Yoongi and Hoseok were both sitting at the same cafeteria table, both munching away at their dinners in silence. Their end of the table was uncrowded and undisturbed, while other parts of the cafeteria were crowded with elbows-into-elbows and raucous voices.

Hoseok's eyes were narrowed, his brain ticking through the laundry list of things that he'd wanted to be sure were prepared before their partner envoy landed in camp. He was convinced that he was missing something.

Yoongi's small dark eyes kept staring at his plate but not really seeing the steaming rice and curry in front of him. He was still worrying about the state of Joon, about The Artifact feeling so far out of their grasp, and about whether or not it was time to finally tell Hoseok what was going on.

They continued their meal in thoughtful silence.

Hoseok's attention perked up as he saw the slender, boyish young Vernon bounce into the cafeteria with a bright smile on his face. He wasn't alone. Kim Taehyung's head of crimpled silver hair bounced along behind him, and both young men walked through the cafeteria line and prepared two trays piled high with food, making four trays of food between them.

Vernon said something in a cracking voice, and Taehyung elbowed the young man's arm as he laughed.

The sight made Hoseok smile.

"What are you lookin' at?" Yoongi asked gruffly. "Spot your girlfriend?"

Hoseok rolled his eyes. "You really don't wanna let it go, do you?"

"The fact that she slept in your room last night? And that she'll do the same tonight?" Yoongi shoved an extra large spoonful of nutty curry into his mouth and said through his muffled mouthful, "Why would I let that go? It's poetry. Beautiful and tragic." He munched at his bite and swallowed.

"Beautiful and tragic? How's that?" Hoseok shifted his food around on his plate without taking another bite.

"Because this is a prime opportunity to get a lil' closer. And I don't just mean physically, so don't give me that look."

Hoseok continued giving Yoongi said critical look.

Yoongi went on, "Anyway, it's a prime opportunity, but you're gonna be all noble diplomat about it and treat it like some kinda civic duty instead of being chill, I just know it."

"Who says I can't be chill? So Shae is gonna sleep in my bunk. It's not like she hasn't slept in my bed before, and I was chill the first time."

Yoongi gave a raspy laugh. "You say that so casually, it's amazing. Truly."

Hoseok's cheeks flushed red. "I ONLY MEANT. Back on the ship, before we got here..."

"No, no. You've already said it. You can't take it back. How casual you are, about having a woman in your bed. I'm shocked." Yoongi was enjoying making his best friend squirm.

"Shae's not just some woman. And she's not even mine like that, God, I wish you'd just--" Hoseok shoved away from the table in anger and started to storm straight out of the cafeteria, but Yoongi was still laughing.

The pale, thoughtful tech specialist thought to himself, It's like everyone but Hobi and Shae have the eyes to see what the two of them feel for each other. And it's so obvious... that watching Hoseok get all worked up about it... damn, if it ain't just the best comedy I've seen in ages.

--

Vernon and Taehyung hurried with their extra trays of food back to the inventory barracks. It was still patchy from all the construction work that was being done there, the reinforcements still incomplete, but the lot of them didn't care. Stools were crowded around the front counter space.

And there sat Jungkook, Shae and Ava. Kookie and Jungkook were clearly arguing about nothing, and Shae was enjoying laughing at their ridiculousness. But when Vernon and Taehyung walked in touting food, it was like they were welcoming the arrival of kings.

"Indian food! OMG, this is what I LIVE for!" Ava was diving into the tray of food that Vernon sat in front of her with reckless abandon.

Jungkook took the extra tray that Taehyung offered with a grateful smile, as Tae settled into the stool next to his and tucked into his own food.

Vernon sat his last tray in front of Shae quietly, smiling shyly at her as he did so.

She asked, "Did you already eat, Vernon? Why don't you join us?"

He answered shyly, "No, I couldn't. I mean..."

"Nonesnese," Taehyung interjected. "As your unit leader, I say it's only right. Go make yourself a tray--and maybe snag a few extra desserts, would yah?"

Vernon nodded stiffly. "A-alright, sir." Then he was off again.

As he ran back towards the cafeteria, he turned a corner too quickly... and ran right into Jung Hoseok.

"GHA! So sorry, sir!" Vernon stepped backwards, clicked his heels together, and gave a low at-the-waist bow. "I should have been watching where I was going."

Hoseok smiled empathetically. "No. You're alright, I was lost in my own head. But where are you off to in such a hurry?"

"Oh?" Vernon's boyish face flushed a little under his messy dirty blonde hair. "Just off to make myself a tray."

"Didn't I just see you in the cafeteria?"

He nodded. "Yeah, that wasn't for me. That was for Ava and Shae. They just got back from being in the jungle! I wanna hurry, they were gonna tell me about their adventures today." Vernon bowed low again. "If you'll excuse me, sir."

"Sure." Hoseok nodded.

And Vernon was off at a jog again.

Curiosity piqued, Jung Hoseok knew where he could find that dynamic quad of characters. He made his way to the inventory barracks.

When he walked through the sliding metal door, it was to the warm sound of laughter. Then the voice of Jeon Jungkook cracked in welcome, "Aye, if it isn't our roudy commander here to scold us for idleness!"

Hoseok waved a hand dismissively as he walked up to them. "No such thing." Then he let his hand fall in heavy welcome on Jungkook's shoulder. "Well aren't you just a happy little picture, the lot of you."

Ava offered, "Why don't you have a seat and join us, Hobi? There's plenty of room. And Vernon went for some desserts, so there'll be some extra snacks soon."

Ava gestured at the chair next to Jungkook, and across from Shae. Hoseok sat down, feeling a little awkward when he did so. He avoided eye contact with Shae.

But Jungkook picked up the conversation right where it had been left before Hoseok entered. The young man said through his gleaming smile, "I still don't think that you could take me in a fair fight, Ava. I mean you're good. You've improved so much, it's truly amazing."

Taehyung interrupted, "But even I struggle to beat Kookie in a sparring match. And if I struggle, then Ava, you'll just--"

"You guys are just scared of having your asses kicked by a girl, aren't you?"

Kookie rolled his eyes. Tae shook his head as he sighed. Shae, meanwhile, giggled brightly and the sound drew Hoseok's eyes.

The two of them looked at each other, smiling quietly, neither speaking. Hoseok and Shae felt a warmth of shared love they both felt for the friends in their midst pass between them, warm and pure.

Just as the argument started to deepen, as did the laughter around it, the door to the inventory barracks opened again. And through it stepped Vernon with his plate piled high with curry, rice, and pastry delights.

And then, just behind him, in stepped Min Yoongi. Yoongi nodded his greeting, not saying much. The sight of him, and their morning's fight unresolved made Ava sit a little straighter on her stool--especially when Yoongi came to sit right next to her.

Vernon scooted up to the very end of the table and offered quietly, "If you'd like, I have a great card game we could play with this many people. Whenever everyone's finished eating."

"Vern, this is why you're first-rate," Taehyung said, slapping the young man on the arm and making him blush.

The eating and the friendly chatter went on, with Shae and Hoseok entering into the fray here and there. But Yoongi remained very quiet.

Shae looked down and noticed, however, that Yoongi and Ava and intertwined their hands beneath the table and the view of the others. Their quietly folded hands rested on Ava's thigh. Shae looked up to see that Yoongi looked quite peaceful, as he watched Ava bantering raucously with the others. It made her smile warmly all over again.

And Hoseok himself smiled warmly all over again at the sight of her loving glow, and how it spread from her cheeks, into her eyes, and into the atmosphere around her: warm with the purest kind of love.

And to Jung Hoseok, it was just so beautiful.

--

"Ok, but I gotta sidetrack this game for a minute," Hoseok started.

Taehyung and Vernon both glared over the tops of their cards. They were the only two still in the game at this point.

Jungkook shouldered his arm into Hoseok's. "Go on."

"So, why were you guys in the far side of the jungle today? You were gonna say, but then you never did."

Taehyung, Jungkook, Ava and Shae exchanged looks.

Ava started, "Well, yah see..."

Shae added, "Perhaps maybe later we can..."

Taehyung grumbled, "And I was enjoying this game so much..."

And Jeon Jungkook just sighed heavily.

Hoseok chuckled, "I'm almost sorry I asked."

Yoongi's voice, however, cut sharply through the lighthearted atmosphere. "What the hell were you doing there?"

Taehyung didn't want to look at Yoongi so he stared at his cards.

Ava had let go of his hand and seemed to be very fixated on a strand of her hair.

Jungkook locked eyes with Yoongi's dark glare and held his gaze quietly.

Vernon twiddled his thumbs at the end of the table, looking very uncomfortable.

And Jung Hoseok found himself looking quizzically at Shae's thoughtful face.

It was Shae who finally spoke: "Some strange things have happened in this camp. Particularly to Kookie and Tae. And perhaps now is the time we all come clean about it."

And so they all did: Tae and Kookie, Ava and Shae.

The longer they talked, and the more Min Yoongi wished that young Vernon wasn't in the room.

When they finished sharing their accounts of the crazy dark-spirit happenings that had surrounded their time at camp, it was young Vernon who spoke up first and broke the thoughtful silence.

The young man's voice cracked a bit as he said, "You should--" But when Yoongi sent him a look as deadly as the plague, Vernon lost his words and fell silent. He swallowed.

Yoongi, instead, spoke up, "Well, on the bright side, one thing's for certain."

"What's that?" Jungkook asked.

Yoongi went on, "Now that Shae's claimed this land for herself, well, there's literally no safer place that any of us could be. So that's good then."

Ava's eyes went wide as she stared at Yoongi's side profile. "I thought you'd be pissed. And yet... you're being so chill about this. What the hell, Min Yoongi?"

He looked at her. His eyes were cold. "Oh, I am. I just don't want to look like a total ass in front of my friends, when I can just look like a total ass later when it's just you and me."

Everyone in the room squirmed in discomfort.

Hoseok started, "Yoongs, don't--"

"No. Don't even start." Min Yoongi pushed himself up from his chair, gave a quiet nod, and then left the barracks in tense silence.

Once the door closed, Shae turned to look at Ava. "Are you gonna...?"

"Nope." Ava reached for her glass and then took a long, slow drink as the glass clanked around inside of it. "He can be pissed. Weird as it is, we did a good thing, and I'm not gonna feel bad just because he's mad and apologize about it." She went to swallow more of her drink.

"Ava, I think he's mad that you go hurt. Not that you did a good thing." Shae spoke in care filled tones, but she knew that Ava was only half-listening.

"But you were there. You guys had my back. This is the power of friendship, goddammit, and he just needs to get over himself."

"You sure you're not still just mad about whatever he said to you this morning?" Shae asked quietly. She could feel the tension of everyone else in the room. All the boys felt uncomfortable hearing all of this, but Shae didn't want to skirt around the issue.

"So what if I am?" Ava sat her glass heavily down again. "Let's play another round. Tae, deal me in."

"Me too," Vernon said, eager to have a change in conversation in the room.

"And me," Jungkook said, though he was eyeing Shae now and his eyes spoke to her, I'm sorry, friend.

Her own eyes spoke back to him, Me too.

Hoseok stood up. "I think I'm going to turn in for the night." He lingered where he stood a moment, and Shae realized he was waiting to ask her something. She could see him struggling for the words.

So she simply stood up, too. "And me. Today's been exciting, but I think I need some sleep. Have fun, guys."

And so Hoseok led the way, with Shae on his heels, out of the storage barracks.

When the door closed shut behind them, Kim Taehyung asked, his voice smooth and mysterious,  "Guys. Has anyone else noticed how Hoseok and Shae..."

In unison, Vernon, Jungkook and Ava all answered, "YES."

Tae's mouth curled together thoughtfully and he nodded a few times. He said, "They'd make some beautiful babies, I think."

Vernon made a choking noise.

Jungkook snorted through his nose.

Ava scoffed, "Excuse me?"

Taehyung looked at each of them in turn and casually shrugged. "Just an observation. Now, let's play!"