⊱☯⊰

-''Will you stop doing that? You are making me nervous.'' – Jungkook said, glaring at Jimin, who continued kicking at the locked door, trying to break them.

-''If you raise your lazy ass to help me out, we could get out of this shithole.'' – Jimin said through gritted teeth, the sweat was on his brow right now and he took few steps back before he ran towards the door and hit them with his shoulder, only to wince slightly in pain. – ''Shit.''

-''Only because someone decided to piss off the Earl of Plumcut!'' – Jungkook said annoyed. Jimin turned towards him.

-''He is a prick that doesn't know how to wipe his own ass!''

Jungkook rolled his eyes. – ''He doesn't have to, he has someone to do that for him!''

Jimin continued kicking at the door. – ''Motherfucking asshole...and this motherfucking shithole... fucking prick...who does he think he is.... Motherfucking bastard... fat...fuckface... pig in the silk and a wig....fucking shitface...'' – He kicked harder and harder.

-''Jimin calm the fuck down! You are giving me a headache!'' – Jungkook said irritably and Jimin screamed from frustration and kick the door again.

-''Fuck you too, puppy! Who made you meddle!? I could take them all by myself!''

-''You could have your ass beaten if I wasn't there to help you out you ungrateful asshole!''

-''Who do you call an asshole?'' – Jimin came closer to him, angrily. Jungkook jumped on his feet.

-''You!''

Jimin grabbed Jungkook by his collar and pushed him against the wall. – ''I have enough of you, pup! You've been nagging me ever since we got here and I'm sick and tired of it!''

Jungkook gritted his teeth and hissed back. – ''Can you blame me? We've been locked here because of you! They locked me as well because I helped you and you keep saying that I should mind my own business!''

-''Yes!'' – Jimin yelled, punching the wall next to Jungkook's head. – ''That's exactly what I'm saying, because then...'' – Jimin made a slight pause, raising his eyebrows. – ''...you won't be here with me! And I won't be feeling like shit because I pulled you into this shit!'' – Jimin said, the anger leaving his eyes. Jungkook looked at him and then grabbed at Jimin's hands around his collar.

- ''But that was my choice, not yours. I chose to help you.''

-''But why!? You hate me!'' – Jimin growled, tightening his grip around Jungkook's collar, but Jungkook ran his thumbs across Jimin's wrists, reassuring him.

-''I don't. You are obnoxious and I would punch you in the face so many times, but I do not hate you! I admire your fighting skills and the fact that you are V's best friend. That guy scares the shit out of me.''

Jimin finally burst out laughing, clenching at Jungkook and burying his head in his chest. Jungkook first looked at him confused, but then started chuckling himself.

-''Yeah, V is one scary motherfucker, isn't he?''- Jimin giggled and Jungkook's smile went wider.

-''Yeah he is.''

Jimin let go of him, straightening out his clothes. Jungkook observed him carefully, Jimin's posture, his hanging head and his hair that fall across his eyes. He panted slightly, trying to calm his breathing by exhaling audibly through his nose. He ran his hand through his dark locks, his eyes looked worried and pissed off about the whole situation. Jungkook felt a pang of guilt all of a sudden. He never gave Jimin a chance really, while in truth, he wasn't so different from him after all, under all of that cockiness.

-''I'm sorry.'' – Jungkook said.

-''Why are you apologizing for?'' – Jimin asked confused. – ''I'm the reason why we here in the first place.''

-''I'm sorry about my behavior towards you in general.'' – Jungkook spoke, bowing his head slightly.

-''Oh don't you fucking do that 'puppy look' shit on me. I already feel bad that I've got you into trouble. Tae is going to hate me, even more, when he founds out.''

-''Jimin, c'mon, sit down. You've been banging at that door for a half an hour or more.''– Jungkook said. – ''That door is made from thick wood and steel, you can't break through. Sit down, please.''

Jimin kicked the door once more, huffing annoyingly and puffing tiredly as he went with Jungkook to sit on the pile of hay, which was improvised as their bedding. Jimin took a deep breath.

-''We've been here since yesterday and besides the jug of water and old bread they toss us under that trap door once a day, we don't hear or see anyone besides us. I don't think they pay attention to us, except when they feed us and change the bucket. I don't think they heard me banging that door or even if they did they don't give a shit.''

-''That's because they know you can't break that door.'' – Jungkook said, but Jimin still had his own idea.

-''But if we can break through together, we might escape.''

-''Jimin stop, please...even if I attack that door with you barehanded, without our swords, it's too strong, that we are just going to hurt ourselves.''

When Jimin inhaled a large breath to argue, Jungkook interrupted him by saying.

-''We don't know for how long that insult on Erl's ego will hold us here, but I don't think he can keep us for too long. People will start to wonder where we are. Hyungs will look for us.'' – Jungkook said exasperatedly.

-''Shit you are right, but what if they don't know where we are?''

-''I think everyone heard you insulting Erl's small pickle dick. It must be the talk of the town by now. I think they could take a wild guess and be right.'' – Jungkook chuckled and Jimin had that satisfied smirk on his face.

-''Hmmm true, but what is taking them so long?'' – He wanted to know.

-''I don't know, but I do know that they won't leave us hanging here for too long.'' – Jungkook answered calmly, leaning his head back on the stone wall. Tae is going to be so worried, Jungkook thought. He probably wondered why he didn't show up for their dinner last night. Jungkook huffed.

Jimin runs his hand through his hair again, taking a deep breath. – ''Shit, I am sorry Jungkook. I don't know why I'm always on the edge with you.''

Jungkook smiled gently. ''I think it has something to do with Tae, isn't it?''

At that Jimin blinked and turned his head to look at the young man, who was now looking at him with the relaxed face of a man resigned to his fate. Yeah sure, Jungkook was irritable sometimes, Jimin thought, especially with his behavior, but nothing much that Jimin can't tolerate. But when you add Tae....well...things do get complicated.

Jimin didn't say anything, looking at his hands again but his silence was enough to answer for Jungkook.

-''I know you think he hates you though, but he is just pretending.''

Jimin looked at Jungkook again, hugging his knees like he always does when he feels vulnerable.

-''He is not?'' – He asked quietly and Jungkook returned the look and smiled slightly.

-''He is not hating you Jimin. He just wants everyone to believe that he does.''

Jimin sighed deeply. – ''But why? I always liked him.''

Jungkook hesitated for a moment, but then scratched his own neck before he spoke. –''Maybe because you always treat him like a piece of meat.''

Jimin's eyes went wide. –''What?! I do not! I always said how great he looks, how beautiful he is!''

Jungkook raised his eyebrows in 'oh yeah, really?' kind of gesture and Jimin huffed.

-''Yes I always spoke how much I like him. You can ask anyone!''

Jungkook chuckled.

-''That's the point, you tell everyone all the time, but not him.''

-''I do!'' – Jimin interjected. – ''I told him hundreds of times and he just ignores me!''

Jungkook shifted his body slightly so he was facing Jimin now.

-''Have you ever told him these things while you were alone?'' – Jungkook had no idea of why he was talking about Jimin messed up feelings towards Tae, with Jimin of all people, but he felt that Jimin needed to know. He needed to realize his mistake and stop doing the same wrong stupid shit and finally leave his man alone.

-'' Well I don't think we were ever alone per se... V was always with us.''

Jungkook just kept looking at him calmly, waiting for Jimin to catch the meaning. He finally did.

-''But even so, V is his twin, my best friend. We don't have anything to hide from him.''

Jungkook shook his head. – ''You still don't get it to do you?'' – Jimin just looked like him, so Jungkook continued.

-''Instead of approaching him slowly, you said it out loud to everyone how great looking you think he is and how much you want to, khm, I quote you: 'tap that booty, which is so divine.' Now, I don't know about your lovemaking, but I do know Tae, and he would find that rather insulting.''

-''What do you mean insulting!? And when did you heard me say it!? You know what, don't answer that, it doesn't matter, I've said that a lot of times, it's true...I do think he is handsome and that I would fuck him, of course, I would!''

Jungkook greeted his teeth at this blunt talking. - ''The point is Jimin, you made him feel like a piece of meat for you to fuck. If he was to give in and sleep to you, everyone would be pointing at him as one of your latest conquests.''

-''But I don't want just to fuck him, I want him to be mine.'' – Jimin said matter-of-factly.

Jungkook's tongue found his way licking into his own cheek. – ''Others didn't see it that way.''

Jimin starred at him. – ''You mean to say, if....if I kept my mouth shut, we would be together by now?''

Jungkook huffed irritably. -''I don't know Jimin.''

-''You mean to say we could be fucking this whole time if I didn't have such a big mouth?''

-''Jimin stops saying fucking, Tae and yourself in the same sentence or I will attack you.'' – Jungkook growled menacingly, but then he spoke in a somewhat more composed manner. –''But I must say, I'm glad you didn't keep your mouth shut.''

Jimin blinked the few times, still not believing it, looking up at Jungkook's face and staring at him, hugging his knees closer.

-''I can't say that I'm happy for you two, because I'm not.'' – Jimin said and hung his head on his knees, pouting slightly.

The silence lasted for a while until Jimin spoke. – ''I don't think it was much of a love for Tae, that the idea of having him that drove me insane.'' – He said quietly. 

Jungkook looked at him. – ''You only figure that now?''

Jimin smiled slightly and then more mischievously. – ''I wanted to fuck you too, you know.''

Jungkook starred at him dumbfounded. – ''Is there anyone you didn't want to fuck Jimin?''

-''Of course, they are... 90% of them in fact...what do you think of me!? That I go whoring around!?'' – Jimin said incredulously.

-''Pretty much, yeah.'' – Jungkook answered right away.

-''Wow, you are straightforward.'' – Jimin said in disbelief.

-''Well can you blame me? When you are the one who goes around and says how many people you want to have sex with!'' – Jungkook said, motioning with his hands at some invisible people for the effect. Jimin took an exasperated sign.

- ''I might say those things, but that doesn't mean I'm doing it...not always anyway. Sure I do like sex, what's wrong with that? Even you can relate because I know you've been fucking with Tae for a while now, you lucky bastard.''

Jungkook blushed and smiled slightly at that.

-''Just tell me this, who tops?'' – Jimin asked, grabbing Jungkook for the arm. The young man pushed him slightly. – ''I'm not answering that! The knight never tells.''

-''Oh c'mon now Kook, there's no time for false modesty and virtue. We might die here, so please set my mind at ease with this small information.''

-''No.''

-''Oh, c'mon, pretty please.'' – Jimin was persistent, but Jungkook stood his ground.

-''No.''

-''Look at you all manly and shit, you must have topped him. I knew it.''

Jungkook was silent, Jimin clapped his hands.

-''Silence is giving you away pup, I knew it... you top Tae...of course you do, I would top that ass, oh yes...'' – He said, not aware of the low growling on his left. He was so lost in his little fantasy until something came to his mind. – ''But your silence could mean other things as well... you can't say 'no' because that would mean that you don't top him and that he tops you. Which made sense, Tae could be scary sometimes and so dominant.''

-''Jimin!'' – Jungkook roared and Jimin jerked his head to look at him. – ''What?''

-''I will not talk about my sex life with you, so stop making the conclusions. And for God's sake, stop imagining fucking my Tae!'' – He emphasizes the word 'my', so Jimin would, hopefully, finally realize and drop the subject alone.

Jimin blinked, but then smiled teasingly. – ''I can imagine myself fucking you Kook.''

Jungkook groaned. Jimin continued.

-''Why not? You are a hot guy and so I'm I...we are locked here in this shithole... it's little stinky down here, but hey, we could blow up some steam together.''

-''Jimin I swear I will punch you in the face!'' – Jungkook warned and Jimin laughed. – ''Oh relax you big brute, I'm just kidding.''

-''You have a weird sense of humor.'' – Jungkook said, still annoyed. Jimin just chuckled, tossing his head back, smiling. They entered the silence again, not really wanting to talk about anything. The time pass slowly when you are locked in the small empty room, not knowing when or if you going to get out.

The nights were the worst. The cell was cold and they had only their body heat to warm them. At first, they were reluctant to sleep near one another, but after they start shaking from cold, they huddled close and it was so much better.

Sometimes Jungkook would be jerked from his sleep by Jimin's small whimpering and tossing, but with few... – ''Go back to sleep Jimin.'' – ...the whimpering will stop. This night, however, was way worse. Jimin started rocking slightly, weakly whimpering and grunting. His body shook violently. Jungkook shook him to wake him, but Jimin was fast asleep, still panting. The last thing Jungkook wanted is to be close to Jimin when his having one of his wet dreams, so he put his hands on him to push him away, but what came from Jimin's mouth froze his actions instantly.

-''N-no ...please...don't...don't do it...please'' – He mumbled and Jungkook leaned on his elbow to hear the other man better. It was so dark, he couldn't see a finger in front of his nose. He shook Jimin slowly. – ''Jimin, wake up. You are dreaming.'' – But the whimpers continued, becoming even louder.

-''Don't please... don't do this...not again... please... you are hurting me...it hurts...it hurts...aaaaaah!!''

-''Jiminah!'' – Jungkook shook him violently and Jimin continued tossing and pushing him away.

-''Let go of me! No, don't do it! Please don't do it! Not again!'' – Jimin sobbed and it took Jungkook big amount of strength to pin his hands above Jimin's head and to straddle his hips, pinning him with his body, but that seemed to have even the worst effect on Jimin because he started yelling.

-''Get off me! No! Get off...please... no!''

-''Jimin! Calm down!'' – Jungkook shouted as well, but Jimin didn't hear him, still in between his nightmare and reality. He screamed at Jungkook, thinking him he was somebody else. 

-''Get the fuck away from m-me! You will not...no...again! I...I will...c-cut you...motherfucker!''

Jungkook could only struggle to hold Jimin tight.

-''You can't touch me! You can't...you...you can't hurt me! I will....I will c-cut...I will cut! Don't....don't t-touch m-me!'' – Jimin screamed and sobbed, angry and scared at the same time. The darkness was never Jimin's friend. All the bad things happened in the darkness.

Jungkook was shocked, but quickly wrapped his arms and legs around Jimin's tossing body and rolled them on his back, Jimin now in his arms. – ''Jiminah you are safe now. You are safe. He will not get you. I will not let him. It's ok. It's ok.'' – Jungkook chanted in Jimin's ear and Jimin feeling the change or finally realizing where and with whom he is, tensed for a moment. His body tight like a string.

-''It's ok Jimin, you are safe now...'' – He rocked him gently. – ''I won't let him get you. I promise...I promise.

-''J-Jungkook?'' – Jimin's voice shivered and Jungkook hugged him even closer.

-''Yeah, it's me... it's me Hyung, you are safe now, it's ok.''

Just then, Jimin's strength left him and he started sobbing painfully. Jungkook cried with him. He never realized the horrors that Jimin might have went through. He always thought him of a spoiled brat, who had everything, but it seemed the truth was much more terrifying.

It took Jungkook a better part of the night to calm Jimin sufficiently enough to pull him on the hay and spoon him gently, hugging him close. Jimin kept sniffling.

-''Jungkook.'' – He said weakly. – ''P-please don't say this to anyone.''

-''Jimin.''

-''Promise me, please, that you will not say anything to anyone...even Tae, p-promise me.''

-''I give you my word Hyung.''

Jimin sighed with the relief and snuggled his back to Jungkook's chest.

-''Hyung.'' – Jungkook called weakly.

Jimin knew what he wanted to ask, so he sighed again, deeply this time, exhaling roughly through his mouth and sniffling again, before he started to speak.

-''I was the o-only one who resembled my mother the most. None of my brothers did, just me. My sisters did as well, but me the most. I was the youngest and she died, giving birth to me. My father never forgave me that. He made sure that...I know just how much he hated me.'' – Jimin made a small pause, plucking out the strength to continue. – ''That is until he changed towards me when I grew up a bit.'' – Jimin shuddered and Jungkook felt the dread creeping into his bones.

-''You see...he is a proud man...my father. He loved my mother very much and he never married again. His sexual needs were fulfilled by maids and whores, but as I grew, he started watching me differently. For the first time ever he started noticing me and I was happy at first, hoping that finally, he sees me the way I am, brave and talented, but I just reminded him of her, my mother, and he started losing his mind. The first time it happened...he came into my room drunk. It was the middle of the night and everyone was sleeping. He started t-touching me and kept calling me my mother's name and how m-much he missed me. He thought I was my mother. I struggled against him, but he slapped my face and turned me around. I never felt such t-tearing p-pain before. He pretended nothing happened the next morning. I was only thirteen.''

Jungkook had difficulty breathing, he was so furious, his heart was thumping fast as he imagined small Jimin in such pain. Jimin didn't pay attention as he let the words flow from his mouth for the first time.

-''The second time it happened, he was drunk again, but this time he knew who I was, there was no doubt. He called me his little slut and slap me, turning me around and trying my hands on my back. He told me I was gorgeous and gentle, even more, beautiful than my sisters as he panted above me. I could feel his sweat dripping down my back. It made me sick. I begged him to stop, but he didn't want to listen. I screamed so much, but no one came in to help me. None of my brothers came. None of them cared enough.''

By this time Jungkook shook violently, listening to this gruesome story.

-''I was so hurt and betrayed in so many ways. I hated myself because of it. I thought it was me who did something wrong. Me who provoked his lust, because I was enjoying his short attention too much.''

-''Fuck Hyung.'' – Jungkook gritted his teeth, tightening his hold on Jimin and burying his nose in Jimin's neck, trying to calm himself.

-''Afterwards, I kept avoiding him as much as I could. I didn't want to go home. I didn't want to sleep. At night I would lock my room. Sometimes it would work, but on other times he would simply break the door, depending on how drunk he was. My siblings, the staff no one dared to say anything, until one of my sisters Nyssa came in after my father blasted the door off my room and was now pinning me on the bed, ripping my clothes.''

Jimin made more sniffling and whimpering sounds, few sobs escaped him as he composed himself again to continue.

-''S-she had a small crossbow in her hand and... h-he froze when he saw her. She didn't say a word to him, just kept staring at him and he stood, walking away until he left the room. Until this day I don't know why...'' – Jimin licked his lips and sniffled. – '' I don't know why he was so afraid of her, but he always was. He used the first opportunity to get rid of her, by marrying her to some old Marquis, but by that time he stopped coming to my room at night for a while.''

-''He did use every opportunity to humiliate me in front of his friends, which was better than him violating me at night, but I could still feel his uncomfortable gaze down my body each time. I felt so filthy, no matter how many baths I had and how thoroughly I scrubbed my body until it almost bleeds.''

His voice was so thin now, so fragile. It was hard to listen. Junkook felt heartbroken, his tears sliding down his cheeks as he sniffles and trying to swallow a sob in his throat.

-''I never told anyone about this, not even V. Only Nyssa acknowledged it, she was there and she stood up for me in her silence and deadly glare. I will never forget her that night. She looked like some terrifying angel of death, who saved me a bit too late, but still... everyone else kept pretending that nothing was happening. I was good at pretending that I'm fine and I made myself to be great. I became stronger and more careful. My father watched my every achievement from afar, frowning.''

-''The last time he attacked me, I got a knife between his legs. I told him to fuck off and to never touch me again. He never did. I moved afterward. People think I got his money, but I didn't take a penny from him. All I have is from tournaments, betting, competing and clever investing. It worked because of V. Because I knew that he would never leave me to go hungry or without a roof over my head, so I was bolder and more reckless, but luckily it was a good fortune....finally.''

Jungkook listened all in silence, breathing deeply, but at this, he asked.

-''Why haven't you told V about this? He could have, maybe, help you sooner.''

Jimin chuckled. – ''V would have killed the old man, he was scary sometimes, even for me, but I didn't want him involved. I didn't want him to know, to look at me differently. I wanted to feel a free man whenever I'm with him, whenever we have fun together. I didn't want to see pity and sorrow in his cold eyes, not towards me anyway.''

-''I am sorry that happened to you Hyu...''- Jungkook started, but Jimin shifted around and interjected.

-''Don't you dare feel sorry for me Jeon Jungkook. I don't need your pity. What's done is done, it's in the past. It made me the man I am today and I accepted it.''

-''What just happened tonight doesn't show that you accepted it very well.'' – Jungkook said seriously.

-''Dammit Jungkook, it will always be the most traumatic experience for me. What do you want me to say, that I don't have nightmares like that anymore? Of course, I do, you witnessed one now, but that doesn't mean that I'm still afraid of him when I'm awake. It's just... this darkness... it's doing things to me...it terrifies me in a way, because I know there's no light anywhere. Even the Moon abandoned us, the sky is cloudy and there are no stars. The night is darker than ever, or so it seems to me.''

-''Okay, okay...I am with you now Hyung...I won't let anything happen to you, I promise. Thank you for trusting me...try...try now to get some sleep.'' – Jungkook said quietly, trying to stop the lump in his throat, nuzzling his face back in Jimin's hair and Jimin relaxed again, exhaling slowly and settling back into Jungkook's arms. Soon he fell asleep again. Jungkook, however, wasn't able to. He spent the rest of the night thinking and cradling Jimin in a protective embrace.

The next day they didn't talk much, but there were unspoken understanding and respect between them. Somewhere around the noon, the door of their cell opened and three guards came in.

-''You are free to go.'' – One of them said and two young men just looked one another, before jumping up on their feet and went to follow the guards.

Outside on the nice clean air, it was raining. Jimin wanted nothing more, but to stand under it and let it wash the sweat and stench from the cell, but the carriage stepped in front of them. The door opened and Jungkook saw a smiling face and red hair.

-''You bloody asshole, do you have any idea how worried I was!?'' – Hoseok's voice echoed Jungkook's ears. He was so glad to see him. – ''What are you waiting for? Get in! Both of you!'' – He said and moved his head back in. They jumped in one after another. Hoseok had his hands around Jungkook, hugging him, but quickly pushing him away. – ''Damn you could use a bath.''

-''Well it happens after five days in the cell without soap and water.'' – Jungkook said.

-''I must say I can't wait to throw away this clothes and sink in the bathtub.'' – Jimin said, brushing his hair back and leaning against the cushion. – ''Can we leave this place please?'' – He asked.

-''Soon my friend. We are waiting for someone.''- Hoseok said and both Jimin and Jungkook raised their eyes. – ''Who?'' – Jimin asked at the same time Jungkook did. – ''Tae?''

But the sudden opening of the door, spared Hoseok of any answer because the next person who entered the carriage was none other, but the Count, Jiyong Kwon, of the house of G-Kwon himself. Jungkook bowed his head instantly, as did Jimin, even though he didn't know who the man was.

-''Count, y-you here.'' – Jungkook stuttered, but the Count just brushed the words with his hand. 

-''Call me Hyung, no need for the titles. We are all friends now are we not?''

Hoseok smiled and knocked for the driver to go. Soon the fast rocking of the carriage, as the horses pulled fast was running through the cobbled streets of Bangtan.

-''Count...I mean Hyung...what are you doing here?'' – Jungkook asked and Jiyong smiled.

-''I was passing by when I came across Hope. He was frantic, trying to get you out from the prison. I must say Jungkookie, I was a bit disappointed in you, for letting yourself into this kind of predicament in the first place.'' – Jiyong said in disapproving tone and Jungkook bowed his head. Jimin who saw that Jungkook wasn't about to do anything to defend himself, spoke firmly.

-''It's my fault he got caught in the first place, so if you have to blame someone, blame me. He was just trying to help me like the young and loyal fool he is and I'm very thankful for it.'' – Jimin said, looking gently at the young knight, who smiled at him from the other side of the carriage. Jimin's head turned towards the man who sat on his left.

The Count's eyes looked at Jimin carefully, before he spoke. – ''I met your sister, the Marquise, a few years ago, young Jimin. She mentioned of having a younger brother in Bangtan, but I must say, you are even prettier than her.'' – Jimin's eyes were wide, while the small blush adorned his cheeks at the Count's words.

-''Ah Hyung stop making Jiminie blush.'' – Hoseok laughed and playfully smacked Jiyong's arm. The Count smiled as he looked at Hoseok and then back to Jimin again.

-''Call me Hyung Jiminie. We are going to be good friends after all.'' – He said, smiling cunningly.