Jungkook grunts as he falls inside, Jimin shutting the door behind him, more bullet holes forming seconds later. 

"We need to go! Now!" Jimin commands, helping Y/n and keeping her behind him. 

Tae helps Jungkook up. Jungkook's shoulder is oozing with blood. Jesus. He's been attacked before, but being shot hurts like hell. He's never screamed so loudly in his life.

Together, they run, Jungkook hobbling along until they reach the outside world. They go out the back when Jimin halts them. 

"I need to get some weapons. Tae, what do you have?" 

Tae takes his concealed pistol out, Jimin doing the same. Holy fuck, what the hell?! So this is serious serious. Jungkook wasn't sure if this was an elaborate prank or not, but that gunshot says otherwise, huh?

Jungkook groans while Y/n tries to help him, placing her hands over the wound in a poor attempt to stop the bleeding.

"I don't see an exit wound. Shit, we need to get the bullet out," Tae mumbles, briefly investigating Jungkook's state. 

"We have no time! We need to move!" Jimin calls, clicking off the safety to his weapon. He goes over and unlocks the gate, motioning for them to run. They do, and Jungkook makes sure to keep Y/n close.

"Where the fuck do we go?!" Jungkook yells. 

"Jimin, Y/n, and I will go somewhere private! You're going to a hospital!" Tae says. 

Jungkook hisses from the pain. "Are you serious?!"

"No offense, Jungkook, but you just randomly show up for the first time in a week and conveniently chaos follows. Sorry if I don't trust you!" 

If they weren't running, Jungkook would have slapped Tae for that comment. "They shot me!"

"I have to agree with Tae. They could've shot you to try and make you look innocent," Jimin says.

Oh great. This is great. He's being thrown under the bus for something he didn't do. Wonderful. He's bleeding and in immense pain, but he's getting blamed. Jungkook can't fault them for being cautious, sure, but at the same time, he's still gonna be pissed about it.

"Faster!" Taehyung shouts when more gunshots sound off. 

Tae grabs Y/n and keeps her right next to him, Jimin and Jungkook running in-step with one another. 

"You seriously don't trust me? I've seen Y/n on her best and worst days. If I wanted her dead or I was working with these people, don't you think I would've lured her to a private spot and let them have their way with her?!" Jungkook asks.

Y/n lets out a loud grunt. "We're not arguing right now! All of you, shut the fuck up!"

Silence falls over them, the four mentally agreeing to run until there are no more gunshots. Tae slips into an alley, the others panting as they follow. Tae leads the way, turning a corner as carefully as he can. 

"Corners are dangerous," he tells Y/n, "don't ever cross one carelessly. Same with doors." Y/n nods, Tae handing her a spare pistol. "Protect yourself if it comes down to it, okay?"

She agrees. Jimin and Jungkook look behind them, relieved to see no one there yet. Yet.

"Come on, there's an abandoned apartment up here," Tae says. "Jimin, help?" 

Jimin comes over and hoists Tae up, the younger man grabbing the ladder and sliding it down. Tae goes up first, Y/n following, then Jimin, then Jungkook (not a surprise). Jimin pauses to bring the ladder back up, securing it. 

"Eighth floor," Tae says.

"You guys know about an abandoned apartment?" Jungkook asks in surprise. 

"Of course we do, we have dozens of escape plans memorized," Tae replies with an eye roll.

Jungkook decides against protesting his aggressive nature and instead follows them. They finally manage to get inside the eighth apartment due to Jimin's lockpicking skills on the window. When they get inside the bathroom, Y/n's quick to take off Jungkook's shirt and open the medicine cabinet.

"I'm surprised there's any medical supplies here," Y/n mumbles, taking out some painkillers. 

"It's a hideout. There's eight all throughout the city," Jimin replies, catching his breath. 

"Can we address the elephant in the room now?" Tae asks, pointing to Jungkook. 

Jungkook holds up his hand as if it's his white flag. "Listen, like I said before, I may be dumb, but I'm not that dumb. If I wanted Y/n dead, I would've just kidnapped her one of the times she was over my house, don't you think? I could've easily taken her and sent people to your address."

Jimin runs a hand through his hair. "He's got a point, Tae."

Tae huffs. "Still, nice timing you got. Show up just in time to get shot and for our asses to be on the run."

"Tae, please, this isn't helping. We need to get the bullet out and stitch his wound," Y/n insists. 

Finally, a voice of reason. Tae's entire face is steaming with anger. Lord, Jungkook can practically see the smoke coming out of Tae's nose and ears. Why? Why would Tae care so much when Jimin seems to be listening to-

Oh.

Jungkook's eyes widen, and Tae notices the sudden shift in his expression.

"What?" Tae asks in a grunt. 

"You're in love with Y/n. That's why you're accusing me, right?" 

The entire room goes still at that. Even Tae's amazed by Jungkook's words. 

"Or maybe I just find you suspicious, ever think of that?" Tae says, but his words sound weak as they leave his lips.

Jimin conveniently avoids eye contact, and he also avoids the conversation. 

Jungkook points to Jimin. "Your friend seems to agree with me."

Y/n shakily grabs more supplies, finding a sewing needle and quickly sterilizing it. "Can we talk about our love lives later and maybe worry about fixing you?"

"We don't have the tools to get the bullet out," Jimin says. "We need to drop him off at a hospital. I can go." 

Jungkook shakes his head. "That's too risky. They recognize our faces now, we can't risk going outside." 

"Well we can't stitch the wound while the bullet's inside," Tae points out. 

Jungkook slowly lowers his gaze. "You have a knife, right?" 

Y/n almost jumps "Jungkook-" 

"Sorry Y/n, but we don't have much other option," Jungkook interrupts.

Tae takes out his knife, handing it to Jimin. The older man sighs, sitting Jungkook down on the toilet. Y/n watches with worry painted on her face, but Jungkook gives her a smile. 

"It's okay. I'll be okay. Jimin'll take care of me," Jungkook reassures. 

"Don't worry, assuming Jungkook's not a spy, I kinda like him," Jimin replies, making sure to clean the knife before getting eye-level with the wound. 

"How deep is it?" Jungkook asks. Jimin parts the flesh, Jungkook yelping from the pain. 

"Um..." 

"That bad?"

"This is gonna hurt," Jimin answers.

Jungkook sucks in a breath. "I'm ready."

"Tae, sweep the house. Y/n, stay here," Jimin says. 

Jungkook's eyes bulge. "What? Don't let her see this-" 

"Jungkook, I'm a big girl, I can handle it. Plus, Tae needs to sweep the house alone. What if there's a threat and I'm right there?"

Jungkook sighs. She's right. 

Jimin cautiously places the tip of the blade on the outside of the large wound. "Are you sure you want to do this? I can try to get you to the nearest hospital using the rooftops if you like jumping."

"Just... do it," Jungkook mumbles.

Jimin opens one of the cabinets, grabbing a folded washcloth and handing it to Jungkook. 

"What's this?" Jungkook asks. 

"Bite on it. It'll muffle the screams."

Oh great. This is going fucking wonderfully. 

Jungkook does as he's told, biting down on it. As soon as it's secure, Jimin counts down. 

"3... 2... 1..."

Holy fucking shit, what the fuck?!

Jungkook screams into the towel, biting down on it harshly while Jimin maneuvers the knife, wincing as he does so. 

"I'm sorry, Jeon, but you need to stop squirming so much. Y/n, I see you trying to hold his hand, don't. He'll break your bones. Not on purpose, but he will," Jimin calmly explains. Y/n reluctantly backs up, Jungkook crying from the pain. "Hang on, I almost got it. Almost over, Kook." 

Jimin goes a little bit deeper until Jungkook feels the blade pop out and a metal object hit Jimin's palm.

"Oh shit," Jimin mumbles. 

"What?" Y/n asks while Jungkook borderline passes out, his vision blurring. 

"Well, for starters, Jungkook's starting to lose a lot of blood. Then of course we have the added joy of being hunted by Americans." 

"How do you know?" Y/n asks. 

Jungkook just barely manages to see Jimin hold up the bloody bullet. 

"See this?" She nods. "I'm guessing a ruger-57. American firearm." 

"Shit, that means it's definitely the mafia. How the hell did they find us?" Y/n asks.

"Either they've been watching and waiting or they happened to see you and Tae at the grocery store or both. I'm guessing a mix of both," Jimin replies while getting to work with healing Jungkook's wound.

Jungkook softly groans, the cloth falling out of his mouth. Snot, tears, and saliva liter his face, but he could care less. Truthfully, his shoulder is so numb he can't feel Jimin disinfecting it. Jungkook's not sure if that's a good sign or not. 

"Kook, talk to me, let me know you're still alive and present," Jimin says. Jungkook lets out a grunt, his vision still half-black. 

"You... would be a terrible surgeon," Jungkook grumbles out. 

"Nice to know you're still with us, Mr. Jeon. Next time I'll go slower. I have to stitch now. Is that okay?" 

"Do I have a choice?" 

"Nope," Jimin answers, popping the 'p'.

More pain comes, this one not nearly as intense as the gunshot or the stabbing. Tae comes bursting into the room before Jungkook can focus on what's going on. 

"We can't stay here. There's cameras in the alleyway, they'll be able to find us in a day tops," Tae says. 

"Get in contact with our allies at the airport. Tell them to evacuate it and get ready for an emergency takeoff."

"What? That's supposed to be a last resort," Tae argues. 

"We're out of options. We need to leave. There's no point in staying here anymore. Where do we go? Our cover is blown."

"Alright. That's what we'll do." Tae sighs, turning to Y/n. "You have to stay down and stay in cover. We're going to find some clothes to conceal most of our faces and bodies, but I'm sure they'll be watching us. Hell, they might be on their way to the airport right now." 

Jungkook snaps to his senses, Jimin glaring at him. 

"Stay still or I'll fuck this up!"

Jungkook doesn't give a fuck.

"What about my sister?!" Jungkook demands. "I can't leave Yuri!" 

"We can't go back for her, there's no point," Tae says without so much as glancing at Jungkook. 

"Listen man, I get it, you love Y/n and all, but that's no reason to be bitchy toward me. My sister could be in danger! If I am, she is too!" 

Y/n's eyes widen, Jungkook peeking at her. 

"Jungkook," she whispers.

"What is it?" 

"Jungkook led them to us," Y/n mumbles. 

"What?!" Tae and Jimin yelp in-sync. 

"He doesn't know it, but he did. Jungkook, remember when you told me your parents borrowed money from mafia? One of the biggest in the world?" 

"Yea- wait. N-No, that's impossible. No way."

"Anyone want to clearly state what's happening?" Jimin asks, still stitching Jungkook. 

"Jungkook's parents took out a big loan from a mafia. I believe that mafia was my parents. That's how they knew where to find us. They were following up on sources they have in Korea. Observing Jungkook for less than twenty-four hours tells you he's with me. If they even so much as glanced at Kook, they would've found me," Y/n explains. "Either they're great at stalking or they went for Jungkook. I'm betting the latter."

"Shit... shit, Y/n, I'm so fucking sorry," Jungkook says with his lower lip quivering. 

To Jungkook's surprise, Tae steps forward. 

"You don't choose your parents. Y/n, do you trust Jungkook?" Y/n's quick to nod. Tae sighs. "Then I'll choose to trust him too. But you're still being monitored at all times, got it?" 

Jungkook agrees. "Whatever you have to do. But please, let me go for my sister. Our house is on the way to the airport."

Jimin finishes the stitches. "If Y/n's theory is correct, they already have your house surrounded. I'm sure they're with Yuri already. Not to scare you, but I can't hide the truth." 

Jungkook tears up, this time from emotional pain rather than physical. "No, not Yuri... I can't leave her. Give me a gun and I'll do it myself."

Jimin peers at Tae. 

"No, we have a mission," Tae warns. 

"I can't let a kid die, Tae. You know I can't," Jimin whispers, "especially now since..." He cuts himself off and turns away.

"Why don't Jimin and I go and you two go to the airport?" Jungkook suggests. 

"I'm not leaving you alone with my brother," Tae replies. "Sorry, but I don't trust you that much. We'll all go. As a team. Jimin, don't you dare give your spare to him." 

Jimin moves his hand away from the inside of his jacket and pouts. "Fine."

Jungkook glances around at the three in front of him, still having uneven breathing thanks to the amount of blood he lost. 

"So we get new clothes and go to the airport, then stop at my house to get Yuri on the way?" he asks. 

Jimin and Tae nod, Y/n fiddling with the pistol Tae gave her. It breaks his heart to see her wielding it.

"Get up, Jungkook," Jimin says. Jungkook is quick to do so, wincing from the stab of pain he gets. "How are you feeling?"

"To be honest, Tae looks like how I feel." 

Jimin snorts. "That bad, huh?" Tae shoots them both a sour look, Jimin ignoring it to instead walk over to Y/n. "Are you ready to go?"

She sighs, meeting Jungkook's eyes. He gives her an encouraging nod. This is it. The fight for their lives... for freedom.

Y/n lets the pistol rest by her side. "Do I have a choice?"

Jimin smiles. "That's the spirit. Let's prove it to them." 

"Prove what to them?" Y/n asks. Jimin brings his eyes back to stare at Jungkook and Tae. 

"They fucked with the wrong people." 

~~~

STARFIELD WEEK, DAY 6

Starfield is my upcoming PJM fanfiction that will release on December 21, 2023. Here is additional information about the story to build anticipation!

Outside of the BTS members, one of the main characters is Sam Coe. He is an excellent marksman with incredible knowledge of the Freestar Collective. He is one of the last known descendants of the founder of the Freestar Collective, Solomon Coe. He also has a daughter named Cora Coe.

Sam believes in law and order. He wants the galaxy to be a safer place. So, when he meets the criminal, Park Jimin, I think you can imagine how their relationship starts off.

However, with Sam being a vital member of Constellation, Jimin has to learn to get along with both him and his daughter. During this time, secrets about Jimin's past are revealed that put his relationship with Sam to the test. For the better of the galaxy, they need to work together, but can they?

Check out my most recent message board post for more information + the official Starfield book trailer!