JOON POV:

It's Yoongi hyung who grabs up the offer when (Y/N) says with a sad, petulant twist to her lips that she should get going, jumping up to declare he'll drive her back, eyes soft and tender when she meets his gaze, pinked cheeks and so soft in Jiminie's oversized shirt, such a stark difference to the seductive siren she'd been earlier on. Body splayed confidently and parted before us, clothes rucked up to show the very thorough marks Jiminie had left behind on her.

It had sparked a restlessness in me, a consuming want when I'd seen Jiminie slot himself over her, between her, had seen the look of satisfaction under hooded eyes, had seen a sureness and pleasure in the way he kept himself over her, roved his hands over her skin with a liberty, a confidence that suggested that last night had allowed him to familiarise himself to every inch of her.

And it had felt right to see the way pleasure flashed across her face, the way she'd easily given in to it, assured and comfortable between all seven of us, head falling to the side and meeting my gaze, an entrancing piercing look that had tugged me closer, had silently ensnared me.

I knew I hadn't been the only one to read the ease and comfort in her, the way that rather than become flustered she'd given as good as she'd gotten, twisting herself around to pin Jiminie to the cushioning, triumphant and mischievous.

Fiddling with his clothes to reveal that he was just as marked, just as claimed as she was.

And I'd be lying if I said that the show of strength and tease when she'd flipped them around, changing their positions, hadn't send a bolt of excitement to rush through me. She was someone who liked playing and toying, that was clear with the way thrilled delight made her eyes dance over him, over the rest of us.

And when she'd clambered off him to dart behind Jin hyung, it was amusement that she looked at Jiminie with, atmosphere turning light with the beaming smile she gave, laughing but going without protest when Jin hyung swept her into his arms, drawing her to tug onto his lap.

And there she'd stayed, giggling when he leaned in to whisper something, brushing his lips across her hair, the curve of her cheek, her neck, hands large and gripping her waist, head hooked over her shoulder.

Stayed there even as Tae, huffed and moved to the consoles, head cocked as he asked if she'd like to play.

It was clear he'd been hoping she'd clamber off Jin hyung's lap to sprawl beside him, which she did after Jin hyung clung on for a few minutes longer, but he'd underestimated the sight.

Of having her sprawled on her stomach, shirt riding higher to show the edge of black boxers as she'd leant past him to choose a controller. Unfazed and unaware likely of the effect the sight had.

Of the way her legs unconsciously crossed, ankles touching and legs kicking before they settled up above her, revealing the low of her back.

"What game? It's been a while since I've played them actively with Habaek oppa?" she says distractedly, fingers brushing over the games, head cocked as she examines them.

Kookie is next to slide off the couch, fingers subtle and careful as he tugs her shirt down silently, covers the sight of the black peeping out with pink cheeks and a gaze that is focused and drawn to her face, playfully rolling onto her other side and knocking her laced legs with an easy grin.

Her legs unravel to playfully kick back, falling down as she turns to face him, a matching grin on her face.

"I thought you said you'd never compete against me~ what's changed Kookie?" she quips.

He shrugs his shoulders easily, a toothy grin and nose scrunch as he leans in, face close to hers.

"I figured if you've not played why not gamble it all?" he says easily.

She leans in closer, eyes dropping to his lips, her own curving wider.

"True...life is all about the big stakes. I'm in." and though her words are light and teasy, gaze playful, it seems as if she's talking about something more, as if she's talking more about than the present, than the game controller she hands over to him.

Time passing by in a blur of laughter, incredulous shouts, everyone surely but slowly roped into the giddy mess of limbs that the three had ended up forming when (Y/N) had rolled away from Kookie's look of shock and bewilderment, wriggling under Tae to duck away from his approaching attack.

"You said you haven't played actively. You liar!" Kookie yells darting to tug Tae off her but he tries to remain firm for her, tries to form a barrier to protect her, even if his loud pealing laughter, all deep giggles and boxy smile, rings out as he squirms, still caging her in even as his arms tremble.

"I haven't! I don't play a lot! Habaek oppa is the real master at arcade games, all sort of games actually..." she says, peeking out from between Tae's arms, eyes alight with amusement.

"He's really intelligent, tall and is good at games too? Life is unfair." I say.

Feel eyes turn to me.

"You're tall and intelligent though. I don't know about games though~" Hobi teases, elbowing me.

"Not unfair though...he's just had an unbelievable amount of time to perfect some things." (Y/N) says vaguely, lips quirked.

As if at his relatively young age he's had countless time to master academics and games. As if he's had nothing but time.

"Sweetheart he's how old again?" Jin hyung asks.

She hums.

"29 soon, why?" she answers.

"29 isn't a lifetime, what do you mean unbelievable amount of time?" he asks.

Her expression falters, a flitting of something hidden and unspoken passing through her eyes.

But the moment's forgotten when Kookie, who'd silently been edging closer, manages to grab her, her yelp of surprise stopping her from answering.

And in a swirl of time slipping away, lunch passes and it's as her phone buzzes on the table does she realise how late she'd gotten. Explains with a bright look of giddiness that she had plans she was getting late for with Mi-sun and Habaek.

So when she stands up to leave, Yoongi hyung was the first to snap into action and follow her, murmuring that he'd get her a pair of trousers or something. Leaving with a hand splayed on the low of her back as he guided her from the living room.

And when she appeared, with a pair of shorts peeking out it was to whirl around to give parting pecks and hugs, smiling when Jiminie tugged her against him and cradled her there for a few more moments.

And when she reaches me, I blink up at her before standing, moving to encase her in my arms, wrapping her close.

"Can I come too?" I whisper.

See her smile when I lean away and her nod, her hand moving to lace together with mine, squeezing happily.

"Space for one more Yoongi?" voice sweet and soft.

He gives me a gummy smile, soft cheeks curved up as he smiles, tilting his head towards the doorway.

"Of course, come on then Joon-ah."

The three of us heading out into the doorway to leave, her costume carefully taken from Yoongi hyung's hands and cradled in hers.

Touch so light and gentle as she bent to put one shoe on and the other.

It's clear the costume means a lot because her hands are infinitely careful with the way she gets into the car with it, sliding into the back seat with it on her lap.

"Front or back Joon-ah, hyung's not fussy." Yoongi hyung says with a twinkle in his eyes.

And a smile that widens when I clamber into the back, sliding into the driving seat easily.

"Let's get you home then sweetheart." He says, eyes meeting ours in the rear-view mirror.

Voice soft and tender.

She nods.

But her gaze doesn't drift from her costume, doesn't tear away from it.

As if it captures her gaze and demands it to stay there.

Still and losing herself in memory.

------

We're driving back in comfortable silence, my body having shifted closer and closer to hers until she silently reaches across the slight distance to reach for my hand, finding comfort in my fingers wrapping around her smaller ones, curving together.

Tilting in towards me too.

"Your costume reminds me of the one the original recorded dancer wore." Yoongi hyung remarks suddenly, darting a glance back to run his eyes over the black costume that lies on her lap. Eyes flashing with both amazement and wonder for how much the costume resembles the other one.

Her fingers still in her costume, splayed out across the edge of her thigh where she'd been tracing the embellishments.

Breath hitching. As if now realising she wasn't alone, head rising to meet ours, blinking away something that looked suspiciously like a glossy sheen of tears.

"Does it? That was Mi-Sun unnie's plan. To replicate it." She answers lightly, voice level and composed even as she blinked back emotion.

He makes a humming sound, still looking at her now that we've approached a traffic light. Eyes softening as he smiles at her bent head, reaching out to lightly raise her chin, something so warm and tender about it but makes heat flash through me at the readiness with how she allows him, head tilting back slightly to peer at him.

So at odds with how intent she seemed to rile me up, how each touch was just sending the heat of those flames to burn hotter and fiercer.

"You used the song. And that was an honour. To see you dance to something I'd fiddled around with." He says softly.

My head tilts, taking in the way his eyes are soft and face sweetly bashful and surprised. Makes me realise that the song that had poured out of the speakers, had resonated in our souls had been one of his craft. One he'd worked with to make into a beautiful modern rendition of the swan's song, of its tale of learning to fly once more.

And suddenly it made sense. Made sense as to why that song had felt as if it was so perfectly attuned to the thudding of hearts, to that feeling of breathlessness, to the sensation of my soul soaring, body stilling and frozen, unable to tear away from the sight of the two of them as they'd spun on the stage. As they'd danced to this haunting sweet tale of letting go and rebuilding.

A part of Yoongi hyung had been with them on that stage, had been his work encompassing their intertwined figures as they'd danced.

And his gaze wasn't on me, that look of sweet tenderness wasn't focused on me. But it made my breath catch regardless, made my heart ache and accelerate, thudding away quickly.

I was so in love with him. With her.

And (Y/N)'s gesture is equally as soft, turning to kiss the inside of his wrist, a delicate press of lips to the skin of the same hand that holds her, that she leans into. Silently thanking him.

Leaving behind an imprint of her lips behind, a rosy hue of colour, the shape of them marking her claim on him.

"You made the song mean so much more for me Yoongi. It was a gift that helped more than you'll know." She murmurs.

There's honesty in her voice, sheer genuine emotion to her words.

And he holds her gaze for a few more moments, the honking of a car behind us shattering whatever fragile, delicate moment that had existed within that moment.

And then he's slipping away, turning back to keep driving. To drive the last stretch back.

And I know even without asking, even without prompting that the (Y/N) who'd danced with Jiminie on stage, had danced as the most exposed, vulnerable version of herself. Had danced by laying herself bare to me, to all of us. Knowing she could be that exposed, that naked in front of us.

It was a whole new level of trust and intimacy that her dance had showed. It was a whole new level of faith and love in us that she had shown.

And I wanted to show her just how much that meant.

Wanted to cherish her, wanted to murmur my thanks across every inch of skin and promise her that she could always be that way to us.

That I loved her more for sharing that part of her, that agony that the music spoke of, that her body danced to tell us. And that it made me all the more to want to cradle her close, protect her but also help her to learn she could be fearless, could be the bold, brave soul I knew she was.

And I knew that this was a way of her healing. This was a way of trying to cope with everything she had gone through, of the terrors and traumas that were still unspoken, still unvoiced.

But she'd danced them out, partly at least.

Dance had done what words couldn't, what her voice couldn't verbalise.

I just wish that whatever else haunted her, plagued her, wished that everything that made her so troubled and tormented would slowly ease its clutches on her, would ease up its merciless grip and let her breathe, let her live.

Wished it so much for her.

Wished every happiness for her.

Because she deserved every single moment to be nothing other than joy.

Because she deserved to live free from the web that ensnared her.

Because sometimes it seemed as if shadows flickered in her eyes, as if ghosts haunted her. Sometimes it seemed that those moments of radiance that poured out of her like unfiltered sunlight were just brief, felt as if they could be snatched away any moment by a bigger, unspoken thing that hovered like a raincloud. Waiting for the opportunity to drench us all, to consume her lungs with water.

And I was afraid for her.

For what would happen if that indeed happened.

And wanted to protect her. Help her.

Shelter her from it.

YOONGI POV:

The drive back is different, silent and intimate, hands held loosely over the driving console as I steer the wheel, occasionally brushing my thumb across the back of Joonie's knuckles in a soothing, light caress.

I liked that somehow I didn't need words. That touch and actions could do what words couldn't. That behind every touch, there was a different meaning, a different message. A different set of words that didn't need to be expressed because touch did it instead.

It was why I'd always felt such a tug towards (Y/N). Why I'd seen past her silence easily, why it hadn't been a thing that had fazed me. Why even in her silence I felt endless stories pouring out of her, through those expressive eyes, through the way her lips curved, the way her body shifted and the way her hands gestured as she expressed something.

I'd felt a conenction with (Y/N) that had somehow tugged at my soul. Had understood the silence, the unspoken words with such ease and familiairty that at first it had been disconcerting.

Disconcerting because why had I been able to read the small tells of her body, why had I been able to recognise them quickly. Why had I somehow been able to sense when she'd needed space and when that seemed like the farthest thing from her mind at other times.

It's a small squeeze to my hand that brings me back to the present, brings me away from memories of eyes that I'd been entranced by, by a gaze that I wish I knew intimately just so I could read the stories in them.

Turn to face Joon.

"Where are you lost hyung?" voice soft and curious.

I smile at him, fingers tapping against the steering wheel.

"I was thinking about (Y/N). Remembering how she'd been the first few times I'd met her." I reply.

Glancing back and continuing to drive, feeling the brush of his gentle gaze drift across the side of my face.

"You met her at Magic Shop for the first time didn't you? What music was she looking for?" he asks.

A flash of memory, of small fingers curled around a record, of a gaze that had faded, lost its grip on the present albeit momentarily.

And how she'd left clutching it carefully, cradled towards her.

"An old, old ballroom piece. It was a really popular song reconstructed from surviving papers, fragments that were put together. She seems to have an inclination towards historical pieces." I muse aloud.

Verbalising it aloud made me think. Made me realise that there was some sort of fascination (Y/N) had towards the past, a past that was so disconnected from the present. Centuries past that was a different time, a different world entirely.

"You might be right on that hyung. Did you know that when Tae first met her, he was drawn to her style of clothes first." He asks.

We approach a traffic light, car coming to a stop as I turn to give him my attention, eyes meeting his.

"Her clothes?" I echo.

Joon nods.

"He met her in the library. And he was drawn to her clothes, they were cuts and patterns from another era. You know...like the one in the photo? It might not mean anything but her clothes shifted from those." He adds.

I hum, piecing together what that all added upto.

A preference for historically inspired clothes, for old pieces of music that had been saved and recreated, records over CDs...a general inclination towards drawing the past into the present.

I briefly wondered if this was a way of her coping. A defence mechanism to turn away, to detach herself from whatever she'd endured in her life. So choosing the past was a way of deflecting of what she'd experienced in her own.

I also wondered if it was a healthy way of coping. Of dealing with things.

"Is it possible that (Y/N) might be using her inclination to history as a way of suppressing her trauma do you reckon?" I ask.

And the fact Joonie doesn't answer straight away, that his face scrunches with a thoughtful frown makes my heart drop, plummet to dark bottomless depths.

Eyes flickering with thoughts.

And when he speaks, his words are carefully said, as if each word matters.

"Habaek told me it felt like forever since he'd heard (Y/N) talk. I'm guessing then that they go way back, the three of them. But when I asked, he also wouldn't tell. It just feels like the pain we saw was just the bare tip of a colossal iceberg." Voice hesitant.

Fingers curling around mine, squeezing as he chases reassurance and comfort. Soft brown eyes flickering with worry and concern, pain for her.

"It seems as if it's some sort of escapism for her. But I don't want it to turn unhealthy. That she dwells on history she has no part in that she just...forgets the present. It's not the way her trauma should be overcome." He says.

Misery lining each feature of his face.

Crumpled with distress.

When earlier it had been radiant and stunned and blown away by (Y/N).

I raise our intertwined hands to press a kiss to the back of his hand.

"I don't think so. I don't think any one would let it become that. She's got a strong network of people who love her, we love her. We're not going to put her in pain or stand by watching." I say softly.

The changing of the traffic lights catches the corner of my eyes.

Red turning to amber to green.

And when my foot presses down on the accelerator, moving forward at the signal, it's with that shared assurance, that promise between us that we'd never watch from the sidelines if (Y/N) was hurting.

We'd never stand by and watch her crumple.

But be there to help her, be there to help her to build herself up and to learn to be free.

Knew that one day she'd be unburdened, unhindered by all those pains that clung to her, that the shadows that flickered in and out of her eyes would one day be removed.

But even as we drove back, one thought ran in my head over and over.

A thought I'd had since I'd first met her.

That her pains looked like lifetimes of grief and suffering. That she was young but her eyes were aged, pools of multitudes of stories, of an abyss of pain.

That she was young. But her soul was so so weary and worn.

Seemed so at odds with her body.

Confined almost.

I just didn't know what would happen when it wasn't. When she wasn't trapped.

Couldn't say for sure what would happen when that abyss emptied out.

And only she remained.

And didn't know how we'd get there.

But knew with a certainty that sank deep in my bones that we'd be beside her when it did.

(THERE YOU GO. I'M SORRY~ THIS CHAPTER WASN'T COMING AS NATURALLY TO ME SO I DIDN'T WANT TO FORCE ANYTHING OUT! HENCE...THE DELAY! BUT I HOPE REGARDLESS THAT IT WAS ENJOYABLE OR INSIGHTFUL TO SAY THE VERY LEAST THAT THE BOYS AREN'T OBLIVIOUS TO SOMETHING MASSIVE AND HIDDEN. THAT THEY KNOW THERE IS SOMETHING HIDDEN FROM THEM, JUST NOT SURE WHAT. BUT TBH THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT IT, THEY CARE ABOUT BABY SIREN AND THE IMPACT IT HAS ON HER! THEY JUST WANT HER TO BE BETTER, TO BE HER WITHOUT BURDENS! AND!! THOUGHTS AND REACTIONS PLEASE~ CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT YOU ALL MADE OF IT!! ANY GUESSES OR THEORIES SO FAR?? LET'S SEE WHERE THE NEXT CHAPTER TAKES US COS HONESTLY I DON'T KNOW! TAKE CARE, STAY SAFE AND ENJOY!!)

QUESTION...THE LAST FILM YOU WATCHED?

Mine is...Thor! Cos I'm rewatching the Marvel series!

Borahae! 💜💜💜

PurpleQueenie <3