(Y/N) POV:

Night outfit:

The sound of a loud yell was what startled my eyes awake, body reflexively jerking back and away from the source of sound. The arms that were around me tightened fractionally, a burst of panic coming from the bond. It took me a few moments to realise that the rest of our soulmates were around us, but I didn't get why they were staring at us in alarm. Me in particular.

I take a quick glance noting that both Namjoon and Yoongi are still closely pressed into me, our bodies fitting together like puzzle pieces.

I sit up, sheets pooling at my waist as I stare at them groggily, confused about the shellshock expressions they're still sporting. As I move to push the hair off my face, my hand accidentally brushed against my cheek a bit roughly, the flare of pain it induced bringing back the realisation that I had a bruise on my face. I froze realising that they probably have caught sight of it, there's no way they haven't.

From behind me the bed shifts as Namjoon and Yoongi sit up, coming to sandwich me from either side and I feel the bare skin of their arms brushing against mine and it sets a trail of delicious tingles across my skin, momentarily distracting me from the inevitable chat that I know is looming over me like a stormy cloud. The skin to skin contact also reminds me of the clothes I'm wearing, more of the lack of fabric clothing my body but at this moment I know there's more pressing issues at mind but also that I don't feel the need to cower and hide from the eyes of my soulmates. There's something soft and intimate about the way I get to see them and how they appear first thing in the morning and the same for them, by covering up or dressing differently to how I truly am would feel like a deception on my behalf. Also, it's a step towards the right direction. A step to accepting everything about each other.

Behind me I can feel Yoongi's large hand press slightly onto the small of my back, a solid reminder and silent reassurance that he's with me, Namjoon's fingers gently trailing down my spine in a soft caress and that's all I need. I know I can do this.

All that confidence flies out the window under Jimin and Hoseok's characteristically bright faces now shadowed by the darkness that overtakes their expression, gazes stormy and mouths tightly pressed. Seokjin is sitting there mouth slightly agape but horror and shock blowing his eyes wide open. Jungkook looks distressed, lips turned downwards as he presses himself back onto Taehyung who's mouth is void of his usual boxy grin but instead looks serious.

Having the combined intensity of all their stares and the emotions that are rolling off them in thick waves is enough to become stifling, but I wait for one of them to break through the thick tension.

"What happened (Y/N)-ah?" Seokjin's voice softly asks, voice a stark contrast to the shout that had woken me.

The boys on either side of me sit in silence, waiting for me to speak, respecting whatever decision I make. But I'm not going to hide it, I don't need nor want to strain the bond by adding unnecessary secrets to our newly finalised connection.

"I had a run-in with Yuna yesterday." I say and watch as their expressions falter for a second before looks of barely disguised resentment and hatred overtake their eyes.

I worriedly watch Jungkook who's eyes have slightly widened in shock and is currently biting his lips in nervousness.

Last night, I had fallen asleep but the deep reverberations of Namjoon's voice rumbling through his chest, which was pressed firmly into my back, had roused me from sleep and it was in that phase of hovering between consciousness and dreams that I had overheard a small fraction of their conversation. I recalled the anger in Yoongi's tone, voice rising with volume and distress as he talked of how he wasn't going to let history repeat. That led me to learning that one of them had been hurt, Jungkook's response to her name gave off that he had been the poor soul. But the rest of the conversation from that night was a haze, small phrases and words slipping into my mind before I felt the warmth of a large hand cupping my cheek, the warmth providing me with the comfort I didn't know I needed before sleep tugged me under.

"Koo are you okay?" I said, hands reaching out instantly at the sight of a distressed soulmate, the nickname slipping unconsciously from my lips.

I felt the jolt of surprise in the bond, but I ignored as I remained focused on him watching as his body relaxed slightly under Taehyung's hold, the touch clearly relaxing him before his doe-eyes focused on mine.

He gave a soft small smile, but it was enough for me.

"I'm fine (Y/N)-ah, definitely fine. But I'd love a hug." He added on almost bashfully, a soft rosy flush high on his cheeks. But it wasn't often that Kookie asked for physical contact. He gave and took it easily but for him to ask...not hesitating a second longer, I pushed the sheets aside impatiently before barrelling forward to clasp Kookie into a tight hug. Kookie had moved forward too but I had swooped him into my arms as quickly as I could, hair falling down like a curtain around his face as I held him close. His arms came to wrap around me, holding me close to him. My legs had wrapped around him, locking together at the base of his back making me realise that Kookie had shifted slightly so I was sitting on his lap.

I breathed in the scent of something sweet and floral from his t-shirt, the soft fabric rubbing against my arms. I was so content in his lap, body going lax as the bond between us thrummed and shone brighter, mind, soul, and body all content and high on the euphoric feeling of being each other's emotional support.

I slowly unwrapped myself from around him, about to get off when his arms tightened and he simply pulled me to sit in the crook between his legs as the rest of them watched, eyes warm and tender.

The strong feeling I'd been sensing of unease had dissipated and I realised it had been Kookie's bond transmitting that feeling, now it had gone which meant that he was fine.

Seokjin leant forward as his hand carefully brushed over my cheek, wincing as though experiencing the pain first-hand.

"What did she say to you?" he asked and under the protective and caring nature I saw someone ready to defend, someone who was hardened against anyone who tried to hurt any of us.

"She's not happy that I've come into your lives. She believes I've 'stolen' you away from her." I said watching as they became increasingly annoyed.

"She doesn't think I'm worthy of being loved. That someone like me doesn't deserve happiness." I said, eyes fluttering as I slowly pressed myself back into Kookie, trying to reassure myself I wasn't alone. I wasn't abandoned.

But now that I'd decided to open up, I decided to add what I hadn't last night. What I didn't want to repeat a second time. Saying it aloud once had felt like razors shredding into my skin. Saying it twice would've been pouring acid into those wounds.

The energy that filled the room became cloying, sparking furiously, the calm before the storm. Except it felt like the room was buzzing angrily, the bond swamped with anger, rage but above it all hurt. And I couldn't distinguish whether it was mine or theirs.

"Why does she think that?" Taehyung spat, eyes furious, voice forcefully calm under the stressed syllables.

"Who'd want an ugly, orphan girl? she said." I breathed.

And as much as those words had hurt, did hurt, every day was a battle to move past them, a promise to become stronger. It had taken me time to get to where I was. And I wasn't going to let her ruin years of building myself back up again, of carefully piecing the broken fragments of myself together.

But it seemed like I wasn't the only one. all seven of them pressed closer, forming a bubble around me, encompassing me in a band of warmth.

"It wouldn't matter who you are and what you've been through. We'd want you for you." Hoseok spoke up.

"Besides beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Namjoon added.

"And for us, you're breath-taking." Taehyung added, words low and heavy.

Each of their words were a caress to my soul, healing and filling the cracks and crevices with something that was just them.

And I felt myself grow closer, drawn in further.

----

I stepped out the bathroom, showered and dressed to find Jimin sitting cross-legged leaning against the other wall. He looked up, beaming, eyes turning into crescents before he got to his feet, hand intertwining with my own before he was gently tugging me downstairs and into the kitchen.

I sat in the seat next to Kookie, who'd eagerly waved at me when we'd entered, laughing as he flashes his bunny smile at me. The seat next to me was snagged by Hoseok who had a mischievous look on his face. A glance at that teasing smirk had me nervously on edge for whatever he was planning or about to do.

"Kit!" he chirped before resting his head on my shoulder, watching as the rest bustled about, laughing when a sheepish Namjoon slid into the chair next to him, cheeks aflame from the scolding he'd just gotten from Seokjin for accidentally breaking the handle of a pan.

The sounds of the pans hitting the stove, the sizzling sound of food cooking, the coffee machine whirring in the corner, the clinks of cutlery and the buzzing sound of chatter. It all sounded like home.

And I realised that somewhere along the line I had accepted this as my home, home was defined by the people. And mine was with my soulmates.

I got up to help clear the table after breakfast, Jimin and Tae bickering as they washed dishes but then bursting into infectious giggles as they swiped each other with soapy suds. Next to me Jungkook smiled as he carried over the large stack of plates, cutting their laughing off abruptly by the sight of more dishes to wash. I wiped down the table, cleaning of it any stains or spillages or errant crumbs. Just as I'd finished cleaning, Jungkook returned, smiling at me but before we could leave the kitchen his hand shot out to wrap around my wrist, tugging me to a halt.

I turned confused.

His eyes were soft and earnest and shining with a deeper warmth as he looked at me.

"I promise I'll protect you from Yuna. I promise you won't be alone." He said and I knew he was promising me to always hold onto our bond. To never walk away. And then he walked forward, closing the small gap between us until we were standing legs bumping slightly before his hand came up to cup my jaw, tilting my face upwards, his head lowering until we were just a hair's breadth apart. He stopped, warm brown eyes gazing deep into my own, a silent permission. I leaned forward and gently brushed my lips against his, telling him it was okay.

The slight brush of lips lit a deep ember and then his lips were pressing firmer onto mine, hand coming up to cup the back of my head as he pulled me further into him. His lips slowly slid over mine, sucking on my bottom lip before nipping gently with his teeth, tongue darting out to lick away the hurt before slipping into my mouth, tongue brushing against my own, moving slowly and sensually as though we had all the time in the world. He tilted his head slightly deepening the kiss and I couldn't help the small whimper that left my throat. Our lips parted, his were shiny and swollen and those lips trailed down over my jaw, my head tilting back for him to press those lips to my neck, I felt him smile against my skin as I let out a breathy sigh. He placed a soft kiss to the crook between my shoulder and neck before straightening, pulling me into a hug, my head nestled into his firm chest.

I felt like I belonged, that I fit perfectly in his arms but what I hadn't realised was that the water had stopped running, the sound of chatter had ceased. When I turned my head slightly my eyes met two chests, I looked upwards to see an expression of joy on Jimin's face and one of disgruntlement on Taehyung's who was pouting, cross armed as he looked at us.

"No fair. I want to taste those lips too." He said but from the way Jungkook's arms tightened around me and the soft giggles that left his mouth, body shaking slightly, I couldn't fight the rush of fondness wash over me nor the slight embarrassment. One I could deal with. And so, I buried myself further into his embrace, eyes sliding away from them as I hid in Jungkook's arms, my own arms clutching at the soft fabric of his t-shirt at his back. I just couldn't bring myself to face them but neither could I stop the smile that tugged at my lips at the feeling of elation flooding the bond.

(THAT'S IT! WE GOT THE FIRST KISS OF THE SOULMATE BOND AND IT'S BEEN TAKEN BY NONE OTHER THAN OUR BUNNY JK! I HOPE THE KISS WASN'T BAD TO READ, THAT IT DIDN'T MAKE YOU CRINGE OR FLING WHATEVER DEVICE YOU'RE READING AWAY FROM YOU. *HIDING BEHIND A CURTAIN NOW* PLEASE LET ME KNOW HONESTLY HOW THIS CHAPTER WENT, WHEN I WROTE IT WHO KNEW THAT IT WOULD END UP JUST BEING FLUFFF, THAT'S ALL IT WAS. NEXT CHAPTER MAYBE SOME SNEAK PEEKS INTO THE OTHERS' THOUGHTS OF THE WHOLE FLUFF AND OUR JK'S VIEW ON THE KISS AND SOME PLOT PROGRESSION HOPEFULLY! PLEASE CONTINUE LEAVING YOUR THOUGHTS BY COMMENTING, CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR WHAT YOU ALL THOUGHT OF IT! SO, I SAW THE READS GO TO 12K WHICH WAS FANTASTIC BUT NOW IT'S 13K...YOU GUYS ARE AMAZING! AND I WILL NEVER STOP TELLING YOU ALL THAT! YOU GUYS ROCK!!)

Stay healthy, happy, and safe!

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3