rolled towards Jin, his smile turning playful as he teased, "Hyung, Kookie was swearing in the bathroom."

Jungkook broke down into giggles.

Only to immediately cut himself off, almost choking on an indrawn of air as Hoseok reentered the room.

Their main dancer froze, and Jungkook felt strangely guilty when Hoseok's face fell slightly before shuttering as he plopped onto the arm of Yoongi's chair, throwing his feet into the older's lap.

Jungkook shook himself and turned back to Namjoon, allowing himself a tentative smile as he nodded, "Yeah. I just- I don't really... Did I do- Did I do something wrong, hyung? "

He was afraid Namjoon was going to say yes. Yell at him about something selfish or horrid or cruel that he was too stupid to even realize he'd done.

Something that could make his kind, adoring hyungs eyes harden. Something that could make Jung Hoseok froth at the mouth and yell and scream.

Something like that.

But Namjoon smiled softly, reassuringly as he answered, "No, Kookie- maybe there were a few oversights or things that maybe could have been handled better or differently, but from the sounds of it you did everything you could. I'm actually very proud of you. "

Jin hummed his agreement, adding, "We all are, baby- the whole thing must have been a horrible experience and you were all by yourself- you did so good"

Jungkook allowed himself a smile, although he couldn't help the way his gaze flitted questioningly to Hoseok.

Hoseok sighed, his chest aching; the fact that Jungkook even had to ask such a question...

He tried his best to explain something he didn't fully understand himself. "Oh, Jungkookie, I'm sorry for losing it with you- I just, I can't even think about it without getting angry. I don't think I was ever even mad at you really. Just- mad. At everything. The situation, myself... The idea of losing you just makes me so- It hurts less to be angry than sad, I think. Just- just give me some time. I can't even put into words how I felt when you were- It makes me... so- "

Jungkook shifted slightly, awkwardly making room between himself and Namjoon and employing his best atomic-puppy eyes to beckon the elusive hyung closer. Hoseok slid into the spot opened for him, and Jungkook shuffled closer to tuck up against his side, injecting "So, I should stay where you can tell me to watch my count and to spin on the third beat, not the second?"

Hoseok chuckled, "Exactly, yes- that would be perfect. Now... how about you let me have a look at that wrist?"


Jungkook's wrist sat limp in Yoongi's grasp while Hoseok snapped the few images with his mobile, Jimin and Tae wincing with sympathy every time the appendage was manipulated.

"And that's why I didn't call," Jungkook explained, concluding, "- my phone got stepped on and broken-" he waved the smashed phone for emphasis.

"...and your hand" Yoongi muttered, carefully turning Jungkook's palm to the camera.

Jungkook bit his lip to hide his smile at the olders grousing, replying"...my hand isn't broken, Yoongi-hyung. Besides- ".

"Oh, besides nothing...It might not be broken, but it did get stepped on- I mean look at these bruises...it's a fucking shoeprint"

"Washing up." murmured Jin, and Yoongi scowled., relinquishing his hold on Jungkook to turn towards Jin.

Jungkook took the opportunity to slink toward freedom, sidling off the couch onto the floor between Tae and Jimin.


His arm waving in the air above his head, Jungkook sighed with resignation as Hoseok declared, "It's too late for ice to help, baby. We'll organize an appointment to get it looked at in tomorr- later today".

Jungkook frowned, quirking he head back to look up at Hoseok behind him, replying "I think it's just bruised-"

A hand settled over the nape of his neck, squeezing gently, and Hoseok repeated, "We'll organize an appointment to get it looked at later today".

"...yes?" Jungkook inevitable agreed, rolling his eyes at Tae.

That earned him a pat on the head and a "Good boy".


"But why didn't you just leave a message earlier?" Jin asked, eyeing the crushed remains of the phone, adding, "I mean before you fell asleep- as soon as you missed the flight?"

"..." Jungkook suddenly found the fraying edge of the magazine on the coffee table very interesting. Nothing he could say was going to help his case here.

"Jungkook!" You leave a message straight away next time-" Jin demanded, flicking at his forehead, scowling when Jungkook dodged to yelp "Next time!?"

Jungkook, I'm serious...Every time. All the time. Just - don't ever wait again. Any of you."

Jungkook's, "... Yes, hyung" was echoed five times.


Jimin's voice was soft and solemn as he tried to find the words to explain, sitting cross-legged with Jungkook's hands caught between his own- "It was just- it was awful Kookie-"

"...I know-" Jungkook murmured, shifting uncomfortably when Hoseok couched on an awkward indrawn breath, almost like a stifled exclamation of disagreement.

But Jungkook did know. A little. Enough to imagine what it might have been like-

" ...I didn't know which flight it was when I first woke up. And for just a few minutes, I thought- " Jungkook explained quietly, hands lax in Jimin's, not wanting to risk squeezing too hard as the horror of those few moments when he just hadn't known swept through his memory- When they might have- "I- ...That you- All of you-

Jin dragged him up from the floor into his lap, Jung kook saved from having to release Jimin's hands when Hoseok scooped up the other from carpet alongside him.

Taehyung's throaty whine had enough affronted jealousy blended with genuine need set Jungkook and Jimin giggling, feeling fading into memory as Namjoon lifted Taehyung with a huff of exasperated amusement.


"So TaeTae had my passport?" Jungkook asked curiously, turning slightly to peer at his youngest hyung with question in his eyes.

"Yup." Taehyung replied, popping the 'p' with a certain degree of satisfaction coloring his voice.

Jungkook hummed, continuing as he shifted to lean more comfortable against Jin's side, "...Not that I'm not thankful or grateful or whatever...but, Why?"

Taehyung blinked, a dazed sort of confusion settling over his features as his eyes became unfocused with intense thought.

When no answer was forthcoming, Yoongi leaned forward in his commandeered recliner to prompt "...Tae?"

Taehyung made a shushing noise in his throat, still consumed with whatever memory he was trying to locate, until Jimin kicked him gently in the shin, "TaeTae?"

Biting his lip, Taehyung whispered, "...I don't remember. I have no idea. But I must have just-...And now I still can't find it anywhere."

The room was silent for a moment, and then Taehyung continued unbidden, "How fucking creepy would it be if it was back in your bag, Jungkook-ah?"

Jin shuddered, too disturbed to call the language, instead, scolding gently-"...Not funny, Taehyung."

"No, Jungkook- don't check. Do not!"

- Jungkook checked it was not in his bag, much to most everyone's relief.


"All those people... why did I- Why only me? There was this one lady. She smiled at me. And now she's dead. They're all dead." Jungkook's voice was barely audible, his eyes clouded with the dark revelation he'd been adamantly avoiding thinking about.

"...I was meant to die on that plane-" He whispered, shuddering.

Taehyung scrambled upright, scrabbling across Namjoon's lap to maknae-bomb Jin as he reached for his only dongsaeng, voice inflexible as he cut in, "No. No, Jungkook. If you'd been meant to die on that plane, you would have. You were meant to miss that plane and live. So, you did."

"...I don't think it works like that, Hyung." Jungkook argued, but the tilt of his lips showed he was comforted by the logic anyway.

"Says who?" Taehyung demanded, and yeah... who was Jungkook, a mere mortal, to argue with Kim Taehyung on such matters?


Somehow by the end of the long conversation, all seven of them were smooshed onto the sofa. There were knees and elbows in all sorts of inconvenient places, and more than one set of eyes was red-rimmed. But all seven of them are together and Jungkook felt the last of the evening's tension seep from his bones as he melted into a maknae shaped puddle across Jin and Yoongi.


Jungkook had been searching for a phone charger to beg/steal/borrow (his may or may not have been left in a motel room last night. What? He wasn't telling Jin.)

Namjoon's back had been to the door, and Jungkook had already opened his mouth before he noticed the quivering of their leader's shoulders. The hunched way he was folded onto the mattress-less bed in the silent, empty room.

The way his hands clenched at the fabric of his jeans, not having yet changed since getting home (ostensibly what he'd wandered off to do).

The bit off sob that escaped the hand pressed over the lower half of his face.

Jungkook backed out slowly, silently, padding on tiptoe back down the hall, knowing that Namjoon would have forced himself to pull his jagged edges back together had Jungkook tried to comfort him. But it broke his heart to just walk away.

So Jungkook did what Jungkook always did when he needed help.

"Jin-hyung?"


"Hoseok-hyung? " Jungkook had asked, dropping down beside the older on the top step of the staircase, where Hoseok had been tossing pillows down to Jimin and Tae for distribution.

The maknae waited patiently until Hoseok threw the last pillow and turned to him before continuing, "Did you really have to break the TV though?"

Where Hoseok produced another pillow from Jungkook would never know, but he barely had time to escape down the stairs before the feathered projectile smacked into the back of his head.

" I hope Tae and Yoongi steal the best spots!" Hoseok called after him, knowing full well that no-one would take the best of anything tonight.

"Sorry, hyung", Jungkook laughed up the staircase.

"...If you're really sorry, you can give me your spot beside TaeTae. I need a cuddler tonight." Hoseok bargained, his smile showing forgiveness...or the lack of forgiveness required.

Jungkook's "Not a chance" proved he'd received the message loud and clear.


"I'll help, hyung-" Jungkook offered as he wandered into the kitchen where Jin had finally managed to get a whole batch of hot chocolate from powder to warm liquid form.

Glancing up from where he was adding marshmallows into the last mug, Jin smiled as he replied, "That would be great Kook-ah. If you grab yours and Joonie's...they're the same, so-"

Jungkook looked at the mug.

"Hyung. This is not my mug."

Jin sighed, and turning, he scrabbled for a moment before pressing a black marker into Jungkook's hands.

"It is now."

By the time they delivered the mugs, Jungkook's bunny 2.0 was accompanied by an owl (with broken glasses), a very sleepy sloth, a tiger cub dangling from the cup handle, the sun shining on a unicorn (It's not a horse, hyung- it's a goddamn unicorn!) and a Mochi with eyes (What? Jimin-hyung, what? Huh? That's what he thought.)

Jin followed him out of the kitchen, cradling his own gorgeous llama mug. (It was the Llama that was gorgeous, thank you very much).

Jungkook assured him that all the mugs would stay together, happy and whole and safe with each other for a very long time.


Jin-hyung was across the room from him, half reclined on the three-seater lounge.

Namjoon draped over the furthest mattress.

Hoseok sideways across the other three.

Jimin and Tae...Yoongi didn't want to know. He wasn't thinking about the muffled giggles and sidelong glances the pair were shooting around the room from where they'd squished themselves down into the single reclining couch. He wasn't.

What he was thinking about was the fact that Jungkook was busy burrowing into his side, elbowing him without mercy into the canyon formed between the two mattresses. And Yoongi knew he was going to stay there; his ass would go numb, the floor would suck all his body heat away and the mattresses would probably consume his corpse in the end, but Yoongi would endure it all.

Because Jungkook was curled into his side, face pressed against the warm skin of his shoulder, the flutter of his eyelashes tickling occasionally as he blinked, one hand fiddling with a loose thread on his sweatshirt.

He'd said, "If I have nightmares, but Yoongi-hyung will scare them away".

Yoongi wouldn't fail his appointed duty.


"Jimin-hyung, can I have the last bit of your hot chocolate if you don't want it?".

On any other given day, Jungkook would have been tempted to drop the hyung, just to see Jimin's eyes dance with fire as they squared off.

Any other day, though- not this one.

Tomorrow perhaps.

Jimin smiled up at him, a softness to the tilt of his lips that was usually replaced with a gently challenging bent (at least, that's how Jungkook saw it...)"Sure Kookie- I'm full, here ...if you don't tell on me, I'll steal the rest of Yoongi-hyungs for you too while he's in the bathroom."

Jungkook smiled conspiratorially, "When he comes back he'll just blame TaeTae anyway"

Jimin nodded as he retrieved the mug, "Exactly my plan, so you'd better not betray me. Fair warning- the way I'm feeling tonight, I'll probably cry if you do. Just saying."

Jungkook vowed then and there; that he'd never make Jimin cry because of him again.

Except maybe from laughter, which he set about trying to achieve immediately, cradling Yoongi's mug inconspicuously as the older came back into the room and immediately glanced suspiciously towards the unsuspecting Taehyung.

Jimin was already wheezing.

Easy.


His (Yoongi's) hot (several hours cold) cocoa cradled between his warm palms, Taehyung sipped the pilfered chocolaty goodness, blinking into the dully lit room, sunlight just seeping around the edges of the drawn black-out curtains.

His eyes felt swollen and itchy, and Tae just knew his face was still blotchy and red from tears. He didn't cry pretty like Jin-hyung; he turned into a disgusting mess of snot and salty tears, but like the other rare occasions he'd had reason to cry like his heart was breaking (because his heart was breaking) Taehyung didn't care that the tears made him ugly. His insides had felt awful and ugly, and their outward representation deserved to be ugly too.

He just wished that his happy tears reflected that as well.

"...TaeTae-hyung?"

Taehyung glanced back down at the quiet whisper, to Jungkook, who was curled up with his head on Taehyung's stomach, his eyes a luminescent gleam in the darkness.

"Yeah?" He whispered back, just as quietly, lest they wake any of the other five sprawled out across the floor-full of mattresses spread out to both sides of the room.

"Thank you."

Taehyung dashed away the stinging droplets that clung to his clumpy lashes and he knew that his happy tears were making him ugly too.