(Y/N) POV:

When Hobi stepped closer I prayed and prayed that the makeup I had applied to cover my bruise wasn't noticeable, the last thing I needed was for them to find out. It was my problem, so I would deal with it.

There wasn't much distance left between us when he stepped closer, I could feel the heat radiating off his body and make out the finest details of his face. The closeness made me feel flustered though, there was something about the way I could smell hints of his shower gel and something that was pure Hoseok that was enticing, it smelt uniquely like him.

"Kit?" his tongue rolling off the word so easily in his low tone.

I gulped.

"Yes...?" I answered but then the door was swung open and the back of my body was suddenly being backed into a taller, soft frame. Soo Jin.

"We're going to head off now (Y/N)-ah, unnie wants to say goodbye." She said whilst hugging me.

I turned to escape from the room, dashing down the stairs before I all but flung myself into Seo-Yeon unnie's awaiting arms.

She hugged me tightly and just as she was leaving shot me a look silently conveying that she was there for me.

I nodded back at her, watching her leave but I was more apprehensive of what on earth they had been discussing and that too for so long.

The moment the door closed I turned to face my soulmates, a question on my lips.

"No, we're not going to tell you, but I will tell you this, you have nothing to worry about." Yoongi said before I even got to ask.

I looked at him puzzled, was his ability mind-reading or was he just extremely perceptive?

He just gave me a small smile, one that suggested he knew way more than he was letting on, but it was also soft.

Resigning myself to finding out later I followed them all into the kitchen, grabbing an apron to help Yoongi and Jungkook in cooking dinner.

Somehow working with them didn't feel new or uncomfortable but rather it was fluid and in sync as if somehow, I had become attuned to their movements and acts. We weaved in and out of each other as we got out the pans to cook.

I saw Jungkook dither trying to remember where the big pot was and recalled having seen it when I had been cooking the last time I'd been here.

"Bottom left cupboard." I called whilst chopping the vegetables.

Jungkook returned bearing said pot and placed it onto the stove adding the pile I'd already cut into it, Yoongi adding the sauce he'd just finished making.

Between the three of us, cooking didn't take long at all and neither did it feel like it, it became a memory I stored away to cherish, remembering how Yoongi had brought the spoon to both Jungkook's and my mouth to taste, blowing on it gently before offering it.

Everyone else was already seated at the table, whilst eating I watched as each of them tended to each other's needs before their own, it was sweet. I had plated Namjoon's and Jimin's food before my own and just as Namjoon reached over to get some meat I saw his elbow collide with the edge of his full glass and it beginning to tilt before falling. Somehow, I managed to stop it before it made a huge spill over the table even though the rapid descent had seemed impossible to stop. I sighed with relief when Namjoon sat back down and I made sure to check that there wasn't anything he could accidentally knock over.

Everyone sat in the living room after dinner, each nursing a drink but before I'd even gotten to say that I didn't like the taste or reject, Seokjin had silently pressed a mug of hot chocolate into my hands instead. Huh? How did that happen? I was sure we'd never gotten to talk about our tastes before. Shrugging it off I headed to a corner seat like I habitually did, but it was occupied, deciding to make an effort I plopped myself down between Jimin and Namjoon, nestling back into the cushions.

The atmosphere was intimate, there was something about sitting around with your soulmates, no words needing to be spoken as we all drank that was oddly reassuring and natural.

But when time came to head off to sleep, I dithered wondering how to either get away without one of them coming in with me or having to explain the colourful bruise and small cuts I'd managed to hide under a layer of foundation.

"Let's go (Y/N)-ah." Yoongi appeared at my shoulder, smiling at me as he waited for me to head upstairs.

I hesitated when we got to the hallway. The others hadn't split off to sleep in different rooms, they all just stood there waiting for something.

"(Y/N)-ah, where would you like to sleep?" Hoseok offered, looking at me warmly.

All eyes turned to look at me, the undivided attention of all seven of my soulmates.

"We can all sleep in one room together." Jungkook offered, bursting into giggles as Taehyung relentlessly started tickling his sides.

The others looked hopeful, eager for me to say yes, to hear my response.

"Is-is it fine if I sleep alone?" I said, watching as they silently deflated.

"You could but..." whatever Seokjin was going to say was cut off by Namjoon.

"Of course, you can (Y/N)-ah, there's no pressure." Namjoon said warmly, dimples out in full force as he smiled at me.

I released a breath I hadn't realised I had even been holding, relief hitting me like a ton of bricks, at least I didn't have to explain.

"Goodnight then!" I chirped before bounding off to head into my room, grabbing a pair of silky pyjamas before rushing to wash up.

My hair hang over my shoulders, wet, as I entered my room, closing the door before setting my stuff done. But before I could get into bed there was a soft knock at the door and the sound of the door opening, in my haste to spin my face out of sight, I caught my hip on the side of the table- a sharp pain bursting across my right side leaving me winded whilst I clutched at it.

Whoever had opened the door cursed softly before rushing forward, arms drawing themselves around me as they turned me to face them.

"Are you okay? I didn't mean to scare you!" he rambled freezing when I raised my face.

I realised that he had seen the bruise on my face now evident because the make up had been washed away.

I braced myself for the questions.

Cool fingers came to gently trace my cheek, brushing over the bruise so carefully, I looked up to see Namjoon's fingers softly brushing my cheek, eyes both worried and confused.

"That wasn't there earlier." It wasn't a question; he was stating facts.

I couldn't bring myself to look him in the eyes.

The soft touch stopped, and his hand tilted my chin up, words soft and low.

"(Y/N), who did that to you?" his tone was calm but I could sense the suppressed anger rolling off him in waves.

"Yah Namjoon-ah, what's taking you so—" another voice said, startling me when Yoongi stopped and walked over, his eyes quickly scanned my face and turned cold.

His mouth was tightly clenched, and I could see the muscle in his jaw tick, he was furious,

"(Y/N), who the hell did that?" he hissed but each word was thick with rage.

I gulped feeling tense even though I knew the rage wasn't directed at me.

"It's nothing. I'm fine." I tried to brush off.

"It's not nothing and you're not fine, is that a cut on your cheek?!" Yoongi said, face looming closer as he gingerly traced a finger over the red mark.

Sandwiched between the two, the tension rolling off them was stifling.

"Come on (Y/N)-ah, just tell us." Namjoon said softly and between the soft and tough tactics both were using, my resolve was rapidly crumbling. I knew they were doing it because they cared.

But if I told them it would mean I would have to explain the situation and I didn't want them feeling bad nor was I eager for them to know what she had said.

"It was just someone who's unhappy that I'm with you." I whispered, watching as both of their eyes turned to steel, expressions stony.

"Who?" Yoongi said, a quiet but firm demand.

"Yuna." I let out.

I saw Namjoon's eyes try to place a face to the name, could practically hear the sifting of faces inside his head. And I saw the moment his eyes widened slightly with recognition.

"Her?! What does she want from you?" he asked.

I braved a smile onto my face.

"It's already been dealt with; I wasn't exactly going to sit back and do nothing." I reassured but the concern hadn't faded from their eyes.

Thankfully, the issue was dropped there and then but the guys realised that the reason I had wanted to sleep alone had been to hide the bruise, now that they knew there was no need for them to leave.

Instead between the two of them they gently led me to the bed, sandwiching me from either side as they both lay facing me.

Two arms came to wrap around my waist from behind.

"Is this okay?" Namjoon asked, breath brushing across the shell of my air, I shivered involuntarily.

"Yeah, it's okay." I said as I relaxed into his hold. Yoongi was also facing me, smiling as he looked at the two of us, his hand came out to quietly intertwine with my own, knees touching my own as he scooted closer.

And between the two of them, warmth radiating off both their bodies, I slowly fell into sleep, feeling a soft squeeze on my hand before I drifted away.

----

YOONGI POV:

I watched as (Y/N) fell asleep, waiting before looking at Namjoon who was also awake.

"Yuna, the girl who followed Kookie around for some time, that's her right?" I asked, anger seeping in when Namjoon nodded.

Why on earth was she adamant on interfering in our lives? It had been so hard for Kookie to get over that horrible experience, the days where he feared to go out because he knew she was waiting for him. it had taken years of Kookie opening up to us and Yuna to go and ruin the sense of safety he'd felt. I wasn't going to let history repeat itself. Never again.

"How do you think she knows hyung?" Namjoon asked as she nestled closer to (Y/N), now pressed against her firmly as he looked at me with worry for the small girl in his arms.

"She seems hellbent on ruining our lives. I hope I'm wrong, but I think she knows (Y/N) and I think there's more to what happened than what (Y/N) told us." I said, voicing my doubts.

I looked at her face smoothed out from the earlier worry she'd been carrying; she'd been more tense and on-edge today and I know we'd all noticed it. Now we knew why.

"What should we do hyung?" Joonie asked looking at first (Y/N) and then me, seeking reassurance.

"We make things clear once and for all that she does NOT get away with messing with our soulmates." I hissed, hand instinctively going out to cup (Y/N)'s face when she stirred slightly, smiling when I saw how in her sleep she nestled into my hand before going still again.

---

I stirred, waking up to the sounds of hushed voices, I groaned trying to shut them out but to no avail. I cracked open an eye, ready to shoot a glare at whoever had dared to wake me up but I was shocked to see the others perched on the bed, leaning forward and whispering.

"What is it?" I said, voice low and slightly gruff from sleep.

"Oh hyung, you're awake!" Tae beamed, as if he hadn't been the reason my sleep was disturbed.

"Look, look at (Y/N), she's so adorable!" Jimin squealed.

I turned to see (Y/N)'s smaller frame being tightly wrapped in Namjoon's arms and legs which had somehow tangled with hers during the night, my hand was still intertwined with hers but somehow the two had managed to drift closer to me.

At the sound of the boys' gushing, (Y/N) turned slightly in her sleep and all of a sudden, her bruised cheek was on display, blanket having shifted. In the morning light it looked worse, mottled blues and purple that spread across her cheek.

And then Jin hyung entered, bounding over before coming to an abrupt halt.

"WHAT ON EARTH HAPPENED?" he screeched, startling the other two awake, eyes flying open in alarm.

Looks like there was some explaining to do.

(THERE WE HAVE IT! I DON'T KNOW HOW THE CHAPTER WILL BE TO READ HONESTLY BUT HOPE IT'S ALL GOOD, THERE NEEDS TO BE THIS FILLER SORT OF BEFORE WE GET THINGS MOVING! LET'S SEE WHERE IT GOES FROM HERE, WILL YOONGI, NAMJOON AND (Y/N) TELL OR KEEP IT TO THEMSELVES?? WHO KNOWS? BUT THEN AGAIN...SOULMATES, YOU REALLY WANNA TRY HIDING AND CAN YOU ACTUALLY GET AWAY WITH IT?? 11K READS?? I AM B L O W N AWAY, IF YOU LOOK UP AND SEE A SMALL SPECK IN THE HORIZON- THAT'S ME, FLYING AWAY IN SHOCK. THANK YOU SOOO MUCH! ANY THOUGHTS, IDEAS AND COMMENTS, PLEASE FREELY SHARE! SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE!)

Stay happy, safe, and healthy!

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3