HOBI POV:

My abilities shift with unease and guilt as they flood through my veins, rising to the surface as an instinctual immediate response to the rough grating voice of our youngest mate when she echoes Kookie's words and yet knowing that the slightest touch aggravated her hurts. It makes everyone turn to her, everyone's eyes flash with pain and anger and longing, each and every one of us feeling the strong need to just hold her close. Just cradle her and keep her safe. And seeing the darkening patches of colour on her throat remind us that somewhere along the line we failed, even if we'd been aware of the eventuality- it didn't make it sting and burn any less.

Kookie frowns upwards at her, at the hoarse quality to her usually sweet light tone. 

She smiles, trying to be reassuring but the general shakiness in the bond betrays her and even Yugyeom isn't fooled for a second, taking her wrist and rubbing gently at the puncture marks there, looking on both sad and slightly relieved when some of the tension leaves her silently fretting mind, her body relaxing.

"Would you look at the time, I better make a start on lunch." Jin hyung says, breaking the silence with a light comment but the tone of his voice is burdened and wavery, and when he hurries out of the living room, I don't miss the slightly glossy sheen to his eyes. And I watch as (Y/N)'s eyes follow too, head turning and a small frown on her lips from where she's still encased in Tae's protective embrace.

And it's with some difficulty she manages to extract herself from the three, I note the panic that sears through the bond from Kookie when she gets up and says she'll be back, hurrying after Jin hyung into the kitchen, posture determined and drowning in my jumper.

"Why is she wearing a jumper, she's really sensitive to weather- and it was warm." Jiminie comments, brows furrowed and still fixed on the sight of the now vacated doorway from where she'd left.

And before I can speak. Before I can repeat the same words she said to me, it's Yugyeom who speaks- meeting Jiminie's gaze with sad knowing eyes.

"It's a really old habit. She feels somewhat safer and covered that way. And she says it helps..." he mutters.

"Helps with what?" Yoongi hyung asks, speaking for the first time since we've gotten home.

And my heart shatters at his next words.

"In feeling less alone, less cold. She always says it's like getting a constant warm hug." He finishes, lips drooped sadly, because his words in any other context would've been ample reason for us to coo over her and scoop her into hugs constantly, but knowing that there's another layer to it, that she uses it as a form of protection, of security- because whether or not she had us know, she was alone enough to crave that comfort, and she'd taken it from an article of clothing makes my soul squeeze tightly, making me feel in pain.

And the distraught expressions on everyone's faces speak for themselves too. Just how much of a blow his words are.

There's almost a blur of movement with how quickly Kookie unfurls from the carpet and his spot leaning slightly into Yugyeom to follow the two into a kitchen, determination fixed in his reddening doe-eyes.

"It still feels like we haven't learnt a single thing about our mate." Tae confesses, voice low and rough.

My eyes fall to him, see the vulnerable curve in his shoulders as he leans against the sofa, barely noticing that Yoongi's fingers gently begin to card at his hair.

"I know. But small steps Tae-ah. We continue to learn and grow as people. And we have eternity to learn more about each other." He murmurs, voice low and full of understanding.

He was right.

We did have eternity.

And it makes me realise just how long hyung kept things from us. Centuries. Centuries he'd hurt alone and never told us about Chul. The truth only came out because Chul set his eyes on our youngest mate. And I wonder if that hadn't been the case just when would have we learnt about his past.

And know just how difficult it is to open up the rawest part of ourselves, how much courage we need to muster to get to that point.

And Yoongi hyung was one of the bravest souls. One of the strongest.

Because he'd opened up.

And because he believed (Y/N) would too.

And the arrival of Jinyoung and Mark distract us, whilst Mark moves towards his youngest mate, Jinyoung moves by with a small hug, looking expectantly at us.

"Where's (Y/N)?" he asks, eyes scanning the room carefully for her.

"Kitchen, I'll come too." I say, standing up.

Because maybe the potion will numb her pain and then I'll be able to help heal her.

Because the sight of her in pain was driving me crazy and restless.

Because my abilities were still thrumming and pushing at the barrier of my skin, trying to get out and help my youngest mate.

And we enter to find that Jin hyung isn't actually cooking, which was the pretence he had seized, but is actually being held by (Y/N). She's perched on the counter by the stove and his head is nestled, cradled protectively in her arms as he leans against her, seeking out the reassurance only she can give.

"We'll be fine Jinnie oppa, and I'll give you all the cuddles in the world to make up for it." She promises, the sweetness in her tone making me momentarily forget the roughness until she winces, the sound causing his head to jerk up and for Kookie who'd been perched beside her to turn to her with alarm.

"Jinyoung's here." I call, allowing Jin hyung to disentangle himself from her arms and step back, Kookie's hand tightening around her waist in a protective squeeze.

Jinyoung's face has a similar expression to Jin hyung's when his instincts are buzzing and raging and screaming at him to protect. And maybe it's enhanced because of the connection the two share because no words need to be said in the meaningful soft look he gives her.

"My dear chickie." He coos, hand going to cup her cheek- leaning forward to press a kiss to her forehead, lips lingering as the two of them bask in that small act of comfort.

He doesn't press her to speak, his eyes speak for the masses though when they darken and focus on the bruises.

"I'll make sure to make his pain slow. I think I have that right." He says calmly as he draws out tonics from the bag he'd been wearing, lining them up systematically in accordance to colour, voice sweet and gentle and loving- as if he wasn't stating clearly his wish to make Chul suffer.

And because he does have that right.

He had it long before we did. The Ims had that right which is why none of us had hesitated or challenged their request to have their hands on Chul first, that they'd deal with the legal proceedings but also they'd be the first ones to pay him a visit.

His fingers brush over the different coloured tonics, face thoughtful.

"Which one? A numbing sedative? A general numbing one? I have an applicable one too..." he muses.

"Nothing that'll require her to be touched." I cut off sharply, the memory of her whimper flashing across my mind.

Three pairs of eyes darken at that titbit of information.

Jinyoung nods, moving away the balms to one side.

He thumbs the skin under her eyes.

"Do you want to sleep chickie?" he asks.

She shakes her head.

"Want to stay awake, be with them." She murmurs, fingers fluttering around her throat, biting her lip to stifle a sound of pain.

The pain of what she's going through crashes into the warm waves of love and tenderness I feel for her, that seeps into the bond from the three of us.

He nods, separating tonics I assume have sleep-inducing effects.

His fingers hover over two vials before he plucks a lilac coloured one, opening the stopper.

"Here you go chickie." He says, giving her a hard look when she tries to take the vial for herself and pliantly opens her mouth, his hand cradling her head back as he brings it to her mouth.

I watch as the vial empties, lilac liquid entering her mouth and the bobbing of her throat when she swallows, wincing slightly.

"How long for it to take affect Jinyoung-ah?" I ask, already moving forward to take the vacated spot between her legs, already antsy that I haven't been able to heal her yet.

"A minute or so. It has advanced qualities of being absorbed into the system quickly." He replies, eyes still tight around the corners as he watches.

And when two minutes finally end, my hand gently hovers near her throat, hesitant to hurt her again. But when I do touch it, gently holding it- she doesn't shift in pain, just looking ahead- unable to look down because of my hands.

My abilities rush through my fingertips, the sensation of a cool balm-like effect of where my skin touches her, sensing that there's some internal bruising, strained vocal chords and some ligaments that are close to having torn.

It makes me silently seethe as I let the healing energy flood into her throat, wrapping carefully around her injuries but my voice still trembles as I murmur healing spells.

"That bad?" she asks once I'm done and I recite her injuries aloud, just so the others can mentally take note of it too, file away just exactly what pain to repay him for.

She grimaces at me, holding her arms out adorably when I step back, a silent request. I put my hands on her waist, lifting her off the counter and twirling her down before setting her down, pressing a kiss to her cheek as I hold her.

"I wouldn't be too worried about his throat." Jinyoung offhandedly comments, gently ushering Jin hyung away from the counter where he's finally made a start on chopping, taking the knife and slicing with ease; the rhythmic sound failing to distract me from his words.

"Hyung what did you do?" Kookie asks, leaning forward as if he's merely indulging his sweet curiosity and not the burning desire that makes his eyes flicker.

He gets a head shake in response.

"Not me. Jaebum gets quite protective and angry if someone tries to touch a hair on his chickie's precious head, let alone get this far. He'll take his time." he says, letting vicious pleasure seep into his voice.

Hardened because there was no mercy.

Not for Chul. And not for what he'd done either.

But maybe it's best to keep these discussions private, so (Y/N)'s complexion doesn't pale at the thought as she clutches tightly at me.

KOOK POV:

I notice (Y/N)'s paling complexion before I whisk her away from hyung's arms, taking her from the kitchen where the room has descended slightly into a chilled atmosphere, hardened icy demeanours towards Chul, towards the thought of hurting him.

But when I do eventually have her lying down on the couch with me, she fiddles with my clothes for a moment before meeting my eyes. Her soft eyes turning red intermittently.

"Kookie can we take some time...just like a few days before we meet Chul?" she asks hesitantly.

I don't even waste a moment before I'm nodding.

"Of course sweetheart. He's not exactly going anywhere." I say softly when I see her furrowed brows.

"I know we promised together, promised that he'd have to suffer- it's just...it just makes me scared. What if I enjoy it? What if I become a monster in the process?" she confesses, whispered revelations into my chest.

The room stills, everyone's heard.

"You could never be a monster. And I don't think you'd enjoy it or you're worried about that...it just seems sudden doesn't it?" I ask, gently drawing her jaw up so she looks at me.

Her eyes flicker red, an answer even without her speaking.

I tug her close, tucking her head under mine.

"It's okay to feel relieved, it's okay to feel confused that it's all over, it's okay to not be over the moon dancing around knowing he can't hurt you. Because our hearts don't let go of the old emotions so quickly, especially ones so strong, so deeply-rooted." I say, hand rubbing up and down her back as she trembles slightly, hands fisting in my shirt as she tugs me close whilst moving forwards at the same time. 

She nods, silently taking my words in.

Because I know how it feels.

Know how it feels, that emptiness, that confusion that comes with suddenly not having problems, with not having your demons trying to rip you apart anymore. I remember months of trying to hide away within myself, hiding because a part of me still feared that in some corner or the other- they still waited, biding their time before they pounced. Hid because I couldn't understand why six vampires wanted me, why they looked at me with fondness in their eyes and hid because I felt guilty for wanting them too, wanted them selfishly- as my refuge, as my escape from the hell I'd been thrown in when I was alive.

She relaxes a bit more in my arms.

And it's unconsciously that I move my leg to go over her hips, to hold her in close as I tuck her into me, feeling the soft warmth of her under me.

"Is this fine?" I ask softly.

"Perfect." She replies.

And that's how the two of us lie, enwrapped in each other until Jin hyung appears in the doorway, looking far calmer as he says lunch is done.

It's Yoongi hyung who approaches the two of us, gently murmuring that we shouldn't have empty stomachs, and yet I find when I lean back, (Y/N)'s stillness was explained by her face smoothened out in sleep, at the way she's breathing deeply- the sound slightly rattled but easy as she sleeps, both her hands fisted in my shirt.

I could try disentangle myself but I'm feeling perfectly content with her, and it's only after I tell hyung that the two of us will eat later do I realise that I'd stopped breathing. That my breaths had eased out and faded away as I was holding her, that with her- she brought back the peace of mind. Instincts soothed knowing she was fine, that she was in my arms.

So I relish in the warmth that holding her brings, content to just lay there with her, my leg pinning her legs under mine, forming an unconscious barrier I realise.

And when I find my eyes flutter shut, it's because of the lulling calm she's unconsciously emitting through the bond, tugging me into the warm embrace of sleep and towards her.

(THERE YOU GO! ANGSTY FLUFF AS PROMISED! AND JINYOUNG JUST THROWING IN CASUAL MENTIONS THAT THEY DON'T NEED TO WORRY OR STRESS ABOUT HOW LONG IT'LL TAKE BECAUSE THE IMS ARE GONNA HAVE LOTS OF FUN AND LOTS OF TIME TO MAKE CHUL PAY FOR EVERYTHING THEY'VE DONE! AND JIN RUSHING OUT COS HE DIDN'T WANT THEM TO SEE THEIR BRAVE BEAUTIFUL ELDEST MATE CRY MADE ME EMOTIONAL TOO! AND SO DID THE WAY KOOKIE NEEDED TO BE WITH HER, FEEL HER CLOSE FOR HIS HABIT OF BREATHING TO FADE AGAIN! AND SOME INSECURITIES BUT THERE'S LOTS OF PEOPLE TO PUT THAT AT REST! LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS AND TAKE CARE MY LOVES!)

Sometimes normalcy comes in the small things, in the habits and daily lifestyle acts, in the form of comfort through words or physical touch. Normalcy is different for all of us, so there's never a true normal that exists.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3