Periculo Amorem

Dangerous Love

It took them some time to finally calm down.

They sat at a little table in the cafe, far inside so the people watching the telly wouldn't pay them too much attention, and next to a window so they could get clear air. Without asking for anything to eat or drink, they simply went in and sat down, one before the other, with the little round table in their midst. They thought silently as they looked outside at the darkening sky, and if it hadn't been for the waitress that came to ask them personally if they wanted anything, they would've probably stayed there until their bodies had given out. In low voices, they asked for two large americanos, a couple of sandwiches, and a plate of cookies. And they must've looked terrible because the waitress brought them what they asked for in less than five minutes, and added two cups of very strong tea "courtesy of the house". Everyone must be shaken by the commotion, it seems.

No words were exchanged as they ate, but none were needed, only their presence before the other was enough to soothe. So they exchanged glances, tilted heads, frowns, and little smiles, and Jungkook glanced around before passing him one of his cookies with a wink. The meal had been exactly what they most needed to calm down and relax. Though they were still feeling terrible for Edward and Audrey and Taehyung looked at his phone every minute or two, their hearts weren't obstructing their throats any longer.

Thanks to (or because of) everything that took place about an hour ago, Raphael had been nearly erased from Jungkook's memory once more. Just nearly. Because he could indeed remember what had happened, but it didn't strike him as terribly as it did when it was happening. All thanks to (more like, because of) the box he put over his feelings, so now he could watch what happened in perspective and feel nothing of it, and that was what he was doing right now.

As Taehyung finished his coffee -and with that, finishing his meal- he looked at his phone one more time. But this time, he took it at once and unblocked it to answer the message. Jungkook was looking at him, hoping immensely that the kids were having a comfortable rest either at their house or at the hospital, and he took his cup to finish his tea which he had left for last because of its previous temperature. And he thought.

Why had Raphael and his father been in that mall? It was a Saturday at three in the afternoon, anybody else would've seen that as merely son and father quality time, however, Jungkook knew better. He knew more.

The dream Raphael's father always had was of having his son as his second, right at his side, doing what's right for this country, and because he had always been a direct and combative man, he had taken the saying "if you want it, take it" religiously. Jungkook knew that man had always been overambitious by what Raphael had told him; he had to battle his way up and up, always refusing to take "no" for an answer, and that didn't stop even when he had his son. His first and only child, a male, just like he wanted. Looking at it in perspective, the outcome was obvious when his son came to him and told him he had dreams of his own.

A man who had always been in control and would never take a negative will stop at nothing to always get what he wants. So he indeed ended up forcing his precious son to do what he wanted him to do. And Jungkook shuddered at the thought of what this man must've done to break his son into submission.

So, Raphael must be his second, and to do that, he needed to be by his side more often than not, to receive orders from him. Even if he still had three years to finish his education and two more to get the ranking his father wanted him to have, perfection was a rule, not even the man himself would break. And for that to happen, they had to work every day at all times, diligently and religiously.

Therefore, today was a workday just like any other, and that could only mean that they were either waiting for a meeting to begin or had just come out of one and were having lunch right before Jungkook and Raphael locked eyes.

The chief inspector of Bradford and Leeds came to a meeting. A very important one at that, considering the timing they had to get lunch. It all pointed out that the meeting had been before three o'clock, otherwise they would've had lunch at midday. The meeting must've dragged on for three hours, and, if it was an important meeting, it must've been scheduled for two hours, so they ended up having a five-hour meeting. A very important meeting with the chief inspector of Bradford and Leeds that lasted five hours. So then, he mustn't have been the only high-ranked in the meeting, because, if he had been, then he would've been the only one giving away orders to fix whatever problem they have, therefore, there must've been arguments between high-ranking officials.

A meeting composed of high-ranking officials where one of the heads was the chief inspector of Bradford and Leeds, and the problem had been such that they had a five-hour meeting.

And two hours after that, at five o'clock, black-dressed "terrorists" tried to march up to Buckingham Palace.

So the meeting had been to strategize where to put their forces because they knew; somehow, the high-ranking officials knew that these people would attack today. But they got the information late, that's why the meeting had dragged on too long. Because this had been the first they heard of these people coming out ready to fight at five o'clock. So they had to think quickly and precisely. Because, not only the whole royal family were currently at the palace, but the one and only prime minister as well. No one knew about it until they heard it on the news, it was supposed to be a secret to keep the minister safe.

So how on earth did these people know about the location of the prime minister? How did they know he was going to be there this same day at that exact hour? What was the prime minister doing with the whole royal family? How did these masked people remain hidden for so long that only the officials were able to get a whiff of what they were doing mere hours before they started their attack? How did such a large crowd manage to remain hidden from everyone? Was this happening anywhere else?

Who are these people?

- Jungkook. - Taehyung called him in a low voice.

He looked up from his empty cup and realized he had been frowning the whole time he was thinking. Once he looked straight into Taehyung's relieved eyes, his expression smoothed over.

- Yes? - He asked, placing his cup back on the table and straightening up a bit.

- They're well. - Taehyung breathed out with a grin and left his phone, face down, over the table. Jungkook tilted his head back and smiled as well. - Daphne said the doctor told her they will wake up tomorrow and that they seem to be fine. A little shaken, bumped up, and bruised... Well, Audrey is in the worse physical state of the two, but her throat will be fine in a couple of weeks. Though, she'll have to be really quiet for quite a while. - His eyes darted downwards, his relief turning to pain once more. But then he took a deep breath and tried to smile up at him again as he continued. - But they are being taken care of and comfortable. And Daphne said she will be staying in their room at the hospital for the night so that she'll be there when they wake up. - He nodded.

- That's good, Tae. - Jungkook said softly as he smiled gently back at him. Then he looked down at their table, noticed they had finished, and looked back up. - Let's go pay, then. -

Taehyung gave him one nod and then stood up to follow after him. They got to the front desk, Taehyung paid, and then they left the little cafe. Jungkook's stomach jolted at the sudden sound of one of the men in front of the telly yelling back at his friend over whatever they were talking about regarding the subject that was astonishingly still being reported by the news channel. He glanced and noticed the group of men drinking beer from the neighboring shop and tea from the coffee shop. What a combination.

Once they got to the car and upon reflecting out loud within each other, they got to the conclusion that it would be better if they were to finish what they had been here for in the first place. So they went back to search for the food market inside the mall to find fruits, vegetables, meats, grains, and other things. They both composed lists and while Jungkook took care of getting the vegetables and grains, Taehyung took care of finding the fruits, meats, and the "other things" he said vaguely he was going to get. So they each took off on their own and reunited about thirty minutes later with half a full shopping cart each for Taehyung to pay for. And once it was all in shopping bags, they went back to the car.

Now that it was close to eight in the evening, the sky was pitch black and the city lights were turned on. It was quite a pretty sight to behold from the passenger seat as they drove back to Evanthe, but it indeed turned even more beautiful once he felt Taehyung's hand grabbing his and placing it on the gear stick. Feeling the warmth of his bigger hand against the back of his will always bring butterflies to his stomach, and he loved it.

As Jungkook and Taehyung drove back in silence while they felt the air rushing in through the open windows, Leo was being woken by Finn so they could go have some dinner themselves.

Leo groaned and turned around in the bed, punching his head against the wall when he did so. And he groaned once more as he heard Finn hissing.

- Now are you awake? - Finn asked carefully, standing beside the bed. Leo turned back around and helped himself up with his arms to sit upright.

- Yes, yes, I'm up. - He huffed in a sleepy, raspy, lower voice. Once he was sitting upright with his feet on the floor, he yawned and covered his face with the inside of his elbow, then he blinked and looked around. And got almightily confused. - What time is it? -

- Eight. - Finn answered and walked back to his bed to sit and put his shoes on. - We missed the regular mealtime, but the cafeteria will still be serving dinner until ten o'clock, so we're on fine enough time, I guess. -

Leo looked around at him. His hair was all ruffled and the long-sleeved he was wearing looked more wrinkled than before. Also, he was putting his shoes on quite tiredly.

Leo couldn't help losing a merry laugh at the sight. Then he brought a hand up to his own ruffled hair and stretched a bit.

- For a second I thought it was the next day and I got scared. - He chuckled. Finn looked up at that and smiled at him.

He looked so much better than before, and for that, Leo smiled back at him.

- Well, - Finn started as he looked back down to put his other shoe on. - I thought we were only going to sleep for about thirty minutes, so you might imagine my confusion when I woke up and it was pitch black outside. - They chuckled again. - I thought it was like two in the morning or something, could you imagine? -

- Nah, I would've happily gone back to sleep, honest. - Leo replied with a smile. And as he heard Finn chuckling in disbelief, he put on his shoes. Putting them on by force because he hadn't undone the shoelaces when he took them off and he wasn't about to do so now.

- Will it be difficult for you to go back to sleep later tonight? - Finn asked and stood up to take what he needed to walk out. His coat, his keys, his phone...

- Not... at... all. - Leo answered earnestly, gaining a chuckle out of Finn as he himself took what he needed. - It's quite rare for me to sleep for too long. Or simply rest, for that matter. So, any time I get to sleep is a time well spent. - They walked to the door and walked out of the room, locking the door once they exited.

- Same for me. - Finn answered. And once he finished locking the door, they walked straight ahead. - It's like... I don't want to sleep or be sleepy so I always keep myself working or doing something, but the moment I put my head on a pillow I just poff, and go to sleep. -

- I know, right? I feel like sometimes I don't want to take time off doing something important, but then again, if the bed is comfy... - He shrugged, eliciting a laugh from Finn.

Leo could feel something different as they walked and chit-chatted back and forth as they usually did. It was a feeling... and at the same time, it wasn't. As if it was there, the warmth, the comfort, the feeling of home, but that isn't a feeling, is it? It's just a way of seeing things. Like, he's just able to feel this home-like sensation because Finn is someone he can trust, same goes for the warmth, it's all simply because they are getting closer as friends and getting to trust each other with a lot of deep thoughts and feelings.

But then again, every time he would think of it that way, he would grimace. Like something about what he thought had been wrong or off somehow, yet he still had no idea where the flaw in his logic was.

Only one thing he was sure of, and it was that he had never felt a fluttering in his stomach every time Jungkook would laugh or smile or simply look him in the eyes. Never.

Emily was currently in her room, having had her dinner an hour or so ago. She was now lying belly down on her bed as she browsed through her laptop. Her roommate, a... weird girl named "Alex", had just gone outside to see her boyfriend, or so she said as she was leaving. Emily didn't pay too much attention to her, didn't even look at the door when it closed once more, she just kept on looking at the news on her computer. In part, it wasn't only because her head was submerged in brain-crushing throughs but also because... her roommate was weird.

Emily had always tried to never call anybody else weird because it was quite an awful thing to say to somebody, especially in crowded places, but she couldn't help thinking about it. It was simply impossible not to think of Alex as weird. She was tall, skinny but strong, had nice skin and nice features and it would all be fine if she hadn't messed up with everything else about her. Her way of dressing... she would usually dress in black instead of bright colors and Emily had even noticed once thru the fabric of her shirt one day that she wasn't even wearing a bra, just a top; she only had various styles of combat boots to wear, not even one high heel or pretty slipper, and, as far as Emily had seen, she didn't own any dresses of any kind, not even skirts. She does seem to have makeup, but Emily was sure it was a high coverage foundation that looked quite used, and still, her face looked clean of any product, so she had no idea where she was using that but it wasn't on her face. And her hair... oh, her hair was short. Not like a boy's, thank goodness, but still, it was simply too short for a girl to have.

And she was a girl, not a woman. Because when Emily asked, she told her she was eighteen. Eighteen, and her mother allowed her to dress like that and cut her hair like that and... and move like that-- She moves around like a guy, and even if she's skinny, she has the outline of muscles. It was so freaky watching muscles on a girl, so wrong. Emily felt so out of place in this room, she felt like she was sleeping next to a boy with the way she would sit and... stand and... talk and cross her arms over her chest and... just the fact that she doesn't seem to give a fuck if she's looking pretty or not is enough to weird Emily out. And she had a boyfriend, doesn't she feel bad for not looking pretty for her man? She doesn't even seem to be gentle, what is this boy doing with a girl like that? Seriously, Emily didn't know whether to feel bad for him or be concerned that he had found something in her roommate.

Emily had no idea who this boyfriend was and seriously didn't want to figure it out because she knows that she was currently judging this girl heavily, and if she knew who she was with, she would judge them too. So, because of that, she tried to concentrate on other things because judging was wrong for her emotions. If she kept on stressing about everything, there would be a permanent wrinkle between her eyes.

She looked at the corner of her computer and found that it was past eight, then went back to look at what was going on.

The fight seemed to have stopped at last, but only the heavy part of it all; there weren't bombs or bullets flying around anymore, which was good. But even so, the police had tried using pressurized water to get them out of the place, something that would've bruised anybody heavily if said water came in contact with them, but these black-clothed people were something else, something that scared the living hell out of the news reporters and Emily. They would jump around the line of fire with ease and precision. They were professionals at this and it showed, not a single person of those had retreated, and every time one was hit, they would simply go inside the building they had taken as a refuge and come back out bright as new to keep on fighting. But the police weren't like these crazy, pumped-up roaches, whenever one of them got hit, they had one person less. However, the news said there weren't any deaths, which was a miracle considering the heaviness of the fight.

There was a moment when Emily had to take her big teddy bear to hug and hide her face because the police had called in a tank, an actual tank, but you know what happened? A group of terrorists took it. They simply took it. They went inside the thing, pushed out the police inside, and took it. Now the enemy had a fully operational and armed tank. They hadn't used it yet, they had it parked beside their building, but still, the way the news reporter put it, it sounded like they were keeping the heavy armor to cause even more terrible destruction.

Emily was glad her house was so far from there and her family was completely safe. And she felt like she could breathe better once the reporters said that the building the enemy had taken had been so new that no one yet lived there, so, no innocent had been harmed and no family had to be taken out of there by force.

With a snap, she closed her laptop and gently pushed it away until it was right on the edge of her bed. There was an awful tension on her shoulders that had only intensified and it all started this morning when Jungkook had suddenly snapped at her.

She crossed her arms in front of her and rested her head over them. She still had to go meet with Jungkook later tonight just to ask him some questions, to see if he was fine, or to know what to say to Professor Seokjin. Because something was happening to him. And to Leo as well. Leo had tried to apologize but... she just didn't know what to feel anymore, and Finn's presence there was just making matters even more difficult. She was glad that Garrett got there before Leo had grabbed her because, if he had grabbed her, she would've had to oblige or he would've snapped at her. And the way he snapped at people is not something she wants to experience.

And though she knows he would never hit her... Whenever his dad snaps at her mom (which is not often at all because her mother was a perfect woman), he would turn into someone unrecognizable and say things he doesn't mean, so Emily just wants to avoid that, if anything so Leo doesn't feel guilty once he realizes what he had said.

...She has to think things through and do things perfectly otherwise it wouldn't work... but Finn simply had to grab a pinch of his shirt and he would immediately snap back to reality without having to tell him to stop...

Emily signed greatly. It hurt, it really did, that she had been there for years and years but Finn had only been with him for a week and Leo chose him. It feels like a betrayal. She had trusted Leo to be her lion, guarding her jealously, but now... she didn't even know where he was, all she knows is that the pair of them left the Arcade room at the same time, and, even if she had messaged him, he hadn't shown up to have dinner with her. He hadn't even looked at her messages. And she had sat there ready to listen to what they had to tell her, waiting, even long after she had finished her meal, but, once she finally realized that no one would arrive, she finally stood up.

And they had been so happy to come to the same university together. What happened to "we're going to live together now"? What happened to "you'll come to my room every morning and night. We'll eat together, study together every Saturday morning, Leo and I will workout in the gym... It's going to be the best time of our lives."...What happened with that? What happened to their joy, their excitement, what happened to Jungkook's hugs? What happened to Leo wanting to braid her hair out of the blue? What happened to the three of them?

Could it somehow have been her fault? But then again, Jungkook said he'd have been having panic attacks since he was little. It could've been because she wasn't there to give him hugs, though. So maybe...

Emily was so exhausted. And the worst part was that this type of exhaustion wouldn't ease out with a night of sleep. She had no idea why she felt so heavy all of a sudden, no idea why thinking of how to make her boys happy makes her feel worn out, and she didn't have the energy to figure anything out. Truthfully, thinking of how she had to go back to Jungkook's room at ten, didn't sound as appealing as going to sleep early. But, after this morning and how they parted, she simply had to make things right, otherwise, her heart would break if they all suddenly felt awkward with each other.

So she put an alarm on her phone to be woken fifteen minutes before ten o'clock and took a well-needed nap as she hugged tightly to her teddy bear. A teddy bear Leo had given her for her eighteenth birthday alongside a promise that they will be married one day. They had all laughed about it, but...

She hugged tighter to that teddy bear.

Garrett thought Alex had merely been heading back to his room to continue watching movies and pass the time like they were doing before.

However, the moment she knocked on the door and he opened it to see his mate with her short hair and her arms crossed over her black-clothed chest and she pushed him to lock the door with a snap. He knew she needed something more than just passing time together.

He shouldn't, but... he let her push him all the way back until he was sitting on the edge of his bed, and he said nothing when she climbed over him to sit on his lap. He had indeed lost a breath when she violently pushed him so his back was against the bed, but, instead of trying to stop her from immediately devouring his mouth, he had gently held her waist and permeated his aura so she would have the calm she was looking for.

Alex was a Warrior Core, so she was feeling completely useless and left out being here while her brothers and sisters were out there, fighting in the capital. Wave after wave, Garrett tried to soothe her, but her fiery anger would simply burn it all off before it could touch her fully, so she bit his lip and grabbed fist fulls of his hair and clothes, and he tried and tried to push his own soothing Healing Core into her, but she wouldn't give in.

Only when she had grabbed him by the throat and lifted herself enough to look into his eyes was he able to gasp out.

- Alex... try to let me in. - He tried to tell her, but she simply looked all over his face and down his neck, down his chest... Garrett tried again frantically. - I won't be able to calm you down if you don't let me--

- Shhhh... - She hushed him, getting closer to his lips to brush against them as she tightened her hold on his throat. He silenced as he tried to keep breathing calm. - I don't know why you even bother with energy when you know what to do. -

He swallowed. Her eyes were too dark.

- Alex, we've talked about this, I thought you wouldn't--

- Garrett. - She shut him up again and leaned back just enough to look at his eyes better. - It's not like I don't care about what you think is better for me, I just... need this, alright? - She said, her breathing heavier, as her other hand trailed down over his chest.

Now was when he couldn't keep his breathing calm anymore.

- This is just forcing you to calm down, this isn't healthy, your soul will still be burning if you don't let me in to--

She grabbed his belt and tugged on it.

- I don't know why you're still talking. - She said as she undid his belt, but he rapidly grabbed her hand.

- I have a roommate now, remember? He might come back at any second. - He tried to stop this, but her hand on his throat only got tighter.

- Fine, then let's go to my room and I'll kick out my roommate. - Alex said simply, in a sweet soft voice that didn't reach her black eyes at all.

With his other hand, Garrett grabbed the one holding his throat, trying to make her ease down as he kept on throwing wave after wave at her even if it would burn off completely.

- Alex... - He might sound a little desperate now, but he didn't mind when he was so preoccupied with her. - We can go down to the Arcade room, watch a movie here, go to the gym if you want to, just don't... don't do this because you're angry, please. It's no good for either of us, let me help you. -

But she wouldn't listen, she simply started grinding against him and then went to his ear. It was slightly distracting to be touched like that, regardless of who it was. That's one of the defaults of also being Lover Core, a part of him craves to love and be loved. More so him, as his Lover Core wasn't exactly ok.

But this wasn't love. She was simply trying to use him to ease her anger, so it might indeed feel good, but he wouldn't enjoy it.

- Alex. - He tried to stop her again, but she growled in his ear and dug her fingers in his throat as she pushed back enough to look at him.

And he noticed, as she showed her clenched teeth at him, that her fangs were out. So he sighed, defeated. There was simply no good way to end this anymore, so he stopped trying.

- Let's go to your room, please. - He pleaded in nothing but a whisper. It was all he could manage because of the hand against his windpipe.

She smiled victoriously. He felt the little twitch of happiness in her aura, so all of this should be worth it, regardless of how he felt. If it'll help her, he should do it.

- Let's go then. - She answered him and swiftly got off of him and up to her feet.

He cleared his throat and swallowed, sat up, and then stood. As he straightened his clothes a bit, she marched over to his nightstand and grabbed his keys, then walked back to him and grabbed his hand. They walked out and he let her guide him to her room.

He hadn't been to her room much, only once when they had arrived and she had shown him where it was just in case he needed her, but other than that, nothing. It was also for the fact that his room was closer to the stairs than hers, so they would simply go to his, also because his roommate was always out studying or training.

But right now, even as they walked, Garrett still tried to push his Core into her. Yet, all he did was simply wear himself out. She was fuming, and her Core was such that she had always had a problem with meditation, so the only way to soothe her now was if his Core was physically in her. Only like that would his Healing pass that fiery wall of energy surrounding her.

But he... didn't want to. It wasn't like he couldn't feel good with her, it was more like... he had never felt "in the mood". He could feel aroused once she starts on him, but never before. And it was always her who would start to heat it up, not him.

He had tried what the Healer told him; changed his diet, changed his exercise, meditated more, and still, the black markings of his Lover Core were pale in some places more than others. He didn't feel sick, and yet he was wrong somehow. Three years of this and he was still wrong somehow, three years where he had tried everything with Alex and yet his Lover Core was still looking off. Three years, and he still tries to push his energy into her without having to be physical, all because he knows she will be a bit violent and he wouldn't like it.

He wasn't afraid of her, just... he wouldn't like it.

Still, here he was, waiting by her side in front of her door as she took out her keys. Waiting to be "of service", waiting for her to finally sigh and say "thank you" so that it'll all end and he could go back to being gentle with her. And he knew that, once it was done and he would go back to his room, he would feel used and discarded.

Yet still, he waited.

She opened up the door with a brutal bang that woke up her roommate from her nap, and, without further adieu, she snapped at her.

- Get out, now. - She said in a low, threatening voice.

Garrett's breath had been cut the moment that face appeared from the other side of that teddy bear, but once he could talk, he gasped.

- Emily? -

Emily sat up at the sight of him.

- Garrett? - The way she said his name was...as if she was much more astonished to find him than him to find her.

Slowly... Alex turned around towards him. And with the way his aura was opened right now, he could taste the sourness of frozen lemons with salt so clearly in his mouth that he winced right when she spoke.

- ...you know her? -

He went into panic mode. If she got even angrier for any reason, she would be even more violent later.

Immediately, he shook his head.

- No. - He said with wide eyes. - She's just... a friend of a friend. - That was indeed true, so she couldn't taste any lies in his aura.

But then, Emily spoke, and he tasted a sourness that made him grimace. But the sourness was coming from her, not Alex.

- You... are her boyfriend? - That was the taste of heavy judgment on his tongue. He had no idea a girl so tiny and sweet could judge like that.

- Yes. - He answered her rapidly. But before any could continue, Alex snapped again, but with that cold sweetness that tries to suppress a very high level of anger.

- You're going to get out of here and not come back until ten, alright? I want a moment alone. You can go with your other friends. -

Garrett was heavily judging whether to continue or just run to Hoseok for help.

But she caught the smell of fear in him, the smell of wanting to run, so she took him by the arm and marched him right in, to make him sit on her bed before she turned to look at Emily again who was now standing barefoot looking at them with a frown.

- You can't bring boys to the room, especially your boyfriend. -

Emily was going to be the death of him, and not in any good way.

- Leave, or I'll kick you out. - Her voice was too slow, too considerate. Oh no...

- If I leave, it'll be to call for a teacher. - She said resolutely as she folded her arms over her chest.

Alex stood quietly for a second too long. And Garrett panicked again.

- Look, Emily. - He tried to catch her attention with a genuine gentle voice, and once she looked down at him, he continued. - Could you please allow us a space to be on our own for a while? I promise you we won't disrupt your space. It's just a bit hard to break old habits, I hope you understand. -

Emily's frown lessened as she looked at him. Then she blinked and looked back at Alex before darting her eyes to the floor.

- You could've said it like that from the beginning. - She muttered softly before turning around and taking her phone before kneeling to take her shoes. Alex said nothing and barely even moved while she took her things and left, closing the door behind her.

Now that they were alone, Garrett had to suppress the need to defend himself, or else he might make this much more difficult than it could be. So he breathed in calmly and once again allowed her to climb up to him, but before she shoved him against the bed or rendered him speechless with her lips, he hugged her tightly. And tried for one last time as he whispered into her ear.

- You know I don't like it when you're rough. - She didn't answer, so he went on. - If you let me, I can soothe you gently. Let me do it gently, Alex. Let me do it. -

...it didn't work. And he knew it even before she had placed her lips against his ear and whispered back to him.

- I can smell your fear. You still don't want me, do you? -

His heart smashed against his chest and he rushed back to answer.

- I do. I do want you, I just... I just don't like it when you're rough, that's it, that's all I–

- No. - Her voice chilled him on the spot. - You should be used to this by now, Garrett. - She grabbed his shoulders hard and he swallowed. - You... are the reason why the mating bond has never worked between us, it is you and the way you always want to run from this, it's you. -

- ...no... - He pleaded for mercy. His heart aching with the words she uttered as his brain tried desperately to remind him that Luz had said it wasn't his fault, that it was hers for not listening to him, that it was all her and not him... but then again, what the Healer had said when she looked at his Lover Core... "You must start to accept the love you're given, Garrett. Otherwise, you would be mistreating your soul".

Just...accept it...

Garrett said nothing as she slammed him back against the bed and didn't stop her when she devoured his mouth, grabbed his throat, and ripped out his belt. He tried to feel the love, but, the moment he felt only pain, he closed his feelings and aura completely off and felt with his body alone. Trying, with all his might, to concentrate on the good sensations of it all and leave everything else for later.

She was painfully rough, rough enough to leave bruises and scratches on him. And, when she was the one with her back against the bed, she dragged her nails harshly against the middle of his shoulder blades, right where his Lover Core was painted on his skin and bones with black ink. She hated that Core, she hated it because she said it was the reason why Garrett had never been able to mate with her, she hated it... so she clawed at it. And he lost a tear and a sob because he felt like he deserved it, as brutal as the pain was; as terrible as feeling her hating a part of his soul was, he still believed that there was something wrong with him for exactly the same reason. That they had never been able to form a mating bond, all because of him.

It had been more than a week without them getting intimate, and weeks before that without it being as violent as this. He had hoped it was done, he had hoped she had understood him, but... Without him enjoying himself one bit, he cummed inside of her, forcing his core to flow thru her so she could finally calm down, but right before it had taken effect, she bit him harshly on the place where the shoulder meets the neck. It was so painful that he had to bury his face on the pillow beside her head to cry out.

He felt it the second his seed had finally made effect, right when she took her nails out of the skin of his back and her legs let go from around his hips. She took her fangs and teeth out of his neck and licked it gently. All the while he shook from head to toe and cold tears got out of his eyes and into the pillow.

His energy had been low before all this started thanks to him trying stupidly to calm her down gently, so now that he had put all his last remaining soothing abilities on the seed that now was inside of her, he was left with near puffs of himself. His Healing Core had been left so worn out, that he barely had anything to heal himself up with only twenty percent of energy was not enough. It was the limit.

She pushed him by the shoulders until they were both seated on the bed, his forehead resting on her shoulder and his arms on either side of himself, that's when she finally took his head gently and whispered in his ear as she brushed his hair.

- Thank you, Garrett. - She said lovingly and then left a kiss on his temple.

He had just been so brutally used that any type of love was needed, even if it was from the same person who hurt him. So he sniffed and nodded a little. His silence meant nothing but agreement. Agreeing that, because it was his fault they hadn't been able to mate, he should be the one paying for it.

She kissed his cheek and then down to the bleeding bite mark on his neck. She licked it, but that was all she could do for she had no Healer Core in her. She sighed once she was done and kissed the bite before saying with disappointment.

- Again... it didn't vanish. -

For it should vanish if it was a mating bond bite. Whatever they did should be completely painless, all her scratches should be vanishing after making him feel on cloud nine. But none of that happened. He was bleeding, aching, and there was an obstruction in his throat; he felt used, not loved; he felt guilty, not elated; and if she were to tell him to leave her room, he would do so at once even if he was still naked.

But she didn't tell him to leave, she stood up gently and went to the bathroom to come back with a wet towel and cleaned his back and neck from any blood. She cleaned him gently, sweetly, just like she could be, just like he loved it; and he let her, trying to forget what had happened and merely focusing on the love she was putting on him right now.

Aureoluz... Garrett nearly broke into tears at the thought that he couldn't go back to his house and into his room to hug Luz through the pain. And it was right then that it hit him, that he wouldn't see him for months. This had only been a week... and it already felt like he was missing a vital part of himself.

"I'm gonna miss you too fucking much." Luz had told him as he laughed through the tears right before giving him one last hug. And yes, they talk every night on the phone, but... only now, as he walked with little steps back to his room, did he notice his complete absence. Not being able to see him was one thing, but not being able to touch him? To hug him? To heal him even if it was just a little knife-cut with a kitchen knife as they cooked dinner for the rest? It was way more painful than any bite mark or slash down his back.

His emotional support, his best friend, his–... He wasn't here to hug him after being with Alex. He wasn't here.

Garrett entered his room and was grateful it was still lonely. At once, he took out his phone and painfully sat down on his bed as he searched for the number. It was earlier than they usually talked, normally it was around eleven o'clock, but... he needed it.

Only two tones and Luz was already answering.

- Garrett? - His low voice...

Garrett took a relieved breath even if he sounded worried that he had called him too early.

- Luz... - He breathed out and goddammit he sounded destroyed.

- What happened? - He asked immediately, but quieter this time.

Garrett took a deep breath and tried to come back to his senses.

- I'm sorry, are you busy right now? Where are you? -

- No, no, nothing to be worried about. I'm just here at Aloisia's with her and some others, strategizing what to do for tomorrow and stuff. But no biggie, you can talk to me if you want, I'm currentlyyyy... yep, I'm in a corner of the room now, we can talk all we want. -

Garrett chuckled as he looked unseeingly at the floor, imagining how he would look like walking away from everybody and hiding in a corner just to talk to him. He felt warm inside.

- Hoseok told me you were with the first twins, is that true "dad"? - He exaggerated the familiar name and heard how Luz laughed at the other side.

- Oh, that bastard... - He kept on chuckling. - I really just gave out completely trying to make them quit calling you my son, but hey, when do they listen to me outside a battlefield, huh? -

- Yeah, I gave out completely when I was fourteen, it was about time you did too. - He chuckled, enjoying this talk immensely, and then carefully started to lay down on his bed, being careful with his back.

- But anyway, yes, the first twins are here with me while the other two are helping in the capital. They are inside that building, strategizing next moves with Cadoc while these two help us in here. But let me tell you, Elliot had been having a very difficult time trying to calm Rixon down. He wanted to go with them, you know, be right in the fight and all, but we told him he's of better use here. And you know what? There was a moment where Elliot had actually looked at me as if to say "dad, help me", ha, help you with what? sharing a black eye? No, thank you. -

Garrett laughed with him, completely relaxed and feeling right at home.

- I'm glad Rixon is not on the field, though. He has always been more reckless than the rest. -

- I agree. - He laughed. - You remember when he was ten? He nearly drove a sword right thru Cadoc's stomach, bless him. That was one of my proudest moments, honestly. -

Garrett closed his eyes as he laughed and tried picturing him there beside him in bed like they used to do so often.

- In all your nearly eighty years of life, your proudest moment was when your son nearly attacked his own teacher. What a life, huh? -

- Well, you'll understand when you get to this mighty age and still look like a heartthrob baby in his thirties... - Garrett barked a laugh, and Luz continued with a chuckle. - ...that being proud only gets harder to achieve once you've nearly seen it all. 

- I don't think living a long life has anything to do with being unable to feel proud and more to do with being unable to get "surprised", but go off I guess, you heartthrob baby. -

Luz laughed so hard that he had to muffle it with a hand over his mouth, and Garrett heard it all with a wide smile. It was really... nice. That's all he allowed himself to think. As he lay on his bed with his eyes closed and smiled at the image he had drawn from countless memories of the man that was now laughing in his ear, he heard how Luz seemed to walk somewhere, open a door and close it behind himself. Maybe he had walked out to one of the balconies overlooking the garden of the main house where Aloisia lived given how he could hear the wind rushing by.

He took a deep breath, wishing he could be inhaling the pure, clean winds of his home when he heard Luz speaking once more, though this time he spoke gentler. His low voice always went a little raspy when he spoke gently, and it had always been so pleasant to the ear that it soothed Garrett to his very core. But his words...

- Garrett... I can hear the tiredness in your voice... - Garrett didn't say anything, his smile simply vanished in silence. - Garrett... could you please tell me what happened? I... I really, really like it when you call me, if it were up to me, we would be talking all day long, hell, if it were up to me, I would go right where you are so I could just be one call away from your room, just like at home. But... I can't help but feel that you had a reason for calling me earlier than usual. And you've talked to Hoseok so this can't be about the battle, so just... Tell me. Please. -

Garrett wasn't sure anymore if he should tell him or not. His voice was indeed what he had needed but...

Luz clicked his tongue.

- Garrett, I'm getting worried, please. - Garrett took a deep breath but Luz continued. - If you need me there, I can always go to you, you know that. -

- You cannot come here, don't say things like that. - There was nothing but sad disappointment in his voice, so he cleared his throat and told him. - It was just Alex, no big deal. - He said quickly.

But silence greeted him on the other side for a tense moment

- She didn't try to bite you again, did she? - He was angry, oh boy he was angry now. - I thought you had told her not to do that anymore. -

- I did. -

- So!? So she doesn't care, that's it, that's all there's to it, Garrett! There aren't excuses for her to undermine your pain, she knew it would hurt you, she knew you would bleed, and yet she still did it. She doesn't care-- You know what? I'm gonna talk to her parents, make them drill some sense into her, make her grow the fuck up. -

- Luz... - He called him with a frown on his forehead and a sad tone on his aching throat. Luz went silent but for his fuming, fast breathing at the other side, waiting for him to continue. So he did. - You know I don't like to talk about this with you, you always get angry. You always end up wanting to punch her, you... I don't like that. -

- But she hurt you, Garrett. She hurt you. - He chimed in. - I will never apologize for wanting people to get what they deserve when they hurt you. But I will... I will apologize if I'm hurting you because of it. - He calmed down, finally. Still, he was angry at her, but he wasn't getting violent anymore. - I'm sorry. You'd probably called to get distracted from it, I'm really sorry. -

Garrett smiled softly.

- It's ok. - He took a deep breath, resting his other arm over his head, and continued. - I do need to charge up again, though. I burned it all off just now. - He groaned. And heard a very deep intake of breath being pulled.

- ...Ok... Ok, alright... That's alright--No, you know what? I will punch a tree after this. - Garrett chuckled somewhat. - Burn it all off... Not "work it all off", not... "spend it all off", burn it all off. Burn it. -

- Ok, I get it. - He stopped him. - You know what? I'm gonna meditate for a while. In an hour or so, I'll be going to Hoseok's to hug them both so they could go to sleep better, so they need me to be fully Healing Core for that. - Right after he said that he started to turn around so he could sit up once more. Then, suddenly, he heard a painful groan from the other side that made him worried. - Luz? -

- Hug them goodnight... - He repeated. In pain, indeed. - You... Garrett, just... can't you just worry about yourself for one goddamn minute? Why does everybody else matter more than you? Go to sleep, you can see them tomorrow if you feel better. Just... please, please worry about yourself, please. -

Garrett gaped a bit at that, at the unhinged pleading. He had... never heard him pleading like that.

- I... I am thinking of myself, that's why I'll meditate. -

- No, you said you were going to meditate because they needed you not because you needed it to heal yourself. - He answered at once.

- Why are you... so worried all of a sudden? Is everything ok over there? - He asked cautiously. And for a moment, there was silence. Until he heard Luz sighing heavily.

- You know I hate to do this to you but... if you don't want to talk to me about what's happening with her, I won't talk to you about what's happening at home. -

Garrett sighed and tilted back his head. He was too tired for this.

- Fine, you'll tell me later. I'll call you at the usual time so you can tell me what you all decided for tomorrow. -

- Garrett--

He hung up. And he felt so terrible the second he had done it that he nearly called him back, but he refrained from doing so only because he had to meditate. But the sound of his voice at that last second and how he had called his name with clear regret in his voice... The only thing keeping him going was the reminder that they would talk later that night.

So he took a coat to hide his "tattoos" and bruises, grabbed his keys, phone, and wallet, and walked out to find somewhere he could meditate inside the neighboring woods.

He hadn't come to these woods before but he needed it quickly to recharge. He had wanted his first time coming into these woods to be a whole thoughtful moment. Because these woods are ancient and they were told that they carried in them some purely God-like energy, meaning that these woods were either blessed by a God or only a part inside of it was the blessed one. But even so, he was entering blessed ground, so, with every step he took inside, he gave thoughtful thanks, bowing his head and touching the trees as he went, to thank them for letting him through.

And then he remembered.

It is from the depths of these woods that come the stories of the small white pavilion.

Wouldn't it be funny if he were to find The Rose sitting there all along?

Jungkook and Taehyung were having a last-minute stroll through the woods. Though each walked through different sides, they were both heading the same way. Each in silence, each in darkness, each following the sound of the creek.

Before they had decided on taking this little walk, they had left what they bought inside the apartment, with the help of some staff and janitors walking by. Thankfully they didn't encounter Evans or any other familiar face as they went up, but even so, their moods were still a bit murky once they saw the clock. So, because in only an hour it would be ten o'clock and Jungkook wouldn't be able to stay there, he had the idea of leaving everything organized and in its place before going out to their spot. Because there weren't curfews in the woods.

They left the curtains over the table, and, while Jungkook unpacked and organized the new plates inside the dishwasher (and connected the dishwasher), Taehyung was organizing the fruits and vegetables in the glass containers they had bought -Jungkook's idea- so everything would be more organized. Once they finished with that, they sighed in satisfaction, gave each other a little loving kiss, and went out to the woods.

Jungkook walked carefully as he still wore Taehyung's white shirt, touching the trees with his palms as he usually does, and he grimaced a little at the lie he had come up with to explain to his friends why he was wearing a shirt that wasn't his. He'll have to lie, again. It was really just--

Rustling.

Jungkook stopped walking with a hand against a tree and looked around. He had just heard an unnatural rustling of leaves as if someone else was walking nearby. But it couldn't be Taehyung, they're walking from completely different sides so the only way they would intercept would be if either were to run or the pavilion was in their midst.

Snap.

Jungkook jolted at the sound of a branch snapping. Now, now he was afraid of the dark for the first time, only now was he finally aware of how dangerous being here at night actually was.

He was startled worse than ever when the next crunching of leaves came from somewhere to his right. And he hid behind the tree he was touching. The sounds stopped immediately, they stopped with a jump just like his.

With deliberate slowness, Jungkook took a tiny step out of his hiding place to see, still inside the shadows.

Yes, there was someone there. Standing not too far from him, touching a tree with one hand, and frozen in place as he looked in his direction. Jungkook could see his outline but because there was a cloud passing by before the moon, there was little to no light. The male in question was taller than him, stronger, but the way his other hand was in a loose fist close to his chest might suggest he was just as scared of Jungkook's silhouette as he was of him. Or even more.

Jungkook took another tiny step outside, just to see better, always holding onto the tree. And the man was startled again. But instead of taking a step back... he took a very slow step forward. There was an uncomfortable cold sensation in the back of Jungkook's neck at being in this guy's company and he had no idea why. So he stayed put while he saw him leaving the tree he was close to and placing his hand on the next closer to Jungkook, yet still far. But not far enough not to have heard him when he started speaking.

- ...hello? - He was tentative, so tentative that Jungkook almost couldn't recognize his voice. But it was Garrett.

He was just about to walk out of the shadows and talk to him outright when he stopped short.

The cold feeling at his nape intensified, spreading through his body until he felt strangely warm. He didn't know what was happening or why Garrett was there, but he thought it was better to keep quiet.

- You can't speak? - Garrett asked again.

Jungkook thought about it but... he shook his head.

- That's alright. -

Jungkook nearly smiled at that. He had sounded so gentle, how nice.

- Would you mind me asking... are you a student? -

He couldn't tell him he was a student. He would want to know who he was and why he was there.

Jungkook shook his head.

Garrett seemed to be still at that and Jungkook could only think again and again "please, don't go to the guard, please, don't tell anyone, please, they'll just put security in the woods, please".

But his next words stopped Jungkook short.

- Are you a spirit? -

Jungkook opened his eyes wide and stood still. Spirit...? It wasn't only the fact that Garrett hadn't thought of criminals first but also that he had asked that without any fear. He had asked that with... Had that been excitement? Was Garrett used to seeing spirits?

If he said yes, then maybe Garrett would talk more about it. But if he said no, maybe he would think he was a burglar. There was no other choice.

Jungkook nodded as he held onto that big tree.

Garrett took another tiny step closer to him with a little chuckle that seemed to be coming from a wide smile. But the moment Jungkook flinched, he stood still again.

- I'm sorry, I shouldn't have--... I swear I was taught to be respectful towards spirits, I just got a little... excited, that's all. - Jungkook frowned. And Garrett continued after taking a deep breath. - I hope you don't mind me asking but... are you the spirit guarding the white pavilion close by? -

Without thinking twice, Jungkook nodded strongly. Better to be seen as the protector of that place, that way no one would come close to it.

Garrett gasped a little. He was so excited, but why? Jungkook had no idea. This whole encounter was simply too bizarre to think through at the moment.

- Alright... alright... - He calmed himself down with deep breaths before talking again. - I have to ask you a very important question. Can I? -

Jungkook nodded tentatively.

- Ok... Have you seen a man-- or a... guy? He could be my age or he could be a teacher, I don't really know, but either way... have you seen a male in these woods with a bright golden aura that looks like fog instead of water? -

What the...? Jungkook frowned worse than ever. What was Garrett on? Auras? A male with a golden aura? Was that who he was looking for right now? Wait... was he able to look at auras?

Wait... if he was indeed here because he was looking for the male he was asking for and Jungkook was supposed to be the spirit guarding the white pavilion then, if he told him no, Garrett would just keep on searching by himself, so, if he told him yes, then he could act as spirit protector of that man so Garrett would go away.

Unsure of his conclusions, Jungkook nodded.

And Garrett clasped both hands over his mouth and took a step back. For a moment, he seemed to be mumbling something in his hands before his hands shot up to his hair and he looked at the floor. His chest seemed to be filled with air and he was either in shock or excited or scared or... no idea. Jungkook had no idea what was happening.

- I can't tell them... they're busy right now... - Garrett mumbled, seeming to be thinking it all over. - ...Maybe... no, I can't, they're busy at headquarters right now.... -

Jungkook was just thinking of how dumb Garrett must be to be talking out loud like that. Even if he had been a spirit that couldn't talk, someone else might be prowling these woods, anyone could be hearing him talking about how he was part of a group of people that were currently busy at "headquarters" and they would be so relieved to find this aura-man "at last" that they would put everything else on hold, like what? What? What the fuck was happening right now?

He just hopes Garrett is under the effect of some drug or something. Even if he looked and sounded completely sober, just... this is too bizarre to be real.

- Ok... ok... - He seemed to have come to some conclusion as he clasped his hands once before holding onto the tree again and looking up at the spirit. - Ok... Is he old like a teacher? -

What should he answer?

If he said yes then Garrett would probably search the teachers if he's really looking for this person, and there aren't that many teachers, and maybe if he looked too closely at Taehyung then he would... maybe find something in his aura--Jungkook really has no idea what he's thinking about anymore.

He shook his head only because he wanted Taehyung to be in the clear.

- So he's... Is this his first year as a student? His first semester? - Garrett asked, much more excitedly this time but trying to keep it in with a low voice.

Well, that had been too specific. So it was either a teacher or a first-year student, and if Jungkook said no, then Garrett would get out of options and think there was something off.

So he nodded.

Garrett clasped a hand over his mouth again but not before gasping...

- The Rose. -

The Rose? They call a man "The Rose"? A guy... "The Rose"? Well, roses are indeed pretty, they're his favorite flower, actually. But still.

Was there a first-year student who had a very "particular" golden aura and who was being searched by a group of people who were able to talk to spirits?

Was there a group of people who had a "headquarters" and were able to talk to spirits?

Was the white pavilion really being guarded by a spirit--? What is going on here?

Garrett spoke again.

- Ok, thank you for telling me. - He said, seeming to be out of breath. - I... I'm sorry for having asked too much and having too little to give back, I... I'm drained of energy right now-- but! But if you let me, I can come back tomorrow and do a ritual to return the favor. May I? -

...Jungkook simply nodded.

- Awesome, thank you very much. - He sighed in relief as he clasped his hands together in prayer and bowed a little. Once he straightened again, he hissed, seeming to be in pain from something that happened to his back. - Can I... ask you one more favor? I know I'm asking too much, I'm sorry, I promise I'll repay you. -

Jungkook nodded once.

- Thanks. Alright, so... As I said, I have no energy--Oh, but... you can probably see it anyway, so... So, what I wanted to ask you was if you would allow me to meditate in some part of these woods. It'll be like my meditation spot. It doesn't have to be wide, really. And I'll come back tomorrow to the same spot to do the ritual as well. So... Am I allowed? -

Even if he was talking nonsense, he was so kind and endearing. But Jungkook found himself thinking that if he was talking the truth about doing a ritual to show his thanks to the spirit of the woods then... If he did it closer to the city, would that kind energy reach those people and make them kind as well?

Jungkook nodded softly, and when Garrett thanked him, he pointed northeast, both because the city was in that direction and the pavilion was northwest, he could find a good spot for himself. Garrett turned around and looked in that direction before looking back at him.

- Thank you very much. - He thanked him with a deep bow. But then again, when he straightened, he hissed in pain.

Jungkook frowned at that but said nothing and kept on being partially hidden as he saw him turning to where he had pointed and walking straight ahead, always touching the trees he passed as if to give thanks to each of them.

Jungkook placed his forehead against the tree and breathed deeply. Then, with gentle fingers, he caressed the tree trunk that had hidden him, with different emotions.

Slowly, the unnatural warmth in him began to leave.

Even if what Garrett said had sounded far-fetched... some part of Jungkook wanted to believe him. So now, as he continued his way to that pavilion that seemed to be protected by a spirit, he placed his palms against the trees with more thoughtfulness than before.

But maybe he was just too tired to think properly.                             

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