Caged (Jimin BTS)

XXXI = Climbing Up

They're together! Now to get the fuck outta there...

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Jimin stepped aside when Jungkook shouldered his way past the pink-haired boy. He caught my arms before I could stumble back and hugged me close.

"Naomi." He mumbled into my hair, snaking his arms tight around me. My breath choked a little but I let him hug me.

I knew how much I've troubled everyone, both my chaser and my friends. But I have to grab the chance to escape with Jimin. Yoongi checked the boy from head to toe, frowning at the strips of dirty rags wound around his feet and hands.

"We need to move. They can track us with those walkie talkies. Throw them out." I nodded from Jungkook's shoulder and tossed the one in my pocket away. Then motioned for Jimin to me, twining our fingers like usual.

"Where to?" Yoongi gave us now-you're-doing-that look and I frowned at him. "We can do Q&As later. How to get back to Namjoon now?"

"Yeah, that. Let's move out." And we trudged away from the small camp. Jungkook stayed behind Jimin and me as Yoongi lead the way. He started talking only after a considerable distance away from the police.

"The others are still in town. The plan is to have Kookie and I hidden from Omelas, but they've sniffed us out. And Namjoon and the others are now under impression that we're on our way back to the town."

Jimin gripped my fingers when I almost stumbled on a large tree root. "Can't we signal something to them? Say we've escaped. Namjoon and Tae know Morse code."

He stopped to catch his breath and we waited, the only sound between us is the forest calls and Yoongi's laboured breathing. I cupped his left jaw. "We need to put ice on these bruises."

"We don't really have any luxury for that." The impish grin Yoongi threw at me made me frown. "And any technical device are out. These guys played good. Really good. We're barely breathing with them after us, having to change hideouts almost every day."

An idea just wormed itself into my head. "Then let's give them a little surprise." Jimin tilted his head at me and Jungkook frowned.

---

"Hands where I can see them." The tray filled with chocolate cookies dropped to the floor from Kim Taehwa's hands at that voice. That familiar voice.

"N-Nao... Naomi?"

"Hell yeah." My palms were sweaty against the knife's handle, but Mrs Kim didn't know that. What she don't know won't hurt her. "I'll be taking what I need, and don't you dare move."

"T-take anything you w-want. But please don't hurt me!" Her hands beside her head were trembling, and a pang of guilt kicked me in the chest.

Not now. The others need you now.

Pulling the knife from the counter, I stared hard at the woman before grabbing a couple loaves of bread and water bottles before shoving them into my rucksack. Mrs Kim just stared back at me, eyes blown wide and lips quivering.

"I don't know how much you're involved in this shit, but I don't care. We know, though when it is too late, but I still hoped for a change. Yet that still won't happen. Not in this town." The strings tightened as I pulled at it, and I gave her one last glare. "And don't you dare alert the police."

Of course as I ducked into an alley after leaving the Kim's bakery, two police patrol car showed up in the lot. The group snapped their heads at me when I landed beside them after jumping down the drain.

"I'm done. Let's go to the next place. Library isn't it?" Jungkook grabbed my bag as Yoongi led the way. I loosened the straps and flashed him a smile. Even in the dark, I could feel him return it.

"I still didn't like this idea of yours." Yoongi commented from the front. Jungkook gave a affirmative nod from the front of me and I rolled my eyes.

"You two cannot be seen in public, and I'm the girl who's ass being hunted by the whole town. Hey, I know, let's step up the game and have Jimin show up with me at the library. Hey, sweetie. Wanna play ninja time?" At the mention of his favourite 'game', Jimin's smile almost blinded me.

"Yes! Let's go ninja time!" Our guide's chuckle echoed in the tunnels as Yoongi climbed up a slightly steep incline.

"No. That boy is staying with me. No buts." He raised a threatening finger at me, not even bothering to spare me a glance, and I promptly shut my mouth. He knew I was going to retort. Stupid, bland vampire ass-

"So... Where have you been? This whole week you got away." Jungkook's question caught me off guard and I blinked. Oh.

"Oh, when I escaped? Mainly the forest, but I've been inside few store for ration hunting. What Jimin called n-i-n-j-a t-i-m-e." When he jerked an eyebrow up his messy bangs at me, I grinned at Jungkook. "He gets all bouncy when I said that word out loud. Like a dog to the word 'Walk', Jimin's- His are that word."

His mouth formed an 'O' and he nodded. Jimin tailed after Yoongi like a puppy on a leash, our intertwined hands being the tether. But he showed no effort on cutting it off.

Jungkook stayed silent through our trudge, and anxiety was starting to curdle in my gut. And what makes it worse is that he kept giving me glances, some short and fleetingly. But most of them are long and hard, like he's calculating me.

Biting on my lower lip, I side-stepped closer to Jungkook, our shoulder brushing slightly. He stared at our close proximity but didn't open any argument.

"Is there something wrong?" I hushed. He frowned buy said nothing, so I pressed on.

"If it's about the plan, I'm sorry but that's the only way for me to notify the gang without jeopardizing the whole plan-"

A large hand came down my mouth and I jumped, eyes blown wide staring at the frowning Jungkook. His warm palm was nothing compared to the heat wafting from his red face. Is he... blushing? Apple red, nonetheless. I can see it clear even in the darkened tunnels.

"Your anxiety is eating you up again. No, I'm not mad at your plan- I mean, I am mad at it but that's not the reason... why I... stared at you... all this time..."

I nodded, urging him to continue. From the way Jungkook ground his lip between his teeth, it's some sort of miracle it wasn't full of cuts.

"Oi, kids. Catch up, we're below the entrance." Yoongi whisper-yelled from a distance, and I gave him a glare. From the corner of my eye, Jungkook also gave him one.

Jimin tilted his head at me, and I ruffled his messy pink hair. "I'll be back soon, okay? Stay with Yoongi."

"Yoon... Gi." He pointed to the mentioned guy, and Yoongi clutched at his chest, feigning a startled gasp.

"He called me Dad. Did you hear that, Naomi?! I'm a Dad!"

"Shut up, you vanilla ass prick." Jungkook's chortling laughter echoed after me as I climbed up the rungs to the entrance.

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And happy belated birthday my Jiminie boy! You have achieved so much this year, don't let this setback bring your spirits down. Although I doubt you would even read this - the struggle of an i-ARMY 😌- please stay healthy and hope you have the best year of your life this year. Please take our love and use them to please, please, please be strong.

Lots of love,
Hanz