Mark

  The pine trees stood tall and close together, heads tilted upwards to catch a breathtaking glance as green was substituted for warm colors of orange and red. Sunlight poured through the gaps in between branches, warming up the skin of so many who stood with small smiles and warm chests. The weight of past weeks events clearing ever so slightly with the change of season.  Pine trees had an odd sent of the village bakery, a different baked food to almost everyone. And bandits paused to take a breath before resuming their day.

  From where I stood I could see the entire transaction take place. Behind me branches and leaves tied together in temporary roofs as multiple bodies moved around our new camp. Jinyoung taking a nap while I lent on a tree just outside where he was, not yet knowing how to describe where we were. Both physically and mentally.  So I stood there, gazing and analyzing where us bandits ended up, and how we got to this point. I say us, because after all that has happened, I couldn't bring myself to deny what I felt and say I wasn't a bandit. I couldn't deny the feelings I shared with them and connection I felt towards them. Almost as if we grew up together and it was an overly difficult upbringing.

  I found myself suddenly looking back into the makeshift tent, just to make sure Jinyoung was there. Some habit I've picked up ever since we left the castle. In fact it had taken the two of us a lot longer than we would like to admit before we could bear being out of the others sight. Every time I had turned around and found Jinyoung not there there was a similar feeling in my stomach to what I only supposed hell was. Even now we weren't separated for long, given so much time on our hands to spend together. Not having to worry about rages, or villagers trying to kill us. Bandits had abandoned their previous ways all together when Youngjae, Jackson, Jinyoung, and I had appeared back in our old camp only three weeks ago.

  Shock had spread through out the camp at the sight of us, not to mention the two dead friends we had brought along for proper burial. No one had uttered a word as Jackson walked past them to an empty area where he held his then cold lover for a very long time.

  That night Jinyoung, Youngjae, and I sat with the group of bandits and explained everything that had happened in the castle, and why there were so few of us that returned. There were occasional outbursts and breakdowns of friends and family of deceased bandits, and frightened questions on what was going to come next. By then the story had reached the part where the King had had us meet him and discuss a proposal he had. Us three had shared a look, not exactly sure if we should tell the whole story. I had gone over the scene in my mind too many times, still confused as to the reasons why it took place at all. Surely bandits and the King would just go back to their old ways, but the King had made it very clear he did not want that.

   "What do you mean a proposal?" Jinyoung spoke up, features pulled down, confused and frustrated. I too was wondering, and Youngjae's expression mirrored our feelings. Proposal?  What could he possibly offer us? 'Do this or die' is all that comes to mind. The King fidgeted in his seat. Not out of nervousness but out of being uncomfortable. Perphaps what he meant was obvious to him. Even if it left everyone else stumped.

  The King placed his hands on his lap, intertwined,"I mean a proposal.  A suggestion, or one might say a plan-"

  "We know what proposal means!" All heads snapped toward Youngjae as he snapped, hands in fists at his side. His features had never looked so cold and sure,"What we want to know is what exactly you want from us. As you can see-" He gestured to the two friends being carried, stone cold and unmoving,"-we have important things to attend to, and we don't want to be kept waiting."  Wow, I thought to myself, Youngjae surprises me once again.

Looking up I found the King looking rather pleased. Had he wanted Youngjae to shout? "You would have made a fine son-in-law." Before any of us could react to what he had said, he continued,"I called you here, because I don't want history to repeat itself. I want to make sure bandits and the Kingdom get along from now on, no more battles or killings. Whatever you call them." Rages, I corrected him silently. Not yet processing everything he was trying to say.

  Jinyoung apparently had understood what was happening,"How do you suppose we do that?" Unspoken words hung in the air. How are we suppose to get food? And supplies, if there is nowhere to get it from? No villages to take it from? Were they going to hand over supplies in exchange for peace? So many questions. Was there a good way to answer them? 

The King shifted in his seat, the motion so quick I nearly missed it,"Are there that many options you can't tell? Or have you figured out what I am to say, but wish to hear the words fall out of my mouth?" He paused,"Perhaps too good to be true, yes, perhaps."  Jinyoung was noticeably rattled by what the king had said. He had struck a nerve, which nerve, was the question. I unconsciously moved closer to him in silent comfort. Though it was hard to be closer to someone you were already pressed against.

"Bandits must move back into the village, live amongst us again. Only when that is achieved will we have peace."

A scoff sounded behind me, and I turned to see Youngjae scowling,"You see, I think I misheard what you are trying to say. After you banished us and threw us out to die, you expect us to come back when you please? Bandits are not yours to control and by saying we must do anything is implying that we have no say in the matter. We do. Bandits stand separate from your kingdom and on our own. I think what you meant to say is 'will you' or perhaps a 'please'." Youngjae's voice was full of authority and his words defying the King shocked more than just some of us. But everything he said was true and just, leaving no room for argument. Not that any was needed.

The King didn't let any emotions show,"You bandits should understand a need for peace more than anyone. The true question is if peace is what you want." Youngjae took a moment to think, looking over at the remaining bandits to find we were already looking back at him. The silent question of if it was Youngjae's place to make the decision was agreed upon quickly, and Youngjae turned to the King with determination,"I have a proposal for a compromise."

  Today the bandits lived in a soon to be camp placed deep in the woods. Where we are completely cut off from the King and his village. Youngjae had boldly stated that bandits do not want to live through rages and wars, but separate. Leave and build their own civilization without contact or being bothered by the village. The King agreed reluctantly and we had made our way out of the castle as fast as possible. Though we gave the bandits an option they all refused to stay behind and within a day we had begun our journey to find a new home.

  Ever since we arrived the bandits spent most of their time building or gathering supplies. It was quite frustrating to watch them and not be able to do anything. We were capable of course, but every time any of the four of us tried someone would stop us and say we needed 'rest and recovery'. I guess that was true, but being left alone to our thoughts hasn't been as beneficial to our recovery as others think,"Mark?" I turned away from the camp at the sound of my name. Jinyoung had woken up from his nap and was now sitting  up, looking at me with tired eyes.

  To say Jinyoung was affected the most was an understatement. He- like Jackson- blamed himself for BamBam's death, but since he was there at the time of death he believes if he had just denied Bam's wishes and helped him, Bam might be here today. And unlike me, he personally knew all the bandits who died, all the ones we couldn't bring back. That was just the tip of the iceberg, but it was enough to send us all into deep depression every once in awhile, when we were left alone too long.

  "Hey." I spoke softly and walked into the makeshift tent. Jinyoung's shoulders relaxed and I could tell he had no idea they were tensed in the first place,"Bad dream?" He nodded with a grim expression,"Bad everything really." He spoke while moving to rest himself on the side of my body. I felt blood rushing to my cheeks, still not sure what to do with the feelings Jinyoung gave me. Since we had more time to think about things without the overshadowing of fear and thoughts about rages,  Jinyoung and I got to explore our relationship and truly get to know each other. It was strange how little we actually knew.

  I hummed thoughtfully,"Maybe a walk?" Though the sun was setting, it was the perfect time for one if you didn't go too far. Of course if we had gone on walks before the castle we probably would have found a tree to make out against. But now we just enjoyed the scenery hand and hand. Our relationship had definitely changed. That was okay though, because it changed to fit who we are now. We changed too, as people, we've grown and will never be able to trace our footsteps. Go back in time, or be who we were before. And we're okay with that.

  Jinyoung pondered the idea before shaking his head,"I'm too tired for that. Could we go see Jackson and Youngjae instead?" I got that he was still tired, everyday being an emotional drain prolonged for twenty-four hours. My nose found it's way into Jinyoung's hair as I nuzzled him affectionately,"Of course we can." Five minutes later and we were still sitting there, occasionally mumbling 'lets go now' and 'okay I mean it this time'. By the time we decided we should actually move my hands were at his sides, eyes closed and body completely relaxed. This was how we always ended up, silent and content with just each others presence.

  "Okay," Jinyoung started, clearing his throat, tone reluctant,"Let's go now." I didn't bother to take him seriously until he began pulling away from me, getting to his feet in his half-awake daze. He caught on to my surprise with a halfheartedly offended huff,"Oh please, I can resist you if I want to." The tease made me crack a smile involuntarily. It disappeared quickly when I realized that was the first time I had smiled, the first time we'd teased each other, since leaving the castle. Jinyoung caught on to what I was thinking and his smile turned bittersweet,"Let's go, okay?"

Stretching my limbs I took my time getting off the ground, torn between wanting to do absolutely nothing and feeling utterly helpless. Though it was about damn time I went further than five feet of my tent(safe haven). So I stood up, placed my hands on Jinyoung's hips, and gave him a kiss full of determination,"Okay." My lips turned up, the feeling foreign but welcoming,"I'm sure Jackson and Youngjae will be happy to see us."

They were, in fact, for five minutes all we did was stand there hugging. Jackson would have never let go if Youngjae hadn't threatened him with his next meal. The two were now living together, keeping each other company after their mutual agreement that they shouldn't live alone. It seemed to be working out quite nicely, though Jinyoung and I have told each other many times we miss the old house. But none of us wanted to live as a group again, not when we were incomplete. Jackson and Youngjae's place was just as unfinished as all of them, pieces of wood wound together with the strongest leaves the bandits could find. Of course it was all temporary while the bandits work on the official-permanent- houses. Truly the temporary ones are only made for sleeping in, but when you've been placed on bed rest by everyone, there isn't anywhere else you can really go.

"If they wanted us to rest all day they could have at least given us comfortable beds." Jackson faked anger, the joke falling flat but the effort not going unappreciated. And they all knew the way it used to be would never happen again. The jokes never as care free, their shared looks too understanding, view on the world completely changed, and in many ways no one wanted to be the same, that would seem as if they were denying the fact their friends were dead, not honoring their memory.

  So the four of us sat in silence, just watching the day go by. Bandits moving across the clearing, carrying woods, and food. Sharing random bits of happy memories from their pasts while the sun set, and going on walks under the evening sky, forest lit with moonlight. The four of us absorbing nature, not having to do anything but live in that moment, with each other.

The days went on just like that for weeks. We had nothing to do, and it may have been boring at times, or the days may have seemed to drag on, but I'd never give it up. The simple things in life, getting to hold Jinyoung for as long as I wanted, getting to sit with Jackson and Youngjae, or the bandits during the weekly roasts(where we all sat in a circle and told fictional stories of the best kinds of worlds- much better than rages). Not having to worry about a King, or the village. I could be at peace. And it took years, many, many years, but the bandits managed to find it, together.

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Okay.....wow. Im so sorry its been MONTHS i know and I apologize, I just didn't want the story to end ya know? But it had to and it kinds sucks but i can always fix it later. Ill most likely occasionally review and fix spelling errors and stuffs or promo more markjin books ive made but other than that the book is finished!

Before I go, i have a few people Id like to thank and point out for being here and supporting me the whole time Ive been writing this book(over a year holy thanks guys youre the best ♥️) so heres the list;

DylanOYoli

Diamondphantom1

MarkJinTrashBin

markjinranger

Got7Hwaiting

Mickey_Swagever

flyawaytae

nuramira3096

oahwishwk

You guys made this book possible and it wouldnt have been what it is without you. Thank you for your support and for believing in my work even when it was crap ♥️♥️

Well then *teary eyes* this is the end then(of the book not of all my writing from now on)

Thanks for reading this mess, i hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing

Sigh, cya around yall