Way Back Home (Namjin) | By Dew

1

"Thank you for your work today!"

Seokjin was thankful as well, thankful as he gripped his bag tight in his hand, thankful as he walked out of the four walls and breathed in the sweet air, thankful as he was told the next shoot won't be until a month later.

Kim Seokjin was thankful until he saw a single sleek black car in front of the building, thankful until another hand touched the back of his.

"Let me carry it", it wasn't a choice, not when cameras were again pointed at them. Seokjin smiled, feeling his skin itch and stretch uncomfortably over his face, and walked forward with Namjoon beside him, the musky scent of the alpha doing little to cover the various smells of reporters around them.

Seokjin was a professional, an actor loved by many; it wasn't difficult to smile until the two were inside the car, Namjoon taking the driver's seat while he slipped beside his... husband... on the other seat. It wasn't difficult to grin for the cameras, wave for the fans. It wasn't difficult to rest back and close his eyes when the engine finally started.

It was only difficult to breathe.

The scent of grass and books and home engulfed him, not like a weighted blanket like before but more of a building whose big boulder has trapped your existence under itself. Seokjin breathed slow and seldom, nails digging in the palm on his hand until cool breeze hit the side of his cheek.

"It's good weather", Namjoon's voice was warm, inviting. Seokjin was both happy and miserable to hear the comfort in it, the quiet worry in the way his eyes flicked down to where Seokjin's clenched fist lay on the seat, "Should I play some songs?"

The sound of breeze was loud as they drove through it, cutting the quiet and peace. Seokjin sighed and pressed his cheek against the leather of the seat, closing his eyes to find rhythm in the loud wind that carded through his hair and grazed his other cheek with careless love.

A skipped beat, a breath caught in his throat; Seokjin gulped when he felt eyes on him. He was tempted to scold Namjoon, to huff and ask him to keep his eyes on the road.

But then he remembered what usually followed these scolds, how Namjoon would chuckle and apologize before holding Seokjin's hand and kissing the back of it.

"Don't worry, I will always protect my beautiful mate."

"Seokjin?" he must have made some noise that caught Namjoon's attention but Seokjin was too raw and wounded to open his eyes and speak so he stayed in his position, still and beautiful like a statue of jade, blind to the setting sun and the rays that fell on Namjoon's sorrowful face.

~

He wasn't sure what awakened him, could barely remember something soft brushing his hair away from his face but Seokjin wasn't sure. He blinked into the land of living, disoriented and blank of memories. Seokjin looked to his side where Namjoon sat, the alpha's eyes open wide like he was caught doing something wrong.

"Joon-ah?" the soft whisper came through smiling lips, Seokjin blinking innocently until he saw the glacier-sized sorrow and guilt dawn on his husband's face. The omega almost whined and reached out for his alpha until realizing something important.

This wasn't his husband. Not anymore.

"We're hom-" this wasn't his alpha whose knuckles were white with how hard he gripped the steering wheel, whose eyes flicked to the front as if he couldn't bear looking at Seokjin, "We're back."

The door was open and shut before Seokjin could blink, consciousness and pain coming to him in bursts. It took him some time to steady his breathing, to stop his hands from shaking as Seokjin finally stepped out of the car. He had to lean against it for support as he breathed in, almost sinking to the ground at how saturated the air was with alpha scent.