JOON POV:

I smile down at the two maknaes, sweaty and breathing heavily but still with their arms around each other, faces glowing as they lazily press kisses to each other's bare glistening skin. Kookie is the most dishevelled and marked, skin dotted with an array of darkening marks, exhaustedly sinking into the bed.

What had started as a cuddling session whilst watching movies had turned to teasing to video games to this.

And it seemed like Kookie was the one who came out the most exerted from it.

"Hyungs are mean~ should've just let me go with Jiminie hyung and Hobi hyung to see who the dancer is they were excited about." Kookie mutters fake sullen as we shower and dress a while later.

But the bright high giggles that had erupted when the two of us attacked him with tickles had quickly silenced those words.

And it was cuddled with the others, limbs intertwined in loose embraces that Jiminie and Hobi burst through the door with bright radiant faces and excitement making them practically vibrate as they rush in.

Yoongi hyung pauses the film, from where his arm rests on Jin hyung's stomach, settling back again to look at them.

"Good audition?" he asks, slightly monotone because hyung isn't that excited by dance, only when it's them performing does he truly look animated and enraptured.

They nod happily, and their loud shout of Kookie rouses the baby from where he's leaning into me and they draw him out with eager grabby hands, making me mourn the loss of his warm heat before Tae fills it, plastering himself onto my side.

"Kookie you should've been there. She was amazing and just so captivating." Jiminie says, voice filled with enthusiasm and wonder, eyes glinting with memory.

Hobi nods, bouncing around happily as he pulls Kookie and Jiminie onto the other couch, cocooning our baby between the two.

"She is a phenomenal dancer. Never would've expected that she'd dance to Butterfly." He muses.

This gets more attention.

From Yoongi hyung who looks intrigued by such a ballad-esque song being used, to Jin hyung and Tae and me who've heard the song filter through our halls because of how much the dancers love it, the beautiful soft tone stirring hearts with its meaning and depth.

"She has beautiful defined lines as she dances, so powerful." Jiminie gushes, face animated.

Kookie's pout deepens as he scowls at me and Tae, even as his face holds not a single ounce of true anger or bitterness- just wistfulness that he could've seen too.

"In fact...we think that she should join our team." Hobi adds.

And that captures every shred of attention and focus.

She's that good? Because I know how particular the three are, how hard it is for them to share that privacy and intimacy of dancing together.

And to impress them so much that they offered it to her anyways?

This girl must truly be something. And though I don't dance with the passion the three of them do- it makes me want to see her perform too.

And I feel bad for having kept Kookie away.

Kookie's eyes bulge slightly, shock on his face.

But not rejection for the notion. Not hesitation.

"Wow...she really must be something." Kookie muses, face expressing awe.

And I feel an inkling of burning curiosity- just who is this girl who's entered and blown them away so easily?

----

It's a surprise when Tae volunteers to come with me to the library, confusion because he'd been so huffy and pouting and unwilling the last time until it suddenly clicks.

"Are you going in case you might see (Y/N)?" I ask, curious and intrigued.

He nods eagerly, unhesitant and grin wide. He's also dressed in a more vintage style of clothing, but one that adorns his body well- just like every article of clothing he owns does.

"And the sudden turn to old styles?" I ask curiously.

"Because (Y/N) wears them so well and pulls them off so easily, I wondered if I could too." He muses, and his expression is so bright, so eager to show her that I can't help but melt at his adorable behaviour.

"And if she isn't there?" I gently ask, and watch as his smile fades, dims slightly.

"Then...then I might just dress like this until I do meet her?" he says, it sounding more like a question.

And he sounds so earnest, so genuine in his wish to show her that I pull him into my arms, pressing a kiss to his forehead.

"You don't have to dress like that if you don't want to...but I think she'll love it." I start and then continue as I see his head shake, feeling so incredibly fond for the boy in my arms, for the one who's so happy and bright and excited about this newly fledged friendship.

And when he bounds inside the library eagerly, with an excitement that makes him flash his boxy grin as he makes a beeline to the hidden corners, I smile as I watch him leave, eyes fondly observing him with my heart bursting as it overflows with love for him.

And then turn to meet the man from one of the groups I'd been working with, a group of adults who want to write and explore different areas of the human psyche. I smile at the tall male who's already sitting there, sucking at a straw whilst tapping away happily on his phone. He's tall and masculine and mature but there's this softness to his face, this innocence in it.

And as I slide into a chair, he looks up, smiling.

"Hello Namjoon." He greets.

"Hello Habaek ssi." I greet back, nodding at him.

Despite only having joined our group of researchers, he was extremely competent and well educated on psychology, his drafts alone for projects had given me a glimpse to the wonderfully complex mind of his.

And suddenly I note as his eyes dart around the library, trying to locate someone- searching with a careful intensity.

"Are you looking for someone?" I ask, eyes following his careful slow movements.

He nods absently.

"Yeah...found her." he says distractedly until his eyes alight on someone, widening and face creasing into a happy expression, waving animatedly.

And when the person steps into my line of sight, I find my eyes captured at first by a pair of boots and slowly I trail my eyes up a vintage styled outfit, eyes landing on a familiar face, the side profile one I easily recognise. 

(Y/N).

"Cherub! I was just going to say you don't have to stay, feel free to go explore. I'll come find you." he promises and I watch as she nods slowly, bending down to kiss his cheek. As she straightens her head turns, slowly looking intently at her surroundings and then all of a sudden her gaze catches onto me. Eyes widening with surprise before a smile curves her lips upwards, hand giving a little wave at me.

"You know Namjoon?" Habaek asks, voice filled with curiosity and slight confusion. She turns, the two effortlessly communicating and conversing without making a single sound, her hand moving in a flurry of movements...sign language I realise.

He nods understandingly before grinning up at her.

And as I watch I feel an inkling of shame prickle through me...because I'd never realised that her silence could've been something other than intentional, never thought it to be a compulsion, something she had to live with.

And it makes me feel this deep sense of sorrow and hurt on her behalf- because of the words she'll never be able to say, never be able to tell.

And how hard it must've been for her to communicate with me and Tae on both separate instances and the time we'd met her together- how we might have made her unknowingly uncomfortable.

It makes me feel bad.

"Are you looking for Tae?" I ask gently.

What I don't expect is the slight flush of colour or the eager nod that follows, a bright expression making her face glow even more, eyes still roving.

"I can call him. He actually went off to look for you too." I confide, leaning forward to share this piece of information with her, watching as she looks at me with hopeful disbelief.

As if she wasn't expecting it. As if she couldn't believe it.

My heart goes out to her in that moment.

TAE POV:

"Hyung~ I can't find her." I mumble sadly, when my eyes catch onto the place we'd first met and find the seats occupied by a few girls- who turn alarmed as I poke my head in eagerly.

I retreat, feeling slightly downcast, looking down at my clothes and the effort I'd put into choosing them, tried to match with styles and patterns I'd seen her wear. I was so looking forward to matching with my new friend, to bond with her over our shared love for fashion. Maybe even take some cool photos too!

I'd even brought along my camera and now I pouted as I couldn't spot her.

"Tae-ah, I have a surprise for you." he teases through the phone, his words echo mine from not long ago and I wonder immediately if it's what I think it is, hope it is, dare to believe that it is.

And without another word, I hasten towards where he usually sits, to where I'd seen him last.

And freeze in a mixture of joy and confusion when I see her waiting at the table, happily perched on this handsome stranger's lap, fiddling with their intertwined hands, eyes roving around slowly.

But then they fall on me and her face brightens, waving to me happily, excitedly. With the same enthusiasm that I was searching for her with. And she straightens up off his lap, hopping off. And it's at that moment that Joon hyung turns, smile mischievous- a mirror of one I'd shown him.

"Found her." he mouths at me, dimpled grin deepening.

"(Y/N)!" I exclaim happily, noting when she stands that she is once again adorned in vintage dress- my grin widening because we're matching in style.

She approaches me, waving goodbye to the other two before smiling at me.

And when I gesture outwards she nods, leading me out with a gentle swish of her patterned skirt and hair that sways as it curls in attractive waves down her back.

----

"Oooh how about here?" I ask, gesturing to one of the side streets that are adorned with old-fashioned styled shops.

She nods but makes no move to head down it.

She stares at me firmly, tilting her chin to gesture to me and then pointing at the street.

Her message is clear.

You go.

I shake my head.

"You go." I insist. She stands firm, unrelenting, gesturing again.

And as I sigh and step down to head into the street she taps my shoulder. 

And then points to my camera when I look at her confused.

My camera is one of my prized possessions and yet I feel no apprehension of fear in handing it over, as if instinctively knowing she won't damage. As if seeing her small delicate hands and knowing she won't be able to cause harm with them, with the softness of her features- knowing that she can't harm a fly.

And that's how it becomes easy to entrust the camera to her and step out in front of the lens, feeling slightly self-conscious but when she notes the slight stiffness in the first few poses, she lets the camera dangle around her neck, looking at me intently.

She shakes her head, mouth parted in an inaudible sigh and then poses in front of me, suggesting them for me but instead I find my mouth drying and eyes widening at the attractive curves and lines of her body as she effortlessly poses, eyes once again entranced with this innate beauty she effortlessly radiates- tugging me in to marvel and stare at her.

I realise that she's staring at me, I shake myself out of my momentary stupor and mimic her pose, the gesture coming out slightly different. She nods appeased and wastes no time in hiding her face behind my camera, and for once the sight of my trusty extension disappoints me almost.

She makes pose after pose for me to mimic and soon enough I fall into that comfortability that I have with my hyungs and Kookie and others I've grown up with.

She becomes a familiar face; one I don't hesitate to pull funny faces at or suddenly surprise her mid-pose by changing it as her finger presses down.

But seeing the way her body shakes with silent laughter, lips creasing her full cheeks and turning them into a rosy attractive flush- I feel it's worth it. And that I'd do it again and again to see that smile.

That's what friends are for right?

(Y/N) POV:

It's the same level of comfort and ease I have when I push and wheedle Habaek oppa and Mi-sun unnie to pose that spills out when I silently guide Taehyung- mimicking postures the two have taught me and pushed and nudged me into enacting for them to snap up with cameras. It comes out just as easily for Taehyung.

And I can't help but notice how his body is well proportioned for photographs- objectively he has the physical structure for it and his clothes I note with a pleased eye are of an older, slightly retro style- vintage and inside a part of me rejoices with how his clothes seem to match the period of dress I've been recently tugged back into wearing again.

And the camera captures photo after photo of him looking like he stepped out of the past, the old-fashioned shops, and the aesthetic of the street melding well with his style. It had taken quite a bit of wondering to find the street, Taehyung had insisted he knew the perfect place but we'd ended up straying further away from the busy bustle of the city than I'd thought.

And I hadn't considered stepping out in front of the camera, not for Taehyung, never for someone who didn't know who I truly was. Photos had a way of capturing memories, moments in time and immortalising them- and I couldn't have snippets of me left behind in a physical trail for someone who didn't know the truth about me.

It could lead to questions that intruded, bordered on that fine line between realities and secrets and I didn't want to have to lie to him, didn't want to be pushed to that state where I had to lie openly and forcefully about who I was. Small white lies like this were better- that I couldn't speak because I didn't want to, that was truth in itself. I just couldn't say that the reason I never spoke was because I feared the potency of my voice, of the drugged effect it could have.

And with how nice and friendly Taehyung and the others I'd met recently had seemed and genuinely appeared to be, I bottled down the urge to laugh and reply to their questions, repressed the urge to talk to them and actually freely question them too. I hadn't felt such an urge in so long but as it was an inkling, just a barely forming need- I push it back before it grows.

Knowing just too well that anyone misfortunate enough to hear my voice has had nothing but bad things that occur, only despair and sorrow for them.

And seeing Taehyung, seeing the way he seems to relish the world, see it with fresh bright eyes and faces life with a boxy grin- I can't even begin to imagine the fear of what could happen if my voice slipped into its natural state accidentally.

Fearing the possibility.

So I shut it down before it can even take root.

It's as we're finishing with his photographs that he juts his bottom lip out, widening his eyes and suddenly throwing me off with an aegyo pose, my hands waver as I lower the camera because even after snapping a photo of it, the look doesn't fade.

"Can I take photos of you too?" he asks, deep voice filled with a soft plea.

I feel bad...almost.

I shake my head resolutely, even going as far to make an x shape with my arms.

"Oh please~ I want to show my hyungs and dongsaeng the new friend I made. Friends do that don't they?" he says, his tone is sweet and kind, bordering on cute whining.

I shake my head even quicker, but then there's an unreadable expression in his eyes and he steps forward with a sigh.

But his words make me freeze, make my insides twist in sudden revulsion and the look in his eye could be understanding, anything but what my mind flashes to. But it makes me pause, backpedal as I stagger slightly, feeling the ground as uneven as his words echo in my hear in a deep malicious purr, brushing far too closely against my unwilling, drugged hazy state.

"I want to show my friends just how pretty you are. Friends can show each other stuff, can't they?" the horrid disgusting whisper brushes nauseatingly against sweaty, glistening skin. Head spinning, and mouth failing to produce words, hands weakly pushing him away.

But the look in his eyes is glazed- a mixture of alcohol and the allure of a siren clouding rational judgement, pushing the already eager man to a demanding state of where he will take what he wants.

The phantom feeling of hands ghosting across bare skin and tight fabric makes my skin shudder and even as Taehyung's face becomes concerned, hand reaching out for me, touching my bare arm, I flinch. Curling away from him even as guilt pierces through the lingering remnants of the memory- sudden and intrusive as it had been.

And his hand quickly retreats, mouth curved into a sad sorrowful look.

"I'm so sorry, did I say something? You don't have to...I shouldn't have pushed you to." He says, deep voice thick with remorse, and eyes clouded with guilt.

I want to shake my head, reassure him- I can't stand seeing him blame himself, it hurts and bothers me so much that I want to even push myself to speak just to let him know.

But not only do words fail me, the vice grip of the memory makes the ground rock unsteadily under my feet and suddenly I stagger, almost slipping and the cry of alarm that tears through his throat is sudden and panicked.

I stick a hand out, a clear sign telling him to stay back and even though he looks hurt and bothered by the effort of physically restraining himself, he steps back- arms placating and gesturing it's fine.

"You're okay (Y/N)...look you're with me." he reassures, words continuing to pour out thick and deep and comforting.

The memory slips away, and I stare ashamedly at him- eyes wide with remorse.

I'm sorry, I mouth to him, head dipping into a small bow.

He shakes his head quickly.

"I'm sorry (Y/N). If you didn't want to take photos I shouldn't have tried to push you for it." He says, voice and face apologetic.

He peeks at me nervously, fiddling with the rings on his slender honey fingers.

"We can still be friends right?" he asks, lip worried between his teeth.

The eagerness and quickness of my nod eases the stiffness to his shoulders and brings a smile to his face and makes me smile back.

Because what we have in that moment is a friendship that blossoms and strengthens a tad. Because he saw me freak over nothing and still stayed to help me through it. Because he offered me friendship so easily and effortlessly. Because he made me want to spend more time with him.

Somehow Kim Taehyung has managed to worm his way slightly through my defences and I can't decide whether or not it bothers me or if I'm pleased by it.

(AHHH! I AM SO, SO INCREDIBLY SORRY FOR THE LATE CHAPTER UPDATE- IT'S THE MUCH-NEEDED FLUFF AFTER BOUND BY BLOOD WITH A S L I G H T BIT OF PAST HURT! BUT! I HOPE IT WARMED YOU TO READ NONETHELESS MY LOVES! I RUSHED OUT FOR A PICNIC- ENDED UP GETTING RAINED ON, WENT THROUGH SOME GOD-KNOWS WHO CARVED A TRAIL THROUGH A FORESTY AREA AND GOT HOME COLD! THIS IS TO WARM YOU UP AND ME TOO! LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS! AND WHO YOU THINK SHE COULD MEET NEXT! I'M SO EXCITED TO WRITE MORE!! AH! YOU GUYS MAKE ME EXCITED TO WRITE MORE AND MORE AND MORE! SO THANKS FOR BEING MY ENCOURAGEMENT! STAY SAFE LOVES!)

QUESTION...HOW MANY FIRST COUSINS DO YOU HAVE?

Mine is...ready to be surprised and shocked?

9

7

97. Truly.

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3