Namjoon could do nothing but look helplessly at Jungkook as the gun pressed against Ruby's temple. Jungkook stood frozen, his eyes trained on the screen, feeling as if something was suffocating him. Jimin stood next to him, his own eyes anguished with pain. Namjoon felt Seokjin interlace his fingers with him, giving it a light squeeze. He looked scared, Namjoon could see it. Hoseok watched the ordeal silently, expression indifferent.

"This is what happens to traitors of the Republic."

"NO!" Jungkook screamed, looking at Ruby's body crumpling to the pavement."Aaliyah!"

Namjoon watched as Jungkook fell to the floor, Jimin immediately falling with him. He watched as Jimin wrapped his arms around Jungkook's sobbing frame, his own eyes streaming with tears. All-around them people were crying. It made sense. Ruby played an important part in their lives. She had been here, helping them, nurturing them, leading them in place of Namjoon and Seokjin's absence.

Now she's gone. Gone for good this time.

Jungkook's expression was a haunted one. He was shaking all over as the tears continued to fall. It was all over again. He had witnessed his parent's death. Now here he was, witnessing his sister's death. He had just gotten her back. They had fixed their broken relationship. He was just getting used to having someone around again, only for it to be taken by the same man that had taken away his parents.

Kim Taehyung.

He couldn't understand Taehyung's logic. He could probably understand killing his parents, but his Perfect Match? There had been many instances where Jungkook would see Taehyung crying because of Aaliyah. He knew Taehyung cared more about Aaliyah than anyone in the world, even himself. So how could Taehyung easily order her death? He should know the consequences of losing his Perfect Match. Taehyung would lose all his emotions, his consciousness, everything. Yet, he had still ordered the trigger to be pulled.

"It will be okay Jungkook." Namjoon kneeled in front of him. Seokjin did the same thing, his face streaked with tears. Hoseok was the only one who hadn't cried, but it was reasonable. Hoseok was detached from his emotions. He couldn't feel the pain he would feel once Yoongi woke up and their mark was activated once more.

"I just got her back." Jungkook whispered."I had her with me. Now she's dead. Why does Taehyung have to kill my family? He killed my parents and now he killed the only remaining direct family I had. This isn't fair."

"We'll make him pay." Hoseok reassured Jungkook."We aren't letting this slide. Ruby was one of the most important people here. Her death is affecting everyone here. And when Yoongi wakes up, it'll hurt him too. We're going to make him pay. I assure you."

"We loved her. She was part of our family, Jungkook." Jimin said soothingly, holding him tighter."We won't forget her."

They all surrounded Jungkook, locking each other in a tight embrace, separating themselves from the world.

⌛

Yoongi walked aimlessly on the seemingly endless plain. He didn't know why he was here. One minute, everything was dark. Now, there was light everywhere, making him wince at the intensity of it. He could hear the birds chirping around him, the breeze swaying the wildflowers. Looking down, he realized he was dressed in all white, matching the color his hair currently had. He noticed a figure standing far away from him, one that was sitting down and looking plainly at the horizons. He edged closer to the figure, taking a seat next to her. Her brown hair was flowing with the wind and as he sat down she smiled at him, Yoongi's eyes widening in recognition.

"Ruby."

She smiled at him once more. She was also wearing a white dress, although hers was covered with flowers. She had a corona on her head, and she looked content.

"I'm glad I get to see you one last time," she said, embracing Yoongi tightly. He returned the embrace, confusion laced in his expression. She pulled away, noticing his expression."I died."

"You what?" Yoongi almost hollered, looking at her with widened eyes."How?"

"Shot." she stated simply."I betrayed him again. I tried to kill him. I failed. It was a mistake on my part. Things were going well with him. Our marks were going back to normal."

"You fell for him didn't you?" Yoongi asked, his suspicions confirming at her smile."Why didn't you...you know, accept him?"

"I couldn't. He'd done too much wrong for me to forgive. No matter how much...he had to pay for the things he did." Ruby's voice rose.

"Or you were scared." he responded."You were scared of what he could do to you if you let yourself be with him. Sure, he did a hell of a lot of things that he shouldn't have done, but if he really tried then you could have just forgiven him."

"He killed my first love and my parents." she smiled wryly."He could have been capable of so much more."

"It could have been different. You could have had a happy ending." Yoongi stated."You could have."

"In the end, he had me killed. He succeeded in what he wanted to do years ago." she said bitterly."It's okay though. We weren't meant to be in the end. You shouldn't be here though."

Yoongi laughed at the statement."Well, it beats being in darkness. Besides, if you're dead in the real world then at least I get to see you here, right?"

Ruby hummed, agreeing with the statement."Maybe that's why you're here. To see me off, I guess. Unless you're coming with me."

"Eternal rest does have a nice to it, doesn't it?" Yoongi chuckled, smiling sadly at Ruby."I don't think I'm ready for that yet."

"You have a whole life ahead of you. You have kids. Parents. A match that loves you. Friends. Family. My brother." she smiled wistfully."I think he's the only reason I don't want to leave just yet. I know he's hurting. Everyone is."

"Aaliyah."

Both of their heads snapped up to see two figures standing in front of Yoongi and her. Ruby smiled, tears starting to stream down her cheeks. In front of her, were her parents, smiling at her proudly. She rushed to give them a hug, sinking herself into their embrace. Yoongi watched the ordeal, feeling happy for her. Yoongi knew she needed closure with them. At least now, they'd have forever to do it. Ruby turned to Yoongi once more.

"I love you, Yoongi. As a brother of course." she said cheekily."Promise me you'll take care of Jungkook. Tell him I love him. When you awaken, remember to tell him to go into my room. There's a lock there. The code is his birthday. Everything there is for him."

"Of course." Yoongi stood up, bowing slightly at her parents."I'll take good care of your son. Bye Ruby."

"It's Aaliyah. Jeon Aaliyah." she cut away from her parents' embrace and hugged Yoongi one last time. Yoongi wrapped his arms tightly around her, his own eyes stinging with tears.

"Thank you for everything you did." Yoongi whispered, placing a kiss on her cheek."I owe you lots."

"Do me proud Min Yoongi," she said, returning the affection. They remained like that for a few moments before Yoongi reluctantly pulled away. He memorized her face, engraining it in his mind forever."Bye."

Yoongi watched as she walked hand in hand with her parents as the world around them disappeared, taking him back into the darkness.

Yoongi's eyes opened, squinting slightly at the light above him. He sat up, taken aback by the sudden glow of his mark. It glowed brightly before settling down into its normal state. Yoongi looked around, noticing sudden change in his eyesight.

Since when did he have such good eyesight?

Before he could react, the door burst open, a wide eyed, out of breath Hoseok appearing on the other side.

"Yoongi."

Hoseok rushed to Yoongi, while Yoongi himself attempted to stand up, something that really wasn't the brightest idea.

He immediately fell forward, Hoseok instinctively catching him in his arms.

"Already falling for me, Yoongi?" Hoseok teased lightly, kissing Yoongi's forehead. He gazed lovingly at Yoongi."I've missed you."

Yoongi grinned at the sight."I've missed you too." he answered, or at least he tried to. His voice came out as a whisper, making Yoongi realize how dry his throat actually was.

Hoseok helped him sit back down on the bed, before going to get some water. He quickly gave it to Yoongi, who gratefully took it and drank it in a matter of seconds.

"Thanks." Yoongi smiled, leaning on Hoseok's shoulder. Hoseok intertwined his fingers with Yoongi's, his emotions bursting in him all at once.

Namjoon, Seokjin, Jimin, and Jungkook entered the room, smiles of relief at seeing Yoongi. Yoongi noticed their expressions. They all had swollen eyes, dried tears on their faces. He looked at Hoseok's expression, one that has morphed into sadness with his own tears coming out of his eyes.

"Ruby's dead." Yoongi stated, getting straight to the point. At the mention, Jungkook's eyes began to water once more, his bottom lip beginning to quiver."I'm sorry for your loss."

He could feel his own eyes starting to sting as the realization set in. Yoongi would never see her again. At least, not until he himself passed away.

"Yeah." Jungkook managed to respond."A-at least you're okay Yoongi. One of you came back."

"How are you feeling?" Seokjin asked."Anything off balance?"

Yoongi shook his head."I feel great. Once I get used to walking again, I'll be golden."

"What you did over a month ago was reckless." Namjoon said sternly."You had less than a ten percent chance to live."

"You scared me." Hoseok huffed."I thought I'd lost you. For good this time. Why do you have to always do this to me? Why do you have to scare me like that? I swear I'm getting older because of you."

"I'm sorry." Yoongi smiled softly, squeezing Hoseok's hand."I'm so sorry. I won't do it anymore. I promise."

"You promised me." Hoseok reminded."You cannot come at me if I stop you from doing anything that might kill you. We're equals now you know."

"We've always been." Yoongi's brows furrowed."I've always considered you my equal."

"Well in rank we are the same." He answered."I promoted to Alpha A."

"Congratulations. I hope training wasn't terrifying for you."

"It wasn't. He's been practicing since he was little. They were tough, but nothing he couldn't handle." Namjoon smiled."Welcome back Yoongi. I'm sure your kids have been missing you."

Yoongi smiled at the statement."I want to see them."

"Do you need a wheelchair?" Jimin asked, half jokingly.

"I'll carry him to our room." Hoseok offered."I can handle it. He's a little thing."

"Kook." Yoongi said, motioning him to come to him. Jungkook walked towards him, taking small steps. Once in front of him, Yoongi wipes the tears off Jungkook's face and hugged him tightly."I'm here for you. Now and always. I won't leave you. I promise."

Jungkook hugged him back."Thank you."

"Ruby says she left you some things. Go to her room, find a lock somewhere. Open it. Your birthday's the passcode. Whenever you are ready of course. I love you okay? We're in this together."

The statement only made Jungkook cry harder."Okay." He managed to say after a while."Thank you."

Yoongi smiled, motioning for the others to crowd around. Getting the point, Jimin, Namjoon, and Seokjin wrapped their arms around everyone.

For the second time that day, they separated themselves from the world, sinking into each other's embrace and unity.

a/n: kinda soft, kinda crying. that's a wrap in aaliyah's character. okay but the way i said corona, and ya'll really went "coronavirus" 🤣🤣🤣