TW: assault, implied rape
Jimin's POV
"See you tomorrow, Jimin."
I smile at my co-worker and best friend, nodding. "See you then, Tae."
Adjusting my bag on my shoulder, I let out a sigh and exit the shop, the little bell on the top of the door jingling as I do, before beginning to walk home. I picked a good day to wear a skirt - it's warm, but not overbearing, a slight breeze drifting in, so all in all, rather pleasant.
A heavy pair of footsteps sounds behind me. I don't pay the sound much mind to begin with, but when they get faster, and seem to double, then triple in volume, I'm forced to turn around. Behind me is a group of men, looking rather ordinary, all looking furious.
"What do you think you're doing?" one asks me. I don't reply, causing him to grab my arm and squeeze it tightly. "I said, what do you think you're doing?"
"I-I'm walking home."
"You're walking with us." he says in a low, commanding tone. It frightens me a bit. "And if you cause any trouble, we'll kill you. Understand?"
Breathless, I nod, letting him lead me into a nearby alleyway. The rest of the men follow closely behind, clearly ready to grab me in case I run away. Once we're about halfway down it, the first man backs me up against the wall, then snaps his fingers. Two of the others stand beside me - one on each side - and hold my arms.
"Dirty fag." he spits in my face. "You're not meant to be wearing this girly shit, y'know. It's offensive. What if another guy saw you and thought it was okay to wear a skirt? The country would be in ruins."
He places a hand on each of my shoulders, gliding them slowly down my body and stopping at my hips, a smirk on his face.
"You're a pretty one, I'll give you that.
"N-No, please..."
"Wait."
That voice is my saviour. The men take their hands off me, aside from the two who hold my arms, and one of them - one I hadn't seen before - approaches me, arms folded across his chest and a maniacal smirk spread across his face.
"If it really thinks it's a girl," that voice again, yet not sounding so much like a saviour anymore, "then you know what we have to do to it."
The two men that hold me don't release their grip, yet they turn me around so I'm facing the bricks. A clammy pair of hands touches my waist, and I instinctively flinch, which earns me having my face pressed further up against the wall.
The hands slip beneath my skirt, tracing circles into the skin of my hips. I try not to move, not wanting to be pushed against the bricks again, and just let him do what he wants. What he wants, apparently, is to push the skirt up and pull down my underwear, leaving them at my ankles.
I hear his belt, the buckle clinking as it's undone, and then the snap of the leather as he lashes it against the ground. He holds it out so I can see it, leaning in so his putrid breath fans down on my neck.
"Now, are you going to make this easy for me, or will I have to punish you?"
A while later...
3rd Person POV
"Jimin?" Namjoon calls out for his boyfriend for what feels like the hundredth time. Since he never came home, he felt the need to go out and look for him, which he's been doing for the last 45 minutes or so. With no result so far, and having checked all the places he could've come to, he's come to Jimin's work to try and find out what happened.
"Hey, hyung." Taehyung greets him as he enters the florist, smiling widely. "Need another bouquet for Jimin?"
"No, actually, it's a little more serious than that." Joon sighs, leaning on the counter. "I don't know where Jimin is. He never came home, so I thought you might know something."
The younger's expression softens, turning into one of concern. "Oh. Well, I really don't know what to say - he left at the normal time, went down the street like always. I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help."
"It's fine. I'll let you know what happens."
"If I see him, I'll call you."
"Thanks, Tae."
Sighing in defeat, the elder exits the shop, then turns to his left and begins walking. If he can retrace Jimin's steps, maybe he can find him. But it's starting to get dark, which is a little unnerving.
A little while down the street, he stops. There are muddy footprints all over the path in varying patterns, almost as if they were made by different shoes, leading towards an alleyway. Then again, nothing unusual - a lot of people do manual labour work around here, so it's not unheard of.
But also, from that alleyway, there's a peculiar noise. Soft, almost-broken whimpering. A few sniffles and sobs. Even if it's not Jimin, he'd feel bad for ignoring it; he wants to help whoever he can, even if they're a complete stranger.
Slowly, he approaches the alleyway. Sitting with his legs together, bruises on his knees and grazes all down his arms and legs, sobbing into his lap, is Jimin. He's slumped against the rough brick wall, entire body shaking.
"Jimi, what happened?" he questions, kneeling and pulling the trembling boy into a hug.
"I-I tried to stop them, Joonie!" sobs the other, voice hoarse. "Th-They wouldn't l-listen to m-me!"
"Who, baby?" Joon takes off his jacket, wrapping it around the younger's shoulders to keep him warm. "What did they do to you?"
"Some random guys. Th-They were harassing me, and one of them... h-he..."
Jimin finds himself unable to continue, his mouth open yet no words coming out, and tucks his head into the crook of his boyfriend's neck. "I tried to stop him, but he was too strong... I-I'm so sorry, Joonie..."
"Sweetheart, it's okay. I'm not mad at you at all." whispers the blond, kissing the top of his head. "I'm gonna call an ambulance for you, okay? They'll make sure you're alright."
Jimin nods, wiping his eyes with the sleeve of the elder's jacket as he pulls it tighter around himself. "O-Okay."
Half an hour later...
Looking up from his phone, Jimin sees his boyfriend sitting in front of him, perched on a stool that's pulled up beside his hospital bed. The latter's eyes are glistening with tears that threaten to escape, despite him not wanting them to.
Sighing softly, the red-haired puts his phone on the little table beside his bed and leans closer to his partner, pouting sympathetically at him.
"Hyungie, don't cry..."
"It's my fault, Minnie." the elder's voice cracks as he speaks, the tears starting to flow down his guilt-stricken face. "I was the one who told you to wear the stupid skirt, and look where it got you."
Jimin takes his hand, squeezing it tightly. "It's not your fault. Their ignorance and intolerance has nothing to do with you. You were perfect - you encouraged me to do something I never would've had the confidence to do otherwise, and it felt empowering to do that."
He reaches out to wipe away his boyfriend's tears with his thumb, smiling softly. The latter sniffles and gives a little nod, leaning in to peck Jimin's forehead. "I love you so much, baby."
"I love you too."
