YOONGI POV:

I lay back on (Y/N)'s bed, slipping her headphones over my ears as I watched her grab her tablet, I put the volume on the lowest, but I kept myself alert. I wasn't going to go telling her that I pretended to sleep or be listening to music when really, I was just observing silently. Her headphones were good though, they were blocking out all external sounds and if my ability hadn't enabled me to be able to pick up on any frequency then I wouldn't be able to detect changes in (Y/N).

I watched through narrowed eyes as she curled up in the corner of the room, legs drawing upwards as the tablet balanced on them and the pen which flew across the screen with a poised grace as she did...something. From the angle she was sitting at I couldn't see what she was doing but clearly, she had intentionally chosen to do so, I wasn't going to intrude on her privacy. She was free to do what she wanted.

Even though her room was lulling me into a sense of comfort, I fought against the pull of sleep choosing to just watch her. I didn't realise small mannerisms could be so entrancing until I met my soulmates. I watched as she occasionally tilted her head in confusion or when she was mentally questioning something, the nose scrunch when she wasn't happy with what she was doing and then the fast paced shake of her hand wrapped around the pen as she erased it. She bit her lip when she was deep in focus, a small furrow between her brows. The way one hand rested lightly on the edge of her neck when she was thinking, fingers drumming lightly onto her skin.

But her eyes. They were so expressive. They went through a barrage of emotions. Anger. Hurt. Confusion. Sorrow. Although I couldn't tell why she was feeling them I had no doubt that the answer lay in the tablet. The pull of sleep that had been luring me in quickly began to dissipate when her heartbeat suddenly rocketed- a fast onslaught of thudding echoing in my ears and her breathing became harsher, I could even hear the creaking of the pen as her grip on it grew tighter.

I bolted upwards forgetting I was so cocooned in her blankets that I ended up stumbling and crashing onto the floor in my haste to get to her. (Y/N)'s heartbeat suddenly stopped its violent thumping before it became panicked in its erratic beating. My senses were so keyed into her every response that I heard the sharp inhale of breath before she bolted to her feet, each soft tread echoing loudly in my ears before she sank down in front of me.

Her hands fluttered before gently almost fearfully reaching over to cup me cheeks. The moment her soft, small hands cupped my face all rational thought flew out my head. I couldn't even remember what I had been hurrying about when all I could focus on was the euphoric feeling of warmth radiating from where her skin touched mine. Tingles erupting across my skin, a dizzying sensation of drowning in the feeling.

"Are you okay Yoongi?" she said, lips parting as she stared at me in concern.

Even though I could each syllable practically screaming with distress I couldn't help but notice she called me Yoongi. She had dropped the formalities. I couldn't stop the smile that stretched across my lips as I looked up at her.

Her face twisted in worry, eyes searching for something before she was helping me up, steering me to sit down on the bed. Her hands had withdrawn and so the buzzing feeling had lessened, I snapped out the haze. I felt a dull throbbing in my knee, and I couldn't even imagine how that had happened considering the floors were lined with plush carpet.

Her hands dithered before she spoke up.

"Yoongi if you don't mind, may I help with that?" she offered gesturing to my knee.

She was a healer? I nodded.

"Uh yeah" I said, voice a bit gruff.

Her fingers settled lightly on my knee and she closed her eyes momentarily before a rush of energy flooded my knee, a soft cool sensation before the dull throb that hadn't been too painful to begin with disappeared.

She removed her fingers and smiled at me tentatively.

And then it hit me.

"(Y/N)-ah, why did your heart suddenly start beating too quickly? Is it the lingering effects of the Soul Paralysis? Are you hurt? Did you need me to—" I rambled before she cupped my hands squeezing them briefly before letting go.

A flash of hurt before it was smoothed out.

"I'm fine." She reassured me but whilst I knew she was talking about her physical health; I was concerned about her mental well-being. I'm fine weren't reassuring words, more often than not they were a disguised cry for help.

I swore to myself that I would help her, whatever it took, there was no way I was going to let her go through any of this alone. None of us were.

(Y/N) POV:

"I'm fine." I reassured Yoongi whilst trying to keep my emotions at bay. Yoongi could sense frequency changes it seemed, my own heart had betrayed me and now Yoongi knew something was up.

The next episode had just been challenging to create, it brought up such a deep sense of resentment and hatred and bitterness, but it seemed it sold well. People loved a story where they could pity and love the main character. Well that was what they were going to get.

I still didn't realise why Dae Hyeon was such a loved character, why was it that a girl, a young girl of 8 could go through trauma, see her world get torn apart and even then, still be wanted? Didn't that set her up for a failed life, a life of expectations of disappointment, distrust, and unhappiness?

"How long have you known that guy?" Yoongi asked and it took me a moment to realise he meant Myungsoo oppa, snapping me out of my internal spiel.

"Myungsoo oppa? Oh, we go waaay back." I said, confused at the disgruntled expression that set on his face.

"How close are you?" he asked, inquisitive look in his eyes as he edged closer, head tilting downwards to look at me.

"Extremely close?" I said but it sounded more like a question, the closeness of his face throwing me off guard as he brought it closer. His lips twisted, eyes glinting.

"This close?" he asked, face coming closer as he slid off the bed.

I felt my face begin to warm. What was Yoongi doing?

"Ummm closer." And I didn't know whether I was answering his question or whether I was just wording what I felt my soul and body was urging me to do. To get closer.

Just as he edged closer, my brain reacted before my body could.

"He knows me in and out." I blurted, before mentally kicking myself for the insinuation that gave.

Yoongi's face took on a dangerous expression.

"I mean, what I wanted to say was, he knows everything about me." I rambled, body finally cooperating with my mind as I scrambled backwards slightly, desperate to create a distance between us that wouldn't cause my body to melt.

He leaned forwards and I could feel the heat radiating off his body as it hovered over mine which was propped up by my hands.

I couldn't look away no matter how much I wanted to, snap out of it I pleaded myself.

And then.

"(Y/N)?" a voice called out.

We both spun to look at the source of the voice, my mouth going slack in surprise.

Hoseok.

HOBI POV:

The energy levels were going up and down erratically upstairs and I knew since only Yoongi hyung and (Y/N) were up there that it was from them. But this was worrying, it kept fluctuating. So I got up to go check and make sure they were alright.

The closer I got the door; I could make out slight murmurs of voices. That was good. At least they weren't sitting in silence on opposite ends of the room. That sounded like progress.

I felt a smile stretch across my face as I swung open the door.

"(Y/N)?" and I watch as their heads spin to face me, shock on both of theirs before (Y/N)'s hands give out in shock and she tumbles backwards, Yoongi hyung's face whipping back to stare at her in concern, arms reaching out to draw her back up.

Progress indeed. Talk about sitting on opposite ends, they were anything but. Their bodies had been so close, the room was charged with a nervous energy, an anticipation which zinged around the room. It was the energy of two soulmates. And I had...ruined the moment?

Aish....I knew Yoongi hyung was going to kill me for this.

But best to live in the moment.

I turned my attention back to the flustered girl, watching as her marshmallow cheeks turned rosy.

Aigoo.... the things this girl did to our hearts, I didn't know how long I'd be able to fight the urge to touch her.

"Umm...Yoongi hyung, it's your turn to cook." I spouted before beckoning (Y/N) over to leave the room, she got up, eyes darting to the corner where her tablet was before she grabbed it and walked over, clutching it to her chest.

I smiled down at her, gesturing with my arm for her to go first and then immediately following her before hyung could leave the room. I heard him mumbling behind me, but I couldn't help but smile. It was the sound of home.

----

JIN POV:

"Hyungs it's out!" an excitable Kookie shouted, drawing all of our eyes to his bouncing figure on the middle of the couch.

"The next episode!" Tae added, throwing an arm around a wriggling Kookie as he snuggled close, pressing a kiss to his head.

The rest of us burst into movement, eagerly crowding around the large tablet he had out, moving in impatience for all of us to gather around.

(Y/N) sat in the corner of the couch, picking up her phone which began ringing.

We all gathered around Kookie, waiting for her to join us, her voice filtering through the silence.

"Hello E... unnie. How are you? I don't know what you mean.... yes, I'll say that more often...." Her voice rang out both soft and strong.

She quickly ended the call, glaring at the phone as if it were offending her somehow before shoving it deep into her pockets.

Jiminie reached a handout, making grabby motions and she slowly walked over but sat off to the side, not including herself in the large intertwined pile we had unconsciously formed.

I didn't want her to feel bad but clearly neither did Tae because he withdrew himself immediately, plopping down next to her, knees touching as he beamed at her. I could feel the surprise and slight tinge of jealousy in the bond, Tae LOVED cuddles and for him to willingly withdraw AND be able to sit next to (Y/N) without her flinching...it made me wonder how he had gotten her so comfortable around him. We needed to talk soon; discuss how he'd managed to do so. And by the look on everyone's faces, we were ALL ready for that chat.

As we eagerly read the episode, the amount of nerves and anxiety in the room seemed to rise; a common concern for Dae Hyeon's fate, surprisingly it seemed as though (Y/N) was a fan too, her anxiety was peaking too as she read the episode.

Dae Hyeon really represented the sad, bitter hidden truth about the ugly side to soulmates.

----

I sat numb in shock as people filtered in and out of the house, paramedics coming to take the two lifeless bodies away, taking my dad away from me. I felt panic rise inside me, body scrambling out of its frozen position to clutch desperately at my dad's hand, his large palm always so warm and comforting now cold to the touch.

"Dad look at me." I begged, beseeching the blank eyes which stared at something I couldn't see.

I felt the pressure in my build, threatening to crest and break, but I couldn't cry. I had to be strong, if I closed my eyes, who knew if I'd be able to see my dad again after they opened. What if they took him away from me?

I pressed myself closer, curling desperately towards him hoping for some comfort, feeling only a thick wetness coating my skin and seeping through my clothes. I felt a hand come to rest on my shoulder, someone trying to take me away. I struggled as I saw my dad's body be lifted up and carried away from me, I screamed begging for them to let me see him, for them to let me go with him but they wouldn't listen. A person knelt down next to me, trying to distract me, draw my attention back to them. My skin felt sticky and I looked down to see my hands and skin covered in blood, thick and dark as it stained me.

I whimpered, trying to get myself clean as I furiously scratched at my skin trying to claw the colour off. The hands were back, words in my ear as I heard them say to let go, I was safe, I was going to be okay. But I could also sense the gentle thrum of power convincing me to listen, to comply.

No, no more. No more mind games. I didn't realise I was uttering them, body shaking as I shook free of the hands which withdrew quickly.

I backed myself away, even though the voices were kind, so different. How could I trust them? And then suddenly they couldn't come near me, a shield thrown out protecting me from them, an impenetrable bubble that surrounded me, keeping me safe.

If only I could have kept my parents safe, what worth were my abilities if I couldn't help or save the ones I loved? What use was I?

----

I couldn't stop the tears that slipped out my eyes before I hastily wiped them away, the boys were no better, all of them pressing into each other as they sought comfort from each other. I turned to see Tae looking distressed and next to him (Y/N). She was sitting there blankly, body a blank canvas, a statue as she just...stared.

She suddenly snapped out of whatever trance she was in, self-depreciating smile before she turned to reassure Tae, muttering something that seemed to do the trick because Tae shook his head before turning his attention to her.

I groaned, head dropping in relief. Had she even read the story, who knew? But I was just glad that she hadn't seemed to have gone into a meltdown like the other maknaes were close to doing.

----

(Y/N) POV:

The episode had brought it all back. The date was coming. And I knew I wasn't ready for it. Never had, never would be.

(TA DA! HONESTLY, I DON'T KNOW IF MY WRITING IS GETTING BETTER, IS AT A STANDSTILL OR I'M FULL ON WAFFLING COS WHO KNOWS?? I KNOW WHERE I'M TAKING IT, I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW MANY CHAPTERS IT'LL TAKE ME TO GET THERE, I GUESS! HOW WAS IT? LET ME KNOW AS USUAL, YOUR COMMENTS ARE THE REASON I OBSESSIVELY CHECK JUST SO I CAN REPLY BECAUSE I LOVE SEEING AND HEARING WHAT YOU THINK AND YOUR IDEAS AND THOUGHTS ABOUT WHERE IT'LL GO FROM HERE! UMMM...I'LL JUST LET YOU GUYS GO ON ALREADY. FINGERS CROSSED FOR SOME MORE FLUFF SOON BECAUSE I NEED HER BONDING PRONTO WITH ALL OF THEM. 5K READS?? NUMBERS ARE JUST JUMPING DAY BY DAY AND THANK YOU SO SO MUCH FOR ALL THIS SUPPORT! THE MANAGER FIC HAS NOW REACHED 41K!! YOU GUYS ARE INSANE AND WONDERFUL AND I COULDN'T WANT ANYTHING MORE!)

Stay smiling. Be happy, healthy, and safe!

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3