The Meaning of Family: The Collections

Overcoming

Request:
"How Hobi heals from the traumatizing events from his childhood."

Notes:
Obviously he won't be fully healed after the events in this drabble, but he takes a very big step in this one. Mentions of child sexual assault and smut ahead.

Ages of the Characters:
Jin - 42
Namjoon - 42
Yoongi - 25
Hoseok - 24
Jimin - 23
Taehyung - 22
Jungkook - 30
Gabriella - 20

Hoseok poured himself a cup of coffee, the news on the TV acting as background noise, as Gabriella rushed into the kitchen in her scrubs, bustling around to find something quick for breakfast and mumbling something about running late. Gabriella and Hoseok had been dating for two years now and had been living together for six months. Contrary to what most people believed, even Gabriella's parents assumed that they were sexually active and had been long before she moved into Hoseok's apartment, their relationship was still very pure, never progressing past more than kissing.

"I can't believe you're already dressed for the day." Gabriella commented as she realized Hoseok wasn't wearing pajamas like he normally would at that time of day. "Got a hot date or something?" She grabbed the coffee pot to pour the warm beverage into her travel cup.

Hoseok chuckled as he took a sip of his coffee. "I'm hanging with Jimin today. He claims that he's okay with the breakup, but he's never liked us worrying about him, so he could just be saying that. I wanna make sure he's actually okay."

Gabriella turned around after putting the lid on her cup and smiled up at him. "And this is why you are the sweetest, most lovable guy." Hoseok's cheeks turned pick as Gabriella went up on her tiptoes to softly press her lips to his. "I have to get to the hospital, but I'll see you tonight." Hoseok nodded and returned the smile as their lips met again.

As she left, Hoseok began to clean up the kitchen a bit, faintly registering that the news anchor was telling a story about a child molester getting arrested. He paid no attention to it until a certain name was spoken. "36-year-old Carter Zimmerman has been arrested after molesting a four-year-old boy." Hoseok tensed up, gripping his coffee up so tightly that his knuckles turned white and his hand started to ache as he turned to look at the TV and saw the older version of a face he would never forget. "This is Zimmerman's third offense, his first being when he was only 15 years old and molested his foster brother."

The anchor's voice seemed to fade away as a ringing filled Hoseok's ears and images of the older male looming over him flashed through his mind. They seemed so real as Hoseok swore he could feel Carter's breath on him and feel Carter's nails scraping his skin like they always did whenever he undressed him. He wasn't able to center himself and remind himself that he was safe and far away from the man until much later when the anchor was talking about Thanksgiving festivities instead. He quickly reached up and wiped away the tears he hadn't felt coming out before dumping the rest of his coffee in the sink and leaving to finish getting ready, realizing that maybe it wasn't Jimin that would need comforting that day.

***

Jin's mother entered the living room where Jimin and Hoseok were lounging on the couch playing a video game. "Your dad texted me a list of things to get from the store. Do either of y'all need anything?" The brothers shook their heads in response and she left shortly after.

Hoseok was too engrossed in the video game to be aware of what was going on when the game was suddenly paused. "Hey!" He exclaimed, turning to Jimin. "I almost had it!"

"And now you don't~" His younger brother responded, now turning the TV off fully. "Something's bothering you."

Hoseok looked down at his lap, avoiding looking at Jimin as he fidgeted with the game controller. Jimin was about to push him for answers when Hoseok offered them himself. "There's another one." Jimin was confused until Hoseok spoke again. "Carter was on the news today. He got arrested again because he molested another little boy."