Jungkook Angst - Blog Posts

take my hand

( let’s see where we wake up tomorrow ) 

summary: you lose your memory in a car crash, and Jungkook desperately tries to keep both of your lives intertwined. this in itself proves to be a challenge, especially when you can only remember him as the idol you once adored from afar. 

pairing: jungkook x fem!reader

genre: idol au, established relationship au | angst

warnings: a memory loss au, there’s angst but it’s a happy ending don’t worry i would never do that to you guys 

word count: 11k

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Jungkook never paid too much attention to those moments in life where he would figuratively hit the wall and knock the wind out of himself, until he gets the call from the hospital. And then he’s running, dashing fast and wild as quickly as his legs can take him, his mind clouded with so much fear, so much apprehension that even when he can no longer breathe he forces himself to keep running. He feels as if he might lose his mind, already grappling with deniability over his situation, the only thing that can remain consistent throughout his mind is you.

“Are you Jeon Jungkook, Y/N’s emergency contact?”

Jungkook stills, pausing in his momentary movement to wipe the sweat that has formed across his face in recovery from the intense dance practice session all the boys have just ended. “Uh, yes I am,” He answers, furrowing his eyebrows together at the seriousness of the situation, his disposition changing in such a drastic manner that all the other boys stop what they’re doing as well to watch the maknae. “Is something wrong?”

“I’m letting you know that Y/N was recently involved in a car accident and was rushed here under critical condition. She’s undergoing surgery now but—!”

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Oh God, who is cutting onions beside me? 😭😭🤧. This is short but written so well. All the emotions have been captured here so beautifully. I love everyone in this fic 😭. Some tears slipped unknowingly from my eyes after reading the final line.

filed under: it’s emo hours

notes: i’m sorry in advance but ya girls an angst hoe 

your daughter, you quickly learn, is her father’s carbon copy. maybe that’s why she loves you so much.

yoongi doesn’t know how you do it, because maya’s at that age where she can sense something is wrong without being able to place it, let alone express it. it’s such a tricky age to manoeuvre but if anyone were to navigate through so seamlessly, it’s you. that’s what worries him.

“i can take her while you’re at your appointment,” yoongi says, not really an offer but a statement. he’s taking her like it or not and he’s going to buy her copious amounts of ice cream one way or another.

you smile at him, a thank you and i love you in one, and it’s moments like that with your hair undone and the house quiet that yoongi thinks his love for you will suffocate him. he watches you twirl your fingers through maya’s hair while she sleeps on your lap. “it’s okay, i cancelled last night. i wanna stay home with you two tomorrow.”

yoongi does that thing where his mouth thins into a line and his cheeks dimple unhappily. “___.”

“mm?”

as much as he revels in that faint cheekiness, remnants of who you used to be, he forces the words out. “no skipping. you promised me you’d go to every session.”

a sigh. “i know.”

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Favourite Jungkook Fic Pt. 2

My previous Fic Rec list: One Shot Series

None of the fics in the list is mine. These belong to some amazing, creative and wonderful writers. Go check them out and read their other fics. Also like, reblog and/or comment there 😊

Mango Series by @whatifyoulivelikethat || Angst, Fluff, Smut (Kind of Bad Boy Jungkook but not that much. OC has a abusive past)

Wishing For You Pt.2 by @kookiestarlight || Angst, Fluff, Smut (Husband Jungkook. Ahh this one is soooo good. I love it too much. Jungkook is a sweetheart. He is like the ideal husband here. This Jungkook can rival with all the bad boy Jungkook out there. He is just perfect)

Read the Drabble too My Lucky Stars

My Beauty My Blood by @7cypher || Angst, Fluff Slight Smut (Mafia boss Jungkook. But not the ruthless type of mafia. It mainly focuses on the emotional side, the love for friends and family)

The Warmth You Bring by @moonchild-mp3 || Fluffy Fluff (Dad Jungkook. Gamer/Streamer Jungkook)

Amour by @taesthetes || Fluff, Angst (Fantasy, Supernatural au. Angel Jungkook. Devil OC)

Caught by @parkdatjimin || Fluff so much Fluff (Roommate au. Jungkook and OC both are awkward and they are hiding their feelings. It's really cute)

Spidey Spidey by @kookings || Fluff, Humor (Jungkook Neighbor au. It's really funny. There's a ferocious spider in OC's room 😂)

Ghost in My Bed by @yeojaa || Angst, Smut yet (Jungkook ex lovers au. Infidelity au. Rockstar Jungkook) <Ongoing>

In the Frosty Air by @gukyi || Angst, Fluff (Roommate au. Christmas au)

Snaps by @cryxstal-moon || Fluff, Slight Angst (Photographer Jungkook. Secretary OC)

Azaleas by @randombtsprincessa || Fluff, Smut (Lawyer OC. Lawyer Jungkook. So much professionalism)

A Fallen Bookmark on a Thursday Afternoon

by @cutaepatootie || Angst, Fluff, Smut (Nurse OC. Ahh this one is really sad 😢)

Feeling by @sometimeinjoon || Fluff, Smut (Devil Jungkook)

What Money Can Buy by @jeonstudios || Angst, Fluff, Slight Smut (Sugar baby au. CEO reader. Jungkook as sugar baby. This story is totally different from all the sugar baby troops)

Favorite Jungkook Fic 🐰

This is the list for Series (some are ongoing) and Two Shots. List for One Shots and Drabbles is here

Series || Two shots

✩ Worst of You @oureuphoria | Angst, Fluff (Jungkook Police Officer au. Jungkook has commitment issue) <Complete>

✩ @ahundredtimesover

Inevitable | Angst, Fluff, Smut (Jungkook sports au. Dad Jungkook) <Complete>

Empty Space | Angst, Smut, Fluff (Two Shots. Police Officer Jungkook. Ex fwbs) <Complete>

✩ Re: Untitled @to-star-lake | Angst, Smut, Fluff (Husband Jungkook. Marriage au. It has a big twist and that is mind-blowing) <Complete>

✩ His Name @jimlingss | Angst (Jungkook has DID. OC is a psychologist. It is really sad 😭) <Complete>

✩ Take My Hands Now @manggojooz | Angst, Fluff (Jungkook College /Uni au. OC has a special power of feeling others' pain) <Complete>

✩ Angel's Trumpet @hansolmates | Fluff, Angst, Slight Smut (Jungkook idol au. Kind of fantasy au) <Complete>

✩ Stoic and Redemption @blue-jade | Angst, Smut (Two shots. Husband Jungkook. Infidelity au. Parents au in the second story) <Complete>

✩ @flowerwrites06

Utopic Desire | Angst, Smut (Jungkook vampire au) <Complete>

Bow to You | Angst, Smut yet (Royalty au. Infidelity au. King Jungkook Queen OC) <Ongoing>

✩ To Build A Home @soft4gguk | Fluff, Smut, Angst (Single dad Jungkook. Nanny OC) <Ongoing>

✩ Evolution of A Lover's Heart @jeonstudios | Angst, Fluff (Jungkook College /Uni au. Fuckboy Jungkook but he is a good person now after an incident. But he is hurt 😭) <Ongoing>

✩ An Ode to a Broken Heart @smoochkooks | Angst, Slight Smut yet (Drabble series. Unrequited love. Best friend au) <Ongoing>

✩ Burning Love @bangtanficsforyou | Angst yet (Only prologue has come. Jungkook is OC's ex) <Ongoing>

✩ Candy Cane Ache @monvante | Angst, Fluff yet (The Proposal au. Journalist Jungkook) <Ongoing>

Favourite Jungkook Fic 🐰

I have included One Shots and Drabbles here. Series and Two Shots are in another list.

None of the fics in the list is mine. These belong to some amazing, creative and wonderful writers. Go check them out and read their other fics. Also like, reblog and /or comment there 😊

~~••~~••~~

One Shots || Drabbles

✩ Granite Glow @namjoonchronicles | Angst, Fluff ( Husband Jungkook au)

✩ Twenty Four @deerguk Fluff and Fluff (Husband au. It's really so cute 😍)

✩ The Second @untaemedqueen Angst, Fluff (Jungkook parents au)

✩ Stay @sahmfanficbts | Angst, Fluff (Hurt/comfort fic. This one is really good and healing. OC has depression but she is hopeful)

✩ Somnolent @forgottenpasta Fluff (Roommate au. Cute and funny characters)

✩ Busted In Busan @hansolmates | Fluff, Angst (Christmas au. Painter Jungkook)

✩ Year 22 @guklvr | Angst, Fluff, Smut (Childhood friend au)

✩ @jeonstudios

Deal | Angst, Fluff, Smut (Devil Jungkook au. There is a little twist)

Wherever There is You | Angst, Fluff (Hurt/Comfort fic. Broken marriage/divorce au)

✩ The Millionaire and his Lover @gukyi Angst, Fluff, slight smut (Best friend au)

✩ Let Me Drive @wtf-yoongi | Fluffy fluff ( A very cute and fluffy fic. Shy Jungkook. Jungkook and OC went on a little vacation)

✩ Amortentia @jungkxook | Fluff, Slight Angst (Harry Potter au)

✩ In Your Time @introkookie | Angst, Fluff (Shy Jungkook but very cute)

✩ Boy Meets Evil @koorara | Fluff and Fluff ( So fluffy. OC, Jungkook and a cat 🐱)

✩ @jimlingss

Date in A Box | Fluff and fluff (Just full of fluff like a cotton candy)

Dynasty | Angst, Smut, Fluff ( Historical, royalty au. This one sooo good. You will basically watch a movie while reading this. I love it so much ❤️)

✩ Sweets @worldwidemochiguy | Fluff (Soft Yandare Jungkook)

✩ So Close to Perfect @seok-jinnies | Angst ( At first hurt but you will get the comfort eventually)

✩ Late Supper @secretmischief | Angst, Fluff, Smut ( Idol Jungkook au. OC is hurting at first but fluffy ending)

✩ Crush @jungxk | Angst, Fluff, Smut ( Idol Jungkook au. Jungkook lost his memory)

☆ @venusjeon

His Service | Angst, Smut ( Historical, royal au. This one is really angsty. I cried 😭)

l'aquelarre | Angst, Fluff, Slight Smut (Fantasy, Magic au. Witch Jungkook)

From The Depths | Angst, Fluff (Historical, fantasy au. Siren Jungkook)

✩ War-time Child @ktheist | Angst, Fluff (Fantasy, magic au. Slight Harry Potter au. Jungkook is the one with magic)

✩ Webslinger @lemon-boy-stan | Angst, Fluff (Jungkook Spiderman au)

✩ Tangled Thoughts @mimikookie | Angst, Fluff, Slight violence (Jungkook Spiderman au)

✩ Feed Me Fight Me @yeojaa | Angst, slight smut ( Jungkook fighter au. OC is very understanding. Hurt/Comfort fic)

✩ Are you going to stay @hollyhomburg | Angst, Fluff, slight Smut (Jungkook Idol au)

✩ Second Chances @parkhabits | Angst, Fluff, Smut (Jungkook husband au. Almost divorce au)

(un)crushed

summary; you’ve liked jungkook for the longest time, but you believe it’s time to cut the cord—literally  pairing; human!jungkook x witch!reader genre/warnings; angst, magic uni!au, a lil bit of fluff and humor, longing on both sides, pining on both sides, unmoral use of potions (im looking at u ryujin), apathy, emotional detachment, lil himbo!koo, mc is a vixx fan that’s canon w/c; 2.4k a/n; here’s my contribution to halloween—breaking hearts, mwahahahahaha!! haven’t been feeling inspired lately, hope that’ll change in the winter when the holidays come around. hope u enjoy this lil ficlet! 

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Careful What You Wish For

Fandom: BTS Pairing: Vampire!Jungkook x Human!Reader (Female) Genre: Fantasy/Angst Warning: Slight swearing, mild horror atmosphere, vampirish activities (please don’t ask me), blood, biting, fighting, wolves and a sprinkle of smut.  Word Count: 4k Words Note: Totally fictional, some parts of the plot is inspired by the classic Dracula. Some people might feel uncomfortable. Please, read at your own risk.

Summary: When you’re stuck in a deserted road surrounded by wilderness, you have no other choice but to enter the huge mansion you see before you. The man you meet inside is mysterious. But he is too alluring for you to stay away from...

*************************************************

“Oh shit!” I swore as an animal passed by in front of my car and I had to break really hard.

It was past midnight and raining heavily. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to reach the destination of my work till dawn. I still had a long way to go.

I tried to start the car again. But it wasn't responding anymore.

"No, no, please," I pleaded to my car, "this is not the right place. For God's sake..." I kept muttering.

I had to give up trying after a few attempts. The car was a second hand one and it didn't function properly. I tried calling for the recovery. But there was no phone signal either.

Being hopeless, I got down from the car and got drenched immediately.

"Yeah, no, SHIT!" I swore in exasperation. I was cursing myself for agreeing to go into this remote area in the first place. I desperately wished for a miracle.

I looked around me. It felt like the road was in the middle of nowhere. All around me, I could see only wilderness. But there was a faint glow of light ahead of me. Without any further ado, I started to walk towards it.

What I found was astonishing and terrifying at the same time. There was a huge mansion. The front gate was wide open as if it was already aware of my intrusion and was welcoming me all the same.

I went inside the boundary, and knocked on the door. Even through the heavy rain, the sound of someone pushing open the door from within was heard clearly. I took a step backward as I look at the person in front of me.

*************************************************

There stood a man in dark clothes. I couldn't see his face properly due to the lack of light.

"Welcome!" He announced without any sign of hesitation, his voice sharp yet not cold.

I tried to explain what had happened in a few sentences before he said, "Perhaps it would be better if you come inside first. I can see you're wet."

I nodded my thanks and went inside despite having some doubts within myself.

He led me through a dark corridor into what looked like a very fancy living room to me. The fire was lit on the fireplace and I was grateful for the warmth.

"If you don't mind waiting here for a moment, love, I have to take care of something." Then, the man was gone.

I found everything really weird. I mean, who talked like that nowadays. His accent and the choices of words were really out of the ordinary.

I noticed that the whole room looked really dark despite being lit up by many candles all around it. I was still sitting by the fire when he came back with a towel and some clothes.

I was about to say it wasn't necessary, that he should not trouble himself with them, when he cut me off and said, "It's not every day a guest come to stay at my place. I'm glad to do anything to make you feel at home. And I apologize early. You might not get full attention since I had sent all the servants away for a week. After all, I was not aware of your arrival."

With that being said, I couldn't argue any further. He again led me to a bedroom and asked me to get changed while he prepare the supper.

The clothes he had given me were all old fashioned. But they were still as new as if no one had ever worn them.

When I came out to the dining room, I was awestricken by the amount of food that were presented before me on the table. The fact that it was done in such a short time by a single person was more fascinating.

The man was sitting on the very corner and called me to sit opposite him. I didn't make any further inquiries as I was starving and the smell was delicious. After having a few bite, I decided to make a conversation.

I found out that the man was called Jeon Jungkook and he was the landlord of the entire mansion. All of his family members had died in a tragic accident leaving him with a huge fortune. He lived alone with some servants to take care of him and the mansion.

As we were talking, I couldn't help but notice how incredibly handsome he was. He had a fine figure. His eyes were almost pitch black and they were huge. He was wearing old fashioned clothes like mine and wore fine silver jewelry. He also had a lot of piercings in his ears, eyebrows and lip.

And Oh God, his lips. As I looked, I couldn't take my eyes off them. I was looking at him in a very devoted way throughout the whole conversation. He was indeed very handsome. In fact, he was the most beautiful person I had ever seen my entire life.

*************************************************

Jungkook had promised to call the recovery for me at dawn (I would call him by his name since he had insisted me upon calling him that). As I lied down, I realized how terribly tired I was. So, I closed my eyes.

"How old is he?" I thought before falling into a deep sleep. He never mentioned his age.

In my dream, I was in a complete different world. There was darkness all around me. The warm room started to get cold as I felt someone coming near. The stranger climbed my bed and lied beside me, his hands slowly reaching to catch both of mine. Suddenly he was on top of me.

“You’re blessed.” He softly whispered on my ear. I could feel his breath going down slowly towards my neck. His lips touched my skin. I felt a sharp pain throughout my whole body.

Then, everything changed. I couldn’t feel the reality anymore. Nothing felt solid. It was as if I was floating through the air. I could see all the colors at once. But then again, there were no colors at all. It felt like every color, matter and surrounding had merged into one. It was a terrific feeling, but a pleasant one too.

“Who are you?” I wanted to ask. But I felt like I already knew the answer. I didn’t want to acknowledge it right away. Because then, I had to come back to the reality; which I didn’t want just then.

I couldn’t tell how long the strange feeling lasted. Slowly my surrounding started to get clearer. Half consciously, I could make out a man’s silhouette raising from my bed. He walked towards the door.

I tried to call out his name. But it seemed like I couldn’t move my muscles. He glanced back at me one last time before making his exit through the door.

*************************************************

I woke up with a jolt and found myself covered with sweat. I was gasping for air as I found it hard to breathe properly. My heart was pounding in my chest. I sat down and tried to relax.

“What time is it?” I thought. It was hard to guess whether it was night or day. I looked around me and saw that my room still looked the same. But I felt like an eternity had passed already.

The windows were covered with heavy thick curtains. So, it was possible that the morning sunlight couldn’t get inside. I slowly rose from my bed and opened one side of a curtain. The scorching heat from the sun reached my face. My eyes closed shut as it couldn’t adjust with the bright light suddenly.

I closed the curtain and went towards my bed again. I was feeling a little weak. There was a dull pain on my neck. I sat down for a while, thinking about last night’s incidents.

Then, suddenly I remembered about my business. I had to be present there before 10 o’clock. I hurriedly got out of bed and sprinted to the living room. Jungkook was sitting on an armchair by the fireplace. Just like my bedroom, all the curtains had blocked out the sunlight here as well.

“Good afternoon, love.” He greeted me with a smile, “did you sleep well?”

“Afternoon?” I gasped, “Oh no!”

“Is there a problem?” he rose from his chair and walked towards me.

I explained that I had an important meeting at 10 and that it was the reason as to why I had come to this place. Now I had already missed it and I didn’t know what to do.

“I’m so sorry, love,” he said, “I didn’t want to wake you up early. I thought you must’ve been very tired since last night’s tragedy.”

I noticed a faint line of smile on his face. It didn’t appear to me that he was sorry at all. In fact, it looked like he was actually glad.

I shook my head. It sounded ridiculous. Why would this man want me to miss the meeting? What was there for him in it?

“As there is nothing you can do about it now, I would suggest you to stay here as long as it takes for your car to be repaired.” Jungkook announced. I didn’t say anything. I was still very confused about everything that was happening.

“You look so pale.” He said, “Come, sit here.” I went over to sit by the fire. He poured a glass of wine and handed it to me.

As I took the glass, our hands touched for a moment and I shivered. His hands were surprisingly cold.

*************************************************

After lunch, Jungkook took me to the library. I was going through the books on the shelves while he sat quietly in a corner. There was a book in his hand. But I could sense that he wasn't reading. He was secretly watching my every move.

I thought about my strange dream. It felt more real than any dream I ever had. But the feelings I felt were too strange to explain in reality. No matter how excited I felt the night before, at day time, I felt like there was an air of melancholy all around the house.

It started to rain again. I inquired about my car. Jungkook told me that it might take a day or two to properly fix it. I asked him if he could give me a ride to the town. He said I would rather enjoy my time in the mansion more.

He spoke with a voice of authority which made me shut up. I couldn't bring myself to argue. Even though I was strongly attracted by his appearance, there was a part of me who was frightened.

Time seemed to move at a different speed here. I tried reading something for a while but kept getting distracted by my own thoughts. It was mostly the memories of last night and those strange feelings.

Casting my fear aside, I thought it would be better to talk to my companion. So, I asked, "It rains an awful lot here, doesn't it?"

Jungkook shut down his book and smiled at me, "Yes, love. It does."

There was something in the way he called me 'love'. It made me blush almost every time. I was swept off for a whole minute by his answer.

He then chuckled to himself and said, "They say, the woods belong to the nine tailed fox that resides in here. After all, he controls the weather."

"He?" I asked, "Isn’t a Gumiho always a woman?"

"Is it, though?" He asked as if he had met a real Gumiho who was a man.

I shrugged my shoulders and added, "He must've been really sad for him to make it rain most of the time."

"Yes, love." Jungkook whispered under his breath, "He’s lonely. Just like I am."

*************************************************

Jungkook apologized and said he couldn’t join me for the dinner as he had some important works to be done. He then left me alone to have mine.

As I was eating alone, all kinds of doubts kept revolting around my head. I never saw him eat. He didn’t even joined me for lunch. But why? And how did he prepared the foods all alone in such a short time? I remembered how cold he was when our hands had touched.

But there was something that bothered me much more. He sounded very sad while telling me about the Gumiho. He sounded as if it were true. Or at least he believed it to be.

“He is lonely.” I thought, “Maybe that’s why he doesn’t want me to leave.”

The feeling of loneliness was something I was very much used to. I had never received any love from my family. They had never admired me or appreciated me for anything. In fact I was always considered a disappointment in my family.

All my life, I had searched desperately for a friend who would understand me and love me for who I was. It was the only wish I had cherished since childhood. So, I decided I would not mention about leaving unless Jungkook, himself, asked me to.

I waited for Jungkook for a while to bid him goodnight. But he didn’t come. I thought he might have already been to bed. So, I made my way towards my bedroom.

As soon as I fell asleep, my dream returned. He was on top of me, whispering in my ear, “I don’t want you to leave.”

But this time, I replied, “I don’t want to leave either.”

“Stay with me, will you?”

“Don’t let me go.” I mumbled as I felt his lips on my neck. Something sharp was pushed through my skin and I felt that quick pain all over my body again.

All the strange feelings of the previous night returned. But this time, everything felt more pleasant as I didn’t resist. I let myself loose.

When I came back to my senses, I could see his face clearly. It was indeed Jungkook. I knew it all along. But instead of shying away or being frightened, I was relieved.

He placed a soft kiss on my lips and whispered, “Sweet dreams, love.”

*************************************************

I woke up next day with the same feeling like the day before. I was sweating and it was hard to breathe. As soon as I tried to stand up, my head felt dizzy.

“Was it a dream too?” I pondered over last night. Whatever it was, the feelings I felt were a little too strong for me to avoid. I wanted to find out the truth. And the only way to do that was meeting Jungkook.

He was sitting by the fire as usual and looked up with a warm smile on his lips, “You’re awake.”

I slowly nodded and sat down on the armchair opposite him. “What time is it?” I asked.

“The same time you woke up yesterday, I believe.” He said casually. His expression turned serious as he looked at me closely, “Are you feeling well, love?”

I didn’t know whether to tell him the truth. What if it was really a dream? He would think I was mentally unstable. At that point, I was questioning my own sanity as well.

“I feel…” I hesitated before saying, “I’m fine.” Jungkook nodded. But he looked like he didn’t believe it.

“I’m glad that it’s not raining today.” I said, “Maybe, we can go out? Take a walk?”

“No.” Jungkook said sharply, a sudden terror reflected in his eyes. Then, he turned to me and his expression turned soft, “I don’t think you’re quite fit for the job presently, love.”

Then, he left to prepare my lunch. Just like the day before, I had to have lunch alone. But this time, he sat beside me while I eat, looking at me with somewhat fondness.

“Aren’t you going to eat?” I asked.

“I already had mine.” He said.

I was still questioning his behaviors. He was being such a gentleman, taking care of me all alone without any help. Giving me a place to stay when I needed it the most. But there was still a little bit of suspicion I couldn’t get rid of.

I felt weaker than I did the day before. I kept sitting most of the time. Jungkook offered to read me a poetry. I found his voice much more soothing than the poem itself. He could be reading the worst poem ever written in history. But I would still enjoy it as much.

When Jungkook left me to prepare the dinner table, I was walking around to explore some more territory by myself. But the more I walked, the dizzier my head got. At a point, my knees gave up and I started to fall.

But before I could actually touch the ground, Jungkook was already by my side, holding me firmly on his arms. I could see his face from up close. He was genuinely worried about me.

“Love,” he called softly.

I nodded to let him know that I was still conscious. He lifted me up in a bridal style and carried me towards my bedroom. I looked at him earnestly. I needed to ask it or I wouldn’t be able to rest.

“Was it you?” I whispered, “Or was it a dream?”

Jungkook put me to bed slowly. Then, he looked me in the eyes and said, “It was me, alright. But so was your dream.”

*************************************************

I woke up in the middle of the night. I felt better than before. I looked around searching for Jungkook. But there was no one in my bedroom.

“Why wouldn’t he come tonight?” I thought, “Was he worried about my health?” Whatever he was doing to me, I could feel it was making me weak. But I still wouldn’t want it to stop.

I walked out of my room. He was nowhere to be seen, not in the living room nor in the library. I walked towards the direction I believed was his bedroom. He wasn’t there either. At that time, I heard the sound of the front gate opening.

I thought he might have went out. So, I followed the previous route I took to get inside and was already in front of the main door. It was wide open. This time I was sure he had gone out.

“But why at this time?” I thought. Hesitantly I went out to check the matter myself. It was a moonlit night. So, there was enough light to see through the woods. I walked around for a while when the howling of the wolves started.

I got scared. But I had already walked a long way from the mansion. I sped up and started to head back. The noises kept coming nearer. I started to run. But the wolves seemed to be just beside me. As I glanced sideways, I saw a wolf jumping right at me.

I fell down, eyes closed and heart beating up to my throat. But the wolf hadn’t touch me. As I looked up, I saw Jungkook. He was standing in between me and the pack of wolves. I couldn’t see his face properly since his back was towards me.

Then, with a hissing sound, he leapt towards the wolves. All the wolves were jumping at him one at a time. But he was invincible. He was dodging almost every attack from the wolves.

I couldn’t make out most of the fight. There was chaos all around. I couldn’t even move a muscle in fear. One of the wolves bit Jungkook on his neck and he screamed in pain. I got up to go near him. But at that moment, what I saw scared me to death.

I looked at Jungkook in disbelief. His face bore the expression of a wild beast. His eyes were scarlet and glowing in the moonlight. Blood was dripping from his mouth.

Our eyes met for a moment. He seemed to have seen the fear in my eyes. I took a step back. His face softened. He tried to walk towards me, mouthing the word, ‘love’.

I turned back and ran.

*************************************************

I ran until I couldn’t anymore. I didn’t know where I was going. As I ran, all the memories from the mansion kept replaying in my head.

I never saw Jungkook eat or rest. He was terrified at the idea of going out. All of his room had thick curtains and they blocked the sunlight. His red eyes, his wild expression, the blood in his mouth…

I eventually lost consciousness and fell down on the ground. When I woke up again I was back at the mansion. I was lying on my bed while Jungkook sat at the very corner, looking at me.

I sat up quickly. His face was back to normal again. But I still couldn’t shake off the fear.

“Welcome back, love.” he said. “Are you okay?”

I didn’t answer. I looked out of the window where the curtains were drawn back. The moon was huge tonight.

Jungkook’s voice sounded very serious when he said, “You don’t have to be scared. The wolves won’t bother you anymore.”

I slowly nodded. I didn’t know whom I was more scared of, the wolves or my savior himself.

“Your car had been repaired.” He announced.

Then, he did something quite unexpected. He came to sit closer to me and took both of my hands in his. He looked me in the eyes and said, “You are free to go, love.”

“What have you done to me?” I was in tears.

“I know I have hurt you.” He whispered, “But trust me, I did it because I had no other choice.”

I started to sob. In between all of this mess, there was a kind of comfort I thought I had found. But my hope of an eternity together with this stranger I started to care about, was hanging by a thread.

“I’m so sorry that at some point, I started to care for you. It could have ended easily if I didn’t.” he said. I looked at his eyes. They were full of sorrow and regret.

“What are you?” I asked finally.

“I think you already know that, love.”

*************************************************

I stayed awake in my bed. It had been a while since Jungkook left. I couldn’t sleep. The thought of leaving this mansion for good had surrounded me. I was in despair.

I didn’t know for sure how Jungkook was feeling. But he had said he started to care about me even if it was not supposed to have happened. I didn’t know about my own feeling as well. All I knew was that even if it wasn’t love, I was madly craving for him. What could it be? Desire, lust or infatuation?

Love was a complete foreign idea to me. All my life, I had only needs and wants. And I did everything to have them. Now I felt I needed Jungkook. I needed him to care for me. I needed him to make me feel at home. I needed him to do whatever it was that he did.

I had made up my mind. I went to his room. He was sitting up with a book in his hand. He looked at me in confusion.

“I thought I made it clear.” Jungkook said, “You can leave tomorrow.”

“What if I refuse?” I asked. Jungkook’s eyes opened wide. He looked as if he never expected that answer.

“You told me earlier that I was free to go. Does that also mean that I’m free to stay as well?” I asked again.

He shook his head, “I don’t think you understand, love. It’s dangerous. We are two very different things. You can’t live with me.”

“I know,” I said and climbed on to his bed, “Make me just like you.”

“Love!” he whispered, looking hurt by my words.

“I understand how you’re feeling about it. But let me tell you something honestly about me.” I moved closer and took his hands on mine like he had done earlier.

Then, I said all the things I had always wanted to tell a friend, someone who would understand me, someone who would care. Jungkook was the closest I ever had to a friend.

“I don’t have anyone or anything to return to.” I finished by asking him, “Will you accept me to be a part of your world?”

Jungkook chuckled, “I think I should be the one asking you that.” Then, his eyes lit up. It turned bright red as he came closer to whisper in my ear, “So, will you be my bride for an eternity, love?”

*************************************************

Special 8 Photo-folio Masterlist

My Personal Masterlist

Almost

Fandom: BTS Pairing: Jungkook x OC (Jessie) Genre: Angst and a little bit of fluff Warning: Possessive behavior, underage drinking, heartbreak etc. Word Count: 1.8k words

‘Almost’, the most depressing word in my dictionary. If you want to know the reason behind it, we’ll have to go back in time.

Our grade 1 teacher had suggested to fix our seats alphabetically. That didn’t sound bad to me. Because Jungkook and I were the only students with the initial J for our names. Or at least that was what I thought.

“Jessie” my teacher called me to seat at the very back of the first row. I smiled at Jungkook and went over to take my seat.

“John” the teacher called next.

“Who the hell is John?” I thought while the new boy in our class came to sit beside me.

“Now Jungkook would sit at the very front of the second row” the teacher announced.

Jungkook went to his assigned seat and looked back for a moment to catch my eyes. It was a signal for me to persuade the teacher to let us sit together.

I knew I had to do it. Because Jungkook would rather die than argue with the teacher on any matter. I, on the other hand, searched for every single chance to contradict my teachers. It was something I found really amusing.

As soon as I put forward my request, our teacher replied with, “Who would complain on such a peaceful organization of the seats other than you?”

The other students started to laugh. As much as I can recall, we had some minutes of argument when finally the teacher said, “Alright! Let’s ask Jungkook on what he has to say about it.”

Then he turned to Jungkook and asked, “Do you want to go over to the back to sit with her? Or are you happy with my decision?”

Jungkook nodded his head and said, “I’m fine, here” like a complete idiot.

I remembered how his reply had hurt my pride and since then I had never sat beside him in any class, not even when we had gone to the high school. We were almost going to sit together for a whole year and more to come. But no!

None of us would introduce the other as the best friend. Nonetheless we had the closest bond than any best friends’ duo of our class. In fact, we were more than friends. We knew it and so did everyone else.

Some people couldn’t understand how we ended up together while others would say, “opposite attracts.”

We were totally opposite in terms of our personalities. I was wild, adventurous and free-spirited while Jungkook was shy, introverted and conserved. But these were merely what appeared on the outside. I believed him to be more like me spiritually. He just had been taming the animal within himself.

Perhaps I was the only one who could see that. Whatever it was, nobody would deny the fact that we were surely an unusual couple.

The next incident also happened at the farewell party of our Elementary School. I was talking with a bunch of boys and joking around.

I knew Jungkook would not join us since he didn't like the crowds. So I didn't bother calling him either.

The party was over and we were walking home together. Suddenly he said, "I didn't like seeing you there." he paused for a moment and added, "With THEM."

I laughed, "What are you talking about?"

"You know exactly what I am talking about"

"Okay, I understand." I said. "You were probably lonely in there. But hey! We are going to the same High School. But some of the boys are leaving the town. I will get to meet you anytime I want. But not them."

"Whatever!" Jungkook sighed in exasperation.

"Why are you making such a huge deal out of it?"

"Because, I don't want to share you with anyone."

"Why?" I asked, rather shocked.

"Because you're my..." Then he abruptly stopped.

I stopped walking. "What?" I urged him to continue.

Jungkook went red on the face but didn't say anything further.

"For God's sake, Jungkook, just say it." I wished to myself.

"Let's hurry!" He said, "We’re already late."

And that was it. Jungkook almost called me his girlfriend. If only he really did, I would have gladly accepted that. Perhaps then, our relationship could have gotten a tag.

We were only 13 back then. I had sneaked a bottle of whiskey from the kitchen cabinet where my father usually kept them. I was always curious about adult drinking that I wanted to try it myself. But doing something this big alone didn’t sound exciting at all.

Of course, I had told Jungkook earlier to sneak out of his house at midnight to meet me at the little junkyard. Reluctantly he had agreed. He actually showed up even though I doubted that he would.

“Guess what I have with me?” I asked him.

“Umm…” he went on to his usual loading mood.

I didn’t have any patience left so I showed him the bottle right away. Jungkook gasped as soon as he saw it. His reaction made me feel more proud of myself for accomplishing the task.

Jungkook tried to persuade me not to drink it. But it was hopeless as I was too determined. As soon as I sipped directly from the bottle I spited it out.

“Yuck!” I shouted, “How can people enjoy drinking this thing?”

Jungkook started to giggle at my reaction. I wasn’t feeling confident anymore. I had to try something else to prove that I was braver than him.

“Stop laughing!” I said boldly, “as if you’ve ever done anything fun in your life before.”

“You didn’t do anything to boast about either.” He said as a matter of fact. "You’re all talk.”

“Who said that? I’ve done quite a lot of things.”

“Like?” he was mocking me at that point.

I quickly tried to make up a lie to get away from the embarrassing situation, “Like I already had my first kiss?”

“What?”

The shock on his face was satisfying. So, I continued, “Yeah, of course, dummy.”

Jungkook frowned and asked, “Who was it?”

“Why would I tell YOU?” I started to tease him now, “I bet you have no idea about these stuffs anyway.”

“I don’t believe you.” He said.

I walked closer to him and said, “Why? Do you want me to prove it?” Jungkook took a step back and I started to laugh.

“I know about these stuffs as much as you do, okay?” he tried to argue.

“Then prove it.” I said in a very serious voice.

Jungkook remained quiet. I slowly walked toward him. He took two steps back causing him to be pinned to the nearby broken car. I rested one of my hand on the car to his left.

Through the moonlight, in the otherwise dark night, I could see Jungkook’s face clearly now. He had shut his eyes closed. I leaned to close the distance between our faces. Our chests were already touching and I could feel his heart beating fast. His trembling lips were parted a little.

I was almost within the reach to feel his breath on my lips, when I realized, he might be frightened. And I moved away. Jungkook opened his eyes and looked at me in confusion.

“I lied,” I said, “I never kissed anyone before.”

I’d had enough. I wanted to get rid of this unestablished relationship I was in with Jungkook. I finally decided I would ask him to be my boyfriend. I had even saved enough money to buy him a nice watch once we were official.

“I have something to tell you.” I said as soon as we met.

“Me too.” Jungkook replied.

“Okay, I'll let you go first.” I was shocked at his calm voice, “Mine can wait.”

Jungkook bent his head down and he said, “I've got accepted.”

“What?”

“You remember about the audition, right?”

“Oh yeah, right!” I said, remembering, “The audition. So, what now?”

“They had called me to sign the contract and go stay in Seoul.”

I didn't know what to say. I never really thought about what was going to happen if he got accepted by the company.

I asked hopefully, “But you'll come back again right?”

Jungkook was too quiet. Something felt wrong. That time, I knew it was the end. He was never coming back to me. A new life awaited him. How could I stop him now?

I smiled, "I knew you would do well."

“But I don't want to go away.”

I could see tears were forming in his eyes. My own tears threatened me to burst out at any time. I still managed to hold it back and said, “What are you talking about? It's a life changing opportunity.”

Jungkook wiped away the tear that just fell from one of his eyes. He slowly nodded his head. He understood.

“Jessie!” he called.

“Hmm?”

“Didn't you want to say something earlier?” he asked.

“Yeah.” I said, “I want to buy you a watch. Consider it as a goodbye gift.”

That’s how our story ended with yet another almost. It could have gone differently. If only I could bring myself to ask him to be mine, could he refuse? Didn't he loved me enough to leave behind everything to be with me? Apparently I never found out.

It had been ten long years. By the time, I had witnessed Jungkook growing up little by little on screen. I had been his number one fan since day one. He along with his group had gone so far now.

I was really grateful to all of his hyungs, who had been there for Jungkook all these years. They had made him who he was today. They had helped him to grow and come out of his shell. I was more than just proud of him.

My life had been different than what I had imagined it would be like. Nonetheless I was doing okay. However, one day, something really unexpected occur.

I saw Jungkook for the first time in ten years. He had come to the store I work in to buy his all-time favorite banana milkshake. He was wearing a cap to hide his face, so that no one could recognize him at a first glance. But how could I not? He was my first, if not last, love.

I was a little shocked when he put the milkshake in front of the counter. Our eyes met for a split second. Jungkook quickly looked away and handed me the cash and said, “Keep the change.” Then, he was gone.

He didn’t recognize me. I doubted he would have. I had shorter hair than him, too many piercings on my ears and nose, tattoos on my arms, neck and even face.

Life almost gave me a chance to be reunited with my Jungkook, only to snatch that hope away in the end.

My Masterlist

Parallel

Fandom: BTS Pairing: Jungkook x Female Reader x Yoongi Warning: It’s extremely angsty, toxic relationship (bit problematic too), physical and emotional abuse, drinking, manipulative behavior?

*************************************************

I look at him in disbelief. “Is it really the Jungkook I fell in love with?” I ask myself.

My cheek hurts from the slap that Jungkook’s hand had just landed on my face. Tears are forming in my eyes. I can’t see him properly through my blurry vision.

Instead who came to my mind was my ex, Yoongi. He was wasted that night. I should have understood and kept quiet. Instead I let my emotions take control of me and shouted at him, causing him to break the empty wine bottle right beside me. Pieces of glass flew to my face. I wasn’t badly hurt. But I was scarred inside. A scar, I knew, would never heal.

I remain silent. I wish I had done that before Jungkook’s anger rose to the point of hitting me.

Jungkook seems to have come back to his senses. He steps toward me, “y/n,” he whispers. I step back. Jungkook’s voice cracks up as he speak, “Are you going to leave now that I’ve done that to you?”

Yoongi, too, had come to me once he was sober. That day, I saw him crying for the first time. He had begged me to stay. He told me, “I’m not what you think I am.”

I answer to Jungkook the same reply I had given Yoongi that day.

“I can’t love someone I’m afraid of.”

*************************************************

My Masterlist

Note: I don’t know why I keep thinking about such violent scenarios. Personally, I don’t think Jungkook and Yoongi could do such an act. But I had to imagine someone before I make a scene on my mind. Them being my biases, automatically came to my mind first. Forgive me, lord. Forgive me, Jungkook and Yoongi.

Inevitable (Series Masterlist) | JJK

Pairing: Jungkook x (f.) Reader (ft. ot6)

Genre/Tags: exes au, parents au, baseball player!JK; angst, fluff, smut (18+)

Series Warnings: foul language, alcohol consumption, minor character death, talks of insecurities, explicit sexual content (oral sex, fingering, making out, straddling, unprotected/protected penetrative sex but be safe please! specific warnings will be written on applicable chapters)

Series Word count: ~89.8k

Summary: You convinced Jungkook to break up years ago so he could pursue his lifelong baseball dream. Now he’s back home, staring at you, and the little boy next to you who looks unmistakably like him.

A/N: I love exes aus, and (athlete) dad Jungkook does things to me and after months of this little family living in my head, I finally got to put them into writing. So I hope you enjoy knowing them as much as I loved writing them 🥰 Also, my knowledge on baseball (and the MLB and the KBO) is quite shallow so for wrong terms and stuff… please ignore!

Prologue (wc: 2.2k)

Chapter 01 (wc: 6.9k)

Chapter 02 (wc: 7.2k)

Chapter 03 (wc: 7.7k)

Chapter 04 (wc: 9.9k)

Chapter 05 (wc: 7.5k)

Chapter 06 (wc: 7.7k)

Chapter 07 (wc: 6.6k)

Chapter 08 (wc: 14.7k)

Epilogue (final) (wc: 6.3k) 

Only Love: An Inevitable Epilogue (wc: 13k) || End

masterlist

November Sun | jjk

☆summary: whenever he breaks, the november sun shines on him. and jungkook chases you across the sky - but you've gone some place he can't reach you now.

☆pairing: Jungkook x reader (I genuinely don't think the gender is ever mentioned? please let me know if it is so I can adjust this here), mentions-ish of Namjoon x reader

☆rating: 18+ (minors DNI, it deals with heavy themes)

☆genre: grief au/funeral au?, exes au, angst

☆warnings: angst, like. Just angst. OC is dead and Jungkook is grieving her. Curses words, very light mentions of sex, flashbacks of moments when jungkook broke. mentions of christianism (the funerals are held in a church), mentions of alcohol, jealousy. Namjoon is a broken man as well

☆word count: 3.7k

☆a/n: I started writing this tonight because I was sad and then just realized I won't have the strength to look back on it ever again so I'm posting it even tho it hasn't been beta-ed, and even tho the person that makes my moodboards is unavailable rn. Idc. It needed to be out of my system, and now it is.

☆a/n pt2: I know this piece is extremely heavy. If you ever need to speak, please reach out to me. My blog is a safe space for every single one of you <3

☆☆☆☆☆

                The church is a tall building. Grand, elegant in its simplicity, though it cuts against the blue sky up above in stark lines, shaped like a prison.

Jungkook thinks life has become a prison a while ago.

It’s a mystery, why your family chose this space for your funeral. You never believed, never practiced. Is it a betrayal to mark your passing in a space that feels so unlike you?

Jungkook thinks it is.

He sighs, chases the heaviness away the same way the clouds chase themselves in the sky up above. He doesn’t know how the sun is shining in the blue expanse of the sky. It’s November, yet the day is warm, the sun is blindingly glowing. It feels like a crime – how can the sun shine in a world deprived of your existence?

Jungkook doesn’t want to know.

Only knows that he’s watched from afar the people that gathered on the front steps. Chatting, heads hung low and shoulders bent forward. He heard sniffles, he heard laughs, and he just waited for everyone to go in to get closer.

Jungkook doesn’t know why he was invited. Why someone from a distant past figured he would need to be here, to share his grief with people that could understand.

Though Jungkook thinks no one can understand.

He remembers you, in all your glory. His first love, when he had been a stupid college kid who didn’t know what he wanted in life. You were two years older, and now... and now one day he’ll be older than you. Because you've stopped aging, you came and went like a moment in time, when he'll still be here for who fucking knows how long.

He chases the thought away with a long inhale, holds the air in knowing that it’s choking him up before he lets it out on a sigh.

You were beautiful. A star that walked the Earth, only to return to the night sky above far too soon. He had loved you dearly, in his own twisted way. Had tried to be what you sought, what you needed, until he had realized he was never going to be enough.

Would you still be alive today, if he had fought harder?

*****

                “I’m not doing this,” you said. “I’m so fucking done with your indecision, with your fear of commitment.”

Jungkook scoffed. “Please, you graduated and now you think you’re so high above me. Get down from the fucking horse, Y/n, it’s not going to bring us anywhere.”

He’d said the words hoping that they would hurt you. And they did: he saw you physically recoil as if he’d punched you. As if the words had been a physical blow, and not just letters of the alphabets shaped into words and sound, into arrows to pierce that beautiful soul of yours.

“Maybe I don’t want us to go somewhere anymore,” you replied after a quiet moment of breaking hearts.

“I didn’t mean that.”

“I know.” You sighed, slightly shaking your head as your eyes fell to the floor between you and him. “I know, but I mean it.”

“Please,” was all Jungkook thought to reply.

“You say please all the time,” you told him. “You beg me, and for what? We always circle back to fighting, to hurting each other.” You paused, and though you were avoiding his features he could see you blinking back tears. “Maybe we aren’t supposed to be together at all.”

“Don’t say that,” Jungkook warned. “Don’t you fucking say that. I love you. Isn’t that enough for you?”

“I love you too, Jungkook,” you answered. “I’ve loved you since the first day I met you at that stupid party last year.”

Jungkook felt the tear rolling down his cheek, felt the gravity pulling on his heart until it was shattering on the ground.

“Then why stop now?” he asked. “Give me time, Y/n. I’ll graduate, and I’ll be able to move in with you, and to provide for you and give you everything that you need.”

You sighed heavily, finding courage to finally meet his gaze. At the stark finality shining behind your pupils, Jungkook’s knees weakened. His whole fucking body weakened, ready for the blow.

For the end that was coming for you and him like a car barreling down a dead-end street.

“But I’m tired of waiting,” you answered. “I don’t want to spend my life waiting around for someone.”

“I’m still in college, I just can’t move in with you right now…”

“I know, Jungkook. I know.”

He wanted to fight. Wanted to tell you to stay in his dorm tonight, and to never leave again. But he could tell that you were already gone.

So he steeled himself. Readied himself to let you go even though you were the blood in his veins.

“I’m holding you back, aren’t I?”

You wiped a tear on your cheek, blurring behind those in his gaze. “You are.”

He choked on a sob, hiding his eyes behind his hand as if that would stop the breaking. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault,” you reassured him. “We just aren’t at the same place in life anymore.”

An empty silence surrounded you, so loud Jungkook could hear every beat of his heart in his ears, could feel the walls pressing in.

“I don’t want you to go,” he softly said.

“I know,” you murmured. “I…” You choked on a sob, and it took you a moment before you managed to continue. “I’m sorry.”

He laughed, a sound so devoid of joy he wondered if he’d ever feel happiness again. “Please don’t be. You’re allowed to want more.”

“I wish I didn’t.”

Anger rose up on the horizon of Jungkook’s conscience, and he pushed it away. He refused to be angry at you, refused to put the blame on you when you made it clear that you wanted him to move in so long ago, and he disregarded it without even once thinking about it.

“I’ll find you again,” he promised, voice strained and heavy with emotion. “I’ll graduate and find you.”

You stepped closer to him, gently cupping his cheek. “Go find someone that loves you for what you are, Jungkook.”

“And you don’t?”

“I don’t want you to settle for someone that asks too much for you,” you explained, renewed silver lining your eyes. “Find someone that loves you for who you are, right now.”

“Fuck that,” he choked out, and he pulled you flush against his chest. “Fuck this nonsense. ”

“I’m so sorry,” you cried against him.

“Don’t be,” he reassured you, though he was crying too. “Don’t be. Give me a few years. I’ll have it all figured out in a few years.”

*****

                The priest at the front of the church is going on and on about something that Jungkook doesn’t care to listen to. It’s impersonal, nothing like you, like the vibrant girl he remembers. So he lets his memory guide him to you, where you’re awaiting him. Your lips on his, your hand running through his hair. Your own hair catching in the wind that time you’d gone hiking, and he’d believed being at the top of the mountain with you felt like he had won in life.

Or that time you’d driven on the coast, windows down, screaming the lyrics to a song he can’t listen to anymore. Now the song is haunted by ghosts of a past he never learned to let go, perhaps because for months after the breakup he’d kept the conviction that he’d find his way back to you. He’d believed it the same way he believed the sun would always rise in the morning. A simple truth of nature, that nothing could ever break.

Except a car accident, apparently. Because all it took was a car accident to wipe you off the surface of the Earth, to take your light and shove it into shadows, into darkness and a void so wide he knows he’ll never find you again.

But he’d believed he’d find his way back to you. Never let anyone in after you, for the months and years it took him to graduate because he always knew he’d find his way back to you. You were his silver lining, the finish line at the end of the race. On a November day, just as sunny as today, Jungkook reached that finish line.

He did find you again, only you never knew.

*****

                Jungkook had never felt so light before. Like he had grown wings, like he was soaring in the clouds up above. Though the sun was out, the weather was cold, wind running cold fingers through the lapels of his coat until he found himself shivering as he made his way to the flower store.

He’d get the biggest bouquet for you, and then he’d head to where he knew from a common friend that you lived now. It was Saturday, and he hoped to catch you unaware, to catch you in the middle of cleaning your apartment the same way that you cleaned it back when you were dating.

The image of you, with your hair pulled back in a high ponytail as you danced around instead of sweeping the floor shone in his mind, brighter than the star in the sky above.

He bought the flowers, heart beating fast in his chest. Because it was time. It was finally time to go home, to tell you that he did everything he said he would, that he changed and now had a job that could support what you both wanted. He wanted to ask you out, and in his dreams you had been answering yes every single time since he had decided to go see you.

His heart fluttered as he gently rested the flowers on his passenger seat, careful not to damage them. Memories floated to him, and a smile grew on his lips as he remembered you, screaming out the window that day you had driven along the coast. You had stopped to watch the sunset in the waves, and he’d kissed you stupid on his back seat until every single inch of your skin knew about his love.

He couldn’t wait to create new memories with you.

He drove carefully, enjoying the warmth of the sun now that he was safely hidden from the wind. You actually didn’t live too far from where he did now, and soon enough he parked his car near your building. He got out of the vehicle, almost running to the other side in his excitement to grab the bouquet on the passenger seat. When it was safely tucked in his hand, Jungkook shut the car door, locked it, and started walking to your building.

He didn’t even know which apartment was yours. He believed fate would guide him, and so he crossed the street to your building, trusting the universe for what was to come next.

He heard your laugh before he saw you. Love swelled in his chest, and he wondered if you were laughing because you’d seen him, because you’d known that he’d come back for you.

And then he saw you. The wind was ruffling your hair, which he assumed had prompted the laugh. Your eyes were closed, hands struggling to push the wild strands behind your ears.

You were more beautiful than he remembered. Shone brighter, with the same stuff that stars consisted of. He was struck for a moment, watching you with his bouquet hoping that you’d open your eyes and see him.

The world slowed down to a stop, and time halted, and Jungkook watched you, feeling at home for the first time in years.

The illusion fractured the instant someone else came into view, making him realize that you hadn’t been laughing at the wind. No, perhaps your laughter took root in the dimples gracing the man’s cheeks as he smiled at you, as he pecked your forehead before grabbing your hand.

Jungkook ducked behind a car, clutching the flower bouquet like a lifeline the moment that you turned towards him. Did you hear his heart breaking? Did you hear the mockery in the November sun rays – you’d broken up on a similar day, years ago.

Jungkook couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think around the shattering of his heart, around the blood turning to ice in his veins as he heard you speak to the man – Namjoon, he heard you call him.

He would have rather not known the name.

Still Jungkook drank in the sound of your voice, trying to shape it into the words he was so willing to hear you say today. It didn’t work, and soon enough your voice disappeared, leaving him in a deafening silence of wind and sun and the realization that after all, he had come back too late.

Perhaps he should have known that he'd be too late.

*****

                When Jungkook received the call last week, he’d sat outside in the silence until he thought his eardrums would start bleeding. He hadn’t moved, hadn’t breathed, hadn’t done anything other than to stare at the fading light of the sun.

He wonders, why is it that whenever he breaks, November sun is shining high above? As if the universe takes pleasure in his torment, in undoing him until he barely counts as a human being anymore.

He got pissed out drunk that night. Last time he had been as drunk was when he had found out you were dating someone new, that day he had come to find you.

And now he wonders, if he had approached you that day, would you still be dead today? Would life still have put you on that road with its drunk driver so that you could meet your end?

Or would you be laughing at some dumb comment he’d make, telling him that he’s stupid with eyes so full of love he wouldn’t be able to do anything else but agree with you?

It’s hard to tell. So, he doesn’t try to figure it out – he has an eternity ahead of himself to figure out how to live without you anyway.

Maybe in all his misfortune Jungkook actually had some luck. He’s learned to grieve you a while ago already, and perhaps grieving someone that still lives is harder than grieving someone that’s passed. He doesn’t know. He doesn’t think he knows anything. Just that, so far back in the past he should have said fuck it and move in with you. It was such a simple request, but he had been too young and dumb, and he’d forever live with the regrets of it.

If someone from your family notices his presence at the funeral, recognizes him from your shared past, they don’t say. Especially not as the end of the ceremony comes before he’s had a chance to really take in the picture of you, smiling, over there next to the urn with your ashes.

You’re ashes now. Everything that made you – your laugh, your smile, the way you carried yourself with that simple elegance – all of it is gone to be replaced with mere ashes.

He doubts they can hold the truth of your essence, but then again he doesn’t think anything can, or anything ever will again.

He blinks away the tears as they come, leaving the ceremony like a whisper in the wind. He doesn’t want to speak to your family, doesn’t want to see them coddling the man that you loved, that survived the accident when he should have been the one to go.

Jealousy and selfishness are ugly, Jungkook realizes. But it’s easier to hate the man that took you away from him, no matter how unknowingly he did it.

And Jungkook tried to hate you once. He tried hard, in the months after that fated November day, when you’d laughed to that man’s joke, smiled when he’d smiled that soft dimpled smile of his. He had tried, because hating you felt like it was the only way he wouldn’t hurt. But he still hurt – he still hurts.

All he’s been able to do in his life since you broke up is hurt, and he highly doubts he’ll ever feel differently again.

Perhaps he’ll grow numb. Perhaps he should have grown numb a while ago.

At least that’s what he’s telling himself days later, when he’s looking at the tombstone they picked out for you. The finality of your name and the dates, the ending, is unnerving. He wishes it was fake, wishes it was a joke, and that he didn’t spend most of his life loving someone that moved on to a new love in just a few years.

It’s been over a decade and he hasn’t moved on even a little bit.

He kicks the ground, mad at the leaves littering the ground where you’re buried, as if they’re sullying you. And as if laughing at him, sun rays pierce through the clouds up above, that dreaded November sun making an appearance when it should stay gone.

He allows himself to cry. To break down, to sit on the ground and curse everything and everyone that’s ever been between you and him. He curses his stupidity, curses the sun and the leaves and the etchings on the stone. He hates everything. Hates himself, hates you, hates the whole fucking universe for taking you away, for not giving him the chance to be with you.

That’s how Namjoon finds him. Jungkook’s tears have receded, and he’s just sitting there, an empty shell that once held love and laughter and your lips on his. He hears the scuffle of Namjoon’s steps, of his cane as he walks up the path.

The man’s features are grave when Jungkook can’t help but glance towards him, sees him ambling up the path with that cane, the only indication that he too was in that car accident. And Jungkook wonders if Namjoon knows about him. If Namjoon knows that he wasn’t the first man whose love for you was a bottomless ocean, one Jungkook has drowned in time and time again since you broke up.

Namjoon remains standing, and Jungkook remains sitting. Like there’s an understanding between them, and silence conveys more than words could. Jungkook doesn’t want to move, and Namjoon clearly doesn’t have anywhere to go.

Jungkook thinks the Earth has revolved around the sun at least once before Namjoon scrapes his throat.

“It’s hard to believe that she’s gone, isn’t it?” he speaks, deep voice carrying the weight of the universe.

Jungkook doesn’t deign reply as his eyes fill with tears, though he refuses to let them out right now.

Especially not in front of the man you loved after him.

“You’re Jungkook, aren’t you?”

The simple sentence makes Jungkook lose it. He hides his face in his hands, his whole soul bleeding out under the November sun.

“She told me about you,” Namjoon continues, and Jungkook is convinced he hears pain, tears and grief laced with Namjoon’s words.

What did you tell him, Jungkook wonders? Did you tell Namjoon that you should have waited for Jungkook, that you should have given him a chance to become what you needed?

“She loved you a lot,” Namjoon adds after a silence, and he chokes on a sob. “She never forgot about you.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Jungkook asks with that broken voice, raspy with disuse.

He hasn’t been able to speak since you died.

“You deserve to grieve. She loved and loved, and I wish it would have been enough for her to live…”

“Stop,” Jungkook begs. “Please.”

Namjoon falls silent, offering salvation to Jungkook, though Jungkook doesn’t know if he deserves it.

Would he have been able to offer salvation to someone in his position if the situation was reversed? He highly doubts it.

“It’s just…” he trails off when he finds words again. “You got fucking years with her. You got years of loving and-“ it breaks on a sob. “And you were fucking engaged.” Jungkook pulls at his hair. “You were engaged, and all I got was months. Not even a full year.”

“I’m sorry man,” Namjoon answers, voice so broken Jungkook wonders who’s suffering the most.

He doesn’t think it’s himself.

“Was she happy?” Jungkook eventually asks, once he can’t stand the silence hanging around. Once he can’t stand the etchings on the stone, the void in the universe that used to be filled with you.

“I made her as happy as I could,” Namjoon replies truthfully, his voice strained but not as pained anymore. As if he’s reached a conclusion, clarity filling his mind.

Not needing to hear more, Jungkook gets up, dusting himself off.

“Good talk,” he says, fighting against the next onslaught of tears, and then he’s storming off.

Storming away from you, from everything that you meant to him. And maybe the sun rays really are mocking him in that beautiful November sky, because Namjoon says, “I don’t think she ever truly was happy after you, though.”

Jungkook stops, convinced someone just stabbed him right in the heart. He doesn’t think the organ can beat anymore, doesn’t think he can live anymore. He just wants to be dust on the wind, to be forgotten, and to stop fucking feeling all the time.

“She was calling off the engagement,” Namjoon continues. “She…” Jungkook turns, and he doesn’t think he’s ever seen such agony as the one that graces Namjoon’s features right now. “She said she shouldn’t get married to me when she still loved another.”

Clouds pass in front of the November sun, and Jungkook remembers the smile on your face whenever you’d catch his gaze. He remembers the way you’d lovingly cupped his cheek even when you were breaking up with him. He still feels the ghost of your fingers on his skin as he holds Namjoon’s broken gaze.

He holds Namjoon’s broken gaze, unable to offer the man salvation. It might make him a monster, might make him selfish and jealous and everything that he finds disgusting about humanity. But Jungkook doesn’t care.

Not when he realizes that perhaps, perhaps he’s the one that you’re waiting for on the other side of the veil, so that you can rest in the eternity of afterlife together.

And perhaps, perhaps there’s some sort of beauty in the thought.

☆☆☆☆☆

I am crying and in pain and I am sending everyone that read this whole thing lots of love and if you need to talk just hit me up bc grief is a bitch and we hate her and I just wish I could take everyone's grief away

All rights reserved to @/oddinary4bts, 2023. Do not copy, repost or translate.

𝐄𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢 | 𝐂𝐡 𝟐

Pairing: Mercenary!Jungkook x ?? Female!Reader

Summary: When past comes knocking on your door wearing the face of unknown dangers, you can either refuse acknowledging it and be a sitting duck or find out what it was that turned your world upside down all those years ago—that has come back yet again to hunt you—with a stranger promising to keep you safe, by your side. One thing is sure: secrets will unfold. And it would not be anything you could've imagined.

Word Count: 7.3k

Genre: Fantasy au; adventure; action. Fluff; angst; future smut(??)

Rating: 18+ (violence and mature themes)

Warnings: Fighting, some blood, minor character death, dead parent mentioned

Published: 11th March 2025

Note: between my previous blog getting shadowbanned and my writers block, it took an awfully long time for it but finally the next chapter is here!! I swear I'll try to be more consistent with the updates now. Please let me know your thoughts on this chapter and the story so far!!!

Glossary and Map: here

Esati Masterlist

You clung to your father's arm, as he moved around your little home, trying and failing to put his things in his satchel. He needed to leave soon, it bothered him if something was not done in accordance with his timetable, but there was a small hindrance. A hindrance who was currently sulking. 

"Can't I come with you too, Pa? Please?"

Big brown eyes blinked up at Alastair, trying to look more innocent than they were. "It is not a place for a child, love. I'm meeting with an old friend, and most of the time we will be talking about work talk; you will get bored." He pried your fingers clutching around his arm, and started on actually getting some work done.

"I won't! I want to see the market," you huffed, round cheeks puffed out and coloured a soft pink hue, "Jioo said the people in town have decorated it for the spring feast. It's reeeally pretty!" You stretched the word.

Your father slung the satchel across his body. "If the only thing you want to do is roam around the town, then I am afraid that I won't have time for that. Oh, and before you say anything about going on your own, then that is an even firmer no."

You scrunched your brows, lips in a downturn. But he just laughed, "I know, I know, my little bird is all grown up, but you will always be a little girl to me." Pinched your cheeks, "I can't bear the thought of you alone out there just yet, understand the worries of my heart?"

Now he was the one making that innocent pouting face. You started pouting harder.

Your father sighed, "I'll take you there the day after. You can invite Jioo too if you'd like? "

You hadn't even tried to fight the smile that took over your face. "Promise?"

"Promise," he came over and pulled you in an embrace, planting a peck at the top of your head, "I'll be back soon," and with that he was out the door.

You followed him out, shutting the door behind yourself, already on your way to go gather some herbs from your small garden while your father was away.

Before you could even fully turn around, a massive weight was thrown on you.

"Oof," you stumbled but managed to stay on your feet. "Buck! Don't do that! You're not a tiny baby anymore," you laughed.

The husky only looked at you with innocent eyes as if he didn't understand why he couldn't jump at you anymore. He wasn't even two years old and yet so huge.

"You big baby. Take care of Pa, alright?" You ruffled his furs as he took off running in circles.

Your father called for Buck and began walking. "Don't stay out for long! And the foo-"

"'Food is on the kitchen table, make sure to eat it.' Yeah, yeah, I already know. Now go."

"Take care and don't stay hanging on the window waiting for me, you will catch a cold." Your father called out one last time, still looking at you. He wondered when his daughter grew up so much, as you grabbed your basket and hummed on your way towards the garden.

———————————————————— A cool breeze ruffled your hair, and you slumped even further against your folded arms, which you were currently leaning on, staring out the open window.

It was getting late. Usually when your father goes to town, he comes back by now; one look at the sun, and you knew it was past the fourth hour. There were no bell towers this high and far into the mountains, so you couldn't hear the bells signalling each hour, but you had gotten good at guessing over the years. Though your father did own one of those chain watches, he always carried it with him. 

You were getting worried, even after being well aware that if he went to see someone regarding business, it could take time; it still made your mind fill up with unease.

Maybe he's just catching up with his friend and forgot about the time. That seemed like a possible reason for his delay.

But at this point it seemed like you were only reassuring yourself.

You lived at the edge of your village; not to mention, because of how late it was, most of the people were either inside their homes resting after a day's work or busy with supper and preparing for the evening gatherings. No one was near you.

And so no one heard the pained groan followed by the frantic thuds on your front door.

You ran to the door, letting out a gasp of horror the moment you opened it. The person who stood there was almost unrecognisable, covered in several gashes and crimson painting his face. Blood.

"Pa! No, no. Oh god! What happened to you?"

You were crying. Your mind couldn't register yet, but tears blurred your vision and slipped past your chin down to the floor in rivulets. Your father stumbled inside the house and slipped to the floor just inches away from the door frame.

He opened his mouth, trying to say something but ended up coughing instead and spitting more blood on the floor. He was bleeding from the chest too, or maybe it is his stomach? You didn't know. Couldn't make sense of the scene in front of you. Red. It was too much red.

"I-I will get a rag- sit- i-" You didn't know what was coming out of your mouth. You didn't know what you were doing. But you had to do something. Even as those words left your mouth, you didn't move and just stared at him in horror and confusion, arms raised and reaching for him. You felt like the world was collapsing, and you could not find your footing on the broken floor. 

"No," he gruffed, grabbing at your calf, trying to stop you. "They are coming for you," he huffed out.

"Pa-" You tried to reach him.

He heaved a breath and cut you off. "Listen, listen carefully," he coughed again. "Get out of here, don't look back. Go...go west. Down the mount- mountain. Run,"

"What are you saying?" You whispered shakily, coming back to reality and finding your voice again. You were distraught and scared as you watched more life force spill out of his body and pool around him. "You are hurt. Have to stop the bleeding—"

"Focus on what I'm saying," his booming voice stopped your nervous rambles in their tracks. But it seemed he used all his remaining energy in that one sentence and, as a result, had to lean on the still-open door, struggling to draw in another breath.

"Please go; they would not be very far, please."

"You're telling me to leave you like this? I can't—Pa, 'they'? Who's coming? Who did this?" Your nerves were frantic, eyes shaky as you looked out the door trying to locate any threat. Any sign of the person responsible for this. 

But your father didn't respond. Heart dropping to your feet, you hurriedly sat in front of him, taking his hand in one and tilting his face with the other one.

You were about to call out to him when his hand tightened, and he opened his eyes and looked you directly in the eye, "Take this." Gripped tightly in his hand was his satchel, which he still managed to keep safe in all the commotion. 

Tears were streaming down your face, you realised how serious he looked. How tired his eyes were. You didn't want to leave him, but his face said it all; you didn't have any other choice.

"My life was for you anyway; the day I had met you, I was born again as" cough, "as your father. Go. I'll be fine."

He was lying.

"I ca- can not," you hiccuped, "pa."

His grip loosened on your hand, and he managed to pull away. "Take this. You are my brave child, you will make it out of here, alright?" 

It was his chain watch. He pried your fingers open and pressed it into your skin. A beautiful silver thing, patterns of swords and wheat swirling around the front. You realised how small it was, as it sat in the middle of your palm.

You took the satchel, set it down on your lap, and grabbed both his hands tightly; he gave you the smallest of smiles, and you let out a sob.

But his hands were urging you up, and even if you wanted to just sit there and hug him tight, you got up, slinging the leather strap around your shoulder. You can't convince him, but you were going to go find help.

You looked back at him, standing at the doorframe, you tried one last time to convince him silently to let you stay when his eyes snapped up towards the back window. They held a look of panic in them as he hissed in pain.

"Go, hurry. You don't have time—"

Just then you heard a loud howl, and the window burst open as something big and black entered your home through the shattered window.

You screamed, backing away as your eyes connected with deep red irises. Not of a human's, but a wolf's. An insanely large wolf, who was staring right at you.

Frozen in shock, you didn't even realise that you were shakily taking steps away from it, but then you remembered your father. Your gaze shot in his direction as he pulled himself to his feet.

"Look here, you mutt!" Your father, who had looked on the verge of collapsing just a second ago, now stood straight and walked in front of the horrifying creature, "It's me that you want, don't you?" He spat. Dragging every shred of power he had left in his body.

You couldn't be sure—you mind couldn't comprehend anything that was happening—but his hands started glowing orange; your eyes were glued to his hands as you tried and failed to convince yourself that this was all a nightmare.

"Y/n...my little bird, run and don't look back. I'm sorry that I have to leave you alone, but didn't you say you were all grown up now?" You could hear the faint smile in his voice even if he didn't turn around; he just kept his eyes on the wolf, who now began to circle around him with its teeth out on display. "You will be alright. I know." He finished.

The black creature got ready to pounce. Alastair raised his hands—now burning a blinding orange. "Please!"

His pained cry reached you just as you turned around, but you kept running. Nothing crossed your mind at that moment but your father and his words—begging you to go. So you did. Disappearing among the trees, away from your village, your father. Your home. 

You hadn't had a home in a long time, not since you lost your father. But you had managed to create some semblance of that word, a space for yourself. And in this exact moment you wanted nothing more than to run back to its comfort and forget all about what happened.

But you were aware it was not possible.

"Keep your head down," The guy—Jungkook—instructed you, his steps twice the size of your own. 

After ensuring that there was no one else in the tavern looking for either of you, you made your exit through the back door. Slipping into the foot traffic undetected. 

As the sun rose, more and more people began filling up the streets; you took advantage of that and mingled with the growing crowd moving as a single body. You caught a glimpse of a knight from the First Order and promptly redirected your steps. They were more trouble than help. 

"This way," Jungkook steered to the left, ducking under a man carrying potato sacks, and entered the alley leading to streets away from the tavern. You both kept moving until you reached what looked like a desolate place with only a rarely used shed in dilapidated condition.

He stopped there, knocking on the wood; in the meantime, you assessed your surroundings. You didn't come in this part of the town, and from the looks of it, other people didn't either. This place looked like it had been abandoned for a while—which made you wonder what you were doing here? Most importantly, why were you following him still. 

While you were distracted, someone stepped out of the shed. "—inside," came a reply. Jungkook must have asked a question while you were busy inspecting the forest line in the distance, small critters coming out to inspect the intruders. He walked inside, leaving you alone with the other person.

It was then that you turned to look at the other person.

"Kane?" Your eyes widened as your gaze locked onto the other person, the same man who helped you unload your stuff just yesterday, who offered to walk you out like he always does, and now stood there expressionless, lips in a thin line. "What...? " But at that exact moment Jungkook stepped out, and he was not alone. Trailing behind him was a black horse, probably the most beautiful one you've ever seen.

He motioned with his head, telling you to get moving, but the familiar face in front of you had many more questions arising in your head than you already had bouncing around in the crevices of your mind.

He noticed you gawking at Kane too and sighed, "I'll explain later." Your gaze snapped to him.

You took a step back, tried to gulp back the rising bile of unease, and shook your head. "How do you know me?" A question you hadn't asked yet. How did he find you? How did he know it was you? To him, who even were you?

There was only more confusion and questions joining the pile with the ones that were circulating in your head. 

An epiphany struck you. Without paying you any mind, Kane had pulled out a red apple from somewhere and was feeding it to the horse. It made you think of the one that currently must be still sitting somewhere in your rented room from last night—just, in a different shade. You had seen that shade before.

"You've been following me?" An incredulous tone took over your voice. Your throat shrank, confining your inhales and reducing the air getting in.

He tried to keep a calm composure, running a hand through his hair. His expression pinched with impatience—tired with your constant interrogation, he has stayed here too long for his liking and you were only stalling them.

"You don't get the danger you are in, do you—"

"Stay away from me." Your eyes turned watery but still filled with determination. Your hands shook in disbelief, seeing Kane here, you started to wonder if Mayah and Kenzie had lied to you as well. To some extent? Was the care they showed you had been fake? What were they using you for? What did you even have that someone would want? Must be something, right? If the incidents in the past few hours and the men standing before you were anything to go by? 

The little world you had built for yourself was crumbling. But your world had fallen apart once before, you filled the cracks once, you could do it again.

"If you think that that man was the only one after you, then you'd be a fool to believe that." He evenly stated, moving a couple of steps forward, he gave his wrist a flick—a signal for Kane as he began walking away without a second glance in your direction.

Your gaze wavered, jumping between the two people. One a piece of the picture you thought you knew, and another is the messy blank canvas of the unknown. You fisted your skirts, nails digging deep in the dark fabric, and your feet felt light, ready to take off.

Jungkook stood there in silence before he let out a heavy sigh. "Yes, I was keeping an eye on you," he said. Like it was not odd—terrifying for the person—to tell someone he was stalking that he was stalking them. "But I had a reason to do it that you don't need to know right at this very moment. So please,"

You didn't move, but your eyes flicked for a fraction of a second in the direction where Kane left; he caught that. "He's an informant. No, the old man and his daughter didn't know, if that makes you feel better." It did. "Now, we don't have time to spare. Please, I'm trying to keep you safe." He pleaded, pushing a loose strand of hair back, his eyes wide and eyebrows pushed down, appearing to look appealing and trustworthy.

You were hesitant; he did save your life.

Your eyes glazed over, pondering his words, and you kept your eyes trained on him while contemplating your next step. It was then that you flicked your eyes sideways, just behind him, and stared. Your eyes grew wider. 

"Who's there?"

Not wasting a moment Jungkook swirled, sword drawn out, shoulders hunched and legs set apart. He scanned the area—left to right and then back again—but caught no movement. He couldn't see anyone, and after a couple of moments, he turned around. "Where did you—oh, this cannot be real."

He sputtered in disbelief as he took in your absence from the place you were previously standing at. You were running and had covered a significant distance in just a few seconds. He could not believe he fell for the oldest trick in the book. You did not even glance back, just sprinted as far away as possible, and missed the utter look of bewilderment—mixed with just enough amusement—on his face.

"Dang it, she is fast on her feet," he muttered, stepping back, eyes locked on you. It seemed you were moving towards the deeper forests. He turned, patting the horse, "Ready for a game of chasing chickens, Orla? Just like old times?" Orla snorted her agreement, and Jungkook quickly hopped behind her, setting himself on the saddle. With a hiya! and a tug on her reins, she broke out in a sprint. 

By now you had crossed the forest line, hurrying deep and far, and disappeared from his sight entirely. 

————————————————————

Yes, he had saved your life. But a single encounter—one under this skeptical situation—cannot possibly make you just trust a stranger. Especially now, when you knew that you were being hunted, the 'who' and 'why' still remaining a mystery yet to be unveiled. Do you really want to see beyond the veil, though? A mocking voice, very much like yours, rang from the back of your head. The answer was always the same—no. You never did. You ignored the voice. 

You needed to focus on now, on your circumstance. You thought of Jungkook. 

He knew you. What else does he know? Your name, where you're from, the family you once had? What compelled him to come seek you? The possibility that he might be one of the people whom he had warned you about was there. The fact that he seemed to know where to find you and he was familiar with that other man back in the tavern wasn't helping his case—although that might be the result of him being an Information gatherer, as he himself stated. You're taking that with a grain of salt.

And so, you did the one thing you were good at. You escaped.

Looking behind your back, you saw no sign of a dark-eyed man, but it didn't mean you could stop. He had to be there, chasing after you, for whatever the price you had earned on your head—it seemed like a possible scenario—unless he decided you were not worth the trouble after all.

Twigs snapped and leaves crunched as you trudged your way deeper into the forest. You had no idea where you were or where you were going, just that you needed to go. A left. Right. Another left. Under the tangled branches. One more right.

After just a few minutes, while walking through a patch of dense shrubs, you heard it. Thud, thud. It looked whatever price you had on your head, you were definitely worth the trouble. 

The sound of hooves echoed through the still of that place, bouncing off of trunks and leaves. 

He was closing in on where you were. You were on foot, and with his horse, it won't take long before he catches up  to you. Panic announced its presence in the form of the fast beating of your heart. You looked around for a way out. But with no better options, you dipped down bending yourself. You made your figure as small and unmoving as possible as you curled up on the forest floor, trying to keep yourself hidden within the bushes. 

Unmoving, you sat there, feeling the ground vibrate with the arrival of your doom. Just then, you heard a flock of birds, wings flapping and loud with caws and screeches, as if scared away by something somewhere far in the other direction.

He was redirecting his horse the other way—you could sense the change—must've thought it was you who scared the birds, so he went that way, trying to find you.

You stayed an eternity in that position before you were sure that no one was coming anymore. Getting up and off the ground, you brushed your clothes.

Where do you go from here?

It was a question you had asked yourself countless times over the past years. You turned and decided to go west. Find a way to get to a town and then decide what to do next.

Walking through woods like this, with no clue or aim, instigated a sense of déjà vu. You recalled the lady, a shoemaker you don't know the name of—maybe you hadn't asked, or maybe you didn't remember. She had nursed you back to health and offered the warmth of her home to a complete stranger; you'll forever be grateful to her. You had stayed there for a few days, sick with grief and guilt. But you didn't try to find out what happened back home—you had made your assumption anyway. It was too much to take in, so you decided to move on for that time.

You recalled travelling with gypsies, waggons decorated in a rainbow of colours, recalled going from one place to another. For a year you kept changing towns and villages, never staying more than a few weeks to a couple of months. Then one day you found yourself on the border of Fubroch and decided that that was it. You were tired of moving. The mountains brought the memories of a home—providing comfort, so you made them your home.

And just like that, years flew by without a hitch as you built a life for yourself here. A life that felt very distant at this moment.

As you hiked your way through the woods, lost in your own musings. You failed to notice the consistent shadows following right at your heels. You were distracted, but not for long.

As you were passing by an old dried well, you sensed some movements just out of the corner of your eyes. You paused. Fingers scrambling for your thigh, shoulders tense, you resumed walking again.

Had Jungkook found you? You thought he went in the other direction?

Your stroll changed into an urgent march. Your eyes flicked from one corner to another, hoping it had been a trick of your eye.

You left behind a series of crumbling structures of stones and mud, your gait hurried—almost a jog now. You chanced a glance back, turned around again, and screamed.

Someone jumped off one of the stone walls just as you turned. A woman. You lost your voice, eyes set on hers. You blinked quickly, getting a better look at her. Dark pants and an equally dark tunic. She had short hair and the gaze of a predator, with which she was scanning you from head to toe. An amused quirk sat on her thin lips, painted a deep maroon complementing her sandy complexion.

"Well, you look lovelier than I expected." Her voice called out, a deep and rough texture paired with the unsettling blue of her eyes. It had you standing on the balls of your feet, ready to flee.

You kept your glaring gaze trained on her, aware of even a twitch in her muscles.

"Aww," she cooed, "look at you, so scared and lost." She lifted a hand, placing it on her cheek, her expression the same as a child would have upon finding a hare hiding in his vegetable patch. Except to you, she felt more like a wolf cornering the hare than said child.

"Why so tense, though?" She took a step closer, hands behind her back. You widened your eyes, sweat gathering at your back and hands getting clammy. She was making you nervous, something akin to the town's flood bells ringing in your ears. For a second your thoughts drifted to Jungkook; you definitely preferred him to whoever she was.

You started walking backward, trying to keep some distance.

"Oh no, no, no, I'm here to help you. To lead you towards the right path." She scrunched her brows in faux concern.

"No need," Somehow, you shakily managed to speak up, "I'm on the right path; I don't need any assistance."

There was no point in dragging this out. You got ready to find an opening and make a run for it, but you didn't even get the time to blink when you saw more people jump out of the rubble.

Two men walked up to the woman, coming to stand behind her. They were more rugged in appearance—the exact opposite of her. Some henchmen.

No time to think. You patted at your knife just as the woman stretched her neck back, looking up at the sky, "Get her."

You wouldn't go down without a fight.

Just as the man lunged for you—bare hands; you couldn't see any weapon on him as far as you could see—you ducked, ramming your body forward and pushing him back with as much force as you could gather. He was caught off guard, not having expected such strength from someone this small. It made him stumble back and gave you a chance to create some distance.

You turned and used that as an opportunity to run. You traced your steps back the same way you had come from, this time in a sprint. You could hear the man following. You pushed for yourself to go even faster.

You were running on just adrenaline and pure terror for your life, but you could not let up, could not let them catch on. You couldn't help but question your predicament. You were being hunted like animals for meat. Who were these people? Looking for you. Hunting you.

"AAH!" You screamed as a hand grabbed a hold of your arm and yanked you back. You were thrown forcefully into a nearby tree, rough bark scraping against your skin. Before you could gather yourself, he was in front of you, grabbing your short braid, twisting it around his palm.

"ARGH!" You cried out, one hand going up in an attempt to free yourself of his grip.

"No more running, bitch," he said in a gruff voice, spit flying in your face from the proximity.

He started dragging you back—yanked at your hair when you refused to move, feet digging in the soil. You tried scratching at his face, desperately aiming for his eyeballs. If you got near enough, you wouldn't hesitate to claw them out.

"If done for survival, the gods forgive you," is what your father had said when you once punched the nose of the person who had tried to drown Buck in the river. After which he also taught you how to land a proper punch.

And that's exactly what you did when—to avoid your nails attacking his face—he loosened his grip and tried stepping back to take hold of your arms instead. The moment you got enough space, you reeled back and aimed for his throat. Thumb tucked under the folded fingers and not inside, using only the first two knuckles, throwing your whole body's weight. Hard and fast.

He winced and coughed, trying to get air inside his throbbing windpipe. You grabbed a rock and slammed it against the side of his face. He wobbled and fell on his face.

No longer constricted by his hold, you breathed out in mild relief, but it was short-lived. While you were fighting off the first man, the other one had caught up with you. This realisation crawled upon you when he delivered a blow to your back.

You were pushed to the ground before you could even form a thought. All the air wooshed out of your lungs as sharp pain erupted on one side of your shoulder, "Oh god, no." Your left arm felt numb; nothing was broken, you were sure, but you could feel the dull pain thudding across your back and limbs.

The other man was taller, leaner, and scarier. He was looking down at you with his eyes blown out and mouth pulled in a crazy grin. He leaned down, "Ah, ah. Be a good girl, will you?" He made a tutting sound, reached out, and grabbed one of your legs.

You screamed, kicking out in the air, "No use in resisting, you should have come willingly when we asked nicely."

"Let go of me!" Your throat was raw, body aching and bleeding. Your pitiful condition didn't affect him; however, it only seemed to delight him in seeing you this way. He stood up and started walking away, his hand still gripping your foot tightly.

It was the most pain, physically, you'd ever felt for as long as you can remember. Rocks dug into your backside, your skin scraped against the ground, and hair got tangled with twigs and leaves, pulling at your scalp. All this while he had only taken a few steps.

You kicked out harder; this time your upper body reacted as well—digging your palms in the ground and holding onto anything they could.

You managed to land a hard kick, causing him to drop your limb. You didn't waste a moment and grabbed at his own legs, pulling yourself up and throwing all your weight to make him fall on the ground. Your right hand went to your thigh, and you pulled out your knife, scrambling on top of his chest and locking his arms there by his side with your thighs pushing at him.

Your left arm felt useless, but with the other, you brought the blade to his neck, holding it dangerously close. Just a hair's breadth away from ending him.

"Why are you doing this to me?" You gritted out, eyes watery. The whole day's worth of distress was threatening to unleash from the depths of your consciousness, something you had been suppressing. "What did I ever do to anyone!?" You yelled.

The smile—previously present on his face—had disappeared from his face as you sat there with the cold metal digging into his skin. You have taken life before—but only of animals that you were going to eat. Now that the creature against your blade was an animal of a different kind, you hesitated.

And hesitation kills you in this world.

You didn't see the other man coming until the very last moment. He must not have been as disoriented as you thought. He pounced at you, but this time you had your knife out. This time you didn't hesitate.

In a single motion, the blade found its home deep in between the shoulder and collarbone of the first man.

Blood immediately coated your hands, making them slippery as you let go of the knife, watching your victim slump. Cold dread froze up the blood in your veins. You had killed someone.

There was no time to answer, as the stone of unease weighed heavy in your stomach; the guy below on the ground switched places with you. Now you were the one held horizontal to the ground as his palms made contact with your sternum, wasting no time in squeezing them tight, blocking out all the air but not crushing your throat—yet.

"You crazy bitch!" He barked.

Haze clouded a grey shade around your eyes, growing in size after every excruciating blink. Your torso was crushed under the full mass of an adult man twice your size; you wondered if he was trying to break your ribs. But you couldn't push him. Couldn't even struggle.

Your bones became a burden, pulling your exhausted body deeper into the grass and soil, acting as a makeshift grave you were about to descend into at any minute. Your mind was a numb shell, unable to see what was in front of it, unable to comprehend.

That must be your fate. Your life in exchange for the one you took just now. You would not call yourself very religious, but you believed in a God, and he must have seen the pathetic way you'd been living and is here to claim you.

Your vision turned black; the man was screaming something at you, but no words could penetrate the oxygen-depraved sheet of lethargy coating over your being.

As you lost more of your breath, the thuds of your heart started becoming louder. One second they were in your chest, and the next in your ears. Soon you could feel them vibrating the very land you lay upon. Thump. Thump. Thump.

All of a sudden, you felt light. The force of the man pushing against you lifted off of you in an instant. It was there one second and then vanished the other. Air came rushing back in through the once constricted pipes. You gasped for the breath hungrily, making its way into your lungs, and sputtered on your greedy inhale.

It took another few moments before the shadowy haze cleared from your eyes, and you were blinking back at what seemed to be two males locked in a sword fight.

One of them was the man who had been choking you, and the other—your eyes widened upon the realisation that the other person was none other than—

"Jungkook?"

His name was merely a whisper in the air, breathed into life through the brush of your lips against the words.

He delivered the last blow—a slash down his opponent's chest—before he turned to you.

Jungkook stood there with his sword dripping red while he panted; from the short fight or having hurried over to come save you, you didn't know. Maybe the latter. No, definitely the latter, if his pinched expression directed at you was anything to go by.

"You," he stepped over the fallen body groaning on the ground, "are an idiot."

You felt like laughing. He was fuming, and you let loose a single puff of airy laughter. You couldn't help it; the stress had taken a toll on you; your body ached in more places than you could count. You were beaten and bleeding. You almost accepted that you were going to die. But here you were, saved by this man not once but twice, in the same day.

You owed him.

"Glad to see you still have it in you to smile." Came a deep, feminine voice.

Both of your eyes turned towards the direction the voice came from. You leaned on your arms while he drew his sword for an attack.

There stood the blue-eyed woman from before, and upon seeing Jungkook take an immediate protective stance in front of you, something gleamed in her gaze.

"I must admit, watching you fight for your life was so entertaining." She sauntered forward, showing no sign of even grabbing for her weapons strapped to her, "and a pleasant surprise."

She rounded around where you were and stopped a good distance away, "even more surprising to see that you have got mercenaries protecting you." She said as she eyed the black ink on Jungkook's arm, which was now exposed.

You flicked your eyes between her and Jungkook. He remained motionless, but you can see how taut his muscles were, ready to pounce in a moment's notice. He didn't say anything, just observed. What is this woman playing at?

She let out a shrill whistle. Loud. Like a signal of some sort.

You prepared for the worst. Did she call for help? Backup?

Instead, a dark brown horse came running from behind the broken stone columns, galloping towards her. It didn't even stop completely before she grabbed the reins and hauled herself onto it mid-run. Walking in a circle, she faced you, looking straight in your eyes.

She tilted her head back, stretching her neck in a lazy motion as if the possibility for more bloodshed wasn't hanging in the air waiting for the moment she draws her weapon too. "So damn resilient, like your damn father." She muttered lowly; you thought you had misheard her. She stared at you.

"Alastair is protecting you even after death, huh?"

The air stopped blowing, the screeching of birds silenced, and your throbbing body went numb.

Palms digging in the forest floor, you could only gawk at her as she regarded you with disdain.

Her eyes, blue as the summer sky, looked red in that moment. Wild and predatory. You felt dizzy. But then she blinked, and the illusion broke; they were blue again. You shuddered. The voices from years ago rang in your ear.

She was one of them. The people who came chasing your father that day. The ones who killed-

A silent whimper left your parted lips.

So this was what it was about. Why you were targeted. Why your life was in danger. It was all due to what happened to your father. Now you will meet the same end. They came for him then, and now they came for you.

You thought it was over. Oh, how wrong you were.

You ran as much as you could and yet couldn't outrun your fate. Were more people coming? With swords? They will leave you bloody and torn. Will they kill Jungkook too? He would leave before that happened. Is that wolf nearby? Was he the one who led them to you?

A tear slid down the curve of your cheek. You imagined all the ways they would end you, the most scary one being torn to shreds by the sharp teeth of an atramentous beast.

The sound of her horse neighing cut through your terror-filled questions.

She met your dazed, tear-glazed eyes. "I'll see you soon."

You watched her go. Still in your place, disconnected from reality.

It wasn't until you heard your name being called out loud that you came back to reality. Someone was shaking you by the shoulder.

"-get up? Y/n, can you stand?" You flicked your gaze up, connecting with inky ones staring deep in yours.

Swallowing, only the sandy taste of dread scratched against your throat. Yet, you managed to open your mouth: "Are you one of them?"

Your voice was grating to the ear, stifling in defeat, so unlike the demanding tone you had before. It caused Jungkook's expression to display an emotion you couldn't quite put your finger on. Unsurprising, given you couldn't take in anything right now, really.

He watched you stare up at him for a moment before something snapped in him. He got on both his knees, grabbing a hold of both your shoulders. He squeezed tight; it strangely grounded you a little.

"Look here, in my eyes, and listen." His voice was firm, and he spoke slowly but with a surety, "I know it's hard to trust me right now, but I need you to get this one thing." He paused and inhaled before letting it out, "Your life is in danger, and I meant it when I stated I'm here to keep you safe. I will protect you."

The words came and swirled around in your mind, not quite settling in. His eyes were intense, and when you looked, really looked, past the darkness, you could see the hint of genuineness. In this moment, you held onto that as a lifeline, and so when he asked.

"Understood?" You nodded your head. "Good."

His palms lifted off of your shoulders, and you would be floating again in the vast uncertainty and fear had he not offered one of them right in front of your face.

"This place is not safe. We need to move on from here," he nodded, urging you to grab his hand.

What else was there to do? It was clear that you would be killed if you refused, and if he too wanted the same thing, unlike what he claimed to be doing, then at least it looked like he would be quicker in his kill. And so you lifted your arm, gently placing your palm against his, letting him haul you up.

Another, black horse came trotting over. You recognised it to be his. He gave your palm a squeeze, telling you to get up on it.

You flicked your eyes between the majestic creature and its master. A soft groan forced your eyes away and towards the other men lying on the ground; it seemed one of them was still conscious.

"He... he is alive." You murmured, looking at the man you had stabbed.

"Want me to finish him off?" He threw in casually.

You gaped at him, eyes full of disbelief and horror.

He puffed air out of his nose, "I didn't mean that." It wasn't very convincing. You looked back at the man, "Are you seriously considering helping him? After he attacked you?" You weren't.

His brow raised as he regarded you with a tilt of his head and a semi-disapproving look on his face. At last he just sighed, "You need to think about only yourself, or else you will get us both killed."

He walked you to the horse and stopped, "Wait a moment." He let go of your hand and reached out to grab a piece of clothing from a few feet away. It was your cloak; you had dropped it during the fight. He dusted the deep green fabric and gently pulled it around you. Then almost immediately grabbed your hand again.

He gave your palm another swift squeeze, and this time you mounted the horse with his help.

As he peered up at your fiddling form, down from where he stood, the lines on his face grew a little softer, his expression a little more sympathetic.

He latched his foot on the holding, "You will get your answers soon," and climbed behind you expertly.

As he reached his hands around you to grab the reins, his front touched your back, and while you were not one who gets particularly cold, his warmth was a surprisingly welcome sensation against your bruised backside.

His knuckles tightened in a grip, you kept your hands close to you, "you trust me?" He clicked his tongue, getting the horse to move, and it started walking at a leisurely pace. He felt you shaking your head against his chest, his lips quirked, and if you had turned around, you would've witnessed him grinning softly.

"Good."

The horse broke out in a sprint as you both rode off, leaving behind the forest and—you had an inkling—this town for good.

Soon you were at the southern border, riding along the river marking the end of Fubroch's territory.

And despite what you had insinuated about your opinions for the man, you soon found yourself leaning your head back and drifting off to an unconscious state. Away from the reminiscence of the events that occurred today and the pains of the past. The nipping cold of the reality slipped away as you gave in to the firm warmth of the momentary comfort.

Taglist (from my previous blog) : @runariya @jksusawife @boyfriendtaekook

𝐄𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢 | 𝐂𝐡 𝟏

Pairing: Mercenary!Jungkook x ?? Female!Reader

Summary: When past comes knocking on your door wearing the face of unknown dangers, you can either refuse acknowledging it and be a sitting duck or find out what it was that turned your world upside down all those years ago—that has come back yet again to hunt you—with a stranger promising to keep you safe, by your side. One thing is sure: secrets will unfold. And it would not be anything you could've imagined.

Word Count: 8.4k

Genre: Fantasy au; adventure; action. Fluff; angst; future smut(??)

Rating: 18+ (violence and mature themes)

Warnings: Fighting ig. Not much for this chapter

Published: 9th March 2025

Note: Hello! This chapter is being reposted from my previous blog. I've been really excited to share this fic with y'all and really hope that you like it. Thank you for taking your time and giving it a chance. This fic is my baby.

Glossary and Map: here

Esati Masterlist

They say winter is cruel. Harsh and unforgiving. Anyone unfortunate enough to encounter it at its worst seldom survives it. It only knows how to take, how to steal—the warmth from your blood, the hope in your eyes, the life from your soul. The white snow spread like a blanket over the lands and waters alike: beautiful yet a warning of destruction for all.

All but one. Alastair has found no comfort other than these sharp winds and freezing soils in a long time. He took in a deep breath of peace, something he hadn't had the pleasure of for days—or had it been weeks?

It's been so long since he started his travels. Traveller. He liked calling himself that, much better than introducing himself as someone who's being hunted. 

It's been so long; being on the run didn't grant him a minute of peace, but now he could feel a stillness in his mind. A quiet, which only came from knowing no eyes were following him anymore.

He walked higher up the mountains; the path was rocky and difficult to climb, but he managed even in his current state. It also ensured that had anyone been on his trail, he'd have easily known.

But as much as these snowy mountains were liberating to his mind, his body was not in the same condition. After being chased, hunted, and hurt, his body was battered and starting to feel more numb with each passing hour.

A final feeling washed over his mind. Like he knew it was coming. He was dying.

And it seemed fitting. Appropriate. Considering there wasn't anything left for him to do. He fulfilled his duty and played his part in the play of universe, for which he was chosen by Cianbhàta himself. After all, he hadn't escaped for his own safety. It was something greater than his existence that needed to be protected. 

But now, he could sense it. His time was up.

No. No, he couldn't die like this. Not yet.

It felt selfish of him to still be holding on to this useless life. He tried hard, convinced himself it was over, but still, he couldn't figure out why he felt this strong need to keep moving.

His foot sunk in the soft snow, and he stumbled; leaning against a leafless tree he looked past the branches, up at the gray sky. Looking and searching, hoping to catch a glimpse of the almighty so he could get his answers himself.

He closed his eyes and sat down completely with his head against the rough, cold bark. "Oh almighty," he called out in a croak.

"Forgive your subject for being greedy, asking for more than you've graciously offered to us already. My body is giving up, but my heart is tearing apart," cough, "screaming, screaming at me that I'm leaving something unfinished," His eyes opened, filled with tears of anguished helplessness, "give me a sign. A reason, to-"

He coughed sharply, gasping and wheezing as the numbing winter air pushed its way past his lips, burning a path down his throat. Black spots started blinking across his vision, sorely standing out against the blurry white of the snow. This is it. This is how he will meet his end; he was sure of it.

Accepting his fate, he let his eyes close shut. His bones ached, and his skin was frozen cold. Just as he thought this was it, his ears picked up a faint sound. He didn't pay it any mind; if someone was here to capture him, it would be useless. He would be dead before anyone reached him.

But the more he heard, the clearer the voice became. A cry. He must be losing his mind. He blamed his growing incapability to differentiate in sounds and scenes the more he breathed in the bitter cold air. 

But the cries started again.

His eyes snapped open, he was sure now that the cries were real.

Gaining a burst of strength he didn't know he was capable of anymore, he dragged himself up with the help of the tree and listened for more sounds—trying to locate the direction where it was coming from.

His feet started moving in a direction with thicker vegetation on their own, like they already knew where to go before his ears could actually locate the source. 

He rushed past more bare trees, shrubs, and boulders and came face to face with a series of rocks protruding from the mountain, covered in a thin layer of snow, and then looked around trying to figure out the source where the sound could be coming from—which he now realised couldn't be heard anymore.

To his right, there were more trees packed together tightly, and he considered going in that direction when he heard the tiniest whimper, which he would've missed if he hadn't strained his ears to catch any noise. 

The sound was coming from the rocky surface; confused, as there was no way something could get stuck between them, he looked around some more trying to figure it out when he noticed a hole in the far left side of one of the rocks near a tree growing close to the black rocks. 

The hole was—he found out upon a closer look—no bigger than the size to fit a small dog, it seemed that the snow couldn't reach here because of the thick roots protruding from above, and the shrubbery that was still green and flourishing in the winter, but that's not what surprised him—it was the woven bamboo basket and a thick green blanket covering it and the whimpers that were coming from that basket.

He pulled it out, pulled the covers back, and revealed—

A child.

A very cold child with blue lips and the faintest of breaths puffing past its mouth.

Urgency immediately seized his limbs as he brought the infant out of the basket and close to his chest. It is going to die; this was the only thought echoing in his mind.

He took off running in search of someone. Anyone. He couldn't let the child die.

He ran and ran, holding the baby close to his chest, tucked in his coat.

"Is someone out there!? Help!" There was no response. He knew the tribals lived in this place, but he couldn't be sure of the exact location. And he hadn't been in his right mind to try and get a sense of the direction to figure out where he was at that moment.

"Please," he begged, "it will not survive, please," he cried up towards the sky. The black dots were back in his vision, stronger than before, but before he could succumb to the darkness, he took one more careful look at the child in his arms and assessed its soft breaths.

What a beautiful child. Shame I couldn't save you. 

With that final thought, he tucked the tiny being close and let darkness take him under. 

—————

Warm. Everything felt so warm. Alastair hadn't felt warm in months. He shifted in his position, drifting in and out of consciousness.

The sound of fire crackling was what brought him out of his slumber at last. He blinked his eyes open, still a little dazed, and found himself lying on a cot in front of a blazing fire. He closed his eyes back immediately; his head hurt, and so would have his legs if they didn't feel numb already.

He tried to move his head, his neck protesting after being in that position for too long, and at first he couldn't, but his stubbornness won over his fatigue, and finally he managed to lift his head just a couple of inches. He tried to take in as much as his eyes allowed in that position and discovered that he was placed in a dark room. It seemed the walls were made of mud and the floor was wood.

Before he could think about how he got here, he heard the door behind him creak open. A chilly gust of wind entered the place along with the visitor. He tried turning his head again and just barely managed to lift it when the person came hurrying in front of him.

"Oh! You're awake," the person, who now he could see was an old woman, asked him happily, "must be confusing to wake up here, but not ya worry, ya were saved by our  gatherers." The woman continued, oddly cheerful, in her accented voice as she came around to sit on the mat beside his cot, her arms carrying something he couldn't focus on as she kept talking.

"Found ya freezing on the ground, oh, and ya girl is fine too! Strong child, Cianbhàta himself preserve the child."

Only now did he realise that the thing she put down on the floor wasn't a bundle of clothes but a child. The child—the girl—he found in the snow. She was staring at him, her dark eyes looking innocently up at him, and she definitely looked better too.

He was relieved. A little surprised how she survived long enough to make it here, wherever it is they were at, but he felt safe, and so he let the relief consume him.

He summarised what he remembered and what he was told just now and reached the conclusion that he was saved by these people—likely a mountain tribe—and was in their home right now; he saved the child, and now they think it's his child. That she's his daughter.

He opened his mouth to correct her, tell her that she wasn't his. That they might need to find her real parents. But somehow all that managed to escape was, "thank you for saving us."

"Not a problem! It brings honour to help our brothers in our  community." The woman said kindly and got up off the floor, "I'll go fetch more firewood and something for ya to eat, ya must be hungry too. I fed the child while ya were sleeping, so not worry about her." And with that she left the room.

He got up on his elbows and pulled himself into a sitting position; groaning, he looked at the infant now playing with her blanket.

She looked magical in the glow of the fire, and he felt an inexplicable affection for her.

He stared at her, with a mind full of hundreds of things, thoughts flowing faster than the warm water springs, but then she looked back up at him with those same dark eyes, and his brain stopped in its frenzy. She reached out, a hand making motions as if to grab the smoke rising from the fire. That was the moment everything became clear to him.

He'd decided. He will spend the rest of his life living and protecting this child; after all, she gave him a second chance at life. A will—a reason to live.

He will take this child as his own. He will do all he can to become a father for her.

And for the next decade and a half, he did just that.

huff huff

Hurried footsteps echoed in the silence of the forest. With nothing but the sound of tired pants that carried their way through the saplings emerging from the frozen cold soil, raising their heads to greet the summer only to be trampled by the heavy steps running from everything it had ever known.

"Aghh," a yelp was heard as a lock of dark brown hair got stuck in a branch hanging too low.

What am I doing?

A sharp turn towards a safer path with fewer branches on the way down.

I'm running. He told me to run.

The moss on the uneven ground slipped from under your foot, making you stumble.

Am I dreaming?

You quickly got up, instincts telling you that you had to keep moving. There was no time to collect the few things that spilled from your bag at your fall; you only grabbed the leather journal and kept running. A few coins spilling out from your pouch tucked in your waist. The sound of them hitting the rocks painfully loud.

The forest became a blur; you couldn't focus on anything other than the pounding in your heart and the pain that your brain didn't have the time to register—both physical and emotional.

The way downhill was not too steep, but there were places where soil had shifted away, making it harder to navigate where there was solid ground and where you'll encounter a gaping hole ready to swallow your feet. You'd never been to these parts of the mountains. You never needed to; you lived on the other side. But you have no other option; this was the path your father said was safe and asked you to run to.

Your father. The man who made you leave. The one you were getting farther away from with every passing second. The man who you might never see again.

"Pa."

You let out a sob. Leaning a hand against a leafless tree to brace yourself. This place was a lot warmer than the snow-covered hill you called home; you were sweating—your tears getting mixed with the salt. The evening sun, halfway hidden down in the horizon, warmed your skin, but your insides were freezing cold. 

You left home. left him. How did it ever come to this?

Before today you had been living in a bliss, unaware of the possibilities that such a storm could stir up in your life, one that you never would see coming and snatch everything you held dear. 

You sniffled, thinking back to how everything was so normal and okay just this morning. And now it's not. 

You stumbled, taking one step forward then the next. The sun had long disappeared, the moon hidden behind the clouds. The misty wind carried you forward, whispering a soft melody. You walked and walked, feet aching and heart heavy; your tears had dried off, but all you could do was move. 

There was a light shining in the distance. You didn't know how long you had already walked, but just a little more. A few steps. Another few. 

You reached the door, banging hard on it. The door opened, a middle-aged woman peeking out. 

She said something. She was talking to you. You were so tired. She was shouting now. 

But you couldn't hear her. Solid ground met the side of your head as you fell. Unconscious and numb. 

An owl let out a hoot, breaking the quiet of the dawn. A gust of cool breeze made its way across the empty spaces among the trees, yet to be warmed by the rays of sun. The same breeze rushed into your home, tickling the hair on your neck, announcing their arrival through the jingles of the bells on your window. You forgot to shut them. Again.

You looked out the window at the fog weaving a blanket of white in the evergreen canopy it claimed as home till the sun rose and chased it away. For a moment, just one heartbeat, you thought of home. Remembered the cold of snow, the steam rising from potatoes straight out of the coals and in your gloved hands.

You let out a shaky exhale, willing the memories away.

You picked up the woven basket and strapped the hunting knife to your waist. On your way out you grabbed the hooded cloak off of the hook. Dressed in the dark green of the forest, you ventured away from the deeper parts of the wood where you lived on your way to collect the 'dawn lilies.' They could only be found near riverbanks and must be plucked before the sun came out. You ran out of those after making the previous supply of burn ointments.

The grass was soft under your boots, the morning dew getting soaked in the bottom of your pants. The air was crisp and tinged with a chill; one wouldn't be able to live in the dewy and wet cold of a place such as this without proper gear, but you had always been a little more resistant to the cold. Still, you made a mental note to grab some gloves when you would go to meet Kenzie the week after.

Winter was just around the corner, and you ought to be prepared for the changing season.

On your way to the river, you made a detour and took the longer path. Dense shrubbery with no definitive footmarks, a less walked path. Crouching down in a few spots, you checked on the snares you had set up yesterday. The wires and ropes twisted in the way you had learnt when you were seven. Three out of five and no luck. It looked like one of them was triggered, but whatever it was, it got away.

But the fourth one did not disappoint, as you found a marmot trapped and wriggling. Carefully moving it, you untangled the rope from around its body.

You took the knife out from your belt and nodded your head once, "Thank you for giving your life to sustain mine," and swiftly pushed the knife deep in its neck. Swift kill.

You checked the fifth one too. Empty. And continue on your way to the river.

Emerging from the forest line, you ran your gaze along the length of the riverbank, making sure no wild animal was there that would feel threatened by you or threaten your life. It would be unusual, though—for any predator to be here. You have never seen any wild animal that could put your life in danger in all the time you lived here. You concluded that these parts of the woods must not be suitable for them, hence making it safer for you to live.

As you look around, there are only the occasional critters roaming the forest floor. Small animals, those you saw plenty of. You made your way towards the small flowers growing close to the water and began collecting them.

You got up soon, flowers and some wild berries collected in your basket. It also held the meat from the marmot that you had just cleaned in the river, wrapped up in large leaves. Scanning the area once more, you got ready to make the trek back to your home.

I'd have to make another trip to collect some water later in the day.

On the way back, you took the shorter path. The one you used regularly. Munching on the berries as you walked.

————————————————————

"Thank you, Mayah."

The tall girl gave you a smile in response as she heaved up the crates you had brought with you and started walking back towards the open door of the shop. 'Rennie's' written on a wooden board in bold letters. You pulled a wooden case from the wagon and handed it over to the other man, Kane, who stood there with arms stretched out.

"Is that the last one?" He asked, taking the heavy box.

"Yes, that is it." You grabbed your satchel and hopped off the wooden platform. "Take these ones straight to the storage,or else the potions may go bad." And he followed the girl into the shop.

Turning back to the carter, you handed him a silver coin; he examined it and then immediately said, "This would not be enough, miss."

You looked at him, confused. "Why not? It always takes this much. I would know; I travel to Fubroch every month."

You made ointments and health potions—a skill you had learned since childhood. That was what your father did, and you decided to continue on the same path as him.

Once a month, you would travel from your home, half a day's journey away from Fubroch, and sell them at the market here. You were not keen on making contact with many people—the lesser knew of you, the better—so it was comfortable for you to have secured a vendor who bought your products to then sell them himself, and on a fair rate too. This is how you've been doing business for the last few years.

"Ah, miss, you know nothing of the raids that happened down South?" You pushed your lips, eyebrows pulled down, raids? 

Before you could question him about it, he continued, "razed the whole town in days," he shook his head, "coins and cattle all gone. Those Aberrants," he sighed and tried coaxing the bulls attached to his wagon, who had started moving restlessly, "even the Lord turns his eyes another way when it comes to those Diels."

He continued to grumble some more before saying that he had to get going. You pulled a few copper pieces out of your pocket and handed them to him. As you watched him leave, you realised that someone was standing behind you.

"Kenzie," you said, turning back to the elder man.

"You look tired, miss." Kenzie replied, his wrinkle-covered face was kind as ever, and his voice warm. Meeting him always reminded you of a family you didn't have.

"The journey was long, and I left late today too. I'm fine, though. But that doesn't matter; what was that Carter talking about? Aberrants?"

"We shall talk inside, miss," his deep eyes swept the surroundings, and he started walking towards the back door. "Mayah? Bring a cup of water and also brew some tea, dear."

His daughter gave a short nod and went further inside the store, entering another set of doors.

You took a seat on the cot, and Kenzie did the same. "This far out, people are calling them raids," he started talking.

"And... they aren't?" You asked. You were never one to poke and prod about anything that had nothing to do with you. But this time you were curious; after all, this was not the first time you were hearing the name:

"Aberrants," he continued after taking a sip from the cup Mayah handed him. You thanked her when she did the same for you and mirrored him, "the second army of the Lord, I believe you know that much."

You nodded, also aware of how Lord Cras doesn't really have much control over them and lets them run wild. "They are bad news." Was what Pa once said. But that's all; word of their presence never came close to where you lived, and you never encountered them.

You stayed away from things that did not concern you. That's how you've lived.

"They came to a village south of Glenross first. Out of the blue, like they always did. No one knows where they come from or go to. But when they left," a grimace pulled itself on his face, "the village had become lifeless."

"Did they...?" You asked, your brows meeting in the middle as lines appeared between them. You feared they were killed.

"No. They just took everything. Valuables, grains, horses—"

"I suppose that's what a raid sounds like." You interrupted him in the middle, giving your empty water cup to Mayah, who came with a cup of tea in exchange—which you took with a grateful smile. His lips pursed as his eyes darted to his wall, on a painting of the forest on his right, before moving it back up the next second.

"Not quite. It was more than just that. Those deils brought a curse on the lands," Curse? This is not the first time you're hearing of something like this, but something about the tone in the old man's voice made you think of the stories from your childhood. The ones you had shut the doors to a long while ago, yet on the days the wind is stronger, you can hear their whispers rising with dust from between the cracks in the wood.

"By word of mouth, they drained the fertility from the soil and spat poison in the waters. The people became ill, so deathly ill." He coughed, chugging the rest of the water from his cup. "Nothing has come out of that town in the past half of the year. No yield, no supplies, no tax money that the incompetent Lord demands," Kenzie finished, his breath slightly laboured.

You made a note to make extra potions for him to use throughout the cold months. It did look like an extra harsh winter was casting its shadowy wings over the country. It is possible that your next trip down here might be the last one for this year.

You took his words in, trying to make sense of them. "And that's what caused an upsurge in prices?" You asked.

"No, that was not it. It has been months since the incident in there. They chose a small village at that time, but recently," he tried to continue but stopped as his daughter came back in the room, a hot water bag in hand.

"Don't speak so much at once, Pa," She scolded him gently in her soft voice. You looked at them, talking; your eyes that were tired just now had a glassy film to them, and your body stilled for just a second as she placed the bag on one of his shoulders. You turned your head away, focusing on the conversation.

"Then what caused it? All of a sudden?" You prodded, clearing your throat.

This time Mayah was the one who spoke, "It was after last month, when the same happened in Cunkeld." You've never been there, but you knew it took some time to reach there from Fubroch. 

Her face took on a grave expression, "this time though the country is suffering. Taxes are higher and commodities got expensive, we expect it to only get worse during winter."

You listened intently, forgetting about the tea in your hand.

"I fear what they are doing is more than just raids or spreading poison for just the wealth," sighed Kenzie, his eyes shut; you wanted to ask why he thought that and what more he believed was there. But you didn't. The less you got involved, the better, and you believed that you had already questioned about things more than you should have. 

Kenzie didn't look like he would be answering more of your questions either; he needed to rest. And so, you bid goodbye to Mayah, who handed you a small bag of coins. "I know it's not the whole amount—"

"Don't stress. Pay me the rest when you've sold all the stock," you smiled at her. Waving Kane off when he tried to walk you back.

Leaving out from the front this time, you slung your satchel across your body and decided to find a tavern for the night. It was late afternoon; the sound of bells ringing came from the center of the town having. The journey back would take hours, and it would be past midnight by the time you reach home. Not that you had any problem with traveling at night. But the wagon carters might not be too keen on that.

It didn't matter; you had errands to run either way, so you won't mind spending just one night here. And you were tired. You left later than expected in the morning; something had felt off, and you had checked around the perimeter. Although nothing was out of place, you still decided to be cautious, and it took some of your time.

So you started walking in the opposite direction of bells, on your way to the smaller market stalls.

"How much for the lotus seeds?"

You asked around about different items, things that you needed for your workshop as well as other necessities. Soaps. New wires for snares. Some red clay.

You bought a few things and left behind a few others. There was not enough money for everything. You had to prioritize carefully.

A cat purred loudly as you neared a stall with fabrics of all colours arranged orderly. You scratched the cat on the head, and she went back to hissing at the stall on the left, one with shiny green apples. It was when you were inspecting a brown shawl that the vendor noticed you.

"What you lookin' for, girl?" an old-aged woman asked.

You looked up, hands pausing, "gloves for winter, leather."

The woman began rummaging around and produced a pair in a minute, "shoulda fit you, six silver pieces."

Your hands, previously reaching for said gloves, stopped in their tracks. "A bit too much, don't you think, madam?" Finally getting some movement back, you plucked the gloves, inspecting them, almost hoping to find some defect so that you can bargain for less.

"Leather comes precious these days, no bargain," She sniffed, then with a furrow in her brows, said, "No supply, so we're low on material; some rumored monster in the forest. No bigger monster than the cold and hunger, I  say." She scoffed.

You looked at the leather gloves, clutching your coin bag with one hand, deep in your satchel, "Can't do more than 3 coins, I'm afraid."

The woman's face took on a look of annoyance before she sighed, a look of understanding passing over her face. "Tell you what, here," She produced a pair of woolen gloves, "sellin' them for three silver and two copper, but they are the last ones, on a discount, take it."

You picked up the ones she tossed your way. You really would've liked the leather ones, preferable when working near water. You put your hands through, noticing how it swallowed your hand and still had space to sneak half a dozen grapes.

"Do you have a size smaller? They seem a bit big." You asked, biting your lips, hands tugging the wool between your fingers.

"Told you they are the last ones. They'll work just fine; the weaving is higher too, will stop the cold and water."

You left, walking further away from the crowd, with black wool adorning your hands.

————————————————————

The tavern you chose for the night was brimming with patrons. Tables full of people eating and drinking. Located on the outer part of the town, it was not your first time at this place, but yet it managed to look new to you every time.

You got yourself a room on the second story. The rooms here were cheaper due to the dripping roof when it rained and poor insulation caused by paper-thin walls. But for you it was more than enough.

You would have preferred to go straight to bed, but having forgotten to eat at the market earlier, you were currently on your way up the stairs after getting some food.

Gathering your skirt with one hand, you lifted your foot up to take the first step, only to stumble back as a body slammed straight into you. Hard.

"Ah! Whoa, be careful, mister!" You exclaimed as you righted yourself with the help of the wall.

As you looked up, wondering how you didn't hear his footsteps, especially on creaky stairs, your eyes made contact with a hand—outstretched, as if trying to reach you in case you needed assistance. You looked up, eyes now fixed on the dark face wrap covering half of his face, and a hood was pulled low, casting a shadow on the other half.

He looked scary at a glance, but when you looked a little below, you caught his eyes. Dark and wide. And beautiful.

You stood there breathless, tracing the kohl lining his eyes with your own.

He pulled his hands back and jerked his body, sitting down on the floor. Reaching for something near your skirt.

You jumped back, startled.

But he was only grabbing for the apple that had rolled away on the floor, which he must've been holding when he bumped into you.

He looked up at you, apple in hand, "Hope I didn't startle you."

You looked down, shook your head once, and opened your mouth to say something, but he straightened and was up in a flash.

He stepped closer, and you noticed how he was towering over you, the black of his flowy tunic—untucked from his leather pants—brushing against your arm crossed in front of your belly.

"Don't go bumping into things," he leaned down now whispering beside your ear, "you might get hurt."

You were barely breathing and didn't even notice that he had unfurled your fist and tucked something in there.

By the time you regained your senses, he was already walking in the direction of the bar.

You looked down when you finally felt the weight of something in your hand and saw that it was none other than the fruit he was carrying. A bright green apple.

You looked after him for another second before deciding not to think much of him and walked up the stairs. Off to get some sleep and start the journey early tomorrow.

Knock knock knock!

You woke up to frantic knocking on your door. Heart thundering, matching the raps of wood on the other side, you got up.

The knocking stopped.

In the silence of the darkness spread over the room, you stood still. One look out of the window and you confirmed it was early, the sun yet to rise.

For a moment you convinced yourself it was your imagination—a nightmare, maybe. It wouldn't be the first time. You decided to just go back to slee-

Knock knock knock!

The knocking resumed.

You walked up to the door and in a hesitant but loud voice questioned, "Who is it?"

The knocking stopped. You held your breath. Waiting for an answer.

Knock knock knock.

You felt through the slit in your skirt for the small blade on your thigh. Feeling nothing, you recalled having placed it on the side table. You grabbed it. Just in case.

"Who is it?" You placed a hand on the handle, another holding the blade.

A moment of silence. Just as you were about to question again, a voice called out,

"Open the door," a deep voice answered.

Body frozen, you took a big gulp of air. Where have you heard it? Warning bells were ringing in your head, telling you how this situation felt familiar.

You backed away, hand leaving the handle. I need to get out of here. In blind panic you started considering your options. You certainly couldn't fight whoever was outside. Maybe you could climb down the window?

But you stood still. You focused on the voice; it was familiar. Something in you was telling you that you should open the door.

Another knock, and you were opening the door before you could stop yourself.

The door cracked open just a sliver, but the stranger didn't make any attempt to make the gap wider or push his way in right away, unlike what you would have expected. It gave you a moment of clarity, and you came back to your senses. Raising your eyes, you were met with a half-covered face and dark eyes, lined with kohl. You knew where you had seen them.

"You are—"

"You need to come with me."

There was an urgency to his voice. His eyes were locked on yours, urging you to take a dive into the essence of midnight they held. A lock of hair fell in front of his eye; he pushed it back.

"Who are you?" The words were a whisper, but in the quiet of dawn they rang loud and clear.

One of his hands reached up, pulling the dark piece of cloth, hiding half his features, down. He gazed at you while you stole glimpses of the rest of him. Full cheeks but a sharp jaw. Soft lips but a tense tilt to them. If it were any other situation, you would have been captivated by his contrasting features. But now was not the time.

Breaking you out of your thoughts, the man in front of you glanced back at your room, then back at you, lips pursed for a moment, before he parted his lips and answered, voice clearer now without any obstruction. He answered your question.

"Someone who is going to make sure you don't bump into anything and get hurt."

You stepped back on instinct as he made his way in.

"I'm not going anywhere with you," He was crazy, and you had finally shaken yourself out of his spell. You needed to get him out of here and then get yourself out. Probably leave this town for good.

"You don't have a choice. Either you come with me or we die."

Your brows shot up in disbelief at the situation. This can't be happening. Was he messing with you? Trying to trick you? Make you think he's here to save you—from what?—and then thrust the blade deep in your ribs when you let your guard down.

You opened your mouth. To question him or cry out for help—you weren't sure. But you didn't get a chance.

Not when you heard a dull thud.

You looked behind his back, but your door was already open halfway, and no one stood there. The sound had been distant; it must have come from the room on the other end of the corridor.

While you didn't think much of it—too preoccupied with thinking how to get away—the man in front of you turned and walked back to the doorway. He only peeked outside for a single moment before sucking in a breath through his teeth and shutting the door close, rushing back towards you.

"Stay quiet!"

You jerked away, back against the wall. "What do you think—" you pulled the knife out, brandishing it in front of you, "—you are doing?"

"Shut up." He gritted through clenched teeth, eyes on the door.

"What—"

In the time it took you to release half a breath, his left hand rose, wrapping around yours, twisting your wrist, and bending your arms back. He tugged you towards him, forcing your right hand behind your back, making you loose your grip on the knife.

You stood there, chest to chest, as he peered down at you with hooded eyes, while yours squinted as you wriggled trying to get free.

"Shhh," he shushed you, putting the palm of his other hand up above your mouth and walking you a step back towards the wall. Your eyes widened as he trapped you there, with just enough force to keep you that way and not hurt you.

Heart thundering in your chest, your head pounded, matching its beats. You tried to come up with all the possible ways to get yourself out, but the warm exhales leaving his parted lips left your brain a scrambled mess.

It was stupid. To let this stranger in. You just might have invited your own death over, dressed in rugged leather, with gleaming orbs of darkness for eyes.

You shut your eyes tight as you felt him lift his hand up, releasing your mouth. You could scream, but what use would that be? Those blades you saw strapped to his back, they could slit your throat before the scream could fully form.

Expecting the press of the blade on your skin, you tried to prepare yourself. But soon were extremely surprised when a gentle finger tapped on one side of your jaw, just below your ear.

"Listen."

Blinking back at him, you squinted your eyes at his command. With no understanding of the situation, you had no other choice but to oblige. That's when you heard it.

Bang

That definitely came from the same direction as the sound before.

"What was that?" You whispered. Creases appearing on your forehead as you tried to listen more carefully.

"We should go." He stated calmly and stepped back. Putting his head against the door, he started listening for something.

"No. I don't understand anything, and unless I do, I'm not going—"

"You're not listening!" He hissed, and for the first time, his carefully managed emotions cracked, giving way to compelling urgency. He moved back to stand in front of you. "If we don't leave now and they find us, it will all be over."

They? Who is he talking about?

You eye him, your gaze full of skepticism, and it is then that you hear a muffled sound, neck snapped towards the wall as if you could see past the wood; you deduce it sounded like a scream. Your blood ran cold.

"That was a scream. We c-can't leave; we need  to—" Your breath hitched when you faced him again and came face to face with a knife.

"You're in no position to worry about that." It took you a moment to realise he was holding the knife by the blade, urging you to take it. It was yours; he must have picked it up from when you dropped it.

"But—"

"They are after you."

He you dead in the eyes and tilted his head, hair falling in his eyes, silently asking you to cooperate.

It was just like five years ago. The weight of your feet doubled, sinking you deeper in a darkness you knew too well. Your head spinning, a whirlwind of different shades of green flew past you. And you were fifteen again. Your father was asking you to leave, to run away. And you wanted to cry. "They are coming for you."

"Hey." He touched your shoulder softly, "It's okay; we'll get out of here. You can trust me."

"I don't." You replied shakily.

His eyes gleamed, "Good." You thought you heard a smile in his voice, but when you looked back at him, his face was as stoic as ever.

He motioned for you to follow as he cracked open your door just barely enough for his thumb to fit. He peeked out—assessing the corridor. Finding it bare, he pushed the door halfway open and stepped out, then motioned for you to follow.

You eyed the distance separating you and him, the doorway right in the middle. You could lock him out right now, when he was distracted. There was no proof he was telling the truth—that he was actually helping you. But deep inside you had an inexplicable inkling that doing that would not work in your favour.

You gathered the few things you had and were out the door, following close at his heels. You meant it—you didn't trust him, but at this moment he seemed like your best bet at figuring out what was going on.

And maybe, just maybe, even shine some light on a past you couldn't quite let go.

Giving your head a shake internally focused on the current situation at hand and started walking in the opposite direction from where the sounds had been coming from.

Behind you, the stranger shut the door behind you and urged you to move in front of him. He stood there for just a second longer before matching you step by step.

You walked faster, turning the corner before he did and missing the guy emerging from the other end. He locked eyes with the man walking behind you but didn't pay any mind, his attention focused somewhere else.

The other man—about to enter your room—stopped there for a second, hands on the doorknob. They were warm. The metal of the knob shouldn't be warm in this chilly tavern. Unless someone had made contact with it not too long ago.

The moment you both rounded the corner, safely out of sight, your partner wasted no time in taking huge steps forward, leaving you no option but to increase your speed as well. Not even two breaths passed before you heard thundering footsteps hot on your heels. You turn around, and your eyes meet with that of a man.

The man is dressed in peasant clothing, but it doesn't hide the sword at his waist. Hair a reddish brown, you only caught a brief glance of his enraged expression because the next thing you knew, a hand was grabbing your wrist tight and breaking off in a sprint.

The man gave chase. You change direction, disappearing from view, but you could hear him coming. The stairs were only a few steps away; you quickly tried to make your way there, eager to descend the stairs but felt yourself get tugged in the opposite direction.

"Not there," he said, moving up the stairs, you following behind.

"We will be trapped up there! We need to get out of this building if we want to loose that man."

"We are not trying to loose him," he calmly stated even as you both ran up the stairs. You reached the top floor and saw a large iron plate suspended in the middle, ropes dangling in front of it where there should have been a log hanging. You realised this place was once used as a bell tower.

"What now?" You asked him as he kept walking forward and did not stop until you reached the other side of the spacious place. The large open windows on all sides letting the cool wind in, spreading goosebumps all over your arm.

"Did you think these were just accessories?" He motioned back at the handles peeking out from behind his back, a pair of twin short swords. 

Your lips parted open and eyebrows raised up, "Are you—"

With a bang, the man slammed open the door where you both had just come from.

"Stay back."

Before you even registered what he said to you, you saw him pull one of the swords out and sidestep the other man who had already started lunging at him with his own sword out. Their blades clashed, a ring echoing in the empty space. Similar sounds followed the one before with the grunts of the two men adding to the cacophony of noises.

"Mako," the stranger let out a laugh, the sound light as the air, after deflecting his opponent's last blow, "I thought they would send their best?"

The man, Mako, raised his sword, aiming for the chest, but the black-haired stranger blocked him and raised his leg, kicking him in the gut. The man stumbled, almost doubling over before he took a swing at his feet. Hurriedly he stepped back as the Mako stood straight, slashing the air in front of his face.

This Mako was clearly trained in fighting, and you would be worried if your savior didn't seem just as good at it, if not better.

"You seem to know me," he heaved a breath, and they both circled each other, "but you don't seem to know who you're messing with." The man swung repetitively at him, but he couldn't land a single scratch on the stranger. After another swing, he shoved him back with a powerful push. "I get the girl, and you go free," he heaved.

You felt your heart drop but stayed silent. This was no time to panic.

Coming to a standstill, not a single drop of sweat visible, he replied, "I know what I am doing. The girl is going nowhere."

Mako, now furious, let out a yell and charged at him with more vigor. He met his swings with his own slashes and started walking backwards. Nearing one of the windows, he changed to offense and pushed back hard. Sending the man a couple steps back. He prepared for another attack and picked up speed, running at him.

Just where he wanted his opponent.

At that precise moment, the stranger stepped to the side in a swift movement. The man missed him, but before he could turn and deliver another attack, he was onto him, thrusting the sword at his neck.

Mako's upper body dangled out of the window, and his hands became useless as he tried to grip the railing to keep himself from falling over. He could easily have pulled himself inside had it not been for the blade keeping him there. He grunted, letting out curses directed at the owner of said blade.

"As I said, I know who I'm dealing with, but maybe you don't." He whispered lowly—doe eyes gleaming—so only the man in front of him could hear.

Breathing calmly and getting the beating of your heart back to normal, you stepped out from the corner; eyeing the door, you wondered if you could make a run before either of their companions came looking. But you were curious too.

Walking behind him, you chanced a glance at the man hanging out of the window. His gaze trained on you, and he did something unexpected. He had a wide grin that made you uncomfortable. You stepped back, away from his sight, and eyed the other man.

The fighting couldn't have lasted more than five minutes, and even though you weren't the one brandishing a sword, you felt winded.

"What are we going to do with him?" You voiced your question at the same time he shifted the sword to his other hand.

Mako screamed just as the stranger swept both his feet off the floor in a single sweep of his foot and sent a punch directly at his chest.

You watched in horror as the man fell out of the window and ran, leaning against the railing as you saw him groaning on the pile of hay. Alive. You released a shuddering breath and twisted your body to face your savior.

The first rays of sunlight began shining from the east, making their way through the scattered clouds. Their glow was soft and warm, and as he stood there looking back at you, his eyes glowed iridescently.

But that was not what caught you off guard. It was the upturn of pink lips, white peeking out between them.

"Haven't done that in a while," He groaned, stretching his arms back and sheathing his sword.

He was smiling; it was the first one you witnessed. He was smiling after he threw a man out the window. Something was wrong with him.

You couldn't will your eyes to look away. Perplexed. A little scared. Amused.

A question ringing out in your head: where do you go from here? But another quickly emerged, pushing past it—

"Who are you?"

Dark-lined eyes locked with your wide ones. His grin faded, and instead his mouth attained a genuine, friendly quirk.

"Intelligence gathered and former mercenary," he offered his hand in greeting, "Jeon Jungkook."

As you stared at his extended hand and up at his face, you came to a conclusion. One your subconscious had already realised the moment he appeared at your door. 

Wherever you go after this, it won't be back home.

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠♡

𝘛𝘢𝘨-𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯! 𝘚𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘬 𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘥.