Jeon Jungkook circled the camp, again and again, that night.

After stowing his little prisoner away, Hoseok did too--with all of his unit racing around in the night (Minghao aside) out to give the assist.

But it seemed the final suspect had slipped through their fingers as the dawn finally came, and their energy was finally exhausted.

One lucky pair had remained blissfully unaware of the night's chaos: Yoongi and Ava.

They lingered sleepily in each others' arms that morning groggy morning space, a tumble of pillows, sheets and skin.

Ava nuzzled into his solid, pale chest. "Mmmm."

She felt Yoongi's strong arms tighten comfortably around her, along with the comfort of his steadily rising and falling chest against her cheek.

He asked in a quiet, cozy rasp, "You awake?"

"Mmmm," was her only answer.

"You wanna get up?" he asked.

"Mm mmm."

He chuckled, and she could feel it quake into her skin. It was just so cozy.

"A'right, kitten. You just stay right here."

"M'kay."

And stay they did, for a while longer. When they finally stirred, Min Yoongi found a short but clear note stuck to the outside of his door. Soon after, he'd rushed Ava to where Shae was being monitored, then made himself busy with helping a very groggy Hoseok assess the damage of the night and see what immediate work was to be done.

--

Jungkook walked through the medical tent early in the morning that following day.

It didn't take long to find Vernon--asleep with a rainbow-colored stuffed animal tucked under his chin, his sleeping mouth open and drooling. To the right of Vernon's cot sat Woozi, slumped over with his arms crossed and eyes closed.

To the right of Vernon's cot sat Minghao, crossed legged, perfectly erect and eyes closed.

He didn't open them when Jungkook approached, but his sly voice called out, "I figured I'd see you tonight."

Jungkook gripped at the Geji blade on his left hip.

"There is no need for that thing in here. Use your head." The dark man's eyes opened after he spoke. "Besides. Tonight I haven't done anything wrong."

"Bullshit. I know what you're capable of. You're more a shadow than a man, after all."

Minghao smirked delicately. "And you're more a dog than a man, now. We all have our spiritual journeys we must suffer through to find purpose, no?"

Jungkook snarled, "Do you know who he was? The attacker?"

Minghao shook his head, still smiling.

"Then how did you know to be there? Because he's one of yours?"

Minghao gave a vague shrug. "Think what you want. It doesn't bother me."

Jungkook scowled. "If this traces back to you, I'm gonna find proof. I'm not some spring chicken anymore, I'm a Gwangju Ai now."

"An Ai-Gi."

"Excuse me?"

"If you're going to taunt me with titles, at least use the correct one."

Jungkook gave a huff and stormed his way from the hospital tent, the sting of Minghao's smile still burning in his mind's eye.

After he had left, Woozi's small eyes fell open in Minghao's direction. "Why do you always have to show off?"

"I know things. Is that a crime?"

"Discretion is far more important than protecting your ego, Ming."

Minghao sighed heavily. "Aye aye, captain."

"That's 'yes commander' to you."

"...Yes, commander."

"Better." Woozi snapped, though he was still frowning beneath his sheath of shaggy pink hair.

--

The next day, no official leads had been discovered and no measures taken against any further assailants.

Min Yoongi and a few other helpers in making some renovations and repairs to the storage bay. Security was about to turn up a notch.

While Yoongi was sizing up the span of the front wall, taking note of the bullet holes, Hoseok was standing like a mom surveying one of her kids, with a bandana pulling back his red hair, a grey apron around his torso and a disappointed look on his face.

"That's not necessary, Yoongi. Will you cut it out already?"

"I'm sorry, I can't hear you over the sound of my genius." Yoongi started screwing reinforced plating into the inside walls of the storage facility while Hoseok helped hold the plating into place. Between drilling, Hoseok offered up his fresh protests. Yoongi promptly ignored him.

"I get why you need to take things up a notch in here, but you don't need to touch my bunk cell, man. That's not necessary."

Yoongi sent a sly smile towards Jung Hoseok. He let the automatic screwdriver rev freely towards the ceiling in a few short blasts.

"How long has it been, Hobi?"

Hoseok looked lost at the question.

Yoongi gave a gravely laugh. "A little extra reinforcement and soundproofing for your pad? It's no sweat. I'm just doing you a favor since she obviously can't stay in here until we finish patching things up. Shae has to sleep somewhere safe. And if she's staying here with you, then...." Yoongi laughed darkly at the confused look on Hoseok's face. Until he got the hint.

"She's not staying with me. Not like that." Hoseok looked like he was going to punch his best friend in the mouth. "What kinda man do you take me for?"

"One who hasn't been laid in a long ass time."

Hoseok grabbed Yoongi by the collar of his shirt, but Yoongi just laughed and patted Hoseok's chest condescendingly.

"It's not a joke, man," Hoseok growled, shoving Yoongi away from him by the collar.

At which the pale man gave the screwdriver in his had a brief buzz again. "No, it's not. But hot damn. You haven't been with anyone since Dai Yu. Maybe you and Shae, together, would be good for you both."

"The hell is that supposed to mean?"

Yoongi shrugged. "I mean, who knows if Kim Namjoon is ever coming back, man. Maybe you need to help her down gently to soften the blow."

Hoseok and Yoongi locked eyes.

"You know something. Don't you?"

Yoongi shrugged. "Nothing is certain in this crazy life we lead. But I only mean there's a chance. This is Chimin we're talking about, nothing is ever a straight line with him. And if Joonie boy really doesn't come back... Shae's gonna need more than a shoulder to cry on."

Hoseok clenched his fists. "I wish you didn't look so goddamned smug about it."

"And I wish you'd stop acting like you're the villain here. So you like a girl? She probably likes you too. That's some simple enough math to me." Min Yoongi shrugged inside of his baggy grey sweatshirt and turned to start drilling reinforced plates to the wall once again.

--

Shae and Ava were huddled into the back of the central command post tent around a corner of the clunky strategy table lined with a map and small figurines. Figurines which they were completely ignoring, both of them cupping hot mugs to their chests and chattering away.

Taehyung was sitting in full body armor and gear near the entrance to the central command tent, and he was trying his hardest to tune the two of them out. Every now and then, his ears caught a word or two he didn't want to hear, and his ears burned... but he held his tongue.

Meanwhile, the girls were whispering excitedly to each other. Ava was in top narrative form and Shae was on the edge of her seat waiting to hear what happens next.

"But was it...?"

"Girl, it was."

"OH MY GOSH."

"I know. And THEN he—"

But then, a fourth person stepped quietly into the tent, bringing the two young women from their delectable reverie.

Woozi was now standing in the doorway, and he made a not so subtle coughing noise to get their attention. Taehyung sat a little straighter, but Woozi ignored him and stepped closer to the table where the ladies sat. His small dark eyes lingered on Ava's face a moment, but then he turned to address Shae in a stern little voice.

"After yesterday's events... I just wanted to come and thank you personally, Shae. For saving my friend's life. Vernon may not have made it without you."

To the ladies' surprise, Woozi gave a deep at-the-waist bow.

"I've lost too many friends already. I am thankful not to have lost another one."

He bowed again. Before Shae could come up with a worthy response to this stunning moment, Woozi quickly left the room.

Ava sassed, "Well damn. I didn't know a man could be so cute and haunting all at the same time, but... I've been known."

Shae nodded. "I've been known." Then after a moment of silence to take in the moment, the sass settled again. Shae turned to her best friend and smirked. "Yoongi better watch out or lil' Woozi's gonna give him a run for his money."

Ava scoff-laughed. "I mean, Woozi is a sweet, delish little bean. However. After last night with Suga, I find that highly unlikely."

"Oh GET ON with it then! I need to know what happened next."

"WELL...."