(Y/N) POV:

My first thought is to slam the door shut and moan over my cursed luck and rush off to hide my face and go into hiding. But instead, I duck behind the door- shifting myself so the door hides most of me. But I can't keep the surprise from welling up. 

"Namjoon and Hoseok. What are you doing here?" I ask, even as I hear the dining table creak and bench shift as Gyeomie slides out and makes his way over.

Their bright smiles returned, alongside a light flush on both of their faces.

"We wanted to spend some time with you before lessons today, if that's alright?" Hoseok asks, eyes glittering with hope and smiling beatifically at me. I find my heart melting under the warmth radiating from his face.

"And we wanted to give you this." Namjoon murmurs in a quieter tone bringing his arms from behind his back to present a beautiful large bouquet of flowers- white and yellow roses with honeysuckle.

My mouth parts in awe at the iridescent shimmer on them, on their fullness, perfection in shape, size and colour, the green of the leaves so vivid and bright that I just know that Namjoon had something to do with Namjoon's ability.

"They're beautiful." I marvel, body unconsciously stepping out from behind the door so I can get a closer look at them.

And then a dry voice calls out.

"Just beautiful. What a completely unexpected surprise."  Gyeomie calls, interjecting himself into the scene and effectively ruining the moment.

I turn to shoot him a glare but he's already glaring- not at me but over my shoulder and his hand very deliberately and slowly comes to rest on my exposed shoulder- covering it from view, the coolness of his skin against the warmth of my own. I flush remembering my current state of dress, trying to tug the sleeve up but it threatens to cause it to gape at the neck. Flustered, I turn to the two of them.

"Do you mind waiting inside whilst I get dressed? Gyeomie be nice." I call over my shoulder as I rush in, realisation that the invitation has extended to two more; but it doesn't bother me, it's small steps.

When I emerge, looking and feeling human, I find a stiffness at the table where Gyeomie is still eyeing the two of them; who sit on the bench I had some time ago vacated. But the silent treatment vanishes when he turns to give me a soft smile.

"I'm sure I don't need to tell you that she better not get hurt." Gyeomie warns as he swings his legs out, dismissing himself from the company of the two of them.

The two are quick to murmur echoes of sentiment- that I'll be fine and that they could never harm their mate.

Hearing them call me that sends a warmth rushing through my body, a smile tugging at my lips and there's a slight pause and Gyeomie manages a politer nod as he leaves- calling over his shoulder that Bambam will let him know if I don't turn up to lessons. 

I turn apologetically to them but happily and excitedly accept the bouquet from Namjoon, rushing to find a vase to keep them in- until Namjoon calls out.

"They'll stay fresh for a longer period of time, until my magic wears off- give or take a few weeks." He says and I am once again shocked by the ability; to be able to capture such beauty and preserve it, I look at him with newfound respect and admiration.

"Shall we get going? I want to make the most of the time we have." Hoseok adds and without further ado the two are quick and eager to rush me out of the apartment, shoulders drooping slightly after the door shuts. But they are equally chivalrous as Jungkook had been- the two trying to outdo each other in their courteous behaviour, helping me into my chair, opening the car door, asking me for my order first and setting it down with gentle careful hands.

But one thing I note is that their hands flutter carefully; shying inches away from my own hands but rest naturally near each other's; briefly touching and intertwining fingers.

I ache for a normalcy, casual affection like that one day. And it also makes me become painfully aware that they're avoiding touching me. To avoid sparking off the connection. But didn't my acceptance of courtship mean I accepted them as mates? 

Was there something about courtship culture I was misinformed about? Looks like I had to have a chat with JB oppa. Soon, preferably.

JB POV:

Seeing (Y/N) come to me with her heart on her sleeve, raw and open and vulnerable, soft large eyes wide with questions and small delicate body drowning in a sweater- one that I, with no little amount of pride, recognise as my own of course I want to swaddle her up with blankets and hide her from the world.

It's an instinct we all discovered we shared for her, something so pure and innocent in her soft ways, that more often than not she found herself being pulled into one lap or the other. Despite the lack of shared blood or souls merging, there was immense pride and love to call her as one of our own. To having seen her grow into this young woman but still reaching out makes me realise how far we've come and yet how somethings will stay the same.

I open my arms out for her and smile when she nestles close but when I spot the tell-tale fidget of her hands making sweater paws, which is so endearing, it puts all my instincts to the front. Something's wrong.

"Oppa, when you courted Gyeomie- did you not touch him at all?" she asks, not looking up.

But the question is so odd in its context that I take pause.

"Of course not. Courtship is that lovey-dovey stage where you can't keep your hands off and you have an excuse..." I start but tail off when the answer makes her shrink and I immediately realise why.

"Oh chickie...it's nothing to do with you. They're likely holding back because they don't want to force it on you." I rush to reassure, holding her closer as I feel the sad confusion radiate off her.

"Are you sure?" she asks in such a small voice that I have to restrain myself from the urge of sitting the Bangtan coven down and making it very clear what I'd do if they hurt her—maybe I should have that chat anyway. 

She makes all my protective instincts scream in fury that I'm not ridding the source of her hurt.

But she seems slightly appeased.

"If it worries you, bring it up with them, you are mates after all." I add and I know that she will if it bothers her- if there's one thing that she is; she's a fiery spirit under that soft marshmallow sweetness.

(Y/N) POV:

It's over three weeks of courting- officially that is. And every single day of those three weeks I keep receiving courting gifts; to the extent that Gyeomie is torn between being exasperated, impressed, or just annoyed by the constant ring of the bell and the sometimes gift-bearing soulmates that appear. They're sweet small gestures that keep making my heart melt and gush at the thoughtfulness.

One day it was a luxuriously soft scarf, beanie and mitten set adorned with a note of 'dress warm little one'. Another day it had been beautifully crafted cupcakes, other days it had been mixtures ranging from cute stationary with a handwritten note attached, luxurious accessories, delicate jewellery, and every week without fail- a bouquet of Namjoon's magical flowers. Each gift had come with a small note and they all sat in a large box, steadily piling up.

Apart from all of the courting gifts, which had me feel ridiculously pampered, they had been making frequent visits to the apartment to coax me out on cute dates- ranging from cafes, to personal favourite haunts to visits to their nest.

But the visits to the nest, despite being one of the most favourite moments of my week, have the silent undercurrent of knowledge that somewhere in the large spacious walls- there are two people who don't want me, who still continue to avoid me, and if they ever do make contact with me- rush away and leave me feeling hurt in their wake.

The cold interior of the large house, which Seokjin apologetically noted wasn't suited for a human like me, was rapidly changed one day when I returned and there had been soft thick blankets piled in every room, waiting to be used and the heating was promptly turned on when I entered. 

But the house itself continue being a magical entity, luring me into other unknown rooms, tempting me down long hallways and helping me hide in nooks and crannies that were sealed from view, I later learned, from a petulant Taehyung and Jungkook after they'd given up on finding me during a game. Their complaints that the house had never helped them led to accusatory stares shot at Seokjin until I had abashedly stepped in telling them not to accuse him.

And when I'd turned, I'd been gifted with one of the most radiant smiles that curled his plump lips upwards and without realising he'd cupped both of my cheeks and done it- triggered the mate connection.

Even though he'd profusely apologised and tried to snatch his hands away when they registered the warm furnace they'd been resting on, I couldn't stop smiling. I had wanted it. And had trapped his hands there for a few moments longer- letting my own rest on his.

But when the others had met my eyes, there was something unreadable in them. 

But it was late that evening as Hoseok dropped me off, insisting that the nights these days weren't safe for humans- apparently there had been a rise in errant vampires. But he'd been quick to reassure me and pull me protectively against his side when I'd shivered at his words- chilling more than the night sky could be, and we had just gotten out of his car.

"We won't let anyone hurt you. We want to protect you." he assures me, smiling in the dim moonlight glow that casted shadows across his face, highlighting his features even more.

And this time I don't wait. I reach out to grab his hand- ignoring the sudden flinch before he relaxes.

"Thank you Seokie. You've been there since the beginning." I say, warmth in my voice.

He smiles.

"Always (Y/N)-ah. That's what mates are for." He says.

But his words stir up an ache deep in my soul that night, that even if he had been there, there were two who weren't. And even though I wanted to move on from that thought, there was a lingering despair everytime they moved away, or didn't appear at all. A pining want deep in me for someone I couldn't have.

And by the end of that next week, Namjoon accidentally sets off the mate connection when his hands graze mine when he's leaning over to point out something he enjoyed in the book I had sat in my lap- enclosed in his roomy, welcoming library scattered with plants that came out and played- tendrils and vines playfully tickling me and gently fluttering over my hands as I scanned the shelves- picking one out for me and nudging it into my hands.

He blushes and leans back but it's been done. 

"It's okay." I tell him and when he later, bashfully yet hopefully, asks if he can read with me- a flash of courage fills me and I gently shift towards him- eyeing his lap before deciding to go for it and clambering on. His arms nearly knock over a tray waiting with drinks and snacks that Seokjin had dropped off a while ago but they almost as quickly come to wrap around me. There's something so welcoming and open about his expression, a softness to him that makes it so appealing and banishes all shyness from me for that moment.

"Is this okay?" he asks, breath fanning against the shell of my ear.

I fight back a shiver.

"It's perfect." I whisper back and spend the better half of an afternoon wrapped in his warm embrace, reading with him, head tucked under his as I curl into his side.

And that's how I'm found by the two youngers and awoken by their indignant yells- blinking blearily at them even as Namjoon frantically shushes them.

And sleepily follow them out when Jungkook shoots me puppy eyes and Taehyung's eyes are glittering with promise of dragging me out if I don't cooperate.

But when Taehyung asks in the most heartbroken way if I don't want to trigger the connection I can't help but lean forward- pulled towards them.

"Of course I do, I was waiting for you to be ready." I say and there's a united sigh of relief.

"Can I go first?" Jungkook asks shyly.

I nod eagerly.

And when he leans over to brush a strand of hair off my cheek- the back of his fingers seem to set a trail of sparks where they brush past- an electrifying feeling that leaves both of us standing there gaping. The others had been the same- a magnetic feeling, a rush of emotions as our souls recognised each other and a tingling feeling of elation. 

I try to blink back tears- that things are slotting into place. That someone who I'd learnt was hesitant of humans had been the one to spark our connection.

But as I tilt my head slightly back to blink away the tears, to hide them from view- there's a sudden warmth on my neck- a soft velvety feeling of lips touching the column of my neck. I gasp at the feeling, shivering under the intensity of the touch despite its chastity. 

Taehyung's arms come around me in a solid embrace, even as he parts his lips from my neck a few seconds later.

"I've wanted to do this everytime I've seen you laugh and you throw your head back." He whispers before holding me to him, breathing in deeply, body shaking slightly.

The bond between me and them is now with the five of them- I can feel their presences like an extension of my mind, a soft caress against my own mind, my soul shifting and adjusting to let them in, to accommodate them.

And I ignore the fact that there's two hollow gaps in me, never to be filled, pretend that when Yoongi's eyes linger with something deep and powerful before he steps away- doesn't hurt or that when Jimin seems to see me, he looks like the sight of me brings him pain.

I let myself be comforted by the way that my heart opens up to five and theirs to me. To let myself bask in the way Seokjin insists I never go home alone when it's dark- all of them eager to drop me off that night. Or that slowly I'm forming my own sweet relationship.

It's something strong forming, something sweet- but the ache never leaves. It seems to make the void in me gape- an endless black abyss that has no ray of hope piercing through, no matter how desperately my heart and soul yearns.

And my dreams are still plagued by dark brown eyes that flash with hurt and hostility.

(THERE YOU GO! AHH! I'M SO SO SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE BUT I GOT IT DONE BETWEEN CHORES AND CLEANING- HOUSE IS STILL UNDER WORK! 🥺😭 I'M NOT SURE HOW IT'LL BE TO READ AND I KNOW THAT THE FIRST TOUCH AFTER SO MUCH ANGST IS POWERFUL- BUT THAT'S NEXT...I DIDN'T COUNT THE TRIGGERING OF THE MATE BOND; IT DOESN'T COUNT FOR ME!! SO HOLD ON! OH DID I SAY ANGST LAST CHAPTER- SHOULD'VE SAID CUTE BONDING, MY BAD. MAINLY OUR BABY (Y/N)'S POV HERE- BUT THERE'LL BE THE OTHERS COMING IN MORE IN THE NEXT CHAPTER! STAY SAFE AND TAKE CARE!)

When life gets tough, step away from the chaos and take a moment to breathe, centralise yourself, remember you're important, and don't let issues batter you and bring you down. You'll rise up stronger than before, you're a survivor.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3