Caged (Jimin BTS)

XXXIII = Service

"Hear me out, please."

Jungkook glared at my father, anger radiating off him like heat from a fireplace. "We can't afford any chances. Let's go, Naomi."

"Wait, please. I can- I want to help!" He crawled up the hole, arms stretched out to reach me. "Just hear me out, even if you didn't see me as your father anymore, Naomi. Please!"

"Stop," was all I can say through the lump in my throat. Jungkook stepped closer to me and I rested my forehead against his chest. "Just... stop. Stop."

Putting his arm around my shoulder, Jungkook knocked on the bookshelf and I heard Yoongi sliding off the table and mumbling some instruction to his ward. When he poked his head around the bend, his questioning plus stone cold look is so intense I can feel it vibrating on my skin.

"Can you reason with him?" I don't hear any response, but then Jungkook gently guided me back and I obliged mutely. Jimin sat up straighter when he saw me approaching and I smiled up at him, tears blurring my sight.

He slid down the table and wormed himself into my arms before I could even take a breath. Jimin squeezed me as I broke down in his arms.

"H-He... He didn't even- I- Jimin..." He shushed me, patting my hair and humming to tunes I don't know where he heard from. When I finally could breathe normally again, Jimin wiped the tears from my reddened cheeks and placed a kiss on my forehead.

"Better?" I bobbed my head and nuzzled his shoulder. Jimin patted my back for a few more minutes until I stepped away from his warmth. "Thank you, Jimin. You too, Kookie."

"Cookie?" The pink-haired boy perked on the mention of food, and I chuckled. Patting his hair, I smiled up at Jimin. "It's Jungkook's nickname, Jimin. Maybe I can give you one later. But now, let's focus on escaping Omelas, okay?"

Jimin pouted when he realised we're not giving him any cookie, but still nodded and stepped away as I planted myself in front of Jungkook.

"I need to get back to the front. My father would want to talk to me." Jungkook held my shoulder before I could walk past him. "I think you've had enough with your problems for today."

"What're you talking about?" I frowned at him.  His clutch tightens and Jungkook pulled me closer to him, eyes dark and stormy.

"You just escaped from a slaughterhouse a few days ago, saved us from the police last night, and now you're going to face your father who practically killed half of his friends?" With a frustrated growl, Jungkook shook his head. "No. I'm not letting you go."

"Jungkook, please-" I tried prying off his hand but he's adamant on making me stay. Like ghost fingers grasping at my form, I felt the fatigue from all these months at the back of my mind. Not yet, Naomi. Stay focused.

"I'm going to face him, whether you liked it or not. But if it makes you feel better, you can come with me." Taking his hand in mine, I gave them a squeeze. "I can do this. You know me."

His eyes became conflicted from under his bangs. After mulling over his thoughts, Jungkook huffed in defeat and nodded. I beamed and turned back when he tugged at my hand to twine his fingers with mine. I looked at him in confusion.

"Just to keep me anchored. Let's go."

I don't know what he means with 'anchored' but as long as he's okay with my meeting with Father, I'm fine. With every step that I took towards Yoongi and him, my heart started beating twice faster. But Jungkook's grip never faltered.

We reached the front to Yoongi and my father, and they seemed to have come to an agreement.

This is one of the moments when I really admired Min Yoongi. My father literally killed his while family by flushing them out to the town's authority, and he is still able to use his rational mind in front of him.

He took a step towards my father, and landed a solid drive on his face, making the tall doctor fall back. I gasped, rushing towards my father and giving Yoongi a confused glance. He simply shrugged, and tilted his lips upwards. "Told ya Naomi still loves you, doc."

My mind clicked on their game of chance, and I swatted at Father's forearm. "Stop messing around!"

"I'm not." Cradling his bloodied nose, Father groaned and tilted his head back before popping it back in place. "This is the payment for my service."

"What service?" We all looked back and saw curly locks of violet hair peeking out of the hole in the ground. Covered in soot and dirt, Namjoon glared daggers at our father next to me before climbing out. Taehyung, Hoseok, and Seokjin followed after him and the hole was finally closed.

There it is. All of us, standing in the same room. My ears caught bare feet pattering softly from behind us and went back to retrieve Jimin.

"Joonieyong!" He exclaimed happily when his eyes fell on my brother and made a move to him. But when he realised Father was also in the same room, he abruptly stopped and cowered behind me.

A look of pain and regret crossed Father's face, and we all saw it. Namjoon then repeated his question and I dragged Jimin to him, careful to have the boy farthest from my father as we cross him, and gave his hand to Taehyung. Then I look at my brother in the eye and flung myself at him.

"Joonie..." His arms snaked around my back, pulling me closer than I thought possible without choking me-

I thought wrong. He's suffocating me.

"Uncle! C-can't breathe-" Namjoon loosened his hug, but still didn't let me down. My legs still wrapped around his waist, Namjoon patted Jungkook and Yoongi's arm before the two went to the others at the back.

"We're not getting another family pep talk. What service are you offering us?" Namjoon asked father, eyes hard and determined. I could never be prouder and sadder.

Wiping the blood from his face with his sleeve, Father took a deep breath and said, "Wiping the memories of you from everyone's mind, so you can leave Omelas without any harm."