The Monster

9

Jimin isn't sure what to expect when he gets home, but it isn't a crowd of people including his father waiting for him at the gate.

"Son, Jimin! You're OK! Where have you been? Your men came back and said you were staying behind. What happened?"

Jimin laughs at his father's excitement.

"Will you not allow us to get in the gate?" He laughs.

"Us?" Yongjae asks, puzzled.

"Me and Jungkook." Jimin says as he dismounts.

He gestures to Jungkook, and he dismounts off the back of Jimin's horse.

Jimin hands the reins off to the closest person and hugs his father.

"We need to talk, the three of us."

Yongjae looks over Jimin's shoulder at Jungkook.

"We are taking waifs and strays now?" Yongjae asks.

Jimin snorts.

"Come. I'll explain everything." Jimin says, tugging at his father to follow and holding out his hand towards Jungkook.

Jimin feels Jungkook's fingers slip between his and clench his hand tightly.

All the way back Jungkook had been nervous, worried what people would think of him, worried that would not accept him as Jimin's spouse.

Jimin is surprised Jungkook didn't sprout a few grey hairs from all the worrying he was doing.

Once they were safely inside his father's study, Jimin turns to his Yongjae, Jungkook's hand securely in his.

"So, what happened out there Jimin? Your men said the monster has been taken care of."

"It has and we found Jungkook out there living alone. He had been cast out of his... his village. I said wed give him a home."

"Well, of course. He's welcome to live within these walls, if that's what he wants." Yongjae says. "But, why..."

"Please trust me that Jungkook is ok and being cast out was beyond his control." Jimin says, cutting off his father's sentence.

Yongjae eyes Jimin for a minute, but Jimin doesn't waver.

"OK, but he's your responsibility. He needs to pull his weight as much as everyone else in this castle."

Jimin nods, relief flooding his system.

"Come, we'll go to my room." Jimin says.

He drags Jungkook, by the hand that he still has hold of, towards his room.

When they reach his room Jimin opens the door and pushes Jungkook inside.

"Give me a minute." And he pulls the door shut.

He knows that Tae and Hoseok will know he's back by now, but he doesn't want to be disturbed by either of them just yet.

Jimin heads down the corridor where he knows Tae and Hoseok will more than likely be waiting for him.

As soon as he opens the door he is swept up into a pair of arms and hugged tightly.

"We didn't think you were coming back." Tae mumbles into Jimin's hair.

"Silly! Of course, I was coming back."

He looks over Tae's shoulder and looks at Hoseok.

"Are you still sulking because I didn't let you come with me?" Jimin asks.

Hoseok can't help the smile that splits his face. He was planning on trying to make Jimin feel bad but in all honesty his just glad Jimin is back safe.

Hoseok stands beside Tae and wraps his arms around both Jimin and Tae.