HOBI POV:

When (Y/N) nods, it's like a burden off my chest has been lifted, feeling my spirits soaring and my smile brightening all because of a simple gesture. Because a part of me had feared whether we'd scared her away when we all piled on and tagged along. Because I knew the comfortability and ease and friendliness she had with Kookie was of a different level.

But though I spot a slightly disgruntled pouting look on Kookie's face when we turn, he's still by far bright and joyous when she shoots him a small understanding smile and when his phone pings and he reads whatever's sent- he cheers up enormously, calling for us to hurry up behind him.

And all of our attention goes to her when we enter the cake shop, to the way her rosy lips part in an oh of surprise and awe, eyes widening and shining with excitement  as she takes in the cakes in the glass display. She has such a happy and overjoyed expression, marvelling such a normal thing but with such a look of marvel that it makes me wonder just how it would be to see the world from those brilliantly expressive eyes. Her doe eyes sparkle and it makes me just want to buy her every cake her eyes stray to, to indulge her beyond measure simply because I feel the need to, because I want to see her smile widen, see those expressive eyes turn to me too.

And I can see the way the maknaes hover around her too, eyes straying from the cakes to her- as if they too are pulled by the silent allure of her sweet expression.

"So what flavour do you like? Which one catches your eye?" I ask, stepping up to her right side.

She bites her lip, pearly teeth catching onto the plump rosiness of her bottom lip, eyes expressing uncertainty, hesitance in which one to choose.

"I like chocolate." Kookie says, causing the other two to echo their own choices. Trying to help her feel at ease in choosing, trying to help her choose too I realise.

What thoughtful babies they are I think.

"I don't mind really. I like trying new flavours." I say.

She turns to look at me, a bit of relief flickering in her eyes as she nods in agreement.

"So take your time deciding, we'll grab a table." I say softly before steering the others away.

She gives me a soft smile, directed just at me, in thanks as she nods- eyes roving carefully over each cake.

We're all seated at the table, laughing, and talking amongst ourselves- the maknaes placing bets amongst themselves about what type of cake she'll choose.

Jiminie's betting on a coffee and chocolate style of cake, Tae's insisting she'll like a cake with fruits- that she looks like she favours classical flavours and Kookie is insistent that she'll try something new and uncommon but also aesthetic.

I smile as they bicker, all insisting that they know her better when suddenly Jiminie's eyes go pass my shoulder, happiness wiped off instantly to be replaced with a hardened look and he's already getting up and storming over- ire and cold rage crackling in his every movement. I turn in haste to see what it is that has caused him to abruptly get up, hear Kookie's chair scrape back too.

I hurry over but Jiminie's already there, glaring at the employee behind the counter who seemed like he'd gone to hand her the tray of cakes we'd ordered but rather than letting their interaction end there, had a hand wrapped around her wrist- keeping her anchored.

His grip looked tight and certainly unwelcomed, given the way she's struggling and her face expresses distress, her body posture screams it.

Jiminie doesn't waste a single second with words, ripping his hand off her wrist and tugging her back, the movement's abruptness causing her to stumble back, feet faltering- but even as my hands go out to steady her, Jiminie's already done it with a hand stabilising her by wrapping around her waist, body stepping behind her so he can support her.

His eyes are burning with anger and disgust, thick lips curved into a scowl as he looks at the male employee who all for being caught out, doesn't even spare Jimin a glance- eyes lustrous as he continues to gaze at her. She shrinks back, trying to curl away from the penetrative, uncomfortable gaze, I can see Jiminie notices because his hand tightens protectively around her waist, trying to angle himself between the two.

"Keep your hands off her." Jiminie hisses.

The employer continues to gaze at her, as if he can't bear to bring his eyes away from her.

"And your eyes off too." Kookie snarls, stepping in front so his build blocks the two from sight. And it's then that the employee looks up, eyes blinking in annoyance before widening in guilt and shock.

"I am so, so sorry! Miss, I am so sorry." He says, trying to look at her but a huff of disgust from Tae has him silencing, drawing back.

"Were you never taught to respect women?" Tae asks, eyes narrowed, voice deep and void of his usual warmth. There's a small bark from the floor, in agreement, echoing Tae's words with an indignant yip.

"It's disgusting. Shame that it seems that some haven't learnt. It'll do you well to realise that, before you reach adulthood." I add, noting that he seems to be young, late teens at most.

A woman steps up, matronly and eyes flickering between us and him and trying to figure out what's wrong, sensing the hostility.

"Is there a problem?" she asks carefully.

I jerk my head towards the employee, who seems wide-eyed and in shock, fumbling with his words as he pours empty apologies from his mouth.

"It needs to be taught manners." I say, refusing to acknowledge that a human could stoop low, not wanting to believe that some people were just filth when it came to their behaviour.

I feel anger stirring up in me, pushing aside the light-hearted laughter and conversational ambience that had been surrounding us.

Kookie pushes the tray back towards the employee who flinches even as the gesture only pushes it back onto the staff side.

"Keep it. Let's go." He says shortly, turning to face us.

And then the anger and ire melts off his face, completely transformed into a look of softness and gentleness as he gazes at (Y/N).

(Y/N) who despite being the one we'd reached out to protect, we'd somehow neglected in the past few minutes to defend her, (Y/N) who still being supported against Jiminie's frame and his arm curled protectively around her is trembling, silent tears running down her cheeks and her hand pressed tightly against her mouth, eyes clenching shut as if trying to block out the scene from around her, trying to shut it out so it ceases to exist.

I distantly note Tae talking to the woman, a scathing remark passed to the employee but that's all white noise, our focus has been caught to (Y/N) who is silently suffering, tears rolling down her cheeks, seeping out from under shut eyelids.

"(Y/N), can you look at me?" Kookie asks gently, once we've guided her out of the shop and he's opened the car door to gently usher her into sinking onto the edge of the seat.

She shakes, smaller frame trembling and head bowed.

"Oh my love." Jiminie breathes, voice filled with sympathy and hurt on her behalf, the term of endearment sounding so natural as he addresses her.

Tae's looking at her with deep serious eyes, hands passing over Tannie to me who barks, trying to scrabble out of my arms to get to (Y/N)- yipping to get her attention.

He doesn't say anything as he steps forward, gently encasing her in his arms, hand rubbing up and down her back.

"Let it all out." He says.

He continues to hold her as she shakes and cries, each silent tremble that wracks her body making me wish desperately that I could do something, anything to help her make her feel better, could make sure she never went through it in the first place. It feels like I've failed her. That as the eldest one here, I was responsible for her too- she was my dongsaeng and I couldn't protect her. And also as a friend I'd failed to notice she was struggling.

When her head rises, it makes my heart shatter all over again.

Wet cheeks and red-rimmed eyes, a look of such raw vulnerability and trust as she gazes at Tae, at the way her hands for a moment bunch into his shirt, as if trying to reassure herself he won't vanish from sight, that the comfort isn't imagined. He looks at her with steadfastness, not letting her feel that fear for a single second.

"You shouldn't have to go through that. No-one deserves to go through that." Kookie says, voice pained and hurting and angry for her, her damp eyes slide from Tae to him, grip loosening and fingers sliding free of the fabric, falling back to her lap. 

She keeps Kookie's gaze, a silent exchange of words between them.

"Let's get you home. I'll let Habaek ssi know we're coming." He says.

She shoots him a thankful smile, lips struggling to lift up in a curve, the smile not natural and easily given. It's strained.

And he sticks beside in the back, seated in the middle, even though he hates being shoved in the middle usually, as he quietly murmurs to her. The car ride to her house is so silent and sombre- so different to the drive to the cake shop that had been full of giddiness and excited chatter and Tannie's barks mingling in. Now Tannie had scrabbled out of Tae's arms, wormed his way past Kookie's body and nestled against her leg, curling onto her lap when she scooped him up, seeming to sense she needed the comfort of cuddling him, happily allowing himself to be silently doted on.

And when we pull up in her driveway, there's a small bustle in the back, the passenger door opening, (Y/N) almost stumbling in her haste to get inside, to pull open the door and rush inside. The rest of us follow in quick haste, wanting to make sure she's fine before we leave. But the door is opened by Mi-sun, standing there with a look of concern, her lips moving as she talks to (Y/N)'s hurried figure. Then her eyes fall onto the fall of us, and she smiles- small but it's there.

"Please come in. It looks like there's something we don't know." She says, opening the door further to invite us in.

And of all the instances I'd ever thought I'd visit (Y/N)'s house, venture inside- it hadn't been imagined to happen with feelings of guilt and sorrow and hurt.

And something pangs inside me, sorrow when I see her burrow herself into a pair of arms. When Habaek scoops her close, his considerably taller frame wounding around her as he holds her, cradles her.

Knowing exactly what she needs.

Which is a closeness we don't have yet.

TAE POV:

When we follow the woman into the living room, sinking into the opposite couch to where (Y/N) has been scooped into a tight embrace by the tall handsome man. This must be Habaek.

He's wrapped her up protectively, eyes glinting with the knowledge that had he the ability to hide her away, to somehow hide her within himself- he'd do it in a heartbeat. And the way she seems to have loosened into his arms, sagged completely against him reminds me that we are yet to reach such a closeness. I want to hug her but not only for comfort, I want to wind my arms around her and hug her simply because I wanted to. Because she was just too adorable to resist.

The woman looks at (Y/N) curled up with a small frown, gaze turning to us.

"What happened? Habaek never said what Jungkook said." She says, eyes roving as if trying to place Kookie, spotting him when he nods nervously, worriedly.

Her gaze softens when she sees his wide doe eyes filled with anger and hurt, sees the tension he's sitting with.

"Please don't be scared. Tell me please. Tell me what happened." She says, voice barely repressing the panic and concern.

"I'll get (Y/N) changed." Habaek directs to Mi-sun, standing up with a softly murmured 'come on cherub' as he walks with her still safely encased in his arms out of the large room.

Our eyes follow the sight of them until they leave and then the woman leans forward with more urgency.

"Hoseok, Jimin please tell me. Just say it." She says.

"Mi-sun, I...we were going to a cake shop together but, but the male employee was gripping her wrist refusing to let her move away. She was trying to escape his grip but he wouldn't let up, he kept staring at her if that was all he could see. It was disturbing to witness so to be her in the situation, I can only imagine how she must've felt." Hobi hyung explains.

I watch as Mi-sun's face looks as if she's been struck by thunder, eyes filling with rage and anger for (Y/N).

And yet Hobi hyung's words seem to fall short. Unable to describe just how blinding and consuming that rage had been when I saw her shaking, trying to pull free, but unable to yell, to scream or ask for help. It made my blood boil that had Jiminie not turned his head, we perhaps wouldn't have noticed her struggle for even longer, that she would've been suffering even more.

And the disgust that crashed through me when his eyes had been filled with nothing but lust, carnal want. As if somehow common sense had fled him. My hands hold Tannie closer, who's been silent the entire time- as if picking up on the tense air, I hold him close just as I wanted to keep (Y/N) close.

It makes me shake with anger, makes me wish we had done more than just take her away.

"Where?" Mi-sun asks, voice low and dangerous and eyes glinting with fiery anger.

"Where?" Jiminie echoes.

"Where did he touch her?" she asks, trying to still herself, trying to calm herself but given the way her posture has tightened, it makes me think she's struggling to.

"Her right wrist." Kookie speaks.

She nods.

"I'm sorry...let me, let me get you some drinks." She says, standing abruptly- struggling to keep the smile on her face as she hurries away.

We're left in the living room, the space suddenly extremely large and empty. 

And despite the circumstances we're here in, I can't help but notice the personal touches in the furniture, in the decoration, in the paintings, in the small knick-knacks even the designs and colours of the throws and cushions.

Its got a mixture of styles and tastes and it's just got such a welcoming, homey feel to it.

Just as Mi-sun steps through with a tray, setting it down and handing over drinks, I accept my mug- resigning myself to having to down coffee to be polite. But I realise that each drink is suited to our tastes.

Mi-sun lets out a small laugh at my puzzled look.

"(Y/N) loves sharing stories about you all, even if she doesn't speak." She says.

And the thought of (Y/N) animatedly telling the two of them about her days, her time with us makes me smile happily.

And then Habaek steps into the room again, tall frame filling the room with his presence and my eyes dart around for (Y/N).

He steps inside and sinks onto the couch he'd been on and then (Y/N) enters and my heart just about stops.

She's changed out of the clothes she'd been in for a pair of shorts that just about peep out from the end of the jumper that she's drowning in. Clearly designed for a larger frame given the way it swallows her up, sleeves hanging past her hands and the way it hangs off her. I watch as she hurries to curl up beside Habaek, his arm easily and quickly drawing her against his side, and the way she fiddles to get her fingers out from the end, the cutest sweater paws I've ever seen as she shoots us all a worried and anxious glance.

"They're not mad at you cherub. Mad for you." Habaek says gently.

But the thought she might've read our silent anger to be directed towards her in the slightest makes me startle, cup almost sliding out of my lax grip. Tannie barks- as if refuting the thought immediately.

"Never (Y/N)!" Kookie says indignantly, looking shocked that she could even think that.

The words make her lips twitch, a small curve of a smile. And she looks to the rest of us, seeming to loosen with each affirmation that we couldn't be mad at her.

Then her gaze lands on me, deep and searching.

"How could I be mad at someone who looks that adorable in a sweater? Even Jiminie doesn't!" I say, smiling when Jiminie protests and see the way her eyes widen and her smile spreads wider.

"You're right, she is adorable in sweaters. Though why you insist on taking mine I'll never know." Habaek says, directing the last part to her, grinning when she gives him a gentle whack with her hand, sweater flapping instead.

Mi-sun's eyes soften as she turns to look at them, passing a mug to Habaek and settling on (Y/N)'s other side- it almost feels like it's a protective flanking, as if trying to shield her, and I wonder whether it's an unconscious behaviour.

It seems to be with the way Mi-sun's hand settles on her leg and squeezes it reassuringly, petting absentmindedly.

"I'm sorry that your cake visit ended badly. Was it a spontaneous idea?" Mi-sun asks, hand resting on (Y/N)'s leg when it causes her to stiffen slightly.

The touch making the tension bleed out slightly.

Habaek's eyes turn curiously, almost thoughtfully- glancing down to where (Y/N)'s left sweater-clad arm has covered her right one unconsciously.

There's a hard glint of understanding in those eyes.

"It's because we learnt (Y/N) is a miracle and can transform a dance with a ribbon!" Hobi hyung says, voice still filled with awe and amazement, face expressing wonder as he gazes at her.

This causes the two to beam brightly. For Mi-sun to turn to shoot (Y/N) one of the most tender, gentle, and excited looks I've ever seen.

Habaek seems to hide a smile behind the rim of his mug as he raises it. Almost as if in a toast.

"She's full of surprises. Keep your eyes out." He says.

My eyes go to her, at the way her cheeks are slightly pink, at the way her wavy hair cascades over her shoulders and frames her face, as if intentionally drawing attention to her delicate features.

Surprises? I love surprises. 

And I couldn't wait to see what I found out about her. Wonder what surprises made me feel more and more in awe of this brilliant person and amazing friend.

And her eyes sparkle as she looks at me, the deep depths of them inviting and intriguing- as if tugging me in and daring me to find out.

I shoot her a smile.

Challenge accepted.

(SO WE DIDN'T HAVE (Y/N)'S POV IN THIS CHAPTER BUT I FELT THAT THE BOYS' ONES WERE NEEDED MORE- SO WE CAN SEE HOW THEY THINK AND HOW THEY'RE BEGINNING TO SEE (Y/N) FROM THEIR EYES, SO WE CAN ALSO SEE THE WAY THEY SEE HER DIFFERENTLY! AND I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THEIR PERSPECTIVES!! THEIR FIRST VISIT TO HER HOUSE!! YOU CAN BET THAT TAE AND THE OTHERS WILL SNEAKILY TRY TO BANK AN INVITE! I SWEAR SOMETIMES HABAEK AND MI-SUN GET WRITTEN AS PARENTAL FIGURES BUT THEY'RE NOT!! I SWEAR! THEY JUST ARE HER CARETAKER FIGURES EVEN IF THEY'RE DEALING WITH THIS SIREN THING AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S COS SHE'S THE YOUNGEST- THEY HAVE THE INCLINATION TO TURN TO LOOK AFTER HER!! AND I WONDER WHAT (Y/N)'S PERSPECTIVE OF THE CAKE SHOP INCIDENT WILL REVEAL? AND MINNIE'S PROTECTIVE GESTURE, THE RAGING, THE FURY!! AHHH- LOVED WRITING IT!! CAN'T WAIT TO SEE AND HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS AND REACTIONS!! LET ME KNOW! AND I HOPE WE CAN ALL SEE THE OTHERS FALLING BIT BY BIT- HOBI I SEE YOU! TAE I SEE THE JEALOUSY!! STAY SAFE AND ENJOY!)

QUESTION...ONE OF THOSE LIGHT-HEARTED SHOWS YOU WATCH JUST FOR A LAUGH?

MINE IS...Brooklyn Nine Nine! I love the comedy in it- my friends got me introduced during lunch in Sixth Form on the common room TV we'd watch on and I'm hooked! But I don't catch all the episodes- but always a light show I like watching! Sometimes I can't help easily picture what roles each BTS member would have personality wise!

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3