"Jin," Taehyung said into the phone, knuckles while from how hard he was gripping onto the counter, his heart thudding against his chest in fear- absolute fear. "What- what do you mean he's g-gone- what-what are you-"

"Taehyung, he jumped out the window and slipped past the gates. We've been out patrolling the area for the past two hours." Jin said through the phone.

Taehyung's eyes were wide, unable to form sentences with how anxious he was. "O-oh my god- your institution is in the middle of fucking nowhere," Taehyung began, voice low. "There's nothing but deserted land for miles and miles. It's almost midnight. There are guards of the high order who kidnap people at night. And there's going to be a sandstorm soon. You better search harder, Jin, I swear to fucking god." Taehyung growled.

"We know it's bad-"

"Bad? Are you out of your fucking mind?" Taehyung said, voice raising. "He doesn't know anything out there! He's just- fuck- he's so small. I need to find him-"

"We're looking for-"

"Look harder!" Taehyung shouted, and then cut the call and dropped his phone, running his hand through his hair.

Taehyung paced his living room floor. He had absolutely no clue what to do, how to take this in. Jungkook was naive, gullible, he didn't understand the world around him- and for him to be gone like this. Alone. Out there. Where's it's so unsafe. Taehyung felt helpless.

What could he do? The institution was ages away, and it was pitch black outside. Dust was collecting as the winds grew stronger. Jungkook had been missing for two hours.

Taehyung took a deep breath and then grabbed his bandana on his blue hair and pulled it down so it was covering his mouth- and then tied it around the back of his head. Taehyung grabbed a flashlight and tucked his phone in his back pocket. He walked out of his house.

It was getting worse by the minute. Taehyung looked around. Where should he go? No one would want to help him unless he paid. How would they even help him? Taehyung's agitation grew further as he realized he was literally powerless, incapable of finding Jungkook

Nonetheless, he went out into the dark night, hoping to find him somehow.

⇜⇝

Jungkook had been walking alone down the desert sand for a long time now. He didn't know how long, but he knew it had been some time because now it was much darker.

"Jungoog just wants Taehyung," Jungkook said to himself, playing with his thumb. He looked around. Nothing. There was nothing for miles. But maybe if Jungkook kept walking, he's find Taehyung.

Jungkook's feet padded down the sand, and his attention stuck to how his shoes imprinted footsteps in the sand. Jungkook hopped to the next spot, noticing how the footsteps remained. He squealed lightly, kicking the sand around with his feet.

"Hey!" A shout came, and Jungkook looked to his side and saw a truck come up to him. It was a big, tall car, and Jungkook was instantly terrified. He moved away, turning around.

The man's car door opened and he jumped out of his truck. Jungkook began running in the other direction but then realized the man was coming after him. Jungkook tried running more, but the man grabbed him.

"Ah!" Jungkook yelped, getting picked up off the ground. The man holding him looked scary, with a long beard, eyes darkened, busy browed. Jungkook tried kicking him.

"Why're you taking that kid?" The other man inside the car asked, peering outside. The gruff man holding Jungkook snickered. "He's in the middle of nowhere walking around. He'll die."

"Um- kid? Are you okay?" The other person asked as Jungkook got pushed into the car. Jungkook let out a cry of fear and shook his head, knees coming up to hide his face in.

The man on the other side tried patting his shoulder, but the man instead, found some sort of panel thing behind his left shoulder and frowned. He pulled Jungkook's sweater down a bit and felt up the panel. He opened the flap slowly and widened his eyes.

"Oh shit, K. He isn't human." The guy on the side said to K, the man driving.

"What?" K asked. The other man nodded. "Yeah, he's a fuckin'- uh- robot or something."

"J-Jungkook is Ju-Jungkook!" Jungkook tried, but the other man ignored him, feeling up the metal layer on the inside. Jungkook shivered at the touch, his skin growing prickly.

"Why's he got goosebumps if he's a robot?" K gruffed. The other man looked at Jungkook, and then up at K.

"We gotta sell him, K. We'd get lots of money off this." The other man whispered. Jungkook shook his head. He'd learned about money and selling earlier in one of his classes.

"Do-do not sell Jungkook. Sell t-things only." Jungkook explained. The man grunted and grabbed something from under the car. Jungkook didn't know what it was, but suddenly, the man ripped it and put duct tape over Jungkook's mouth.

Jungkook was confused and his eyes grew big, scared. The car reached some shady factory and they both got out, grabbing Jungkook with them. Jungkook got pushed into the factory/warehouse doors and noticed how it was all dark with wooden boxes lying around.

The two men tied Jungkook to a pole or something and then went to discuss the plan to sell him. Apparently, there was a company paying a lot of money to buy robots like such to use their mechanical parts for other technological things. So the man, K, called up the company and told them everything.

"We'll get half a million." K laughed. "Buyer's coming tomorrow morning. Let's keep this android here tonight." K said, and the other man laughed. Jungkook screamed through his duct tape but they didn't care, just walked to the other side of the warehouse where their rooms were, presumably.

Jungkook was all alone on the big warehouse floor, all dark around him, mice scrummaging around, everything near him dirty. Jungkook didn't like it. He should have stayed in a nice big building with many beds. Now he was alone in a dirty place.

Jungkook was up almost all night, too scared to go to sleep, too confused. The light started filtering through the paneled windows after hours. Jungkook blinked his big eyes, feeling overly exhausted, his entire body slumped against the wall.

"Get up quickly, K! The buyer's coming soon." The other nameless man snapped and then walked towards Jungkook. Jungkook saw and started moving around, hoping he'd untie the ropes.

"Hey robot thing," The man said, coming closer to Jungkook. "Today's probably your last day before you get ripped apart and put into cars and shit. Isn't that fun?"

Jungkook looked confused, eyes big. He shook his head. The man took his fist and hit Jungkook on the forehead really hard, and Jungkook whimpered and looked down, aching pain on his forehead. The man frowned. "Hm. Didn't make a sound like I thought it would."

Soon enough, K was up, and he and the other man discussed the details over their shared money excitedly. There was a knock on the warehouse. K rushed over to get it.

"Hello! Good morning. We have the robot." K said with a grin. Jungkook's head fell low, just utterly confused and upset about this whole thing. He should've stayed. He should have never left.

"Good. I'll have to check him first- because if you're lying, then you'll have to pay a fine." The other man said. Jungkook's body tingled. He's sure he'd heard that voice before.

"We aren't! Look, it's there." K said, and the man walked in. Jungkook only saw the back of his head. The man then turned around to look at Jungkook and stilled momentarily. Jungkook looked at him. He's seen him before, just doesn't recall when or where. His mind was fuzzy right now from lack of sleep.

"Right." The man said, walking to Jungkook. "Trafficking and selling of humans are highly illegal, I do hope you know that." The man snapped, briefcase in one hand.

"We know! This thing isn't human. Looks very human, I'm aware. But it's a robot. Look-" K said, rushing over to Jungkook. Jungkook mewled in discomfort as his sweater got lifted up and thrown to the side. Shirtless now, K poked at the panel on Jungkook's chest and opened it, revealing his insides.

"Holy shit." The man with the briefcase muttered. "Um. Can I check him on my own? Please wait on the side," The man said, and the other two men nodded and hurried to the side, away. The man with the briefcase walked over to Jungkook and then crouched down.

"You're not human?" He asked, eyes big now. Jungkook was confused, and then finally, his mind connected the dots. It was red hair. Hoseok. Hobi. Taehyung's friend.

Jungkook started thrashing around when he realized it was Hoseok. Hoseok looked at his insides and then gulped. "Does Taehyung know? How did you even get here- Taehyung told me you were in that facility,"

Jungkook shook his head. Hoseok peeled his duct tape off very quickly, and Jungkook gasped out. "T-they took Jungkook! Jungkook w-was walking and- and they picked and put me in car. I-I am scared, Hobi. Pl-please!" Jungkook cried softly, shaking.

"Okay, okay. Fuck, I gotta figure this out. Wait." Hoseok said, and then got up and turned around, clearing his throat.

"This isn't fully a robot. It's something else. Hence, I will not give any money and take him away. Bye." Hoseok said, and then untied Jungkook from the pole.

"What the fuck! You can't do that!! We better get money out of this. We-we'll contact your company. Tell them that you scammed us." K snapped. Hoseok looked at him, untethered.

"Great. Go ahead. I'll contact the police and tell them you're illegally trafficking humans." Hoseok muttered, and then helped Jungkook stand up. "Come on. Let's g-"

Jungkook's eyes slid and he fell to the floor with a thunk, passed out. Hoseok's eyes widened.

⇜⇝

Taehyung burst into Hoseok and Jimin's apartment. Both looked at Taehyung with confused expressions, wanting to know more. Taehyung panted. "Look- I-I'll tell you everything. Please tell me you have Jungkook and he's okay-"

"He's in the bedroom, sleeping. He passed out of exhaustion, it seems." Jimin said, a little cautious of Taehyung. Hoseok nodded. Taehyung rushed past them, towards their bedroom. He ran into it and saw Jungkook lying on the bed, not curled, not anything, just laying limp.

"Oh, Kookie." Taehyung let out breathlessly, rushing close to him. Taehyung ran his fingers through Jungkook's black hair, seeing his eyes opening a little. When the boy opened his eyes, he saw Taehyung and sat up.

"B-blue!" Jungkook said, and Taehyung wrapped his arms around Jungkook's waist. Jungkook wrapped his arms around Taehyung, hiding his face in his shoulder. Taehyung squeezed him in his hold, closing his eyes gratefully.

"Oh, baby. You're okay. My baby." Taehyung cooed gently. Jungkook gripped his shirt, letting out a hiccup.

"P-p-please don't send Jungkook back t-to place." Jungkook mewled, and Taehyung knew he was talking about the facility.

"Never. I won't. You can stay with me, Kookie. It's okay. Don't worry." Taehyung whispered, and Jungkook relaxed in his hold, letting his head stay tucked in the blue-haired man's neck.

Taehyung held him for a few more minutes, and then looked at the boy. Jungkook had a spat on his head. Jungkook looked up, trying to look at his own forehead, but then realized he can't and looked at Taehyung. "T-they hit."

"Why do people keep hitting you," Taehyung murmured, and Jungkook put his hand on his forehead. "I-it made Jungkook feel weird!"

"Huh?" Taehyung asked, and Jungkook nodded. "Yes. They hit on Jungkook's head and now Jungkook's brain is doing a lot of thinking."

"Oh wow," Taehyung said, brushing it off as another weird thing Jungkook says. "That's odd, Jungkook. But tell me- why'd you run away?"

"Be-because! Everyone is mean to me." Jungkook said sternly. "I did not do SHIT."

"Jeez," Taehyung mumbled. Jungkook continued. "A-and then even Jungkook best friend Rosé and other best friend Taehyung were mad at Jungkook. So Jungkook left to go find Taehyung. Ju-" Jungkook began, and then looked at Taehyung closely. "I d-don't want Taehyung to be mad at me."

Taehyung gripped his waist. "I know, I know I was a little harsh. But I was just trying to teach you something! I shouldn't have left, though. And now I'm not going to let you go back, don't worry."

"Jungkook understands," Jungkook said, looking down. "I hurt Rosé be-because I wanted Taehyung to myself," Jungkook said, slowly, words drawn out. "Y-yes?"

"Yes yes, your words are correct. Good job, little Kook." Taehyung said, and Jungkook hugged Taehyung again. Jungkook got lifted up by Taehyung and then taken outside the room.

Jimin and Hoseok were there, murmuring to each other. Taehyung hesitated when they both looked at Taehyung pensively. "H-Hobi!" Jungkook squealed, and Taehyung put him down on his feet but kept a strong hold on him so he wouldn't fall over. "Hobi helped Jungkook!!"

"Yep," Taehyung said, and then looked at Hoseok. "Thanks."

"Taehyung, we need to talk," Jimin said, walking over to him. Jimin then looked at Jungkook for a split second. "Jungkook, do you want to sleep some more?"

Jungkook hid behind Taehyung, away from Jimin. Taehyung looked at Jungkook, wondering the same thing. Jungkook looked up at Taehyung. "J-Jungkook wants to stay with Taehyung please," Jungkook said.

"Okay, okay," Taehyung said, and then sat down on the couch, Jungkook on his lap. Hoseok gave Jungkook a small carton of banana milk, which he stuck a paper straw in and took in happily.

"He's an android?" Hoseok asked, curious, sitting down on the sofa. Jimin stood by him wearily.

Taehyung nodded. "Yeah, um- I'm pretty sure. Because he's like a robot from the inside, but from the outside, he looks like a human. Very detailed, which makes me think whoever made him must be very experienced. Jungkook feels... most emotions, and his skin reacts the same way human skin does."

"T-Taehyung is talking about Jungkook?" Jungkook asked, leaning against him. "Why is?"

"I'll tell you later, Koo," Taehyung said, caressing his hair. Taehyung looked back at Jimin and Hoseok. "I found him in a junkyard. He was wearing torn black clothes and kept there. I don't know how long he must've been in that junkyard, it could be years. But I found him and took him back to the apartment, realizing he was an android. I put some oil in him and- and he began functioning like a normal human."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Hoseok asked, eyebrows lifted in worry. Taehyung felt a little guilty and sighed.

"I-I don't know. I thought you might want to sell him or-or-"

"Why didn't you sell him?" Jimin asked, pointedly. Taehyung frowned at him and then covered Jungkook's ears with both hands. Jungkook didn't mind, continued sipping his banana milk.

"Jimin, have you seen him?" Taehyung hissed. "I tried to sell him. I really did. But it was impossible to. He's just so- so cute and human-like."

"You can get almost a million units off Jungkook," Hoseok said, weary. "Now that I've been promoted into sales- I can tell these big companies would kill to get something like it."

"Someone," Taehyung corrected, and then Jungkook pulled away from the straw. "F-finish!" Jungkook said, handing Taehyung the paper carton. Taehyung took it and placed it to the side, going back to wrapping his arms around Jungkook's waist.

"Didn't you send him off to that facility?" Jimin asked. Taehyung put his chin on Jungkook's shoulder while Jungkook counted Taehyung's fingers.

"I did. They treated him like shit." Taehyung mumbled. "He started throwing tantrums and stuff so he ran away. But now I have him back," Taehyung said and kissed Jungkook's cheek. Jimin frowned at that.

"T-Taehyungie has 11 fingers!!" Jungkook squeaked.

"11? I have 10, Koo." Taehyung said, showing him his hands. Jungkook bit his lip.

"J-Jungkook counted wrong. Sorry." Jungkook said in a small voice. Taehyung patted his back, silently telling him it's okay.

Taehyung looked at Jimin and Hoseok. Hoseok had a small fond smile while looking at Jungkook, probably finding him cute, while Jimin looked pissed off. Hoseok noticed that and then cleared his throat.

"Okay- um- why don't we set up lunch!" Hoseok said, clapping his hands together and getting up. "Pizza, anyone?"

"Taehyung what are you doing?" Jimin asked, blunt. Taehyung looked at Jimin. "Look, I can tell you care about him. I can see why, too. He's cute. But- but you could leave this planet with that amount of money!" Jimin let out, annoyed.

"Jimin, would you sell Hope?" Taehyung asked interrogatively, raising his eyebrow. Jungkook blinked his big eyes. "W-who is?" Jungkook asked.

"Hope," Taehyung called, and Jungkook turned and saw a light brown corgi run into the living room on its little legs, tail wagging, tongue out. Taehyung smiled. "Come here, Hope," Taehyung called, and the corgi rushed towards Taehyung and began jumping around, excited to see him.

Jungkook cried in fear, trying to go further away from him even though he was bundled in Taehyung's arms. Jungkook shook his head. "G-go away!! Jungkook doesn't like!" Jungkook cried, gripping Taehyung tightly.

Taehyung tsked. "She won't hurt you, Jungkook," Taehyung said softly, and then patted Jungkook's back, calming him down. Jungkook looked at the corgi tensed and then reached his hand out to try and pet. The corgi licked Jungkook's hand and Jungkook let out a wail.

"No, I won't sell Hope," Jimin said, still tensed. "But would I sell a dog I just met for half a million? Fuck yeah," Jimin scoffed. "Tae. Come on. You can't be serious about keeping Jungkook."

Jungkook heard his name and looked at Jimin. Jimin beckoned Hope to come to him, and the little corgi ran over to Jimin and jumped onto the couch, on Jimin's lap, licking his cheek.

"Why are you so pent up, babe?" Hoseok asked, getting off the phone after having ordered pizza. "Tae wants to keep him, it's his choice."

"Can we stop acting like Jungkook's a dog," Taehyung grumbled. "I keep him not only because I want to, but also because Jungkook wants to stay. He wouldn't like to be sold off."

"He doesn't have a conscience, Taehyung," Jimin said. "He's adapting as he goes. I love Hope to death, and I've had her for 3 years now. But if Hope was given off to another family, she'd settle in with them after a few months of agitation."

Taehyung pursed his lips, looking at Jungkook, who was mindlessly playing with his fingers. Taehyung didn't know if Jungkook was understanding anything Jimin was saying.

"Hope, come here baby," Hoseok said, sensing the tension in the room. Hope ran towards him. "Jungkook, do you wanna be friends with her?"

"Y-yes," Jungkook said, getting up from Taehyung's lap and trotting over to the kitchen, where Hoseok went with the dog. Taehyung saw them walk off and then looked at Jimin.

"What do you expect by keeping him around anyway? He probably won't age. Even if he does, he has the mental age of a toddler. You're just going to have him live with you? Forever? Are you going to have enough money to buy a ship or two later in the future when you decide to leave? Or are you just going to leave Jungkook alone and-"

"Jimin what the fuck is your problem?" Taehyung snapped, a little loud. Jimin stilled, eyes looking away. "I get it, okay? It's weird, it's unsustainable, Jungkook acts like a fucking baby- but I'm happy. For the past fucking year, I've been nothing but sad and honestly- I-I don't think I really smiled for a whole year until I met Jungkook," Taehyung continued, eyes darkened.

Taehyung got up, pissed off. "Tae-" Jimin began, and Taehyung turned around. "No, I know. You're my best friend, you're being realistic, you're just trying to help me. But tell me- honest to god, tell me- have you ever seen me this happy before?"

There was a small pause. "You haven't, Jimin. I-" Taehyung began, and then took a deep breath. "I haven't been the fucking same since Yoongi died, alright?!"

A heavy silence fell across the house. Jimin's shoulders tensed, guilt evident in his eyes. Taehyung looked away. Just saying his name brought tears to his eyes.

"Tae, I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said all that." Jimin said, getting up and walking over to him. "I'm so sorry, Tae. I was looking out for you but being one-sided and selfish. I didn't realize." Jimin said softly. Jimin wrapped his arms around Taehyung, and Taehyung let himself be hugged, not doing anything.

Taehyung felt tears roll down his face. "I-I've barely th-thought of him since I met Jungkook," Taehyung breathed out, and then brought his arms up, hugging Jimin back.

"I'm sorry," Jimin said in a small voice. Taehyung kissed his forehead. "It's okay."

"Great, hug it out," Hoseok said smiling. "Don't get too close there, Tae," Hoseok said jokingly, patting Taehyung's butt. Taehyung giggled, pulling away from the hug and smiling at Hoseok.

Jungkook stood wearily by the end of the living room while Hope ran circles around Taehyung. Jungkook walked up to Jimin and pushed him away.

"Kook-" Taehyung said with wide eyes. Jungkook pointed at him. "Jimim is making my Taehyung upset! And t-then getting kiss from Taehyung!" Jungkook snapped, and then looked at Taehyung, eyebrows furrowed.

"Oh," Jimin said, a little amused. "Sorry," Jimin said with a giggle. Taehyung tsked, looking at Jungkook.

"Baby, that's not nice. I can make friends with other people and still be around you, okay? Say sorry to Jimin." Taehyung said, and Jungkook turned around.

"I-I am sorry, Jimim." Jungkook said, and Taehyung patted his head. Taehyung then turned to pet Hope. While he was looking away, Jungkook went forward and stepped on Jimin's foot.

"Ow-!" Jimin let out, and Taehyung looked at Jimin and Jungkook. Jungkook blinked his big eyes and then pointed at Jimin. "J-Jimim hurt himself."

"Oh okay," Taehyung said, and Jimin frowned at Jungkook. "Let's eat pizza," Taehyung said, and then walked towards the dining table. Jungkook turned his head and stuck his tongue out at Jimin, who was gaping.

"What the fuck." Jimin let out, eyes wide in fear. Hoseok chuckled. "He's just being bratty, Jimin."

"No- no I know that," Jimin said, standing properly. Jimin looked at Hoseok. "Hobi, did you see that tattoo on Jungkook's wrist? The one that said JK?"

"Hm? No, I didn't notice," Hoseok said plainly. Jimin looked down and then curled his fingers into fists.

"Fuck. I've seen it before." Jimin said, and then closed his eyes, realizing where Jungkook came from.

⇜⇝⇜⇝⇜⇝