Waking the Dead

Waking the Dead 11

It had been three months since their escape from certain death, since they had rolled into the hospital. Jin for bumps and bruises, Jungkook for a couple of stitches for the scratches on his face, which lucky, looked worse than they were. Namjoon had a compound fracture that needed pins, screws, and metal plating to reset. Tae, being an active duty soldier, was sent to a military hospital where he needed stitches for his cut, suffered broken ribs, and extreme exhaustion. He had slept for two days straight, waking to find his room full of ghosts...returning soldiers who had seen hell together, hesitant to part ways, worried and scared....

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Soon after,  they had been forced to part, Jin refusing to leave Namjoon until he was healed, and maybe not even then. Jungkook had taken Tae home and had barely been apart since, though the thought of Tae returning to a warzone never left either of their minds.

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"I'll be back in six months, it'll give you time to finish your thesis."

Jungkook smiled. "No, I'll need to start completely over since I have a new topic."

Tae was surprised. "What is it?"

"You."

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"What about....Dead House?"

"That's a video game love."

Jungkook had been trying to come up with a title for his new paper all morning. They stood on the tarmac, waiting as they carried the returning soldiers off. Standing in full fatigues and beret, Tae watched as the coffins were carried off first, followed by some lost souls not ready to let go.

"Are you..."

Nodding, Tae saluted as the soldiers walked by.

"I don't know how you do it, especially in a warzone."

Shrugging, Tae wrapped his arms around Jungkook. "Doesn't matter. The dead are dead, and I can't change that."

"Hey, you weren't leaving without saying goodbye, were you?"

Recognizing the voice they turned to see an energetic blonde waving at them, wearing a pink t-shirt, army cap, and ripped jeans. On his arm, was Namjoon, wearing all black, his badge shining on his belt, arm in a sling.

"You really are a detective, I thought you were making it up to show off." Tae teased as the couple drew closer, Tae pulling Namjoon into a hug.

"Was gonna say the same about you G.I. Joe."

Laughing, Jungkook grinned at Tae. "Dead and Buried."

"Lame." Tae laughed.

Jin wrapped his arm around Jungkook, looking between the two maknaes. "What's dead and buried?" 

Tae laughed again. "Kookie's names for his thesis."

Jin laughed and playfully offered up suggestions to the college student, each more ridiculous or outlandish as the next, both boys clearly not taking the topic seriously, laughing at each others title suggestions.

"How's the arm?" Tae asked, turning to Namjoon.

The detective sighed. "Stiff and sore, but getting better."

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It was time to say their final farewells.

"Come back in a state we can all see." Jin said hugging Tae tightly.

Namjoon shook his hand before pulling him into a hug. "Come back in one piece, and stay safe out there."

Jin and Namjoon then stepped back, allowing the younger couple a semblance of privacy.

Tae rested their foreheads together.

"Come back to me," Jungkook said softly, " I love you."

Tae kissed his soft lips. "Love you. Always."

Nodding, they kissed one last time.

 "I'll come back soon." Hefting his rucksack, Tae walked toward the plane.

Jin and Namjoon moved forward to stand silently by Jungkook. Wiping tears from his eyes, Jungkook tried to smile as his lover went to war.

"Kookie!" Tae called back, the younger perking up, " Waking the Dead."

Jungkook grinned a big bunny smile. With one last wave Tae was aboard and gone.

"Be safe." Jungkook mumbled, watching as the plane took off, disappearing into the bright morning sun.