HOBI POV:

"But Seokie~ you're always busy working, I don't get to see your pretty face as much these days." (Y/N) wheedles from the doorway, watching as I slowly peel off my shirt with a petulant pout on her face, eyes glaringly red and face scrunched with upset.

I feel longing course through the bond, see it in her eyes even as she doesn't cross the boundary to enter my room, a spark of desire flashing in her eyes when I turn to face her.

"Do you have to go to a healing conference? You already know how to heal, you helped bandage me up after I fell off the stairs." She says, pout deepening but her words have the opposite effect- a flash of fear as I remembered how the sound of pealing laughter and rushing footsteps as Tae, Kookie and Jiminie chased after her- the sound of a pained cry tearing out her throat as she'd fallen, hitting the ground with a crash.

"And I shouldn't have had to! You shouldn't have been running on stairs! If the house didn't try to cushion your landing- then I'd have to have done more than bandage your poor wrist." I huff, turning to see her tuck her left wrist out of sight, looking up at me with an angelic expression.

"But it doesn't even hurt. You insisted on wrapping it up after healing it." She says pointedly before sighing, a deep puff of breath which sounds sad, sounds upset.

"I just want to spend time with you now that finals are over." She says tugging at the sleeves of the jumper she's taken from my wardrobe I realise with a pleased jolt and when she looks at me with soft imploring eyes that flicker red, I find my resolve crumbling.

Crumbling when it hadn't in front of the other maknaes as they'd wheedled for me to go out with them, eyes promising mischief and lips curved up in teasing lilts. And here she was, one soft pouty look as she fiddled with her sweater paws and I was losing my will to resist.

But before I can say anything, there's a pair of arms that wrap around her and hug her to a firm broad chest, Joon's head peeking over at me as he happily holds our baby mate.

"Oh sweet baby mate, Hobi's always been like that. He's been like that since the first day we met him. Our busy mate. Always trying to rush away." Joon says warmly with a hint of teasing playfulness, cooing over (Y/N) when she huffs sadly, curling into the hug and shooting me betrayed eyes.

Oh this is so unfair. A joint attack from the two of them- Joon's eyes almost daring me to try and say no to her, to the way she looks at me longingly.

"Fine. I won't go. But instead I want cuddles." I bargain, looking at her with a hard firm gaze.

She wriggles out of Joon's hug, turning to face me.

"If I get to hear your story. About how the others met you." she retorts.

I find my lips twitching at the seriousness, at her determination to hear our stories. First Yoongi hyung and now me, all in the span of a week.

I wonder who she'll ask next.

But my heart swells with fondness, touched that she wants to know about our pasts, at our histories before they merged and intertwined and came to where we are today.

"I'll tell you everything you want to know." I promise and find myself tackled to the bed by an eager baby mate who sprawls over my bare chest, hands sliding over skin, pressing a soft kiss to the centre.

And looks up at me with wide intrigued eyes. Joon enters the room, smiling as he slips in and curls close, head propped up by his hand as he looks at me, a line of heat searing my body where he watches me, as his eyes burn a deep red as he looks at me fond and so, so loving.

And his eyes flicker too, with specks of crimson as if he too is tugged back to those memories, remembering the first time we met.

And slowly begin to tell my tale, of three beautiful vampires who came into my life and tried to woo me, charm me, about how it wasn't easy to navigate a relationship with not one but three vampires set in wooing and charming in their own way. Of the memorable day where a walk in the forest changed my life forever.

------

Maybe trekking through the forest hadn't been as great as noona had depicted it to be. A world of wild greenery and beautiful plants and lovely shadows cast by overhead trees she'd said. Not this. Clumps of roots and damp slippery soil that I'd slipped over countless times and prickling thorns trying to snatch and grab onto skin and fabric.

But the way her face lights up, eyes bright and lips curved up- hair flowing down and sweet laughter, even if it was at my own expense, was worth it. It hadn't taken much to convince me anyways, a small wheedle and set of wide-eyed and I was gone. Weak. Nodding resignedly.

But the fresh air was nice, tickling skin with sudden sweet breezes and gusts. It was helping me relax even if I stumbled and cursed as I navigated the path noona was navigating with ease.

"Noona, noona don't go too far!" I call ahead, watching as she happily navigates her way through the unpaved trail through the forest, her bright laughter ringing out into the otherwise empty forest, slightly worried as she brushes through thickets of plants, some of which most definitely look like they'll sting.

"Stop fussing Hoseokie, I'm the older one and don't you forget it." She calls with a bright smile, turning to face me- face radiant with laughter and joy as she turns to face me, still moving forward and then I watch as her face twists into one of shock as she trips or stumbles, body falling forwards as she cries out and my body's already moving, rushing to get to her, the greens and browns merging into a blur, feeling the roots and slippery forage of the ground try to stop me, the slight sting of thorns scratching at my ankles before I'm hovering over her, crouching down to draw her up carefully, watching as her face pales as she looks at the slight swelling of her ankle.

I gently press my fingers to it, drawing her leg to straighten up on my lap and wince when she cries out, looking at me with slightly teary eyes.

But before I can speak, before I can apologise- the words already sitting at my lips, there's the sensation of the air getting slightly stifling and thicker, the barest tell-tale sound of leaves crunching underfoot and the small sound of twigs snapping- head whipping up because my heightened senses have picked up on it.

I whirl around to see three imposing, devastatingly beautiful figures step close- a sort of magnetism between the three that keeps them close, that has them looking as if they're bound together, connected even as they slightly distance themselves to step forward.

It feels awfully like three wolves closing in on prey for all that their eyes are softly observant and their gaits loose and unthreatening. There's just something about the three of them that has me stiffening, shifting so noona's foot falls off my lap, that the subdued whimper is covered from sight when I rise to my feet and widen my stance, standing to cover and protect and defend.

"We don't mean harm. We were out on a stroll and heard a cry." The tallest one says, skin honeyed warmth as if kissed by sun rays, eyes soft and gentle- an air of warmth surrounding him even though the only beating heart, the only true source of warmth here is Dawon noona, who I try to keep blocked from sight.

My eyes drift to the over two, over compulsively tugged to drift my gaze over them, to see the strength that silently radiates from their still postures, watch as a pair of dark eyes narrow slightly at me; non-threatening, more curious. And how the broad-shouldered male steps forward, moves to place himself before the other two males and then scrunches his nose- eyes flashing red.

"A mortal." He says with slight surprise, stance firming.

"So? What of it?" I ask, brows raised and looking directly into his eyes, that flicker with red of challenge, with slight amusement. But there's nothing hostile in his eyes, nothing but curious intrigue.

"Nothing. Curious is all." He replies.

And I can't help but notice how his voice too is soft and gentle yet underlined with strength- how there's something so inviting about the three of them, tugging and trying to guide me forward, away from noona and closer to them.

"Don't rile him up hyung, his energy and ability is unstable." The third male finally speaks, voice a low soft whisper that brushes against skin, voice perhaps the gentlest, the most observing, even if his eyes turn hard, turn stiff and he shifts slightly behind the broad male.

The two of them shifting to gravitate close, to cover him from sight, to protect in a mirror to my own stance.

But his words ring true.

My energy, my new senses haven't settled yet as a recently turned vampire.

As someone who'd been turned on the brink of death, delirious with fever and body on fire, screaming with agony and hoarse voice pleading for it to all end. I remembered cool sheets turning damp with sweat, my body twisting and writhing, trying to escape the hands that pinned me down and tried to keep me from twisting from injections and medicines to try heal, to try save my body that was failing me, giving out on me.

"A turned vampire." The honeyed vampire says with a tone of awe and amazement, and when he smiles, lips curving up with wondering disbelief I see the slightest indents of dimples appear, eyes sparking red with curiosity.

"I haven't seen one before, isn't that fascinating?" he continues stepping forward almost absentmindedly, until the broad male stiffens slightly.

"Joon-ah." He says, voice low and soft and protective. But also warning him not to impose, to pry.

One word. One name and he stills, turns to complacently turn towards the man.

But then Dawon noona makes a hitched pained breathing sound and it turns me away from them, exposing my back even if my mind screams not to do that to strangers, to vampires, not when my sister is hurting but I turn to murmur apologies, dropping down in front of her.

"Sorry noona. I'm sorry. I should get you some herbs for your ankle." I say hurriedly.

But then pause.

I can't just leave her to go forage for medicinal herbs, not when my body is still buzzing with adrenaline and some sort of rush that makes me feel jittery, as if I've been jolted and struck by lightning. Not when the three of them are still there.

Their presences somehow burning across my senses and demanding that I turn, as if my gut instinct is warning me, telling me to not leave myself exposed.

"Noona let me carry you." I say before carefully helping her to drape across my back, arms winding around my neck and hands going to draw her legs around my torso and slowly standing up.

"Noona? A mortal girl and an immortal boy are siblings. Oh hyung....it's just like in those tales from appa's library." The same honeyed man speaks, the most vocal out of the three of them and this time he steps out from behind and approaches with fascination, ignoring the slightly wounded startled sound the pale man makes- eyes flashing red and jerking forward but stilling, as if physically unable to step forward.

"Forgive me for crossing boundaries with a stranger but may I..." he begins hesitantly approaching with careful steps until he stands in front.

His eyes are deep warm orbs of brown as they peer closely at me and then to noona, gaze drifting upwards and then back down- just immersed in his observations.

"Did you know the two of you have the exact same shade of brown in your eyes, there's flecks of darker shades too. Your faces are also startingly similar and yet not." He adds, voice slightly deeper and from this close proximity I can hear the way his voice has this smooth enticing quality. That this closeness has my now unbeating heart clenching and body struggling to remain still, unsure whether to move back or forward.

And when he peers at us, head leaning forward my own instinctively jerks back, noona's grip tightens as my feet slide for purchase, sliding across the damp earth before I manage to steady us again, unconsciously tightening my grip on her legs.

"Joon you're scaring them." The soft voice comes through wryly.

"Please don't let us stop you, be safe on your way. Unless we can aid you somehow, help you get herbs." The soft voice continues, but the pale dark-haired male makes no move to step forward, body still slightly angled behind the broad handsome male's.

All of them have a striking beauty.

That makes me pause. Linger.

Even if rationality tells me not to trust strangers.

Even if a deep innate feeling whispers they won't hurt me.

"I can help with that!" the man, Joon, says.

Before kneeling in front of me to press fingers to damp earth, my breath caught in my throat as blooms of red begins to sprout from the soil, curling petals that sprout and curl towards his hand.

He peers up at me, something soft in his eyes.

"Begonias should help with the pain." He says, hand filled with the soft petals but as he rises his foot seems to catch on a root because he rocks momentarily and in his attempt to get free the hand holding the petals almost drop the flowers, his other hand darting to cup it securely- the slightest edge of his bare pinkie brushing across my ankle.

And this time the flowers do fall, fluttering to the ground- red petals pooling around his hand as he gapes at me, lips parted and eyes flaring red, turning slightly dark.

And this time I stumble back a bit, failing to bite back the gasp that slips free at the way my body burns, almost reminiscent of how my body had been overcome with the heat of fever but something so soothing, so satiating about this warmth- as if it pools in each crevice of my body, settles into my bones and warms my soul- igniting a spark in it.

My ankle tingles, sparks fanning out from where his finger had brushed and I find my body overcome with the sensation of turning soft, molten, turning into a puddle and when I stagger- I barely feel the arms tightening around my neck in alarm. Feel only the brand of large fingers wrapping around my ankle, stabilising me, keeping me anchored.

And when my eyes meet warm crimson pools that peer up at me, I feel a connection slip into place.

"Mate. Our mate." He says awed, voice deeper and going husky.

There's the sound of a small murmur from behind him.

The feel of noona's hair brushing against my temple as she leans forward.

"Hoseokie my dear, are you alright?" she asks, voice full of concern, shifting as if trying to protect me, to peer at the three men.

"Hoseokie. What a lovely ring to our third mate's name." the broad male finally speaks, voice coming out as a breathy exhale- eyes filled with wonder, with confusion, with uncertainty but also with hope.

And I watch as the gold from his eyes seep out away, leaving only flecks.

And this time when he looks at me, it's soft and tender and amazed.

And for the first time since my eyes landed on him, nothing but geniality remains- lips quirked up slightly.

"Or do you prefer Hobi?" he asks.

My nickname slipping off his generously plump lips has me pausing, trying to fight the shiver at how right it feels to hear him say it. There's a small huff- amused and fond.

"Hyung stop startling him. Sorry about that, Jin hyung can be quite a force. I'm Yoongi...and I hope that time will turn this meeting into something memorable." The pale man says, finally stepping forward as he nudges Jin, a flash of gums as he smiles.

Cute. Endearing.

And I don't realise his head has tilted and he stares at me with a knowing lilt to his lips.

"I don't mind either." I reply, still staring wide-eyed.

And somehow feel that I wouldn't mind because of their voices, because of the velvety low softness that each word is spoken with. And because when I say that their eyes burn red.

As if the answer pleases them.

As if we have eternity to find out which name to call each other.

And as if there's a promise to enjoy every moment of it.

Maybe trekking through the forest hadn't been such a bad idea after all.

------

(Y/N) giggles as I tell her how Joon had almost toppled the two of us and noona over in his haste to get to his feet, flower petals forgotten as he gaped.

"Sounds about right~" she trills happily, fond gaze turning to peer at him, to press a kiss to his pout until he's grinning, huffing as he shakes his head- denying my 'accusation'.

"The earth was damp." He defends.

"Nope! He wanted to take sweeping your mate off their feet to a very literal sense." I confide, whispering to (Y/N)- watching as she squirms as my lips brush against the shell of her ear, so wonderfully sensitive, and laughs- head falling back to rest against my bare shoulder, the sweet enticing curve of her neck exposed- distractingly so as she relishes in the teasing.

"Aww isn't that just adorable? I wouldn't mind being swept off my feet that way." She says, lips teasingly curved and eyes sparking with challenge. And she brushes her fingers over his face, poking at his cheeks lightly.

"Eager were we oppa?" she asks, laughing when he gives a low growl- face a mixture of warning and endearing huffiness, looking utterly betrayed at the two of us tagteaming on him.

But then he turns the tables, taking control of the situation and how it has her throat enticingly displayed, almost as if purposely riling and pushing, throat bobbing as she draws in breaths.

And then her giggles break off into a gasp when Namjoon's lips descend on the curve of her throat, body leaning over hers as he keeps her trapped between the two of us, kissing and sucking and nibbling at her skin- mercilessly pinning her against me as he marks her, her body shifting and wriggling restlessly against me, unsure whether to arch upwards or press herself into me.

"Is Joon being a meanie baby mate?" I ask, hands winding to wrap around her stomach, feeling Joon's weight press against them.

She gives a small, hitched gasp, a breathless petulant 'yes' before it peters off when he gives a nip to the mark, looks at her with deep red eyes.

"I wouldn't mind sweeping you off your feet. Best be prepared for it baby mate." He says low and deep and full of sensual promise, eyes flickering down to her lips, to the way she swallows and the way her body is pressed and tugged firmly into mine.

And maybe seeing our baby mate teased and riled is just as satisfying to tag-team on, maybe even more, because I tug Joonie down by wrapping my fingers into his shirt, so his torso pins her into me and brush my lips across her ear.

"And maybe I'll join. That'll be a story worth telling won't it?" I say, though when her finger scrabble for purchase, nails scratching lightly at my bare skin as she holds me- I find heady longing course through me.

And in my question I leave my own promise behind.

Who knew sharing one of the most beautiful moments in my life would lead to this? To a wriggling baby mate and fiery Joon.

And a small part of my mind whispered that (Y/N) hadn't had the fine pleasure to spending time with fiery Joon- that when she did, that in itself would be a whole other story.

One I couldn't wait to hear and see for myself.

(THERE YOU GO! WE HAD HOBI'S STORY THIS TIME! BUT IT TOOK SUCH A WEIRD SPIN ON IT THAT I HOPE I DIDN'T GIVE YOU WHIPLASH WHEN JOON WENT ALL FIRE ON BABY MATE FOR TEASING HIM BY TEASING HER INSTEAD! ALL I'M SAYING ARE THE 95ERS AREN'T THE ONLY DUO TO KEEP YOUR EYES OUT FOR WHEN IT COMES TO TEASING AND BEING PLAYFUL, THE 94 LINERS ARE A WHOLE OTHER STORY TOO~ SO THIS CHAPTER SHOULD HOPEFULLY HAVE LEFT YOU WITH A TEASING PROMISE OF WHAT IF?? BUT APART FROM THAT...HOW DID YOU FIND HOBI'S STORY? WAS IT CUTE?? CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT ONE- HOPE THIS CHAPTER DIDN'T DISAPPOINT AND SO EXCITED TO SEE WHO'S NEXT!! AHHH! I LOVE WRITING THESE LITTLE TITBITS FROM THE PAST! HOPE YOU ENJOYED IT TOO! STAY SAFE AND TAKE CARE LOVES!)

Sometimes stumbling in life isn't so bad. Because when we stumble not only do we get to experience what it means to help ourselves to learn to remain firm but also that sometimes the one who catch us are the ones who become blessings in our life. Sometimes going off one path and onto another, or onto an unmarked one isn't bad- because we get to carve our own way, we get to see where another route might end up being better, might take us to better places and better people. Sometimes we find ourselves lost but only so we can find our true selves.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3