(Y/N) POV:

Entering their home was like entering a dragon's den, I felt suffocated and on edge. This was their territory, their space, their refuge, it wasn't a place for me to be in, to intrude or to belong in. It screamed to me that I was an outsider entering the haven they had already made themselves and being surrounded by them felt like the walls were closing in, like predators circling their prey. I didn't feel safe.

I tentatively followed them in, small footsteps as I entered a foreign space, eyes briefly scanning the walls adorned with photos, with artwork before my eyes slid away quickly fearful of how they'd respond to my intruding eyes. We entered the living room, all of them piling in with ease and familiarity as they sunk into the couches and armchairs. I pulled at my sleeves trying to scan for an empty space to sit in. A seat that didn't have anyone else on, I carefully edged my way to the lone armchair that sat some space from the others, eyes not missing the way they draped themselves over each other, bodies pressed together with a casual intimacy. One I yearned for. But I would never get.

"(Y/N)-ah...why don't you sit here?" Seokjin gestured to the empty space next to Taehyung on the large couch where he sat with Jimin and Jungkook. They looked up smiling at me, Taehyung patting the space next to him eagerly.

I tensed slightly at the invitation; the worst had already happened. They already knew who I was.

"Come on (Y/N)-ah, sit next to me." Taehyung's voice rolled out, low and deep as his hands tapped at it, tone heavy with persuasion pulling at me to move my limbs and cooperate. I made the mistake of meeting his eyes, I froze, I couldn't dart them away for some reason. His eyes were drawing me in, as he repeated his request, words washing over me and even though I really didn't want to I found my body operating as though beyond my will. It suddenly clicked to me that Taehyung's ability must have something to do with persuasion and hypnosis, and I felt a sliver of fear knowing that he held the power to make me be able to do anything to his will and I would be subject to it, powerless. But my mind acted subconsciously, trying to break the bonds of his ability as it ensnared me, pulling free from the web when I suddenly gasped, body slumping back into the armchair when I was in control again.

I gasped shallowly, meeting his eyes with fear, I couldn't have history repeating itself.

"Please, please...." I muttered.

He tilted his head quizzically. Did he really not know what he had done? Or was he acting innocent?

"D-don't pretend. Don't act like you didn't just use your ability." I said, body still reeling from the aftereffects of fighting off his ability.

His eyes widened and he shook his head frantically.

"I swear I would never, I think it was an unconscious act of my soul trying to pull you towards me." He said, face riddled with guilt.

I felt my resolve crumble, as much as I was wary of them, I trusted my ability to judge personalities and he honestly didn't seem like he'd do that. But was I making a mistake in trusting him? Were my walls falling and I did nothing to put them back up?

Taehyung looked devastated and even though I wanted them to never learn that I was their soulmate, it bothered me to see him in pain. I could even feel it transmitting through the bond, even though I tried to ignore its existence. It was no use, his guilt was swamping me, almost making me feel as though it was coming from me.

I slowly stood up, nervously walking over before stopping in front of him. My hoodie-clad hand reaching out to gently pat his shoulder in what I hoped came across as reassurance.

"It's okay, mistakes happen." I mumbled.

"Aww, you're too cute (Y/N)-ah!" Taehyung piped up before his hand darted out to pull me down next to him, I tensed slightly but felt relieved when I realised, he couldn't contact my skin. I felt stiff sitting next to him, legs angled away so they wouldn't brush against his accidentally. I couldn't relax, I felt too on edge, feeling their eyes weighing down on me even as I kept my head lowered slightly, trying to hide behind my hoodie as much as possible.

"(Y/N)-ah, what would you like for dinner?" Seokjin's voice rang out, warmth and kindness in every syllable.

I didn't trust my voice to speak, there was a lump in my throat steadily increasing in size as my panic continued to mount.

"I think we should order takeout. (Y/N) likes eating 'junk food' and we could put on a show we can binge watch." Namjoon suggested and my eyes widened, I didn't think he'd remember.

Apparently, I wasn't the only one surprised. The rest of the guys had similar expressions of shock when I dared to briefly look up and something else that looked like...jealousy?

"How do you know that; I barely know anything about her!" Hoseok shouted, slight frown on his face.

I wanted to sink into the couch and vanish from view.

"She likes the webtoon 'Cursed Fate' too!" Jungkook added, pleased and slightly smug as I carefully observed the situation.

Then the room burst into chaos.

"She loves cats!"

"She prefers to write her notes by hand and then type them up later!"

"She likes nature!"

"She loves wandering around the city, walking with her headphones in." a quieter but strong voice said.

I was watching with growing horror; how did they know so much about me? I knew I had never told them that, it looked like their eyes had been set on me for quite some time.

"H-, how do you know all this?" I said, stopping to make my voice firm and strong, I hoped.

They looked at me sheepishly.

"You've been intriguing us for quite some time." Yoongi said, voice bored but his eyes were sharp as they fixed on me.

His eyes were piercing and assessing, and I felt like he could see right through me. I didn't want that. No-one needed to know but he had a calculating look on his face, one I didn't like at all.

I didn't want to stay here but I also didn't know where I could go either.

I was still tensed during dinner, trying to avoid being included in conversations. Conversations meant chatter. Chatter meant questions. Questions I didn't want to answer. Answers I wasn't ready to give, nor did I doubt they wanted to hear. Or were ready to.

But whilst we were watching, I somehow managed to tune out the nerves, the chatter, the physical reminder that they were next to me and I focused on the actors on screen, enraptured by the plot. I didn't know how long we lay there until I felt my eyes grow heavy.

I yawned, hand coming up to cover my mouth, eyes slightly watering as they crinkled shut. The yawn seemed to draw attention back to me.

"Right. Time for bed. (Y/N)-ah, I'll show you where you'll be sleeping." Seokjin said, rousing the boys up from their slumbering postures on the couches and herding them out.

I climbed the stairs behind the guys, feet sinking into the plush carpet. The guys didn't separate into their own rooms, which by the number of doors I presumed they all, instead they split off into groups, piling into a room together. I watched apprehensively, surely, I wouldn't have to do that, right? Seokjin spoke up.

"We got this house so all of us could live together, we had a room set up for you when we moved in Waiting for the day, we'd find you." He whispered, walking forwards and stopping outside a door before he swung it open.

It was a lovely room, there was no doubt in that, but the warm tones of the room's layout did nothing to draw me out of my misery.

"I'll leave you to get settled in." he said and just as he was about to leave, I remembered I had no clothes to change into.

"Umm...Seokjin-ssi. Are there any clothes I may borrow?" I asked, hating myself for liking the way his face lit up with enthusiasm.

"I'm sure I can get something that fits..." I cut him off gently.

"Any size will be fine, I-I like oversized stuff too." I said.

He left the room, returning fairly quickly with some shorts and a soft t-shirt in his hands proffering them to me. I took them gingerly, habits kicking in and making sure I didn't accidentally touch him, missing the look of wistfulness and sorrow directed at me.

"Umm...the doctor said you shouldn't be alone..." he trailed off, my cheeks flushing as I realised what he was trying to say.

"I'm sure I'll be just fine Seokjin-ssi." I reassured but he adamantly shook his head.

"I'm not taking risks with your health (Y/N)-ah. You don't know how it felt watching you lie there." He said voice both firm and caring.

I hesitated.

"Could you leave so I can change at the very least?" I asked, eyebrows raising in slight amusement as the tips of ears went red before he left, shutting the door behind him.

I quickly stripped, folding my clothes and placing them on the chair, pulling on the t-shirt which hung loosely on my frame, slipping off my shoulders slightly. I pulled on the shorts, pulling at the drawstrings to tighten it around my waist. They were both loose but at least the fabric wouldn't rub against my mark which was still stinging.

A soft knock at the door. I sighed; he hadn't gone then. The thought warmed me but also acted as a reminder for what I couldn't have.

"You can come in." I said, words dragging out.

He re-entered, changed into pyjamas before he smiled at me, walking closer gesturing to the bed.

We were meant to sleep on the same bed? I didn't know the panic showed before he sighed, a low sad sound.

"I promise I won't touch you or do anything you're uncomfortable with. You're practically radiating stress." He said before sliding into the large bed, maintaining a large distance as I slowly slipped in, pushing myself to the edge of the mattress as I fearfully clutched at the blanket.

"Relax." He said before my body sagged, muscles loosening up as his voice pushed out calming vibes. An empath...I thought before those waves pushed me to drowsiness, quickly lulling me to sleep.

JIN POV:

I watched, heart relaxing as I watched (Y/N) drop off to sleep, eyes drowsily sliding shut, long eyelashes resting slightly against her skin. I watched feeling heavy at the thought that we needed to break down those walls and allow her to open up to us but also a giddiness that we had finally, finally found our last soulmate. The bond was thrumming with a sense of elation and joy, radiating the rest of our soulmates' feelings, (Y/N)'s own just emitting calm as she slept.

I smiled seeing how relaxed she finally looked, one cheek squished between her hand as her head rested on it, body curved inwards slightly, face rid of apprehension, rid of fear. I couldn't help myself from comparing how she looked now to how she had violently flinched away from me in the hospital, I couldn't bear the pain of seeing my soulmate cower away from me. There were some deep, underlying issues because all her bond seemed to transfer were feelings of despair, fear, sorrow and occasional pangs of wistfulness. It seemed like she wanted to be with us but was afraid to. I just hoped we could build the bridge of trust between us and she would know that we were going to be there for her, through thick and thin.

With this intent firm in my mind, I drifted off to sleep.

----

My eyes snapped open at the sound of low, quiet whimpers of pain, I leaned behind to flick on the lamp and the bed was enveloped in a soft glow. My eyes focused on (Y/N) who was still asleep, but her body was writhing and twisting as though she was in pain, no...in agony. Her cheeks were flushed, face slightly dewy from sweat, as she twisted, sheets gathering in a bunch under her feet. I could sense the horror rolling off her body like waves, she was having a nightmare.

I reached out to press a hand on her shoulder, trying to gently rouse her but the moment my hand settled on her, she bolted upright, panting heavily, eyes blown wide open with fear. I moved forward, she seemed like she was still trapped in the remnants of sleep, unaware that she was awake.

Her shoulders slumped as her hand came out to push her hair out of her face, scrubbing at her face roughly. Her body shook slightly, and I knew from the tiny sniffles that she was crying and trying hard not to.

"(Y/N)-ah." I called gently, not wanting to panic her further.

Her head twisted towards me, face falling before she hesitantly opened her mouth.

"Seokjin-ssi, I-I...can you...hold me?" she got out, words slowly being pronounced, and her body tensed as though expecting me to lash out.

I felt my heart tear at the thought of her expecting rejection, saddened and relieved that she reached out and didn't shut me out, pushing her away from me.

I didn't answer, instead I let my body talk, arms reaching out to gently pull her towards me, guiding her back onto the bed as we lay close to each other in a loose embrace, my hands around her waist lightly. What I didn't expect was for a broken sound of relief to leave her throat and her body suddenly burrowing into me, head pressed tightly into my chest, her breaths shaky as she listened to the thudding of my heart beating. I gently reached up to play with the ends of her hair, twisting them around my fingers, enamoured with the gorgeous shade and texture. I felt her body slowly become limp as she fell asleep and not long after I followed, a smile still on my face.

HOSEOK POV:

I slid out of my bed, gently untangling myself from Joonie's hold, freezing when he moaned slightly at the movement before settling back to sleep again. It was nearly around the time everyone woke up, but I wanted to check up on (Y/N) and see if she was sleeping. She needed lots of time to recuperate and hopefully by the time the bond had finalised, she'd be comfortable around us. I knew we needed to take baby steps and not hurry her into this but I couldn't wait for the moment when I could hug her without fear of her pushing us away, and also I was dying to smoosh those cheeks, but I doubt she'd let me near them, especially at the moment.

I quietly padded down the hallway, deciding to check on the others. Jiminie and Kookie lay entangled in each other, Jimin spooning Kookie from behind, somehow Kookie managing to look smaller and fit easily in Jiminie's arms, his hands clasped together at his navel. Yoongi hyung and Tae were also sleeping together, Tae's head buried into Yoongi hyung's neck, Yoongi hyung's arm wrapped securely around Tae's waist. (Y/N)'s room. I knocked lightly but there was no response. She must still be asleep, I thought whilst cracking the door open and easing myself into the room. I turned to the bed and froze.

When had Jin hyung decided to sleep in her room? Who'd decided? And why wasn't I aware of it? I edged closer slightly, heart melting at the sight.

At the centre of the bed was Jin hyung lying flat on his back but the cutest sight was that (Y/N) lay on top of him, legs tangled with his and hands lightly clutching at Jin hyung's t-shirt as she slept, one cheek squished against his chest. Jin hyung's arms were around her, holding her to him, the baggy clothes had slid up at some point, his fingers resting on the bare skin of her back, shorts slid up to show the creamy expanse of the back of her legs. I flushed, averting my eyes, I didn't want to disrespect her even if she wasn't aware of it. Her long wavy brown locks sprawled across her back, fanning out.

I moved forward, involuntarily feeling the pull to my two soulmates sleeping when my leg accidentally collided with the frame, a dull thud before I clenched my teeth- muffling the curses that were on the tip of my tongue. The thud caused (Y/N) to slightly grumble, and I watched with bated breath before she just wriggled slightly, burrowing tightly into Jin hyung.

The wriggling movement woke up Jin hyung who's eyes opened blearily taking in the sight of me standing like a frozen statue and realising that (Y/N) was on top of him. Rather than looking scared, he smiled at the sight of our soulmate in his arms, body relaxing as he tucked her head into the crook of his neck, sighing with satisfaction of the bond thrumming and the sense of content filling the room. The bond was bubbling with a joyous energy from Jin hyung and I knew it was a matter of time before our soulmates awoke, pulled to consciousness by Jin hyung's emotions.

Looking down at (Y/N) fitting so perfectly in Jin hyung's arms, I felt happy and I couldn't wait until the day came when we could all act towards her like that.

(I'M BACK! HONESTLY, THE ESSAY WAS A NIGHTMARE BUT I MANAGED TO FINISH IT YESTERDAY SO PHEW! I DON'T KNOW HOW IT'LL READ BUT I WANTED TO ADD SOME FLUFF, EVEN THOUGH IT CAME ABOUT THROUGH A NIGHTMARE BECAUSE WHEN (Y/N) AWAKENS WHO KNOWS HOW SHE'LL ACT. COLD AND DISTANT? OR PERHAPS SLIGHTLY THAWING TO THE ELDEST SOULMATE?? LET'S WAIT AND SEE. MAYBE WE'LL SEE WHAT THE NIGHTMARE WAS ABOUT IN THE NEXT CHAPTER, WHO KNOWS?? MAYBE WE'LL NEED SOME TLC FROM HER FRIENDS WHO ARE GONNA COME SWOOPING IN REGARDLESS THAT IT'S BTS' HOME COS OF THEIR WORRY AND LOVE FOR YOU?? HONESTLY, I WAS GOING TO WRITE ANOTHER ANGSTY CHAPTER BUT SOMEHOW AFTER TAE'S ACCIDENTAL USE OF HIS ABILITY, SHE REALISES SHE DOESN'T NEED TO BE SOULMATES TO BE A NICE PERSON, SHE IS HUMAN AND SHE CAN CARE ABOUT THEM...RIGHT? ANYWAYS...PLEASE CONTINUE TO COMMENT, THEY MAKE MY DAY! SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE WITH ANOTHER UPDATE!)

Power through the day, it's yours to take.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3