Jungkook and I sneak to the kitchen on our tippy toes.

I'm still trying not to laugh at his hair. The right half is bright pink while the other half remains dark brown, unfinished.

"The letter says it wants us to meet up on September 25th, which is tomorrow," Namjoon's voice drifts from the kitchen. "So if we leave tomorrow afternoon, we should arrive on time in the evening."

Then several voices talk all at once in discussion.

Namjoon perks up when he sees us entering the kitchen. "Ah, Y/n and Jungkook! We were just discussing how to get to the meeting on time."

Conversation is still going on in the background, but Jungkook's direct gaze on Namjoon expands the silence between the three of us. "Hyung," Jungkook says when I'm about to ask him why, "Why are we meeting up at all? They're sending us these letters, they know where we are. Why can't we just run away and stay safe?"

"We could set up a negotiation with them," Namjoon replies without missing a beat. "So we won't have to be on the run anymore."

I think about it for a moment.

Despite Namjoon's reasoning, I still agree with Jungkook. "Who's to say they'd keep up their end of the deal though?"

Silence.

"I don't know about you," I continue, "but I wouldn't put my bet on those government officials telling the truth all the time. If anything they'll make us feel safe and sound and then - BAM! - we're all dead. And then I'm taken to a lab somewhere deep underground where the scientist people start experimenting -"

"- and that's the last thing we want to happen," Jungkook stops me from going any further. "In other words, bad idea."

Namjoon's gaze travels from Jungkook to me. Something seems off.

When his gaze reaches me, I look down to avoid it.

He sighs. "Listen... I really don't want to get into this negotiation mess either. But if we don't take this chance, then we'll live a life full of running and hiding. It'll be a stalemate. And once they find a way to track us down faster, we're doomed, you understand?"

He doesn't wait for a response. "I think about you guys all the time. I stay up at night because I'm worried about us. I want to keep us safe. And let me tell you, I'll never be able to forgive myself if we pass by this opportunity -" he holds the letter up "- without taking advantage of it. So you're right, Y/n. There's only a small chance that this'll work out. But it's there. It exists. So why not give it a try?"

What a smart guy.

I peek over at Jungkook hoping he'd have a rebuttal, but he seems just as stunned as I am: eyes wide and staring off into space.

"Okay okay," I say, putting my hands up. "You win. We're leaving tomorrow. Why do they want us to meet up, anyway?"

Namjoon throws the mask at me. I catch it.

"They want you back in their hands. But we'll make sure they're full of regret before they even try."

~

One day of prep to go.

Namjoon stopped all training sessions so we can be well-rested if we ever end up fighting. Suga makes sure all the weapons are in place, J-Hope is fixing up the red truck, and Jin is taking inventory of our food.

Everyone's busy doing something.

It makes me feel on edge.

The younger three were told to pack their own things and do whatever they wanted, as long as they didn't distract the older members. I don't have many possessions so I'm left with nothing to do after a few minutes.

My thoughts are a tornado in my head.

I wish I could jot down my thoughts or doodle to take out all my anxiety and stress, but I left my notebook in the proctor's hands before walking into my elemental test.

Sitting still isn't usually a challenge, but it seems impossible now. I walk back and forth across the living room.

"Y/n look! I'm done!"

I look up to find a smiling Jungkook with pink hair - all finished. He flaps his arms in excitement and twirls around. "What do you think?"

"You look really cool," I say.

His eyes brighten. "Really?"

"Yeah," I nod. "It's not a super bright neon pink, and it's also not too dull. I like it."

"Aww, thanks!"

Then his smile falters a little. "You seem worried."

Shoot. Why couldn't I hide it better?

"Sorry... I just haven't felt this worried in a long time. With all this moving out stuff... "

"You're nervous," he says.

"Yeah. And I have nothing to distract me from my thoughts, since I left my notebook at school."

Jungkook stares at me and thinks for a long moment. Then he snaps his fingers. "I've got an idea. Have you ever been in the treehouse?"

"No, why?"

He smiles. "I have a feeling you'll love it."

~

Jungkook leads me down the brown tunnel once again.

"Doesn't this lead us to the training room?" I ask in confusion.

"You'll see."

He pushes on a side door when we get about halfway through the tunnel. I wasn't sure what to expect, but nothing could have prepared for the sight when I got out and looked up.

It's a tall, giant, magnificent thing resting on the branches of a strong tree. The whole thing is situated outside, out the back of the base. The forest is so dense out here, it's practically invisible to anyone more than a few feet away.

I'd forgotten that it's fall - and I'd forgotten what it's like to be outside.

Colorful leaves in endless shades of red, orange, and yellow are raining down on us. A slight breeze plays with my hair and it ignites the air elemental inside me. An earthy scent dominates the place.

No wonder Taehyung loves it out here.

"You'll love the inside even more," Jungkook runs to a ladder. "Up here!"

I climb up the rope ladder after Jungkook, feeling like a child at a playground again - full of simple joy. Here in the outside world, I feel free.

I feel happy.

At the top is a little door. Jungkook holds it open for me to enter first.

The first thing I notice when I enter is the little string of Christmas lights hanging along the walls. An endless mass of blankets and pillows, all in soft pastel colors, cover the floor. The inside is spacious.

One wall is filled with little polaroids, hung by clips on a string that wove its way across the interior. I recognize all the seven boys. Some photos were taken at amusement parks. Some featured only one or two of them at a time. Others included all seven boys together in... is that Suga's recording studio? I can even see the occasional birthday surprises hidden in the sea of photos.

"I got you up here partly to calm you down and introduce you to the treehouse," Jungkook says, settling into the blankets, "but I also wanted to show you something."

I look up at him curiously.

"Remember when I told you on the blue couch that day, that I was working on something?"

A smile lifts my lips. "Of course."

"Well I'm ready to show it to you now." Jungkook clasps his hands together. "I know you're sensitive to audio because your specialty is sound, so I made something while thinking of you. It's not perfect, but it'll probably never be perfect anyway and the longer I wait I'll just get more nervous and - yeah."

He's so cute.

"What is it?" My heart races.

"Close your eyes first."

I try not to let my imagination run too wild when I close them.

I breathe in, and out. In, and out.

But the anticipation builds up, and my hearing senses heighten to try and figure out what he could be doing -

"You are the sun that rose again in my life,
A reincarnation of my childhood dreams."

Oh my goodness his voice. My eyes open before I can stop them.

"I don't know what these emotions are.
Am I still dreaming?"

Jungkook's eyes are closed and his body sways to the music. I watch in fascination while he continues singing. The song wraps around me like a comfy blanket.

His musicality is perfect.

Like honey on a summer day. Like all the childhood memories I've always wished to have. Like the fluffy clouds in the sky.

Like hope.

"Take my hands now,
You are the cause of my Euphoria."

He reaches the chorus.

A shiver runs down my spine not from the cold breeze outside, but from the song itself. It's so... perfect.

I find myself swaying along with him and taking in all everything I can about this moment. The weather, the treehouse, the blankets around us, the Christmas lights, Jungkook's soft pink hair, the song that he sings with all his heart.

"Even if the sandy ocean floor splits into two,
Even if someone shakes up this world,
Never let go of my hand.
Please don't wake up from this dream."

I'll never let go, I think.

I don't know how long the song goes for. I don't know how much time has passed - it could have been several minutes, or maybe just a few seconds. But I know for sure that this is a moment in time I'll never forget.

"Close the door now...
When I'm with you I'm in utopia."

The song ends. But something still hangs in the air between us.

Jungkook opens his eyes and smiles.

I stare back.

"... did you like it?" he whispers. Breaking the silence.

I'm at a loss for words. Not wanting to make a fool of myself by trying to speak, I just nod.

"On a scale of 1 to 10," he says, trying to get more out of me, "how would you rate it?"

I shake my head. "Can't."

"Why?"

"It's so - I just... how -" I stutter. "It's - it's perfect. I can't describe it. I can't even figure out what emotions I'm feeling right now, like what just happened? That was out of this world."

He laughs, a melody to my ears.

"Well I'm glad you liked it," he says. "Honestly I'm glad it's over now. Did you know how nervous I was? My hands were shaking so bad I had to hold them together so you wouldn't notice!"

I giggle at his confession, and the wind outside blows in joy with us. All the anxiety I had while pacing in the living room is at bay now. Barely there.

"That did wonders for me," I say. "Thank you."

Jungkook nods. "Always."

Always.

We spend the rest of the day in that treehouse together. And somehow, even though we're leaving in a day to meet our greatest enemies, I find myself at peace.

~

A/N: Pink hair Jungkooo ~