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caught-in-a-seesaw-stigma · 2 years ago

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Peripheral, Part 11

Peripheral, Part 11

Pairings: OT7 x reader; Taehyung x Jimin; Yoongi x reader

Series Summary: An unfortunate accident leaves Kim Namjoon with amnesia, and Big Hit, BTS, ARMY, and the entire world are desperate to help him regain his memories and knowledge. Fortunately, a new genetics company has successfully created a system to alter our brains into human databases which can help someone regain knowledge and memories through a simple input/output exchange. Can this new invention give us back our beloved leader?

Genre: Angst, Fluff, Smut

Warnings: NSFW 18+ ONLY: sexual shenanigans, mxm, handjob, sexual tension, Jimin's seductive gaze (always a warning), rimming, panic attacks

As the early morning rays of sunshine increased, golden light flooded Seokjin’s room, but nothing could compare to the giddy giggles emanating from Kim Seokjin himself. He and Namjoon were texting each other relentlessly, but it was time for Namjoon to get some sleep before his next physical therapy session. With a sigh and a series of hilarious gifs, Seokjin bid his best friend good night and he curled up into his pillow, clutching his RJ plushie out of habit, body listlessly craving some other comfort that the small stuffed animal couldn’t provide.

Knock, Knock, Knock

Seokjin lifted his head from the pillow and huffed out a whine before trudging over to the door. Trying to rub the exhaustion from his eyes, he opened the door to reveal Hoseok at his doorstep, freshly showered and dressed in a sleek black tracksuit.

“Hoseokie?” Seokjin grumbled. “Why are you up so early?”

“Well, good morning to you too, hyung,” Hoseok chirped. “I was about to make breakfast for everyone, so I came to ask you what you would like so I can bring it to your room.”

Seokjin’s shoulders sagged slightly as he remembered his promise to Bang PD to stay in his room. He sighed deeply before giving Hoseok a warm smile.

“I’m not actually hungry right now, Hobi,” Seokjin replied. “But thank you for offering. I didn’t sleep well last night, so I think I’m going to catch up on sleep. Can you wake me up later for lunch though?”

“Of course, hyung,” Hoseok assured him. “Are you sure you’re ok? Do you need to talk or something?”

“No. I think I’m ok.” Seokjin’s foot rubbed a path on the floor, and he found he couldn't meet Hoseok’s eyes. “I just need to get some sleep. I’ll see you later, Hobi.”

Hoseok nodded. “Ok, get some rest. I’ll come check on you later.”

Seokjin’s door closed and Jungkook’s opened a moment later. Hoseok signaled to Jungkook that Seokjin was still sleeping, so they quietly made their way to the kitchen.

“Is everyone still asleep, Hobi-hyung?” Jungkook asked, voice hushed. “Do you need me to wake them up?”

“Not yet, Kookie,” Hoseok replied while pulling out pots and pans as quietly as he could. “We’re going to make breakfast first and then you can go wake them up. Sound good?”

“Ok, hyung,” Jungkook agreed. “Just let me know what you need me to do.”

While Hoseok and Jungkook scrambled around the kitchen for ingredients and cooking utensils, Taehyung was scanning the disheveled room while Jimin snored sweetly beside him. The events of the previous night were playing on a loop in his head and he was conflicted by the newly established boundaries set by everyone. He rubbed his eyes gently to shake out the last vestiges of sleep clinging onto him and slipped out of bed and into the bathroom. Every action he took was laden with a mixture of relief, guilt, anxiety, and hope. His emotions were swimming in contradictions.

Where do we go from here? How is this supposed to work? Did I do the right thing? Did we fuck up our friendship? What do we tell the others? What if the fans find out? How are we supposed to hide this? Do we have to hide it? Should I be ashamed? Is he ashamed? Will we still be able to share a room after this?

Quickly spiraling into a cataclysmic head space, Taehyung slid out of bed and paced. Most of the time, he would just dive head first into the chaos, but this situation with Jimin felt too delicate. One wrong move could trigger something disastrous.

Is it worth the risk of losing my soulmate? Have we crossed some sort of line? What will the others think?

Taehyung tried to shake the thoughts out of his head, but they simply swirled and settled back into disjointed thoughts and feelings. Unable to shake his distress, he decided to fixate on a more manageable problem: what to wear for the day. His proximity to Jimin was obviously affecting his ability to think, so he needed to find a nice quiet space for self reflection and elected to get dressed in the bathroom. He was pulling on a button down shirt as he heard the bathroom door open.

“Hey, Tae,” Jimin called out sleepily. “Jungkookie texted me and said breakfast will be ready in a bit.”

Jimin caught a glimpse of Taehyung’s bare chest in the mirror and froze in his tracks. A broad expanse of honeyed skin was exposed between the edges of his blue shirt and Jimin licked his lips hungrily when he and Taehyung locked eyes in the mirror. Jimin’s lips pulled into a smirk and every trace of slumber melted away.

“Already getting dressed, Tae-Tae?” Jimin purred seductively, wrapping his arms around his soulmate's waist. “What a shame.”

“Jimin, I think we should probably talk,” Taehyung suggested meekly, trying not to let the other’s touch distract him and failing miserably. “We did say we were going to talk in the morning, and it’s morning now.”

“We did,” Jimin sighed sweetly. “But I still feel like I’m partially asleep and you look like a dream come to life. Maybe morning hasn’t officially arrived yet? Should I turn back the moon and sun to get a few more moments with you?”

Jimin stepped closer behind Taehyung, till their upper bodies pressed against each other, Taehyung shuddered as Jimin began nuzzling into his shoulder like a sleepy kitten while unbuckling his belt and slipping his hand into Taehyung’s loose pants.

“But Minnie,” Taehyung gasped. “We should really-”

Taehyung moaned softly as Jimin’s hand deftly stroked him. All thoughts of meaningful conversation faded into the background. Every ounce of fear, uncertainty, and anxiety was pushed aside and replaced by hunger.

“We can talk later,” Jimin promised between kisses. “I promise.”

“Ok,” Taehyung gulped, trying to make his words sound less desperate. “I’m going to hold you to that.”

Jimin chuckled as he squeezed Taehyung’s hardened length once more and then helped him lower his pants and underwear to the ground.

“Let’s see if I can fuck you against this mirror, Tae,” Jimin suggested mischievously. “But leave that shirt on. This blue looks incredible on you.”

Taehyung’s eyes fluttered closed as Jimin dropped to his knees behind him. Tears prickled along Taehyung’s waterline with each swipe of Jimin’s tongue, but Taehyung could not decipher whether his tears were from frustration or pleasure. His thoughts grasped desperately for understanding, but the thick cloud of lust in his brain kept everything obscured. One last thought crossed his mind as he felt Jimin’s tongue prodding at his entrance.

Please…I don’t want to lose him.

—---------------------------------

Down the hall, slowly emerging from the steamy bathroom, Y/N and Yoongi were feeling very domestic as they prepared for the day. Y/N’s strength increased overnight and she was finally able to walk without assistance. Yoongi began blow drying his hair while Y/N completed her morning skincare routine at her vanity table.

Yoongi was still replaying images from last night’s dreams in his head: a world where he and Y/N shared the ultimate connection. Sure, he would have his relationships with his brothers and with his family, but Y/N would be something more, something different.

A soulmate, perhaps?

Yoongi chuckled quietly at the thought. He often teased Jimin and Taehyung for their use of the term, but in this instance, it felt right.

Besides, not all soulmates are born. Some are made.

“Hey, Yoongi,” Y/N interrupted his thoughts. “Jungkook messaged us. He and Hobi are fixing breakfast for everyone. Should we help?”

“Are you feeling up to it?” Yoongi asked. “You are looking a lot better than yesterday, but I don’t want you to push yourself too hard.”

“I think I’m ok,” Y/N assured him. “Besides, after breakfast, I need to have a video meeting with Bang about Seokjin. I will feel better once I get some food in me.”

Yoongi nodded and started cleaning up. Once he was done, Y/N was finishing up at her vanity and sweeping her hair up into a high ponytail. Yoongi took a moment to appreciate her refreshed appearance and silently thanked an unknown deity for her recovery. His heart ached when he remembered her pallid complexion, her eyebrows furrowed in pain, and the slick sheen of fever breaking across her body.

Let her health continue to improve. I want nothing but the best for her. She is precious to me.

“Ready, Yoongi?” Y/N asked while slipping on her shoes.

Yoongi walked over, pressing their foreheads together and stealing a kiss.. His lips lingered for a moment before pulling away and Yoongi grinned at the flush of pink spreading over her radiant cheeks.

“Let’s eat, sweetheart,” Yoongi said while nudging her nose playfully. “My babygirl needs her strength before she leaves me to work.”

Y/N giggled, rolling her eyes before opening the door into the hallway. The two lovebirds walked down the hallway hand in hand, completely missing the muffled moans emanating under the door from Jimin and Taehyung’s room.

It’s going to be a good day. I just know it is.

—----------------------------

Hoseok looked across the table at everyone enjoying the breakfast he and Jungkook prepared, and he wasn’t even letting Taehyung and Jimin’s tardiness bother him.

Jimin is notoriously late. I guess he’s rubbing off on Taehyung now. Oh well.

Jungkook offered Y/N another helping of omurice, Yoongi fixed Taehyung another bowl of miso soup, and Jimin poured Yoongi another cup of coffee. The conversation was lively and the mood in their home was finally feeling somewhat normal. Without realizing it, Hoseok’s lips spread into a smile filled with contentment.

“Hobi,” Y/N grinned. “What are you thinking about? It has to be something good to make you smile like that.”

“Yeah, hyung,” prodded Jimin, nudging his foot under the table. “Tell us. We want to smile like that too.”

“Oh, it’s nothing really,” Hoseok replied dreamily. “Just enjoying our very normal drama free meal. Things got a little crazy for a bit, so I’m just happy that they’re finally settling down.”

Hoseok’s words rang true. With all of the uncertainty they faced over the last week, it was somewhat comforting to experience a little sense of normalcy. Jungkook smiled softly, but it slowly fell into a small pout. Taehyung was the first to notice the shift in the maknae’s mood, and he placed his hand on Jungkook’s shoulder to comfort his obvious distress.

“What’s wrong, Jungkookie?” Taehyung asked. “What are you thinking about?”

“I just wish we could have everyone here,” Jungkook pouted. “You know, like Jin-hyung and Namoon-hyung. They should be here with us.”

“They will be,” Hoseok promised as he took one of Jungkook’s hands. “Y/N is doing everything she can to help us, Jungkookie. Don’t worry. It will be ok.”

Jungkook’s eyes watered as he nodded at Hoseok and Y/N reached across the table to take Jungkook’s other hand into her own. Jimin saw that Jungkook’s tears were only increasing, so he jumped out of his seat to wrap his arms around his sniffling little brother.

“Thank you,” Jungkook choked out. “I don’t know what I would do if I lost any of you. I just want everyone to get better.”

“We know, sweetie,” Y/N soothed. “Don’t you worry about any of that. I promised that I would help, didn’t I?”

Jungkook nodded and squeezed her hand a little tighter. Taehyung continued to rub Jungkook’s shoulder and Jimin ruffled his hair a little to try and pull a smile out of him. Yoongi reached over with a clean napkin to dab at Jungkook’s tear-stained cheeks. Jungkook took one more shaky breath before speaking.

“We all have to do better,” Jungkook pleaded. “Y/N and Namjoon need our help. We have to make sure she stays safe so Namjoon can come back to us. You all need to promise to do better.”

“We will, Jungkook-ah,” Yoongi assured him. “We are all going to work together to make sure Y/N and Namjoon have everything they need. Now, stop crying before you make the cinnamon toast all soggy.”

They all broke out into a raucous fit of laughter at Yoongi’s comment, even Jungkook had to giggle along with them. They all finished up their breakfast and Y/N excused herself to prepare for her meeting with Bang PD. While the younger ones cleaned up the kitchen, Yoongi flopped onto one of the couches and started scrolling through his notifications. One particular email captured his attention.

“Hobi-ah,” Yoongi called. “Did you read the email that Bang PD sent us this morning? The one about a mixtape?”

“Yeah, I read that,” Hoseok responded. “I don’t know whose mixtape he’s talking about: yours or mine. He did ask us to meet with him after lunch.”

“Well, then I guess I better get ready,” Yoongi groaned. “Give me like 30 minutes and meet me in the garage. We’re taking your car this time.”

“Ah, fine,” Hoseok conceded while rolling his eyes. “I swear, we spill one bag of Skittles and suddenly, you’re banishing everyone from your car.”

“My vehicle, my rules,” Yoongi shrugged. “See you in a bit!”

Yoongi wandered off to his room and Hoseok shook his head in amusement. Jungkook stepped forward wearing a small pout on his face.

“Sorry about the Skittles, hyung,” Jungkook apologized cutely. “That was my fault.”

“Don’t worry about it, Kookie,” Hoseok sighed. “Yoongi is just a drama queen.”

“Are we all going to the office later, hyung?” Jimin queried from the sink. “Do we all need to get ready?”

“No, it’s just me and Yoongi,” Hoseok explained. “You three will need to stay here and keep Y/N company and someone will need to make sure Jin stays in his room.”

“When can Jin-hyung come out of his room?” Taehyung pondered aloud. “Is he grounded?”

“Sort of,” Hoseok replied. “Bang PD is meeting with Y/N-ah to figure out what to do about that. Until then, he’s supposed to stay in his room.”

“We got this, Hobi-hyung,” Jungkook announced. “Don’t worry about it. We will make sure both Y/N and Jin-hyung are well fed and taken care of.”

Hoseok smiled at Jungkook’s enthusiasm and patted him on the shoulder. Jimin and Taehyung stood up straight and saluted Hoseok comically. His smile bubbled over into chuckles as he saluted them in return.

“Ok, I’m trusting all of you,” Hoseok reminded them. “Please don’t do anything stupid while we’re gone.”

Hoseok got ready for his meeting, while The maknaes continued to clean up the kitchen while discussing plans for their day with Y/N and Jungkook. While the hyungs were either away or grounded, the maknae would have another chance to spend more time with Y/N, assuming she didn’t already have other plans. Jungkook grabbed a broom and started sweeping up the kitchen, already with the mindset that a clean house would make a happy house.

If only it was that simple.

—---------------------------------

Y/N took a deep breath before knocking on Seokjin’s door, knowing that the upcoming conversation was going to be a little rocky. After she and Bang discussed the current status of the already scheduled therapy sessions, they devised a supplemental plan to curb Seokjin’s impulsivity.

I just hope he’s receptive to this therapy. Impulses are involuntary. Changing them is difficult, even for a seasoned therapist.

All of her additional studies in psychology and counseling were working overtime with this assignment, and she was thankful that she at least had some preparation for handling delicate situations such as these. As long as Seokjin was receptive to her practices, then everything should go smoothly.

Well, let’s get this over with.

Y/N knocked on Seokjin’s door and adjusted the strap of her laptop bag. Seokjin’s voice roared from behind the door.

“Yah, Jungkook,” Seokjin growled. “I already said no! I don’t want snacks, I don’t need anything to drink, and I have everything I need in here. Just leave me alone already!”

The door swung open violently and an irritated Seokjin stopped mid-rant to gawk.

“Y/N-ah,” Seokjin sputtered nervously. “I am sorry for yelling, I thought you were someone else. While I’m at it, I should probably apologize for more than that. Please forgive me for behaving so stupidly and putting you in danger and endangering Namjoon’s therapy and-”

“Seokjin!” Y/N raised her voice, stopping Seokijin’s rambling. “Please calm down, I’m not here for your apologies. I’m here to talk to you. Can I please come in?”

Seokjin nodded and quickly scrambled to tidy his room. In his boredom, he’d thrown things around the room and tried to reorganize his closet. He was still midway through the reorganization, so the room was a little chaotic. After piling some clothes on the bed, Seokjin cleared the futon and offered Y/N a seat while he rearranged the pillows and plushies between them.

Y/N eyed the plushy border of stuffed alpacas in between her and Seokjin and she smiled warmly at him. Seokjin found it incredibly difficult to meet her probing gaze.

“Jin, lindo,” Y/N began softly. “I’m not mad at you. There is no need to build an RJ barrier between us. We just need to talk about some things.”

Seokjin lifted a rather large RJ stuffie and hugged it to his chest in a futile attempt to quiet his racing heart. His lips were drawn into a small pout and he still couldn’t look Y/N in the eye. Y/N pushed the plushies aside and moved closer to Seokjin, placing a hand on his knee and squeezing softly.

“Hey, it’s ok to be upset,” Y/N assured him. “It just shows that you know that what you did was wrong. I put these restrictions on everyone for Namjoon’s safety and your own. This therapy is very delicate work, and it’s very important that we all take this seriously.”

“I know, princesa,” Seokjin murmured sadly. “I promise I wasn’t trying to undermine your authority or ruin the therapy preparations. I just didn’t read the warnings very well. I was angry when you first got here and I treated you horribly and I’m so sorry for that.”

“I appreciate that, Jinnie,” Y/N continued. “But all choices have consequences, and it’s time to face yours.”

Seokjin nodded and took a deep breath to shake off the shuddering anxiety crawling across his shoulder blades. He took both of Y/N’s hands and brought them to his lips to press gentle kisses across her knuckles. Once he was ready to face her, lifted his face to meet her gentle gaze.

“I am ready to accept my punishment,” Seokjin proclaimed. “Whatever it may be.”

“Well, it’s not exactly a punishment that you need,” Y/N explained. “I discussed the matter with Bang and he suggested that you and I schedule some one on one therapy sessions to work on your impulse control. They will be a little intense, but it will help you gain a little self-control in the long run.”

“I can do that,” Seokjin agreed. “Am I still grounded?”

“No, you’re fine to roam about as you please,” Y/N giggled. “Bang told me about what happened with Namjoon, so we’re going to be lenient on you. However, you are going to be the point person when it comes to Namjoon’s reintegration into the dormitory. Since the two of you are already communicating and you will be sharing a bathroom, it seems only logical that you assist Namjoon once he arrives. I will also require your assistance for Namjoon’s first therapy session.”

“What?!” Seokjin croaked. “You want me there, like in the room with the two of you?”

“Yes, of course,” Y/N confirmed. “Namjoon and I will need a mediator to make sure the procedure sticks. You are the connection between us. I will need your help to acclimate Namjoon to the therapy sessions.”

Seokjin’s jaw refused to close as he went over the visuals of Y/N’s proposal in his head. Seokjin and his brothers dabbled in their own avenues of sexual exploration, but it was rare for them to engage in activities together. Sure, they swapped stories, but they weren’t in the habit of sharing the same space at the same time. Y/N’s appearance in their lives certainly turned that around quickly.

I’m sure the maknae got up to some mischief while we were out last night. That look on Jungkook’s face earlier told me everything I needed to know. What has this little minx done to us?

After shaking the last ounce of shock creeping across his perfect features, Seokjin gulped loudly and looked back at Y/N, who was giving him absolutely no clue about how she was feeling about the concept of the three of them together.

Can she even sync with two people at once?

Rather than question her methods, Seokjin took a deep breath and nodded his head in her direction. Y/N smiled at his compliance and squeezed his hand briefly to soothe his nerves.

“Thank you for agreeing to those terms, Jinnie,” Y/N praised him. “It really will be easier to help Namjoon if you’re there to help us. Just please promise me that you will follow all of my instructions exactly. Transactions get a little tricky when more than one person is involved. I will need to take special precautions so that only one of you is participating in a transaction at a time.”

“Sure,” Seokjin agreed. “I will do whatever you need me to do, I promise.”

“Good,” Y/N grinned. “Your impulse control training will definitely come in handy when that time comes, so prepare yourself for that. I still have some things to fix in my system before I start any more transactions, so let’s aim for tomorrow evening for your first session, ok?”

“That sounds fine,” Seokjin nodded. “But are you sure you’ll be ok by then? I heard about what happened to you while I was gone. Will you be able to fix whatever went wrong?”

“Don’t you worry, Jin-lindo,” Y/N replied while squeezing one of Seokjin’s cheeks. “I will be fully operational by tomorrow morning. I just have to make some adjustments and allow the system to update overnight. Everything will be fine, I promise.”

Seokjin’s eyes misted over and he pulled Y/N in for a hug, burrowing his nose into her hair and releasing a shaky exhale.

“That’s good to hear,” Seokjin responded. “I felt terrible when the guys told me what happened. It never occurred to me that I would be putting you in danger by leaving. I should have been here to take care of you, mi corazon.”

Y/N rubbed Seokjin’s back while he sniffled lightly against her temple. Once it seemed like he was calm, Y/N reached up and took his face into her hands, reaching up with her thumbs to wipe away a few stray tears.

“You’re here now and that’s all that matters,” Y/N assured him. “For now, just focus on what you need to do before Namjoon gets here.”

“Speaking of which,” Seokjin grinned while pulling away. “How about we send Namjoon-ah a selca of you and I together? He has been asking a lot of questions about you. It would be nice to share a picture of you before he arrives.”

“I think that will be ok,” Y/N agreed. “Maybe tomorrow, we can schedule a video call with him before we start your therapy? Just so I can introduce myself.”

“Absolutely,” Seokjin exclaimed. “You’ll love Namjoonie, he really is the best.”

Seokjin maneuvered Y/N against his chest and pulled an RJ headband onto her head. The shameless action prompted Y/N to grin and shake her head, which gave Seokjin the perfect opportunity to snap a selfie of them. Seokjin was making a ridiculous face behind Y/N. Jin could only hope it would make Namjoon smile.

“Ok, fine, you can send that one,” Y/N decided. “But only if you send a good pic of us as well. Namjoon needs to see my actual face, not this silly one.”

“Yah, fine,” Seokjin chuckled. “Go ahead, get yourself all fixed up for the camera, princesa.”

Y/N took off the RJ headband and fluffed out her hair a bit so that it felt more presentable. Snuggling back against Seokjin’s chest, she leaned her head against his chin and smiled.

“Ok, Jinnie,” Y/N announced. “Whenever you’re ready.”

The resulting photo had his heart fluttering and his lips curling into a soft smile. He wrapped his arms around Y/N and kissed her cheek.

“We look good together,” Seokjin commented aloud. “Look at that gorgeous smile.”

“Awww,” Y/N smiled. “Thank you, Jin-Jin. You look quite handsome as well.”

“I know,” Seokjin smirked. “That’s who I was talking about.”

Y/N’s smile fell dramatically and she stood up in a huff, but Seokjin pulled her back onto his lap before she could escape.

“I’m kidding, Y/N-ah,” Seokjin chuckled. “You look radiant, mi corazon. Almost good enough to eat.”

“Almost?” Y/N huffed. “Gee, thanks. I could do with some teeth marks”

“Well, I’m not in the habit of eating my meals while they’re still wrapped,” Seokjin said before planting a kiss on Y/N’s exposed neck. “But just say the word, mi corazon, and I will start unwrapping.”

Y/N shivered as Seokjin suckled at the skin just below her ear, his fingers toying with the edge of her shirt. Y/N allowed herself a few seconds of reckless passion and then shook the temptation away, remembering her responsibilities.

“As amazing as that sounds, Jinnie, I can’t right now,” Y/N whined. “There are still repairs to be done today, and I’m still recovering. Let’s put this on hold until tomorrow, yeah?”

“Of course, mi corazon,” Seokjin purred. “Anything for you.”

Seokjin tugged at her earlobe playfully before planting one more kiss on her cheek and patting her thighs in response. Y/N sagged into Seokjin’s grasp and sighed out in frustration.

I just got them into the swing of these therapy sessions and now, I’m keeping them all at bay. I’m probably giving the poor guys whiplash.

“Don’t you worry, princesa,” Seokjin reassured her. “Take care of whatever you need to do first. Your health is more important than my desire for you. Besides, I will have plenty of time to spend with you now that I have those extra therapy sessions.”

“Yeah, you will,” Y/N smirked before standing up and stretching. “Speaking of which, I need to go prepare everything for tonight’s repair session. Feel free to go out into the common areas and hang out. Yoongi and Hoseok left to meet with Bang PD, but the maknae should be around.”

Seokjin hopped up and wrapped his arms around Y/N’s waist and lifted her off the ground a few inches before setting her feet back down.

“Thank you for my freedom, mi corazon,” Seokjin mused. “I feel like a new man. Speaking of which, do you know what prisoners use to call each other?”

“No,” Y/N said. “What?”

“Cell phones,” Seokjin cackled while waving his phone in front of her. “Oh, man, I need to send that one to Namjoon-ah.”

Seokjin quickly typed out a message to Namjoon and also sent over the selfies of himself and Y/N. As he typed, Y/N took a moment to enjoy the boyish glee spreading across his face.

I know that youthful glow is just for show, but sometimes, he needs to be reminded that he’s an adult.

“Jinnie, please remember to be careful,” Y/N reminded him. “Bang and I are allowing you to stay in contact with Namjoon, but the others don’t know about that. It needs to stay a secret, at least until Namjoon successfully transitions over to life in the dormitory. Do you understand?”

“Yes, I promise I will be careful,” Seokjin nodded. “Not just for Namjoon, but also for you. I don’t want to disappoint you again.”

Y/N booped Seokjin on the nose and stepped up to press a chaste kiss on his pouty lips. She pulled his hand toward the door and he gladly followed. He walked her all the way to her door, trying his best to make up for his previous indiscretion. Once he wandered into the kitchen, he leaned on the counter and took a deep breath and smiled. The kitchen was clean, he was free of his prison, and he was in the mood to cook.

DING!

Another smile bloomed on Seokjin’s face as another message from Namjoon popped up on his phone. He opened his messages, but he didn’t get to read them because Jungkook stepped into the living room looking freshly showered.

“HYUNG!” Jungkook screeched. “Did they let you out? Are you finally free?!”

Seokjin skillfully slipped his phone into his pocket and struck a power pose for Jungkook before losing his composure and giggling.

“That’s right, Jungkookie,” Seokjin announced. “Your favorite big brother is back and here to stay. Did you miss me?”

“Eh, not really,” Jungkook deadpanned. “I didn’t really notice a difference.”

Seokjin’s ears flooded crimson and he started berating his youngest brother while throwing pillows at him in retaliation. Jungkook effortlessly caught the pillows and tossed them back onto the couches.

“Jin-hyung, chill,” Jungkook giggled. “You want to play video games with me until Taehyung and Jimin get back from their showers? We wanted to clean up after we cleaned the kitchen. Aren’t you proud of us? We left everything just the way you like it.”

Seokjin’s fiery temper faded and he gave an appreciative look at the spotless kitchen. He had to admit that seeing the love and care that his brothers put into something he loves made his heart sing with pride.

I taught them so well.

“You know what, Jungkook-ah,” Seokjin sighed. “I would love to play video games with you. I was going to cook something, but it looks too nice to mess up right now. Thank you for taking such good care of my kitchen.”

“Of course, Jin-hyung,” Jungkook grinned proudly. “I learned from the best.”

Seokjin waited for another sarcastic jab at his ego, but Jungkook’s bunny smile was genuine. For a brief moment, all of the shadowy sadness he felt earlier dissipated. Seokjin stepped forward and pulled Jungkook into a quick hug and gestured toward the living room. After choosing yet another game from Y/N’s massive collection, the two of them sat down together on the couch and exchanged fiendish grins.

“Prepare to get your ass handed to you, Jungkookie,” Seokjin threatened. “Let your hyung show you how it’s done.”

“Whatever you say, hyung,” Jungkook grinned. “Whatever you say.”

The opening video game theme blared through the speakers, and the two opponents settled in for an epic battle. Down the hall, behind closed doors, a different battle was raging between another set of opponents.

—--------------------

“No more, Minnie,” Taehyung wheezed. “I don’t think I can go again.”

Jimin collapsed onto the bed beside Taehyung and giggled as the dopamine flooded his brain. They tried to shower separately, but Jimin became impatient when Taehyung was taking too long in their shared bathroom. An interrupted shower evolved into another steamy lovemaking session that ended with them ruining their fresh sheets once again.

“Wow, Taehyungie,” Jimin breathed out with a smile. “I don’t think I will ever get enough of you. I literally get hard just thinking about you. Your hands, your hair, your chest, your ass, your lips, I just want to touch all of it all the time. I think you’re my new addiction.”

“Oh yeah?” Taehyung huffed out a laugh. “What was the last one?”

“Getting tattoos with Jungkookie,” Jimin informed him. “I still love it, but not nearly as much as he does.”

Silence settled over the room as the scent of arousal and pleasure evaporated just as quickly. Taehyung’s brain booted up once again with the same error message from before.

SYSTEM ERROR. RELATIONSHIP DOES NOT COMPUTE. PLEASE DEFINE NEW PARAMETERS.

“So,” Jimin sighed airily. “Now what? I’d say let’s take another shower, but we both saw how that ended last time.”

Jimin’s giggles prickled unpleasantly under Taehyung’s skin and he shifted uneasily on the bed. Things between him and Jimin were progressing without abandon and there was a growing fear that he’d done something wrong.

This happened too fast, right? I should have waited until I knew we were both ready. I don’t know if I can do this anymore. What’s going to happen to me and Jimin? I can’t lose my soulmate and my best friend? What am I supposed to do now?

As the panic flooded his veins, Taehyung’s shallow breaths were causing slight vibrations on the mattress. Jimin wrongly assumed that Taehyung was giggling with him, so he was clueless that anything might be amiss.

“I’m going to fill the bathtub,” Jimin offered. “I think a nice hot bath will be just the thing we need. What do you think, Tae-Tae?”

Taehyung could only close his eyes and nod slightly, but that was enough of a response for Jimin. He slid off the ruined bed and made his way into the bathroom. As soon as the sound of running water filtered into the bedroom, Taehyung snapped.

He crawled off the bed and threw on a pair of loose pants and a crumpled t-shirt before seeking out his pair of slides from under the bed. Taehyung could hear Jimin humming some unknown tune while pulling bath supplies out of the cabinets.

“Tae, which bath bomb do you think we should use?” Jimin called out from the bathroom. “I have this avocado one and I also have this cute little astronaut.”

With his anxiety spiking dangerously, Taehyung backed away to the door and quietly slipped out into the hallway. He needed to find a place to hide so he could get his anxiety under control. He could hear Jungkook and Seokjin yelling at each other over the sounds of a video game in the living room. His only other option was to seek refuge in Y/N’s room at the end of the hall.

Shit! I forgot my phone.

Taehyung took a few moments to contemplate whether his phone was worth going back into the room for but ultimately decided against it.

Too risky, gotta hide!

He expeditiously crept down the hallway to Y/N’s room and knocked softly. He kept his eyes on his own bedroom door down the hall just in case Jimin decided to come out looking for him. Fortunately, Y/N came to his rescue and opened her door.

“Oh, hi, Tae,” Y/N chirped cheerily. “What’s up, buttercup?”

“Can I hide in your room for a while?” Taehyung blurted out hastily. “I’m having some issues with Jimin and I need a place to think.”

Y/N blinked at Taehyung in confusion and then stepped aside to usher him into her room. Taehyung made a beeline for the vanity chair and slumped into the plush cushions with his head in his hands. He was on the verge of a panic attack and Y/N could clearly see the signs of anxiety floating on the surface. He was pulling at his hair, practically hyperventilating, and fidgeting nervously as he tried to calm himself down. Y/N stepped forward and tried to figure out how she could help.

“Tae?” Y/N asked softly. “What’s going on, sweetheart? Talk to me.”

She didn’t want to touch him right away, even if she was just trying to comfort him through his distress. Y/N hovered over Taehyung’s crumpled form and spoke to him in soft, soothing tones.

“I don’t know what happened,” Y/N continued. “But right now, I just want you to focus on your breathing, ok, Tae? Is it ok if I touch you, sweetheart?”

Taehyung nodded violently and tried to pull air into his lungs, although his inhales were shaky and stuttering. Y/N’s hand gently soothed his back with small comforting circles and soft massaging touches along his shoulders. Taehyung’s breathing eventually slowed and his body lost the urge to combust. Once he felt like he had a better grip on his body, he sat up and turned his weary gaze to Y/N.

Y/N’s heart broke at the sight of Taehyung’s tear stained cheeks and red-rimmed eyes. She wanted to banish whatever was troubling this precious man and make sure he didn’t have another panic induced episode on her watch. Y/N took Taehyung’s face in her palms and pressed her forehead against his with a sigh. Taehyung whined softly as he felt Y/N’s forehead move away, but it morphed into a whimper when he felt Y/N’s lips press against his furrowed brow.

“OK, that’s better, isn’t it, honey?” Y/N cooed. “Wanna talk about it? You know I’m always here for you.”

Taehyung lifted his tear-filled eyes to meet Y/N’s concerned face and the wells of his distress bubbled over and began streaking down his cheeks. He tried to speak, but the only noise escaping from his trembling lips were hiccups.

Knock, Knock, Knock

“Noona,” called Jimin from the other side of the door. “Is Tae in there? I can’t find him.”

Taehyung’s pupils dilated in fear and he started backing away from the door frantically, pulling away from the comfort of Y/N’s hands in the process. Y/N stood up and looked at the door before gesturing to Taehyung to hide in her bathroom. He nodded once and disappeared into the darkened en suite while Y/N walked over to her bedroom door to speak with Jimin.

Whatever this is, it has to be about Jimin. Poor Tae.

Y/N answered the door and found Jimin’s half naked form on the other side. Dressed only in a pair of grey sweatpants, Jimin looked incredibly worried as his eyes quickly scanned the room in search of Taehyung.

“Hi, Noona, “ chirped Jimin. “Have you seen Taehyung? We were going to shower, but he disappeared.”

“We, huh?” Y/N quirked. “Trying to save water now, Jiminie?”

“Kinda,” Jimin chuckled. “We were, uh, having fun? You know, like we were last night? Anyway, we really needed a shower and he just dipped out without saying anything to me. I’m worried about him.”

“I see,” Y/N nodded. “Well, I can tell you that, yes, he is in here, but I don’t think he’s in the mood to talk to you right now.”

“What? Why?” Jimin exclaimed. “Did I do something wrong? Tae!”

Y/N prevented Jimin from rushing into her room and gave him a stern look. Jimin’s elevated concern dimmed and he lowered his head in submission. Jimin’s eyes misted over as he wistfully looked over Y/N’s shoulder, his eyes searching for his soulmate.

“I fucked this up already, didn’t I?” Jimin murmured sadly. “He kept asking to talk and I just kept seducing him. Is he mad at me?

“I’m not sure, Minnie,” Y/N sighed. “He hasn’t said much, but I can tell he’s going to need a little time, ok? I promise that I will sit down with both of you to talk this out as soon as he’s ready. Until then, I think it’s best if he stays here so I can help him.”

“I didn’t mean to upset him, Noona,” Jimin whined. “I would never intentionally hurt him. You have to believe me. I was just enjoying our time together so much, I didn’t want it to end. Please tell Tae that I’m sorry. I promise to do whatever he needs me to do to make this right.”

Y/N could hear the desperation mounting in Jimin’s words and she stepped forward to wrap her arms around him. His whole body shivered and he began trembling uncontrollably. Short, clipped inhales filled Y/N’s ears and she started rubbing his back to soothe the quakes rumbling through his delicate frame.

“What did I do wrong, Noona?” Jimin whimpered. “I promised him everything was going to be ok, and it feels like I broke that promise already. What am I supposed to do?”

Jimin’s whimpers devolved into sobs and Y/N could tell this whole situation was going to be one big hot mess. She sighed and gave Jimin a hearty squeeze before pulling back and wiping the tears from his cheeks. Jimin’s eyes were already puffy and red, and his lips were trembling vigorously.

Oh, Jimin.

“Minnie, sweetheart, it’s going to be ok,” Y/N assured him. “Let me walk you back to your room. You should finish taking your shower and then maybe take a little nap. I will talk to Taehyung and see if I can get him talking again, yeah? Once he’s ready, we’ll come over to your room and have a nice little group session, ok?”

Jimin’s precious fingers curled around Y/N’s shirt and he stood up a little taller and nodded slightly. Y/N maneuvered him away from her door and down the hall with very little resistance. Whatever was currently plaguing his thoughts was keeping him distracted enough to be manhandled. When they reached his bedroom door, Y/N pulled Jimin’s forehead down for a kiss and then she caressed his flushed cheeks.

“We’ll see you in a bit, ok?” Y/N reminded him. “Don’t worry, Jiminie. We will figure out a way to fix this. I promise.”

“Pinky promise?” Jimin asked cutely, offering his little pinky to her.

Y/N smiled and linked her pinky around Jimin’s. They were the same size.

“Pinky promise,” Y/N grinned. “Now, go take your shower. I will text you before we come over, ok?”

Jimin smiled sadly and nodded at her words before slipping into his bedroom. Y/N sighed out and then quickly made her way back to her bedroom, locking the door behind her. When she entered the dark bathroom, she couldn’t make out Taehyung’s form among any of the familiar shadows.

“Tae?” Y/N called out. “Are you still in here?”

A soft whine echoed from inside the bathroom and Y/N could just barely distinguish a subtle lump undulating in the bathtub. She walked over and found Taehyung curled into a ball in the empty soaking tub. He’d pulled her bathrobe and a towel on top of himself in an attempt to hide from Jimin should he come looking for him. Y/N threw down another towel onto the floor and kneeled beside the bathtub. As she leaned over his huddled form, she noticed that Taehyung was shivering and sniffling with a few hiccups interrupting his shaky breaths. She waited a few moments for Taehyung to show his face, but he remained hidden in fear.

“It’s ok, Tae-Tae,” Y/N soothed. “Go ahead and let it out. I will be right here when you’re ready.”

They remained in darkness as Y/N began humming a tune softly. Her soft voice floated in the space between them as Taehyung allowed his body to process the sudden panic attack. Taehyung’s mind latched onto the melody Y/N hummed and he focused on a good counter melody. He needed to think of something innocuous in order to get his brain back in good working order. As his musical synapses came back online, Taehyung felt his body inching away from despair bit by bit. He just needed to concentrate on Y/N’s voice.

Everything’s going to be ok. Y/N will be able to help me. If she can’t, then who?

The atmosphere within the bathroom grew lighter with each passing moment, and the world beyond Y/N’s door waited, albeit impatiently, for them to emerge.

Author's Note: I just realized how much time has passed since I last updated. I honestly don't even know if anyone is still reading this. A bucketful of thanks to my Goguma @xxxille-girlxxx for always being my little emo cheerleader and to my Marshmallow Cream Puff @li-main for encouragement and reassurance. I will try my best to continue this story, if not for myself, then for the invisible audience that I believe still exists somewhere in Tumblrland.

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#peripheral #bts series #bts fanfic #bts smut #bts angst #bts au fanfic #vmin #kim seokjin #jeon jungkook #park jimin #kim taehyung #min yoongi #kim namjoon

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