We might die

Chapter 15

According to the map and Yoongi's calculations, they should be able to cross the border in around three hours' time, but they end up only taking two hours because Taehyung is driving under Yoongi's supervision and he gets way too excited and starts going at inhumane speeds, causing Hoseok to puke into the ocean. When Jimin asks Hoseok if he's all right and if he'd rather they go slower, though, he is met with a vehement NO. The faster they drive, Hoseok reasons, the faster they get out of the country, so fast is good.

They get lucky and are soon spotted by a Japanese military vessel. The sailors are shocked to see them, for the airing of the latest Battle Royale round has just ended the day before and to the world BTS is as good as dead—but after some quick explanations conducted by Seokjin using the powerpoint slides he has stored on Jimin's phone (he's the only one out of all of them whose phone still has battery left), they are all too happy to take them onto their ship. It also helps that one of the military personnel of a higher rank is apparently a fan. He drops his serious face and comes rushing over, bouncing on his toes with excitement.

"Oh my god," he screams. "You're International Kpop Sensational Sunshine Rainbow Traditional Transfer USB Hub Shrimp BTS!"

"That we are," Seokjin affirms.

The man screeches into balled fists. "Oh my god! I'm such a huge ARMY, you don't even know."

"I'd think, judging from how you work on a ship, that you're NAVY instead," Seokjin says, and bursts into laughter at his own dad joke. He sounds like windshield wipers.

"We apologize on his behalf," Namjoon says gravely. He has barely been reunited with his team for three hours and he already feels responsible for them all, dad jokes included. But the ARMY assures him that it's fine and dandy, and he's super excited and would it be okay if he tweets this new development please? Because ARMYs around the world would definitely be over the moon to know that BTS is alive and kicking!

"As nice as that would be, you probably shouldn't do that just yet," Namjoon points out. "Right now only the soldiers know that we're alive, and they intend on keeping it a secret since they don't want to be punished by the Government for slacking. If the news gets out and everyone hears, they might... they might take our managers, our family, the staff, and... it could get bad for them."

The ARMY guy nods sympathetically. "All right. We'll do what we can within our ability to bring your family and managers and staff members to Japan, where it's safe. And then I get to post the tweet."

"You're... you're going to bring our family to us?" Taehyung cries.

"We're going to try. I think we can probably do it, there's no law saying we can't. And as long as the Government still thinks you're all dead they probably can't care less about what your family is doing."

Taehyung bursts into tears and Jungkook has to soothe him from the back while whispering "please please please say our dogs can come too".

The ARMY guy looks thoughtful for a moment. "I don't think there's any law saying that your dogs can't come. We'll try. I've always wanted to meet Min Holly anyway."

"If you bring me my family," Yoongi promises solemnly, "you'll get unlimited access to rubbing Holly's belly."

The ARMY guy looks like he's going to die from bliss.