YOONGI POV:

I'm so relieved and thankful and happy that Joon's slip of the tongue doesn't have (Y/N) retreating, silently drawing back into her shell- the same shell she uses to hide behind, to protect herself with. And it's also pride that she's come far from the person I first saw who entered the Magic Shop, who didn't shy away from the question and didn't shy away from physical touch- it had been a great source of torment and guilt when my mind would replay the sight of her flinching away from me, tormenting me when I couldn't sleep and brought back to mind whenever I wondered whether it had been that act that had caused her to vanish. And to see her initiate herself too makes me smile. Because despite it being something normal, something mundane- I can just tell, I know that it means a lot to her too, just as it does to us- just as it does to Jin hyung who beams at her and instinctually sought out to shield her, to want to protect her from hurt.

And that she willingly gives the information away.

Selectively mute.

That had been my thought too given the way her eyes didn't hold the struggle of never having been able to speak, rather they held an abundance of stories, of moments and memories piling up and struggling to be kept at the seams of her expressive soft deep eyes.

Her eyes also spoke of the struggle and yearning of wanting to talk- I knew I wasn't imagining the wistful looks or the repressed joy when it seemed like all she wanted to do was jump right into a conversation or just laugh.

It made me silently root for her, silently cheer her on to one day be able to. And verbally I'd try to help in any way I could, in actions too.

It's further on into the conversation that she suddenly starts and pauses, turning to bring forward a picnic basket that had been sitting deserted and forgotten on the side, she puts it in the middle of the circle we'd unconsciously formed, tapping at the watch at her wrist to indicate that we were into lunchtime- over in fact the usual timings we all ate at.

She opens the basket, bringing out neatly packed containers of food- different snacks and food items being revealed with each careful removal of lid. The food is packed not only neatly but prettily too...as if whoever had packed it had taken extra care to make patterns in them too, small smiley faces and notes taped onto each box.

She rummages in the picnic basket, smile victorious when she brings out a boxed set of cutlery- opening it and handing them out, gesturing for us to eat.

"Did you pack this all for yourself or were you hoping to meet someone?" Jin hyung teases lightly as he grins, being the first one to accept her invitation and start eating- shooting her a thumbs up and hum of approval, lips curved up. Not only at the food but the flustered look (Y/N) gives in response to his question, making a cross with her arms. Maybe it was wishful thinking and maybe I'd imagined it, I certainly hoped I hadn't, when her soft eyes had briefly slid to mine- captured for a moment when he'd said the second question.

Because even if she hadn't, unconsciously I realised I had. I had hoped to see her again today, as we'd walked on the trail I couldn't help but feel excited, spurred on by the thought that maybe I'd see a familiar figure on the secret trail I'd shown her- hoped she had remembered it.

And so to find her here, had given me a pleased flutter in my stomach, lips curving up automatically when I'd approached and found that the relaxed, reclined figure had been hers.

Jin hyung chatters about the food, but despite how amazing it is I know he won't say that, not after all the quips he's made about him being head chef but when she taps his arm and shows him her phone with a knowing grin, I see his ears burn red slightly.

"What did she say?" I ask after swallowing my mouthful.

"It's not her cooking. She said she'll prove she's a better cook than me." he grouses out.

I smile at her, Joonie nearly knocking over his cup as he raises his hands in pumped fists.

"I'm on your side (Y/N), just like you support my endeavour to get to the kitchen!" Joonie says, dimpled grin slightly sheepish, both because my hand darted out to stop the cup from toppling and also because his remark catches hyung's attention who turns suspicious eyes onto him.

"You're not thinking of entering the kitchen again are you? Even after last time?!" he asks incredulously.

Joonie seems caught on the spot, frozen but when (Y/N) mirrors his gesture, cheering him on silently- he gets the courage to nod, and when he says 'yes hyung' his voice despite being quiet doesn't waver.

Wow...her act of belief in him really bolstered his courage and confidence- especially because he'd himself agreed to the imposed ban on him from cooking.

Hyung still hadn't forgotten his last set of new pans and utensils that had been sacrificed in Joon's passionate attempt to cook a romantic dinner for all of us. The thought of it was sweet, the determined look he'd given us as he'd entered had been endearing. The aftermath hadn't been. Not exactly romantic when smoke had poured out the kitchen, set off the smoke alarms and amidst the chaos an uncertain voice called out 'hyung how do you move pots if there handles are meant to detach?'. 

He hadn't set foot to cook in it since.

The rest of lunch passes by quickly, the food easily finished between the four of us and the fact that the man Habaek and the woman had packed so much for her reminds me of Jin hyung's tendencies of large cooking amounts- insisting it was better to have leftovers than someone going without having eaten their fill.

They really care for her. And it's just curiosity that makes me wonder what dynamic the three of them share, what is that pulls them together- what relationship do they have?

And it's after lunch that we realise that (Y/N) had come to the trail for the same reason as us, to pick fruits she explains after tapping the large empty container that she brings out, rising to her feet and carrying the lighter basket with her. Joonie and I fold the picnic blanket, placing it carefully into her basket whilst Jin hyung and her talk about the different fruits. I hide a private smile when Jin hyung boasts about a rare place he always picks fruit from- someone he insists will blow her mind.

I don't want to see hyung's pouty look of disappointment and when we venture down the path, Joonie holding my hand happily as he talks about if this was a book scene we'd be getting attacked or eaten by now, as we venture into the private land that's bursting with fruits- ripe and ready to be plucked.

He turns with a look of expectation towards (Y/N), eyes shining as he awaits her response. And this it. This is where we get a pouty hyung to deal with.

Except  (Y/N) shoots him a wide sunny smile, eyes bright with awe and marvel as she takes in the sight- and somehow it's not forced, it still feels genuine and natural, maybe because it's only her second time visiting and the novelty hasn't worn off yet. But she beams at Jin hyung whose own smile stretches wide, plump lips spread generously across his face.

"I just knew you'd like it! Here let me show you the fruits." He says, happily leading her into the fray, pointing out the different bushes of fruits, the trees that are growing, the work we'd done recently too. She takes it all in, features alight with wonderment and interest.

"Hey hyung, let's go pick some fruit too!" Joonie says tugging my hand as he leads me down a slightly different path to where the blackberries are growing, ripe and shiny.

The two of us are picking fruit, talking between ourselves and hearing Jin hyung's voice carry when we turn, deciding to join them in front of the strawberries, just near the shade of a tree.

The two of them happily work in sync, plucking vibrant red strawberries and delicately place them into the container and Jin hyung's basket- sharing out what they pick equally.

"Do you want apples too? They can be used in a lot of things." Joonie suggest pointing to the fruits that hang on the tree behind us, full round apples waiting to be plucked.

She shrugs and then nods, following us into the shade.

And it's only as we tiptoe to reach the fruits just out of reach we realise that (Y/N) is having a harder time than us, straining fingers as she stretches upwards and the silent huffs and exasperated expression that follows when she fails to grasp onto one. It's both endearing and slightly amusing to see her continuously try to reach for the same apple that's out of her reach and it's like that, that her blouse untucks from her jeans- revealing a slither of skin, and when my eyes avert following her straining hand instead- I see her cuff recede slightly, fall down her wrist.

And it's as she's straining and focused on plucking the apple that a ring of purpling marks come into view around her wrist. The delicate curve of it marred with dark marks, finger-shaped bruises.

It makes me still, freezing and I feel the smile slide off my face. Joon and Jin hyung who'd both given in to her silent struggling manner and had reached out to pluck some apples for her, pause- Joon's hand firmly holding an apple but eyes stuck at the sight. And Jin hyung who'd been reaching for the same apple that had constantly evaded her fingers, looks thunderstruck- face shocked and eyes widening.

He forgets the apple and instead gently grips her forearm with his hand, his own fingers skimming the cuff of her blouse.

"(Y/N)...what on earth happened to your wrist?" he asks, voice measured but there's no disguising the horror or shocked quality to his tone.

And it's a question I myself want to know the answer too.

About who it is that hurt her, and how they even dared to.

JIN POV:

My eyes catch onto the colour marring her wrist, the cuff of purple finger-shaped marks around the slender wrist and freeze. Feel the joy and fond amusement slip away to give way to fear and panic and horror that sears through me.

My fingers slide past the apple, and fall to gently grip her forearm, to keep her arm anchored in sight- feeling if I don't ask her now, then she'll hide away the pain. If no-one catches and stops things as they happen then she'll silently suffer.

I feel anger and protective rage seep through me, at the idea that someone had entertained the notion of hurting (Y/N). Of hurting her when she was someone I only ever saw as someone to protect, coddle, and cherish.

It's surprising even to my own ears that my voice doesn't waver, that it remains calm.

"(Y/N)...what on earth happened to your wrist?" I ask, feeling aghast at the sight. Troubled by it.

She stills under my touch, freezing and painfully slow her wide eyes fall to the sight, painfully slow meet my own- see the shuttered expression as she tries to push the emotions away.

It aches to see that. To see her trying to hide.

She shakes her head slowly, far too gently and calmly. Nothing.

She's trying to dismiss it as nothing.

I shake my head in return.

"You can tell me you know." I say softly.

Again another shake.

"It's not nothing (Y/N), if you're hurting don't we have the right to help you? To protect you from it?" Joonie says softly, looking sadly at the sight.

She looks at him wide sorrowful eyes.

"We won't push you to..." Yoongi begins, I shoot him a shocked look- silently glaring at him. 

He shouldn't be encouraging her to keep things locked up inside. It's not good. Or healthy.

But he ignores me and continues to speak.

"But I still think you should tell someone. I'm saying it because we care." He finishes, looking at her with understanding and sincerity.

She nods and I gently draw her arm down, still holding it- feeling the need to and look at her, waiting for an explanation.

And I remember with horrible clarity the marks on her arm, remember the bruising and red lines and genuinely fear for her and worry. Worry if she's trapped in a situation she needs help from. That her silence and inability to speak will just cause her to be trapped in them further.

And before I can think the question blurts out, but I don't regret it. I need to know that's not the case.

"You're not stuck in an abusive relationship are you?" I say, begging and praying that's not the case. That she's not being both taken advantage of but also hurt.

She deserves the world, not that.

An insistent shake of her head, and the air whooshes out of my lungs.

Thank god.

I sigh, smiling at her and seeing her reassuring smile in return.

She makes a motion indicating backwards...yesterday.

"It happened yesterday." Joonie says, eyes trained firmly on her.

She nods.

And then that's it.

Nothing else she says to us.

"And...?" I press when it looks like she's not going to say anything else.

She uses her free hand to get her phone out of her pocket, tapping at her screen and then our phones chime.

Joon reads out what it says.

"The others already know. You can ask them." He says.

My eyes fly to her, searching.

Why hadn't the boys said anything?

And when I see Yoongi's thoughtful expression it makes me realise he's thinking the same thing that I am.

That the boys had come home and had each sported a look of tiredness despite the small smiles. It hadn't been the usual exhaustion that came with dance lessons, nor did dance lessons usually run on that long.

But when I'd asked, they'd shrugged it off- all of them claiming fatigue and tiredness.

Now I wondered if that tiredness had been on an emotional level.

Yoongi opens his mouth, whether it's to ask further or ask why the boys hadn't said anything.

Instead what comes out is a slightly pouty, huffing statement.

"Why don't I get a message too? I feel left out." He deadpans but it makes her lips twitch and she holds her hand out for his phone, typing her number in.

Moments later her phone rings briefly, with his own number flashing up on her screen.

"Whenever you need to talk...about anything." Yoongi says eyes soft and serious as he looks at her intently.

She nods, smiling.

And all this time I didn't realise that I'd still been holding onto her arm, that my fingers had tightened protectively around her and kept her close to me. That my fingers had splayed out on her arm and sought the warmth of her skin. That somehow it had felt natural, easy and the pride and happiness that bubbled inside me was because I was so happy she accepted it. Because it gave me hope that I could shower her with small affections and she wouldn't shy away from them.

And the thought of wrapping her in my arms and affectionately teasing her, coddling her would be a dream come true.

And just how much I yearn that same warmth when I eventually let go, feeling sad as I do so.

And when we walk out of the trail, parting ways at the car park- I feel wistfulness as I look at her retreating figure, see her happily go on her way- drawing unconscious smiles from others who glance at her, also drawn in by her silent charm.

And it's only as we get into the car, begin driving back that Yoongi breaks the silence, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel before he speaks.

"You know she's already been on that trail. I've taken her there." He confesses.

My head darts to him from facing the front to view his side profile. I see his lips quirk into an amused smile.

I gape at him.

"Yoongi!" I exclaim.

"What hyung?" he replies nonchalantly.

"You could've said! Oh god...she had to listen to me be so proud of that place and be so confident about it and she'd already been there." I say, feeling embarrassment slipping in.

"And she kept smiling to keep my spirits up too!" I add, feeling my ears burn as mortification sets in.

Joonie and Yoongi laugh.

"She's a good sport, you got to give her that. God knows how she manages to keep on going with your remarks hyung." Yoongi adds once the chuckles have died down.

"Yah!" I exclaim, whacking his arm lightly- so he doesn't get distracted or have his eyes divert from the road.

"What?" he says, still smiling.

I'll give him that. He's right. She is a good sport. She indulges my humour and my remarks and teasing more than any of the boys. Makes me try harder to make her laugh even as my puns and jokes get even more ludicrous and exaggerated- she brings out my silly side. But even if I look foolish I don't mind. Not if it brings a smile to her face.

And when we get home there's far more pressing matters to do. Such as capturing a certain four who had failed to tell us about yesterday. Determination in each of our strides as we round up the maknaes and their leader in mischief, coddling them and a happy indulger of their antics; Hobi.

And that happiness, giddiness fades when Tae grits out what happened yesterday, atmosphere stormy and disturbed- tight with tension when he talks about the employee who'd forcefully grabbed her as she was ordering. It makes rage bubble and seethe inside me; I see it shatter Yoongi's usually calm demeanour and Joonie's level-headed one.

"What happened to the employee?" I ask sharply.

They look at me.

My hand has already grabbed my phone, ready to call and make him pay for his actions towards her, to file an official complaint.

But the soft, resigned look in Kookie's eyes make me pause.

"(Y/N) didn't want us to take any action against him. She was adamant we don't. In fact Habaek ssi insisted we leave it to him to sort out." He reveals.

"It's only fair, he has rights we don't." Hobi points out, with a shadowed expression.

I don't know why those words hurt. Just that they do.

(THERE YOU GO! PART 2 OF THE PICNIC DATE WITH THE BOYS' PERSPECTIVE ONLY THIS TIME! WE GOT YOONGI AND WE GOT JINNIE! AND I LOVED WRITING HOW THEY GOT PROTECTIVE AND ANGRY ON HER BEHALF, HOW THERE WAS A MIXTURE OF TEASING BUT ALSO THAT DASH OF CONCERN- BECAUSE EVEN IF THEY DON'T KNOW IT YET, EVEN IF THEY DON'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT YET- THERE'S SOMETHING IN THEM THAT DOESN'T SIT RIGHT AT THE THOUGHT OF (Y/N) GETTING HURT. AND YOU CAN BET IF JINNIE THOUGHT SHE WAS STUCK IN AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP HE'D SWOOP IN PRONTO! BUT I WONDER...WHETHER FUTURE MARKS ON HER SKIN WILL MAKE HIM THINK OTHERWISE. WILL MAKE HIM SECOND-GUESS THE SHAKE OF HER HEAD...BECAUSE IN REALITY ABUSED VICTIMS DON'T EASILY ADMIT TO THE ABUSE IN THE FISRT PLACE...LET'S SEE WHERE THIS GOES!! I CAN'T WAIT TO WRITE THE NEXT CHAPTER- I'VE GOT A FEW IDEAS!! LET ME KNOW YOUR THOUGHTS AND STAY SAFE AND ENJOY!!)

QUESTION...ONE OF THE THINGS YOU LOVE AND HATE IN FANFICS?

Mine is...I HATE the misunderstanding and angst drawing the characters away from each other but I also LOVE it- love reading the long angsty distance and the beauty and emotional resolving of it all!

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3