Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

They'd filled out all of the appropriate applications, done tens of background checks, shown proof of income at least three times, and yet it had taken three months to hear anything back about the status of their applications.

They were a very good pack. They had clean records, no debt, they were an all alpha back which meant more protection. They were qualified. Seokjin had even met with an omega rights group before submitting their letter of interest to ensure their odds of approval were high. 

It should not be this hard to qualify to watch over unhoused omegas.

Omegas who had no place to go were separated from betas and alphas when young, because it was a safety hazard to have young, impressionable sub-genders under one roof where instincts ran wild and they were just understanding their differences. 

Omega care was a form of protection for young omegas between the ages of one to twenty and, reasonably, they knew that all of this waiting was good. All of the paperwork and documents and proof they needed was good - it meant the care center took the omegas needs appropriately.

However, it was frustrating. 

Namjoon had been in alpha care when he was younger, it was where he met Yoongi who volunteered at his center, and even though many years had passed since he'd gotten out of it, it still haunted him. It was why they'd brought in Jimin, who had been such a scrawny teenager when they'd tugged him in. 

And then Jimin met Taehyung, who was already packed with Hoseok, and Yoongi worked with Seokjin—

They were all so different. Came from different backgrounds. Taehyung from the outskirts, Hoseok from the city. Namjoon, and Jimin, had absolutely nothing to their name, Yoongi was working class, and Seokjin had everything handed to him on a golden platter. 

Somehow, they'd ended up together and their shared friendship, the reason why they'd managed to create this pack and keep it going so long was because of one thing: they cared about one another.

They cared about others. 

They'd taught each other things, learned from one another, like how Jimin and Namjoon - hell, even Yoongi - had learned that it was okay to ask for a little help once in a while. And Seokjin learned that some people didn't have it nearly as good as he did. 

They wanted to share what they had, the lessons they learned, onto someone else. 

Omegas had it far worse than they did. It had been Jimin's idea to file the paperwork, to actively put their pack in the list of homes available to shelter omegas. Jimin had told them horror stories - things the twenty year old looked terrified to talk about.

He'd barely had to convince them, being an omega was already hard enough, but a homeless, packless omega…

Well, they'd printed the paperwork immediately. 

Seokjin was the eldest, despite only being twenty six, and his name was the one stamped in red ink on the corner of every page. Perhaps they'd taken advantage of his family name in that way.

His family ran one of the largest electronic manufacturing companies, which meant his name certainly carried some weight, at least they'd assumed it would. However they'd simply been asked to submit financial records and proof of pack registration after they'd completed the first applications.

With one application, came ten more it seemed.

Asking for letters of recommendation. For Taehyung and Jimin’s college schedules, for a detailed list of their daily routines to ensure at least one alpha would be home at a time. It had gotten to a point where it seemed like drowning in all of the paperwork was not worth it.

It was. Now.

This morning, Seokjin had received a call. He'd been out of the office and Hoseok had picked it up at home only to begin screaming in their group chat later on. 

They'd been told that the center had an emergency, and an omega that needed sheltering. That had been around nine this morning. 

It was nearly midnight now. 

Taehyung and Jimin had long gone to bed, they were in the middle of exam period and the duo were practically drooling on the couch by the time Yoongi had asked them to go to bed with a swift, “Ew. Can you two go drool upstairs? You can meet the omega tomorrow.” 

For the past hour, the eldest four had lost hope that they were even coming. It was late, too late. And it was a Monday, so they all needed to work tomorrow, or had things to do. It was unreasonable to stay up waiting for someone who would never come.

However, none of them verbalized the disappointment that had begun to swim around the room. The most anyone mentioned was when Hoseok said, hopefully, that perhaps they were lost, which was laughable considering they lived in a gated community in a six bedroom house. It was impossible to not find it.

At around one, there was a flash of red and blue outside of the window. 

Namjoon jolted up from where he'd been nearly asleep on the couch, sucking in a breath and turning to look up at Yoongi who'd been anxiously pacing the living room. 

The police. 

They didn't wait. The alphas rushed for the door, heard the jingling of items outside it just as the doorbell rang—

Seokjin threw the door open before the first set of dings could even go off. The eldest quickly straightened out the blue silk of his pajamas, meeting eyes with a familiar face. 

The omega center representative, Minseok, looked exhausted at such an hour. The beta had dark eye circles and looked overall dreadful. His arms were full of papers and he had a big box at his feet. 

There was a police officer behind him.

“Where-”

Seokjin immediately pushed Yoongi out of the doorway, eyes scanning behind the beta in hopes he'd see an omega, perhaps a child. Maybe they were a little shy—

“We have a placement for you.” Minseok spoke, stepping more into the doorway, he sounded a bit nervous but Seokjin checked that off as exhaustion. “It's a bit of an emergency, but we can go over the details in the morning. If you still have that extra room and could take him, just for a night—”

“Him?” Namjoon was immediately moving to hover over Seokjin's shoulder, peeking around, making it very obvious he was impatient. 

Minseok met eyes with Seokjin, his lips twitched just a bit downwards. The eldest had a bad feeling at such a look, and at how little the other was speaking. Typically he rambled, like Jimin. 

Seokjin's smile dropped in an instant, he turned to send Yoongi a worried look, whispered, “Joon. Hobi. Please wait in the living room.” 

“What?” Hoseok frowned, “We're literally a year younger than Yoongi-”

“Go.” Yoongi said, not even turning to look at him, “Let us deal with this for a minute. Please. Too many people may stress the omega out more.” 

Reluctantly, and a tad angrily, the duo did turn around to go wait on the couch, but it didn't take away any of the palpable anxiety coming off of Minseok. 

The beta watched them go, seemed to relax a bit when only two pairs of eyes were on him. He sighed and motioned to the police officer behind him without ever moving his body to the side. “The police escort was unneeded, I'll admit, but it's city law to ensure the omega arrives at a home safely.” 

Clicking his tongue, Yoongi crossed arms over his white tee, saying, plainly, “Can we meet the omega or not?” 

“Just…” Minseok sighed, then shoved papers at Seokjin, “Sign here. And…” there was a long pause. “Don't… Don't stare. Jungkook doesn't like that, poor pup is scared enough as is.” 

Yoongi practically shoved past the police officer without so much as a glance, shoeless and barefoot as he stepped onto the cold stone pathway. He didn't know what he was looking for, but didn't have to look long. 

The omega was sitting in the opened doorway of the police car. They'd expected a child, but the omega wasn't a child at all. Perhaps a teenager, but certainly not a child and no older than twenty. 

He was wearing a pair of gym shorts that looked much too big for him. His shoes were busted up and he was clutching an even more ragged purple backpack to his chest. His hair was long, it was meeting the collar of his dirty white tee. 

Yoongi stepped closer and the omega’s head snapped up to meet his gaze, sucking in an audible, frightened breath. 

Jungkook stared at Yoongi like a deer caught in the headlights. So scared, so lost. He had such dark colored, chocolate eyes. They were round and big, expressive and shiny. 

There was little more Yoongi could take in about Jungkook, couldn't even begin to look at his features more, because all of the anger in his body bubbled to the surface so quickly the alpha had no idea how to stop the fury. 

The omega had a black eye. His nose had dried blood crusted underneath it. The poor omega looked like he'd just been shoved down a flight of stairs based on all of the bruises on his face and legs; Yoongi could only assume they were everywhere else, too.

“Are you kidding me?” Yoongi whispered, not loud enough for Jungkook to hear, nor the others signing papers against the door, but the alpha was furious. Outraged. 

Yoongi had never felt a fury like this in his life and it was nearly impossible to stop the outrage from showing, even more so when Jungkook jerked his head back down to look at the ground. 

“Jungkook, come look at where you'll sleep tonight!” 

Yoongi already knew that they weren't going to let Jungkook sleep here for just one night. The omega needed help. A lot of it, however when Jungkook stood up it was with a small grimace. So minuscule. Just a scrunch of his nose. 

And when he stepped forward, he babied one of his arms. And the plastic bottom of his broken shoe dragged on the sidewalk. He sniffled, ever so slightly. It looked like there were tears sitting in his eyes when the porch light reflected off of them. And—

He smelled of vanilla and cinnamon. Like fresh cookies. 

Yoongi went stiff. Straight up and down. The alpha saw Jungkook tighten his hold around his backpack, bloodied fingers curling into broken fabric. The omega seemed to lower his head more as he walked by. 

Minseok greeted him warmly, threw an arm around the omega’s shoulders and rubbed his arm, oblivious to Jungkook's rather obvious flinch. “Isn't this area nice? It's a big change from the last one. You'll be safe around these parts. Oh, they even have two pack members almost your age. Maybe you can be friends.” 

Yoongi saw the second that Seokjin, too, looked at Jungkook. The eldest was much worse at hiding his anger. He turned bright red in the face, tensed his jaw. 

“You have my number, so if you need anything, Jungkook. Anything at all. You give me a call. But I'm sure The Kims will take very good care of you, honey. I'll give you a call tomorrow. Make sure to say please and thank you.” 

Seokjin's clenched expression slipped, seemed to relax, and Yoongi knew then that his thoughts had been confirmed. Even more so when Seokjin's jaw dropped a small bit and the eldest’s fingers twitched as if to reach out for Jungkook. 

Jungkook was raising his head, eyes still low, voice small. Barely a breath, “Please let me sleep here tonight. I'll be a very good omega.” 

Yoongi’s heart squeezed up. Felt like it could pop. Had to swallow multiple times just to find the strength to form words, any sort of a reply. 

“Of course, Jungkook.” Seokjin answered for them luckily, voice ever so gentle, nice and slow. Shifting to pick up the box off of the ground, “Let's get you all cleaned up and in bed, sweetheart. You look like you’ve had a very long day.” 

This day had just gotten a lot longer for them, too.

They'd just met their mate.

Chapter Text

“It's not much right now, but you can decorate. Paint and do whatever the hell you want to.” Hoseok smiled, very brightly. Way too bright for it to be one in the morning, but they knew he was compensating. Trying not to let the anger take over. “Taehyung and Jimin have posters all over their room. You could do it too.” 

At the mention of two more alphas, Jungkook did glance up, but not much. It was more so a curious action but it was more than he'd done in the past twenty minutes as they showed him around.

Jungkook hadn't said a word. He kicked off his shoes by the door and had chewed on his lips when Seokjin scooped the broken, dirty shoes up and promised they'd buy him some new ones. 

He didn't look up when Hoseok and Namjoon jumped up from the couch to greet him. He merely tilted his head when Seokjin asked if he'd like something to eat or drink before heading upstairs. 

Yoongi didn't know what to say, so he'd kept quiet. He was good at being quiet. Good at silently following behind, that was why Namjoon and Hoseok were the ones who had opted to work for Seokjin's company and not himself. He preferred silence much more than having to talk. 

Jungkook was hard to read. 

The omega looked so anxious that it was hard to read anything except anxiety on his face. 

“Or,” Seokjin raised his eyebrows, leaning on the doorframe, “You could get him some clothes and let him sleep. Tomorrow you can discuss things like this.” 

Hoseok laughed, but he did squeeze through to rush to his room for some clothes, earning a small roll of his eyes from Seokjin.

Yoongi shifted to hover in the doorway, watching Jungkook hesitantly step towards the closet door. He didn't open it. Didn't even put his backpack down yet. It looked like he wanted to open it, but was stopping himself. 

Jungkook's bedroom was one of their larger ones. Probably the second biggest after Taehyung and Jimin's. The duo had opted to share a room when they'd discussed their plans to apply. Obviously, they couldn't have an omega share a room with them. 

It used to be Taehyung's room. There were still tape marks on the walls and a few little figurines around the room. The dark blue walls had been repainted, but nothing could cover up the candle stain on the carpet. 

It was still a nice room, despite not being new. Jungkook had a large bed with clean sheets. He had a huge bay window with blackout curtains over it. He had not one, but two dressers. 

The only issue was it was empty. Almost completely empty. There were only hangers in the closet and maybe a box or two up in the top of it, but otherwise there were no clothes in the dressers.

They'd need to buy him things, which wasn't an issue at all. Anything Jungkook wanted he could have. They would buy it immediately. And, based on just one look, it was clear Jungkook needed many things. 

“I'll be back,” Seokjin said aloud, looking reluctant, “Just one second, sweetheart.” 

Jungkook didn't even turn to acknowledge that. He never looked at them, rather through them. Even when Namjoon quietly entered the room to take a seat on the leather chair in the corner, Jungkook jerked his head away. 

“Do you like it?” Namjoon asked, softly, tilting his head, “We washed the blankets this morning. They should be nice and clean for you.” 

Jungkook mumbled something. It was so quiet neither of the alphas could hear it. Then, ever so silently, the omega took a seat on the very corner of the bed. He eyed the white of the bedding, 

The omega reached down to touch the fabric, using the tips of his fingers, but he visibly yanked his hand back the second he saw dried blood flake off onto the covers. Jungkook sucked in a rather rapid breath, all deep and heavy. 

“Hey. It's okay.” Yoongi knew that sound. Quickly stepped into the room before Jungkook could panic more, “Jungkook. It's alright. You're okay-”

“Dirty.” 

“You're worried it's dirty?” Namjoon frowned, hands gripping his knees tightly, restrained, “Jungkook. We have a washer. If anything is ever dirty, we can just wash it. Everything is fine. You are fine, pup.” 

Yoongi shared a look with Namjoon then, a worried one. It didn't take more than a glance at Jungkook to see that there was something very wrong with him. The poor omega was black and blue and bloody. Not only that, but Jungkook was terrified.

He was all balled up. Clutching his backpack for dear life. It didn't even look like there was anything in the back, it was squished thin. But Jungkook was holding it tight. 

Luckily, Hoseok and Seokjin came in, mumbling the end of their conversation that, no doubt, was discussing Jungkook.

The omega looked up. For perhaps the first time tonight he looked up enough that they could we the glossiness of his eyes and the way his lip was trembling. How tired he looked. 

The poor thing looked downright exhausted. Like he was going to pass out right that second.

Hoseok sighed, softly. He turned to place the clothes on the dresser, smiled, gently, “Maybe you can just sleep and change in the morning.” 

“That sounds like a good idea,” Seokjin agreed, holding a pack of wet tissues, trying his headrest to sound cheery as he offered them and softly said, “Do you want to wipe off some of that blood, or can hyung do it? I just don't want you to sleep with all of that on your face. It's going to be uncomfortable to sleep.” 

Seokjin just wanted to see it gone. They knew that. They didn't want to see all of that dried blood on him either. It was too distracting, too painful looking. They definitely didn't want Taehyung and Jimin to see it.

God. They needed to figure out what to tell them when they realized Jungkook was their mate and he was like this—

“‘m sleepy.” 

“You're sleepy?” Seokjin perked up, cooing, “Oh, poor baby. Hyung can do it really quickly, hm?” 

Jungkook sniffled. Then reached up to scrub his bloody nose rather harshly, flakes of dried blood dropping around him. The omega sniffled again, then coughed ever so softly. 

He didn't verbally reply to that, but Jungkook did shift to lay down on the bed. Sinking into the pillows on his side, still holding his backpack close. Didn't bother to pull back the blankets or anything. Jungkook just laid there, closing his eyes and sniffling. 

Seokjin took that as a silent okay and quickly took a seat on the edge of the bed. He noticed how stiff and tense Jungkook was, so he tried not to touch him much as he brushed away his hair with his fingertips and took a wet tissue to his face.

Jungkook was dirty. That was undeniable. Not only with blood, but he looked like he hadn't washed up in a while. They weren't disgusted, just worried. Where the hell had this omega been? Why was he so beat up? Not many of the injuries looked fresh, either. 

Poor thing. 

“Tilt your head just a bit, there we go,” Seokjin whispered, wiping Jungkook's cheek, other hand barely touching his chin. He brushed fingers gently over the cut on his bottom lip, and saw Jungkook's eyebrow twitch a little. The eldest grimaced, “We'll get you some medicine tomorrow morning for the pain. Hyungs will take care of you, puppy.” 

Jungkook's eyes popped open. Still unreadable, staring. He loosened his grip around his backpack, just a little, and his lips parted a bit. He didn't speak, just stared at Seokjin. 

Stared at Hoseok, too, when the other moved to grab the corner of the blanket and folded it over Jungkook, removing a few decorative pillows afterwards. 

It took six wet tissues just to clear up the remnants of a bloody nose, but at least it gave them a clearer few of Jungkook's face. He was pretty. Very cute with those shiny eyes of his and rounded nose. He had rounded cheeks even though he was rather skinny. That was adorable. 

“We should let him sleep.” Yoongi finally said, clearing his throat and motioning towards the door, leaning beside the light switch. 

“If you need anything.” Seokjin began, placing the rest of the wipes on the side table, “I mean anything, sweetheart. You can knock on any of the doors, don't even have to knock if you don't want to, you can walk right in.” 

The eldest brushed back his hair, softly, watched Jungkook's eyelids grow heavy, but the omega didn't allow them to shut. He jerked them back open, blinked hard to keep himself awake. Didn't speak.

“Hyung.” Namjoon urged, “Let's go.” 

It was hard to go. When Jungkook was like this. Clearly so scared. So injured. But it was clear that the omega didn't want them around, he was tired, and he was more scared by their presence than anything. 

Seokjin balled the bloody tissues up in his hand and nodded, stiffly, to himself before standing up and stepping out. 

“Bathroom is just outside the door, to the left,” Hoseok flashed a smile as he stepped out.

Yoongi reached for the light switch, soundlessly, but there was a rather rapid movement from the bed. And abruptly Jungkook was sitting up on his elbow. Eyes big. Asking, “Can I have the light on?” He paused, “Please?” 

It felt like the sky was falling. Like the world was in flames. Like everything was wrong. Jungkook was so scared he wanted the lights on. Didn't want to sleep in the dark. He was a teenager, at least eighteen, and the omega wanted to sleep with the lights on. 

“Whatever you want, Jungkook.” Yoongi swallowed, feeling like his voice came out strangled. “Always.” 

And closing that door had to be one of the hardest things he'd ever done. Leaving Jungkook in there, so terrified, had to be one of the worst feelings in the world. 

At least he wasn't alone in that thought, because as soon as he shut the door, Hoseok was waving him towards the sliding doors of the entertainment room down the hallway, waiting for him.

Yoongi raced to enter, saw that Namjoon was already making a run for the liquor cabinet. Seokjin was sitting on the corner of the pool table and rubbing his forehead. 

“What the fuck.” 

And that was all the eldest had to say, but it was all any of them could really say. They agreed. Namjoon echoed the words over the sound of whiskey pouring. 

“Poor omega,” Hoseok sighed, shutting the door, moving to turn more of the lights on before slumping down into the huge leather couch. “We have to tell Tae and Chim not to tell him. Not yet. Jungkook is…”

“We only have one night,” Yoongi spoke up hesitantly, eyes a tad glossy. “They said this was an emergency placement. One night. But, I mean, they must be desperate. You know the younger omegas are more likely to be housed. Easier to care for. Jungkook's older, so…” He trailed off, sucking in a breath and turning to lean his forehead against the glass game shelf, cursing and hissing, “What the fuck. What the actual fuck. I can't-- I can't fucking think right now. Did you see him? Those fucking eyes— he's terrified. Scared of his own damn shadow.” 

“We… We can call later,” Seokjin cleared his throat, his voice was thick, “We can call the center, or wait for their call. Maybe we can tell them we intend to house him. He is our mate which gives us a bit of leeway… just… for now, can someone get Tae and Chim to keep it a secret? We can't have Jimin coming in trying to flirt with him or something. We have to tell them to be easy with him. Jungkook's… he's…” 

“He's not broken,” Namjoon whispered, “He just needs a little bit of love. We have a lot of that. We can do it. Hyungs did it for me. You can do it again. One more time.” 

Yoongi shifted his jaw and sank down to sit on the floor, tugging his knees closer and whispering, arguing, “You weren't like Jungkook, Joon.” 

“No. But we have to try. If we don't, then who knows what's going to happen to him. It's worth a try, right? Fate wouldn't put us together if we couldn't help him. I firmly believe that.” 

Hoseok laughed, humorlessly, “Either that, or fate is a complete asshole.” 

Chapter Text

“How old is he?” 

“It says eighteen in his file.” 

“Hm.” Jimin paused, then tilted his head, “He's really pretty.” 

In an instant, Yoongi was spinning around to look at him, pointing a spatula at him and warning, very firmly, “Don't even think about it, Park Jimin.” 

Jimin merely shrugged, smirking a bit and blinking down at the picture sitting on the table. “Don't act like you didn't notice.” 

Yoongi wanted to say he hadn't, especially not when Jungkook was black and blue, but he had. Jungkook was their mate after all. Jimin hadn't even seen the omega yet, but when Yoongi said that the other immediately dug through the paperwork on the kitchen island to find a picture.

The elder had chosen not to mention the fact that Jungkook was rather beat up. He hoped the shock of it all would make Jimin leave the omega alone once he spotted him. 

Jimin was harmless, honestly, but he did have his moments where his mouth was way too much. He liked pretty things, and was known to flirt, but he never went too far. He wasn't really the one they were too worried about.

Taehyung was.

Taehyung was a gorgeous alpha. Everyone knew that, but the issue was that he knew that. He was a heartbreaker. The kind of guy who could have anyone he wanted. They'd watched him go through handfuls of boyfriends and girlfriends throughout high school. Luckily, it seemed he'd calmed down a  bit recently.

“Can you just not?” Yoongi requested, sighing as he turned the stove off. He plated breakfast just as he heard steps coming from upstairs. The alpha straightened up, expecting the omega.

It wasn't. It was Taehyung clambering down the stairs in plaid pajama bottoms, shirtless, coming down rather loudly and immediately groaning as he rubbed his eyes. He began his complaint immediately, hair sticking every which way, “I forgot to turn off my fucking alarm. It was going off for ten minutes.” 

To which Jimin, rapidly, said, “The omega is cute. Like… I'm talking really cute. Doe eyes cute. Like I would completely tug him in-”

“Yah! Yah! Yah!” Yoongi swiftly cut him off, eyebrows furrowed and shaking his head, “Shut the fuck up. Seriously. Seriously. I don't want to hear you two talking about Jungkook like that. Do you hear me? Seriously. I'll tell Jin hyung and he'll spray you down like you're horny dogs or something. Watch your mouth.” 

Jimin rolled his eyes, but he did quiet down because the truth was Seokjin probably would do something like that if they pushed him too much. Silently, he scooted over on the island bench to allow Taehyung a spot.

Taehyung sat down, ruffling his messy hair out as Jimin pushed the pictures over to him. 

They were horrible photos. Did no justice to Jungkook at all. They looked older too, because Jungkook's hair was about an inch longer now and much more chaotic than in the pictures.

The pictures looked sterile. They were void of any emotions. No smile, no anything. It was just Jungkook standing against a white wall. A few of his face up close, but never of him smiling.

Yoongi wondered what he'd look like if he smiled.

“Oh,” Taehyung wet his lips, shifted a bit. “Oh.” 

“Cute, right?” Jimin grinned, sent Yoongi this smile that made the elder want to smack it right off of him. “Hyung says he's our-”

“- it's really okay, Jungkook. It's okay. It's fine.” 

Hoseok's voice, and namely what he was saying, was what made Yoongi reach over and smack a hand over Jimin's mouth, effectively shushing the twenty year old. Jimin normally talked way too much, so the fact that he shut up right away said something. 

The kitchen was very open. There was no wall separating it from the living room, or dining area, and the stairs to the second floor were just across the room near the living room. 

Jungkook was sniffling. The omega was all pulled together. His hands were laced into the now clean top he wore and tugging it down over the front of his pajama. At least he'd changed, that was good, but he didn't look cleaned up.

He looked cleaner, but not clean. His hair was still matted and sweaty, but that was beside the issue. The issue was Jungkook was seconds away from crying. Hadn't even raised his head to look around, but it was easy to see he was near tears just from his shaking. 

Hoseok looked lost. Looked incredibly hesitant to touch him, or soothe him. His hand hovered along the back of his head as though to pet, but he didn't work up the nerve to do it. Perhaps that was a good thing.

Perhaps Jimin being, in Yoongi’s opinion, annoying was also a good thing. At least today.

Because the alpha was jumping up and saying, loudly, like he wasn't witnessing Jungkook panicking, maybe Jimin hadn't really realized it yet, but he was panicking, “Do you like movies?” 

And Jungkook stopped sniffling. The omega went rather silent, but perhaps it was due to the stranger more so than the question. 

Hesitantly, Hoseok laid a hand on Jungkook's arm, just to steer him towards the kitchen, but the omega jerked back. Jerked out of his grip. Jungkook's head lifted to look through his hair, his breath caught. 

Taehyung's did, too. And Jimin froze. 

Jungkook breathed hard, like his heart was beating out of his chest. His hands were thrown up, in front of himself, and his eyes were big. His left eye was swollen. Puffy. And his nose was bruised. 

Hoseok looked like he'd just been struck. The alpha whispered, voice gentle and quiet, “I'm sorry. I'm so-”

“Jungkook.” Yoongi cleared his throat, reached over to wipe his hands on a towel, pretended he hadn't just witnessed such a thing, “Hey, good morning. You hungry? I was just about to give Jin hyung a call, he and Joon went to buy you some clothes, but they're not sure what size shoe to get.” 

Jungkook relaxed. His eyes flickered around the room. His tongue peeked out to run along the cut in his lip. The omega released a breath, then two, and reached up to rub the back of his neck. His voice was barely audible, but the room was so silent it could be heard. “Bed. It's dirty.” 

“Okay.” Yoongi said simply, raising his eyebrows and motioning towards the plate on the island, “I can change it when you go take a shower, after you eat.” 

Jungkook glanced at the two strangers at the island who stared at him. Then, he glanced at the food on the island, his hand clenched around the front of his shirt. 

Hoseok cleared his throat, stepped into the kitchen and dug in the fridge, mumbling, “If you're hungry, you should eat.” 

The omega pressed his lips in a line and rubbed his arm as he entered the kitchen. Jungkook didn't completely drop his head to hide behind his hair, but he had a way of making himself look so small.

Even when he sat on the stool opposite Taehyung and Jimin, he looked absolutely tiny with the way he slouched over, and didn't touch anything until Yoongi slid him a fork. Then, Jungkook began to eat and eat fast. So, incredibly, fast that Hoseok actually cooed at him as he moved to place a glass of juice down beside him. 

It was worrying. Even more so was the way Jungkook gulped down his juice so rapidly that he began to gasp like a child chugging water after playing outside. Like he was so hungry, and so thirsty.

“Nobody is going to take it, pup,” Yoongi worried, frowning as he turned to grab the plate of eggs and toast, adding more as Jungkook ate. “You might choke.” 

If anything, such a comment only made Jungkook eat faster. Hoseok and Yoongi shared a look, but it only lasted a moment until Hoseok was glancing at Taehyung and Jimin, only to rub his temple and scold, “Stop staring.” 

Jungkook slowed down then, glanced at Jimin and Taehyung from the corner of his eye. 

Of course, the duo did not stop staring. And, reasonably, it was easy to assume it was because Jungkook was clearly beat up. However, this was Jimin and Taehyung and they'd just met their mate; the only person whose smell they could pick up on.

And Jungkook's was amazing. Enchanting. 

“I was asking,” Jimin wet his lips, his tone was more gentle than it was flirtatious, despite his words. “If you liked movies, because you should go with me. To the movies. Whatever kind of movie you want. Whatever anything you want, actually. Like… Like if you want candy, I can get you some.” He reached across the table, fingers barely skimming the keys to the Range Rover.

Hoseok reacted quickly, tone amused, laughing as he walked around the counter to press on Jimin's shoulders, pushing him into his seat, “Cool it, hotshot. Nobody said anything about candy.” 

Jimin ignored him. Stared at Jungkook as though he were waiting for an answer. 

Jungkook, of course, didn't answer. He leaned back, holding his toast. Then, abruptly turned to Yoongi, mumbling and avoiding eye contact, “Is hyung coming back soon?” 

The eldest in the room immediately smiled, gently, and leaned on the counter, close to Jungkook as he pulled out his phone, allowing the other to peek at the screen as he opened it, “He said he'd be home around dinner, so he'll pick up some things for you. He asked for your size in shoes and what kind of soaps you use. Anything you want, we'll pick it up.” 

Jungkook scrunched up his nose, it looked painful. He swallowed and shifted to sit up more, eyes scanning Yoongi rather than the phone, “What do you mean what kind of soap?” 

“Like,” Yoongi furrowed his eyebrows, “What scent do you like?” 

“Oh.” Jungkook cleared his throat, he looked embarrassed as he spoke. “I don't know. Anything. Whatever is cheapest… I'm going back tonight anyway…” 

He didn't sound necessarily upset about that which was entirely disheartening, because he should be. They wanted him to like it here, to enjoy it, to want to be here. With them.

Of course, Jungkook had no idea they were mates. Omegas could smell anyone, not just their mate, so to him they were no different. Likely no different to the people who had hurt him, too. 

“No.” It was Taehyung that spoke. Deep voice visibly startled Jungkook who immediately looked at him with huge, rounded eyes. The alpha shook his head, was firm. “You can't just not have an opinion. Everyone has an opinion. What smells do you like? Do you like flowers? The ocean? Fruits?” 

Jungkook's mouth opened, he looked rather shocked. His fingers curled around the edge of the marble island, he stiffened up. 

Immediately, Hoseok was turning on Taehyung and scolding him, “Don't talk to him like that, Taehyung. What are you thinking? And-”

“Vanilla.” 

Silence came instantly. Jungkook cleared his throat. He swallowed and whispered, much quieter, looking at his empty plate. “I like vanilla. And my shoe size is nine.” He shifted, a bit awkwardly, and looked up at Yoongi, “Can I go shower now?” 

Yoongi’s phone was going off in his hand. Likely Namjoon or Seokjin trying to make him hurry up with an answer. He nodded, but before he was able to get words out, Jungkook was already on his feet and racing for the stairs. 

“He's not actually leaving tonight, right?” Jimin frowned, “I think they'd tell us whether he was or not. Surely if it was urgent they wouldn't be able to rehome him so fast.” 

Nobody answered that, although it was true and Yoongi hadn't heard from the omega center at all yet, which meant either Seokjin had and hadn't told him yet or nobody had. 

Instead of answering that, Hoseok was grabbing the dish tag rag of the sink and throwing it right at Taehyung's face, earning a handful of confused splutters as the elder growled, “Kim Taehyung! What the fuck was that? You scared the shit out of him!” 

“Hey! I was just talking- it's called small talk, you know? Don't throw-”

“And why are you walking around like that when you knew we'd have company?” Hoseok cried, motioning to his bare chest, “For fucksake, Taehyung. You're pushing buttons you really shouldn't be pushing, go change!” 

Taehyung huffed out a handful of incoherent words, expression confused and vaguely angry, but he did get up to go upstairs, just as Yoongi was answering the phone. 

Jimin chuckled, watched Taehyung go with a mischievous grin, then turned to look up at Hoseok all innocently, beaming. “So. He's pretty cute-”

“Don't.” Hoseok shut him down instantly, rolling his eyes, “And go clean the game room. You think we didn't notice the popcorn on the floor? How many times have we told you?” 

Jimin instantly sank into the bench, whining and groaning as the elder began to scold him, “I thought this was a pick-on-Taehyung day. Now you're just being mean, hyung.” 

Chapter Text

“They fit so well. You look so nice. Aren't you so cute? Hyung’s puppy, hm? My little bunny rabbit?” 

Jungkook's cheeks were bright red, it was adorable. He was adorable. 

Seokjin had picked him up a bunch of clothes, mostly basic things, but Jungkook hadn't had a chance to try them on, because when the eldest had arrived home Jungkook had been asleep already. This time in clean sheets, all of his wet hair out of his eyes.

The omega had slept well into the night, so they'd left his food on his side table and decided to let him sleep longer. 

This morning, it seemed Jungkook had found his clothes and the bag of essentials they'd left for him outside his bedroom door. The omega had cleaned up.

He looked cute in his big blue sweater and jeans. His hair was nicely brushed out of his face and clean. His cheeks, now that the bruising was going down, were covered in little constellation-like beauty marks. 

And, dare they say, Jungkook looked somewhat happier this morning. Not happy - he still hadn't smiled - but happier. 

“Hyung,” Namjoon laughed across the table, rolling his eyes as Seokjin knelt down beside Jungkook's chair and pet strands of hair behind his ear. The omega was bright red, he looked more confused and flustered than scared though. “Let him eat. We have shit to do later.” 

Seokjin, of course, ignored that. He cooed at Jungkook and pet the back of his head ever so softly, lowering himself so he looked up at the omega, “Did you take the medicine we left for you? Hyungs made a few calls, got some good medicine for those bruises, but if you still hurt. If you need anything at all. Let us know and we'll go get something stronger, okay, Jungkookie?” 

Jungkook pressed his lips together as he nodded, looking sheepish and hesitant. His eyes flickered to his plate when Namjoon reached over to add more food onto it. 

The eldest smiled at him, beaming and bright. He softly brushed fingers over Jungkook's hair before moving to his seat on the opposite side of the table. 

The omega grabbed his fork immediately, as though he'd been waiting to scarf down his food. 

“So,” Jimin paused for a long moment, eyes flickering from the omega to the others, “When can I use the car and take him to the movies?” 

Immediately, Yoongi and Hoseok groaned. Seokjin and Namjoon looked confused. Taehyung beside Jimin snickered and glanced at Jungkook, the omega leaned down a bit more, his ears were red. 

Taehyung's lips quirked up, the alpha leaned back in his seat, tapped his nail against the side of his glass, “If Jimin gets to take him to the movies, I get to take him out too.” 

“To do what?” Hoseok demanded, narrowing his eyes, “And don't you dare say anything inappropriate. Do you think we don't hear you and Jimin talking past midnight? We know all of your little secrets, Tae.” 

Taehyung looked scandalized. He opened his mouth to reply, but fell short and that made the elder’s chuckle, seeing as it was one of the first times Taehyung had been rather speechless when it came to relationship sort of things.

They all knew that the alpha hadn't exactly been the relationship type. Jimin would refer to whoever Taehyung was saying as his boyfriend or girlfriend, but the alpha himself never did. In fact, he never really said names either, but they'd hear him and Jimin late at night muttering about his escapades and needless to say -- they wouldn't be exactly ecstatic to let him take Jungkook out alone. Late at night. Probably near some sort of hotel.

On the other hand, this was Taehyung and he, despite his escapades, was an honest person. Didn't like hurting people.

Jungkook was their mate, too, he smelled strongly. So strong that the entire first floor smelled like soft vanilla and rain. Jungkook smelled of everything nice. 

Taehyung couldn't forget that. It was impossible to, but the only two people thinking anything about Jungkook and dating were those two, because they were still young. 

They wouldn't exactly be the ones who Jungkook was looking towards for help, or guidance. Taehyung and Jimin were still pups, they still had their hyungs help write their college essays and still climbed into laps to demand head rubs. (And, honestly, their hyungs hoped they'd never stop that.) 

“We don't even know how long he'll stay,” Namjoon said, nonchalantly, glancing at Jungkook, “We need to go to the center at five tonight. They want to check in on him, the twenty four hour check in passed, so we're a little late.” 

All eyes turned on Jungkook. The omega visibly twisted his lips, kept his eyes down and started eating slower. Aware they were looking towards him.

“Jungkook?” 

The omega instantly lifted his head, fisting his fork tightly as he met Yoongi’s eyes, “Yes, hyung.” 

The alpha smiled, bright and gummily. “Would you like to stay longer? We can file an appeal. Try it out. What do you think, precious?” 

Jungkook went still. So still that it looked like he wasn't even breathing. The omega stared at him, his expression morphed into confusion ever so slightly. His head tilted to the side, not unlike a real puppy. He mumbled, “I can't- I… it's not- not my choice. It's your choice. I- I can't. I'm just an omega. I can't…” 

“What do you mean?” Instantly, Seokjin was jumping in, trying his best not to sound upset. “What do you mean just an omega? Sweetheart. If you're uncomfortable here, we won't appeal for you to stay longer. If you want to stay, we will. It's up to you. We'd never force you to stay. If you want to leave, if you feel…” he paused, forced out, “... unsafe. We would give you our phone number and allow you to go, and you could call us if you ever need anything. Or just want to talk.” 

And that was true. 

Mate or not, they would have wanted any omega to be safe. They hadn't applied to find their mate, they'd applied to help. It just so happened that they had gotten their mate instead of just any omega. 

Mate or not, if Jungkook didn't want to stay, he didn't have to. Although, based on the looks on Namjoon, Jimin, and Taehyung's faces, they didn't agree with that sentiment, but nobody verbally objected. 

“I-If,” Jungkook's eyes grew wet. He reached up to rub his eyes as though to keep the tears away, but his voice was incredibly shaky when he said, “I-I try. T-To stay. What… What do I h-have to do?” 

Namjoon moved to scoot his chair out, reaching over to place a hand on Jungkook's chair, fingers brushing his shoulder ever so gently, whispering, “Why are you crying, Jungkook? What's wrong?” 

That only sent the omega into a fit of small sniffles. Made a whimper bubble from his lips. Instantly, everyone was on edge, worried.

However, there was another feeling stirring too - anger. 

Jungkook's words didn't seem very questioning at all. The things he said, how he phrased things, jumped out like red flags. How he said just omega, the way he said what do I have to do -- it was wrong. All wrong. 

Clearly, someone had hurt him. To what extent they didn't know. Jungkook barely spoke and they hadn't yet been able to get to know him or his life, they hadn't yet opened up that paper box sitting in the office down the hall. Been too busy caring for him, getting him things he needed. Those were more important than just reading some paperwork.

Maybe they should have, because now Jungkook was shaking and he was blubbering and the omega didn't know how to handle himself. He was crying so hard his face was red and snotty. 

Jungkook was eighteen. He was grown, but he cried like a child would, with his entire body, so painfully. He’d been so hurt in the past that it seeped through the cracks of his heart and it just spilled over—

That didn't mean he was broken. 

It just meant he needed some mending. 

They could try to help with that. 

“Oh, Jungkook. Puppy. Sweetheart.” Seokjin was up and on his feet in an instant, carefully approaching the omega’s chair, laying a hand on his knee, shushing.

Surprising the alpha, Jungkook leaned over and threw himself at Seokjin. Seokjin sent a concerned look to the others, but scooped up the omega immediately, hushing Jungkook and gently brushing fingers through his hair. 

Jungkook was so thin. So scrawny that Seokjin was holding all of his weight up and not even budging even though it felt as though the omega was trying to actually climb into his arms, more than just a hug. 

“Oh, honey.” Seokjin shushed, gently petting his nape, expression fallen as he hugged the omega tightly, “You don't have to do anything to stay here. You can stay here for nothing at all. We’ll take care of everything. You can do whatever you want to. Finish school. Learn to drive. Work. Hell, if you want to play games all day, then you can play games all day. If you want to sleep all day, you can sleep all week. It's up to you, Jungkook.” 

The omega whimpered into his shoulder, face burrowed into the fabric, nails digging in tightly. 

The sound made hair stand on end. Made Taehyung jerk to stand up so quickly his chair fell over behind him. Hoseok grabbed his wrist immediately.

“Do you want to try?” Seokjin asked softly, carefully, gently leaning back a bit, trying to catch Jungkook's eyes. He did. The omega looked at him. Eyes bright red and wet, face covered in tears and his nose was runny. Seokjin cooed, softly petting his cheeks, “I know we're strangers, but if you want a home, then you have one here.” 

Jungkook bubbled with a whimper, nodding frantically, scrubbing a palm under his nose until the alpha took his hand away and tsked, “Be gentle, sweetheart. I think you've had enough roughness, hm?” 

It was merely a mutter, a comment, it wasn't meant to be answered, but Jungkook replied, voice so soft, so wet. He agreed, ever so carefully, “It hurts.” 

It was nearly impossible for Seokjin to control his expressions. He tried very hard to keep from looking absolutely livid, but he opted to pet Jungkook's hair from face and leaned in to nuzzle gently at his forehead. He hid his expression from the omega as he urged, “How about Hobi takes you to lay down a bit longer, hm? We'll call in for some stronger medicine and get you some snacks, you can take one of the laptops upstairs. Watch something, try to nap. Hyungs will be downstairs if you need anything at all, okay?” 

Jungkook nodded, all sniffly, fingers disappearing behind his sleeves as he took to wringing them together. 

The omega stared at Seokjin, didn't step back, but stared at him like the alpha was single-handedly the most amazing person he knew. Like he was looking at some sort of angel. Like he had the answers to everything.

And Seokjin was flattered. He was. 

However, Jungkook shouldn't look at someone he barely knew like that just because they had shown him a bit of compassion. Just because they'd cared.

What they were offering him was the bare minimum. It was what any decent people should do—

Perhaps there just weren't as many decent people in the world as they'd originally thought. 

Namjoon shuffled. He had been rather quiet throughout the entire ordeal, which was strange. However the alpha didn't speak up until Hoseok's gentle rambles had disappeared upstairs and Jungkook was out of hearing range.

Still, even then, all he managed to say was, “I'm so mad right now I might break the back door.” 

Seokjin didn't even reply with a don't. 

He rubbed his temple and leaned on the table. He said nothing when Jimin leaned closer and sniffed at him; he smelled of Jungkook, so strongly, but mostly his tears. It was slightly nauseating. 

“So,” Taehyung cleared his throat, “What do you want us to do, hyung? How can we help?” 

Again. Nobody replied. That was a question they just didn't have an answer to yet. 

Chapter Text

Jungkook was so used to the omega center that he knew every which way. Had it all memorized. He knew every turn. Every floor. He knew it from top to bottom despite it being an absolute maze.

It was saddening. 

However, the omega seemed to be speaking a bit more today. He'd asked questions this morning. He'd awed at their garage full of cars. He'd whispered under his breath when he looked out the window and looked at the neighborhood when they'd stopped at the gate to swipe the keycard to open it. 

Jungkook didn't ask the important things. He didn't ask about their money, or where they'd got it from, he didn't ask questions like that. He asked things like, “Do you have to do that everytime?” And, “Do hyungs drive a lot?” 

They were questions that weren't that important, but they answered them anyway. 

Plus, they were hypocrites, and none of them had asked Jungkook the important questions either. Like what had happened to him.

They were too glad to see him finally talking, so they were still hesitant to ask anything. Which was why they were walking into Minseok’s office completely clueless. 

Jungkook, however, was not as clueless as they were, but he did look nervous. The omega chose to sit in the chair furthest from the beta, leaving the other one open. 

It was a small office and it was clear the beta hadn't been expecting all of them to show up, because the first words from Minseok's mouth were a chuckling, “Wow. Normally just the pack alpha comes…” 

“Yeah, well,” Yoongi raised his eyebrows and took the seat, “We all wanted to be here.”

Minseok looked a little flustered under so many rather flat gazes, so the beta quickly got to work. He had piles and piles of paperwork on his desk, so it took him a minute or two to search through it.

While they waited, Hoseok leaned on the back of Jungkook's seat, sent the omega a small reassuring smile, one that Jungkook seemed to accept, because he relaxed a bit more. His grip loosened on the arms of the chair at least, so that was a small win.

It lasted about two seconds before Minseok was shifting to push a paper towards Jungkook, “If you'd like to file an official police report, we need you to write everything down, Jungkook.” 

All eyes turned onto the omega. 

Jungkook wasn't looking at anyone. He was staring rather blankly at the small potted plant on the corner of the desk in front of him. The omega didn't look at the paper, didn't move. It was as though he hadn't heard anything at all.

“Honey?” Minseok said, again, shifting in his seat, leaning over the desk to place a pen down utop the paper, “You don't have to. You know how these work, Jungkook. I won't treat you like a child, you know it takes time and money and you'll have to probably go to court-”

“I…” 

Minseok fell silent immediately, eyes only taking in the omega. To his credit, the beta looked incredibly worried about Jungkook, but when the omega leaned back into his seat and brought a hand up to wipe his nose, the entire room shifted.

“Oh no. No, sweet pea.” Hoseok immediately knelt down beside his seat. Brushing Jungkook's hair from his face, he worried, “Jungkookie. Don't cry. Don't-”

“I-I’m sorry.” Jungkook's face pulled together and he began to splutter in sobs, pressing his clenched fist against the side of his head, worrying, “I’m t-trouble, I'm sorry.”

“What?” Taehyung whispered, sounded outraged, but before he could say more Hoseok was shushing Jungkook, petting his hair.

The alpha instantly dragged his hand away from his head, worried the omega might begin to hurt himself, “There is no reason to apologize. You're no trouble at all. None at all. Don't ever apologize to us.” 

Jungkook cried harder, shaking his head back and forth, “I'm sorry.” 

Hoseok shared an intense concerned look as he leaned in to rub Jungkook's arm. That was all it took for Namjoon to step forward and gently grab Jungkook's hand, slipping his fingers softly between the omega’s, voice a whisper, “Let's go get a snack, Kookie? I saw a vending machine down the hall.” 

The omega clutched his fingers. So tightly that Namjoon grimaced, not in pain for himself, but because Jungkook was crying so hard for seemingly no reason; no reason that they knew anyway. 

“Oh, baby.” Namjoon whispered.

“Tae. Chim, go with them,” Yoongi ordered and there wasn't any room at all to argue with that. The alpha was staring intensely at Minseok, so hard the beta slumped into his seat with an audible sigh, like he knew what was coming.

Taehyung nor Jimin argued, for once. They followed behind Jungkook, like protective guard dogs, eyeballing everyone in the hallway the second they stepped out of the office door. Jungkook was sobbing, so perhaps they were vicious like guard dogs.

The second the door shut again, Seokjin was jerking forward to snatch the paper off the table, sinking down into the seat and beginning, “That pup cried every single night for the past few days. He slept more than I've ever seen someone, he's esten a week's worth of food. Respectfully, what the fuck is going on?” 

Minseok rubbed his temple, he sighed and leaned back in his seat, “Have you read his file?” 

Silence followed. The beta pressed his lips in a line. He twisted his lips, reached over to dig through a stack of papers. “I'm his new representative. He's had three others,” Minseok began, “I was only assigned to his case a month ago. And of these files,” Minseok pulled about ¾ of the papers off of the pile, “These are Jungkook's.” 

It felt like all of the air left the room as the beta continued, sounding devastated, “The youngest omegas get priority. They get home visits first. Jungkook is one of the eldest cases I have. I only got around to visiting him last night.” 

Minseok licked his lips nervously. He sighed, “When I arrived, Jungkook was running out of the house. He'd already been leaving. There was yelling. Screaming. Jungkook just… he took it all. He was walking down the street covered in blood. Crying, silently. This omega…” Minseok dropped his gaze and rubbed his temple, “He really needs a home. There's only so much I can say about the other day, Jungkook didn't speak much, just apologized a lot. He slept at the police station as they interviewed the previous family. They said he was fighting, tried to reason his injuries, but the medics said most of them weren't recent. I yanked him out immediately. I didn't know. If I'd have been given his case sooner…” The beta twisted his lips, shook his head, and looked ashamed to meet their eyes.

It was quiet for a full minute, then two, before Hoseok shifted to sit on the arm of Yoongi’s chair, breathed a deep breath, then said, firmly, “We want to house him for longer. As long as he wants, and needs.” 

Minseok's eyebrows raised in surprise. 

“He's our mate.” Hoseok continued, voice even despite looking so furious. “And we'll do whatever he needs us to do in order to make him feel safe. As a counselor, do you believe we should press charges?” 

“Honestly,” The beta seemed to perk up. Looked rather relieved at the new information. He was already pulling out a notepad and jotting some things down as he spoke, “It takes time and money-”

“We don't care about the money,” Seokjin brushed off easily, “In terms of Jungkook, without thinking of costs, would it be beneficial to press charges.” 

“That's assuming you can even make the poor omega speak,” Minseok said, honestly, “He couldn't get two words out without breaking down. Assuming you can find out what occurred, then definitely. I think it could help with his recovery and healing. It's ultimately up to him. If anyone can get him to speak - it would be your pack.” 

That was true. Jungkook barely spoke. If he did, it certainly wouldn't be regarding personal things like this. It would take time. 

“Sign here, please.” Minseok muttered, spinning a document around to face them, “This gives you temporary rights over him. Access to his personal information and files.”

Yoongi frowned, “Shouldn't Jungkook have to sign these things? He's an adult.” 

“According to the government,” Minseok shook his head, “An uncared for omega is not capable of making decisions about their care without a liable pack to take responsibility for them. I can't let you take him home without these signatures.” 

Reluctantly, Seokjin was shifting to the edge of his seat to take the pen, flipping through the papers as Minseok pointed out where to sign and initial. 

It was a shame, really. They understood that packs were built to care for one another, to take responsibility, but it must be extra hard on someone like Jungkook who had no family and no pack. It had always just been him. 

Most likely, beneath all of the nerves, Jungkook would be the best judge of his own care. He'd been caring for himself all of his life. On the other hand, it was entirely clear that the omega was not emotionally in control. Had too many issues that had to be resolved. 

That wasn't Jungkook's fault. It wasn't as though the omega asked to be tossed around and god knows what else. 

All they knew for sure was one thing: Jungkook needed help. 

They could try to offer it.

“I would really suggest you read his files,” Minseok spoke up as he gathered the signed papers, voice growing low, very serious, “I know that reading about someone doesn't show their full story, but reading even a bit of those files may help you piece it together and… honestly, might help you understand just how serious Jungkook will be to care for.” 

“It doesn't matter,” Yoongi said simply, standing up, “If he needs help, we'll get him help. He's our mate. No price in the world can stop us from helping him. Anything he needs, we'll find a way to get it. Now, are we welcome to leave?” 

It hardly mattered whether they were dismissed or not seeing as Yoongi was already halfway towards the door, but Minseok gave a short confirmation and didn't seem at all upset about being ignored.

The trio stepped out of the office quietly, Seokjin folded up a copy of the paperwork quickly, stepping towards the hallway.

Jungkook was sitting on the bench beside the vending machine, empty bag of chips in his lap. He wasn't crying anymore, but he was still holding Namjoon's hand. 

In fact, the omega was scrunching his nose up, not quite smiling, but looking amused at Jimin kneeling in front of him. 

The alpha was kneeling down and trying to fold an airplane out of the plastic wrapper, whining and groaning when it unraveled itself. Jimin was complaining rather loudly, exasperatedly, he grew louder when he saw Jungkook’s amused expression. 

Taehyung was leaning on the vending machine, eyes flickering from Jungkook to Jimin, back and forth, not with jealousy, but calculated, like he was worried the omega was going to grow annoyed by the other's antics. Only Jungkook didn't.

Even though it was clear Jimin was playing it up and continued to try just to amuse the omega, Jungkook didn't grow annoyed, nor did he burst into tears. In fact it looked like he was slowly growing more and more relaxed. 

“Hyungs.” Namjoon called when he noticed them, letting Jungkook's fingers go to stand up, “How'd it go? Is everything okay? Can we go?” 

Seokjin silently showed the folded paper, slipping it into the inside part of his pocket before the eldest was slipping the sweetest smile he could muster up onto his face and muttering, “How about we pick up someone for dinner, Kookie? Do you like hamburgers? I think we're all pretty tired. Let's eat and then sleep, what do you say?” 

Jungkook's eyes were still a little wet. A little glossy, but they turned into crescents. Relieved. “Yes, hyung.” 

The omega stood up, rubbed his hand over his arm awkwardly, before he shifted closer to Namjoon, bumped the alpha's side. Namjoon immediately looked down at him, releasing a soft chuckle and brushing fingers over Jungkook's head, ever so softly, “What is it, puppy?” 

Jungkook didn't say anything. He gnawed on his lip and glanced away to watch Hoseok and Yoongi begin to argue about who was driving, but he leaned his full weight against the alpha. It seemed a tad testing, like Jungkook was trying to see what he would do if he touched him.

Namjoon wrapped an arm around his shoulders, rubbing his arm softly, petting down his sweater, whispering, “You're safe right here, Jungkook.” 

It was going to take more than just words for Jungkook to learn that, but this was a start.

Chapter Text

“Jungkookie?” 

The omega didn't look up from where he was sitting on the floor in his room, he continued eating his chips, eyes glued onto the laptop sitting on his dresser.

There was no reason for him to be on the ground, but Jungkook did some very strange things. When they ate meals together, he didn't eat until he saw everyone else take a bite. He didn't even change until someone told him to change. He never left his room, when everyone else was up, unless someone came to get him and personally invited him out. 

Jungkook slept a lot. Ate a lot. The omega didn't speak much at all, he kept to himself. 

They were trying to get him to feel more comfortable, but Jungkook was very hard to read. 

“Kookie? Pup?” 

Finally, Jungkook jerked his head towards the doorway, visibly startled as he did so. The omega's eyes went big and he quickly jerked to straighten up, only freezing when Hoseok raised a hand to soothe him.

“No, no, bunny, I didn't mean to startle you.” Hoseok said, softly, “We just have some presents for you. Jin hyung, Yoongi hyung, and Joon sent some things, can the pups and I bring some things in?” 

Jungkook swallowed. The omega moved to wipe the crumbs on his hand on his black tee, jumping up with his chips and shifting to move off of the floor to sit on the corner of his bed, mumbling, “Sorry.” 

Hoseok frowned. He tilted his head and replied, softly, “For what?” 

“Um. I was, um,” Jungkook fisted his bag of chips so hard Hoseok heard them crack inside the package. The omega just sort of threw out a hand at the floor, as if it would explain anything, but when he realized all Hoseok was looking at him with was confusion, he dropped it with an even softer, “Sorry, hyung...” 

The alpha tried to keep from asking more; they needed to give Jungkook time. A lot of it. However it was hard to sit here and watch him struggle to even speak with them. It was hard to watch him do some rather strange things and not say a word about it. 

All Hoseok wanted to do was dive into that box. The one Minseok suggested they check. It was on his mind all the time, but Seokjin had hidden it in his room. The eldest said he wanted to look through it first, but Hoseok was pretty sure he hadn't looked at all yet considering Yoongi was scolding him this morning as they left for the office.

It was rare that Hoseok stayed home. Honestly, Yoongi was the one that hated going anywhere and Hoseok was the one that actually worked - not at Seokjin’s family electronics company, but with a fashion line. 

His own fashion line was booming at the moment and had a design building on the first floor of the Seokjin’s company building where the eldest and Namjoon worked. 

Hoseok just wanted to stay home today, wanted to be here when the items they'd requested the night before arrived. They'd all wanted to stay, but Namjoon was right when he pointed out it was way too overwhelming to have them all staring Jungkook down. 

Plus, Taehyung and Jimin didn't have classes today and the last thing they needed was to leave those two in charge of the terrified omega. They'd been bouncing around the first floor all morning, trying to find an excuse to run rampant in Jungkook's space. His rather empty, plain, space.

Hopefully, they could change that today.

There was the sound of muffled yelping downstairs and footsteps thumping hard on the stairs. Hoseok quickly turned around to peek out into the hallway, beginning, “He hasn't said-”

“It's okay.” Jungkook's voice was hushed. The omega wet his lips and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand before shifting to sit cross legged and put his chips on his side table. 

It was enough for Hoseok to relax and move out of the doorway, sending Jimin a confused look due to the other's huge grin as he brought a big box up the stairs.

The reason for such a smile was answered when Taehyung walked up the stairs with a scrunched up nose, carrying the other bags, spotting Hoseok and instantly hissing, “Chim pushed me down the stairs, hyung!”

“Did not!” Jimin yelled, a clear lie, but the alpha dropped the irritated tone and plastered a huge grin on his face when he entered Jungkook's room. 

The omega dropped his head, rubbed his arm as he eyed the big box Jimin was bringing in. 

“Hi, gorgeous!” Jimin crooned, grinning wide as he carried the box in, setting it on the ground before kneeling down to open it up, “So, we called hyungs and had some things brought over. Do you want the television on this dresser, or this one?” 

Jungkook's eyebrows shot up. His eyes flickered back and forth nervously. 

Luckily, this was Jimin, and Jimin was great at filling silence all on his own. The alpha immediately noticed the laptop on the dresser and grinned, “Oh I love this movie!” 

Then, without any warning, Jimin climbed onto Jungkook’s bed, plopping down on the bed and laughing to himself as he sprawled across the middle of the covers only a few inches from Jungkook.

The alpha continued to rant, laughing to himself and rolling over to lay his cheek on the bedding beside Jungkook's thigh. “Did you watch the second one yet? I love -”

“Jimin!” Hoseok hissed when he stepped in, carrying a heavy box and Taehyung right behind him.

Jungkook jumped. The omega startled so quickly that he slipped off of the bed, standing upright, eyes shutting tightly. His entire body was as stiff as a board. 

Taehyung didn't seem to notice, the alpha walked in with a quiet huff, turning to set the bags on the ground, instantly shifting to pick things out of the bag, “Jimin, when you're done being an asshole, come help me hang up these clothes.” 

Jungkook opened his eyes, peeking at first, hands shaking in closed fists down at his sides. Then, when he saw the fact that Jimin looked horrified and Hoseok was looking at him so concerned, the omega released a breath, then two, stepping back against his closet door. He began to wring his hands together, mumbling, “‘m sorry… I'm sorry…” 

That was what made Taehyung turn around. The alpha instantly looked at Jungkook. At the omega who was now cowering in front of the closet door, near tears. “What happened?” Taehyung demanded, stiffening up, stepping back into the bedroom door to look at everyone, “Jimin. Did you do something-”

“Door.” 

All at once there was a nauseous feeling bubbling up, not because of what Jungkook had yelped, but because of how he'd said it. Utterly terrified. With shallow breaths, sucking in lungfuls and lungfuls of air, hands shaking. Growing pale. 

“Oh- oh, puppy. Jungkook.” 

Hoseok quickly shoved Taehyung out of the way, throwing the bedroom door open, but by then Jungkook was sinking into the carpet and grasping handfuls of his hair. He looked sweaty by then, within a moment he was seconds from passing out. 

“It's open. The door is open. Jungkook,” Hoseok worried, running an anxious hand through his hair, looking horrified as he stepped around the items to approach the omega, “You can't breathe. Jungkook. You aren't breathing well. Baby. Puppy. I'm going to sit with you.” 

“Hyung,” Jimin whispered, tearfully, “What's happening?” 

It wasn't exactly a hard question to answer. Jungkook was having a panic attack. A full blown attack, heavy hearted, devastating sight to see. 

Because of a door. Because of the door shutting. Because of the door shutting with them inside.

Jungkook was terrified of the thought of being trapped in a room with them. 

Hoseok didn't touch him. He didn't, even though he wanted to so badly. To reach over and gently tug his face out of his knees and rock him back and forth. In fact, he pushed away Taehyung when the other tried to step closer. Shoving his leg and ordering, eyes never leaving Jungkook, “Just set up his things. Do it.” 

“Hyung,” Jimin said then, through gritted teeth, “You want us to just ignore-”

“Do it.” Hoseok snapped back, shifting a little closer to Jungkook, “Just do it, Jimin. And don't shut the door.” 

So they did. Taehyung moved to set up the television, jerking back a few times when Jungkook whimpered and warning glares from Hoseok when the alpha’s lip curled up just enough to be threatening. And Jimin began to remove tags off of clothes, eyes wet and entirely angry as he eyed the omega, but neither him or Taehyung verbalized it. 

Hoseok was thankful for that. Entirely so. Because he didn't know what he'd do if either of the alphas began to act out in response to Jungkook's whimpers, because it was hard enough to control himself, let alone either of them.

It took a while for Jungkook to stop crying. For his whimpers to turn into shaky sniffles. For his tense muscles to begin to relax. For him to become silent. 

By then, Taehyung was typing in the Wi-Fi password into the television and Jimin was sitting in the chair in the corner beneath a pile of folded jeans. 

Hoseok hadn't moved. Not a muscle. A good foot between himself and where Jungkook was slowly, weightlessly, beginning to lean against the closet door. Entirely exhausted. 

“Hi. Welcome back, sweetheart,” Hoseok whispered the instant Jungkook uncurled enough to slump against the closet door. Smiling, softly, tilting his head and drumming fingers on the carpet, “Almost lost you there for a second, Jungkookie.” 

The omega released a deep breath, eyes shining, face wet with tears as he pressed his left temple against the closet door, “I'm sorry.” 

“I know you are,” Hoseok said gently, “But you have no reason to be. It's okay. You're okay. I know you don't feel it, but you're safe. We'd never hurt you.” 

Jungkook looked like he didn't believe that. The way he looked at him said it despite the fact the omega didn't. It was the way he had absolutely no reaction to the promise that said it all. He didn't calm down any further, nor break down again. He just blinked and balled his hands up into the end of his shirt. 

Hoseok struggled for words then, because Jungkook looked so vulnerable, so devastatingly terrified. He didn't need to say anything, the omega said it all with his glossy eyes, with the way his eyes flickered to Jimin when the alpha simply leaned forward to put the clothes in his lap down. 

Someone had hurt this omega. So badly. 

Their omega was hurt, so badly. 

“Hyung is right.” Jungkook looked at Taehyung, looked up at him, and looked so tiny with the alpha standing near him. Taehyung smiled boxily, as though the alpha hadn't been seconds from crying a bit ago. “If you want the door open, we can keep it open. Do you want to watch a movie and order pizza or something? Try out the new tv?” 

Jungkook looked bewildered. 

His face pulled together in what could only be described as devastated confusion. A mix of upset and confused and, well, relieved based on how his muscles went out on him and the omega completely folded over his lap into his knees, nodding frantically, silently. 

Taehyung shifted to step closer, jaw tensing up as Jungkook began to sniffle harder, but Hoseok threw a hand up and pointed towards the bed on the opposite side of the room, shooing him with a quiet, “Go order something. You promised him.” 

Perhaps the elder would find it funny to see the irritated look on Taehyung's face as he was cut off from interacting with Jungkook yet again, but not today. Not right now. Taehyung went easily, albeit irritated. 

“Jungkookie?” Hoseok said, shifting onto his knees, “Sweetheart.” 

The alpha gently, carefully, swept fingers over Jungkook's hair, brushing the strands off of his right temple. When the omega didn't flinch, and Hoseok could see him peeking at him from the corner of his eye, the alpha smiled, leaned closer to pet hair behind his ear, “How are you going to watch tv hiding your face, hm?” 

Jungkook was frozen. Knees to his chest, cheek against them. 

“Do you want a hug?” Hoseok asked, voice quiet, fingers brushing Jungkook's temple ever so softly, “It's up to you. Would you feel better if I moved back? I can-”

Jungkook launched at him, uncurled himself just to throw himself at the alpha so quickly that Hoseok barely had time to wrap arms around him and brace himself from hitting the end of the bed. 

“Poor puppy. Breathe. I'll never hurt you,” Hoseok shushed when Jungkook began crying again, wrapping arms around the omega's shoulders, hands petting the back of Jungkook's hair and rocking gently. “You can cry, Jungkook. You can cry. Hyung will put you to bed. Just get it all out, sweetheart.” 

The alpha sighed, burying his chin in the omega’s hair, pretending he didn't notice the looks on either of the younger alpha’s faces. Jungkook was so thin and fit so small in his arms. Hoseok could feel Jungkook's nails claw into his shirt as the omega clutched him. 

Even when Jungkook's grip went limp and his cries went silent, Hoseok didn't stop rocking him, or soothing him. Taehyung and Jimin didn't leave the room either. 

And they left the door open the whole time. 

Chapter Text

Namjoon was in charge of technological advancements at the company, so he spent some time at the office, but usually set his own schedule and came and went as he pleased. 

It helped, of course, that Seokjin was in his pack and the eldest was the CEO, of course. So basically he could do whatever he wanted. 

Tonight, he'd stayed up late to take a break from paperwork and looking at electronics to just relax and read a book. 

That was until he saw the hallway light flicker on from his place in the study on the first floor. Namjoon could see the living room light turn on next, and heard the shuffling of feet. More light switches flickered on, he could hear it.

Curiously, Namjoon put his book down on the sofa and stood up, glancing at his phone to check the time. 

Three in the morning. 

The alpha quickly stepped out into the hallway, fixing his hoodie and crossing his arms. It was a bit cold downstairs, it was slowly getting colder out and they'd yet to turn the heaters on yet. 

They should, especially considering Jungkook was wandering the hallways at three in the morning. 

Honestly, Namjoon was surprised to see the omega out this late, but there was a very different feeling that bubbled up when he stepped into the living room and saw what the omega was doing -- worry.

Jungkook was in the kitchen. He was digging around inside of the cabinets, leaving them open as he checked them all. The omega turned towards the walk-in pantry and opened the door, releasing a small sound as he stepped in. It was a pleased sound.

Namjoon, however, was not happy to hear it. Such a sound shouldn't come for something so little as the omega spotting a full pantry of snacks. 

They did keep everything well stocked. It wasn't hard to. Money wasn't an issue and they were a pack of hungry alphas. In highschool, Jimin and Taehyung were even known to bring snacks for the other students too. 

Quietly, the alpha moved to take a seat at the island, waiting for more than two minutes as the omega loudly dug through the pantry before the omega popped out.

Jungkook had an armful of snacks. Chips. Cookies. Crackers. Everything he could find, the omega had at least one pack of them. His hair was sticking up every which way, pajamas drowning his form. Jungkook had a small accomplished look on his face. Not quite a smile, but a pleased look. 

Namjoon grinned, dimpled and gentle, when Jungkook met his eyes, “What are you doing, sleepyhead?” 

The omega sucked in a breath, eyes going big, stuttering, “I-I just-”

“Hungry?” Namjoon laughed softly, shifting to reach over and take a few packages to put on the island, helping the omega set things down. “That's okay. Did you just wake up?” 

Jungkook stared at him for a moment, then two. His hands clenched over the pockets of his plaid sweatpants and Namjoon could hear wrappers crunch inside of his pockets. The realization of what Jungkook was going came so fast, like a car crash. 

And yet Namjoon tried to keep his smile. He really tried, but he had never known what this felt like. Only heard stories about it. 

Alphas were a little luckier than omegas, they were considered easier to care for. Many families were open to taking in alphas, so even though Namjoon had been ten when placed in the system, he'd only been in it for about two years before he found his forever home. 

That didn't mean all alphas had it good, but Namjoon did. He'd never been hit. He'd been hungry, sometimes, when he stayed with a temporary pack who weren't all that well off financially, who only wanted the stimulus check housing Namjoon gave them, but he'd never been hungry. Not like Jungkook. Or hurt, like Jungkook. 

Other kids used to do this. Used to hide food in fear they wouldn't get any later. Used to shove it between mattresses, or even in the vents, in case someone found out and reported it as theft. 

It was just food. 

Namjoon had never realized how valuable it was until now, seeing someone who clearly needed it. Cared so deeply about having it that he was willing to wait until three in the morning, sneak down and grab enough for weeks. 

Jungkook looked ashamed and near tears—

And the last thing Namjoon wanted was for the omega to feel so guilty, or to be scared, so the alpha quickly reached over to push the pile towards him, shushing gently, whispering, “No. Baby, no. It's okay. It's yours. I understand. I do. It's okay.” 

The omega released a breath, wiping his nose, he opened his mouth to speak, but it came out as a mere bubble and Jungkook quickly bent down to pick up a bag of chips off the ground, sniffling.

“I was in the system too,” Namjoon sighed, wetting his lips and shifting to stand up, approaching the fridge, “Here. Let me get you some water. Just… Just don't cry, Jungkook. We hate seeing you cry.” 

“I'm sorry…” 

“No. That's not why I said that,” The alpha, again, sighed, turning around to place a water bottle on the counter, watching Jungkook slip onto the bench. The omega kept his head down, had both arms wrapped around his pile of snacks. 

Jungkook did take the water. He stayed quiet, calmed down once more, enough so that his arms relaxed around the packages. After a while, he glanced at Namjoon, very sheepishly. Shyly.

The alpha half smiled, leaning back against the opposite counter, “There are those pretty eyes.” 

Jungkook's face went red. Bright red. Magenta. The omega swallowed, then pressed his lips together as he dropped his gaze onto the packages on the island. “Hi.” 

“Hi.” Namjoon tried not to chuckle, but his tone was amused, “Want me to warm up some leftovers for you?” 

The omega chewed at his lip, hiding behind his long hair, but he nodded just a little and it was enough for Namjoon to turn and dig into the fridge again to find leftover fried rice from earlier. The alpha wasn't the best cook, so this was the best he could do.

It didn't seem like Jungkook cared about what he ate anyway. The pup was just hungry. Starving really. 

“You…” Jungkook began, immediately making Namjoon glance at him as he put the food in the microwave. “... didn't have a family?” 

“My mom died when I was ten,” Namjoon answered, turning his attention to Jungkook and leaning on the island. The omega wasn't shying away now. He looked nervous, hesitantly picking at the plastic wrappers, but he was looking at him. “I was in the system for a bit. I know a thing or two.” 

Jungkook wet his lips. His voice was a mere whisper as he shifted to tug his legs under himself. It was cute the way he hated to sit normally, always wanting to get comfortable. “My parents were in a car crash when I was six.” 

Namjoon frowned instantly, carefully leaning further on the island. “I'm sorry to hear that.” 

“I don't, um,” Jungkook glanced down at the table. At Namjoon's hands. “I don't really remember them, so it's okay. Don't really… remember much… just… I think,” His eyebrows pulled together in thought, “I think, sometimes, I have dreams about them, but it's not really clear? Like, I don't know, it's fuzzy… blurry…” He trailed off after a second, looking back at Namjoon. 

The alpha was grinning wide. Not only because it was the first time he'd heard Jungkook so much as say more than a question, but because the omega was a rambler, and that was cute. It was nice to hear his voice. To try and decipher his personality through his words and how he thought. 

Jungkook seemed really honest. Seemed like the type who let his mouth move quicker than he could process it. Maybe that was why he stayed so quiet all the time -- he was too scared of saying too much.

“I know what you mean,” Namjoon chuckled as he turned around to open the microwave, “Sometimes our best memories come to us in dreams.” 

“And the worst ones…” 

Instantly, Namjoon lifted his head, placing the hot food on the counter, meeting Jungkook's eyes. The omega had a hand over his mouth then, eyes flickering with fear, growing glossy in under a second. And Namjoon had two options. He could either pretend he didn't hear the mumble at all, or approach it head on. 

Namjoon decided on the latter and carefully reached over to brush his fingers over Jungkook's hand, curling his fingers around the omega’s and brushing his thumb back and forth over his knuckles as he tugged his hand away, “And you can tell me about that. When you're ready. Doesn't have to be now. Or tomorrow. Or in a year. Whenever you are ready, Jungkook.” 

Jungkook squeezed his hand. Tight. So tightly that it felt like he was aiming to break bones, but Namjoon knew that wasn't it. It was to hold himself together. 

“And when you tell us, if you do.” Namjoon swore, “You'll still have food and a bed and anything you could ever want, Jungkook.” 

“You- you'll send me back…”

All of the air left Namjoon's lungs and he truly couldn't stop the way his voice came out as a panicked breath because it felt like his lungs were being squeezed, “No. No. Never.” 

Jungkook shook his head frantically, squeezing his eyes shut, and Namjoon instantly walked around the island to grab him, moving before he could even stop and think. The omega didn't stop him, though, only cried and grabbed his shoulders when Namjoon wrapped arms around his torso and lifted him onto the counter to hug him. 

“Jungkook. Never. You have a home here. We want it to be your home,” Namjoon swore, cupping the back of his head protectively, “Just let us try, we can make you very comfortable here. Just give it a shot, Bambi. You can have anything you want.” 

“F-Food.” 

Namjoon felt his own eyes glass over at such a small request, petting down Jungkook's neck, nodding instantly, forcing out a small chuckle, “All of the food you want. We can even get you a mini fridge. You can bring baskets of snacks upstairs. Anything you like, Jungkook, you can just put a note on the fridge and we'll pick it up. Don't ever worry about not having food. You'll always have food here.” 

Jungkook whimpered into his shoulder, so Namjoon pulled back to pet his hair, worrying as he brushed at the tears on his face, shaking his head, “I'm not hurting you, right? I don't want to hurt you, Jungkook. Do you want me to leave you here to eat? Do you want me to stay? What do you wan-”

“Stay.” 

Jungkook's fingers locked into his shirt, eyes red and his once bruised eye still slightly green around his cheekbone. “Don't like the dark.” 

“Okay.” Namjoon sucked in a breath of vanilla in an attempt to calm down, petting his hair, “We can put lights in the hallways if you want.” It sounded a bit childish and it was clear Jungkook thought so too in the way the omega looked embarrassed, but, ultimately, Jungkook nodded.

“Hyung will stay while you eat,” Namjoon said, beaming, “I'll put your snacks in a basket. Just eat and I'll walk you back to bed.” 

“... thank you…” 

Firmly, Namjoon shook his head. He pet Jungkook's hair again, shushing, “This is nothing. It's just a shame you've had to wait twelve years to get the bare minimum. Don't thank us for anything. Just focus on taking care of yourself, puppy, and we'll try to help you along the way.” 

Jungkook ate enough rice for three people, took a basket of snacks and a handful of water bottles into his room, and Namjoon fell asleep that night with a cart full of nightlights. 

Chapter Text

“He just wants a bit of love.” 

Humming an agreement, Yoongi continued cutting up carrots, grunting an annoyed sound when Hoseok leaned over his arm to grab one to eat. 

“We should get him a phone,” Seokjin muttered without looking up from his own phone, tiredly leaning on his palm, “And a debit card. So he can buy some toys and whatever he likes.” 

“Have you even read his papers yet?” Yoongi demanded, sounding irritated, “No. You haven't. I'm this close to taking it from you and-”

“Currently,” Namjoon said, sitting on the counter, releasing a snort as he continued his thought, “They are giving him too much love.” 

Instantly all of the elder alphas turned around to check on Jungkook. The omega had decided to come out of his shell, just a tad, and venture out of his room without being dragged out. 

He'd been playing with a new Iron Man set of Legos they'd ordered for Jungkook after catching him binging the movies in his room, but Jimin and Taehyung were in a pissing contest since Jungkook had come down. They wanted his attention desperately.

It was a little funny, honestly, to see them trailing after the omega, because they weren't the kind of alphas that needed to do much for attention from others, but Jungkook didn't give them much attention at all. He liked his Legos much more than he liked paying anyone much mind. 

Now, Jimin was sitting awfully close to Jungkook, sending Taehyung a very angry look over Jungkook's head seeing as the omega was looking down to find the right pieces.

Taehyung was sitting on the opposite side as Jimin, fingers brushing Jungkook's hair back, smirking likely due to the fact Jungkook wasn't flinching away from his fingers. 

The omega liked touch. Gentle touch. He needed to know it was coming, or else he flinched away like their touch hurt. He'd done it this morning, when Seokjin brushed a hand through his hair, but as long as he knew they were near, he didn't flinch away. At least Jungkook had never verbalized that he'd disliked it. 

“It's his arm,” Jungkook mumbled, utterly oblivious to the duo glaring, fiddling with the Lego pieces. “If I can find the chest part, I can make the arc reactor. I'll do the big parts first.” 

“You know what else you can-”

“Jimin.” Yoongi barked swiftly, all warning and firm, eyebrows raised and jaw tense, “Don't even finish that.” The younger alpha huffed, whining and scooting closer to Jungkook, pouting his lips. Taehyung grinned, huge, and it lasted about a second before Seokjin was adding to it by ordering, “Scoot two inches back. Now. Two inches. Don't make me get a measuring tape.” 

At the sudden voices, Jungkook sat up to look over Taehyung's head at them, eyes big and shiny. Like little stars. His face was all confused and cute. 

Hoseok cooed at him, actually cooed, and jumped off of the island with a soft, “Come here, baby bunny. Hyungs got you some bruise cream. Let's put some on your bruises.” 

Jungkook wasn't too bruised anymore, they were all green, but he healed so slowly that it was concerning. Now the bruises weren't too noticeable unless you were close and could see the tinge of green, but they knew they still hurt, because sometimes Jungkook would grimace and rub his lip or nose.  

“Yes, hyung.” Jungkook replied, voice all soft and gentle, immediately putting down his Legos and brushing them off of his lap to get up.

Jimin threw a fit. He flopped on the rug and sprawled out obnoxiously, whining, until Taehyung growled and complained, “Your fault. You always go too far,” which made the other reach over and flick Taehyung's knee which made the duo begin to whisper, argue, and fight. 

Jungkook, ever so obedient, came walking into the kitchen, brushing his hair out of his face and eyeing the pan on the stove as he walked by, wetting his lips.

“There's my puppy.” Seokjin crooned, putting his phone down on the counter, “Come here. What color do you like, hyung wants to buy you some things.” 

“I don't…” Jungkook twisted his shirt in his fingers, “I don't need things.” 

“Nonsense,” Seokjin argued gently, “Our youngest deserves everything and more. Not a single person in this house is going to say otherwise.” 

“He's right,” Hoseok agreed, putting cream on his fingers, approaching the omega and using one hand to brush Jungkook's hair out of his face, smiling adoringly when Jungkook scrunched up his nose and shyly looked at him when the alpha was so close. “We just want you to have the things you never got to.” 

Jungkook tilted his head a little, stared right at Hoseok when the alpha pressed a finger under his chin to lift his head up and began to put the cream on his small bruises.

It was quiet for a moment and the alphas tried their best not to stare at Jungkook, but it was nice just looking at him at times. Especially when he wasn't crying. Jungkook was really beautiful even with a few bruises and looking so nervous.

Then, out of nowhere, with a deep breath, Jungkook said, to no one in particular, “You read my papers.” 

It was a strange thing to say, and even stranger was the way he said it without a single ounce of emotion in it. 

Seokjin frowned, he reached out for Jungkook's fingers, tugging the omega closer to where he sat on one of the stools, massaging both hands and looking up at him, “We haven't.” 

Jungkook's shoulders seemed to relax, just a little, but his voice was firm when he said, “You should. B-Before you buy me too much.” 

“You think we're going to send you back? Never, Jungkook!” Jimin yelped, pushing Taehyung off of him, rushing into the kitchen. The young alpha rushed right at Jungkook, pulling him into a hug, not noticing the omega went stiff in his arms.

Just when Yoongi turned around and noticed his uncomfortable Jungkook looked, opened his mouth to scold, the omega relaxed, rested on Jimin's shoulder. 

“He's right.” Namjoon spoke, “It doesn't matter what's on paper. We want to know you. We'd learn nothing from some third hand account on paper.” 

“I'll read it,” Seokjin promised, but he looked reluctant, “If that's what you want me to do, but it doesn't matter at all, puppy. Nothing matters. The only thing that matters is whether or not you want to be here. The second you don't, we will take you back, but not a second earlier, Kookie. We want you here. Safe.” 

Jungkook didn't reply, but he mumbled something that sounded like safe into Jimin's shoulder. It sounded like a foreign word to him. 

“So,” The eldest continued, standing up, shifting to lean over Jimin's back and pet Jungkook's hair from his face, “You're getting some things. What color do you like, puppy?” 

The omega's nose scrunched up, just a bit, “Black.” And then Jungkook's lips tugged up, a small smile beginning to tug at his lips. 

As soon as Seokjin saw the beginnings of a smile, the alpha began to beam, laughing as he cupped Jungkook's cheek, leaning over to press a kiss against his temple, “Smile, Kookie. I know you want to.” 

Jimin gasped, yanking back to look at Jungkook, shooing the eldest away and beaming, “Ah, so pretty-”

“Jimin.” Yoongi warned.

Jungkook began to smile harder, releasing a silent laugh and trying to hide his face in his hands, but Jimin quickly grabbed his hands, teasing and praising. “You're such a bunny, Jungkook. So pretty. Don't you know how pretty you are?” 

The omega whined, leaning in to try and hide in Jimin's shoulder. The alpha let him, beaming because Jungkook was the one voluntarily hugging him. Blushing and huffing in his shirt.  

Jimin looked way too happy to hold him, incredibly so. The alpha burst into a fit of happy laughs and picked the omega up, surprising even the elder alphas, and making Jungkook squeak when he was placed on the island. 

It wasn't exactly a move they expected from Jimin. Maybe Taehyung, but not Jimin who was a flirt, but mostly did so to be playful. He was a hopeless romantic, but he didn't fall for people easily. Then again, maybe they'd misjudged Jungkook's influence over them. 

“Okay. Okay. That's enough, let him go, give him space.” Yoongi ordered after sharing a glance with Seokjin, holding a bowl of soup and spinning around to push Jimin's arm.

The younger alpha did move, but not without sending Taehyung, who was sitting on the couch and looking at them over the back of it, a huge smirk. 

That alone was enough for Hoseok to hiss and grab Jimin's ear, yanking hard enough for the alpha to whine and rub the spot, mumbling complaints that went unheard, because nobody was paying attention to him. 

Jungkook was still smiling. Still blushing. Still releasing a handful of breathy laughs. He tugged his shirt over himself, leaned over his lap to hide in his thighs. 

It was cute. If only the action hadn't made his shirt lift up over his back, revealing a bit of his back. 

He was scarred. There were small, deep, circles across his lower back. They were merely centimeters big, but it looked as though they'd been there a long time based on the fact they were just barely lighter than Jungkook's skin. 

“H-Hyungs…” Jimin whispered, eyes dulling. The look on his face was enough for Taehyung to climb over the couch, saying, loudly, “What is it?” 

That got Jungkook's attention, the omega was still releasing a small chuckle when he sat up, smiling, so it took less than a second for Namjoon to step closer to the omega, shaking his head slightly and laying a hand on his back. The alpha tugged his shirt down, smiled brightly as he fixed his shirt under the pretense of petting his spine. 

“Want to eat, Jungkookie?” He asked, softly, “Then we can do legos. Maybe rent a movie and have some dessert. It's Saturday, so we can do whatever you want, Bambi.” 

Jungkook didn't say what he wanted to do, likely only heard the offer of food and grew excited based on that, because the omega was immediately climbing off of the counter and turning around to pull out a stool, glancing at Yoongi who was playing some bread with the soup.

“Yes, yes. It's coming, Jungkook,” Yoongi chuckled, bringing Jungkook his food, “Hungry pup.” 

“I like food.” Jungkook mumbled, straightening up more as he waited for a spoon, “Hyungs give me a lot of food. I don't even have to do anything for it.” 

Ouch. Such a comment wasn't meant to hurt, it did. It implied that Jungkook hadn't had it in the past. Even more so, it implied Jungkook had to work for something as necessary as food. 

Taehyung stepped forward with his jaw tense, so suddenly that Seokjin was quickly grabbing his shoulder and steering him towards the dining table instead of the island. The youngest alpha grunted an irritated sound and the eldest instantly held him tighter.

“Yeah, well,” Yoongi sighed, running fingers over Jungkook's hair, leaning down to press his cheek on his head, “We have more than enough food, Kookie. You never have to do anything for it, just eat a lot, that's all we ask. Eat so much you need to nap after if you want to.” 

Jungkook wet his lips. When Yoongi leaned back, but the alpha still looked at him, he asked, softly, “Do you want me to wait for alphas to eat together?” 

“No, baby,” Yoongi shook his head, brushing fingers through Jungkook's hair and putting it behind his ear, “Go ahead. You don't have to wait for us, omegas should take the first bite anyway. It's good manners.” 

Jungkook looked so confused. Like he'd never heard such a thing in his life. His eyebrows pulled together and all, but he opted not to reply. 

There were many things he didn't ask, but looked like he wanted to. The day would come where Jungkook would feel comfortable speaking more, laughing loudly, and doing what he wanted. Even now, the past few weeks, he'd been much better. Slowly relaxing. Very slowly. 

Even if it took forever, they could wait. 

Chapter Text

Jungkook had been assigned to seven houses since he was six years old. Seven. 

He'd been at the first one for a year, leaving when he was seven. The reason was sighted as child neglect, see page seventeen in the packet of papers. Then, he'd been at two different ones for just over a few months, likely temporary based on the lack of information about them. The next one was his longest assignment, he'd been there almost four years, and left at age twelve due to the death of his caretaker. 

Jungkook floated around for a while again. He jumped from two homes for the next year and a half. The second of them had filed a list of complaints against the omega, some of which made absolutely no sense. 

Claiming he was loud. Unfriendly. Aggressive to others. Things that Jungkook very much was not. And, at the time, Jungkook would have only been about thirteen years old. Much too young to fully understand his actions; it was impossible to believe the statements being pushed forward. 

Even more so, Jungkook had filed multiple complaints, too, that went unheard. There were notes along the side labeled see transcripts, page thirty two. See photographs, page sixty. 

Seokjin had barely managed to get through the first ten pages in which it described Jungkook's profile, his past homes, and yet there were so many more. So many things that clearly indicated there has been many other issues that the omega representatives should have taken into account. 

Having seen what he'd seen when Jungkook arrived, Seokjin prepared himself for the worst when he got to his last home, but there was nothing. 

Not a single complaint. Not a single mention of a welfare check. Nothing at all. Just the date Jungkook had moved in and a description of the family: a mated alpha and beta couple. 

To Seokjin, the utter lack of information was the red flag itself, because every other family at least had a page of things to say about Jungkook.

The first one had multiple welfare checks detailed and the cutest picture of Jungkook, aged six, with those big puppy eyes standing against a rainbow wall clutching a sheep printed blanket and beaming, showing off all of his gap-filled teeth. A brand new, full, purple backpack on his shoulder—

Oh god. 

Seokjin felt a little sick to see Jungkook so young. So happy. Knowing what he knew. Having seen what he'd seen. Jungkook's family had loved him, it was clear in the way he was chubby cheeked and nicely clothed. He'd been just a baby. 

It would have been nice to have seen the omega like this. This happy. Someone should have taken good care of him, but they hadn't. 

The document reasoning the omegas leave from his first home sighted that Jungkook's condition hadn't been the best when they'd checked on him. Noted that the pup seemed reluctant to talk much, said that Jungkook didn't seem to have many toys, or new clothes despite having been there a while.

The representative quickly took him out, maybe that representative had cared about Jungkook, because as Seokjin continued reading the signatures on the pages changed, it seemed as though Jungkook’s case had been exchanged multiple times. 

“Hyung? Why are you still up?”

Seokjin instantly looked up from the papers sprawled across his bed. Relaxing to see it was only Yoongi. The other was peeking into the room, curious, but he dropped his question when he saw the box on the ground and the papers flung all over the bed.

“He was just a baby.” Seokjin sighed, shifting to sit cross legged as Yoongi entered his room. “I would've been fourteen or fifteen when he was getting thrown around in the system, getting whatever I wanted. Throwing fits over such petty things. And he didn't even have anyone to brush his hair. It's so messed up.” 

Yoongi didn't reply to that, but he did climb onto the bed and begin flipping through some papers randomly. He picked up papers and some photos fell out.

Seokjin brushed the paper he'd been reading off into the box, reaching for the stack of pictures and laughing, softly as he began putting them out. 

Jungkook was a cute kid. Some of them were really cute pictures, likely from when his parents had been alive, because the woman in them had the same smile as him. 

“We should frame some of them. These ones,” Yoongi mumbled, reaching over to pick up one, one of Jungkook, probably around age two or three, standing utop of an animal themed jungle gym wearing a puppy onesie, clearly laughing. “It could be nice. We have so many of everyone else, it might make him feel at home. Let's ask him.” 

Seokjin didn't reply to that, his face began to contort, because as he began to lay the photos out they deteriorated in happiness.

Clearly, the photos hadn't been sorted. They were all mixed together and of different shapes and sizes and any competent representative would have sorted the good ones from the bad, attached the photographs properly to pages so this wouldn't happen, because nobody wanted to see such happy pictures beside such horrible ones.

Pictures of burns. Circles. It was just a back, but clearly a small one, probably a teenager's, all up his spine, randomly burnt. Ashes marking them.  And bruises. So many. Too many to count. Up and down the poor pup. 

Jungkook was so small in some of them, the age at which the pictures took place were likely somewhere in the mess of notes, but the abuse was so overwhelmingly clear -- they didn't need to see pictures of the wounds. Didn't need to see Jungkook leaning against sterile white with scratches on his face. With red marks on his neck. Didn't need to see any of that. 

His yearly profile pictures told that story on it's own.

Age six, he was smiling. At seven, it was more of an eye smile. At ten, he'd begun to sink into himself, looking down more than at the camera. By age thirteen, Jungkook stared. A blank, haunting stare. Had begun to fold his arms and lean against that rainbow wall behind him. At sixteen, he'd worn a hoodie and it was three times his size and made it hard to really see him at all. 

They'd likely brushed it off on his age, assuming that teenagers would be teenagers -- moody and uncaring. 

That clearly wasn't it. 

“H-Hyung. Hyung-” Yoongi burst suddenly and it sounded so shaky that Seokjin felt nauseated. Even more so when Yoongi dropped the envelope in his hand and jumped to stand up and spun around to look away and frantically wiped his eyes. 

They'd known Jungkook was abused. Of course they'd known, it was written all over him. 

Nothing could force them to open an envelope with a hospital logo printed in the corner and a handwritten sticky note on the outside with the words confidential, sexual abuse, and victim statement needed all written in one sentence. 

“F-Fuck.” Seokjin whispered, more of a wail, leaning over onto the pile of papers to clutch his stomach. Genuinely feeling sick as the sobs began.

Namjoon told them stories before. Had said that he'd been lucky in the system, said that there'd been some pretty horrible stories other kids had told him. Said that he could only assume what it was like for an omega -- ten times worse.

This was a hundred times worse than what they'd expected. It wasn't something they'd been prepared to discuss, to deal with, and neither of them had any idea what to do or say or think—

The fury was all too encasing at the moment to think straight.

And just as Yoongi was trying to speak through sobs, as the other turned to look at Seokjin, the bedroom door flew open and both of them instantly jerked to straighten up.

Jimin was laughing, he was in the doorway and didn't notice anything right away because he was smiling so hard his eyes were crescented, “Jungkookie fell asleep on Taehyung's shoulder. Come look. It's so cute. We were watching Disney movies and-- hyungs, are you crying?” he instantly dropped his smile, reaching over for the light switch seeing as the room was lit with Seokjin's lamp rather than the overhead light.

“No!” Seokjin hissed, quickly shifting to tug his blanket over everything, “No, Chim. Everything is fine. I'm coming. I'm coming, honey.” 

“I'll, um,” Yoongi shifted to climb on the bed, “I'm gonna clean up. I'll be right there.” 

Seokjin quickly wiped his eyes off and sent Yoongi a thankful look before getting up and rushing towards the door. Instantly, Jimin was wrapping arms around him, leaning into his shoulder and murmuring, “Hyung. Are you okay? Is it about Kookie?” 

Of course it was. There were little other things that were an issue these days with the exception of having to scold Taehyung or Jimin for skipping class, or buying absolutely ridiculous things. 

“Don't worry,” Seokjin muttered, petting Jimin's head and leaning down to press a kiss against his hair, “If it's important, we'll let you know.” 

Jimin scrunched his nose up, likely as a combination of annoyed from the kiss and from his words, but he chose not to reply, because as they walked downstairs the first thing that greeted them was Namjoon and Hoseok laughing as they cleaned up and Taehyung struggling to get Jungkook to let him go.

The omega was latched onto his shirt, tight fisted and covered in a soft blue blanket. To be fair, Taehyung wasn't trying all that hard, he was both grinning and chuckling as he tried to unravel his fingers, “Kookie. Come on, tiny. You need to go to bed.” 

Jungkook was a deep sleeper it seemed. He slept like a rock and looked so gentle and relaxed when asleep. His mouth was opened just a tiny bit, snoring gently, head against Taehyung's arm. 

Such a difference from the pictures Seokjin had just seen. From the ones that were burnt into his eyelids. From the ones he was definitely going to shove under his bed and vow to never look at again.

This Jungkook was wounded, yes, but not like that.

“Cute. Cute. Cute…” Jimin laughed and rushed into the living room. Earning a sharp glare from Taehyung when he sat near Jungkook's feet on the couch.

Immediately, Taehyung stopped trying to unravel his hands, instead, leaning against the arm of the couch and holding Jungkook's head up to move his arm around the omega's shoulder, settling Jungkook's head on the pillow on his lap. “Don't wake him up, Chim.”   

“Possessive,” Jimin rolled his eyes. 

Taehyung rolled his eyes back, which made Jimin stick his tongue out at him. 

“Don't fight. Just put another movie on and let him sleep. I know it's late, but you can sleep down here until he wakes up, right?” Seokjin asked the duo, sighing as he stepped into the kitchen to open the medicine cabinet.

He vaguely heard Taehyung reply with a swift, “I can watch him by myself,” which only made Jimin begin to protest again, but the eldest ignored them. 

Hoseok and Namjoon approached, obviously put off by his tone, with Hoseok moving to grab the headache medicine Seokjin was reaching for and worrying, “Were you crying? Where's Yoongi hyung?” 

Seokjin wet his lips anxiously, huffing as he leaned back on the counter, voice a murmur as he looked between them, “Read some of the papers.” 

“Yeah?” Namjoon's eyebrows rose, “What did they say?” 

“Some, not even half of them.” Seokjin rubbed his temple, “There's so many. So fucking many. I'm not the type to- you know I'm not the type that gets mad, but…” The alpha twisted his lips, cut himself off and took the medicine from Hoseok. His hands were shaking as he opened the bottle, “Jungkook needs to feel safe here. Needs to know we care about him. Needs to know we'd never hurt him.” 

“And we wouldn't…” Hoseok looked and sounded confused, “Hyung. What are you talking about? You're acting strange. We all want those things, we do. And I think we're doing alright, Jungkook's been smiling a little. Eating well-”

“No. No. We've been doing a shit job.” Seokjin hissed and his voice grew wet, shaky, “We haven't even taken him in for a check up since he arrived. Haven't asked how he feels. Haven't asked if there's anything he wants us to know. We've been just… assuming. Assuming he's okay. Assuming he doesn't want us to ask. But m-maybe he does? Maybe he wants someone to know. Maybe he doesn't know how to bring it up after so many fucking people ignored him—”

“Jin hyung!” 

Seokjin blinked hard. Found that tears were blurring his vision. Head snapping up to look at Yoongi at the bottom of the stairs. His voice must have grown louder than intended, because everyone was looking at him. 

Jungkook included. 

His eyes were wide and rounded, but filled with sleep. He looked scared, but not fully awake. Likely had only digested the sudden noise and jolted up, because he was still heavily leaning on Taehyung.

Yoongi quickly rushed into the living room, because everyone looked incredibly frozen and worried and confused, except him. The alpha moved to tuck the blankets around Jungkook, shushing softly and petting his hair a few times, “It's okay. Lay down, Kookie. You're okay. It's alright, bunny rabbit.” 

Jungkook blinked once, then twice, before he began to settle down with a soft, sleepy whisper, “Mad?” 

He sounded so young. So innocent. Yoongi glanced across the room at Seokjin to make sure he was alright, finding the eldest leaning down on the island and hiding in his arms. Quickly, Yoongi smiled at Jungkook, felt like his heart was squeezing as he brushed his thumb softly over the omega’s temple, urging him to close his eyes, “Not with you. Never with you, babydoll. Go to sleep, here - here…” Yoongi quickly grabbed Taehyung's arm, tugged it over Jungkook's waist, sending the younger alpha a look that said listen before adding, “Hug him. Not too tight.” 

That, of course, was such an easy thing to do. Despite being confused, Taehyung leaned down to lay his head against Jungkook's shoulder, petting over his blanket covered side, “It's alright, Kookie.” 

Few things were alright right now. 

However when Jungkook smacked his lips and yanked the blanket closer to his face, they knew that at least right now -- Jungkook was alright.  

Chapter Text

“How do I, um,” Jungkook frowned at the device, shifted to rub the side of his neck and then cutely began to pout his lips. After a moment, he finally stood up and carried the phone towards the chair in the corner where Yoongi was sitting. 

The alpha immediately raised his eyebrows and shifted to sit up more, “Yes, baby?” 

Jungkook blushed, he chewed at his lip and held the smartphone out at Yoongi, “How do I download stuff?” 

They'd gotten Jungkook a phone. Well, Seokjin had sent one from work earlier for him, Namjoon had packed a bunch of food for lunch, and Hoseok picked out a case for him. It was cute. It was covered in cookies and Jungkook had smiled really prettily when he'd seen it. 

The lunch was still sitting on the coffee table because the omega was far more interested in learning how to use the phone than food, which was a first.

“Come here,” Yoongi smiled, putting the remote on the side table and patting the arm of his chair. 

Jungkook hovered, the omega looked between him and the chair for a moment, dimple sinking in his cheek as he chewed his bottom lip before the omega carefully shifted to sit on the arm of the chair, trying not to touch him too much.

“Can I hold you? Is that okay?” Yoongi asked softly, wrapping an arm around Jungkook's hips, frowning, “You look uncomfortable, you can sit closer, Jungkookie. I'm not going to hurt you.” 

For a minute, Yoongi thought the last line was a slip up and revealed a little too much about what he knew. Worried that Jungkook would panic and begin to run off. 

The omega didn't. Jungkook gave a soft nod and mumbled, “Okay, hyung,” so Yoongi tugged him onto his lap, tugging Jungkook to sit sideways and taking the phone.

“You need to open this,” Yoongi said softly, cheek pressed on Jungkook’s shoulder as he sorted through the applications, “Hyungs are going to bring home a debit card for you sometime today, too, so you can buy whatever you want. Let's get the online shopping app first, I'll show you how to make an account…” 

The alpha trailed off after a moment when he realized Jungkook was staring at him, releasing a soft chuckle and leaning back against the chair, meeting Jungkook's eyes, “What is it, Kookie? Do you want me to show you again?” 

“Hyungs are giving me money?” Jungkook asked, no sort of readable expression on his face, he just sounded curious. 

Yoongi hummed, reaching up to pet his hair back, “Of course, you need money. You're in our pack. We take care of eachother. Plus, maybe you'll need want to buy some games or snacks or-”

Jungkook did something absolutely shocking then, when Yoongi was in the middle of speaking, when the alpha was mid sentence and holding his shoulder. It, quite literally, made the alpha tense up and stop breathing.

The omega kissed him. 

In the middle of his sentence, Jungkook leaned in and kissed him. Right on the lips, hand moving to hold Yoongi’s shoulder, shifting to straddle his lap.

Even if Yoongi didn't know what he did, he wouldn't have known how to react to this, because it was so sudden, and because it was without reason and without thought and Jungkook's fingers trembled on his neck and the omega was kissing him so knowledgeably, like he knew exactly what to do to work him up—

To work an alpha up.

Yoongi instantly turned his head, whispering out a request of, “Jungkook. No,” but it wasn't even like the omega was listening. Jungkook began to kiss his neck, hands slipping down his chest, Yoongi hissed out a sound, growing more upset as he grabbed Jungkook's wrist, “Jungkook. Stop.” 

He didn't. And Yoongi didn't know what to do, Jungkook's other hand moved over his sweatpants and the alpha snapped, released a sharp breath and yelled, while standing up, “Jungkook!” 

Jungkook didn't fall off of his lap, Yoongi held his arm to make sure he didn't fall down and get hurt, but even then the omega didn't seem to understand. Jungkook was locking a hand in his shirt and tugging him closer, whispering, “It's okay. It's okay. I won't tell-”

“Stop it. Damn it, Jungkook!” Yoongi burst into tears, yanking Jungkook's hand out of his shirt and stepping back, hand out towards the omega, face red with a mix of pain, despair, and fury.

Not with Jungkook. He knew it wasn't the omega’s fault. Knew that Jungkook had no idea what he was doing. Yoongi instantly knew that this was what Jungkook had meant when, during his first few days, the omega had asked what he needed to do for things. 

And Yoongi was sick. He felt sick. Felt like he might actually vomit. Not because Jungkook disgusted him, but because of the idea that this was what their mate considered to be a normal thing.

Jungkook was only eighteen, almost nineteen. And just wondering how long this had been going on made Yoongi actually clutch his hair, crying harder as he released a sharp sob and said, firmly, “Jungkook. Stop. Stop it. Don't do that.” 

The omega, at first, looked confused. Jungkook sucked in a breath, then two. And then the omega released a panicked noise and shook his head, “It's okay! It's fine. I won't tell anyone, I-”

“That's not-” Yoongi sucked in a deep breath through his nose, tried to calm down, but the tears just kept coming. “Jungkook. That's not the problem. That's not- it's not right.” 

And then Jungkook looked scared. He eyed Yoongi’s tears and struggled to form words as his own tears filled his eyes. The omega quickly stepped closer, fingers fiddling with the edge of his shirt. Jungkook worried, “Is it… Is it because… I-I just woke up. I can shower first?” 

Yoongi’s face crumbled, the alpha cried harder, shifted to cover his face with his hands, trying to keep the tears from falling so he could explain himself better. Breathe better. It was so hard to do even that.

It was hard to even look at Jungkook, because the omega looked devastated and confused, so confused, like he had no idea what was happening. All Jungkook must think right now was that the alpha was mad. Was upset. With him—

Yoongi couldn't have that. He knew that, so he tried hard to calm down. Managed to calm his sobs into silent tears, at least, and by then Jungkook was sitting right where he'd been standing. On the floor. Head down. Crying.

The alpha swallowed thickly, took the sleeve of his shirt to wipe his eyes before kneeling down to collect Jungkook's phone. 

The entire living room was silent. Both of them were crying. Jungkook didn't look up when Yoongi sat down opposite him, not even when the alpha began to speak. 

“I a-added,” Yoongi sniffled, wetting his lips, “All of our numbers into your phone. And if you ever get into any trouble, you call us, Kookie.” 

Jungkook looked at him through his hair when Yoongi slid the phone to him. Eyes filled with tears, cheeks wet, but his voice sounded so unphased by his own tears that it was somehow even more painful to hear. “I still get the phone?” 

“You still get the phone. And the money.” Yoongi replied, “And anything you want, Jungkook.” 

The omega's eyebrows pulled together, his voice finally showed some sort of emotion when he clutched his phone in his fist and said, voice cracking, “B-But I did n-nothing for it.” 

It was hard to figure out what to say. Yoongi didn't know how to deal with this -- he wasn't sure any of them could. Seokjin and Taehyung would probably cry too much. Namjoon and Jimin would likely get too angry. Hoseok would probably be decent. He was good at helping others. At caring for other people. 

Yoongi tried to pretend in the way Hoseok would, tried to separate emotions for a second and just think. Even that was hard. 

“You don't want to kiss me, Jungkook,” Yoongi said, voice gentle, “You want to kiss me, because you think that's the price you need to pay to have these things. It's not. You don't owe us anything. Ever.” 

Jungkook instantly straightened up, wiped his eyes and quickly said, as though he were completely fine with the thought, “I do want you. You can have me, it's okay.” 

It would have been a good way to convince someone more gullible, someone who didn't know what Yoongi did, because it seemed so honest. Jungkook had those big, round eyes that looked so genuine all of the time. It sounded and looked convincing.

If only it were genuine. 

“Your hands are shaking,” Yoongi sighed, reaching over to take his cheek, “And you're crying. You don't want that.” 

Jungkook's shoulders fell, his lips moved to whisper, barely a breath, as if rehearsing, “I do want you…” and that hurt so badly -- felt like a handful of knives puncturing holes between Yoongi’s ribs. 

The alpha opted to pretend he hadn't heard that, didn't notice it, and wiped Jungkook's tears away, lifting his chin to make sure the omega was listening to him as he began to speak, “I don't know much about you, Jungkook. We don't know much. But your body is yours. And if someone comes to you and says that you have to give them your body for anything, Jungkook, anything -- food, money, clothes. Then you say no. You can do that, can't you?” Yoongi asked, meeting his eyes, “Tell me no.” 

Jungkook looked genuinely lost. Like Yoongi were speaking in a foreign language. He shook his head. 

“Tell me no, Jungkook,” Yoongi urged, practically begging, “Tell-”

“I'm an omega, I'm a grateful omega,” Jungkook's eyes were so big, he wasn't crying anymore, but they were glossy, “Grateful omegas say yes. Grateful omegas listen well-”

“No. Say no. Say no, Jungkook.” 

Jungkook visibly grew upset. He shook his head and grew louder, voice slowly picking up as he tried to speak over Yoongi, “Grateful omegas eat last. They leave their door unlocked. They do what their alpha says. They-”

“Kookie.” Yoongi tried, grabbing Jungkook's face, but the omega closed his eyes and began to yell. Voice breaking with emotion, face turning red and veins popping out on his forehead due to pure restraint. 

“- grateful omegas do what they're told! They say yes, or they don't eat! And they don't sleep! And they don't get anything! I'm a grateful omega!” 

Jungkook began to struggle to breathe and Yoongi instantly reached over to tug him into his lap, wrapping arms around him, watching the omega begin to scream. It wasn't anything coherent, just a fit of pained yells and hands trying to claw at himself. 

Yoongi pinned them down, felt the omega's nails dig into his forearms a few times, but ignored it all in favor of kissing at his temple, shushing, and rocking the omega, “I know. I know you are. I know, Jungkook. Grateful omegas can say no. They can. You can. You're very grateful, I know. Hyung knows.” 

Jungkook didn't try to hurt him. Didn't really try to argue with him either, but the omega continued to wail and scream and every once in a while he accidentally hit Yoongi, and his words were mixed slurs of, “... grateful,” and “I'mokay.” 

Yoongi didn't flinch at all. Didn't loosen his hold. At one point he had to shift to throw a leg around Jungkook's to keep him from flailing, and in hindsight it probably wasn't a good idea to hold down a traumatized omega like this, but Jungkook was hurting -- and right now the thought of physically hurting himself to get rid of the pain inside that he couldn't repair was likely an enticing thought. 

Luckily, Jungkook didn't seem any more upset by being held down than he was by his own thoughts, than his memories, he didn't panic more from that, nor from Yoongi whispering reassurances into his hair or kissing his head. 

The omega did eventually calm down. It took a long time. And even when he went quiet, Yoongi didn't move. Continued to rock him, to hold him tight. For a while, the alpha thought maybe he'd fallen asleep, because Jungkook's eyes were closed and he was so still. If only he hadn't continued to whisper, and when he stopped making sound, his lips continued to move as he mouthed to himself.  

An hour must have passed before Yoongi felt it was safe to speak up. To move. He started gently, moving a hand from where it was holding Jungkook's wrist up to his face, brushing his thumb over the omega’s heavy eyelashes.

Jungkook opened his eyes sleepily, eyes red. 

“You should take a nap,” Yoongi mumbled, still rocking him. The omega blinked at him, reaching up to wipe his eye with the back of his hand. When Jungkook shifted to sit up, Yoongi brushed down his hair, voice gentle as he added, “You can sleep with the door locked, Jungkook.” 

Jungkook turned in his arms to hug him, settling in the crook of his neck, muffling a few words into Yoongi’s shoulder that the alpha couldn't hear, but Yoongi smiled anyway and sighed, fondly, gathering Jungkook in his arms, “Or you can sleep here. That's okay too.”

Chapter Text

Yoongi had told Seokjin about the incident, of course.

It was difficult to hide the scratches on his arms and Yoongi, well, he just couldn't keep something like that to himself. He was worried. About Jungkook, about everything.

So they'd been talking -- Seokjin, Yoongi, Hoseok, and Namjoon. They'd stayed up last night to discuss some things about Jungkook.

Namely, about what they should do to help him, but there were things they just couldn't help Jungkook with. There were things the omega just didn't understand.

There were things they didn't want to have to worry Jimin and Taehyung with, too, because seeing Namjoon and Hoseok's reactions to the very brief knowledge the eldest two knew about Jungkook's past had gone as they'd expected —

Not well at all.  

And with Taehyung and Jimin, they were very emotional. They'd only recently turned twenty, but they'd always be the pups. Jimin would always be the teenager who'd tried to pretend he was bad and tough, but really wanted a pack, and Taehyung would always be the nervous pup who cried when he was scolded. Even if neither of them were like that anymore, and even though they'd been a pack for years, they worried over them.

Packs could be officially certified once the eldest of them reached eighteen, and seeing as Seokjin had an outrageous amount of money, they'd all basically grown together after that. 

It was going to be difficult to have to explain this to them, but it was growing hard not to.

Jungkook had decided to be very friendly towards them lately, which would be okay if the omega were doing it in a friendly manner, but it wasn't.

Yoongi thought that maybe he'd gotten through to Jungkook, but the omega didn't understand. He only knew things as they were and to him the only thing he had that was of importance or interest to alphas was himself. And Jungkook hated to owe them for things. 

He was giggly today. It was cute, really, the way Jungkook had been all smiles when he came down for breakfast, but the flags raised the second hed scooted his chair up against Jimin's and began to eat while tucked against his shoulder. 

Then, the whimpers came when Jungkook heard Taehyung talking about going to school, began to whine very unlike the omega when the alpha said he had some work to catch up on. Taehyung ended up falling for it rather fast, which was easy to do considering Jungkook's whimpering made their stomachs churn. 

Since lunch, Jungkook had been following the duo around. He'd been trailing after Jimin, then Taehyung, like a lost puppy. They found him cute, it was cute, but it was suspicious. 

Everyone was watching them carefully. Right now, Hoseok was vaguely listening from his spot drawing up new designs at the dining table, but he'd zoned out a bit ago when Jimin had run upstairs. 

“Because you like games, huh?” Taehyung mused, throwing an arm over the back of the couch, “We can go upstairs to the game room and play games when I finish this essay.” 

“School? I never finished school.” Jungkook scrunched up his nose, shifted to scoot closer until he was tucked against Taehyung's side. The alpha smiled, glanced at him, and slipped an arm around his shoulders. 

“Do you want to go to school?” 

Jungkook sort of shrugged a bit, he leaned into Taehyung's shoulder, looked at the laptop for a moment before huffing and turning to nuzzle his face into the alpha’s shoulder, muffling his words, “Boring.” 

“It is.” Taehyung agreed, wetting his lips and looking away from the laptop on his thighs in favor of petting Jungkook's head. The alpha smirked, just a little, before musing, “But if you're right here, it's motivation to finish quickly.” 

Jungkook leaned back to look at him, the omega looked between his eyes before he seemed to pick up on the fact that Taehyung was much more interested in him. 

“If you finish quickly,” Jungkook breathed, shifting to sit up on his knees, laying a hand on Taehyung's thigh, “We can go do something fun, right?” 

Instantly. As soon as the words left Jungkook's mouth, Hoseok was looking at them, checking in. He quickly straightened up when he saw the way Taehyung was reaching up to touch his cheek. 

The alpha was a flirt. Worse than Jimin when he wanted to be. And it was clear Taehyung wanted to be, because the alpha leaned back, exposed his neck to Jungkook, thumb brushing over the omega’s bottom lip and musing, “What's fun for you, tiny?” 

Hoseok quickly pushed away his things to get up, but before he had a chance, Jungkook was giggling all cute and breathily, leaning closer. “Sex is fun.” 

And that. That leaving Jungkook's mouth. Made Hoseok sour, even more so because Taehyung had no idea what Jungkook meant, the truth underlying his statements, so the alpha was beaming and leaning in as though to kiss him—

“Stop. Stop. Separate right now.” Hoseok said quickly, rushing over to grab Taehyung's shoulders and pull him back into the couch.

The younger alpha hissed, turning on him with a  swift, “What the fuck, hyung.” 

Hoseok ignored that, quickly grabbed Jungkook's arm and gently pulled him to sit properly on the couch, and the omega just seemed to be a bit whiny, because he reached out for his waist, curled arms around him. “Jungkook. Stop.” 

“Alpha, please.” 

Everything went haywire rather fast, all because of one word leaving Jungkook's mouth— 

Alpha. 

Jungkook had never said it before, not to them. Especially not in such a whimpery tone. So they had no way of knowing that it would have such an effect on them, but it did.

Taehyung was shoving Hoseok. Was pushing the elder so hard that Hoseok stumbled onto the ground and yelled, “Taehyung, stop!” But by then the alpha was already gathering Jungkook, cupping his face and pressing their lips together hard.

Hoseok hissed and sat up, rushing to yank Taehyung away. Jungkook began to cling onto Taehyung, wrapping all around him and whimpering. 

The others were racing down the stairs frantically, loudly, yelling out worried questions, but Hoseok didn't know what to do, or say, so he yelled. At the top of his lungs, “Jungkook was sexually abused, let him go!” 

And it felt like the air left the room. Was quickly swept out in one breath. Hoseok knew he wasn't a match against Taehyung when it came to strength and he'd never seen the other so territorial before, so it had been his only option.

However, it didn't mean he didn't feel absolutely horrible about it. About how they had to find out. About the way Taehyung's hold on Jungkook instantly loosened until the omega was standing on his own feet.

And Jungkook clung. The omega screeched a handful of throaty whines and clawed at Taehyung's shirt, “Alpha. Alpha.” 

Taehyung stared at Hoseok. Didn't speak, didn't look at Jungkook either, his hands slack at his sides and eyes filling, at first, with tears, but they didn't have a chance to fall before the alpha was yelling, snarling, “What?” 

Instantly, at the tone, Jungkook fell to the ground. The omega wrapped arms around Taehyung's leg, whispering furious apologies into his calf. 

Hoseok and Taehyung stared at each other, the elder scrunched up his face, devastated, and looked over Taehyung's shoulder for help. 

“Kookie.” Jimin whispered, as though he hadn't heard what had just been said, but he had. They knew he did. The alpha's hands were shaking when he knelt down beside Jungkook and pet his hair. “Jungkook. Nobody is mad at you. It's okay. You're okay. Your-”

Jungkook immediately reached out for him, voice breaking in the room as he said, more like croaked, “Was not. Was not. Was not…” 

And that, the denial, was horrifying to the eldest, because Seokjin had been going through pages and pages of evidence. And he'd been torturing himself up until the late hours of the night reading about Jungkook, trying to find out about him, but all he ever learned was horrifying.

Eight year old patient committed with a broken collarbone, hospital officials report suspected abuse — welfare check: incomplete.

Jeon Jungkook, 13, reportedly showed inappropriate sexual behavior in front of other students, his teacher reports — welfare check: incomplete.

Temporary family reports inappropriate behaviors exhibited by the omega, 15, otherwise undisclosed — welfare check: incomplete. 

Seventeen year old Jeon Jungkook fails to show up to annual representative visit — welfare check: incomplete.  

Incomplete

Incomplete

Incomp—

“Jungkook. Jungkook,” Seokjin began, firmly, racing into the living room and bending down to unravel the omega’s fingers. Grimacing when he had to force him to let go in order to move him off of Taehyung's leg.

Jungkook was shaking his head frantically, sitting on the ground as Seokjin tried to brush his hair from his face, trying to calm him down, but the omega was sobbing, smacking his hands away and throwing himself back against the couch, “Liar! Liar! Was not! Was not!” 

“Jungkook!” Finally, Seokjin closed his eyes and yelled over his screaming, “Jungkook! You need help!” 

And the omega's eyes popped open, they rounded. Horrified. Terrified. And Jungkook quickly switched his clinging onto Seokjin, forcing himself to stop crying, “No. No. Wanna stay. I'll be good- I'm good. Hyung I wanna stay-”

“Sh. Puppy. My sweet baby,” Seokjin quickly held him, grimacing at his cries as he shifted to pick him up, folding himself up on the corner of the couch with Jungkook in his arms, “You're not going anywhere. You're staying. Forever. I just want you to talk to-”

“No. I'm okay-” 

Shushing, Seokjin gently pet his cheek, eyes teary as he looked at Jungkook, “I know you think that, puppy,” The alpha sucked in a breath, “But you aren't-”

“I'm okay!” Jungkook argued, he began to laugh, the fakest laugh in the world. Face covered in tears, red, and he still tried to convince them, “See! I'm okay. I'm okay, hyung.” 

“You aren't, baby.” Seokjin argued, gently, “And it's okay to not be okay, Jungkook.” 

The eldest sighed, pained, when Jungkook's face dropped and he moved to wrap arms around his neck to hug him, shaking in Seokjin's arms and hiding in his chest. Seokjin folded around him, held the back of his head and his waist as he let the omega cry into his shirt. 

It was silent for a minute, then two, and it would have continued to be had there not been the sound of wood breaking. 

Taehyung shoved the side table into the wall, growling under his breath, “Why didn't you tell us?” 

“Because of that.” Yoongi said instantly, huffing as he moved to pick up the broken side table, “At least wait until Jungkook is asleep before causing a scene.” 

“It's okay.” And that was perhaps the most genuine response Jungkook had said all day, because it was soft and quiet, and muffled into Seokjin's shirt. It didn't sound like he was trying to pretend to be happy, nor angry. 

The omega turned his head, cheek pressing against Seokjin's chest, whispering, “I'm sorry, hyungs.” 

“No. Don't be. Never,” Namjoon said instantly, “Jungkook, don't ever be sorry. It's not your fault.” 

And, as though it were nothing, Jungkook replied, “It is. I'm an omega. It's my fault.”

“No. Jungkook, n-no.” Jimin was crying as he moved to throw himself on the omega’s back, hugging his waist, “Don't say that.” 

“You just need help, puppy,” Hoseok sighed, tugging the coffee table closer to the couch, reaching over to brush Jungkook's hair from his eyes, whispering, “Will you let us get you some help? We'll go with you to every appointment. Help you every step of the way. You shouldn't deal with this all alone, Jungkook. Bad things happened to you, they happen to a lot of people all the time, you aren't alone.” 

Jungkook eyed him. He stared at him for a minute, silent tears running down his cheeks, and asked, “What did I do wrong?” 

Nobody knew what he meant. So nobody replied, but it didn't seem like Jungkok had wanted a reply, because instantly after asking, he was scrunching his face up and crying his heart out, “I t-tried to be good. I w-was so good. A-And everyone h-hated me. Just… Just wanted t-to be home.” 

Faces fell. Tears were unstoppable. 

“Baby. Jungkook. Oh, Kookie.” Seokjin cried into his hair, kissing his head, “You're home. You're home and safe. And everyone loves you, okay? We love you, which is why we want you to get some help. I love you, do you hear me, baby? I love you.”

Chapter Text

“No. We don't need the center to pay for anything.” 

Minseok grunted an acknowledgement on the other end, it sounded as though he were sorting through papers before he said, “Are you sure? Therapy is pretty expensive.” 

“It's fine.” Seokjin repeated, pacing back and forth in front of the glass of the back door, “We were wondering, however, if you could have someone mail us his paperwork, like his previous school enrollments. And his birth certificate. Some things are missing and we want to get him enrolled in some online courses to catch up, if he wants to.” 

They hadn't exactly brought it up to Jungkook yet, but if anything they were pretty sure the omega would be happy to have something to do other than watch tv all the time and play games. 

As much fun as that sounded, Jungkook not having the option to even go to school if he wanted to wasn't much fun, so they'd rather have everything before asking if it was something he'd like to do.

Right now, Jungkook was in a good mood. For the past two days he had been, and this time it wasn't a suspiciously good mood, but an actual one. 

The omega was hesitant, like always, and he fiddled anxiously sometimes, but he was trying much harder to talk and socialize. Jungkook had very softly asked Yoongi if he would get him a coat so he could go out back and look around and the alpha did him one better and took him outside himself.

Jungkook seemed to like being outside. He liked the big trees in the backyard and the small flower garden along the back fence. 

“That can take up to a week.” Minseok paused, “His birthday is coming up soon, by the way.” 

Seokjin cursed under his breath, holding his phone on his shoulder, and spun around to approach Namjoon who sat at the coffee table writing, grabbing the pen from his hand and startling the other when he grabbed his notepad, “What date is that again?” 

“September first. What are you going to get him?” 

“Not sure yet,” Seokjin sighed, handing Namjoon back his notepad and taking the sticky note, earning a confused look from the other, “We gave him a card and everything so he could buy things he liked, but he hadn't used it. Caught him looking online a few times, but Jungkook is still very shy. He doesn't ask for anything, doesn't buy anything either.” 

Minseok cursed on the other end, “I gotta go. Sorry. I'll forward those papers you asked for,” there was a momentary pause before he added, “You know. His parents used to have a dog. Bet he would like that. None of his last houses had dogs. I know you have room for it in that mansion of yours, Kim.” 

Seokjin managed a laugh, but his eyebrows pulled up in thought, he exchanged a goodbye and eyed the duo outside for a moment. 

It was weird seeing Yoongi outside. Yoongi always stayed inside. Hated even leaving the comfort of his bed, or the couch. But the alpha looked more than happy to hold Jungkook's hand as the omega tugged him around the big backyard, pointing at the tarp-covered pool animatedly. 

The eldest smiled to himself and turned around just as Jimin was walking through the front door and throwing his keys onto the island. “Where's Tae?” 

Jimin grunted a sound and motioned vaguely towards the front door as he slumped onto a stool, “Hyung. I didn't sleep at all last night, can you get me a soda?” 

Seokjin snickered, but he did move to the fridge, ruffling up his hair as he heard the front door open. Taehyung came in with an even louder huff, instantly walking in and throwing his backpack on the counter, looking around, “Is Jungkook okay today? He was crying all night. We didn't want to go to school this morning, but I missed Tuesday classes twice now.” 

Now that was something concerning. 

Jungkook had been okay all day today, at least according to Yoongi and Hoseok. They'd stayed home with him while Seokjin and Namjoon went to the office for an hour or two just for some meetings. 

They were opting to try spending more time at home. Giving Jungkook more love and attention. Because maybe it had been wrong to try and give him too much space right from the beginning. 

“He's fine,” Namjoon twisted to look at them over the back of the couch, frowning, “Hobi said Jungkook played some games and napped, didn't cry at all. Even helped himself to some ice cream earlier.” 

“Good,” Jimin sighed and sat up, accepting the drink and adding, “We were really worried, but we didn't know if we should check on him or not. It was late. I don't think having alphas in his room that late would be very helpful…” 

They didn't really know what was helpful to Jungkook at all. They knew nothing. 

They were taking Jungkook to the therapist tomorrow. All of them. Just to make sure Jungkook liked her. They'd searched for hours the past few days to look for the best therapist and only the best. One with a special focus in traumatic cases. It was going to be expensive. Just the first visit that was simply a meeting and a discussion would cost a grand. 

That was nothing. Jungkook's mental health was just as important to them as his physical health and they were willing to pay anything for it. 

“I just can't- I don't know if I can go tomorrow.” Taehyung said, running a hand through his hair, “I'll get too mad. I've never felt this mad before - I don't know if it's because of what happened to him, or because I almost hurt him too-”

“That is not the same.” Seokjin said immediately, pointing a finger at him firmly, “Don't ever think that way, Taehyung. Jungkook is our mate, we react to him instinctually. It wasn't your fault. You didn't know. He doesn't even realize it's wrong-”

“And that's a problem,” Taehyung rubbed his temple, “I can't help thinking about it. Why would he-”

Namjoon cut in and sounded exasperated, “Just try not to think about it. That's what his therapist is going to help with. They're going to be able to help us help him, there's no use in worrying about fixing things that aren't broken, Tae. Jungkook lights up like a Christmas tree when he sees you and Jimin, don't worry.” 

Jimin straightened up and suddenly looked more awake as he asked, “Does he really?” 

Seokjin and Namjoon laughed, but it was true. Jungkook did like Jimin and Taehyung despite not having spent much time with them. And when they were together, it was supervised, because, honestly, there was a line that Taehyung and Jimin made abundantly clear they wanted to step over.

Right now, Jungkook was a puppy. He was young. He needed a lot of attention and care. And there was a line in which their actions, as hyungs, were strictly caring and protective. On the other side of the line was the very fact that Jungkook was still their mate. And he was still beautiful. And he still smelled like everything nice and it drew them in. In a loving and romantic way. 

Taehyung and Jimin were very clear, from the beginning, that they had absolutely no plans of stepping away from the romantic side into the cautious and caring side. Jungkook must have known that by now. Must have found them as easy weaknesses when it came to seduction. 

Jungkook must like the attention, if even a little bit, because the omega always blushed so prettily when he saw Taehyung or Jimin. 

Seokjin wasn't going to boost either of the alphas’ egos, though, so he opted to not reply to that and instead looked at the stairs as Hoseok came wandering down, drying his hair in a towel. 

“Hobi,” The eldest began, “What do you think about a dog? For Jungkook. His birthday is-”

“A dog!” Taehyung cried, laughing and smiling big as he turned to Hoseok, “Hyung, I've been asking for a dog for years. You always said they're too messy-”

“And they are.” Hoseok rolled his eyes at Taehyung's antics, turning to Seokjin with a small sigh and leaning on the back of the couch, “A dog, huh? What kind of dog are we talking about?” 

Seokjin shrugged, “Haven't thought that far. It's just an idea.” 

Hoseok hummed, “I guess if we discuss it more-”

The back door opened and the sound of Jungkook's rather high-pitched laughter filled the room, surprising them. The omega giggled loud, entire body weak with giggles as he kicked his shoes off on the patio and ran inside, yelling, “Yoongi hyung has mud on him!” 

The omega did run to the pile of clean clothes waiting to be folded and came back to open the back door and hold a towel out. Yoongi snickered, he wasn't all that muddy, just a little bit on the front of his shirt and on his face, but he let Jungkook giggle up a storm with a small, “Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up, baby doll.” 

Jungkook did, indeed, laugh it up. The omega smiled huge, all bunny teeth on show as he jumped towards the couch and wrapped arms around Hoseok, “Hyung, it was so funny. There's a bird's nest in the tree an-and Yoongi hyung points it out and then- then this squirrel ran all the way up!” Jungkook giggled to himself, bouncing, “And all of this mud just splat- all over hyung!” 

Nobody replied for a long minute, because Jungkook was laughing so hard and his cheek was all dimpled and his eyes were crescented and he looked so happy—

“Show me.” 

And then Jimin was jumping off his stool so fast it fell over, throwing a hand out for Jungkook, “I want to see! Show me, gorgeous. Where's this bird’s nest?” 

Jungkook beamed and jumped at him, wrapping both hands around Jimin's and yanking him towards the door, “Hyung, it's a bluebird. It's so pretty. It's so bright and blue. Do you think it will stay the whole winter here?” 

Jimin didn't answer that, he was completely okay with Jungkook dragging him across the yard and not even glancing at the bird as Jungkook yanked him towards one of the big trees near the fence, rambling and pointing. “See! It's so pretty! It's the mom I think,” Jungkook scrunched up his nose, giggling, “Actually, I don't know if it's a boy. Maybe it's the dad.” 

“Yeah,” Jimin didn't look away from Jungkook, “Pretty.” 

“I think there will be one egg in there,” Jungkook smiled and turned to look at him, “How many do you think there will be?” 

It took a minute of Jimin staring at him to realize he needed to reply and mostly he jolted out of it because there was a snicker nearby and he could see everyone watching him. Jungkook wasn't at all being quiet today, so he knew they could hear them. 

“I don't know,” Jimin swallowed, feeling a rush of red crawl up his neck, “Two?” 

Taehyung laughed as he approached, hands in his pockets, “What if I bet three and I'm right,” The other began. “What should we bet on, Kookie?” 

Jungkook smiled, he bounced in place. He didn't at all seem to mind the company, nor the hovering alphas moving out onto the patio to watch them. The omega laughed and looked up at the bird’s nest, squinting up at it before looking between Jimi and Taehyung, “What about candy?” 

Jimin glanced at Taehyung, at how calm and collected the other looked down at Jungkook. Like he wasn't at all phased by how pretty the omega looked today -- he looked extra beautiful when he was happy. He spoke quickly, rushed, “What about a kiss?” 

Yoongi immediately stood up straight from the doorway, but Hoseok laughed and shook his head,  “He's smiling, hyung. Let them have their fun for a minute. Even Jin hyung isn't interrupting.” 

Which was true. Seokjin looked more amused by their antics than worried. He leaned on the sliding glass door and watched, carefully, but wasn't alerted at all.

Because Jungkook was smiling. And he was blushing and giggling, “Okay. Deal.” 

“Deal.” Jimin echoed, elbowing Taehyung just a bit playfully, smiling growing on his face. The other alpha smiled, boxily, and stepped back to look up at the tree, musing, “Hey, Kookie, look. It's a plane.” 

“Huh?” Jungkook looked up, confused, “I don't see a plan- Hyung!” 

Even when Taehyung tossed him over his shoulder and spun around, the omega was still laughing, even louder than before. 

If everyday was just as happy as this one was, then the bad days suddenly seemed a lot more worthwhile. 

Chapter Text

“Are you scared?” 

Jungkook's knee was bouncing up and down nonstop. He was clutching Namjoon's hand in a death grip. His hoodie had been tugged over his head from the second the car had stopped. 

The omega looked at him. He wet his lips and met Namjoon's eyes with a very soft. “Did you ever do this before?” 

“Once,” The alpha answered, tugging their intertwined fingers onto his lap, reaching over with his other hand to gently move his hood off his head. “It's important to tell the truth here.” 

Jungkook gave a nod. Then, with a breath, he met Namjoon's eyes and whispered, “I'm terrified, alpha.” 

It took everything for Namjoon not to just pick him up and walk him out of the office. To put him into the car and drive away without a single thought or care about the rest of the pack. They'd understand. This was Jungkook and he was scared. 

They were scared too. 

As soon as they'd stepped in, they'd been given a bunch of paperwork. Most of which Yoongi and Seokjin took care of, but it had been over an hour of just signing forms. Of all of them giving their names and information. Of Seokjin making tons of copies of their pack license and proof they had care over Jungkook.

It didn't matter how scared they were, though. 

This was for Jungkook. 

Jungkook was going to be scared, they knew that, it was his first time having to tell the truth and nothing but the truth. His first chance to talk. To really talk. To someone who could help. 

So Namjoon didn't do any of that. He didn't march the omega out the door. Instead, the alpha leaned in to press a kiss against his cheek, reassuring, “We'll be just outside the door. We can see and hear you. Nothing bad is going to happen to you, Kookie.” 

“Jungkook?” 

The omega instantly squeezed Namjoon's hand, turning to look up at Taehyung who stood in the doorway of the waiting room, eyes big and already glossy. The youngest alpha smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes, “She said you can come in now.” 

Jungkook slowly stood up. The omega wiped both of his clammy hands on his sweater. He sucked in a breath, then two. Then, in one quick movement, the omega was throwing himself at Taehyung's chest.

“I know. I know,” The alpha worried, dropping his face into Jungkook's hair, wrapping arms around his shoulders, “You'll be fine, tiny. You're fine. We'll be right here. Nobody is going to hurt you. If you don't like it, we leave and try somewhere else.” 

“Tae,” Namjoon said, carefully, “We have to let him go.” 

Taehyung straightened up, tense. The alpha ran a hand over Jungkook's hair and visibly grimaced when he saw that the omega was teary already. He anxiously wet his lips and moved to lead Jungkook out of the waiting room. 

The omega was very silent when he spotted the others. He was tugging his sleeves over his hands and disappearing in his clothes the closer he got to the door at the end of the hallway. 

Dr. Shin was a beta woman around thirty five. She was one of the most recommended and respected doctors they found, and it took a lot of strings - and money - for them to get an appointment with her, because originally she'd been booked for months out.  

And if Jungkook backed out right now, they wouldn't blame him. He was scared. They were scared. It would be a huge loss, but Jungkook was worth more than some time and money. 

Still, there was a sense of pride that bubbled up when the omega reached for the doorknob. He must know they were scared, worried, because he paused like he expected them to speak, but nobody could.

They were usually good at that -- at filling the silence. Not today.

Jungkook was someone who was scared of many things. Of the dark. Of his own shadow. Of them, sometimes. But today he was someone who faced those fears. Even with tears in his eyes and shaking hands, Jungkook was the most fearless person in the world right now. 

There was a window outside the room, one that allowed them all to see inside of her office. They'd requested this when given the choice to wait outside or be inside, because while Jungkook was rather good at masking, they weren't. 

Never had to learn to hide their feelings. Never had to change themselves for someone else. 

They didn't want to distract Jungkook from his own feelings, by letting the omega see their reactions. Didn't want to make things worse. Jungkook needed to feel what he needed to feel. 

And right now, it was scared. He was visibly shaking as he sat down in the big brown leather chair with his back to them, he curled up and whispered, ever so softly, “Hi.” 

And the doctor spun around from the long counter against the back wall opposite Jungkook. She smiled, and cooed before moving to sit on the sofa opposite the omega and holding out a cup, “Your pack said you didn't like coffee, so I made hot chocolate instead.” 

“Thank you…” 

Hoseok released a heavy breath and shifted to take a seat on the bench below the window, “He's not going to talk.” 

“He will,” Yoongi argued, pacing, not really looking at the window at all, “It's his first day. He's scared. She's nice though. She said normally it takes some time for them to open up.” 

“This is Jungkook, though,” Hoseok sighed, “He turns on every single light from his bedroom to the living room just to run down and get his phone if he forgot it. He's not exactly like everyone else.”

“Aren't you going to, um,” Jungkook said, rather abruptly, shifting in his spot, “Ask me stuff.” 

Dr. Shin laughed, softly, “What should I ask you, honey?” 

Jungkook sounded confused. The omega shifted to put his drink on the side table, tucked his feet under himself and then said, with his full chest, “My hyungs think I'm messed up.” 

“No,” Seokjin grimaced and dropped his face into his knees, clawing at the back of his neck. That wasn't at all what was wrong. That wasn't at all why they'd wanted him to come. 

They were all rather upset at the comment, because it wasn't true. That wasn't why they wanted him to come -- they were just worried. Scared. Jungkook didn't understand things like he should, didn't realize his own trauma.

“Do they?” The beta asked, tilting her head, “Why do you say that?” 

“I mean,” Jungkook sort of trailed off, but he didn't sound tearful at least, so that was good. The omega continued to anxiously shift in his seat, “You read my stuff, right-”

“I want to hear it from you,” Dr. Shin said softly, “There's only so much I can learn about you from a few words on paper, Jungkook. You're here to talk about yourself, and I'm here to listen. That's all your pack wants you to do, too. They just want you to have a chance to talk.” 

“I don't like talking.” 

“Because it brings up memories?” 

Jungkook abruptly stood up from his seat, the omega was suddenly in tears, arms folded over himself as he walked towards the door, “Can I go now? I want my hyungs.” 

In a second, Jimin was reaching for the door, stopped only by Namjoon grabbing his waist and pushing him back. The younger hissed a sound, “He's crying. He wants us-”

“He needs to cry.” Yoongi had stopped pacing. He was now leaning over the back of the bench, watching carefully, “Chim. Go wait in the car, or sit down and be quiet.” 

The doctor, of course, must have expected when Jungkook burst into a fit of tears, because she quickly moved a box of tissues onto the table between the couch and chair, but she didn't make a move to crowd Jungkook the omega began to sniffle.

Instead, she continued, “Want to talk about something nice then? What about your hyungs? Do you want to talk about them?” 

Jungkook was leaning against the door, sniffling into his hands, but at the change of subjects, he seemed to relax a little bit. The omega whispered, “W-What about them?” 

“Anything,” She said gently, motioning towards the chair. “What do you like to do together?”

The omega stepped, very slowly, towards the chair. He hovered, staring at the therapist for a full minute, before carefully taking a seat again. as always, she simply smiled and waited patiently. Didn't look at Jungkook as he thought, she instead looked down at a half done puzzle on the table between them so as not to pressure him. Even leaned over to fit a piece into it's spot.

Jungkook shifted to the edge of his chair, he rubbed his hands anxiously over his knees, “We, um, we watch lots of movies together. Hyungs’ have a big tv.” 

“You have a big tv too then, right?” The beta asked, glancing at him, “It's your home, too, right?” 

“I… I guess…” 

“You guess?” She hummed, “Don't you feel at home with them?” 

Jungkook replied quickly, instantly, “Yes. I-I like being with hyungs.” 

And there were little words to express the relief that came with those words. They'd wondered, of course, if Jungkook even liked it with them. It had taken him so long to warm up that they'd assumed he'd never feel at home with them. But he did. And knowing that felt like a huge weight off their shoulders. 

“How do you feel at home?” 

“Um,” Jungkook swung his legs back and forth, he eyed the puzzle in front of him, watching her move pieces, “Warm. Nice. I have my own room… it's really comfortable, too. Hyungs got me a tv… and sometimes I stay up really late to watch things, but hyungs are never mad. I really like it. Nobody yells at me, or gets too mad.” 

“What happened before, when someone got too mad?” 

“They hurt me.” 

Jungkook said it so easily, like it wasn't all that big of a deal, and reached over to pick up a puzzle piece from the carpet, placing it on the table. The therapist immediately motioned for him to help her with it, and Jungkook did. 

The omega shifted to sit cross legged on the ground, so Dr. Shin mirrored the stance and asked, casually, as she handed him one of the pieces, “Was this at the last home?” 

“Um,” Jungkook tilted his head and focused on the puzzle, “Not just there, but it was really bad there. When I was little, too, people were really mad at me a lot. I wasn't a good kid.” 

“You weren't a good kid, or they weren't good people, Jungkook?” 

“I wasn't a good kid.” 

“Hm.” She paused to look at him, “Give me an example. Why weren't you a good kid?” 

Jungkook didn't notice that she wasn't focusing on the puzzle, he continued to do it, nose scrunched as he tilted his head and turned a piece around, mumbling, “Well, when I was little, I had a lot of accidents. Ms. Myung wouldn't give me a bath sometimes. And she'd get really mad, shake me until my head hurt, and not change my sheets, too.” 

“How old were you?” 

“Six.” 

Dr. Shin released a small breath of a sigh, “Jungkook. If you were six now and you wet the bed. Do you think your hyungs would do that to you?” 

Jungkook lifted his head, shrank back a little. The omega froze. Just now realizing he'd been rambling. He chewed on his lip and pulled one of his knees up to his chest. 

“No? Right?” The beta said gently, “Because you were just a kid. Every kid has accidents. It wasn't that you were a bad kid, it was that they aren't good people.” 

The omega's face pulled together immediately, incredibly confused. He spun a puzzle piece between his fingers anxiously, voice a whisper, “No. No… beca- because then.. then why… how come there are so many bad people? I had to have been a bad kid, because bad things only happen to bad omegas. An-And I'm a bad omega.” 

“No,” Shushing, she reached over to hand him the tissues, “No, honey. Sometimes, people do horrible things, but that doesn't mean you deserved it. Sometimes bad things happen to really good people.” 

Jungkook stared. Unblinking. He didn't speak again. He didn't open his mouth the entire rest of the five minutes, neither did Dr. Shin, because she could see the omega thinking hard.

The beeper went off soon enough and even then, when the beta said a goodbye and opened the door for him. Jungkook didn't talk. He wasn't crying when he stepped out either. 

“We're very proud of you,” Hoseok cooed instantly, carefully reaching out for Jungkook's hand, tugging it to his lips and kissing his knuckles a handful of times, “We love you, Kookie. You did amazing.” 

Jungkook turned to hug his waist, clutched the alpha in a hug, squeezing hard. Then, in a barely there whisper, he said, “Can I come next week?” 

“Hyungs will get you in whenever you want, baby.” 

Chapter Text

“I got it, Kookie!” Jimin cried as he entered the game room, dropping a pizza onto the table in front of the projector and then swiftly turning to the omega, “Extra cheese.” 

Jungkook merely beamed and sat up on his knees to wrap arms around Jimin's waist, leeching onto the alpha until Jimin was bursting into laughter and sinking onto the big sofa with him.

“Pizza party!” The omega cooed, shifting to snuggle under Jimin's arm, wrapping all around him, “Where's Tae?” 

“Finishing schoolwork,” Jimin answered, hugging Jungkook’s shoulders, pressing a swift kiss against his temple. “Guess we get that movie date after all.” 

Jungkook looked up at him with a scrunched nose, grinning, “I've never had a date before.” 

Jimin's smile widened. The alpha laughed and opened his mouth to reply, but Hoseok was entering the room with a laundry basket, teasing softly, “That date won't be today, lovebirds. I give you two minutes before one of two hyungs comes barging in to interrupt.” 

“You already did,” Jimin grumbled, huffing. 

Jungkook, however, didn't at all mind. The omega leaned over the back of the couch, chin against the cushions to watch Hoseok collect any stray laundry from the room. 

It was common that they just tossed jackets and clothes around in different rooms. There were a lot of them, which meant a lot of laundry, and Hoseok was a bit of a clean freak so he was in charge of laundry.

“Need help, hyung?” 

Hoseok shook his head, smiled as he approached the back of the couch to press a kiss against the omega's forehead, “No, baby. Just relax. Can I clean up in your room on the way?” 

Jungkook nodded, cutely tugging the alpha’s shirt closer and tilting his head, silently asking for another kiss. Hoseok chuckled and kissed his cheek, earning a soft happy sound before the omega was moving to crawl back under Jimin's arm.

Hoseok heard the alpha begin with a quiet, “What should we watch, gorgeous…” as he walked out and found a big smile tugging at his lips.

Jungkook had been really happy the past few days. He'd been quiet the day after therapy, but then he'd begun to talk more, smile more, and today he was as sweet as candy. It was just really nice to have days where Jungkook didn't cry. Where he was happy all day long. Where the omega found it comfortable to curl up against one of them and just relax. 

It had been a long while since anyone had entered Jungkook's room, so Hoseok was a little surprised at how clean it was. 

The bed was unmade and there were clothes on the floor, but otherwise it wasn't all that messy. 

The alpha quickly picked up the clothes and added it to his basket, snorting when he found a few random snack wrappers beneath them, but easily stuffing them in the small trash can on his dresser. Jungkook was running low on snacks, so they'd ask the omega later what he wanted to have. 

Hoseok then climbed onto his bed to fix it, flattening out the sheets and yanking the pillows out of the way when his fingers hit something rough under the covers. 

The alpha sat on the corner to remove the edge of the sheet, face dropping a bit when he was met with the frayed purple backpack hidden beneath the bedding. It was falling apart. Absolutely ragged. Filthy. And Jungkook had been sleeping right on top of it, only the sheets between them. 

Hoseok sighed and picked it up to look at it. Maybe they could find him a newer one, if this version was even still made -- it was likely over twelve years old, so he wasn't sure. Maybe he could have one of his designers make a replica. 

There was a big hole in the bottom of it he didn't notice so when the alpha picked it up an object slipped right out of the bottom onto his lap and Hoseok felt a little nauseous when he looked down at the silver pocket knife. 

Jungkook had been sleeping with a knife in his bed. 

How was he supposed to digest that?

Hoseok didn't know how to feel, didn't know what to do. The alpha quickly gathered the knife and ran out of the room, eyes wide and running past the game room down the stairs.

By the time he was entering the study on the first floor, he was out of breath and practically running into Yoongi in the doorway to rush in with a quick, “Hyung, look.” 

Hoseok placed the pocket knife on the desk, wetting his lips and looking up at Namjoon as he said, breathily, “I was cleaning up Jungkook's room. He said I could. And he had this in his bag under his pillow. It's… I mean, it was right under his pillow, wasn't even really in the bag. More like sitting on it. But, I mean, that's not safe. What if it opened while he slept?” 

Nobody replied for a full minute. 

Then, eventually, Yoongi sighed and leaned over his lap to rub his hands over his face, then reaching for his phone, “We should ask him. I'll send Jimin a text asking him to send Jungkook down for a few minutes.” 

“He's going to think we're upset with him,” Namjoon worried, “He's going to cry.” 

Nobody replied to that, because that possibility was sky high. Jungkook did cry a lot. He didn't handle questions well, so they had to approach it very calmly. 

“Let Jin hyung do it.” Seokjin lifted his head and looked at Hoseok confused, but Hoseok quickly sank into the lounge and added, “Kookie loves hyung.” 

Seokjin protested, “Jungkook loves everyone-”

“Jungkook likes when you baby him,” Yoongi agreed, “He likes being held and babied. Maybe if we give him a lot of love and kisses, he won't cry. God knows I'm tired of him crying.” 

The doorway to the study was abruptly filled, a shadow hovering inside. Jungkook giggled a handful of times, smiling big and bright as he hung on the doorknob. 

Suddenly, it didn't feel all that tense, or stressful. 

“Bunny.” Seokjin released a breath and stood up, offering his hand, “Come here, baby. Hyungs want to see you.” 

Jungkook bounced on his toes. He released this rather happy squeak and went bounding over in a fit of excited giggles to toss himself at Seokjin, latching on and cooing happily, “Hyungs! Jiminie and I are watching this movie about the ocean, and there's mermaids and it's so big. I want to visit the ocean.” 

“We can do that,” Namjoon chuckled, eyes fond, “When it gets warmer, we can go to the ocean. Maybe we can even go to an aquarium.” 

The omega beamed, laughing into Seokjin's chest, shifting to snuggle against him as the eldest sat back down, “Can we see dolphins?” 

“Mhm.” Seokjin hummed, petting fingers through his hair, “Anything, baby.” 

Jungkook made such a happy sound and balled up into his chest that it was incredibly hard to even consider bringing up the reason they'd asked for him. Especially not when Jungkook was assuming it was just to cuddle.

“Hyung.” Hoseok said firmly, motioning towards the desk.

Seokjin released a breath and tilted his head down to press a handful of kisses against Jungkook's head, shifting just enough for the omega to look up at him with this cute, crescent eyed smile and release a happy breath.

“Yes. You're so sweet, pup,” Seokjin swore, petting his hair from his face, crooning, “My cute little bunny. Hyungs want to ask you about something, is it okay?” 

“Mhm.” Jungkook closed his eyes when Seokjin kissed his eyebrow, all soft and pliant, “Kay.”

“Okay.” The eldest wet his lips and tangled fingers in Jungkook's hair, leaning back against the cushion to look properly at Jungkook, “We aren't mad, not at all, but we were just wondering if there was a reason why you wanted to keep a pocket knife beneath your pillow?” 

The omega stiffened. 

Went as stiff as a board in less than a second. Instantly, Seokjin grimaced when Jungkook yanked out of his hold and began to breathe quickly.

“No. No, sweetheart,” Yoongi hurriedly raced to grab the pocket knife off of the desk, turning to kneel down by the couch and take Jungkook's hand, pressing the knife into his palm. “Babydoll. We're not mad. You can have it. It's yours. We were just worried about you.” 

Jungkook calmed down considerably when he was holding the pocket knife. He sucked in a few breaths, eyes flickering over the knife and turning it in his hands. He wasn't crying, his eyes were glassy, but he wasn't crying. 

Thank god. They were so tired of Jungkook crying all of the time, it must be exhausting for the omega to be so pained. And anytime Jungkook was in pain, they were too. That was how being a pack worked -- Jungkook just didn't know that yet.

“Can- do you need me to, um,” Jungkook swallowed and looked at Yoongi through his hair, “Do you need me to explain myself?” 

“Do you want to?” The alpha frowned, took a seat on the edge of the desk, “We don't need you to explain anything. If you want to talk, we'll listen.” 

Jungkook nodded. His jaw was tight. He gave a stiff nod, then two, before the omega was sucking in a breath and then mumbling, “If I… If I talk… do you promise not to be mad? And not to…” 

“Not to what, baby?” Hoseok's eyebrows were pulled together, eyes filled with worry. He instantly moved to sit in the chair opposite the sofa so his standing wouldn't intimidate the omega more.

“Not to be dis-disgusted by me?” Jungkook sniffled and hesitantly tugged his knees closer, “O-Or think I'm dirty.” 

The only thing disgusting right now were the implications of what occurred. The things they knew Jungkook had experienced. The idea that someone had done that to their omega -- someone as sweet and pained as Jungkook already was. Someone so vulnerable. 

Did they want to hear it? No. The truth was they didn't. Nobody ever wanted to hear a loved one pour their trauma out, but having to listen to it, having to hear the pain in his voice—

That was nothing compared to the pain Jungkook had experienced. To the nightmares he had to live.

“Nothing in the world could make us think of you as dirty,” Seokjin said, voice slightly aggressive, as he reached over to take Jungkook's hand, pressing kisses onto his knuckles, “You're our beautiful puppy. And hyungs love you so much.” 

Jungkook shook his head, he didn't look up as his breath caught and he squeezed Seokjin's hand so tightly. He sounded so mad. Devastated as he said, “No. No. I am- I am dirty. I just… I'm no good anymore. W-When I was little I didn't… I didn't understand. Didn't know that it was wrong. But… But when I went to highschool… I heard other kids, they were, um, they were talking about sex and I didn't- I didn't know. I just,” He visibly grew mad. Both hands flew up to curl into his hair, around his nape, rocking a small bit, “I didn't know it was bad. I didn't go to school much, moved too much, but I- I didn't know that it wasn't normal. I stayed with Seungki and Hyunmi for… for years. And when I was little too… I can remember… the other family-sometimes, they'd come into my room…” Jungkook cut himself off, his hands anxiously and roughly rubbed the back of his head. He was all folded up into a ball, “I got the knife, but I didn't use it -- never used it- I promise. I promise. I n-never want to h-hurt anyone.” 

“Okay. Alright. Baby.” Unable to stand it anymore, Yoongi was jumping off of the desk to sit on the arm of the couch behind Jungkook, shushing frantically, leaning down to kiss his head, “We know you'd never hurt anyone, Kookie. We weren't worried about that. We were worried you'd hurt yourself. That's much more terrifying to think about.” 

Not much of Jungkook's rambles made much sense. It felt like chunks of a puzzle waiting to be fit together. 

Hopefully, they weren't missing any of the pieces and could put the puzzle back together again. 

Chapter Text

“The first one was bad, but it wasn't too bad.” 

“How so?” 

Jungkook shrugged a little, he was standing up, facing a canvas, paint all over his chin and cheeks. The omega didn't look at his therapist, too focused on painting as he replied, “I don't remember it that well. I was only six. But I remember they used to make me cook and clean. I was too little to reach the stove, so I had to drag the chairs to the counter and climb off. I fell off onto the corner of the stovetop once, now I have a scar on my cheek.” 

Dr. Shin hummed, carefully watching the omega as she stepped back to her desk in the corner, grabbing her notepad and taking a seat on the edge of the desk. 

While Jungkook continued to paint, she asked, “And that is where they first touched you?” 

“Yes.” 

Short and simple. The therapist seemed to have expected that, she quickly wrote in her notepad and added, “And the last home you were in. It was much worse?” 

“Yes.” 

“Do you want to talk about that?” 

Jungkook stopped painting. He seemed to blink back to reality, hands covered in paint, eyeing his canvas before stepping back and furrowing his eyebrows, confused, at the painting. 

It was just a mix of colors really. Random splats of color across a white canvas, but it was still amazing. Then again, anything Jungkook did was amazing. Even coming here was amazing.

“She's good with him.” 

Namjoon hummed an agreement, felt Yoongi hold onto his shoulders and lean over his back. 

Not everyone came today. It wasn't necessary for them to all always come. In fact, Dr. Shin had discouraged everyone from coming, saying that Jungkook couldn't always rely on all of them to be there. One of them was enough, but, honestly, Yoongi was too scared of what Jungkook may talk about during therapy to bring him alone. 

The way Dr. Shin went about speaking to Jungkook was very reassuring. She was always very patient with the omega. The last time they'd driven Jungkook here, the omega hadn't said more than a  few mumbles as he finished the puzzle and she'd sent them a recap email later that day expressing that it wasn't at all wasted time, but Jungkook growing used to her presence and she was more than happy with that.

They'd never worried that it had been wasted time, or money, because just getting Jungkook out of the house for a little while and giving him a chance to talk, if he wanted to, was worth everything. 

It helped them to talk, or message, with Dr. Shin too. 

In regards to Jungkook's behavior, sometimes things were rather hard. Like when he was having a bad day, or when he cried nonstop, it was hard to figure out what to do or say. Having someone they could talk to for advice on how to deal with it was reassuring.

They'd asked her about how to deal with his sometimes touchy affection recently, because despite the fact Jungkook didn't try to grab anyone inappropriately, or seduce them, sometimes he pushed some boundaries that were difficult for them. 

Mostly with Jimin and Taehyung. A lot with Taehyung. Jungkook always gave him such flirty eyes. Always made such instinctual throaty noises. The omega pushed sometimes, as though he were interested in seeing Taehyung's reactions. 

She'd told them that being promiscuous was an issue that many people who experienced sexual abuse and said that rejecting Jungkook too many times could potentially hurt his self esteem even further, but Jungkook didn't really understand that there were feelings involved with sex and promiscuity. 

The line of where she could give advice about what to do about that was thin once she'd learned they were mates. 

They could give in to his advances, try to begin showing him more romantic things, try to show the omega a different kind of love, but the idea of doing such a thing before Jungkook even understood what feelings were was unthinkable.

It was a hard situation. 

“What do you want me to say?” 

“What do you want to say?” 

“I don't like when you do that.” Namjoon and Yoongi actually laughed, surprised, at the sudden burst of honesty, even more fondly when Jungkook sounded pouty as he added, like he were scolding, “Don't ask me the same things I ask, please. I don't like it.” 

His therapist only seemed to find the omega cute, too. Based on how she laughed softly and got up to hand Jungkook a few wet wipes, shaking her head and asking, “Would you prefer I ask you blatant questions, then?” 

Jungkook eyed her for a full minute as she moved to wipe paint off his sweater, then when she turned around to throw away the wipes, the omega sank into the sofa. Not upset, nor teary, when he said, “When you were little, did you get hit, and touched, a lot too?” 

Dr. Shin looked surprised, “We aren't here to talk about me, Jungkook. We're here to talk about you and how you feel.” 

“I care more about what other people feel, I think,” Jungkook admitted, stretching his legs across the couch, laying back and closing his eyes, “Because I think…” He paused, wetting his lips, “When they hit me, it made them feel better. When Seungki used to come into my room, I thought he must be really lonely.” 

There was a momentary pause as the therapist grabbed her notepad again and within that time Namjoon was standing up to get closer to the window, running an anxious hand through his hair as he glanced at Yoongi.

They didn't want to hear this. Didn't need to know details about these things, because the truth was it would influence their actions towards Jungkook. It was already hard enough, sometimes, not to scold Jimin when he clung on Jungkook too tightly. 

The issue was that no matter what they heard, they had to pretend they didn't know, because they couldn't suddenly start distancing themselves from Jungkook. Not when the omega had only begun to reach out for them without prompting. Not when he'd only just begun to show how bright his personality could be.

It was bright. So bright.

Jungkook was such a curious omega. He asked a lot of questions. He wanted to learn many things. He rambled when he learned things, too, he liked feeling smart. And talking. 

God, Jungkook had begun to love talking. He spoke so much these days that the house was usually full of all of his noises, even if they were soft hums while he played legos, or searched for a game to play. 

It killed them to know that there had been a time where Jungkook wasn't comfortable speaking. Where he'd get smacked if he opened his mouth, or made too much noise. Or just existed—

“They didn't hurt me at first,” Jungkook muttered, opening his eyes and staring at the painting of clouds on the ceiling, turning his head a bit, “I thought they were a normal couple, Seungki and Hyunmi were really nice to me, like hyungs, at first. They bought me ice cream and clothes and I had my own room.” Jungkook's lip twitched, then the omega abruptly stated, “They changed when they read my files. I thought hyungs would too.” 

“But they didn't.” Dr. Shin replied, watching the omega carefully, “You were thirteen around this time. You couldn't have done anything to defend yourself, Jungkook. Anything that happened was their fault.” 

Jungkook shook his head, a clear denial, but he didn't verbalize that denial. Instead, the omega visibly zoned out. His tone devoid of any sort of emotion as he picked at a string on the sofa, murmuring to himself, “Think they saw that it had happened before, everything, think they knew nobody would believe me even if I told anyone. Nobody ever believes me. ‘m just a bad kid. Always just a bad kid…” 

“You weren't.” Softly, the beta got up and moved to approach, “Jungkook, you-”

Jungkook flinched, rather violently, when the therapist placed a soft hand on his shoulder and immediately, before Namjoon could even stop him - not that he wanted to - Yoongi was opening the door.

The alpha, at first, didn't know what to say. He wavered in the doorway for a full moment before Jungkook immediately jumped up and came running at him. 

“I think,” Namjoon cleared his throat, smiling apologetically at Dr. Shin, “I think that's enough for today…” 

“I wanna go.” Jungkook muffled into Yoongi’s chest and just like that all of them were quickly turning to walk out of the office, with Namjoon mumbling an apology and grabbing Jungkook's coat off of the sofa.

They'd receive an emailed summary of today’s session anyway, so they could apologize for leaving so abruptly then. Right now Jungkook wanted to leave, so they were leaving.

The omega wasn't crying. Not at all, he just looked embarrassed as they walked towards the Range Rover. 

“Come on, baby,” Namjoon urged as he opened the back door, “I'll sit with you. How about we pick up something to eat on the way home, sound good?” 

Jungkook nodded, just a little bit, and grabbed the door frame as Namjoon grabbed his hips to help him up into the car. The alpha slipped beside him, immediately turning to grab Jungkook's seatbelt once he noticed the omega hadn't put it on.

“Mcdonalds?” Yoongi asked from the front. He didn't receive a reply, but knew what it would be anyway; Jungkook loved hamburgers. They'd been eating way too many of them lately, but Jungkook got whatever he wanted after therapy. Even three hamburgers. 

“Do, um,” Jungkook spoke up after a minutes, leaning into Namjoon's shoulder and looking through the front window. “Do you think I'm a bad omega?” 

Yoongi nearly swerved. Honestly. The alpha nearly swerved at such a question and had to quickly glance in the rearview mere, practically growling, “Jungkook. You're such a good omega, baby. Hyungs love you so much. I love you.” 

Jungkook chewed on his lip. He leaned into Namjoon, hand curling around the alpha’s thigh, making the alpha quickly grab his hand, stilling it on his leg in case Jungkook tried for more. 

“But…” Jungkook sounded a little exasperated. “Do you love me like an alpha?” 

And that didn't help narrow things down all that much, because they were alphas and they did love Jungkook, but they didn't know what kind of answer he was looking for.

So, very quietly, Namjoon asked him, squeezing his hand, “What do you mean, pup? Are you asking whether or not we see you in a way an alpha sees an omega, or like a pup?” 

Jungkook didn't look at him when he nodded. He twisted his lips and instead looked at the rearview mirror. Perhaps he was checking if Yoongi was paying attention, they weren't sure, but the alpha certainly was.

“You're beautiful, Jungkook.” Yoongi sighed, so fondly, shaking his head a tad as he leaned against the driver's window, glancing from the road to the omega, “Of course we think of you as an omega. You're an adult, you'll be nineteen in a mere month. You're the prettiest thing I've ever seen…” 

Jungkook released a breath, mumbling, “But?” Because there was a but coming. Yoongi had been about to say but. 

The alpha changed it, instead, for a very soft, “However,” and drummed his thumb against the steering wheel as he turned into the McDonald's drive thru. Once the car was situated in line, the alpha turned in his seat to look back at him. “There are things you need to work on yourself, before we can even begin to consider something more than treating you as though a pup.” 

Jungkook pursed his lips, he pouted and turned to look out the window, yanking his hand from Namjoon and crossing his arms as he murmured, “Tae and Chim treat me like an omega.” 

“Tae and Chim are also very, well,” Namjoon scrunched up his nose as he laughed, shifting to reach over and curl arms around Jungkook, rubbing his side and snuggling into his back, “Uncontrollable.” 

The omega puffed a laugh, a restrained one as though he'd been trying to hold it in, and then quickly tried to pretend to be mad again. 

They laughed, with Namjoon pressing nose face into Jungkook's neck and Yoongi reaching back to pinch the omega’s cheek gently. It made Jungkook begin to giggle. He wasn't very good at pretending to be upset at all.

“Why the sudden questioning?” Yoongi chuckled, “Are we under arrest, Kookie?” 

Jungkook giggled, shifting to sit up more, holding Namjoon's arm that was now wrapped around his waist. The omega shrugged, at first, before he chewed his lip and asked, “Will alphas kiss me if I get better?” 

All of the sudden interest in what they thought of him was likely a red flag and they'd probably contact his therapist later, but for now Jungkook wasn't doing anything wrong. He wasn't trying to seduce anyone, he was merely asking questions.

This question was so easy to answer.

“Of course, beautiful,” Yoongi cooed, turning back in his seat, “When the time comes, you can have a hundred kisses.” 

Jungkook scrunched up his nose, his dimple sinking into his cheek and eyes crescenting as he demanded, “A thousand!” 

“Whatever you want, Jungkook. Anything you want.” 

Chapter Text

“Did you ever go to highschool?” 

“Like, in person?” 

“Mhm.” 

Jimin eyed Jungkook who was flipping through his biology textbooks curiously. The omega was very invested in going through his backpack full of things the second the alpha had brought it into the dining room.

There were plenty of other things for Jungkook to hyper fixate on, Seokjin was down the hall making some work calls, Hoseok was upstairs picking out some cloth patterns. Yoongi and Namjoon were trying to fix the projector stand in the game room.

Jungkook had plenty of things to do, but he'd chosen to trail Jimin and the alpha was flattered, really, if not a little flustered at his sudden interest. 

“There you are, tiny.” 

And there it went. Jimin sent Taehyung the stink eye when the other came walking over, hair wet and shirt damp as he dropped himself beside Jungkook at the dining room table, immediately leaning over to throw an arm over the back of his chair. 

The omega didn't seem to pay him much mind. Jungkook flipped through the boom and awed when he landed on pictures of starfish. 

In an effort to earn his attention again, Jimin asked, “Were you good at school?”

“Sometimes,” Jungkook muttered, looking up at him with big rounded eyes, “In sixth grade, I told my school counselor that I was scared to sleep  and the police showed up at home. It wasn't good at all.” 

Ouch. Jimin grimaced a little, glanced at Taehyung for help, but the alpha were far more interested in loving on Jungkook than helping, so Taehyung merely leaned over to nuzzle against Jungkook's ear, breathing him in.

“Uh,” Jimin wet his lips, “Did you… Did you finish school?”

“No,” Jungkook replied simply, fiddling with the edge of the book and then tilting his head and adding, “I had a lot of sex in highschool. Did you?” 

And that was not exactly something they'd expected to come out of Jungkook's mouth and it made Jimin laugh, shocked, and Taehyung began to chuckle against the omega’s shoulder, pressing a soft kiss below his ear and earning his attention. 

A little confused, Jungkook giggled and turned to look at Taehyung, eyes smiling and murmuring, “What did I say, alpha?” 

“Nothing, you're just cute is all.” 

Jungkook scrunched up his nose, eyes crescenting when Taehyung pressed another kiss to his cheek, just beside his lips. 

Jimin eyed them. They looked good together, that was an undeniable fact. Taehyung was confident, too, and had so much previous experience to go off of. Jimin wanted Jungkook to look at him like that, too. 

The alpha straightened up and mused, trying to sound as confident as possible, “Of course, Jungkook. College was even better though. The first year was crazy. Taehyung must have had at least ten relationships, though. Can't ever seem to keep them.” 

Taehyung instantly turned to look at him like he was insane for telling Jungkook that. Mouth opening and stuttering for words, because no omega wanted to hear that about an alpha who was flirting up a storm with them.

Jungkook, however, wasn't exactly the typical omega. Didn't really know where boundaries were, so the omega looked more confused than upset when he shifted to lean elbows on the table and held up his face to ask, tilting his head, “Do you mean like boyfriend and girlfriend relationships?” 

He sounded so innocent, like he genuinely had no idea what Jimin meant by relationship. Like he didn't completely understand how that worked at all and the alpha realized he probably didn't—

“Yeah…” Jimin frowned, “You know, like when you like someone, you buy them flowers and candy. Take them to nice places. That's what a relationship is like… That sort of thing…” 

“Oh.” Jungkook blinked, eyes rounding, “Usually I just kissed a lot of people. Had sex. That's it. I moved a lot, so I don't really know if someone wanted to do those things with me.” 

On one hand, it was sort of relieving to know the expectations Jungkook might have for relationships weren't high, but on the other -- what the fuck.

They didn't know many details of Jungkook's past experiences, when the hyungs had asked if they'd wanted to know, Jimin felt like he might puke at even the thought of having to listen to Jungkook cry, so of course they said no. 

They only knew the gist of it. Knew the rough edges that were Jungkook and forced situations, and the aftermath that was nightmares and, well, promiscuous actions. 

They'd warned Taehyung and Jimin about that sort of behavior, but the issue was… they couldn't tell when it was genuine touches and when it was because Jungkook simply wanted an alpha to acknowledge him. Being banned from engaging with their own mate if Jungkook came onto them was really tough. 

It was clearly wrong, though, to even think sexually of the omega who didn't even understand what a healthy relationship was. 

“We want to do those things with you.” Taehyung promised, frowning, “We want you, Jungkook.” 

Taehyung should have expected Jungkook's fast response which was to crawl into the alpha’s lap and lean in for a kiss, but he hadn't, so the best the alpha could do was turn his head and add, voice strained. “Not like that, Jungkook.” 

The omega immediately faltered. He frowned and his ears quickly turned red as he shifted to hide his face in Taehyung's shirt, whispering, “Why not?” 

“We don't just want to have sex with you.” Jimin spoke up, shifting to take Jungkook's previous seat beside Taehyung, leaning down to check that Jungkook wasn't crying, “We want you to love us first.”

“I can-” 

“No. No.” Jimin said through gritted teeth, grabbing Jungkook's hand before the omega could even reach out for his thigh, sucking in a breath when Jungkook whimpered with rejection, “Kookie. You don't understand.” 

Jungkook grew mad in an instant. It was such a rare sight to see, honestly, because Jungkook was rarely mad and when he was, typically it was towards himself, so when the omega jumped up and looked at them so furiously, it felt as though they'd committed a real sin. 

“You don't want me because I'm dirty and you just don't want to admit it! Just say it! Tell me the truth! Nobody wants me, because I'm disgusting and-”

At the sound of his yelling, footsteps began from upstairs immediately. Doors slammed open. The entire house was suddenly loud. 

“No, Jungkook!” Taehyung cried, jumping to his feet and trying to reach out for the omega, but Jungkook stepped back, crying. 

“He was right. He was right…” Jungkook began to ramble, arms wrapped around himself, pressing his spine against the pillar between the dining room and living room, “Said nobody would want me. I'll be alone. No family. No mate. Alone…” 

Jimin's eyes were huge, wet, when Seokjin first appeared in the room, running in at full speed, phone still in hand and eyes searching. 

As soon as the eldest saw Jungkook huddling together against the pillar and Taehyung standing over him, Seokjin was dropping his phone and running to gather Jungkook, scooping the crying omega up as though he were weightless. Cupping the back of his head and demanding, hissing, “What the fuck is going on?” 

“We- I…” Taehyung struggled for words, motioning vaguely to the table, but he didn't manage an explanation, instead pleading, hands out, “Hyung. When he's crying like that I can't… I need to see him. Just let me-”

“No.” Seokjin barked, shifting to gather Jungkook's legs, picking the omega up to carry him into the living room, murmuring and kissing his head. “It's okay, puppy. I'm here. You're safe, Kookie.” 

The implication that Jungkook had not been safe with them made Jimin and Taehyung begin to cry. The elder of the duo instantly arguing, face turning wet, “Hyung. That's not- we weren't going to hurt him. Never. We… all we did was just tell him we couldn't touch him…” 

Jungkook being upset was a trigger for everyone. It put tensions high. Everyone was on edge. 

“Jungkook!” 

“Kookie!” 

Seokjin did relax more when the others arrived. The alpha leaned back against the couch, petting up and down Jungkook's spine, breathing hard and taking a moment to calm down. It was panic-inducing to hear Jungkook scream like that.

Trauma-induced incidents or not, they would have reacted just as scared even if Jungkook was not as traumatized as he was. Hearing their omega yell was worrying enough, no matter the context.

“What happened?” Hoseok worried, immediately running over to look at the duo crying near the dining room, “Tae? Chim?” 

“... 'ts not their fault.” 

Jungkook sat up, blubbering, “‘m broken. Nobody wants me. ‘ts not their fault.” 

“What? What are you talking about?” Namjoon worried, climbing over the back of the couch and leaning over Seokjin's back to cup Jungkook's cheek, “Jungkook. Just the other day Yoongi hyung and I promised you that we saw you as an omega. Why are you so upset? You're beautiful. We do want you-”

“No.” Jungkook shook his head frantically, back and forth, “No. He said,” The omega sucked in a breath and reached up to rub his eyes, “Said nobody was gonna want me. Couldn't tell anyone, ‘cause if they found out, they'll know I'm disgusting…” 

“Jungkook… Bambi…” Namjoon sighed, “We're mates, everything you are, and everything you do is beautiful. You're not disgusting at all.” 

Jungkook looked at him. Stared at him with red, teary eyes. Then he whispered, so softly, “... bad omegas don't find their mates.” 

Namjoon wanted to punch a wall. Hard. Wanted to flip over the furniture and destroy everything. There were so many things that had happened to Jungkook. The omega had so many issues, but this… the implication that the idea of finding mates was used against Jungkook, it was despicable. 

Everything that had ever been done to Jungkook was despicable and finding a pack, mates, a family -- it was all the omegas had ever wanted. 

Jungkook just wanted to be loved and he was willing to do so much just to feel loved, if even for a little while. Willing to be hit. Be assaulted. Anything. 

Anything just to know, if even for a little, he was worth the time. 

“We are mates, Jungkook.” Yoongi spoke up, moving to gather a blanket off of the floor, “We are. You know it too. Maybe you had a feeling we were different, maybe it was butterflies when we saw each other. But you knew we were mates, even if you can't smell it. You know it too, angel.” 

Jungkook sniffled hard, and reached up to grab the edges of the blanket when Yoongi wrapped it around his shoulders. He didn't deny that. Didn't deny that deep down he'd known. He stayed quiet for a moment and closed his eyes tightly a few times, as though to stop the tears. 

Then, softly, he mumbled, “I was mean to Tae and Chim. I didn't mean to yell at them.” 

“Do you want to apologize?” Seokjin asked, petting his bangs back. 

Jungkook nodded, the omega rubbed his nose on his blanket and when Seokjin helped him off of his lap, the omega immediately rushed over, throwing arms around Jimin's waist and muffling into his shirt, “I didn't mean to yell, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I was mean to you, hyung…” 

The eldest four were about to relax considerably when Jungkook reached over for Taehyung's arm just to tug the alpha closer, close enough so he could try to hug both of them and mumble apologies.

They weren't mad though. Not at all. Hurt, sure but not mad at Jungkook. 

Leaning over the back of the couch, Hoseok kept his voice low, a gritted murmur, as he said, “Since the cat is out of the bag, I think we should ask him about legal action soon. We can't let them get away with this.” 

Seokjin rubbed his forehead, watching Jungkook lean up to press a very soft apologetic kiss onto Jimin and Taehyung's cheeks. The duo lit up. Of course they did -- Jungkook was their mate.

And Hoseok was right—

Someone had to pay for what they'd done to their mate. 

Chapter Text

“I love you.”

Jungkook smiled. Such a beautiful, toothy smile. 

The omega giggled and tugged his blankets closer, making Hoseok sigh fondly and shift to lay down on the bedding beside him, petting down his damp hair and repeating, “I love you, cuddle bug.” 

“Enough for kisses?” 

Hoseok chuckled and leaned down to kiss his cheek a handful of times, only pulling back abruptly when Jungkook turned his head and one of his kisses landed smack on the omega’s lips. 

The alpha paused, worried, for a second, but Jungkook was still happily smiling. He didn't try to tug him down for more, or unravel from his blanket cocoon. Jungkook merely giggled.

“You sneak,” Hoseok said gently, clicking his tongue and holding Jungkook's chin still as he leaned down to press a final kiss to the omega’s cheek.

Jungkook pouted, “How come alphas don't want to kiss me? We're mates.” 

When Jungkook said it, acknowledged it, things felt really warm inside. So calm and soft. The omega sounded really proud when he got to say such a thing, and he'd been saying it very often. 

In therapy, he'd mentioned it so braggingly that the group chat was blowing up with Namjoon rambling about the omega's antics. And Jungkook hadn't stopped there, he'd come home and jumped around like an overexcited bunny until he, “got hugs from all of his mates.” 

It was cute. 

Jungkook was cute. Always was. 

It was just a little weird to think about how three months ago Jungkook had been shaking when they so much as sat across the room from him. Flinched when they turned off the lights. And cried at anything and everything.

They still had a lot of progress to make, Jungkook still couldn't sleep with the lights off. He flinched at times. And he didn't know how to handle his emotions. 

But that didn't mean they weren't proud of how far he'd come -- every step, even small, was still a step.

“We do want to kiss you, little prince,” Hoseok argued softly, “We just want you to kiss us because you feel something for us.” 

“But I do?” Jungkook looked really confused then. “When I see alphas, I get all warm and tingly and I feel really comfortable,” the omega paused, shifting to squirm under the covers to get a hand out and hold Hoseok's fingers, “And I feel really calm and safe with my alphas. And I know that you wouldn't let anyone hurt me. We talked about it last week, in therapy, Dr. Shin said that maybe I was in love. I don't know… but I just know I feel really nice when I'm at home with my alphas.” 

Hoseok didn't breathe for a full while. The alpha stared at Jungkook softly, fiddled with his hair, and shook his head ever so fondly.

Jungkook was so blunt these days. Didn't have a filter. He said anything and everything that came to mind. In this case, it was flattering, so flattering, and even if Jungkook couldn't say I love you with full confidence, this was more than enough. 

“Come here,” The alpha muttered, shifting to gather Jungkook in his arms, “Come here, baby. I know some people who would be so happy to hear that.” 

Jungkook laughed, it was a little sleepy, but he did reach out to wrap arms around the alpha and make it easier to be carried. 

Hoseok brought the omega down the hall on the second floor, gently kicking Seokjin's door open, not surprised at all to find everyone else gathering around. Seokjin had gotten an email of Jungkook's weekly therapy session earlier, they usually went over things together.

“Not sleepy anymore?” Jimin laughed, “I knew you'd be back up.” 

“Still sleepy.” Jungkook protested, pouting, but his pout slipped off rather quickly when Hoseok placed him on the bed. The omega giggled and crawled onto Jimin's lap, laying down on his thighs. “Hyung kidnapped me.” 

Hoseok snickered and pulled Jungkook's shirt over his stomach where a small area of his hip showed, shaking his head and arguing, “I just want you to tell everyone how happy you are with us.”  

Jungkook's cheeks went red. The omega whined and rolled over to hide in Jimin's legs, making the alpha's laugh, but there was an impatience that followed Hoseok's words.

Of course they wanted to know if Jungkook felt safe with them, because sometimes it was hard to tell, but it had been months, and just being able to hold Jungkook close felt like a huge accomplishment.

When the omega, softly, mumbled, “Hyungs are the best.” It felt indescribable.

Jimin leaned down to kiss his ear a handful of times, earning a few soft giggles, and Jungkook playfully swatted him away before the omega was whining and crawling up the bed until he was hiding in the pillows and kicking the blankets back. Or, trying to, but with everyone around there wasn't much space to do so.

Still, they laughed and a few of them stood up so Jungkook could huff his way under the covers until the omega was snuggled with his cheek against the mattress and blankets up to his shoulders.

“No.” Yoongi disagreed as he reached over to take some pillows off of the bed to make more room, “Jungkookie is the best.” 

“‘m not.” 

Jungkook rolled over, eyes all rounded and cute, “Hyungs are cool. You have… lives. Hyungs go to school, or work, or make stuff… I just… I'm just…” He trailed off a little, struggling on what to say. 

This had to be one of the first serious conversations they'd had that wasn't tearful, nor angry, nor upset. Jungkook was just thinking aloud, there was no indication that he was any upset.

“You can do that stuff too.” Namjoon frowned and sat at the end of the bed, petting his ankle through the blankets, “If you want to study, we can enroll you in some classes. If you want to work, we can find something for you. It just depends on what you like to do.” 

Jungkook stared. He looked confused, “I don't know what I like, hyung.” 

Of course, they'd figured such a thing. 

It must be hard to figure out what you like when your entire life you bounced from town to town, school to school, and home to home. 

“Come here.” Seokjin sighed, shifting to pull back the blankets, making Jungkook stare at him wide eyed. “Come here, baby. Let me show you something.” 

Jungkook did reach out for him, rather cutely, arms out and sitting up on his knees. Seokjin chuckled as he scooped him up, making sure the omega clutched him tightly before carrying him down the hallway. 

The omega rested his chin on Seokjin's shoulder, smiling cutely when Namjoon brushed hair from his forehead. Jungkook beamed and tossed a hand at him, holding the alpha's fingers as Seokjin brought him into the game room.

“Oh, not this,” Jimin groaned playfully when Seokjin placed Jungkook on top of the bar, earning a snicker from the eldest as Seokjin moved towards the cabinet beside the billiards table. 

Jungkook raised his eyebrows and leaned against Namjoon when the alpha settled beside him, watching Seokjin bring out a box. 

“Now he's just going to brag,” Hoseok snorted, rolling his eyes and taking a seat on the billiards table.

“Am not,” Seokjin scoffed, pulling out a big square folder, moving to hand it to Jungkook, “Look. Kookie.” 

The omega furrowed his eyebrows and opened the folder, confused at first before he read the degrees—

“Oh!” Jungkook cooed, “Hyungs have degrees? Technology… fashion… art… wow. Hobi hyung, you have a fashion degree? Wow…” 

“They're all different, you see?” The eldest smiled, brushing his fingers through Jungkook's hair and leaning on his other side, “And you can get one too, if you want to, and if you don't -- that's okay too. Tae has been debating on finishing college or not these days, and even if he doesn't that's okay. Hyungs will always take care of him, too.” 

Jungkook's head shot up to find Taehyung, meeting eyes with the alpha leaning on the door and asking, interested, “What will you do, hyung? If you don't go to school?” 

“I don't know,” Taehyung said, honestly, lip quirking up at the sudden attention, shifting to walk over to Jungkook, “But that's okay, too. We don't always need to plan every little thing we do in life.” 

Jungkook looked so confused at that. He chewed on his lip and turned to hand Seokjin back the degrees, fiddling with his hands before mumbling, “I always do. I have to…” 

“You had to,” Namjoon corrected, frowning as he slipped off of the bar, stepping in front of Jungkook to brush his hair behind his ears, “You don't have to anymore, because hyungs will take care of you. Always.” 

The omega stared at him for a minute. He released a loud breath through his nose and leaned into the kiss pressed into the center of his forehead, dropping his eyes to Namjoon's shirt buttons and fiddling.

“It's scary. I know,” Namjoon assured, kissing his head again, nuzzling against Jungkook's hair. “Even if I would never dare to compare our situations, I can relate to how you feel right now, Jungkook. Like you need to be prepared for the worst all of the time, but you don't.” 

“... it's scary…” 

“I know,” Namjoon whispered, devastated, hands wrapping around Jungkook's nape when the omega hugged his waist, shushing, “But you're doing so well already, bunny rabbit. So well. We're so proud of you.” 

Jungkook wasn't crying, not at all, but just knowing the omega admitted he was scared for the future was enough to want to baby him. 

“Let's get him back to bed, he has therapy,” Hoseok suggested, “Come on, puppy, let's go to bed.” 

Jungkook rubbed his eyes when Namjoon kissed his head a few times, giggling a bit when the alpha tugged him off of the bar onto the ground. He rushed for Hoseok's arm, holding onto his fingers and leaning on his shoulder.

Once the duo disappeared down the hallway, Yoongi instantly leaned on the bar, running a hand through his hair and watching Seokjin instantly tug out his phone. “How's the present going?” 

“I think it's going to arrive late,” Seokjin sighed, chewing on his lip, “It says Saturday night. How are we going to go all day pretending we don't know it's his birthday?” 

“We don't have to pretend,” Jimin began, beginning to smile, “We can just distract - Kookie doesn't wake up until noon normally. We eat together. Get him something nice to wear, and I can distract him; let me take him to a movie. I'll be good. I promise.”

Normally, everyone would groan and brush off the idea, but Seokjin didn't protest immediately, so nobody else did. 

“Wait.” Jimin beamed, “I can? I can?” 

Taehyung huffed, crossing his arms as Jimin grew excited, “If Jimin gets to take him on a date, I do too.” 

Immediately, Yoongi was groaning, “Okay. Fine. Only if you calm the fuck down. And Jimin, nothing scary, and drive safe. I'm serious. Tae… just…” The alpha rolled his eyes and brushed him off, “Fine. Whatever. Just don't be too much, alright?” 

Taehyung rolled his eyes and Jimin bounced on his feet, jumping and rushing towards the computer in the corner excitedly, bragging, “Jungkookie will love me the most! You'll be so jealous, hyungs. Really.” 

Chapter Text

Jungkook had therapy earlier today, and it hadn't gone that well. 

Well, it had gone too well, and they'd learned some things they, honestly, wished they hadn't. Some details they wished they hadn't, about Jungkook's previous home.

About how the omega didn't have a lock on his bedroom door, and how he used to sneak out at night in order to avoid late night visitors. How he'd tried to tell so many people about what was going on, but each time only ended up with bruises as soon as they found out about it.

Yoongi was dreading having to repeat it all to the others later, having only sent a short message to Hoseok when requesting the other meet them to cheer Jungkook up.

Jungkook had been quiet. He'd been quiet since he stepped out of the office, only silently accepting Yoongi’s hand. Clutching it as they picked up food and Yoongi had been worried because of that.

Jungkook had been so talkative lately and suddenly he was silent -- it didn't sit well with him.

Yoongi had taken him to the park to eat lunch, they'd never done it before, but Hoseok had suggested getting him out and the other had ditched work to come meet them with blankets and more snacks; they'd hoped it would work.

Only the omega had been quiet still, eating rather slowly, sitting cross-legged and watching the birds as he ate his fries. 

“And, so, we had a customer come in for a fitting,” Hoseok continued, quietly, looking down at his iPad, “But it turned into a huge nightmare, I didn't really want to deal with it. Was busy working on Kookie’s clothes anyway.” 

The omega turned to look at him, confused, at the mention of his name. Licking salt-covered lips and raising his eyebrows. 

Yoongi clicked his tongue, fondly, and reached over to tug his hoodie more around his shoulders, shifting on the blanket to zip up his hoodie. “There you are, baby. Hyungs were worried you were going to daydream all day.” 

Jungkook wiped his mouth on his sleeve, looked a little sheepish as he tucked his hands between his knees, “What was hyung saying about clothes?” 

Yoongi laughed, zipping his hoodie all the way up to his chin. Hoseok passed over his iPad, sending the omega a small smile as he showed Jungkook pictures, “I made some new designs. Wanted you to be the first to wear them.” 

Jungkook's mouth turned into a soft o and he slowly began to smile, releasing a small giggle and sniffling from the cold air as he handed it back. “I want to wear them, hyung.” 

“Then you will,” Hoseok grinned, brushing his hair back when the wind made the strands fall over Jungkook's eyes. 

The omega fell silent again, tugging his knees closer. Resting his chin on his knees and wrapping his arms around himself. He was smiling a little bit this time, so the silence was alright. 

It was a little tense, because there were words they should probably say, but the silence was okay for now. With Jungkook was smiling a little and the wind musing up his hair, everything felt less stressful.

Then, ever so softly, Jungkook said, while watching the empty swing set move in the wind, “Used to go to a park like this one. Sometimes. That one had a really large skatepark, this one doesn't.” 

“Did you skate?” Yoongi asked, shifting closer, hand on his back. 

“No.” Jungkook chuckled, “Used to watch the other teenagers, though. Sometimes they'd smoke, too. I didn't like the smell of it. Sometimes they'd come talk to me, sometimes I would flirt back, too.” 

Of course they knew Jungkook. Knew that he'd done some things he wasn't necessarily proud of, but he hadn't realized they weren't normal. Hadn't realized just how much he was worth -- didn't know that he should treat his body like it was precious, too. 

Jungkook threw himself at people, probably many people in the past. And he was beautiful, they couldn't at all blame someone for accepting, because they hadn't known they were taking advantage of a confused, traumatized omega.

Despite knowing there was nothing they could do, and that it hadn't been their fault for not being there for him, there was still a lot of regret. An unreasonable guilt. In hearing his past.

“Even if I was tired,” Jungkook shifted to straighten up, rocking a little bit, “I would stay out. For some reason…” he trailed off a bit, looked a little ashamed as he picked at his jeans, “Even if I was out, messing around with strangers, it was better than being home. Than having someone,” The omega swallowed, hard, “Who was supposed to take care of me, hurt me. With strangers it was… it didn't really matter, you know? Usually, it was easier. They didn't know me. Didn't know everything I've done. Didn't know how filthy I was—”

“Jungkook.” Hoseok cut him off, so gently, “You aren't filthy, or dirty, or ruined. Not at all. You were just a kid.” 

Jungkook's eyes were wet when he glanced at the alpha, his lip trembling as he sucked it between his teeth, but the omega surprised them, because he smiled. And it was a wet, teary smile. 

“I think… maybe… maybe I understand that, or I'm starting to,” Jungkook cleared his throat, “Because sometimes I think about something Dr. Shin said… she said what if, what if it were one of you, and I couldn't- I couldn't stomach the thought of even imagining us switching places and someone doing what they'd done to me, to my alphas. And…” The omega began to laugh, all wet, and quiet, “I think, for the first time, I was mad about it. You know? I was never mad before, I was scared, but not mad… and god… I'm…” 

Jungkook sniffed hard, reaching up to wipe his cheeks, throwing his head back and facing the sky as he said, a mix of a cry and a hiss, “I'm so mad.”

This was a much better reaction than Yoongi had expected; the alpha was dreading having to bring it up and figure out what all of the silence was about, but he couldn't have expected this.

It hurt so badly to see Jungkook cry, it always did and always would feel like someone was chipping away at his heart, but Jungkook was crying and laughing. 

And he was talking, saying so much, explaining his feelings to them without even asking and it was progress -- it was so much progress that it was hard to believe that over three months ago Jungkook used to lock himself in the shower for hours just to avoid them. 

They were so proud of him. And no matter how much his words hurt, or angered them, the amount of pride they felt when Jungkook spoke was overwhelming. 

“Is this normal?” Jungkook asked, chuckling, face red as he looked between them, “I'm so mad, but tired, and I just… I don't care anymore. You know? I'm so exhausted, I'm tired of being alone all the time. In my thoughts. In person. I'm tired of being so scared of what everyone might think…”

“Baby. Baby bunny,” Yoongi burst into laughter, a gummy smile on his lips, “Come here. I love you. We love you. Come here.” 

Jungkook giggled and it was much more happy than it was laced with irritation. 

The omega did scoot across the blanket and slump down to lay on Yoongi’s chest, between his legs, laughing when Hoseok leaned down to kiss his face a handful of times before cupping his cheeks and wiping his tears.

“It's good, Kookie,” Yoongi assured, petting his hair back, leaning down to kiss the crown of his head, “You could share anything with us and we'd never judge you, or find it strange, you're our mate. Our omega. We're proud of you.” 

Jungkook was quiet for a moment, then he turned in Yoongi’s arms, voice serious when he asked, “Are we mates?”

“What?” Hoseok frowned, “Of course we are-”

“No,” The omega laughed, softly, “Do you see me as a mate? Believe I am beautiful enough that you'd want to, despite knowing my past, still,” He wet his lips, “love me as though I am not the way I am…”

“And how is that?” Yoongi frowned, “Beautiful? Amazing?”

They knew what he was saying. Of course they did. Jungkook was constantly worried about whether or not they intended to be mates with him. 

Blushing, Jungkook ducked his head and rubbed palms on his knees, giggling. And that did make them feel a bit better, but it didn't remedy the situation. 

“Jungkook?” 

The omega lifted his head and Hoseok cupped his cheek. The alpha pet his soft cheek before he leaned in, gently pressing their lips together. More than a peck, but nothing too deep. Just gentle. Loving. Hoseok leaned back after a minute, still petting his cheek. Jungkook smiled, so big, eyes slightly wet. 

“We do love you,” Hoseok swore, “With everything. No matter what.” 

Jungkook laughed, louder than a giggle, and leaned against Yoongi, “Thank you.” 

“Don't thank us, Jungkook. There is nothing to thank us for.” 

Chapter Text

“Come on.” 

“What are we doing?” 

Taehyung grinned ear to ear. The alpha wet his lips, a little nervous, and ran around the car to open the door for Jungkook. The omega jumped out, eyes going wide.

This wasn't exactly the date part that Taehyung had planned, but just a pit stop on the way to the restaurant. It would be fun for Jungkook to look around a college campus, to see if it was something he'd be interested in.

They'd discussed it as a pack, but Taehyung wanted to bring Jungkook when it was just them, because despite the fact that they'd never pressure the omega into things, Taehyung knew there certainly was pressure for him to be educated.

It was hard living in a pack with such hard working, talented people, and even though their hyungs wouldn't force anything, there was an internal pressure to do well. As well as them. 

Taehyung hated school. He was never good at it, but he'd gone, because the hyungs had smiled so big when he said he would enroll with Jimin. Jungkook didn't feel pressure around him, not when school was involved. 

“Oh!” Jungkook looked up at the row of streetlights then said, eyebrows shooting up, “What's that sound?” 

Immediately, the alpha blinked away from his stare, an incredibly hard thing to do, and spun around. It was music. It was intense, loud music, and Taehyung was surprised he hadn't noticed it until now, but where Jungkook was involved everything else sort of blurred. 

However, a college party wasn't exactly what he wanted to show Jungkook. Not at all—

“Come on, Tae!” 

Jungkook was giggling. He was curling their fingers together and yanking Taehyung with him towards the sound. The alpha did try to protest, but what was he to do -- Jungkook was smiling so hard tonight. 

Around the main office building, there was a large courtyard where many of the assemblies took place. Only tonight there were streamers all over and flags for their soccer team and they must have won a game. It was a Friday night. It made sense. 

The last thing Taehyung wanted to do, though, was take Jungkook to an actual college party with colorful lights blinking everywhere and music so loud it was shaking the tables of alcohol.

“Wow!” 

Except Jungkook was awing and the omega was gasping, so excited, and was yanking Taehyung through people, yelling, “This is college?” 

The alpha grew weary when he saw the tables of alcohol set up, and even more irritated by all of the scents, so he yanked Jungkook's fingers gently, pulled him to a stop in the middle of everyone dancing.

“Kookie,” Taehyung worried, “We should go-”

“But it's so fun!” Jungkook laughed, looking up at him with doe eyes, “Just for a little?” 

Taehyung swallowed, he nodded just a bit, eyes flickering over Jungkook's head to look around for a moment. It wasn't that he hated parties. More so he hated the thought of Jungkook surrounded by all of these horny, drunk college students.

So, finally, he sighed and replied, “Stay close. And just for a little.” 

Jungkook jumped at him, arms wrapping around his neck, pressing their chests together. When Taehyung blinked, confused, the omega eye smiled, “You said stay close.” 

Not like that, but… Taehyung wasn't going to lie and say he disliked it. Especially not when his chest felt tight as he breathed in everyone's scent mixing with Jungkook's.

Taehyung wrapped an arm around his waist, pulling the omega closer, other hand settling on his hip. Jungkook giggled to himself, fingers cold against Taehyung's nape as he pulled the alpha down to say, in his ear, “I don't think this is how people dance to his music, alpha.” 

Alpha.

Jungkook only ever said alpha when he was sucking up, or when he was going to cause trouble, and Taehyung knew it was the later, because the omega was then nestling his nose against the area below Taehyung's ear, breathing airy giggles into his neck.

“Jungkook. Kookie.” 

Jungkook didn't even move.

Taehyung bit his lip and cupped the back of Jungkook's neck, “Baby.” 

“Yes?” The omega leaned back a bit, still close enough for the alpha to feel his warm breath, “Yes, alpha?” 

“We need to go-”

And Jungkook was kissing him. Fingers curling into the back of Taehyung's shirt collar, tugging the alpha closer. He tasted of candy and soda, very sweet, and his lips were pillow soft and so warm and—

Taehyung kissed him back. Both hands grabbing Jungkook's face, mouth opening to seal their lips in a messy kiss. 

They'd kissed before, but it had been an instinctive one. Hard and fast. And it hadn't lasted more than a second and this, this was far from that. It made Taehyung's skin buzz, and, honestly, his heart was beginning to face which was a completely unfamiliar feeling.

Jungkook left goosebumps wherever he touched. Around the back of his neck. Over his shoulders. Fingers dancing over the front of his tee and under his coat. Jungkook's fingers curled into the front of his jeans and Taehyung hissed under his breath, pulling away.

He didn't pull Jungkook's fingers away, but Taehyung brushed the hair from the omega's eyes, swallowed hard. 

Jungkook was more than beautiful. He was angelic. And his lips were swollen and plump and his cheeks were flushed pink. And the omega was a little breathy and smiling. Taehyung could feel his fingertips against either of his hip bones, curling deeper into the waistband of his jeans. 

“Jungkook. Baby,” Taehyung whispered, holding Jungkook's face as he leaned in to press a feather-like kiss on the omega's forehead. “We can't.” 

And Jungkook hadn't been asking anything, not with words, but he smelled so strongly of lust and he was so beautiful and the omega most certainly knew that putting his fingers into an alpha's waistband indicated something much more than kissing.

“Why?” 

“We can't. We just can't,” Taehyung sighed, petting down Jungkook's shoulders, “I want you. I do. I just,” he chewed on his lip, thumb brushing over the soft skin of Jungkook's collarbone, “I love you. That's why I can't do this; I can't have sex with you, because I love you.” 

“That doesn't make sense,” And Jungkook did sound a little frustrated, a little upset, “I learned recently, that you're supposed to have sex with people you love. Because you want to. And I want to. I want to have sex with someone I love.” 

There were a number of responsible responses Taehyung could have reasoned to get out of this, but he was the youngest and it wasn't too out of the box for them to have assumed he lacked control --- he did.

Because the moment Jungkook said that, one thing occurred to Taehyung only.

Jungkook loved him.

They always said that to Jungkook, said they loved him, and it had been months of this and they were willing to wait far longer to hear it back, but Jungkook was saying it—

To Taehyung.

The alpha laughed, in disbelief, “You love me?” 

Jungkook looked confused. “Was I not supposed to?” 

“No. It's just…” Taehyung gulped, felt tears sit in his eyes. He sucked on his bottom lip, eyes flickering over Jungkook's head to look around. 

After a moment, Taehyung was grabbing Jungkook's waist to pick him up, earning a sharp gasp and hands curling into his shoulders. “We aren't talking about this here. We'll talk in the car.” 

“And sex?” 

“Oh god,” Taehyung was near tears and Jungkook wanted sex that badly, “I fucking love you.” 

The omega wiggled in his grip and dipped his head down to get in Taehyung's face, grinning to himself, “Enough for sex?” 

“Hyungs would kill me if I had sex with you.” 

“That's a yes.” Jungkook giggled, leaning in to press his lips against Taehyung's neck, hot breath and warm tongue running along the alpha’s skin. 

Taehyung was going to die when they got home, but right now it certainly felt worth it. 

***

Taehyung suspected they knew what happened long before they'd arrived home, because when he took his phone out of the glovebox he had so many missed calls and messages. 

They were two hours late from the midnight curfew.

Jungkook had fallen asleep after they'd picked up some McDonald's, at the omega’s request, and Taehyung was pretty nervous about bringing him inside asleep because they'd listen better to Jungkook than him regarding this situation.

Taehyung stepped through the door carrying the omega and everyone was already waiting. And if it wasn't enough that they could certainly smell what the duo had been up to, Jungkook was wearing his coat and was barefoot and his shoulder showed many love marks. 

Taehyung had them too. And scratches and bruises from navigating them around the car—

“For fucksake.” 

And they were fuming. He knew they would be, but right now Yoongi’s hiss was hushed, only because Jungkook was asleep.

“Not now.” Taehyung requested, ignoring everyone's eyes and shifting Jungkook in his hold, “I'll put him to bed-”

“No.” Namjoon growled. “I'll put him to bed-”

“Nah. I'm good. I'm fine,” Taehyung tried. “I'm super okay to take him to bed and try to save my life a little longer-”

“What the hell were you thinking?” 

Taehyung deflated. He sighed and reluctantly handed Jungkook over to Namjoon. Better to face this now, it was Jungkook's birthday tomorrow and they didn't need to have a screaming match first thing in the morning.

Right now, their voices were low, and nobody was yelling -- yet. 

Seokjin was angry. He was. And Taehyung knew he was, but the eldest wasn't growling at him, he was leaning on the chair and sounded disappointed. “Taehyung. What the-”

“We had sex. Yes,” Taehyung wet his lips, sounded both defensive and upset, hands curling into the back of the couch. He released a breath, “And Jungkook was completely aware of everything and fine. And he asked. And he said he loves us. How was I…” he shook his head, “He's our mate. Not a child.” 

“Nobody said he's a child.” Hoseok argued, not at all yelling, but he sounded exasperated, “But he doesn't-”

There was a scoff. “Doesn't understand?” 

And that hadn't been Taehyung. It was Jimin, who shifted to lean on Taehyung's arm, and sounded more upset than the youngest alpha did, “That's the issue, hyungs! You always say he doesn't understand, don't do this, don't do that, but he does. Jungkook isn't broken -- he's not. And you guys forget that even though he's had a lot of issues, he still needs to live life. All you guys ever do is try to build this… this…”

Jimin scoffed, “Fake reality for him. Pretending that everything is fine. It's not. Things aren't fine. Not for him. Not for us. What do you want us to do? You want us to avoid our own feelings for him, want him to avoid his own feelings for us, just because you want to pretend that he needs to be treated like glass all of the time. Enough. We're going to fuck up -- hell, we've fucked up many times already, but pretending we don't want him. Pushing him away, because we're scared of triggering him. It's not going to make anything better.” 

It was silent for a long few minutes. Long enough for Namjoon to return and move to dig through the laundry basket in the corner with a quiet, “Where are his pajamas?” that went unanswered. 

It was silent until Seokjin leaned over his lap to rub his face, mumbling, “Was he okay?” 

Taehyung's lips curled up, just a bit, “Yeah,” He chuckled softly, “Of course, hyung. I'd never hurt him. You know that.” 

“I know,” Seokjin sighed and sat up, eyes apologetic, “I know. We know. It's just…” He shook his head, “It's Jungkook.” 

Honestly, Taehyung didn't need any sort of excuse or reasoning as to their actions. Not at all. They'd always be extra cautious about Jungkook. Always protective. 

After all, it was Jungkook—

And he only deserves the best.

Chapter Text

Jungkook turned nineteen today. 

And it was his favorite birthday ever. 

The omega had never celebrated his birthday before, not in many years. The last he could remember was when he was eleven or twelve, but all of the good memories tended to mix in with the bad, so he tried not to think of the past so much.

The future seemed a much better picture to look at.

Jungkook had known something was up from early in the morning. When he'd woken up to breakfast in bed and nearly got kicked out of his own bed when Namjoon jumped on him to give him hugs and kisses. 

They'd just seemed… extra happy today.  

And that, in turn, made Jungkook extra happy too. Although he was suspicious of them all day, especially because Taehyung was still alive after last night. Jungkook couldn't complain about anything; he was ecstatic when Hoseok gave him a new outfit to wear and Jimin scooped him up to toss him into the car with a murmur about the movies. 

“Are you hungry, babe?” 

Jungkook didn't reply for a moment, the omega picked up his trash from the empty seat beside him and felt Jimin wrap arms around his spine. He giggled when the alpha kissed the side of his neck, nuzzling there.

“Hyungs are meeting us there?” The omega giggled, looking up at him with sparkly eyes. 

Jimin hummed, took the trash from his hand with a quiet, “Something like that.” 

Jungkook tugged him into a kiss, pressing a kiss on the alpha’s mouth, then biting his cheek and smiling innocently as he accepted Jimin's palm. The alpha huffed out a surprised laugh, playfully nibbled at his shoulder until Jungkook squeaked. Then, Jimin mused, “Is that how you seduced Taehyung, huh? Pretty eyes and surprise kisses?”

“You think my eyes are pretty, alpha?” 

“You're a little spoiled these days, aren't you?” Jimin snorted, ears a little red. He dropped their trash into the bin and started leading Jungkook out towards the parking lot. 

Jungkook couldn't deny that. He felt pretty spoiled these days too. And pretty happy -- very happy. So happy that the word happy didn't really encompass how he felt. In all honesty, Jungkook felt truly lucky. And so grateful. And there just weren't enough words he could think of to describe everything he felt. 

Jungkook was scared sometimes. Sometimes he had nightmares. Sometimes his own shadow jumped out at him. And sometimes his body refused to stop panicking to the point where Jungkook could do nothing but pull his pocket knife out of his side table and clutch it until he fell back asleep. 

But that used to be a daily event.

Now, it was rare. And when things did get bad in his mind, Jungkook had people who walked in and checked on him everyday. And he had people who would panic twice as hard as he did upon seeing him that way. And he had alphas who would cry into the phone asking his therapist just what could they do—

Because they'd do anything for him. 

Jungkook never understood sacrifice before, but they sacrificed so much for him. Time. Money. Their own pride -- he'd never seen alphas cry before either, but when he cried, they cried too. 

And Jungkook loved that. He loved when they checked on him at random times at night, even accidentally waking him up, and he loved when they called his therapist for advice, and he loved that they were never, ever, mad at him. 

And Jungkook loved that they loved him too. 

Even though, sometimes, it felt as though he didn't deserve it at all. 

“There's the birthday boy.” 

Jungkook gasped. Eyes widening as he looked across the parking lot. Today certainly was suspicious. They were all standing there, leaning against the Range Rover, waiting. 

“I thought…” Jungkook began, laughing, “I thought hyungs were…”

“I said something like that,” Jimin chuckled, pet his side, “Never said yes, bunny.” 

Jungkook whined, pinching Jimin's arm softly, before the omega went running across the parking lot, smiling big. 

Surprised when Namjoon jumped out to wrap arms around his waist and gave him a big spin. And Jungkook couldn't stop smiling, or giggling, even if the spin made him a little dizzy. 

“Happy birthday, little omega,” Namjoon grinned, Jungkook's toes weren't even on the ground due to how tight he was hugging him, “Alphas love you.” 

Jungkook's nose scrunched, eyes crescenting, “Alphas said that so many times today.” 

“Because it's true,” Seokjin snickered to himself, smile soft and happy, “Because we love you so much, puppy. And it's a very special day, so you deserve to hear it a hundred times today if you want that.” 

Jungkook did want that, so he certainly wasn't going to protest to that. Instead, he leaned into the kiss Namjoon placed on his cheek, smiling all bunny-like with his teeth in his bottom lip, fingers clutching the alpha’s arms. 

Namjoon placed him down after a moment, kissing him a handful of times until Jungkook was releasing excited, breathy giggles and turning a soft pink. Just when he placed a hand on Jungkook's lower back and pushed him, urgingly, towards the others, there was a loud smack from inside of the car. 

Immediately, Hoseok was cursing and pushing Taehyung out of the doorway, groaning, “I think we better just give Jungkookie his gift now. Before the leather is ruined.” 

Jungkook furrowed his eyebrows, confused. 

“Fine. Fine,” Seokjin sighed, playfully exasperated, “I'd like to have him pick a name anyway, so we can order him a collar.” 

“Name?” 

Jungkook was approaching the car rather slowly, hesitantly, until Yoongi was grabbing his hips and wrapping arms around his waist, situating his chin on Jungkook's shoulder. The alpha seemed very pleased with himself. 

Hoseok climbed out of the back of the car then, arms full of a soft blue cloth. Peeking from one end was a chocolate colored, tail—

Jungkook lost all air in his lungs.

It was a puppy. A chocolate colored doberman with caramel colored markings and floppy ears. The puppy was rather big for being a baby, which meant he'd only grow bigger and Jungkook was so surprised and flabbergasted and—

The puppy had a ribbon on his paw. A soft blue ribbon with bite marks in the material. They'd gotten him a puppy. They got Jungkook a puppy -- Jungkook had a puppy.

The omega practically burst into tears. Sobbing and hyperventilating. And losing all muscle control to fall like a limp noodle into Yoongi’s chest. 

It surprised the alpha, who struggled to take all of his weight in less than a second, and immediately knelt down behind Jungkook, shushing and worriedly kissing his shoulder. “Oh, my love. Jungkookie… baby…” 

Jungkook cried and he sniffled and he tried to speak through shaky tears. Sniffling, “Itsapuppy.” 

That calmed them all down considerably realizing he was crying happy tears.

“It's a puppy. He's your puppy,” Hoseok smiled, beamed, shifted to place the puppy on the ground, removing the blanket. The alpha gave the puppy a few scratches, “Come see him, Kookie. He's really sweet. Like you.” 

Jungkook sniffled. Tried to stop crying, but the tears kept coming and he was shaking. And it was incredibly scary, but the omega was smiling too, so big. 

“Baby,” Taehyung laughed as he offered Jungkook his hand, neck still covered in love marks, the alpha had done nothing to hide them, even wore an open shirt, “Come here, gorgeous.” 

“It's a-a puppy,” Jungkook whimpered to himself, taking Taehyung's hand to stand up, wobbly, “It's a puppy.” He was in disbelief.

They'd bought him a puppy. A very cute puppy. One who was wagging so fast and had big floppy ears and who was smacking paws at Hoseok's hand and trying to play already. 

Jungkook loved him. And he loved them. 

And another wave of tears made the omega whimper loudly, crying and turning to hide in Taehyung's chest for a second long enough for the alpha to cup the back of his head and kiss his head. 

“Kookie…” Taehyung couldn't help but to laugh a bit fondly under his breath, “Happy birthday. Pet your puppy before alphas start crying too. That won't be pretty at all, babydoll.” 

Jungkook's whimpering and crying drew the puppy's attention fast. Big ears flopped up. Shiny eyes went big. The puppy whimpered back, moved to sniff at Jungkook and stomped big paws on his and Taehyung's feet. 

The omega beamed. Face red and snotty and still crying. He beamed as he knelt down to see the puppy, gasping under his breath. 

The doberman ran into his chest, pushed Jungkook onto his bottom in an excited flurry making Seokjin grimace and move to help Jungkook up, until the omega began to laugh so loudly.

“Hi. Hi.” Jungkook was smiling the widest they'd ever seen, all sparkly eyes and flushed cheeks. The puppy gave him kisses and Jungkook clutched him into his chest, kissing the puppy right back, trying to restrain the puppy's excited wiggles. 

“He's going to scratch Kookie up,” Jimin worried under his breath, smiling a bit, “Should we…” 

“No,” Hoseok chuckled, “I think that's a memory Kookie would be happy to have for a few days. Plus, I'm sure all of us are going to have to get used to puppy claws. His paws are huge. Going to be a big dog.” 

Seokjin laughed, “You wanted a guard dog.” 

And a doberman would be a very big guard dog once bigger. Enough to scare off anyone who came too close to Jungkook, because it was clear the omega wouldn't be separating from the puppy for a long while. (If at all).

“Are you going to pick a name, baby?” Yoongi moved to help Jungkook up once the omega managed to rangle the puppy into his arms, “Tomorrow we can-”

“Bam.” Jungkook looked up, cheeks blotchy and red, dimple deep on his cheek, “I want to name him Bam. And,” he hiccuped, making the alpha coo and brush the tears on his cheek, “I-I want him to have a d-dog house and l-lots of toys an-and…” 

“Baby,” Yoongi laughed, wrapping an arm around him and petting his side, “Don't worry. Bam can have all of that. All of it. Anything.” 

Jungkook nodded, all stiff and teary, like he was seconds away from sobbing again. 

“I-I l-love you.” The omega’s lip trembled before he all but face planted into Seokjin's chest. The eldest cooed down at him, kissing his head. Bam peeked over his shoulder, whimpering and nosing Jungkook's hair and looking at the alphas with sad eyes. 

“Yes we know he's crying.” Namjoon snorted, petting the puppy and Jungkook’s heads, “Maybe you'll make for a good guard dog after all.” 

Chapter Text

Jungkook had nightmares. A lot.

Still. Even though it had been months, Jungkook had nightmares, the only difference now was that the omega had someone who was very alert to any small changes in the omega’s physical state. Even when he slept.

Bam slept in a bed in the corner of Jungkook's room. The puppy was in the process of being trained, and one of the steps was teaching the dog to sleep alone seeing as he'd done nothing but sleep with Jungkook for weeks this far. Right on his pillows. 

So when Namjoon had walked by, at first he thought the puppy was whining on the other side of the door because he wanted to get up on the bed. Only when the alpha pushed open the door, his focus instantly shifted onto Jungkook's dimly lit scrunched expression and the nails dug into his own palms so roughly Namjoon could smell blood hitting his nose—

“Baby.” The alpha whispered, hushed, but urgent. 

They should have come to check on him sooner, it was strange of Jungkook to want to go to bed before midnight. Usually the omega whined to watch movies and play games until he fell asleep across Hoseok's thighs. 

Tonight, Jungkook had gone to bed all on his own after a few short kisses, and they'd chalked it up to being exhausted from his therapy appointment and Bam’s training hour. It was foolish to not question Jungkook when the omega stuck to very vigorous routines.

Namjoon swept up Jungkook immediately, ignoring the pattering of Bam’s paws on his own feet and the puppy’s excited noises to scoop the omega up. 

Jungkook was all limp, and in Namjoon's chest he was fussing in his sleep, so quiet. Barely a sound came out.

“Kookie. Baby.” Namjoon tried to wake him softly, arms full of the sleeping omega as he started back towards the game room where he knew everyone was settled. (They stuck to routines, too. The pack always stayed up to watch something together at night.) 

As soon as Bam ran into the game room with an excited chuff to get out of the room and to run around, everyone looked at them. Bam jumped up onto Taehyung's lap and the alpha winced and yanked the overgrown puppy into his arms to get him to settle down, but his attention was on Jungkook.

Even without seeing his scrunched expression or hearing his breathy whines, they knew Jungkook. 

And there were only a few reasons as to why Jungkook would be out of bed after sleeping, because he loved to sleep -- he either wanted to share a bed, he got hungry, or he had a nightmare.

Seeing as the omega was clearly still dead asleep, the answer was obvious. 

“Shit,” Hoseok whispered, jumping up to make more room on the couch and rushing to gather blankets from the basket in the corner. “Someone wake him up before it gets too bad.” 

Jungkook released a throaty whine and kicked softly in his sleep, a twitch of his leg really, and Namjoon went pale as he hurried to drop down on the large sofa, “Too late. Must be bad.” 

Immediately, Jimin was standing beside the couch and helping muse Jungkook awake. He dug fingers into the omega's hair and pet it back, shushing softly as he did so. 

Jungkook's eyelashes fluttered. He released this breathy whine and jerked his head to the side into Namjoon's chest. The alpha bounced his shoulders gently.

“Baby. Beautiful,” Jimin muttered, leaning closer, “You need to wake up, Kookie. You're having a–”

Jungkook jerked awake. The omegas eyes were wide and horrified. He didn't blink, his hands moved out on their own accord and there was no second of thought before one of them swept out and smacked Jimin right in the face. The alpha immediately jumped back, eyes huge, holding his cheek.

It was completely uncontrollable. Unwilling. A response to the fear that was visible on his face. And audible in how fast and heavy he was breathing. 

“Jungkook!” Yoongi cried, but not upset or angry, just worried.

Jungkook sucked in a breath, eyes swelling with tears as he looked around, and then the omega jumped at Jimin, a sob tearing it's way out of his lips, “Alpha. ‘m sorry. I'm sorry. Alpha. J-Jimin.” 

Jimin was stunned for a moment and didn't immediately wrap arms around Jungkook, so the omega began to panic harder, rubbing his cheek along the crook of his neck, pressing frantic kisses onto his skin. Scenting everywhere he could. 

“Okay. Okay, sweet omega,” Hoseok said rather fast, grabbing Jungkook when the display of affection grew too touchy. The second Jungkook ran a hand down Jimin's chest. 

Sex was one thing, but when Jungkook was upset. When he was sobbing, when he'd just smacked Jimin in the face due to a nightmare and was begging for his apology to be accepted -- well, needless to say they'd never take advantage of Jungkook. Even if their alpha instincts found him enticing, there was nothing enticing about their mate sobbing this way.

“Jungkook.” Hoseok shushed, sitting on the floor, Jungkook between his legs absolutely sobbing. Shaking and wailing. Smearing tears on his cheeks.

Bam was whining, soft whimpers, pawing at Taehyung's leg as though to say look, look! Of course the alpha noticed, it was all they could focus on. Jungkook sobbing was the worst feeling they could ever experience. 

They knew by now that when Jungkook was like this, there was little they could immediately do. Just holding him had to be enough, because no words would calm him down.

So Hoseok held him tightly, leaning over his spine and scenting along Jungkook's shoulder and neck as the omega wailed. The alpha rubbed his chest and kissed his cheek and ear and jaw in hopes the comfort would calm Jungkook down.

It worked after a while; Jungkook began to quiet, he began to sniffle and folded over his lap to hide in his knees. 

“There we go,” Seokjin whispered, tone relieved, slipping down to curl fingers around Jungkook's nape, petting up into his hair, “Just breathe, little one. Nobody is upset. We just love you. So much. We're not upset, just want to talk. Do you want to talk?” 

Sometimes after a nightmare, Jungkook did want to talk, but more often than not he'd change the subject and discuss it at therapy the following day. 

Not because Jungkook did not trust them, not at all, the omega was aware that they listened to his sessions, even asked their opinions at dinner sometimes, but because he didn't want to have to repeat his trauma twice. Telling them and then again at therapy.

They didn't want to force him to retell his traumas even once, so whatever Jungkook felt was a good decision they thought it was too. 

“I-I'm sorry,” Jungkook cried, face bright red and smeared with tears and snot when he lifted his head to look around Seokjin at Jimin. The alpha's cheek was bright red, but Jimin wasn't upset. Surprised yes, but not upset.

Yoongi practically hissed, nudging Jimin's arm when the other didn't move to talk to Jungkook. He was stunned. He'd just been hit by his mate, obviously that hurt, and Jimin was trying to pick the words he thought would be best. 

It's okay was a lie, because nothing was okay with what happened or what happened to Jungkook; and they'd never lie to Jungkook, but another common phrase similar to it's okay hadn't been made yet, and Jimin wasn't the best with words.

Instead, he shifted closer on his knees and collected Jungkook's face in his palms, pressing their lips together for a moment.

It helped Jungkook hold his breath, too, forced him to calm down for a moment and stop choking on his tears. The omega's hands flew up to curl around Jimin's wrists, leaning his forehead onto Jimin's. The alpha kissed him again, softly, then leaned back, hands combing Jungkook's hair from his face. 

“I smell blood,” Jimin whispered, just a breath. “Are you bleeding, Kookie?” 

Namjoon spoke before Jungkook did, “His hands. Nails again.” 

Hoseok clicked his tongue and pulled Jungkook's back against his chest to collect his hands and turn them over. Sighing as he looked at the few little scratches in Jungkook's palms.

The omega sucked on his bottom lip, looking through his hair with guilty, tearfilled eyes when Seokjin leaned into his view to grab his fingers and look at the dried blood beneath his nails. The eldest teased, “We need to get you some nice, soft gloves.” Then, pressed a handful of kisses to his palm.

Jungkook smiled. He giggled, just a bit, cheered up just enough for the air to not be so tense. The omega realized nobody was upset. He relaxed.

Looked at Jimin, opened his mouth, but the alpha just smiled, red cheek and all, and offered his arms. Jungkook readily threw himself at Jimin, kissing the alpha's cheek, arms locking him around the alpha. “I'm sorry, alphas.” 

“You were scared.” Yoongi hushed, “We all know you were. We worry over you. Sometimes we have accidents, Jungkook. We mess up all the time, too. You know that.” 

An understatement really, because sometimes they went too far. Sometimes they startled Jungkook. Sometimes they asked too many questions. Hell. Just last month Yoongi thought Jungkook would be alright looking at games while he grabbed a new charger, and he stepped back into the aisle not even a few minutes later and the omega had been having a full on panic attack.

“I'm sorry,” Jungkook whispered, nuzzling into Jimin's jaw, but he was no longer crying, so it was reassuring. “I love alphas.” 

And that certainly felt good to hear. 

“I love you,” Jimin smiled, pressing a handful of kisses onto Jungkook's lips, not an inch of space between them as he pulled the omega closer, cupping the back of his head. Meeting Jungkook's eyes, he said, firmly, “I'm sorry for scaring you, too. Now we're both sorry. And we both still love each other. It was an accident, Kookie. I forgive you. And love you, and adore you.” 

Jungkook laughed. He laughed with wet, crescented eyes and red cheeks. A laugh was a laugh, though, and it still felt amazing to be the cause of Jungkook’s laughter. 

“Want to lay back down?” 

“With alphas?” Jungkook turned his head to look at Seokjin, “Can we sleep together, hyung? All together? Movie then sleep?” 

The eldest beamed. “Alphas will go get some blankets, baby boy.” 

Chapter Text

“My bank keeps giving me this weird error.” 

“Good morning to you too, babydoll.” Yoongi said, cracking eggs into a bowl. The alpha wasn't at all surprised to see Jungkook coming down bright and early. The omega tended to wake up to come down and eat then go back to bed. “Come here. Let alpha see.” 

Jungkook blinked the sleepiness from his eyes and sniffed when he entered the kitchen, phone in hand, the omega eyed the pancakes piled on the sheet pan then curled around Yoongi’s side as the alpha mixed the eggs.

A smile pulled at Yoongi’s lips immediately. The alpha turned his head to press a kiss against Jungkook's temple as he tossed the eggs into the pan, then he turned to look at the omega.

“It's really weird.” Jungkook mumbled, closing his eyes when Yoongi grabbed his face and brushed a kiss over his brow. Chocolate eyes popped open when the elder kissed his cheekbone. He thrust the phone at Yoongi. “Says I need more money or something.” 

The alpha furrowed his eyebrows, confused.

They had a lot of money. However, they weren't dumb enough to keep it all in one account due to hackings and such. They used a savings account and every month sent funds to their individual ones, because some of them couldn't be trusted with money. Taehyung, mainly, because he bought all kinds of strange furniture when he had too much in his account.

It had taken Jungkook months to even spend a few dollars, so to see his account with an error saying insufficient funds was strange considering they'd just put a few grand into it.

“Strange.” Yoongi said, shifting to lean on the island and pulling out his own phone, eyebrows furrowed. “I'll send you more right now, angel. Did you buy a new doghouse for Bam?” 

Jungkook eyed his profile. The omega chewed on his bottom lip, he didn't sound nervous, just curious, when he asked. “Are you mad?” 

The omega tended to do that these days, asking very blunt things when he was feeling unsure or otherwise uncomfortable. It was something he'd been working on in therapy, but sometimes it was strange to hear some of the things that left his mouth. 

Once, when having a nice dinner at a restaurant, Jungkook had bluntly asked whether or not they'd had sex with other omegas before and that had gone over awkwardly. (Even more so because Jungkook scowled at their answers.) 

“Not at all.” Yoongi assured, putting his phone down and refreshing Jungkook's account. The error left. The alpha turned to cup Jungkook's chin and pressed a kiss onto his mouth. “What's mine is yours. You know that.” 

Then, nonchalantly, Yoongi went back to finishing breakfast and Jungkook took his phone and settled at the island. So quietly. 

Jungkook was very good at being quiet, but the fact that he wasn't clinging onto him or asking when the food would be done was a little weird. Either way, Yoongi didn't mention it. 

Hoseok came trudging down by the time the food was done followed by Seokjin and only then did Jungkook bring it up again. The omega spotted the duo and said, very loud all of the sudden, “I spent ten grand, hyungs.” 

Hoseok's eyebrows raised in surprise. Seokjin merely smiled, a tired smile, he brushed a kiss against Jungkook's head as he walked to the coffee pot, mumbling, “Good. Is Bam outside or sleeping?” 

Jungkook didn't reply, he nibbled at his lip and when Hoseok came close enough the omega was pushing his phone across the island towards him. Confused and a bit tired still, the alpha took a minute longer than normal to read the page Jungkook was showing him. 

When he did, Hoseok looked at Jungkook with big, alert eyes. He scanned the omega's face as though looking for any sign of discomfort. “Baby…” 

That tone was what made both of the eldest alpha spin around. In a second flat Yoongi had the stove off and was taking the phone from Hoseok. 

“What is it?” Seokjin worried, putting his coffee down to pet Jungkook's head, eyes rounded and concerned. “Is it the nightmares again, my love? Is it therapy? Did you want to-”

“Hyung.” Yoongi sounded awed and a little overwhelmed, “He donated the money to an omega care shelter.” 

Jungkook's eyes flickered between them all. He tugged at the end of his shirt and looked through his hair. The omega used to shy away from attention a lot, but it had been a long while since he'd done so. He did today. He mumbled, whispering, “... said it was good to look up people like me… recovery or something. But I… I felt bad when I saw the pictures of the kids and…” Jungkook sat up, scratched at the inside of his wrist, “I don't want it to happen to them, so…”

“That's amazing, Kookie!” 

Heavy paws stomped down the stairs and came running to Jungkook's feet before Jimin even made it off the steps. Namjoon groaned when the dog nearly knocked him down the last step. 

Jungkook cheered up immediately. A combination of happiness because his alphas were all coming down the stairs now, albeit with Taehyung half asleep and hair every which way, and because of the annoyance in Hoseok's voice when he demanded Bam not try to jump for food on the counter. 

“Really?” Jungkook asked, scrunching up his nose and shifting to straighten. He bit his lip, then added with a furrowed brow, “I thought… maybe because alphas have a lot of money-”  

“We.” Seokjin corrected, brushing out Jungkook's curls.

“- we have a lot of money,” The omega corrected, visibly brightening up, “Someone else can use it for something really good.” 

Once again, Jungkook had proven himself to not only be the cutest omega in the existence of the world, but the sweetest and most caring too. It shouldn't be a shock, but sometimes it was nice to have an omega that was this surprising. 

While Taehyung groggily asked what everyone was talking about and Yoongi dove into an explanation, Namjoon was already moving to sweep Jungkook up into his hold. The alpha pressed handfuls of kisses onto Jungkook's jaw and neck as he tucked him into his arms. 

Jungkook was doing that excited, scrunched nose grin of his. The one that made his eyes crinkle at the corners and his teeth show. 

“That's our baby,” The alpha mused, setting Jungkook onto the table, standing between his knees and brushing back the omega's hair. Namjoon looked so proud of him. “You're amazing.” 

Before Jungkook could squeak an argument, Namjoon was catching his lips in a soft kiss. One that Jungkook took advantage of in an instant, grabbing the alpha’s face and urging his lips apart. Jungkook was known to do things like that, but this time Namjoon let him, and didn't pull back. 

And, clearly, Jungkook enjoyed that.

The omega giggled and looped arms around his neck, tugging Namjoon into his arms and quickly deepening the kiss more when the alpha curled hands around his hips and tightened his hold. 

As soon as the faintest of whines made it's way up Jungkook's throat, Seokjin was snickering and commenting, “Yes. Yes. You can get all kinds of attention after breakfast, but breakfast first.” 

As expected, Jungkook whined and pouted hard when Namjoon pulled out of the kiss with a fond laugh and hands petting down his pajama top. Jungkook mustered up a very dirty look. The eldest ignored it. 

Seokjin placed a glass of juice down and placed two fingers under Jungkook's chin as he said, slyly, “If you eat well, maybe hyung will play with you too.” 

Jungkook beamed. Namjoon rolled his eyes and kissed the omega’s jaw a few times before pulling away, leaving Jungkook sitting atop the counter and reaching for his juice. “Always stealing our pup.” 

Either way, it got Jungkook to settle down gently and chug a few gulps of his juice as he waited for Yoongi to finish up breakfast.

Laying with his head on the island, Taehyung glanced up when Jungkook pet the back of his head playfully, he smiled tiredly, then reached over to tug the omega closer before plopping his cheek onto his lap. 

“Make sure to tell your therapist about this, babe,” Hoseok said as he took a seat, “She'll be so proud.” 

“I don't know,” Jungkook had orange juice on his lips, “I have a lot of other things to talk about.” 

“Like what, little prince?” 

“Like, maybe,” He tilted his head to the side in thought, “Discussing, um,” Jungkook bit his lip, “Getting some personal advice.” 

Everyone looked at him, but nobody directly asked, because when Jungkook said personal that could mean a number of things. 

However, Jungkook was an open book these days. Sometimes too opened, so he opened his mouth and blabbered, “I'm thinking about finishing school these days.” 

Oh. That wasn't exactly the personal they'd figured Jungkook would say. 

“If that's what you want, babydoll,” Jimin chuckled, leading Bam towards the backdoor with a treat in hand. Bam hadn't exactly learned to sit still while they ate, he didn't have good table manners. “We can-”

“And I was thinking about getting some tests done.” Jungkook continued, swinging his legs and combing fingers through Taehyung's hair. “My annual heat suppressant shot runs out in three months. I think that the doctors say it's bad if you stay on it without a short break, but in the foster program it's required, but now I'm not in it anymore…” He trailed off, then nonchalantly added, “And I want to start dancing. Oh! Maybe I can learn hip hop dancing - or what about ballet?” 

The air felt rather frozen, but Jungkook didn't notice. He just made a happy sound when Taehyung sat up to look at him instead of laying on him. 

“What?” Jungkook whined, pouting as he reached out for the alpha’s hand, “I want to get a hobby.” 

Instead of answering that, Taehyung leaned in to kiss him instead, because they knew Jungkook and his blunt comments weren't even focused on what he'd just said -- that he would trust them to take care of his heat. That was a really, really big deal. 

“Hey! Hey hey hey- stop! Eat first, eat- Taehyung! Get off him!” 

Chapter Text

The thing about trauma was that there wasn't a magic cure for it.

There was no pill that was going to wipe it all out, clear it up like antibiotics to an infection. There was no treatment, nothing more they could do than talk about it and hope Jungkook got better.

And he did. 

Every single day Jungkook got better. Grew more confident. Understood more about right and wrong. That wasn't to say he understood everything, he didn't. 

Still, sometimes they'd catch him doing strange things. Like just a month ago, there'd been loud clanging in the kitchen and Jungkook had been in the middle of a panic attack covered in butter and pancake mix with the stove on as he cried and tried to explain that he was sorry he didn't make breakfast in time. It was entirely abnormal considering Jungkook never made them breakfast. 

They'd learned it was something expected of him in the past very long ago, but the sudden reaction was abnormal, but then again trauma wasn't exactly normal itself.

The past came in waves like that at times. 

Sometimes they were prepared for it, like when he brought up something very sensitive in therapy the day prior; they'd stick to him like glue until Jungkook noticed. 

Other times, trauma made itself known without warning. Without even a sign.

Tonight, Jungkook slept early. 

Not because he'd been to therapy. Or because it had been a particularly hard day, but simply because he'd played with Bam all day our back. It had been a good day. Jungkook smiled and laughed all day.

It was only around nine, but Hoseok had agreed to take the pup up to bed, he'd been curled up around Jungkook's back for over an hour scrolling on his phone with the omega under his chin. Jungkook didn't sleep well by himself, but it wasn't bothersome. They sometimes argued over who got to snuggle the pup to sleep anyway; they loved him.

Jungkook still smelled of grass, he'd not changed before bed, but he'd been so cute and sleepy nobody dared suggest he do so. Hoseok liked the scent anyway. 

And he liked listening to Jungkook's soft breathing and pressing a kiss against his ear every once in a while, holding the warm omega tight and smiling with every tiny sleepy snore he released.

The issue arose when Hoseok reached over to put his phone down, when he scooted closer to Jungkook, pressed himself tighter against Jungkook's back and realized, after a moment—

The bed was really warm. And wet. 

Hoseok felt like his face had gone white when he urgently pulled back the covers. His first thought had been that, maybe, Jungkook had slickened in his sleep, because he was near heat and he'd been having some hormone imbalances lately but it wasn't slick.

“Oh… oh baby.” 

Quietly, Hoseok pet Jungkook's hip, eyes wide and face falling a bit as he looked at the wetness on the blankets and climbed off of the bed. The leg of his own pajamas was wet, but it didn't matter.

Hoseok swallowed and kissed Jungkook's temple before quietly and quickly making his way out of the bedroom, steps light.

The tv in the living room was the only thing lighting up the downstairs. Everyone was laying just where they'd been an hour ago, cuddled together with Bam snoring loudly in his bed beside the back door. 

“Hey.” 

Everyone looked up at the stairs. Hoseok twisted his lips and stood on the topmost one, crossing his arms he sighed, painfully, “I need someone to come watch Kookie.” 

“Is he okay?” Namjoon demanded.

Immediately, everyone was getting on their feet. Seokjin was turning the movie off and Yoongi was finding the light switch. 

This had never happened before, so Hoseok took a moment to respond. He rubbed the back of his neck, tried to keep calm, but his voice cracked when he said, “H-He, uh, he had an accident. He's still asleep, but he… he peed. I don't even think he's having a nightmare, it just… happened.”

There was a thick silence before feet began to rush up the stairs, Namjoon's hand grabbing the banister made the entire thing shake as he hurried up first. 

“Hobi.” Yoongi worried once he got up, grabbing Hoseok's arm, “I'm sure it's fine. He's having some hormone-”

“I'm not… I'm not,” Hoseok sucked in a breath, “I'm not almost in tears because I'm sad. I'm pissed off. I just, I'm fucking tired -- I just want him to be okay. And I hate that he has to always-” 

Hoseok cut himself off, if not for Yoongi grabbing him and forcing him into a hug, but because they were opening his bedroom door and moving in to help Jungkook. The last thing the omega needed to wake up to was the scent of furious alpha. 

So he didn't step back in right away. Hoseok and Yoongi stayed in the hallway while the others entered. 

Namjoon was already carefully gathering Jungkook, arm under his knees and the other beneath his shoulders. Jungkook didn't startle away, he moaned and sniffled before leaning into Namjoon's neck.

Seokjin released a quiet, worried breath and began to remove the bedding. By then, Jungkook was gently waking up with a confused, “A-Alphas?” 

“Sh. It's okay.” Namjoon assured, nodding his head at Jimin and ordering as he held Jungkook, “Chim. Go start a bath, please.” 

Jungkook tossed a hand around Namjoon's neck, rumbling with a sleepy sound before he seemed to wake up more, blinking when Taehyung turned the bedroom light on. Then, after a second, the omega turned in Namjoon's grip and worried, sounded panicked, “Put me down.” 

“No it's-”

“I-I need to get down,” Jungkook sounded absolutely afraid and panicked, eyes huge as he stared at Namjoon, “I need to-”

“We already know and it's okay. It's okay, baby.” 

Jungkook stuttered for breath. His eyes were puffy with sleep and they were growing glassy. Namjoon furrowed his eyebrows and immediately whispered. “No. No. Don't cry, love bug. Don't cry. Don't…” 

“He's crying,” Taehyung said, like nobody else noticed, hovering by the bedroom door. Growling, “Hyungs. He's crying.” 

And Jungkook cried more. He buried his face in Namjoon's neck and it didn't matter how many shushes or reassurance he got, he continued to cry even when Namjoon stepped out to bring him into the bathroom. 

The crying did, however, begin to make Namjoon reek of anger and frustration and worry. And so when the alpha entered the bathroom and Seokjin was patting the counter, Namjoon placed him down very reluctantly. He didn't go far, though.

“Yes. Yes, baby. Hyungs know. Alphas know.”  Seokjin assured, cooing as Jungkook rubbed his teary eyes, kissing his temple in handfuls, “Can hyungs undress you? Get you cleaned up and back to bed? Yes or no, baby omega.” 

Jungkook hiccuped, then nodded his head. 

The eldest cooed and kissed his face as he unbuttoned his shirt. It did calm Jungkook down a little, the omega met Namjoon's eyes when Seokjin yanked his top off. 

Jungkook looked embarrassed. They hated that. 

“Don't. Sh,” Namjoon shushed, grabbing his chin and leaning in to peck his lips, “Nothing is wrong, Jungkook. We aren't mad at you, or upset with you.” 

“B-But,” Jungkook swallowed, “Alphas are upset.” 

They couldn't lie about that. Jungkook could literally smell how upset they were. 

Namjoon's jaw shifted and upon seeing that and the territorial rumble he released, Yoongi was stepping into the bathroom and yanking his arm. Namjoon listened, he switched places and stood in the doorway with Hoseok instead. 

Yoongi went to work immediately, grabbing Jungkook's body wash off the cabinet as he requested. “Tae. Can you put him in? Hyungs need to tal-”

Taehyung didn't really care about the reasoning or for anything. Jungkook was sitting naked on the counter and folding over his lap to cry. He smelled of grass and urine and shame -- Jungkook had nothing to be ashamed of.

“Tae-” Jimin protested from his spot sitting on the edge of the tub, but it fell on deaf ears.

Taehyung was holding Jungkook and stepping into the water himself, fully clothed, sitting down and balling Jungkook up between his legs. The protest was unfinished, too, because Jungkook turned around and was hiding in Taehyung's neck to breathe hard, trying not to cry again. 

Maybe that way was best anyway.

Taehyung didn't shush Jungkook, he held his head and rubbed warm hands over his naked back, but he didn't shush him, he wasn't good at comforting, but he was good at making sure Jungkook was safe and that was more than enough. 

Jungkook was done crying after a good five minutes or so. Nobody spoke up at that time. They'd gathered new clothes and a towel, but nobody spoke up. 

Not until Jimin was reaching over and murmuring, petting hair from Jungkook's ear, “Do you want to lean back and I'll wash your hair, beautiful?” 

“Okay.” 

Jungkook was so hard to look at when he was upset. Even after calming down his cheeks were blotchy and eyes swollen. He just looked so tired with his eyelashes all clumped together. 

Either way, Jungkook did lean back to let Jimin grab the showerhead and wash his hair. 

It was quiet as Jimin did so. Taehyung managed to yank off his heavy, wet shirt and pass it to Yoongi to place in the sink to dry, but the alpha didn't do more than rub Jungkook's side and let him know he was still there -- that they were all still there.

“It wasn't- I didn't have a nightmare.” Jungkook blurted after a while, “I'm sorry I -”

“We don't want apologies for something you have no control over,” Seokjin cut him off softly, smiling as he grabbed the towel, “Whether it was a nightmare or not, it's okay. We love you, Jungkook.” 

Jungkook's nostrils flared as he struggled not to cry. His chin wobbled and he brought a rough hand up to scrub at his eyes so harshly that Jimin hissed under his breath and yanked it away. 

“I just- I just pissed the bed like a toddler!” Jungkook cried, hands shaking, “Say something. Scold me. Something - anything. I'm supposed to be a fucking a-adult, and I'm pissing the bed and-”

“And we love you.” 

“Stop saying that-”

“And you're our mate. And one accident isn't going to change that, nor make us love you any less,” Seokjin finished, holding the towel out, “Now come here, baby. Let's get you back to bed.” 

Jungkook went quiet again. He released a heavy breath and his eyes were filled with tears. He didn't yell anymore. Just nodded and accepted help getting out of the tub. He didn't speak again until Yoongi was slipping a long shirt over his head. 

“Are- can…” Jungkook scrunched up his face when Seokjin dried his hair, “Alphas are still going to sleep with me, right?” 

“What?” Hoseok snorted in the doorway lightheartedly, “And miss out on cuddles? Please, angel. Cuddles with you are the highlight of the day. Don't think silly, ridiculous things.” 

Jungkook bit his lip and struggled to keep it together, but when he bubbled with tears it was with a small smile and a pretty flush. 

“Now come here,” The alpha laughed and wiggled fingers at him, “Let's go to Taehyung's bed. We'll take his spot while he gets dressed, it's the softest part.” 

“Hey! That's pure evil!” 

Jungkook began to laugh. He promptly threw arms around the closest alpha, in this case it was Jimin seeing as the alpha was trying to wipe away his tear stains, and cried, “Hurry, we need to go before Tae catches up! I want the good spot!” 

Jungkook was going to be fine. Just fine. 

Chapter Text

They should have thrown away the files.

That was a big mistake and it was something they hadn't thought about in a long time, because they hadn't needed to. It was all shoved into a shoebox and thrown into the living room closet beneath piles of extra blankets and winter coats.

They'd never meant for Jungkook to find it. Nobody ever touched that closet, so it seemed a safe place.

Only the blankets were pulled out, sprawled across the floor, and Jungkook was sitting on the floor with the papers unorganized on the rug. He must have been there for a while.

The shower upstairs was loud, so it must have been for however long Namjoon had left the omega alone while they ran to the store. 

Cautiously, Seokjin approached, leaning on the back of the couch. Their entrance wasn't exactly quiet, the bags crinkled and the door was loud, Hoseok entered the house with a rather loud, “Kookie! We brought dinner!” 

Jungkook didn't turn around. He continued flipping through the papers.

“Baby-” 

Yoongi came to a solid stop upon entering, immediately sending Seokjin a panicked expression. But the eldest merely rubbed his lips together and released a breath out his nose, unsure what to do.

After a moment Yoongi took it upon himself to approach, sighing as he knelt down and wrapped arms around Jungkook's back before kissing his cheek, murmuring, “We mean to get rid of them.” 

Jungkook wasn't crying, nor did he sound upset, he leaned against Yoongi’s jaw and the alpha kissed his temple a few more times.

“I was so little.” 

“So cute,” Yoongi agreed, kissing Jungkook's cheek and sitting on the ground. He glanced up when Jimin approached, the younger looked interested for a moment before he recognized the picture in Jungkook's hand and went pale.

It was their omega's hospital photos, some of them. He must have only been about ten, if that. So little. With bruises on skinny legs and a redness to his eyes. The poor pup looked like he hadn't been groomed in weeks and was in need of a proper meal.

Carefully, Jimin reached for it, interrupting Jungkook's frozen gaze. It wasn't even one of the worst pictures in the box, but it was bad enough. 

“I remember that.” 

Jimin didn't ask, neither did Yoongi, but Jungkook let the other take the picture from him anyway. The omega continued, “I remember a lot of everything, the very first time someone took advantage of me. I wasn't that scared, I was so young, I was just happy someone wanted to give me attention-”

Something fell on the kitchen. It sounded metal. Jungkook didn't startle even when Hoseok cursed and hurried to pick it up. The alpha immediately placed the pan onto the counter before approaching, firmly saying, “Baby. You were a child, you were molested.” 

Jungkook, facing the reality of his past, was how he dealt with the trauma, it wasn't that they wanted to force him to deal with things, to talk. Hell, they didn't want to know details at all, but they knew throwing him at a therapist and expecting Jungkook to share only with her was unrealistic.

And cruel.

He trusted them the most. It was their duty to listen. Not for themselves, for Jungkook. For the omega who fought tooth and nail for a loving home since he was six years old. 

“I know, but after a while it was just routine. I didn't know better. Everyone let it happen. It wasn't that I didn't try telling… I did. And the one time I tried asking for help, I was actually raped. You give up after a while. You give up on life. You walk through it with no emotion, like a walking corpse.” 

Jungkook didn't sound upset which, in all honesty, was shocking considering he was surrounded by documents relating to his torturous past. The past of a quiet omega waiting for someone to give him a chance. 

Yoongi sucked in a breath and lowered his head to begin picking up the papers, but they all knew it was an attempt not to cry or get worked up. 

Seokjin, however alerted by the comments he was, did find one thing peculiar about Jungkook's words. Ever so softly, the alpha was frowning and whispering, “What do you mean, sweetheart? You never told us that before.” 

And Jungkook had told them many, many things. Seokjin, at least, knew a lot about Jungkook's past. Perhaps more than anyone else with the exception of Namjoon. They weren't the most aggressive when speaking about it, so Jungkook found it easier to speak to them.

That wasn't to say he didn't tell the others, but, typically, they heard things second hand in bits and pieces or not at all. Some of them preferred not to know.

The omega nibbled on his lip and ran a hand through his hair, it was disheveled and mused up suggesting he'd been anxiously tugging at it. Upon seeing that, Seokjin was turning to Hoseok and cooling the other off with a soft, “Should we groom our puppy?” 

And Hoseok, hot-headed and upset, was dashing off down the hallway towards the bathroom. 

Jungkook did love to be groomed. Loved when they brushed his hair out and scratched his scalp and pulled his hair back for him. It was a puppish thing to love, just like when the omega got excited the first time Taehyung had painted his nails for him. 

Jungkook missed out a lot on being a puppy. Never got to play. Never got to experience art. Never got to be silly. Never knew what it felt like to be loved. Or, he'd forgotten. Thus, they bought the omega a lot of toys, even childish ones like plush toys, and they bought him so many art kits and comic books and anything and everything they thought he might enjoy, even if the omega didn't touch them. 

Grooming was just… it was disgusting to think that at six years old, having never been taught how to care for himself, he'd had to learn how to do all of these grown up things. Most six year olds had yet to learn how to bathe themselves, yet Jungkook had to learn how to clean and cook and hide—

“Here.” Finally, Taehyung spoke up. The alpha was bringing a mug over to Jungkook, laying a hand on the back of his head and pressing it against his lips. Repeating, softly, “Here, baby.” 

He sounded afraid. That was partially why Seokjin much preferred Jungkook to speak with him privately, he was worried how the others might react, or worried that they might silence the omega unintentionally.

Jungkook needed to talk. He needed to share some of the weight of his experiences. They knew that. Taehyung knew that. It could just be… hard.

Watching Taehyung press a few kisses against Jungkook's hair while he took a drink was just a reminder that these weren't puppies anymore. Sure, Seokjin felt they were sometimes, but they weren't. Taehyung could take care of Jungkook as well as he could, maybe a tad more emotionally explosive, but still. 

They could handle anything Jungkook had to tell them, because he was safe now. And they loved him. Adored him. 

“Kookie,” Swiftly, Yoongi was pointing to the couch, “Get comfortable, I'll clean this up.” 

The omega did get up and when he sank into the couch, Seokjin pressed a kiss on his mouth and glanced at Taehyung when he realized he'd given Jungkook hot chocolate. His favorite. He really did underestimate the younger two alphas at times. 

“Okay, puppy dog!” 

Hoseok had the entire bag they kept beneath the sink. He dropped it onto the coffee table before grabbing the table and yanking it closer to the couch, he sat on the arm and patted the cushion, “Come here, pretty.” 

Jungkook giggled under his breath. He scooted closer and leaned back between Hoseok's thighs, “You don't have to do this…” 

“But we do,” Hoseok argued, gathering Jungkook's hair away from his face, “For the puppy that never had this. Just close your eyes and relax, beautiful.” 

Jungkook did relax. His tongue probed the corner of his lips as he leaned back into the alpha, then he released a deep breath. Seokjin shifted to gather the omega’s legs and began to rub his calves. “Go ahead, my love.” 

“It's just,” Jungkook's eyebrows furrowed together, he kept his eyes closed as Hoseok brushed his hair, “This one time, when I was probably about thirteen… I told one of the other omegas, he was probably eighteen or so... about,” He paused, wetting his lips, “Being touched. When I was little. I wished I didn't. That was, I mean… that was the first time someone actually… raped me. I mean. Before it was just touching or making me do things I didn't really understand, but that was…” 

They hadn't known anything about this. They truly hadn't. They'd always been under the assumption that Jungkook was sexually abused by alphas and betas, because those were the experiences they'd heard in therapy, but… another omega. 

“I just remember…” 

Jungkook trailed off and the omega began to reek of anxiety and fear and panic in a split second. So suddenly that Hoseok was removing his hands from Jungkook entirely, scared that he'd only do more harm than good. 

Jungkook still didn't open his eyes. He turned to bury his face in Hoseok's inner thigh. Fingers curled around the alpha's knee as he breathed in and out. 

Swiftly, realizing his actions were the exact opposite of what Jungkook needed right now, Hoseok was leaning down to wrap arms around the omega's shoulders, brushing back his hair as he pressed a few kisses onto his head. “If you're done talking, you're done. If you're not, then alphas are still listening to you and nobody is upset, baby.” 

Well, they were, but not with Jungkook. 

The omega shook his head a little bit, he'd yet to cry. Jungkook was seeking comfort, but he wasn't crying, that was part of what he needed to do, though. He needed to let himself feel everything again. But not by himself. Never.

“It wasn't... I-I mean,” Jungkook's eyes opened, they were a little wet. “He kept saying, telling me, that it was what I had to get used to. That it was for my own good. That it was better he did it first than… others. And,” The omega swallowed, “Is it bad that I believe him?” 

Yes. No. They didn't know. They had no idea and that was fucking killing them, because if they didn't know how to respond to such a simply yes or no question then what kind of fucking help were they? 

In the end, there was a cop-out response when Yoongi said, voice deep and vibrating on a growl, “You can believe whatever you want to, Kookie.” 

And Jungkook laughed, because he knew it was a horrible response, but the omega was laughing and he was starting to cry, but he wasn't sobbing, nor shaking. 

“I believe it, too.” 

Jungkook sucked on his lip when Namjoon entered. He glanced over the back of the couch and the second Namjoon saw those streams of tears, he was approaching the back of the couch and lifting Jungkook into his arms as though it were so easy to do. 

Jungkook was no longer the scrawny little pup that arrived, but Namjoon forever acted like it. The perks of being one of the largest alphas, it seemed, and Jungkook liked that, too. He liked to hide around Namjoon when he was upset, because his instincts attributed size to strength and Namjoon felt like a big shield despite, in actuality, being a teddy bear.

“I believe anything you believe, butterfly.” Namjoon hummed and settled onto the chair, eyes flickering to the last of the papers on the ground, then away as he buried his nose into Jungkook's hair and sucked in a breath. 

“It… It just would have been a lot worse if it were someone more instinctive the first time,” The omega said, as though feeling the need to defend himself, “I didn't enjoy it-”

“Jungkook.” Yoongi released a breath and balled his hands up against his face, “I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Jungkook. It's just that… you were a child. You were just a kid. You don't ever need to explain to us that you did not want that. We know. We know that you didn't want that, you were incapable of consenting, you were a puppy. And by god, we've seen pictures of you when you were thirteen -- you barely looked ten, let alone a teenager, regardless of intentions, it was nothing but an assault. There is no good within that. Nobody should ever hurt you.” 

Jungkook stared at him. The omega looked surprised, but he slowly turned around in Namjoon's lap and scanned the furious alpha head to toe. Yoongi was shaking. It didn't scare Jungkook.

“I love you.” 

Yoongi sniffled, wiped his cheek on his hand, “I love you more, cub.” 

Jungkook's eyes crescented, glassy and a little red, he released a small breath and leaned into Namjoon's chest, eyes scanning the room. 

“Can everyone stop looking at me like you're going to burst into tears? It's really ruining the mood. You guys should get some therapy for all the blubbering you do. I can recommend a good therapist.” 

And just like that, they were all laughing. 

Chapter Text

“Fuck. Jungkook.” 

The room smelled of sweat and slick and the strawberry flavored condoms Seokjin had accidentally ordered a while back. They'd been the only choice in their rush to get upstairs into bed. 

The perk of not working was the fact that Jimin and Taehyung had a lot more access to Jungkook when everyone else was out and about. On the days one of them didn't have classes, or came back early, their hyungs typically left to run errands, or work, knowing someone would be home to take care of the omega. 

That also meant that more often than not they did take advantage of their alone time with Jungkook. 

The omega nearly always started it, nearly being because sometimes Taehyung slipped in a few playfully suggestive comments and Jungkook acted. 

This afternoon, it was because Jimin had gotten home earlier from classes as Taehyung and, in retaliation for Taehyung having ditched him earlier in the week, he'd gotten a taxi home before the other. 

Jungkook had been laying down playing video games, and innocent cuddles took a turn when the omega got annoyed losing his game and turned his interest to other activities. They were nothing if not putty in the omega’s hands. 

Jungkook liked sex. Too much at times. He loved being that close to them, to the point where they'd worried and asked his therapist for advice on whether or not it was safe for him mentally. She'd stated to be wary of the omega’s behavior, but to be even more concerned about rejection should it come to that. 

Jungkook was sensitive about things like that. Rejection was such a devastating feeling, something easily overwhelming. And rejecting Jungkook would set them back, so they had learned how to easily calm the omega down if need be. A soft kiss and a suggestion to wash up, or to pretend they didn't notice his advances. They always worked. 

Today, however, was definitely not a day that Jimin rejected Jungkook.

The alpha really didn't mind the uncomfortable condom at all, not when Jungkook's slick was sticking to his thighs and the omega’s waist looked absolutely tiny under Jimin's hands.  

The omega had begun exercising and working out. It showed how toned his back looked and Jimin had a full view of it from his nape all the way to where his cock was disappearing inside of Jungkook. 

Jungkook was always rather quiet with him, moaning softly and muffling himself, but he was known to act a little differently depending on who he was having sex with. Jimin was quite quiet other than a few murmured compliments and praise, so that had something to do with it. 

Their panting was loud and Jungkook's hair was sticking to the sweat on his nape. The omega was whining into the pillows, muffled moans hidden between his elbows and knees spread apart, hips high. 

“Fuck. Baby,” Jimin whispered, groaning under his breath and slowing his pace to lean over and press his face into the omega’s spine, leaving a few wet kisses there as he moaned, “Close. I'm close. Gonna knot. You gotta turn around, beautiful.” 

Jungkook argued by pushing his hips back against Jimin, fucking himself against the alpha and earning this quiet hiss before Jimin was moaning loud and grabbing the omega’s cock and giving Jungkook some friction to rut against.

Only a moment later, Jimin felt Jungkook stiffen up. His muscles tensed up and he jerked a few times, overwhelmed, before cumming all over Jimin's hand and the bedding. 

That alone was enough for Jimin's knot to fully swell up, for the alpha to curse under his breath as he began to cum, reaching over to quickly grab Jungkook's shoulder and turn him over before it grew too big to do so. 

That was one absolute must. To always look the omega in the eyes when knotted together. Not something the therapy had taught them, but something Jungkook had said he liked. 

Only today, the omega flinched. 

“So good, I love you.” 

Jimin didn't notice, he breathed hard as he placed either hand beside Jungkook’s ears and leaned down to kiss Jungkook once, then twice, it was truly when he realized the omega wasn't responding that he realized something was wrong. 

“Kookie?” The alpha whispered against his lips, sucking in a breath and shifted a tad uncomfortably when he felt the condom rub against his fully swollen knot. Jimin nuzzled into Jungkook's nose, kissing the corner of swollen lips again. 

Jimin's eyes snapped open when he felt Jungkook tense up around his knot, immediately shushing and shifting on his knees to grab the omega’s hips. 

“No. No. Baby, don't. You're going to get hu-”

Jungkook was struggling to breathe. He was frozen. The omega released a loud whimper, a high pitched sort of sound, and was turning over. 

“Jungkook! Jungkook!” 

The yell wasn't Jimin, but came from downstairs, much like the sound of glass breaking; Jungkook's scared cry must have been incredibly loud. 

Jimin, however, couldn't breathe. 

Jungkook had just torn himself off of a knot. The omega was bunching himself up on the corner of the bed. There was blood—

It smelled of iron. There was red on the blankets and on Jungkook. 

The bedroom door was thrown open. It must have looked horrible, because in an instant Jimin had a hand around his neck and the stench of furious alpha was absolutely suffocating. 

And Taehyung looked unlike Jimin had ever seen which was a fear considering how long they'd been best friends. His eyes were practically red as he shoved Jimin against the wall. 

“- the fuck did you do? What the fuck did you do?” 

Jimin didn't fight back. Out of instinct, once he lost all air, he curled a hand around the one around his throat, but Jimin didn't try to explain himself. He looked incriminating. There was blood. There was fucking blood—

Jungkook, Jimin tried to speak but merely mouthed, eyes flickering over Taehyung's shoulder. Jungkook was shaking. The smell wasn't helping. They weren't helping him -- why weren't they helping him?

Taehyung's hand loosened out of reflex when he followed Jimin's eyes, giving the other a chance to slip out of his grip and onto the floor. 

“Oh… Oh god,” Taehyung whispered, curling fingers into his hair, “Jungkook. Baby….” 

There was no sign that Jungkook even heard him. 

“He… He,” Jimin sobbed, “... my knot. H-He pushed me away and…” The alpha was hyperventilating as he eyed the bedding, “Fuck. W-We need to go to the hospital. We need to call hyungs.” 

Taehyung ignored him, he carefully creeped closer to Jungkook, whispering a few cooes of his name, but the omega was just out. He was staring. And crying, but making no noise as the tears ran down his face. He also wasn't making any moves to cover himself, nor worry about the wound, nor small bit of blood that seemingly felt like liters to the alphas.  

“Jungkook… Kookie,” Taehyung furrowed his eyebrows, waving a hand slowly in front of him. Jungkook blinked, eyes flickering to the alpha, but it didn't really feel like he was looking at him, but through. “Jungkook, J-Jungkook…” 

The omega didn't flinch when Taehyung, growing scared and panicked, touched his cheek, so the alpha hurriedly gathered a robe off of the chair and in an instant was forcing Jungkook's arms through the material. The omega was limp. 

“Get up, put pants on.” Taehyung ordered, and it was clear the other was more scared than angry now, because his voice shook. “Call hyungs.” 

Then, cooing, Taehyung was gathering a fuzzy blanket on the floor and curling it around Jungkook, “Come here, pretty. Come here. There we go, I love you. I love you, Jungkook.” 

Jungkook was sniffling now, but he lay still when Taehyung held him. 

***

“I ought to fucking kill you, you know that?” 

Jimin rubbed where his neck was bruising and if Yoongi took notice of the bruising it didn't show, the other's finger was almost touching his nose. 

“Hyung,” Hoseok worried, “Hyung. Not now.” 

Yoongi released a heavy breath before spinning on his feet and hitting the ugly mint colored wall before continuing to pace back and forth in the corridor outside of the examination room. 

They'd had to wait an entire hour before the ER could accept the omega, no matter how much Yoongi cursed and screamed at the staff to get them a fucking doctor, they'd had to wait an eternity.

By the time they had shown up in the waiting room, Jungkook was no longer bleeding and the omega had fallen asleep. The youngest two had gotten a fucking scolding, that was sure, and it definitely wasn't going to be the end of it, because every few minutes Yoongi had something else to add regarding the topic and listened to no one.

It was scary. Yoongi was not an aggressive alpha at all, not until now. If anything, Jimin had been more worried about Seokjin ripping his head off, but the eldest only had eyes for Jungkook at the moment. Even demanding everyone else stay outside while doctors awoke the omega and did the exam. 

“It wasn't Jimin's fault.” 

Jimin's red, swollen eyes flickered to Taehyung. 

The youngest alpha’s knee was bouncing up and down anxiously, he was staring at the floor tiles, “Jungkook knows how to take a knot-”

“Don't fucking say it like that.” 

Taehyung looked at Yoongi, at the fury bubbling in the alpha’s eyes. Yoongi sucked in a breath, then two, before whispering an apology and running anxious fingers through his hair. After a moment, he dropped down beside Namjoon on the bench, “I know what you meant, but it sounded wrong.” 

Of course it did. It sounded wrong in the context that Jungkook was a victim of such behavior from an undiscussable. Taehyung cleared his throat and whispered, correcting, “Jungkook knows the dangers of doing that.” 

“Thank you,” Yoongi whispered, sounding apologetic, rubbing his eyes, “Fuck. I just I can't believe every time things are good and he's happy, they just… they get worse.” 

“He has trauma,” Namjoon muttered, “That's not something that just magically disappears, hyung. You know that. It was an accident, that doesn't mean it was a setback. Jungkook can be happy and he can have episodes like this, it's not his fault and it's not Jimin's fault either.” 

Jimin protested, he immediately shook his head and cried, “It was- I.. I shouldn't have knotted, I shouldn't have-”

“Chim.” Hoseok sighed, offering a hand, “He's not broken and he'd hate us if we pretended he was. This is Jungkook, baby. He'll be alright.” 

Jimin cried into Hoseok's shoulder, sobbing. Knees shaking and wailing as he curled fingers into the elder’s shirt. 

The crying only grew quieter when the door was opening and they could hear Seokjin's very gentle praise flood the hallway. A nurse wheeled a metal tray out of the room and left the door cracked, once the doctor exited, they quickly rushed in.

“That's my good mate. Good job, baby.” Seokjin was grooming Jungkook's hair from his forehead, back towards the door. “You were so good. Very proud of you-”

“Alphas too?” 

The relief that filled the room was indescribable. Jungkook didn't sound upset, nor angry. He sounded giggly. Happy. 

“Oh, so very proud of you, my love.” 

They ran closer to the bed. 

Jungkook was wearing a hospital gown and had a thin blanket over his waist. 

“Oh- oh baby.” 

Jimin nearly pushed Seokjin down in his rush to get to Jungkook, immediately throwing himself around the omega's waist and crying, muttering frantic apologies and smoothing hands over Jungkook's side.

The omega merely looked confused as he laid a hand on Jimin's head, his eyes looked tired and he was smiling. Seokjin explained that with a fond laugh as he brought a stool over, “They gave him some painkillers while they stitched him up, he's loopy right now.” 

“It's so good,” The omega chirped, eyes sparkly. He looked around the room before, only then, recognizing the atmosphere and plastering this rather cute pout on his lips, “Hyungs. I'm the one who got stitches, how come you guys look so angry?” 

Yoongi stepped towards the footboard with an open mouth until Hoseok was shoving him back and saying, gently, “Baby. Do you remember what happened? Would you like to talk about it?” 

“We already did.” Seokjin released a breath and scrunched his nose up fondly when Jungkook found interest in playing with the diamond earrings Jimin wore. “Before he was sedated, he said he blacked out. Doesn't really remember much, honestly. I really grilled him for information. It's something we'll need to discuss with his therapist.” 

“And imma get medicine!”

“What?” Namjoon asked, shifting to sit on the edge of the bed and petting Jungkook's cheek, “What kind of medicine, bunny?” 

Jungkook turned his head to look at Seokjin with raised eyebrows, then seemingly forgot what he was saying when he looked at Namjoon and gasped before pouting his lips for a kiss. 

The omega being this sweet and cute would be a sight they would absolutely eat up if not for the fact he was in the hospital and had an IV and everything. 

“Antidepressants, antibiotics-”

“Antidepressants.” Hoseok worried, “We never spoke about that before-”

Seokjin raised a finger at him, interrupting gently, “Apparently, it's something Jungkook's been discussing in therapy for a while. It's up to him. Obviously, we can't have him blacking out like that again. It's a serious situation.” 

There was a long, silent pause aside from Jungkook's cooing as he noticed the bed button controls and began inching fingers over. Seokjin threw a hand over them and the omega took to walking fingers on his arm instead.

“That's assuming we're having sex with him-”

“Tae.” Yoongi scoffed under his breath, “Rejecting him is even more damaging to him-”

“That's assuming he even wants to have sex.” Taehyung argued, “He has fucking stitches right now.” 

“Sex?” Jungkook gasped and perked up, the omega pouted his lips and tilted his head to the side. An overly dramatic display of feigned innocence. “I like sex.” 

Now that was something nobody could keep from smiling over. It was just such a ridiculous thing to say. Absolutely adorable. And even cuter was how, when Namjoon kissed his temple, the omega roared with a purr that had everyone cooing at him. 

Well, almost everyone. 

“Shit. Is he…” Hoseok released a small laugh and reached over to touch Jimin's arm, “Is he asleep?” 

Seokjin reached over to grab Jimin's waist only for the other to growl under his breath and clutch the bedding around Jungkook. The omega immediately was whining, laying a hand on Jimin's hair and scolding, “Alpha is sleeping. Shush!”

“I know, sweet pea,” Seokjin snickered, “But he's also half standing. He's going to fall off of the bed.” 

“Nope. Cuz he's mine.” 

The logic of a drugged up omega was definitely rational. And gravity defying, apparently.

(It was welcomed right now, compared to the alternatives.) 

***

“I'm scared they won't want to touch me now.” 

“Because of the incident?” 

Jungkook nodded, lips twisted as he found a pastel color he liked and sat back in his seat. Dr. Shin didn't push him into speaking right away, never did.

The duo were comfortable with one another enough to know what the other wanted to request or ask without it having to be said. Jungkook just liked to finish whatever he was doing first and have time to gather his thoughts. 

The omega had requested pastel painting when he'd walked in and went straight for the chest of art supplies like he owned the office. It had made the therapist laugh, but she knew a lot about Jungkook down to the little area on the floor near the coffee table that he always sat crossed legged at to do puzzles or art. It was so frequent that she prepared some pillows on the floor. 

“They already think I'm damaged and I can't blame them,” The omega sighed, “I mean, it's been a year and I'm still like this. Even the stupid pills aren't doing anything but making me want to puke and sleep a lot.” 

“It's been one week, they need more time to work,” Dr. Shin said gently, “And have your mates ever said that?” 

“Of course not,” Hoseok said under his breath on the other side of the window. The alpha pursed his lips and turned to look at Namjoon who was waiting on the couch, “Jungkook knows we love him and want him.” 

Despite the claim, the alpha didn't feel all that relieved.

On the opposite side of the window, Jungkook simply said, “Jimin has bruises right now. I feel bad for him.” Changing the subject, like always.

“And you have three stitches, my dear. How do you think they feel knowing that?” Dr. Shin no longer let him run away from the questions, though. Not with all of the trust they shared. 

Jungkook groaned. The omega released a frantic whine and slumped against the bottom of the couch. Namjoon chuckled as he stood up and approached the window. 

“Jungkook?” Dr. Shin prompted, “Have they ever so much as said they think you are damaged?” 

“No.” Jungkook sounded annoyed. It was cute, “And they've never said they found me damaged and they've never said they didn't want me.” 

Humming, the doctor raised eyebrows at him, “What do they say?” 

“That they love me. That I'm,” Jungkook sucked on his bottom lip for a second, deflating with a soft pink on his ears, “perfect.” 

“We're still working on separating your thoughts with reality, but we're getting there.” 

“Can I go home now? The pills really make me want to vomit.” 

Hoseok snickered and spun around to grab Jungkook's coat off of the couch, awaiting the omega and as soon as that door opened he held open the coat and found Jungkook's pouty lips and red cheeks absolutely endearing. 

They grew redder when the alpha yanked him closer under the guise of buttoning up his coat. Jungkook puffed out a breath and whined, looking like an angry bunny, “No. I wasn't going to tell her about the painkiller incident.” 

“You were cute,” Hoseok grinned ear to ear, “You called yourself Koo-”

Jungkook shushed him with a kiss, whining under his breath in a series of rather vicious, indecipherable mutters. Hoseok laughed and kissed his lips, then cheek, nuzzling there for a moment until the omega calmed down and hugged him back. 

With a small grin, leaning on the wall, Namjoon nodded towards the hallway, “Should we head home, Koo?” 

Jungkook scrunched up his face and whined, tossing his body weight on Hoseok and hiding as he growled, “It was one time! And I was sky high, an-and I have stitches and a bellyache! You can't be mean to me! This is horrible an-”

Hoseok promptly nibbled at his neck until Jungkook burst out in giggles and dropped his angry bunny act in favor of grinning wide and screeching playful noises as he tried to get away.