Got my claws in you

Chapter 33- I can make it better

TAE POV:

There's the scent of sweet floral syrupiness that seeps into the room, muted down and softer. Not as overpowering and intoxicating. Not demanding on my senses but heady and strong enough that it had my head turning, it has my head jerking up because I remembered that scent. Knew that scent. Had smelt it very faintly, had chased after a very weak strain of it.

But now. Now it crashed into the room, seeping alongside ours and merging. Fully bloomed floral sweetness that had my head straightening from where it was draped against Kookie's shoulder, eyes turning towards the door where the scent emanated from. 

And my gaze came to settle on a shaky figure trembling in the doorway. Figure caved and drooped and so, so exhausted. I feel the room stiffen, everyone straightening up with alarm and distress at the sight of her that yanks at my instincts, demands that I soothe the poor shaky doe.

I jerk upright, back stiff as I watch (Y/N) stagger forward, hand curling onto the arm of a vacant armchair to drag herself closer, eyes shadowed and face thinner than I remembered it. Cheeks having lost some of that natural softness, features seeming sharper because of it, eyes seeming to pop out, large doe-eyes that were steeped with pain and hurt and determined resolve. I see the sweat of exertion making her skin clammy, see the way her legs give a violent jittery shudder as she drags herself upright, looking at us.

And it's instinctive that my body shoots off the sofa, staggering to stand at the sight of her, eyes roving over her. She was so, so drained. So lost and swallowed up in the jumper she wore, figure hidden within it. But the weakness radiating off her, the shakiness to her posture had me alarmed, had a distressed sound slipping free even as I feel the side of Kookie's arm brush against mine. Also jolting up at the sight.

He lets out a shuddery exhale beside me, her name breathed out as he stares, eyes wide and shocked. A glance to the side reveals stiff perked up ears and his tail that twitches behind him.

Hobi hyung doesn't move. Stiff and unable to physically tug himself out of the seat, slumping back, ears curling and twisting and eyes frozen. Stuck on the sight of her even as they fill with pain.

And Jiminie. Jiminie who'd been curled up relaxed on Joon hyung's lap, for once settled. Soothed and at ease, the stillest and most calm he had been since he'd been thrown into a rut, vicious and merciless, jerks. Flails and writhes against the band of arms he'd been content to play with, the same arms he'd relaxed behind. Tugging and twisting to get free, tail swishing against Joon hyung's lap as his eyes widened. Taking her in. Drinking in every change, every expression, every detail and committing it to memory even as he moved to escape his hold.

Nostrils flaring as he breathed in her scent. Mellowed floral tones. Post heat pheromones. Drenched with hurt and distress and pain. Taking in the way she trembles as she looks at us.

My heart aches and yearns, legs stiff with the physical force of stopping myself at tearing closer to her to get to her. Unable to bear the sight of her standing there looking so frightfully alone.

"Namjoon move. Let me go. Let me go." Jiminie says, words both a panicked plea and fierce demand, twisting to be freed.

It reminds me of that moment of control when he'd snapped. When he'd snarled and jerked and growled to be let go, desperate to get to her, eyes lit with a frantic urgency for her. Remembered as he'd twisted and shaken and clawed, clawed to get to her. Remembered how other times he'd sobbed and pleaded, eyes glassy and devastated, hurting that he couldn't get to her. That he'd get close to the sound of her whimpers and cries of pain and be jerked back. Unable to close that final stretch of distance, unable to cross the barrier of the door barring the two of them from each other.