Far Cry | JJK x OC

Chapter 86 // The Game Changer

Hoseok ended up sitting on Yoongi's bed opposite from Jimin while the conversation took turns he didn't expect. He had nothing against going off track; what mattered was that Yoongi was safe and sound, back with them. In a way, he was almost thankful the conversation went momentarily away from Yoongi's last question.

And what about Namjoon? And Taehyung?

Hobi felt the answer's weight, in particular because Yoongi had asked him — and he would be able to catch a lie or the slightest detour from the truth. At the same time, Yoongi's health was the frailest of them all — he couldn't breathe without help and even blinking was weird because, as Ella had explained, the venom had paralyzed nearly every muscle, and it would take time to clean his system. He sighed; at least he was showing good signs of recovery.

"It was a prison to radicalize people," Jungkook explained, and Hoseok raised his eyes. It kept bothering him.

Just like Yoongi knew Hoseok like the back of his hand, Hoseok felt the same way. Companionship bordering on a sibling bond did that to all of them, so of course he'd notice Yoongi was acting weird, and it wasn't just the venom.

Yoongi just kept looking at Leah. She had stayed in the room, between Jungkook and the machine monitoring Yoongi's vitals, but she was quiet. Hoseok didn't find that odd; she was letting Jungkook explain and chat with Jimin and Jin, while she probably kept an eye on Yoongi's health. He naturally assumed this, he trusted her absolutely. They all did.

But even if Yoongi was weary of strangers, wasn't that too much? He heard Jungkook and saw how they all behaved around her — she helped them save Yoongi's life, for crying out loud. The man should be thanking her, and he wasn't the type to be distrustful anyway. Yoongi's cold demeanor that was so often referenced was all just a façade; in reality, Yoongi was affable. Perhaps, after Taehyung, the one amongst them who had the biggest and most varied circle of friends. So what the hell?

"Did they... do anything to you?" Jin asked with neutrality, though his eyes were glistening.

Hoseok perked his ears and Jimin asked, "Did they hurt you, hyung?"

Yoongi blinked imperfectly; every word was an effort for him, "No." He breathed slowly, "I was there... only two days."

Hoseok's heart suddenly skipped in realization. Yoongi could have been looking at Leah because he had been radicalized in prison. That would be an absolute nightmare. Hoseok swallowed and shook the shiver down his spine; Yoongi wouldn't lie. If he said he was only there two days and that no one hurt him, then it was the truth. He was fine, his thoughts too. Maybe he was just weary of a stranger in their midst.

"I really want to ask you what happened," Jungkook said, his doe eyes glinting with concern. "But I'm worried about it being too much."

"Maybe we should let him rest," Hoseok suggested.

"Wait, he asked about Taehyung," Jimin pointed out. "Does that mean you haven't seen him?"

Yoongi shook his head and his eyes fell on Jimin's leg.

"Then we need to find him."

"He could be anywhere."

"One thing is for certain — he's up north, just like Yoongi was."

"We need something. An edge."

"If we had a photo of him, it would make things so much easier," Hoseok heaved a deep breath, and that made Yoongi's eyes shift from Leah for once.

"A photo? I have one," he said quietly, trying to move his arm but with little success.

Jungkook was instantly near him, asking him to speak slowly so he could follow his instructions. A minute later, Jungkook grabbed a folded piece of paper from the hem of Yoongi's pants, and they all held their breath while he unfolded it.