Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Jimin is running.

He doesn’t know how long he’s been running for. He thinks it could be a least several weeks since he escaped his town. He had sneaked out sometime after midnight, people either asleep or too drunk to notice his figure creeping along in the shadows.

He’s glad it’s at least the beginning of summer, his threadbare clothes he is wearing and the few he had packed in his bag, would not have kept him even remotely warm in the throes of winter. His shoes are full of holes and barely holding together. He had not been able to sneak any food or drinks with him so he’s been surviving on berries when he had slowed down enough to pluck them from the bushes. He had been following the river but he had panicked when he heard the hunting dogs barking in the distance behind him, so he had quickly found a point in which to cross the river, then ran away from it as fast as his shaking and knackered body could carry him.

Now here he is, however many days it has been since he last drank water and the berries doing nothing to quench his thirst or to fill the gnawing pit of hunger in his stomach. At least being hungry and thirsty was a normal day for him. But it has taken its toll on his body.

He could not run anymore, only walk. He tries to walk quickly through the trees and bushes, trying not to trip on the uneven ground or stumbling over the broken branches on the ground. But when the dizziness hits and black spots cover his vision, he slows down his pace, not daring to take time to sit down and rest. His aching body and painful blisters on his feet now numb in his mind. He can only concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other.

He slowly weaves in between the trees, body swaying with the effort to keep moving. He ignores the voice in his head saying it would be easier to lie down and give up. He’s survived all these years in his town, he wants to live now. He wants to find a place he can call home. A place where he is safe, fed, and happy. Somewhere he is no longer tortured just for being alive.

Between one blink and the next, two figures appear ahead of him. Jimin is startled to a stop, his left hand coming to grasp at the tree beside him so he doesn’t fall over from the sudden halt of momentum.

“You are not welcome here,” the figure with the broad shoulders said.

“I’m sorry,” Jimin croaks, voice cracking due to a dry throat. “Please could you point me in a direction to go?”

“No,” came the simple short answer from the other figure, his dragon eyes staring coldly at Jimin.

Jimin barely inhaled his next breath to reply when all of sudden his vision goes black and he collapses to the ground unconscious.

“Well, that seemed to go easy.”

“Joon-ah don’t jinx it.”

“I’m just saying hyung, he didn’t even put up a bit of a fight.”

“We’ll see what he has to say when he wakes up.” The figure turns to assess their surroundings. “Anyone else here Tae-ah?”

Another figure steps out from a bush, a few twigs entangled in his hair, and walks towards them bypassing Jimin on the ground. “All clear Jin-hyung. No one else here. Though I can smell some deer nearby if anyone wants to go hunting?”

Jin gently pulls the twigs out, combing the hair back into place afterwards. “Not right now. We’ve got to see what this Human is doing in our territory first.”

Namjoon walks to pick Jimin up, slinging him and his bag over his shoulder. Jin notices the frown on his face.

“What is it love?”

“Nothing really. He’s lighter than I expected. Bit skinny too.”

Jin gives Jimin’s back a few prods, shrugs and slips the bag from the Human onto his back instead. “They can’t all be the same size. Maybe this one is naturally this thin. Come on let’s get him to our holding cell before any more Humans come along.”

Together they start walking further into their territory. Taehyung nuzzles up close to Jin.

“You know hyung, you say holding cell but really it’s just an old barn we don’t use.”

“I know that but it sounds better than saying to take him to The Old Barn That We Don’t Use But We Use It For Holding Those Who Trespass Onto Our Territory. It’s too much of a mouthful.”

“So is your cock hyung but we still love to suck it,” Taehyung teases with a grin, before skipping ahead.

Namjoon sniggers while Jin splutters. “Yah! You can’t just say that. Brat!”

After walking a while in the forest, they come to a clearing. Wildflowers of different colours flutter in the small breeze. A sturdy wooden structure stands to the side. The door opens and a man in brightly coloured clothes steps outside to give them a wave.

“Hobi-hyung!” Taehyung shouts joyfully as he runs towards the man, pulling him into a big hug.

Jin and Namjoon automatically smile at the sound of Hobi’s laughter rolling across the clearing. Taehyung gives Hobi a kiss before heading inside the barn.

“Did everything go ok?” Hobi asks, peering at the limp body hanging off one of Namjoon’s shoulders. “He doesn’t look like much. Namjoon-ah’s and Tae-ah’s cooking have more life than this Human.”

“Hey!” Namjoon’s indignant squawk drowns out Jin’s snort of amusement.

Jin pats Namjoon consolingly on his free shoulder. “Everything went well. He was the only one there. Collapsed before we could really chat which I guess made it easier to transport him here.”

Hobi gestures back towards the barn. “Everything is set up here. Cell is secure and restraints are there too. Potion is ready to go too.”

“Thanks Hobah,” Jin said.

The three of them walk into the barn, Jin dumping the bag by the doorway. The barn is empty of items save for four cells on a concrete floor, the metal bars close together so no one can slip between them. The cells are apart from each other so prisoners can’t reach each other, each cell wide enough for someone to hold their arms out but the ceiling is too high for anyone to jump up to. Each cell has two sets of shackles, one for the wrists and the other for the ankles. Two other men and Taehyung stand at the far wall. The shorter of the two men keeping a watch out of the smaller door there.

“All quiet Yoongi-yah?” Jin asks, as Namjoon places the unconscious Human into a cell that has a single small glass bottle full of a milky liquid.

Yoongi turns around to give Jin a quick nod before turning back to stare outside to keep watch.

Jin helps Namjoon put the shackles on the Human while Hobi goes through the Human’s bag, keeping an eye out of the main door too. The purple bruises and scars around the wrists and ankles show that the Human has been shackled before. Whether this means good or bad news for them remains to be seen. Jin and Namjoon sit in the cell waiting for the Human to wake up.

The taller man at the back inches forward. “Hyungs? Can I see them?” he asks tentatively.

Jin and Namjoon exchange glances. The Human is still unconscious between them, unmoving and shackled on the cold concrete floor.

Jin beckons him forward. “Just stay the other side of the cell. He’s Human so he’s still dangerous even like this. Humans won’t hesitate to hurt or kill you.”

Jungkook creeps forward until he can press his face against the metal bars, staring intently at the Human. Namjoon shuffles to the side so he is between Jungkook and the Human.

“I thought he would be…. more, I guess. He just looks so small and fragile. Is he really that dangerous?”

Jin hums in agreement. “He does look that way. But looks can be deceiving. They don’t have to be tall and have big muscles in order to cause pain. The ones that are overlooked and unsuspecting are often the ones who cause the most damage.”

Jungkook glances at Jin. “Is that what happened to you hyung? You never really talk about it at all.”

“That’s because it’s not a happy bedtime story. I don’t want to darken you with it, I want you to keep that youthful innocence you have.”

“Just because I don’t remember what happened to me doesn’t mean I don’t have my own darkness. Plus all of us sharing our stories isn’t going to bring darkness, it would bring us closer together. We would know how to better support each other.”

Namjoon chuckles. “Our Jungkookie is sounding so grown up right now. When did that happen hmm? Are you not our baby anymore?”

Jungkook pouts. “I’m always your baby. But I can still be grown up and baby too. You don’t need to hide your pasts.”

Jin is about to reply when a groan is heard from the Human. He frantically motions to Jungkook to back away from the cell and he obeys immediately. Namjoon pulls the Human up into a sitting position and sits behind him, letting the Human’s head flop against his shoulder. He wraps his arms around the Human, trapping the Human’s arms and preventing him from using his arms to move or struggle.

Jin grabs the bottle, pulls the stopper out, and kneels in front of the Human waiting for them to be more alert. The Human groans once more before their eyes slowly open. Jin roughly grabs his chin and puts the bottle to his mouth.

“Drink,” he orders.

Their eyes flicker to Jin and obeys, greedily drinking the liquid down. When the entire bottle has been emptied, Jin passes the bottle to Hobi and the Human heaves in breaths like he had been holding his breath the entire time he was drinking.

Jin watches as the Human suddenly becomes aware of where he is and struggles against the arms holding him. Namjoon lets him go without argument. The Human scuttles to the side, pressing up tightly against the bars. They all watch as the Human attempts to take deep breaths and calming themselves down from panicking. The Human takes a quick glance around the barn and notices the other men in the building.

“Where am I and what do you want from me?” the Human asks, voice wavering with fear.

Namjoon stares at him coldly. “I want your name, Human.”

“Now now, there’s no need to be so rude,” Jin mutters to Namjoon. He turns to the Human. “If you could tell us your name sweetie. We just only want to talk.”

Jimin narrows his eyes. “In my experience people don’t kidnap other people and put them in chains only for a talk. Not unless it involves torture and lots of screaming so much that I lose my voice and I end up with more scars and bruises than I can count.”

Namjoon hisses at him. “Have a lot of experience with it then? Answer our questions!”

“Yes.” Jimin lifts his head and stares back at Namjoon defiantly. “My town liked to blame me for things that weren’t my fault and they punished me for it. Things like a bad harvest or the winter lasting too long. They’ve done it for years. So yes I have lot of experience. So much so that I know you are doing the Good Person Bad Person routine.”

Jin hums thoughtfully. “Well, no one has ever caught on to that before. Either way you are avoiding our original question.” Jin lets the forced friendliness to leave his face and posture, and repeats coldly. “What. Is. Your. Name?”

“Jimin. What are yours?”

“We ask the questions and you answer them truthfully,” Jin said. “Why are you in our territory?”

“I escaped my town, I’ve had enough of the treatment there. They were going to kill me sooner or later, and I wanted to taste a bit of freedom outside my town before I died. I didn’t know this was your territory, I just kept moving and I didn’t stop to rest.”

“So why did you keep weaving in and out of our territory lines? Were you trying to get our attention? Were you hoping that we would help you stop your townspeople from following you? Or perhaps you were hoping that those following you would attack us and wipe us out?” Namjoon fires off the questions in rapid succession.

Jimin frantically shakes his head. “I didn’t know where your territory lines are, I had no idea I was weaving. I didn’t even know that this land belonged to anyone. I’ve just been running away. Last I heard was the hunting dogs while I was at the river, and then I crossed it and headed away. Haven’t heard from them since. And I don’t want them to do to you what they’ve been doing to me. Unless you’re exactly like them, then you all deserve each other and I hope everyone dies a brutal death.”

Jimin sucks in air, lungs heaving from frantically trying to explain himself.

“So you don’t think they are coming this way?” asks Jin.

Jimin shakes his head. “I don’t think so. I haven’t led them here on purpose but those hunting dogs might still be following my scent. I honestly don’t know why they haven’t caught up to me yet.”

“What do you want us to do if they do appear on our territory looking for you?” asks Namjoon this time.

“Please don’t give me up. Please don’t give me back to them. Please!” Jimin’s eyes harden in determination. “I would rather you kill me than me ever going back there again with them. Just kill me and get it over with!”

“We’ll see,” Jin said dismissively.

Jin and Namjoon both rise to their feet to exit the cell. Jimin flinches at the sudden movement and tries to scoot back either further against the metal bars.

“Wait!” Jimin calls out, eyes flicking up to Jin and Namjoon.

They turn around to stare at him but Jimin refuses to back down even though his body is trembling with nerves and the lack of food and water.

“You gave me a truth potion didn’t you?” he asks quietly.

“Why do you think that?” Jin replies with his own question, curious to see how the Human figured it out so quickly and without triggering the potion effects if the person is lying.

Jimin stares straight back at Jin. “Because you never once questioned if I was telling the truth or not. You just accepted my answers.”

Jin smirks at him but doesn’t answer. The men all file out of the nearest doors, leaving the Human alone in the building. They slam the doors shut and lock them, plunging the Human into pitch darkness.

He whimpers at not being able to see his hands in front of his face or any light streaming through. He falls to his side, tucking himself up small as he can. He might as well get some sleep while he can. Who knows how long until they come back and if they will keep him awake as part of their torture.

Meanwhile outside, the group start walking back to their house, discussing their thoughts on the Human locked up in their barn.

“He told the truth without really needing the potion to encourage him,” Hobi said. “I wonder when he worked out it was a truth potion and not just water we gave him.”

Jin shrugs his shoulders. “Beats me. He didn’t look too aware when he was drinking, just guzzled it down.”

“If he’s not been drinking as much as he should, then that would explain why he didn’t question strangers giving him a strange drink while he was tied up. His body and mind were solely focused on getting more liquid,” muses Namjoon.

“If he was really treated like shit in his town and he’s escaped from them without having time to eat or drink, it would explain why he’s so thin,” Hobi said.

Jin mutters darkly under their breath, “If he is telling the truth.”

“What about the scars and bruises he has? You can’t tell me you didn’t notice them?” Jungkook pipes up. “Plus no one can go against Jin hyung’s truth potion. He either tells the truth or suffers from severe pain until he tells the truth.”

“Plus he didn’t smell like he was lying. Just terrified, sad, and… resigned I think?” adds Taehyung.

“Yoongi hyung, what read did you get on him?” Namjoon asks, mouth twitching in amusement as he catches sight of his hyung wearing a wide brimmed straw hat shading his face from the sun.

Yoongi scowls, already knowing the amusement his hat brings to the group. “His heart was racing away, there wasn’t a moment I caught him lying. Plus he smells close to dehydration and starvation, and he definitely needs a wash. Preferably before I ever have to go back in there.”

Jin snorts. “First things first, Yoongi-yah and Taehyungie go to where we found him and get rid of his scent leading into our territory just in case those hunting dogs are still tracking the scent. Namjoon-ah and I will check out the rest of our territory just in case this was a distraction. Hobah and Jungkookie can continue packing for the picnic we were going to go on before we were rudely interrupted by a Human traipsing through.”

“Yes hyung,” they all answer in chorus before scattering, all used to Jin taking the lead when it comes to protecting their home.

Chapter Text

One territory check, one de-scenting of the territory and one picnic in the shade of a tree later, Jungkook decides not to consume every bit of food that Jin and Yoongi had lovingly made the night before and this morning.

Taehyung puts his hand against Jungkook’s forehead. ”You ok Kookie? You haven’t eaten as much food as you usually do. Is everything ok? Do you not feel well?”

The others look at Jungkook in concern. He gently takes Taehyungs hand in his own and giving it a quick kiss. “I’m good hyung, I promise.”

Taehyung frowns in confusion and glances at the food and drink the others are too full to consume. “But…. there’s still food left?”

Hobi shuffles closer to peer at him. “Are you sure you’re ok? Was there something in the food or drink that bothered you?”

“I promise I’m good hyungs. You know I can’t lie to you.”

Taehyung bops Jungkook on the nose. “That’s true. But you and Hobi hyung have gotten better at lying over the years. You still have really obvious tells but at least you can now actually speak the words of a lie. How many Fae Folk can say the same?”

Both Hobi and Jungkook blush at the praise. Jungkook pouts at Taehyung.

“That’s because you keep getting us into mischief and you tell lies to get us out of trouble and I have to go along with it. I’ve had to learn.”

Taehyung coos at him. “You’re so cute.”

Yoongi leans forward suddenly. “So why haven’t you eaten the rest of the food? Jin hyung and I didn’t put anything different in.”

Jungkook squirms.

“Here’s a test towards how well you can lie now,” Jin said amusedly.

“Hyuuunngssss,” whines Jungkook.

“Ah, so there is a specific reason as to why there’s still food here?” Jin asks.

“No?” Jungkook said while looking anywhere but their eyes and blushing under all the attention.

“Kookie, can you look at me?” Taehyung softly guides Jungkook’s head to face him. “Hyungs just want to make sure you’re ok. Is it a good or bad reason?”

Jungkook squirms even more. “Depends on who you ask I guess.”

Yoongi mutters under his breath, “That’s not at all concerning or comforting.”

“Jungkook-ah, tell us your reason,” Namjoon said firmly.

“I want to give the leftovers to the Human.” Seeing their gazes turn stern and disappointed Jungkook quickly tacks on, “We’ve seen that he hasn’t had much to eat or drink lately, possibly even longer depending on what his town as done to him over the years. We don’t need to give him a feast three times a day but we can at least give him a little kindness. I know I don’t remember what the Humans did to my Folk and I don’t have the anger you guys have for what Humans have done to you, but this Human didn’t do those things. Doesn’t he deserve a chance? Why should he suffer for the crimes that other Humans have committed?”

“You have such a big heart Kookie.” Taehyung kisses him on the cheek. “Just make sure you don’t waste it on the people who don’t deserve it.”

“I know hyung.”

“Humans are dangerous creatures. They like to hurt and damage and kill those who don’t fit in with them and those they deem ‘inferior’. That’s why we’re doing this. We need to see what his intentions are especially if given the chance to hurt us,” Namjoon said.

“I know hyung, I trust your reasons. But what harm could come from giving him some food and water? Or allowing him to have a wash and clean clothes? Or giving him a blanket? He’s not like the other Humans who have hurled insults at us as soon as they’ve seen us. If we can’t give kindness to others, especially to those who’ve never received kindness before, then who are we to talk about hatred and who deserves to die. We’ll just be like the Humans you all hate.” Jungkook turns his puppy eyes on them as he beseeches them to see his way.

“You know what, I kinda agree with Jungkookie,” Taehyung says with a shrug.

“You’re young, you don’t really remember what the Humans are capable of,” Jin said.

“I knew exactly what Humans are capable of when they murdered my family and birth pack hyung,” Taehyung said sharply.

Jin raises his hands in surrender. “Sorry Taehyungie, I didn’t mean to dismiss what happened to you.”

“I’m not saying this Human should join our family. But we can at least give him some food and water. Maybe he’ll be more likely to trust us or at least tell us the truth,” Taehyung said.

“We don’t need him to trust us and we’ve got Jin hyungs truth potion to get him to tell the truth,” interjects Yoongi.

“Ok so maybe not the right words, but you know what I mean,” said Taehyung.

Hobi, anxious to stop a verbal fight from happening, butts in. “How about we pack the leftovers and give them to Human? It’s getting a bit late to take him to the river to wash but we can get him a flannel and a bucket of water. Better than nothing.”

“We need several people to guard and make sure he doesn’t try anything when we give him these things. I don’t trust him. He could attack you and take the opportunity to run,” said Namjoon.

“I think he’s too weak to attack us even if he wanted to hyung,” Jungkook said gently. “And even if he managed to attack us and escape the cell, he’s not going to get far with his wrist and ankles shackles on.”

“Still, I don’t trust him. Let’s have Jin hyung and Yoongi hyung come with me to the Human and you three can do the washing up,” said Namjoon.

Taehyung and Jungkook simultaneously send pouts to Namjoon and he feels himself softening at the sight.

“Please hyung, can he have a friendly face there? Surely he deserves that. How do you expect him to feel comfortable washing if you are all going to glare at him?” Taehyung asks. “Plus I can smell his scent so if he suddenly gets all murderous I’ll know immediately and I can warn you.”

Namjoon throws his hands up in defeat and the others snigger in amusement. “Fine! You can come too!”

“I’ll go and get a bucket and flannel while you guys pack this lot up. I’ll meet you at the barn,” Jin said as he climbs to his feet.

The others rush to pack items away and only just prevent Namjoon from breaking one of the cooler boxes when he tries to put the lid on.

That night, the eldest four take turns keeping watch over their house and territory. Their instincts to protect their loved ones against intruders won’t allow them to sleep for more than a few hours at a time. It’s always been like this when they have a prisoner in the barn.

Except this time there is a part of them that wants to make sure nobody comes to take their Human prisoner away. They tell themselves it’s just so the Human doesn’t give away information about them and nothing about protecting the Human.

The youngest two are content to sleep for the entire night, trusting their hyungs to keep them safe and to wake them up if necessary.

Chapter Text

Over the next couple of months they visit the Human nearly every day. Not once did Jimin complain about not being fed every day, nor about not having a blanket during the night. Each time the Human drank the truth potion without hesitation they stared in shock, although they had gotten better at hiding it over the days. And like last time, he answered their questions truthfully.

No, he didn’t want to hurt them.

No, he didn’t lead any Humans here to their territory.

No, he hasn’t hurt any supernatural people before.

No, he doesn’t want to hurt supernatural people.

It certainly was strange to them that they had finally met a Human who didn’t insult them or tried to attack them. After being captive for a while, it was certainly expected that the Human might try to escape to freedom. They even took away his shackles to see if the Human would attack them and take the opportunity to run away.

But as far as they were aware, the Human didn’t even try. Just resigned to a captive’s fate. And for some reason it rankled them and made them anxious when he kept asking that if they were going to kill him they would at least kill him quickly. Telling them to get it over with already.

They always left soon after those comments, left him in a cell in the dark of the barn, with nothing but his own thoughts for company. Even that felt wrong though they had no problem doing that to other Humans who had invaded their territory to hurt them.

Somehow their instincts towards this particular Human were different. Jin on more than one occasion had to stop himself from cooking delicious and nutritious food to give to the Human, Yoongi got away with taking a first aid box to the Human on the argument that the Human couldn’t die before they had finished questioning him. Namjoon wanted to give him a plant but had to be gently discouraged by Hobi because the Human couldn’t properly look after a plant in his current situation. Hobi himself was eventually discouraged not to give the Human his best clothes to wear while still in the barn. Jin had to put his foot down when Taehyung and Jungkook tried to sneak out with a comfy pillow and a thick blanket covered in their scents to give to the Human.

That night they gathered in the living room with iced drinks, hoping it would help with the muggy heat that still hung around this late after the sun had set. Jin, Hobi, and Namjoon had all claimed one of the sofas. Jin and Namjoon were sitting on the opposite ends while Hobi was lying down in the middle, shirt riding up his stomach when he last stretched out. Yoongi had claimed the armchair with Taehyung and Jungkook sitting in front of him, leaning their heads against his legs.

“So what are we gonna do about this Human?” Hobi asked. “We can’t just keep him in that barn forever.”

“Let him go?” Taehyung said with a shrug. “He’s passed the tests or whatever you guys were doing.

“I don’t like keeping him locked up in a cell in that barn. He’s so small and apathetic,” said Jungkook quietly.

“We have to do what we have to so we can keep ourselves safe. I won’t apologise for that,” said Namjoon.

“I know hyungs, I’m not asking you to apologise for doing what you need to do in order to keep us safe,” Jungkook replies.

“You feel something for him, don’t you Jungkook-ah?” asks Hobi.

“Don’t you?” fires back Taehyung.

Hobi doesn’t answer, face turning so he can stare at the ceiling, lips pressed together so he doesn’t blurt out an answer.

“You can’t tell me that Jiminie hasn’t given us a different feeling than other Humans that we’ve come into contact with?” Taehyung asks them all.

None of them answer, aware that Taehyung is right.

Jin shifts straighter in his seat. “It doesn’t matter what is different. He’s Human and a threat to us all. We need to defend ourselves.”

“Hyung,” Taehyung says as he rises to his feet and goes to sit in Jin’s lap. “What do your instincts tell you?”

Jin tries to look anywhere but Taehyung, who is staring intently at him. “My instincts are telling me to protect you all. To keep you safe.”

“What about Jimin-ssi specifically though?” asks Jungkook, as he rises to sit on Yoongi, the same way Taehyung is sitting on Jin, and cuddling into him as Yoongi wraps his arms around the younger.

“I need to protect you. Humans have hurt us all. I can’t let it happen to you again. I refuse to lose you,” Jin said stubbornly, even though he’s internally cooing at how cute and soft the younger two members look.

“That didn’t answer my question hyungie. You can feel hurt and anger from what other Humans have done to us. But what are your instincts about Jiminie?” Taehyung insistently asks again.

Jin squirms, uncomfortable with the line of questioning and not wanting to look at his growing positive emotions towards the Human. Seeing Jin’s discomfort Taehyung turns to Hobi.

“What about you Hobi hyung? What are your instincts saying?”

“Aish, you can’t come for me like that,” Hobi says with a nervous giggle. He wants to refuse to answer but he relents when he sees Taehyungs glare. “My instincts are saying to protect him and wrap him up blankets but my feelings are a bit more complicated. I don’t know. Anger and sadness and the need to have revenge are strong too.”

“Same here,” Yoongi pipes up suddenly and Jungkook rewards him with a kiss to the neck. The other members smile when a blush coats Yoongi’s cheeks.

Namjoon sighs. “Same here. Our instincts and feelings are warring against each other, competing for what we want most.”

“Inside each of us are two wolves,” Jungkook utters quietly with a soft giggle.

Jin echoes Namjoons sigh. “So we need to figure out which one is stronger. Anyone got any bright ideas? Taehyungie is currently sitting right on my cock and its rather distracting.”

Taehyung smiles mischievously and gives his butt a little wiggle. Jin only just about manages to hold in a gasp and his hands grip Taehyungs waist tightly to prevent any more movement. “Such a brat.”

“We could just try to kill him,” Yoongi said with a shrug. “See if we can or if the rest of us try to stop it.”

Hobi slightly lifts a hand. “Fair warning, I don’t think I can actually kill him. And I don’t think I can watch any of you do it either.

Namjoon hums thoughtfully. “So if we’re not killing him are we letting him go? I don’t feel right about keeping him captive but also letting him go feels wrong too.”

“What if we offer to escort him to the border of our territory? That way we all know that he’s heading out. Or we could take him to a good town, or give him a list of towns if he wants to choose himself and not have us know which one he’s at?” Taehyung puts forward.

“I don’t know if the wrong feeling I have about letting him go is due to not wanting to say goodbye to him or not wanting a Human to leave alive,” Hobi muses.

“I want him to stay, the thought of him leaving for good makes me sad,” Jungkook says dejectedly.

Taehyung hums in agreement. “Just so you guys are fully aware, I think my inner wolf sees him as pack. Or at least the beginnings of one. I feel a connection to him that I’ve never had with all the other Humans we’ve met and that I’ve only ever had with you all.”

“It still doesn’t help the rest of us who are struggling with conflicting emotions and instincts,” Hobi said gently.

“I know hyung, just wanted to let you all know.”

Namjoon raises his hand and coughs to get everyone’s attention. “So, I think I have a plan. Part of one definitely.”

“As long as it doesn’t involve me running, Joon-ah,” Yoongi says in a faux stern voice.

Namjoon smiles sheepishly. “Errr… actually hyung, it might. Sorry.”

“Let’s hear it. Then we can laugh at Yoongi-yah’s attempt to avoid running,” Jin said.

“Ok, so well as we have conflicting thoughts about killing him or letting him go, or even for him to join this family I’ve thought of something. We offer him a choice. We give him a starting time and from then on he can freely leave the barn. He has a time limit to cross our border. We will give him a head start and if we catch him then we kill him. Unless our instincts override that and we ask him to be part of the family. But we won’t tell him that last bit. That’s just for us to see what wins out overall.”

“So a choice of fleeing or dying?” Hobi sums up to Namjoon’s answering nod.

“But he’s commented plenty of times now about wanting us to kill him,” Yoongi said.

“To be fair though, that’s him speaking as a captive who has already been a prisoner and gone through torture so many times now. Wouldn’t any of us prefer to die than be held prisoner indefinitely without any chance of freedom?” asks Hobi.

“He does seem to want to live, if that means he is free. It’s only in captivity that he talks about us killing him,” Taehyung said.

Hobi turns to Jin. “What do you think Jinnie hyung? You’ve been a bit quiet.”

“We offer him the choice: Get outside our borders before we catch you otherwise we kill you. We can always add on that it will be a slow and painful death if he doesn’t seem inclined to run. Then if we catch him we’ll see what wins out, killing him, letting him go, or mating him into the family. No doubt our negative feelings towards Humans will prevent us from properly courting him as we should.”

“I’ll bring the lube,” Yoongi sighs, knowing the others might forget.

Jungkook nuzzles into his neck before kissing him loudly on the mouth. “I love it when you’re like this.”

“Your competency kink is showing here Jungkook-ah,” Hobi said with a grin.

“I know, I can feel it,” Yoongi adds on, patting Jungkook’s bottom gently.

The others laugh softly as Jungkook whines about ‘mean hyungs teasing me’.

Namjoon leans forward, eyes darkening with arousal. “But you like being teased, don’t you baby? Get all wet and messy for it.”

Jungkook pouts in Namjoon’s direction and challenges him. “But are you going to do anything about it though? Or am I just gonna have to keep grinding on Yoongi hyung thighs to get off?”

Namjoon growls at the challenge. The shift in the atmosphere is palpable, going from tense and anxious to rapidly pooling arousal. All of them now sporting boners in their shorts.

Hobi claps his hands. “Alright everyone, that’s the cue to get to the bedroom. I’m not cleaning our cum out of the furniture or floor again. Everyone up!”

Jin grabs Taehyung and lifts them out of the chair, Taehyung quite content to keep kissing Jin’s neck. Namjoon makes his way over to Yoongi and Jungkook, pausing slightly to silently ask Yoongi’s permission to pick Jungkook up. At Yoongi’s slight nod, Namjoon picks Jungkook up and throws him over his shoulder. Jungkook laughs at the manhandling and pats Namjoons’ bottom right in front of him. They all traipse up the stairs to fuck out their horniness.