Give Me || Suga Fanfic

Forty-One.

Rae wasn't certain what she envisioned when Nim said he had arranged for a safe house, but it certainly wasn't this. Nim pulled up to a gated, private drive, far and deep in the Bukhansan Mountain range. At first, leaving the airport, some reporters and news outlets attempted to follow them, but they soon were either stopped by security teams or Nim smoothly evaded them. In the last twenty minutes of the drive, a car hadn't been spotted for miles, and Rae's jaw dropped as she spotted the modern cabin perched at the top of a lengthy driveway.

Min casually got out of the car, the snow crunching underneath his feet as he led Rae inside. The sleek black and white colors of the cabin felt as cold as its backdrop landscape, but the electric fireplace and ambient lighting gave the interior the cozy feeling it needed to ward off the chill winter air.

Nim had placed Rae and Min's bags by the door and showed Rae and Min around the small cabin. It had two spacious bedrooms and bathrooms, a living room, an enormous kitchen, and a well-stocked fridge.

"There will be security down at the gate to ensure there are no trespassers. I am the only one who has clearance to get up here, and I am the only one with the gate code. If you two can be patient for a day or two, I am certain we will be able to get everything sorted out for you to return to your apartments."

Min ran a hand through his fluffy hair as he shook off his beanie and placed it on the table. "No rush, Nim. Really, I am already used to this," Min winked at Rae. 

Nim rolled his eyes at Min. "Keep your phone on you, and stay off social media."

Min gave a compliant thumbs up. "That'll be pretty simple, all I want to do is sleep off the jetlag."

Nim nodded. "Good. Rest up, and we will have it all handled by the time you wake up from your hibernation," Nim laughed at his own joke and closed the door, hitting the smart lock on his way out.  

Rae folded her arms tightly across her chest and let out a sigh as she watched Nim drive away. The house became still and quiet until Min wrapped his arms around Rae's shoulders. 

"Are you OK, sunshine?" he muttered against Rae's hair, pressing a kiss on the back of her head. 

Rae nodded, placing her hands on top of Min's arms, squeezing him tightly. "I'm feeling anxious," Rae admitted, her hands slightly shaking against Min's smooth skin. 

"I promise you're safe," Min assured her. 

"I know. I am anxious for Ji-Sun, and my family," Rae replied. 

Min dropped his arms and rummaged in his pocket, then placed his cell phone in front of Rae, offering for her to take it. "You should call them. You need rest, but I know that won't be possible if you don't first put your mind at ease."

Rae hesitated, worried and afraid to break another unsaid rule. "Are you sure I can call them?" 

Min chuckled. "You aren't a prisoner, Rae. You can do whatever you'd like. Go ahead and give them a call. I'll give you some privacy while I make us something to eat."

Min left Rae in the living room as he made his way to the kitchen, his presence of mind soothing to Rae as she made her first call. 

Rae called her family first, and Miles picked up the phone right away, talking over anything Lorena and Steve tried to interject into the conversation. They all assured her they were all right, and that Rae should not pay attention to the news or social media, just like Nim had told them earlier. Miles didn't seem the least bit bothered by the attention it had drawn on him to be publicly known as Rae's brother, in fact, he seemed disappointed that he couldn't speak out more about it. He reported that Hybe had confiscated his social media until they could also put proper protections on his devices and pages and that they had been refrained from making any comments or answering questions that the media might request. Any harassment toward the Clarks was being taken very seriously, and legal action would be pursued, is what Steve had reported to Rae.

Rae called Ji-Sun next, who reported similar reactions to the ordeal. Her best friend was completely content with her circumstances, a contrast to what Rae had expected, but Ji-Sun told Rae she was ecstatic that she got to stay in a five-star hotel, that had her own private sauna and spa, and unlimited room service. She begged Rae to be the center of the world's attention all the time if it warranted her royalty treatment. Ji-Sun ended the conversation by inquiring about how Rae was doing and attempted to throw in some teasing comments to her about the additional one-on-one time Rae was able to have with Min. Rae hung up before Ji-Sun would say anything too mortifying for Min's ears to overhear, and Rae assured her that she would contact her again tomorrow. 

As soon as Rae ended the call, Min had peered into the living room. "The food is ready," he said gently, motioning for Rae to follow him into the dining room.

The sleek, black table was set with a steaming bowl of ramen. Min had placed some side dishes out and began dishing up the meal into bowls, placing one in front of Rae.

Min and Rae ate quietly, each of them staring out the massive window as snow slowly began to fall. In the silence, Rae's mind began to race, and soon, she found herself quietly chuckling to herself.

Min's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Why are you laughing?" he asked.

Rae put down her chopsticks, pausing her mouthful of food. "I can't believe that even when the world is falling apart out there, it can all feel so serene and normal in here," Rae motioned to the food. "We are eating ramen together like there is no other care in the world."

"It's the world that is having a come undone about us, not the other way around. It should feel normal," Min pointed out, casually slurping up his ramen.

"You make it sound so easy. I wish I could be as calm as you are about the situation," Rae admitted, pushing the noodles in circles in her bowl, her stomach full of nerves and her appetite diminishing. 

"Don't be hard on yourself, I've had a lot of practice with these kind of situations," Min reminded her. 

Rae's heart fell as she realized the magnitude of Min's quick statement. She hated that he had to become used to situations like this. It wasn't fair to him.

"How do you do it? What is the secret?" Rae whispered. 

"You have to choose to be calm, otherwise, they win," Min shrugged, and continued to explain. "And I refuse to let the worlds reactions dictate my life. I am human, not an object to be paraded and showcased for others and how they want to see me. I won't hide, or have my life be a secret." 

"Is that why you didn't want to hide being seen with me today at the airport?" Rae dared to ask.

Min shifted his weight in his chair, leaning his elbow on the table as he studied the snow once more. "I wanted you by my side, pictures captured by papparrazi wasn't going to change my mind on that. You know I do what I want," Min offered a playful smile before returning to a stoic expression. "Besides, I have to be an example to the rest of the members. Since I am the first to have a relationship be public like this, they will look to me for advice of how to navigate their relationships once they have one. How I react to this will determine how the world will react to them, and I need to do it right."

Rae stood up from her chair, and impulsively wrapped her arms around Min's shoulder, pulling him in tightly for a hug as they both stared at the reflection of the fire in the window. Rae slid her hands to rest on Min's face, turning him to look in her direction, his eyes searching hers as she whispered to him the words that were spilling from her thoughts and heart.

"Min Yoongi, you are truly the bravest person I know."

A/N: Two chapters in one day! Thank you for the comments and love ARMY! Appreicate you all so much and I cannot wait to write the next few chapters in this setting. Eeek! Stay tuned!